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A Letter to Bishop Thomas Power from Thomas Freeman, resident of Little Placentia and cousin to the late Father Pelagius Nowlan, dated April 3, 1871, shortly after the death of Father Nowlan. A brief biography of Father Nowlan was included with the letter. Transcribed by C. Olive Power - November 2007 The following text has been carefully transcribed word for word from the original manuscript, which is often difficult to read because of the handwriting, excessive and inconsistent capitalization, and sparse use of punctuation. Some of the spelling differs from modern usage, but in most cases the words are clearly understood, such as "soop" for soup and "acusers" for accusers. To make reading easier, words have been spelled according to modern usage, and capitalization and punctuation have been altered as needed. In a few places square brackets "[ ]" are used to insert a suggested word that appears to be missing from the text. References to footnotes were added in two places. The script was transcribed with care, but it is possible there are a few words that are not transcribed exactly as the original writer intended. A copy of the first page of the original manuscript is included at the back of this document. A link to a scan of the first page of the original manuscript is provided at the end of this document. The letter transcribed here is dated April 3rd, 1871 and is on file at the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. John's Archives, St. John's, Newfoundland. It was written by Thomas Freeman, a self-described close relation (a second cousin) of Father Pelagius (alias Morgan) Nowlan, parish priest of Little Placentia from 1835 to 1871. Thomas Freeman's name and occupation appear in the Hutchinson's Directory of 1864-1865, and he is listed as Preventative Officer at Little Placentia. His name first appears in the parish records in 1839. The letter is addressed to Doctor Power. [Thomas Power, Bishop of St. John's 1870 - 1893] The letter concerns Father Nowlan, John Freeman, son of Thomas Freeman, Father Richard Dunphy, assistant parish priest, and Anty Barron, the priests' housekeeper. Thomas Freeman also includes a "posthumous sketch" (a brief biography) of Father Nowlan dated Feb. 1, 1871. John Freeman was born at Little Placentia in 1845 and is listed as the teacher at Little Placentia in the Catholic Elementary School Returns for 1870 and 1871. According to the parish records of Little Placentia, Father Richard Dunphy, assistant parish priest, was administering the sacraments in the parish from November 27, 1866 to June 11, 1871. The name Anty Barron appears often in the parish records; however, there were two Anty/Anastasia Barrons and it is impossible to determine for certain which woman was Father Nowlan's housekeeper. Little Placentia April 3th, 1871 My Lord, It may seem strange to your Lordship that three months after the death of the Reverend Father Nowlan, a heir relation of his most humbly approach your Lordship and present to you a true statements of facts regarding his treatment in his last sickness. Neither shall I say any thing only what that from His words and my own personal observations, and am prepared to prove the same at anytime. Early in the fall, I think in October, he often complained to me that his heart was gone as he had no fresh meat and, as the house keeper was not providing any, for me to get some beef. I got him a few pounds of beef, and said the soup was the means of prolonging life. I often heard him ask was she going to give him anything to eat, perhaps sometimes between 12 and one o'clock at night and sometimes up to two in the day. (In proof) I asked him in presence of Doctor Bradshaw, his medical adviser, Had he taken anything? No, was the reply, nor was anything offered. The Doctor looked surprised and ordered breakfast for him immediately. His diet was bread broken on tea, or beef soup and gruel at night when it could be had. His drink cold water until the last nine or ten days, when some wine and water. He was most partial to gruel and I got him some patent grits, but it was never cooked for him. I heard him say put a vessel with water on the stove, that the coal gas was choking. Then the housekeeper said nearly all her bowls and plates were broken with it and that she had nothing to put [it in]. Such was nonsense. After a pause he said, Then you value a plate more than my life? She reluctantly put water thereon. Some time after, he rapped the table, and when she entered, stood and said to him in a most imperious tone, Well, what is wanted now then? After a time he said, God help me. What is wanted now then? I said to him, You ought to get a nurse keeper for a while as you can't be attended by one person day and night. His answer was her temper is such that a woman might as well go into Hell as to come there. That he spoiled her