The Family Tree....

This is a collection of bits of genealogy information about the families of Michener/ Mitchner, Davison/ Davidson, Lawrence, and Dickie. The family lived in Hantsport, Nova Scotia from 1761 to the early 1900s before dispersing around the continent. Here is what I have currently in the family tree.

If you should happen to have members related to these families, I would like to hear from you.  My email address is joanf@shaw.ca

Here is a page of questions where I have photos and information that are not identified or complete.

Like many others in my generation, I've been gathering information about our family tree.  I will include not only the formally presented lists, but also diary entries and pictures I have of the people in the family who are from years past.  My interest began with the acquisition of our family bible.

Bible Mary's signature This is the family Bible.  It is battered and worn.
 I hope we can keep its history intact through the internet



It belonged to my great great grandmother, Mary Bradshaw Michener.  She spelled her name in several different ways in the bible.  Today our family spells it Mitchner.  We think that Silas Mitchner decided to spell it that way.  Earlier generations--before Webster's Dictionary made a practice of standardized spelling--considered variations of spelling to be a sign of creativity. (Additional pages from the bible: 1 2 3



The Bible begins inscribed, with a flourishing hand, with the names
 Hibbart Michener and Mary Bradshaw   Married December 25, 1837.

In April, 2003, I phoned a name I'd found in researching the Michener name: Carolyn McGrath. She was expecting my call because I'd sent several emails to many McGraths searching her out. I'd heard that a diary had been transcribed from the Acadian newspaper.  The diary was by Margaret Dickie, one of her relatives.  I listened fascinated and then recovered, "Carolyn, I have diaries, too!"  Her excitement matched mine.  What a thrill after we had both had years of assuming that there was no one left in the line.

Here is an excerpt from the diary.  Margaret Dickie is the half sister of Mary Bradshaw. They began their lives in Hantsport, Nova Scotia.

" December 2nd, 1847.  I arose early this morning and found it was sprinkling.  I brought in the clothes.  I just hit it right by washing yesterday. It has rained all day.  Mary ate breakfast with us this morning. Mercy and Emily Ann came.  I was churning; the butter was a long time coming. William Barker was here to dinner.  John Taylor brought Hibbart a quarter of beef. Enoch Marsters arrived home last night and called in here awhile.  I went over to Mrs. Manson's this afternoon.  Capt. (Michael) Michener is here, talking about a new road.  The "Joseph Ham" came in today.  This morning, I saw Chipman (Capt. Hanly Chipman Davison) and Girden (Capt. Guerdon Davison) take Mr. and Mrs. Churchill by home.  They had just come home from New York in the "Hantsport", the  "Wanderer" having taken a freight to Halifax.  I saw Capt. Whitman (John Whitman Holmes) go home this morning. Sarah (Sarah Bailey Holmes) will be quite happily surprised.

It is an amazing feeling to see names that previously were just written in a list. (Thankfully, Carolyn had included the full names in brackets.  It took a long time to figure out who was who.)   How they interacted and visited each other is described in this diary that describes her life in the mid 1850s in Hantsport Nova Scotia before she moved on with a new husband.  Descriptions of deaths and marriages have made me feel I was visiting the past.  I hope this is useful to other genealogists and family members wanting to know about their past.

Below, I show the family listed in the family Bible of Mary Bradshaw Michener with some of the diary information, photos and related ephemera associated.

Hibbart and Mary had a family of children who lived on Main Street in Hantsport.  Captain Hibbart was a master mariner like many of his relatives on the Michener, Davison, and Lawrence sides of the families. He died soon after writing the letter included later, and even though he owned parts of two ships, was destitute and his family was left with little.  I do have a plate left from that time that belonged to Mary. Knowing that she lost everything when he died, it is more special to me.


Hibbart Michener, b. 14 September 1815, m. Mary Bradshaw, 25 December 1837, d. 30 May 1856
1.    William Michener, b. 1 September 1838, d. 10 April 1840 ...
2.    Ezra Michener, b. 8 July 1840, d. 8 August 1917 ...
3.    Silas Hibbart Michener, b. 14 November 1842, m. Annie Huntley, 6 February 1873, d. 22 January 1927 ...
4.    Rodmond Michener, b. 13 October 1845, d. 23 July 1926 ...
5.    Simeon Michener, b. 19 November 1847, m. Alberta C Davison, 3 August 1874, m. Alberta C Davison, 3 August 1874, d. 16 May 1929 ...
6.    Mary W. Michener, b. 15 July 1850, m. Walter Davison, 30 June 1868, m. L.W. Norton, 12 January 1891, d. 26 April 1891 in Santos, South America ...
7.    Lorenzo Michener, b. 27 April 1855, m. Alida "Lydia" Lawrence , 22 December 1888 in Hantsport Methodist, d. 26 July 1907 ...

