Merasheen

MERASHEEN REUNION 1980
INTRODUCTION
HISTORY RESIDENTS
Jim Ennis George Wilson Ned Hennessey Bernard Hennessey Bill Pomroy Jim Pomroy Gus Hepditch Olf Rogers Jimmy Barrett Mrs. Kate Wilson Bill Wilson Tom Hickey Freddy Leonard Martin Connors	George Hepditch Albert Hepditch Paddy Barnett The Fulfords Amelius Best Micheal Pittman Joey Pitcher Mick Casey Philly Pittman Cathrine Walsh Skipper Din Pat Walsh Joe Connors Bernard Canning Paul Wilson Johnny Ennis	Paddy Green Ab Best Neddy Fitzgerald Jim Rose Bill Hynes Bride Rose Sylv Connors Bill Ennis Johnny Moores Tommy Pittman Jack Hann Paddy Hann Pad Houlihan Joe Houlihan John Connors	Jack Barry Tom Barry Johnny Wilson Jack Ennis Stan Ennis Lar Pitcher Charlie Pittman Tom Houlihan Pat Pomroy Leo Pomroy
Songs/Poems
My Good Lookin Man The Burglar Crockery Ware Sitting On The Stile Mary The Drunken Captian Peter Emberley The August Gale The Eastern Light Authur O'Bradley	The Irish Sailor Boy Harry Dunn The Charming Young Widow Caroline An Her Young Sailor Bold Gull Cove Soup Supper In Clattice Harbour The Black The Old Rusty Barber The Private Still	Thomas J. Hodder The Black Sheep Roger The Miller The Bonny Labouring Bay The Lion's Den Morrissey And The Russian Black-Eyed Susan The Jam On Jerry's Rock Jimmy And Nancy	The Tiny Red Light Johnny The Trawler A Very Unfortunate Man Carol Anderson Ye Tender Hearted Christians The Black Water Side A Bark In Our Harbour The Poor Fisherman's Boy The Faded Coat of Blue

INTRODUCTION

This page is dedicated to the people who lived, worked, and raised their families in Merasheen, and whose ties with their home and their friends are still strong, both in them and in their children. It is not being put together for commercial purposes, but hopefully will bring back some warm memories to those who are familiar with the people, the songs, and the incidents referred to, and will also serve as a momento to our reunion.

On this site are short profiles or stories on most of the father figures of our community; some of the songs we sang down through the years, a short story on those few men who began their lives fishing in Merasheen, who were resettled and who return every year to continue their work along with a selection of pictures of various parts of the harbour or community.

In doing profiles and stories, we decided to take the generation of our grandfathers since this would allow us to include every family in Merasheen without getting into large numbers as would be the case if we chose our fathers' generation.

In choosing songs to be included, we did not choose them by singling out the best singers and then including one of their songs. Instead, we tried to choose songs that were popular party songs, particularly in the last ten to fifteen years that the community existed. By doing this, we hope to have included songs that are known by young and old alike. This prevented us from including many excellent songs and singers of the older generation.

Obviously, we did not have personal knowledge of most of the facts included in this page since they took place long before our time. Our basis of knowledge, therefore, was the memories and verbal relations of some very generous people. In most instances, time did not permit us to confirm our facts from more than one source, so we ask you to bear with any small inaccuracies that may have been included.

Our pictures were not taken by professional photographers, but were gathered up from anyone who had a camera and pictures of our days in Merasheen.

We trust that this site wil reawaken some memories and be a momento of our days in Merasheen and of our "REUNION 1980".

Loyola Pomroy & Bill Wilson

HISTORY OF MARASHEEN

The major portion of this History is taken directly from a paper researched and written by the last Sister Alice Wilson when she was studying at Memorial University in St. John's.

Merasheen Island in Placentia Bay was settled, it seems before 1836, since the census of the year shows a population of 167 people. In 1836, there were already 25 houses there and each of these employed a servant. Tombstones also show dates that extends back to the seventeenth century. In 1836, Merasheen's population is from a single settlement on the island. However, in 1845, we find that Merasheen Island had three settlements on it:
1. Little Merasheen - Population 159
2. Great Merasheen - Population 105
3. Virgin's Cove - Population 42

Three divisions continued, as can be seen in the census, until 1891, Oral sources show that the Virgin's Cove settlement remained there until 1967. It is important to note that no one in the community seemed to know exactly where Little Merasheen ended and Big Merasheen began.

Both Merasheens have good, ice-free harbours, and fishing could be done on a year-round basis. Little Merasheen was the centre of activity in 1890 and early 1900's since the school, church, and merchants resided in this area. Later, this did not exist, but the names always remained.
Many legends suggest that Merasheen may have been settled in the early sixteenth century by French people who were trying to settle there or by the English people who desired to remain in Newfoundland during the winter. Mr. Bill Pomroy, an 80 year old gentleman, related that Soldier's Point got its name because it was the scene of a French and English battle before 1783. Tombstones, as stated earlier, date back to the 1700's. Another legend states that Merasheen was discovered and settled by two Frenchmen, one named "Mere" and the "Jean". Later it became Merasheen. In Little Merasheen, the whole settlement is over a graveyard. This was known orally by all Merasheeners. People installing water lines in 1950 found skulls and bones of humans. It is difficult to show where the people came from at Merasheen. Most people said their immediate family heads were born in Merasheen or other sections of Newfoundland. Only one person in Merasheen in 1849 was not born there, and he was from a British Colony. Many of the people came from Branch, Fox Harbour, Long Harbour, and any other areas where men from Merasheen went to fish. These and other facts seem to indicate that the census of 1836 is listing not the first settlers of Merasheen, but perhaps second generation of a second settlement which did not come from Europe as the first settlers did, but came from settled sections of Newfoundland. The population growth was of a steady rise from 167 in 1836 to its peak of 380 in 1921. In 1953, the survey stated it was steady at 348. It declined in the 1960's and by the end of 1968 no one remained.

The economy of Merasheen has always been dependent on the fishery. It is surrounded by the best fishing grounds in Placentia Bay - i.e. Merasheen Bank, the White Sail, Bennett's Bank, Iron Skull, etc. which were used for trawls, nets and jigger. There were also numerous trap berths from Buckle Cove, and Wild Cove and Fox Point down in the Bight to the Long Point, the Dirty Rocks and the Point of Merasheen on the end of the land, which year after year yielded good voyages of fish. The fishery in Merasheen went through the changes of history ranging from the small punt fishery to the bank fishery in the schooners, to the traps and gillnets of recent. Years, but up to this day, those with the energy and initiative who go back year after year to the grounds they know so well, manage to make a living as they did when they lived and worked there in years gone by.

When we think of the years spent in Merasheen, there is one person who immediately comes to mind, because he played a very important role in the lives of the people and the community, i.e. Monsignor Fyme. Monsignor Fyme was born in Amsterdam, Holland, ordained in Nfld. At the age of 26, was promoted to Domestic Prelate in 1951 and died Sept. 6th, 1964.

He was made a monsignor when in Merasheen and that occasion was certainly one of the great days in the history of our community. While there were other clergymen stationed in our Parish before and after Monsignor Fyme, he is the one who immediately comes to mind when we think of the church in Merasheen, since he had a hand in the baptizing, christening, or marrying of most of us who are more than twenty-three years of age. Monsignor Fyme and the other clergymen of his era had a great impact on the people of Merasheen as is reflected in their way of life, their families, and their values. We feel that as a community, the people of Merasheen can feel proud of the quality of people coming from so small a place and perhaps the most obvious witness of this can be seen in the large number of "Religious" who came from the island. From a population that reached its peak of 380 people in 1921 came two priests and fourteen sisters.

