Devon Griffin wrote the following about Fortune Bay and the family of Elizabeth Saunders. He sent it as a comment on Newfoundland Mi’kmaq Family History. But with so much information that people are seeking, I asked if I could post it on its own. He kindly agreed and provided photos.
Martha Murphy Hynes
Martha Murphy’s parents were Walter Murphy & Bridget Ryan of Oderin and Little Harbour West, Placentia Bay. She had several siblings. Martha died on Feb 28 1884 in English Harbour East, and she’s buried in St. Bernard’s (The only RC cemetery on that side of Fortune Bay at the time) and her headstone still exists there.
I’m currently working on the Murphy family as it seems there was some Mi’kmaq blood in the family, but we are unsure how. They had some affiliation with native people in the Swift Current area in the early- to mid-1800s. If you look at Martha’s brother John Murphy’s daughters, they are very Mi’kmaq in appearance.
(Martha married Joseph Hynes, son of Elizabeth Saunders and Thomas Hynes. After Martha’s death, Joseph married Mary Smith, daughter of John Smith and Elizabeth Vaters of Davis Island.)
Smiths and Hacketts
Elizabeth (also known as Betsy) Smith Hackett’s parents were William Smith & Elizabeth Whittle. She married William Hackett. He died on May 17 1884 in English Harbour East according to Gertrude Crosbie’s transcription of NL Newspapers. Betsy’s sister Martha Smith married William Hackett’s brother, Thomas Hackett.
There also is some speculation about an early connection between the Hacketts and the Saunders. A Joseph Hackett was in Fortune Bay in 1818 according to the Keith Matthews collection at the Maritime History Archive. There was a Joseph Hackett in Labrador in the 1820s recorded as a half-Indian. Interesting the name shows up in both places.
Elizabeth Saunders Family
Also, more information on the Saunders. Elizabeth (Saunders) Hynes was indeed of Mi’kmaq origin. Her parents were John and Elizabeth Saunders, and were noted in court records for 1810/1811 as having saved a young servant girl Margaret Doyle from her master Michael Gorman. He was abusing her at Terrenceville (then known as Fortune Bay Bottom). They took her into their home and protected her from him.
DNA connection with Elizabeth Joe
We recently conducted a mtDNA test, which is your direct maternal line (your mother’s mother’s mother etc.), on John Saunders’ wife Elizabeth. We do not have a maiden name for her yet. The test came back and she shares a direct maternal line with Elizabeth (Joe) Blanchard of the Bay of Islands [wife of William Blanchard].
As many know, Elizabeth Joe was Mi’kmaq and has been speculated to be Thomas Joe’s daughter or some relation to him. It’s also believed Mary Park Brooks was Elizabeth (Joe) Blanchard’s sister and was Mi’kmaq. We’re working on getting an mtDNA test for a descendant of hers to prove that.
The mtDNA test showed that Elizabeth Saunders and Elizabeth (Joe) Blanchard share a direct maternal line with a genetic distance of 0. That means it’s very recent (within the last 200-250 years), so the most likely scenarios are that they were sisters, aunt and niece or first cousins on the maternal side.
It’s pretty interesting to be able to connect two women who were known to be Mi’kmaq. If Mary Park Brooks mtDNA test comes back as sharing a direct maternal line also, it provides a little proof to their connection as I believe in the 1838/1839 list of inhabitants it says she was from Burin originally and is also where Elizabeth Saunders frequented.
John and Elizabeth Saunders, Terrenceville
John & Elizabeth Saunders had the following children: Elizabeth Saunders (m. Thomas Hynes), Richard (Dickie) Saunders (m. Joanna Clarke), Catherine Saunders (m. James Picco), Ann Saunders (m. Esau Rhymes), George Saunders (m. (1) Ann Unknown (2) Ann Baker), Jane Saunders (m. Timothy McCarthy), & Joseph Saunders (m. Mary Jane Myles). There could possibly be more, but that’s what has been confirmed over the years.
The area of Terrenceville in Fortune Bay was highly frequented by the Mi’kmaq up until the mid-1870s (the story of why they stopped travelling there is a whole few paragraphs of its own). The Saunders and their descendants ended up staying there and settling.
Lavhey family, Terrenceville
Another prominent Mi’kmaq woman who stayed in Terrenceville was Elizabeth, married to Lewis Lavhey. Apparently she was a Bernard originally. Their descendants, especially through their daughter Grace (m. Samuel Coombs), live on in the area.
Picco family and ships
The Piccos were also a very frequent Mi’kmaq family in the area and as you can see one of them (James Picco) married Catherine Saunders. They have been in the area of Fortune Bay for hundreds of years. Apparently the matriarch of that family died in 1844 (according to a family history story published in the 1960s) over a hundred years old and was a great great great grandmother. By that point, she lived in St. Joseph’s, Placentia Bay (then known as Gallow’s Harbour).
I have heard rumours and old family history that the Mi’kmaq Picco (often spelled Peaco or Pico) originally came from Nova Scotia. Dr. Leslie Harris, former president of MUN, stated in his book ‘Growing up with Verse’ that James Picco & Catherine Saunders’ son John Picco had Mi’kmaq blood, and that it was often talked about. The Piccos are a large family, but there haven’t been a lot of records concerning them. Seems James & Catherine lived in Fortune Bay at one point before moving to St. Joseph’s, and their son John was born there in 1841 according to his death record & Leslie Harris’ book.
There are lots of ships registered for the Piccos from Fortune Bay. Behind English Harbour East (home of Elizabeth Saunders Hynes) there is also a place called Piccos Woods. I have recorded a Phillip Picco, Joseph Picco etc. trading with Newman and Co. in the 1790s out of Little Bay & Harbour Breton. As it’s known, natives typically moved around a lot for different reasons. The Piccos were no different, going between Bay d’Espoir, Fortune Bay and Placentia Bay.
John Family
Louis John and family also frequented the Long Harbour, Fortune Bay and Terrenceville areas, Peter John (his son) was born in Belleoram around the 1810s and one of the John men was a telegraph operator in Terrenceville.
Lots of more information if anyone is interested. I could go on forever. Still lots to figure out but we’ve definitely made some progress over the past few years putting things together. Hopefully someday we’ll map out all the Mi’kmaq of Fortune and Placentia Bays. DNA is a welcome assistant to our research and we encourage everyone to get a DNA test to find your cousins!
See more of Devon’s writing at Fortune Bay mtDNA (June 1/18), an update on research on families discussed here, and Terrenceville Mi’kmaq (June 8/18), a story told long ago by Mrs. Esther Mary (Myles) Mitchell.
Monica
27 Feb 2023Indigenous women can’t even rest in death!
White people will continue to exploit them 300+ years later! Cool you have 1 Indigenous ancestor and thousands of European/French ones! If you’re grandparents and parents were white passing, that’s 3 generations that have not had a lived experience as a First Nations person.
Helen Noe
10 Jul 2022I find the info on this site very interesting. I have a connection to a Picot/Pico/Picco/Picko family in Newfoundland.
