Silk Sails (26 page)

1940-47,
Tessie Aubery

On June 10, 1937, the
A. H. Whitman
ran on a rock off Flagstaff Run 11 miles from Hopedale, Labrador. She was pulled off with the aid of motor boats and towed near the shore but was leaking so badly that she was abandoned and subsequently sold by the Wreck Commission as a constructive total loss. She was eventually restored to the registry under a new owner.

Elsie May's second vessel, the
Tessie Aubery
was totally lost at Split Point entrance to Baccalieu Tickle on July 19, 1947. The vessel had been fitted with an auxiliary motor screw. See Elsie May Blackwood in the “Joint Owner” list for two more ships.

Fanny Isabel Ryan Fiander, Trinity, Married, 1937-38, M,
Gertrude Jean

This was a crude oil screw previously registered in 1932 in Bridgetown, Barbados. It had been built in 1930 by Marie Amy Deveau at the Meteghan Shipbuilding Co. in Nova Scotia. Fanny bought the vessel in 1937 and took a mortgage for $2,000 at 3% interest with John Ryan, police officer retired, possibly her brother. Her mortgage was discharged on March 31, 1938, and on April 14 she sold the vessel to Edmund Vardy, mariner of Hickman's Harbour, and Edmund's mortgagee was Lillian Vardy at the amount of $4,000.

Ellen Kenny, Fermeuse, Widow, 1937-49,
M. A. Kenny

Walter Kenny (of Andrew), fisherman of Fermeuse, had owned this ship since 1930. In 1936 he paid off his 1932 mortgage with Walter S. Monroe, merchant of St. John's, and died on February 7, 1937. His will of January 26, 1937, appointed Ellen and John Joseph Kenny, fisherman, executors. Probate was granted in August 1939 but they must have continued in the fishery for a total of 12 years and sold the ship in April 1949 to two fishermen of Change Islands.

Mary Burke Norris, St. John's, Widow, 1938-39,
Granite

This 120-ton vessel was built at Lunenberg, Nova Scotia, in 1913. Its foreign name was
Poseidon
. The fourth owner, Ambrose F. Norris, master mariner of St. John's, died intestate on July 5, 1938. Letters of Administration were granted to Mary and she sold the vessel on April 5, 1939, to John Hann Blackmore, mariner of Port Union.

Mary Canning, Presque, Widow, 1938-42,
A. B. Flynn

Mary inherited this ship through her husband Peter Canning's will when he died on January 5, 1938. Peter had been a merchant at Presque. It is likely that Mary carried on the business; she sold the ship to another merchant on August 17, 1942.

Mary Maloney, Sweet Bay, Widow, 1939-44,
M. G. Butt

Mary inherited the 36-ton ship when Stephen Maloney, fisherman of Sweet Bay, died without a will on November 6, 1939. She must have carried on the fishery for more than four years and sold the ship on May 30, 1944, to Earle Sons & Co. Ltd. at Fogo.

Susie Rebekah Peckford, Change Islands, Spinster, 1941-42,
Lester N. Peckford

Charles William Peckford, fisherman, bought this 33-ton ship in June 1938 and when he died on May 15, 1941, he left his entire estate, including the ship, to his niece Susie who was his housekeeper and care-giver in his last years. On May 2, 1942, Susie sold the ship to Sidney Macdonald Peckford, fisherman. Susie later married Max Scammel and they had a son Eddie.

May Fowlow, Trinity East, Spinster, 1942-43,
Millicent & Joan Fowlow

This 71-ton ship had been built in 1906 at Lawrenceton by George Manuel and rebuilt in 1930 by Edmund Frampton at Smith Sound, Trinity Bay. It had originally been named the
St. Clair
. Albert Fowlow, mariner of Trinity, registered the vessel
de novo
in June 1930. He died without a will on October 2, 1942. Letters of Administration were granted to May Fowlow, undoubtedly Albert's sister, and she sold the ship on January 14, 1943.

Cecilia Flynn, Bar Haven, Married, 1942-58,
Mary & Stanislaus

This 15-ton schooner had an auxiliary motor screw. The vessel was condemned in June 1958 as being unfit for further service.

Lucy Embree Button, New Melbourne, Widow, 1941-43,
Grilse

Lucy bought the 32-year-old vessel in 1941 from a fisherman in Placentia Bay and sold it on May 11, 1943, to a fisherman at Change Islands. Another long-lasting ship.

Jessie Bragg, Port Union, Widow,1943-64,
Marie Yvonne

Jessie was probably the widow of John Bragg, master mariner, who died in 1939, and the sister-in-law of Walter Bragg, mariner and executor of John's estate, from whom she bought the vessel. The
Marie Yvonne
had been built in 1931 by Marie Amy Deveau of the Meteghan Shipbuilding Co. in Nova Scotia. Jessie sold the ship on May 19, 1964, having had it for a remarkable 21 years. She did not have a mortgage on the ship; the mariner and salesman of St. John's who bought it had to take a mortgage.

