Ship's Crew
John Aker
Rank(s): Ordinary Seaman
Dates of Service: 10/28/1814 - 2/21/1815
Early Life
Aker’s place and date of birth are unknown.
Aker joined Constitution ’s crew as an ordinary seaman on October 28, 1814 at Boston. He was transferred to the prize HMS Cyane on February 21, 1815.
Among the enlisted men, ordinary seamen stood in the middle of the lower-deck hierarchy. These men had typically sailed one or two voyages and knew basic seamanship. Like the able seamen, they too could “hand, reef, and steer,” but some of the more complicated maneuvers were foreign to them. Many ordinary seamen would have been numbered among the topmen, the young and agile crewmembers who were responsible for working aloft on the masts and yards. The ordinary seaman made $10.00 per month.
Battles and Engagements
Aker was on board for the battle with HMS Cyane and Levant on February 20, 1815. He shared in the $20,000 awarded the crew for the capture of Cyane , and received $22.19 as his share for Levant .
Aker’s place and date of death are unknown.
Crew ID
177
