Headstone Haddon Hall, Derby, Derbyshire, England
Headstone Inscription:
In Loving Memory of George Homan Beloved Eldest Son of William & Charlotte Johnson of Derby, England
Died Jan 12, 1902 aged 31 years Rest in the Lord
In Loving Memory of George Homan Beloved Eldest Son of William & Charlotte Johnson of Derby, England
Died Jan 12, 1902 aged 31 years Rest in the Lord
Biography
George was born on March 11, 1870, in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, the eldest son of William and Charlotte Tinker Johnson, both age 30, after his older sisters Mildred Charlotte and Olive Brindley and before his brother William Francis. When George was one, his family moved to the town of Duffield, in the civil parish of Duffield, Derbyshire, England, at Fern Hill Cottage. At the time, his father was a tanner in the leather trade. At two, his brother, William Francis, was born on March 19, 1872 and the family has moved again. This time to the village of Quarndon, Derby, England.
On January 5, 1879, George's parents decided to baptize their children at the Cathedral of All Saints in Derby, when George was eight. By 1881, they are living at 35 Uttoxeter New Road in the Ecclesiastical Parish of St. Werburgh Church, Derbyshire, when George is 11. His father has gone from being a leather tanner to owning a shoe factory employing "20 hands + 3 boys". His family has acquired modest means and employed a domestic servant, 19 year-old Ann Atkins from Newhall.
On January 5, 1879, George's parents decided to baptize their children at the Cathedral of All Saints in Derby, when George was eight. By 1881, they are living at 35 Uttoxeter New Road in the Ecclesiastical Parish of St. Werburgh Church, Derbyshire, when George is 11. His father has gone from being a leather tanner to owning a shoe factory employing "20 hands + 3 boys". His family has acquired modest means and employed a domestic servant, 19 year-old Ann Atkins from Newhall.
On November 16, 1888, 18 year-old George embarked on his lifelong interest in seeing the world by becoming a British Merchant Marines apprentice aboard the Drumelton. An apprenticeship required a deposit of £10 – 20 or a premium of £40 to be paid through indentured servant-hood. George chose the latter to the Liverpool shipowners, Gillison & Chadwick in London, England. (Since his family had means, we can only suspect that his father wanted George to take over his shoe factory and therefor refused to pay for his apprenticeship training. A sailing career at that time was not held in high esteem.)
Insistent on seeing the world, George enters into an apprenticeship contract to serve aboard the Drumelton for four years with his wages garnished to pay his fee (apx. $5,320 today), while they agree to provide him with food, living arrangements and clothing.
However, according to his “List of Testimonials and Statement of Service at Sea”, George "deserted" the Drumelton in San Francisco, CA on July 16, 1891.
Insistent on seeing the world, George enters into an apprenticeship contract to serve aboard the Drumelton for four years with his wages garnished to pay his fee (apx. $5,320 today), while they agree to provide him with food, living arrangements and clothing.
However, according to his “List of Testimonials and Statement of Service at Sea”, George "deserted" the Drumelton in San Francisco, CA on July 16, 1891.
On August 6, 1891, he becomes an “Able Seaman” aboard the iron ship, "Benicia" owned by Ismay, Imrie & Co. of the White Star Line, which carried goods and some passengers. From there he moves to the "Culmore" from March 10, 1892 till May 30, 1893. After the Culmore, he serves on two more ships before working on the "Strathdon" (originally named the "Queen's Island" and renamed by the Aberdeen White Star Lines) from October 5, 1893 to June 25, 1894, traveling to and from London to Australia.
By June 30, 1893, George applies for examination to become an officer listing the Royal Fountain Hotel on West Street in Sheerness, County Kent, England as his permanent address. Many of us would think that living in a hotel meant less than favorable conditions; however his father William, owned the hotel employing a staff of 10, from an accountant to a barman, while his mother and sister, Mildred lived there as well.
George had spent 4 years, 10 months and 25 days at sea, when at the age of 24 he received his “Certificate of Competency” on July 19, 1894, number 028065, as a “Second Mate in the Merchant Service”, by the “Lords of the Committee of Privy Council For Trade”. According to the Merchant Shipping Act of 1854, he was now qualified as an officer on an English merchant ship. As a Second Mate, charged with ship navigation and being emergency medical director on and off ship, George would have needed a very likeable personality, some medical skills, along with strong diplomatic and leadership skills in order to work well with and teach others.
George was 27 years old when his Certificate of Competency was stolen from his berth on the British cargo steamer, the SS Megantic (renamed the SS Anglian in 1898). On his Declaration of Lost Certificate, he states it was “last seen by me in New York, and it was stolen from my berth on board the ship when she was there about the 14th March, and tho’ I had made inquiries from the police authorities, I have been unable to recover the said certificate.” On his Application for Renewal of Certificate, George is living at 1 Milk Street House, Milk Street, London, England in April of 1897, but wanted to have his renewed certificate sent to the Victoria Docks in London. After paying 5 shillings, he receives his replacement Second Mate Certificate on May 7, 1897 and renewed Certificate of Competency number 031796 on June 3, 1897.
