Voyages of the Sarah (1711-1717)
Below are the known voyages of the ship Sarah along with
information on her destination, cargo, and crew (when available). They
were located in colonial shipping records obtained from various sources
noted below.
January 1711 Sailed for St. Christophers* (Caribbean)
"Outward Bound Benjamin Edwards Ship Sarah for St. Christophers."
Source: Boston News-Letter December 31, 1710 – January 7, 1711.
*"St.
Christopher's Island" is modern day St. Kitts. It lies 46 miles west of
Antigua in the Caribbean.
June 1712 Sailed for Lisbon (Portugal)
The "Sarah" of Boston, plantation-built ship, 65 tons with 5 men,
registered at Boston on 15th December 1712 (1711/12) cleared out on –
June (1712/13) under Benja. Edwards, master, bound for Lixbone (Lisbon),
carrying 1700 qtls of fish." Source – MHS / Shipping Records: Public
Record Office, London.
March 1713 Returned from Bay Campeche (Mexico)
In the year 1713/14. "The ship "Sarah" of Boston came from Bay Campeache
under Benjamin Edwards, master, entered on 17th March carrying 100 tons
of logwood." Source – MHS / Shipping Records: Public Record Office,
London. "Entered Inwards Benjamin Edwards Ship Sarah from
Campeche." Source: Boston News-Letter March 8-15 1713/14.
April 1713 Sailed for London (England)
"Outward Bound Benjamin Edwards Ship Sarah for London." Source:
Boston News-Letter April 12-19, 1713/14. Cleared Outwards
Benjamin
Edwards for London. Source: Boston News-Letter April 26 - May 3,
1713/14.
April 1714 Sailed for Leghorn* (Italy)
"Outward Bound Benjamin Edwards Ship Sarah for Leghorn." Source:
Boston News-Letter March 28 – April 4, 1714. *The port of Leghorn
is
known today as Livorno (Tuscany's second-largest city).
During the return voyage, Captain Edwards likely stopped in London,
staying for a time on business while the Sarah and her cargo were
brought back to Boston by his second in command. Captain Edwards
returned to Boston as a passenger aboard the ship Elizabeth Gally
(see below).
June 1715 Returned from London (as a passenger)
In the year 1716 (1715/16): "June 6, John Slocomb the Ship Eliza
from London, with Henry Caswell a Mercht and Benja. Edwards a Marriner."
Source – Filby's Passenger Index. "Entered Inwards John Slocum Ship
Elizabeth Gally from London." Source: Boston News-Letter
June
4-11, 1715/16.
December 1715 Sailed for Barbados (Caribbean)
"The "Sarah" of Boston, plantation-built ship, 60 tons with 9 men,
registered at Boston on 13th August 1716 (1715/16), entered out on 14th
December (1715/16) under Benjamin Edwards master, bound for Barbados,
carrying 20 hhds of fish, 8 bls of oil, and 40 m. of lumber." Source –
MHS / Shipping Records: Public Record Office, London. "Cleared Outwards
Benj. Edwards for Barbadoes." Source: Boston News-Letter December
10-17,
1715/16.
April 1717 Returned from Saltertuda*
"Entered Inwards Benj. Edwards from Saltertuda." Source: Boston
News-Letter April 15-22, 1717. * "Salt Tortuga" was a
Seventeenth-century English name for Isla la Tortuga, an island off the
northern shores of present day Venezuela.
June 1717 Sailed for Barbados (Caribbean)
"Outward Bound Benj. Edwards for Barbadoes." Source: Boston
News-Letter
June 17-21, 1717.
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