Harbour Grace, Newfoundland

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Harbour Grace, Newfoundland
Surname/tag: Newfoundland

Contents 1 Sections 1.1 Description 1.2 History 1.3 Harbour Grace Affray 1.4 Residents 1871 1.4.1 A 1.4.2 B 1.4.3 C 1.4.4 D 1.4.5 E-F 1.4.6 G 1.4.7 H 1.4.8 J-K 1.4.9 L 1.4.10 M 1.4.11 N-P 1.4.12 Q-S 1.4.13 T-V 1.4.14 W 1.5 Resources 2 Sources

Sections

Description

Harbour Grace (also spelled Harbor Grace, traditionally) is one of the oldest, largest, and most historically important settlements in Newfoundland. Located in Conception Bay, in the Avalon Peninsula, it was an important port for trade, fishing, and piracy^[1]. It was also the site of an airfield that played a major role in the first transatlantic flights; including the solo transatlantic flight of Amelia Earhart^[2].

History

Harbour Grace was founded in 1517, by Francis I of France, and is thought to derive its name from the French name Havre de Grace. Channel Island fishermen had a long connection with the area, before permanent settlement was officially permitted, and by 1550 Harbour Grace was a thriving fishing community of Channel Islanders^[3]. This was 24 years before the Jamestown, Virginia colony, often incorrectly cited as the first permanent European settlement in North America, and two years before the "lost" colony at Roanoke, North Carolina. The first known resident of Harbour Grace was Robert Tossey of Dartmouth, England who settled here in 1583. In 1612 the area gained some infamy when a notorious pirate, Peter Easton (later the Marquis de Savoy), took up residence and used it as his base of operations, before sailing to France in 1614. Other pirates soon took his place.

In 1675, a census recorded 36 English residents; with a fluctuating summer population between 330 and 550. By 1697, the population was 100 men, with 14 houses. Despite several destructive raids by the French in the late 17th century, and early 18th, by 1750 the community was thriving and firms, including the Webbers of Boston, were setting up business.

Again, during the turmoil of the Seven Years War, and the American War of Independence, the Harbour Grace fishery was affected. The French took Harbour Grace in 1762, but while it was shortly recovered into British hands, privateers and war led to drastic reductions in global trade by 1779. Towards the end of the Napoleonic wars, however, Harbour Grace was recovering, and shipping and passenger services were established. Despite several fires, by 1857, Harbour Grace boasted 48 merchant establishments; and by 1870 was near its peak of prosperity and importance^[4].

In 1871, Lovell's directory described it as "[t]he second town for importance in the island and the capital of the district of Harbor Grace ... situated on the north side of Conception Bay. [It] is a town of large trade, and nearly one fourth of the total business of the country is done here. The number of ships entering in 1869 was 200. The town has a pretty appearance from the harbor, but lacks public buildings of any consequence, with the exception of the Roman Catholic cathedral, the dome of which forms a prominent object in entering the port," and noted "The Circuit Court holds both a spring and autumn session here, and a magistrate holds court daily. The New York, Newfoundland and London Telegraph Co. has an office here. Distant from Portugal Cove by steamer, tri-weekly, 20 miles, fare $1.50. Mail tri-weekly. Population 6770."

While it remained a center of commerce and shipbuilding for another 50 years, however, changes in the global economy, the fishery, and other industries, resulted in money and people flowing elsewhere. From 5184 inhabitants in 1901, by 1921 Harbour Grace only had 2661, and this dropped by another 400 people by the 1935 census.

Harbour Grace Affray

On Dec 26, 1883, there was an episode of religious violence between Catholic and Protestant residents of Harbour Grace, in which 5 were killed, and a number of people injured or arrested^[5] Historians say 400 Orangemen marched along Harvey Street that day, with the leader holding the King James version of the Bible. They insisted on going beyond what the Catholics considered their territory and, as a result, a riot broke out with guns fired as the parade went past.

