January

The year 1885 opened with shipping problems caused by heavy ice. People on route were instead dropped as close as possible and left to walk the ice the rest of the way and freight being shipped to town was returned to St. John’s still onboard steamer (Evening Telegram, January 6, 1885). This hindered communication, especially among the working class, as “the charge for sending messages [was] exorbitant [and precluded] the general public from availing of the privilege of communicating by telegraph” (Twillingate Sun, January 10, 1885). The mine manager sent Robert Hackett and his son George to Twillingate “with a slide and dogs” but before reaching their destination on the 15th several of the dogs went missing. It was only later discovered that the dogs had simply quit on the cold journey and returned, of their own accord, to Little Bay (Twillingate Sun, March 7, 1885). The problems with shipping caused “considerable dissatisfaction [among] shippers of goods at the non-delivery of their stock in Little Bay ; some stating that the goods [were] of such a character that [they’d] be useless to the receivers in the Spring.” A man named Mr. Kemp was on his way to Little Bay with a “quantity of machine belting for the smelting works [but instead] placed them in a boat on runners, for his destination over the ice – a distance of some eighty miles. Thirty men [were] dependent for employment upon the receipt of the belting” (Evening Telegram, January 8, 1885). There was much upset and “the population was indignant at the conduct of Smith McKay in not affording them some employment [with] the work in the mines falling far short of affording the necessary support for the operatives and their families. The stock of bread and flour [was feared] too light to last over the winter ; and as for the fresh beef or mutton, [. . .] the Plover failed to [get them] from St. John’s” (Evening Telegram, January 17, 1885).

On January 9th a fire “was discovered [. . .] in the Public Hall by Robert Malcolm, tinsmith. [Sergeant Wells] and the Magistrate examined [. . .] that it was the work of an incendiary” and while the fire was controlled and the billiards room largely undamaged, it wouldn’t stay in that condition for very long (Wells, 66).

February

It didn’t take the arsonist long to try again. The newspaper reported that “the Public Hall at Little Bay was destroyed by fire on the 10th February. A billiard-table which occupied an apartment of the building, was burnt ; but it was fully insured. A similar provision in favour of the building [. . .] was not made. The origin of the fire [was] unknown” (Evening Telegram, April 4, 1885). The fire “lit up the whole village. [Sergeant Wells] and Constable Meaney [found] quite a number of the inhabitants had gathered. [And] Robert Malcolm, under the influence of liquor, [was acting] rather suspicious. The fire was, beyond a doubt, the work of an Incendiary.” One small positive this month was “the overland mail from St. John’s” arrived finally on the 26th (Wells, 67).

March

At the mine “the pit [remained] unoccupied, but the crusher, jigging mill and smelting house [were] in full swing. [. . .] There [was] sufficient ore on deck to keep the present force employed for a year to come. A skip-road [had] just been completed in the mine. This skip-road [was] to all intents and purposes an underground railway [the] work heretofore done by tubs. Tubs, however, were [. . .] dangerous contrivances [. . .] and sources of peril and death to those labouring beneath” (Evening Telegram, April 4, 1885).

Sergeant Wells sought to get reimbursed for money spent lodging Constable Sparks the previous November. However, his request was seen as insubordinate and in a letter from Inspector P. Carty on March 6th was written, “The Sergeant should not have made himself responsible” (Wells, 71). On the 20th the “Chairman Board Works presented a petition from the inhabitants of Little Bay, asking that a road be constructed through some agricultural land between that place and Halls Bay” (Evening Telegram March 20, 1885). This was covered in multiple newspapers as “the road in question would lead through a large tract of agricultural land. [And was] therefore one of which the whole country [was] interested” (Harbour Grace Standard, April 4, 1885).

April

A play was performed in St. John’s on April 13th to raise money “to aid in liquidating debt incurred in the erection of the Roman Catholic Church at Little Bay” (Evening Telegram, April 13, 1885). The Lind family arrived this year when Mr. Henry Lind “obtained a position as the Company Storekeeper at Little Bay mines” (Taylor, 111). His son Francis (later known by his nickname Mayo) would go on to become one of the most famous Newfoundlanders of the first World War when his letters home were published (Lind).

