Cape Freels, Newfoundland and Labrador
Encyclopedia
Cape Freels is one of the communities that comprise an area on the northeast coast of the Island of Newfoundland, called Bonavista North
. 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
.
, 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.
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.
- 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:
Bonavista North
Bonavista North is a provincial electoral district for the House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. As of 2011 the district has 6,956 eligible voters....
. These communities have a shared history in that they were settled by people from England, predominantly from the West Country - Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
and Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
.
History
Cape Freels, on the northern point of Bonavista BayBonavista Bay
Bonavista Bay is a large bay located on the northeast coast of the island of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It opens directly onto the Atlantic Ocean....
, Newfoundland
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
, is said to have been visited as early as 1506. It also has one of the earliest known Beothuk
Beothuk
The Beothuk were one of the aboriginal peoples in Canada. They lived on the island of Newfoundland at the time of European contact in the 15th and 16th centuries...
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
Cod
Cod is the common name for genus Gadus, belonging to the family Gadidae, and is also used in the common name for various other fishes. Cod is a popular food with a mild flavor, low fat content and a dense, flaky white flesh. Cod livers are processed to make cod liver oil, an important source of...
fishing industry and seals
Seal hunting
Seal hunting, or sealing, is the personal or commercial hunting of seals. The hunt is currently practiced in five countries: Canada, where most of the world's seal hunting takes place, Namibia, the Danish region of Greenland, Norway and Russia...
. On Gull Island
Gull Island
Gull Island may refer to:In Australia:* Gull Island In Canada:* Gull Island, Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador* Gull Island, Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador* Gull Island , Ontario...
, 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 EnglandChurch of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
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
| 1836 | 1845 | 1857 | 1869 | 1874 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| population | 66 | 80 | 121 | 161 | 191 |
| inhabited houses | 7 | 7 | 20 | 23 | 27 |
| Church of England | 51 | 71 | 113 | 143 | 9 |
| Roman Catholic | 15 | 9 | 8 | 3 | 5 |
| Wesleyans | - | - | - | 15 | 177 |
| No. Churches | - | 1 (Ch. of Eng) | 1 | ||
| No. of Schools | - | 1 | 1 | ||
| students | - | 51 | 45 | 39 | 45 |
| who can read/write | - | - | - | 73 | 86 |
| total boats | 6 | 7 | 23 | 14 | 12 |
| boats built | - | - | 2 | - | - |
| potatoes produced | 455 bus. | 140 barrels | 405 bars. | 533 bars. | 409 bars. |
| barrels of turnip | - | - | 22 | 53 | 81 |
| swine/goats | - | - | 35 | 66 | 93 |
| horses | - | - | - | 4 | 5 |
| nets and seines | - | 47 | 25 | 13 | 36 |
| people catching/curing fish | - | - | 100 | 48 | 86 |
| seamen and fishermen | - | - | 32 | - | 29 |
| cod fish cured (qtls) | - | - | 3100 | - | 2200 |
| stores/barns/outhouses | - | - | 14 | 10 | 13 |
| fishing rooms in use | - | - | 13 | 11 | 12 |
| vessels in seal fishery | - | - | 4 | 5 | 1 |
| men on board | - | - | 40 | 35 | 10 |
| tonnage in fishery | - | - | 158 | 129 | 35 |
| seals caught | - | - | 463 | - | 40 |
| seal nets | - | - | 54 | 37 | 21 |
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
- The Greenspond Historical SocietyGreenspond Historical SocietyThe Greenspond Historical Society and Archives, in Greenspond, Newfoundland and Labrador, began in April 1994 with the publication of the first issue of The Greenspond Letter. The Greenspond Letter is a journal of the history of Greenspond through poetry, prose, photographs, essays, articles and...