Bridget "Bride" Connors

  General Notes:

dob pob per 1921 census

bapt by Fr. Doutney at St. Kyran's GP: Anthony Hepditch and Margaret Lucy Hepditch

1945 Merasheen
Bridget Fulford 45 wid
Lucy 18 dau
Alphonsus 15 son
Hannah 14 dau
Bernard 10 son
Olivia 8 dau
John 3 son

stonepics - 1990
Labours of Love: Midwives of Newfoundland and Labrador Paperback - 2007
by Esther Slaney Brown (Author)
BRIDE FULFORD
"Bride Fulford, pregnant with her eighth child, stood on the shore of Merasheen Island in Placentia Bay. The seas were rough that day. So rough indeed that the American destroyers Wilkes and Truxtun? and the supply ship Pollux had gone aground near the mining town of St. Lawrence. The Wilkes was refloated but the other two were total wrecks. Two hundred and three young Americans died in that tragedy of 18 Feb 1942. The 187 survivors owed their lives to eight men from the fishing community of Lawn and the entire population of St. Lawrence.
In the early 1900s times were hard on Merasheen Island and Bride's husband John made a fatal decision. He decided to take a small dory and try to salvage some of the precious cargo that was washing ashore from the wrecked American vessels…..likely thinking it could provide sustenance for his family.
Bride, in the latter stages of her pregnancy and with the wind and rain raging around her, looked on helplessly as her beloved husband was drowned in the rough seas. She was left to raise her family alone, At the time she was living in a remote part of Merasheen Island. In due time she decided to move her [house?] to a more populated area. With no man to help her she set about to literally build a house for herself and her family. To make ends meet she took in laundry and ironing. She became the seamstress for the settlement. For the women of Merasheen, her decision to become a midwife meant they had one of the kindest caregivers they would ever experience during the most trying times of their lives.
A loving woman who gave her all for family and friends, Bride is recalled with affection and respect. One of her former daughter in laws recalls how their friendship remained unchanged and loving even after she divorced Bride's son. Sadly now all Bride's children are deceased and the people of Merasheen have been long dispersed from the island taking with them many stories of Mrs. Fulford. Two families who recall her attendance at the births of family members speak fondly of her diligence and kindness during these births.
No doubt she, like her fellow midwives, worked tirelessly for these women who trusted her with their families. The frequent storms that ravaged the island couldn't stay her from her duties, which included walking hundreds of miles to bring comfort and assistance to her charges. Bride not only did for the new mothers but cared for the whole family, often receiving little in the way of recompense.
Hard work aside there was another aspect to this wonderful woman. Possessing an awesome musical ability she was often called upon to perform at the legendary Merasheen Island kitchen parties. She was renowned for her beautiful singing voice. She was no slouch either on the button accordion. A quick sense of humor kept people entertained til the wee hours of the morning. A devout Roman Catholic it is likely that no matter how late she kept them up on Saturday nights she insisted that everyone be out of bed for Mass on Sunday morning. In her later years she resettled in Freshwater to live with her daughter, leaving behind the house she'd built on Merasheen Island. While living in Freshwater…her granddaughter recalls her grandmother's love of wrestling…….
Bridget Connors, daughter of Walter and Margaret was born on 3 January 1900 Clattis (sic) Harbor, Placentia Bay. She worked for a time at the Grace Hospital in St. John's. In the early 1920s she met and married John Fulford of Merasheen Island. They settled in Island Cove, Merasheen Island where John worked at Bannigan's Herring Factory. They had eight children, Lucy, Alphonsus, Hannah, Dennis, Bernard, Olivia, Loretta and John."

Recollections of her neice:
"Bride Connors Fulford was Mom's (Lucy) sister. Mom was the youngest of the siblings. Aunt Bride used to visit us in Clattice Hr NW. She was midwife for me and my younger sister, also named Bride. The midwife,Aunt Ange Hepditch, had died in CH NW in 1950 and when I was due in 1952, Mom went to her sister Bride's in Merasheen. Likewise for my sister in 1954. Mom stayed close to her and visited her often in Freshwater. Mom died in 1985 with Lou Gehrig's. The last time I saw Aunt Bride was 1989 or 1990. She was in the home in Placentia suffering from severe arthritis. Still pleasant, accepting and the same lovely person."

Bridget married John Thomas "Jack" Fulford, son of Patrick Fulford and Johanna Gardiner, in 1925 in St. Patrick's Church in St. John's, Newfoundland. (John Thomas "Jack" Fulford was born on 24 Dec 1900 in Merasheen Island, Placentia Bay, Newfoundland, died on 5 Mar 1942 in Merasheen Island, Placentia Bay, Newfoundland and was buried in Merasheen Island, Placentia Bay, Newfoundland.). The cause of his death was Drowned.

  Marriage Notes:

Y. Hepditch