1882 was a year of change, both for the town and the colony. Politics abounded and Little Bay was right in the middle of it. Newfoundland had its 15th general election in October and William Whiteway formed the government under the Conservative Party. The elected officials for the Twillingate-Fogo region were R.P. Rice and Jabaz P. Thompson – the founder of the Twillingate Sun.
The railway’s construction was underway, despite the debates, and “During the ensuring winter hundreds of men were employed north and south cutting sleepers. The money thus spent in construction and in the purchase of the right of way was found most beneficial ; it came on the whole community like the gentle rain from Heaven ; its refreshing dews descended alike on the friends and opponents of the new enterprise ; its rills trickled into everyone’s pocket-merchant, trader, small shopkeeper, all alike experienced the good results of this large outflow of money to the railway” (Prowse). The Newfoundland Railway Company was a New York based syndicate and “Among various concessions by the Newfoundland government were land grants of 5,000 acres for each mile constructed. By the end of 1882 [however] only 45 miles of track had been laid; the company went bankrupt soon afterwards” (Howley). “Ellershausen continued to be involved in Newfoundland railway politics, but allegations connecting him to Prime Minister William Whiteway’s shady dealings [could not] be substantiated” (Bassler). Martin, however, references a letter Ellershausen wrote Whiteway which read “I have nothing mentioned to anybody about my affair with Blackman and as long as he does not mention anything to anybody, I shall keep quiet” which certainly implies they were in bed together.
Moving from the railway conspiracy and into the mining one we find “A series of communications between the parties involved [which] hint that Whiteway had more than a casual hand” (Martin). But the mine was doing well, “Next to her fisheries, the mineral deposits constitute the greatest present source of Newfoundland’s wealth and prosperity” (Harbour Grace Standard). The Little Bay smelters were treating ore from other deposits and “When the final ore shipment left the Sterling mine in 1882, Adolph Guzman had miners sweep the copper dust [. . .] and place it in canvas bags to be taken to Little Bay. This was probably the last Newfoundland mining job supervised by Guzman” (Martin).
In February the Little Bay Choral Society hosted its first concert. The event was a huge success. It was reported that “this Society according to notice gave its first Concert on Tuesday evening last in the [public] hall. We were agreeably surprise to find an unusually large and appreciative audience” (Twillingate Sun).
Programme:
- Piano recitation – Mrs. Crane
- Glee-Glee Club “Evening Hymn”
- Humorous reading, D.T. Henderson “Niagara Falls” by Mark Twain
- Patriotic Song – R. D. Walsh – “The British Lion”
- Hibernian reading, Geo Cleary – Mrs. O’Flarathy’s ‘at home’
- Duet (vocal), Miss Winton and Miss Blandford – “Two Mercy Girls”
- Instructive reading, J. B. Blandford
- Solo (vocal) Dr. F. Stafford – “Consolation”
- Practical reading, Rev. S. Whittier
- Solo (vocal) P. Cleary – “This old arm chair”
- Recitation; Mr. O’Neil – “John Maynard”
- Solo (vocal), E. C. Wallace – “The maidship mite”
- Reading – O’Reddin
- Solo (vocal), R. D. Walsh – “No smoking allowed”
- Duet (vocal), Miss Blandford and Mr. Bertesis – “Pretty Polly Hopkins”
- Humorous reading, S. Kidston – “How I got a situation”
- Song, W. Bertesis – “Skipper and his boy”
- Duet (vocal), Miss Winton and Mr. Archer – “Murmuring Son”
- Glee-Glee Club – “Virginia Rose Bud”
- Chorus, P. Cleary and company – “Hudson Bowline”
- Piano solo, Miss. D. T. Henderson – God Save the Queen
Rev. Whittier was called to Chalmers’ Church in Halifax in the spring. He states various problems with ministering to Little Bay such as “the fluctuation of the people, the uncertainty involved in the sale of the mining property, and the change of officials and leading men” (Moncrieff). In June both the Harbour Grace Standard and the Twillingate Sun write glowingly of Rev. Whittier and report on the sense of loss felt and the great presentation the town made to him on his departure. During his work there “He had to meet every steamer, check every Boarding house and keep in contact with all the Protestants. [. . .] A solid groundwork [was] laid for other denominations” (Moncrieff). A student catechist would fill in for the summer until Rev. Fitzpatrick arrived late in the fall that year. His arrival “encouraged by the fact that the new English Company [. . .] had agreed to pay [. . .] for the support of a resident Presbyterian minister. Mr. Fitzpatrick reported there was still a need [as], their cause [was] made popular by the faithful work of Mr. Whittier [and that] he was welcomed by the people of all denominations” (Moncrieff P. 122).
