Thomas and Josephine Cleary came to Newfoundland in 1820 from Ireland. Thomas worked as the keeper for the Amateur Theatre in St. John’s. This may explain his grandchildren’s later interest in performance. Our tale follows their second child, a boy named Philip, born in 1825. He took a job as cabin boy aboard the Royal William at the age of 11 and sailed all the way to Brazil. His work impressed Captain Brooking who offered him a position as seaman. Philip Cleary became first mate in 1848 at the age of 23. In 1858 he commissioned the construction of his first vessel called Ariel which in 1863 ran the north-south mail route. During this time he took an interest in mining and in 1872 he sold his shipping interests to focus on mineral leases. This would bring him to Sunday Cove Island by 1877 near the site of soon-to-be Little Bay.

During his travels to the northern mining district he witnessed the construction of fishing vessels. The poor implementation of their design would become his political cause. In 1884 he became the manager of the Dry Dock in St. John’s and was appointed to the legislative council. He fought for better fishing vessel standards earning him the nickname ‘Plimsoll of Newfoundland’. Throughout this he maintained his interest in mining but was largely unsuccessful. One of his sites even being shut down by the French Navy. Captain Cleary profited little despite various attempts and was further blamed for financial losses at the Dry Docks by his political opponents. He retired from legislative council in 1894 and vacated his post with the board of works in 1896. He died of myocarditis in St. John’s in 1907 with subsequent write-ups about his life noting his contribution to the safety of seafaring Newfoundlanders.

I can place Captain Cleary in Little Bay in 1881 but I don’t believe he lived there. At least one of his sons did, however. George Cleary was born in 1855 and by 1877 was traveling with his father as they investigated their mining interests. His father’s mining was why George was working for the mine in Little Bay by 1881. He married Annie Walsh there that year. He played on the Little Bay Cricket team and preformed in concerts at Little Bay’s Public Hall. He was further a juror for the Supreme Court there. By 1886 George was working for the Pilley’s Island Pyrites Mine as superintendent. He moved back to St. John’s in the 1890s. He had several close calls before getting shot in the head in 1904 while on his way to work on the city’s new water line. This event didn’t kill him immediately but by 1907 he appears to be deceased nevertheless.

George Cleary had a son named Philip born in Little Bay in 1883. This Philip Cleary married Margaret Warren there in 1914 while working as a miner. He eventually moved to Boston but his son, also named George, returned to Little Bay after his mother died to be raised by his mother’s family. I believe subsequent Clearys in the area descend from this line.

There are other Clearys in Little Bay in the late 19th century. P. Cleary performed in a concert there in 1882 and left the region for St. John’s in 1884. I suspect this to be Captain Cleary’s other son Philip. The John Cleary there does not appear to be the Captain’s son of the same name. This John Cleary was from Brigus. He was injured at the Little Bay mine in 1882. He remained in town until at least 1894. There is further a Michael Cleary who in 1886 smashed the head of Little Bay’s Innkeeper with a jug. I’ve yet to connect either John or Michael to Captain Cleary’s family. They may be his children’s cousins. If you have further information on their genealogies please let me know.

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Sources:

The photograph of Captain Cleary accompanying this piece is by Mott. Another photo of the man can be found on The Rooms website. Further sources for this one are extensive. The Clearys are heavily referenced in the newspapers of the day. Captain Cleary is covered by Howley, Martin, and Windsor. He has biographies in the Book of Newfoundland, the Encyclopedia of Newfoundland, Newfoundland Men, and on roadside signage in Robert’s Arm. He has obituaries in the Harbour Grace Standard and the Evening Telegram. Wills for both him and his second wife are also available. The original sources included have more vivid detail. I’ll use it to liven up these events once I eventually get into the book. Might be awhile yet though as I’ve still got hundreds of families left to map out.

I’m including timelines for the name Cleary as it relates to the town as well as timelines for the sources that refer to Captain Philip and his son George. Those are found below but are not exhaustive. I try to focus on the town of Little Bay itself and only do these deeper dives for context. If you’ve got need for more particular information for your family tree I have more of that sort of data I can offer.

Thanks for reading!

Little Bay:

• 1879 – Phillip Cleary Betts Cove Mine (sign)
• 1880 – P. Cleary on ship (TS, Aug 5)
• 1881 – Captain Cleary (TS)
• 1881 – George Cleary Little Bay (Lind)
• 1882 – George Cleary at Little Bay Bight (Voter’s List)
• 1882 – P. Cleary and George Cleary perform in the concert (TS, March 10)
• 1882 – John Cleary had his skull fractured by a falling tub (TS / ET)
• 1883 – George F. Cleary played cricket (TS, July)
• 1883 – George F. Cleary played cricket on the married team (TS, Aug 10)
• 1883 – Mr. Cleary performed in the concert with Berteau (TS, Feb)
• 1883 – George F. Cleary performed in a play (TS, March)
• 1883 – George Cleary was a juror for the supreme court (TS, Sept 21)
• 1884 – P. Cleary to the Lizzie to St. John’s (TS, Sept 6)
• 1886 – G. Cleary superintendent of Robert’s Arm mine (DC, June 19)
• 1885 – Michael Cleary smashes Big Dan (Wells)
• 1886 – Forest fire on houses of Philip Cleary at Rabbit’s Arm (Wells)
• 1886 – Michael Cleary smashes up Big Dan (TS, March 6)
• 1887 – Birth of P.J. Cleary (Buchans)
• 1888 – P. Cleary presented petition from women (ET, March 15)
• 1889 – Captain Cleary opposes case transfer to Little Bay (ET, July 1)
• 1889 – John Cleary at Indian Bight (Voter’s List)
• 1890 – John Cleary practical miner opposes Burgess nomination (SJTNA, Sept 15)
• 1890 – Philip Cleary lease on Sunday Cove Island conflicting claims (SC docs)
• 1891 – Maggie Cleary performed at concert (SJC, April 15)
• 1893 – Sept 27 – JosephDeLoughrey  and Frances Cleary have Ellen Katherine (Civ births)
• 1894 – John Cleary fisherman at Little Bay Harbour (1894 census)
• 1898 – John Cleary miner at St. Patrick’s (McAlpine’s)
• 1899 – Pat Cleary had a dynamite accident (Among the deep sea fishers vol 76 issue 2)
• 1907 – Death of Captain Cleary age 82 (Hern note / Will)
• 1918 – Death of Patrick E. Cleary (Headstone)
• 1925 – Death of Margret Cleary Walker – son J.B. (Headstone)

