• Source: Cape Freels, Newfoundland and Labrador

    • Cape Freels is one of the communities that comprise an area (also known as Cape Freels) on the northeast coast of the Island of Newfoundland, called Bonavista North, in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. These communities have a shared history in that they were settled by people from England, predominantly from the West Country - Dorset, Devon, Somerset and Hampshire.


    History


    Cape Freels, on the northern point of Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland, is said to have been visited as early as 1506. It also has one of the earliest known Beothuk sites on the island. Originally, European settlers went to Middle Bill Cove and by 1836 there were 67 people living there. The settlement relied on a small local cod fishing industry and seals. On Gull Island, Cape Freels in 1924, a gas lamp was erected to help aid mariners with their navigation. In 1961 the population of Cape Freels and Cape Freels South was 157 and the population of Cape Freels North was 179. In 1963 Cape Freels received electricity and still depended on the local fishery and Labrador fishery. In 1966 there were 341 people in Cape Freels, by 1976 there were only 95.


    Church History


    In 1836, 35 of the 46 inhabitants in Cape Freels were Church of England and eleven were Roman Catholic. Although there was no church at this time, missionaries from other communities would visit there. For example, the first missionary stationed at Greenspond, Rev N.A. Coster records visiting Cape Freels as early as 1832. By 1845, with a population of only 80 people, a Church of England church and school was built and had an initial enrolment of 51 pupils. In 1844 Mr. Thomas Parker became the school master and taught there for more than 20 years. In 1857 113 if the 121 inhabitants were Church of England. By 1869, however, only nine people were of the Church of England, five were Roman Catholic, and 177 were Methodists.


    Census Information




    Directories


    - Hutchinson's Newfoundland Directory for 1864 lists some of the inhabitants of Middle Bill Cove:

    James Houlahan, Planter
    Patrick Humphries, Planter
    Thomas Parker, Teacher
    John Ridout, Planter
    John Stokes, Planter
    William Yetman, Planter
    - Lovell's Newfoundland Directory for 1871 describes Middle Bill Cove as the most northern settlement in the Bonavista district, distant from Greenspond about 15 miles by boat and a population of 161. The people listed are:

    William Brown, Fisherman
    Davis Butchers, Fisherman
    Cornelius Cook, Planter
    William Cook, Fisherman
    Mark Garrett, Fisherman
    Alfreal Gaulton, Fisherman
    John Hann, Planter
    William Hann, Fisherman
    Harvey Harvey, Fisherman
    James Hollohn, Fisherman
    George Humphrey, Fisherman
    Jonas Humphrey, Fisherman
    Thomas Parker
    Jacob Ridout, Planter
    James Ridout, Planter
    John Ridout, Planter
    Peter Ridout, Planter
    William Ridout, Fisherman
    Arthur Robert, Fisherman
    Job Stokes, Fisherman
    John Stokes Jr., Fisherman
    John Stokes Sr., Fisherman
    William Yetman, Fisherman


    Interesting facts


    In the 1840s, John Ridout, W. Hands, and R. Vincent were on the board of Road Commissioners for Cape Freels to Cobbler's Island.
    In 1865 Thomas Fish Parker of Middle Bill Cove, Cape Freels petitioned for a bridge over the river at Arthur's Gut and James Roach of Middle Bill Cove wanted a grant to open a road from the beach to their farms.
    In 1887 William Lang was the surveyor of shipping from Salvage to Cape Freels; Henry Robins was the commissioner of wrecked property for Cape Freels to Cape Farewell; and Cape Freels way office in 1887 was William Hann.


    See also


    List of communities in Newfoundland and Labrador


    References




    External links


    Newfoundland and Labrador Abandoned Communities Index - Bonavista
    Newfoundland and Labrador Grand Banks Genealogy
    Religion, Culture and society in Newfoundland and Labrador

Kata Kunci Pencarian: