Adams Papers Digital Edition

Diary of John Quincy Adams, volume 1

Saturday 13th.

Mond 15th.
Sunday 14th. JQA

1779-11-14

 Sunday 14th. Adams, John Quincy
Sunday 14th.

This morning a great number of Gentlemen came on board, and amongst others Col Johonnot,1 with a son,2 of his who is a going to France with us. There are a great number of Passengers and the Frigate is very well mann'd. Col Johonnot introduced me to his son, with whom I hope I shall form, an acquaintance, which will be very agreable to me and I hope I shall endeavour to make myself agreable to him. This afternoon Captn. Tucker,3 came on board, and told us that he saw a day or two agone two ships and a brig off Cape Ann: we were very glad he told us of it, so that now we can take proper Measure for shunning them.

 3 1.

Col. Gabriel Johonnot, grandson of a French Huguenot, was a Boston merchant prominent in boycott activities before the Boston Tea Party. During the Revolution he served as lieutenant colonel in the 14th Regiment of the Continental Army ( NEHGR, 7 [1853]: 141–142; 44 [1890]: 57).

 2.

Samuel Cooper Johonnot, usually referred to in JQA's Diary entries as “Sammy,” was being sent to Europe for schooling, first at Passy and later at Geneva. After graduation from Harvard, he studied law under James Sullivan and began a practice in Portland, Maine, in 1789, but returned to Boston in 1791. From there he went to Demerara, British Guiana (now Georgetown, Guyana), upon what JQA termed “a speculation,” but soon became U.S. consul there, where he later died (same, 7 [1853]: 141–142; 22 [1868]: 9; JA, Diary and Autobiography , 2:418; JQA, Diary, 3 April 1791).

 3.

Samuel Tucker, captain of the Continental frigate Boston, the ship which carried JA and JQA to France in Feb. 1778 on JA's first mission to Europe ( DAB ).