John Rodgers Jewitt was born in Boston, Lincs, England May 21st 1783, & was the son of Edward & Catherin Jewitt (nee Rodgers). He relocated to Hull with his family in 1798 or thereabouts, & sailed on the "Boston" as armourer on Sept 3rd, 1802. Jewitt arrived in Nootka sound on the west coast of Canada in March 1803, & was held captive by Maquinna, chief of the Yuquot, until 1805. He kept a journal which was later published & is available in a modern edition and online. [See my media page]. Jewitt eventually returned to Boston, Mass, USA (via Canton, Macao!!) in 1807. His journal was printed & published there. He married Hester Jones (daughter of James & Hester Jones) in Boston on Christmas Day 1809, & had four children by 1820 by which time the family lived in Hartford, Connecticut.

Jewitt later revised his journal with the aid of Richard Alsop, and produced the more substantial Narrative of the Adventures and Sufferings of John R. Jewitt. The text of the Narrative is available online as part of the Library of Congress American Memory Collection. Jewitt's story also became a play (in which he was the star) that was first performed at the Philadelphia theatre on Friday March 21st, 1817. He died in Hartford, Conn. on Jan 7th, 1821, but as you will see his journal has endured remarkably.

For a detailed biography & book excerpts, see BC Bookworld.

[Contact Me] [Back Home]

Last revised: February 19th, 2004.