The Fateful Rising: A Tale of a Young Man Sent to Sea

By Xlibris US

Albert Greentree decided his eldest son should be like him, starting to learn to be a merchant as well as becoming a man. John was sent to sea against his will as what Albert referred to as a bottom feeder.

John discovered his father had a secret that caused him to lose his name, his family, and his nationality. He was left at Kingston, Jamaica, where his troubles began. He was hired by another captain, from whom he learns merchandising and becomes what his father had wished for.

That ship, Mayanne, was attacked by pirates, and John was confronted with life decisions. He also became part of a conspiracy and was forced into a duel. He asked himself two questions: Is he a man? And is his life part of some fateful plan?

John is not lucky, early on, with love but later discovers his true love after a series of mishaps. He finds himself involved in the plots of other persons. He becomes the problems and the solution to the problem.

He marries a girl from Baltimore, Maryland, and with her returns to his English homeland where he becomes involved in his fathers problems. He decides to return to Baltimore where he plans to spend the rest of his adult life with Margaret, his wife.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Nov 22, 2014
• ISBN: 9781503518568

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The Fateful Rising

A Tale of a Young Man Sent to Sea

Shirley Klatte

Copyright © 2014 by Shirley Klatte.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 11/19/2014

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CONTENTS

Prologue

Must I Go?

Life Begins

Becalmed

Part 3

Interests, Ideas, Happenings

New Times Are Coming

Book Two

Four Years Later

Twists And Turns

Danger Awaits

Wait For A Turn

The New Life For Many

Life Can Change For Better Or For Worse

The Great Divide

The New Understanding

A Change Of Life

A Strange Wind

The Time For Change Has Come

The Arrival

Changing Times

The Letter

The End At Last

Final Farewell

The Second Arrival

Bibliography

PROLOGUE

This story begins and ends in England. John Greentree and his father have been arguing over John’s future. His father wishes John to be more like him, in that, he must start as his father did a bottom feeder. John must begin at the very bottom of English society. His father thinks the bottom of society are sailors. John must learn to be a man, a leader, and a learner.

His father has become a wealthy man by setting goals, achieving them, and in the process becoming a pillar the of Southampton community. Albert Greentree wishes his eldest son should achieve what he has accomplished but should contribute more to the family worth.

John has no desire to go to sea. He has been well educated. However, whatever plans he made for himself have been throated by his father’s unyielding desires for his son. John is eighteen years old. The year is 1820 when he is sent to sea against his wishes.

From his first day on board Warrior to his last day on board Good Fortune he has a series of events that shape his life. Some of his adventures have positive affects while others have negative affects on his life. The question he asks himself is… what kind of man have I become?

MUST I GO?

The time may swiftly pass.

John continued to argue with his father, why should he have to go to sea? Albert Greentree answered his son with a sharp answer… It will make a man out of you. You need to grow up and learn life’s lessons… So the argument went on for some time with John’s mother, Martha, joining in to express her thoughts. Martha had her own arguments to use against her husband. John should not go to sea, as you know, seas are dangerous. Do you want to lose your son? Sailors die from all kinds of diseases and their lives are less then comfortable. Sailors are the lowest of society’s persons… John listened to all the arguments that had gone for days. He could not see a rational reason for his father sending him off to some unknown place. He had to agree with his mother, didn’t his father not know the dangers of the high seas? He began to think his father did not care what might happen to him. His father had spent large sums of money sending three sons to the best schools. John and his mother used this argument against Albert. Sailors are at the bottom of the social ladder became another phase of mother and sons arguments. Did Albert really want to waste all that money? Greentree would not listen to any argument they put forth. His mind was made up and that was to be the end of arguments. John’s two brothers listened intently to the back and forth flow of this latest family argument. They would, at some later time, have to face their father and his plans for their futures.

Greentree knew what he wanted and he wanted John to become a merchant. John should learn to lead men and become a man himself. He wanted John to be better than him or did he. Albert’s background may have been the reason for this way of thinking.

Albert was considered one of the pillars of his community. He held a number of important positions including the president of Merchant’s Guild. He belonged to several other business organizations in Southampton. Most citizens of that city believed him to be a good husband to his wife as well as being a good father to his three sons. In other words, he was one of the city’s most respected citizens. Still, not everyone would agree with that statement. He had many good friends as well as many angry enemies.

Several times a year he would travel to London on business. Several of his important ships sailed from that port. His stays in London would last from a week to over a month while he attended to his shipping businesses in that city or in Holland. He once told a friend, that he sailed on board a barque, Warrior, all the way to St. Petersburg, Russia. On several other times he claimed he had to wait for the arrival of one of his ships. During winter the roads were not always passable. Albert Greentree always seemed to have some reason for staying in London.

