James Heran Fitzgerald: School Teacher, Song Maker, and Patriot

Event

2002-03-15

01:23:28

This is a lecture by John Cousins titled “James Heran Fitzgerald: School Teacher, Song Maker, and Patriot”, where he discusses prominent Irishmen James Heran Fitzgerald and Frank O’Halloran, lots of PEI, Father Patrick Doyle, education and schooling, and reads from an old diary. John Cousin’s lecture is presented partially in song, with music from and about Larry Gorman. The lecture also discusses the Charlottetown Herald, Summerside Journal, poetry, independence and various other topics relating to James Heran Fitzgerald.

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Held by Benevolent Irish Society

Speaker introduces himself by recounting his Irish background.
The speaker explains that James Heran Fitzgerald was born in 1797 in Cork, Ireland, came to PEI in about 1827 and died in 1878. He married in the 1830’s and had four sons and four daughters. He was a teacher in the Bedeque area, an Irish nationalist and loved PEI as much as he did Ireland.
The speaker tells that Fitzgerald was teaching in Seven Mile Bay in 1839 when he was asked to start a school in Lot 7. Fitzgerald settled on a farm next to Thomas Doyle and renamed the area Mount Pleasant as was his practice to rename any area in which he settled. The speaker locates the area on a map and also points out the landmark called The Three Sisters.
The speaker continues by noting that Fitzgerald taught in Lot 7 for about 5 years and that Fr. Patrick Doyle was one of his many students. The speaker then tells a story about Fr. Doyle.
The speaker quotes from an1845 Superintendent’s report to illustrate that Fitzgerald was considered a great teacher. Fitzgerald taught in Lot 7 from 1839 to 1845.
The speaker explains that Fitzgerald moved to Lot 14 in Richmond where he lived until his death. Fitzgerald’s diary, which is in the archives, tells of the harsh conditions under which he taught. The Richmond train station was named for Fitzgerald.
The speaker tells a story, using Fitzgerald’s diary as the source, of a little boy named John Morris. The speaker also introduces the idea that Fitzgerald wrote poetry and once again quotes from Fitzgerald’s diary to give examples.
The speaker highlights more of Fitzgerald’s diary entries.
The speaker explains that Fitzgerald was a difficult man, as he had strong opinions and rowed with many people. The speaker gives an example of a row Fitzgerald had with a school trustee. Larry Gorman was Fitzgerald’s student when he taught in Trout River and boarded with the Gorman family.
The speaker gives another example of Fitzgerald being difficult when buying ginger from the store. The speaker continues by explaining that Fitzgerald enjoyed frolics.
The speaker notes that Fitzgerald was harassed for his views. The speaker emphasizes that Fitzgerald was a poet. Much of Fitzgerald’s poetry has been lost, but Fitzgerald’s diary contains references to many of the poems he wrote. The speaker illustrates how his diary gives a portrait of Fitzgerald.
The speaker introduces the folksong “Prince Island Adieu" and the debate over its author. In 1957 Professor Edward (Sandy)Ives attributed the song to Larry Gorman, but the speaker and locals disagree.
The speaker adds that Professor Ives was told at a later time that the song was by Lawrence Doyle. The speaker notes that this very political song was unlikely Doyle’s as he did not have any interest in politics. The speaker suggests that Larry Gorman was too young in 1837 to have written such a mature song. So, the speaker feels that Fitzgerald is the most likely author of the song.
The speaker explains that the song tells about problems with land ownership and Confederation as well as the forced immigration of the Irish.
The speaker explains that Fitzgerald saw these issues in Ireland and then saw the same issues happening in PEI when he arrived.
The speaker describes a song that was typical of what Larry Gorman would write.
The speaker sings a verse of one of Gorman’s songs.
The speaker explains that “Prince Edward Island Adieu” deals with large issues and these issues were of interest to Fitzgerald. As examples the speaker quotes from Fitzgerald’s diary about a lecture he attended on Confederation and also another reference on being asked to lecture on education.
The speaker explains how Fitzgerald was interested in the land issues faced by Islanders at the time. Fitzgerald’s diary makes reference to him writing letters for other people about land and community issues, sending letters to the Examiner newspaper and in general his anti Confederation sentiments.
Additionally, the speaker notes that folk songs were about issues of the day and not written some time after the event. Fitzgerald lived during the time of PEI’s land question. The speaker also refers to a letter Fitzgerald wrote to the Charlottetown Herald.
The speaker points out that Fitzgerald was an emotional man. This was exemplified by Fitzgerald having a falling out with one of his sons. Fitzgerald’s diary contains a poem he wrote for this son on his wedding day describing how lonesome he was for him.
Tape Break
The speaker sums up that Fitzgerald is the author of the folk song because of the topics that Fitzgerald typically was involved in and the time when the song was written and these ideas don’t fit with Doyle or Gorman.
The speaker reads a newspaper article describing Fitzgerald's speech about Confederation in 1870 which reflects what is known about Fitzgerald as a spokesman for his community. Speaker also quotes from the Summerside Journal in 1873 about Fitzgerald and the Wellington area.
The speaker characterizes that Fitzgerald was a literary man who wrote both poems and songs.
The speaker refers to a copy of Fitzgerald’s will. When he died in 1878 he left his property to his sons.
The speaker notes that Fitzgerald promoted the growing of flax on PEI and wrote a poem on this idea. The speaker reads a part of this poem. Like many of his poems, Fitzgerald’s poetry showed his love of the Island.
The speaker explains that Fitzgerald left his property to his sons and one daughter received two sheep. The speaker also notes that Fitzgerald attempted to make amends with the local priest in his will.
The speaker sings “Prince Edward Island Adieu” with an introduction and additional comments on the lyrics as he sings some of the 15 verses of the song. The speaker speculates that the popularity of the song was due to copies being made.
Applause
Answering the audience’s questions, the speaker tells that Fitzgerald was buried in Grand River and his obituary probably did not mention his anti Confederation sediments. The speaker highlights that Fitzgerald had incredible passion which was both a strength and a weakness.The speaker notes that Fitzgerald, despite his fondness for drink, was at one time involved with Temperance.
The speaker introduces Lot 7 songwriter Daniel Reilly who wrote a song later in life about moving from Baltic to Lot 7 when he was a child. The speaker sings and comments on Reilly’s song.
The speaker notes that Fitzgerald did not mention a brother in his diary, but there must be Fitzgeralds in the area today as his children settled there. An audience member notes there is a Fitzgerald living in the Richmond area.
Final comments
Closing comments