Climb abord the Connecticut whaling ship that was the last of its kind in America

Captain Gonsalves’ Final Voyage Ends American Whaling

The Charles W. Morgan sailed with over 1,000 men from Cape Verde, New Zealand, the Seychelles, and beyond during her 80-year career.

Under the “lay system,” sailors got shares instead of wages—captains took 1/8th of profits while green hands got as little as 1/350th. Most men earned just $25 for years of work.

Many sank into debt from advances and ship store purchases, then lived in filthy, cramped quarters described as “black and slimy with filth.”

In 1920, Captain John Gonsalves and his all-Cape Verdean crew made the Morgan’s final voyage, marking the end of America’s whaling era.

Their ship now rests at Mystic Seaport, where you can see firsthand how these diverse crews lived and worked.

The Charles W. Morgan Recruited Sailors From Around The Globe

The Charles W. Morgan hired over 1,000 sailors from all races and backgrounds during her 80-year run.

Crews came from Cape Verde, New Zealand, the Seychelles, Guadeloupe, Norfolk Island, and many other places. Each voyage needed about 33-35 men, with half being Americans and half from other countries.

Captains took sailors wherever they found them, sometimes running ships with all foreign-born crews. Many captains looked for foreign sailors with special skills or who would work for less money.

Sailors Gambled Years Of Their Lives For A Slice Of The Profits

Whalers didn’t get regular pay but earned a “lay” or cut of the profits based on their job. Captains took the biggest share at around 1/8th, while new sailors got as little as 1/350th.

This payment system pushed crew to work hard during trips lasting several years. Regular sailors often earned just $25 for years of dangerous work.

First mates typically got 1/15th, second mates 1/20th, and cooks about 1/60th.

Cash Advances Trapped Men In A Cycle Of Debt

Sailors got about $75 upfront in the mid-1800s but had to pay it back with up to 25% interest. The ship store charged high prices for clothes, tobacco, and supplies, all taken from future earnings.

Money sent to families also came out of their share. Many sailors finished trips owing money to ship owners even after good voyages.

This debt forced men to sign up for another trip right away, creating a system that kept the whaling industry filled with broke sailors.

Life Below Decks Meant Filth, Vermin, And Misery

Regular crew slept in the forecastle, which one sailor called “black and slimy with filth, very small and hot as an oven.”

The tight space filled with bad air, smoke, sea chests, soap kegs, greasy pans, and spoiled meat. Up to 24 men packed into narrow bunks in this small triangle-shaped room.

Heat from whale processing sent rats and cockroaches running across bunks. Men lived like this for years with almost no privacy, while officers stayed in cleaner quarters.

Your Race Often Determined Your Rank

The ship followed strict rules about who slept where, with the captain enjoying a nice room while regular sailors packed into the forecastle.

Three groups rarely moved up: African-Americans, Cape Verdeans, and Pacific Islanders, who others called “Kanakas.”

Racial stereotypes stuck around despite living together for years. Men of color got paid less and rarely became officers, though some did.

White sailors from New England filled most officer jobs, while foreign sailors and men of color worked the lower-paid, more dangerous jobs.

Cape Verdean Sailors Became The Best In The Business

Men from Cape Verde joined whaling crews to escape hunger and poverty back home.

They became famous harpooners and skilled whalemen, becoming key workers as the industry declined. By the late 1800s, most crew on Connecticut ships came from Cape Verde or the Azores.

Some Cape Verdeans worked their way up to become boatsteerers, harpooners, and officers despite facing racism.

Captains often asked for Cape Verdean harpooners because of their skill and bravery.

The Cycle Of Debt Kept Whalers At Sea For Decades

Sailors often finished trips owing money to ship owners despite years of hard work. Those in debt had to sign up for another trip to pay what they owed.

Even good trips paid regular crew less than they could earn on merchant ships. The lay system made whaling a gamble, with no promise of decent pay.

Many men spent their whole adult lives at sea, moving from one whaling trip to another, stuck in a system that helped owners more than workers.

A Lucky Ship Brought Home Barrels Of Profit

During 37 trips over 80 years, the Morgan brought home 54,483 barrels of whale oil and 152,934 pounds of whalebone.

Experts figured her lifetime earnings at over $1.4 million, making her what sailors called a “lucky” or “greasy” ship.

She survived Arctic ice, countless storms, trips around Cape Horn, and other dangers that sank many ships.

The Morgan caught about 2,500 whales during her career, far fewer than modern diesel ships that killed thousands each year.

A Cape Verdean Boy Rose To Captain

John T. Gonsalves from the Cape Verdean island of Brava joined a New London whaling crew as an 11-year-old cabin boy around 1869.

He worked his way up over decades to become a whaling captain. In 1920, Gonsalves took command of the Charles W. Morgan for what turned out to be her final whaling trip.

His job showed how far Cape Verdeans had come in an industry that looked down on men of color. Gonsalves brought decades of experience to his job, knowing every part of whaling from the bottom up.

The Final Crew Spoke Portuguese

The Morgan’s 37th and final voyage left port on September 9, 1920, under Captain Gonsalves with a crew of 24 Cape Verdean men.

With just two exceptions, all officers and crew had Portuguese last names, coming from the Cape Verde Islands.

This voyage marked a complete change from early years when Cape Verdeans faced limits on advancement.

The all-Cape Verdean crew reflected the changing demographics of the American whaling industry, which had shifted from Yankee sailors to immigrant workers.

Whaling Died With A Whimper, Not A Bang

The Morgan returned on May 28, 1921, finishing her shortest voyage in 80 years with about $25,534 worth of cargo. This final trip ended not just the Morgan’s career but symbolized the end of America’s whaling industry.

Modern diesel-powered ships could catch thousands of whales each year, making sail-powered whaling outdated. Cape Verdean crews had kept the industry going through its decline until whaling ended in the 1920s.

The Morgan sat idle after her final voyage until she was preserved as a museum ship, the last surviving wooden whaleship from America’s once-mighty fleet.

Visiting Charles W. Morgan, Mystic Seaport

You can explore the Charles W. Morgan whaleship at Mystic Seaport (75 Greenmanville Avenue) to learn about diverse international crews.

General admission starts at $32 for adults, with self-guided tours and docents available. The museum opens daily 10am-5pm.

You’ll see large try-pots and preserved blubber processing areas that tell the story of America’s whaling era ending in 1921.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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