I am looking for any connections to my great grandparents: Joseph Picot (who was an accountant in St. Johns) and married Martha Hayes (Hays or Hayse) on 25 May 1861 on the Burin Peninsula, NL (Roman Catholic).
Their daughter was Mary J Picot, born 1863, Burin (my grandmother).
Mary J Picot married James Roberts of Wild Cove, Twillingate on 15 July 1882 at Tilt Cove, Twillingate. They had three sons, Clifford J, Frederick and George J. They lived in Green Bay, NL until moving to Halifax, Nova Scotia between 1885-1887.
If anyone has any information that would help me connect to my great-grandfather Joseph Picot and my grandmother Mary Picot Roberts, it would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your time and effort,
Helen Noe
New Hampshire, USA
Darryl
10 Oct 2021Thanks for this great information. On my mother’s side, I am related directly to the Picco’s, Barrington’s, and Saunders. John Saunders and Elizbeth Hackett are my 6th great-grandparents. They had a daughter named Cathrine Saunders, who married a man named James Picco. They had a son named David Picco, who married an Elizbeth Drake, who then had a son named Ambrose Picco. Ambrose Picco then married Ann Barrington whose father was John Barrington and her mother was Mary Hawco. Ambrose Picco and Ann Barrington had a child Mary Elizbeth Picco. She married a John Peter Barron in St. Joseph’s and had a son Lawrence Barron who is my Grandfather on my mother’s side.
Devon
27 Oct 2021Denis Picco married Elizabeth Brake. Some of the online transcriptions are a bit off, Denis becoming David and Brake becoming Drake.
Bernice Barrington
27 Nov 2021Hello Darryl
Just wondering how you are related to the Barrington’s as John Barrington is my husband’s great grandfather. Do you have any known photos of him or is there a family tree
Devon
10 Dec 2021Ambrose Picco’s parents were James ‘Jim’ Picco and Elizabeth Young not David Picco & Elizabeth Drake. Looks like someone had Ambrose’s parents confused with Denis Picco & Elizabeth Brake.. Denis & Jim Picco were sons of James Picco & Catherine Saunders.
Lisa
17 Mar 2021Searching for info on Jane Matthews, Mi’Kmaq in Newfoundland, late 1700’s…she had a son, John
Natasha
19 Jan 2023I am decended from Jane Matthews(and her son John). We you able to find more information? I have found some but have found conflicting info.
Tim Smith
17 May 2020Hi, Looking for information about my great grandfather Cornelius Smith of Argentia/Marquise area. Born appx 1867,
died Dec. 2 1920. Buried Old Roman Catholic Cementery Freshwater. Looking for the names of his parents, and connection to Beothuk. Thank you
Tim Smith
Dorothy
18 May 2020Hi Tim, I googled him and found children of Cornelius Smith and Constance Crawley, Argentia Marquise, at redislandnf.com. The marriage link says she was born 1875 in Harbour Main. I can’t find anything on their parents. So maybe he’s the same Cornelius? If not, sorry, I can’t find anything else.
Tim Smith
29 May 2020Thank you, That is him. My grand mother is Mary Anne, the oldest daughter. I will keep looking for information on Cornelius Smith. My great grandmother married as Constance Fardy. Her mothers maiden name. Her father was William Crawley, Chapel Cove. Thanks again. Tim Smith
D
11 Aug 2020Tim,
As far as I know some people used to call this particular Smith family, the “Injun” Smith’s, probably very derogatory by today’s standards but we know all about discrimination in those days. I think they were trying to differentiate between the two Smith families. I do not have Cornelius’s parents but had always assumed they were connected to the Smith/Foley marriage that some say was somehow connected to native. More investigation is needed.
Gordon Rhymes
11 Dec 2019Elizabeth Saunders line
https://chegaumikmaqfamilytree.tribalpages.com/tribe/browse?userid=chegaumikmaqfamilytree&view=77&reporttype=3&pid=6464
Rosemary King ... King - Fudge -Crant Hines?
8 Mar 2022Elizabeth Saunders has shown up in my family lines…. a daughter Hannah married a Thomas Hines
Devon
31 Mar 2022That is incorrect, Elizabeth Saunders & Thomas Hynes did NOT have a daughter Hannah who married William Crant. Their daughter Hannah married Henry James Labour. Please beware of unresearched Ancestry Family Trees.
Regina Barron
27 Sep 2019Dorothy will you forward this info. to Devon. Devon has in his notes a John Murphy married Mary Josephine Brown and they had a daughter Mary Bridget who married a Barron. It ends there. Who is this Barron? I have in my notes a Bridget Murphy (b.Sept.18, 1876–D.Oct.27,1957) who married a John Barron (B, Oct 8, 1875–D.Nov.18, 1938) The father of my Bridget is a John Murphy and the mother is a Mary Brown (1840–1938) They are connected to Piper’s Hole and St.Joseph’s Placentia Bay. My question: Is this Mary Bridget in your notes that married a Barron the same person I have in my notes? My Mary and John are my husband’s grandparents. Cannot wait to hear from you.
Dorothy
27 Sep 2019Hi Regina, I have sent your question on to Devon. I made the name correction here that you also messaged me about. Thanks for writing.
Regina Barron
28 Sep 2019Thank you Dorothy.
Devon
1 Oct 2019Yes Regina they are the same people. What do you know of their Pipers Hole connection? That’s her picture in the above article. – Dorothy I didn’t get that email.
Regina Barron
4 Oct 2019Dorothy ,where did the picture of Mary Bridget Murphy Barron come from —you or Devon ? I am now sure she is my husband’s grandmother. His sister identified the picture .
Dorothy
4 Oct 2019Hi, it’s from Devon. I’ve just emailed your comment to him – hoping he gets this one!
Regina Barron
12 Oct 2019Dorthy I am trying to understand the diagram in the note on The Saunders Family. Can you give me the information on Elizabeth & Thomas Hynes in another way . Please.
Dorothy
12 Oct 2019Hi Regina, Elizabeth Saunders was d/o John Saunders and Elizabeth (surname unknown). She and Thomas Hynes had several children (named along top). One was Joseph Hynes. His first wife was Martha Murphy. They had several children, including Elizabeth (Hynes) Hackett.
Martha was d/o Walter Murphy and Bridget Ryan. Martha’s brother, John Murphy, married Mary Josephine Brown and had daughters Mary Bridget (Murphy) Barron and Anastasia (Murphy) Smith. They are in photos near the top. I made the chart from Devon’s information in the post but I don’t have anything more on the families. Hope this helps explain it a bit!
Regina Barron
13 Oct 2019Hi Dorothy, thanks so very much for your help. Now I can follow backwards to the “greats” in my husband’s family. My sister in-law confirmed the picture of MaryBridget Murphy is her grandmother Barron.
ed
4 Feb 2019Where Can i find info on Grace Lavhey
Dorothy
5 Feb 2019Hi Ed, I have her as born about 1853, parents Lewis Lavhey and Elizabeth (last name maybe Bernard). Siblings Mary b abt 1832 and Henry b abt 1846. I have her married to Thomas Connolly with daughter Bridget, and married in 1872 to Samuel Coombs (s/o William Coombs). On the marriage record her name was LaBelle or Levi. They had 9 children William, Michael, Catherine, Elizabeth, Henry Louis, Sarah Ann, Betty Ann, Thomas (b 1878) and John Henry (b 1891). That’s all I have, and I have no sources for it because I got it from someone else.
