Johnnibo, his wife Annie Kimalu, and daughter Kallaakjuk, as photographed by Giles Bishop in New London, Conn., in 1881. (Photo from the Mystic Seaport Collection 1995.955)
Whaler names – Johnnibo and family
A few weeks ago, I wrote about some of the names whalers gave to Inuit who worked with them in the Kivalliq region. This week, I’ll explore the same topic, for names in one family in Baffin Island.
An Inuk named Johnnibo was well known to whalers in Hudson Strait in the late 1800s. He was originally from the Cape Haven area of southeastern Baffin Island, the tip of Hall Peninsula which separates Cumberland Sound from Frobisher Bay.
American whalers referred to him as “John Bull” and sometimes as “The Mate.”
American whalers already knew him in 1860 when Charles Francis Hall arrived in the North aboard the George Henry. Hall referred to him as “Johnny Bull.”
Nearly two decades later, on July 18, 1879, Capt. John Spicer, sailing in the Era out of New London, Conn., wrote in the ship’s log: “Engaged John Bull and his crew to go to Hudson Strait to whale for Era.”
He left the said John Bull at Akuliak, the new station he was establishing on the Baffin coast about 80 kilometres west of Lake Harbour (present-day Kimmirut). Spicer himself wintered at a different location, near Cape Haven.
How did the name John Bull come about?
Inuit told Dorothy Eber in the 1980s that the name is a contraction of “John Boat”
“A qallunaaq was once in the area where John had his boat and said, ‘Is that John’s boat?’ That’s how the name came about. It was accidental.”
This is a plausible explanation, because the man was a successful assistant to American whalers, who rewarded him with his own boat.
“John Bull” was a term often used by Americans and others to refer to an Englishman. But there are no references to this Inuk having worked for English or Scottish whalers. (There was at least one other Inuk known as John Bull. In February, Tagak Curley posted a picture of his maternal grandfather Tuktuqyuk, whom he said was “also known as John Bull.”)
Whether the name came from “John Boat” or “John Bull,” it was adopted into the sound structure of Inuktitut as Johnnibo (sometimes spelled Johnniebo).
His Inuktitut name, which Hall wrote as “Shi-mer-ar-chu,” has also been written as Chimoackjo. A New London paper spelled it “Chimoayo.” According to a family tree published in Dorothy Eber’s When the Whalers Were Up North, his mother’s name was Niviaksiakjuk; his father’s name was not given.
Johnnibo became well known to Americans in 1881 when he and his wife and daughter were taken by John Spicer to the United States so Johnnibo could testify in a court case.
It was an odd case, in which Spicer had accused another whaling captain of taking the products of three whales Johnnibo had caught while engaged by Spicer to hunt only for him. Since this article is about names, I will save the whale theft story for another time.
Suffice it to say that John Bull and his family were well known to the townspeople of New London during the winter they spent there.
Johnnibo’s wife was Annie Kimalu, a sister of the woman whom he had been married to in 1860 when Hall met him.
Annie was about 30 years of age, and the daughter of an Inuk who had travelled to America in 1859 and died aboard ship the following year just before reaching home. That man’s name was Kallaarjuk, but history has recorded him as Kudlago.
Annie Kimalu was an attractive woman. In old age, she recalled, “All the captains wanted me. I’ve got worse, but I really used to be the best-looking woman.”
Townsfolk in New London called her Kim.
Their daughter was named Kallaarjuk, after her grandfather. She was about five years old when she travelled to America, where her name was usually spelled Cudlargo.
Of course, Americans didn’t try to pronounce it; they called her Chrissie (also spelled Chryssie). For some reason, she was also called “Buckshot.”
Three days before the ship left New London in 1871 to return the family to their Arctic home, the family increased in size. Annie Kimalu gave birth to a daughter. An Inuktitut name for her was never recorded. The newspapers called her simply “American Girl.”
I know nothing of her fate.
Taissumani is an occasional column that recalls events of historical interest. Kenn Harper is a historian and writer who lived in the Arctic for more than 50 years. He is the author of “Minik: The New York Eskimo” and “Thou Shalt Do No Murder,” among other books. Feedback? Send your comments and questions to kennharper@hotmail.com.
Tell us about the court case! And who was the interpreter at the trial or was there one?
Being educated in Alberta curriculum, I was never taught my own heritage. Thank you Nunatsiaq News and Mr. Ken Harper for keeping history alive..
Kallaakjuk is adopted and or of mixed race. As it was with Inuit then all children were precious, Every Child Matters (today). Taissumani is a great column Kenn.
Annie Kimalu and Kalajuk are my ancestors. Annie Kimalu was my great-great- grandmother, Kalajuk was my great grandmother. Her father was a Scottish whaling captain. Kalajuk has many descendants today. She died in 1953. Descendent is Annie Kimalu Palluq, she’s 91 today, my aunt. Johnnybo was killed by his own people after returning from Boston. There are many guesses, presumptions, assumptions as to why his own people killed him, it was an organized killling so no one would be blamed, as it sometimes happened in the past. Thank you Kenn, for writing about my ancestors! Great story. I know why too, this family was taken to Boston and wintered there and where they were put. They were also displayed at some museums while they wintered in Boston. According to my Aunt Annie, Kalajuk told many stories about their stay in Boston. She died at a very old age. Once again, Kenn, Thank You! Ann Meekitjuk Hanson, C.M.
Capt. John Spicer was my dad’s great-uncle. I heard the story about Johnnibo & the whales from my grandad. The “for the ladies” version of the story is in the Spicer Genealogy by Meech as well as in Dorothy Eber’s book.
The court case turned on whether Inuk were able to testify in court. Johnnibo was allow to testify & testified clearly and accurately. The opposing attorney said Inuk were animals, like dogs, and should not be allowed to testify. Capt. Spicer replied that Inuk were people, but those who stole things, like the whale thieves, were actually animals like dogs.
Capt Spicer returned to Akuliak later. My grandad said that his Uncle John then was told by Annie Kimalu that Johnniebo was killed because “he knew too much.”