(Unfortunately, we could not obtain pictures of all the sisters)

JIM ENNIS

Jim Ennis, a man well known and respected by all the people of Merasheen, was born September 30, 1906, the son of Patrick Ennis and Ellen McHugh. He married Annie Best on April 29, 1946, and together they raised a family of six children. Jim began punt fishing at 18 years of age with his brother Jack. After fishing with Jack for three years, he went with Mike Duke of Fox Harbour in the "Polyanthus". Following that, Jim was a member of other Cape St. Mary boats, including the "Iris and Verna" with Skipper Din Pat, after which he went with Pad Houlihan and back with Din Pat again until the bait depot opened in Merasheen in January, 1940 until he moved to Long Harbour on September 23, 1959, where he continued to operate a bait depot until 1971, when he was well past the age of retirement. In 1950, Jim became a Justice of the Peace in Merasheen, a responsibility which he accepted and carried out conscientiously, providing assistance to many in the community who were experiencing problems with birth certificates, marriage certificates, old age pensions, etc. He is still a Justice of the Peace to this very day. Jim was always a natural leader in the community, ready to become involved and play his part in all community affairs. He was one of the principal leaders in the establishment of the Coop in Merasheen, serving for nineteen years as Secretary-Treasurer of the Ophelia Co-op Credit Society and a director of the Co-op Society for that same period. Jim always had an excellent memory and a genuine interest in people and local events. These talents and interests combined with a great story-telling ability made him a reliable source of information as an amateur historian. This talent is recognized by all his peers in Merasheen who invariably referred us to him when seeking information for our site. He proved to be our main source for information on the older generation, providing us with invaluable assistance and an alibi for our mistakes. Jim, Annie, and most of their family now reside in Long Harbour, ant there is no better way to spend a day than to visit their home and listen to Jim relate stories about the earlier times in Merasheen being prompted by one or another member of the family if he stops for a snort or a breath. We and any that may enjoy this site are truly indebted to him for his assistance.

SNAPS OF MERASHEEN

GEORGE WILSON

George was born in Merasheen on May 31, 1890 and began his long fishing career at the age of thirteen years when he went lobstering with Tom Ennis for $12.00 a month. That was the start of a fifty-four years of fishing for George during which time he was involved in every aspect of the fishery ranging from his first year lobstering, to working in Ned's herring factory as a packer for 15¢ an hour, to being skipper of a boat (the Lilly Dale, owned by Sam Best) at 20 years of age, to pursuing the trap fishery in his later years in Merasheen. George was one of the top sea captains in Merasheen sailing in the Petite Forte, Fox Harbour and Harbour Buffett boats involved in the fishery and coasting from Placentia Bay to St John's, to Fortune Bay, to St. Pierre, etc. Like many from Merasheen, he was caught out in the August Breeze and came out of it safely by sailing for the deep water on the eastern side of Placentia Bay and finally finding shelter in Long Harbour.

George loved the sea, loved the fishery and loved the Island on which he lived. Unfortunately, like so many of his generation, he was forced to end his days away from all of this, settling in Freshwater.

George was a good hand on a time and could be counted upon to sing "My Good Lookin Man", a song that he acted out, always blackening someone's nose with a poker when singing the song.

MY GOOD LOOKIN MAN

Come all ye maidens
Of courage brave and true
I'll tell you how to happy live
And avoid all trouble too
But if you live a single life
Plan ye may understand
Don't ye ever fall in love
With a Good Lookin Man.

When I was sixteen years of age
A damsel in my prime
I daily thought a wedded life
Was happy all the time
I daily thought a wedded life
Would be my only plan
I sobbed, I signed, both day and night
To get a nice young man.

My wishes came, too soon I got
One Sunday afternoon
As home from chruch I gaily walked
I met a fair gosson
He looked so fine about the face
To win him I made a plan
That every day I set a trap
For my Good Lookin Man.

Again by chances as out I walked
To take a pleasant roam
I met this handsome gentleman
Who wished to see me home
I feign said"No", but it was no use
To go with me was his plan
And to my house I walked along
With My Good Lookin Man.

He said to me as on we walked
"My dear and only love
If with me you consent to wed
I'll never unconstant prove
Sure I would be a husband kind
And do the best I can"
My heart, my hand, I then did give
To My Good Lookin Man.

That night was fixed for us to wed
So happy I could cheer
He gently pressed me to his breast
Saying, "Oh my Mary dear"
He gently pressed me to his breast
To the parsons house we ran
And there I tied the dreadful knot
With My Good Lookin Man.