I have two letters of interest relating to the above.  One is from Hibbart to his wife Mary (Molley) and the other is a memoir of Mary Michener's daughter Mary Davison describing her marriage and death on a trip to South America.

This is Hibbart's letter, apologizing for yet another lengthy voyage away from his family.  


                                Dimerara, January 22nd, 1856


Dear Wife:
    i am writing you a very long letter from Barbadoes and you must excuse this for being so short.  I chartered in Barbadoes to come here t  Dimerarera to take troopes to the River Gambia which is on the Cost of Africa.  Now, Molley, don’t you scold too much for it is the best freight that i have ever had.  I think that I can make the voyage in ten weeks back to Barbadoes.  Molley I shall be home in May or June and then I shall be with you one solled year.

     I have got all the troopes on hand.  there are 90 soldiers and officers  a very fine mess when they all get see sick. I shall sail tomorrow.  Molley I get five thousand dollars for taking them to the mouth of the Gambia.  Is not that a big freight?  Molley I often think of what you said when I was living at home.  You said that the Mary Morton would have good luck for there was a woman on board and there here are now four soldier’s wives.  Molley you don’t know how bad I want to see you and the children.  I wish that I had little Molley with me to be company for me.   never had my health better.  I am so fat that I can scarcely turn over in bed.  Molley, I believe that my thumb is going to be a bother to me until I get home again,  Molley if I only had the cure for it that you have got I should like it very much.  as I wrote all the particulars in the other letter I shan’t say much more.  So God Bless you and your little ones and don’t forget that I remain your true and loving husband till death.

                                Hibbert Michener


P.S.  I shall write every chance that I get.

                                H. Michener


The problem with his thumb developed into gangrene and his death on the voyage two days into the trip.  He never came back. Margaret Dickie's diary describes a problem that Mary had, and that may explain the reference in the letter.


Hibbart and Mary's only daughter married first Walt Davison, then Captain Norton.

Mary&WaltDavison


Captain Walter Davison and Mary Michener Davison













Here is her daughter, Mary Davison's, account of the wedding trip.

I discovered this notebook called “Memoirs continued Book ll

It is labelled:
Mary June Davidson
Hantsport
Hants County
N.S.
June 7th 1898

She was 17 years old when she wrote this, but was about seven on the journey.


My life jogged on just about like everybody elses does and I enjoyed my childhood  like everybody else, and had the usual amount of petty trials which to me were dreadful and I thought no girl ever had such a hard time as I, but I find it all very pleasant and sweet to look back upon and know I enjoyed my childhood.

One warm and sultry afternoon I begged and coaxed  mamma to allow me to go in my bare feet, she at last consented on the condition that I stayed in the house.  Clara was away and mother had gone out for a few minutes, when I heard some one go in the shop;  I went in and saw some stranger man dressed in great fashion and evidently a tourist, I was about 7 or 8 years old but I instantly thought of my feet, but there was no one else around so I whisked behind the counter hoping he had not seen them and would not take me for a “country bumpkin.”

I was getting on famously when some little brat of a boy came and looked in the window and began to chant:- “Isn’t she pretty, and isn’t she neat, but oh my gracious, just look at her feet!”  I stared at him with all the dignity of seven years, which caused him to repeat it, to my great humiliation, and the man soon departed.  I have not seen him since and if there is danger of him recognizing me, I never want to.

ll
  One day Clara, Fan, Nell, Hat, Jose and I were down at the bank talking over the future and telling fortunes with daisies.  Vessels were lying all around and the most of us thought we would like very much to go to sea. I have thought since Clara and I were the two least likely to go and the only two who have gone.  Of course we all wanted to be rich.  But Nell, Hat and I still remain school girls.  Fan is Bookkeeper in Halifax, Jose keeps house for her father after nearly ruining her whole life, and causing her mother’s death to come quickly.  And Clara after going to sea a few years is now living in Brooklyn N.Y. having married F.E. Rockefeller when she was twenty. I wonder where it will end with we schoolgirls?

lll

I can’t always comfortably use ink especially when I write after going to bed as I usually do, so I can excuse myself for using this pencil.

One summer I had the slow fever.  Hattie Rand (daughter of old Dr Rand) a teacher of Micmac Indians.) stayed nearly all that summer with mamma, she and Clara looking out for the borders (sic) mamma caring for me. It was then I began my bank account every time I took my medicine I was paid a certain amount and i forget how much until it grew into a dollar or two and I put it into the P.C. Bank and have bought my bicycle with it since.  Hattie M’s brother Frank died that summer while I was sick. 

The winter I learned to skate we had much fun at the rink, a very popular institution then and I used to feel very much puffed up hearing people say they thought I would make a good skater.  Often there would come to our house some unmarried man or widower whom Hattie R and Hannah C would tease mamma about but we never thought anything about it, but once Capt Will Parker brought a portly American Capt. to the house who seemed to grow rather fond of lingering around. 

