Settlement FAQs

what is the historical settlement for new foundland

by William Hagenes Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Newfoundland was originally settled by Indians and Inuit (Eskimos). The first Europeans to set foot on Newfoundland, were the Vikings. However, the island's official discovery by Europeans was in 1497 by John Cabot, who claimed it for England.

Full Answer

What settlement was found in Newfoundland?

L'Anse aux MeadowsThe first permanent settlement of Vikings in North America—a seaside outpost in Newfoundland known as L'Anse aux Meadows—has tantalized archaeologists for more than 60 years.

What is the oldest settlement in Newfoundland?

Cupids1610: The First English Settlement in Canada Cupids, established in 1610, is the oldest continuously inhabited English settlement in Canada. John Guy established the first-year round settlement at the heart of what was then known as Cuper's Cove.

When did Newfoundland get settled?

July 1, 1867Newfoundland and Labrador / Date settled

What happened to the settlement in Newfoundland?

The Newfoundland colony was nearly obliterated during the Avalon Peninsula Campaign of King William's War. In 1696, the French and allied Mi'kmaq armed forces wiped out all but a handful of English settlements on the island of Newfoundland. Over the next year, the English repopulated and rebuilt the colony.

Who settled Newfoundland first?

Newfoundland was originally settled by Indians and Inuit (Eskimos). The first Europeans to set foot on Newfoundland, were the Vikings. However, the island's official discovery by Europeans was in 1497 by John Cabot, who claimed it for England.

Who did Newfoundland belong to before Canada?

BritishNewfoundland and Labrador remained under British rule until joining Canada in 1949. In the 21st century, the province is benefitting from offshore oil production, creating a new bond with the ocean that has sustained it for so long.

What was Newfoundland old name?

In 1501 when Portuguese explorers Gaspar Corte-Real and his brother Miguel Corte-Real charted part of the coast of Newfoundland in an attempt to find the Northwest Passage. After European settlement, colonists first called the island Terra Nova, from "New Land" in Portuguese and Latin.

Why did the British settle in Newfoundland?

Jamestown, Virginia was the first in 1607. In the 17th century England underwrote plantation, or settlement, of colonists, expecting to profit from their endeavors. Bristol and London merchants established the Newfoundland Company in 1610 "to secure and make safe the trade of fishing" in Newfoundland.

What did the Vikings call Newfoundland?

VinlandVinland (Old Norse Vínland, 'Wine Land') is the name given to the lands explored and briefly settled by Norse Vikings in North America around 1000 CE, particularly referring to Newfoundland, where a Viking site known as L'Anse aux Meadows was uncovered in the 1960s CE, and the Gulf of St Lawrence.

Where did Vikings land in Newfoundland?

L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic SiteAt the tip of the Great Northern Peninsula of the island of Newfoundland, the remains of an 11th-century Viking settlement are evidence of the first European presence in North America.

What was the first English settlement in Canada?

Cupers Cove, now Cupids, was established by John Guy in 1610 under a royal charter from James I. It was England's first attempt at organized colonization in Canada and the second plantation in North America. Jamestown, Virginia was the first in 1607....Cupids, Newfoundland: Canada's First English Settlement.Published OnlineMarch 26, 2013Last EditedMarch 4, 2015Mar 26, 2013

Who settled on the Newfoundland coast?

There were numerous different settlements established on the Newfoundland coast, chiefly by the English and French, during the 17th and 18th centuries. Some of them, such as Cupids and Ferryland, were formally planned; others were composed of over-wintering fishermen and developed on their own.

When did the Norse arrive in Greenland?

The Norse arrived from Greenland about 1000 A.D. and established settlements here during the following century. There is legendary evidence that other Europeans chanced upon the island during the Middle Ages.

Which region of North America was the first to be explored by Europeans?

Exploration and Settlement. The region of Newfoundland and Labrador was the first stretch of North America's Atlantic coastline to be explored by Europeans, but it was one of the last to be settled in force and formally colonized.

Why was settlement discouraged in Newfoundland?

In the case of Newfoundland, settlement appeared to threaten the monopoly control of the fishery acquired by West-of-England fishing centres.

