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Originally published in Historic Nantucket, Vol. 53, No. 4 (Fall 2004)
Azubah
Cash's Whaling Days
By Amy Jenness
AZUBAH (HANDY) CASH (1820-94) accompanied her husband Capt. William Cash aboard the Nantucket whaleship Columbia on a four-year voyage in search of whales, beginning in 1850. The Columbia left Edgartown in October of that year and returned to Nantucket in May of 1854. Traveling with her husband and their ten-year-old son Alexander, Azubah, who was thirty years old at the time, chronicles their life at sea in her journal, now a part of the Nantucket Historical Association's manuscript collection.
Both mother and son suffer terribly from seasickness in the first days of the voyage. Alexander would find his sea legs, but Azubah struggles with headaches and queasiness for the entire voyage. She writes frequently of not being able to get out of bed or eat during heavy weather. Nonetheless, on the sixth day of the trip Azubah is excited by the hubbub aboard ship and seems to approach it with a sense of adventure.
1850
Sunday, October 6, 7 pm.
It was quite amusing to me this day to be on deck
to see them getting their boats ready for whaling
and Coiling their lines in the tubs, picking out
oars and getting boat masts ready &c while one
of our boatsteerer caught a few young Dolphin just
as we were going down to tea. I say tea for I drank
a cup for the first one of this many a day [because
of sea sickness]. Some of my good friends at home
would laugh and say I thought you would come to
it. It went very well for once in the way. And as
I had not set down to the table with them for the
last 7 meals before I must of course do something
unusual, however besides my tea, I made a very good
meal on salt junk, bread & butter, baked Apples,
sweet sour with cheese and other fixings. It was
pleasant throughout the day. There was two sail
in sight which was very pleasant to see.
Thursday,
December 12,1850
There
was Porpoises around the ship and Wm got an iron
into one and got him. We had some of him cooked
for supper. It was first rate. IDs blubber made
two galls, of oil ... There was more around the
ship and I was on deck. . . . They looked pretty
enough, there was acres of them spouting and leaping
like sheep over a fence.
Friday,
December 13,1850
We have had a fair day with quite a strong wind
and the latter part cool. About 5 o'clock a whale
was raised off the weather beam and soon after went
down. When she come up she was off the beam. The
first, 2d and 3d mates lowered. After they went.
There was 3 others seen from masthead but they were
going very quick and the opposite way. The boats
got back at dark and did not see them after they
went. If it had not been so late we think they might
have got one. They seemed to feel bad and no doubt
dreamed of them.
Azubah writes that Capt. Cash is frustrated by the crew's inability to catch a whale. There have been weeks of no whale sightings as well as a few close calls. Cash speaks to his wife about the possibility of a "Jonah" being onboard. [A "Jonah" is a person whose presence brings misfortune upon his companions as did Jonah to his fellow mariners-according to Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase & Fable-Ed. ] Finally, on December 15th, the crew of the Columbia catches the first whale of the voyage.
Sunday,
December 15,1850
Mr. Luce had his boat capsized, all of them had
to swim and they were fortunate that they met with
no more trouble for Mr. Luce said he had the line
twice round him and carried him some distance underwater.
About J/2 past 10 o'clock three boats got one onboard
of the ship and the whale was dead and in an hour
she was alongside of the ship. Then got dinner and
have been cutting all the afternoon. I have been
on deck and in the starboard boat a-seeing them-till
my face is almost blistered and Alexander's too.
He has been darting an iron that he fixed into the
sharks as they come side of the whale. It is quite
a large whale. Wm thinks it will make 70 bls. At
any rate it is large and fat, I think. It is Sunday,
but it has been a very stirring day. They have commenced
cutting him but it is very rugged and cannot get
a long very fast. The day ends with all hands tired.
Lat. 35:425. Long. 51:08 No.
Although she makes no mention of it until an entry
in March of 1852, Azubah becomes pregnant during
the voyage and gives birth to a baby boy in August
of 1851. No doubt her inclination to seasickness
is made that much worse by her pregnancy, and although
she never complains she does seem to worry quite
a bit about heavy weather and rough seas.
When the Columbia lands in Hilo Bay, a small Hawaiian outpost populated by missionaries, whalers, and their kin, William decides to leave his family there while he travels north to the Arctic Sea. Although she never mentions the impending birth, Azubah does seem lonely for her husband. When the Columbia returns for Azubah and Alexander in October, Captain Cash meets for the first time his three-month-old son William Murray Cash, whom Azubah calls Murray.
Hilo
Bay, Hawaii Saturday March 29th, 1851
William concluded to leave Alexander and myself
here while he went to the Arctic Ocean (which was
rather a disappointment to us both) but as God knows
all things, and what is for our good, better than
we do, I feel reconciled to it. William went from
here Monday night the 14th on board of the ship
and I thought he would come back again but there
was a chance for him to get out and I have not seen
him since, but saw the ship outside the next morning,
he has been trying to get out for three days.
