CHRONOLOGY of the OUTER BAY of ISLANDS 3000BC - 2013AD
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CHRONOLOGY of the OUTER BAY OF ISLANDS 3000BC - 2013AD 3000-1200BC Archeological evidence suggests possible occupation by members of the Maritime Archaic culture, probably associated with the cemetery at Port au Choix, 200 km to the north. 1000BC-100AD Evidence of occupation by members of Groswater Paleoeskimo Culture in Middle Arm, Bay of Islands. (David L Reader, archeologist, of the University of Toronto, has been conducting archeological research at a legally protected and researched site in Middle Arm, Bay of Islands, since 1995.) AD 700 Evidence of occupation by members of the Dorset Paleoeskimo Culture in Middle Arm. (David L Reader) c.985 The Norseman Bjarni Herjolfsson, blown off course far to the west on a voyage from Iceland to Greenland, sights an unknown land. This may have been Newfoundland, or perhaps Labrador. c.1000 Leif Eiriksson sets out to find the land Bjarni has seen, and calls it Vinland (Wineland; probably Newfoundland). The two narratives, The Greenland Saga and Eirik the Red's Saga, speak of several voyages made over a period of years, during which time they explored Helluland (Flat Stone Land; probably Baffin Island), Markland (Wooded Land; probably Labrador), and Vinland (believed to be northern Newfoundland). c.1010 Thorfinn Karlsefni, with 3 ships and 160 men and women, attempts to establish a settlement in Vinland, but fails after three years and returns home to Greenland. Modern archeological discoveries indicate that a Norse settlement was established at L’Anse aux Meadows in northern Newfoundland. 1200-1500 A flint point found by Averil Childs at Bottle Cove, identified as belonging to the Little Passage Indian culture and dating from that period, suggests visits or possible occupation by members of this culture. 1497 Giovanni Caboto (John Cabot) sails to Newfoundland and makes landfall at Cape Bonavista. 1500 1500-1503 Voyages of the Corte-Real brothers for the king of Portugal. 1506 Portugal levies a tax on cod imported from Newfoundland. 1534 Jacques Cartier, caught in a storm, sails southwards along the west coast of Newfoundland, passing by, but not entering, the Bay of Islands. 1583 Aug 05 At a formal ceremony in St John’s Harbour, Sir Humphrey Gilbert takes possession of the New Found Land in the name of Queen Elizabeth I of England. 1588 Defeat of the Spanish Armada by England. 1590-c.1700 Evidence of Beothuk Indian occupation in Middle Arm. (D L Reader) *** 1610 Founding of “Sea Forest Plantation”, John Guy’s colony, at Cupers Cove, now called Cupids. 1633 First Order of Star Chamber (establishing fishing admirals). 1637 By royal charter, Newfoundland is granted an official Coat of Arms bearing the Latin motto Quaerite prime regnum Dei ... (Seek ye first the Kingdom of God ... Matthew 6:33). 1670 Second Order of Star Chamber (restricting colonisation). 1700 1713 Treaty of Utrecht. Newfoundland island declared to belong wholly to Great Britain; French given shore fishing rights from Bonavista northwards, through Straits of Belle Isle, to Point Riche (near Port au Choix). 1763 Treaty of Paris. Gave St Pierre and Miquelon to France, the rest of North America to England. 1764 James Cook, employed by the Royal Navy squadron in Newfoundland, begins his marine charting surveys around Newfoundland. 1766 Population of Newfoundland estimated at 10,000; St John’s 1,100. The Bay of Islands area was mostly unknown and with no recorded permanent habitation at this time. Chronology page 1 1767 Sept James Cook makes an expedition up the Humber River and about 4 miles into Deer Lake, remarking on the presence of timber and salmon. Cook completes his charting surveys of Newfoundland waters, at the Bay of Islands. 1776 American Declaration of Independence. 1778 France recognises independence of the United States and declares war against England. 1783 Treaty of Versailles. Gives French inshore fishing rights from Cape John to Cape Ray, a stretch of coastline known as the “French Shore” or the “Treaty Shore”. This placed the Bay of Islands squarely within the French inshore fishery limits, and remained in effect until 1904. 1800 1812 War of 1812 between England and U S A. 1829 Visit of Rev William Bullock and Governor Sir Thomas Cochrane to the Bay of Islands. 1832 Newfoundland granted the right to Representative Government in a very limited form. 1835 Visit of Archdeacon Edward Wix to the Bay of Islands; 14 children baptised. 1839 Rev Aubrey George Spencer appointed first Bishop of Newfoundland. 1850 1855 Newfoundland granted the right to Responsible Government, with an appointed Legislative Council (Upper House) and an elected House of Assembly (Lower House). 1857 Captain Kelly of the schooner Alice reports no permanent residents at Lark Harbour. Early 1860s Serious settlement beginning in Outer Bay of Islands. Baptism of 19 children aboard the Church Ship. (exact date uncertain) 1865 Bay of Islands Anglican Mission established under the direction of Rev Ulric Zuingli Rule. Silver & Co of Halifax set up large sawmill in Humber Arm, Corner Brook. 