Ond Letter Dition 1997
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THE~ OND LETTER DITION 1997 WHAT'S INSIDE Frotn the Editor Greenspond: Capital of the North, 1697-1997 1911 CENSUS Greenspond's Neighbours: Safe I-Iarbour Top: Salvation Army Last Will and Testatnent of David Burry Barracks Last Will and Testatnent of Thotnas I-Iunt Middle: St. Stephen's The Journal of Robert Dyer Greenspond, 1841-1859 \ Anglican Church In Conversation with Janie (I-Iunt) Hosl<ins Bottom: Greenspond Methodist Church VO!lJlne 4, Number 2, Spring 1997 THE GREENSPOND LETTER .:. 1 The Greenspond Letter Spring Edition 1997 Table ofContents From the Editor 1111111111""" " 111 .. * 111 .. 11 11 " .. 11"""""" 11 ,." 11 " 11 .. 11 " l1li 2 Greenspond: Capital of the North, 1697 1997 1111 11 11 11 11 " ••• 1111 __ 11... 4 1911 CENSUS 11 ••••• " .,111111111111 ••• 111111 •• 11111111 •••• 11 ••• 11"11 •• 11111111 •• 1111"111111.111111 ••• " 11"."11 ••11.11...... 9 Greenspond's Neighbours: Safe Harbour 1I1I I1 l111 lIl1H l111 " JI I11..... 10 .'i:,L~st Will and Testament of L?avid Burry a~d Thomas H~nt,.,-. .~~'~~." ..• ~.... 11 The Journal of Robert Dyer 1111 1111 1II •••• 1I •• 1111 !!! ••• 11 !!!.... 12 In Conversation with Janie (Hunt) Hoskins u UlI."lI•••• lI.II 11 20 ),' i 2 THE GREENSPOND LETTER Volume 4, Number 2, Spring 1997 From the Editor Welcome to the Spring Issue of The from the diary of Robert Dyer, Church of Greenspond Letter. Greenspond celebrates England teacher and missionary, who lived in two major anniversaries this year. First and Greenspond and taught school there from 1841 foremost it is the 300th anniversary of English to 1859 is reprinted here, settlement. According to Colonial Office The Johnson Family Foundation is placing a records, there were people fishing in series of "community boards" in several Greenspond in 1697 which makes Greenspond historic communities throughout one of the oldest continuously inhabited Newfoundland over the next few months. The outports in Newfoundland, Greenspond's text that will appear on Greenspond's ancestors came mainly from the West Country community board is printed here. It is titled of England and in 1698 there were 13 men, "Greenspond: Capital of the North, 1697~ women and children living there. By 1810, the 1997", population was 600 and by 1901 the population Mr. Abe Wornell wrote to say that he enjoyed had risen to 1,726. Greenspond was an the last issue of The Greenspond Letter and that important fishing, shipping and commercial the photograph of the Bank of Montreal on centre and was called "The Capital of the the cover brought back many memories of his North", childhood in Greenspond and especially Another important celebration in memories of his brother, Eldon Wornell, who Greenspond this year is the 140th anniversary of the consecration of St.Stephen's Anglican View of St. Stephen IS Anglican Church Church. To commemorate this event an excerpt with the former rectory on the left, 1996 Volume 4, Number 2, Spring 1997 TI-IE GREENSPOND LETTER 3 The rectory of St. Stephen's Church share information on Greenspond family history. c. 1920 While on the topic of genealogy, I received a love~ ly letter from Audrey Ford ofGlovertown who has began work as a clerIc at that branch of tIle Bank done extensive research on the Saunders family. Of Montreal around 1918. From there Eldon I would lilee to take this opportunity to thank Wornell proceeded up the ranles, his last position all those who assist in the publication of this jourr being manager with the Banle of Montreal in nal: thanks to Weldon Bonnell for his continuing Bathurst, New Brunswicle. AnotIler subscriber, support i!l the layout and printing of each issue; Lucy (Knee) Zimmerman, wIlo lives in Georgia in and to Ivy Wl1ite Tong, general consultant on all the United States, wrote requesting information things Greenspond. A special thanks this time about ller Ilome town of Safe I-Iarbour. TIle article goes to tIle Bonavista North taxi, and David on Safe I-Iarbour is taken from tIle Encyclopedia of Duffett's girlfriend, Melinda, WllO were leind Newfoundland and Labrador. enougll to deliver tIle last issue to Greenspond; TIle interview tilis montIl is with Janie (I-Iunt) and ta Tanya BatIl and Margaret Wl1ite far distri~ I-Iosleins. Janie lives in Greenspond witlliler son, bution in Greenspond. Tom l-Iosleins, and I1.is wife, Mary, and tIleir two cllildren, Neil and Nancy. Janie I-Iosleins grew up Linda White in Greenspond and worleed at tIle Union Trading Editor Store for twelve years before s11e married. I-Ier story is printed 11ere. Plans for tIle Greenspond Come I-Iome Year are in full gear. Cliff Andrews Ilas suggested tllat tllose people interested in Greenspond genealogy migl1t meet at some time during tIle celebrations to 4 THE GREENSPOND LETTER Volume 4, Number 2, Spring 1997 Greenspond: Capital of the North 1697,.19971 Situated on the north east coast of North". Newfoundland, Greenspond