Devon
7 Feb 2019It is my theory that the daughter Mary 1832 had a different mother than Henry & Grace. There is no surviving birth record however to prove this and Mary did not have childen to do mtdna. Mary moved to the United States and lived a double life there (long story) came back to the area rich and died at the age of 101.
Dorothy
7 Feb 2019Hi Devon, Mary sounds interesting. If you want to write up her story, I’m happy to post it! 😉
Ed
24 Feb 2019Hi any info you have would be great Grace is my wife’s 2nd great grandmother
Edward Crane
20 Feb 2019hi Dorothy
is there any way you could contact your source for the info on grace lavhey im trying to find it on records along with samuel Coombs any help would be appriciated
Dorothy
20 Feb 2019Hi Ed, sorry but I’m not sure who it was. I know it came from someone else because of the way it’s entered in my database, but who exactly it doesn’t say. Googling her, I found a few Ancestry.ca trees for her. So if you’re a member, you can see them. I no longer am so can’t check them out for you. They are labelled “unsourced” but maybe there’s something in them that would help.
Jamie Rose
17 Nov 2018Looking for info on Sarah Snook and John or George Lake and Thomas Kearley 1800 NF
John Williams wife Ann Williams with no last name woody island nf
Devon
21 Nov 2018Jamie,
Recent mtDNA testing suggests that Sarah wife of Robert Snook in Fortune Bay is a close relative of Hannah Mariah (Ann) wife of John Williams, maybe even sisters.
Jamie Rose
22 Sep 2018Trying to find Hannah Maria Williams (last Name) wife of John Williams… Pool’s Cove nf
Jamie Rose
28 Aug 2018Hello…
need help ..l’m trying to find on Hannah Ann Williams (Muriah) trying to find last Name of Hannah (Ann Williams) wife of john Williams… pools cove nl
cheers
Jamie
27 Jul 2018Looking for information on Hannah Mariah (placentia )
that married John Williams pools cove NL…
Cheers
Devon
30 May 2018If anyone reading these comments, there used to be person on here called “PipersHoleMan” that I was replying to. He has deleted his comments so I apologize if it looks like I’m talking to myself Lol
Devon
29 May 2018PipersHoleMan,
All of your comments have been informative and have been very interesting. I know for a fact A LOT of people enjoy reading your comments and information contained, and plus I’d rather not seem like I was talking to myself in these comments LOL
Dorothy
30 May 2018I agree with you, Devon, but I have done as I was asked and deleted all PHM’s comments. Some comments are left as one half of a discussion but I hope that readers might find some helpful information in those. I have left only one comment by PHM in my Louis John post – interesting stuff so I hope that’s ok with him. (Update: deleting that one too, on request.)
Bernice Barrington
23 May 2018Thank-you and my apologies if I put you in a situation that was not required of you to divulge info regarding Duncan. It was not my intention to do so as my reason for asking was strictly personal so that I could pass onto my children their family background years from now
I will certainly respect your request and once again my apologies. Take Care
Devon
11 May 2018Currently writing PART 2 of this article (if Dorothy is okay with posting 🙂 )
My mtDNA tests have returned on several ancestral Mi’kmaq women and there is some update to the DNA aspects as well as family history research.
Dorothy
11 May 2018Any time, Devon, I look forward to it!
Devon
24 May 2018Part 2 is complete & sent off to Dorothy!
Marilyn
28 Apr 2018Just reading a part on here from “Devon”…he mentions my gggrandmother, Eliza Young. I have been looking for info for a long time and would like to email him or Dorothy…or someone email me. Is this possible?
Dorothy
28 Apr 2018Hi Marilyn, maybe Devon will see this. What info are you looking for about her? Readers might be able to help.
Melissa Vater
19 Mar 2021Hi ….. do anyone have any info on James and Annie Vaters……. Annie was a Clark before she married. They would be my great grandparents and I would love to have any information or pictures
Thanks so much
Devon
10 Dec 2021Dorothy, can you forward this message to Melissa via her email… James ‘Jimmy’ Vaters married Annie Josephine Clark. Jimmy was born 1876 in English Harbour East to John Samuel ‘Jack’ Vaters & Ellen Hynes. Jimmy had 1 brother Michael who was disabled and he cared for him most of his life. Jimmy and his family moved to Woods Island around the turn of the century. Ellen Hynes’s parents were Thomas Hynes & Elizabeth Saunders. John Samuel Vaters’s parents were James ‘Jimmy’ Vaters & Elizabeth Hackett.
Dorothy
10 Dec 2021Done, and thanks!
Marilyn
29 Apr 2018Dorothy, thanks for responding. My father stumbled upon this site as he (and I) were searching for what we could find about our Young/ Picco family. Been trying for years, 20+, to fill in this part of the family. We couldn’t…until now. Reading some info and seeing a pic of an ancestor, Mary Jane Hanrahan is amazing! I am overjoyed to say the least. We thought Eliza Young came from the west coast of NL originally, or perhaps Nova Scotia. Knew she was in St. Joseph’s as that is where my ggrandfather, Thomas Lake (who married Mary Ann Deer from
Burnt Island) came from. Thomas’ parents were William Lake and Eliza Young…second marriage for both. Eliza’s first marriage was to Philip Picco. Now, in saying this, I want to confirm I have it right. I had some info but couldn’t put it all together and it was second hand…this site, what Devon wrote helped me piece it together. Where do I go from here? Do I finally have some correct information on my ancestors? What else is out there just waiting for me to discover? Thanks for your help and this site…what a treasure trove of info…for me anyway!
Devon
11 May 2018Marilyn,
Your fathers cousin Jim Lake in Rushoon is a wealth of information you should contact him. I’m sure he can help you fill in the blanks.
You descend from Eliza’s second marriage to William Lake correct? She married a third time to a Cheeseman in her old age (and there’s a story about that haha!).
Eliza was most definitely not from the West Coast, but from the Burnt Island area, I’ve seen the erroneous information that have her listed from the Great Northern Peninsula.
Your father should do a DNA test if he is willing! I assume he is Thomas Lake’s grandson?
-Devon
Jerry Wetzel
14 Apr 2021Hi Devon not sure if I have seen your 2nd article. In any event, I have done a thesis “Decolinozing K’takam’kuk Mi’kmaq history”. forms LL.M thesis at Dalhousie Law School.
I know there have Mi’kmaq seasonal camps around Black River and Swift Current, aka Pioers Hole. I believe St. Joseph’s is near Black River. There appears to have been a mixed Beothic/Mi’kmaq group that used the area at the head of Placentia and the bottom of Trinity Bay. You can find that discussion of the evidence in my Thesis, too long to type in here. I know a copy of my Thesis is in the Newfoundland room at Muns Queen E library. I sold them a copy. If people are interested I could have more copies printed up for sale.
