Print Page - Jamestown -- Reference: Transcription Example and Log Description

Old Weather: Classic => The Dockyard => Topic started by: AvastMH on 19 December 2012, 15:29:00

Title: Jamestown -- Reference: Transcription Example and Log Description
Post by: AvastMH on 19 December 2012, 15:29:00

If you want to look at similar pages for other ships go to: * * * Index - Use this to find your Ship * * * (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3210.0)

Welcome on board the USS Jamestown

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-lkbbMMBuK6s/Upw2FM_cwTI/AAAAAAAAPTI/M0NheQUr7CA/s612/jamestown.jpg?gl=GB)
(http:// ussjamestown.webs.com/ images/ history06.jpgSixth ship named Jamestown. USS Jamestown NX-05: United Earth ExplorerServed 2152-2155. Logs not available until 2205 so please start below with number 1.)

Have a look around the forum, and don't hesitate to pose questions! There are lots of people who would be happy to respond. Each time you join a new ship have a look for one of these pages.

Feel free to add your own questions and comments to:
Jamestown (1844) -- Discussion: Questions and Comments (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3513.0)
Jamestown (1866) -- Discussion: Questions and Comments (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3933.0)
Jamestown (1879) -- Discussion: Questions and Comments (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3936.0)
Jamestown (1886) -- Discussion: Questions and Comments (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3937.0)

If you are interested in the names of crew members see below and:
Jamestown (1844) -- Crew Lists (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3512.0)
Jamestown (1866) -- Crew Lists (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3932.0)
Jamestown (1879) -- Crew Lists (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3935.0)
Jamestown (1886) -- Crew Lists (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3934.0)

(http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/434/1850image.jpg)

Jamestown has a variety of log book formats. Some log books are the standard format (or very close to it) that you see in the Tutorial and that the Weather Observation tab is oriented towards. Other log books are very different from the standard format.

We currently have example log pages for the following formats:

8 February 1845: (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3534.msg57995#msg57995)
(http://www.cosmik.com/oldweather/vol001of067_036.jpg)
4 May 1850: (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3534.msg58942#msg58942)
(http://www.cosmik.com/oldweather/vol005of067_134.jpg)
19 January 1881: (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3534.msg58989#msg58989)
(http://www.cosmik.com/oldweather/vol044of067_047-1.jpg)
For help with 1886 numbers (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3513.msg70961#msg70961)

Links to further information about the ship:

http://naval-history.net/OW-US/Jamestown/USS_Jamestown.htm
http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/j2/jamestown-i.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Jamestown_%281844%29
http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/86/86016.htm
http://books.google.fr/books?id=F7upmCqjOxQC&pg=PA42&dq=Chipman+jamestown&hl=en&sa=X&ei=uq-UUuRX5b3KA9rYgKgK&ved=0CFEQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=jamestown&f=false
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa_Squadron
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Squadron
https://archive.org/stream/reportsofcaptain00unit#page/n7/mode/2up
https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/p/potato-famine-of-1847.html
http://folklife-media01.si.edu/liner_notes/smithsonian_folkways/SFW40189.pdf (look for 2. The Jamestown Homeward Bound)
http://www.history.navy.mil/library/online/jamestown%20voyage.htm
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSvcid=274346&GRid=37484147&
U. S. NAVY SHIP LIST - December 1848 (http://bluejacket.com/usn_ship_list_1848.htm)
http://www27.brinkster.com/ussjamestown/history.html

A fellow transcriber (wendolk) has created a database to help both transcribers and historians (and contributors are welcome ;)): Searchable Database (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=2872.0)
The set of logs for Jamestown (1866) start on September 5th, 1866 and end on March 9th, 1878.

(http://www.cosmik.com/oldweather/uss_jamestown_1847.jpg)

Title: Re: Jamestown -- Reference: Transcription Example and Log Description
Post by: AvastMH on 19 December 2012, 15:29:24

USS Jamestown

The flagship of forces engaged in the suppression of the slave trade off the West Indies.

This post covers a log page from 8 February 1845.

Comments on the log:

It is strongly recommended that only experienced transcribers attempt this log. On the other hand, if you are curious and careful, go right ahead!
This is not a standard log format.
- All the data, weather and events, is on a single page. For this reason, the 'Progress Bar', just above the image of the log page, will be out of sequence.
- The day starts at 1 PM rather than at 1 AM. This is a 'Nautical Day'. When ships were in port, they often switched back to a 'Civil Day' (midnight to midnight). Because of this, you may see some 36-hour 'days' in the logs. Just do your best to transcribe the pages as they are written. For more information, see "My log starts at 1 PM !!!" in Type What You See - Yes, but ... What About ... ? (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3191.msg51629#msg51629).
- Not all the data requested on the Weather Observation tab is available. If there is no corresponding column in the log, just leave the field in the entry box blank.
- The only columns from the log we use are: 'H' for 'Hour'; 'Winds' for 'Wind Dir'; 'Air' for 'Dry'; and 'Water' for 'Water'. NOTE that 'F' is placed next to 'K' (knots) and represents fathoms rather than wind force. Take special care to enter the readings correctly.
On the plus side, the handwriting is generally very readable!
Note that the date in the log is in US order (month, day, year) and on the Date tab the order is day, month, year following the Royal Navy format.
On the RN ships we encouraged transcribers to record the names of people, places, and ships mentioned in the log. This ship is not likely to enter arctic waters during this log. However the scientists would appreciate your recording sightings of sea ice on the Sea Ice tab and sightings of animals on the Animals tab if they occur. The historians would appreciate your recording refueling on the Refueling tab, again if this detail is provided.

Links to helpful transcribing information:

Guides for US logs (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3078.msg49657#msg49657)
Type What You See - Yes, but ... (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3191.msg51625#msg51625)
HELPFUL REFERENCE POSTS (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3301.0)
Handwriting Help (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?board=8.0)
What Does THAT mean? (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?board=9.0)
Technical Support (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?board=14.0)
Maps of Ireland and West Africa
- Cork, inc. Queenstown, or modern day Cobh, Ireland (http://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~3719~430055:A-pocket-companion-of-Ireland--Cont?sort=Pub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No&qvq=q:Ireland;sort:Pub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No;lc:RUMSEY~8~1&mi=1&trs=455)
- West Africa Slave Fort areas (http://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~2914~300050:Carte-d-Afrique--Dressee-pour-l-usa?sort=Pub_Date%2CPub_List_No_InitialSort&qvq=q:World_Area%3D%22Africa%22%2B;sort:Pub_Date%2CPub_List_No_InitialSort;lc:RUMSEY~8~1&mi=1&trs=403)
US Navy Officers (1798-1900) (http://www.history.navy.mil/books/callahan/index.htm)

Weather Section:
Example: http://www.djcosmik.com/oldweather/vol001of067_036.jpg (left hand page)

The written details are transcribed as follows, though the page you are working on will not display a grid in this way. Note that the data in some columns is not transcribed and that some logs do not have all the columns included on the Weather Observation tab, so, before clicking OK, check that your data is in the correct fields. It is more important to be accurate than to be fast. Only transcribe what is written. Ask on the forum for handwriting help if unsure.

Quote

Location | Place Name | Name = At Sea
Date = 08/02/1845

Hour | Wind Dir | Force | Bar Height | Ther Attached | Dry| Wet | Water | Weather Code | Cloud code | Clear Sky |
1 PM E 1/2 S
2 PM E 1/2 N 68 70
3 PM E
4 PM " 68 69
5 PM "
6 PM " 67 68
7 PM E by N
8 PM ENE 67 68
9 PM "
10 PM E 67 66
11 PM "
Midnight " 66 66
1 AM "
2 AM " 66 69
3 AM E by N
4 AM ENE 66 69
5 AM "
6 AM " 67 69
7 AM "
8 AM " 67 69
9 AM "
10 AM " 67 68
11 AM "
Merid " 67 68

Location | Observed | Latitude = 25 52 30 N | Longitude = 33 45 W

Notes for transcribers:

When the log book has Nautical Days (1PM to noon), as in this example, please include AM or PM with the hour and use midnight (or mid) and meridian (or merid or noon) for 12 o'clock when entering Weather Records. If you are not sure whether it is AM or PM, just enter the hour. You do not need to include AM/PM with the normal 1AM to midnight log format.
Events should be transcribed exactly as they are written.
Note that 1AM, 1am, 1 AM, and 1 am are all treated the same.
The first two wind directions (E 1/2 S and E 1/2 N) should be transcribed as written. Although wind directions are rarely given with this precision, this is a standard form. See Reading Wind Direction (16, 32, and 128 Point Compass Roses) (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=843.msg7628#msg7628). If a wind direction is ever given as E .5 S, it should be transcribed that way - Type What You See. In general, fractions are an exception to the TWYS rule. A distance of 11/2 miles should be converted to 1.5 miles. A latitude of 35 261/2 N should be converted to 35 26 30 N. For more information see: Type What You See - Yes, but ... Location (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3191.msg51629#msg51629) and Type What You See - Yes, but ... Sometimes it is simply not possible to type exactly what you see. (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3191.msg51631#msg51631)

Remarks Section:
Example: http://www.djcosmik.com/oldweather/vol001of067_036.jpg (Left hand page)

This side has been completely transcribed below to help new transcribers become familiar with both the writing and the language used. Nobody is expected to transcribe all the text! Following it are some comments about transcribing the remarks.

Quote

Log Book of the U.S. Ship Jamestown, R.B. Cunningham, Esqr, Commander

Remarks. At Sea, Feby 8th 1845.
Commences with fresh breezes and squally
weather: a heavy sea -
        Signed George R. Gray.
From 4 to 6 moderate gales and squally. Set
the mainsail and jib. Inspected the crew at
quarters. Signed H.J. Hartstene
From 6 to 8 fresh breezes and squally with heavy head
sea. Stowed the jib. Signed J.J.B. Walbach
From 8 to midnight fresh breezes and squally
with rain. At 8.45 hauled up the mainsail and
set the main spencer.
Signed George R. Gray
From midnight to 4 strong breezes and squally
at 3 set the mainsail and brailed up the main
spencer. Signed H.J. Hartstene.
From 4 to 8 moderate breezes and pleast.
At 5 set the jib and spanker. Showed our
colors to an English Hermaphrodite brig
standing to the West'd. At 7 shook out all
the reefs. At 8 set the topgallant sails
     Signed J.J.B. Walbach
From 8 to meridian fresh breezes and
clear weather with heavy sea. At 8.30
hauled down the fore topmast staysail
At 11.30 furled the topgallant sails.
Signed George R. Gray.

Water Expd. 225 galls. on hand 22,874 gls
Pork " 1Bbl " 114 Bbls
Bread " 136.5 lbs " 30.145.5 lbs
Pickles " 39 lbs " 1670 lbs
Beans " 9.75 gls " 33 bushels
Vinegar " 9.75 gls " 292.5 gals
Whiskey " 4.25 gls " 667.5 gals

Notes for transcribers:

As was noted under the Weather Section, the date and location should be transcribed:
Date = 08/02/1845
Location | Place Name | Name = At Sea
Location | Observed | Latitude = 25 52 30 N | Longitude = 33 45 W
With the exception of the date and locations, entering any or all of the information on this page is optional.
- If it interests you, you could note the sighting of the hermaphrodite brig on the Events tab (since the name of the ship is not given, it would not go on the Mentions tab).
  Event = Showed our colors to an English Hermaphrodite brig standing to the West'd.
There is no field on the page specifically for refueling. If the amount of coal received is mentioned, the data should go on the Refueling tab.
All the full stops (periods) used in the log entries have been transcribed, but full stops in common abbreviations may be omitted. See 'Sometimes we can take a little shortcut' in Type What You See - Yes, but ... (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3191.msg51631#msg51631) for more details.

Log keepers' quirks:

Capital 'V' looks like a small 'b' ('Cape de Verd Islands'):
(http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/7513/capitalv1844.jpg)
Capital 'Y' looks like a capital 'B' ('Navy Yard'):
(http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/2356/capitaly1844.jpg)
Sometimes uses a typically copperplate style 'fs' shaped 'ss', i.e. the first 's' is so long that it falls well below the line and looks like an 'f' (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_s). The 'ss' can also be mistaken for a 'p'.
The example here is the word 'passing clouds':
(http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/9769/jamestownss.jpg)
Sometimes the lowercase 'o' looks like an 'a'.

Other information and comments:

For more information about the Slave Trade from Africa: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_slave_trade#European_colonization_and_slavery_in_West_Africa
Commander and log keepers:
- Cunningham, Robert B.
  Midshipman, 30 November, 1814. Lieutenant, 13 January, 1825. Commander, 8 September, 1841. Captain, 14 September, 1855. Died 13 March, 1861.
- Gray, George R.
  Midshipman, 1 November, 1826. Passed Midshipman, 10 June, 1833. Lieutenant, 8 December, 1838. Reserved List, 13 September, 1855. Died 2 October, 1866.
- Hartstene, Henry J.
  Midshipman, 1 April, 1828. Passed Midshipman, 14 June, 1834. Lieutenant, 23 February, 1840. Commander, 14 September, 1855. Resigned 9 January, 1861.
- Walbach, John J. B.
  Midshipman, 1 December, 1827. Passed Midshipman, 14 June, 1834. Lieutenant, 25 February, 1841. Dropped 28 September, 1855. Lieutenant, Active List, 25 February, 1841. Resigned 18 February, 1861.

Title: Re: Jamestown -- Reference: Transcription Example and Log Description
Post by: AvastMH on 03 January 2013, 13:07:12

USS Jamestown

Served in the Mediterranean Squadron protecting American citizens and interests during European revolutions in 1848.

This post covers a log page from 4 May 1850.

Comments on the log:

It is strongly recommended that only experienced transcribers attempt this log. On the other hand, if you are curious and careful, go right ahead!
This is not a standard log format. Though those who worked on the Royal Navy logs will feel a bit familiar with the morning/afternoon tables with events to one side.
- All the data, weather and events, is on a single page. For this reason, the 'Progress Bar', just above the image of the log page, will be out of sequence.
- Not all the data requested on the Weather Observation tab is available. If there is no corresponding column in the log, just leave the field in the entry box blank.
- The only columns from the log we use are: 'H' for 'Hour'; 'Wind Direction' and 'Wind Force'; 'Temperature Air' for 'Dry'; and 'Temperature Water' for 'Water'. NOTE that the Barometer reading is given after the temperatures, so take special care to enter the readings in the correct order.
- Unlike some earlier Jamestown logs (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3534.msg57995#msg57995), this log does not use 'Nautical Days'. As in the Royal Navy logs, the day ends at midnight.
The handwriting is difficult to read! See more in Log keepers' quirks below.
The date in this example is in the same order as on the Date tab (day, month, year) following the Royal Navy format. If other pages use the US order (month, day, year), the date should still be entered on the Date tab in the order day, month, year.
On the RN ships we encouraged transcribers to record the names of people, places, and ships mentioned in the log. This ship is not likely to enter arctic waters during this log. However the scientists would appreciate your recording sightings of sea ice on the Sea Ice tab and sightings of animals on the Animals tab if they occur. The historians would appreciate your recording refueling on the Refueling tab, again if this detail is provided.

