By Joseph Seward
Daniel Flynn with twins Billy and Gerald Seward taken in Gooseberry Cove, c1948
One of my earliest memories is of mom and me visiting Aunt Maggie (Margaret Seward) Flynn, (1871-c1940). She lived next door and had a small convenience store, ensuring a supply of candy whenever I visited. The last time I saw her, she was bedridden, and it may have been when she died. Her husband, William Flynn, (1851-1926), came to Gooseberry Cove from his home in Kings Cove, Bonavista Bay, to teach at the Catholic school. He later became a successful businessman. William and Margaret had eight children, of which two, John William, born 1902, and James Valentine born 1908, died five days apart in 1912. Five of the remaining six left Gooseberry Cove before I was born. The remaining child, Daniel, (1893-c1970), was a deaf-mute who conversed in sign language. After his father’s death, Dan lived with his mother until her death c1940. He lived alone, but under the guidance of Patrick Seward (1902-1979) and his wife Katherine (Kate) Shaw (1904-1987), until he went to live in a nursing home in St. John’s sometime in the 1960s.
Most of the local people could sign with Dan; there were three who were exceptional in their ability to sign with him. Two, Patrick (Paddy) Seward and his wife Katherine, in whose home Dan visited daily, and the other was my father, Martin Seward, who grew up around him and fished with him for five seasons. As a youth, I was in awe watching Dan, Paddy, and Dad sign to each other, telling stories and jokes, and laughing as they recalled events of years past. There were lots of knees and back slapping as I watched, wishing I could understand the conversation. Dan was a big man and loved children. The only picture I have seen of him he is holding two of Paddy’s and Kate Seward’s children.
In 1941, our family moved to Southport, a village about two kilometres from Gooseberry Cove. I would often accompany Dad on visits back to Gooseberry Cove. We would often stop in to see Dan, and they would bring each other up to date on events since they last met. We left Southport in 1950, and I joined the Canadian Military shortly after. It was several years before I saw Dan again.
When the road from Queens Cove to Southport opened in the late 1950s, I was home on vacation and took a drive to visit relatives and friends in the Southwest Arm. My first stop at Gooseberry Cove was at Paddy’s and Kate Seward’s. Shortly after my arrival, Dan came in. He looked at me without expression; I asked Paddy to sign to him, asking if he knew me; Dan shook his head; Paddy then signed that I was Martin’s son, Joe. Dan’s eyes lit up, and he came towards me with outstretched arms; I was on the receiving end of a huge hug. I do not believe the embrace was for me. Instead, it was because I was the son of one of his best friends.
Two years later, I had the opportunity to see Dan again. This time, I was accompanied by Dad and my wife, Marie. It was the only time she met Dan. She still remembers how easily he and Dad signed to each other. Unfortunately, it would be the last time Marie and I would see him.
Dan spent the last years of his life in a nursing home in St. John’s. He was escorted there by Kate (Shaw) Seward. They stopped overnight at Clarenville to visit with Mom and Dad.
I have tried, but with no success, to find the date and place of Dan’s death and burial.
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Posted August 2021