Templar (built 1858; ship, 3m) logbook, 1862-1864

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Summary

Title:
Templar (built 1858; ship, 3m) logbook
Dates:
1862-1864
Abstract:
TEMPLAR (built 1858; ship, 3m) logbook (SAFR 14268, HDC 58) consists of one logbook and a photocopy of the logbook recording the voyages of the TEMPLAR. The first voyage departs from Calcutta on January 26 and arrives in Liverpool on October 24, 1862 via Brooklyn, NY. The master of this voyage was James P. Martin. The master of the second voyage was Capt. G. Oscar Lane and the trip began in Liverpool in September of1862, stopped in Brooklyn and Sydney, New South Wales, and ended up again in Calcutta on November 17, 1863. The log ends on January 17, 1864 while still in Calcutta.
Extent:
2 items
Language:
In English.
Preferred citation:

[Item description], [Location within collection organization identified by Collection Number/Series Number/File Unit Number/Item Number], HDC0058 (SAFR 14268), Templar (built 1858; ship, 3m) logbook, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

Background

Scope and content:

TEMPLAR (built 1858; ship, 3m) logbook (SAFR 14268, HDC 58) consists of one logbook and a photocopy of the logbook recording the voyages of the TEMPLAR. The first voyage departs from Calcutta on January 26 and arrives in Liverpool on October 24, 1862 via Brooklyn, NY. The master of this voyage was James P. Martin. The master of the second voyage was Capt. G. Oscar Lane and the trip began in Liverpool in September of1862, stopped in Brooklyn and Sydney, New South Wales, and ended up again in Calcutta on November 17, 1863. The log ends on January 17, 1864 while still in Calcutta.

This lengthy (approximately 250 pages) logbook records general information, such as weather and course, in small handwriting that is difficult to read. There are frequent mentions of crew members' activities, illnesses, and desertions, but little mention of route or places stopped. Title page has an illustration of the TEMPLAR.

Biographical / historical:

The TEMPLAR (built 1858; ship, 3m) was a medium clipper ship built in 1858 by J.T. Foster in Medford, MA. It was rated at 947 gross tons, and measured 160' x 32' x 23'. Its original owner was T.B. Wales & Company. The ship was built for the India and Far East trade, operating out of Boston as a home port.

In 1878, the TEMPLAR made a momentous voyage from New York to San Francisco which took 320 days to complete. After departing New York on September 14, 1878, the ship encountered gales and hurricanes. After calling at Rio de Janerio for repairs, the ship suffered an outbreak of yellow fever that decimated the crew. Off Cape Horn, the main fresh water tank leaked and the ship lost all but 1200 gallons of fresh water. Working up the west coast of South America, the ship suffered through calms all the way to California, where it encountered strong winds and heavy fog.

The ship's master, Captain Armstrong, was affected by the yellow fever; and although he eventually recovered, his wife died on the voyage. His 20 year old daughter was also affected by yellow fever, but recovered sooner and was credited with navigating the ship for a considerable period and taking spells at the wheel while the captain was incapacitated. There is an account of this voyage in American Merchant Ships, volume 1, pg 317 (Matthews), where it was cited to be "one of the most unfortunate voyages recorded in connection with the California trade."

After this ordeal, the ship was based in San Francisco and from 1879 through 1894 it operated in coastwise Pacific trade carrying coal or lumber. It had several owners, including E.A. Scott, T. Magee, and the Seattle Coal and Transportation Company. It was converted to bark rig during this stretch. The TEMPLAR was eventually sold to parties in Mollendo, Peru, and renamed LOS TRES AMIGOS. In April 1895, at a guano port, its anchor parted in a heavy swell. The ship drifted ashore and was a total loss.

Acquisition information:

SAFR-00001

This collections was transferred from Golden Gate National Recreation Area to San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park.

Processing information:

Note on Description: The descriptions in this collection guide were compiled using the best available sources of information. Such sources include the creator's annotations or descriptions, collection accession files, primary and secondary source material and subject matter experts. While every effort was made to provide accurate information, in the event that you find any errors in this guide please contact the reference staff in order for us to evaulate and make corrections to this guide. P lease cite the title and collection number in any correspondence with our staff.

Arrangement:

This is a collection of two items: the original and a photocopy of the logbook.

Physical location:
San Francisco Maritime NHP, Historic Documents Department
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard .

Indexed terms

Subjects:
Logbooks
Weather

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Processed by: Historic Documents Department Staff (Bailey).
Date Prepared:
2012
Date Encoded:
Machine-readable finding aid derived from ICMS database and converted into xml from a template revised and updated by San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Historic Documents Department. 8/24/2012 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for use unless otherwise noted.

Terms of access:

Some material may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the researcher's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections.

Preferred citation:

[Item description], [Location within collection organization identified by Collection Number/Series Number/File Unit Number/Item Number], HDC0058 (SAFR 14268), Templar (built 1858; ship, 3m) logbook, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

Location of this collection:
Building E, Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94123, US
Contact:
415-561-7030
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