Mamma did not like it at first but still he came, as a new vessels was building down at north’s and he was part owner. I often heard her laugh and say, if dinner was a few minutes late, “well I know he stayed just to see what we were going to have for dinner or wanted to be asked to stay and  just wouldn’t give him that satisfaction.” One day about in October I had just finished my dinner and was starting for school when mother called me back to kissing me and laughing ( for I was in a hurry and had come very ungraciously said she had something to tell me.  Clara was standing near and seemed to know all about it so I got rather curious.

“How would you like for me to shut up shop and you and I go away to sea, “ asked mother.  I stared blankly for a minute and then said “who with” but before they could answer I thought and cried out “oh Capt. Norton!” are you going to marry him mamma, what did he say when he asked you?” Mother laughed merrily and informed me that he was going to marry her not she him, but utterly refused to tell me "what he said."

So I ran off for school and Clara and mamma went  to wash the dishes.  I think they were somewhat surprised that I took it so lightly, but it was in my mind all the afternoon and I thought it all out in various lights sometimes glad, sometime sorry. I concluded that he had proposed  one night when I had run down stairs to get my Bible in my night dress and mother was sewing and he sitting near and talking.  One Sunday the Capt. was coming to stay all day, when arrived he brought a large parcel with him and a little while after I was ordered off up stairs to take a bath which I had neglected the night before.

in the midst of it, Clara flew upstairs and said, “oh Mary the Capt. has brought you the most elegant coat or rather the stuff to make one.” He had heard mother say how much  I needed one and had brought up the material.  It was very nice brown beaver cloth and lasted me a very  long while.

1V

The shop was closed and turned into a cozy sitting room with a small bedroom off of it.  In due time, the vessel was launched and named after the Capt.  “L.W. Norton.” and then she sailed for New York. Mamma, Clara and I spent some very happy ties together at home after that for there was no shop nor boarders and we were all cozy together, Mamma and her friend Hattie Rand sewing most of the time.  Hattie R. was a daughter of old Dr. Rand and went nursing for a living, often staying a few weeks at a time with us.

Oh dear whenever I think of those happy gone by days where we were all so happy together it makes my heart ache.

At length, in January, mother heard from the Capt. and was told to come to New York and bring me, Clara was to remain at home with Grandmother and Uncle Rod.  then we were in a great flurry. I stopped school and flew about the country bidding all good bye.  On the last day home, the last day mother, Clara and I ever spent together, I took tea with my dear chum Hattie and an can remember how we lay down on the floor and talked about funny things trying to keep our spirits up.  I the evening the house was full half the night of people coming to say good bye, so to escape it all Clara and i went to the rink we skated till ten o'clock and then went home, the evening was a dark cold one with many stars shining clearly and coldly, I remember looking up at them and thinking “,” will I ever come back and again walk here with Clara?” and I knew I never would.  People were still in the sitting room, so I went right to bed turned my face next the wall and cried it was the last night I ever spent in our little home and I felt then as if I knew it would be.

Gradually the  house grew quieter, and Hattie R. stole in my room to try on my new hat to get the elastic on the right place, she did not bring any light, but I knew she felt the teas on my cheeks and she bent down and kissed me.  Mother called to me to try to go to sleep and after a long while I did. In the morning I found Clara was sleeping with her arms about me, so I suppose she crawled in after midnight.  Everything was hurry and bustle the next morning.  Hattie came in and we went to the depot together, both crying all the way.mother seemed radiant, and Clara held up bravely joking with everyone, but I know she felt dreadfully to be left behind, all my school friends were there crying as if paid for it, and everyone felt badly but mamma. 

After the last kisses and we were in the train and the girls looking in the car window, I remember mamma saying, “don't feel so badly, they will all be here when we come back next year,” and I said, “i don’t know, they many not be, or we may never come back.” Afterwards I had a letter from Fanny Cox and she said how she cried going home and tried to make Nell think it was the sun on the snow hurting her eyes.  Adria and Hattie went home and cried all the morning and Annie McKinley “bellered” aloud at the station.  Hattie Rand went as far as Annapolis with us and then left us abruptly not daring to trust herself to say good-bye.  the voyage to Boston was very pleasant, we had a stateroom to ourselves and I was only just a little sick at night but it all wore off in the morning. We arrived in Boston at ten o’clock Sunday morning in the boat “Boston” which was there new and was making the first voyage.
 
Captain Norton met us at the wharf and conducted us to a hotel where we dined and then took the train for New York, the Fall River boats not running there on Sunday in the winter.  We arrived in New York about midnight went to a hotel which  I unfortunately do not know the name of and slept the remainder of the night.  the elevated trains were continually rushing back and forth as the line terminated immediately in front of the hotel and I was very fascinated watching them. 