When was Newfoundland discovered?

It is generally accepted that Norsemen from Greenland visited Newfoundland and Labrador as early as 1001 A.D., and there is a tale that men of the Channel Islands, in the latter part of the 15th century, were blown westward off their course until they came to a strange land where the sea was full of fish. There is better evidence that the Island was discovered in 1497. In the previous year an Italian navigator, John Cabot [consult also the Dictionary of Canadian Biography; henceforth DCB], then living in England and engaged in the fish trade with Iceland, obtained from Henry VII a charter giving him and his sons authority to "sail to all parts, countries and seas of the East, the West and of the North, under our banner and ensign . and to set up our banner on any new-found-land".

What were the challenges of the West of England colonists?

The colonists also suffered from attacks by pirates, who swooped down periodically and carried off men and goods. In spite of these discouragements the settlement lasted until about 1628.

What was the new policy of the English colonial system?

Under it the development of the colony was managed with a view to enhancing the power and wealth of England . Settlement was encouraged in colonies where land cultivation promised to produce new commodities of trade, as in the West Indies which produced sugar or Virginia and Maryland which produced tobacco. On the other hand, settlement was discouraged where it appeared to be against England 's interests.

When did Newfoundland begin colonizing?

Although it is believed that some fishing crews wintered on the Island as early as twenty years before Gilbert took possession, no formal attempt at colonization was made until early in the 17th century. Sir Francis Bacon and his associates formed the Newfoundland Colonization Company and in 1610 sent John Guy [his biography at the DCB] to found a colony in Newfoundland. Guy carried with him a Charter from James I containing explicit instructions regarding the purchase of fish and cod oil, the cutting of timber for export, the raising of sheep and other matters. He settled with his 41 colonists at Cupids (then Cuper's Cove) in Conception Bay. Houses, stores and wharves were built and a fort erected. Further inland a farm and a mill were established. In 1613 the first white child was born in Newfoundland .

Where did Cabot land?

John's Day, to the shores of a new land in the west. There are no records to establish the first spot in North America seen by Cabot, but in Newfoundland there is a long-established tradition that his landfall was Cape Bonavista.

Where did the first permanent colonists live?

John's, from Petty Harbour around Cape St. Francis to Holyrood in Conception Bay. From the first St. John's was the chief port and trading centre.

What is the culture of Newfoundland and Labrador?

The unique culture of Newfoundland and Labrador is a product of our English, Irish, French, and Indigenous heritage. This province’s history is rich with stories and legends, explorers, and inventors. For thousands of years, Indigenous groups such as the Maritime Archaic Indians and the Palaeo-Eskimo hunted, fished, and settled in the province, ...

Where are the rooms in Newfoundland?

The Rooms, in St. John's, is Newfound land and Labrador's largest public cultural space, where history and creativity come together under one roof. With its breathtaking harbour and city views, and open-concept architecture designed to reflect our heritage, The Rooms houses the province’s most extensive collection of artifacts, art, ...

What are the most important historic sites in Labrador?

National Historic Sites, such as Red Bay in Labrador and Signal Hill in St. John’s, allow visitors to imagine themselves in the past alongside the previous inhabitants of the province. L’Anse aux Meadows, where Leif Erickson and crews of Norse explorers settled Vinland (as they called it) over a thousand years ago, is the only authenticated Norse outpost in North America. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978.

What was the oldest city in North America?

The English colony included St. John’s – one of the oldest cities in North America; its streets and architecture might be the best expression you’ll see of the creative spirit that founded the province. Newfoundland and Labrador remained under British rule until joining Canada in 1949. In the 21st century, the province is benefitting ...

When do you submit a travel form for Newfoundland and Labrador?

Travel Forms for entry into Newfoundland and Labrador can be submitted anytime within 30 days prior to arrival date. All travellers must follow COVID-19 travel guidelines.

Where is the oldest burial mound in North America?

On the coast of Labrador, the Maritime Archaic Indians left behind the oldest known funeral mound in North America – almost 7,500 years old. Built on 400 years of History, Cupids is the oldest English colony in Canada, and the second oldest in North America.