Of the dead, one was with the Catholics, one was a bystander and three were Orangemen. The Catholic, Patrick Callahan of South Side, was shot through the head. John Bray, who was not in the procession, died of a fractured skull. Of the three Orangemen killed, William French, of Courage's Beach, died from wounds to the back of the head; William Jeans of Carbonear, was shot twice and had 62 wounds to the front of his body; Thomas Nicholas, of Otterbury, died from eight shot wounds in the back and side. The 17 men wounded were: John Webber and William Anthony of Death Hill, Harbour Grace; William Brown and Moses Nicholas of Mayne's Brook, Harbour Grace; Solomon Martin of Martin's Brook, Harbour Grace; Reuben Courage and James Bray of Courage's Beach, Harbour Grace; Thomas Luffman of Noad Street, Harbour Grace; Robert Lilly, The Marsh, Harbour Grace; Henry Noseworthy, Bryant's Cove; William Cleary, Carbonear; William Best, Harvey Street, Harbour Grace; William George, South Side; William Vatcher, Carbonear; Patrick Dormody, Thomas Walsh, and Edward Callahan of Riverhead, Harbour Grace.

Constable Edward Doyle, an Ulster Protestant, heard there would be trouble on the day of the parade and told his police to keep a general watch on the parade. He claimed his men were not armed. Men had gathered on a bridge along the route early in the day, but this was later disputed. A volley of shots was exchanged, with constable Doyle accused of pulling a gun and killing Callahan. Medical evidence later disproved this.

Doyle was arested for the murder of Callahan, but the charge was dropped. Josiah Bray, Edmund Butt, Edward Ambrose Williams were discharged for lack of evidence. James Courage and Charles French were also arrested for murder, but never came to trial. Arrested for the murders of William Jeans and others were: Michael Coady, James Quirk, John Walsh, Patrick Harper, Richard MacKay, Nicholas Shannahan, William Russell, Thomas Duggan, Thomas Bradbury, Jeremiah Lee, Robert Donnelly, Patrick Smallcombe, Pierce Wade, Thomas Morrisey, Patrick Walsh, John McCaarthy, John Flemming, Richard Flemming and Nicholas Bradbury. They were all brought to trial in St. John's and acquitted, to the outrage of the Protestant population in Harbour Grace^[6].

Residents 1871

Note: this is only a partial list of inhabitants of Harbour Grace at the time: those featured in Lovell's list of businesspeople^[4]. In the interests of space, the residence and profession information from the listing isn't shown here. Where possible, the list.

A

• Adams, Mrs. E., wid William; Alcock James; Alexander Andrew; Allan William, M.D.; Allcock Azariah; Allcock Henry; Anderson Mrs. Jane, wid Richard; Ash Ambrose; Ash Edmund; Ash Francis; Ash James; Ash Richard; Aylward Mrs. Julia, wid Edward

B

• Badcock Robert; Bailey Henry; Barnes George; Barry John; Bell John; Bemister John; Bennett Stephen; Bolger James; Bowden Robert; Bray A; Bray Fredrick; Bray James; Bray John Jr; Bray John Sr; Bray William; Brazil Mrs. Frances wid [Be]njamin; Breaker Stephen; Bremner Robert; Brennan Tobias; Brien Mrs. Judith, wid J.; Brown George; Brown James; Brown Philip; Brown Robert; Burrows Johnston F.; Bush James; Butler Patrick; Butt Wm.

C

• Cahill Edward; Cahill Jeremiah; Cairns Thomas; Mrs. H. Reed; Callahan John; Callanan James; Candler Ths.; Carson George; Cathrae John; Cleary Richard; Clift Alex.; Clift Henry A.; Clow Robert; Clow Henry W.; Coates James; Cody John; Cody Mrs. Catherine; Cole John; Collins Terence; Condon Garrett; Connel Jeremiah; Connel John; Connell Maurice; Cook Nicholas; Cooney Michael; Cooper Joseph; Corbin James; Corbin Mrs. Sarah, wid Thomas; Courage Joseph; Courage John; Cram Thos.; Cram Thomas; Cronan Mrs. Ann, wid. Timothy; Cutler Jacob

D

• Dancey Robert; Davis Hannibal; Davis Henry; Davis James; Davis John; Davis, Nathaniel; Davis Robert; Davis William; Dawley John; Dawley Mrs. Alice, wid Patrick; Dearin John J., jun; Devereux Patrick; Donald John; Donaldson John; Donnelly W.J.S., M.L.C.; Doolan Edward; Dooley Miss Bridget; Dooling Mrs. Catherine, wid M.; Dooling Mrs. Mary, wid Michael; Dorothy Mrs. Ellen, wid Patrick; Dow Mrs. Caroline, wid William; Dow Selby; Drover John; Drysdale Andrew Thomas; Drysdale James; Duffy James