After the Capt. had come back in the morning, we went down to dinner and after it was over he took us to one of the parlours and somehow or other I got left and before I knew it was alone, I sat disconsolately down on the edge of a chair and worried for fear they might never come back and wondered what I had better do, some man and woman came down opposite me and began to drink something and talk mysteriously. I immediately decided they were planning a murder and did  not know but what I might be the innocent victim and was about to throw myself on their mercy when mamma and the Capt. returned. 

We then repaired to another bedroom rather better than the one we were formerly in and the Capt. again left us to get a minister and some of his friends.  Capt. S (not clear) T Faulkener made us a call and wanted me to go out with him and see the city but mamma was too precious to me in those last  few hours I had her, so he left us and we ate fruit and talked together.  I looked out the window at an old woman and a fruit stall across the street and occasionally kissed mother during our last half hour together but did not say anything and neither did she, then hearing footsteps I kissed her one long kiss and Capt N. and his employer Capt Lockart  and wife and Captain Faulkener came in with the minister whose name I have forgotten. 

I was right in love with Mrs. Lockhart. She was a stout fine looking elderly lady in black silk and laces. Mother had her blue travelling dress on and I a green one. The minister requested them all to stand up and the Capt.. with Capt L and Capt. F on one side and mamma with Mrs. L stood up.  I felt very forlorn sitting back all alone but the minister called me and Mrs. L. took hold of my hand and i felt very proud to be standing up with a bride. 

After the ceremony. which was very short, and congratulations had been tendered the guests all left and shortly after the Capt mamma and I started for the vessel which we reached after a short walk and a long one through a pier was that the cabin was rather close and had a deserted appearance as we entered the dining room a kitten came from behind the stove which the Capt called “Molly”  Mother laughed for she recognized it as the one they had found in one of their few Nova Scotia walks together and which he had taken on board and kept; she was pleased to find it named after herself .  Opening from the dining room was a pantry, quite large storeroom, two bedrooms and the sitting room.  There were two halls leading to the decks, the forward having a state room either side for the mates, the after having the bathroom and sitting room on either side.  My room was directly opposite mothers and by leaving our doors open there was only the dining room between us, but her door was usually shut as there was another opening into the sitting room which was always open, so at first I was rather lonely nights.

The Sitting had a very pretty carpet a fine writing desk, a pretty table, a leather covered sofa, two leather rockers, and a wicker rocker, and was an exceedingly comfortable room.  We were lying at a pier no 9 or 11 with many other vessels near us, and I found it great fun watching the  many many tugs, ferry’s, steamers and craft of all descriptions flying bout us. 

Mother received a set of breakfast castors as a wedding present from Capt L. and a fine leather bound album from Mr. North f Hantsport who was then in NY and a box of perfume and a cake of Colgate and Co’s soap from Mr. Simpson, a ship supplier in N.Y.  Mr. Simpson  promised to bring me some silk to make a doll’s dress but he never did and I never quite forgave him. 

Shortly after this the vessel was towed down towards Blackwell’s Island where we loaded lumber having a half cargo of oil also; towing down we passed under Brooklyn Bridge but mamma would not allow me to stay on deck as she said something might fall on me. We were now lying in a very rough part of the city on Brooklyn side, but I found enough amusement. I did not know that the large stone buildings on B Island were prisons although I often wondered why the windows were barred.  One sunny morning, I noticed what appeared to be myriads of small boys all dressed alike running about and apparently playing some game I concluded it was a large school and was just recess and they were having a good time; but I soon noticed they were heaving great stones into the air and lowering them and building a breakwater or something. I  called mamma and told her to watch and my romantic ideas were soon shattered, the school boys were rough men in gray striped uniforms as I soon saw through the glass.I spent quite a lot of time watching them after that and wondering who was in this and that barred windowed room. 

One day we all went ashore, but the stores were small and of rather primitive construction in that end of the town; I got a pair of tan shoes and mother some buttons and other necessaries and we went back to ship, through the great oil yards where there were tanks or reservoirs as high as our houses in H. and everything smelled of oil and there was a noise of machines all the time.  Mother and the Capt. laughed a good deal at our appearance for he had on an old suit he had been painting in and she and I our old morning dresses, it was their first appearance on shore since they were married.

After this, Capt. N got sick with bad knee (housemaid’s I guess) and Capt Lockhart invited him to stay on shore at his house, he went one afternoon and we were to follow on the next.  That night I remember we, mother and I went on deck and looked around the stars were shining and twinkling as only stars can when against a dark blue sky with a crisp clear atmosphere, the river was comparatively silent, a number of church bells were ringing across the river and the whole city brilliantly illuminated, the gas station from which the city was lighted (the electric lights not then in ) looked magnificent, resembling a huge firework.  Mother appeared radiantly happy but I was homesick and we soon went to bed.

