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Swain's Island (Newfoundland and Labrador)

January 01, 1970

Not to be confused with Swains Island or Swain Islands.

Swain's Island, Newfoundland, is actually a group of eight islands on the north side of Bonavista Bay, southeast of Wesleyville. All of these islands once had inhabitants but eventually all of them were resettled, mostly to Wesleyville.

History edit

The earliest parts of Swain's Island to be settled were the Outer Swain's Islands, which were close to good fishing grounds and provided excellent shelter for vessels. The first settlers were two Englishmen, William Tiller and John Winsor, who arrived in 1810. Other families soon followed, including the Brentons, Mulletts, Stockleys, Dykes, and Hills. By 1836, the islands had 85 inhabitants among them, and a Church of England school-chapel had been built on one of them — Hill's Island. By the 1860s, Swain's Island was prospering: It had a successful inshore fishery; it participated in the Labrador fishery; and residents had begun to participate in the seal hunt.

By 1869 the population had reached 265, and it stayed stable for a few years, but after that people began moving to the mainland, and to places like Wesleyville. In 1896, Swain’s Island was unable to find a schoolteacher willing to teach there, and so a ferry service was established to take children to attend school in Wesleyville. By 1930, the islands had been completely abandoned.[1]

Church history edit

When Swain's Island was first settled, the entire population belonged to the Church of England. Swain's Island was often visited by missionaries from Greenspond. For example, the Rev. N. A. Coster visited in June 1830 and baptized over 40 people Robert Dyer and Julian Moreton described their visits to Swain's Island in their diaries and reports.[2] The first record of a layreader, and also of a teacher, was a Mr. E Churnside Bishop, who began teaching and layreading on the island in 1843. Bishop also helped organize the building of a new school which was opened in 1848. A Church of England church was built on Swain's Island and was consecrated in 1861.[1]

Education history edit

The first teaching done on the islands was by a fisherman, John Feltham, who was asked by William Tiller to stay ashore rather than fish to teach his boys. Feltham agreed to this, and sometime later, in 1829, he was appointed by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts (S.P.G.), to be a teacher. In 1830 there were about 25 students, but this school was discontinued in 1834. The next record of school was by the teacher Edward Churnside Bishop under the Newfoundland School Society from 1843 to 1883. In 1869 a new school house was built; and the last teacher to teach at Swain's Island was Annie Alice Hall in 1901.[2]

Fishery edit

Swain's Island was settled because of its prime location and advantages in the various fisheries. Its entire economy, like so many other communities in Newfoundland at this time, depended upon the fisheries. In 1874 there was a peak number of fishing rooms on Swain's Island, totalling 19 altogether, in 1884 there were still 10 fishing rooms in use.

Some of the vessels in the cod fishery on Swain's Island:[2]

  • Five Brothers, 1840
  • R.M.C.
  • True Blue, 1853
  • Caroline
  • Meteor
  • British Queen, 1842
  • Oban, 1863

Sealing nets and boats on Swain's Island:[3]

1836 1845 1857 1869
Sealing nets 82 130 78
Large boats for sealing 4 5 9 4

Sealing steamer captains born on Swain's Island:[4]

  • William Winsor, Sr. Some of his steamers include the Iceland, 1889; and the Vanguard
  • George Hann, his first steamer was the Leopard in 1890, and last was the Labrador, in 1908
  • Edward Bishop, some of his steamers were the Algerine and Eagle II
  • Jesse Winsor, his first steamer was the Panther in 1906; his last was the Ranger, 1920
  • Samuel Winsor, his first was the Walrus, 1904 and his last was the Ranger in 1920.

Census Information edit

1836 1845 1869 1857 1874
population 85 103 265 171 354
inhabited houses 8 8 34 17 35
families - - 44 27 54
Church of England 85 103 251 170 161
Wesleyan/Methodist - - 14 - 190
Catholics - - - 1 3
# of students - 40 34 42 27
can read/write - - 101 - 148
people catching/curing fish - - 80 140 167
seamen/fishermen - - - 49 56
total boats 7 7 8 20 12
boats/vessels built - - - 2
sealing vessels - 2 10 4 12
men on board - - 135 138 85
tonnage - 86 350 382 388
nets/seines - 5 73 27 86
sealing nets - 82 78 130 59
seals caught - - - 2669 1654
cod fish cured (qtls) - - - 3800 4550
herring (Bls) - - - 50 -
oil produced (gals) - - - 13 tuns 2750
fishing rooms in use - - 15 11 19
stores/barns/outhouses - - 17 14 18
barrels of potatoes produced 504(busl) 102 310 190 446
barrels of turnip - - 15 16 30
tons of hay - 1/4 - - -
cows/oxen - - 2 - -
sheep/swine/goats - - 32 21 68

