Silk Sails
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I would conclude from these patterns and the cases cited that there seems to be little evidence that women were playing a passive role in ownership. I realize, of course, that the lack of precise documentation makes some of these conclusions tentative. But the weight of the material available seems to portray an active role taken by women.
To substantiate the case for dispensing with the near-myth of the passive women I can also cite the biographies I wrote in the summer of 2005 of fifteen women in the Bay of Exploits area, women who were active from the 1880s to the recent present. There was not a woman among them that I would characterize as passive. One, Mary Winsor, was a co-partner in a large sawmill operation in the Botwood area from 1889 to 1892. Another, Elizabeth Manuel, was the wife of the prominent Exploits Island merchant, Josiah Manuel. Josiah used to say: “I command the ship but my wife commands when I come off the ship.” Michael Harris, in his book on the Crosbies, asserts that Elizabeth was the first one up every morning, ensuring that the men, maids and gardeners were at their chores. Another woman was Effie Cobb, owner and manager of the Transatlantic Inn in Botwood from the late 1920s to the early 1950s, when Pan-American Airways, British Airways, and American Export Airlines were using Botwood as a stopover between North America and Europe. Her hotel, restaurant and shop were located immediately adjacent to the headquarters of the three airlines and to the Canadian military base during World War II. Then there were the three Mi’kmaq women of Wigwam Point – Ellen, Fanny and Mary Paul – who were suppliers to the Winsor & Vallance Sawmill from the 1870s to the 1890s. There were the Evans women of Northern Arm – Hannah Eliza, Naomi and Selina – whose musically and dramatically talented daughters were constantly on call to the lodges and the A. N. D. Co. and for other social events in Botwood through the first years of the new company in the early 1900s. Another woman, Effie Taylor, born in Scotland and married to a World War I veteran from Botwood, became the first pensioned female from the A. N. D. Co. when she retired as stenographer in 1959.
In addition, there were many other women in the area who were midwives, nurses, postmistresses, bookkeepers, typists, stenographers, and so forth. Miss Lily Martin was transferred to Baie Verte in 1903 to manage the business firm of James Jackman, Esq.; she had been a clerk in Jackman’s firm at Tilt Cove. Miss Harding of Pilley’s Island was appointed stenographer to the very large Newlands Lumber Co. at Norris Arm in 1907, succeeding Walter Hopkins. And when James P. Howley of the Newfoundland Geological Survey completed his survey of the Botwood area, seven of the land speculators who bought sizable tracts of land were women, five of them married women. And elsewhere on the island, Miss Minnie Harding was appointed manager of the Samuel Harris, Esq., business at Grand Bank in 1907. None of these women, nor countless others of like mind, could be characterized as passive.
I also want to provide some details about the two women to whom this book is lovingly dedicated: my mother and my mother-in-law, both now deceased. My mother had only a grade-school education but she had worked as a domestic with a St. John’s family and then as cook with the Herder family, of Evening Telegram fame, in the 1920s. She was worldly wise and used her experience in “the big city” to prepare me mentally and physically, with proper manners and social graces, when I left home in July 1948 to attend summer school in St. John’s and again when I returned to Memorial University College in September 1948. My mother provided practically all the leadership in the family. From my father, being a man of few words, we learned only by example. My mother did not defer to my father, nor did she ever challenge him publicly. She complemented him in the sense that she supplied what he lacked. She was the real life and energy of the family. She set the tone with her ideas and her actions in emphasizing the need for a good education and in planning future careers for her sons (there were no daughters). My father was away from home a lot, working in the lumber woods and in a nearby town, and my mother planned and supervised the work for her sons: preparing and maintaining the gardens, making hay, ensuring that there was sufficient firewood, that the water barrel was always full, and that the animals were cared for and the barn and sheds kept clean. What self-fulfilment my mother experienced was through her involvement in church and community events and family visits. There was no time for competition between the sexes. Our home was a gathering place for women of the community, from young adults to young married women to older women. As young children we tried to eavesdrop on some of these conversations, which were conducted in whispered tones when they discussed family tragedies or grave community events.
