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Spaniards Bay - History Timeline

1776 (circa) – English fishermen and their families are settled in Spaniards Bay. The exchange of salt, rum, and tobacco for salt fish is done between the fishermen and American traders who make frequent visits to the area.

1790 – William Gosse and Robert Gosse Jr. have a dockyard in Northern Cove.

1796 – Thomas Noseworthy and William Porter are living at Green Head.

1798 – After this date Irish immigration to the area increases, however, most of the early settlers were from Dorset, England.

1800 (circa) – Some residents living in Mint Cove include Jonathan Sheppard, John Warford, Timothy Collins and William Chipman.

1805 – Total population is estimated to be about 400, this consists of 38 families occupying 36 properties in Spaniards Bay. Some family names include: Peddle, Kelly, Neil, Besom, Brown, Forter, Phelan, Seymour, Vokey, Butt, Bags, Baker and Menchion.

1810 – A school is opened in Bay Robert’s by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. Children from Spaniard's Bay attend this school.

1818 – A chapel is opened at Bread and Cheese Cove.

1829 – The Newfoundland School Society operates a school in Spaniards Bay with Joseph Griffen as the teacher.

1820’s – 1860 – Builders in Spaniards Bay supply vessels for the seal hunt and the Labrador Fishery mainly for Harbour Grace merchants.

1843 – A Catholic school opens in Mint Cove.

1845 – Spaniards Bay has both Church of England and Roman Catholic Churches.

1857 – William Donnelly of Mint Cove (shipbuilder) moves to Harbour Grace, causing a decline in shipbuilding.

1870’s – Most of the population is engaged with the Labrador Fishery, however, some are also involved in the fishery off Cape St Mary’s.

1894 – Local Methodists have their own chapel in Spaniard’s Bay.

1940’s – The population of Spaniards Bay is about 1200.

1990 (circa) – Golden Ocean Seafood’s Ltd. processes groundfish and herring. Salmon, mackerel, char and capelin are processed at a plant in Spaniard’s Bay.

1994 – There is a major decline in the fishery. Employment for most people includes clerical, service and construction work in the area.