SEA CAPTAIN SALEM O. NORTON LOG BOOK 1855-1862

Item #647

6.5 x 8” green and red marbled book with black corners and spine. Both covers are detached from the spine. The book, which has blue pages, and it appears to be a ship log kept by Captain Salem O. Norton of Castine, Maine. Norton notes trips from Antwerp to New York, New York to Constradt, Russia, to Alicante, Spain,to Bristol, England, New Orleans, amongst others. The album dates from 1855 to 1875 and has close to 300 pages, though most of the entries are from the 1850s and early 1860s. He seems to have been Captain of more than one ship, including Grahams Polley. Loose within the book is an invitation to Captain Norton of the ship Aurora from the Headquarters Grand Marshal on behalf of Citizens of San Francisco to participate in a celebration of the 99th Anniversary of America’s independence in 1875.

Example entries:
Looking Back.
Adversity and affliction awaited us.
Many who would have treated us with kindness and attention if our father had lived and prospects had been our lot thot not of us in our sorrow and seclusion. Some of those whose duty it was to protect us and to see that out little property was [illegible] cared for [illegible] only to enrich themselves from the position of the widow & the father[illegible].
I see them. I cannot forget. Salem O. Norton

Love is the fountain of patience and peace,
Pictures of seal life touches the heart with power, my heart goes out to wash those beloved ones with the tenderest yearnings, on the sea La#30”30 Long 20”00.



1857 Ship Lochinvar from Liverpool for New Orleans cargo 611 Tons salt at 11/
March 20th at 5 A.M. set underway with a Tug Boat Calm & Thick weather mild aleast up a little with a fine breese from the Eastward at 8 [illegible] [illegible] head from 10 to 4 A.M. blowing high and stormy from S.E.
Saturday 21. At 8 A.M. near the Bishop roll light aride to sit our Chanel pilot off but the wind blowing & no ruff could not at 10-part the Snalls 3 miles [illegible] later fresh gales from ESE & clean weather pilot still on board name his appearance this morning.
Sunday 22 First & middle part fresh gales from ESE at 4 A.M. made Cape Clear Light at 6 P.M. it to inn around Mizen head in to Bantry Bay & landed Chanel pilot sent the Ships Boat off to land but came back could not land so must on the Shore finely a Boat came off which took the Pilot & at 12 A.M. we [illegible] on our [illegible], fine weather with fresh breezes from the Eastward which is correct.
Fine breezes from S.E. to N.E.
First part fresh gales from SWE [illegible] later lite & fine from NNE to North
First part lite winds from NNW middle West & lite later more cloudy with fresh freezes.
5 days from Liverpool 3 from Cape Clear [illegible] about a fourth course.
[latitude and longitude have not been copied here, but are written on the page].

Price: $650.00