Lyr. Add> The Mutiny and Murder at Sea
(The Jefferson Borden Mutiny

Tune- The "Gallant Hussar"

1
Kind friends, if you'll pay attention,
And listen awhile unto me.
A sad tale to you I will mention,
That happened far out on the sea.
On board of the Jefferson Borden
There was mutiny, murder, and strife,
Captain Patterson they would have murder'd,
He was saved through the words of his wife.

CHORUS:-
From Orleans she was bound to London,
The Jefferson Borden we see,
The Captain's wife she acted bravely,
At this mutiny and murder at sea.

2
The good ship she was short of seamen,
The Captain took strangers in hand,
We read in the papers that Miller
Would not obey the Captain's command.
Forty-eight hours a prisoner,
When relieved, he with Smith and Clew,
They murdered the brave Captain's brother
And the second mate his dear cousin too.
3
The poor boy they gagged and blindfolded,
A sad death he thought he would die,
Captain Patterson would have been murdered,
Come back his dear wife she did cry.
This mutiny and murder was dreadful,
To take the ship it was their aim,
The cause of this mutiny and murder,
No doubt it was for wealth to gain.
4
The Captain he fired his revolver
His wife and his own life to save,
The mutineers bravely he wounded,
While the good ship she sailed o'er the waves.
The scene on board it was dreadful,
Heartrending no doubt for to see,
The Captain and his wife they are saved
Frim this mutiny and murder at sea.
5
While we at home in bed are sleeping
We dream of friends o'er the main,
And for those dear ones we are weeping,
We cannot tell if we shall see them again.
When we think of this mutiny and murder,
Each feeling heart it fills with pain,
On board of the Jefferson Borden
In cold blood those dear soles* were slain.
*sic
Bodleian Collection, Ballads Catalogue: Firth c.12(124)
C. 1876.
With introductory account.
"Among all the tales of atrocities at sea which have in the past sullied the history of the Mercantile Navy, there will scarcely be found in late years a parallel one in tragical and melancholy interest to that which has taken place on board the Jefferson Borden, which arrived at the Nore, on Thursday."
She was carrying a cargo of oilcake from New Orleans.
"The Captain's wife, his brother Croydon T. Patterson (as First Mate), and his cousin, Charles H. Patterson (as second mate) were on board. A few minutes before 4 o'clock, on Friday, the 7th May,
the three wounded men were removed from the vessel, under charge of the Thames Police, and they are now lying at the London Hospital. Sit Thomas Henry said a warrant would be granted, and the three men would be brought up when well enough."

All of this makes an incoherent story. A summary will follow in the next post.