Showing 387 results

Authority record
Bown, Alfred
Person · 1908-1969

Alfred Bown (1908-1969), Catholic priest, was born at Bell Island, Conception Bay, Newfoundland, on 5 May 1908, the son of Mary Loretta (Giovanetti) and Thomas A. Bown. Bown died at Via Coeli, Albuquerque, New Mexico on 2 August 1969 and was buried in the Priests' Plot at Via Coeli Monastery.

Bown was educated at the parish school on Bell Island and at Holy Cross School, St. John's. He transferred to St. Bonaventure's College, St. John's (1925-28). Following graduation from St. Bonaventure's he attended St. Augustine's Seminary, Toronto, where he completed his course of studies for the priesthood in philosophy and theology (1928-34). Bown was ordained a priest on 29 June 1934 at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, St. John's, by Edward Patrick Roche, Archbishop of St. John's.

Rev. Bown was appointed curate in St. Michael's Parish, Bell Island, where he served from 1934-1939, except for one year of temporary replacement appointments in St. Joseph's Parish (Merasheen), Sacred Heart Parish (Oderin), and Sacred Heart Parish (Marystown). In 1939 he was given leave for medical treatment in Quebec. When Rev. Bown returned to Newfoundland he was assigned as a curate on staff in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist Parish, St. John's, where he remained until 1950, when ill health again forced him to retire.

Rev. Bown remained in Quebec for treatment from 1950-1959. In 1959 he returned to St. John's for a short respite. In 1960 he was transferred to Via Coeli, Albuquerque, New Mexico, for further medical care where he remained in a convalescent home for priests until his death in 1969.

Bradley, Noah Norman
Person · 1857-1924

Noah Norman Bradley (1857-1924), cabinet maker and businessman, was born in 1857 in Musgrave Harbour, Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland, into a family of boatbuilders and fishermen. Bradley married Evangeline M. Trimm in 1886, and on 21 March 1888, the couple had a son, Frederick Gordon Bradley (1888-1966), who became a lawyer and politician. Bradley died in St. John's in 1924.

In 1878, with his brothers Adam and Len, Noah Bradley built the Orange Hall in Musgrave Harbour. In 1881, he began a five-year apprenticeship with the Newfoundland Furniture and Molding Company at its factory on Forest Road, St. John's. By 1890, he was working as a cabinetmaker for Richard Goff in a manufacturing shop in the Goff house on Prescott Street. From 1898 until his death, Bradley operated his own furniture-making business from his residence on Victoria Street.

Brazill, Frederick A.
Person · 1881-1967

Frederick A. Brazill (1881-1967), hotelier, salesman, insurance agent, was born in 1881. In 1902, he married Bride (surname unknown). The Brazills had three children; daughters Sheila, and Lal, and son James. Brazil died at St. John's on 8 January 1967. He signed his name Brazill, however his tombstone records his name as Brazil.

In 1898, Brazill was hired as an assistant to Charles H. Danielle, an eccentric American who owned and operated Octagon Castle, a hotel built at Octagon Pond. By 1901, Brazill was adopted by Danielle as his ward. When Danielle died in 1902, Brazill was his sole heir, and ran the hotel until it was destroyed by fire in 1905.

According to city directories, Brazill was employed as a salesman and insurance agent in St. John's, and an employee of Browning Harvey, Ltd. In the mid 1930s, Brazill was a member of The Partridge Social Club, a club for the employees of Browning Harvey, Ltd.

Brennan, Robert
Person · 1829-1896

Robert Brennan (1829-1896), Catholic priest, was born in Kilkenny, Ireland, circa 1829. Brennan died at St. John's on 17 September 1896 and was buried in Belvedere Cemetery, St. John's.

Brennan completed his studies for the priesthood in Ireland and was ordained a priest in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, St. John's, on 24 June 1855 by John Thomas Mullock, Bishop of St. John's.

Rev. Brennan's first appointment was in St. John's. In 1857 he was appointed the parish priest of Holy Apostles Parish, Renews (1857-71). In 1871 he was named parish priest of Holy Rosary Parish, Argentia, succeeding Rev. Plagius Nowlan. Father Brennan retired in 1895.

Brennan, Thomas Francis
Person · 1855-1916

Thomas Francis Brennan (1855-1916), Catholic bishop, the son of James and Margaret (Dunne) Brennan, was born at Bally Cullen, Tipperary, Ireland, 10 October 1855. He died on 21 March 1916 at Frascatti, Italy.

Brennan's family immigrated to Pennsylvania when he was eight. Brennan studied for the priesthood at St. Bonaventure's in Allegheny (N.Y.), the University of Rouen (France), and the University of Innsbruck (Austria) where he was awarded the degree of doctor of Divinity in 1876. He was ordained a priest on 4 July 1880, in Brixen, Austria, by Bishop John de Leiss. Soon after, Brennan began studies in canon law. His early career included a number of pastoral assignments in the Diocese of Erie, Pennsylvania. On 11 January 1888 he was made a Papal Chamberlain.In July 1890 the Vatican established Dallas as the third diocese in Texas. Brennan was named the first bishop of the new see, and on 5 April 1891, Tobias Mullen, Bishop of Erie, consecrated him to the episcopacy. At age of 35, Brennan was the youngest Catholic bishop in the United States at the time.

