The Ones Who Came Before

When you click the About page on this blog you are greeted with this all encompassing statement:

“The ongoing story of a young family who hope to go from hopeless landlubbers to swashbuckling circumnavigators.”

Every time I see that statement, there is a little voice in the back of my head that reminds me that it is not entirely accurate.  Make no mistake, Erika, Frances and I are landlubbers.  The first time we were ever on a sailboat was less than a year ago.   But once you look back at our new family tree, Frances has her fair share of salt in her veins.

Our family tree, or at least the photographed branches

First of all, for almost 200 years, one branch of her family called Port Morien their home.  (Frances still hangs out there with her Nana and Grandad most Saturday afternoons. )  Port Morien is a tiny fishing community, that has a mighty wharf and breakwater.

Port Morien Wharf

Frances has 2 paternal great uncles who fished out of this  open harbour.  Ralph, started out fishing lobster.  Eventually he purchased a dragger that he and a small crew piloted from Vancouver to Cape Breton, approximately 6500 Nautical Miles.  Stuart, fished lobster his whole life, before selling his boat to take a position as a fisheries observer.  He tragically died at sea at the age of 46.  In high school, I would occasionally go fishing on Stuart’s boat ‘Ada B’.  My job was usually to measure and band the lobsters.  You know when you see lobsters in the tank at the grocery  store?  Those little rubber bands that are on the claws?  That was me.  The combination of engine exhaust, fish guts, cold, and constant rolling of the Atlantic, lead me to develop a pretty efficient system of puking over the side at regular intervals, without letting the lobsters pile up.  Toward the end of my career, I could complete a barfing session between traps in under 45 seconds.  I know, a pro.

This is Frances’ maternal great-grampa Charlie.  He fished lobster, crab and tuna. Based in Tracadie, Nova Scotia but fished all over – mainland Nova Scotia, and the waters off western Cape Breton.

Charlie Myette

The farther back we go, the details become less clear.  Frances’ Paternal Great-Great-Great Grandpa was named Francisco from the Italian town of San Severo.  There is very little known about him.  The story goes that he was in the navy of whichever kingdom ruled at the time, and while at sea, he suffered what has been referred to as sunstroke which caused him to go mad.

Francisco’s wife remarried, this time an Englishman named John who was also a sailor.   It was from John I inherited a set of needles for sewing sails.

W. Smith & Sons Sail Needles

Still barely visible on each needle is the stamp of their maker ‘W. Smith & Sons’.  I was hoping I would be able to find out more about them online, but it has proven to be difficult, considering the company is still in business, and making needles today that are identical to their product from 140 years ago.

I am sure there are more people back there, and hopefully one day we’ll find them.  But for now we work on making our own entries!

Beeeg Wawa!