When did the Vikings visit the coast?

Vikings visited here at the beginning of the last millennium, but European visitation didn’t begin in earnest until John Cabot’s voyage in 1497. They fished the rich waters off the coast – first during annual visits, and then creating French and English colonies in the province.

Who were the first people to settle in Newfoundland?

The first inhabitants of Newfoundland were the Paleo-Eskimo, who have no known link to other groups in Newfoundland history. Little is known about them beyond archeological evidence of early settlements. Evidence of successive cultures have been found. The Late Paleo-Eskimo , or Dorset culture, settled there about 4,000 years ago. They were descendants of migrations of ancient prehistoric peoples across the High Arctic thousands of years ago, after crossing from Siberia via the Bering land bridge. The Dorset died off or abandoned the island prior to the arrival of the Norse.

Who discovered Newfoundland and Labrador?

Long settled by indigenous peoples of the Dorset culture, the island was visited by the Icelandic explorer Leif Eriksson in the 11th century, who called the new land " Vinland ".

What language did the Newfoundland people speak?

Later immigrants developed a variety of dialects associated with settlement on the island: Newfoundland English, Newfoundland French. In the 19th century, it also had a dialect of Irish known as Newfoundland Irish.

When did the Beothuk come to Newfoundland?

Newfoundland was historically the southernmost part of the Inuit's territorial range. When Europeans arrived from 1497 and later, starting with John Cabot, they established contact with the Beothuk. Estimates of the number of Beothuk on the island at this time vary, typically around 700.

How big is Newfoundland?

With an area of 108,860 square kilometres (42,031 sq mi), Newfoundland is the world's 16th-largest island, Canada's fourth-largest island, and the largest Canadian island outside the North.

What was the name of the island that the colonists first called?

After European settlement, colonists first called the island Terra Nova, from "New Land" in Portuguese and Latin. The name Newfoundland in popular discourse came from people discussing the "New founde land" in the new world. Plaque commemorating Gilbert's founding of the British Empire.

What happened to Gilbert in 1610?

Gilbert was lost at sea during his return voyage, and plans of settlement were postponed. In July 1596 the Scottish vessel the "William" left Aberdeen for "new fund land" (Newfoundland) and returned in 1600. On 5 July 1610, John Guy set sail from Bristol, England with 39 other colonists for Cuper's Cove.

When did Newfoundland become a province?

It is the newest of Canada’s 10 provinces, having joined the confederation only in 1949; its name was officially changed to Newfoundland and Labrador in 2001. The island, which was named the “newfoundelande,” or New Found Land, by late 15th-century explorers, lies athwart the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It is separated from Labrador by ...

What are the two main parts of Newfoundland?

The province’s two main components—Newfoundland island and Labrador —must be treated as separate physiographic regions. The island, roughly triangular in shape and with an area (excluding associated islands) of 42,031 square miles (108,860 square km), is part of the Appalachian geologic province of North America, in which the landforms run from southwest to northeast and are characterized by continental drift, volcanic action, crustal deformation, ice erosion, and deposition. These forces have produced a highly complex geologic structure, with ancient rocks of Europe and Africa on the east, newer Appalachian rocks on the west, and the bed of the ancient ocean squeezed up between them. On the west coast the land rises abruptly from a narrow coastal plain to the Long Range Mountains, which reach a maximum height of 2,670 feet (814 metres). The mountains give way to a plateau that slopes gently downward to the northeastern coast, with its many headlands, islands, and bays. The plateau is undulating and dotted with thousands of lakes and ponds, numerous streams, and rivers, including the Exploits, Gander, and Humber. The coastal terrain is hilly and rugged; the coast itself is marked by numerous bays and fjords, and there are many offshore islands.

What is the name of the French province in Newfoundland?

The French territory of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon lies off the coast of the Burin Peninsula in southeastern Newfoundland. Labrador is bordered to the north and east by the Labrador Sea (northwestern arm of the Atlantic Ocean) and to the south and west by the province of Quebec.

What is the plateau of Newfoundland?

