Nautical charts (1855-1877) used by Meltiah and Carrie Richardson for transatlantic voyages

2015.315.2076

Nautical charts (1855-1877) used by Meltiah and Carrie Richardson for transatlantic voyages

Charts, nautical. Collection of ten 1855-1877 nautical charts of various sizes pertaining to the northeast coast of the United States, and the Atlantic Ocean to Europe, some with cotton fabric backing and cloth borders; all were rolled up inside a canvas drawstring carrying bag. (Charts are numbered 1-10 see full descriptions elsewhere.)
Chart 1 is the most important and the most fragile of the set. It is stamped twice in black ink with "M. J. Richardson" and clearly plots at least two 1877-78 transatlantic voyages through the Strait of Gibraltar by Great Cranberry Island captains Meltiah J. and/or his spouse Mary Catherine "Carrie" Stanley likely aboard their three-mast schooner, Carrie M. Richardson (built in nearby Manset harbor 1874. See 2017 exhibit of chart and accompanying journals).
Chart 6 has M. J. Richardson's name written in pencil on the reverse. Several charts are annotated in pencil and pen with dates and direction of sea voyages, and some have red ink dots indicating navigational aids (nuns and buoys).
These charts were inherited by Stanley descendants and originally came from the Lewis Stanley boatyard and/or house on The Pool on GCI.
Captain Lewis G. Stanley (1869-1957) was son of Enoch B. Stanley, Sr. (1820-1903).
Meltiah J. Richardson married Mary Catherine "Carrie" Stanley (sister of Lewis) in 1870.)
Chart 1 is 42” high by 60" wide and was in dire need of conservation. Conservation, encapsulation, digitization, printing and mounting were done at NEDCC August 2016. See documentation and digital files. (Prior to conservation: A piece missing from around the Yucatan peninsula,discolored, and very musty. Ink smudges in the center of the chart.)
It’s actually two maritime charts laid side by side on the same cloth backing; used many times; well worn.
Schooners known to be associated with Meltiah Richardson are the Hussar, Quickstep, and the Carrie M. Richardson.
Legend on lower left corner reads: “Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean. From the most recent British, French, and United States Surveys. Sheet I. Hydrographic Office – U.S. Navy 1369. With variation curves for 1871”. The legend on the lower right side of the chart reads: “Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean from the most recent British, French, Spanish, Portugese, Belgian, Dutch, German, Danish and Norwegian surveys. Sheet II. Hydrographic office U.S. Navy. With variation curves for 1871. Only the most important lights are given on this chart.” There are calculations and dates in pencil along edges of chart and along coastline of the mid-Atlantic and southern U.S. coast.
Two voyages are plotted across the ocean indicating dates and occasional notes.
Journey 1 runs from October 19, 1877- November 20, 1877 from Malaga (on the southeast coast of Spain in the Mediterranean Sea, through the Strait of Gibraltar) heading east to Cape Lookout, NC, bound for Philadelphia.
Journey 2 runs from October 3, 1878 - November 16, 1878, from Cadiz, (on southwest coast of Spain, north of the strait of Gibraltar), heading east to the Chesapeake Bay area of MD/VA, bound for Gloucester. (See scans of wallet journal made 7/29/16 relating directly to chart 1.) See separate document for specifics for each of the 10 charts. (See Exhibits2017 on NAS for displays and texts relating to these charts.) (See also Macfarlan's personal collection - chart of Ireland, and 2002.20.44 Hadlock chart around Norway.)

Meltiah J. Richardson

1855

Paper

various