Wednesday
July 9th, 1851
The last Sabbath was my birthday- I was here all
day with the exception of going to my meals. Alexander
went to meeting in the morning and we passed the
mass of our time in reading. Monday was quite pleasant
and we were well as usual and when we went to dine
to my great surprise and discomfort we had to dine
with five strange gentlemen named Boyd, Webster,
Crawford, Burns, and Otterwell, the last named belonged
to New Bedford. It really made the rest of the day
unpleasant to me, but however Tuesday I felt well
as usual and nothing of much consequence passed
during the day except there was an arrival of a
native Sch[ooner] but no news for me.
Tuesday,
July 29th, 1851
It is 4 months this day since we arrived in this
harbour and I am in hopes in 3 more (or less) that
the ship Columbia of N. will be lying here in the
harbour again with all safe and well that left in
her and that we shall be well to meet them. I dreamed
last night that they arrived early with 2700 bls
oil. But as dreams come by contrarys (as the saying
is) I shall not expect such prosperity for them
as that.
Azubah makes no entries to her journal between August 2, 1851, and March 7, 1852. At that time the Columbia is headed for what she calls the Kamskatka Sea, off the coast of Siberia. After hunting whales there, the Columbia sails for the Sea of Okhotsk, which is bounded by Siberia and northern Japan.
Monday,
May 3,1852
We have got quite pleasant weather now, but since
I have written we have had all the kinds I believe
that this country affords, snow and wind a plenty
and rather too much for comfort but we have got
along with it all thus far; Saturday night we had
a gale come on so sudden they had to put out their
fires and quit trying oil. The gale continued until
today. It was not a heavy gale, but had a very heavy
sea, that made the Columbia roll and jump and talk
to her fashion. [Probably refers to the creaking
of the ship's boards.- Ed.] There has been a number
of Ships in sight today, and we see some Brother
Sailors on our weather or Lee quite often now-adays.
If I could see one from home and get some letters
I should like it, but I might hear something that
would make me feel worse so I will be content until
I hear thinking it will be for the best. They are
now about to finish boiling the whale which did
not yield as well as they expected, but it is so
much towards a cargo. Our family are all in tolerable
good health and I pray that they may continue so,
for it is a cold and uncomfortable place to be sick
in.
May
23,1852
Capt. Fisher and his wife, and son, come on board
and stop'd till near dark, which is quite late in
this country and as old acquaintances we were glad
to see each other; she was the first woman I have
seen since the 18th of February when we left the
Bay of Islands, so it was quite a rarity to see
one, and baby was frightened, he stared well. I
suppose he could have no recolection of one except
his mother, we did not get much news from our family
at home but heard from others. We had a good gam,
as they call them. And Alexander and George [Capt.
Fisher's son] had a fine time being school-mates
at home. There was another Ship [the Isaac Hicks
of New London] that the Capt. had his wife aboard
close by but they did not give us a call. Mrs. Fisher
was on board of them the day before and she told
me she had everything very nice on board. They had
excellent accomadations and her cabin looked like
a parlor! . . . Capt. Pierce of the Ship Kutusoff
came on board while Capt. F.'s wife were here and
he met with a great misfortune the night before.
His boats were fast to two right whales, cow and
calf, and had 3 boats stove very bad, and one boatsteerer
killed (they did not get him) and his carpenter
hurt very bad, and one other man. He looked very
sad and it made us all feel so. He left his wife
and little girl at Hilo (a place dear to my heart
being the birth-place of my little Murray). He was
glad she was not with him up here, for it was bad
enough to be here himself. It must be very discouraging
to shipmates. The boatsteerer was a coloured man
and his first whale he ever struck.
June
6th, 1852
We have heard of the loss of the Ship Huntress of
N.B. [New Bedford] in a gale. She drifted ashore,
but all hands were saved and that is a blessing.
I feel for Capt. Gibbs' loss as well as the rest,
for to lose our home in this cold region must be
a hard thing, if it is a floating one. I hope we
shall not lose ours .. . but in such foggs as these
I do not wonder they are lost. It must require good
calculation where they can get no observations.
I think I have scrawled enough about so little.
A.B.C.
After three days of being sick in bed:
August
6th, 1852
I have so much sewing to think of. Yesterday there
were 5 or 6 canoes come alongside with a goodly
number of Indians dressed in their sort-of frock
coats and trousers, made of the skins of deer and
other animals. I think it must require a great deal
of patience and ingenuity to make them, some of
the pieces being very small not bigger than a half
cent: They had quite a number of knives, our folks
got a good many in exchange for iron hoops, and
pieces of iron. They seem . very inoffensive and
seem happy, but it looks very hard to see them eat
whale scraps and the gum of whale which appears
to me like eating India rubber, but they eat it
as if they loved it.
