Finding Aid of the Cudsworth, Abel W. Journal C058781

Finding aid prepared by Nick Scales

Society of California Pioneers

300 Fourth Street

San Francisco, CA, 94107-1272

(415) 959-1849

pkeats@californiapioneers.org

September 8, 2015

Title: Cudsworth, Abel W. Journal

Identifier/Call Number: C058781

Contributing Institution: Society of California Pioneers

Language of Material: English

Physical Description: 1.0 folder 1 bound journal, unlinded, handwritten in ink, legible, 94 pages of writting

Date: 1849 to 1867

Abstract: Abel W. Cudsworth's journal is handwritten in ink and provides daily entries covering the 7 month voyage aboard the Brig "Triumph" from Boston to San Francisco around Cape Horn. The "Triumph" left Boston on November 11, 1849, arrived in Rio de Janero on Jan 17, 1850, reached Juan Fernandez on March 30, and sailed into San Francisco on June 6th, 1850. Cudsworth lists the 45 Passengers and 12 crew by name. The journal provides good descriptions of life aboard ship. Toward the end of the entries, Cudsworth sums it up, "Impatiently waiting the termination of this long tedious, and somewhat unpleasant voyage."

creator: Cudsworth, Abel W

Scope and Contents note

Abel W. Cudsworth's journal is handwritten in ink and provides daily entries covering the 7 month voyage aboard the Brig "Triumph" from Boston to San Francisco around Cape Horn. The "Triumph" left Boston on November 11, 1849, arrived in Rio de Janero on Jan 17, 1850, reached Juan Fernandez on March 30, and sailed into San Francisco on June 6th, 1850. Cudsworth lists the 45 Passengers and 12 crew by name. The journal provides good descriptions of life aboard ship. Toward the end of the entries, Cudsworth sums it up, "Impatiently waiting the termination of this long tedious, and somewhat unpleasant voyage."

Days are spent reading novels, gambling, playing music, singing, and playing checkers, chess and backgammon. There are disputes amoung the passengers. One crewman is swept overboard and lost at sea. He provides a description of both Rio de Janero and the Juan Fernandez Islands (off the coast of Chile). The passage around the Horn is long and rough with continual headwinds slowing their passage.

The last 2 pages of the journal summarize Cudsworth's employment in San Francisco from 1850 to 1867. He only spent 2 months up at the mines.

Conditions Governing Access note

Collection open for research

Conditions Governing Use note

There are no restrictions on access

Preferred Citation note

Cudsworth, Abel W Journal, The Society of California Pioneers

Existence and Location of Originals note

The Society of California Pioneers

Donor

Gift of Mrs. Fowler Mallet, 1931

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Badger, C L

Badger, L C

Barnhard, Louis D

Berry, John, 2nd Mate

Brotherson, Samuel

Brown, Leonard B

Brownell, Chas E

Burt, Henry

Burt, Hiram, Captain

Chace, Nathan H

Coggshall, Henry

Coggshall, Hezkiah

Comely, Wm.

Crane, Thomas B

Cummings, D T

Cummings, Leonard B

Cummings, Sylvester

Curtis, James

Cutworth, Abel W

Danforth, D Bowers

Davis, A G

Dolloff, Franklin

Edson, Daniel

Edson, William

Emery, C H

Fisk, John

Hathaway, John

Hathaway, Levi

Hoxie, David

Kimball, S P

Libbey, Rueben

Libby, Neilson, 1st Mate

Liscomb, John

Loring, G

Lynn, Orin H

Mason, Naham

Maynard, Norman

Menlery, Thomas

Moulton, Charles

Nichols, Walter

Philips, James O

Philips, John M

Pitts, Charles

Rice, C

Roberts, John W

Sherman, Edwin

Sherman, John T

Staples, Jacob C

Sullivan, John

Thrain, John

Tilten, John H

Turner, Charles

Tyler, Cornelius P

Walker, B

Walker, James E

Wentworth, John P

Young, Robbert

California, Northern - History - 19th century.

Navigation--Chile--Horn, Cape

Voyages and travels -- 19th century

Voyages to the Pacific coast