himself. After, I said, Anty you should get a woman to assist you, it is impossible for you to do the house keeping, attend Father Dunphy and a sick Priest night and day. She flew at me like a viper and said that she wanted none of my meddling. That was her business not mine. My son being there one time, the priest requested him to taste the water she gave him to drink, that perhaps the bad taste was on his mouth. The water was impure. She carried that away and returned with the same and said, This may please your palate. No sooner was it tasted than found [to] be rain water taken from a barrel that stood for years under an angle of house, and she was compelled to send the boy for fresh water. I must say, he was a prisoner in his parlour, as no person was allowed to see him unless a particular friend of the housekeeper's. She often thought to prevent me and my son, the teacher of the school, but we would not be prevented by her. At last she devised a most malicious lie that she had notes to amount of five pound in a prayer book, that she lent the book to my son John, and that he must have the money. She told that to Father Dunphy and he to the dying man, and locked us out. Sunday previous to his death I was all night with him (as I usually was every third or fourth night). On Wednesday following, and previous to his death, my son called and was proceeding as usual to the chamber of his sick relation when he found the door locked against him and no admittance. He asked by whose orders he was locked out. She said by Father Dunphy. After school he told me, and I went to stay all night and found the door shut against me. I demanded by whose authority or the reason. Father Dunphy, said she. I must see him, said I. She run up stairs, and he came and stood between me and the door, and said, No, unless he sent for you. But never mentioned any thing of the money. I returned to the kitchen and said, It is a hard case, when she said, Now you see I am not the means of keeping you out, it is Father Dunphy. Still My Lord nothing of the five pounds. Father Dunphy had told the dying priest that his best beloved on earth had embezzled (it was muttered in the dark). On Friday following, the day he died, I waited in the chapel porch until Father Dunphy was going out, when I asked him could I see Father Nowlan. He said Yes, but not your son. I followed him, and she, seeing me following the priest, ran between me and the door. Father Dunphy heard the talk, turned round and said to her, Go. He went up stairs. The priest was as usual sitting on the side of his bed with his feet resting on a small box. Made a motion with his hand to sit along side of him, when she entered and ordered me out. I did not [go]. He asked me where was John. He wanted him and strove to tell me of five pound and Anty. His breathing being quick and pronunciation so thick, I could not properly understand him. But I saw something had disturbed his mind and therefore I did not tell him that we were locked out. But said I will go get John and send him to you. I met Anty in the hall and said, Anty he was striving to tell me some thing about five pounds that you say John must have belonging to you. Father Dunphy came down stairs on them words. She said to him that five pound you told Father Nowlan is a trouble to him. He is after telling Mr. Freeman. Father Dunphy said, I gave her the money before I went to St. John's and she put it in a prayer book and lent the book to John and it is gone, and say nothing more about it and he would pay her himself. I went home with a troubled mind, told the matter to my son, and he went and had an interview with his accusers. And saw Father Nowlan but he was not able to speak, and my son said to Father Dunphy, He is dying, and left for home, where he had not been half an hour when the servant boy was sent for us to go down, that the priest was dead. We went and the moment entered she said, No noise here, but my Lord it was a trying moment on me in a strange land to undress and dress the remains of my kindred and the most unrightly of all to think he left this world with the impression that the young man whom he adored should be guilty of such an act. Some time before his death he told me that Father Dunphy had a hundred pounds belonging to him, and that Father Dunphy told him that his salary was paid, Anty's wages was paid, debts paid, and five pounds he had himself. On Wednesday, the second day after his funeral, I told Father Dunphy what Father Nowlan told me, and asked him was I telling truth or not? Did he tell him that every thing was paid and that the £100 was belonging to Father Nowlan or not? He said, you are right. I did, and you know I had to pay large debts contracted before I came here. (So there was, by Father Mahar) At the same time Father Dunphy said to me, will you take any clothes Father Nowlan wore? I said no, but first he told me to take all. But I should