My mother-in-law was from Twillingate and became a teacher at nearby Manuels and Crow Head. She married and moved to Botwood about 1927. As a young mother she enrolled in a correspondence course with the Chicago School of Nursing and completed the very detailed 53 lessons of 1937, which still exist today in a book that is fully three inches thick. On completion of the course she received a cap, pin and certificate. She thus became a resource person for many women in the community of Botwood, and there were women who would not allow the resident doctor to perform procedures on them unless my mother-in-law was present. She nursed her husband’s two young brothers in her home until they both died and cared for her husband’s father at her home until his death. She lost three young children and raised seven. She was among the first group of women in Botwood to be awarded a certificate and pin for Volunteer Nursing Service by the Canadian Red Cross after completing a requisite course of instruction and supervised practice which “fully qualified her to act as a nursing assistant without remuneration.” She gave music lessons, learned shorthand in her later years, and was involved in leadership roles in church and lodge, at the local, provincial and national levels.
These were both proactive women. Compared with them, their husbands were passive.
Perhaps it is time to allow the near-myth of the passive woman to die, as the myth of the woman as bad luck at sea has died. The near-myth seems to have little basis in the reality portrayed here.
Women had to work within certain societal strictures which were characteristic of the times, but as we have seen repeatedly in this study they found ways of “pushing the envelope” and securing advances, one tiny step at a time.
The women described in this study deserve our admiration and praise. Women today stand on the shoulders of their sisters in the past.
APPENDIX A
Other Newfoundland Women in the Ship Registers
Many of the Newfoundland sole owners and joint owners are described in Chapters 2 and 3, but there are several others who are worthy of honourable mention. These are listed below with sufficient information to help determine how long women held on to ships and for what purposes these were used. The abbreviation M after the date indicates that the woman had arranged a mortgage on her ship.
Sole Owners
Owner, Place, Status/Occupation, Date, Name of Ship
Jane Parsons, Harbour Grace, Widow, 1837, Lavinia
Jane bought this ship on November 13, 1837. Tobias Parsons served as master. No further transactions could be found.
Mary O’Neill, Fermeuse, Widow, 1844-5, Cousins
Cornelius O’Neill was master of the ship. Mary sold the ship in 1845 to Dugald Markellar, merchant at St. John’s.
Johanna Nowlan, St. John’s, Widow, 1862-68, Dash
When Michael Nowlan registered this ship in 1862, he transferred all 64 shares to Johanna, who was then a widow. Michael died on February 27, 1868, and his will, dated February 20, 1865, appointed Johanna as executrix. She sold the ship on May 22, 1868, to Daniel Green, merchant of Harbour Grace.
Mary McCarthy, Carbonear, Widow, 1868-, Alma
Mary bought this ship on May 25, 1868, from Frederick Joseph Wyatt. The 44-ton vessel had been built in 1859 at Silly Cove. No further transactions could be found.
Sarah Andrews, Port de Grave, Widow, 1870-2, Flower
Sarah bought the ship in December 1870 and sold it in May 1872 to William and George Andrews, planters of Port de Gra
ve, perhaps her sons.
Constance Garnier, Bay St. George, Trader, 1881-2,Beatrice
Ernest Garnier, “vice master” of the ship and possibly Constance’s husband, is also listed as a trader.
Anne Farrell, St. Jacques, Trader, 1886-, Carrie K.
This vessel was built in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, in 1882 and had been registered at Lunenberg in 1883. Thomas Farrell was master of the ship. Its name may originally have been the Carrie McK. Anne and Thomas Farrel were coastal traders along the south coast.
Kezia Foote, Grand Bank, Widow, 1889-, Samuel J. Foote
Kezia’s husband had been Morgan Foote. Kezia died in 1910 at age 75.
Bridget Keough, St. John’s, Widow, 1893, M, Hope
Bridget bought the ship from William Grant at Halifax on January 13, 1893, under Mortgage C. She sold it on June 13 the same year to James McAdam at Sydney.
Eliza Anne Tobin, Twillingate, Widow, 1893-6, Erminie
& St. John’s, 1893-6,Jubilee
1893-7, Dorothy
Eliza Anne was the widow of Joseph Bennett Tobin, who was a merchant, major shipowner and member of the Grand Jury for Twillingate and who died February 14, 1893.
Laura Simmons, Harry’s Harbour, Married, 1894-8, M, Bonny Lass
Laura was the first owner of this ship, buying it in 1894 from the builder, Thomas Burt. She may have had it built for her purposes. She took a mortgage on the ship in 1895 for the amount of $693.42 with interest at 6%; her mortgagee was George Knowling, merchant of St. John’s. In 1898 Knowling transferred the mortgage to James Norris, planter of Three Arms, Notre Dame Bay. On November 14, 1898, Norris sold the ship to John McDonald of Salmonier. So it must have been Norris’ way of collecting on a mortgage that could not be paid. It appears that Laura’s business venture had failed. On November 21, 1902, John McDonald sold the ship to Anastassia McDonald, married woman of Salmonier, probably his wife.
