Janet Schaw facts for kids

Plymouth Dock, a busy port Janet Schaw visited.

Janet Schaw was a Scottish traveler and writer who lived from about 1730 to 1800. She was born in Lauriston, near Edinburgh. Not much is known about her early life. However, she became famous for a journal she kept during her travels to the West Indies, North America, and Portugal between 1774 and 1776. This journal is very important because it gives us a unique look into what life was like during that time, especially in the American colonies before the American Revolution. After her travels, Janet lived in Edinburgh and later in Plymouth, England. She even met King George III and Queen Charlotte there. Janet Schaw passed away in 1800.

Janet Schaw's Early Life

We don't know many details about Janet's early years, including her exact birth date or place. She likely spent a lot of time at Lauriston Yards, a large farm just outside Edinburgh. Janet had at least two brothers. Her older brother, Robert, moved to the American colonies when he was young. Her younger brother, Alexander, often called Sandie, traveled with her later on.

Their parents were Gideon Schaw, who worked with tobacco in Edinburgh, and Anne Rutherfurd. They got married in Edinburgh in 1723. When Gideon died in 1772, his family had to sell the Lauriston estate.

Janet lived in Edinburgh during a time called the Scottish Enlightenment. This was a period when many new ideas about science, philosophy, and art were developing. Once, when the ship she was on was hit by a big wave, she calmed a young girl named Fanny by having her read a book. Janet later realized it was a book called Elements of Criticism by Lord Kames, a famous Scottish thinker.

Adventures to the West Indies and America

From 1774 to 1776, Janet Schaw sailed from Burntisland in Scotland on a ship called The Jamaica Packet. She first went to St. Kitts and Antigua in the West Indies. Then, she traveled to North and South Carolina in America. She returned to Edinburgh in 1776, stopping in Portugal on the way.

During her journey, Janet kept a detailed journal. This journal was found in the British Library in 1904. It was later published as Journal of a Lady of Quality Being the Narrative of a Journey from Scotland to the West Indies, North Carolina and Portugal in the Years 1774 -1776.

In her journal, Janet wrote about many things. She described scary storms at sea. She compared the large sugar farms, worked by enslaved people, to farms back home in Scotland. She also saw the beginning of the American Revolution in Cape Fear, North Carolina. This revolution greatly affected her family and friends. She also wrote about the colorful Christmas celebrations she saw in Portugal.

On her travels, Janet was joined by her brother Alexander. Three young people also traveled with them: Fanny (18), John (11), and William (Billie) Rutherfurd (9). These children were returning to their father, John Rutherfurd, who owned a farm and worked for the government in Wilmington. Janet also had her personal assistant, Mrs. Mary Miller, and a manservant named Robert with her. Alexander was supposed to start a new job as a customs officer in St. Kitts. Janet also visited her other brother, Robert, at his farm called Schawfield, near Wilmington.

The American Revolution's Impact

Janet had planned to stay in North Carolina with Fanny. However, the American Revolution changed everything. Her brother Alexander could not take his job in St. Kitts. Instead, he secretly boarded a warship and sailed to Boston. He then went to London, carrying important messages from Governor Josiah Martin about the situation in North Carolina.

Janet returned to Edinburgh with Fanny, John, and Billie. The boys were sent to England for their education. Fanny married Archbald Menzies soon after they arrived home in October 1776.

Later Life and Meeting Royalty

After her travels, Janet returned to Edinburgh and lived in the New Town area. Later, Fanny's husband passed away. On April 30, 1787, Fanny married Janet's brother, Alexander Schaw, in London.

Alexander Schaw got a new job as a storekeeper at the Royal Dockyards in Plymouth Dock. Janet lived with Alexander and Fanny in the officers' housing there.

In 1789, King George III and Queen Charlotte visited the Royal Dockyards to see the navy ships. On August 17, they visited the Dockyard and met many naval and military officers. It is said that the King and Queen had lunch with Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Schaw and Miss Janet Schaw. Their home had a great view of the ships. When Queen Charlotte went to look at the view, Janet Schaw spread a beautiful shawl over the balcony railing for the Queen to lean on. This shawl later became a special family item.

Janet wrote her will on March 14, 1792. She described herself as a single woman. She left everything she owned in Scotland and England to her "dear Brother Alexander Schaw." She might have been worried about her health when she wrote her will. A newspaper from that time mentioned a Mr. and Miss Schaw arriving in Bath, a town known for its healing waters.

Before she died, Janet, Alexander, and Fanny helped support the publication of a book of poems called Alonzo and Cora. Janet passed away in 1800. She was buried on December 21, 1800, in Eggbuckland, Plymouth, Devon.

Janet Schaw's Journal

Janet's journal, called Journal of a Lady of Quality, shares her travels from 1774 to 1776. It is written as a series of letters. In her first letter, dated October 25, 1774, she wrote that she planned to write every day. She said her opinions would depend on how she felt at the moment. This means her thoughts on the same topic might sometimes seem different.

Discovering the Author of the Journal

The journal was first found in 1904 in the British Library. It didn't have the author's name on it. It took a lot of detective work and searching through old records to figure out who wrote it.

Later, two more copies of the journal were found. One copy had a special message written by Janet herself. It said it was dedicated to Alexander Schaw, "the Brother, friend and fellow traveler of the Author, his truly affect. Jen. Schaw, St. Andrew's Square, March 10, 1778." This message helped prove that Janet Schaw was indeed the author. The third copy of the journal had been passed down through the Schaw family. This copy helped provide more information about Janet's family tree.

Images for kids

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  Plymouth Dock