A Little History of DeBay-DeBaie Cove

This community was probably named for the first early settler Jean DeBay, it is not known for sure his true nationality or his real date of birth we can only surmise it was between the late 1760's and mid 1770 possibly in France or Belgium.

He married Derry (Doria) Amelia Wilson in the 1790's he settled in the area about 1805 and was included in the 1820 census of Ship Harbour heading a family of six persons .

The land was part of the 17-Lot Owl's Head Harbour Grant made to 30 proprietors on September 16,1784. He also appeared in the 1838 census of Owl's Head Harbour as a fisherman living alone with his wife, he was not listed in the census of 1851 most likely died in the 1840's.

Records show that Jean and Derry (Doria) Amelia Wilson had at least eight children.

And so the story begins about DeBay-DeBaie Cove.......

Some Background Info on Owl's Head

The Mi'qmaq name for Owls Head was Pujooopskook, "Cormorant Rock" "Owls Head" is said to have originated from the figure of an owl implanted upon a rock in the harbour. An early name was Kepple (Keppel) Harbour, named for Admiral Augustus Keppel (1725-1786) of the British Navy. On September 16,1784, 17 lots of land were granted to Thirty Proprietors. Ten people were living there in 1817.
St. Matthews Anglican Church was built about 1893 being consecrated on December 1, 1905. The United Church was originally erected as a community hall around 1900. There are two cemeteries, Anglican and United. There is only one church at this time, which is St.. Matthew's Anglican . Harbourside School was opened in June of 1962, and is still a vital part of the community. Fishing is still being carried on. Boat Building is now in the past and was home of the World Famous Norman Hutt Boat Building Shop, a business he carried on with such pride for many years. A Sub Fire Station is a valued part of the community. And a Owl's Head And Area Fishermen/Fisherwomen Memorial Park was opened on October 15, 2000.
This is just an outline of this community there's so much more to tell so feel free to help me make it an especially great site.