GEORGE HEPDITCH:

George Hepditch was born in Merasheen and fished there all his life. He had the last “smack“ in Merasheen, a constant reminder to many of the older folks of many trips to St Pierre for a drop of stuff. While telling you about the rum he brought from St. Pierre for his own use and for his friends without ever declaring it or going to a “port of entrance", George will swear that he never did any smuggling. His point of course is that he never made any money on it but took from his friends only what he paid for the rum.

On returning from one oi his forays to St. Pierre, George had a substantial supply of rum for his countless friends and by some strange coincidence forgot to go into Presque, the “port of entrance' in Placentia Bay on his way to Merasheen. On arriving home, he immediately hid the rum by burying it in the puncheons of coal in his stage and hid the bill of sale behind the Sacred Heart picture in his house. However, someone reported him to the authorities who immediately sent the cutter to Merasheen to investigate. The cutter came to Little Merasheen and on seeing her, Johnny Wilson went up to warn George that they were after him. The authorities were close behind Johnny and reached George before he could get the bill of sale out of the house. They searched his premises and found no rum and afterwards searched his house, looking behind the Sacred Heart picture. However, they found nothing since Mrs. Ellen, George’s mother-in-law had taken the bill of sale and put it down in her bosom. Although they found no liquor George had to go to court and was fined $360.O0 for passing the "port of entrance". The magistrate at the time was Tom Sullilvan stationed in Presque and George was due to bring the $360.00 to him on August 15th. On August 14th Magistrate Tom Sullivan passed away so George will still tell you he never did any smuggling and was never caught. However he allows he‘ll have to take a few dollars with him when he passes to the other side in case he runs into Tom Sullivan.

ALBERT HEPDITCH:

Albert Hepditch was a quiet, hard working man who was born, lived and ended his days on Merasheen Island. Albert fished with his brother George and later had a small decked boat of his own. He also spent some years on the Cape St Mary's boats, including one year in the “Catherine Hann" with Din Pat. Albert was married three times, two wives having died early in life. After marrying Theresa Hynes from Davis Cove, they raised a family of eleven children, who like most of us, left Merasheen under the resettlement program.

Web editor's note: Albert's first wife MaryAnn was the daughter of Michael and Ellen Fulford, born in March, 1907.  She died in childbirth.

The Irish Sailor Boy

(This was one of Lar Pitcher’s songs)   

My parents reared me tenderly,
Of a low degree.
l was scarce 14 years of age,
When I shipped across the sea.

My parents there, they shed salt tears,
As they first bid me goodbye
From Waterford we sailed away.
Cried the Irish sailor boy.

We were scarce 14 days at sea,
When a storm appeared at hand.
Our captain cried, look out my boys,
For well soon make the land.

We scarce had time to speak our mind,
When to pieces went our mast.
Where some of us being young and smart,
We soon got safe on shore.
We only saved 12 of our crew, out of the 24.

We rowed around the rugged shore,
Where the land looks high and steep.
We scarce could get a place to land
The water was so deep.

We walked along, that live long night,
Along a foot path green.
And early the next morning,
St Peter's Town we seen.

Where we got bread and meat to eat,
Likewise a bed to lie.
We found kind friends in Newfoundland.
Cried the Irish sailor boy.

We were put on board an Irish ship
Bound to the Irish shore
And if please God spares me my life,
Once more to get on shore.

I sound the praise of Newfoundland,
around our Shamrock shore.
If please God spares me my life,
once more to get on shore.
I’ll sound the praise of Newfoundland.
I will for ever more.