The Reindeer (built 1863; ship) logbook (SAFR 14043, HDC 123) is a carbon copy of a transcript of the log from the ship REINDEER during a whaling voyage taken from New Bedford, Massachusetts to the Pacific Ocean and Hawaii during the years 1856-1858. Edward R. Ashley was master of the vessel. The daily entries account the weather, position, whales sighted and killed, and other vessels. A photograph of Captain Ashley is tipped into a front page of the logbook. This collection has been processed to the collection level and is open for use without restrictions.

Ashley, Edward R. was born May I5, 1824, on the Ashley homestead, about a mile above Long Plain, Massachusetts. He spent his boyhood on the farm, and like many of the bright boys of that period commenced the pursuit of the leviathan of the deep at an early age. Promotion was rapid and he sailed, as master of the WILLIAM WIRT in 1853, the REINDEER in 1856, and the GOVERNOR TROUP in 1867. He made a large catch each of these voyages but the best was in the WILLIAM WIRT, when in 31 months he stowed away 2,886 barrels of oil and 45,900 pounds of bone, a record seldom equaled. His wife accompanied him in his voyages in the REINDEER and GOVERNOR TROUP, during which time their children, Edward W., Granville A. and Carrie L. were born at the Sandwich Islands. He gave up whaling in 1867 and purchased a farm in the village of Long Plain where he enjoyed life till his decease, May 30, 1900. All these years he was prominent in the political affairs of the town which he served in various positions of trust. He represented this district in the House of Representatives of 1897, where he did good work on the committee on Fisheries and Game, He was a useful member of the South Bristol Farmers' club, and prominent in the Odd Fellows and Masonic Fraternities, being in the Sutton Commander of New Bedford. He was affable, generous hearted, and upright in his dealings, and was held in high esteem by his friends and townsmen. Captain Ashley married August 9, 1853, Adra (Braley) of Rochester. Children: (1) Edward W. born Apr. 18, 1857; now a resident of this town, where he has served as school committee several years; (2) Carrie Austin, born Oct. 8, 1861; (3) Granville Allen, born Aug. 9, 1864; (4) Carrie Luella, born Dec. 20, 1895; and (5) Lucy Delaney born Oct. 12, 1867, died Oct. 28, 1893.

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