Introduction Women Posing as Sailors Women and the British Navy Merchant and Whaling Wives

"Whither You Go I Shall Go":
Merchant and Whaling Wives

WHALING WIVES

By the nineteenth century, the whale population had been so depleted by overhunting that whaling ships commonly stayed at sea for three to five years just to fill up with a cargo of whale oil. Since these trips were so long, many wives and children followed their husbands and fathers to sea.

It was common practice, particularly in the vast Pacific, to stop and talk with those on a passing ship. These contacts were called "gams."The captain of one ship would invite the other captain and his family over for tea or dinner, and they would share news and tips on good whale- hunting grounds. These gatherings were a pleasant break from daily life on board a whaler.

Sarah Tabor

Daniel Tabor was a whaling captain from New Bedford, Massachusetts. His wife Sarah and two daughters lived with him on board a large whaling ship. While sailing the Pacific, the ship stopped for supplies at various islands. One of the most popular stops was the Hawaiian Islands, where missionary homes were thrown open to the travelers.

During whaling voyages, captains were required to keep logbooks detailing location, weather, and whales caught. Once Captain Tabor had filled most of each page of his logbook, he gave it to his wife to finish. Sarah Tabor wrote recipes and poetry and even wove the hair of dead friends into the pages. The Tabors' oldest daughter, Asenath, kept her own logbook.

Tuesday, January 2, 1855
First part fine with strong winds from the S.E. Ship with all said out heading W.S.W. employed in ships duty. So ends this day. —Captain Daniel Tabor


Tuesday, January 2, 1855
We made the Island [Weyatootake] this morning at four o'clock A.M. We ran for Longataboo until half past 11. Then stood off till four native in a canoe came. One of them agreed to show us the anchorage for one hatchet. He is Nowon Boaw. Expect to get in to- morrow. He had no clothes on and he said me ashamed, so Father gave him some pants and Mr Edwards a shirt. I gave him a pipe and Mr Smith some tobaco. And then he was allright. —Asenath P. Tabor

Logbook of Sarah Parker Tabor aboard the Whale ShipCopia July 11, 1848-May 8, 1851 The Mariners' Museum Research Library and Archives

Hairwork decoration was a popular pastime in the Victorian era. Sarah Tabor took locks of hair from friends and from each member of her family and placed them in the logbook.

Absent Friends By Sarah Tabor on theCopia, 1848 When pleasure lays at music strain, And mirth assails the heart in vain, So pensive thoughts the bosom bends And finds a theme in absent friends Remembrance then unfolds her store Afflictionstale oft told before And fancys magic vision bends To catch a view of absent friends Pale apprehension starts with fear Some sad vicissitudes to hear And hope with causeless tenour blends For fate unknown to absent friends The parent fond, and dutious child, The feeling heart by love beguiled, Each to kind Heaven a boon commands That Heaven be kind to absent friends A Song of Home By Sarah Tabor on theAlice Frazier, 1851 Why, oh my heart! this yearning sadness Breathing forth in sigh and moan, This foreign land is bright with gladness, Why, my heart, thus dark and lone? Why am I sad? Oh! lonely ever, Mourn I all afar from me; The foreign land is fair, but never like my pleasent home can be There, no such fond love to endear me— None so warmly grasp the hand— E'en prattling childhood fails to cheer me As in my own dear native land. Peace, my heart, though lone and dreary, Patient bear thy lot, and then He who comforteththe weary— Soon shall bring thee home again.

Cooking on Board

On most whaling and merchant ships, the captain hired a steward to cook and clean for himself and the officers. Sarah Tabor would not have had to cook the meals, but she may have prepared special treats for gaming or holidays. Below are a few recipes in the logbook from the whaleshipCopia.


波写了她的食谱的日志,但她forgot one ingredient. Brainstorm what the missing ingredient was and how you could alter the recipe to make it work.