Ester Herricks Diary

Dear Dairy,

25th of September 1841

Tuesday

Tis the first night on the, Lord Wellington. I am writing by lamplight in a berth. It is quite cramped. It is just a bit bigger than Mama's and Papa's bed back home. I am too excited to sleep. I can not wait until I get to swim in the clean creeks and rivers in New Zealand. I do hope that the air as is fresh as Mama said and that there is a lot of space for me to play with the boys, James and Richard.

2nd of October 1841

Tuesday

It has been a week and everyone is seasick. Mama stays in bed all day while Papa is usually on deck tending to the animals. I can not bear to go down into the hod for it smells dreadfully. I prefer to stay on deck in the fresh air.

4th of October 1841

Thursday

It was early morning and I saw a pod of whales. They were splashing their tails around in the water and blowing water out of their blowhole. As the left they sang their beautiful songs.

16th of November 1841

Tuesday

We had our first school lesson today. James and I took our slates to the forecastle. The Master is a grumpy women with a pointy nose and short straight black hrair. She would rap our knuckles each time we made a mistake. I was glad we only had two lessons a day.

For dinner that night we had beef boiled in salt water and preserved potatoes. I did not eat it.

14th of December 1841

Tuesday

There had been bad weather for the last week and were not allowed to leave the hold and go onto the deck for it was to dangerous. School was cancelled also. We were not allowed to use lamps in case one breaks and causes a fire. It is quite hard to walk to the water closet for the ship is rocking more than usual. It smelt like sick and it was overwhelming. I wished to escape to the fresh air.

25th of December 1841

Friday

Tis Christmas day. Mama and Papa gave me a doll. I named her anabelle. I loved her from her brown curly hair, to her little red shoes. The boys got little wooden figurines.

For dinner that night we had Roast pork with roast potatoes and a big plum pudding. Some of the Adults were drinking rum and were singing and dancing on deck. It was too loud so I went down into the hold and played with James.

3rd of January 1842

Sunday

During Mass today one of the pigs got out and was squealing and running around the rows of people. One of the crew members grabbed it while another pulled out a rusty knife and slit its throat. The blood spilled out onto the deck but the Priest just continued his prayers.

12th of January 1842

Tuesday

Papa woke me up early this morning, as the sun was rising. He took my brothers and I up onto the deck. A few sailors were yelling 'Land ho!' I could not believe my eyes. I could see the thick forest and a river going into the sea. I also saw the dock where we were unloading the ship. After five long months at sea we finally made it.