Thomas G. Shaw Memoirs, 1895: Finding Aid

Biographical Chronology of Thomas G. Shaw

1871

• On July 5, enlists in the United States Navy at New York.
• Attached to the receiving ship U.S.S. Vermont (Ship-of-the-line).
• On July 22, attached to U.S.S. Congress (Screw sloop-of-war).

1874

• On January 21, 1874, transferred to U.S.S. Powhatan (Side-wheel steamer).
• On January 29, transferred to the receiving ship U.S.S. New Hampshire (Ship-of-the-line) at Norfolk.
• On February 7, discharged from the United States Navy.
• On February 27, reenlists in the United States Navy aboard the receiving ship U.S.S. Vermont at New York.
• On May 3, attached to U.S.S. Swatara (Sloop-of-war) for the Transit of Venus Expedition.

1875

• On August 5, discharged from the United States Navy.
• On September 29, reenlists in the United States Navy aboard the receiving ship U.S.S. Colorado (Screw frigate) at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
• On December 9, attached to U.S.S. Hartford (Screw sloop-of-war).

1877

• In September, attached to the receiving ship U.S.S. Franklin (Screw frigate) at Norfolk.
• On October 6, transferred to the receiving ship U.S.S. Colorado at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

1878

• On August 3, attached to U.S.S. Tallapoosa (Side-wheel steamer).
• In September, discharged from the United States Navy.
• In December, reenlists in the United States Navy aboard the receiving ship U.S.S. St. Louis (Sloop-of-war) at Philadelphia.
• In May, attached to U.S.S. Santee (Frigate) at the United States Naval Academy.
• In May, transferred to U.S.S. Mayflower (Screw tug) in connection with the Naval Academy summer practice cruise.

1879

• In September, transferred to U.S.S. Constellation (Sloop-of-war) for transport to New York.
• On September 11, attached to the receiving ship U.S.S. Colorado at New York.
• On September 13, transferred to U.S.S. Saratoga (Sloop-of-war).
• On September 23, transferred to the receiving ship U.S.S. Colorado at New York.
• In October, transferred to U.S.S. Constellation.
• In December, attached to U.S.S. Trenton (Screw steamer) for duty in the Mediterranean.

1881

• Following the decommissioning of U.S.S. Trenton on November 9 at New York, is discharged from the United States Navy.
• In December, reenlists in the United States Navy aboard the receiving ship U.S.S. St. Louis (Sloop-of-war) at Philadelphia.
• In April, attached to U.S.S. Alarm (Torpedo boat).

1882

• In August, transferred to the receiving ship U.S.S. Franklin at Norfolk.
• In September, transferred to the receiving ship U.S.S. Colorado at New York.
• In November, attached to U.S.S. Nantucket (Monitor).
• In December, transferred to the receiving ship U.S.S. Colorado following the decommissioning of U.S.S. Nantucket.
• In December, transferred to the receiving ship U.S.S. St. Louis at Philadelphia.

1883

• In February, transferred to receiving ship U.S.S. Colorado at New York.
• In September, attached to U.S.S. Miantonomoh (Monitor: BM-5).
• In September, stationed aboard the receiving ship U.S.S. Colorado while serving tug duty at New York.

1884

• In March, transferred to the receiving ship U.S.S. St. Louis for tug duty at Philadelphia.
• In June or July, attached to U.S.S. Alarm.
• In October, transferred to the receiving ship U.S.S. St. Louis at Philadelphia following the decommissioning of U.S.S. Alarm.
• In December, discharged from the United States Navy.
• In December, reenlists in the United States Navy aboard the receiving ship U.S.S. St. Louis (Sloop-of-war) at Philadelphia.

1885

• In December, transferred to the receiving ship U.S.S. Vermont at New York.
• In December, attached to U.S.S. Dolphin (Dispatch boat: PG-24).

1887

• In December, discharged from the United States Navy at New York.

1888

• In February, reenlists in the United States Navy aboard the receiving ship U.S.S. Vermont.
• In March, attached to U.S.S. Pensacola (Screw steamer) for transport to U.S.S. Omaha (Screw sloop-of-war).
• In April, attached to U.S.S. Omaha.

