I think Norma's post answers Sue's question! Making allowances, of course, for Sue's chap being a bit earlier in the century (presumably Crimean shirts post-dated the Crimean war). Chronometers for example would still been beyond the means of most masters c.1825. As I understand it, the ship's compasses were fixed to and were part of the vessel's equipment, but masters provided their own charts, sailing directions, sextant, barometer, and other navigational equipment, and this is borne out by the inventory of Capt. Nichol's possessions. In attaching the link to the photo of the sea chest, I should have said that that was a rather superior example. The late Captain Nicol's chests were of deal, which is rather less exotic than camphorwood, and many of the examples one finds in maritime antique shops or museums (try Googling "seaman's chest" and variations) are of deal or pine. Presumably as Captain Swain came from Nantucket, it would be likely that he acquired his first sea-chest from a chandler there and that it was made from a local wood.