May

Returning to St. John’s on May 5th the Plover reported that the bays were “still frozen over, and at [Little Bay] the steamer’s freight was landed on the ice” (Evening Telegram, May 6, 1885). In a letter to the editor was written, “Dear Sir, – I learn that there are now one hundred and fifty feet of water in the Little Bay copper mine. It would be interesting to the people of Newfoundland [. . .] to learn that Mr. E. C. Wallace, the manager there [. . .] contemplate the entire abandonment of this valuable property ; and, if not, why he does not employ a sufficient number of hands to keep the pit free of water. Mining capitalist enjoy peculiar preemptions in this island. Their business is not handicapped here as it is elsewhere with direct taxation. [. . .] As the Betts Cove Mine can keep their mine pumped out there is no reason why the Little Bay management cannot do similarly with theirs” (Evening Telegram, May 26, 1885).

June

June 13th saw early advertising for Little Bay’s Fancy Fair in October which stated that to “aid of the new English Church now in course of erection. Contributions in the aid of the above object either in money or useful or fancy articles [would] be thankfully received” (Twillingate Sun, June 13, 1885). Also on June 13th the supreme court was held at Little Bay “in the matter of the Petition of James Strong of Little Bay Island, Planter, praying that William Richmond, of Little Bay Island, Fisherman, be declared insolvent” with the hearing set to take place in St. John’s that July. (Evening Telegram, June 2, 1885). On June 22nd, “the matter of the Petition of Joseph H. Taverner, of Little Bay, but at present of St. John’s, praying to be declared insolvent” was set for July 3rd in St. John’s (Evening Telegram, June 23, 1885).

July

On July 13th a notice was posted which read “All persons having claims against the insolvent estate of Joseph H. Taverner, Little Bay, are hereby requested to furnish the same to the Trustee, not later than August 1st” (Evening Telegram, July 13, 1885). People and places have a lot in common. Bett’s Cove was reported as a deserted village on July 21st as “nearly all the machinery [had] been transferred [. . .] to Little Bay. [There were] two hundred dwellings and buildings used for mining purposes [left deserted and] Bett’s Cove [became] the first instance in the history of Newfoundland of the complete abandonment of a formerly thriving seat of industry, owing to the exhaustion of its main article of resources” (Evening Telegram, July 21, 1885).

August

The report from Little Bay this August noted that “if any benefit is to be derived from the mines of Newfoundland they must be worked more economically than at present. [Captain White’s] report depends whether operations will be resumed or not. [. . .] He is favourably impressed. A few men are being taken on, but it is improbable that any but the old hands (who have gone to the fishery, and left their families here) will get work this fall or next winter. Fishermen from here are doing fairly well here. Mr. Boyde’s new schooner brought home about 250 quintals [. . .] Mr. Benson has also good news from his men. So we have the prospects of a good fall trade. The crafts from Little Bay are principally fishing on the French Shore and in White Bay” (Evening Telegram, August 13, 1885). The schooner Vita of Little Bay was at Bay of Islands (Sessional Papers, 44).

The steamer Lizzie arrived in Little Bay with a pleasure party (Evening Telegram, August 14, 1885). It was reported that “the steam-yacht Lizzie with Mrs. W. P. Munn and party, (consisting of Miss Cliff, Miss Neville, Miss LeMesanrier, Rev. N. LeMoine, and Mr. D. Munn) [had] a pleasant cruise to [Little Bay] and other places. The cruise occupied 14 days and [was] pronounced by the party to have been a very enjoyable one.” Also reported that day was an improvement in operations at the mine that had contractors set “to recommence work. A large ship [was already] loading with copper ore” (Harbour Grace Standard, August 15, 1885). August 15th saw some commotion in town as well when Daniel Courtney, Little Bay Hotel’s proprietor “accused John Crane of stealing a waterproof coat [but as the] evidence was not strong enough to prove that John Crane was guilty of the charge [. . .] the Magistrate dismissed the case. Unfortunately for Constable Meaney, he had been with Crane that evening, and was called as a witness in the case. This led to another request by Sergeant Wells to have him removed from Little Bay” (Wells, 72).

The Chairman of the Board of Works was in Little Bay on the 20th campaigning for votes and there was a forest fire burning between Little Bay and North West Arm which was contained by heavy rain (Evening Telegram, August 26, 1885). The steamship Sunnyside was wrecked on rocks near Fogo and a yacht called Snowbird was sent to Little Bay to inform the wreck’s owners in Montreal of their loss by telegraph (Evening Telegram, August 28, 1885).

