Codfish merfchant (also of St John's Newfoundland)
Mary was the fourth child of Stephen and Mary Harvey (nee Rich, of Coffinswell). It has been possible to go back two further generations, to Stephen's grandfather Stephen, who was buried in Shaldon in 1748. Unfortunately the Shaldon Registers hardly exist from before 1716. Most Harveys were sailors. For a hundred years and more the name of Malachi was frequent in the family, and serves to distinguish them from other Harveys, who are common in South Devon and Dorset at the time. Many were masters of small trading vessels, some of whom, including Mary's father, were engaged in the Newfoundland trade, maintaining their own fishing bases and drying racks ("flakes") in St John's, importing the dried cod, and sometimes re-exporting it to Mediterranean countries. |
