Spaniard's Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador
Encyclopedia
Spaniard's Bay is a town in the Canadian
province
of Newfoundland and Labrador
.
Spaniard’s Bay is located on the northwest side of Conception Bay and consists of Vokey’s Shore, Northern Cove, Mint Cove, Green Head, and Goddenville. The names of towns and places in Newfoundland are perhaps the most unusual collection in the world and the origins of these names are a fascinating study by itself. Places such as “Come by Chance” or “Right in the Run Island” displays the Newfoundlanders’ humor. Other places describe the rugged and harsh coastline, like “Bad Bay”, “Misery Point”, or “Bleak Island”. Some places reflect the varied origin of the area, such as “Frenchman’s Cove”, “English Harbour”, and of course “Spaniard’s Bay”. The name Spaniard’s Bay came from the Basque
and Portuguese
fishermen who frequented the port in the 16th century and 17th century, and were referred to by the English
as ‘Spaniards’.
Occupation of the area was seasonal at first, as with most of Newfoundland, but gradually English fishermen began to make permanent homes in Spaniard’s Bay around 1776. American Traders were visiting Spaniard’s Bay before 1776 and they exchanged salt
, rum
, and tobacco
for cod. By 1805, there were 400 people living in the area and according to the 1871 Lovell’s Directory, the population would rise to 1,182 in less than seventy years. The majority of the settlers were English and had Dorset
origin, but there was a strong Irish
population. By the end of 1991, the population would be close to 2,200.
The initial settlement at Spaniard’s Bay centered around Mint Cove and Northern Cove. Some of the people living in Mint Cove before 1800 were Jonathan Sheppard, John Warford, Timothy Collins, and William Chipman. William Gosse and Robert Gosse, Jr. had a dockyard in Northern Cove in 1790, while Thomas Noseworthy and William Porter were living at Green Head in 1796. The Smith and Barrett families occupied Bread and Cheese Cove (Bishop's Cove), with the Smiths claiming to have been in possession of the land since 1625. There were 400 people in 38 families occupying 36 registered properties in Spaniard’s Bay. Some of the family names included Peddle, Kelly, Neil, Besom, Brown, Forter, Phelan, Seymour, Vokey, Butt, Baggs, Baker, and Menchions.
Spaniard's Bay is also home of violinist Luke Welsh.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
province
Provinces and territories of Canada
The provinces and territories of Canada combine to make up the world's second-largest country by area. There are ten provinces and three territories...
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...
.
Spaniard’s Bay is located on the northwest side of Conception Bay and consists of Vokey’s Shore, Northern Cove, Mint Cove, Green Head, and Goddenville. The names of towns and places in Newfoundland are perhaps the most unusual collection in the world and the origins of these names are a fascinating study by itself. Places such as “Come by Chance” or “Right in the Run Island” displays the Newfoundlanders’ humor. Other places describe the rugged and harsh coastline, like “Bad Bay”, “Misery Point”, or “Bleak Island”. Some places reflect the varied origin of the area, such as “Frenchman’s Cove”, “English Harbour”, and of course “Spaniard’s Bay”. The name Spaniard’s Bay came from the Basque
Basque people
The Basques as an ethnic group, primarily inhabit an area traditionally known as the Basque Country , a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.The Basques are known in the...
and Portuguese
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
fishermen who frequented the port in the 16th century and 17th century, and were referred to by the English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
as ‘Spaniards’.
Occupation of the area was seasonal at first, as with most of Newfoundland, but gradually English fishermen began to make permanent homes in Spaniard’s Bay around 1776. American Traders were visiting Spaniard’s Bay before 1776 and they exchanged salt
Salt
In chemistry, salts are ionic compounds that result from the neutralization reaction of an acid and a base. They are composed of cations and anions so that the product is electrically neutral...
, rum
Rum
Rum is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from sugarcane by-products such as molasses, or directly from sugarcane juice, by a process of fermentation and distillation. The distillate, a clear liquid, is then usually aged in oak barrels...
, and tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
for cod. By 1805, there were 400 people living in the area and according to the 1871 Lovell’s Directory, the population would rise to 1,182 in less than seventy years. The majority of the settlers were English and had Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
origin, but there was a strong Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
population. By the end of 1991, the population would be close to 2,200.
The initial settlement at Spaniard’s Bay centered around Mint Cove and Northern Cove. Some of the people living in Mint Cove before 1800 were Jonathan Sheppard, John Warford, Timothy Collins, and William Chipman. William Gosse and Robert Gosse, Jr. had a dockyard in Northern Cove in 1790, while Thomas Noseworthy and William Porter were living at Green Head in 1796. The Smith and Barrett families occupied Bread and Cheese Cove (Bishop's Cove), with the Smiths claiming to have been in possession of the land since 1625. There were 400 people in 38 families occupying 36 registered properties in Spaniard’s Bay. Some of the family names included Peddle, Kelly, Neil, Besom, Brown, Forter, Phelan, Seymour, Vokey, Butt, Baggs, Baker, and Menchions.
Spaniard's Bay is also home of violinist Luke Welsh.