Poynter, Charles Willet, 1798-1878 : His Majesty's Hired Brig Williams on discovery towards the South Pole

The log is a day-to-day account of the daily activities on board and on shore of the voyage of the `Williams' to the Antarctic region from 16 December 1819 to 16 April 1820, under Captain Edward Bransfield. The voyage charted the South Shetland Islands and is also thought to have been the first to sight the Antarctic continent but there is some controversy about this. It includes three charts, two coastal views and a pencil sketch by William Maine Bone. The genealogical material at the back of the book relates to the Clouston family who owned the volume for many years.

Publication - R J Campbell (ed) `The Discovery of the South Shetland Islands 1819-1820. The Journal of Midshipman C W Poynter' (Hakluyt Society Series III, Volume 4, London, 2000).

An abridged version of the account in the log was published in the `Literary gazette and journal of belles lettres' in three parts on 3, 10 and 24 November 1821.

Source of title - Title transcribed

Relationship complexity - For further background material relating to log see transcript (MS-Papers-5351) and A G E Jones papers relating to early voyages in Antarctica (MS-Papers-5528).

The log was kept by Poynter, one of three midshipmen on board the `Williams' under Captain Edward Bransfield. The `Williams' had made several voyages to the Antarctic under Captain William Smith. On this occasion it was chartered by the Royal Navy to further explore the area. The voyage charted the South Shetland Islands and is also thought to have been the first to sight the Antarctic continent, but there is some controversy about this. Accounts of the voyage appear in `The Polar Record', the `Mariners' Mirror', the `Geographical Journal' and other publications.

Quantity: 1 volume(s). 0.02 Linear Metres.

Physical Description: Holograph and mss (26 cm; ½ red leather, marbled boards)

Provenance: It is not known how the log came to be with the Clouston family. Family history notes at the back of the volume indicate it has been in the family for many years but there is no indication of a link between the Cloustons and Poynter. The agent for the vendor, believes it might have been acquired by a family member last century.

2 charts, 2 coastal sketches, 1 pencil sketch; genealogical sketch

Processing information: Access statement changed from "Partly restricted - Digital content available only in Katherine Mansfield Reading Room" to "Partly restricted - Please use surrogate in place of original" on 26 October 2022.

Alternative form available: Microfilm copies available in Katherine Mansfield Reading Room. Use MS-Copy-Micro-0655

Use fMS-Papers-5352. Published version available (Hakluyt Society, Series III vol 4). Transcript also available at MS-Papers-5351

In addition to the microfilm of the original, and the transcript typescript (described above) a photocopies of both the original and the transcript are held with the A G E Jones papers at the Library of the Royal Geographical Society in London.