The Journal of Hugh Campbell, Part II: Hugh Gets Arrested

Here is the second installment of Hugh Campbell’s Journal.  If you missed The Setup in part one, read it here.  This week: Hugh Gets Arrested. (And that’s the least of his problems….)

12th June

A little after midnight I reached Culdaff very much exhausted and fatigued.  A young man that was standing at a door where there was a wake conducted me to a public house where I could get some refreshment.  The good-natured landlady (Mrs. McCausland) got out of bed and offered me some biscuit and butter; the only ready victuals the house afforded at this time.  But in order to detain her up as short time as possible, I took a little in my hand and was just stepping out when a constable met me and with the usual formality made me a prisoner!  The Barony, he said, was under the Insurrection Act* and it was a duty incumbent on every constable to apprehend every stranger found traveling at improper hours.

Resistance was vain and I was obliged to wait till morning and give an account of myself to a magistrate, or leave my watch as a pledge of my return that way from Malin.  In this unpleasant situation, I knew that if I remained with the constable and his drunken party the rest of the night, I would have no time to go farther for Phillips after justifying myself (as I hoped to do) before Mr. Young, the magistrate’s son.  I was resolved if possible to accomplish the business I set out on, before my return to the ship.

I therefore thought it prudent to leave my watch with the Landlady on condition that it would be forfeited if I did not deliver myself to the constable in the course of the day.  I then started for Malin Tower, got Phillips with some difficulty, and returned to Culdaff about 11 in the morning on my way to join the vessel.  The worthy Landlady, who was overjoyed to see me, informed me that the story of my apprehension was misrepresented by the drunken constable (Robt. McEllis), and that Mr. Geo. Young, the resident magistrate’s son, had written a note to her [Mrs. McCausland]  husband to send him the watch as he believed it belonged to a very suspicious character.  The watch however was delivered to me.  I surrendered myself to the constable.  This was rather worse than I expected but I was obliged to submit.

 

Moville

I sent word to Phillips (who was waiting at some distance for me) that he must go on and join the vessel as quick as possible and tell the Capt. that as I was compelled to go eight miles out of my way before a magistrate, I could not reach Moville sooner than 3 p.m.  His promise that “he would not sail without me” I depended on and set out with the constable’s son (his father being incapable from drinking) for Major D’Arcy’s with all the confidence of conscious innocence.  Mr. Geo. Young, Jr. had gone out there to consult on my case and was sitting with Major D’Arcy when I arrived there.  My story was plain and I related to them in a few words the circumstances that induced me to walk through the Barony at such an irregular hour.

I represented the danger I was in of losing my passage if detained longer, and the inquiry that was already done by improper conduct of the constable the night before.  My awkward situation excited their indignation against my persecutor. McEllis was turned out of his employments and Mr. Young rode off to Culdaff to procure a boat for me to meet the vessel coming ’round Innishowen Head.  I thanked Major D’Arcy for his polite attention and started out for the shore again.

When I arrived there the tide had ebbed from the boats a great distance and I was obliged (rather than wait for its return) to start off for Moville.  It was now 2 in the morning** but I hoped to reach the vessel before she weighed anchor.  My mortification and despair cannot be conceived when I came in sight of Moville Bay and found that the vessel had sailed at 11 in the morning.  In this dilemma I concluded instantly on returning to Mr. Young and following in one of his boats the Perseverance out to the Ocean if possible.

With this view I stript off my shoes, stockings and hired a guide to carry them and ran the near way across the mountains to the same unfortunate Culdaff where I arrived about 9 in the evening completely exhausted with anxiety, hunger and fatigue.  No time was lost, by my valuable friend, Mr. Geo. Young in procuring six trusty fellows, well acquainted with the management of a boat, to carry me out after the vessel.  Without waiting to clear the small boat of a fishing net that lay in it or even to put on their coats, shoes or stockings, they leaped into it and shoved off from the shore a little before sunset in a dark, lowering evening.  My fears on venturing myself in a small fishing boat so late were increased on perceiving my companions drop their oars and cross themselves when starting; but the desire of joining the vessel overcame every other consideration.

We had not even rowed far when it began to blow and rain and I became seasick.

