Captain Martin Leander Welch

Captain Martin Leander Welch was born December 16, 1864 in Digby, Nova Scotia. Marty began sailing at the age of 14, first as a fisherman and deck hand, then as mate, and eventually captain. Marty emigrated to the United States in 1880, and married Margaret Arnold in 1889. Marty was a captain for 33 years. His commands included the Lucille, Titania, Navahoe, Lucania, Benjamin A. Smith, Killarney, Esperanto, Elsie, and Thelma. In 1920, Capt. Welch won the first International Fishing Schooner Championship Race Series in Halifax, Nova Scotia. On April 4, 1927, Capt. Welch and the crew of the Thelma narrowly escaped death while anchored at night, in heavy fog, near Old Point Comfort, Norfolk, Virginia, when Thelma was struck by a barge under tow. Thelma's hull was ripped open, and she sank in minutes. The crew was saved, but crewmember John Brennan was injured. In 1928, the American painter Edward Hopper painted a watercolor entitled "Marty Welch's House" based on Capt. Welch's residence at 31 Cleveland Street, Gloucester. A newspaper article in the Digby Courier on Friday Oct. 16 1931 contained...

"MARTY" WELCH IN DETROIT PARADE Capt. Marty L. Welch, the Digby born skipper of the international fisherman's race fame, who sailed the Gloucester Schr. Elsie in the first race off Halifax with the schooner Bluenose was a prominent figure in the big parade of the American Legion following the 13th. National convention at Detroit. The Gloucester float in the parade was a big seine boat with "Marty" at the helm. Well along in years now he stood the grueling heat in a manner typical of his calling. When his float swung into line Marty and his crew of seven received a tremendous ovation from the thousands who had particularly gathered at that one spot, the corner of Grand Boulevard and Jefferson Ave. There was a band, too, from Gloucester aboard the boat to liven up matters. Mackerel was thrown, from the boat into the dense crowds. They were waved in the air and people shouted along the route. After the parade the float was given to the Detroit branch of the Gorton-Pew Fisheries Co.; for advertising purposes. The very day of the big time in Detroit, a sister of Marty's died suddenly in Gloucester, Mrs. Frances Jane Brooks, a widow, but Capt. Welch was not handed the telegram announcing her passing until the parade was over. Besides Marty deceased leaves another brother Wm. V. Welch of Gloucester. The three were born in Digby children of the late Martin and Harriett [Comeau] Welch. Their father was a seafaring man, years ago sailing out of Digby in command of vessels engaged in the West Indies trade.

Martin Leander Welch died on April 16, 1935 in Gloucester, and is buried at Calvary Cemetery, Eastern Avenue, Gloucester. Capt. Marty Welch was described as "fearless", "courageous", "daring, yet careful", "one of our greatest mariners", and "uncanny". A newpaper article in the Digby Courier Friday April 19 1935 contained...

CAPTAIN MARTY WELCH Captain Marty Welch has stood his last watch. The famous sailing master who won the first international fishermen's race, died peacefully at his home in Gloucester Mass. on Tuesday, when his 68-year old heart failed him. Capt. Welch was born in Digby. His father was a prominent resident of this town and was one of those instrumental in the erection of St. Patrick's Roman Catholic church. While Captain Welch was still a young boy the family moved to Boston. His associations with the sea have made him a well known figure in practically all Nova Scotian ports.

Other photographs of Capt. Marty Welch ...

Martin L. Welch became a naturalized United States citizen, and married Margaret Arnold of Arichat, N.S.

Margaret Welch, 1866-1955

Captain and Mrs. Welch had 8 children:

• Everett P. Welch, 1891-1956
• Hildred C. Welch, 1893-1976
• Martin L. Welch, Jr., 1895-1918
• Helen M. Welch, 1898-1991
• Thomas E. Welch, 1900-1923
• Laurence A. Welch, 1903-1987
• Louis Martin Welch, 1903-1991
• Frank K. Welch, 1909-1986

Some Family History

The spelling of Capt. Martin L. Welch's name appears in various documents over the years as Martin Welch, Martin Walsh, and Martin Welsh. His name at birth in Digby NS was listed as Martin L. Walsh. Martin L. Walsh was christened in Saint Croix Catholic Church in Plympton, Digby County, NS in 1865.