Stella Louise Noseworthy, Fortune, Married, 1943-44,
Clara Murray

1944-46,
Helen G. McLean

The
Clara Murray
had been built at Fox Harbour, Placentia Bay, in 1907 by Frank Murray and rebuilt in 1927; Stella bought it on April 24, 1943, and sold it on January 31, 1944. The
Helen G. McLean
had been built in 1913 at Shelburne, Nova Scotia. Stella bought it on January 17, 1944, and sold it on April 20, 1946. Stella had a penchant for old ships.

Lillian Warr, Pilley's Island, Widow, 1944,
Nina L. V. Davis

Harold George Warr, merchant of Pilley's Island, died on January 6, 1944. His will of July 18, 1930, appointed Lillian Warr as executrix. She renounced probate of the will, and Letters of Administration were granted to Reginald Willie Warr, merchant of Springdale, probably her son. This was the only case found in the ship registers of someone renouncing probate of a will.

Muriel Kendel, Ramea, Widow, 1944-45,
Annie K.

John Kendel, fisherman, was the builder of this 11-ton vessel in 1936. He sold it in 1937 to John Kendel, Jr., who died without a will on April 24, 1942. Letters were granted to Muriel on April 24, 1944. She sold the vessel on June 6, 1945, to John Penny & Sons Ltd. of Ramea. Presumably the vessel was being used in the fishery from 1942 to 1945.

Pearl Goodyear, Carmanville, Widow, 1945,
Radio City

The record on this ship is very unclear. Stewart Hindoo Goodyear, mariner of Carmanville, bought the 56-ton vessel from Job Bros. & Co. of St. John's in November 1940. Job Bros. & Co. held a mortgage for the new owner and this was discharged in December 1944. Stewart Goodyear may have died but there is no reference to a death or a will. Instead Pearl Goodyear is listed as becoming the fourth owner of the ship on May 26, 1945, “under powers vested in her by Order of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland.” She sold the vessel the same day to Paul Prestwood Small, merchant of Bridgeport, Notre Dame Bay. Jane Bartlett of Rattling Brook had owned this ship from 1935 to 1936.

Catherine Jane Symes, Rencontre West, Married, 1945-46,
Merle and Agatha

This ship had been built at White Head, Nova Scotia, in 1929 and bought by Arthur M. Symes of Rencontre West in 1944. On March 10, 1945, he sold it to Catherine Jane, and she sold it on January 4, 1946, to Job Bros. & Co. Ltd. at St. John's.

Fredrica Hunt, Fair Island, Married, 1946-47,
Maggie Stone

The
Maggie Stone had
been built in Lunenberg, Nova Scotia, in 1907 and rebuilt in 1925 by Emanuel Stone at Monroe, Trinity Bay. It was named for Emanuel's wife, Margaret. Fredrica Hunt bought the ship from Vincent James Guy, merchant at Catalina, on May 23, 1946, and sold it on May 31, 1947, to S. W. Mifflin Ltd., merchant at Catalina. Margaret Stone had owned 11 shares in this ship from 1907 to 1918.

Annie Sheaves, Port aux Basques, Married, 1946-47,
Bessie Louise

Annie bought this ship on March 1, 1946, from S. W. Mifflin, merchant of Catalina, and sold it on May 29, 1947, to Harvey Taker of Grand Entry, Magdalen Islands. George Sheaves and Annie had a small business in Port aux Basques. They later moved to North Sydney.

Helen Rosina Amelia Monroe, St. John's, Married, 1947-,
Zipper

The
Zipper
had been built in 1943 at South Rondout, New York, and was originally named the
Chauvenet.
Within 23 days after she had bought it on October 7, 1947, Helen Rosina sold the ship to Zipper Ltd., St. John's. This may have been a business firm under
the Monroe firm's control. Arthur Harvey Monroe bought the ship on May 12, 1947, and sold it to Helen five months later.

Amelia Foote Patten, Grand Bank, Married, 1947-55,
Miss Glenburnie

Amelia was the daughter of Robert and Sarah Dunford. Her husband was Howard Patten, who was a prominent businessman in Grand Bank. One month after purchasing the
Miss Glenburnie
, Amelia had alterations made to the ship and an engine installed. Her ship was cut down and became a total loss near Egg Island Buoy on the Nova Scotia coast on May 24, 1955. Amelia died in 1972 at age 72.