The old Mi’kmaq families were nomadic up until the 1880-90s. Intermarriage with English settlers and the NF Catholic Church started destroying the language and culture. I doubt if those Mi’kmaq women who married English settlers had a great life. I say that because generations of their descendants spent their lives denying and hiding their Mi’kmaq blood.
In the mid 1800s the Mikmaq started moving away from their traditional seasonal resource harvesting areas on the west coast, the Eastchester and around Halls Bay. They concentrated at Conne River, on the Middle Ridge caribou migration path between their summer and winter range. The John’s, the Bernard’s, the Barringtons, and other eastern Mi’kmaq families left the pipers hole and Black River areas never to return. Most went to Conne.
In the 1870s the old colonial government of NFactually vegan drawing up reserves for the Mi’kmaq families who lived at Gambo, Conne River, Halls Bay and the Codroy River. There may be others also. The Catholic Church had the land reserved for the Mi’kmaq in that area transferred to itself.
There is so much more, I will have to stop. I am part aligned with the John, Joe and Bay du Nord Benoits who came from Grandy’s Brook out near Burgeo. We also have info on the Badger Paul family.
Joan Woodill (Pike)
17 Mar 2018PipersHoleMa
I thank you for what you have undertaken, I want to continue digging because I feel a deep longing to know all I can, if I can help all descendants in my efforts so be it. As an artist, my intentions are to put as much as I can find out on film for those of the future so what we have discovered doesn’t die with us. I feel deprived by not being informed by my parents of my heritage and I have a lot to make up for. Good luck with your plans. Maybe our research paths will cross in the future.
Joan Woodill (Pike)
16 Mar 2018Hi Dorothy
This is for Piper Hole researcher, my family originate in that area and I have spoke with him through Devon. I would be interested in his research and giving any help I can. I have been working to tie all my ancestry links together and at every turn a Mi’kmaq link pops up. I am very interested in retracing my roots and giving back to our ancestors by giving them voice. I have had my DNA done and it is uploaded to GEDMATCH. You can pass my info along to Piper Hole and I wish him great success
Dorothy
4 Mar 2018On Facebook I got a comment you and others might be interested in: “Miles name goes back to James, first livyer in Terrenceville in 1700s whose sons, we believe, married Mi’kmaw women. There are a lot of Mary (?) among the women who were presumably Catholic. The area inside the barrisway is still called ‘Jim Miles Garden’.” He also mentions the “Smiths of Bay du Nord.”
Devon
9 Mar 2018The area of water within Terrenceville just outside Jim Miles Garden was called Koskaecodde Lake (Mi’kmaq name). The opposite of Jim Miles Garden was a branch of land called the Meadow which was Joseph Saunders’s land (born 1833 Conne River) where the Mi’kmaq band used to encamp.
I’m not sure about Jim Miles’s sons marrying Mi’kmaq women, however his grandchildren definitely did.. Into the Saunders & Lavhey families.
Was it posted on your personal FB page?
Dorothy
10 Mar 2018Hi Devon, thanks, and yes it is.
SoManyQuestions
15 Feb 2018Does anyone else suspect Elizabeth Joe Blanchard & Mary Park Brooks (related through mtdna) to be Beothuk? Around their time, Beothuk children were kidnapped and brought into Mi’kmaq communities, and Beothuk women were being taken to England (such as Mary). Apparently Mary had an Indian name and was renamed Mary Park… similar to Shawnadithit being renamed Mary March? Maybe these women assimilated into the Newfoundland Mi’kmaq community for survival. Could explain the brick wall, and maybe why their mtdna matches so many from Finland (near Beringia) as well – Beothuk were closer related to the Innu than the Mi’kmaq according to some sources.
Curious if anyone’s thought similar?
Devon
24 Feb 2018New autosomal dna evidence is pointing towards a Hollett matriach being related to the Saunders, Park & Blanchard lines. Working on an mtDNA test for that line. PIPERSHOLEMAN has posted about a particular group of Holletts who inherited a two page lexicon of Beothuck words. New mtDNA evidence that has come to light now suggests a connection between Elizabeth wife of Lewis Lavhey (suspected to be Bernard) of Terrenceville, Fortune bay and was Mikmaq, and to that of Hannah Mariah wife of John Williams who is said to be Mikmaq descent. Lots of connections being made and no doubt when I get all of my dna eveidence back.. within the next month i will be submitting a part two of this article for Dorothy’s approval.
Carolyn
25 Mar 2018Hannah Mariah wife of John Williams, would that be the same woman that lived in Woody Island, PB and then settled in Pools Cove FB and died there? If so that would be my husband’s GG Grandmother and we would appreciate any information on her that you would like to share. Email address is: lescarnu@yahoo.ca
Devon
21 Jun 2018Yes it is Carolyn.
Courtney Perham
25 Jun 2018Hannah Mariah wife of John Williams are my GGGG Grandparents.
Courtney
10 Jul 2018I was wondering if there was any information about Hannah Mariah and John Williams
John G Edgar
24 Mar 2018According to sources in Frank Speck’s monograph re Beothuk and Micmac, Thomas Joe Senior was Naskapi.
Phyllis ( MacDonald ) Doucette
2 Jun 2018I was told Mary’s maiden name was Joe ..my line go back to her
Bernice Barrington
31 Dec 2017This is for Devon or Pipershole man !!
My husband is the grandson of Alphonsus Barrington Sr and John Barrington is his great grandfather and would like to have his DNA testing done. How do I proceed on where to properly get a reliable DNA test. Could you please send me information for this. I would appreciate it very much. Thanks
Bernice Barrington
1 Jan 2018Thanks for the info! I will pass this onto my husband as i am guessing that he probably won’t be getting his DNA tested as there could never truly be an honest company out there worthwhile in giving the correct information
Devon
12 Jan 2018Hi Bernice,
Best place to test first is Ancestry.ca , that way you get the most bang for your buck. Once he gets his results on there, you can upload for free to familytreedna.com and gedmatch.com
Hope this helps. -Devon
Bernice Barrington
28 Jan 2018Very interesting ! You have certainly done quite an extensive research.
Bernice Barrington
28 Jan 2018I have read this Extract from MolsonMuscle 360 quite awhile ago as I had stumbled across it from an online site that I just can’t recall. Thanks for posting tho !!
Bernice Barrington
28 Jan 2018Interesting
Joan Woodill (Pike)
22 Dec 2017Hi Piperholeman
After reading your comments, I am convinced that I am a descendent from the Moultons, Martins and Holletts you speak of. My grandmother (Moulton) was from Mortier and her mother was born in Burin, still waiting for my DNA results to come in. Thanks for all your information.
Joan Woodill (Pike)
28 Nov 2017I have been trying to trace my Mi’kmaq heritage, I found my great grandfather Thomas Issac Moulton and great grand mother Elizabeth Hawe , I found their children but cant find their marriage certificate. Any idea where they are from originally? She was Mi’kmaq but cant find anything pass 1881,
Dorothy
28 Nov 2017Hi Joan, any dates for Thomas and Elizabeth? Names of their children? I haven’t got anyone matching your Thomas and Elizabeth or Susan and John Clark, but maybe with more information I could find a match or readers could. Thanks.