The plateau is undulating and dotted with thousands of lakes and ponds, numerous streams, and rivers, including the Exploits, Gander, and Humber. The coastal terrain is hilly and rugged; the coast itself is marked by numerous bays and fjords, and there are many offshore islands. Newfoundland Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Is Newfoundland and Labrador easterly?

Newfoundland and Labrador Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Newfoundland and Labrador is the most easterly part of North America, and its position on the Atlantic has given it a strategic importance in defense, transportation, and communications. Its capital city, St. John’s (on Newfoundland), for instance, is closer to the coast ...

Who declared Newfoundland a British colony?

The National War Memorial, the reputed site where Sir Humphrey Gilbert declare Newfoundland as a British Colony.

What was the first colony in the world?

The first overseas colony was in Newfoundland, claimed by Sir Humphrey Gilbert on August 5, 1583. It would take a little longer for permanent settlement (see below), but what was known as St. John’s (even as far back as 1544 in a map drafted by John Cabot’s son), was the site of the formal ceremony that claimed the island for England. The reputed site of Gilbert’s declaration is now known as the National War Memorial, where in 1924 (when Newfoundland was an independent country) the current memorial was unveiled. Gilbert’s declaration, in conjunction with the later permanent settlement in 1620, makes St. John’s the oldest English-founded city in North America. Interestingly enough, it’s not the oldest settlement in Newfoundland .

Where did John Cabot end up?

While some may debate where he actually ended up, in Newfoundland and Labrador, such debate is spurious. He found the island of Newfoundland, of course, at Bonavista. The town is named after Cabot’s exclamation upon seeing the area, “O! Buon Vista!” – a tale that may be apocryphal, but no less interesting. The town figured prominently in the 500th anniversary of the sailing, and to this day, a replica of Cabot’s ship can be found in the community.

Where did the Vikings live?

While the Vikings’ tenure in Newfoundland and Labrador was short lived, much shorter than their settlements in Greenland, L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site on the Northern Peninsula is the earliest confirmed pre-Columbian trans-oceanic contact. What does that mean? Europeans were in Newfoundland before anywhere else in North America, by some few hundreds of years, and we have the archaeological site to prove it! The L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site is so significant that it is one of the province’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Where was the first transatlantic cable station?

It was the western terminus of the first successful transatlantic cable, connecting to Valentia Island , Ireland . (A previous attempt in Bull Arm failed shortly after it went into use). For the first time in history, the New World and the Old World could communicate in a matter of seconds, significantly reducing the communication time from weeks by ocean voyage. Indeed, the cable station, now a Provincial Historic Site, was where the world became much smaller and the modern communication age was launched.

Is Newfoundland and Labrador ahead of the rest of the world?

For a province known for its wooden boats, quirky ways, and its slower pace of life, Newfoundland and Labrador has been ahead of the rest of the world in a lot of respects. Throughout its history (and even prehistory), the province has been a trend-setter and taste-maker. Because of our 30 minute time zone, we get a lot of firsts: the first sunrise in North America, the first New Year’s party every year, and we even get to see blockbuster movies before everyone else (if only 30 minutes earlier). But these are not the only ways we are ahead of the game. Newfoundland and Labrador has had a front-row seat to history, watching the world change – and then watching the rest of the world catch up!

When did the English settle Newfoundland?

English Settlement. The initial establishment of a British population in Newfoundland can be traced to the English colonizing schemes in the early 17th century , particularly the planting of a colony at Cupers Cove (Cupids, Conception Bay) by the London and Bristol Company in 1610, and the southern Avalon plantation.

What did Newfoundland planters do?

Newfoundland planters occupied shore premises, also known as rooms or plantations, and operated fishing boats. Their establishments included male fishing servants and most often members of the planter's family. Although most of the early planters operated a single boat and hired on average five servants for a fishing season, some were substantial employers who owned five boats or more, and maintained (employed, housed, and victualled) 25 servants or more. Most planters raised some garden produce and kept livestock, especially hogs, which together with fish, seabirds, seals, wild fruit and game helped to supplement imported food.

What did planters bring to the Newfoundland?