We were scarce one week married
One Sunday afternoon
The day was gone, the night came on
Out went my honeymoon
My gent walked out, and so did I
To watch him was my plan
And soon a flashing girl I saw
With My Good Lookin Man.

The clock was striking ten
When my gentleman walked in
I gently said, "My Wille dear
Where so long have you been?"
"I've been to church, my dear", he said
And that I could not stand
The rolling pin I then let fly
At My Good Lookin Man.

I blacked his eyes, I tore his hair
In ribbions I tore his clothes
I then took up the poker
And laid it across his nose
He looked just like a chemney sweep
As out the door he ran
And never a lady loved again
With My Good Lookin Man.

Ye married folks take my advice
In high and low degree
And if a husband you do get
Pitch in to him like me
When I found out I was deceived
It was my only plan
To spoil the handsome figure
Of My Good Lookin Man.

NED HENNESSEY

Ned Hennessey's father came from County Kilkenny, Ireland and married a Power form Dunville. Ned was born in 1877, one of sixteen children. At a marriageable age, it is told, he went up to Mrs. Houlihans and picked up their baby girl Mary in his arms and said, : this it the girl I'm going to marry." Afterwards he went to Grand Falls to work in the mill there but later returned to Merasheen and bought a business that he operated for years becoming the principal merchant in the community for some time.

In his late 40's Ned married Mary Houlihan, a bride of nineteen years and they gave birth to eleven children. The children testify that in spite of the age difference, he was a devoted husband and father who spend much of his spare time entertaining them. Like many in Merasheen, Ned often traveled across the bay to St. Kyran's for Sunday Mass and on poor Sunday's when this was not possible, he led the people in the Rosary in the Church of Merasheen. He died March 4th, 1957 at the age of 80 years. His wife Mary, is now residing in Calgary, Alberta.

BERNARD HENNESSEY

Bernard was born in Merasheen and married Margaret Ennis, the daughter of Dick ad Sis Ennis. Bernard lived on Soldier's Point until Mrs. Sis became ill, after which he moved to Little Merasheen and lived with Dick Ennis and Sis. Bernard was shipped out as a fisherman most of his life, and worked on the railway. Bernard was a good singer with a great sense of humor and a man well like by everyone. One of his best known songs is "The Burglar" which was in later years said as a recitation.

THE BURGLAR
(This was one of Bernard's recitations)

I'll tell you of a Burglar bold, who came to rob a house
He opened the window and he crept in, as quiet as a mouse
He looked for a place to conceal himself, while all were asleep
"And now", says he to the family, "I'll take a quiet peep".

In under the bed the Burglar crept, he lay close to the wall
He didn't know was an auld maids room, or he wouldn't be there at all
He was thinking of the money he'd get, as under the bed he lay
At ten o'clock he say a sight that made his hair turn gray.

At ten o'clock the auld maid came in. "Ah, whist! I'm tired", she said.
And thinking everything was all right she never looked under the bed
She took out her teeth and her auld glass eye, and the hair fell off her head
And the Burglar he got seventy fits when he looked from under the bed.

From under the bed the Burglar crept; he looked a total wreck
The auld maid she was wide awake, and she grabbed him by the neck
The auld maid wasn't frightened at all; she looked as quiet as a clam
"At last!" says she, "my prayers are heard. Thank God, I got a man!"

The auld maid then drew a revolver and unto the Burglar said,
"Young man, consent to marry me, or I'll blow the top off your head!"
The Burglar looked around the room to see where he could scoot
He thought of her teeth and her auld glass eye, and he said,
"For God's sake, shoot!"

BILL POMEROY

Bill Pomroy was a lively fellow at a time and often times in later years. Theresa would have to leave Bill behind with the young fellows and go home herself at tow or three o'clock in the morning. His favourite song was "The Crockery Ware". Bill married Theresa Murphy from Petite Forte and raised a family of eleven children in Big Merasheen. Bill and his brother Austin had the first engine in Merasheen and indeed one of the first in Placentia Bay. Nobody had any of the hand-me-down knowledge of engines then, and Bill and Austin had to go to St. John's to have the engine installed. This being done, they started home, but broke down just outside St. John's harbour. They rowed, skulled, and sailed back for repairs, only to find that the wire was off the battery.