The claim that “there was little work done in Little Bay by ministers of other denominations, [with only] periodic visits [. . .] made by Methodist and Episcopalian ministers” (Moncrieff) is potentially confirmed by the ongoing archeological work seemingly preoccupying Rev. Arthur Pittman, whose shipments of Beothuk artifacts and correspondence with the British Royal Museum would eventually lead him to running his own museum in Twillingate. The Catholic priest, Rev. S. O’Flynn, however, was praised in both the Twillingate Sun and the Evening Telegraph in April and in December he hosted a bazaar in town to raise money for a house. A new Methodist clergy, Rev. J. Lister arrived this year (Twillingate Sun). John Bernard Croak was born in Little Bay in May, he would become the first Newfoundlander to receive the Victoria Cross (Atlantic Guardian, 1949).
January saw the beginning of “Several changes in the officials at the mines” and this continued through to December when Mr. Wallace became manager (Harbour Grace Standard). But John Robert Stewart was its rising star. The Nova Scotian born Scotsmen was known in mining circles. Howley wrote, “Stewart is a regular gold mining expert and has spent several years in Australia and the Western States and in the Rockies of British Columbia. Gold is his hobby and he certainly understands a lot about it. He is a practical Mining Engineer and an opinion from such a man on the subject is worth something” (Howley, P. 1788). John Stewart was, by this time, the mine Captain and over the next several years his travels and explorations were often documented by the Twillingate Sun. They wrote of him “John Stewart, who has charge of the working department, is a man who second to none in the situation that he fills as Captain and overseer of the mining and engineering department of Little Bay Mines [. . .] giving justice to all both man and master” (Twillingate Sun, March 1886). John Stewart would go on to discover many deposits across Newfoundland, including gold deposits in Sop’s Arm (Howley) and Mings Bight (Martin). Stewart was already out seeking new finds by 1882 and Howley mentions the arrival of “Indians in a canoe [who] brought us the news that last evening [that] Stewart and some mining people arrived from Little Bay in the Hiram Perry” (Howley, P. 524-525). Stewart had married a woman named Adelaide Delphenia Boyde, the daughter of the prominent local merchant Thomas Boyd and she was, herself, actively involved in the family’s business (Twillingate Sun).
There were a number of accidents reported this year. At the mine in April John Cleary had his skull fractured by a falling tub, John Tobin had his hand amputated, and John Griffin had his eyes scorched. In July “Stewart and two of his men were injured by accidents” (Evening Telegraph). December saw the death of a young boy named Foote, who fell through the ice while skating. Dr. Strafford’s attempts to resuscitate him failed (Harbour Grace Standard). Dr. Stafford was also getting ready to move on, however, despite multiple public announcements, the delayed departure of his replacement from England, kept him until early the following year. Meanwhile, Little Bay, saw a new watchmaking business open in June (Twillingate Sun). This year marks the first known visit by Thomas Peyton (Land Survey).
The town’s way officers covered a large area of rambunctious and migratory workers and faith in their services was questioned. In a letter to the editor in February was noted the frequency of raids on property as “It is well known that there are no Policemen between Twillingate and Little Bay. This is the third raid [. . .] since September” (Twillingate Sun). In June the mining engineer William Drummond drown and it was written that “it has been a puzzle here to account for the accident” (The Mercury). Clearly there was a need for better policing. And it was coming, Sergeant Thomas Wells was about to be dispatched to the town and his coming showdown with the ‘demon rum’ was gonna be something to see.
