14
Aunt Edna, Marion, 'Millet' and a kitten1903
Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
15
A group of Australian visitors aboard the 'Abyssinia'1902
Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
16
Captain Frederick A. Ladd1988
Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
17
Another Yarmouth sea captain who took his family to sea was Capt. Frederick A. Ladd (1858-1937). He started his sea-going career at the age of sixteen as a crew member of the Yarmouth ship 'Cambridge'. He became a mate on this vessel and later on the 'Herbert C. Hall' which he also commanded after obtaining his master's papers in 1880. From 1883 until 1890 he was master of the ship 'Morning Light'. He married Grace Brown in 1886 and, soon afterwards, they departed on a 'honeymoon voyage' from New York to Shanghai.18
The Barque 'Herbert C. Hall' of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia1876
Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
19
The Ship 'Morning Light' of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia1884
Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
20
The '100 Face' fan1886
Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
21
On arrival in Shanghai the Ladds were presented with a 'One Hundred Face' fan - a Chinese symbol of good luck for their marriage. This fan has 50 painted ivory faces on each side. It is now a part of the Museum's collection.22
'Quite a Curiosity: The Sea Letters of Grace Ladd'2003
Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
23
This family's life at sea has been recorded in the book "Quite a Curiosity: the Sea Letters of Grace F. Ladd" by Louise Nichols (published by Nimbus Publishing, Halifax, N.S., 2003).With the exception of only a few voyages Grace spent most of the time between 1886 and 1915 at sea. After the birth of their first child, Forrest, many of her letters mention the way their time was spent at sea, what they did on special occasions, such as Christmas, birthdays, etc.
24
A carved ivory puzzle, a tangram set, from Shanghai.1885
Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
25
Her letters also mention a number of souvenirs that the family collected, many of which are in the museum's collection. As well, she discussed the places the ships visited: South Africa, New Zealand, Shanghai, several South Sea Islands, and more. For example:'Barque 'Belmont'
Between Islands of Jelake and Lepar in the Gaspar Straits.
14th May, 1897
… The wind died out and we anchored again in 12 fathoms of water having made only 12 miles today. We got from the Natives, cocoanuts, bananas, and shells - the very large scallops. They brought off seven pair. I got two pair, the men got the rest.… These men have beautiful teeth. One fellow opened his mouth to show us his, every one perfect, a complete set not in the least discoloured. The front upper six were filed off even with the others. He said it took ten moons to do this and he used sand to clean them.… these fellows beg more than trade, but it is nice to have them come off. Their canoes are very rough with bamboo sails.'
26
Soap stone tea pot from Java.1890
Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
27
Her general comments are also very interesting:'Barque 'Belmont'
South Atlantic Lat. S 18º 50, Long W 3º
24th August 1894
Dear Papa,
…The Weather has been lovely, one only little hard blow off the Cape for 24 hours. The Ther. has never been below 60º and it was mid-Winter when we came round the Cape of Good Hope. We have been and are over run with rats. On leaving Singapore we had two cats but they both died, we thought from eating too many rats. I don't know what we shall do if we can't get a cat at St. Helena. I am afraid to go to sleep now. We caught two the other night in the Piano - killed them both. I read somewhere Cayenne Pepper scattered around would keep them away. I tried that but the draughts kept it in the air, and we nearly all strangled with coughing….'
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