Once when Bill was a young fellow at a party a few days before Christmas, he, along with Pad Houlihan and George Hepditch, decided at two o'clock in the morning they were going to St. Pierre for some Christmas liquor. They left immediately, arrived safely at St. Pierre, but ran into bad weather on the way back. It was a sad Christmas in Merasheen for most people feared for the lives of the three men when they did not return for Christmas and for days after, and there was no ship-to-shore communication in those days. After several prayers and masses for their safe return, they were presumed lost, but on Old Christmas Day they sailed through the harbour none the worse for their ordeal, and only one story to tell: On the way down the bay, they were forced to go to Petite Forte for a harbour, but while they were ashore, someone stole their rum.

Bill fished in Merasheen from the age of fourteen until the age of seventy-six. He left Merasheen under the resettlement program in 1968. Like most of the older generation, Bill never understood why they had to resettle from Merasheen, nor did he ever fully adjust to the move in the last years of his life.

CROCKERY WARE

This young man came in the dark I said "Old woman don't speak so cross,
Looking for his own sweetheart, Lost my way, I'm to the loss
He hooked his toe all in the chair, Here's two pounds ten for your broken chair
And he fell back in the crockery ware. And ten pounds more for your crockery ware.

The old woman ran downstairs in fright, Come all you rakes and rambling sports
Calling for a candle light Don't ever go courting in the dark
She said "Young man what brought you here, But if you do you better beware
Smashing up my crockery ware?" You don't fall back in the crockery ware.

To me wee whack fall diddle I ge oh
I sand wee whack fall diddle I ge oh.

JIM POMORY

Jim was born and died in Merasheen, after a long hard life. He spent most of his time fishing, both on his own and in the boat with his brothers, Bill and Austin.

Jim had his share of misfortunes, but two in particular appear to be a little comical, as we look back. The first was in the late twenties when Merasheen was in the midst of a great windstorm, and the roof blew off Jim's house. It didn't bother Jim too much, but he had to get his aging mother down to his brother Bill's out of the wind. She was wearing one of those heavy pleated wide tailed petticoats at the time that hooked up on the fence on the top of the height; Jim tore and dragged and was almost down to the store where Bill lived when the petticoat had finally run its course and gave way.

In later years, Jim was over to Bill's one day and as he looked out the window, he said "it's pretty thick today, Therese, you can't see my place". It turned out his place was on fire and the smoke completely hid the view of his house, about 10 yards away.

Jim raised two daughters, Les (Mrs. Stan Ennis) and Mrs. Bridie Price who is residing in the States.

GUS HEPDITCH

Gus was born somewhere around 1890. During his lifetime, he became a legend among the residents of Placentia Bay. A hearty old fellow, always ready for a yarn or a drop of grog, a dreamer, a teller of "wonders", and a dauntless sea-farer, Gus was a friend of all, young and old alike. He was married to Leticia Connors and raised two daughters and three sons.

Night times and Sunday afternoons, just about every man and young fellow in the harbour, ended up at Gus' to have a chat with the boys, have a game of card, but most of all to hear one of Gus' yarns, and of course his famous dreams. Jim Ennis, a very close friend of Gus', can do an excellent job on these "yarns", and it is very difficult to put them into print and do them justice, as only Jim can do, but we will have to try and get one in like the time Gus contacted the measles during the height of the fishing season. During the night while he was in bed with his wife and six-week old son, his temperature was so high that he became delirious. He thought that he was out on the White Sail: "Time to heave out the killick" mutters Gus. He whips up his infant son, Francis, and heaves him out of bed. "Sawin away, sawin away, like you would" says Gus, "woppin it into Teesh every saw - boat nearly loaded with fish. By and by I comes to me senses - looks over in the corner, and there's the poor child screechin' his head off and Teesh black and blue.

