John Sumner - AB

Mutineer, age 22

He was 5 feet 8 inches tall, with fair complexion, brown hair, a scar on his left cheek, and tattooed in several places. He was the last man to be flogged by Bligh before the mutiny (12 Apr 1787), 12 lashes for neglect of duty.

He was part of the original mutiny party, and was the person quoted as saying about Bligh, 'Put him in a boat and let the bugger see if he can live upon three fourths of a pound of yams a day.' He and Quintal were put in irons by Christian at Tahiti on 23 Jun 1789, when they went ashore without permission claiming to be their own masters.

After the mutiny, Sumner was one of the mutineers who insisted on returning to Tahiti. He, Burkitt, and Muspratt settled on the western coast, south of Matavai Bay, at a place called Papara. Because he was 'too anxious' to be released, his handcuffs were not released when the 'Pandora' was sinking. Instead, he was dragged out of the hold still bound, and indeed drowned with his handcuffs on.

According to Rawson in 'Pandora's Last Voyage', Sumner left a widow and children on Tahiti. There are, however, no records, and no memories remain.