Links to helpful transcribing information:

Guides for US logs (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3078.msg49657#msg49657)
Type What You See - Yes, but ... (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3191.msg51625#msg51625)
HELPFUL REFERENCE POSTS (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3301.0)
Handwriting Help (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?board=8.0)
What Does THAT mean? (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?board=9.0)
Technical Support (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?board=14.0)
US Navy Officers (1798-1900) (http://www.history.navy.mil/books/callahan/index.htm)
Maps of Virginia and the Mediterranean
- Virginia (http://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~224918~5506544:A-New-Map-of-Virginia,-with-its-Can?sort=Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No&qvq=q:virginia%2B1850;sort:Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No;lc:RUMSEY~8~1&mi=3&trs=9)
- Composite Map of the Mediterranean (http://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~24828~960036:-Composite-of--A-map-of-the-Mediter)
Lighthouses (http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/lighthouse/)

Weather Section:
Example: http://www.djcosmik.com/oldweather/vol005of067_134.jpg (right hand page)

The written details are transcribed as follows, though the page you are working on will not display a grid in this way. Note that the data in some columns is not transcribed and that some logs do not have all the columns included on the Weather Observation tab, so, before clicking OK, check that your data is in the correct fields. It is more important to be accurate than to be fast. Only transcribe what is written. Ask on the forum for handwriting help if unsure.

Quote

Date = 04/05/1850

Hour | Wind Dir | Force | Bar Height | Ther Attached | Dry | Wet | Water | Weather Code | Cloud Code | Clear Sky |
1 Sd & Wd 63 70
2 " 65 70
3 " 30.16 66 73
4 " 66 73
5 " 67 75
6 " 68 76
7 " 68 76
8 " 30.14 69 76
9 " 69 70
10 " 67 62
11 " 65 56
12 " 30.09 64 59

Hour | Wind Dir | Force | Bar Height | Ther Attached | Dry | Wet | Water | Weather Code | Cloud Code | Clear Sky |
1 Southd 65
2 " 65
3 "
4 " 29.94 64
5 "
6 " 65
7 "
8 " 62
9 " 29.92
10 " 62
11 "
12 " 29.88 62

Notes for transcribers:

The date should be transcribed. Date = 04/05/1850.
On this page no location information has been entered.
Quote
For the previous page (03/05/1850), the locations would be entered as:
Location | Dead Reckoning | Latitude = 34 14 00 N | Longitude = 72 54 00 W
Location | Observed | Latitude = 34 02 10 N | Longitude = 73 00 00 W
or as:
Location | Dead Reckoning | Latitude = 34.14.00 N | Longitude = 72.54.00 W
Location | Observed | Latitude = 34.02.10 N | Longitude = 73.00.00 W
See 'Location' in Type What You See - Yes, but ... (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3191.msg51629#msg51629) for more details.
Air, Water, and Barometer values are not always noted. When there is neither value nor ditto, the corresponding field in the entry box should be left blank.

Remarks Section:
Example: http://www.djcosmik.com/oldweather/vol005of067_134.jpg (Right hand page)

This side has been completely transcribed below to help new transcribers become familiar with both the writing and the language used. Nobody is expected to transcribe all the text! Following it are some comments about transcribing the remarks.

Quote

Log of United States Ship Jamestown Commanded by Comdr Samuel Mercer

Commenced with moderate breezes
and passing clouds, Took in the
Lower studg sail and bounded the
Main tack. Helm 4.5o each way
Sigd
M Carrington Watkins

From 4 to 8 moderate breezes and plea
sant set the port lower studg sail
& hauled up the weather clew after
Main sail Two Hermaphrodite Brigs
on the la beam 2.5o W Helm
Sigd
        Wm. H Willcox

From 8 to 9 a fresh breeze and pleasant
weather. From that time to Meridian
a moderate breeze with hazy weather
Took in the Lower and Top Gall studg
sails Let the Fore top mast staysail and
spanker, and bounded the Main tack.
Joseph Sawyer (Sea) Rec'd a doz with the colt
for getting drunk on duty & stealing whisky
from the Spirit room passed through a cur
-rent rip running ENE The color & Temper-
-ature of the water indicating soundings.
Sounded 25 fthms to a a bottom of gray sand
intermixed with black specks and Shells
Several Sail in sight, At 11.25 AM John
Du~nt (o.s) departed this Life, Inspected
at quarters. Helm 4o weather
Sigd
     H N Harrison

From Meridian to 4 moderate breezes and
pleasant At 4 Hove too and received
a Baltimore Pilot At 4.15 filled away
made and reduced sail as occasion
required sign
H.W. Thatcher