Sources:
“The Evening Telegram” 1882
“Twillingate Sun” 1882
“Harbour Grace Standard” 1882
“The Mercury” 1882
Prowse, “History of Newfoundland” 1895
Howley, “Reminiscences of the forty-two years of exploration” 1914
“Atlantic Guardian” Sept, 1948
Moncrieff, Wilfred M “A History of the Presbyterian Church in Newfoundland” 1966
Martin, Wendy “Once Upon a Mine” 1983
Bassler, Gerhard “Vikings to U-Boats” 2006
Known Residents:
- Andrews, Harvey – fisherman (Supreme Court documents)
- Anstey, Henry (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Anstey, Sophia – wife of Henry (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Anstey, Phoebe Jane – born to Henry and Sophia (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Archer, Mr. (Twillingate Sun)
- Benson, Johnathan – merchant (Who’s Who)
- Benson, Sarah Jane. – wife of Johnathan (Who’s Who)
- Benson, Arthur L. – son of Johnathan (Who’s Who)
- Benson, Reuben – born to Jonathan and Sarah (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Bertesis, W (Twillingate Sun)
- Bishop, George (Canadian Marriages 1661-1949)
- Bishop, Emma – wife of George (Canadian Marriages 1661-1949)
- Bishop, Caroline – born to George and Emma (Canadian Marriages 1661-1949)
- Blandford, John B. – magistrate (Twillingate Sun, 1880)
- Blandford, Mrs. – wife of John (Twillingate Sun)
- Blandford, Miss – daughter of John (Twillingate Sun)
- Bouzane, Clara English – mother of James and Thomas (Deck’s Awash, Vol. 17 No.5)
- 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)
- 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)
- Campbell, Alexander – stricker/sticker (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Campbell, Selina Jane Reed – wife of Alexander (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Cleary, George (Twillingate Sun)
- Cleary, John – miner (Twillingate Sun)
- Cleary, P. (Twillingate Sun)
- Coleman, Peter – birth (1921 census)
- Corbett, John – miner (Supreme Court documents)
- Courtney, John (Evening Telegraph)
- Courtney, Mrs. – wife of John (Evening Telegraph)
- Courney – daughter of John (Evening Telegraph)
- Crane, Mrs. (Twillingate Sun)
- Croak, James – miner (Atlantic Guardian, Sept 1948)
- Croak, Cecelia – wife of James (Atlantic Guardian, Sept 1948)
- Croak, John – son of John and Cecelia (Atlantic Guardian, Sept 1948)
- Doran, James (Evening Telegraph)
- Drummond, William – mining engineer (Harbour Grace Standard)
- von Ellershausen, Franz – mine management (Martin)
- Everly, Jospeh (Canadian Marriages 1661-1949)
- Everly, Louisa – wife of Jospeh (Canadian Marriages 1661-1949)
- Everly, Emma – born to Jospeh and Louisa (Canadian Marriages 1661-1949)
- Fitzpatrick, J. R. – Rev. Presbyterian Church (Moncrieff)
- Foley, Catharine – died at age 2 (RC cemetery)
- Foley, John – died at age 85 (RC cemetery)
- Foran, Thomas – birth (1921 census)
- Foote, William (Harbour Grace Standard)
- Gilfoy, Daniel (Supreme Court documents)
- Green, Mr. (Twillingate Sun)
- Griffin, John – miner (Twillingate Sun)
- Guzman, Adolf – mine management (Martin)
- Hall, Thomas (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Hall, Elizabeth – wife of Thomas (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Hall, Edward Frances – born to Thomas and Elizabeth (Vital Stats, 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)
- Henderson, D.T. (Twillingate Sun)
- Henderson, Mrs. (Twillingate Sun)
- Huestis, Joseph and Kate (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Huestis, Kate – wife of Joseph (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Huestis, Florence Alice – born to Joseph and Kate (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Hughes, John A. – birth (1921 census)
- James, James (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- James, Harriett – wife of James (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- James, William – born to James and Harriett (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Jaques, William – born (1921 census)
- Kane, Mrs. (Twillingate Sun)
- Kidson, S (Twillingate Sun)
- King, Patrick (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- King, Mary – wife of Patrick (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- King, Daniel – born to Patrick and Mary (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Lawson, Stephen (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Lawson, Susanna – wife of Stephen (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Lawson, James Joseph – born to Stephen and Susanna (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Ledrew, Samuel – birth (1921 census)
- Lister, J. – Rev. Methodist Church (Twillingate Sun)
- Lock, Eszra (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Lock, Margaret – wife of Eszra (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Lock, Beatrice – born to Eszra and Margaret (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Loveman, John (1921 census)
- Loveman, Louisa – wife of John (1921 census)
- Loveman, Stanley – born to John and Louisa (1921 census)
