Sometime after 1970, Harriet Williams published a 23-page booklet on her nursing and midwifery career entitled Memories of the Past. Although undated, the price on the cover was $3. Bermuda changed from sterling to dollars in 1970.

In 2025, Mr and Mrs Raymond Medeiros contacted me regarding a booklet they owned written by the midwife who had delivered Mr Medeiros in 1945. I had never heard of or seen this booklet and so my husband and I visited their home to view this historical find. To our surprise, Nurse Williams had delivered my husband in that same year.

Harriet “Seedie” Williams was the daughter of Marischal and Mary Jane Darrell Gilbert of Pembroke. In 1904 she married Ambrose Williams, a pilot and police constable, at St John’s Church, Pembroke. Two of their three children died in infancy. A daughter born in 1906 survived.

Nurse Williams’s granddaughter, Alva Simmons, described as Bermuda’s Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll, was a noted singer who performed throughout the island.

Harriet Williams graduated in 1919 from the Chicago School of Nursing after one year of training as a practical nurse. She had been encouraged to study nursing by her brother who was a medical doctor who practised abroad. It is unknown why she decided to study nursing by correspondence as the Bermuda Nursing Home commenced training Black nurses in 1905.

The Chicago School of Nursing was a Practical Nursing Correspondence School founded in 1899.

The Beginning of the booklet states:

To whom it may concern

We are writing on behalf of Mrs Harriet GE Williams who has completed our one year home study course leading to the qualification of Trained Practical Nurse. The course embraces the principles of medical, surgical and obstetrical nursing with special emphasis on the general care of the patient, of the sick room, diabetics, nursing sick children, first-aid, massage and gynaecology. Incorporated with the course are home practice directions for all possible nursing procedures and 12-monthly written examinations in which Mrs Williams earned an average grade of 91 per cent. Because of her splendid work in completing this course, which requires initiative, perseverance and a real desire to become proficient as a nurse, it is a pleasure to recommend that Mrs Harriet Williams be considered for any nursing work requiring a nurse of her qualifications.

Sincerely yours

Chicago School of Nursing

Louise Peterson ( Registrar)

In 1926, she sent the following letter to the General Board of Examiners in the United States which stated:

I, Harriet GE Williams am producing the certificate which I hold for inspections as requested. My birthdate is August 27, 1887 also a certificate of good moral character. I have nursed 192 lying-in women and their infants for ten days following labour. I have watched and attended the progress of 174 cases of labour and personally delivered the patients.

Signed: Mrs Harriet Williams.

Three persons forwarded letters of recommendation

Dr L.J. Williams, of Princess Street, Hamilton, stated that he had attended several cases of labour and had found her to be an efficient and conscientious midwife.

Dr Charles B. Wainwright stated that he had found her to be an able and conscientious midwife.

R.C. Hollis-Hallett, barrister-at-law, stated that he had known Mrs Williams for 30 years as she had lived in the same portion of Pembroke Parish in which he resided. He recommended her as a person of good moral character, of excellent reputation and highly respected by all who know her.

Following her certification Mrs Williams worked in general nursing for a while but decided she really wanted to specialise in midwifery. In 1921 she delivered her first baby, a girl, in Tucker’s Town. When the doctor arrived she explained that this was her first delivery, to which he responded: “If this is your first case, I can recommend you to anyone”. The baby was named Harriett as a mark of gratitude to the midwife.

Midwife Williams travelled on a push bike visiting every delivery for ten days following birth. There were no street lights and on many occasions she ventured out alone. Her husband was a policeman working in the western parishes and frequently she was unable to contact him.

The demand for her services was such that she decided to make additions to her home on St John’s Road, Pembroke. Once completed, she provided four beds and a private room while still continuing outpatient deliveries for women of both races.

In her booklet, Mrs Williams describes several interesting cases but the one I found of great interest was relating to the patient who was brought to her at midnight from King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

She describes a nurse leading a mother up the hill while another carried the baby. In those days, if you did not pre-pay your hospital bill you could not be admitted. In this case the baby was born so quickly that they were forced to deliver and immediately discharge her.

Many girls came to her home with neither money for their confinement or clothes for the baby or themselves but still she took care of them until they were well enough to return to their homes.

Her fee for cases in the central parishes was £2 and £3.10 for outlying parishes such as Southampton. Confinement in her home was slightly higher. Very often her payment was a simple thank you or a few vegetables. During her 31-year career, midwife Williams recorded delivering more than 7,000 women of both races but, as she said in her retirement: “I tried to do my share for the community and never looked for any reward for efforts.”

In December 1935, her husband became ill, forcing her to work even harder to make ends meet. By 1952 she had only seven cases on her books and as her own health began to deteriorate, she decided to retire. She continued as an active member of the St John’s Anglican Church, the Samaritans Lodge and the Household of Ruth, who honoured her for 50 years of devoted membership. She also enjoyed the occasional bingo game.

She was awarded the Queen’s Certificate and Badge of Honour in 1970 along with Sister Joseph Anthony, who was appointed an MBE at the same ceremony. Mrs Williams was delighted as she had brought the sister into this world.

As her health continued to decline, midwife Williams was admitted to KEMH, where she remained for two years. During that period, she experienced the joy and pride of being cared for by nursing assistants — babies she had delivered.

When given the opportunity to speak with the younger generation of nurses she hastened to remind them that a nurse is more than a cap and uniform — “always do your best to be nice to your patients”. She also added that often times patients complain about poor treatment when sometimes it is their own fault.

In the closing pages of her booklet midwife Williams said: “If I had my life to live over, I would still be a nurse but my only regret is not being able to work at King Edward Memorial Hospital.”

With thanks to Mr and Mrs Raymond Medeiros

Reference: Jazz of the Rock Part 11- Writer’s Machine 1978

• Cecille Snaith-Simmons is a retired nurse, historian, writer, Fellow of Bermuda College and author of The Bermuda Cookbook