1891

• On June 4, detached from U.S.S. Omaha and discharged from the United States Navy.
• On August 3, reenlists in the United States Navy aboard the receiving ship U.S.S. St. Louis at Philadelphia.
• In September, attached to U.S.S. Petrel (Gunboat: PG-2).

1894

• On August 15, transferred to U.S.S. Mohican (Screw sloop-of-war).
• On November 22, discharged from the United States Navy aboard the receiving ship U.S.S. Vermont at New York.

Description of Contents

The Thomas G. Shaw Memoirs, comprising 0.13 linear feet of documentation in a single volume, were completed in October 1895 and span Shaw's career as an oiler in the United States Navy from 1871 until 1894. Primarily the product of Shaw's service aboard U.S.S. Congress (Screw sloop-of-war), U.S.S. Trenton (Screw steamer), U.S.S. Dolphin (Dispatch boat: PG-24), U.S.S. Omaha (Screw sloop-of-war), and U.S.S. Petrel (Gunboat: PG-2), the memoirs catalog the various ports of call and cultures encountered by Shaw, especially in the Mediterranean and Asia. Shaw's descriptions often open with commentary on the quality of a given city or town's streets, before discussing the local architecture, history, demographics, and customs.

The Shaw Memoirs, comprising a single volume, are arranged chronologically into twenty-eight chapters. The memoirs open with Shaw's enlistment on July 5, 1871 and a description of life and food aboard the receiving ship U.S.S. Vermont (Ship-of-the-line), before proceeding to Shaw's assignment to U.S.S. Congress on July 22, 1871, the duty aboard which ship comprises the first four chapters. Cruising mostly in the Mediterranean between 1871 and 1873, the memoirs offer a description and history of Disko Island, Greenland and outfitting the Polaris Expedition; Funchal, Madeira; Toulon, France; Lisbon, Portugal; Malta; Jaffa, Palestine (Israel); Jerusalem, including its various gates and the Dome of the Rock (mistakenly referred to as the Mosque of Omar); Naples, Italy, including the Strada di Toledo, and the National Archaeological Museum, and the Iron Crown; Monte Carlo and the ravages of gambling; the shipyards of Greenock and Glasgow, Scotland; and London, England, including the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, and the story of Dermot MacMurrough and the abduction of Dearbhforgaill. Shaw also notes efforts to free the steamer Hornet from Port au Prince in January 1872 and the depression associated with large numbers of crew mates detaching from the ship (Chapter 4).

Chapters 5 and 6, which span from early 1874 through late 1879, cover a period of enlistment in which Shaw was attached to over one dozen vessels and receiving ships. Chapter 5 deals largely with Shaw's duty aboard U.S.S. Swatara (Screw sloop-of-war) beginning on May 3, 1874 for the Transit of Venus Expedition, including commentary on the Kerguelen Islands and his first spotting of penguins; reception at and description of Hobart, Tasmania; and the return to New York with specimens, including a wombat and a Tasmanian Devil. Part of Chapter 6 pertains to duty aboard U.S.S. Hartford beginning on December 9, 1875, including description of the drill routine of the North Atlantic Squadron, arrival in Philadelphia for Centennial celebrations, and description of Fortress Monroe, Hampton Roads, and the islands of the Caribbean. The latter part of Chapter 6 pertains to Shaw's transfer to U.S.S. Santee (Frigate) and U.S.S. Mayflower (Screw tug) for duty with the Naval Academy summer practice cruise.

Shaw's duty aboard U.S.S. Trenton is detailed in Chapters 7 through 10, opening with a description of the vessel herself. The ports and cities for which Shaw offers a description and history include Villefranche-sur-Mer, France; Port Mahon and a history of all of Minorca; Alexandria, Egypt, including Pompeys Pillar, the catacombs, and Cleopatra's Needle; Smyrna, Turkey; Athens, Greece; Palermo Sicily; Marseille, France; Flushing, Holland; Antwerp, Belgium; Gibraltar; Genoa and Livorno, Italy; Pisa, Italy, including the Cathedral and Leaning Tower; Florence, Italy, including the Uffizi Gallery; Castellammare, Italy; Barcelona, Spain; and Trieste, Austria, now Italy. Shaw also recounts a private shipboard concert in the Mediterranean by soprano Emma Wixom Nevada in Chapter 8. After returning to Hampton Roads on October 13, 1881, Shaw details a review by President Chester A. Arthur at Yorktown on the centennial of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis. The remainder of Chapter 10 covers a number of brief duties, including a discussion of the various mechanical difficulties of U.S.S. Alarm (Torpedo boat). While serving on tug duty at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Shaw discusses Receiving the survivors and dead of the Jeannette Expedition from the steamer Frisia in February 1884 and the subsequent funeral procession up Broadway and over the Brooklyn Bridge.

