Diary by Richard RUNDELL (1835-1904) of St. Eval, Cornwall.
Who in 1850 sailed on the Barque Belle. *** Richard Rundell's diary was written while crossing the Atlantic in 1850. It took him and the other members of his party forty-nine days (April 11-May 29) to travel from Padstow, England to Quebec, Canada, (Please ask permission before copying) © Phil Ellery 2000
April
11 We left Padstow for Quebec at half past 3. We did not know that any of our brothers were in town, until we were near the points. Nearly all the passengers on board were sick that evening. Saw several sails near the points.
12 Fine weather. Sailing 3 1/2 knots and hour. All still sick.
13 Fair wind. Sailing 7 1/2 knot, until 11 o'clock, when the wind blew high and carried away our bowsprit and jib boom. Rather sick, but better, thank God.
14 Great rain, but good sailing. 6 knots. Very well today, tending the sick folks, who are all sick. Vessel rolling in a most hideous manner. Things rolling about the ship. Some timid folks: Mary sick and is rather poorly. I have just returned from a prayer meeting which was conducted by the mate.
15 Sailing fast, rather rough.
16 Head wind, 1 1/2 knots and hour.
17 Fine weather. Held a prayer meeting. Felt it a time of refreshing, coming from the presence of the Lord.
18 We saw a fine Bark, laden with guano bound to Liverpool. Named "Jenny Jones". Spoke with the captain through a trumpet.
19 Rough wether, sailing strong northwest.
20 Head wind southwest. I have not been sick since the Friday after we left. We have seen gulls every day.
21 Sunday. Find wether. Preaching in the afternoon, Trebilcock from Wadebridge. Although prevented from attending chapel, we feel Christ precious in our floating bethel. Preaching in the evening.
22 Fine wether.
23 Fair wind.
24 Nothing particular to be seen.
25 About 10 this morning our captain spied a vessel which was in distress. We made toward her with all speed and found her in most precarious condition. Nearly all the rigging and two of her masts were gone. The captain and four sailors went on board, found none save one woman, who was dead in her bed. Our crew brought away several things, such as sails, ropes, chains, books, and so forth. Three vessels came alongside from Glasgow in Ireland (Scotland), 3rd, "John Bull" from Ireland. The wreck is called "Serphim" from Ireland; very fine ship, so large as the "Clio". They think she had passengers bound for America. There was a great quantity of provisions and a deal of clothes and beds. Thank God we're all spared so far.
26 Saw three whales. Most hideous animals. Several on board fired at them but made no impression on them.
28 Sunday. Very cold. Sailing 8 knots. Saw several vessels ahead. Preaching in the afternoon and evening.
29 Very calm.
30 Fine wether. Saw a flock of porpoise and some birds.
May
1 Very calm.
2 Very calm.
3 Fine breeze, sailing 7 knots an hour. A great number of birds flying about our ship.
4 About 2 o'clock this morning we ran into the ice. The ship was sailing 7 miles an hour. She
struck it with tremendous force; if she had not been strong we would have sunk to the bottom. I went on deck and OH the sight! It was awfully grand indeed. Surrounded by ice so thick we could not move; some great pieces, some small, some high as the bullwarks of the ship above the water and twice that depth below. We got clear about seven in the morning.
5 Clear of the ice. We see it about 12 or 14 miles to our right hand. Preaching in the afternoon.
6 Calm. The ice is perceptable through the spy glass.
7 Lots of birds.
8 Gentle breeze.
9 Fair weather.
10 A large field of ice before us.
11 Gloomy wether.
12 Saw lots of icebergs, on as large as a black rock.
13 Rough weather. Icebergs like Trevasehill.
14 Saw several icebergs; it looks like vessels at a distance.
15 Saw ship. Calm.
16 Fine.
17 Rough.
18 Fine. Saw land. The most southern part of Newfoundland and it looks barren and some snow.
19 Fine breeze. Sailing from 8 to 9 knots. Preaching in the evening.
20 Passed fishing boat. Foggy. Saw large school of mackeral.
21 Fine breeze. About to enter the gulf (Gulf of St. Lawrence). Entered a large filed of ice but recieved no damage.
22 During the past night we have been in the ice again, soon got clear. Entered a field of ice
again about two o'clock and went right through. I hope this is the last.
