Richard Grey (1823-1907) was an Irishman who worked the dressing floor of Little Bay’s mine as the right-hand-man to Walter Spinney. He was known for his wit and was a popular character among the working men (St. John’s Daily News, May 13, 1955).

He is involved in Newfoundland mining very early with my first reference to him in Newfoundland connected to the Terra Nova operation near Baie Verte in 1860. He went from there to Tilt Cove before finding his way to Little Bay. I can’t put him in town until 1889 but the Daily News article refers to him working under Mr. Whyte so I’d place his arrival a few years before that. When mining slowed down in Little Bay he switched briefly to fishing before returning to Tilt Cove. By 1904 his eyesight had failed him. He died there in 1907.

Sources:

1823 – His place of birth is written as Sha Thally in the report of his death. I know he’s Irish from the Daily News article so I suspect he was born in Shillelagh, Ireland.

1860 – Richard Grey v. Charles Bockus et al., “Terra Nova Mining Company” (Supreme Court docs)

1882 – Richard Gray living at Tilt Cove (Voter’s list)

1888, Oct – Richard Grey donated to Little Bay fire relief (SJC)

1889 – Richard Gray living at Little Bay (Voter’s list)

1889, March – Richard Grey donated to the Parnell Defence Fund (SJC)

1889, Oct – Richard Grey donated to the Harbour Grace Cathedral Fund (SJC)

1891, Jan – Richard Grey was a parishioner of Her Lady of Carmel (SJC)

1894 – Richard Grey listed as fisherman at Little Bay Harbour (McAlpine)

1895 – Likely returned to Tilt Cove due to absence from Little Bay listings

1904, March – Mr. Martin put off a concert with proceeds going to Richard Grey as he was now blind (ET)

1907 – Death at Tilt Cove from Bronchitis. Occupation listed as mines (Vit stats)