Glasgow And Ships Of The Clyde

Captain Johnson's burial place in Danvers, Massachussets, U.S.A.

Readers will be aware, from the foregoing articles on "Chusan" that the body of Captain George C. Johnson was taken back to his home-town of Danvers, Massachussets, for burial.

Mr. Richard E. Trask, Town Archivist of Danvers, has very generously contributed the following information and images, relating to Captain Johnson, and we are greatly indebted to him for his time and effort in procuring these details and images for our website.

January 18, 2010.

Dear Mr. Boyd:

Attached please find images of the gravestone of Captain George C. Johnson at the Walnut Grove Cemetery on Sylvan Street in Danvers, Massachusetts.

The story of 37-year-old Captain George Johnson's death is told in this memorial stone which reads:
"In memory of Captain George C. Johnson for 13 years in the service of the Shanghai Steam Navigation
Company, who was drowned on the 21st of October 1874, in the harbor of Ardrossan, Scotland, while attempting to save others from the wreck of the company's steamer "Chusan," of which he was commander.
This stone is erected as a tribute to the worth of an esteemed and zealous officer."

According to the death record in the Danvers Vital Records v. 14, p. 240, Johnson died October 21, 1874 in Scotland at 37 years. He was listed as a "Mariner captain" born in Salem, Massachusetts to Thomas M. & Harriet J. (Osborne) Johnson.
Cause of death was listed as "shipwreck."

An additional image attached is that of a 19th century wall clock manufactured by Ingraham & Co. in Bristol, Connecticut and sold by Daniel T. Smith of Salem.
Its painted face memorializes Captain George C. Johnson of Danvers.
We are not sure of the history of this clock, except that it was for many years located in a local fire station and was donated to the Danvers Archival Center in 2002.

Thank you for the website with interesting information about Capt. Johnson and the shipwreck.
We are pleased to include this in our files.

Sincerely,
Richard B. Trask
Town Archivist