1

This storyline will inform you about the members of the Green family. Those who were blacksmiths: John, John, Thomas, Thomas, John James and Andrew and we will also go into more detail on the siblings of Andrew.

2

Excerpt of an account that John Green held with the merchant firm of Robert Slade in Trinity in 1807
1807
Trinity, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

3

The previous and the following screen show an excerpt of an account that John Green, blacksmith, held with the merchant firm of Robert Slade in 1807 - 1808.

From these pages you can see the items that Mr. Green used to purchase at the store, the amounts that these items cost and the monthly amounts that he owed on his accounts.

For example at the end of the year 1807 he owed the firm 3 pounds, 9 shillings and 7 pence which was carried forward to 1808.

An example of the kind of goods that he purchased and the amount they cost:

Nov. 25, 1807 - 153 ft of iron and 45 ft of old iron cost 3 pounds, 4 pence and 10 and a half shillings.

Dec. 23, 1807 - 2 qts. wine - 5 shillings

4

Page from John Green's account with merchant Robert Slade
1807
Trinity, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

5

An excerpt of an account that John Green, blacksmith held with the merchant firm of Robert Slade in 1807 - 1808.

This page shows the credit account that Mr. Green had with the firm. Instead of paying for his goods Mr. Green used to carry out work for Robert Slade. This work was recorded in the ledger on the opposite page of his account from the shop. At the end of the year both would be tallied and any amount due would have to be paid off by Mr. Green or carried forward to the next year.

An example of the work that Mr. Green carried out for the merchant firm:
Collar and Staples for new boat..........5 shillings
1 pick axe and repairing a whip saw..................10 shillings
Making 5 crooks................................. 3 shillings
Ironwork for a Door...............6 shillings 6 pence
Bails for seal pot and pair of handcuffs.............10 shillings 3 pence
Fixing Two Augers..........................8 shillings

At the end of 1808 the balance that was due Robert Slade's firm was 95 pounds, 15 shillings and 6 and half pence. The amount of work that Mr. Green had carried out for this firm was 44 pounds, 1 shilling and 5 pence worth which left a debt on his account that he carried forward to the next year.

At the time this was a common practice for the merchant to have his customers in debt to him at the end of the year, thus he would be sure that this customer would be faithful to him throughout the winter and not get his supplies elsewhere in the spring. The customer would feel obligated to stay with this merchant as he was always indebted to him.

6

Marriage record of John Green to Mary Dewey of Bonavista.
26 September 1775
Trinity, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

7

The marriage record of John Green and Mary Dewey as recorded in the Anglican Parish of Trinity Church Records. The marriage record reads as follows:

"Sept. 26, 1775 Married John Green, Blacksmith and Mary Dewey daughter of Richard and Anne Dewey, Planter, in Bonavista."

John died on December 11, 1809 and was buried on December 17, 1809. The entry in the burial records is as follows:

"Dec. 27, 1809 - Interred Mr. John Green, Blacksmith of this Harbour, aged 64 years."

The account keeper at the firm of Slade & Kelson wrote in the daily journal:

"Monday Dec. 11, 1809 - John Green, the Smith, died suddenly in the evening near Mr. Garland's Counting House."

After his (John's) death his fifth child and third son, Thomas, took over the operation of the family blacksmithing business. No records from this time period have been found to date concerning his operation of the business. After his death in 1851 his eighth child and third son, Thomas, took over as blacksmith.

8

Poetry clippings that Thomas Green collected and added to a scrapbook.
1870
Trinity, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

9

Thomas Green, son of Thomas and Ann, born May 11, 1834 received his training/apprenticeship from his father and when his father passed away he took over the family operated business.

Thomas married Mary Anne Crocker on December 22, 1859 in St. Paul's Anglican Church in Trinity. He died in 1907 at the age of 48.

The only information known about Thomas is his account book which contains various clippings of poetry and drawings of members of the Royal Family. It is not known if these clippings were kept and placed here by Thomas or if they were pasted into the book later by another family member.

The poem that is shown here on this page is titled, The Soul Dirge, no author given:

The Soul Dirge

The organ played sweet music
While as on Easter Day.
All heartless from the altar,
The heartless went away;
And down the broad aisle crowding,
They seemed a funeral,
Who were burying their spirits
To the music of that strain.

As I listened to the organ,
And saw them crowd along,
I thought I heard two voices,
Speaking strangely, but not strong;
And one it whispered sadly,
Will ye also go away?
But the other spoke exulting,
Ha! the soul-dirge! hear it play!

Hear the soul dirge! hear the soul dirge!
And see the feast divine;
Ha! the jewels of salvation,
And the trampling of the swine!
Ha! the soul-dirge! hear the sould dirge!
Little think they as they go,
What priceless pearls they tread on
Who spurn their Maker so.

Hear the soul-dirge! hear the soul-dirge!
It was dread to hear it play,
As the famishing went crowding
From the bread of life away.
They were bidden-they were bidden
To their Father's festal board,
But they all wish gleeful faces,
Turned their backs upon the Lord.

You had thought that church a prison,
Had you seen how they did pour,
With giddy, giddy faces,
From the consecrated door!
There was angel's food all ready,
But the bidden, where were they?
O'er the highways, o'er the hedges,
Ere the soul-dirge ceased to play.

Oh! the soul-dirge! how it echoed
The emptied aisles along,
As the open street grew crowded
With the full, outpouring throng!
And then again the voices-
Ha! the soul-dirge! hear it play!
And the pensive whisper,
"Will ye also go away?"

How few were they who lingered,
To sup with Jesus there?
And yet for all that spurned him,
There was plenty and to spare!
And now the food of angels
Uncovered to my sight,
All glorious was the altar,
And the chalice glittered bright.

I may not tell the rapture,
Of a banquet so divine;
Ho! every one thirsteth,
Let him take the bread and wine!
Here the bride and spirit saying,
Will ye also go away?
And go poor soul, forever,
Oh, the soul-dirge! hear it play!

10

A record of sales from the Green Family Forge when Thomas was the blacksmith.
1866
Trinity, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

11

This page shows the account of Thomas Randell with Thomas Green and shows the work that was carried out at the forge for Mr. Randell. Some examples:

2 hooks and 2 forelock bolts - 5 shillings
2 eye bolts and 2 forelocks - 1 shilling 6 pence
Repairing grapnel and 1 forelock bolt - 2 shillings

12

Excerpt from Thomas Green's Ledger
1866
Trinity, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

13

This pages reads:

1866 - Brooking & Co.
In account with Thomas Green. The repair of 2 fire pans, repairing 1 fender and 2/6
1 foot of footings. Total 3 shillings 5 pence.

This is the amount of credit that Thomas Green had with the merchant firm of Brooking & Co. for work that he had carried out for them.

14

The Green family home in Trinity.
1899
Trinity, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada