What is Newfie Screech?

                                           

My last Blog Entry prompt the question, from my dear longtime friend Kim, "What is Newfie Screech?" I think there are many who have the same question, so I did a little research.

The Story of Screech

The Great Exchange
Long before the Canadian liquor board was created, The Jamaican Rum that was eventually to be known as screech was a mainstay of the traditional Newfoundland diet.

At this time, salt fish was being shipped to the West Indies in exchange for rum.  This resulted in fish becoming the national dish of Jamaica and rum becoming the traditional drink of Newfoundlanders.


The Early Days
Not being overly concerned with the alcohol content, the early fisherman tended to drink the rum at incredibly high sterngth with no attempt to temper the taste.

When the government took control of the alcohol trade in the early 20th century, they put the rum in sophisticated, unlabelled bottle and fortunately did not alter the rum itself.

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A Hospitable Host
This delightful product may have continued indefinitely as a nameless rum except for the influx of American servicemen to Newfoundland during World War II.

As the story goes, the commanding officer of the first detachment was taking advantage of Newfoundland hospitality for the first time and was offered a drop of rum as an after-dinner drink.

The Screecher
Seeing his host toss back the liquor with nary a quiver, the unsuspecting American adhered to local custom and downed the drink in one gulp.

The look of shock on the American's face was overshadowed by his bloodcurdling howl as he managed to regain his breath. Sympathetic persons from miles around rushed to the house to assist the poor man and of course to satisfy their curiosity as to what was going on.

Tis the rum, me son
Among the first to arrive was a garrulous old American sergeant who pounded on the door and demanded “What the cripes was that ungodly screech?”

The taciturn Newf who had answered the door replied simply, “The screech?” ‘Tis the rum, me son.” Thus was born a legend. As word of the incident spread, more soldiers began trying this mysterious rum, adopting it as their favorite.

A Legend is born
The liquor board immediately pounced on the name and reputation and began labeling Famous Newfoundland Screech.

Over the years, the alcohol content of Screech has been toned down and the flavor mellowed, so that in 2003, Screech Rum won a gold medal for excellent taste at the International Rum Festival. Today, Screech Rum is an international favorite amongst all rum aficionados.

In my next Blog Entry I will explain how to be come a "Honorary Newfoundlander".  I will give you one clue, "Newfie Screech" has something to do with it.

The above information was obtained through the website http://www.screechrum.com/story check it out for more information.

                                                        Elaine

More about "Uncle Dad"

Aunt Agnes and "Uncle Dad" dancing in Nanny's Kitchen
taken sometime in 1970's

My Grandfather, Stephen Flynn Jr. was born February 26th, 1895 on Flynn's Hill in Lakeview Harbour Maine, Newfoundland, Canada. One hundred and eighteen years ago, yesterday.

I got to know my Grandfather mostly through stories that were shared and photos that were saved.  I learned from my Mother and my Aunt Agnes that he loved music and he loved to dance. He did not play a musical instrument but did own a modern portable record player in his later years. ( Modern for that time period).  The record player was housed in a customized suitcase type container that could easily be set up in any location, as long as there was electricity.

I am not sure how often he listened to his records, if it was a daily or a weekly occurrence or just for special occasions.  Aunt Agnes did say the record player came out especially when there was company or visitors around.  The table and chairs in Nanny's tiny kitchen were pushed aside and this multi-purpose room instantly became a ballroom. And yes!, a bottle of "Newfie Screech" came out from hiding to be shared with the guests.

The above photo was sent to my mother from her sister Agnes after her visit home to Newfoundland in the 1970's.  On the back Aunt Agnes writes, "Daddy and I Waltzing, must of had some Newfie Screech". (See the record player on the table near the kitchen sink.)  I love the smile on my Grandfather's face!

I find it interesting, that I love music and I love to dance, I don't play a musical instrument either. I may of acquired this, from my "Uncle Dad".

In celebration of the anniversary of my Grand Dad's Birth!

                                             

                                                   Elaine

Memories of "Uncle Dad"



Lt to Rt Top Row, Stephen, Maryleah, "Uncle Dad" and "Nanny"
Bottom Row, Michael, Cousins Wayne, Janet and Me
Taken abt 1966-1967 in Lakeview, Harbour Main NFLD

Most families, you will find, have special names for their grandparents, they may use traditional titles or modified versions created by the grandchildren.  In our family we called our grandfather "Uncle Dad". My older sister MaryLeah gave him this title, the story goes something like this.  When my sister was very little (she is the oldest of us four),  my mother took her home to visit her family in Newfoundland.  There were many Uncles for her to get to know, Uncle George, Uncle Ray, and Uncle Bill.  My sister heard my mother call her father "Dad", so then my sister not knowing what to call him, just added Uncle to the beginning and his title became "Uncle Dad"  It did not take long before the rest of us did the same. 