September

On September 17th, “his Lordship, Mr. Justice Pinsent, DCL., presiding Judge, opened the Supreme Court on Circuit. The Docket was called consisting of 18 civil cases, as well as one criminal case in which the accused was Stephen Mullowney who was charged with stabbing and wounding John Bouzan” (Wells, 76).

In a letter to the editor on September 26th E. C. Wallace was defended by a writer who saw Wallace as simply “unfortunate in his selection of men to posts of trust ; and to this fact [was] due the deplorable condition of mining” (Evening Telegram, September 26, 1885). However, Mr. Wallace resigned from the post anyway and on September 30th the mine officers presented him “with an address and purse [. . .] Mr. Diem, as spokesman, stated the object of their presence there that night, in a few happy and choice phrases” (Evening Telegram, October 15, 1885).

October

On October 10th there was “a bazaar, in connection with the Church of England, for the purpose of liquidating a debt on the new Church recently erected [which] was held in Mr. John Lamb’s skittle-alley [. . .] The tables were profusely laden with goods. [Each] table presented the most attractive appearance [. . .] Perhaps the most exciting event of all was the voting for the most popular young lady in Little Bay. The three favourites were Miss Blandford, Miss Duder, and Miss Ross. [. . .] When the poll was finally declared it was found that Miss Blandford was elected by an overwhelming majority” (Evening Telegram, October 10, 1885).

Smallpox started making itself known this October. The Sun reported on the 4th; “We are sorry to have to state that there is, at present, a case of smallpox on board a vessel in this port (Twillingate)” (Twillingate Sun, October 4, 1885). However, no quarantine was place on ships to St. John’s and on October 10th it was reported that “in connection with this subject of smallpox, we think there is a good deal of needless alarm” (Twillingate Sun, October 10, 1885). They luckily contained the outbreak anyway and after the man “who was sick of smallpox died [his] vessel was fumigated [without] symptoms of the contagion” (Twillingate Sun, October 25, 1885).

November

The following week in Little Bay the SS Cheswick arrived “infected with smallpox. Consequently, [it was] quarantined. There [was] no health officer appointed [so] the Magistrate acted as such. [Sergeant Wells] accompanied him to the side of the ship where he handed the Captain his written instructions” (Wells, 81). On November 30th, “the SS Hiram Perry left [Little Bay] for Twillingate for the purpose of getting vaccine” (Wells, 82). The ship arrived there “from Little Bay [seeking] to procure some vaccine [. . .] as soon as possible” (Twillingate Sun, December 5, 1885). On November 26th Sergeant Wells’ son George fell through the ice on Captain’s Pond. His father reached him just in time and pulled him out to safety (Wells 78).

December

It was reported on December 5th that “Little Bay mine, operations [had] resumed on an extended scale, under new and energetic manager. It [was] reported that fully 200 men [were] at work, and that [by spring] a prospect of 700 or 800 men being employed” (Harbour Grace Standard, December 5, 1885).

Constable Meaney hurt himself while drinking and took a week off work (Wells, 83). The Constable was than witnessed coming off of the quarantined ship quite drunk (Wells, 84). So on December 12th, Sergeant Wells once again wrote his higher-ups in St. John’s to report on Meaney’s intoxication (Wells, 85). On December 12th Mr. Maliphant reported a break-in at the Loading Wharf Store owned by the mining company (Wells, 89). On December 17th the police cracked the case of the break-in at the Loading Wharf Store and arrested John C. Mullowney for the crime (Wells, 90-92). On December 16th, there were some crossed accusations of stealing between two men; Ernest Peyton and the blacksmith William Ross. Peyton said that it is “because he and Ross sleep together” at a boarding house (Wells 90). On December 19th “Michael Cleary threw a jug at Daniel Courtney (hotel keeper) and inflicted a very large scalp wound [. . .] The doctor dressed the wound and took out a couple of pieces of the broken jug” (Wells, 93). This month also saw a case of child support when “the prisoner Mansfield was brought up before His Worship on the charge of deserting, or neglecting to support his child. [. . .] His Worship discharged him with the understanding that as soon as he could get work he would have to support the child. In the meantime, His Worship would advance 10 shillings per month for the support of the child which would be refunded by Mansfield” (Wells, 96).

December 19th saw James White of Little Bay make a donation to the Labrador Relief Fund (Harbour Grace Standard, December 19, 1885). And a Temperance meeting was held on December 20th against “the inhuman monster – Alcohol” with Rev. H. Hooper, J. C. Duder, Mr. George Quenby, Sergeant Wells, and Mr. Jospeh Huestis as speakers. Some attempted to make the case that “the moderate drinker [was] worse than the drunkard” in a not so subtle push for total abstinence. This was not well received by all attendees (Twillingate Sun, December 31, 1885). Many still enjoyed their drink and on December 25th, “there was, during the night, a great deal of drunkenness; and, there being such crowds [Sergeant Wells] considered it unwise to make an arrest. Instead, [he assisted] friends in getting the inebriates home” (Wells, 96). The local custom of mummering was not liked by the Temperance crowd and Henry Lind once wrote “I am sorry to find that the majority of the young people [. . .] are busy in dressing up to act as ‘mummers,’ commonly and properly called ‘fools’” (Taylor, 85). A bunch of drunken fools seems as good a place to close a year as any. That’s 1885!

Sources:

Evening Telegram 1885

Twillingate Sun 1885

Harbour Grace Standard 1885

Photography of Simeon H. Parsons 1885

Statutes of Newfoundland Sessional Papers (Vol 9) 1885

Lind, The Letters of Mayo Lind 1916

Taylor, Westward with Henry and Caroline 1989

Wells, All Quiet 2012

Known Residents: 