Friends and enemies alike wondered why Albert stayed away from home so often. More than one person had questioned his long stays away from his family. Albert always had some reasonable explanation for his absences. More than one person thought him to be up to something. One man suggested Albert must be having an affair with some woman in London but most friends dismissed that claim as bogus. But, then, tongues do wag.

However, there was more to his story than simply caring for his shipping business. Albert was the youngest of seven children and at age thirteen he was sent away from his home to join the firm of D. J. Magnus Shipping Company. He would describe himself, at age thirteen, as a bottom feeder, that is the lowest member of the firm. He was, at times bitter, having to leave home at such an early age to go to work. He felt his childhood had been lost too soon. Albert set goals for himself and he found that hard work, some luck, and quick thinking allowed him to achieve those goals. He was not going to be like those who came before him — poor sheep herders and weavers. He watched his father and grandfather struggle to keep ahead of the rent and demands of the land owners. He, Albert Greentree, would become a man with wealth and see to it his family would never be poor. He achieved his first goal at age nineteen when he became the head clerk of Magnus Shipping Company. Six years later, he was able to barrow enough money to purchase a half-interest in the firm. On his twenty-ninth birthday he purchased the remaining interest in D. J. Magnus. In between those dates he married Martha Martin the daughter of another craft-guild member. Her father was a glass maker and like his grandfather sold his wears locally. Albert wanted to become a global player buying products from all over the world. He soon found himself in a strategic position to achieve that goal as well and he was becoming a wealthy man. Albert was a driven man and did not want anyone interfering with his plans.

Albert was lucky in life and in love. To some relatives, he had married well and she was a good housekeep and wife. Martha looked after the home and some business when he was away and she enjoyed his company. She made sure the three boys were well behaved and learned their lessons in life well. She held the household together but always wished Albert was home more often. Her life was full of stress and loneliness but she would carry on as any good and loving wife would continue with life.

The early years of the Greentree family were not easy. Albert would leave Southampton to sail off to unknown locations. The American Revolution had interfered with his business. He lost much of his dealings in Canada and in the Gulf of Mexico. Although he never lost a ship to the American raiders he did loose money. Money was important to Albert. A man with shillings in his pocket was among the upper classes in English society. Money bought him friends but made him enemies. He felt the Americans should be grateful to people like him because he could purchase their raw materials and sell them for a large profit. He never traveled to the colonies and had no desire to leave England. He strongly disagreed with those politicians who wanted to grant the Americans their independence in some form or another. If you asked him to describe a colonist he would describe a devil. He totally disliked those ungrateful men and women although he had never meant one. But then, not every Englishman agreed with Albert.

He often thought it a good idea to send the poor and destitute away to various colonies. Send them to North America and we can close the poor houses. He saw sources of raw materials for English factories and the wealth that came from those factories. Keep those colonies under the king’s thumb was his silent motto. Albert watched his hay pennies, was conservative, achieved his goals, and did not let rivals or friends get in his way. He was a self-made man.

After the war, his business with Canada and the Gulf of Mexico increased. He bought three larger ships known as India’s. Ships of that class sailed to India and Australia. He found more profit from the more exotic items those ships returned to London after those long voyages. Wealth allowed him to build a large house on an estate overlooking Southampton. Martha’s life became somewhat easier. His money sent John, Phillip, and James to the best schools. Shillings and pounds in his pocket made Albert a man to deal with and he proved to be a hard man in many respects.

The argument over John’s future life continues for days, into weeks and finally months. Everyone was tired of discussions that often turned to anger. John’s brothers would try to enter the fray only to be told to find something else to do. John did not want to leave home and he often agreed with his mother during the arguments. His father had been a clerk so why should he not become the same? Could he not learn business as the same way his father had learned his lessons about business? He and the rest of the family knew that in the end John would go to sea. And why was his father so interested in his learning about Magnuson Shipping? John would inherit everything owned by Albert Greentree. English law stated only the oldest son would inherit his father estate. John was eighteen when all the arguing went on around him. He was not interested in A. J. Magnus Shipping Company.

His father told him about English Law and inheritance. John was told to go out and increase whatever he might, some day, inherit. His father blistered his ears with his plans for John. Albert told him he was not, at age eighteen, only a school boy. He had to learn leadership and above all learn to be a man who could make tough decisions and not look back.

