George was born in Merasheen on May 31, 1890 and began his long fishing career at the age of thirteen years when he went lobstering with Tom Ennis for $12 a month. That was the start of a fifty-four years of fishing for George during which time he was involved in every aspect of the fishery ranging from his first year lobstering, to working in Ned's herring factory as a packer for 15¢ an hour, to being skipper of a boat (The Lilly Dale, owned by Sam Best) at 20 years of age, to pursuing the trap fishery in his later years in Merasheen.  George was one of the top sea captains in Merasheen sailing in the Petite Forte, Fox Harbour and Harbour Buffett boats involved in the fishery and coasting from Placentia Bay to St John’s, to Fortune Bay to St Pierre, etc.  Like many from Merasheen, he was caught out in the August Breeze and came out of it safely by sailing for the deep water on the eastern side of Placentia Bay and finally finding shelter in Long Harbour.

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

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

My Good Lookin Man

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The clock was just striking ten
When my gentleman walked in
I gently said, “My Willie dear
Where have you so long been
“I’ve been to Church, my dear he said
And that I couldn't stand
The rolling pin l then let fly
At my Good Lookin Man

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

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