James Knight Rebbeck 1848 - 1910

ON BOARD THE SALADIN
Diary commencing
Oct. 6th 1863
James Rebbeck

Oct. 7th
The ship sailed. The Tug that first had her in tow hauled off and a more powerful one took her place. Have felt no feeling of sickness. Helped the sailors. One hand still in bed. Think of writing home. The Tug hauls off a mile or 2 till morning. We anchored off North Foreland. The Ship pitches very much. I go on deck and am very sick.
Soon get better and come down. I go to bed which I have to make before I get into it. I can hardly do it I feel so weak and giddy. Saw numbers of Birds during the day of all sorts. Sparrows, and finches, thrushes, robins, Petrels and Gulls.

Octr 8th
Had a very bad night for me, woke up several times. Got up at sunrise, went to the fo'castle and helped the men a little. Can eat no breakfast, soon very sick again.
At daybreak the tug again took us in tow. About midday we cast her off and set sail. Pass Ramsgate and Margate and a line of white Cliffs. Saw the wreck of some ship sunk with only her stern above water. Pass Dover Castle just before dinner. Pass two light ships. Saw two lighthouses.
Passed Hastings in the dark, the town lamps looked very beautiful, forming a long line along the beach. Sheering due west with a fresh breeze and the ship pitches.
Wrote home.

Octr 9th
Sent my letter by the pilot who left us in a cutter off The Wight; the Island looked very pleasant. We saw a very pretty little town built on the side of a hill. Passed St. Catherine's Point and Lighthouse.
In the evening it blew nearly a gale. I stayed out in it till late.

Octr 10th
Stayed in bed all day. I ate nothing, felt very sick and bad.

Octr 11th Sunday
Got up in the morning, did not know what day it was; was going to grind my chisels when one of the men told me it was Sunday . Had no appetite.
Read a good deal in my cabin. Passed Lizzard Point in the afternoon. Looked at the Lighthouses with the Captain's glass. No divine service held owing to the weather.
Passed a fine large ship that had no sail set and apparently without a crew or any living being on board, a sight that even the Captain had never before witnessed.

Octr 12th Monday
Stayed in bed all day and ate nothing till tea time. In the evening it was very wet and there were several very beautiful rainbows, one in particular, its reflections being so distinct that all the prismatic colours were easily traced.

Octr 13th Tuesday
Got up to breakfast but very weak. Stayed in bed till Dinner time reading. Still very weak and no appetite. I have not vomited since the 8th. I went on deck hoping that the cold wind would do me good and my hopes were realized.
I went to bed with all my clothes on some time before tea and slept till about 8 o'clock I then got up and had my bed made and undressed and went to bed again for good.

Octr 14th Wednesday
We have left Purfleet a week today.
I have slept better and feel better altogether this morning, ate some meat for breakfast. The weather still continues bad but the glass has risen a little. The wind keeps us out of our course.
The wind fell and it became rather warmed but it is just the contrary now and the motion of the ship is not at all agreeable.
I had a spell at drawing all the morning till Dinner time. After dinner I went on deck for nearly an hour. I then came down and stayed in the cabin reading till I had to move for the table cloth. I was compelled to go out for an airing as I had sat so long just in the draught of the door that I was quite numbed in my feet and legs.
I am not quite as I ought to be yet I feel weak and have what I call no appetite. I have had the cat we have on board on my knees all the time I have been sitting in the cabin.
It is very cold and I do not intend beginning my vessel till both I and the weather get more favourable.

Octr 15th Thursday
I slept better though I had very unpleasant dreams but on the whole I feel better yet I am not as I ought to be.
After breakfast I went on deck and found that the wind had chopped round more favourably and we were sailing more in our course. The Sun shone brightly and it began to rain in the distance. It was pretty to see the rainbow caused by it gradually approach our ship as the rain moved and remained stationery apparently only about 50 yards from the Ship.
I came into my cabin and commenced smoothing my wood in preparation for operations but as my cabin was, owing to the change of the wind, on the "lee" instead of the "weather" side of the ship, I could do but little and soon put everything away.
I stayed on deck nearly all the afternoon on and off till it was too cold for me to stay there any longer even with my Inverness on so I came in and went to sleep on the floor of my cabin till tea time.
The Captain did not come to tea, I do not know why. When I went on deck after dark I found the sea was phosphorescent, balls of fire floated round the ship and in the wake, patches as large of the palm of one's hand surrounded by innumerable small ones.

