Josephus Geater
Josephus Geater | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1812 Whitechapel, London, UK |
| Died | 1846–48 near King William Island, Canadian Arctic |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Navy |
| Service years | 1845–1848 |
| Rank | Able seaman |
| Served on | HMS Erebus |
| Expeditions | Franklin expedition |
Josephus Geater or Gaiter (8 May 1812 – c. 1846–1848) was a London-born, Stonehaven-raised seaman who perished while taking part in Sir John Franklin's Northwest Passage expedition serving as an able seaman on HMS Erebus.
Biography
Early life
Josephus Geater was born in Whitechapel, London in 1812[1] to Richard Geater and Phillis Geater (née Wilkinson)[2]
At the time of Josephus' birth Richard Geater was working in a warehouse, but used connections from his service in the army to gain new employment in Stonehaven near Aberdeen, Scotland.
"Richard Gaiter, a native of Berkshire, who enlisted in the 9th Regiment of Foot Guards. While in the army he became servant to Captain Duff, brother of Colonel Duff of Fetteresse, and both were taken prisoners when fighting under the Duke of York at Ostend. Ultimately, both master and man obtained their release. Proceeding to London Gaiter got employment in a warehouse, and while there he married. Josephus was the eldest son of the marriage, and was born at Whitechapel. When only six weeks old his parents came north to Stonehaven, where the old guardsman had, through the influence of Colonel Duff, a brother of his old master, obtained the joint offices of keeper of the county jail and messenger-at-arms."[3]
Seafaring career
Josephus was apprenticed on board Aberdeen registered brig The Glentann, which was employed in the American trade. On the completion of his apprenticeship he served as mate under a Captain Campbell on the Duke of Richmond, trading between Inverness, Aberdeen and Leith. He also served as second mate of the North Star, trading between Inverness and London.[3]
Marriage
In 1835 Josephus married Mary Ann Duncan (1815–1897)[4] at North Parish Church, Aberdeen.[5] Mary Ann was the daughter of Robert Duncan, the master of a smack trading between Aberdeen and London.[3] The couple had 4 children. The youngest child, Susan or Susannah, was born in 1845, the year the expedition set sail.[6][7]
Franklin expedition
Mary Ann Gaiter's account of Josephus Geater and the Franklin Expedition was published in an article in the Aberdeen Journal of 12 June 1895, 'Aberdeen and the Franklin Expedition’. In the account she states that Josephus Geater volunteered for service on board the Erebus which sailed from Greenhithe, England on 19th of May 1845. The last that was heard of Geater was a letter written from Greenland to his brother Frederick. In the letter he stated that he was quite well and very comfortable. He also noted that Sir John Franklin was exceedingly kind and the crew liked him very much. Josephus perished with the rest of the crew of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror during the period 1846–1848 in the Canadian Arctic.[3]
Memorial
Josephus Geater is commemorated amongst the crew of HMS Erebus on the Sir John Franklin memorial statue Waterloo Place, London.
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Sir John Franklin Statue, Waterloo Place, London -
Crew of the HMS Erebus, including Josephus Geater
References
- ↑ "Josephus Geater Birth • England, Middlesex Parish Registers, 1539-1988". Middlesex Parish Registers. FamilySearch. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
- ↑ "Richard Geater, 1799 • England Marriages, 1538–1973". England Marriages, 1538–1973. FamilySearch. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Aberdeen and the Franklin Expedition". Aberdeen Journal. 12 June 1895. via McCorristine, Shane; Herrmann, Victoria (March 2016). "The 'Old Arctics': notices of Franklin Search expedition veterans in the British press, 1876–1934". Polar Record. 52 (2): 215–229. doi:10.1017/S0032247415000728. Unknown parameter
|s2cid=ignored (help) - ↑ "GAITER, MARY ANN (Statutory registers Deaths 168/1 435) 1897". Statutory registers Deaths 168/1 435. ScotlandsPeople. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
- ↑ "GEATER, JOSEPHUS (Old Parish Registers Marriages 168/A 290 144 Aberdeen)Page 144 of 372 10/02/1835". Old Parish Registers Marriages 168/A 290 144 Aberdeen. ScotlandsPeople. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
- ↑ "'From Trafalgar to the Terror via Stonehaven: Family finally have doomed hero's Arctic medal', The Press and Journal April 7, 2021". The Press and Journal April 7, 2021.
- ↑ "1851 GAITER, MARY ANN (Census 168/A 12/ 20)". Census returns 1851. ScotlandsPeople. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
External links
- EREBUS and TERROR, H.M.S, List of Officers and Men dated 1845
- https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/past-times/3032383/from-trafalgar-to-the-terror-via-stonehaven-family-finally-have-doomed-heros-arctic-medal/
- https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/polar-record/article/old-arctics-notices-of-franklin-search-expedition-veterans-in-the-british-press-18761934/B5C8FBDFA40530E4E2FDDC11103B5B1D
- https://franklin-expedition.fandom.com/wiki/Josephus_Geater
- https://www.londonremembers.com/subjects/josephus-geater
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