Lighthouse Island (Inishtrahull)

My unfortunate situation seemed to act as a stimulus on the Boatmen to exert themselves.  We steered past Lighthouse Island*** out to the ocean in hopes to come across the Perseverance in her course west.  About twelve o’clock at night we spoke to a small vessel bound from Scotland to Londonderry and shortly after came up with another from the West Indies.  From the latter we learned that the vessel we were in pursuit of was far to the Westward and that when she met her, the studding sails were set by a fair breeze in her favour.  This intelligence set aside all hopes of overtaking her and we concluded on returning to Lighthouse Island where we arrived about 2 in the morning exhausted with want of sleep, fatigue, and sickness.

*****

* In an effort to suppress growing religious and political discontent, the Irish government passed a series of Insurrection Acts between 1800-1802, 1807-1810, 1814-1818 and 1822-1824.  The Insurrection Acts stipulated that anyone found outside of their homes between sunset and sunrise would be subject to arrest.
** Daytime
*** A now-uninhibited island called Inishtrahull Island, it is located about 6 miles northeast of Malin Tower.

Next week — will Hugh be stuck in Ireland?  Find out in Part III.

The Journal of Hugh Campbell, Part I: The Adventure Begins

Welcome to the first installment of Hugh Campbell’s Journal!  If you need some background, here is the intro/bio of Hugh, and click here for the memorandum he wrote for the journal.  Enjoy the story!

The first page of Hugh's journal. Notice he took the time to draw faint lines to ensure even spacing on the page. We do not have the original; this is a copy that was presented as evidence in Hazlett Campbell's probate case.

 

Journal of a Voyage from Ireland to the U. States

June 4th, 1818

Left a beloved home at three in the morning and joined the Ship Perseverance of Capt. Elkins, at Derry about nine.  Being unfortunately connected with Robt. Phillips and family, I was involved in one continued scene of trouble and confusion too tedious and painful to relate until this.

9th

After the customary examination by the mayor, we dropt down to Culmore this evening.  The Capt. returned to Derry to procure the Custom House certificates, etc. and left orders with the pilot to carry the ship no farther than Moville, until he would join her.  The passengers kept constantly on deck on account of the warm weather, and beautiful scenery on each side of the River Foyle, and I soon got acquainted with them.  The greater number of our steerage passengers (in order to drive away the sorrow which a separation from their native land produced) entered into the greatest extravagance of dancing, drinking, singing, etc.  But some of the more aged, gave themselves up to the deepest melancholy.  Our cabin passengers, besides Mrs. Phillips and myself were Mr. Ewing, and Mr. Orr.

Mr. Ewing had a great part of his family in America and was now going to live with one of his sons at his own request; he was old, religious, and deaf, and of course was almost a blank in our society.  Mr. Orr on the other had, was a young, giddy, proud, good-natured fellow, who served his apprenticeship in the Grocer Business, and goes out as much an adventurer as myself.  It cannot be expected that such a motley set of companions would contribute much to restore the happiness I was deprived of at parting my friends, but I tried reading and every rational amusement to reconcile myself to my situation.  Hope still pointed out some way of making amends for the privations of a sea voyage, in a foreign land if Providence allowed me health.

Malin Tower

11th June

We anchored this morning at Moville and Capt. Elkins came on board in the evening.  After giving orders for fastening the movables and preparing to sail next morning at 10, he called me down to the cabin and requested me to go to Malin Tower for R. Phillips who had concealed himself from his creditors there, and agreed to give the Capt. five Guineas* for sending in his boat for him when the vessel would leave the river.  Mrs. Phillips observed that he (Mr. P.) might with safety come on board at Greencastle and that if any other person went he might mistake them for a Bailiff and not discover himself.  The Capt. assured me that the distance was trifling and that he would not sail without me at all events.

 

The geography of Hugh's journey

I new that a rough gale might render it unsafe for the vessel to wait near such a dangerous coast for R. Phillips to come aboard, and therefore determined to go for him.  I was set ashore accordingly late in the evening by the Capt.’s  boat near Bennefabble.  On enquiring I found the distance to be upwards of twenty miles through the wildest part of Innishtown but I expected to be able to go there and return before the time the Capt. appointed to sail next morning by walking all night.  I tried to hire a guide to accompany me but the small quantity of cash I brought with me, as pocket money, would not allow me.  It was now after sunset and I was obliged to set out alone.  Made inquiries when I came to any solitary house on the way and wandered on when I could find none.

*****

 

* Five Guineas are the equivalent of about $500.00 in modern U.S. dollars.

Up next:  Hugh has a long night, day, and subsequent night that features drunk constables, possible jail time and a race to catch the Perseverance.  Be sure to check in next Friday for the next installment of this exciting story!

Part II:  Hugh Gets Arrested