 Next afternoon about five, Capt L called for us and we started for his house in the horse cars. On the way I saw many interesting things; a fire-engine which had just succeeded in putting out a fire in a large dwelling house, captured my attention considerably. After a while we exchanged cars for the elevators which were very crowded with people returning from work and we were compelled to stand on the platform very much wedged in the crowd.  My hat was being continually knocked off, and my elbows jibed until at length I said with childlike simplicity “It is a good thing we are not made of glass or we would all be poked to pieces..  Two girls near giggled all their way home after that and everybody smiled.  While Capt L tried to get me a little more out of the crush.  It was real dark when we got out at night street, but we only went a few steps before we reached the house. C apt. L used his latch key and we were admitted.

We went through a nicely furnished hall and up a flight of stairs into a bedroom where Capt N was and Mrs L showed me into a small room adjoining, which was really the sewing room but she had a bed put up for me, apologizing because she had not a better to offer me, but we found out her eldest daughter was seriously ill on the next flight and  the house pretty well filled.  We went down to dinner at about eight o'clock the dining room being in the basement, we passed through the same hall we had first entered and caught a glimpse of the back parlour in which I saw a piano.
The dining room was a very long room, but the long table was filled with young people.  There were two sons, the eldest about twenty one--George, by whom I sat, a daughter May who was much like her mother and whose birthday came on the same day as mine and Captain Norton’s. Lena a rather proud girl, and an adopted girl Millicent who was going to school the eldest daughter  I did not see, and the youngest child Frank with whom I became good friends.

George was rather good looking with the easy going manner of a man of the world and was inclined to be rather mild I think I was having a rather tough time trying to get my meat cut but failed utterly, and he kindly did it for me with a parental air whereat the girls all laughed.  the next few days I enjoyed to the utmost there was another brother older than Frank whose name I have forgotten who was learning to play and I always plagued him when he was practising.

Mamma, Millicent and I went shopping one evening and got some stuffs for wrappers and a dress for me: red paid gingham; we were out one afternoon too and one morning Lena took me out while she shopped and i bought chocolates and tried to get her to eat some and wondered why she wouldn’t although I had a vague impression it was not correct to eat them on the street I suppose she had a real impression.

Frank and I had good times playing games on  the floor generally, lying flat on our  stomachs with heels in the air.  One day I was in the back parlour dancing around looking out the window , between it and the drawing room were huge folding doors always open and curtains hung at the further end of the drawing room was a mirror from ceiling to floor between the two front windows, i thought I was alone in the room, but when I turned quickly from the window, i saw a strange girl staring at me, it startled me so I jumped and as I did so she did and I saw it was my own reflection in the mirror, I felt provoked enough to go and break it all to pieces it had startled me so.

We had  lunch at noon and I ate my first piece of nut cake which Mrs. L said Annie the sick daughter had made.  Annie was engaged to some young man in Boston and Frank kindly informed me that the porteres between the parlours were new ones bought for her wedding which would have to be postponed now. She was sick nearly six months and a dreadful operation of some kind had to be performed  I heard afterwards. While (?) sick capt N. had an operation performed on his knee and after it got better we went back to shop.  I distinctly remember the day we left walking down ninth street and waiting for a car, when in the car I became devoted to the window and was rewarded at length by seeing a doll dressed in dark blue satin playing a miniature piano, I was enraptured with it and have ever since felt neglected because they did not buy it for me.

Mrs Lockhart presented me with two books when we left, our “Little Women” the other Butterworth’s “Zig Zag Journey in Europe” which I have since found very interesting, but Miss Alcott’s book became my favourite immediately  and I have ever since been her slave.

At length our sailing day arrived, a pilot came on board and we were towed down the river; it was all extremely interesting, the passing and repassing of tugs, vessels and all kinds of water craft.  The continually changing panorama and the exhilarating fresh salt breeze which soon began to be too stiff for comfort.  We passed the Statue of Liberty and I have a vague impression of a fortress of some description nested here and there as we got farther down the bay, were lovely looking villas amongst the green hills, but just then we were called to dinner, I distinctly remember the first course was pea soup.  I ate a few spoonfuls and then everything got jumbled up together and pilots and pea soup were as one to me, I was excused from the table and started for the deck, there were only a few boats in sight now and the waves looked tremendous to me, I thought , “I won’t be sea sick now it is so nice here on deck, I am bound I shall stay here. But then I remembered no more and when I began to come to my senses I found myself in my berth, here I stayed for some time i can tell you, and the though of food was torture, I was sick quite a long time and think I must have been in a sort of stupor part of the time for I do not remember it very well, and for an active child that was wonderful. 