During his early months as bishop, Brennan traveled widely and his addresses were often reprinted in major newspapers. During his brief tenure he built churches in the new diocese and began publication of the Texas Catholic. He had inherited, however, the taxing responsibility of an extensive diocese, short on personnel and in considerable debt. While on a visit to Rome on 17 November 1892, Brennan was relieved of his Dallas post and transferred to the Titual See of Utila and made coadjutor to the Diocese of St. John's, Newfoundland.

On 7 October 1905 he was named titual Bishop of Caesarea in Mauretania. He later retired to a monastery in Grottoferrata, Italy. Brennan died on 2 March 1916 in Frascatti, Italy.

Bride, Thomas J.
Person · 1887-1951

Thomas J. Bride (1887-1951), Catholic priest, was born at St. John's, Newfoundland, on 23 August 1887, the son of Mary (Power) and William Bride. His mother was from Carrick-on-Suir, Ireland, and his father was originally from Brigus, Newfoundland. He died at St. Clare's Mercy Hospital, St. John's, on 25 April 1951 and was buried in Belvedere Cemetery, St. John's.

Bride attended St. Patrick's Hall School, St. John's, for his primary, elementary and high school education. He secured employment with the commercial firm of J. D. Ryan. Upon the death of his mother (1910) he lived with his grandparents in Ireland.

Bride began his studies for the priesthood in Ireland in 1911. He completed his philosophy studies at Mount Mellary, a boarding college for seminarians, under the direction of monks from the Cistercian Order. Bride studied theology at St. John's College, Waterford, where he was ordained a priest on 17 June 1917, by Bishop Bernard Hackett.

In 1918 Rev. Bride returned to Newfoundland and was appointed as the parish priest of St. Patrick's Parish, Burin (1918-24). He served as parish priest of St. Raphael's Parish and chaplain to Mount Cashel Orphanage, St. John's, holding these appointments until shortly before the time of his death in 1951.

Bright, Thomas
Person · fl.1940-1977

Thomas Bright (fl. 1940 -1977), veteran, baseball and hockey organizer, sports official, was born in Saint John, New Brunswick. He joined the Armed Forces in 1940, serving in various actions overseas including the D-Day offensive. He returned to Saint John after World War II, but left again in 1957 as a civilian employee of the Forces. He worked at a number of military installations, including Moosonee, Ontario, where he was active in organizing Little League baseball.

In 1967 Bright was transferred from Moosonee to Happy Valley/Goose Bay, Newfoundland as superintendent of the base's heating plant. In Happy Valley/Goose Bay, Bright was active in all levels of Little League baseball, particularly as organizer and umpire. He established a girls' softball league and was also involved with adult games. In the winter he was involved with minor hockey as team manager, rink manager and coordinator of tournaments and hockey schools.

As a result of his devotion to the interests of minor hockey and Little League baseball, Bright was made an honorary Kinsman in 1977 and nominated by them to the Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Hall of Fame. He retired from his job with the Forces in 1977 due to ill health and moved to Saint John in that year.

Broomfield, Samuel J.
Person · 1852-1938

: Samuel J. Broomfield (1852-1938) was born in Groswater Bay and lived in Jack Lane Bay, Hunt's River, Big Bay and Davis Inlet, among other parts of Labrador. He was a trapper and warden throughout his life. In 1912, he wrote a letter to King George V congratulating him on his coronation and sending him a present of a handmade sealskin pouch. This letter was publicized in English newspapers. Broomfield married Eliza Learning (1858-1927) from Paradise River. They had 4 sons and 6 daughters and also raised a grandson, John.

Browne, William J.
Person · 1847-1911

William J. Browne (1847-1911), Catholic priest and prelate, was born at St. John's, Newfoundland, in 1847. He died 13 August 1911.

Browne was ordained a priest in 1887, when he was 40 years old, and was appointed to the staff of the Cathedral of St. Joseph's Parish, St. George's, under the stewardship of Michael Francis Howley, Vicar Apostolic. Browne ministered at St. George's from 1887 to 1891. He then served as parish priest of St. Jacques (1891-1902); at the same time, he also ministered to Sacred Heart Parish, St. Bernard's, Fortune Bay. One of Browne's characteristics, the result of long years of business training, was his careful attention to detail. Browne was named a domestic prelate by the Pope, elevating him to the rank of monsignor.

Browning, Thomas Blair
Person · 1848-1928

Thomas Blair Browning (1848-1928), lawyer and writer, was born in St. John's, Newfoundland, the son of Elizabeth (Blair) Browning and Gilbert Browning, manufacturer. He had several siblings, including brothers Donald MacRae (lawyer and politician), John and James (businessmen) and sisters Mary, Jane (or Jean) and Elizabeth. Browning died on 10 Nov. 1928 at the home of his sisters in St. John's, following a brief illness.

T.B. Browning was educated at St. Andrew's School and the General Protestant Academy in St. John's. He attended Glasgow University and the University of Toronto. Browning practiced law in Ontario for several years until he moved to London, England, in 1892. There he was appointed Canadian consul, a post he held for more than twenty years.

Browning was an essayist of some significance and contributed articles to law journals as well as to The Dictionary of National Biography. He also wrote an article on Newfoundland for the volume British America, The British Empire Series, v. III, London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co., 1900.