Newfoundland 1700-1900

Settling In

• Treaties between French and English in 1713 made settling more attractive. There would also be further French-English conflict which would further encourage settlement by negatively impacting shipping (disruption of shipping lanes, diversion of sailors to navy) and making ship-based fishing less attractive to merchants. From D.W. Prowse, A History of Newfoundland from the English,

Colonial, and Foreign Records, 2nd edition (London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1896) 212http://www.heritage.nf.ca/exploration/warships.html

Treaty of Utrecht - 1713• “The Island called Newfoundland, with the adjacent islands, shall, from this

time forward, belong of right wholly to Great Britain; and to that end the town and fortress of Placentia, and whatever other places in the said island, are in the possession of the French, shall be yielded and given up .... Moreover it shall not be lawful for the subjects of France to fortify any place in the said Island of Newfoundland, or to erect any buildings there, besides stages made of boards, and huts necessary and usual for fishing and drying of fish; or to resort to the said island beyond the time necessary for fishing and drying of fish. But it shall be allowed to the subjects of France, to catch fish, and to dry them on land, in that part only, and in no other besides that, of the said Island of Newfoundland, which stretches from the place called Cape Bonavista, to the northern point of the said island, and from thence running down the western side, reaches as far as the place called Point Riche. But the island called Cape Breton, as also all others, both in the mouth of the river St. Lawrence and in the Gulf of the same name, shall hereafter belong of right to the French ....”

“Ship Fishery” No Longer Attractive• The migratory "ship fishery" would fall into decline because success was

dependent upon gaining first access to the best fishing rooms in the spring. This was made difficult when more rooms were occupied all year by livyers and merchants. Fish merchants no longer had to risk huge investments in fishing ships and gear they simply bought from the resident. Merchants became suppliers who hired representatives to manage their rooms and traded goods for fish.

Trinity, ca. 1800.A depiction of the Lester and Company premises at Trinity in the 1800's.http://www.heritage.nf.ca/exploration/lesters_main_500.html

Settlement’s Side Effects• Settlement encouraged winter industries (trapping, sealing, boatbuilding).

Lack of employment in Ireland and England resulted in further immigration of Europeans (mainly English, Scottish, Irish). Activities such as trapping would also bring the Innu and Inuit in closer contact with Labrador settlers. The Beothuck would unavoidably clash with settlers. Cultures were influenced – and in some cases wiped out - forever.

Drawn by W. G. R. Hind. From Henry Youle Hind, Explorations in the Interior of the Labrador Peninsula: The Country of the Montagnais and Nasquapee Indians, Vol. 2 (London: Longman, Green, Longman, Roberts, and Green, 1863) 100.http://www.heritage.nf.ca/aboriginal/hind_p100_v2.html

Primed for Immigration

• Many factors contributed to immigration of Europeans. Lower wages, poverty, boredom, promise of adventure, good wages, and freedom attracted many. Immigration to Newfoundland was also uncomplicated - you got on a boat in Europe under your own means or the employ of a merchant, you landed in NL, and you took your chances.

Irish Immigration• Crop Failures in the 1730s-40s encouraged Irish immigration. They would

make up half of the population in 1836.

Map by Tina Riche. ©2001 Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage Web Site. Based on information provided by John Mannionhttp://www.heritage.nf.ca/society/irish_newfoundland.html

•After the collapse of the migratory fishery in 1790, most would eventually settle in St. John’s, Placentia and the Avalon coastline in between.•Most 19th-century Irish migrants to Newfoundland and Labrador came from within a 40-mile radius of Waterford, a major port for vessels crossing the Atlantic. Illustration by Paul Henry. From Sean O'Faolain, An Irish

Journey (London: Longmans, Green and Co., 1940) 148.http://www.heritage.nf.ca/society/o_faolain_148.html

Scottish Immigration• Scots would settle in the mid to late 1800s. Lowland Scots mainly came over as merchants

and artisans, rather than laborers and fishermen. Most would settle in St. John's, Hr Grace and the eastern parts of the island. Some went to Labrador. Many Highland Scots would establish themselves as farmers in southwestern Newfoundland. Others went to Cape Breton, only to settle of the west coast of NF when land became scarce.

