Ann Johnson, seaman, 1849

“A Story with a Touch of Romance in It.” Nantucket Inquirer [Nantucket, Massachusetts] 16 August 1849; p. 2.

A letter received from A. Bathurst, Esq., states that the ship Christopher Mitchell, Sullivan, of this port, touched at Paita, on the 6th of July, to land a female named Ann Johnson, who shipped at Nantucket as a green hand. Mr. Bathurst says;—

“Miss J. is now a guest in my family. She is a very fine young girl, extremely well bred, and has not yet acquired any of the conversation so frequently practiced by sailors. I have promised her my paternal care, for which she appears very grateful. My daughter takes great pleasure in making her comfortable. She will be conducted to the United States by the first opportunity.” The particulars of this singular affair, are stated in the following letter from Mr. Wood, first officer of the ship Christopher Mitchell, dated July 6th, off Paita.

“We left this port for the Gallipagos [sic] Islands. Soon after sailing, it was discovered that we had a female on board, one of the crew that we took from Nantucket; she went by the name of Goerge Johnson, the daughter of George Johnson, living in Rochester, N. Y., at 22 Oak street, a shoemaker by trade. She says she left home in July, 1848, and wandered as far down as New York. Started to go home again, but at a place called Port Jackson, 28 miles from Rochester, made a halt, cast off the petticoats, and assumed men’s apparel. She stopped there one month, and then came down to Albany, working her passage on a canal horse. Remained in Albany 10 days, and then came to New York, where she stopped two weeks, living at sailor boarding houses; and from thence came to Nantucket, and shipped on board this ship (the C. Mitchell.) She had lived in Hartford, with a man by the name of Williams, a carpenter. She is 19 years old, and gives as a reason for coming to sea, that she was told she would get some money in that business. Her appearance now, is that of a good looking chubby boy of 16 or 17 years old; she is as stout as a woman, weighing 145. She has done her duty cheerfully and as well as most green boys, going aloft to take in sail in the heaviest of weather; and only in one instance did she give out, which was off Cape Horn, during a severe gale of wind and rain. She has taken her regular mast-heads and helms all the voyage, was in my boat several times when we were first out, and lowered for practice, but has not been fast to a whale. She was so very awkward with an oar, that we took her out of the boats altogether. Up to a week ago, she had been well all the voyage—seems to be very shrewd, and I doubt if she has given a correct account of herself. Immediately upon discovering her sex she was taken into the cabin, where she kept herself very close. We tacked ship and stood back for Paita, where we arrived on the 6th, and to-morrow shall take Miss Johnson on shore, and leave her with the Consul, Mr. Bathurst.

“The Susan left here this day, with 900 barrels, 13 of the crew ran away; the Washington, Bailey, is off here with 130 barrels, leaking 600 strokes an hour; heard of the Catawba, 20 days previous, with 350 bbls.”

“ ‘Truth Stranger Than Fiction’ .” Polynesian [Honolulu, Hawai’i] 25 August 1849; p. 2.

Mr. Editor: Dear Sir,—The following facts relating to a young American girl, I think cannot but interest your readers, especially as they are too well authenticated to admit of a doubt of their having taken place, in the manner to be mentioned.

The American whale ship Washington, which arrived here on the 13th inst., reports the whale ship Christopher Mitchell at Paita under the following circumstances:—The M. had touched in at Paita, for the purpose of putting ashore letters for home, and again left for the cruising ground; but on the second or third night out, when the watch was called, one of the crew was discovered to be a young girl, instead of a fair-haired boy, which created no little excitement on board, and caused the captain to put back again to P. to land his female sailor, to seek some more congenial way of earning a livelihood, than using a tar bucket and marlinspike.

Her story before the American Consul, (who was at no little loss what to do, remarking that he had often had men discharged upon his hands, but never before one of the gentle sex,) was as follows:—

She is a native of Rochester, N. Y., was seduced, like thousands of others, from her home, by a villain who promised to make her his lawful wife, but who abandoned her in a short time and absconded to parts unknown. Returning to her parental roof, she was met by her parents with bitter scorn and driven from her home.—Too proud to ask assistance from strangers, and not so far lost to virtue as to think of subsisting by the only means which might now seem left to her, she put on male attire and for two months earned her living by driving a horse on the canal. Tired of this, she determined to go to sea—first engaged as a cabin boy at $4 per month—but was told by the shipping master that she could make more by a whaling voyage, and consequently proceeded to Nantucket to look for a ship.

