Page 59 - Hall-Musgrove Family Reunion 2025

THE LATE 1940’S
MUSGROVE/HALL BOAT TRAGEDY
by: Melissa Dean Jervis
T This is the 1940’s. Com- his is the 1940’s. Com-
Whatever the reason might Whatever the reason might
way or the other. way or the other.
munication is rudimentary munication is rudimentary at best. Even if weather at best. Even if weather
have been, they went out have been, they went out
to sea with an expectation to sea with an expectation
Even now, after so many Even now, after so many
forecasts are available, forecasts are available,
to return on a certain day. to return on a certain day.
years, I feel a sense of years, I feel a sense of
they would not reach those they would not reach those
Sadly, on the expected day Sadly, on the expected day
emptiness and deep sorrow emptiness and deep sorrow
who need to hear them. who need to hear them.
the men did not return. One the men did not return. One
hearing this story related. hearing this story related.
It’s the hurricane season It’s the hurricane season
and each day looks pretty and each day looks pretty
interviewee just recalled interviewee just recalled it as “bad weather came”. it as “bad weather came”.
Yet, I can only imagine the Yet, I can only imagine the
extreme anguish the families extreme anguish the families
much the same until a much the same until a
Another referred to it as a Another referred to it as a
and community felt at that and community felt at that
storm, unannounced and storm, unannounced and
“cyclone” (hurricane) having “cyclone” (hurricane) having
time and even up to this day. time and even up to this day.
unexpectedly is upon you. unexpectedly is upon you.
sprung up around the same sprung up around the same
You would have gone about You would have gone about
time the men would have time the men would have
Occupants on the boat were: Occupants on the boat were:
your regular routine – in your regular routine – in to the fields, out on an to the fields, out on an
been out at sea. A search was been out at sea. A search was
Ebenezer (Nevis) Musgrove Ebenezer (Nevis) Musgrove
mounted as best as could be mounted as best as could be
II, Arnold Musgrove, Walter II, Arnold Musgrove, Walter
extended trip at sea. This extended trip at sea. This
put on but with no success put on but with no success
Hall, Alec Gardiner, Franklin Hall, Alec Gardiner, Franklin
is the circumstance for six is the circumstance for six
(6) of our forebears on that (6) of our forebears on that
of recovery of any bodies. of recovery of any bodies. However, some parts of the However, some parts of the
Hall and Oliver Hall. Hall and Oliver Hall.
fateful day in the late 1940’s. fateful day in the late 1940’s.
missing boat along with missing boat along with grandpa Arnold’s (Unnon) grandpa Arnold’s (Unnon)
Ebenezer was the boat’s Ebenezer was the boat’s
This is the recollection as This is the recollection as
hat with his name written hat with his name written
captian and Arnold’s father. captian and Arnold’s father. He was also Walter’s father- He was also Walter’s father-
related to me Melissa Dean related to me Melissa Dean
in it were discovered off the in it were discovered off the
in-law. Alec, Franklin and in-law. Alec, Franklin and
Jervis from a number of our Jervis from a number of our
Inagua coast. Inagua coast.
older relatives who are still older relatives who are still
Oliver were his grandsons. Oliver were his grandsons.
Franklin and Oliver were Franklin and Oliver were
with us and recall the tragic with us and recall the tragic
event. event.
My mum, Shirley Musgrove My mum, Shirley Musgrove Dean, daughter of Arnold, Dean, daughter of Arnold,
brothers. brothers.
was a mere toddler at the was a mere toddler at the
The memories narrated to The memories narrated to
Just as the gospels of Just as the gospels of
Matthew, Mark, Luke and Matthew, Mark, Luke and
time but has vivid memory time but has vivid memory of many persons gathered in of many persons gathered in
me were by the following me were by the following
John differ in some details so John differ in some details so
persons: persons:
a big yard hollering with her a big yard hollering with her
do the various accounts from do the various accounts from
mother, Dimple, being the mother, Dimple, being the
the various contributors. the various contributors.
ring leader. ring leader.
However, one thing they all However, one thing they all
Dimple Musgrove, Arnold’s Dimple Musgrove, Arnold’s wife, and my mom’s mother; wife, and my mom’s mother;
agreed on, writing it into agreed on, writing it into
I am adding in the familial I am adding in the familial
and my mother, Shirley and my mother, Shirley
history, is that these six history, is that these six (6) family members of the (6) family members of the
connection of the men who connection of the men who
Musgrove Dean. Musgrove Dean.
were lost so as to give a good were lost so as to give a good
Musgrove/Hall clan all went Musgrove/Hall clan all went
picture of how closely related picture of how closely related
Cousin Weeze Hall, daughter Cousin Weeze Hall, daughter
out to sea in the same vessel out to sea in the same vessel
all were to each other, and all were to each other, and
of Walter Hall and his wife, of Walter Hall and his wife,
and never returned. and never returned.
to emphasize what impact to emphasize what impact
Cleavel Musgrove Hall. Cleavel Musgrove Hall.
Some accounts said that the Some accounts said that the
men went fishing and some men went fishing and some
that tragedy would have had that tragedy would have had on that family grouping and on that family grouping and naturally, the whole of that naturally, the whole of that
Cousins Meme Musgrove and Cousins Meme Musgrove and
Oimer Musgrove, daughters Oimer Musgrove, daughters
said they went looking for said they went looking for drift wood for house building. drift wood for house building.
small community where all small community where all
of James W. of James W. Musgrove & Musgrove &
persons are related in some persons are related in some
Anne Forbes Musgrove. Anne Forbes Musgrove.
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