I think most of us have heard of the famous Captain Arthur Jackman and his equally famous brother, Captain Captain William Jackman. Well, did you know that there is a special connection to the brothers and our own St Patrick's Convent. Read on for an interesting little bit of history.
Henry Goodridge of Paignton, Devon, founded his business at Renews sometime in the early 1800s. In 1828, Henry’s youngest son, Alan, arrived in Renews and stayed there to run the business.
The Jackmans worked for the Goodridges skippering their ships that crossed the Atlantic or carried freight up and down the Shore. Captain Thomas Jackman was master of one of Goodridge’s vessels. Captain Thomas and his wife, Catherine Johnson, had five sons and one daughter. When Alan Goodridge decided to move the headquarters of the business to St John’s, Thomas Jackman followed and his young sons grew up there.
Several of Thomas Jackman’s sons followed in their father’s footsteps and became captains out of St John’s. Two sons, Arthur and William, became famous for their brave and heroic deeds. Captain William was a true hero. He rescued 27 people from a sinking ship at Spotted Islands, Labrador, in the Autumn of 1867. Captain Arthur was a famed whaler, sealer and navigator. In 1886 Arthur took the arctic explorer, Robert Peary, on his first trip to the Arctic.
William and Arthur’s mother, Catherine Johnson, died and eventually their father, Captain Thomas, remarried. His new wife was another Catherine, Catherine White.
Catherine White was born in Wexford, Ireland, in 1820. Catherine and Captain Thomas lived on Brine St, St John’s, in the kindly shade of St Patrick’s Church. Sadly, on 19 July, 1870, the old Sea Dog, Captain Thomas, passed away at his home.
Two years after the demise of her husband, Catherine White Jackman joined the Presentation Congregation at St Patrick’s Convent. This was on 1st August 1872. After a year as a Postulant, Catherine was received into the Congregation on 1st August 1873. Catherine, who was 52 years old, was given the name of Sr Mary Monica.
It seems that Catherine White/Sr Monica Jackman had not been forgotten in her native County Wexford either. On 4th September 1897, two Wexford Newspapers, The Enniscorthy Guardian and The New Ross Standard reported that “a day of great rejoicing had taken place at the Presentation Convent of St Patrick’s, Newfoundland” as Sr Monica Jackman celebrated her Silver Jubilee.
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| Catherine White Jackman, stepmother to heroes |
