John Rodgers Jewitt
John Rodgers Jewitt was an Englishman born in 1783 in Boston, England, who experienced a remarkable and harrowing journey during his early adulthood. After moving with his family to Hull in 1798, Jewitt embarked on a maritime career, which led him to the western coast of Canada aboard the ship Boston in 1802. In a tragic turn of events, the ship was attacked by the Yuquot tribe, resulting in the death of the crew, while Jewitt and one other crew member were taken captive. For two years, Jewitt was held as a slave by the Yuquots, and during his captivity, he meticulously documented his experiences in a journal.
In 1805, Jewitt was released and returned to Boston by 1807, where he published his captivity account entitled *A Journal Kept at Nootka Sound*. He married Hester Jones in 1809 and later collaborated with writer Richard Alsop to revise his journal, resulting in the 1815 publication of *Narrative of the Adventures and Sufferings of John R. Jewitt*. This work gained attention, leading to its adaptation into a play in the early 1800s. Jewitt eventually settled in Hartford, Connecticut, where he passed away in 1821. His life story, especially the ordeal of his captivity, has intrigued historians and readers alike, highlighting themes of survival and resilience.
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John Rodgers Jewitt
Writer
- Born: May 21, 1783
- Birthplace: Boston, England
- Died: January 7, 1821
- Place of death: Hartford, Connecticut
Biography
John Rodgers Jewitt was born in Boston, England, in 1783. He was raised in Lincs, England, until the Jewitt family relocated to Hull, England, in 1798. Shortly after his arrival in Hull, Jewitt took a job on the ship Boston.
The ship reached the western coast of Canada in 1802. The following year, the Yuquot tribe, led by Maquinna, attacked and killed the entire crew of the Boston, except for Jewitt and another man. The tribe took the two captive, and for the next two years Jewitt was a slave of the Yuquots. While in captivity, Jewitt recorded a journal of his experiences.
In 1805, Jewitt was released and set sail for China, reaching Boston, Massachusetts, in 1807. That year, A Journal Kept at Nootka Sound, his account of his captivity, was published. While living in Boston, he met Hester Jones; the two married in 1809, and would eventually have four children. Jewitt later worked with writer Richard Alsop to revise and rewrite his journal, which was republished in 1815 under the title Narrative of the Adventures and Sufferings of John R. Jewitt. The book was adapted into a play that was performed in the United States in the early 1800’s.
Jewitt and his family moved to Hartford, Connecticut, where he died in 1821. Although Jewitt never wrote another book, the story of his life recounted in his journal remained of interest to historians for decades after its publication.