09/02/2026
NOBODY MESSED WITH "FISH MARY" ON THE NEW BEDFORD WATERFRONT
NEW BEDFORD - Every old New England seaport has characters and legends that spur conversation to this day. Some are fictitious while others are actually true.
We turned back the hands of the clock to New Bedford MA in the 1950's where the first female fish lumper made her presence known as being as strong or stronger than any man unloading fish and scallops from the damp holds of Eastern rigged fishing vessels.
“Fish Mary,” whose real name was Mary Fernandes Santos Stanley (1894–1977), is a legendary figure on the New Bedford, Massachusetts waterfront, celebrated as the first and only female lumper of her era. (left inset)
The Legend of Fish Mary.
"Supposedly when Gregory Peck came to NB in 1956 to promote the film Moby Dick as it was being released - as part of the PR (might have been during the parade) - he offered to kiss a local woman - Fish Mary was put forward - whereupon Peck not missing a beat, swooped her up in his arms and gave her a big kiss to the delight of all the onlookers!" Shelly Nituama - NB Historic Photo Club
Link of interest - 1956 Parade: https://youtu.be/pZJyZnQcyjQ
Breaking Barriers: During the 1950s and 1960s, Mary broke intense gender barriers by joining the Lumpers Union. A "lumper" is a worker responsible for the grueling physical labor of offloading heavy catches of fish and scallops from commercial fishing vessels.
Tough Reputation: She was a fiercely independent, "rugged and practically indestructible" worker in a notoriously grueling, male-dominated environment.
Waterfront lore often recalls her as a tough-as-nails character whom "everyone knew not to mess with," with popular local rumors claiming she carried a knife in her boot.
"She lived in Acushnet. She built her own house in the south end of town. My grandfather was an assessor and she hounded him, would stop by his house to complain that she should not have to pay taxes on a house she built herself." Barbara Bonneville - NB Historic Photo Club
Waterfront Icon: Iconic images and memories of Mary include her carrying heavy bags of scallops balanced on top of her head. Co-workers and union members remembered her as a deeply dependable, incredibly hard-working, and genuinely kind colleague who dedicated 13 years of service to the docks.
"I remember Fish Mary. As a kid I would accompany my dad, a scallop fisherman, to the auction house in New Bedford to wait the auction close and where he was to unload his trip.
Whenever I saw Fish Mary, she would grab me and tuck my ears in my cap and always tell me to keep them tucked in or someone might pull them off! I remember she as short in stature with strong hands and wearing knee high fish boots. She was always kind to me." Louis Audette - NB Historic Photo Club
Her Legacy
Mary Fernandes Santos Stanley (1894-1977) was the New Bedford waterfront's only woman lumper in the 1950s and 1960s. A member of the lumper's union, Mary's work was hard physical labor, offloading the fishing catch in heavy bags that approached 40 pounds.
One of seven children, Mary was born in Santa Cruz, Madeira in 1894 to Joao Fernandes and Isabel dos Santos. She immigrated to the United States at age 16, settled in the South Coast and married Alfredo Santos.
Mary was a parishioner of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church in New Bedford. Proud of her Madeiran heritage, she attended the annual Feast of the Blessed Sacrament, known as the "Madeira Feast," and joined its parade wearing the statue of a sea creature, likely a mermaid, on her head.
The sole woman lumper in an industry dominated by men, Mary's job was not easy. Lumpers unload cargo, and in the fishing industry lumping included boarding the vessel, offloading the catch both on and below deck, operating hydraulic winches to guide and dump baskets, all while making sure that the product was not damaged.
Lumpers did this strenuous work while wearing oilers, boots, rubber gloves and an engineer cap. It usually took between six to eight hours for lumpers to offload a single vessel. Within the local fishing industry, Mary gained respect on the New Bedford waterfront from fellow lumpers, fishermen, boat owners and company presidents.
Mary passed away in New Bedford in August of 1977, leaving two sons, Felix Santos and Thomas Santos, as well as four daughters — Sarah Santos, Pearl Denault, Ida Wood and Genevieve Gray. Michael Santos describes his great-grandmother as a "dedicated, hardworking mother, grandmother who never said no and accepted any and all challenges.
Mary could be seen slinging 40 lb. bags of scallops on a fishing vessel, on the roof of her Acushnet home repairing shingles, or walking in a beautiful gown in a parade. Nothing seemed to phase her and if it did, you would never know." Lisa Denault, Mary's youngest granddaughter, has shared family stories about her grandmother.
One story is that Mary worked for the federal government during World War II by watching and reporting on the waterfront. Lisa adds, "She was a strong woman ahead of her time doing a man's job. I'm very proud of her strength and none of her female blood line was raised to be a princess or be dependent on anyone.
Another interesting thing is she made and sold wine during Prohibition. She was from Madeira after all." Lisa Denault
Photos courtesy of Lisa Denault. Some source information from https://historicwomensouthcoast.org/mary-stanley/
Compiled with graphics by MLBaron for westislandweather.com