From 4 to 6 moderate breezes and pleasant weather At 4.15 filled away and made all necessary sail
At 5 called all hands to bury the dead Read the Episcopal Service over the Mortal remains of John
Du~nt, and committed them to the deep, Got both anchors off the bows, Got up ranged and ~
bo~th chains Signd M. Carrington Watkins

From 6 to 8 moderate breezes and pleasant squared yards and hauled up the mainsail At 5.30 made
Cape Cape Henry Light bearing N West ~ amidships
        Sigd
         WH Willcox

From 8 to mid- fresh breezes from the Sd & Wd and pleasant with squally intervals Made reduced sail as occasion required At 11.45
came too on the Horse Shoe in 18 fthms water (soft blue mud) and veered to 45 fthms chain, Took the following Compass bearings Back
river Light House North Old Point Light House W by S Cape Henry Light House E by S 3/4 S & Horse Shoe floating light E by S 1/2 S Furled
Sails, sigd
H.K. Thatcher

Notes for transcribers:

On this page, the port side of the ship is described as 'la' ('larboard').
With the exception of the location and date, entering any or all of the information on this page is optional, although including the people and places mentioned is encouraged.
- People can be noted using the Mentions tab:
  - Mentions | Person | Name = Joseph Sawyer (Sea) Context = Joseph Sawyer (Sea) Rec'd a doz with the colt for getting drunk on duty & stealing whisky from the Spirit room
    (For explanation of 'colt' see OWpedia (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3209.msg52129#msg52129))
  - Mentions | Person | Name = John Du~nt (o.s.) Context = At 11.25 AM John Du~nt (o.s) departed this Life,
  - Mentions | Person | Name = John Du~nt Context = At 5 called all hands to bury the dead Read the Epsicopal Service over the Mortal remains of John Du~nt, and committed them to the deep,
- Places can be noted using the Location tab:
  - Location | Place Name | Name = Cape Henry Light bearing N West ~amidships
  - Location | Place Name | Name = Horse Shoe
  - Location | Place Name | Name = Back river Light House North
  - Location | Place Name | Name = Old Point Light House W by S
  - Location | Place Name | Name = Cape Henry Light House E by S 3/4 S
  - Location | Place Name | Name = Horse Shoe floating light E by S 1/2 S
There is no field on the page specifically for refueling. If the amount of coal received is mentioned, the data should go on the Refueling tab.
Royal Navy logs had a field for the 'Number on Sick List' (See: HMS Africa in action against Orthomyxoviridae (http://blog.oldweather.org/2011/01/12/hms-africa-in-action-against-orthomyxoviridae/)). That seems to be rare on US ships. However, as shown in this image, it is at least occasionally included in this log.
(http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/169/jamestownsick.jpg)
If you choose to record it, the information can go on the Events tab.
Event = Sick 8
If there are other things that interest you, they can be noted using the Events tab. For example:
- Event = Two Hermaphrodite Brigs on the la beam
- Event = At 4 Hove too and received a Baltimore Pilot
As was done above, if you cannot read a letter, a number, or a whole word, please enter a tilde (~) or tildes to indicate this.
In general, the symbols for degrees, minutes, and seconds can be omitted. Because the entry boxes will not accept a degree symbol, we have developed the convention of using a lower-case 'o' to represent degrees. In this case, adding the symbols for degrees and minutes seemed to make the meaning clearer. However, this is up to the transcriber to decide.
All the full stops (periods) used in the log entries have been transcribed, but full stops in common abbreviations may be omitted.
For more information on the last three points, see Type What You See - Yes, but ... (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3191.msg51625#msg51625)

Log keepers' quirks:

Uses a comma to end sentences, or sometimes nothing.
(http://imageshack.us/a/img33/3451/1850commassentenceend.png)
Uses a typically copperplate style 'fs' shaped 'ss', i.e. the first 's' is so long that it falls well below the line and looks like an 'f' (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_s). The 'ss' can also be mistaken for a 'p'.
The example here is the word 'passing':
(http://imageshack.us/a/img41/2262/1850copperplatess.png)
The example here is the word 'Compass':
(http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/6195/compassu.png)
Writes the letter 'a' almost as a 'u'. See the words 'hauled' and 'weather' in this example:
(http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/3121/1850openlettera.jpg)
Uses a double down stroke of the pen to form the number zero and the loop of '6', as in these examples:
(http://imageshack.us/a/img14/6641/1850doublestrikezero.png)
The letters M and F in capitals use as much ink as possible in flourishes, as in these examples:
(http://img547.imageshack.us/img547/8615/capitals.png)

Other information and comments:

Commander and log keepers:
- Mercer, Samuel
  Midshipman, 4 March, 1815. Lieutenant, 13 January, 1825. Commander, 8 September, 1841. Captain, 14 September, 1855. Died 6 March, 1862.
- Watkins, Mayo Carrington
  Midshipman, 8 May, 1834. Passed Midshipman, 16 July, 1840. Master, 22 March, 1847. Lieutenant, 15 July, 1847. Died 19 September, 1860.
- Willcox, William H.
  Midshipman, 30 January, 1841. Passed Midshipman, 10 August, 1847. Master, 2 March, 1855. Lieutenant, 14 September, 1855. Resigned 20 June, 1857.
- Harrison, H. N.
  Midshipman, 1 April, 1828. Passed Midshipman, 3 July, 1835. Lieutenant, 8 September, 1841. Reserved List, 28 September, 1855. Died 29 March, 1861.
- Thatcher, Henry K.
  Midshipman, 4 March, 1823. Lieutenant, 23 March, 1829. Lieutenant Commander, 28 February, 1833. Commander, 14 September, 1855. Commodore, 16 July, 1862. Rear Admiral, 25 July, 1866. Retired List, 26 May, 1868. Died 5 April, 1880.
Links for places mentioned:
- Cape Henry: http://www.geographic.org/geographic_names/usaname.php?uni=1478324&fid=usageo_1377
- Back River Lighthouse: http://www.geographic.org/geographic_names/usaname.php?uni=1779595&fid=usageo_1665
- Old Point Comfort Lighthouse: http://www.geographic.org/geographic_names/usaname.php?uni=1779610&fid=usageo_1665
- Horseshoe: http://www.geographic.org/geographic_names/usaname.php?uni=1480068&fid=usageo_1379
- Cape Henry, Back River, and Old Point (Comfort) Lights: http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/lighthouse/va.htm

Title: Re: Jamestown -- Reference: Transcription Example and Log Description
Post by: AvastMH on 04 January 2013, 09:40:08

USS Jamestown

During the early part of 1881, the Jamestown protected American interests in Sitka, Alaska, while later in the year, she sailed the Pacific until decommissioned at San Francisco on 21 September.

This post covers a log page from 19 January 1881.

Comments on the log:

This is a fairly standard log format.
- However, at least on this page, the log keeper enters the location text at the top of the Record of the Miscellaneous Events of the Day page rather than at the top of the Weather page. The location text should be entered where it appears on the second page (the events page). For this reason, the 'Progress Bar', just above the image of the log page, will be out of sequence and should be ignored.
- The noon latitude and longitude readings may appear to be decimal. However the 'decimal point' is actually a degree sign. See example under 'Location' in Type What You See - Yes, but ... (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3191.msg51629#msg51629)
Note that the date in the log is in US order (month, day, year) and on the Date tab the order is day, month, year following the Royal Navy format.
On the RN ships we encouraged transcribers to record the names of people, places, and ships mentioned in the log. Now there are some new items that are of interest. The scientists would appreciate your recording sightings of sea ice on the Sea Ice tab and sightings of animals on the Animals tab. The historians would appreciate your recording refueling on the Refueling tab.

Links to helpful transcribing information:

Guides for US logs (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3078.msg49657#msg49657)
Type What You See - Yes, but ... (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3191.msg51625#msg51625)
HELPFUL REFERENCE POSTS (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3301.0)
Handwriting Help (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?board=8.0)
What Does THAT mean? (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?board=9.0)
Technical Support (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?board=14.0)
Alaskan Place Names (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3577.0)
(Canadian, Greenlandic, and Russian place names are also available in FAQ (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?board=15.0))
Maps:
- Alaska, 1867 (http://rumsey.geogarage.com/maps/g4762001.html)
- Alaska, NOAA Nautical Chart (http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/AlaskaViewerTable.shtml)
- SOUTH WEST COAST OF ALASKA, Coast Survey's Historical Map & Chart Collection (http://historicalcharts.noaa.gov/historicals/preview/image/LC00225_08_1882)
- Sitka, Alaska (http://mapcarta.com/Sitka)
- Pacific Ocean (http://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~229887~5508235:Oceania-or-Pacific-Ocean--Oceania-o?sort=Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No&qvq=q:pacific%2Bocean;sort:Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No;lc:RUMSEY~8~1&mi=48&trs=459)
US Navy Officers (1798-1900) (http://www.history.navy.mil/books/callahan/index.htm)

Weather Page:
Example: http://www.djcosmik.com/oldweather/vol044of067_047-1.jpg (Left-hand page)

The written details are transcribed as follows, though the page you are working on will not display a grid in this way. Note that the data in some columns is not transcribed and that some logs do not have all the columns included on the Weather Observation tab, so, before clicking OK, check that your data is in the correct fields. It is more important to be accurate than to be fast. Only transcribe what is written. Ask on the forum for handwriting help if unsure.