Lucy Ella Piercey, Grand Bank, Widow, 1948,
Ariel

1948-55,
Harold Guy

Samuel Piercey, merchant of Grand Bank, died on January 1, 1948. Lucy Ella and Elic Forward Piercey, merchant, were appointed executors through Samuel's will dated January 29, 1937. They sold the
Ariel
to Samuel Piercey Evans, student. Two months later the vessel caught fire near Bay Bulls and was abandoned and then towed to St. John's where it became a constructive total loss. The
Ariel
had been built in 1921 in Sureines, France.

Lucy Ella and Elic Forward Piercey did not apply for probate concerning the
Harold Guy
until January 22, 1955; they then sold the ship three months later. The ship must have been in use during that seven-year period.

Hilda Mary Tibbo, Harbour Breton, Widow, 1950-51,
Myra Kathleen

William Tibbo, Sr., mariner, died intestate on March 30, 1950, and Letters of Administration were granted to Hilda Mary on October 5, 1950. She sold the ship exactly one year later, on October 5, 1951. Hilda Mary was William's second wife and was only 14 years old when they married. For years William operated a passenger boat named the
Hilda M.
between Harbour Breton and Grand Bank. He also owned a schooner named the
M. V. Minnie Pearl
, and Frances Jensen's husband, Hermon, operated a store on this schooner. Frances (“Fan”) accompanied her husband on these coasting ventures and they brought home “boxes of money” at the end of each venture. Hilda Mary Tibbo later moved to Grand Bank and married George Crant.

Edith Blanche Bishop, Wesleyville & St. John's, Widow, 1950-52,
Lloyd Jack

Eldon Bishop, fisherman of Wesleyville, died without a will on July 16, 1950. Letters of Administration were granted to Edith on May 2, 1952. At that time she was residing in St. John's. The vessel was lost at Shambler's Cove, Bonavista Bay, July 14, 1952; it was being operated at the time by W. J. Pittman of Pilley's Island.

Audrey Day, Gaultois, Married, 1951-,
Willie & Ross

Audrey bought this ship on August 23, 1951, from Archibald Billard, fisherman of Grand Bruit. The registry closed on this vessel September 10, 1968. It had been lost at sea some years previously.

Evelyn Ruth Hann, Wesleyville, Married, 1952-53,
Redwing Chief

Jesse Hann, insurance underwriter of Wesleyville, died without a will on January 5, 1951. Letters of Administration were granted to Lloyd George Hann, manager. Evelyn Ruth Hann bought the vessel on March 31, 1952, and appointed Lloyd George Hann as “the person to whom the management of the vessel is entrusted by and on behalf of the owner.” The ship burnt and became a total loss at Hermit Cove, Bonavista Bay, on December 2, 1953. Evelyn Ruth informed the registrar's office in writing.

Frances Mary Grandy, Garnish, Married, 1952-55,
Earl John Miller

Frances bought the ship on December 11, 1952, from Thomas Grandy, mariner of Garnish. She appointed Thomas as “the person to whom the management of the vessel is entrusted by or on behalf of the owner.” In October 1955 she sold the ship to John Rose, mariner of North Sydney. In August 1958 the ship was bought by Marion Emerson White, married woman of Murray Harbour, Prince Edward Island.

Bridget Power, Little Bay, Marystown, Married, 1953-55,
Lucy & Melinda

Bridget bought the ship on January 16, 1953, from three fishermen of Little Bay by the name of Power. On January 28, 1953, she appointed John Patrick Power, one of the fishermen from whom she bought it, as “the person to whom the management of the vessel has been entrusted by or on behalf of the owner.” The vessel went ashore at the entrance to St. Pierre on November 5, 1955, and became a constructive loss.

Irene May Saunders, Cobbs Arm, Married, 1959-60,
Fortunegull

Irene May bought the ship, probably in 1959, from Oliver Saunders, fisherman of Cobbs Arm. On December 8, 1959, “advice under the hand of Irene May Saunders” was received at the registrar's office, appointing Oliver “ship's Husband.” The vessel ran ashore on Shallop Rock off Noggin Cove, Notre Dame Bay, and became a total loss on November 7, 1960. “Advice received from owner” by the registrar.

Gladys Irene Newman, Petites, Married, 1960-63,
Ralph & Bob

Robert Allan Newman, merchant of Petites, sold the ship to Gladys Irene on December 17, 1960. She appointed Robert as managing owner of the ship. The ship was sold to United States citizens, but probably by a later owner; the registry closed in 1968.

Mary Ellen Grace Moores, St. John's, Married, 1960-72,
Tedcap

The 2-ton yacht had been built in 1945 in Upper La Have, Nova Scotia, and had formerly been called the
Kayfra
. Mary Moores bought the yacht on April 20, 1960, and informed the registrar's office on April 28 that she was appointing herself as managing owner. She sold the ship on June 9, 1972.

Gladys Marion Wiscombe, Creston, Widow, 1961-65,
J. W. Wiscombe