Port de Grave, Newfoundland and Labrador
Encyclopedia
Port de Grave is a peninsula
on Conception Bay
in Newfoundland and Labrador
, Canada
. The Port de Grave peninsula contains the communities of Bareneed, Black Duck Pond, Otterbury, Ship Cove
, Blow Me Down, Hibb's Cove, Pick Eyes, and Hussey's Cove with a population of approximately 975 (2006). This community is located in the provincial
electoral district
of Port de Grave
. An unincorporated area, for statistics purposes it is called Division No. 1, Subdivision K.
Official records indicate that a property in Ship Cove has been occupied since 1595 by the Dawe family which makes this the oldest registered land claim in Newfoundland. By the mid-17th century, Port de Grave had become a leading area in the evolving resident small boat fishery established by "planters" from West Country England. These people established a permanent population which made the peninsula the ancestral home of the Dawe, Butler, Tucker, Mugford, Snow, Porter, Andrews, Webber, Stevens and Anthony families.
During King William's War
, the village was destroyed in the Avalon Peninsula Campaign
. Port de Grave was destroyed by the French again during Queen Anne's War
in 1705. During the 1705 raid hostages were taken to try to dislodge the defenders of Carbonear Island. From 1750 to 1850 Port de Grave was the commercial center for the area. Numerous Devonshire and Scottish mercantile houses and Jersey traders were present. Among those were the names of Newmans, Pinsents, MacPhersons, Prowses, Furneaux, Baine, and Johnston.
During this time in the early 19th century a major sealing industry had developed, the population swole to its peak of 1400. After 1880, the population declined due to large steamships now being used for the sealing fishery. After World War II and Confederation, the local inshore fishery expanded rapidly and by the mid 1970s housed 3 fish plants and had major inshore multipurpose fishing fleets. It became known as one of the most prominent and progressive fishing communities in the province.
Port de Grave is still recognized as a very prominent fishing center today in spite of the 1992 cod moratorium.
Peninsula
A peninsula is a piece of land that is bordered by water on three sides but connected to mainland. In many Germanic and Celtic languages and also in Baltic, Slavic and Hungarian, peninsulas are called "half-islands"....
on Conception Bay
Conception Bay
Conception Bay is a Canadian bay located on the northeast coast of the island of Newfoundland. The bay indents the Avalon Peninsula with the opening of the bay to the Atlantic Ocean at the northeast. It is bounded by Cape St. Francis in the south and Split Point near Bay de Verde in the north...
in Newfoundland and Labrador
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...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The Port de Grave peninsula contains the communities of Bareneed, Black Duck Pond, Otterbury, Ship Cove
Ship Cove
There are many small communities called Ship Cove; most are in Newfoundland.*Ship Cove may refer to Botwood, Newfoundland and Labrador* It is also a very small Cape Shore farming community on the southwestern Avalon Peninsula There are many small communities called Ship Cove; most are in...
, Blow Me Down, Hibb's Cove, Pick Eyes, and Hussey's Cove with a population of approximately 975 (2006). This community is located in the provincial
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...
electoral district
Electoral district
An electoral district is a distinct territorial subdivision for holding a separate election for one or more seats in a legislative body...
of Port de Grave
Port de Grave (electoral district)
Port de Grave is a provincial electoral district for the House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.Fishing is a prime industry in the district and many people commute to work in the St. John’s area. Bay Roberts is an important service centre for the region and there is some light...
. An unincorporated area, for statistics purposes it is called Division No. 1, Subdivision K.
History
The Port de Grave peninsula has been used by Europeans since the 16th century. Some of the first people to have used this land was the French, who used the beaches to dry their catch as they fished off the waters nearby. They named one of the many harbours they used to dry their fish "Graves". By the end of the 16th century the area from Carbonear to Brigus (with Port de Grave in the middle) had become a major area in the English fishery.Official records indicate that a property in Ship Cove has been occupied since 1595 by the Dawe family which makes this the oldest registered land claim in Newfoundland. By the mid-17th century, Port de Grave had become a leading area in the evolving resident small boat fishery established by "planters" from West Country England. These people established a permanent population which made the peninsula the ancestral home of the Dawe, Butler, Tucker, Mugford, Snow, Porter, Andrews, Webber, Stevens and Anthony families.
During King William's War
King William's War
The first of the French and Indian Wars, King William's War was the name used in the English colonies in America to refer to the North American theater of the Nine Years' War...
, the village was destroyed in the Avalon Peninsula Campaign
Avalon Peninsula Campaign
The Avalon Peninsula Campaign occurred during King Williams War when forces of New France, led by Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville, destroyed 23 English settlements along the coast of the Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland in the span of three months...
. Port de Grave was destroyed by the French again during Queen Anne's War
Queen Anne's War
Queen Anne's War , as the North American theater of the War of the Spanish Succession was known in the British colonies, was the second in a series of French and Indian Wars fought between France and England, later Great Britain, in North America for control of the continent. The War of the...
in 1705. During the 1705 raid hostages were taken to try to dislodge the defenders of Carbonear Island. From 1750 to 1850 Port de Grave was the commercial center for the area. Numerous Devonshire and Scottish mercantile houses and Jersey traders were present. Among those were the names of Newmans, Pinsents, MacPhersons, Prowses, Furneaux, Baine, and Johnston.
During this time in the early 19th century a major sealing industry had developed, the population swole to its peak of 1400. After 1880, the population declined due to large steamships now being used for the sealing fishery. After World War II and Confederation, the local inshore fishery expanded rapidly and by the mid 1970s housed 3 fish plants and had major inshore multipurpose fishing fleets. It became known as one of the most prominent and progressive fishing communities in the province.
Port de Grave is still recognized as a very prominent fishing center today in spite of the 1992 cod moratorium.
Notable people
- Joseph L. Butler - established the Colonial Broadcasting System in 1936. (birth place)
- Charles DaweCharles DaweCharles Dawe was a merchant and political figure in Newfoundland. He represented Harbour Grace from 1878 to 1889 and Port de Grave from 1893 to 1900 and from 1906 to 1908 as a Conservative....
- MP - John EffordJohn EffordRuben John Efford, PC is a former Canadian politician.-Provincial politics:...
- former Canadian MP, FederalCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Minister of Natural ResourcesMinister of Natural Resources (Canada)The Minister of Natural Resources is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for Natural Resources Canada. As of January 19, 2010, the Minister of Natural Resources is Joe Oliver.-Ministers:Key:...
, and Port de GravePort de Grave (electoral district)Port de Grave is a provincial electoral district for the House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.Fishing is a prime industry in the district and many people commute to work in the St. John’s area. Bay Roberts is an important service centre for the region and there is some light...
MHA (birth place) - Sir Robert John PinsentRobert John PinsentRobert John Pinsent magistrate and politician ran in the first general election held in Newfoundland in 1832 to represent the district of Conception Bay...
(birth place) - Daniel W. ProwseDaniel Woodley ProwseDaniel Woodley Prowse was a lawyer, politician, judge, historian, essayist, and office holder.Born in Port de Grave, Newfoundland , he was the fourth of the seven children of Robert Prowse and Jane Woodley...
- judge, publicist and author of the History of Newfoundland. (birth place)