Quote

Hour | Wind Dir | Force | Bar Height | Ther Attached | Dry| Wet | Water | Weather Code | Cloud Code | Clear Sky |
1 SE 3 30.08 61 44 43 ocmp Nim 0
2 SSE 3 30.12 62 44 43 " " 0
3 ESE 2 30.14 64 42 41 42 " " 0
4 E 2 30.16 64 41 40 ocr " 0
5 " 2 30.16 63 40 39 octm " 0
6 " 2 30.17 65 40 39 " " 0
7 " 2 30.19 60 40 39 42 " " 0
8 " 2 30.20 54 40 39 ocdm " 0
9 Calm 0 30.23 57 43 42 " " 0
10 E 1 30.25 58 43 42 " " 0
11 SE 2 30.30 58 45 44 43 bcn Cum 2
Noon. " 2 30.31 61 46 45 " " 4


Hour | Wind Dir | Force | Bar Height | Ther Attached | Dry| Wet | Water | Weather Code | Cloud Code | Clear Sky |
1 E 3 30.29 61 45 44 bc Cum 4
2 " 3 30.28 59 45 43 " " 4
3 " 3 30.27 57 46 42 43 " " 4
4 ENE 4 30.27 57 46 41 " " 5
5 " 4 30.27 61 46 41 bcq Cum. Stra. 6
6 E 3 30.27 62 45 40 " " 7
7 " 5 30.26 61 47 40 41 " Str 7
8 ENE 4 30.24 60 47 40 " Cum. Stra. 8
9 " 6 30.21 60 47 40 bcq " 8
10 " 6 30.20 60 47 40 " " 8
11 E 6 30.20 61 47 41 43 " " 6
Mid. " 7 30.18 61 46 41 " " 5

Notes for transcribers:

The water temperature is not always noted.
The weather code at 11am is noted as bcn. Even though 'n' is not a weather code, you should record that detail as it stands (TWYS!).
It is not clear whether the last letter of the weather code at 9pm is a 'q' (squally) or a 'g' (gloomy). Since on the following page the log keeper describes the weather as squally for this time period, we have entered 'q'. However, if you believe that it is a 'g', you should transcribe it as 'g'.
If any of the wind directions or cloud codes are included in the drop-down menus, you may choose those instead of what is written. 'West' may be entered as 'W'. 'Nimb' may be entered as 'Nim'. If there is any doubt about which cloud type in the list to use, type exactly what the log keeper wrote. For example, at 5pm and 8pm, do we have cumulus and stratus or do we have cumulostratus (Cum-Str)? Since the log keeper did not use a hyphen, the safest thing to do is to enter 'Cum. Stra.' and let the science team interpret the description.
There is no field on the page specifically for refueling. If the amount of coal received is mentioned, the data should go on the Refueling tab. There may be entries for 'Coal consumed' and 'Coal remaining', but there is no need to enter these numbers unless they interest you (in which case they would go on the Events tab).

Record of the Miscellaneous Events of the Day:
Example: http://www.djcosmik.com/oldweather/vol044of067_047-1.jpg (Right-hand page)

This side has been completely transcribed below to help new transcribers become familiar with both the writing and the language used. Nobody is expected to transcribe all the text! Following it are some comments about transcribing the remarks.

Quote

Commander Henry Glass.
Sitka, Alaska. Wednesday, January 19'th, 1881

Commences and until 4 A.M.
Overcast, cloudy and misty.
Raining steadily through out watch. Slight breeze from S'd
and E'd. Barometer rising.
J.O. Nicolson
Ensign

4 A.M to 8 A.M.
Overcast cloudy and misty. Raining
steadily entire watch. Light breeze from E'd. Barometer
rising slowly.
J.C. Gillmore, Ensign.

8 A.M. to Meridian.
Partly cloudy, misty. Drizzling
rain first half of watch afterwards clearing weather.
Wind light between E and S.E. At 9.30 mustered at quarters
after which 1'st Division exercised at small arms. 2'nd Division
Great Guns. 3'rd Division Great Guns. Navigators Division
single sticks. Carpenters gang at work on shore repairing
whale boat also working party of men and the ships
painter engaged at same work. Blacksmith repairing
boat stove of 2'nd Steam Launch. Machinist engaged on
boiler of same. Received in Paymasters Department
for use of crew 82 lbs. fresh bread.
N.R. Usher. Ensign.

Meridian to 4 P.M.
Weather fair. Gentle breeze from E'd
increasing to moderate breeze from E.N.E. last hour of watch.
Barometer falling slowly. Carpenter's gang at work ashore
on whale boat. Ships Painter with a party of men also
engaged on Whale Boat. Blacksmith at work on boat stove
of Second Steam Launch and Machinist engaged repairing
boiler of same.
J.C. Gillmore, Ensign.

4 to 8 P.M.
Clear, starlight, Fresh breeze from E'd with moderate
squalls of wind. Wind warm and dry. Barometer falling.
N.R. Usher. Ensign

8 P.M. to Midnight.
Clear, starlight first part. Moon and starlight
last part of watch. Wind fresh in squalls from E.N.E. and E.
squalls increasing in force last hour of watch. Barometer falling.
Pointed yards to wind.
J.C. Gillmore. Ensign.