A newspaper article from 1920 mentioned that Captain Martin L. Welch had two brothers:

• Captain William Welch was described in a newspaper article in 1920 as "master of a freighter plying between Boston and France". William Welch died on December 30, 1934 in Gloucester, Massachusetts, and is buried at Beechbrook Cemetary. The death certificate described him as a "Retired Capt. of Fishing Vessels".
• John Welch was described in a 1920 newspaper article as "a Florida businessman". John was christened John Walsh in Saint Croix Catholic Church in Plympton, Digby County, NS in 1867.

The 1871 census for Digby, Nova Scotia listed the family as:

• Susan Welch, age 33, widowed
• Frances Welch, age 12
• William Welch, age 10
• Martin Welch, age 6 (later known as "Capt. Marty Welch" of Gloucester)
• John Welch, age 4

The 1880 U.S. census in Gloucester, Massachusetts listed the family as:

• Susan Welch, Widow, age 38, keeping house
• William Welch, Son, age 19, Fisherman
• Martin Welch, Son, age 15, Fisherman
• John Welch, Son, age 13, at school

And the 1881 Canadian Census in Weymouth, Digby, Nova Scotia listed a family:

• Ephraim Brooks, married, 63, Farmer
• Ruth Brooks, married, 65
• William H Brooks, son, age 21
• Byron Brooks, married, 28, Ship Carpenter
• Frances Brooks, married, 22 (formerly Frances Walsh)
• Helen Aug. Brooks, 5

Frances Jane (Welch) Brooks died on September 22, 1931 in Gloucester, Massachusetts, and is buried at Beechbrook Cemetary. A Gloucester newspaper article stated "She leaves three daughters, Mrs. Helen A. Harty, Mrs. Daisy B. McDonald, and Mrs. E. Blanche, wife of Samual J. Somers, and one son, Howard L. Brooks, all of this city."

Martin L. Welch's father was Martin Walsh, who was born in "Sligo-Mayo Ireland". We know that Martin Walsh married Susanne Henriette Comeau at St. Croix, Plympton, Digby, NS, Nova Scotia on 28 April 1857. A mortgage in 1866 referred to him as "... Martin Welsh of Digby in the County Digby, Cordwainer and Susan his wife ...". Here is a timeline of Martin Walsh.

Susanne Comeau Walsh was the daughter of Olivier Comeau (born 15 March 1806 in Digby, NS), and Francoise Thibault (born 17 June 1813 in Digby, NS). Susan Henriette Welch died on July 1, 1903 in Gloucester, Massachusetts, and is buried at Calvary Cemetary.

Olivier Comeau was the son of Ignace Comeau and Marguerite Doucet.

Francoise Thibault was the daughter of Charles Thibault (born 19 Sept 1763) and Sarah Anne Savary (born 14 May 1786).

Capt. Martin Walsh/Welch's wife was Margaret Eleanor Arnold. She was born 13 October 1866, in Arichat, Richmond, NS. Her father was Edmund Arnold who was born about 1834 (another report says 1815) in County Roscommon, Ireland. Margaret's mother was Margaret Mary Parnell, who was born about 1828 in Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland.

Children of Edmund and Margaret Arnold were:

• William Arnold b: 1-23-1854 Arichat
• Edmund Arnold b: 10-25-1855 Arichat
• Mary Arnold b: 9-26-1857 Arichat
• John Arnold b: 11-14-1859 Arichat
• Michel Arnold b: 12-8-1861 Arichat d: 3-3-1866 Arichat 4 Yrs 3 Mo.
• Thomas Arnold b: 4-20-1864 Arichat
• Margaret Arnold b: 10-13-1866 Arichat
• Catherine Arnold b: 12-12-1868 d: 1-8-1869 Arichat 1 Mo. Old
• Catherine Arnold b: 5-19-1871 Arichat
• Johanna Arnold b: 11-30-1873 Arichat

© 1997 Terry Welch
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