PADDY BARNETT  

Paddy was born in Indian Harbour where his father had settled after arriving from lreland. When Pad was 9 years old his father died and he was sent to live with Mr. Jim Bavis in Brule. He started fishing with Mr Bavis immediately so that he could earn his keep. Four years later he moved up to Little Merasheen where he fished with Dick Ennis and Jack Wilson and in later years fished with Jack Hann in the Lucy Ann. He was married in Bar Haven in 1911 and settled on Soldiers Point where he died at the age of 62 years.

 Web editor's note: Paddy was the son of James and Mary (Viscount) Barnett.  Mary's sister Caroline was married to John Pomroy of the Virgin Cove.

Harry Dunn

(This song was sung by Edgar Wilson)

l once did know a charming lad, his name was Harry Dunn
His father being a farmer and Harry his only son.
He had everything he needed, a farm of splendid land
But still he wanted to take a trial in the woods of Michigan.

The morning that Harry was going away, his mother to him did say
"Harry, dear don‘t go away don't from your mother stray.
Don't leave your poor old father, your brothers and sisters three
For there's something seems to tell me, your face no more I'll see".

As Harry started on his way for Buffalo the next day
He hired with a lumbering man in Michigan far away
He worked away for three long months and he often would write home
Saying. "The winter will soon be over and then l will go home".

One morning as Harry rose from his bunk, no smile was on his brow
He called his chum all from the door, whose name was Charlie Dow
Saying “Charlie, dear, l had a dream that filled my heart with woe
Since l fear there's something wrong at home and it's there l think I'll go.

His comrades only laughed at him, which pleased him for a time
Saying “Harry, dear, you cannot go, it’s time to fall the pine".
They worked away till three o'clock, all on that fatal day
Till a hanging limb tell down on him and crushed him to the clay.

His comrades gathered around him, where he lay broken cast
Saying “Charlie, dear, lam dying, my time has come at last
Pick me up and take me down, and send my body home
To my poor old aging parents, why did l from them roam?"

So early the next morning, as brilliant shone the sun
A man brought home the body of poor young Harry Dunn
And when his mother saw him, she tell dead on the ground
It was for the son she loved so much, her soul was heavenward bound.

As for his dear old father, he lingered for a while
But every day hereafter, he never was known to smile
ln less than six weeks after they buried that poor old man
And now you can see the deathly curse of the woods of Michigan.