The Delaney family came to Little Bay from Bay Roberts. My first reference to them in the area is from 1883. They are absent from the Voter’s list for 1882 further suggesting 83 for their arrival. Captain John Delaney was then 38. His son Edward was 20. Other sons were present. It’s likely the James and Patrick Delaney Sr. there were his sons. There are also at least two daughters – Nora and Bridget. Some of these Delaneys lived at Loading Wharf and some in the Bight but Captain John lived in St. Patrick’s. I believe him the patriarch of the bunch.
John Delaney’s homestead was built before the main road through the area. You’d have to pass it on the way to Walker’s ranch. John was described in the 1886 Daily Colonist as impressively strong in both work ethic and singing voice. Approaching his property you’d find he’d made quick work of numerous large trees with his axe. He sang while he worked. His pleasant voice carried afar so you’d hear him before you saw him.
Captain John Delaney and his sons operated a fishing schooner which was periodically engaged in transport. I’m guessing it was opportunistic work as they’re usually found engaged in fishing and only rarely seen transporting. Nevertheless I have them carrying ore for the mines to St. John’s and returning from the city with provisional goods for the store at least twice.
The schooner the Delaneys owned was called the Helena. It was built by James Strong out of Little Bay Islands in 1887. It’s noteworthy that James Strong had a daughter named Helena. She was 9 that year. Delaney’s ship was almost certainly named for her. Helena Strong would grow up to become Lady Helena Squires, the wife of Newfoundland politician Sir Richard Squires. It looks like John Delaney had a shipped named after her long before she became a popular figure in Newfoundland.
John Delaney died in 1918 at the age of 73. My last reference to any Delaneys living there is found with his son Edward’s death in 1925. No Delaneys appear there on the 1935 census however, oddly, their house still makes an appearance. John Delaney’s house is listed as unoccupied on the 1935 census for St. Patrick’s. Perhaps that’s because his house was part of the local history. It was the only building to survive the fire which devastated St. Patrick’s in 1904. I have two pictures which depict Delaney’s house.
The only family member I’ve found photographed is Bridget. I’d welcome more so please share any images or information you have on the Delaneys. I could use the help sorting them out. I suspect Ellen is John’s wife. And I can tell you John had no brothers and his father was also named John. There is also a recurring Captain Patrick Delaney whose steamship visits the town. He is from Bay Roberts as well but is not John’s brother. That Patrick Delaney was the son of a Captain Mark Delaney. I’d hazard to guess that John’s father John and Patrick’s father Mark were brothers but it’s only a guess.
That’s it for now!
You’ll find the sources listed below.
Sources:
- 1883 – Edward Delaney vs John Thorpe (Supreme court documents)
- 1886 – John, Louis Edward, and Patrick Delaney vs Johnathan Benson for debt (SC docs)
- 1886 – Captain John Delaney singing (Daily Colonist, Nov 16)
- 1887 – Captain John Delaney (Twillingate Sun, Nov 5)
- 1887 – Captain John Delaney Road Board (Bromley’s “Gleaning the Sun” [TS references])
- 1887 – Construction of the Helena (Mercantile Navy List)
- 1888 – Mr. John Delaney shipped 90 tons to St. John’s (TS, Jan 21)
- 1888 – July 10: Delaney came from St. John’s and left for Tilt Cove (Henry Lind’s journal)
- 1888 – Sept 30: Delaney’s schooner from St. John’s (Lind)
- 1889 – J. Delaney and sons donated to the Harbour Grace Cathedral Fund (Harbour Grace Standard, Oct 11)
- 1889 – John Bouzane marries Bridget Delaney (Bouzane genealogical research by Fred Pafford)
- 1889 – John Delaney and son Edward at Little Bay (Elector’s list Twillingate region)
- 1889 – James Delaney at Indian Bight (Elector’s list Twillingate region)
- 1889 – Patrick Delaney Sr. at Loading Wharf (Elector’s list Twillingate region)
- 1891 – Captain J. Delaney, Mrs. J. Delaney, and Ed. Delaney are listed together while W. Delaney, Ptk. Delaney, and Mrs. P. Delaney make up another grouping in the RC parishioners (Colonist, January)
- 1891 – Edward Delaney played in the billiard tournament (TS, July 4)
- 1891 – Delaney captain of Helena. Provisions from Ayre & Sons (St. John’s Colonist, Sept 17)
- 1892 – Joseph Felix Brennan born to Walter Brennan and Elizabeth Delaney (Civ births)
- 1893 – Edward Delaney marries Frances Coleman (Civ marriages)
- 1894 – John, Edward, and Patrick Delany working as fishermen at Little Bay Harbour (McAlpine’s)
- 1893 – John, Edward (son of J), Patrick living at Little Bay Harbour (Elector’s list Twillingate region)
- 1894 – Cpt John Delaney Road Board – Little Bay Mines and Little Wards Harbour (Bromely)
- 1896 – Birth and death of John Delaney (Vital statistics)
- 1898 – John Delaney schooner master. Edward Delaney fisherman at St. Patrick’s (McAlpine’s)
- 1898 – John Delaney petitions for his father’s property
- 1898 – Birth of Jack Delaney (Vit stats)
- 1900 – Birth and death of Lilian Jos Delaney (Vit stats)
- 1902 – Marriage of Patrick J. Delaney to Margaret Cleary (Vit stats)
- 1903 – Marriage of Augustine Delaney to Madge Brown (Vit stats)
- 1904 – John and Edward Delaney working as fishermen at St. Patrick’s (McAlpine’s)
- 1904 – Death of Bridget, wife of John Bouzane and daughter of John Delaney (Free Press)
- 1904 – John Delaney’s house survives fire (Moments in Time)
- 1904 – Birth of Joseph Delaney to Patrick and Margaret (Death record)
- 1909 – Birth of Patrick Delaney (Buchans employee’s list)
- 1910 – Operation of Delaney mine shaft next to John’s house (Government mining records)
- 1913 – Death of Ellen Delaney (Headstone in Little Bay RC cemetery)
- 1916 – Marriage of Ellen G. Delaney to John Leo Flynn (Vit stats)
- 1918 – Death of John Delaney age 73 – daughter Nora (RC headstone)
- 1925 – Death of Edward Delaney age 62 (Vit stats)
- 1935 – John Delaney’s house unoccupied (1935 census)