Duncan Parsons (1856-1914)

Duncan Parsons was Little Bay’s blacksmith from 1879 until around 1896.

Duncan was born at South Side, Harbour Grace on January 27th 1856 to Frederick and Patience Parsons. The family were Methodists and young Duncan was christened there on February 8th 1856 by James Dove.

Once he was old enough he went to school. Michael Scully of Riverhead was Duncan’s teacher. After his formal education was completed he and his brother started their training to become blacksmiths.

He was 23 years old in April of 1879 when he married Annie Eliza Oke, eldest daughter of the lighthouse inspector Austin Oke. Their wedding ceremony was performed by Rev. F.G. Willey at the Wesleyan Church in Spaniard’s Bay.

Later that year the young couple packed up and moved to the newly established mining town of Little Bay where Duncan Parsons would start his smithy. The smithy was likely attached to the family’s house. The Parsons family made their home in The Bight and raised their children there. Their daughter Mable was often found performing in school plays. Their sons Duncan and Robert learned the blacksmithing trade from their father.

There are a few other members of the Parsons family present in 19th century Little Bay. Benjamin Parsons lived and worked at Loading Wharf until he was badly burned by a boiler in January of 1888. There is a miner named Peter Parsons present at the same time. And a man named Frederick Parsons is dragged back to town from Twillingate to answer for a bastardy case made by one Elizabeth Ginn in June of 1889. I don’t yet know how or if they connected to Duncan’s clan.

Duncan Parsons’ smithy operated in Little Bay until at least 1895 and possibly as late as 1897 when, due to the mine’s declining production, he found himself with less and less blacksmithing work to do there. The hard choice was made to move once again. The Parsons family would hop across the water from Little Bay to Little Bay Islands where the patriarch and at least two of his sons continued in the blacksmithing trade.

Duncan would remain there for the rest of his life and was noted as a prominent member of Little Bay Islands’ Methodist church during his time there. His time at Little Bay Islands would last about 15 years.

He ran into bad luck around 1912. His heart began to trouble and weaken him. He found it increasingly difficult to keep up his usual pace of work. His situation was much worsened when a fire burned his smithy down.

A new and improved smithy was built in its place. This one upgraded with the modern technologies of 20th century blacksmithing which included a steam powered engine. Unfortunately, Duncan Parsons would not get to enjoy his cutting edge new smithy for very long. He died at Little Bay Islands from heart failure on Valentine’s Day in the year 1914.

His sons Duncan and Robert continued in his stead until 1917 when Robert enlisted for military service in the great war. Duncan and his mother, Annie Eliza, remained and were still present in 1921. They were gone by 1935. However, Robert had come home in between those years and was living at Little Bay Islands with a family of his own. No doubt carrying memories of battles fought in Europe.

After departing from Newfoundland, Annie Eliza (Oke) Parsons found her way to the mainland where she died in 1936. She can be found buried at the Riverview Cemetery in Scotstown, Quebec. Her husband, Duncan Parsons, Little Bay’s blacksmith, is named alongside her on the headstone.

The Parsons family had all left Little Bay Islands by 1945. Their blacksmithy was likely closed down before this but I’ve yet to place the date.

If you remember hearing about it please reach out and let me know. I’d love to hear your stories.

As always, thanks for reading!

Sources:

• 1856 – Birth of Duncan Parsons at Harbour Grace (Birth record)
• 1879 – Benjamin Parsons owes debt (Supreme Court docs)
• 1879 – Birth of Mabel Flora Parsons to Duncan and Ann Eliza (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
• 1881 – Birth of Mabel Flora Parsons to Duncan and Ann Eliza (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
• 1882 – Duncan Parsons at Little Bay Bight (Voter’s list)
• 1882 – Benjamin Parsons at Loading Wharf (Voter’s list)
• 1882 – Birth of Annie Rose Parsons to Duncan and Annie (Vt)
• 1884 – There is a land claim for Benjamin Parsons
• 1888, Jan – Benjamin Parsons burnt by boiler (TS)
• 1888, Dec 22 –   Peter Parsons, bach, miner, Little Bay & Elizabeth Yates spin, Little Bay.  At Little Bay. They were Methodist. By 1893 they are found in Twillinagate and Salvation Army
• 1889 – Peter Parsons at Shoal Arm age 28 (Voter’s list)
• 1889 – Duncan Parsons at Little Bay Bight, Little Bay (Voter’s list)
• 1889, March – Mable Parsons in school play (TS)
• 1889, June – Frederick Parsons arrested on complaint of bastardy by Elizabeth Ginn (Wells)
• 1889, Dec – Mable Parsons in school play (TS)
• 1890 – Duncan Parsons signs petition for a Public wharf
• 1892, Jan – Mable Parsons in school play (TS)
• 1892, May 13 – Duncan Parsons and Annie have Ethel Florence May. He was a Blacksmith
• 1893 – Duncan Parsons at Little Bay Harbour (Voter’s list)
• 1894 – Duncan Parsons blacksmith at Little Bay Harbour (McAlpine’s)
• 1894, June 24 – Duncan Parsons and Annie Eliza have Bernard Frederick. Duncan was a blacksmith
• 1895 – Duncan Parsons signed the petition for Sir Robert Bond
• 1897-1914 – Duncan Parsons supporter at LBI (History of Methodism)
• 1914, Feb – Death of Duncan Parsons on LBI (Obit)
• 1917 – Robert Willis Parsons in WW1 (Military records)
• 1921 – Annie Elizabeth and family present on LBI (Census)
• 1935 – Robert present and others gone (Census)
• 1935 – Death of Annie Eliza Parsons in Quebec (Headstone)
• 1945 – All absent (Census)