• Andrews (deduced) 
• Atkins, Miss (Twillingate Sun) 
• Banks, Josiah James (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Banks, Emily Louisa Sparks – wife of Josiah (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Bennett, James – labourer (deduced) 
• Benson, Johnathan J. – provisions store merchant (Methodist Marriages) 
• Benson, Martha Louisa Boyle – wife of Johnathan (Evening Telegram) 
• Benson, Annie – witness (Methodist Marriages) 
• Benson, Jemima – spinster (Methodist Marriages) 
• Benson, John J. – 10 months old (UC Burials) 
• Berteau, Ernest F. – mine officer (Evening Telegram) 
• Berteau, F. H. – mine officer (Evening Telegram) 
• Bertran, Mr. (Evening Telegram) 
• Billings (deduced) 
• Blandford, John B. – magistrate (Twillingate Sun, 1880) 
• Blandford, Miss – daughter of John (Evening Telegram) 
• Blandford, Louise (1921 Census) 
• Blandford, Laura – daughter of Louise (1921 Census) 
• Bouzane, James Michael – tree cutting (Deck’s Awash, Vol. 17 No.5) 
• Bouzane, Jane Sandy – wife of James (deduced) 
• Bouzane, Thomas M. – tree cutting (Deck’s Awash, Vol. 17 No.5) 
• Bouzane, Catherine Colbert – wife of Thomas (deduced) 
• Bouzane, John (Wells) 
• Boyde, Thomas – merchant (Supreme Court documents) 
• Boyde, Eliza Stuckless – wife of Thomas (deduced) 
• Boyde, James Walter – son of Thomas and Eliza (deduced) 
• Boyde, Laura Jane – daughter of Thomas and Eliza (deduced) 
• Boyde, Thomas Abraham – son of Thomas and Eliza (deduced) 
• Boyde, Benjamin – trader (Supreme Court documents) 
• Brazil, R. (Evening Telegram) 
• Brown – bookseller (Wells) 
• Burgess, Edward R. – teacher (Twillingate Sun) 
• Cain, Thomas – tailer (Wells) 
• Castigan, William (Wells) 
• Clarke (deduced) 
• Cleary, Michael – labourer (Wells) 
• Coady, Patrick – deduced 
• Colbourne, William (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Colbourne, Annie – wife of William (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Colbourne, Bessie Maud – daughter of William and Annie (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Colbourne, Samuel (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Colbourne, Selina – wife of Samuel (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Colbourne, Minnie – daughter of Samuel and Selina (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Conway, Thomas – labourer (Supreme Court documents) 
• Cooney, Edward – labourer (deduced) 
• Costello, W. (Evening Telegram) 
• Costigan, William – merchant (deduced) 
• Courtney, Daniel – LB hotel (Wells) 
• Crane, John W. (Wells) 
• Crane, Mrs. (Twillingate Sun) 
• Curtis, Francis (UC Burials) 
• Curtis, Louisa Traverner – wife of Francis (UC Burials) 
• Curtis, Wilfred Clarence Reginald – son of Francis and Louisa (UC Burials) 
• Currie, William (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Currie, Elizabeth – wife of William (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Currie, Timothy Titus – son of William and Elizabeth (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Currie, Mary Ann – daughter of William and Elizabeth (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Cushan, John (Wells) 
• Dean, Abel (Wells) 
• DeLucry, Joseph (Wells) 
• Diem, Jacob P. – mine officer (Evening Telegram) 
• Diem, Mrs. – wife of J. P. (Evening Telegram) 
• Diem, Miss (Twillingate Sun) 
• Dinn, J. P. (Wells) 
• Dobbin, David Thomas – miner (Perry) 
• Dobbin, Clara Breen – wife of David (Perry) 
• Dobbin, Sarah – child of David and Clara (Perry) 
• Dobbin, Mary – child of David and Clara (Perry) 
• Dobbin, Madeline – child of David and Clara (Perry) 
• Dobbin, Francis – child of David and Clara (Perry) 
• Donnovan, James (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Donnovan, Phoebe – wife of James (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Donnovan, Mary Jane – daughter of James and Phoebe (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Duder, John (UC Burials) 
• Duder, Annie Howson – wife of John (UC Burials) 
• Duder, Florence – daughter of John and Annie (UC Burials) 
• Duder, Miss (Evening Telegram) 
• Fahey (deduced) 
• Flemming (deduced) 
• Foley, William (deduced) 
• Foot – cash keeper for mining company shop in the bight (Wells) 
• Foote, G (Evening Telegram) 
• Foote, John (Wells) 
• Foote, Mrs. (Twillingate Sun) 
• Foote, Miss E. (Twillingate Sun) 
• Forward, Eugene (1921 Census) 
• Fury, Peter – labourer (Supreme Court documents) 
• Gillard, Henry – fisherman (Supreme Court documents) 
• Goudie, Joseph – general dealer (Supreme Court documents) 
• Gregory, Peter (deduced) 
• Hackett, Robert – master of the S. S. Hiram Perry (Twillingate Sun) 
• Hackett,  George – son of Robert (Twillingate Sun) 
• Hacker, Franz – mine officer (Evening Telegram) 
• Haggett, George (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Haggett, Rosanna – wife of George (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Haggett, Olive Pearl – daughter of George and Rosanna (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Head, Thomas – miner (Atlantic Guardian, Sept 1948) 
• Head, Mary – wife of Thomas (Atlantic Guardian, Sept 1948) 
• Head, John – son of Thomas and Mary (deduced) 
• Head, Anastasia – daughter of Thomas and Mary (deduced) 
• Head, Mary – daughter of Thomas and Mary (deduced) 
• Head, Sylvester James – son of Thomas and Mary (deduced) 
• Head, Lawrence – son of Thomas and Mary (deduced) 
• Head, James Thomas – son of Thomas and Mary (Atlantic Guardian, Sept 1948) 
• Head, Patrick Joseph – son of Thomas and Mary (deduced) 
• Head, William (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Head, Phoebe – wife of William (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Head, Christiana – daughter of William and Phoebe (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Hecker – mining (Evening Telegram) 
• Huestess, Joseph – labourer (Supreme Court documents) 
• James, William (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• James, Louisa – wife of William (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• James, Hedley Peter – son of William and Louisa (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Janes, Joseph (Wells) 
• Janes, Mrs. (Wells) 
• Janes, James (1921 Census) 
• Joseph, Louis – doctor (Wells) 
• Kennedy, Hugh (deduced) 
• Kennedy, Patrick – labourer (deduced) 
• Lamb, John – skittle alley (Evening Telegram) 
• Lamb, Mrs. (Twillingate Sun) 
• Lind, Henry – company storekeeper (Taylor) 
• Lind, Elizabeth. – wife of Henry (Taylor) 
• Lind, William – son of Henry (Taylor) 
• Lind, Robert George – son of Henry (Taylor) 
• Lind, James Marshall – son of Henry (Taylor) 
• Lind, Francis Thomas – son of Henry (Taylor) 
• Locke, Israel – miner (Supreme Court documents) 
• Malcolm, Robert – tinsmith (Wells) 
• Mansfield, John (Wells) 
• Martin, John (Wells) 
• McLean, John (Evening Telegram) 
• McNeil, Augus (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• McNeil, Asenath – wife of Augus (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• McNeil, Mary Francis – daughter of Augus and Asenath (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• McKinnon, Joseph (deduced) 
• Meaney, Patrick – constable (Wells) 
• Melephant, William – smelting works foreman and loading wharf superintendent (Evening Telegram) 
• Miller, George W. – mine officer (Evening Telegram) 
• Miller, Annie M. – wife of George (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Miller, Rowland Colebourne – son of George and Annie (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Moors, Samuel (1921 Census) 
• Morrison, Arthur (deduced) 
• Mullins, John (Wells) 
• Mullowney, Stephen (Wells) 
• Mullowney, Mrs. – mother of John (Wells) 
• Mullowney, John Charles (Wells) 
• Oake, James R. J. (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Oake, Henrietta Taylor – wife of James (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Oake, Elizabeth – daughter of James and Henrietta (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• O’Flynn, Stephen – Rev. Catholic Church (Moncrieff) 
• O’Neil, Robert – father of John C. Mullowney (Wells) 
• Parsons, Duncan (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Parsons, Annie – wife of Duncan (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Parsons, Minnie Blanche – daughter of Duncan and Annie (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Peddle, John (1921 Census) 
• Peyton, Ernest (Wells) 
• Pilgrim, Mark (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Pilgrim, Rachel – wife of Mark (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Pilgrim, Joseph Leonard – son of Mark and Rachel (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Pollard, Adam (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Pollard, Jemina Gillard – wife of Adam (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Power, Mrs. (Wells) 
• Power – bastard daughter (Wells) 
• Purchase, William – watchmaker (Wells) 
• Quenby, George – mine store keeper (Evening Telegram) 
• Reddin, Charles O. B. – foreman (Evening Telegram) 
• Reddin, George B. – witness (Methodist Marriages) 
• Rendell, George – witness (Methodist Marriages) 
• Rendell, William (Twillingate Sun) 
• Rice, Thomas (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Rice, Rebecca – wife of Thomas (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Rice, Herbert – son of Thomas and Rebecca (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Richards, Mrs. (Evening Telegram) 
• Rideout, Alfred – witness (Methodist Marriages) 
• Rideout, William – miner (Methodist Marriages) 
• Rideout, Louisa Rendall – wife of William (Methodist Marriages) 
• Rideout, William (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Rideout, Louisa – wife of William (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Rideout, Fanny – daughter of William and Louisa (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Rolling, Walter (deduced) 
• Ross, William – blacksmith (Supreme Court documents) 
• Ross, Miss – school-mistress (Evening Telegram) 
• Ryan, John (deduced) 
• Small, Mary Maria – age 21 (United Church Burials) 
• Stewart, John Robert – mine management (Martin) 
• Stewart, Adelaide Delphena Boyde – wife of John (deduced) 
• Stewart, Annie Eliza – daughter of John and Adelaide (deduced) 
• Stewart, Walter – son of John and Adelaide (deduced) 
• Stewart, Thomas Richard – 9 months (United Church Burials) 
• Stiles, James (Twillingate Sun) 
• Stoyles, James – fisherman (Supreme Court documents) 
• Squires (deduced) 
• Taverner, Joseph H. – planter (Evening Telegram) 
• Thomas, Christopher (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Thomas, Catharine Graham – wife of Christopher (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Thomas, James – son of Christopher and Catharine (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Thomas, H. George (1921 Census) 
• Thompson – shopman at mining company store in the bight (Wells) 
• Vickers, J. – Methodist reverend (Twillingate Sun) 
• Walker, John (Evening Telegram) 
• Wallace, E. C. – mine manager (Evening Telegram) 
• Walsh, Richard – postmaster (Newfoundland Almanac, 1881) 
• Walsh, Francis R. – mine time keeper (Evening Telegram) 
• Walsh, James (Supreme Court documents) 
• Walsh, (E of N) 
• Wells, Thomas Edward – Police Sergeant (Wells) 
• Wells, Mary Jane – wife of Thomas (Wells) 
• Wells, Edith – daughter of Thomas and Mary (Wells) 
• Wells, Doyle – son of Thomas and Mary (Wells) 
• Wells, George – son of Thomas and Mary (Wells) 
• White – mine captain / mine manager (Evening Telegram) 
• White, James (Evening Telegram) 
• Witten, Robert – labourer (Wells) 
• Young, Frederick – fisherman (Supreme Court documents) 
• Young, Frederick (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Young, Fanny – wife of Frederick (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893) 
• Young, Harriett – daughter of Frederick and Fanny (NL Vital Statistics, 1753-1893)