Captain Philip Cleary:

• 1825 – Born in St. John’s (NL Men)
• 1836 – First joined a ship’s crew (E of NL)
• 1848 – Became first mate (RA sign)
• 1852 – Married Josephine Forward (MacLeod)
• 1855 – Birth of son George Francis (MacLeod)
• 1857 – Birth of daughter Ann Sarah (MacLeod)
• 1858 – Birth of son Philip John (MacLeod)
• 1858 – Purchased the Ariel (RA sign)
• 1860 – Birth of son Stephen Michael (MacLeod)
• 1861 – Death of Josephine (MacLeod)
• 1862 – Given command Newfoundland’s first costal steamer – Victoria (Book of NL)
• 1863 – Ariel put on route north and south
• 1863 – Commissioned to steamer mail service (E of NL)
• 1869 – Obtained his first contracted from the government (Howley)
• 1870 – Ended his contract to steam coastal service (ET, 1907-04-20)
• 1870 – Married Rose Nugent (MacLeod)
• 1872 – Sold his shipping interests (NL Men)
• 1872 – Entered the board of works (E of NL)
• 1872 – Licensed to search for minerals on Gooseberry Island (Howley)
• 1875 – Birth of son John Nugent (MacLeod)
• 1876 – Mineral leases (Registry)
• 1877 – Mining Sunday Cove Island (Howley)
• 1877 – With son George at Little Bay Islands (Howley)
• 1878 – Started mining at Crescent Lake (Report of the mining committee)
• 1879 – Leased Crescent Lake Copper Mine rights to Betts Cove Consolidated (RA sign)
• 1881 – Son George living at Little Bay (Lind)
• 1881 – Birth of son Ignatius Vincent Joseph (MacLeod)
• 1881 – Lived at Rennie’s Mill Road (Atlantic Guardian)
• 1881 – Dispute with mining company lead to closing of the mine (RA sign)
• 1881 – Visit to Little Bay (TS)
• 1882 – In supreme court for breach of contract as proprietor of Evening Mercury (SC docs)
• 1884 – Manager of St. John’s Dry Dock (E of NL)
• 1884 – Appointed to the legislative council (NL Almanac)
• 1889 – Fought for better fishing vessel standards (Windsor)
• 1890 – In court on mining leases (SC docs)
• 1891 – Sent prospecting party to Port au Port (Martin)
• 1891 – Mining at Sunday Cove Island (TS)
• 1894 – Blamed for loses leading to Dry Dock lease (NL Q)
• 1894 – Granted Miles Cove Mine (Evans)
• 1894 – Retired from legislative council (HGS, 1907-05-03)
• 1896 – Vacated his board of works post (E of NL)
• 1896 – Visited Port au Port (Howley)
• 1898 – Optioned the Miles Cove property (Evans)
• 1899 – Son John accompanied Howley that season (Howley)
• 1900 – Bluff Head mine brought to halt by French navy (Hearn docs)
• 1907 – Died in St. John’s on Monkstown Road of Myocarditis (Vit stats)

George Cleary:

• 1855 – Born to Captain Philip and Johanna Cleary (MacLeod)
• 1877 – Attended native mass with his father (Howley)
• 1881 – Working for the mine at Little Bay (Lind)
• 1881 – Married to Annie Walsh (HGS, Feb)
• 1882 – Performs in concert at Little Bay (TS, March 10)
• 1882 – Lives in Little Bay (Voter’s List)
• 1883 – Plays cricket on the married men’s team (TS, Aug 10)
• 1883 – Juror for supreme court at Little Bay (TS, Sept 21)
• 1886 – Working for Pilly’s Island Pyrites Mine (Howley)
• 1886 – Superintendent at Robert’s Arm (HGS 06-26)
• 1886 – Birth of Mary in St. John’s (Vit stats)
• 1889 – Mrs. G. Cleary attends ball (EH Feb 21)
• 1891 – Travels on the north mail route (ET 11-28)
• 1891 – Arrives from north on Volunteer (ET 11-11)
• 1893 – Travels on the Virginia Lake. Listed as from Pilley’s Island (ET, Jan 4)
• 1893 – Arrives in St. John’s from north on Kite (ET, 01-04)
• 1893 – Sailed west on the Virginia Lake (ET, 06-03)
• 1893 – Almost drowns at Bay St. George (ET 09-09)
• 1894 – Wins prize at Mechanic’s Fair (EH 10-22)
• 1900 – Lead the search for a missing man (ET 11-21)
• 1904 – Shot in the head (EH) 09-13)
• 1907 – Absent from father’s obituaries and will
• 1912 – Son of George injured (ET 08-30)