It was with some difficulty that she obtained a berth, her youth and delicate appearance being much against her. One of the shipowners, at a place where she applied, (an old quaker,) at last became so much pleased with, as he expressed it, “the good face of the boy,” that he persuaded the captain of the M. to take her on board. She performed her duty faithfully for the seven months previous to her discovery—never shrinking from going aloft, even in the worst weather, or the darkest night. She also pulled her oar twice in pursuit of whales, but the boat in which she belonged had never been fast to one of the monsters, or perhaps her courage might have failed her. She was a general favorite on board, never mixing with the crew any more than was absolutely necessary. Her quiet, inoffensive behavior had also very much prepossessed the captain and his officers in her favor.

When summoned into the captain’s presence, immediately after the discovery, she made a full and voluntary confession, whereupon she was taken into the cabin, a state-room set apart for her use and every attention shown her that could be extended to a female on board ship.

When landed at Paita, the excitement and fatigue had somewhat overpowered her, but in one or two days she was quite well, and much elated with the prospect of soon reaching home in a vessel about to sail.

Too much praise cannot be awarded to the Capt. of the M., the American Consul, Capts. of vessels in port, residents, &c., for the interest they took in her welfare, and the measures they adopted for her comfort and safe passage to her native land.

Only once previously to her final discovery, did she run awny risk of being exposed; but on the occasion alluded to, by suddenly working in a more bungling manner, she escaped detection. The cause of attention being drawn towards her on the above occasion, was the quickness with which she plied her needle—being more than a match for the other sailors, in that respect.

The fact of her being on board and doing her duty well, cannot be doubted. Her own narrative is as I have given it, and for my part I cannot see why, under the circumstances, she should either exaggerate or refuse to disclose the whole truth.

Truly, when will wonders cease? Hoping our young heroine may reach home in safety, and that the story of her adventures may soften the hearts so unnaturally hardened against her,

I remain, yours, &c.,
H.

Her name is Miss Ann Johnson, and her age 19 years.

“Marine Journal: Port of Nantucket.” Nantucket Inquirer [Nantucket, Massachusetts] 17 September 1849; p. 3.

A letter from A. Bathurst, Esq., of Payta, [sic] dated August 16, to a gentleman in this town, states that the ship Nantucket of this port sailed from there for home the 9th, with 1800 sp.

Miss Ann Johnson, who went out as a common sailor in the Christopher Mitchell, under the name of George Johnson, is a passenger in the Nantucket.—Mr. B. reports the following ships:—

June 21st, at Cape San Francisco, Golconda, Brush, 750 sp; 29th, at Charles Island, Philip De La Noye, Morse, 300 sp; July 4th at Lee Bay, Columbia, Chase, Nant, 1400; same date, Danl’l Webster of Nant, 250 sp; 18th, Mary Frances, Smith, of Warren, clean; July 4th, Minerva Smyth, NB, 250 sp; 18th, Pavilion, Adams, clean; Spartan, Morselander, Nant, 600 sp; Atkins Adams, Lane, Fil, 1300 sp; 20th, Amazon, Daggett, FH, 250 sp; 27th, Emerald, Munkley, 1050 sp; Aug 1st, London Pakcet, Howland, FH, 500; Hope, Christian, NB, 500 sp, (July); July, Empire, Nant, 500 sp, (previously reported in June, 900 sp); off shore, in June, Catawba, Swain, 550 sp.

“Miss Johnson, the female sailor.” Boston Evening Transcript [Boston, Massachusetts] 28 January 1850; p. 2.

Miss Johnson, the female sailor, was passenger in the ship Nantucket, which arrived at Wood’s Hole 6th inst. She started immediately for ther home in Rochester, N. Y.

“A Female Sailor.” Maine Democrat [Saco, Maine] 29 January 1850; p. 2.

There was taken into custody at New York, recently on suspicion of larceny, a masculine looking woman, who gave her name as Shorty, or Rough and Ready. She was found on the Points, making several purchases of various articles, and appeared to have plenty of cash. When brought to the Tombs, she stated that many months since she engaged as a male sailor on board a ship bound to California, and when doubling the Cape was taken sick, when her sex was discovered. The captain with whom she shipped, after making the discovery, took steps to have her sent back to this port, which he soon effected. This feminine sailor shipped from Nantucket under the assumed name of George Johnson, and, according to her own account, performed all the duties of her profession, with honor to herself and to the satisfaction of the captain. As no good cause for her dentention was shown, she was discharged.