Wadham Islands
Encyclopedia
The Wadham Islands are a group of islands at the eastern opening to Hamilton Sound, southeast of Fogo Island
off Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador
, Canada. The islands are: Offer Wadham Islands (the most northernly and easternly), Copper Island, Duck Island, White Island, Peckford Island (the largest), Coleman Island, Small Island.
. Mostly the Offer Wadhams and Peckford islands were used, as they had ideal drying conditions and some of the best salt cod in the country. Many families who fished off these islands decided to settle in nearby Doting Cove
and fish off the Wadham Islands in the summer. Such families were the Cuffs, Hickses and Moulands in the 1850s. For more than 100 years Doting Cove men moved to the Wadham Islands in the summer to fish. In 1858, a lighthouse was erected on the Offer Wadham islands, the first lighthouse on the northern part of Bonavista Bay. After the lighthouse was constructed, there was a small year-round population of lightkeepers and their families. In 1899, there were post offices established at Peckford's Island and Offer Wadhams. They also had schools, a Methodist church and mercantile premises.
Church services were held nearly every Sunday in the summer and were conducted by residents on the island. Lay readers and appointed readers were:
The first lighthouse keeper was Mr. Thomas Hennessey and his assistant was Edward Reddy. Charles Prowse was appointed keeper in November 1862 until 1901 and his assistants were William Hennessey, William Murphy, Peter Woods, and Robert Wellon. Other lighthouse keepers on the island were:.
The lighthouse is described in the Newfoundland Almanac as a steady, fixed, white 4th order dioptric burning on a circular brick tower at an arc of 360 degrees with a 2 wick concentric lamp. It was 100 feet (30.5 m) above sea level and could be seen at about 15 nautical miles (28 km).
Fogo Island, Newfoundland and Labrador
Fogo Island is the largest of the offshore islands of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It lies off the northeast coast of Newfoundland, northwest of Musgrave Harbour across Hamilton Sound, just east of Change Islands. The island is about 25 km long and 14 km wide...
off Newfoundland in the province of 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. The islands are: Offer Wadham Islands (the most northernly and easternly), Copper Island, Duck Island, White Island, Peckford Island (the largest), Coleman Island, Small Island.
History
The Wadham Islands were extremely popular fishing grounds since the early 19th century and were first used by crews from BonavistaBonavista, Newfoundland and Labrador
Bonavista is a town on the Bonavista Peninsula, Newfoundland in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Unlike many Newfoundland coastal settlements, Bonavista was built on an open plain, not in a steep cove, and thus had room to expand to its current area of 31.5 square...
. Mostly the Offer Wadhams and Peckford islands were used, as they had ideal drying conditions and some of the best salt cod in the country. Many families who fished off these islands decided to settle in nearby Doting Cove
Doting Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador
Doting Cove and Ragged Harbour-Geography:Located on the Straight Shore of Newfoundland, Ragged Harbour is to the west of Musgrave Harbour and Doting Cove is to the east...
and fish off the Wadham Islands in the summer. Such families were the Cuffs, Hickses and Moulands in the 1850s. For more than 100 years Doting Cove men moved to the Wadham Islands in the summer to fish. In 1858, a lighthouse was erected on the Offer Wadham islands, the first lighthouse on the northern part of Bonavista Bay. After the lighthouse was constructed, there was a small year-round population of lightkeepers and their families. In 1899, there were post offices established at Peckford's Island and Offer Wadhams. They also had schools, a Methodist church and mercantile premises.
Church history
A Methodist church was erected on the Wadham Islands in the late 19th century. The residents had to collect money in order to buy a Bible for the church. An inscription on the Bible reads: "Wadham Island Methodist Church July 1899. Bought by subscription collected by Mrs. Charles H. Prowse".Church services were held nearly every Sunday in the summer and were conducted by residents on the island. Lay readers and appointed readers were:
- Mr. and Mrs. Prowse (lightkeepers)
- Joseph Dyke, Doting CoveDoting Cove, Newfoundland and LabradorDoting Cove and Ragged Harbour-Geography:Located on the Straight Shore of Newfoundland, Ragged Harbour is to the west of Musgrave Harbour and Doting Cove is to the east...
- appointed - Charles Abbott, BonavistaBonavista, Newfoundland and LabradorBonavista is a town on the Bonavista Peninsula, Newfoundland in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Unlike many Newfoundland coastal settlements, Bonavista was built on an open plain, not in a steep cove, and thus had room to expand to its current area of 31.5 square...
, appointed - Lewis Wellon, Ladle CoveLadle Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador-Geography:Ladle Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador, is in Bonavista Bay near Musgrave Harbour on Hamilton Sound. Ladle Cove has a poor harbour but is located close to good fishing grounds and fishing grounds off the Wadham Islands...
, lay reader - Thomas West, Ladle Cove, lay reader
- Samuel Wellon, Ladle Cove, lay reader
- Israel Hicks, CarmanvilleCarmanville, Newfoundland and LabradorCarmanville is a Canadian community in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.-History:Carmanville, on the northeastern coast of Newfoundland, was first settled by John Day, from Twillingate, and his family. The Day family trapped otter and fox and became friends with a family of Aboriginals...
, lay reader - Archibald Way, NewtownNewtown, Newfoundland and LabradorNewtown is a part of the Municipality of New-Wes-Valley, located at the North end of Bonavista Bay in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The approximate population is 400. Settlement in Newtown originated around 1850 when people relocated from nearby areas...
, appointed - Rev. Beaton Hicks, Doting Cove, he preached his first sermon on the Wadham Islands.
Offer Wadham Island lighthouse
The Offer Wadham lighthouse was lit for the first time on October 4, 1858. It was built after many petitions were sent to the government arguing for a light to be put on the island to help guide mariners. This arose especially after the "Spring of the Wadhams" in 1852, when more than 40 sealing vessels were crushed and abandoned in the ice near Offer Wadham Island and several crew members escaped by climbing over cliffs to find shelter.The first lighthouse keeper was Mr. Thomas Hennessey and his assistant was Edward Reddy. Charles Prowse was appointed keeper in November 1862 until 1901 and his assistants were William Hennessey, William Murphy, Peter Woods, and Robert Wellon. Other lighthouse keepers on the island were:.
- Elias Abbott, 1901–1908
- Stephen Abbott, 1908–1910
- William Pomeroy, 1910–1916
- James Ford Mouland, 1916–1936
The lighthouse is described in the Newfoundland Almanac as a steady, fixed, white 4th order dioptric burning on a circular brick tower at an arc of 360 degrees with a 2 wick concentric lamp. It was 100 feet (30.5 m) above sea level and could be seen at about 15 nautical miles (28 km).