Hydrographic Surveys : Manuscripts Relating Principally to New Brunswick : 1760 - 1886.

Call Number:
HIL-MICL FC LMR .G7A3H9S9
Category:
Military
Creator:
Great Britain. Admiralty. Hydrographic Office.
Material Description:
2 microfilm textual records 35 mm
Contents:

The letters and other manuscripts in this collection are a selection of items on microfilm from the British Admiralty Hydrographic Office. They are important to the study of maritime history and to New Brunswick in particular. Places also include Nova Scotia, Quebec, Prince Edward Island, Maine and Bermuda.

Organisation: Material is arranged in four sections. Page numbering is uncommon and inconsistent.

Reel 1

Letters written by Captain (later Vice-Admiral) William Fitzwilliam Owen (1774-1857) to Captain (later Admiral) Francis Beaufort (1774-1857), Hydrographer to the Navy, 1835-1849.

Reel 2

Section 1: Letters of Captain (later Rear-Admiral) Peter Frederick Shortland (1815-1888) to Rear-Admiral John Washington (1800-1863), Hydrographer to the Navy, 1847-1864.

Section 2: Letters of Captain (later Admiral) Henry Wolsey Bayfield (1795-1885) to Captain (later Admiral) Francis Beaufort (1774-1857), Hydrographer to the Navy, 1836-1848.

Section 3: Manuscripts (two volumes) evidently intended for publication in the St. Lawrence Pilot, 1828-1886.

Section 4: Royal Navy Remark Books - Records deposited with the Admiralty by captains in the Royal Navy concerning harbours visited on cruises, 1760-1838. Some, many, or all remarks pertaining to the following were included for the different ports visited: latitude and longitude; directions for sailing into, out from and for avoiding dangers; wooding and watering; provisions and refreshments; fortifications and landing places; trade and shipping; and inhabitants.

Detailed Contents - Section 4, Royal Navy Remark Books, 1760-1838 (Various books alphabetically separated and  titled "Miscellaneous Papers.")

  • H.M.S. Fame, 1760 - Visits to Louisbourg, Bay of Chaleur, Canso, Gaspe and Haven.
  • James Cook (1728-1779) - Sailing directions prepared while master of the "Northumberland" for sailing from Louisbourg to Quebec, undated. Titled "Descripton of the River St. Lawrence."
  • Senegal Sloop, 1764-1765 - Visits to Halifax, Louisbourg, Gaspe, Canso, Miscou, Point Daniel (Bay of Chaleur), Bonaventure, Nipisiquat/Nipisiquet, Carraquet/Caraquet, Grand River Toad, Mall Bay, Three River Harbour (Prince Edward Island), Port La Joye, Magdalene Islands, Canso Gut. Captain thomas Hayward.
  • Prince of Orange and Rochester, 1760? - Visit to Bay of Chaleur, Plan of Bay of Chaleur. Signed Saml Wallis.
  • Menai/Menier, 1817 - Visit to Saint John and Bay of Fundy. Covers data from December 1814 to October 1816. Signed Thos. Raymond, Master.
  • Abundance, 1815 - Visit to St. Lawrence River and Bay of Fundy. Covers May 1814 to 31 October 1815.
  • HMS Atholl, 1822 - Visit to Gaspe, Bay of Chaleur, Northumberland Strait, Miscou. Henry Bouchier, Esq., Captain; Mr. S. Tuck, Master.
  • HM sloop Jaseur, 1821 - Visit to Pont a Delgada on the Islandof St. Michaels in the Azores, Halifax, Lunenburg, La Have, Pt. Metway, Liverpool, Shelburne, St./Saint John, Digby, Musquash, Beaver Harbour, The Wolves, L'Etang, Campobello, St. Andrews, Grand Manan. Henry E. Napier, Commander. 
  • HMS Regulus, 1815 - Visit to Bermuda, Halifax, St./Saint John.
  • Brisk, 1786/7 - Visit to Campobello, L'Etang. Captain Edward Butler.
  • Cossacks, 1814-15 - Visit to Bermuda, then Saint John.
  • Ariadne, 1785-1786 - Visit to Harbour de Lute (Campobello Island), Friar's Bay (Campobello Island). John Baine, Master.
  • HM sloop Opossum, 1815-1816 - Visit to Shelburne, Gannet Rock Ledge, Yarmouth, St./Saint John, Moose Island, Bliss Harbour. John Hay, Master.
  • HM schooner Shelburne, 1813-1814 - Visit to Halifax, Shelburne, then St./Saint John, Passamaquoddy, Penobscot Bay.
  • HM brig. Pictou, 1814-1815 - Visit to L'Etang, Moose Island, St. Andrews.Chalres Hare, Lt. and Commander.
  • HM sloop Billette/Bellette, 1821 - Travelled from Halifax to St./Saint John and contains remarks covering various stops including: Bay of Fundy, St./Saint John, Grand Manan, Partridge Island, Musquash. Capt. George R. Pechell.
  • HM sloop Rifleman, 1814-1815 - Visit to Moose Island, St./Saint John, Castine on the Penobscot River (Maine).
  • Discussion of Des Barres and other existing charts of the Bay of Fundy area.
  • HMS Wye, 1817-1818 - Visit to Dark Harbour (north-west side of Grand Manan), St./Saint John, Beaver Harbour, Survey of Grand Manan, Bermuda.
  • HM sloop Jaseur, 1821 - Visit to Canso, Chaleur Bay, Magdalen Islands, Mingan Harbour.
  • (Unspecified), 1792 - Visit to St./Saint John.
  • Hyacinth, 1820 - Visit to Musquash, L'Etang, Bliss Harbour, Passamaquoddy Area Grand Manan, Plan of Machias Bay, Cross Island.
  • Tables and details of observation for difference of meridians between Halifax and Fredericton, August, 1830.
  • (Unspecified), 1837/8 - Remarks on Capt. Cook's Survey of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, visit to Gaspe, Bay of Chaleur.
  • Arachne, 1834 - Report on lights at West Qoddy/Quoddy, Head Harbour, Point LePreaux/Lepreau, Partridge Island, Machias Seal Island, South Sea Seal Island, Bryer Island, Gannet Rock, Harbours (L'Etang, Beaver Harbour, Grand Manan, Cape Fourcho/Forchu (Yarmouth), The Lurcher, Trinity Ledge, Nova Scotia coastline, Quaco, Musquash, Chignect/Chignecto Bay, St. John Harbour, The Wolves.
Originals:

The original records are held by the British Admiralty Hydrographic Office - now UK Hydrographic Office

Finding Aids:

A calendar with an item specific description of each letter or manuscript is available in print and is shelved in The Loyalist Collection red binders (section 4 has been included in the catalogue record). The numbering in the calendar are not reflected in the content on the film.

Great Britain Admiralty Hydrographic Office Shelf and Document List.pdf
Notes:
The letters in Reel 2 have not always been microfilmed and listed in correct order of date.