IOR/L/MAR/B/622C

Journal of the East India Company ship Edgebaston by Second Mate John Hereford. The journal covers the ship's voyage from England to Bombay and back to England, between 28 August 1743 and 9 October 1746 (Captain Stephen Cobham). The journal contains daily entries in seven columns: H [Hour], K [Knots], F [Fathoms], Cours [Course], Winds, Weather and Remarks. Apart from a few exceptions, when the ship is at anchor the entries consist of remarks only. The journal records the following: navigational information; weather; contact with other East India Company ships, French ships, Dutch ships, Portuguese ships and country ships; commodities carried; descriptions of the coasts seen during the ship's course; and other remarks. The journal includes details of personnel stating name and rank (or 'station') and where applicable, whether dead, deserted (given as 'run' in the journal) or discharged and where and when they started (folios 3-5). Also included is a list of soldiers on board in 1743 (folio 5).

The journal also notes relations with other merchants, and mentions of the deaths of members of the crew. Entries are double-dated using both the Julian and Gregorian calendars.

Inscribed: 'This is my original journal John Hereford. Witness Tho. [Thomas] Reading' (folio 2). Marked: 'Recd. [Received] 13th October 1746' (folio 2).

The ship's route is as follows (dates given are those of arrival): Deptford, 26 August 1743 (folio 6); Gravesend, 21 September 1743 (folio 7); the Downs, 26 October 1743 (folio 8); Table Bay, Cape Bona Esperance [Cape of Good Hope], 16 February 1743/4 (folio 34); Mocha, 2 May 1744 (folio 50); Bombay, 2 September 1744; Surratt [Surat], 11 October 1744 (folio 65); Bombay, 27 October 1744 (folio 66); Bombay, 30 November 1744 (folio 71); Tellicherry [Thalassery], 12 December 1744 (folio 74); Callacut [Calicut, i.e. Kozhikode], 16 December 1744 (folio 75); Tellicherry, 23 December 1744 (folio 74); Cochin [Kochi, also written in the journal as Cochen], 29 December 1744 (folio 76); Tellicherry, 3 January 1744/5 (folio 77); Callacut, 23 January 1744/5 (folio 78); Cochin, 31 January 1744/5 (folio 79); Tellicherry, 19 February 1744/5 (folio 92); Mangulore [Mangalore], 4 March 1744/5 (folio 83); Bombay, 24 March 1744/5 (folio 86); Surratt, 11 April 1745 (folio 87); Bombay, 26 April 1745 (folio 88); Calcutta [Kolkata], 15 June 1745 (folio 87); Kedgree [Khejuri], 12 November 1745 (folio 105); Madarass [Chennai], 23 January 1745/6 (folio 111); Fort St David, 5 February 1745/6 (folio 113); St Helena, 5 May 1746 (folio 135); the Downs, 27 August 1746 (folio 144); Depford, 21 September 1746 (folio 146).