Poughkeepsie Whaling

Editor's note: The excerpts are from the newspaper articles listed, Thank you to Contributing Scholar George A. Thompson for finding, cataloging and transcribing these articles. The language, spelling and grammar of the article reflects the time period when it was written.

September 10, 1832, Boston Courier (Boston, Massachusetts)
The Poughkeepsie Whaling Company have purchased the ship Vermont, 3000 tons burthen, which they will proceed immediately to fit out for a voyage to the Pacific Ocean.
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November 1, 1832, Newburgh (NY) Telegraph
The Whale ship Vermont, owned by the Poughkeepsie Whaling Company, left this place yesterday morning for her voyage.  She was saluted by the firing of cannon on her departure.  We hope her voyage will be short and prosperous, and her master and crew return in health. — Poughkeepsie Tel.

November 10, 1832, Charleston Courier (South Carolina)
Whale Ship - The Vermont, a fine ship, and the first fitted out by the Poughkeepsie Whaling Company, took her departure for a three years voyage in the Pacific, under a National Salute from an eminence adjacent to the village of Poughkeepsie, (NY)

June 13, 1833, Newburgh (NY) Telegraph
The Poughkeepsie Whaling Company have purchased the ship Elbe, and intend to fit her out immediately for the South Atlantic.

August 10, 1833, Columbian Register (New Haven, Connecticut)
The ship Elbe, owned by the Poughkeepsie Whaling Company, came down from that place on Monday, and will sail in a day or two on a three years cruise in the Pacific. She was provisioned and manned at Poughkeepsie, and we hope the company may be remunerated for their enterprize by a profitable voyage. – N.Y. Gazette

Can you feel the sea breeze?
Can you see the great tail?
This ship has been roaming in search of the whale.
And though we've returned to this arm of the sea
The smell of the ocean's still clinging to me.

Well then, I'm bound for Poughkeepsie
Well then, I'm headed for home
Well then, I'm bound for Poughkeepsie
Well then, I'm headed for home

Well hello, Father Hudson, it's good to be home
I'm headed up river to seek out my own
And with luck by tomorrow my loved ones I'll see
Where the reach of the ocean is too far from me

Well then, I'm bound for Poughkeepsie
Well then, I'm headed for home
Well then, I'm bound for Poughkeepsie
Well then, I'm headed for home

Oh the water is fresh here, the gulls are all crows
It's time I gave though to a set of new clothes
And it's good to be where I've been wanting to be
Where the sight of the ocean is too far to see

Well then, I'm here in Poughkeepsie
Well then, I'm back in my home
Well then, I'm here in Poughkeepsie
Well then, I'm back in my home

I can sleep in a bed that won't shift 'neath my back
And I won't care tomorrow should the clouds turn to black
I can walk anywhere that I'm wanting to be
To be quit of the ocean is alright with me

Well then, I'm here in Poughkeepsie
Well then, I'm back in my home
Well then, I'm here in Poughkeepsie
Well then I'm back in my home

All my friends and relations are gathered around
Each day I thank God for my feet on the ground
But the whales are still sportin' where the waves can run free
And the song of the ocean is singing to me

Well then, I'll be leaving Poughkeepsie
Well then, farewell to my home
Well then, I'll be leaving Poughkeepsie
Well then, farewell to my home

Oh the talk is all turning to bushels and bales
But my heart is yearning for the wind in the sails
Let the farmer sow here, I can reap from the sea
Where the swell of the ocean is pulling at me

Well then, I'll be leaving Poughkeepsie
Well then, farewell to my home
Well then, I'll be leaving Poughkeepsie
Well then, farewell to my home
​credits from Where the Heron Waits, released January 1, 2009

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