All planters depended on fishing and trading ships from the outside for some basic food staples, clothing, fishing equipment and supplies and to market their cod, cod oil and other produce. For the most part, the lifelines of 17th century Newfoundland planters were connected to the fishing ships of the West of England, English sack (cargo) vessels and New England traders. English ships furnished food such as bread and flour, manufactured goods and fishing equipment from home, but also brought Irish produce such as butter, salted beef and pork, and clothing materials. New Englanders were noted for bringing livestock, bread and flour, but especially tobacco, and vast quantities of West Indian rum and molasses.

What gave rise to a native-born population?

Most importantly, residency and the presence of women, even in small numbers, gave rise to a native-born population and provided the demographic basis for a well-rooted permanent population.

When was Cupids settled?

Cupids, or Cupers Cove, was first settled in 1610 by the London and Bristol Company. Drawing by J.W. Nichols. From D.W. Prowse, A History of Newfoundland from the English, Colonial and Foreign Records (London: Macmillan, 1895) 97.

Who were the women who worked in the cod fishing industry?

Widowed female planters such as Lady Sara Kirke and Lady Hopkins at Ferryland and Margaret Taverner at Bay de Verde, operated boats in the inshore cod fishery by employing their kinsmen or hired boatmasters and fishing servants. A few 17th century planters such as Jeremy Fortune of Harbour Main and Andrew Mahone of Petty Harbour, were probably Irish, but almost all of the 150-200 planters dispersed along the east coast of Newfoundland in the 1670s were English.

What was Trinity in the 1700s?

Trinity was an important mercantile community in the 1700s.

Who bought the land in Newfoundland?

In November 1829, Jacob Rohrbacker and David Wolfe, who had sailed on the Bayard, entered into a business partnership to purchase approximately 2100 acres, the same tract that encompassed the Newfoundland Settlement, from Abraham Singer’s daughter and heir, Maria Shively, of Philadelphia. Rohrbacker and Wolfe were acting on behalf of the German families, who had already left Bethlehem and were homesteading on the land. Maria Shively held the mortgage of $4400 on the 2100-acre tract of land. The conditions of sale were that the first payment of $1100 was to be made in 1831, with payment of $1100, plus interest, on alternate years until final payment in 1837.

Why did people leave their homelands in the 1800s?

In the early 1800s, people left their homelands in Europe and emigrated to America for a variety of reasons, and chiefly among them was religious persecution. Hopedale Church history records that the families who settled in Newfoundland around 1829 came from Gondelsheim in the Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany.

How many acres were there in the Rohrbacker and Wolfe land?

Rohrbacker and Wolfe had the land surveyed and divided into 30 narrow lots, each about one mile long and 200 to 400 feet wide, and averaging between 25 and 50 acres. The lots crossed the Newfoundland Road and extended across the fertile valley and up the forested hills on either side of the creek.

Why were Moravian houses built close together?

The lots being narrow, the houses were built close together, making it easier for the families to help each other and worship together. Moravian Church Mission. At first the settlers held worship services in their homes, as they had in Germany.

Where did the Moravian Congregation preach?

Being a missionary sect, the Moravian Congregation at Bethlehem sent pastors into the outlying areas to preach in the homes of settlers, and they often visited Newfoundland. In 1835, the Bethlehem Congregation purchased a 50-acre lot in the center of the settlement for a “church farm.”.

How much was Maria Shively's mortgage?

Maria Shively held the mortgage of $4400 on the 2100-acre tract of land. The conditions of sale were that the first payment of $1100 was to be made in 1831, with payment of $1100, plus interest, on alternate years until final payment in 1837.

How many people were relocated to Newfoundland and Labrador?

Between 1954 and 1975, around 30,000 people were relocated as part of controversial government “resettlement” programs. Today these abandoned villages are largely forgotten and unknown, except by those who once lived there. Newfoundland and Labrador is a vast, beautiful, often remote and isolated place.

Who runs Hidden Newfoundland?

Scott Osmond, who runs the Hidden Newfoundland website, and who has explored many of the abandoned outports, says “the Newfoundland resettlement program of the 1950s and ‘60s continues to be a unique look into the provinces past. These isolated communities reflect a time when the people of Newfoundland relied entirely on the sea, forcing them to live in every little cove and inlet along its rocky shores.”