 

Living so far away from my grandparents made it challenging to get to know them. Distance, time apart and childhood insecurities often got in the way, and by the time you warmed up and felt comfortable, it was time to head home. I would say I was closer to  "Nanny" my grandmother than I was to my grandfather "Uncle Dad".  Now, as an adult, I wish that I had gotten to know him a little better.

 

My grandfather was a very tall, thin, quiet man, "a man of few words", which made it difficult to converse with him. He was very serious and sometimes  extremely stern in his ways. I learned later in life that he did have many health issues, that possible were the reason for his discontent. I do remember though, and I don't think I will ever forget each time I came to visit my grandparents in Lakeview, Harbour Main, my grandfather would go into the cellar and get his axe along with some rope. He went out the back door and began cutting wood, making the seat of a swing that he would fasten to rope and hang from a branch of the Ash Tree, located just outside the back door. When he was finished, I quickly jumped on the swing and he would go back in the house and sit at the kitchen table looking out the window watching me swing. Very few words were exchanged, but this act made a long lasting impression on this little girl.

 

                                                             Elaine

History of "The Flynn Estate" - Part 2

 

 



 

Stephen Flynn Jr, Photo taken Summer of 1981
on the Flynn Estate in Lakeview, Harbour Main

My Grandfather, Stephen Flynn Jr. died August 19th, 1981 at the age of 86 years old.

In his last years, although unable to maintain the property, was determine to remain on his family land until he died.

 According to Uncle Ray, my grandfather, in his "Will" divided the property between his two sons, the land on the Southside of Harbour Main to his son George and the property in Lakeview, Harbour Main to himself.  Uncle Ray explained that his father grew up during a time that it was not customary to leave property to women, even though my grandmother was still living. I was thinking, maybe my grandfather felt the land should be left to a Flynn descendant.  Uncle Ray states that immediately it was presented to the lawyer to have the "Will" rewritten so that the property be put in his mother's name because she was still living and could benefit from this asset.  When grandmother died in 1987 at the age of 83 the "Flynn Estate" was then divided among all the children just as it had been done 100 years prior in 1884 after the passing of Michael Flynn by his son Stephen Flynn Sr.

 

As the years passed, each of the children, who had established lives elsewhere, the daughters Mary, Agnes and Rose all living in the United States, George in St. John's and Ray traveling for his work, the property was then parceled off.  According to Uncle Ray, the property was offered to Ray and George's 10 children between them, but no one had an interest at that time. First the house with some land was sold, and then the barn with some land was sold.

 

Uncle Ray states to this day, there is still a bit of land left in his name, that may be sold in the near future.  Uncle George sold his portion of the property on the southside as well.

 

The piece of land in which my grandfather's nephew, William "Bill", built a house and raised his children is still in his family. Bill's oldest son had built a house next to his father's years ago.  Bill passed away in 1997 but according to Uncle Ray, Bill's house and land is now owned by one of his daughter's, Helen and that she has remodeled the house and uses it as a summer place.

 

I believe this property today, is still referred to as "Flynn's Hill" just as it was years ago.

 

                                                         Elaine

History of "The Flynn Estate" - Part 1

 



Stephen Flynn Jr on  The Flynn Estate
abt 1950's

On several occasions, my Grandfather Stephen Flynn Jr. composed a hand written summary entitled " Hx of the Estate".  The original copy was among my mother's possessions and is now part of my genealogy file.  It is a valuable resource that I often review for information.

In the first summary, my grandfather tells about the first settler on Flynn's Hill, Daniel Dunlae from Ireland and his daughter Elizabeth who married Michael Flynn ( his Grandfather).  They settled on the southside of Harbour Main (waterside).  He reports they had seven children.
See Blog Entry - "The Beginning of Flynn's Hill"
November 10th, 2011

The second summary is dated August 1972, my grandfather is 77 years old at the time, he tells about his father Stephen Flynn Sr and his mother MaryAnn.  He talks about the oldest son Michael (his brother) who died Dec 1917 on Bell Island and Michael's wife who died the following month leaving a family of 5 children. My grandfather states that with his parents permission he took one son "Bill" to live with them on the Flynn Estate.
See Blog Entry - "Family Ties" November 30th, 2011

 Also in the second summary, my grandfather gives the exact dates his parents died and states there was no "Will" at the time of their death. According to the summary he remained on the Estate after the death of his parents and raised his family.  Years later he administered to the court for the Estate and collected letters from each of his siblings a "Deed of Release" 