SITTING ON THE STILE MARY
(This song was sung by Joe Casey)

I'm sitting on the stile Mary where we sat side by side,
On a bright May morning long ago when first you were my bride,
The corn was springing fresh and green and the lark sang loud on high,
The smile was on your lips Mary, the lovelight in your eyes.

The place has little changed Mary the days are bright as then,
The lark's loud song is in the air and the corn is green again.
But I miss the soft clasp of your hand and your breath warm on my cheek,
I'm listening for the words Mary you never more will speak.

Just take a step down yonder lane a little church stands near,
The church where we were wed Mary you can see its tower from here,
The graveyard lies where Mary sleeps and my steps might break your rest,
Where I laid you darling down to sleep with you baby on your breast.

I'm very lonely now Mary for the poor makes no new friends,
But oh I love them better for the few our father sends,
You were all I had Mary my blessing and my pride,
There's no one left to care for me since my poor Mary died.

I'm bidding you a fond farewell my Mary fond and true,
I'll not forget you darling in the land I'm going to,
They say there's bread and work for all and the sun shines always there,
But I'll not forget old Ireland were it fifty times as fair.

And oftimes in the grand old woods I'll sit and close my eyes,
And my mind will wander back again to the place where Mary lies,
I think I'll see that grand ole stile where we sat side by side,
The springing corn on a bright May morn where first you were my bride.

OLF ROGERS

Olf lived on Dunn's Point. He played the Jews Harp and sang, his favourite song being " The Old Plantation Shoes", once referred to by Michael Pittman as "The Auld Brogues". His wife, Mrs. Kate, was born in Merasheen, and came off the island to the mainland for the first time when she moved to Freshwater under the resettlement program at the age of 84 years. She visited a doctor for the first time after she moved to Placentia in the late sixties.

JIMMY BARRETT

Jimmy came to Merasheen from Pinchers Island and lived on Dunn's Point. He had a small house that was always a gathering place for those who wanted to hear Jimmy's "tall stories" or "lies". Jimmy said he had exactly 101 songs. Unfortunately, we couldn't get them for our site.

THE DRUNKEN CAPTIAN

In a stream of calm our vessel lay, our drunken captain got on a spree
He came on board and to us did say, "get the anchor ready and we'll sail away".

We got all ready by his command and the wind blew free as we left the land.
We left Cape Pine all on our lee and we swang her off to the deep blue sea.

Down came the squall from the angry sky, our ship she hove but she would not lie
We asked our captain to shorten sail, or we'd all be lost in the heavy gale.

He swung his hands and he tore his hair, saying "boys I'm captain you need not fear".
Saying "boys I'm captain, you need not fear, I'll shoot the first man to interfere.

Then up spoke one of our gallant crew, saying, "there's twelve of us on this deck do stand.
We'll reef her down, to the sea she'll go, if you interfere you'll be tied below".

We reefed her down all against his will, the wind blew free and the sails were filled
We're heading up along the Cape Shore now as she splits the white foam, out from her bow.

Yes we're bound home in deep distress, like a white seagull as she seeks her nest.
When I get on shore, no more I'll sail, with a drunken captain in a heavy gale.

MRS. KATE WILSON

Mrs. Kate Wilson came to Merasheen from Fox Harbour, the daughter of Jack Murray and Stash Tucker. She married Bill Wilson and being left a widow with nine children when Bill died, still found time to be on hand when her friends need her. Mrs. Kate borned more than 600 babies, often travelling under very rough conditions to Isle Valen and Red Island, as well as in Merasheen. She picked up many songs in her years and was always good for a few at a time. One of her favourites was "Peter Emberley".

PETER EMBERLEY

My name is Peter Emberley, as you may understand
Born in Prince Edward Island, that bright and happy land.
Twas in the year of sixty two, when the meadows were green and new
I left my native country, my fortune to pursue.

I landed in New Brunswick, in that lumbering country
I hired to work in the lumbering woods that proved my destiny.
I hired to work in the lumbering woods where they cut those tall trees down
Where a loaded sled slipped from the iron, I received my deadly wound.

Here's a word about my father, twas he that got me here
I did not like his treatment, I thought it too severe
A father should not press his son, or try to keep him down
Or force from him his native home when he is still too young.

