Francis W. Gatter
Born Bristol England, 1841
Died 1903
Francis W. Gatter left England about 1857 as a sailor engaged in "packet service" between England and various ports.
In 1861 he was aboard the ship, GOOD HOPE, near Ft. Sumpter in Savannah, Georgia, the day before the American Civil War started. The merchant ships were offered the opportunity to join the Southern Navy or get out of the harbor immediately.
Francis stayed on his ship and return to New York where he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. The US Navy Log indicates that he served from May 1851 through December 1852.
However, after signing up, he found out he would be on a little gun boat for one year, but men were offered 3 year enlistments on the big ships. He literally traded places with a "3 year" sailor by the name of John Henry.
They traded their sea bags and complete identities - names and all. So Francis served for a year under the name of "James Henry" until he was mustered out because of ill health.
He immediately resumed using his old name, Francis Gatter, but retained his "new" place of birth, New York. Also, he revised his birth year by 3 years, again for unknown reasons.
All of this came to light when in 1890 he applied for an "invalid Navy pension" and his previous exploits became known and he confessed all.
During the late 1800s, Francis Gatter traveleld as Captain of different coastal ships up and down the West Coast.
The family lived first in San Francisco (above) and then in Tacoma, Washington, eventually settling in Oakland, California across the bay from San Francisco.
(Note: Oakland was home to many sea captains during the 1800s.)
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"Master Under God"
Captains exercised absolute authority at sea and so were dubbed "Master Under God" by early insurance writs, agreements with ship owners and passengers and the Board of Trade.
The captain is responsible for its safe and efficient operation, including cargo operations, navigation, crew management and ensuring that the vessel complies with local and international laws, as well as company and flag state policies.
All persons on board, including officers and crew, other shipboard staff members, passengers, guests and pilots, are under the captain's authority and are his ultimate responsibility.
On international voyages, the captain is responsible for satisfying requirements of the local immigration and customs officials.Immigration issues can include situations such as embarking and disembarking passengers, handling crewmembers who desert the ship, making crew-changes in port, and making accommodations for foreign crewmembers.
Customs requirements can include the master providing a cargo declaration, a ship's stores declaration, a declaration of crewmembers' personal effects, crew lists and passenger lists.
