George Brown: In his own words (Going to sea I)

It may be that this kind of life had some effect in confirming my desire to go to sea; at any rate I felt very strongly the desire to go, and at last determined to do so. It was somewhat difficult, as I was properly indentured, and so must be prepared to take the consequences of being caught and brought back again. Unfortunately, also, I had little or no spare cash. At Christmas time, however, in 1851, I determined to make a start, and left Hartlepool in company with my employer, who was under the delusion that I was about to visit my people at home. He, I imagine, was very much surprised when I did not return, and I know that he was specially annoyed with me because I had borrowed ten shillings from him, to pay my passage to London, and had got him to call me early in the morning when we both left. I went to Newcastle, and took a steerage passage in the City of Hamburg to London. On our way we encountered one of the fiercest gales that had been known for many years; we were in imminent danger of foundering, and at least six vessels were known to have gone down with all hands in near proximity to us. We managed, however, to get back to Lowestoft Roads, when the weather moderated. We continued our way to London, passing large quantities of wreckage on our way. I landed in London with no money, and only the clothes that I had on me when I left Hartlepool. I stayed for two or three days on board a ship with some lads who had come from Newcastle to join her, and whose acquaintance I had made on the voyage. Day after day I tried to find employment; but I suppose my clothes showed that I had never been to sea, and men were not anxious for the job of breaking in a new hand.

One day, however, I met a captain who asked me for my qualifications; but he did not seem to be very much impressed by my account of them. At last he asked me if I could cook, and in desperation I answered, Yes. All right, he said, turn to; and so I went on board a smart schooner called the Savage, belonging to Penzance. She was one of the clipper schooners that were engaged in those days in bringing fruit from the Azores. I remember well the dinner that I had to cook that day-roast beef, cabbage, and potatoes. I put the lot on together, but soon found that the cabbage was cooked long before the beef. So I took it off and stood it aside until the beef was done, and then warmed it up again. It did not improve the cabbage, and the captain and crew vented their wrath upon the greengrocer who had supplied it. Next day I knew better, and the greengrocer was reestablished in the captain's good graces. On Saturday evening the captain gave his orders for Sunday's dinner, and said: Boy, you make us a good 'plum-duff' for tomorrow's dinner. All right, sir, I replied ; but I could not then face the job of making plum duff and so on Saturday night I cleared. What they had for dinner on Sunday I do not know.

George Brown: In his own words

The Early Years
and The Call

Index