Whilst on a visit to the Shetland Archives back in 2004, I was given this database of whaling vessels crewed by Bolts of Shetland.
My thanks to Angus Johnson, Archives Assistant for his help.
My thanks to Angus Johnson, Archives Assistant for his help.
The Greenland whaling was at its peak in the 1850s. The sailing ships, mainly coming from Dundee, arrived in Shetland in March to sign on local men, and would return again in the autumn.
The hunters were limited to short summer cruises when the sea was relatively free of ice. On reaching the whaling grounds, rowing boats were launched from the sailing ships, each crewed by 7 men. A whale was caught by throwing a hand held harpoon, then finally killed by aiming a long lance between the ribs. There could be up to four hours between harpooning and the final kill.
In 1850, there were at least 50 whalers that arrived in Shetland, each taking 20-30 Shetland men on board - Shetland men being renowned for their boat handling skills.
By the 1870s, over 5700 Shetland men were employed in the whaling industry, making it the largest employer on Shetland.
The hunters were limited to short summer cruises when the sea was relatively free of ice. On reaching the whaling grounds, rowing boats were launched from the sailing ships, each crewed by 7 men. A whale was caught by throwing a hand held harpoon, then finally killed by aiming a long lance between the ribs. There could be up to four hours between harpooning and the final kill.
In 1850, there were at least 50 whalers that arrived in Shetland, each taking 20-30 Shetland men on board - Shetland men being renowned for their boat handling skills.
By the 1870s, over 5700 Shetland men were employed in the whaling industry, making it the largest employer on Shetland.
Date
1813 1813 1813 1844 1850 1851 1852 1854 1855 1857 1859 1859 1860 1861 1861 1861 1863 1864 1864 1865 1866 1866 1871 1871 1873 1876 |
Place
Bressay Bressay Sound Bressay Newtown, Bressay Freefields, Gulberwick Bressay. Lerwick Glenburn, Freefield Gulberwick Freefields Freefields Gulberwick Gulberwick Bressay Gulberwick Bressay Bressay Gulberwick Bressay Gulberwick Gulberwick Gulberwick |
Owner
George Bolt Walter Bolt James Bolt Thomas Bolt James Bolt Robert Bolt Robert Bolt Thomas Bolt James Bolt Magnus Bolt John Bolt Andrew Bolt John Bolt Andrew Bolt John Bolt John Bolt John Bolt George Bolt John Bolt George Bolt George Bolt John Bolt George Bolt John Bolt Robert Bolt William Bolt |
Ticket
- - - - 410069 513190 513190 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Age
- - - 45 16 19 21 25 23 21 19 21 - - - - - - - - 25 38 29 31 - - |
Vessel
Harmony Harmony Friendship Commerce Rose Lord Gambier Lord Gambier Active Sophia Abram Kate Abram Enterprise Pacific Pacific Agostina Active Active Active Active Active Active Mazinthien Eclipse Eclipse Eclipse |
Volume
D.31/6/2 D.31/6/2 D.31/6/2 D31/6/12 D.31/6/18 D.31/6/19 D.31/6/20 D.31/6/21 D.31/6/23 D.31/6/25 D.31/6/26 D.31/6/26 D.31/6.27 D.31/6/28 D.31/6/28 D.31/6/28 D31/6/30 D.31/6/31 D.31/6/31 D.31/6/32 D.31/6/33 D.31/6/33 D.31/6/35 D.31/6/35 D.31/6/35 D.31/6/35 |
Page
18 18 62 58 159 271 306 108 251 10 71 288 67 24 34 78 17 11 4 57 35 34 84 65 108 115 |
Remarks
- - - - - Also p.335, 341, 343-346. Carpenter's mate Also p.333 b. Spond Line Manager - - Carpenter's mate - Also p.253. Carpenter's mate Also p.256 - - - - - - - Line coiler Also p.107, 145, 151 - - |
Copyright ©David Thornton Bolt 2024