Octr 16th Friday
I slept much better than I have done and got up feeling much better. After breakfast I began to cut my wood narrower having altered my mind as to the breadth of my vessel, and after a tedious job I had not only cut it to the right size but also squared and smoothed it so that it was ready for marking out.
That was a little after eight bells when I had rested a few minutes. I set to marking out and by the time the first dinner bell rang I had marked out all the center lines.
After dinner I finished all the marking out and though I did not at first intend to do so yet the wood looked so tempting, I began shaping her bows a little, but it was very troublesome work as the ship was on the wrong tack so I soon left off.
I put on my inverness and went on deck and there were two homeward bound ships, one on each Bow, that we had commenced making signals to. The one on the "Lee" side, which was the nearest to us, had to me somewhat a peculiar look about her; her masts were taller and she was painted a dull slate colour without any variation, yet she looked very "Taunt" and graceful.
I afterwards found she was a Frenchman. The other was English but was not in time to catch our Signals but the other did that for her and very quickly too.
Afterwards I finished cutting out a little boat I had begun about 2 1/2 inches long and then did nothing till tea time. All the time I was working in my cabin I had our cat by my side on my greatcoat which I had laid on the floor.
I went out of the room for a minute or two after dinner and shut the door and when I came in again she ran out mewing but when she found I stayed in there she walked in purring, stopped and rubbed noses (our mode of salutation) and then made herself comfortable.
Soon after as I did not make any noise as I had been doing she seemed to think I must be gone so she got up and was going off but I stroked her to tell her all was right and she smelt me then looked up in my face and rubbed noses as if to make sure it was. I then rolled myself upon my Inverness.

Octr 17th Saturday
The wind broke off while I was getting up this morning.
Just before breakfast a Brig altered her course and sent her ensign up the Mainmast head (Signal of distress) to attract attention as much as she could and of course we answered her when lo and behold she only wanted to know her Longitude which we told her.
Directly after breakfast I set to work again in good earnest and by two bells I had nearly finished her "Port" side and the greater part of the rough work in the "Starboard" side.
After dinner I began again but did very little. I then emptied my little deal box, got out all my tools and several other things; when I had put the remainder in again I collected all my shavings in a heap and gave all my shelves a complete refit so that where things were put up at random, each thing has its place and I can lay my hand on it when I wish.
I went on the Poop and the 2nd Mate was overhauling the "Log". I had a book lent me by one of the crew rather later in the afternoon and I was in the waist reading it till tea time.

Octr 18th Sunday
This time I was under no mistake as to the day this our second Sunday at sea. I slept till late and very soundly. After Breakfast I got that book that Aunt Biggs gave me The Young Cadet and read it right through from beginning to end by a little after eight bells with the cat on my knees all the time.
I sat some time longer unwilling to move my black friend. After a while I went in to my berth and changed my clothes and put on my best; by that time it was two bells and dinner was nearly ready. After dinner I went on the poop for an airing and stayed out till tea time; the Captain stayed in bed instead of having tea with us.
The sea has risen considerably and it is very inconvenient writing as I am in momentary expectation of being rolling on the floor.

Octr 19th Monday
Last night I kept on deck till 10 o'clock and when I came to bed I found the cat rolled up very comfortably on it and as she did not seem inclined to move I did not disturb her at all, I got in. When I woke this morning I found her still on the bed by my head asleep.
After Breakfast I had another spell at drawing and I kept on till Dinner time with my pussy on my knees for she will always come and jump up whether I call her or not as soon as I am settled.
I began my drawing again just after dinner and long before tea time I had finished it. It is the section of my intended Brig___
Not long before Dinner the wind hauled round in our favour and we are again in our true course but the weather is still far from being agreeable and I have not been on the poop once today; it is cold and damp; the deck is never dry, partly from rain and partly the water which is continually washing our deck. It makes it quite miserable to be out.
There is constantly a good deal or a bad deal of sea running and the vessel is far from a good sea-boat so that the waves often board us.

Octr 20th Tuesday
Today has been as different from yesterday as chalk from cheese. When I got up there was not a ripple on the water and scarcely any wind, the sails flapping idly against the masts. There was only the gentle swell caused by the recent sea which just gently lifted the vessel with an easy motion; the sun was shining making the water glitter and it did really look enchanting compared to what we have had.
I saw numbers of Polyphy float past us (a sign of calm). They were generally a sort of cylindrical shape from half the size of one's little finger to half a good sized table leg but just as I was going to Dinner I saw one a good yard long and three or four inches in diameter. A few of them were spherical but they were red; the others were grayish white and semi-transparent with one red end and not always that.
They have been nearly all day showing the chain cables, pugging the hauseholes and making fast the anchors across the fo'castle instead of being catted and fished as they were before.
The wind has freshened since dinner so that we are moving a little now but it is much colder and has begun to rain. I have been drawing today. I began about the middle of the morning and finished some time after dinner the external view of the part above watermark of my intended model. I have some idea of naming her Wave Queen.

