1597 - Old Perlican first mentioned as "Parlican". At this time, Old Perlican is a summer fishery station for migratory fishermen.

Circa 1640 - Planter John Brown is living at Old Perlican.

1675 - First Newfoundland Census lists fourteen planters (ie: settlers). Two of whom are married and one of whom has four children. Family names include: Welkenell, Swaine, Burt, Ellett, Burk, Cook, Welshman, Green, Taylor, Spikesnell, Corban, Carter, and Gainge.

1697 - (February) - French under D'Iberville capture Old Perlican. They report that there are "19 houses, several stores, more than thirty head of horned cattle, and a number of sheep and pigs".

1729- Old Perlican is one of 11 harbours in Newfoundland to warrant the appointment of justice of the peace.

1753- Old Perlican has a winter population of 429 and a summer population of 738, with families such as the Barretts, Burseys, Buttons, Cramms, Hopkinses, Pikes, Tillys, and Woodlands established. Of the 429 half the population are Irish Catholics, but many Catholics families will later leave the community for Daniels Cove and Grates Cove further to the North.

1836 - The population is 792.

1857 - The population is 792.

1874 - The population is 920.