Greentree’s friends assumed John would be better than his father who made decisions quickly and often did not care whose toes he stepped on. They perceived John to be a gentleman where his father was a conniver. Greentree’s enemies would agree with the statement.

His friends knew Albert Greentree to be through in research, quick to make decisions and once a decision was made he stayed with it. Some friends would say you had to move rocks before Albert would change his mind. He was known to have a quick temper to go along with decision making that often caused other business men to dislike him. His business tactics were ruthless, at times, and sometimes he acted so decisively that his opponents were left out and lost business to Albert. He made a number of good friends and made a few bitter enemies along the way.

This was the background that caused all the family dissension, arguments and fear that was going into Albert Greentree’s decision to send John to sea. His mind was made up that his son should learn, as he had done, from the very bottom of the social ladder. Sailors were about as low as one could get in 1820. He knew his son had no more to say about what he did than had he to say to his father. There was one major difference between his early life situation and John’s. John would inherit his wealth. The law stated the eldest son should inherit his entire father’s worth. The remainder of his children had to be willed worth. John was going to inherit everything and he was told part of his position was to add to the families’ worth. Albert was setting goals for John that John could possibly not achieve. Did Greentree have some unknown reason to send his son away?

At the time all the bickering began, John had turned eighteen, He had been well schooled in the best schools Southampton had to offer. He was well versed in languages, mathematics, and enjoyed fencing. He studied Latin, German and French and spoke all three better than most students his age. He had two brothers who were interested literature, languages, science and mathematics. Phillip, second son, was considered by his father to be a book worm. He had few athletic skills, hated fencing and preferred to take part in arguments and play chess. James was his third brother and like John was interested in mathematics, science, John was tall, thin, better than average in appearance and had auburn hair that he wore short. His attitudes were those of the upper-middle class Englishman. He and his brothers knew nothing of the riggers his father had gone through at their age. Nor would John, Phillip, and James know the futures that awaited them. John would find life hard and danger would walk the path with him.

LIFE BEGINS

Life is not always far, but what of the alternative?

The morning John and his father left the sun was just rising in a cloudless sky. Martha, James, Phillip, the household servant were all present as the stage coach was loaded with John’s supplies. Martha felt sad. In her heart she feared for her son’s future. She had dreamed once that John would not return to England while she was alive. Martha saw John off through hot tears and many fears. This was one of the poorest days of her life. One final hug was all she had to remember of John. Sad though she was, her dislike for her husband was forcing her to find some inner strength that would carry her though this sad and disappointing moment. What fate awaited John?

John and his father took a stage coach to London where he, John, was to join the crew of a sea-going merchant ship. The arrangements for his position had taken place weeks earlier with a sea captain well known to Albert. Albert had done one important item, he told Captain August Marlowe, that John was the son of a friend. John had with him his supplies and a few items of clothing in a ditty bag. He was told nothing about the captain, crew, or what his duties would be. His duties were to be left to the discretion of the captain.

John found himself on board the Warrior. He was left, by his father, standing on deck looking both helpless and hopeless. He had no idea what he was supposed to do. He had not been introduced to anyone, including the captain. The work of preparing the ship to set sail that afternoon was going on around him. There he stood feeling lost, alone and stupid. What was he supposed to do? He was bumped, ignored, and looked like he did not belong to the ship. Then he saw one of the officers hit a sailor who was not doing his duty. The officer screamed at the lad, swears at him, kick him and told him to move. That action, by that officer, frightened him. And as he watched the goings on he saw the same officer kick a tall, lanky youth and told him how he hated land lubbers. Those two incidents caused him to quickly leave the ship to seek out his father and be relieved of any obligations. John was afraid. He had left the ship without receiving permission from the captain. John did not know about such rules and at that moment did not care about ship’s rules.

John stopped at every pier, shop and even stopped street walkers to find out where he might locate Albert. People simply shook their heads and most said nothing until he stopped by an old man setting on a bench by a pier. The old man told John he knew where he might find his father. He was told to go ten blocks west to Merchant’s Bank, turn right two more blocks to the name Magnus on the door.

The old man watched as John walked in quick step to find his father. The Old Man thought about how anxious the young seemed to be. Why were the young always in such a hurry? Someday this lad would learn to slow down and stop and listen to the birds sing.

