business. On his way to board the ship at Liverpool that would take him to Jamaica, he stopped by the home of his mother's friend, Elizabeth Catlett. On meeting her daughter, Mary 'Polly', he was so entranced that he overstayed his visit and missed the ship. Three weeks later he returned home to his father and stepmother, who now lived in London. As punishment the captain arranged for him to set sail on a voyage as a common sailor. During this time, Newton abandoned the moral teachings of his mother and