Octr 21st Wednesday
We have left Purfleet 14 days and are not yet in warm weather nor have we much prospect of it. Today the weather has been miserable, a foul and cold wind is now blowing and about eight bells this afternoon it has come on to rain. I have done a little drawing today also a little to my vessel. I have considerably altered it according to the carpenter's advice.

Octr 22nd Thursday
I have had a very bad night but I have a good appetite. The wind fell off about 4 o'clock but when I got up there was still some sea running from the squally weather in the [direction?] for the sea will not go down in a few minutes like the wind. I did nothing particular this morning. By two bells the breeze had freshened up quite sensibly. After dinner I read a little of my book of Natural Philosophy and Learnt a Proposition in Euclid; after that I did some sums out of my Mensuration. I read another hour or two and then went out for an airing. The breeze was nice and fresh. I then went to bed till tea time, four bells. After tea I went on deck to enjoy the moonlight; I did so for it is neither too cold nor at all warm and the wind does not seem to pierce through one as it did.

Octr 23rd Friday
This morning the wind was still foul and it was blowing a fresh breeze. After Breakfast I did two or three Mensuration Problems and being tired of that I took a turn on the Poop, the breeze still blowing fresh. When I had stayed up there about an hour it came on to blow quite a gale but it did not last long and was a "squall"; just as I came off the Poop it abated and soon after we had dinner. After dinner, not feeling inclined to do anything, I changed my trowsers which were wet through and went to bed and when I was tired of doing nothing which was not long after I read till dark. It was not quite tea time so I had a small walk on deck just to air myself and the moon was shining beautifully. The wind also had not only lulled but chopped round, just to the opposite direction to what it was blowing before, and we were steering south instead of N. West. At the present time her head is S.S. by W. and the moon still shining clearer than ever.

Octr 24th Saturday
Today it has been raining a good deal and altogether it has been very miserable. I have stayed in the Cabin nearly all day except in the morning when it was fine but such days as these I do not feel inclined for doing anything.

Octr 25th
3rd Sunday at sea
This has to me as well as the crew been a very unpleasant day. In the night the wind freshened and it was blowing a fresh breeze with waves running on an average of 15 knots. After Breakfast I went on deck to enjoy myself but that did not last long for it began to rain and I soon got tired of looking at the waves. After dinner I was standing on a large spar on the Port side and as it was slipping, the ship lurched, and off I went sprawling into the lee scuppers and the water that was washing the deck all came on top of me and filled my shoes, besides wetting my trowsers and coat through so that I had to change them, but I left my boots on as I felt no inconvenience from them.

Octr 26th Monday
Today is worse than yesterday, there is more sea and also rain. In the morning when I was on deck a heavy sea came alongside and my scuttle being open then the water came in deluging my bunk and cabin. After dinner I took off my shoes and socks and went barefoot the remainder of the day. In the afternoon I was sitting in the quarter boat reading when all of a sudden a heavy squall of wind and rain came on and I bundled out not willing to be exposed to its violence even with my inverness on (as it came down more in streams than in drops). By the time I had got to the cabin door, I was wet through in my trowsers and the tail of my inverness was soaked through. I had not to go a distance of 40 ft.

Octr 27th Tuesday
The weather is much better than it was yesterday but still it is not as fine as one could wish. The men have been occupied nearly all day in getting up the Stronsail-booms [Strunsail] and gear.

Octr 28th Wednesday
Today the weather has been passably warm but we have had no rain. I have been sitting for the greater part of the morning on the Bowsprit watching the crew set the Stronsails. I stayed out with the 2nd Mate till midnight because I wanted to enjoy the moonlight; now the moon rises about six and does not set till after sunrise and all that time, if it is not cloudy, it is almost as light as day.

Octr 29th Thursday
We have left the downs three weeks today. There has nothing particular happened today and I have found the time very tedious. I have read through three books and the greater part of two more. All day the weather has been nice and fine but while we were at tea it began to rain quite sharp. The crew has been mostly employed in getting out all the spare sails to dry and ranging them in better order below. Just before tea time I took my boat to the carpenter and he gave me some advice respecting it.

Novr 1st Sunday
Today the weather is delightful, it is just like a fine summer day in England. In the afternoon I was on deck looking carelessly over the water when I espied a flying fish at some distance off skimming along the water. It was the first I have seen.

Novr 3rd
This morning we sighted St. Antonio the largest of the Cape Verde Is. It is a very high island and looks like an immense black mountain seen low in the middle of the sea. In the afternoon I hollowed out my boat and nearly got the deck ready. I stayed on deck till midnight and saw ten aerolites.

Novr 4th
We sighted first Brava and next behind it Fogo , both remarkably high mountains, the latter being 10,000 ft. high and a volcano constantly burning. They are 27 miles apart and in the afternoon when we were about 50 miles from it you could see its tall summit peering above the clouds. The only thing I can liken it to is an immense cloud. In the morning I saw several shoals of flying fish.

