Beautiful Bell Island is steeped in history. Bell Island is often ascribed to as
Wabana, "where the sun first shines."
OUR ISLAND HERITAGE
They came here from their Isle of Green
To this new land they had never seen
Where Erins' sons would be secure and free
And earn their living from the sea.
Still others from old England's shores
Opportunity had opened wide its' doors
To Build a house, raise a family
And earn their living from the sea.
They came from Scotland's moors and dales
and from the dark coal fields of Wales
A few from France and from Jersey's Isle
To earn their living from the soil.
Though former enemies they soon became friends
For on each other they must depend
They lived together in harmony
And earned their living from the sea.
Their bodies rest long beneath the sod
Their souls we trust have gone to God
An heritage proud they left for you and me
For they earned their living from the soil and sea.
John W. Hammond: The Beautiful Isles
Following are excerpts taken from The Beautiful Isles"
by John W. Hammond
It would appear that many people settled on Bell Island during the early days
of colonization. Some names have been recorded and there is no doubt that
many settlers who lived here for periods of time left without any permanent
record of their stay.
It is said that Sir John Guy anchored off the north side of the island in 1610.
Bell Island listed as a fishing station is
listed below.
A special thank you to Owen Kelly for providing this information
1814
State and Condition of Belle Isle, September 1814 Colonial Records - Vol. 25
NO.
OCCUPIED
ACRES CULTIVATED
ACRES ENCLOSED
REMARKS
1
John, James & William Pitts
12
12
These men are natives and carry on the fishery in Lance Cove at the west end of the Island
2
Edward Cooper
15
15
This man is a native, and has his fishery in Lance Cove
3
George Reece
7
7
This man is a native, and has his fishery in Lance Cove
4
Hiscock and Kennedy
4
4
This man is a native, and has his fishery in Lance Cove
5
William Kent
4
4
This man is a native, and has his fishery in Lance Cove
6
Thomas Lahey
8
6
This man has no fishery, and resided with his family at a part called Scrape
7
James Sweeney
2
40 or 50
This man is not employed in the fishery, and has no family
8
Edward Harragan
3
4
This man fishes on the shores, and has a large family
9
Owen Kelly
1
10 or 12
This man fishes on the shores, and has no family
10
John Claharty
1
1
This man fishes on the shores and has no family
11
Michael Power
3
3
This man is aged and infirm and unfit for the fishery
12
Mary Power
2
2
This woman is a widow, and has no concern with the fishery
13
Hester Kelly
4
6
This woman is a widow, with children - no fishery
14
John Foreham
2
3
This man is old and infirm, and is unconnected with the fishery
15
Henry Normer
3
3
This man is a native, with a family and has a fishery
16
Robert Normer
3
3
This man is a native, with a family and has a fishery
17
James Kent
3
4
This man is a native, and has a fishery but no family
18
James King
3
5
This man has a family and fishery
19
James Oats
4
5
This man is a native, and has a family and fishery
20
Martin Dwyer
6
6
This man has a family and fishery, and is a peace officer
21
Benjamin Squire and
Sylvester Tapp
6
6
These men are natives, with families and fishery
22
Henry White and Martin Fardy
5
5
These men have families and fishery
23
Oliver Welsh
2
2
This man has a family and fishery
24
William Ryan
1
1
This man fishes on the shores, and has a family
25
William Stevens
3
3
This man is a servant, with a family
26
Peter Fitzgerald
7
7
This man has a family and fishery, and rents' five acres of the land he occupies from James Kehoe
27
Patrick Boland
2
2
This man is aged and infirm, and has not fishery
28
Patrick Mahaney
1
5
This man is a fisherman, and has no family
29
Peter Jackman
10
10
This man keeps a fishery, and has a family
30
James White
and
John Scanes
4
4
These men have families and are fisherman
31
Thomas Searle
3
3
This man has a fishery and a family
32
Thomas Phelan
and
John Dwyer
4
4
These men are fishermen without families and rent their farm from Richard Haynes for 12 pounds
33
Richard Squire
3
3
This man lives in Quidi Vidi, and has a fishery and family
34
Patrick Bowden
60
60
This man, who has a wife, has no fishery, rents his farm to Col. Skinner for 25 pounds. The Colonel purchased one at the Sheriff's sale and the other half from James Keefe, who bought it from Robert Brine, who purchased the whole in lots from different people who originally cleared the land
35
Richard Tobin
1
100
This man is absent fishing, and has his projected estate at the east end of the island
36
Richard Tobin
10
10
This man, before described, who rents these 10 acres
37
Roger Kehoe
2
2
This man has a family and fishery
38
Gregory Norman
1
1
This man has a family and fishery in Portugal Cove, and is a native
39
James Kavanagh
1½
1½
This man has a family, and fishes on the shores
NB: The quantity of land set down in the above report is by Computation. Signed, J. Bland, Sheriff
Memorandums from government records for November 21, 1814 are as follows:
William Kennedy of Lance Cove in the island of Belle Isle in Conception Bay, having applied to me for permission to erect a fishing room in an unoccupied space of ground in Scrape Cove in said island. Permission was granted. Signed - Governor
R.G. Keats.
To: Martin Dwyer, Head Constable of Belle Isle - Memorandum regarding Martin Dwyer's application to erect a fishing room on the unoccupied space of ground at the western extremity of the Beach. Permission granted.
1816 - There was a reference to George Hiscock and William Kennedy of Lance Cove as being fishing partners.
Royal Gazette - November 11, 1822 John Murphy's packet boat, plying between Portugal Cove and the north side of Conception Bay, lost this day with Skipper Murphy, Martin Casey, and several other passengers and crew.
Thomas Rees In the possession of Mr. Thomas Rees is a beautifully carved powder horn which reads:
"John Stone
Big Bell Isle
Conception Bay, Newfoundlande
February 3, 1824"
1832
November 1832 Belle Isle Petition to Sir Thomas John
Cockrane, protesting the changing of electorial district of St. John's to the district of Conception Bay
John Dwyer
James Kelly
Edward Kennedy
Andrew Murphy
John Fitzpatrick
Terrence Kennedy
John Jackman
Dennis Dwyer
William Kennedy
James Jackman
James Cosh
John Kent
Richard Manning
Thomas Whalen
Peter Kent
John Morris
Charles Whalen
William Kent
Solomon Normore
Matthew Kelly
William Stoyles
Edward Normore
William Pitts
Michael Hammond
Peter Jackman
James Cooper
George Rees
Henry Normore
Edward Cooper
John Rees
Stephen Long
William Clemens
James Pitts
John Long
George Hiscock
James Oatta
Henry Bickford
Provincial Archives G/N2/2 - Transcribed by Vi Smith May 2000
