Logs of the ship Joseph Maxwell and the ship Midas, 1848–1857

Wednesday Jan [JANUARY] 31st 1849 Fore part light winds from E to NE some think weather at 1 pm saw the land three kings south 15 leagues middle and latter thick weather. Latt [LATTITUDE] 33.23 Long [LONGITUDE] 172.15 E

Thursday February 1st Fore part light winds from NNW. Thick weather middle and latter the same Latt [LATTITUDE] 33.13 Long [LONGITUDE] 171.48 [STAMP] 38 [STAMP] Lost

Friday 2nd Fore part light winds from E. Saw sperm whales. Struck 2. Drew from one. Took the other along side. Cut him in. A sail in sight Latt [LATTITUDE] 33.19 Long [LONGITUDE] 171.51

Saturday 3rd Fore part light winds from E. Boiling middle and latter rain with strong winds. Cooled the works

Sunday 4th Fore part strong winds from NNW with rain. Middle and latter the same.

Monday 5th Fore part brisk gales from S with rain. Middle and latter thick weather. Finished boiling. 2 sails in sight.

Tuesday 6th Fore part brisk winds from NE. Thick weather middle and latter light winds [???] stowing Latt [LATTITUDE] 32.55 Long [LONGITUDE] 172.18

Wednesday 7th Fore part light winds from NE. Finished stowing middle and latter thick weather. A bark in sight Latt [LATTITUDE] 33.07 Long [LONGITUDE] 171.45 W

Thuresday [THURSDAY] 8th February 1849 Fore part light winds from SSE. Thick winds middle and latter brisk winds. 4 sails in sight Latt [LATTITUDE] 33.10 Long [LONGITUDE] 172.40 E

Friday 9th Fore part strong winds and [HAZY?] from ESE. Middle and latter the same. Latt [LATTITUDE] 33.06 Long [LONGITUDE] 172.02 E

Saturday 10th Fore part strong winds from E. Hazy middle. The same latter light from NE. Saw kings SE Latt [LATTITUDE] 33.34 Long [LONGITUDE] 171.30 E

Sunday 11th Fore part light winds from NE middle and latter the same. Latt [LATTITUDE] 33.05 Long [LONGITUDE] 171.48

Monday 12th Fore part light ares [AIRS] and calm from E [BY?] South Latt [LATTITUDE] 33.12 Long [LONGITUDE] 171.50

Tuesday 13th Fore part light from NNW. Saw the kings. Middle and latter light some squally Latt [LATTITUDE] 33.12 Long [LONGITUDE] 172.27 E

Wednesday 14th Fore part light winds from the S. Middle and latter from E to NE. Thick weather. 1 sail in sight.

Thuresday [THURSDAY] 15th Fore part light winds from ESE. 2 sails in sight at 6.30 pm. Kings SSW 9 leagues. Middle and latter brisk wind Latt [LATTITUDE] 33.17 Long [LONGITUDE] 171.46

Friday 16th February 1849

Fore part brisk winds from SSW middle and latter the same

Latt [LATITUDE] 33.17 S. Long [LONGITUDE] 170.56

Saturday 17th

Fore part brisk winds from S one sail in sight middle and latter the same spoke ship Mechanic Potter 1800 Whale 250 sperm

Latt [LATITUDE] 33.08 L

Sunday 18th

Fore part brisk winds from SSW middle and latter the same

Latt [LATITUDE] 32.32 Long [LONGITUDE] 170.17 E

Monday 19th

Fore part light winds from S spoke ship Clifford Wayne middle and latter the same

Latt [LATITUDE 32.33 169.59

Tuesday 20

Fore part light winds S in Company with Clifford Wayne middle and latter light winds

Latt [LATITUDE] 32.32 S Long [LONGITUDE] 170.04

Wednesday 21st

Fore part light winds from E Clifford Wayne in sight middle and latter light winds

Latt [LATITUDE] 33.56 Long [LONGITUDE] 170.14

Thursday 22nd

Fore part light winds from ENE middle the same latter from NE saw Bark Canton Packet Cutting

Latt [LATITUDE] 34.24 S. Long [LONGITUDE] 170.52 E

Friday 23d February 1849 Fore part brisk winds from NE middle strong winds latter with rain Latt [LATITUDE] 64.20 Long [LONGITUDE] 170.26

Saturday 24th Fore part brisk gales from NNE rain middle the same latter strong winds thick weather a sail in sight Latt [LATITUDE] 34.38 Long [LONGITUDE] 170.32E

Sunday 25th Fore part strong winds from N to NE middle and latter light from WNW to W Latt [LATITUDE] 34.37 Long [LONGITUDE] 171.14E

Monday 26th Fore part light winds from N to NWd at 2 PM saw the Kings NE by E 16 leagues middle and latter light winds Kings E 3 leagues

Tuesday 27th Fore part light winds from NNW at 7 PM Kings, the North Island S by E 4 1/2 leagues spoke Bark Flying Childers of Hobart town Brown middle and latter light winds North Cape W by S 7 leagues at Meridian L

Wednesday 28th For part light winds at 7 PM Lauriston Bay bearing S 6 leagues

19th March Exchanged Fredrick Dahl for Jak Dodd Seaman of ship [COVE?] with a discharge.

Wednesday 21st march 1849 Fore part strong winds from the SW to W all ready for sea at 8 am. Took out anchor. Towed out of the river and proceded on out of the bay. Discharged Samuel Hopkins to go on board of ship Ceres of New Bedford

Thuresday [THURSDAY] 22nd Fore part brisk winds from the W. Stearing [STEERING] N. At 6 shortened sail. Middle and latter the same. Latt [LATITUDE] 34.01 S Long [LONGITUDE] 174.48 E

Friday 23rd Fore part brisk winds from N. Middle part rain with thunder and lightening. Latter light winds from W. Latt [LATITUDE] 33.50 Long [LONGITUDE] 175.20 E

Saturday 24th Fore part light winds from S. Middle and the same from W. A sail in sight. Latt [LATITUDE] 32.57 S Long [LONGITUDE] 175.49 E

Sunday 25th Fore part light winds from SW. Spoke [CARTER?] packet wanting 300 [BARRELS?] Middle and latter light winds. Latt [LATITUDE] 32.35 S Long [LONGITUDE] 175.16 E

Monday 26th Fore part light ares [AIRS] from WNW. Packet in sight. Middle and latter the same. Latt [LATITUDE] 32.24 Long [LONGITUDE] 175.46

Tuesday 27th Fore part light are [AIR] from SE [CARTER?] Packet and and an other ship in sight. Middle and latter thick weather from E. Latt [LATTITUDE] 32 Long [LONGITUDE] 177.00