Maine baby is island's 1st in 93 years -- since her great-grandfather

The last person to actually be born on the island was Warren Fernald in 1927.

October 15, 2020, 2:15 PM

An island off the coast of Maine is celebrating the birth of a child -- the first born there in more than nine decades.

Erin Fernald Gray and Aaron Gray recently welcomed a daughter, Azalea Belle Gray, into their home in Islesford, Maine, a hamlet on Little Cranberry Island, one of five islands that composes the town of Cranberry Isles.

The last person actually born on the island was Warren Fernald, in 1927, who was Erin Fernald Gray's grandfather.

"I think the connection with my grandfather is nice," Gray told "Good Morning America." "And, both my grandmother and I had six babies."

PHOTO: Erin Fernald Gray and Aaron Gray welcomed their sixth child, a daughter named Azalea Belle Gray, at their home in Islesford, Maine.
Erin Fernald Gray and Aaron Gray welcomed their sixth child, a daughter named Azalea Belle Gray, at their home in Islesford, Maine.
Erin Fernald Gray

Gray said her grandfather was a lifelong lobsterman and died in 2005 at 77. Gray's children -- the other five were born on the mainland -- are part of an eighth generation of lobster fisherman.

PHOTO: Erin Fernald Gray and Aaron Gray welcomed a daughter named Azalea Belle Gray, at their home in Islesford, Maine, in September. Here, Azala is photographed with her siblings, River, Zinnia, Briggs, Pheobe and Quinn.
Erin Fernald Gray and Aaron Gray welcomed a daughter named Azalea Belle Gray, at their home in Islesford, Maine, in September. Here, Azala is photographed with her siblings, River, Zinnia, Briggs, Pheobe and Quinn.
Erin Fernald Gray

Denise McCormick, the town clerk of Cranberry Isles, told "GMA" about 115 to 120 people live there. There are two schools -- one on Islesford that has nine students, and another on Great Cranberry Island that serves three students.

PHOTO: Erin Fernald Gray and Aaron Gray welcomed a daughter named Azalea Belle Gray, at their home in Islesford, Maine, in September. Here, Azala is photographed with her great-grandmother, Anna Fernald.
Erin Fernald Gray and Aaron Gray welcomed a daughter named Azalea Belle Gray, at their home in Islesford, Maine, in September. Here, Azala is photographed with her great-grandmother, Anna Fernald.
Erin Fernald Gray

"In September, we had our first home birth here on the island since 1927," McCormick said. "Our new baby is the sixth baby in her family, so she lives in a house full of love."

PHOTO: Erin Fernald Gray and Aaron Gray recently welcomed a daughter named Azalea Belle Gray, at their home in Islesford, Maine. Here, Azalea is pictured with her big sister, Phoebe.
Erin Fernald Gray and Aaron Gray recently welcomed a daughter named Azalea Belle Gray, at their home in Islesford, Maine. Islesford is a small hamlet located on Little Cranberry Island and is one of five islands of the town of Cranberry Isles. Here, Azalea is pictured with her big sister, Phoebe.
Erin Fernald Gray

Gray said she never anticipated how much attention her family's story would receive.

PHOTO: Lobstermen climb into a row boat on Little Cranberry Island, April 29, 2016, in Islesford, Maine.
Lobstermen climb into a row boat on Little Cranberry Island, April 29, 2016, in Islesford, Maine.
Matt McClain/ The Washington Post via Getty Images, FILE

"It's a connection, [but] I didn't think it would make me this famous," she said. "Holy cow!"