Directories edit 

Hutchinson's Directory of 1864 lists four residents of Swain's Island:[5]
  • Bishop, Edward C. – Teacher
  • Tiller, John – Planter
  • Windsor, David – Planter
  • Samuel Windsor – Planter and Shipowner
Lovell's Directory for 1871 describes Swain's Island as an island on the north side of Bonavista Bay with a fine harbour but difficult to access. It is distant from Greenspond by 6 miles in boat and has a population of 265.[6]
  • Ayles, John – Fisherman
  • Best, Charles – Planter
  • Bishop, Edward – Planter
  • Breaker, James – Fisherman
  • Brenton, Thomas
  • Broobcomb, Robert – Fisherman
  • Carter, Benjamin – Planter
  • Carter, John – Fisherman
  • Cross, Thomas – Fisherman
  • Dicks, John – Fisherman
  • Fifreld, Thomas – Fisherman
  • Force, James – Fisherman
  • Hawkers, John
  • Hill, James – Planter
  • Hoyles, Joseph – Fisherman
  • Mullett, Abraham – Fisherman
  • Mullett, George – Fisherman
  • Mullett, Thomas – Fisherman
  • Mullett, William – Fisherman
  • Norris, Abraham – Fisherman
  • Paine, Charles – Planter
  • Samsbury, Japhet – Fisherman
  • Stanford, Benjamin – Fisherman
  • Stockly, George – Fisherman
  • Stockly, James – Fisherman
  • Tiller, John Sr. – Planter
  • Tiller, Joseph – Fisherman
  • Tiller, William – Fisherman
  • Wicks, Samuel – Fisherman
  • Winsor, George – Planter
  • Winsor, James – Fisherman
  • Winsor, John – Fisherman
  • Winsor, Samuel – Planter

See also edit

  • List of communities in Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Field, Edward. A journal of the Bishop’s visitation of the missions of the northern coast, in the summer of 1846. London: Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, 1856
  • Moreton, Julian. Life and Work in Newfoundland: reminiscences of thirteen years spent there. London: Rivingtons, 1863
  • Prowse, D.W. A History of Newfoundland. London: MacMillan and Co., 1895

References edit

  1. ^ a b Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador
  2. ^ a b c Naboth Winsor, The Sea, Our Life Blood, 1984
  3. ^ Naboth Winsor, Stalwart Men and Sturdy Ships, 1985
  4. ^ Shannon Ryan, The Ice Hunters: a history of Newfoundland sealing to 1914, 1994.
  5. ^ Thomas Hutchinson, Hutchinson's Newfoundland Directory, 1864.
  6. ^ J Lovell, Lovell's Newfoundland Directory, 1871