1869 Newfoundland rejects offer of Confederation with Canada. 1873 Christopher Fisher buys the Silver & Co sawmill in Humber Arm. 1874 Existence of a School/Chapel at Lark Harbour reported by Commander Howorth, first magistrate appointed to French Shore, but with very limited authority. 1876 Oct R M Lloyd, commander of HMS Bullfinch, reports that a fisherman named George Sheppard made a complaint about French harassment of fishermen at Lark Harbour. 1877 A report by HMS Eclipse while in the Bay of Islands states: Little Port - average catch of fish twenty to thirty quintals [quintal = 112lbs]. Salmon good; crops very good. All fishermen currently fishing on the Labrador. About twelve new settlers arrived in the outer Bay since last year. Permission granted by Colonial Secretary for appointment of a civil magistrate in St George’s, but with no authority to adjudicate on any Treaty-related matters. Sept Rev J J Curling reports existence of a school-chapel and a small parsonage or school master’s house at Lark Harbour. 1878 First schoolmaster, George H. Feild, employed at Lark Harbour. Telegraph Cable extended to Bay of Islands and other West Coast areas. 1879-1880 Unsuccessful cod and herring fisheries in the Bay of Islands cause heads of 32 families to petition for winter assistance to avoid starvation. 1882 Limited enfranchisement of West Coast of Newfoundland with inauguration of two Electoral Districts, St George and St Barbe. 1884 Census of Newfoundland reports 77 residents at Lark Harbour. 1887 Lobster Canning Factory at Lark Harbour burned down, rebuilt following year. 1891 Census of Newfoundland reports 135 at Lark Harbour (incl. 38 at Bateau [Bottle] Cove). 1893 Daniel Henderson discovers copper deposit near York Harbour. 1896 Construction begun on the first Anglican Church at Lark Harbour. 1897 York Harbour Copper Mine begins production. 1898 First Anglican Church of St James at lower end of present graveyard consecrated by Bishop Jones. Chronology page 2 1900 1900 York Harbour Copper Mine destroyed by fire; French navy hinders rebuilding. Summerside slate quarry begins work. 1901 Census of Newfoundland reports 227 residents in Lark Harbour, including 4 merchants and traders (George Sheppard and Sons). 1903 Curling slate quarry begins work. 1904 French Shore fishery off the Newfoundland coast comes to an end. 1908 Curling slate quarry closes down. 1909 Summerside slate quarry closes down. 1911 Lark Harbour Whale Factory started, processes only one whale. 1913 July The last load of copper ore leaves York Harbour Copper Mine for the USA., bringing total shipments to 15,000 tons. York Harbour Copper Mine closes. c1915 First school built in York Harbour by Roman Catholics. 1923 Fisher sawmill property at Corner Brook sold to Newfoundland Power and Paper Company and construction begins on the newsprint mill on the Fisher site. 1925 1925 Lighthouse and Foghorn installed at South Head, Lark Harbour, Bay of Islands July Production of newsprint begins at Corner Brook. 1928 Newfoundland Power and Paper Company transfers ownership of Corner Brook mill to the International Pulp and Paper Company. 1932 Typhoid epidemic in Lark Harbour. 1933 Feb Royal Commission to investigate finances appointed at request of Newfoundland Legislature. Oct Royal Commission report published recommending suspension of Responsible Government and establishment of Government by Commission. 1934 Jan 30 Responsible Government suspended and Commission Government appointed. c1935 St Mary’s Anglican School built in York Harbour (on the beach) 1938 Corner Brook mill produces 100% more paper than its original design called for. International Pulp and Paper Company sells Corner Brook mill to Bowater Pulp and Paper, later Bowater Newfoundland Limited. 1939 Sep 3 11:00am GMT. World War II begins when British PM Neville Chamberlain declares war against Germany. Sep 4 8:00am NST. The Dominion of Newfoundland declares war on Germany. Sep 10 Dominion of Canada declares war on Germany. 1942 Oct 13 3:51 NDT, SS Caribou, Newfoundland Railway’s ferry en route from North Sydney, NS, to Port aux Basques, NL, with 237 passengers and crew, torpedoed 37km SW of Port aux Basques by German submarine U-69, with loss of 137 souls. Dec 6 Japan attacks US Base at Pearl Harbour, Hawaii. Dec 7 After Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour the USA declares war on Japan and Germany, providing a boost to the Newfoundland economy. 1945 May 8 Second World War ends in Europe with unconditional surrender of Germany. (VE Day) Sep 2 Second World War ends officially with unconditional surrender of Japan. (VJ Day) 1949 Mar 31 Newfoundland enters Confederation with Canada. The West Coast, in particular Corner Brook and the Bay of Islands, swung the vote in favour of Confederation. 1950 1956 April City of Corner Brook incorporated. 1960 First Post Office operated in York Harbour by Stella Wheeler.