                         Sister - Esther Flynn Lahey - Bell Island, Newfoundland
                         Brother - Phillip Martin Flynn - New York, USA
                         Brother - Patrick T. Flynn - Hamilton, Ontario
                         Sisters - Mary Ellen Flynn and Elizabeth Flynn Morey of New York

The Deed was recorded the 9th day of April 1957 A.D. at 12:40 P.M. Vol 524-5 " Deed of Release"



Stephen Flynn Jr and Ellen Mary Tobin Flynn
In front of their house in Lakeview Harbour Main, NFLD abt 1970's




 

These Family History Summaries have helped answer some of the questions regarding the Flynn Family beginnings in Lakeview Harbour Main,  Newfoundland, Canada almost 200 years ago. My Grandfather felt it was important to put into writing the history of his family and the land which had been in his family for so many years.  He had a strong sense of history and tradition. I think he would appreciate that the summaries were saved, studied and will be remembered.

The next entry will review the history of the Flynn Estate after my grandfather's death.

                                                                                                     

                                                             Elaine

                

My Coffey Connection

This is the cover of Eddie Coffey's C/D "Jack of all Trades" from Newfoundland Canada.  We have several copies of his music in our family, in cassette form and C/D and even possibly a vinyl album version.  My mother told us as children, that he was a cousin of hers, who has done very well singing "Newfie Music". He is a Balladeer of Newfoundland History.

With my recent review of my Coffey Family Connection, I am interested in finding out exactly how we are related.  Here is a little Christmas Melody for you to enjoy!

 

Listening to Eddie Coffey always brings a smile to my mom's face.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

                                                  Elaine

                                                

A Photo for a Family Story

In studying Genealogy, it is recommended to find supporting documentation to prove actual events of birth, marriage and death of family members. When documents are not available, the next best source is family history stories and notes.

Aunt Chris and Uncle Mike Bourke 1981
50th Wedding Anniversary

In 1985, my Great Aunt Chris ( Mary Christina Tobin Bourke) my grandmother Ellen Mary Tobin Flynn's sister, put together a type-written summary, entitled "History of the Tobin Family". Aunt Chris was 76 years old at the time she wrote this statement. In this summary, she listed her Great Grandparents along with their children on both her mother and father's side.  My mother, who loved family history had a copy of this account, which is now part of my genealogy file.  This information has been extremely helpful in my own personal research.
                                                               

This is what Aunt Chris wrote regarding her Grandparents and her Great Grandparents on her mother's side.

"Grandfather Follett came from Clattice Harbour on the Western Shore.  He had a boat and freighted supplies from St John's to Cape Shore.  He married grandmother Ellen Coffey and lived with her parents ( James Coffey and Catherine McGrath) in Angel's Cove Newfoundland.  He had a brother William.  I don't know if there are any children left as 2 sons were drown in a big storm.  Grandfather never shaved nor smoked.  He didn't eat any butter or milk.  It was fish - smoked, dried and salted. He was never sick. At the age of 86, he got pneumonia and died within 2 weeks. They were married over 50 years.  His people came from Chantilly, North France."

James Follett b. 1842 and d. 1923, He was actually 81 yrs at when he died. ( Info found through NFLD Grand Banks Genealogy Site) Ellen Coffey Follett b.1843 d. unknown ( My 2nd Great Grandparents)

Their children - Elizabeth - 1871, Mary Bridget - 1874, ( My Great Grandmother), George - 1876, James - 1878, Margaret - 1881, Peter - 1883, John - 1886 and Hanna - 1895

James Follet and Ellen Coffey Follett
(family members not identified)
taken around 1898

The following information is taken from the publication " Our Cultural History" A short History of the Cape Shore Area, Editors: Ernestine Power, Bernadine Careen, Cathy Nash

"A family of Folletts also lived in Angel's Cove in it's earlier days.  James Follett from Clattice Harbour, commanded a schooner that traded on the Cape Shore, bringing provisions to the people and freighting their fish to St. John's.  he married Ellen Coffey and settled down in Angel's Cove.

They had 4 sons and 3 daughters.  Mr. Follett's sons were great seamen and in the early 1900's built their own schooner.  James Follet was considered one of the best captains in Newfoundland.  His wife Ellen was one of the most prominent midwives on the Cape Shore."

I  was very excited when I recently found the above photo of James Follett and Ellen Coffey Follett. I found it through Ancestry.com, by way of the Hanlon2 Family Tree, a decedent from Ellen Coffey's brother David Coffey. Having this photo helps make Aunt Chris' story complete. It is possible that one of the two younger women could be my Great Grandmother Mary Bridget Follett, I will continue researching this possibility.

Some of this information I have shared in a previous entry "My Grandmother's Family". I feel it merits repeating, especially when you find "A Photo for a Family Story"!

                                                                                                     

                                                          Elaine