Chapters 11 and 12 cover Shaw's time aboard U.S.S. Dolphin (Dispatch boat: PG-24). Following a description of the Dolphin and her speed trials and foul weather trials off Bermuda, Shaw offers descriptions of Salem, Massachusetts and Belfast Maine. Also discussed are landing drills at Bar Harbor, a sham battle at Coasters Harbor Island, a parade in Philadelphia to celebrate the centennial of the signing of the Constitution, and operations and torpedo drills with the Atlantic Fleet.

Shaw's time attached to U.S.S. Omaha (Screw sloop-of-war) on the Asiatic Station is detailed in Chapters 13 through 20. Much of Chapter 13 though, pertains to Shaw's transport to the Omaha aboard U.S.S. Pensacola (Screw steamer), including the transport of the remains of José Antonio Páez to Venezuela and the death of a deserter in Willemstad, Curacao. Early in the chapter, Shaw also offers his thoughts on Secretary of the Navy William Whitney's management style. Once aboard Omaha, Shaw offers a description of that vessel and a description of Honolulu and the Nu'uana Pali in Hawaii. He also notes the deaths of Captain of the Hold John Campbell, Ordinary Seaman Charles Grihtsen, and Private John Flannely. Once in Asian waters, Shaw devotes all of Chapters 14 through 16 on a description of various aspects of Japan, including a description of Yokohama, Japan and the operation of the treaty port with the Europeans; Japanese currency conversion rates and cost of common household goods; Japanese religions, customs, and form of government under the Emperor; Japanese household and castle design; firefighting techniques; Japanese manner of dress, marital practices, bathing rituals, diet, and prostitution in Japan; Japanese theaters, Geisha, and dancers; and Japanese sword fighting and ritualistic suicide (Hara-kiri or Seppuku). Chapters 17 through 20 oscillate between additional commentary on Japan, as well as descriptions of China and Korea. Included are descriptions of Shanghai, China, including the history of European trade at that port and an inspection of the Pu Yu Tang charity shelter; Chinkiang (Zhenjiang), China; Kobe and Hioga (Hyogo), Japan, including the foreign concessions in Kobe; the sinking of U.S.S. Oneida at Yokohama in 1870; Tokyo, including Tokyo Imperial Palace; Nagasaki, Japan, its history of foreign trade, and the aftermath of the Shimabara Rebellion; the geography, political history, and system of government of Korea; Korea's relationship with China; Korean homes, manner of dress, and education; Chemulpo (Inchon) and Seoul, Korea; and Chefoo (Yantai), China. In Chapter 20, Shaw also notes the deaths of Fireman John Nelson, an African American seaman named Shawe during a storm, and Seamen Kirk and Emanuelson from an explosion during target practice. Shaw also provides daily position readings for each day of U.S.S. Omaha's return voyage from Yokohama to Acapulco beginning on March 10, 1891.

