Maritime Archive and Library

Log of the Unity for a slaving voyage

Archive reference D/Earle/1/1

This log covers a slaving voyage from Liverpool to Holland and then to Calabar, West Africa, which started in 1769.

Kept by the vessel's captain, Robert Norris, the log gives a rare insight into life on board a slave ship. Events mentioned in the log include deaths of slaves and insurrections (revolts) on board. The log is a rare survival, and was salvaged from a coal shed in Ireland.

Read the transcript of this page below.

Part transcript of the log of the Unity

Friday April 27th 1770. Light breeze and pleasant weather. Unmoored ship and ye Boat was first in shore to bring off the Remdr of ye Water Casks, and ye Water warps at 10 am.

The Captain came onboard.

Saturday Apl. 28. Fresh breeze the first port of these 24 Hours, ye middle part Squally with Rain at 2 am hove up with a light breeze off ye Land, at 9 am set Top Mast Steering Sails, at Meridian Whydah Trees bore North about 5 Leagues, employed stowing ye Anchor, getting ye Boats in and clearing Decks. 227 Slaves on board.

Sunday Apl. 29th 1770

H, K, HK, Course, Winds

• 2, 1, ", SWSW, SE, Light airs with calm & clear weather
• 4, 1, ", -, -, these 24 hours
• 6, 1, ", -, -, a strong current to ye SE
• 8, 2, ", -, -, Hauled down ye Steering Sails
• 10, 2, 2, WSW, South, -
• 12, 1, 1, west, SSW, Courses SSW 33 miles
• 2, 1, 1, WEN, SWES, Distnce 33 Miles
• 4, ", ", -, -, Lat. obsd. 5": 47" No.
• 6, ", ", Calm her, Head, Long.de in 5: 57 East
• 8, ", ", to ye, SW, Whydah is in 6: 10 Et Longde
• 10, ", ", -, -, St. Thomas's bay 8: 34 East
• 12, 1, ", SW, NE, Set main & fore Topmast Steering sails
• 2, ", ", Calm, -, -
• 4, 2, ", SESE, SSWW, Moderate breeze and serene weather
• 6, 3, 1, -, -, -
• 8, 3, ", -, -, -
• 10, 2, ", -, -, -
• 12, 2, 1, -, -, -
• 2, 2, 1, -, -, -
• 4, 2, 1, -, -, -
• 6, 3, ", ", -, Employed making some necessary repairs in ye rigging, & cleaning ye Arms.
• 8, 3, ", SSE, SW, -
• 10, 2, ", ", -, Courses ESE Distance 53 miles
• 12, 1, 1, -, -, Lat: obsd. 5: 32 No. Long.de in 6° 44" East.