[ Lewis and Clark / The Journals of Lewis and Clark ]
Seaman is mentioned numerous times in the journals from the expedition led by William Clark and Meriwether Lewis, the latter of whom purchased Seaman for $20 (about half a month's pay for Lewis at the time), most likely while in either Philadelphia or Pittsburgh (though some speculate Baltimore) preparing for his expedition.
No mention is ever made, by any member of the Corp of Discovery in any known document, of Seaman's color or other physical characteristics. While most modern representations of Seaman show a black Newfoundland, and some modern commentators simply assume Seaman was black without offering evidence to that effect, it is more likely — although it cannot be said with certainty either way — that Seaman did NOT look exactly like a typical modern Newfoundland.
Almost all Newfoundland illustrations (of those known to me, at any rate, all of which are available in the "Fine Arts" section of The Cultured Newf) from the time of the Lewis and Clark expedition show Newfoundlands to be black-and-white dogs (approximations of the coat color/pattern later to be known as "Landseer") with shorter, usually curly coats and, often, slighter builds than what is now customary in Newfs. Some early illustrations also clearly show prick ears and/or deeply curved tails. Only one published reference to the likelihood Seaman was a Landseer is known to me: a letter to the editor of We Proceeded On, a quarterly journal devoted to all things Lewis and Clark, from a Joyce Jensen of Billings MT that was published in the May 2002 number (vol. 28.2) of WPO. Ms. Jensen reports she examined a modern Newf book (unidentified) that included some early illustrations of Newfoundlands and from those she concludes (correctly, in my opinion) that Seaman "most likely had a black-and-white coat and was less bulky than the current breed, with longer legs and shorter hair. He might also have been shorter. . . ." (2). Pending the discovery of heretofore unknown documents, we will know nothing for certain of the appearance of what is arguably the most famous Newfoundland in history.
Seaman appears on the scene even before the Corp of Discovery begins its epic exploration of the American West. Lewis first mentions the dog in his pre-expedition journal, often referred to as his "Ohio River Journal," in a section recording his passage from Pittsburgh down the Ohio River to the Mississippi, then up the Mississippi to St. Louis, where the Corp would assemble and over-winter prior to their departure in May of 1804:
11th September [1803]
Set out about sunrise, passed Sunfish creek 1 Mile etc etc entered the long reach, so called from the ohio runing in strait direction for 18 miles in this reach there are 5 Islands from three to 2 miles in length each — observed a number of squirrels swiming the Ohio and universally passing from the W. to the East shore they appear to be making to the south; perhaps it may be mast or food which they are in serch of but I should reather suppose that it is climate which is their object as I find no difference in in the quantity of mast on both sides of this river it being abundant on both except the beach nut which appears extreemly scarce this season, the walnuts and Hickery nuts the usual food of the squirrell appears in great abundance on either side of the river — I made my dog take as many each day as I had occation for, they wer[e] fat and I thought them when fryed a pleasent food — many of these squirrils were black, they swim very light on the water and make pretty good speed — my dog was of the newfoundland breed very active strong and docile, he would take the squirel in the water kill them and swiming bring them in his mouth to the boat.
14th September— [1803]
Set out this morning at 11 oClock was prevented seting out earlyer in consequence of two of my men geting drunk and absenting themselves. . . . saw many squirrels this day swiming the river from N. W. to S. E. caught several by means of my dog —
15 September [1803]
Set out this morning at sunrise, passed the mouth of the little Kanaway one mile below our encampment of last evening on the Virginia shore. . . . passed the mouths of the little and big Hockhockin and the settlement of Bellpray a yanke settlement passed several bad riffles over which we were obliged to lift the boat, saw and caught by means of my dog several squirrels, attempting to swim the river.
November 16th [1803]
Passed the Missippi this day and went down on the other side after landing at the upper habitation on the oposite side. we found here som Shawnees and Delewars incamped; one of the Shawnees a respectable looking Indian offered me three beverskins for my dog with which he appeared much pleased, the dog was of the newfoundland breed one that I prised much for his docility and qualifications generally for my journey and of course there was no bargan, I had given 20$ for this dogg myself.
[ Note: the spelling errors and "typos" in these passages are exactly as in the original; like Clark, Lewis was a notoriously poor speller, even given the lax rules governing spelling at the time. ]
A complete list of all references to Seaman in the expedition journals, as well as a discussion of his fate, is available here at The Cultured Newf.