There's danger on the oceans where the angry waves roll high
There is danger on the battlefields where the musket balls do fly
There's danger I the lumbering woods and death is solemn there
And I have fallen a victim to that great monster there.

Here's a word about the island girls, those island girls so true,
That they may live to enjoy the land where my first breath I drew
This world it shall go round again, as is oftimes did before
What signifies one moral soul, when death comes at the door?

Here's a word about a brighter friend, I mean my mother dear
She raised a son so guiltful when he left her tender care
But little did she ever thin when she sang hush-a-bye
What country he should travel in or the death that he should die.

Here's a word about Prince Edward Island, it is a garden in the sea
No more I'll walk its flowery beds in a soft cool summer breeze
No more I'll watch those gallant ships as they go sailing by
With banners waving in the air above all canvas high.

Comrades I am dying, there's one more thing I crave
Get some good and holy father to bless my peaceful grave
Down in the city of Ives town, my mouldering body will lay
Waiting for our Saviour's call to come, on that great Judgement Day.

BILL WILSON

Bill Wilson was a hard working fisherman who lived in Little Merasheen and who spent a lot of time working in the woods. He was a man who truly believed in ghosts and was very nervous in the woods alone. Once when in a thick brake of woods down to "Murray's Hill", he thought he felt something grab him by the head. In a panic, he ran all the way down"Murray's Scrape", and when he reached the bottom, only the brim of the straw hat he was wearing remained on his head…it had tangled in a limb and the whole hat reveled out as he ran.

Bill and his son, Johnny, had a smack named "The Old Tommy". One night when anchored on Bennett's Bank, a storm came up and being tossed about, the "Old Tommy" became leaky taking on so much water that they couldn't keep her free. Bill told his son to go down for'd, get some flour and ashes and mix it up. When had done this, Bill told him to throw the mixture on the water in front of the boat and haul up. After sailing through this mixture, they went home without taking on another drop of water.

Bill was a good hand at putting songs together and wrote two songs about events in his life. They are "Sandy Harbour Town" and "The August Gale".

THE AUGUST GALE

On the twenty-fifth of August the gale began to rise,
It left so many orphans and took so many lives:
Leaving their friends and loved ones, their homes to see no more,
The ocean waves did roll that day like they never done before.

The wind it blew a fearful force and no let up that day,
The boats were anchored on the grounds around Placentia Bay:
When empty boats turned bottom up, and not a soul was saved,
Some forty fishermen or more did meet a watery grave.

John Follett in his little boat, about ten tons or more,
Was anchored on the fishing grounds, 'bout twelve miles from the shore:
And when the gale began to rise, he made a run for the nearest port,
But a heavy sea rolled over them, capsized their little boat.

John Follett and one of his sons, clung to the wreck that day,
For eighteen miles they drifted, exposed to wind and sea:
God spared the lives of those poor boys to tell the mournful tale,
But his eldest son got drowned in that great August gale.

Danny Cheeseman from Rushoon also went down that day
The boat was met with her two spars gone, 'bout half ways in the bay:
To think on what they suffered, a stone would heave a sigh,
There was three men clinging to the wreck, when Harris passed her by.

He tried his best to save them, but his boat she did mistay,
And with aching hearts, they were forced to part, and run before the sea:
He done his best endeavour to see what he could do,
May the Lord have mercy on the souls of Dan Cheeseman and his crew.

Another schooner, branded new, built up in Mortier Bay,
Commanded by John Laughlin, from Red Harbour sailed away:
Since he was anchored on Cape Pine, to the westward of the light,
He had a dory gone astray that dark and stormy night.

The ANNIE from Fox Harbour, also went down that day,
With seven hearty fishermen, no more to plough the sea:
And all of them being married men, which made the loss run high,
Excepting one, the skipper's son, he was a single boy.

There's six young widows left to mourn, I know them all quite well,
With children small, no help at all, for to bear their troubles well:
If God himself will lend a hand, look down on them I hope,
May the Lord have mercy on their souls, it was an awful stroke.

