Between 1866 and 1869 George C. Bugbee shipped as a ordinary seaman aboard the Ship PREMIER of Bangor, Maine, and the Bark LOCH LAMAR of Stockton. These were general trading voyages, with the vessels calling at various ports, including: Baltimore, San Francisco, Pernambuco (Brazil), Simonstown (S. Africa), Mauritius, and Calcutta.

In 1869 Bugbee lists his hometown as Somerville (Massachusetts), but by 1917 he was living in North Attleboro (Mass.) and was recognized as "well known jeweller." His parents were Mr. And Mrs. James R. Bugbee of Boston.

During the two previously mentioned voyages George Bugbee wrote maritime verse about his experiences and impressions at sea. He evidently remained an active, if not professional, poet and during the years 1916-1917 the Boston Transcript and the Attleboro Sun published several of his poems.

Clippings of these poems are included in this collection, along with three handwritten volumes of Bugbee's poetry, much of it written at sea on board the PREMIER and LOCH LAMAR. Bugbee's journal of his voyage in LOCH LAMAR is also present. It contains a great deal of information about life at sea and activities in port. Bugbee mentions a fire in the ship's cabin while at sea, and reveals the pathetic social conditions and the callous disregard for human life which seemed to identify ports like Calcutta. There are also three letters involving Bugbee and his parents, written while George was at sea (1866-1869), and some miscellaneous notes and sketches.