by Wanda Garrett
I recently received a message from Jeannie Baldwin telling me about an article that mentioned her great-grandmother, Mary Susanna (Walters) Brown. The article was written by Geneva K. Cholock and printed in The Packet on June 5, 2006. This article is very interesting and needs to be shared.
First a little about Mary Susanna Walters. She was born about 1871 at Petley on Random Island, the daughter of Charles and Hannah (Davis) Walters. I am unsure of her exact year of birth as her death certificate says she was 101 when she died on 4 October 1967, but her headstone says she was 96 years old when she died.
Mary married Jacob Brown of Hatchet Cove on 30 November 1900. They were married at St. John’s by Rev. H. P. Cowperthwaite at Gower Street United Church.
When they were first married, Mary and John lived in Hatchet Cove. Sometime after the birth of their son Aquilla in 1909 and before the birth of their daughter Eliza Jane in 1914, the family moved to North West Brook.
According to her great-granddaughter, when Mary was in her 70s, she got sick the doctors said she never had that much time. Mary decided to travel to St. John’s to pick out her casket and a black burial dress. She instructed her family to bury her with a photo of Joey Smallwood and a plastic bouquet of flowers that were given to her by MHA Jim Tucker.
However, Mary didn’t pass away at that time. In fact, she lived many more years!
So, what happened to the casket? Well, lets find out from the article written by Geneva K. Cholock. We also learn more about Mary and how could “witch” people who were unkind and mean to her.
One day I received a clipping from Steve [Herder] asking me if I could do something on it. It was the last few lines in an article Time magazine had written on Joey Smallwood. It said a 94-year-old widow in North West Brook was so devoted to Joey she meant to have his picture accompany her on her last journey. It mentioned both she and her casket were ready.
I went off to see the lady, though I did have some misgivings about the truth of the story. Even in those days everything written about Newfoundland wasn’t necessarily true. I found the lady very gracious and friendly. Over tea, cookies and cake (of her own making) we chatted and I got to know something about her.
Though she walked with a limp I learned she worked her own gardens, growing potatoes, turnips, carrots, cabbage, and onions. There were fruit trees for preserves, and there were animals – ducks, hens, goats, sheep and two horses – in her garden.
Having sheep she bought no wool for the many socks and mittens she knitted – without the aid of glasses I might add – while she was “taking a spell.”
She kept a tidy house for herself and her unmarried son.
It was plain to see she was a staunch Liberal; pictures of Joey adorned her walls. I don’t know if the Premier ever visited her, but the Member for Trinity Conception, James R. Tucker, often did.
I saw no sign of a casket and finally I asked her. She led me to her bedroom and there it was, large as life, sitting at the foot of her bed. I couldn’t imagine anyone waking up each morning to see such a sight but it didn’t faze her at all.
I asked her if it was true she’d had her casket here for a couple of years.
“Yes,” she said.
“Why?” I asked.
“Why not?” she replied.
She had begun to tell me she could “witch” people and when she suggested I lie in the casket to see how nice it was I didn’t mind telling her I was chicken and preferred to wait for this priviledge.
She retorted “it’s only a box with cloth inside.”
To prove it she climbed in, pulled the cover down and remained quietly for a few minutes. Then she lifted the cover and stepped out as quietly as if it were a usual occurrence. As if to put me at ease, she assured me she only witched people she didn’t like.
Where did I fit in here?
She told me of an incident where a fellow had displeased her and about the accident he had before he got home. She took credit for having “witched” him.
She pointed out to me the picture of Joey she meant to take with her, and a few years later she did.
I wonder if she met her idol up there? Maybe the three of them are having a grand old Liberal party. Who knows?