Joan Woodill (Pike)
28 Nov 2017Hi Dorothy
Thomas and Eliza showed up when I googled Moulton in relation to an article by Devon which is on your website but I cant see it in the article. They had 4 children in 1881,1885,1887,1890 , Eliza’s parents were suppose to be from Woody Island. Thomas was born in 1854 but I haven’t found Eliza’s birth date. Her name is often spelled Hawe or Haus, they lived in Burin, Lewin’s Cove (often spelled Loon’s Cove).
thanks Joan
Devo
29 Nov 2017Hi Joan,
I have heard a few times before that Elizabeth (Hawe) Moulton was Mi’kmaq Indian. Born in 1860 and came from the Woody Island area of Placentia Bay. Her parents were Elias Hawe(s) and Ruth –? Elias I believe died in 1894. Not sure which one the Mi’kmaq is from.. I suspect Ruth. They eventually seem to have moved to the Burin area by the 1860s.
At that time living on Woody Island according to parish records were John & Ann Williams. Ann was also Mi’kmaq – with no last name. They had their son Henry baptized the same time as Elias & Ruth’s son Abel in 1838.
Elizabeth please email back to me if you have any other info. A DNA test would be perfect for this family.
-Devon
Dorothy
29 Nov 2017Thanks, Devon, I’ve sent your email address to Joan.
Devon
29 Nov 2017Thanks Dorothy!
Jamie Rose
6 Dec 2018Devon do you have any info on John & Ann Williams. (Ann was also Mi’kmaq )
Devon Griffin
2 Dec 2017PipersHoleMan,
It would seem Ruth – wife of Elias Hawe(s) may of been Ruth Hollett baptized in 1816 as one of many children of William & Ellen Hollett. Wonder if there is a native connection through Ellen perhaps also.
-Devon
William Hickey
21 May 2021Hello Devon,
About 25 years ago I had a visit from a second cousin who heard I had been working on a family tree. She told me that we had Indian ancestry through our ggg grandmother Margaret Pinkeen married to John Biggs in 1826. I also had that marriage record from “Methodist and Misc” at the colonial Bldg. It stated that she was a resident of Harbour Grace. I asked an aunt about it and she confirmed it. I was skepical and didn’t think anymore of it until DNA matches with family trees listing Hackets from Harbour Grace marrying Penneook or Pennook showed up. Hacket was entered as half Indian and Pennock as full. DNA matches with connections to these names show up in my match lists and also in some of my older generation cousins.
Do you have any knowledge of the people I mention or different spellings of Pinkeen pennock? One of the matches has surname Picco.
Thanks
Bill Hickey
Devon
18 Oct 2017Thanks, really interested in this!
Devon Griffin
15 Jun 2017Hi once again PipersHoleMan,
Sorry it took so long to get back to you. I too agree it is time now to recognize the early Mi’kmaq families that lived in the area, and get the same recognition other communities and areas have gotten.
That lady whom you met in Manuels, CBS is actually my Aunt Ellen. She’s a gg granddaughter of Elizabeth (Saunders) Hynes. She’s very knowledgeable about some of the early history of my family. Shd does look very native in appearance. That film that you mentioned was called “Finding Mary March” and was completed a few decades ago and she played one of Mary’s relatives.
I have not seen a connection between the Barrington’s and the Branton’s, but would be interesting to dive into further. Berntim looks however to be a direct reference to Barrington. It could also be said that the old Bernard surname (Piktueruel) could have been passed down as Pico (Peaco/Picco) as well as your Pike/Pecks.
Took a look at your DNA matches from FTDNA, I know quite a few of them. I don’t believe most of them are Mi’kmaq connections to you. Ms. Darrigan has strong connections to Conception Bay through her Sheppard line, so that is her probable connection to you. The rest, Park, Brake, Jesso, Hawkins, Perrier all descend from families out of Conception Bay whom immigrated to the West Coast. All of them are also connected to my Mi’kmaq ancestor Elizabeth Saunders who is a maternal relative of their Elizabeth (Joe) Blanchard. The Wheelers, Parks etc. are also connected but has not been fully determined the extent of their connection, but they all came from the Burin Peninsula as shown in the 1838/1839 list of inhabitants of the Bay of Islands.
From reading your comments, I realized whom I was talking to you. I have been trying to contact you for years regarding your research on the Piper’s Hole area. Everyone knows you online as Pikeman, especially due to your comments on Ancestry & NGB. Glad to finally be able to contact you.
I recently came across a Court Record from 1811 in Fortune Bay which states the following (Still some words to be transcribed correctly):
“PAGE 95:
June 6th 1811:
Reached Harbor Mille, an old woman there in bad health, deteriorating state.
June 7th 1811:
Reached Bottom of Bay. Choice situation indeed fit for every occupation or business of island. Either fishing, building, rearing cattle. Cultivation is inhabited by 6 or 7 planters, family’s of young children. The grand object of contention is a slope of land formed by waves about ½ mile long or 3/4 and about 60 or 70 yards broad. Several bonds? islands is within, out of the reach of waves. The slope formed in by former settlers.
PAGE 96:
Providing ?? supplies ?? for perhaps 100 heard of cattle if property by ?? and inland. The men in single hand skiffs fish at times within call from their houses. Trout in abundance of the size of small salmon at a harbor about two miles north side. Grand Le Pier ?? may be found any time in summer. Mikmaks visiting during intervals perhaps of several years for beaver? in summer and venison in winter when droves from ?? the hundreds came in from w?? ?? and across island.
Upon a formal inquiry into the facts or occurrences and disturbances that have arisen some complaints of and decided upon on board of H.M. ships and Magistrate in Navy also myself at 2 or 3 different times. The intolerable? Malice and rooted revenge between the two parties, one Irish and the other English, there seems but one way putting an end to/ if after all ??/ vig? An order for all parties to pull down their ?? and lay the whole ship ?? for their cattle ?? in ??. The land in which they have built their houses is such level ground and affords plenty of room
PAGE 97:
to clear sufficient to provide grass or hay to feed on during winter.
Each party is endeavoured for ?? by any ?? the number and the place very inviting to new beginners. A Young man Elijah? Pye made ap ?? for a spot asking him for the girl Margaret Doyle to be his wife this fall/. Reply if the girl is willing you may know this fall by inquiring further. Increase of number w?? also increase number of claims to grass cattle on the same spot. Some fatal ?? may? ensue inevitably ?? ?? a murder or two in the end. Two or three conflicts of late will prove the truth of remarks.
June 9 1811 Sunday:
Appearing Michael McGraw, Michael Gorman, a man and woman ??. 2 men, crew of ?? ??. ?? flew about and departure second most prudent – reached Cape Millier [Mille] near Bay de John following herring and on
11th got to Belleoram gave notice of surrogate court to be held on Monday 17th following.