The change of climate probably affected me some. Mother got about before I did, and one find day came and told me she was going to take me on deck as she knew I would feel much better, I felt too dejected to object, and after a terrible ordeal I was dressed and got on deck.  We still wore woollen gowns and shawls about us, but were in our bare heads, the sun seemed very warm but there was quite a chilly breeze blowing. I was delighted with everything and felt much revived.  The vessel was carrying a good deal of sail and looked s beautiful nodding and bowing on the great waves, the waters parting in white foam at her bows and the way she would rise to the top of a huge billow and then sink into one of the great hollows of the deep was indescribable and caused me to hold my breath and wonder if we would ever come up.  I did not wonder I had been sick; and was  surprised the vessel did not roll from side to side instead of pitch forward.  Mother and I cuddled up together on top of a small hatch in the lee of the cabin and watched the waves, a thing I never tired of doing from morn till night.  They looked majestic and grand, each trying to displace the other and all rushing so madly on, on until some great billow would envelope smaller waves and then others would take their place, it was all so exhilarating, so fascinating with the continual roar and splash of the water beating against the ship and the wind in the rigging.  It was very novel to me.

V

After this, we both improved quite rapidly, and after we got our sea legs, as the sailors say, we were constantly on deck.  Mother looked after the sitting room, her state room and mine and with that and her sewing and writing kept herself quite busy and yet could rest whenever she felt inclined.  How different her life must have seemed to her, for before it was work from morn till night and now only work when she felt like it. I know she appreciated the change, although she enjoyed it so short a time.  She and Capt N. were fond of writing poetry and were quite good at it, I remember one night in New York they were both at the desk composing a letter in poetry to Capt. N’s married daughter in Bangor.  I was writing to Fan Cox, lying on the sofa with elevated knees, which I used for a writing desk.  I also thought I would write a poem to Fan so I began I cannot remember it now but I know it was extremely rambling and diffuse and the ideas were rather mixed, but the metre was not bad and i concluded then and there that I was to be a poetess of great renown in fact felt I must be then, I have since changed my mind!

The weather began to get extremely warm and we adopted thinner clothing, I believe I forgot to say we were sailing to Santos, S.A. occasionally we sighted a vessel and once signalled one to find the latitude or something as our chronometer was faulty and the other vessel would not answer. At another time we spoke a vessel near the equator and I was charmed with the dipping of the flags.

One beautiful sunny sabbath after breakfast I heard an unusual commotion on deck and ran up to see what the cause was. The capt. and Mate an a few sailors were all looking over the  side at something in the water, I called mamma and we soon saw two beautiful dolphins swimming around, there was a calm on and the whole ocean was like glass without a ripple and only the long deep swells to mar the surface.  We could see down into the water some feet and there seemed to be quite a school of the fish swimming around. 

The Capt. soon had a harpoon rigged and succeeded  in capturing two or three of them, they were very large, one being about three and a half or four feet long, I should judge. I watched them dying on the deck and was too much engaged seeing the beautiful colours they turn to think of their suffering.  We had fresh dolphin for some time after and also had one or two salted down.  There were a number of porpoises some distance from the ship one day and they made me think of school boys and girls at some game, as they came up to blow. 

One favourite pastime i had was fishing seaweed with small crabs in it up, where we were passing through the gulf stream, I had a pole with a hook on the end and a tub of water into which I dumped the weed which was a bright yellowish brown and shook the crabs from it they were not good for anything and I always threw them into the water again, but it was fun trying to get  them out for they clung so desperately to the weed and were the exact colour of it, so I had to search to find them. 

I must have been an oddity at that time, for I nearly always wore a red plaid gingham dress made mother Hubbard style.  It was rather a pretty dress, but it was my head gear that “capped the climax.”  I never would wear a hat on deck and in fact could not keep one on, so mother made me a comical little cap of white shirting fitting down tight over my head with a band of red  like my dress and I wore it constantly.  My hair was curly then and this cap pulled snugly down must have caused me to resemble a ?. 

I developed a mania for whittling at that time, Capt. N. did his own carpenter work and I helped, at least I always had his knife when he wanted it, making something.  he made me two boats one a large flat bottomed affair we rigged up fine, mother helping me make the sails and rigging; he also made a puzzle and checker board which I very artistically painted as well as daubing myself considerably.  He and mother played quite often, but I was generally his antagonist, while she watched us. I became and expert and after a time got so I could beat him “sllck” as he called it, and we had some touch games. 

My doll came in for quite a share of attention and became the possessor of several new gowns, and i read anything I could  get hold of.  Miss Alcott’s “Little Women” was read and reread and thoroughly enjoyed. 

Our steward was an unusually slow man, but comparatively clean and could cook very well.  He did not keep any cooked food in the pantry in our cabin, but bread. I used to go and get bread between meals and hook chocolate when I could find any and sugar and eat it, occasionally he would catch me at it, but never said anything although it must have annoyed him.  Our sailors were a rough but for the most part a good natured lot, with which I had nothing to do.  The mate was a Dutch man with a Capt’s certificate, a good enough man, but a little lazy and no education beyond nautical affairs, the second mate was a perfect animal in appearance and manner, not violent but a great big bulky creature without a mind or ambition, one of the poorest specimens of humanity I ever had the misfortune to behold, one form whose appearance you would instantly recoil but I do not think he would wilfully harm anything.  He was simply a creature made in the image of God, with that image almost entirely obliterated.