is comprised of Greenspond's chief asset was its proximity several islands: the l~rgest is Greenspond to the inshore fishing grounds. During the 19th Island, and the smaller ones include Batterton, century, fishermen not only exploited the local Ship, Newell's, Wing's, Pig, Maiden, Groat's, fishing grounds but also went further afield to and Puffin Island. There are several find codfish, some as far as the coast of explanations of the origin of the name Labrador. By mid century Greenspond had "Greenspond". The most popular is that it is become a prominent supply centre and clearing based on the names of two of the early port for the Labrador fishery which led to the families, Green and Pond. Another states that appointment of a collector of customs by the the name reflected the green of the trees that colonial government in 1838. covered the island and the'harbour basin-which The annual seal hunt was·-another assef·tn resembled a pond. Records from the French the Greenspond economy. The community's Colonial office refer to Greenspond as "Grin advantageous location, in the path of the d'Espagne", which could have subsequently northern ice floe, enabl~d land.-based hunters been pronounced,;i-u Greensp,ond"by early u~ing guns and:oets,to capture\seals.By the English settlers. early 19th century the seal hunt had become The early inhabitants of Greenspond hailed an important part of life at Greenspond. from the southwest of England,'·mainly Dorset Historian Judge D.W. Prowse reported that in but also Devon, Hampshire, and Somerset. 1807 "from Bonavista and Greenspond 6 ships The names of these early settlers can still be went to the ice with 64 men. " He also reported found there today: Bishop, Blandford, Bragg, that in the town of Greenspond itself 80 men Burry, Burton, Butler, Carter, Chaytor, Crocker, took 17,000 seals in nets. In 1860, 18 vessels, Dominey, Easton, FeItham, Granter, Green, each with a crew of about 20 men, prosecuting Harding, Hawkins, Hoddinott, Hosldns, Hunt, the seal hunt out of Greenspond. Because Hutchins, Kean, Lovelace, Lush, Meadus, most of the crews and sealing captains were Mullett, Mullins:,. Oal{ley, Oldford f Osmond,. drawn from Greenspond apd neighbouring Parsons, Pond, Rogers, Samson, Saunders, communities, sealing ships would leave St. Smith, Stratton, Way, Wheeler, White, Wicks, John's and Conception Bay in the fall of the Woodland, Wornell, Wright, and Young. year and anchor in Greenspond Tickle until Greenspond is one of the oldest spring when the hunt would begin. There was continuously inhabited outports in great pride in the accomplishments of local Newfoundland, having been settled in the sealing captains, such as Darius Blandford who 1690s. In the first 100 years after settlement, made the "quicl{est trip ever recorded" and the people of Greenspond lived from the Peter Carter who secured the heaviest load of bounty of the sea. The community thrived and seals in the history of the industry. became a major trading centre because of its Its importance as a major trading and supply proximity to and its position on the main sea centre meant that Greenspond enjoyed a lanes and was known as the "Capital of the steady population growth of prosperous Volume 4, Number 2, Spring 1997 THE GREENSPOND LETTER 5 View of Greenspond, 1960 and facilities needed by a bustling commercial town. In 1848 there was a regular mail and tradesmen and artisans: tinsmiths, passenger service, a fortnightly steamer, and blacksmiths, coopers, cobblers, carpenters and a weekly overland route between Greenspond others. Merchant firms included Slade, Fryer, and St. John's. To insure the safety of the Brool{ing and Co., William Cox & Co., Ridley steamer into Greenspond after nightfall, the & Sons, E. Duder, W.Waterman, Pllilip government erected a lighthouse in 1873 on I-Iutchins, Harvey & Co., James Ryan, and J.& Puffin Island at the approach to Greenspond W. Stewart. These companies were primarily harbour. In winter when the steamers did not engaged in the buying and selling of fish but run, the trains transported the mails to Gambo also in supplying and outfitting for these and from there couriers - often Micmac fisheries. The fish-trading business houses were carried it overland to Greenspond. John Joe, also general stores. Early in the 20th century, perhaps the most notable Micmac courier the Fishermen's Protective Union, which had travelled for many years with his dogs from a large branch in Greenspond, opened a Union Gambo to Greenspond. The laying of a Trading Store in the community and ill 1910 submarine cable between Greenspond and the Greenspond had the honour of hosting the Newfoundland lnainland in 1885 and the Union's annual Convention. subsequent provision of a telegraph service Gradually Greenspond acquired the services greatly enhanced Greenspond's 6 TI-IE GREENSPOND LETTER Volume 4, Number 2, Spring 1997 communication with the rest of Newfoundland and the outside world.