The Voyages of Barzillai Pease, American Seaman, 1789-1826

Abstract

An account of the maritime career of an American seaman, captain and ship owner. Pease was born in 1773 and left full journals that covered his experience largely of whaling up to 1826. The many episodes quoted include several shipwrecks and describe the sometimes brutal nature of eighteenth century shipboard life. The ill-feeling that existed before 1812 between the US and Britain is already apparent and examples are given of British press ganging, compounded by US inability to prove nationality. Pease experienced life briefly as a prisoner of war before his appointment as Commander of American Military Transports on Lake Ontario. His final account is of a brief, unsuccessful, sojourn into treasure hunting.

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Filed under: Atlantic | Other (Nineteenth C) | Other (Eighteenth C) | Press Gangs
Subjects include: Biography | Manpower & Life at Sea | Whaling & Fishing