take the suit he got last Spring. I got them. And the other clothes was mentioned for a man next door. And after 22 days he had got nothing, when I went and insisted on the housekeeper to give the things. She gave a coat[,] vest and trousers[,] and no more. Some time after I went to Father Dunphy for an Indian Rubber coat that my son used to have. It belonged to Father Nowlan. And asked him had Father Nowlan no shoes, stocking, shirts or drawers, that one person did not get a full suit? As to the coat, he should see Anty and that they would give the things to who they please. Although 2 boys being there, it was I and my sons had to get medicines and some little things that he promised as keep sakes, namely his writing desk, a spy and weather glasses. When not in writing, they were refused. Father Dunphy requested me to write a sketch of Father Nowlan's life. I did so. And read it for him. He approved of it and gave me paper to get it written for the press. I, not thinking that he wanted to see it again, my son posted it at Placentia. When Father Dunphy requested me to send down to him the sketch, next day my son sent a note to him saying he posted it, and he delivered a note in answer, which I beg to submit to your Lordship. And also the sketch / pages 11.12.13 In compliance with his request, I told him I sent it to the Morning Chronicle and that he might stop its publication if he wished, but as I read it and asked how he liked it, that that was the time to make his objections. In taking my leave of him he said to me, Tell John to have nothing more to say to Anty or I will put him out of the school. After that my son had an interview with him in which the priest told him that Father Nowlan left Anty Barron (the house keeper) twenty pounds. And his watch to a poor widow woman. A strange proceeding to give his watch to a poor woman that must sell it for perhaps 1/3 its value and twenty pounds to the house keeper. (This my Lord I am prepared to certify, that Father Nowlan told me the second or third last time I saw him that he was not leaving Anty to the value of one shilling, only her wages which was paid, that she had ten pounds a year from him and four from Father Dunphy for washing. Finding that Father Nowlan made no will, I wrote to Father Dunphy forbidding the payment of the afore said £20, which letter I beg to submit to your Lordship, and his reply wherein your Lordship will see if I am at error. I could administer for the money, land and an ass't of property if I wished, and arrange with his nephew Mr. Canning of Newtownbarry1. If Father Nowlan told Father Dunphy to pay Anty £20, it was the impression on his mind that my son must have the money, and not seeing us should confirm the guilt. I have not asked for any thing, but My Lord should you deem me proper to get the watch and his bed, they are articles that generally remains in the family. And let the widow have the 20£ that Father Dunphy say Anty is to get. I shall feel grateful. I got his specks before he died and a coat, vest and trousers that he never wore. My son his knife and fishing rod. I want to write to Mr. Canning but shall await your Lordship's pleasure after reading this long and badly written Epistle and the proposition I submitted to Father Dunphy. My Lord I am a poor man, yet I have carried good character with me from my native country, which I can share from the pen of the Rev. James Walsh P.P. of New Ross, afterwards the Lady's Island [Our Lady's Island]. I am not one that could say he had only one priest belonging to him. I had many. I am a gran nephew of the misguided Father Clinch2 of 98. Father Nowlan's mother and mine were from the brother and sister. Also Father O'Connor who died in New York, Father Kelley formerly P.P. of Kilquigin and two Father Humes, all second cousins of mine. My Lord, as I said before, after you reading my letter of the 1st of March to Father Dunphy, wherein wished to have the money given for masses and land and property to the church, and should your Lordship still permit that woman to be claimed, I must and will call on Mr. Canning to administer. And the law of the country for my child's character. For my Lord it has been already said, if John Freeman was not guilty, that woman would not be still undisturbed. (Very logically therefore my Lord, I appeal to your impartial judgement and await your Lordship's pleasure. And beg to remain My Lord your Lordship's Most Humble & Obedient Servant Thos. Freeman. To His Lordship Doctor Power C.B. St. John's Page 11.12.13 A sketch of Father Nowlan's life approved when [read] by me to Father Dunphy. I send an affidavit relative to what my son was accused of by next mail. T.F. 105
1 Newtownbarry, the modern day Bulclody, was the nearest town to Ballyrankin. The Cannings were a well-known
and highly respected business family in the town. 2 Fr Thomas Clinch was killed fighting at Vinegar Hill in 1798. |