Deadman's Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador

Deadman's Bay, Newfoundland is located on the Straight Shore of Bonavista Bay near the community of Lumsden. The community is located near excellent fishing grounds, contributing to its diversified and successful fishery despite its exposed, sandy coastline and harsh fall storms.

"Dead Man's Bay" redirects here. For the community formerly known as Dead Man's Bay, see Trepassey, Newfoundland and Labrador.

History

Deadman's Bay was first recorded in the 1845 Census of Newfoundland, at which time 24 people were living there. These inhabitants belonged to the Church of England and made their living as fishers. The primary reason for settling in Deadman's Bay was for the Labrador fishery; however, after 1869 the base of the economy became the inshore fishery. The population continued to increase as people from Bonavista, Cape Freels, and Lumsden moved to Deadman's Bay. In 1901, however, the community experienced a population decline which lasted for twenty years. In 1921 the population was growing again with nearly 100 people in 1945 and 180 by 1956. Electricity became available in Deadman's Bay in 1963, they also had their own elementary school, and by 1981 they were catching cod, flounder, catfish, herring, mackerel, salmon, squid, and lobster.[1]

Church History

In the 1800s the people of Deadman's Bay were of the Church of England. They had no church or resident minister, however, ministers from nearby communities would visit there to perform services, baptisms, and burials. For example, the Rev. Julian Moreton, a missionary in Greenspond, made his first visit to Deadman's Bay in August 1850 which he describes in his book, Life and Work in Newfoundland. By 1901 the people of Deadman's Bay had converted to Methodism. In 1981 the population was primarily United Church and Salvation Army.[2]

Census Information
1845 1857 1869 1874
population 24 48 36 23
number of families - 8 7 4
inhabited houses 3 7 5 4
Church of England 24 48 36 23
people catching/curing fish - 17 10 7
seamen/fishers - 10 10 4
fishing rooms in use - 2 2 -
total boats 3 4 0 0
nets and seines 0 24 21 7
cod fish cured (qtls) - 160 - 46
salmon caught/cured (tres) - 9 - 17
herring cured (Bls) - 3 - 2
oil produced (Galls) - 140 - 45
barrels of potatoes - 74 100 105
barrels of turnip - 6 6 -
cattle/cows - 4 3 9
swine/goats - 1 - 3
butter produced (lbs) - 30 - 37
people who can read/write - - - 3

Directory

- Lovell's Newfoundland Directory[3] describes Deadman's Bay as 'a small fishing settlement in Fogo and Twillingate district, 18 miles from Greenspond in boat, with a population of 30 in 1871'

  • Elias Chalk, Fisher
  • Robert Chalk, Fisher
  • William Evely, Fisher
  • George Smith, Fisher
  • Henry Strickland, Fisher

References
  1. Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador
  2. Naboth Winsor, Through Peril, Toil, and Pain, 1981.
  3. Lovell's Newfoundland Directory, 1871.

See also

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