George had spent 4 years, 10 months and 25 days at sea, when at the age of 24 he received his “Certificate of Competency” on July 19, 1894, number 028065, as a “Second Mate in the Merchant Service”, by the “Lords of the Committee of Privy Council For Trade”. According to the Merchant Shipping Act of 1854, he was now qualified as an officer on an English merchant ship. As a Second Mate, charged with ship navigation and being emergency medical director on and off ship, George would have needed a very likeable personality, some medical skills, along with strong diplomatic and leadership skills in order to work well with and teach others.
George was 27 years old when his Certificate of Competency was stolen from his berth on the British cargo steamer, the SS Megantic (renamed the SS Anglian in 1898). On his Declaration of Lost Certificate, he states it was “last seen by me in New York, and it was stolen from my berth on board the ship when she was there about the 14th March, and tho’ I had made inquiries from the police authorities, I have been unable to recover the said certificate.” On his Application for Renewal of Certificate, George is living at 1 Milk Street House, Milk Street, London, England in April of 1897, but wanted to have his renewed certificate sent to the Victoria Docks in London. After paying 5 shillings, he receives his replacement Second Mate Certificate on May 7, 1897 and renewed Certificate of Competency number 031796 on June 3, 1897.
Here is where our story had ended due to lost documents. According to his headstone, we knew he died on January 12, 1902. However, where? How? We contacted the County Recorder’s office of Contra Costa and applied for an informational copy of his death certificate. Unfortunately, no record was found. We learned that over the years (as Counties transfer records from one system to another) record indexing becomes incomplete, leaving countless records unable to be located even though they still exist. Additionally the California Death Index currently only records deaths from 1905 to present. However there is an volunteer effort underway to expand the index's earlier records.
Fortunately, we found him quite by accident listed under the 1900 US Census living 1533 Mission St, San Francisco as a roomer. We also discovered the British Merchant Marines kept their own member death records under British Deaths at Sea, 1781-1968. We found George listed as a Second Mate on the James Kerr, having sailed from Antwerp, Belgium to San Francisco, CA on November 15, 1901. He died in Port Costa, CA, on January 12, 1902 from an “Injury sustained by being knocked down (and run over) by moving train, when crossing railroad track.”
This raised another question, why was he in Port Costa? The life of a seaman was not very glamorous and paid very little. According to the “Hearings Before the Merchant Marine Commission of 1904” to determine why Britain was losing most of its merchant sailors, it was found due to poor wages, hard work, and inability to support their families. Those that remained found temporary work during shore leave for extra income. Since they were idle from November through January, George probably found such work in Port Costa. He could have taken the Oakland Cargo Train (which carried cargo to and from foreign ships) to Benicia where he crossed the straights (along with the train) on the Solano Ferry back to Port Costa.
Fortunately, we found him quite by accident listed under the 1900 US Census living 1533 Mission St, San Francisco as a roomer. We also discovered the British Merchant Marines kept their own member death records under British Deaths at Sea, 1781-1968. We found George listed as a Second Mate on the James Kerr, having sailed from Antwerp, Belgium to San Francisco, CA on November 15, 1901. He died in Port Costa, CA, on January 12, 1902 from an “Injury sustained by being knocked down (and run over) by moving train, when crossing railroad track.”
This raised another question, why was he in Port Costa? The life of a seaman was not very glamorous and paid very little. According to the “Hearings Before the Merchant Marine Commission of 1904” to determine why Britain was losing most of its merchant sailors, it was found due to poor wages, hard work, and inability to support their families. Those that remained found temporary work during shore leave for extra income. Since they were idle from November through January, George probably found such work in Port Costa. He could have taken the Oakland Cargo Train (which carried cargo to and from foreign ships) to Benicia where he crossed the straights (along with the train) on the Solano Ferry back to Port Costa.
We further found that George had the unique opportunity to serve under Captain Thomas Yardley Powles on the James Kerr. Captain Powles, along with his wife Jane (also a Second Mate) were known for treating all their men with curtesy, liberty and kindness along with creating a family atmosphere. Mrs. Powles would have been George's "mom" on ship as she would "nurse the men when ill, help them when they were in trouble, and even darn their socks."
Four days later on January 16, 1902, the James Kerr left the port of San Francisco for Australia without their beloved second mate, George Homan Johnson whose desire was to see the world. Not having family in America, he was buried in Potter's Field because his family would have not have been notified in time to make other arrangements. (His parents (now 61) were visiting their daughter, Mildred's family in Bobbing, County Kent, at the time of his death, his father is now a commercial real estate agent). Perhaps it was the kind and compassionate Captain Powles who commissioned his nice headstone.
Four days later on January 16, 1902, the James Kerr left the port of San Francisco for Australia without their beloved second mate, George Homan Johnson whose desire was to see the world. Not having family in America, he was buried in Potter's Field because his family would have not have been notified in time to make other arrangements. (His parents (now 61) were visiting their daughter, Mildred's family in Bobbing, County Kent, at the time of his death, his father is now a commercial real estate agent). Perhaps it was the kind and compassionate Captain Powles who commissioned his nice headstone.