Novr 5th Thursday
This morning I saw thousands of flying fish. The weather is delightful. It is just like a hot summer's day and the nights are clear and refreshing. I have eight hours out tonight (i.e. from eight till twelve and from four till eight) that is a practice I mean to continue every other night.

Novr 6th Friday
Today the men have been changing the Sails.

Novr 7th Saturday
Last night I laid down on one of the seats in the cabin between 9 and 10 and dropped off to sleep and I seemed to dream that it was very hard to keep from rolling down somewhere and that woke me and finding myself in the dark I could not make out where I was but a moment's consideration brought me to myself and I turned in.

Novr 8th Sunday
Very rainy. In the evening I killed 56 cockroaches.

Novr 10th Tuesday
Squalls.

Novr 11th Wednesday
Last night I killed 111 cockroaches in one hour in the cabin. During the day I saw three waterspouts.

Saturday 14th
The Captain and 2nd Mate caught several sea cucumbers in the evening.

Tuesday 17th
The weather is still fine and we expect to have a continuance of it. If the wind is fair we shall cross the line tomorrow.

Wednesday 19th
Crossed the line today at 4 o'clock in the afternoon but had no shaving .

Thursday 26th
There have been quite 200 Porpoises playing round us this morning.

Saturday 28th
Rainy.

Sunday 29th
Rainy.

Monday 30th
Very fine. We have been becalmed a good part of the day. I went up to the mizzen topsail yard to see the sunset and it was magnificent.

Tuesday December 1st
Very fine and no breeze. This morning early a barque hove in sight. The sunset was magnificent.

Wednesday December 2nd
The barque that was at the horizon yesterday was near enough to see her hull this morning and after breakfast she came near enough to speak with her. She was a Hamburgher from Cardiff to Hong Kong. The Antonia. I have been working all day tightening the head stays and have had my first moskeetoe bite. It is a beautiful day but not quite so bright as yesterday; it is as hot or hotter than our hottest summer days in England. I do not feel the heat much as I am at work, what a difference to the weather in England while people are remarking what a hard frost it was last night and going about in overcoats and comforters, I am at work with only my shirt, trowsers, and hat on and the deck burning my bare feet.

Thursday December 3rd
This morning another Barque and 2 ships hove in sight, and the other barque we saw yesterday was not hull down. Before that barque hove in sight we had not seen a vessel for a fortnight. The last of the ships as the ships as she crossed our bows gave us her name William Carvill of Boston. After dinner another ship hove in sight but standing with her head towards us so we could not tell her rig. About 3 bells in the first dogwatch I made her out to be a barque and she was then crossing our stern. Today the weather is really splendid and I have been doing nothing.

Friday Decr 4th
The breeze freshens and we are going about 10 [knots].

Saturday Decr 5th
The weather is rather better today than yesterday.

[The journal comes to an end here.]

Transcription from a photocopy of grandfather's original journal.
Judith Rebbeck Watten
California U. S. A.
November, 1995

Extract from email correspondence 9th April 2000
Susan Hale Leake asked Judy Rebbeck Watten

He was very young to be making such a trip. Do you know why he set out in the first place? Did his grandparents think they had done enough and a young man should make his way in the world or was he simply eager to explore?

Judy's reply -

I wish I could answer these questions. He was the oldest son. His dad's dad had been wealthy (don't you love these stories) but his dad died when he was young, his mom remarried - her second husband outlived her so no property came to that son. And he eloped with an illiterate farm girl - beautiful they say - anyway, grandpa's dad was so poor. He was a surveyor/land measurer and from time to time, a Census enumerator.

His (grandfather's father) family reputation was for laziness but - who we know next to nothing about him. Before grandpa's mother had another baby, her parents took grandpa and raised him in Devizes. I don't know why! Perhaps they saw something special in him - perhaps they were appalled by the living conditions - perhaps the young mother begged them to relieve her of the responsibility during her second pregnancy - just speculation.

He didn't know he was 15 - he thought he was 14! They lied to him about his age so he would never imagine in a million years his mom was pregnant when she got married. What a shock for him right! I don't think he ever knew he was born in 1848 and not 1849. He stayed with an uncle (his mom's brother) and aunt in Calcutta. They didn't have any children yet. They sent him to school and he got a fine education. Of course, years and years later when he got back to England with a French speaking wife and daughter - about 25 yrs after he left - he knew nothing of England and owned nothing there. His wife was pregnant (what else is new in the 1800s). He had to find work and found it in Canada but - only enough money for one fare - so he left his wife and daughter - the new baby died in Devizes - and went alone and left them there alone. They arrived over a year later after he'd saved enough money. I need to find out more about that trip. Grandpa wrote tersely in his journal - took the day off today! I'll bet

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