Fildes, British Sealing Voyages

• MS 101/1;BJ Journals, 1820-1821 [Regarding sealing around the South Shetland Islands, on board Cora bound for South Shetland, 1820-1821, remarks made during a voyage to New South Shetland, Liverpool toward South Shetland on a sealing and sea elephant adventure onboard Robert, list of sealing vessels lost in South Shetland Islands, 1820-1821] typescript copy
• MS 393;BJ Shorter version of MS 101/1;BJ
• MS 386/1-5;MSM Sketch maps, harbours and anchorages in South Shetland Islands, 1820-1821 [Blythe Bay, Harbour at Deception, Livingston Island, King George's Island, Sea Elephant Island] photostat of original
• MS 387/1-5;MSM Copies of MS 386/105;MSM
• MS 101/100;D South Shetland, harbours etc, undated [Pre 1829]

Two sealing voyages were despatched by Henry Wood under the command of Robert Fildes, the first visited the Falkland Islands before Cora was lost on Deception Island (South Shetland Islands) in 1821. The crew remained on the island where several charts were made. The second voyage again visited the two Island groups before the expedition ship Robert was lost.

Chronological.

These are copies.

MS 101/1;BJ These documents were copied from the originals for or by William Speirs Bruce circa 1916. These copies omitted the charts found in the originals. These charts were probably copied by Bruce and deposited in the Admiralty, Hydrographic Department from where MS 387/1-5;MSM were obtained. MS 386/1-5;MSM are Photostats of the original charts. Thus the Institute holds complete copies of both original text and charts and copies of Bruce's copies of the original charts

The Institute holds several archival collections containing material on sealing expeditions.

Original material to be found in the Public Record Office, Kew London