TOM HICKEY

Tom Hickey moved to Merasheen from Toslo in the early fifties, a move which was made in consultation with a representative of the provincial government who thought it was an excellent choice for a man who wanted to make a living at the fishery.
He was also informed that funds were available to assist with the moving expenses but he never did receive any. Tom came to Merasheen with his wife Mrs. Mag and Mike Young. Tom and Mike pursued the fishery in Merasheen until resettlement again uprooted them in 1967 and they moved to Placentia. Mike still returns to Merasheen annually and earns his living from the fishery there.

In these times when the feats performed by handicapped people are publicized and highlighted, one appreciates more fully the caliber of character of Mrs. Mag Hickey. Mrs. Hickey was handicapped, when through an unfortunate accident, she lost one of her arms. However, this handicap did not deter her from living a full and extremely active life. No one had a fuller garden of cabbage, turnips and other vegetables than Mrs. Mag Hickey, no one could shear a sheep more quickly and we all remember her drawing a bucket of water out of the "big well" and carrying it across the Jaw Bones. Furthermore, when we visited her in late May 1980, to talk with her and get a picture of Tom, she was preparing her garden for this year.

FREDDY LEONARD

Freddy and his wife moved to Merasheen from St. Leonard's in the early fifties. For most of his time in Merasheen, Freddy made a living by working in the fish plant. His son, Aloysius, also moved to Merasheen with his family where Mrs. Margaret Leonard made a substantial contribution to our education system as a teacher. Neither Freddy nor his wife was alive at the time of resettlement program, but for their few last years in Merasheen, they were truly a part of our community, known and respected by all.

THE EASTERN LIGHT
(Billy Wilson sang this song)

Most sad was my misfortune I the year of '63
When I shipped on board a fishing boat caught on a drunken spree
I shipped on board the Eastern Light, as you might understand
For to go out on the salty sea to the Banks of Newfoundland

Mike Cloure being our shipper's name, a hero stout and bold
He had twelve other souls on board besides myself, all told
We hoist up all our canvas when we left Gloucester port
And the girls they waved their handkerchiefs as we sailed out of port

We brought a jar of rum on board, which mustered all our crew
We drank a health to Gloucester girls in bidding them adieu
T'was east-be-south we steered, me b'ys, the Grand Banks for to find
We being employed with our fishing gear some halibut to destroy.

We ranged around those foggy banks for the space of eighteen days
We boarded a couple of Frenchmen but no brandy could we raise
My curse on rum, and brandy, too, as I oftimes said before
Sure I might have lived the sober life, I might be still on shore.

It's early morning, our cook all up and bawls
"Get up and eat your breakfast boys, and then go hawl your trawls"
We scarce have time to light our pipes when over our dories go
We've got to make three sets a day, let the wind blow high or low.

And if you lose a mooring, a buoy-line or a knife
Indeed you will be charged with it and you might bet your life
And if you come to stand night watch, be sure and stand a bet
And if anything is missin' there, you'll find it on your cheque.

On the 18th of October, I heard our Captain shout
"Come hoist aboard your dories b'ys, and break your anchors out
Our provisions are getting kind of scarce, we can no longer stay
So give her great big Mainsail b'ys, and get her underway.

And now our anchor's on our bow, our ship is homeward bound
And when we next reach Gloucester port, we'll hand the glasses round
We'll go down to Johnny the Lower's and 'tis there we'll spend the night
And we'll drink a health to the Gloucester girls, likewise to the Eastern Light.

MARTIN CONNORS

Martin is well remembered by all the people of Merasheen primarily because of his uncanny skill at setting bones, repairing fractures and bandaging cuts. Although he never received any medical education, he could do his work as successfully if not as gently as any medically trained person. There were very few people in Merasheen who did not pay a visit to this natural doctor at one time or another during their lives.

ARTHUR O'BRADLEY

Arthur was a lad out and bold
A lad about nineteen years old
Straight way to get married, they went
To marry an old milkmaid, they said
Me lamb, me lark, me lilly, me duck, come hither
And let us get spliced together
It is you I do mean for to wed
I'll indulge you one half of my bed
And my name is Arthur O'Bradley