Talbot Tourism

A expression of life on Salt Cay “back in the days.” Tale & Images By Michele Belanger-McNair

Few ladies who had been created, raised, married and reared people on Salt Cay stay today. Over time they've left because of household demands, marriage, financial causes or desire and attended america, Bahamas, Grand Turk or Providenciales to produce a new life.

Some people have stayed, and want to stay, until each goes for their grave on Salt Cay. These ladies and gentlemen tend to be tough, determined, skilled and funny. Their ethical signal, religious beliefs and power of friends and family tend to be almost extinct man arts inside our modern world.

One girl just who reflects the character and reputation for the ladies of Salt Cay is Antoinette Olivia Garland Talbot, referred to as by all as “Nettie.”

Nettie was born on December 22, 1939 in a house that however appears into the South District of Salt Cay. Her moms and dads had been Alvin James Garland and Isabella Elizabeth Simmons, of Salt Cay. She grew up with five-sisters and two brothers, all except one of whom are living.

Alvin Garland had been a ship’s captain and cruising man. His Morgan Company light was the Nettie, and he nicknamed his youthful girl after their vessel. Nettie’s mother, Elizabeth, had been an accomplished musician and taught every one of her kiddies to try out the organ. (Her bro, Alvin Garland, could be the “Music Man” of Providenciales and ended up being referred to as “Melody”. As a child he made their very first guitar regarding a shingle and six threads.)

Growing upon Salt Cay

Nettie spent my youth in Southern District of Salt Cay. Though only two+ miles long, it was a long, hot walk between areas. Nettie spent most of the woman youth along with her aunt, just who lived with Etoil Astwood, whom ran a store on island. Chores before college for Nettie needed her to give the ducks along with other fowl, and cutting pear bushes to give the cattle each day.

When she visited school her aunt made this lady wait in the spot of this lawn until the teacher appeared together with bell rang. Nettie claims, “The old people then were really strict. You performedn’t play with the kids at school in the event that teacher ended up beingn’t here.” Nettie finished school, checking out the Sixth traditional. To analyze further could have needed her to attend Grand Turk. But her mother was really certain about the woman young ones making home at these types of an early age, also it had not been allowed, particularly for a 14 year old woman.

At school, Nettie took part in Brownies and Girl Guides. The Salt Cay troop had been initial these types of arranged in Turks & Caicos Islands. Skip Jenny Morgan began the troop when she returned because of the idea from a visit to Jamaica. Nettie’s dad left the sodium organization to be a sailing guy on Dutch and English ships and ended up being gone for very long extends at the same time. This afforded a guy of shade the chance to work away from sodium ponds and lighters, and make more than the “two shillings six pence” everyday provided by the salt organizations. As a result, the woman family was on the list of much more rich of the 600 residents of Salt Cay inside 1940s and ’50s. Actually, Nettie’s mommy had maids to accomplish the daily work. Nettie describes the woman mother as “a sort and big girl” who provided away the numerous things the lady daddy brought residence from foreign ports. If a family group had no tea, the woman mother gave beverage. Whatever she had and whatever ended up being needed, had been shared.

Wedding and family

It had been during this time period of the woman life that she came across and, as she thoughtfully states, “fell in deep love with, ” Sherlock Talbot, six years this lady senior. In 1956, while still living along with her household on Salt Cay, Nettie would visit garden events, one of many Baptist features at exclusive homes when you look at the Southern District. Sherlock, generally ‘Rock, ’ had been among six Talbot brothers just who lived in the North District.

Sherlock then left Salt Cay for four many years, sailing Dutch ships between ny and Curacao and preventing in Grand Turk sometimes. He arrived residence in 1960 and Nettie gone back to Salt Cay in Summer of the identical year with plans to marry Sherlock. These people were married at historic St. John’s Anglican Church.

Sherlock after that started the typical period of being gone for 12 months and house for 90 days. This schedule produced seven kids in all. It appeared, as Nettie states, “when he came into the door We handed him another child.” Sherlock ended up being residence when it comes to beginning of only two of his young ones.