June 13 1811:
Went by land to St. Jacques, back same day.
June 16 1811:
Performed? Service? on this harbour read acts of parliament ?? to swearing, drunkenness, proclamations inclosing? lands, harmony and friendship between Native Indians, Mikmaks and Nflanders europeans? – following ??”
I’m working with a few other researchers to figure out exactly where the writer says the Mikmaks (Mi’kmaq) came in from as it’s very difficult to read. This provides more evidence of the Mi’kmaq presence in Fortune Bay especially. For reference “Bottom of Bay” is the old name for Terrenceville. I am also conducting extensive DNA testing for several Mi’kmaq descended families and am currently awaiting 7 DNA tests to come back in the next couple weeks with hopes for many more to be done. When the results come back, maybe we could use that information in conjunction with the above Court record to create a Part 2 of this article. Lots to find out yet!!
Dorothy
23 Jun 2017Thanks, PipersHoleMan, I have enjoyed following your and Devon’s discussion. You’ve provided a wealth of information and interesting points to think about. All the best to you and, again, thanks.
Laura Barrington
8 Jul 2017Hi PipersHoleMan:
I am Laura Barrington..
Could you please tell me your name, for the life of me I am not sure of who you are..I am thinking you are D.P…not giving out your name..please message me and let me know would love to know who you are…Take care
Philip Jeddore
3 Sep 2017Re. Mi’kmaq Grand LaPierre. Word beginning with “w” could be west and buddy is talking about droves of caribou coming in from the west.
Philip Jeddore
3 Sep 20171921 Grand Bay
WELLS; John M Head Married 1885 Feb 35 Grand Bay
WELLS; Sarah F Wife Married 1886 Sep 34 Fortune
WELLS; Ernest M Son Single 1912 Aug 8 Grand Bay
WELLS; Randel M Son Single 1914 Jan 6 Grand Bay
WELLS; Lillian F Dau Single 1916 Jan 4 Grand Bay
WELLS; John M Son Single 1919 Apr 1 Grand Bay
PAULS?; Elizabeth M MIL Widow 1845 Jun 75 Fortune Bay
Devon
12 Sep 2017Hi Phil, would be able to email me at devon.griffin(at)hotmail.com
Replace the “(at)” with a @ symbol or maybe Dorothy could forward my email to you. 🙂
I have been trying to contact you for many years as I have heard you a renowned researcher of Mi’kmaq families and would like to connect.
Thanks in Advance
Devon Griffin
Bernice Barrington
13 Jun 2017Hi Yvette ! What’s your Grandfathers name and where are you living now.
Bernice Barrington
30 May 2017Pipers Hole Man ! A very interesting read as I have been searching my husbands family tree for past two years but has gotten nowhere near the wealth of information that i have discovered here on this blog. I did however come across the photograph of John Barrington and Big John Steven’s and sent the photograph to Alphonsus ‘s wife Laura whom I’m sure if Phonse had been alive at the time of this photograph would have tears of happiness for finally being able to put a face to John Barrington. My husbands name is Terence who’s grandfather was Alphonsus Barrington Sr and would love to know more regarding John Barrington and or other relations.
yvette crocker
10 Jun 2017Hi Bernice! My name is Yvette. John Barrington was my Great-Great Grandfather. a lot of you husbands relations live in Swift Current NL ( my hometown). My Great Grandfather and you Husbands Grandfather were brothers.
Devon
28 May 2017REPLY PART 2:
Thank you for the links on the archeology finds. I had read about these some time ago, and had used one of Penney’s reports for a Mi’kmaq proposal for Fortune Bay.
I had seen that photograph of Fanny Bow(e) before a long while ago. I remember some debate over her ancestry. Definitely Native American, but what tribe was the question at the time. Labrador is an area that is very unfamiliar to me genealogically, as is Conception & Trinity Bays. Ethnic percentages is a tricky science, as really the companies are only comparing your DNA to known reference populations. I take them as an idea of your ethnic percent, but not as exact numbers. If you test at all of the Big 3 DNA companies (FTDNA, 23andMe & Ancestry) you will likely see some significant differences, and thankfully gedmatch has a great tool for showing different ethnic calculators for free. By the way, what is your mother’s gedmatch kit number? I would like to do a direct comparison to a few of my kits to see if they match at all.
I enjoy having on file, the information about the Brazil/Basque family and could be of use in the future. Thomas JOE & Marie CABISH, suspected parents of Elizabeth (JOE) BLANCHARD mentioned in this article, had a son Thomas JOE Jr. baptized in King’s Cove in the early 1800s.
I have a couple descendants of Elizabeth (BERNARD) LAVHEY on gedmatch, with the closest being a gg granddaughter. It would be interesting to see if they match any BERNARD descendants in other parts of Newfoundland.
I think the biggest untapped resource for Fortune Bay, Burin Peninsula & Placentia Bay Mi’kmaq may be the St. Pierre RC records. I think within those records, there are clues to the early Mi’kmaq families of the area. I know some are online, but I know not all. With the first RC records dating only back to 1833 (as Placentia records prior to this weren’t recorded), I think if someone had the capacity to go through those records it would greatly benefit our research.
Velda Waye
3 Nov 2017Hi Piperholeman, My step father who raised me from the time I was one and his name was Louis John. His mother was Mary Ellen John (1901-1996). Her father was Louis John (1868-1957) His father was Peter John (1831-1924). I’m afraid I don’t have much more information than that. I noticed in you postings you spoke a fair amount on the John family. I was wondering if you would like to share any information you may have on this family. Anything would be greatly appreciated as I’m trying to trace all sides of my family for my entire family members. I also have a 4th great grandfather, John Smith (approx. 1804) from Oderin . That side of my family came to Nova Scotia in 1913. Thank you for the information I read on this site today.
Devon
19 Jun 2018Again, PipersHoleMAn
I never said we were related on Mi’kmaq lines. I said we could be related in different European ancestral ways.. Not sure why my comment to you last time made you delete a years worth of comments.
Devon
28 May 2017REPLY PART 1 (MAY 28 2017):
Hi Again PipersHoleMan,
Once again thank you so much for the wealth of information. It’s quite amazing how much information you have amassed and no doubt this information will be valuable for years and years to come. Please continue to tell us more about what you have learned.
I have studied the set of family history records for Placentia Bay. They are many, but I highly doubt they even put a dent into the amount of records that were lost. The residing priest at the time, gathered (very honourably) as many records as he could from those who were living in the areas and readily accessible for information, but it seems many many families were left out. Thankfully there are bits and pieces of some families in which we can pick from.
