18th century Sailor’s food – Ships Provisions

Just to give an idea of the variety or lack there of, in the 18th century sailor’s diet.

Provisions listed for the British ship Bellona 74 guns in 1760
listed as provisions for 650 men for four months.

• Beef 5200 pieces    20800 lbs
• Pork 9620 pieces    19240 lbs
• Beer 236 butts        29736 US gallons
• Water 339 butts 30 puncheons 60 hogsheads    49018 US gallons
• Bread 650 bags      72800 lbs
• Butter                      3900 lbs
• Cheese                    14160 lbs
• Oatmeal                 19008 lbs
• Peas                        20800 lbs
• Flour                      15590 lbs
• Suet                        2600 lbs
• Vinegar                   709 US gallons

Provisions reported on-board the British Sloop Alert 1777,  a sloop of 60 men.

• Beef  462 pieces in 6 barrels    weighing  2238 lbs
• Pork 777 pieces in 5 barrels    weighing  1753 lbs
• Beer 12 barrels    weighing  788 lbs
• Water 56 hogsheads and 25 casks of 18 gallons each    about 4091 US gallons
• Bread 6048 lbs in 54 bags
• Butter 420 lbs
• Oatmeal 20 bushels    weighing  800 lbs
• Pease 16 bushels    weighing  928 lbs
• Flower  1300 lbs in 4 barrels
• Suet 82 lbs in 1 barrel
• Raisons 200 lbs in 2 barrels
• Rum 4 half hogsheads  126  US gallons
• Vinegar 1 hogshead 63 US gallons