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Mary March

"Mary March" was the English name of one of the last surviving members of the Beothuk tribe of Newfoundland. Her own name was Demasduit, although she was occasionally also referred to by the native names Shendoreth and Waunathoake. It is not clear whether those were other names also used by her, or simply errors in translation. She was given the first name "Mary" by the local Anglican church and the last name "March" because she was captured in March of 1819, during a raid against the Beothuk tribe by Newfoundland trappers. Mary March's husband was killed during the raid, and she was brought back to the white community of Twillingate as a captive. Although British forces attempted to return her to her tribe several months later, Mary March died of tuberculosis before she could be reunited with them.

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Books about Mary March

Demasduit: Native Newfoundlander:
Biography of Mary March for sale online.

History and Ethnography of the Beothuks:
Excellent history book including a detailed account of Mary March's life and captivity.

All Gone Widdun:
Historical fiction book about the lives of Shanawdithit and Mary March.

Mary March Resources

Here are some links to online information about Mary March:
Mary March of Newfoundland
Mary March Provincial Museum
Wikipedia: Mary March

And here are our webpages about the Beothuk tribe and language:
Beothuk language
Red Indian history
Mary March and the Beothuks
Beothuk numbers
The Algonquians
Canadian Indians
Subarctic natives

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