23 Fair wind.
24 Calm.
25 Land on east side, extremely high, some snow on it.
26 Head wind. Several huts on the shore inhabited by indians who live on fish and fowl. Arrived in the quarrantine ground about 7 o'clock.
29 Examined by the doctor and left. Arrived at Quebec about 4 o'clock Wednesday.
30 Thursday. Went to the city of Quebec. Ate supper at a hotel. Cost 9 pence. Went to the
garrison in the afternoon. A high hill, a thick wall with holes in it to shoot through. Several large cannons and lots of cannon balls. We took some of them in our hands to see how heavy they were. A soldier pacing forth and back said, "Walk on. Walk on." We hired a boat to take us to our ship, the "Bell", Captain Bisson.
31 Left the ship, went aboard a large steamer in the afternoon. Arrived at Montreal the next morning, the 1st of June. Did not sleep much that night. Boat full of people of different nations and oh, what confusion and noise. Boarded a train and rode 9 miles to Lachine, then boarded a steam boat and arrived at Ogdensberg, N. Y. Saturday night. Stayed there over Sunday. A very pretty city, shade trees each side of the street. Some fine flower gardens. Left Monday morning on the same boat. Arrived at Oswego, New York. Looked about the town for two hours. A fine city. Went aboard same boat. Sailed through the locks on the Welland Canal. Called at several towns along the lakes, Rochester and some I don�t remember.
***
The following comments were written by Albert E. Rundell about his father�s diary, and other family history:
This ends father�s description of this trip from England. That part of the story up to and including the 29th of May, 1850, was written aboard the ship that brought them across the Atlantic Ocean and was recorded in his book now in my possession. Father wrote no more in that book after the 29th of May, 1850.
The further account written above was written by father sometime: I believe several years after being in this country, and was written with a lead pencil on common writing paper and placed in his book, and is in good condition. I intend to copy it into the book following the other part.
All of our people came in sailing vessels from Padstow harbor to Quebec and came up through the lakes. All came to Milwaukee, except the last lot--Grandmother Rundell, Betsy (Paul) and husband and two children, Hercules, Mary Jane, and Johnson P., who came via Chicago and then to Freeport, Ill. by railroad and from there to Platteville in hacks.
Father, mother, and their company came to Milwaukee and hired teamsters to bring them to Platteville, Wisconsin. All crossed the ocean in the ship named the �Bell�, except William, Samuel, and Thomas, who came over in the �Clio�. This is the ship referred to in mid ocean. Aunt Eliza Carhart married in England and came to America in 1842.
William, Samuel, and Thomas came in 1848. Father, mother, and their company in 1850.
Grandmother Rundell, Betsy, Hercules P., Mary Jane, and Johnson P. came in 1853. They left Padstow, September 1 and arrived October 18. I do not know when Aunt Catherine came. Grandfather Biddick, his brother, Peter, and mother�s sister, Elizabeth, came to America in 1849, I believe.
Father waorked at home for his mother until he came to Wisconsin with his best girl friend and, of course, had but little, if any, money to defray expenses connected with his long journey. He borrowed money from his brother, John, and some years after paid Uncle John the loan.
I have some letters written by John Rundell to father more than fifty years ago. I want to copy them and send the originals out to Uncle John�s sons.
When father came to this country, he worked for 50cents per day. As soon as they were able, father and Uncle Richard Biddick commenced farming. Father owned one horse and Uncle R. B. one horse, and the harness. Those were strenuous times.
Albert E. Rundell
Richard RUNDELL was married to Hannah BIDDICK on the 23rd May 1851. They lived near Platteville until 1863, when they moved to a farming the town of Clifton. In 1868 they purchased a farm in the town of Mifflin , where there lifes ended. Hannah on 5 May 1901 & Richard on August 2nd 1904
They had 11 children, 3 of whom died in childhood. Those attaining adulthood were Albert Edwin, Lucretia Hamilton, Hugh Henry, Ellen Jane, Pearce Paynter, Lemuel Price,Nelson Richard & fanny May
See the diary of Richard's brother-----Thomas RUNDELL Back to Diary page