Ernest Albert Penney was born August 27, 1894 at Harry's Harbour, Green Bay
The son of Stephen Oliver and Catherine Ann (Packwood) Penney.

On February 8, 1922, when the schooner Norma B. Strong floundered off the Azores, Portugal,
he abandoned ship with the rest of the crew of six.
They were rescued in their life boat by citizens of Fayal, the Azores,
and the Newfoundland government secured their passage back to Newfoundland.

He married Bessie Wiseman of Little Bay Islands in 1924 and they had 7 children at Harry's Harbour.

Bessie died in 1939 and he raised his children with his mother at Little Bay Islands,
and their youngest with the help of a brother-in-law and sister-in-law.

After a full career, into his 80s, as a seaman, Ernest died December 22, 1981 at the age of 87.