VI

We had but one violent storm, and that a short and sudden one, one afternoon, the rain came down in torrents and the vessel was keeled to one side till she seemed on a level with the water, she running under a great deal of canvas and it seemed to me was just skudding through the water; mother wrapped in a thick coat insisted on going on deck, but they made me stay below.  The water came in great billows over the deck and often came through the companionways down the stairs, I ran from one window to another, although the cabin floor seemed nearly perpendicular and it seemed like crawling up the wall.  Three other vessels were in sight when the storm began, but the rain became so violent I soon could not see beyond a few feet from the vessel, but where it ceased I found only two were in sight and we had considerably outstripped them. 

As we neared Santos, the Capt. who had never been there before, began to study charts etc. only one of the sailors Peter by name and the best among them, had been there before.  Mother and I used eagerly to watch for land, sitting on deck on the shady side of the cabin, she writing poetry to send Clara and I watching the waves with y doll, or a book , or helping her with a word occasionally. When at length we did sight land, I was so thankful i got my Bible and hunted for something suitable for the occasion but not being very familiar with it, I gave up after reading a few verses at random.  We appeared to me to be very near the land, but not a house or a sign of any living thing was visible. 

The Capt knew from the chart that Santos was in from the coast, up a small river, but the land presented one solid mountain front, and where we were to get in was yet to be solved. It was so delicious to see land again though, with the dark dark, green of the forest trees and bright red patches of mud where there had been a land slide, and the “muddy smell” coming from the shore.  I went to sleep that night feeling as grateful as I know how to and found next morning that we had found the break in the mountain wall and were sailing up a small river.  Now I wish I were an artist and could paint all i saw, for I can never describe it half as vividly enough.  The luxuriant tropical growth on either side of us would look charming and beautiful enough to anyone, but to me who had seen nothing but sky and water for nearly 50 days it was heavenly.  And the land breeze oh so delicious, I can taste and smell it now with its lovely freshness. 

As we rounded a curve, I saw far in shore a long low building which afterwards I found to be a hotel where I stopped for a time.  There the river grew narrower and became exceedingly difficult of navigation, but I did not care I could see more on shore. In amongst the shrubbery, trees and palms, were numbers of low hoses with queer roofs, ( I think they are called “tiles”, look like strips of round bark laid on) and what interested me more was the people moving about.  That evening some of them passed the vessel in canoes.  One crowd, especially attracting my attention, composed of a man, woman and two children, their childish voices ringing over the still evening water caused me to dance for joy.  There were a very dark people and for a time I was very disappointed and looked upon them as Negroes.  Presently, we passed a fort with a flag flying, it was in an excellent situation, where the river was very narrow and just before a very sharp turn which led to the city.  But before this we got stuck, run ashore and feared for a time we would have to throw the deck load overboard., but in some miraculous manner got free again. Tugboats in galores came after us soliciting patronage and declaring we could never get up the river by ourselves without getting stuck, but they all asked such fabulous prices Capt N refused them all.

We were a few days getting around the bend in the river above the fort, but at length one nigh we drifted around with the tide and then next day a wind sprang up and we succeeded in getting safely to the city. Mother said she went on deck about twelve o'clock the night we drifted round the point and saw the city from a distance brilliantly lighted and across a broad expanse of moonlit water it presented a very beautiful appearance.

With a fair wind we soon sailed up the river till we reached the city; we seemed to be in a very much shut in bay with mountains on every side and on the left a city was growing at the foot of one of the tropical clad hills.  It was a bright fine day, on the right the mountains were partly concealed by clouds and everything had that delicious “early” odour.  Before we sailed u the stream as fast as we intended going, we were hailed by a small boat containing two official looking beings who came on board and down in the cabin in a very lordly manner complaining bitterly because the Capt did not come down immediately and attend to their business.  It seemed perfectly evident to every body else that the Capt was more than engaged then on deck giving order s and helping get things straightened out.

The two “Lords of Creation” could speak English perfectly and deigned a few remarks to mamma, but their sense of importance was so great and they were so humiliated at being kept waiting they could not deign to be very civil.

When the Capt at length came down, his apologies were accepted with grunts of disapproval and their business was resorted to; the Capt was advised not to allow any of his crew or his wife or daughter to go n shore any more than was necessary as the yellow fever was raging.

This disappointed me for one of my first remarks on beholding the city was “oh mamma it does not look too large for us to find our way about in it.”  I was very anxious to get my feet firmly planted on “terra firma” again.