External links edit

49°08′22″N 53°32′46″W / 49.13944°N 53.54611°W / 49.13944; -53.54611

January 01, 1970
swain, island, newfoundland, labrador, confused, with, swains, island, swain, islands, swain, island, newfoundland, actually, group, eight, islands, north, side, bonavista, southeast, wesleyville, these, islands, once, inhabitants, eventually, them, were, rese. Not to be confused with Swains Island or Swain Islands Swain s Island Newfoundland is actually a group of eight islands on the north side of Bonavista Bay southeast of Wesleyville All of these islands once had inhabitants but eventually all of them were resettled mostly to Wesleyville Contents 1 History 2 Church history 3 Education history 4 Fishery 5 Census Information 6 Directories 7 See also 8 References 9 External linksHistory editThe earliest parts of Swain s Island to be settled were the Outer Swain s Islands which were close to good fishing grounds and provided excellent shelter for vessels The first settlers were two Englishmen William Tiller and John Winsor who arrived in 1810 Other families soon followed including the Brentons Mulletts Stockleys Dykes and Hills By 1836 the islands had 85 inhabitants among them and a Church of England school chapel had been built on one of them Hill s Island By the 1860s Swain s Island was prospering It had a successful inshore fishery it participated in the Labrador fishery and residents had begun to participate in the seal hunt By 1869 the population had reached 265 and it stayed stable for a few years but after that people began moving to the mainland and to places like Wesleyville In 1896 Swain s Island was unable to find a schoolteacher willing to teach there and so a ferry service was established to take children to attend school in Wesleyville By 1930 the islands had been completely abandoned 1 Church history editWhen Swain s Island was first settled the entire population belonged to the Church of England Swain s Island was often visited by missionaries from Greenspond For example the Rev N A Coster visited in June 1830 and baptized over 40 people Robert Dyer and Julian Moreton described their visits to Swain s Island in their diaries and reports 2 The first record of a layreader and also of a teacher was a Mr E Churnside Bishop who began teaching and layreading on the island in 1843 Bishop also helped organize the building of a new school which was opened in 1848 A Church of England church was built on Swain s Island and was consecrated in 1861 1 Education history editThe first teaching done on the islands was by a fisherman John Feltham who was asked by William Tiller to stay ashore rather than fish to teach his boys Feltham agreed to this and sometime later in 1829 he was appointed by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts S P G to be a teacher In 1830 there were about 25 students but this school was discontinued in 1834 The next record of school was by the teacher Edward Churnside Bishop under the Newfoundland School Society from 1843 to 1883 In 1869 a new school house was built and the last teacher to teach at Swain s Island was Annie Alice Hall in 1901 2 Fishery editSwain s Island was settled because of its prime location and advantages in the various fisheries Its entire economy like so many other communities in Newfoundland at this time depended upon the fisheries In 1874 there was a peak number of fishing rooms on Swain s Island totalling 19 altogether in 1884 there were still 10 fishing rooms in use Some of the vessels in the cod fishery on Swain s Island 2 Five Brothers 1840 R M C True Blue 1853 Caroline Meteor British Queen 1842 Oban 1863 Sealing nets and boats on Swain s Island 3 1836 1845 1857 1869 Sealing nets 82 130 78 Large boats for sealing 4 5 9 4 Sealing steamer captains born on Swain s Island 4 William Winsor Sr Some of his steamers include the Iceland 1889 and the Vanguard George Hann his first steamer was the Leopard in 1890 and last was the Labrador in 1908 Edward Bishop some of his steamers were the Algerine and Eagle II Jesse Winsor his first steamer was the Panther in 1906 his last was the Ranger 1920 Samuel Winsor his first was the Walrus 1904 and his last was the Ranger in 1920 Census Information edit1836 1845 1869 1857 1874 population 85 103 265 171 354 inhabited houses 8 8 34 17 35 families 44 27 54 Church of England 85 103 251 170 161 Wesleyan Methodist 14 190 Catholics 1 3 of students 40 34 42 27 can read write 101 148 people catching curing fish 80 140 167 seamen fishermen 49 56 total boats 7 7 8 20 12 boats vessels built 2 sealing vessels 2 10 4 12 men on board 135 138 85 tonnage 86 350 382 388 nets seines 5 73 27 86 sealing nets 82 78 130 59 seals caught 2669 1654 cod fish cured qtls 3800 4550 herring Bls 50 oil produced gals 13 tuns 2750 fishing rooms in use 15 11 19 stores barns outhouses 17 14 18 barrels of potatoes produced 504 busl 102 310 190 446 barrels of turnip 15 16 30 tons of hay 1 4 cows oxen 2 sheep swine goats 32 21 68Directories editHutchinson s Directory of 1864 lists four residents of Swain s Island 5 Bishop Edward C Teacher Tiller John Planter Windsor David Planter Samuel Windsor Planter and Shipowner Lovell s Directory for 1871 describes Swain s Island as an island on the north side of Bonavista Bay with a fine harbour but difficult to access It is distant from Greenspond by 6 miles in boat and has a population of 265 6 Ayles John Fisherman Best Charles Planter Bishop Edward Planter Breaker James Fisherman Brenton Thomas Broobcomb Robert Fisherman Carter Benjamin Planter Carter John Fisherman Cross Thomas Fisherman Dicks John Fisherman Fifreld Thomas Fisherman Force James Fisherman Hawkers John Hill James Planter Hoyles Joseph Fisherman Mullett Abraham Fisherman Mullett George Fisherman Mullett Thomas Fisherman Mullett William Fisherman Norris Abraham Fisherman Paine Charles Planter Samsbury Japhet Fisherman Stanford Benjamin Fisherman Stockly George Fisherman Stockly James Fisherman Tiller John Sr Planter Tiller Joseph Fisherman Tiller William Fisherman Wicks Samuel Fisherman Winsor George Planter Winsor James Fisherman Winsor John Fisherman Winsor Samuel PlanterSee also editList of communities in Newfoundland and Labrador Field Edward A journal of the Bishop s visitation of the missions of the northern coast in the summer of 1846 London Society for the Propagation of the Gospel 1856 Moreton Julian Life and Work in Newfoundland reminiscences of thirteen years spent there London Rivingtons 1863 Prowse D W A History of Newfoundland London MacMillan and Co 1895References edit a b Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador a b c Naboth Winsor The Sea Our Life Blood 1984 Naboth Winsor Stalwart Men and Sturdy Ships 1985 Shannon Ryan The Ice Hunters a history of Newfoundland sealing to 1914 1994 Thomas Hutchinson Hutchinson s Newfoundland Directory 1864 J Lovell Lovell s Newfoundland Directory 1871External links edithttp www willow house com gazfree Bonavista html Search directories census births marriages government records and much more 49 08 22 N 53 32 46 W 49 13944 N 53 54611 W 49 13944 53 54611 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Swain 27s Island Newfoundland and Labrador amp oldid 1175345012, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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