E-F

• Edgecomb Elie; Edison George; Elliott Samuel; Emerson Lewis W.; Elliott William, cooper; England Joseph; Evill Mrs. E., wid Charles; Fallon Luke; Fannon Peter ;Farrell George; Farrell John; Farrell Mrs. Margaret; Farrell Patrick; Fennell John J.; Fitzgerald Edmund; Fitzgerald Henry; Fitzgerald John (fisherman); Fitzgerald John (insurance agent); Fitzgerald William; Fletcher Daniel; Foley Mrs. Mary, wid Edmund; [F]oley Patrick; Foley Stephen; Fox James; French George; French John; French Mrs. Mary, wid F.; French Richard; French Stephen; French William

G

• Gaden Mrs. G.C.; Garland Charles; Garland Fred.; Garland George; Gillard Thomas; Garland Mrs. H., wid John; Godden Joseph; Godden Thomas; Goff David; Gordon George; Gordon Henry; Gordon Hugh; Gordon Mrs. E., wid William; Gordon Mrs. L., wid John; Gordon Reuben; Gordon Samuel; Gordon William; Gorman James; Gray Patrick; Green captain Thomas; Green Daniel; Green John; Green Mrs. R., wid Daniel; Grimm Fritz; Grubert Michael; Grubert John; Grubert William

H

• Hall Richard; Hamilton Eugene N.; Halfpenny Michael; Hampton Frederick; Hanrahan Joseph; Hanrahan Nicholas; Hanrahan Rodger; Harris rev. Thomas, Wesleyan; Hartery Andrew; Hartery Michael; Hartery Stephen; Hawkins Charles; Heater George; Heater John C.; Henderson Thomas; Hennessey Mrs. Barbara; Hennessey Mrs. M., wid D.; Hennessey William; Higgins Mrs. Caroline, wid Thomas; Hippisley James; Hippesley Mrs. E., wid George; Hogan John; Howell George; Howlett Mrs. E.; Howlett Thomas; Hunt Mrs. Margaret, wid Edward; Hunt William; Hutchings James; Hutchings John; Hutchings Miss Mary

J-K

• Jewer James; Jillard John P., of Jillard Brothers; Jillard Nathaniel, of Jillard Brothers; Jones Michael: Jones rev. Bertram, ch of England: Jones William: Keefe Michael: Keefe Mrs. Bridget, wid Edward; Keevan John; Kehoe William; Kelly Mrs. Helen, wid Martin; Kennedy Mrs. Anna, wid John; Kennetick Patrick; Kent Henry ;King John; Knight Henry; Kruger Otto

L

• Lahy Richard; Lahy Robert; Lambert John; Lannan William; Layton captain Charles; Leary John; Lindsay James; Lovelock Mrs. M.D. [Mary Desales]; Lynch James; Lynch John, laborer; Lynch John, manager Harbor Grace Water works; Lynch John; Lynch Joseph; Lynch Thomas; Lyon Edward

M

• Macey Thomas; McCarthy Felix; McCarthy Mrs. Mary, wid Patrick; McCarthy Patrick; McKay Michael; McKinnon Murdoch; McLeod George; McRae Roderick; Maddigan Richard; Maher Mrs. J., wid P.; Makinson George; Maloney Peter; George Makinson; Martin Charles; Martin Hamilton; Martin Hector; Martin James; Martin John; Martin Jonathan; Martin Joseph (carpenter); Martin Joseph (laborer); Martin Mrs. B., wid William; Martin Mrs. Emma, wid Frederick; Martin Mrs. Sarah, wid Charles; Martin Mrs. Susannah, wid Henry; Martin Nathaniel; Martin Peter; Martin Stephen; Martin William; Meany Michael; Merchant Thomas; Merchant Tobias; Miller Jacob; Miller William; Mitchel George; Mitchel John; Mitchel Thomas; Molloy William; Moore Henry T.; Moriarty James; Morissey Morgan; Morissey Thomas; Morris John; Munn Archibald; Munn James; Munn John; Munn Mrs. E., wid captain John; Munn Robert; Munroe William; Munwright John; Murden Joseph; Murphey John; Murphy Lawrence; Murphy Maurice; Murray John