The city looked very enchanting with its low roofed houses tiled with what appeared to be a kind of circular red bark.  Verandahs running ll around the hoses were very common, giving them a very summery appearance.  Tall straight palms with their graceful feathery tops were visible everywhere, giving that truly southerner effect which only palms are capable of conveying.  On the departure of the “officials”, a few American Capts. came on bard, one--an old friend of Capt Norton’s, captain Grafton was decidedly blue about the fever condition of the city, the hospitals were full he declared and a most malignant form of the fever prevalent.  A great many of the victims were seized with “black vomit” after which there was no hope for them.

The words “black vomit” arrested my attention and I afterwards inquired of mother what was meant by them.  She explained and neither of us knew how familiar we were to become with it.  She succeeded in cheering Capt Grafton considerably said she believed half the people fell victim to it merely because they were so sure they would have it and she believed if e all were careful to avoid it and take care of ourselves, none of us would take it.

How happy our life in port was!

We had an awning erected over the cabin and after deck, so it was always shady and with our rocking chairs on top of the house our books our games and sewing it was delightful. Visitors too came off and on relieving the monotony. There were other vessels near us and on one the capt had his wife and some young children but they kept strictly to themselves fearing the fever.

The Capt had one small boat with light oars which mother and I were very anxious to try although she knew very little about rowing and I, considerably less.  The capt. thought it a little unsafe for us to venture out in that climate, but we prevailed over him and he took us one afternoon.  We enjoyed the row immensely and decided to go about considerably visiting the vessels and perhaps going on shore.  Both of us had learned to row in the meantime.

There were a great many vessels in port, some of which had been there months, and or some official persons were unable to get away or else, as was the case with a new American vessel uncoppered was lying there without a sign of life on board and slowly going to waste and had been there months and was still without prospects of getting away.  We heard the Capt his wife and his children owned nearly all of her, and the wife had not only lost her husband but her means of livelihood was being destroyed.

The Captain was somewhat dubious about allowing mamma and I go off the vessel much, but we teased and used to go about in our boat pretty often, but never on shore.  One afternoon we started out on a tour of investigation amongst the vessels it looked very cloudy and squally and the Capt did not want to go at all.  But chiefly through me kicking up a rumpus we started and went to a vessel where e the Capt had his wife and a lot of small children and talked up to them.  I of course was for chinning up on board, but Capt N. said it looked too much like rain and we must pull back immediately, mother and I had been rowing with the tide, when suddenly the squall struck us.  The rain came down in torrents , the Capt took the oars and rowed with all his might against the current we were without wraps and he feared the consequences if we caught cold.
Fortunately, nothing came of it, although I kept pretty quiet about it as I felt it had been my fault that we ever went.

Capt W Harvey had left N.Y  for Santos about the same time we did and we watched for his arrival daily..  After he arrived he came immediately to see us. It was a beautifully fine day and mother and I were on top of the house reading and sewing in our rockers under the awning trying to catch the cool breeze.  “Whit” came up and talked with mother about everything nearly till I got restless and did not pay much attention to them.  I remember her telling him though how perfectly contented she was and how rested she was getting after her hard life, but somehow she did not believe she was going to enjoy it long, she had a feeling she would not live long.  Next day she and I were alone on the house and she drew me in her lap from off the top of the ventilator where I had been watching a big mail and passenger steamer come from Barbadoes, and she said, “I have just been wondering what would be best to do with you, were anything to happen to me , I guess I will leave you to your Aunt Annie and Uncle Sile,” with a half laugh.
 
My eyes opened wide  as I looked up into her face and said with fear in face and voice; “mamma, what do mean?” 

“Well, she said, “if I were to die, or...”

” “Mamma, don’t” I said dropping my face in her lap.  A sudden horror and fear possessed me.  I had never before thought of her dying before myself and always planned on having her come live with me after I became possessor of my own house.  And Clara and I often disputed who should have her.  Her words suggested horrible thoughts to me and also partially stunned me. 

She went on ‘’You could not go to sea alone, anyway you must be home at school , and it would not be well for you at Grandmother’s --”

”yes I want to go there” I interrupted in muffled tones from her lap,” if I go anyplace.”

“How would you like it at Lide’s?” she asked.

“No.” I said decidedly.

“Lide” was another aunt by marriage. Neither she nor Aunt Annie had any children of their own.

”Well, you know Clara is at Gran’s now and you could not both be there, and I think it would be best for you with Annie and Sile.”


The memoirs end here. I tell you that because most people beg for the rest.  I talked to my grandmother (the author of the above) and the story always made her sad.  She did grow up with her aunt and uncle and spoke fondly of them.  I think I have either Sile's or her mother's desk where Grandma wrote many many letters.

(photo)


I haven't found the first book she refers to as Memoirs Book 1, but I have many other notebooks filled with her music and ideas. I also have a notebook describing her trip to Europe starting on the Bluenose clipper ship.  She was a superb musician and travelled through Europe studying, going to concerts and playing the piano.  Her daughter Mary was also a concert pianist and played for the CBC radio on her own and many other programs.


(more to follow--these pages are in process.)