Anna Vale McKenzie, St. John’s, Married, 1894-1900, Clara
This 25-ton vessel was built in 1864 by the Cluetts of Fortune Bay who sold it to Anna in 1894. Anna had it rebuilt and enlarged to 27-tons in 1896 at Little Bay East by William Miles. On November 23, 1900, she sold the ship to Robert K. Bishop, merchant of St. John’s. The ship lasted for a remarkable 36-plus years.
Margaret Catherine Fitzgerald, St. John’s, Matron, 1896-, M,Ada
Margaret bought the ship on October 5, 1896, from John F. Apsey and Alfred G. Smith. It had been previously registered in 1878, so it was already 18 years old. Margaret took a mortgage for $500 with Robert G. Rendell, merchant. No further transactions could be found. The fate of the vessel is indecipherable in the record.
Eliza Strong, Old Perlican, Widow, 1897-8, Mary Jane
Eliza bought this 16-ton, nine-year-old ship and registered it on May 25, 1897. She sold it on November 10, 1898, to William C. Job, merchant of St. John’s.
Emma Jane Chalk, Scissor’s Cove, Married, 1898-, Phoebe Jane
Abraham Chalk, the builder of this 15-ton vessel, was probably Emma Jane’s husband. No further transactions could be found.
Rachel Davis, St. John’s?, 1899-, Trio
Rachel bought this 21-year-old ship after Walter Baine Grieve, merchant of St. John’s, had discharged the mortgage of the previous owner.
Mary Murphy, St. John’s?, Married, 1899-1900, M, Kersage
Mary had a mortgage with Charles W. J. Emerson for $100 and interest at 6% payable on November 15, 1900. She probably had bought the ship from George Graham Crosbie, merchant at Brigus. The ship was wrecked at Western Bay sometime in 1900. She may have been the Mary Murphy, aged 76, widow of Nicholas, who died in St. John’s in 1916. If so, she left a husband and three sons.,
Elizabeth Ingraham, Ramea, Married, 1899-1902, Nevada
Elizabeth bought the 46-ton ship from her husband, John Ingraham, who had owned it for six years. The ship was owned later by Lena Young of St. Jacques.
Sarah Jane Johnson, Little Catalina, Married, 1899-04, M, Lego
James Johnson, the builder of this 16-ton vessel, was probably Sarah Jane’s husband. Sarah Jane took a mortgage for $250 in 1900, one for $250 in 1901, one for $207.75 in 1902 and one for $200 in 1903; these were all at 10% interest. These were all discharged on June 2, 1904, and the next day she sold the ship to the mortgagee, Benjamin Garland, shoemaker of St. John’s. It appears that business was not going well for the Johnsons.
Catherine Guy, Pilley’s Island, Married, 1899-1927, Esther
Catherine bought this ship from her son Frederick after he had had it for one year and paid off his mortgage with W. C. Job, merchant, after only five months. The ship was lost at the Grey Islands in 1927, which means that Catherine may have held the ship for a remarkable 28 years. Frederick died in 1920.
Ann Andrews, St. John’s? -1899, Hyacinth
Ann was the sixth owner of this ship; the purchase date cannot be determined. She sold it on June 10, 1899, to Michael Martin, trader of King’s Cove. Martin sold it in 1902 to Emmie Wilcox and Henrietta Roberts, married women of Brigus. See Chapter 3.
Catherine Barron, Placentia, Widow, 1900, Cygnet
Frank Barron, mariner of Placentia, bought this ship on October 13, 1899. He died intestate on October 30, 1900. Letters of Administration were granted to Catherine by the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and she sold the vessel on November 25, 1900, to Walter Baine Grieve, merchant at St. John’s.
Ann Barnes, Harbour Mille, Married, 1900-07,Glencoe
Ann’s husband was John Barnes, the builder. Ann sold the ship in 1907 to Jeremiah Petite, merchant of Mose Ambrose.
Jessie Gushue, Brigus, Married, 1901-, Jane
1907-11, Willis C.