The remainder of the memoirs, spanning Chapters 21 through 28, pertain to Shaw's service aboard U.S.S. Petrel (Gunboat: PG-2) in Asiatic waters and the Yangtze River. Following a description of the vessel and before arriving in Asia, Shaw offers descriptions of Port Castries and St. Lucia, including their colonial history; and Port Said, Egypt and the Suez Canal. After transiting the Suez Canal, the memoirs offer descriptions of the British colony of Aden and the Cisterns of Tawila; Colombo, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), its manufactures, the cinnamon trade, and daily routine of the locals; and Singapore. Chapters 22 and 23 are devoted to Siam (Thailand), including a description of Bangkok; the history of Thailand, the Khmer Empire, and European colonization of the Indochinese peninsula; Thai geography and climate; demographics of Siam, especially the number of Chinese; and the government of Siam and its various ministries. Chapter 23 also includes a description of Saigon and the Dong Nai River. Chapters 24 and 25 focus on duty in China and the Yangtze River, and to a lesser extent, Japan. In these chapters, Shaw offers descriptions of Hong Kong, including its architecture, British colonial public buildings, and port activities; the Yangtze ports of Wuhu, Kiukiang (Jiujiang), and Hankow; Ningpo (Ningbo), China; and several additional port calls in Japan. Chapter 26 pertains to the Petrel's temporary duty preventing seal poaching by British and American poachers in the Aleutian Islands. The chapter includes a description and history of the Aleutian Islands, including the Bering Expedition; Unalaska, Alaska and the seal fur trade; Sitka, Alaska; and seal poaching operations by both British and American ships. Chapter 27 returns to Asian waters with a description of Hakodate, Japan and Foochow (Fuzhou), China, as well noting the suicide of Machinist J. C. Jarrett. Following commentary on Amoy (Xiamen), China, including a description of Chinese rice mills, Chapter 28 returns Shaw to Alaskan waters, searching for survivors of the whaling ship James Allen at Amelia Island, Alaska after learning of her loss from the North American Fur Company ship Dora, and helping U.S.S. Adams (Screw steamer) off a reef off St. Paul Island, Alaska.

The memoirs close with Shaw's transfer to U.S.S. Mohican (Screw sloop-of-war) at Unalaska on August 15, 1894 following the expiration of his final enlistment, and his return to New York from San Francisco by steamer, where he was discharged from the Navy on November 22, 1894.

At the end of the volume is an appendix listing every port of call visited by Shaw, with dates of arrival and departure, as well as a second appendix listing all of Shaw's duty stations. Some of the dates listed in the appendixes contradict those in the narrative of the memoirs.

Arrangement

The Thomas G. Shaw Memoirs comprise a single volume of 28 chapters.

Access and Use

Access

Access is unrestricted.

Copyright and Permission

The Thomas G. Shaw Memoirs are the physical property of Nimitz Library. Copyright belongs to the authors or creators of the works, or their legal representatives. For further information, consult the Head, Special Collections & Archives.

It is the responsibility of the researcher to secure written permission to publish, reprint, or reproduce material from Special Collections & Archives. The researcher assumes responsibility for infringement of copyright or literary or publication rights. Please contact the Head, Special Collections & Archives for permission to publish and for further information.

Acquisition and Appraisal

Custodial History

The Thomas G. Shaw Memoirs were originally given by Shaw to William O'Connor of Philadelphia, who subsequently gave the volume to John J. Guerin.

Provenance and Acquisition

Gift of Joseph R. Guerin in April 2002. Accession No. 02-08.

Related Materials

Related Archival Material

Additional material pertaining to U.S.S. Trenton can be found in the Logbook of the U.S.S. Trenton, 1877-1879, MS 78. Material pertaining to the practice cruise aboard U.S.S. Mayflower can be found in the William Frederick Durand U.S.S. Mayflower Journal of Practice Cruise, 1879, MS 348. Additional material pertaining to U.S.S. Omaha can be found in the Bartlett Jefferson Cromwell Papers, 1861-1891, MS 330.

Materials Cataloged Separately

No materials have been removed from this collection and cataloged separately.

Processing and Other Information

Preferred Citation

Thomas G. Shaw Memoirs, MS 14

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Processing Information

This collection was processed by David D'Onofrio in May 2021. Finding aid written by David D'Onofrio in May 2021.

Subject Headings

Name and Subject Terms

• Alaska -- Description and travel
• China -- Description and travel
• Congress (Screw sloop-of-war)
• Dolphin (Dispatch boat: PG-24)
• France -- Description and travel
• Israel -- Description and travel
• Italy -- Description and travel
• Japan -- Description and travel
• Omaha (Screw sloop-of-war)
• Petrel (Gunboat: PG-2)
• Shaw, Thomas G., fl. 1871-1895
• Thailand -- Description and travel
• Transit of Venus Expedition
• Trenton (Screw steamer)

Genre Terms

• Manuscripts
• Memoirs