I did record a Martin MURPHY & Sarah WITHERS located in the Placentia Bay records listed as having a son Thomas MURPHY (m. Martha HUNT) born 1844 in D’Argent Bay. I believe D’Argent Bay is one of the old names for an area around Piper’s Hole. That name doesn’t show very often. In addition, a Martin MURPHY shows up for Sound Island in 1843 having a son Peter (m. Mary RYAN). An examination of the Burin RC Records shows Martin MURPHY and Sarah WITHERS had a son Thomas baptized June 28 1846, on that same day a John MURPHY and Hannah Withers had a child baptized (no doubt related). Interesting of note… on June 27 1846 & June 29 1846 quite a number of known Bay D’Espoir/Indian related families had children baptized in the Burin church.. The following are:
Jun 27 Baptized Mary of Michael Collier and Elizabeth Organ
Jun 27 Baptized William of John Hayward and Susanna McDonald
Jun 27 Baptized Frances of James Organ and Rachel Collier
Jun 27 Baptized Frances of Edward McDonald and Mary Organ
Jun 27 Baptized Thomas of William Foote and Jane Crant
Jun 29 Baptized Margaret of Silas Hull and Susan Allen
Jun 29 Baptized James of Dennis Long and Margaret Allen
Jun 29 Baptized William of George Hiskott and Mary Allen
Jun 29 Baptized David Hiskott a protestant 26 years old
This signifies that the MURPHY’s were living around these families. I know from family history, the family of John MURPHY & Mary Bridget BROWN lived back and forth between Piper’s Hole & St. Joseph’s, their two daughters are pictured on this page and were known as Indian. If you scroll down the page you will see Jane Hayse (a descendant of theirs) stated that Anastasia would say she grew up in a tilt in Piper’s Hole. No doubt the Murphy’s had a close relationship with the natives in the area, and these records only solidify that. Based on Walter MURPHY & Bridget RYAN’s children’s baptisms, they seem to have spent much time in Little Harbour West (Close to St. Joseph’s). Probably moving back and forth.
Martin MURPHY & Sarah WITHERS also had Anne baptized 1847.
John MURPHY & Hannah WITHERS had Mary MURPHY baptized (Aug 15 1843); Note for Mary: following baptisms were around her baptism:
Aug 9 Baptized Thomas of Thomas Crant and Martha Foote
Aug 9 Baptized Anne of John Mcdonald and Rebecca Neil
Aug 10 Baptized Judith of Peter John and Mary Brassil
Aug 10 Baptized Gabreil of Matthew Brasil and Jinny Barth?
Aug 13 Baptized Laurence of Laurence Murray? And Mary Chiasty???
Aug 13 Baptized Marian of John Corbel and Diana Cox
Aug 14 Baptized Mary of Daniel Bomboo??? And Susan Johns
Aug 16 Baptized James of James Culliton Bridget Lundrigan (Note Cullitan is a name of Bar Haven).
John MURPHY & Hannah WITHERS also had John (1848).
It can also be noted that the names Foote & Crant/Grant show up in both Sandy Harbour, Placentia Bay and in Bay d’Espoir in the 1800s.
Devon Griffin
25 May 2017In addition to my previous comment I came across my old notes. In it I stated that a source had said: “(Sc.4) When Annie Barrington married Ambrose Picco, another man came by the name of Tom Hawco, who had something to do with Swift Current also. John Barrington & Mary Hawco. Tom died in an August Gale (From death records, he drowned on Aug 25, 1927).”
Devon Griffin
25 May 2017That comment should say Annie Barrington Picco’s parents were John Barrington & Mary Hawco.
Devon Griffin
25 May 2017Hi PipersHoleMan,
I suggested email as a form of communication due to many questions still being unanswered about the ancestry and would not like to spread rumours that are just theories of my own of which some may take as fact. It’s also easier to send attachments via email, of which I have many and would love to see whatever you have accumulated. If you are up for email, I would be very okay with you taking your time getting back to me if you have other commitments to make. Once again, thanks for being so willing to share information.
As for your questions;
1. There are several ways DNA could verify a relationship between the Barrington siblings. First an Autosomal DNA test from any of the Big Three DNA companies (FTDNA, 23andme & Ancestry), will match cousins. If for example a descendant of John Barrington tested and matched a cousin who was a descendant of a possible sibling of John that would denote a relationship but would not conclusively verify the connection. In order to aid in this, I would use gedmatch.com which is an amazing utility which allows comparisons of chromosomes and how cousins match on those chromosomes. From there I would able to painstakingly determine the Barrington chromosomes and anyone who matches on those segments would be potentially a Barrington descendant. I have successfully done this with my Saunders family. However, there is an easier way to conclusively verify siblings and that is through mtDNA & yDNA. Any male Barrington can her their YDNA tested and if they match another, then they would come from the same Barrington male ancestor. mtDNA helps with sisters. Everyone carries mtDNA from their mother’s mother’s mother etc. If the mtDNA of one person matches another they have the same maternal ancestor within the last few generations (depending on how close the match). So if you suspect one lady is a Barrington sister, you would get a direct female to do a test & if you think another lady is a Barrington sister, you get another direct female to do the test. If they match, they are closely related. However, there is no way to conclusively verify a relationship between brother & sister apart from matching cousins using the autosomal test. It’s all fairly complicated, but the tests work best in conjunction with one another. For example; before doing my Elizabeth Saunders mtDNA test, I noticed several people matching on the same segment of chromosome as descendants of Saunders, I then mapped out their trees and found the common ancestor for all of them was Elizabeth (Joe) Blanchard. As Elizabeth (Joe) Blanchard’s mtDNA was already completed, I was able to do Elizabeth Saunders’ and they came out as a match with a genetic distance of 0 (within last 200-250 years). Autosomal gave me clues, mtDNA confirmed a relationship.
2. Speaking about Peter John & Ellen Haw.. I was very recently speaking to a descendant of Elizabeth (Hawe/Haus) who was married to a Thomas Isaac Moulton. Her grandson says she was Mi’kmaq Indian. I found out that Elizabeth’s parents were from Woody Island and had several children baptized there. Her parents were Elias Hawe/Haus & wife Ruth (no maiden name). Ruth has no maiden name but Ruth seems to be a popular first names for several children from that area. Also interesting of note; one of Elias & Ruth’s children were baptized in the Methodist church with a son of John & Ann Williams.. Ann has been said to be Mi’kmaq Indian by the Williams family for years and years, and has been known as Hannah Muriah, Ann Maria, Ann Muriah etc. over the years. No idea of her maiden name also. I think these Haw/Haus could definitely be related to Peter John’s wife Ellen Haw.
That’s very interesting about the Hawco family possible being of Native descent. I had not known about the 11 Labrador Indians residing at Brigus. Do you happen to have links to these parish records & reports? I know there must be some Labrador Native connection to my Saunders/Hackett family due to the Joseph Hackett showing up in Labrador in the 1820s as a half Indian and then in 1818 in Fortune Bay. As for your question, yes atDNA & YDNA can and will confirm the relationship between the John & Stevens patrilinies fairly easy if you get a male John & a male Stevens to do the test. If they match, they share the same male ancestor.
I read an interview by Calvin Coish with Jerry Wetzel from Conne River, he speaks of his wifes John & Bernard ancestors coming from Placentia Bay, specifically Swift Current & Piper’s Hole. Very interesting, I also read a rather large thesis from Jerry’s son about the Beothuck and Mi’kmaq that as far as I know isn’t in the public domain. Been trying to contact them both for some time.