Moon's Decl S 2o
" Phase Full Moon

Notes for transcribers:

The date should be transcribed.
Date = 19/01/1881.
The location should be transcribed.
Location | Port Name | Name = Sitka, Alaska.
Note that because we are "Moored off" Sitka, Alaska, we use 'Port Name' rather than 'Place Name'. No extra information should be included with 'Port Name', but bearings can be included with 'Place Name'.
With the exception of the location and date, entering any or all of the information on this page is optional. If you wish you could mention the following events to illustrate day-to-day life onboard, using the Events tab:
- Event = At 9.30 mustered at quarters after which 1'st Division exercised at small arms. 2'nd Division Great Guns. 3'rd Division Great Guns. Navigators Division single sticks.
- Event = Received in Paymasters Department for use of crew 82 lbs. fresh bread.
- Event = Carpenter's gang at work ashore on whale boat. Ships Painter with a party of men also engaged on Whale Boat. Blacksmith at work on boat stove of Second Steam Launch and Machinist engaged repairing boiler of same.
If you cannot read a letter, a number, or a whole word, please enter a tilde (~) or tildes to indicate this.
In general, the symbols for degrees, minutes, and seconds can be omitted. Because the entry boxes will not accept a degree symbol, we have developed the convention of using a lower-case 'o' to represent degrees. In this case, adding the symbols for degrees and minutes seemed to make the meaning clearer. However, this is up to the transcriber to decide.
All the full stops (periods) used in the log entries have been transcribed, but full stops in common abbreviations may be omitted.
For more information on the last three points, see Type What You See - Yes, but ... (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3191.msg51625#msg51625)

Log keepers' quirks:

Uses various forms of the letter 'e':
(http://i.imgur.com/fbQY772.png)

Other information and comments:

Single sticks
http://www.wisconsinscottish.org/games/single_stick
http://ejmas.com/jmanly/articles/2002/jmanlyart_wolf_0202.htm
Pointed yards to wind
http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3515.msg58145#msg58145
Commander: Glass, Henry.
Acting Midshipman, 24 September, 1860. Ensign, 28 May, 1863. Master, 10 November, 1865. Lieutenant, 10 November, 1866. Lieutenant Commander, 12 March, 1868. Commander, 27 October, 1879. Captain, 23 January, 1894.
Log Keepers:
- Gillmore, James C.
  Midshipman, 20 September, 1871. Graduated 20 June, 1876. Ensign, 30 January, 1879. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, 17 January, 1886. Lieutenant, 30 June, 1891. Lieutenant Commander, 1 July, 1899.
- Nicolson, John O.
  Midshipman, 24 June, 1869. Graduated 15 October, 1874. Ensign, 17 July, 1875. Master, 12 October, 1881. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, 3 March, 1883. Lieutenant, 4 September, 1887. Retired List, 31 March, 1896. Died 27 February, 1898.
- Usher, Nathaniel R.
  Cadet Midshipman, 22 September, 1871. Graduated 1 June, 1875. Ensign, 18 July, 1876. Master, 4 February, 1882. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, 3 March. 1883. Lieutenant, 31 October, 1888. Lieutenant Commander, 3 March, 1899.

Crew:

Commander	Henry Glass
Lieutenant Commander	Charles H Rockwell
Lieutenants	FM Symonds and EO McClellan
Masters	GC Hanus and Frank Guertin
Ensigns	JO Nicolson; NR Usher; JC Gillmore; H Minett
Midshipman	Selim E Woodworth
Passed Assistant Surgeon	N McP Ferebee and David O Lewis
Passed Assistant Paymaster	James A Ring
First Lieutenant of Marines	---
Second Lieutenant of Marines	GR Benson
Boatswain	Peter H Smith
Gunner	Charles Stuart
Carpenter	Luther L Martin
Sailmaker	Thomas O Fassett

Based on: http://alaskaweb.org/military/jamestown1880-81.html, but with some spelling corrections added.

Richard Peter Smith was ship's painter in 1879 aboard the U.S.S. Jamestown when it was stationed at Sitka.
http://www.anchoragemuseum.org/galleries/GalleryViewer2.aspx?incGal=1&cID=3&LayoutID=1&pageIndex=2&pageSize=8#
(http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/7112/1881sitka.jpg)
Untitled, Sitka Harbor 1880

Hour \|	Wind Dir \|	Force \|	Bar Height \|	Ther Attached \|	Dry\|	Wet \|	Water \|	Weather Code \|	Cloud code \|	Clear Sky \|
1 PM	E 1/2 S
2 PM	E 1/2 N				68		70
3 PM	E
4 PM	"				68		69
5 PM	"
6 PM	"				67		68
7 PM	E by N
8 PM	ENE				67		68
9 PM	"
10 PM	E				67		66
11 PM	"
Midnight	"				66		66
1 AM	"
2 AM	"				66		69
3 AM	E by N
4 AM	ENE				66		69
5 AM	"
6 AM	"				67		69
7 AM	"
8 AM	"				67		69
9 AM	"
10 AM	"				67		68
11 AM	"
Merid	"				67		68

Water	Expd.	225 galls.	on hand	22,874 gls
Pork	"	1Bbl	"	114 Bbls
Bread	"	136.5 lbs	"	30.145.5 lbs
Pickles	"	39 lbs	"	1670 lbs
Beans	"	9.75 gls	"	33 bushels
Vinegar	"	9.75 gls	"	292.5 gals
Whiskey	"	4.25 gls	"	667.5 gals

Old Weather Forum

Old Weather: Classic => The Dockyard => Topic started by: AvastMH on 19 December 2012, 15:29:00