Michael Külken´s Ocean Voyages: from Cook to Ship Captain



From 1837 to 1839 Michael Külken made three voyages (to Scotland, France and the Canary Islands) on the galiot "Johanna Catharina" as apprentice and cook. (no picture).

He was a sailor on the barque "Minerva" in 1839 on a voyage to Baltimore (no picture).

Also in 1839 he traveled to St. Petersburg on the galiot "Unternehmung" as a sailor (no picture).

In 1840 on the ship "Europa" he made two voyages to Baltimore as a sailor. Here is a picture of the "Europa":




He traveled to the West Indies on the brig "Emilie & Helene" from 1840 to 1841. Here is a picture of the ship:




Between 1841 and 1843 he made three voyages to America on the ship "Rebecca" as a sailor. Here is a picture of the "Rebecca":




Between 1844 and 1845 he was Second Mate on the ship "Louise Caesar", that traveled to South-America (no picture).

Between 1845 and 1848 he made four voyages on the brig "Conradine", on the first trip as Second Mate, and then as First Mate. These voyages were to West-Africa, Haiti and Venezuela (no picture).

From 1849 to 1853 he made nine voyages to America on the barque "Alfred" as First Mate (no picture).

Between 1854 and 1857 he made six voyages to America and Asia on the barque "Wursata" as captain. Here is a picture of the "Wursata":

A very interesting report of a voyage with the Wursata ca be found under http://www.schaefler.de/museum/index.html !

The farmer Ernst Friedrich Adickes from Heuhausen near Dorum was one of the owners of the "Wursata" and also the "Geestemünde". He was member of the Hannover parliament and one of the best known people in "Wursten", an area between Bremerhaven and Cuxhaven. Here is a picture of him:




Michael Külken made more than 20 voyages on the barque "Geestemünde" between 1857 and 1868 as captain. These trips were to America, Asia, Spain and Russia. Here is a sketch of the ship:




You can find a complete passenger list of the Geestemünde´s voyage in the summer of 1862 from Bremerhaven to Baltimore
at this website!

You can find a complete passenger list of the Geestemünde´s voyage in the summer of 1866 from Bremerhaven to New York City
at this website!

You can find a complete passenger list of the Geestemünde´s voyage in the summer of 1868 from Bremerhaven to Baltimore
at this website!