Hope to continue conversing with you! I hope to figure out more and more Placentia & Fortune Bay Mi’kmaq families and put the pieces together.
Devon Griffin
23 May 2017Hello there,
Thanks for the kind words, the importance of keeping this history alive is very important not only for the family but for the communities as a whole. You seem very knowledgeable about the area and the persons who lived there. Would love to hear more from you on the topic of the families and hope to put together the pieces of the puzzle even more so, I’ve been looking for a another researcher of this area for years but have not been able to contact one. I would like more specific information on the families in Piper’s Hole. I would like to email you, perhaps Dorothy can email you my email so we can correspond? Thanks in Advance!
As for the Picco’s you mentioned; Ann Picco who died in 1907 was originally Annie Barrington. She was the first wife of Ambrose Picco, son of Phillip Picco & Eliza Young. Ambrose was the nephew of the Mary Jane (Picco) Hanrahan who is pictured in this article. I believe I have a photo of Ambrose, but will have to check to see.
I remember seeing Beatrice Picco before, but I cannot remember her parents names and for some reason I do not have it written down. Will try and find the information if you need it!
Thanks Again
Hope to hear from you!
Dorothy
23 May 2017Done!
John Marsden
8 May 2017Hello Dorothy : I am admin. of the Facebook Groups “Burgeo’s Past” and “Newfoundland Grand Banks” . We have been collecting information & pictures on the “Saunders”, “Rhymes” & “Picco” in the Group for the last 7 years. Esau Rhymes from Burgeo,NL. who married Ann Saunders , was married at Burgeo,NL. where they lived and raised their family. You can see all the information on the Family in “Burgeo’s Past” at this Link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.10152654013457695&type=3
Dorothy
8 May 2017Hi John, thanks for letting me know about your Facebook groups. I’m sure other readers will want to check them out too. And, if you didn’t see it, here’s a link to a post about Howard Blackburn, Tommy Welsh and the Lushmans that I wrote. In it, there’s a link to the Dec. 1912 Nf Quarterly “A Tale of the Sea” about Blackburn and Welsh that I transcribed. I had read Earl Pilgrim’s “Drifting into Doom” and was very taken with the story! 🙂
Marjorie (Banfield) Hannon
6 May 2017Very interesting. My maternal grandmother was Susannah Saunders from Harbour Mille in Fortune Bay. She married Jacob Scott from the nearby community of Little Harbour East where they resided and raised a large family.
Dorothy
7 May 2017Hi Marjorie, thanks for adding some names and places to the Saunders story. Any thoughts on Catherine Banfield, asked about by Eva yesterday?
Devon
7 May 2017I believe she was from Southern Harbour and was a Mansfield not a Banfield, but I haven’t thoroughly researched the family. There were Mansfields in Southern Harbour and area. His brother married a Dawe I believe from Brigus?
Devon
7 May 2017Hi Marjorie,
Your Susannah (Saunders) Scott was the daughter of James Saunders & Maria Brown, granddaughter of George Saunders and his first wife Ann.
Do you happen to know anything about your grandfather Jacob Scott’s mother Lavinia (Pardy) Scott. I have a friend looking for information on her. Thanks!!
Jocelyn Deluney
6 May 2017Jane Saunders (m. Timothy McCarthy), are my great grandparents, my mother who was born on Woods Island in the Bay of Islands these were her father’s (John McCarthy) parents
Dorothy
6 May 2017Thanks, Jocelyn, for writing and adding to the information.
Devon
7 May 2017Missing a generation in between. John McCarthy’s parents were Daniel McCarthy & Elizabeth Jane Thornhill. Daniel’s parents were Jane Saunders & Tim McCarthy.. For a little bit of information on Daniel, he got into an altercation with John Rideout (the first Rideout in Terrenceville) in 1894 after Rideout was taunting Daniel while he was rowing out in his punt for being “dirty skinned”. A derogatory term for being of Native descent. This is according to the arresting officer at the time. It seems John was an often an instigator from the interviews with witnesses which included Daniel’s father Tim McCarthy, John Rideout’s wife Catherine (McCarthy) Rideout, John McCarthy (Mary Hynes, daughter of Elizabeth Saunders’s husband) and others.
Devon
7 May 2017Not sure how to post this in the comments but trying to post a picture of Timothy McCarthy, son of Daniel McCarthy & Elizabeth Jane Thornhill.
Dorothy
7 May 2017Hi Devon, email me the pic. I think I can attach it to your comment. If not, I’ll put it in the post. And thanks for the extra info.
Dorothy
7 May 2017Here’s the pic, I hope! Ok, you have to click on this link but then it comes up. Great picture!
http://dorothystewart.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Timothy-McCarthy-son-of-Daniel-Elizabeth.jpg
Jane Smith Hayse
6 May 2017Reading with interest! I am the baby in the picture with Anastasia Smith Murphy. John Murphy and Mary Murphy Brown were my Gr.Grandparents. I was brought up by my grandmother . She told us she was “reared up” in a tilt in Pipers Hole….which is in Swift Current area, even though her home was St. Joseph’s P.B. Many of her siblings settled in Parkers Cove after she did including her mother.
Dorothy
6 May 2017Hi Jane, it’s so nice to hear from the baby! Thank you so much for writing, and for telling us more about your grandmother.
Bren Young
2 Jun 2018Loving this conversation. I have read Pike man’s info with interest as he was researching my gg grandfather Philip Brown from Sound Island and his son -my g grandfather Liberius. Just wanted to say that three of Liberius grandchildren did DNA tests – as well as g grandchildren if it is any help. Great info. You are all doing wonderful work.
Eva
6 May 2017My Greatgrandmother was Catherine Mansfield or Banfield from Southen Harbour PB. She married Louis John of Conne River had 4 sons.. Also John Barrington was born in Conne River moved to Swift Current/Piper Hole. Louis died in 1904, n his 80’s. Catherine died in 1942 buried at Conne River. Cannot find any info on her. My other side of the family involves the Joe’s.
Dorothy
6 May 2017Hi Eva, I’ve tried to find out about Catherine Mansfield/Banfield too, and no luck. There’s lots of Banfields in Bay L’Argent and Garnish, according to googling I just did. That seems possible for her, geographically. But I can’t find any connection. Maybe somebody reading this will be able to help us out. Hope so!
Devon
7 May 2017I believe she was from Southern Harbour and was a Mansfield not a Banfield, but I haven’t thoroughly researched the family. There were Mansfields in Southern Harbour and area. His brother married a Dawe I believe from Brigus?
Eva
29 Jun 2017Thank you, it will be interesting.
Evajohnroberts@gmail.com
Bernice Barrington
24 Jun 2018Eva ! Are you related to John Barrington ? How do you know that he was born in Conne River. Is there a birth certificate for him or parish records
Eva
10 Jan 2020No, just heard of him growing up, we have a backroad called Mary Hawco’s road, were John Barrington would take to Swift Current to see her.
Bernice Barrington
7 Sep 2020Hi Eva !!
Thanks for info about John Barrington born in Conne River. Can you tell me anything else regarding him. Anything on Mary Hawco as well