Episodes

  • Episode 18: Evading the French ships in the Caribbean
    Dec 27 2024

    Samuel sails to St. Domingo while war between the English and French begins to heat up. Storms and a variety of sea animal encounters mark a relatively peaceful journey across the Atlantic. However, the likelihood of encountering a French warship forces Samuel to devise creative ways to conceal his ships lack of crew and firepower.


    If you want to support this project and more like it, consider buying me a coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/goodourfirstcatchoftheday

    Interested in true history stories? This podcast is for you! The Journal of Samuel Kelly is a detailed diary kept by an 18th century sailor. It was discovered approximately 100 years after his death. The book is out of print with its final printing occurring around 1925 by the Fredrick A Stokes company.

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    20 mins
  • Episode 17: Drunk crew, riots and the Press Gang
    Dec 23 2024

    Delivering freight around the region of Great Britain, Samuel continues to deal with poor ship conditions and drunk crew man. When he's finally able to return to his old ship, the Thetis, Samuel spends time near Strand Street where riots and impresses are a nightly occurrence.

    Interested in true history stories? This podcast is for you! The Journal of Samuel Kelly is a detailed diary kept by an 18th century sailor. It was discovered approximately 100 years after his death. The book is out of print with its final printing occurring around 1925 by the Fredrick A Stokes company

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    20 mins
  • Episode 16: Returning home
    Dec 20 2024

    Samuel returns home to England where his enjoyment of friends and family is dulled by a nagging illness. After delivering freight between Bristol and Lisbon in a leaky vessel manned by drunk shipmates, Samuel gets a call to return to his old ship the Thetis.

    If you want to support this project and more like it, consider buying me a coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/goodourfirstcatchoftheday

    Interested in true history stories? This podcast is for you! The Journal of Samuel Kelly is a detailed diary kept by an 18th century sailor. It was discovered approximately 100 years after his death. The book is out of print with its final printing occurring around 1925 by the Fredrick A Stokes company.

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    29 mins
  • Episode 15: He visits Malaga, Alicante, Carthagena, and Newry
    Dec 9 2024

    After leaving Philadelphia for the final time, Samuel sails to Spain and Portugal where a war has broken out between the Spanish and the Moors. During his time here, Samuel recounts some of the more interesting encounters he had with locals, including a naive trip up a mountain which was a known hide-out for thieves and murderers.

    If you want to support this project and more like it, consider buying me a coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/goodourfirstcatchoftheday

    Interested in true history stories? This podcast is for you! The Journal of Samuel Kelly is a detailed diary kept by an 18th century sailor. It was discovered approximately 100 years after his death. The book is out of print with its final printing occurring around 1925 by the Fredrick A Stokes company.

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    34 mins
  • Episode 14: One final time in Philadelphia
    Dec 6 2024

    Samuel sails to Philadelphia little knowing it would be his last time there. While there he meets an eccentric fellow called "the absent man" and spends some time at Vauxhall Gardens.

    If you want to support this project and more like it, consider buying me a coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/goodourfirstcatchoftheday

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    17 mins
  • Episode 13: A dangerous winter passage
    Nov 29 2024

    After a run-in with the press gangs, Samuel embarks to America with a load of salt. The passage across the Atlantic quickly deteriorates and contrary winds slow progress to a crawl and storms badly damage the ship. Winter had set in on the eastern coast of America by the time Samuel and the crew arrived making for a cold entry into New York.

    If you want to support this project and more like it, consider buying me a coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/goodourfirstcatchoftheday

    Interested in true history stories? This podcast is for you! The Journal of Samuel Kelly is a detailed diary kept by an 18th century sailor. It was discovered approximately 100 years after his death. The book is out of print with its final printing occurring around 1925 by the Fredrick A Stokes company.

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    24 mins
  • Episode 12: Sailor hunting in Philadelphia
    Nov 25 2024

    While procuring salt in Barcelona, Samuel is treated with great hospitality from the inhabitants whose predominantly Catholic population and culture are often amusing to Samuel. From there, Samuel sails to America where most of his crew desert the ship leaving Samuel to find replacements.

    If you want to support this project and more like it, consider buying me a coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/goodourfirstcatchoftheday

    Interested in true history stories? This podcast is for you! The Journal of Samuel Kelly is a detailed diary kept by an 18th century sailor. It was discovered approximately 100 years after his death. The book is out of print with its final printing occurring around 1925 by the Fredrick A Stokes company.

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    35 mins
  • Episode 11: The Thames freezes over
    Nov 22 2024

    Samuel is forced to keep law and order aboard a ship whose captain becomes to familiar with the crew. After a leaky trip across the Atlantic with lazy sailors, the ship, along with many others, is frozen tight in the Thames river.

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    26 mins