What percentage of children in Newfoundland could read and write?

Anthropologists dispatched from Memorial University in St. John’s—the capital of Newfoundland—found that in Placentia Bay, located in the southwest, only 68 percent of children could read and write. Medical care was sparse. Some small communities, such as Come By Chance, had a cottage hospital, but they were few and far between. Some of the more remote outports were served by occasional medical ships such as the M.V. Lady Anderson, which ferried doctors around on 40-foot boats. One fisherman interviewed on King Island explained that “if the wife got sick … it’s two hours away [by sail] and if it was rough, you mightn’t get there at all.”

What was the Department of Fisheries' primary concern?

For the Department Of Fisheries, the primary concern was how best to capitalize on the rich fishing industry of its new province. Small fishing villages were to make way for deep-water ports capable of berthing deep sea trawlers, bringing their catches back to modern, mass processing plants.

How many people left their homes during the resettlement?

During the resettlement, approximately 30,000 people left their traditional homes and moved to modern “growth centers.” Luke Spencer

When did people leave Tacks Beach?

Over on Tacks Beach, most people moved at Christmas, 1966. One villager recorded a poignant handwritten account of the last days of the island, which is now held in the archives of The Rooms Museum, St. John’s, they noted down that one Garfield Brown had the first house to be taken away, and that the last person to leave the island was Arthur Comby, aged nine. They recorded that the last couple to be married were George Brow and Bertha Perry, on December 29, 1965. Seven families stayed at Tacks Beach for a final Christmas holiday in their homes, but by the autumn of 1967, the entire island was abandoned.

Which colony was the first to join Canada?

That was the year Newfoundland and Labrador, Great Britain’s first permanent colony, voted to join Canada. Following confederation, the government began to take a keen interest in these hundreds of isolated communities.

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Overview

Newfoundland is a large island off the east coast of the North American mainland and the most populous part of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It has 29 percent of the province's land area. The island is separated from the Labrador Peninsula by the Strait of Belle Isle and from Cape Breton Island by the Cabot Strait. It blocks the mouth of the Saint Lawrence River, creating the Gulf …

History

Long settled by indigenous peoples of the Dorset culture, the island was possibly visited by the Icelandic explorer Leif Eriksson in the 11th century, who called the land he encountered "Vinland". The first confirmed visit was by the Norse who built a temporary base at L'Anse aux Meadows. The next European visitors to Newfoundland were Portuguese and French fishermen. The island was possib…

Flags of Newfoundland

The first flag to specifically represent Newfoundland is thought to have been an image of a green fir tree on a pink background that was in use in the early 19th century. The first official flag identifying Newfoundland, flown by vessels in service of the colonial government, was the Newfoundland Blue Ensign, adopted in 1870 and used until 1904, when it was modified slightly. In 1904, th…

Points of interest

Newfoundland has the most Dorset culture archeological sites . The Beothuk and Mi'kmaq did not leave as much evidence of their cultures .
As one of the first places in the New World where Europeans settled, Newfoundland also has a history of European colonization. St. John's is the oldest city in Canada and the oldest continuously settled location in English-speaking North America.

Communities

Largest Municipalities (2016 population)
1. St. John's (108,860)
2. Conception Bay South (26,199)
3. Mount Pearl (23,120)
4. Paradise (21,389)

Geography

Newfoundland is roughly triangular, with each side being approximately 500 kilometres (310 mi), and having an area of 108,860 square kilometres (42,030 sq mi). Newfoundland and its associated small islands have a total area of 111,390 square kilometres (43,010 sq mi). Newfoundland extends between latitudes 46°36'N and 51°38'N.

See also

• Baccalieu Island
• Barasway Bay
• Barred Bay
• Bay de Loup
• Bay Le Moine

Further reading

• Sean T. Cadigan. Newfoundland and Labrador: A History (2009) search and text excerpt
• John Gimlette, Theatre of Fish, (Hutchinson, London, 2005). ISBN 0-09-179519-2
• Michael Harris. 1992. Rare Ambition: The Crosbies of Newfoundland. Penguin. ISBN 0-14-023220-6

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