Walking as fast as he could, found the bank and coming out of the bank was his father with a young lady and two young children. John called out to his father as he dodged carriage and cart. His father paid no attention to his son until the young lady pointed him out. John hurried to his father’s side to begin his argument against going to sea. As he started to make his case his father stopped him and told him there was to be no more discussion about the sea. His action was finial. John was not listening to his father because he had heard the arguments before. He desperately wanted to be away from the sea and especially the ship named Warrior…

He was curious about the woman and children. He wondered who they were. He knew of no relatives living in London. She was too well dressed to be a char lady or one who worked outside her home. She was dressed in the fashions of the day and seemed to be well acquainted with Albert Greentree. Why wasn’t she being introduced to John? Why did his father seem more angry than usual? Who was this young lady and who were these children? There had to be an explanation, by his father, who she and those children were. His first thought was that she worked in some nearby shop but again, she was too well dressed to work in any shop. She must be some relative he knew nothing about. And she seemed so friendly towards his father. His father seemed nervous or anxious. His father was acting strangely. Something unusual was happening here on this busy London street. Albert Greentree was alway under control of his emotions. Why was his father acting so upset? . . . Strange!

His father noted John’s interest in the lady and children and decided to introduce them to John. Albert told John they were friends of the family. He introduced Lilly Owens and then Thomas and Anne. After the introduction, the little girl, aged three, blurted out.. This is my daddy and I call him Honey Bear… John was not sure what he had heard… Honey Bear? . . . . To that pronouncement, Lilly, Thomas, and Anne hastily left the scene. John was not sure what his next action should be. His father had… another family? Albert Greentree, his father, was an adulterer!

Albert Greentree’s face went pale, then deep red. He had made a mistake; a big mistake. This mistake could cost him everything he had worked so hard to achieve. He had to act quickly to stop any rumors about his affair with Lilly Owen. He knew most of his London acquaintances thought he and Lilly were married. He had told friends his wife had died and he married Lilly a year or two after his wife’s death. Until this moment, he had felt safe with his second family. But John could upset everything if he mentioned his father’s adultery to friend and especially his foes. John was going to sea and that should keep his secret away from prying ears. He made another decision concerning John.

Captain Marlow had been told John was the son of a friend. He had told the captain that little lie to keep John from becoming too important and be given privileges. He would keep up that rouse and add one more item to that list. John was not to return to England… Never! He has a lot to lose and that frightened him. What would happen to Martha and the other two sons? Such knowledge could kill poor Martha and he remembered what happened to her brother when he was caught with another man’s wife… he lost everything. He could not let that happen. Now, his son would do as he was told and told his name was, from this moment forward, John Willson and he was never to return to England as long as he, Albert Greentree was alive. Should he ever return to England he, Albert, would see him sent to prison or be exiled as far away as was possible? . . . Australia.

John felt fear. Things were happening so fast he was having difficulty understanding what his father was telling him. What was going on? His father was adulterer. He was a fornicator! He knew what was going to happen to him but what about his mother and brothers? What if Martha discovered her husband’s lechery? The knowledge of such behavior on the part of Albert could kill her. Anger made his stomach tie up in knots. He was feeling sick. His emotions were almost out of control. Big boys don’t cry, so others say, but he wanted to do just that… cry. He wanted to leave the scene and go away; back home… no… can’t do that either… . I, John Greentree is stuck in the most impossible situation. He knew his father’s quick action to be a mistake and he was the one paying the price. He felt like a lost soul. He felt like a prisoner of sorts. What was going to happen to him?

Greentree knew he had made several mistakes. He should never have gotten involved with Lilly but he was lonely living in London by himself. Friends had introduced Lilly to him at a gathering of Jacob Hanlon. Hanlon knew her to be a nice girl, away from her family, no doubt lonely herself. He knew she was much younger than Albert but thought the two could spend an evening together just to keep each other company. Neither Hanlon nor Greentree expected anything to come of one evening. Both men were proved wrong… . Albert became intimate with Lilly and then concocted the story about a deceased wife. People believed his story and believed the two had married. They had never married. His next mistake really was the greatest of all… two children. Those children had no rights because they were bastard children. What was the old adage? . . . Young women make fools of old men… Lilly made him feel young and foolish. Martha had once been as care-free as Lilly. Martha has been forced, by him, to take on responsibilities that had aged her. He was never at home to help her with the children. He was too involved with his money making to care about his home life. Now he could pay and pay dearly. Somehow he was going to get away with two families… Somehow! His son had to keep his mouth shut and the best way for that to happen… send him far away. Send him to sea and threaten him. He had friends in high places who took care of such matters as disobedient children.

Lilly ran away from the scene with the children. Anne was only three and what would you expect her to say. She and Thomas both loved Albert Morley. Now she wondered who this Morley was… She had made a grave mistake living with an older man. Her rationale was that he could give her things and had given her things she liked and wanted. She had left her home to come to London to find excitement and she found it. Now what was going to happen to her and her