N-P

• Neil Edward; Neil John; Neil William; Nicholas Jacob; Nicholl Joseph S.; O'Neil Dennis; O'Neil Mrs. Margaret, wid M.; O'Toole Bernard; Parsons Ambrose; Parsons Bernard; Parsons E.; Parsons John; Parsons Josiah; Parsons Mark; Parsons Simeon H.; Parsons William; Payne John; Payne John; Payne Nicholas; Payne William; Payne William, sen.; Peters Joseph, J.P.; Peters Nicholas; Peters Stephen; Phelan James; Picker William G.; Pike Charles; Pike John; Pippy George; Pippy Thomas; Power Mrs. Mary, wid Robert; Power Richard; Prendergast George; Prendergast James L.; Prendergast John; Prendergast Patrick; Prendergast Richard; Pumphrey John; Pynn Augustus; Pynn Joseph

Q-S

• Quinn Mrs. Helen, wid Patrick; Quinton Edward W. (traveller?); Quinton Edward W.; Read Arthur; Reed Mrs. Helen: Richards John; Ridley Thomas H.; Roger David; Rogers William; Rohan Patrick; Ross C. W.; Ross rev. Alexander, Presbyterian; Rutherford Goerge [sic] C.; Ryan Edward; Ryan John; Scott Charles; Shea Daniel; Shea Dennis; Shelmadina Mrs. Julia, wid Charles; Sheppard W. H.; Shinner Mrs. Susan, wid Thomas; Shortis Michael; Simms Joseph C.; Smart Martin; Smith William; Snelgrove Solomon; Snow George; Sparks Joseph; Spence John; Spence John W.; Squires John; Stephenson John; Stevenson John; Strapp Thomas; Strathie John; Stuart George; Stuart Neil; Sullivan Mrs. Mary, wid P.; Syme John

T-V

• Taylor Eugene; Thistle John; Thistle William; Thompson William (tavern); Thompson William H., (manager); Thomson William H. (chemist and druggist); Thomey Henry: Thomey John: Toussaint Mrs.; Trappnell Henry; Trapnell Hugh W; Trenchar Charles; Tucker Mrs. L., wid of John; Vass Edward; Verge Heli; Verge John; Voisy George

W

• Wall Garrett; Walsh Mark; Walsh Philip; Walsh rev. Francis E., R. catholic; Walsh Robert; Walsh Thomas; Walsh William (cooper); Walsh William (tavernkeeper); Ward Robert; Waters George; Watts Claudius; Watts Richard: Webber Albert; Webber Alfred; Webber Charles (preventive officer); Webber Charles (fisherman); Webber Duncan; Webber Ebenezer; Webber Henry; Webber Mrs. E., wid Arnold; Webber Tobias; Webber Valentine; Welsh Miss Mary; Williams Edward; Williams, Frederick; Williams, John (fisherman); Williams John F. (watchmaker); Williams William; Wills Richard; Wills Robert; Wills Thomas; Wills William C.; Wilson Charles; Wittly William; Wood William Olive; Woolfrey George; Werrell James

Resources

What links to this page.

Sources

1. ↑ Wikipedia entry for Harbour Grace. Accessed 2017.
2. ↑ The Town of Harbour Grace website. Amelia Earhart. Accessed 2017.
3. ↑ The Town of Harbour Grace website. History. Accessed 2017.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Newfoundland's Grand Banks Site. Lovell's 1871 Provincial Business Directory Harbor Grace Carla Woodworth-Lynas and Charles G. Strong, 2003. Accessed 2017.
5. ↑ NL GenWeb. Historical Information, Conception Bay North Region - Harbour Grace District. The Harbour Grace Affray. Bill Taylor, 1999. Accessed 2017.
6. ↑ Newfoundland's Grand Banks Site. The Harbour Grace Affray, Dec. 26, 1883 Ivy F. Benoit, 2013. Accessed 2017.