- Malcolm, Robert (Great Britain Marriages 1797-1988)
- Malcolm, Catherine Morisey – wife of Robert (Great Britain Marriages 1797-1988)
- Malcolm, George William – born to Robert and Catherine (Great Britain Marriages 1797-1988)
- Martin, John – labourer (Supreme Court documents)
- Mearls, Richard (Evening Telegraph)
- Mearls, Mrs. – wife of Richard (Evening Telegraph)
- Mearls – twin boys born to Richard (Evening Telegraph)
- McCaulay, John – miner (Twillingate Sun)
- Mckinnon, Michael (Massachusetts deaths 1841-1915)
- Mckinnon, Mary J White – wife of Michael (Massachusetts deaths 1841-1915)
- Mckinnon, Cecily H. – born to Michael and Mary (Massachusetts deaths 1841-1915)
- McLean, Mr. – captain of schooner Maggie (Twillingate Sun)
- Milley, John (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Milley, Hannah – wife of John (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Milley, Annie – born to John and Hannah (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- O’Flynn, Stephen – Rev. Catholic Church (Moncrieff)
- O’Neil, Mr. (Twillingate Sun)
- O’Reddin (Twillingate Sun)
- Oake, David – labourman (Supreme Court documents)
- Parker, William (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Parker, Catherine – wife of William (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Parker, John Albert – born to William and Catherine (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Parsons, Duncan (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Parsons, Annie – wife of Duncan (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Parsons, Annie Rose – born to Duncan and Annie (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Pittman, Arthur – Rev. Church of England (Moncrieff)
- Raddex, Mrs. (Twillingate Sun)
- Rapter, Mr. – mine manager (Twillingate Sun)
- Reid, Selina Jane (Twillingate Sun)
- Reid, Joseph (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Reid, Sarah Jane – wife of Joseph (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Reid, Henry William – born to Joseph and Sarah Jane (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Rideout, Richard (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Rideout, Elizabeth – wife of Richard (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Rideout, Lillian – born to Richard and Elizabeth (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Sage, Charles (Supreme Court documents)
- Sharp, John – merchant (Supreme Court documents)
- Simms, John (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Simms, Elizabeth – wife of John (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Simms, Thomas – born to John and Elizabeth (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Slade, William (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Slade, Mary Ann – wife of William (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Slade, Selby Stafford – born to William and Mary Ann (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Smart, John (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Smart, Mary – wife of John (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Smart, Elizabeth Ann – born to John and Mary (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Snow, James (Land survey)
- Stafford – town surgeon (Twillingate Sun, Sept 1882)
- Stewart, John Robert – mine management (Martin)
- Strong, James (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Strong, Ann – wife of James (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Strong, Lewis Richard – born to James and Ann (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Thorpe, E. – Presbyterian student catechist (Moncrieff)
- Thorne, J. (Twillingate Sun)
- Tobin, John – miner (Twillingate Sun)
- Verge, William (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Verge, Mary – wife of William (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Verge, Margaret Minnie May – born to William and Mary (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Wallace, E. C. – mine management (Harbour Grace Standard)
- Walsh, Richard D. – postmaster (Newfoundland Almanac, 1881)
- Walsh, Patrick – miner (Encyclopedia of Newfoundland)
- Walsh, Sarah – wife of Patrick (Encyclopedia of Newfoundland)
- Walsh, William Joseph – son of Patrick and Sarah (Encyclopedia of Newfoundland)
- Way, Mr. (Twillingate Sun)
- Wheeler, Edward – birth (1921 census)
- Wheeler, John (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Wheeler, Grace – wife of John (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Wheeler, Herbert John – born to John and Grace (Vital Stats, 1753-1893)
- Whittier, W. Scott – Rev. Presbyterian Church (Moncrieff)
- Winton, Miss (Twillingate Sun)
- Birth of Minnie White – maiden name unknown (1945 census)
- Birth of Lily Lock – maiden name unknown (1921 census)
- Birth of Patience O’Bryan – maiden name unknown (1921 census)
- Birth of Bessie Clarke – maiden nam unknown (1921 census)
- Birth of Mary Drover – maiden name unknown (1921 census)
- Birth of Katherine Canning – maiden name unknown (1921 census)