August 22,1852
Friday William Murray had a birthday and weighed
21 1/4 lbs. He grows very interesting; he tries
to imitate the most he sees us do so that is possible
for him too, and he goes alone quite nicely, but
I suppose it will be sometime before he will give
up his creeping if he lives. He requires one to
look out for him for he is into all that he can
get to, even die transom locker. I think he tries
to speak some words, deck for one and cap . . .
and I think he will talk some soon. Now we are lying
at anchor in the narrow part of the straits cutting
in our whale; and the current running to the north
very strong; it sounds like a waterfall. It is near
my bedtime and I believe I have thought of all the
news for this time. Azubah.
Nov.
11,1852
The Island of Hawaii has been in sight today and
brings joy to many hearts as well as a feeling of
sadness that one of our number has been committed
to the deep there to lay untill the sea shall give
up its dead. On the 26th of Oct in the morning William
was sent for by the Cook as he felt worse than usual
and he came down in the cabin to see what to do
for him and said he thought he would not live 48
hours unless there was a change for the better.
Likewise now, he was satisfied he had the scurvy,
as his other leg had commenced swelling. He did
all he could for him and was with him and took Murray
with him an hour or two before tea, he was called
up to his supper. When supper was over the 2d officer
went immediately to see him and asked him how he
felt and he raised his hand and let it fall on his
breast and said he felt very bad, and breathed only
a few times. Wm. had only time to get down there,
it was so sudden that it made all feel very bad,
I think. The next day at 1 o'clock the services
were read and his body committed to the deep and
many tears were shed. He was the only coloured man
in the ship and had been with us all the voyage,
a native of Porta, Portugal.
Azubah
doesn't write again until August 2,1853, where she
notes, "My journal, I think, will not amount
to much especially if I go months and almost a year
between writing."
She appears to be quite down and worries about her
abilities as a mother and her children's wellbeing.
August
9th, 1853
Another Sabbath has passed away never to return
and how many days of my life have been passed unimproved.
I feel that they are many, but I pray for health
and strength to do my duty in future in a more faithfull
manner and may God grant it. I sometimes fed myself
very incapable of performing my duties as a mother
and look on the past with sadness. And still go
on without . .. improvement in that respect that
I could wish. I find with myself, as with children,
that resolutions are easier formed than kept. What
weak and erring creatures we are. This day my family
here are well as usual, except Alexander's face
is very sore from being sunburnt. We have all been
to meeting this afternoon. I was rather late owing
to not having the time (or a time piece) to go by.
I am generally in season for I dislike very much
to go into a meeting after it is begun.
August
14,1853
During the past week my health has been as good
as usual, and Alexander's, except his sunburnt face
has been very tedious and now he has a boil coming
near his mouth, which is very much inflamed and
painful tonight. He finds it very hard to bear pain
with patience. I know it is hard for anyone but
we must learn. Yesterday I kindled a fire in a furnace
to do a little ironing and my little busy, helping,
Murray - trying to put some coal in burnt his little
arm quite bad. But Mr. Pitman sent me some Painkillers
which I put on that tookd the fire out in about
an hour, but he was in great distress during that
time. It is better today.
October
9th, 1853 (her last entry)
It is now some time and I have bad for my head although
there are many things I would like to mention. I
will say that my family is well as usual at this
time. The 5th we heard the sound of Sail Ho all
anxious to see and hear watched her closely until
she came to anchor and the Capt. landed. Lo and
behold it was the ship Norman of Nant. from Japan
with 650 spm bls then 23 l/2 months out. So we could
get no news there. The 8th a sail again and by and
by another. The first got in from the Arctic, the
Caroline Capt. Gifford with no oil or a little,
I believe from a dead whale. At tea time there was
a boat arrived from ' the other ship (as there was
no chance of her getting in last night) which proved
to be Mrs. Chapell's husband , (Ship Benjamin Morgan)
with 2600 bls of whale, and of ' -course he feels
better than if he had none and we were pleased to
see him. And today there has arrived two , "
more ships. The first the Mercury of N.B. from the
Ochotok Sea with 2000 bls and the next Capt. Dallman
(Ship Mary Ann) with 250 bls from the Arctic, I
feel thankful that God has spared them to return
to their families and I pray that none of the rest
of us may not be disappointed in our expectation
of meeting those we love and whether in prosperity
or in adversity may we have grateful hearts. I have
a headache and cannot write much now. A.B.C.
The Columbia returned to Nantucket in May of 1854 with 1,634 barrels of whale oil (although no sperm whale oil) and 19,400 pounds of whalebone.
Also in that year Azubah gives birth to her third child, a daughter, Fidelia C. Cash. William and Azubah had a fourth child, Mary H. Cash, in 1856.
Amy Jenness was formerly the Nantucket Historical Association's information systems coordinator.
Source
NHA MS 220, Log 218.