Jessie bought the Jane on December 15, 1901, but no further transactions could be found. She bought the 82-ton Willis C., which had been built at La Have, Nova Scotia, on March 11, 1907, and sold it on June 19, 1911, to William C. Job, merchant of St. John’s.
Julia Ann Johnson, Little Catalina, Married, 1902-, D. B. J.
Julia Ann’s husband was probably Alexander Johnson, the builder of this 28-ton vessel. The fate of the ship is indecipherable in the record.
Mary J. Davis, Fox Harbour, Widow, 1904, Bessie
The 26-ton vessel had been built in Fox Harbour by George Lamb in 1900. Mary registered the ship on June 28, 1904, and sold it the same day to Reuben Pike, mariner of St. John’s.
Mary Horwood, Carbonear, Married, 1905-, Maggie Barbara
Samuel P. Horwood, planter of Carbonear, bought the 22-ton ship on April 8, 1905, and sold it on April 11, 1905, to Mary Horwood. No further transactions could be found.
Charlotte A. Haliburton, Bonne Bay, Married, 1905-14, Marie Ann
This 30-ton ship had been built in Quebec in 1890. Louisa A. Whiteley had owned it from 1903 to 1905. Charlotte’s husband was probably John P. Haliburton. The vessel was broken up at Bonne Bay in January 1914.
Lena Young, St. Jacques, Married, 1905-9, Nevada
This ship had been owned previously by Elizabeth Ingraham of Ramea. The Youngs had been a merchant family at St. Jacques since the 1880s.
Maria Tuck, Fortune, Widow, 1905-17, Argo
Maria was the widow of William Tuck who built the Argo in 1895 and died on December 24, 1905, and she was also executrix of his will. She sold the ship on May 1, 1917, to Walter John and Alfred Tuck, mariners of Fortune, and probably her sons. Maria died on April 24, 1933, at age 84.
Jemima Emine Parsons, Freshwater, Married, 1905-7, Orient
Jemima bought the ship from Francis J. Parsons, planter of Freshwater, Bay de Verde, on May 25, 1905. The ship was lost at Wesleyville in September 1907 or 1917; the date is indistinct in the record.
Margaret Ryan, Catalina, Married, 1906-17, Success
Margaret’s husband was P. F. Ryan and she was the youngest daughter of John and Johanna Murphy. Margaret died in November 1917 and left a husband, two sisters and three brothers. The 17-ton vessel was broken up at Catalina about 1919.
Frances Miles
, Herring Neck, Planter, 1906-12, Pratincole
This 64-ton ship was built at Exploits Harbour by Robert A. Sceviour for Thomas A. Winsor, merchant of Exploits. Winsor sold it on December 24 to Frances Miles, planter. This is the only time “Planter” was used in the ship registers for a woman. Both times the name “Frances” appears in the record, it is clearly spelled with an “e.” Henry, Esau and Stephen Myles of Herring Neck were planters from the 1830s to the 1880s. Many of the early women were planters in all but name only, e.g., Mary Ludevig of Ferryland and the women of Spaniard’s Bay. Frances sold the ship in June 1912 to William Ashbourne, merchant at Twillingate.
Susannah Davis, Harbour Grace, Married, 1906-10, Pleasant Time
Susannah bought this ship from John T. McRae, merchant of Harbour Grace, on February 14, 1906. The ship was lost on the Labrador on September 20, 1910.
Teresa Power, St. Mary’s, Widow, 1906-11, Bridie M. Power
Teresa inherited the ship when her husband, James Power, died without a will on August 7, 1906. She held on to the vessel for five years and sold it on May 8, 1911.
Carrie Carter, Summerside, Widow, 1907-, Erita & Ena
Herbert D. Carter built the Erita & Ena in 1905. Carrie was the owner when she registered the 33-ton vessel on July 12, 1907. No further transactions could be found.
Jessie A. Burdock, Belleoram, Married, 1910-11, Gertrude
Jessie bought the Gertrude at St. Pierre et Miquelon on December 17, 1910; the ship had been built at Essex, Massachusetts. She sold it on June 26, 1911, to Robert Moulton, merchant at Burgeo.
Ellen Snow, Bay Roberts, Married, 1913, Darryl
Ellen bought the ship on May 28, 1913, from William H. Peters, merchant of St. John’s, and sold the ship on June 7, 1913, to Philip Templeman, merchant of Bonavista, owning the ship for only 10 days.
Ursula Petipas, Curling, Married, 1914-, Kathleen Alice