Shantymen

Subject: Shantymen
From: ADeane
Date: 03 Jul 99 - 03:47 PM

Yankee Jack alias John Short of Watchet UK supplier of many shanties to Cecil Sharp and Richard Terry. Interested in his life. Anybody got any info? ADeane

Subject: RE: Shantymen
From: Margo
Date: 03 Jul 99 - 05:56 PM

I just emailed the Watchet museum for information or leads. I will let you know if I get any info. I am interested in this too.

Margarita

Subject: RE: Shantymen
From: Margo
Date: 05 Jul 99 - 10:08 PM

Here it is! From John at the Wachet museum:

Yankee Jack

Watchet's best known and most famous sailor was John Short. Born in 1839 he spent his early days in the local coasting trade, but before he was twenty years of age he, with two other local lads, joined the brig Promise which sailed for Cadiz and then on to Quebec. From that time on he was a deep water sailor and voyaged all over the world on a variety of ships. In the 1860's he served on American ships which were engaged in running the blockade of the American Civil War. In 1864 one of these ships the Levant transferred to British Registry to escape the attentions of Captain Semmes, the master of the Confederate cruiser Alabama. Because of his service in these ships he was given the nickname of "Yankee Jack" by Watchet sailors.

He sailed over every ocean as an able seaman but his ability and love of singing earned him the role of Solo Shanteyman and in this field he was probably unequalled. He had a very strong but tuneful voice and he added more and more songs learned from various sailors to his repertoire as he sailed on each new ship.

In the late 1800's John Short returned to Watchet to look after his ailing wife and in 1914 he was 'discovered' by Cecil Sharp the famous collector of English Folk Songs & Shanties, to whom he contributed a very varied and valuable selection of authentic songs of the seamen. Later he was visited by another well-known collector of folk songs, Sir Richard Terry, who also recorded the music and words willingly sung again and again by John Short.

He became a hobbler and occasionally sailed again as mate in the local coasting vessels. Because of his powerful voice he was appointed Town Crier by the local Court Leet. It was said that on a quiet day his voice could be heard at Doniford nearly two miles away.

He was also appointed Captain of the local fire brigade by the newly formed Urban Council. There was no fire engine as such only a hand cart to carry the hydrant stand pipe and a few rolls of hose pipe and this simple fire fighting equipment was at first kept in the old lock-up jail, formerly used for drunken sailors, situated under the stone steps of the Market House.

Most deep-water sailors and many of those in the coasting trade were quite skilled at sennett and decorative ropework, and would take great pride in making intricate handles or beckets for their sea chests. One of the beckets from John Short's sea chest is owned by the writer and is a beautiful example of its type. After he came ashore John still kept his hand in and spent many hours with Capt. John Binding making decorative sennett door mats from old rope.

Some of the Shanties collected by Sharpe and Terry are well-known today and are often sung in schools and by folk groups. They include such old favourites as A. Rovin', Rio Grande, and Shenondoa.

As a small boy the writer attended a concert held at the local Baptist Church Schoolroom and remembers John Short walking up to the stage to entertain his friends and neighbours. John was then over ninety years of age, white haired and frail, but upright and proud. He disdainfully brushed aside some well meaning ladies who attempted to arm him up the steps to the stage. Here he really burst forth with a surprisingly powerful rendering of a sea shanty and also a lovely old song called The Sweet Nightingale. This song, although not a sea Shanty, would appear to have been a favourite of his for it is on record that he once sang it at a meeting of the Watchet Court Leet held at its traditional meeting place, the Bell Inn.

Cecil Sharpe was very appreciative and grateful for John Short's help and his contributions to his collection of Sea Shanties for he wrote of him as follows:

"Although seventy six years of age, he is apparently so far as physical activity and mental alertness go, still in the prime of life. He has too the folk singer's tenacious memory and although I am sure he does not know it, a very great musical ability of the uncultivated unconscious order. He now holds the office of Town Crier in his native town, presumably on account of his voice which is rich, resonant and powerful, and yet so flexible that he can execute trills, turns and graces with a delicacy and finish that would excite the envy of many a professional vocalist.

Mr. Short has spent more than fifty years in sailing ships and throughout the greater part of his career, was a recognised Shantyman, i.e. solo singer who led the shanty's. It would be difficult, I imagine, to find a more experienced exponent of the art of shanty singing and I account myself particularly fortunate in having made his acquaintance in the course of my investigations and won his generous assistance.

There is a photograph, but I can't post it here. Let me know if you'd like the link to the museum.

Margarita