A neatly-written and illustrated sea journal kept by James Dudman, the second mate on board the East India Company's ship Winchelsea during a 1822-23 voyage to India. Launched in 1803, the Winchelsea was already a veteran East Indiaman, this being her ninth voyage - she made a total of eleven voyages for the EIC before she was broken up in 1834. On the present voyage, commanded by Captain William Adamson, she carried 592 people, including the 17th and 44th Regiments of Foot and detachments of the King's and EIC's soldiers, and a number of women and children. The sea journal volume is accompanied by two additional volumes by Dudman containing pencil sketches of unidentified masted sailing vessels.
The Winchelsea's journey, from its departure at Blackwall Dock on April 24, 1822, to its arrival in Bengal and eventual return to England via St. Helena and The Downs, on May 24, 1823, reflects the extensive maritime routes integral to British imperial dominance. The ship's role in transporting personnel and cargo exemplifies the strength of the EIC's logistical network, sustaining Britain's colonial and economic interests in India. The journal, with its careful record-keeping, offers an intimate glimpse into the daily operations, experiences, and extraordinary events encountered by the second mate aboard an East Indiaman during Britain's height of imperial expansion.
The journal, written in Dudman's beautiful scribe-like handwriting, opens with an entry dated 24 April 1822 at Blackwall Dock where the voyage started, "bound for Bengal." The next few pages contain a detailed listing of the people on board, beginning with the ship's company of 122 men (with names), followed by the troops on board: "List of a detachment of His Majesty's Troops, belonging to the 44th Regt. of Foot on board the Honable. Company's Ship Wincelsea for Bengal" (comprising name and rank of 367 men), followed by the names of 42 women on board, as well as the name and age of 57 children on board (including 3 who died at sea), plus 4 additional passengers.
At Saugur [meaning Sagar Island] they took on board further passengers, duly noted in an additional "List of H.M. 17th Regiment of Foot, with the Women and Children accompanying them. Embarked on board the Honble. Company's ship Winchelsea at Saugur New Anchorage for England."
Beyond the usual records of position, winds, weather, and other ships, Dudman includes interesting notes on unusual occurrences. Perhaps the most fascinating event was recorded on February 10, 1823: a major earthquake off the coast of India experienced by the Winchelsea: "At 10 minutes past 1 PM every one on board was greatly alarmed at the singular feel of the ship, which was in a violent trembling motion, as if the ship was grazing over a rocky shoal, and a loud rumbling noise, similar to the roll.g[!] of a Bull quickly along the deck, this very singular seuration [?] lasted certainly not less than a minute, those below ran on deck to enquire the cause, and those below the poop below to ask the same question. I was in the round house at the time when it comen'd. The noise appeared to me as coming along the quarter deck, and instantly over the poop, the sea was smooth and the day clear. I looked out at the stern windows but saw no appearance of any shoal, which I certainly would have done, had such existed. The water being very clear and the ship not going more than 2 knots, I cannot account for this very singular phenomenon in any other way than its being the shock of an Earthquake".
The voyage journal of the Winchelsea during its 1822-23 journey to Bengal provides valuable insight into the maritime operations of the EIC, its commercial and colonial reach, and the strategic importance of British trade with India in the early 19th century. As a veteran East Indiaman, the Winchelsea was part of the vast trading network that connected Britain with the Indian subcontinent, transporting soldiers, goods, and passengers under the auspices of the EIC, which functioned as both a commercial enterprise and a colonial governing force.
The journal volume contains the typographic book plate of Mr. Jas. Dudman on the front pastedown and a manuscript inscription in ink on the first flyleaf by Lumsden Dudman, who was married to Mary Anne Shirreff ("Joseph H. Shirreff from L.S. Dudman Xmas 1892"), one of the sketchbooks contains a manuscript inventory list in Greek of goods for sale on the first flyleaf and one of the sketchbooks with ownership signature "L: Dudman / Sept. 27, 1836" (likely Rev. Lumsden S. Dudman, perhaps a brother of James Dudman). Some general wear to the leather spines and corners of the boards of the volumes, occasionally foxed but overall internally clean. Overall in good condition.