ship's log

Remarks on board Thursday September 30th 1841
This 24h fresh breezes & cloudy. At 2 p.m. sett jibb & Spring Stay sail. At 3 p.m sent upp the crosjack jard & sett the messen topsail. At 5 p.m. stowed the four & main topp gallant sails saw 2 vessels standing to the wesward. At 11 p.m. took one reef in the Main Topp Sail. At 8 a.m. sett out the Reef in the Main Toppsail. At 9 a.m. saw a shipp standing to the northward.

Remarks on board Wednesday September the 29th, 1841
This 24 hr: Light brizes with rain. At 12h 5m p.m. have up ancor and saild from the North River. At 2h 50m p.m. the pilot left the shipp. At 5h 20m p.m. the Light Shipp of Sandy Hook Bore NW 53° Dist 2 miles in Lat 40° 27m N: Long 73° 46m west from which I take my departure. At 6h pm sent down the Crosjack & topp gards. At 5h a.m. sett the foursail four & hain topp sail. At 6h a.m. sett the four & hain topp gallant sails. At 7h a.m. saw a wasett standing to the Northwest. Variation ¼ west

Remarks on board Saturday October 2nd, 1841
Ferst part of this 24h light breezes medle & latter part havey gales with raine at 1 p.m. Saw a brigg under single reeft toppsails
at noon stopt the engen at 8h 30m started the machinery head igan.
At 1. a.m. Lock down at the gards & houwst the three topmasts. Sea and wind increasing with havy raine.

Remarks on board Friday October 1st 1841
This 24h Strong breezes & cloudy saw standing to the westward a ship hoysted signal but received no answer at 1 pm. Set the Gibb at 2. p.m. Hold down the Gibb at 5 p.m.
Tock in the four & haine Topp gallant sails dubled reeft the three topp sails saw two vessels standing westward under short sails.
At 3h 30m a.m. tock in the foure sail and set the topmast staysail and four trysail
Furld the three toppsails & set the spancer.

Having set sail from the North River in New York, Jonas Dale began his log on the 29th of September. The beginning of the journey saw increasing rain and winds as they moved into a storm. Dale attempted to contact passing vessels during these days, with marginal success. At this point there were no problems with the crew or passengers as the journey had just begun.