• Many early colonies such as Ferryland and Cupids had significant Scottish investors.

John Mason's map of Newfoundland, ca. 1625Colonizer and cartographer John Mason promoted Newfoundland and Labrador as a potential home for Scottish migrants during the early 17th century, but was largely unsuccessful in attracting settlers from that area. Mason served as governor of Cuper's Cove from 1615-1621 and was the first Englishman to draw a map of the island. Early cartographers sometimes drew maps, like the one seen here, with south at the top and north at the bottom.Courtesy of the Centre for Newfoundland Studies, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland.http://www.heritage.nf.ca/society/nfld_g3435_1625_m3_map.html

French Immigration• The French fishery was largely seasonal and the first permanent French

settlement was in Plaisances (now Placentia) in 1662. The treaty of Utrecht (1713) required France to surrender claim to the island and Plaisance was evacuated. They continued to fish in designated areas (Cape Bonavista to Pointe Riche, Port Aux Choix) but could not do so, year round.

• Some French deserted the fishery or migrated from St. Pierre-Miquelon and settled in the French treaty shore. Acadiens from Cape Breton settled in St. George's Bay, fished, farmed, and intermarried with the Mi'Kmaq.

Map by Tanya Saunders. ©2001 Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage Web Site.http://www.heritage.nf.ca/exploration/french_shore.html

From Charles de Volpi, Newfoundland: A Pictorial Record (Sherbrooke, Quebec: Longman Canada Limited, ©1972) 8. http://www.heritage.nf.ca/law/stage.html

Waves to Ripples

• There were three main waves of immigration. The late 1700s saw an influx of English settlers. Irish came in two waves – 1811-16 and 1825-1833 after which an 1836 census would reveal a “half irish” population.

• After 1835, immigrants would bypass NL and head to mainland North America.

• The chart to the right illustrates that the NL population as of 1857 was largely “homegrown”.

Resident Fishery• Became established in the late 1800s• An inshore fishery that saw most fishermen working close to shore, with

families participating in the catching and curing of fish.• Fish was cured on land, a process unique to NF which created demand• Families hired “SHAREMEN”, who were workers that shared in the

proceeds from the harvest.

Photographer unknown. Reproduced by permission of the Archives and Manuscripts Division (Coll. 137 03.07.003), Queen Elizabeth II Library, Memorial University, St. John’s, NLhttp://www.heritage.nf.ca/society/codflakes.html

Resident Fishery- New Tech and Methods

• Dories (American origin)• Long Lines/bultows (French origin)• Cod Trap as alternative to handlining

Photographer unknown. Reproduced by permission of the Archives and Manuscripts Division (Coll. 137 24.02.001), Queen Elizabeth II Library, Memorial University, St. John’s, NL.http://www.heritage.nf.ca/society/codtraps.html

Merchants, Subsistence, and Barter• Few fishers could afford to buy all of the gear and staples needed, in

advance of a fishing season.• Merchants supplied everything needed, on credit, and also set the price of

cod they bought from resident fishers.• Many fishers were in debt their whole lives and relied on merchants to

supply them, sometimes only twice a year when the merchants wanted to purchase fish for market.

• Subsistence economy was important to supply foods that could not be afforded and Barter was popular since little actual cash exchanged hands.

Labrador Fishery• In the 1820s, fishers began migrating to Labrador to fish due to depleted

cod stocks in NF and the readily available use of off-season sealing vessels.• Large boats were needed to transport the necessary gear north and many

fishers took their families with them to help.• STATIONERS were based on shore and FLOATERS lived/fished from boats• Damp weather resulted in poorer quality land cured cod and heavy ship

base salting yielded lower quality. Market value was lower but this was offset by the size of catches.

Seal Fishery• Started with English settlers catching seals that wandered close to shore, with nets.• Seals were a valuable source of oil (used in lamps, as a lubricant, and for soap

production) and the pelts were used for clothing and upholstery. • In 1793, the first schooners, used in the cod fishery, went north to harvest seals.• It would rival the cod fishery in the early 1800s• By the 1850’s, sealing would decline as herds were depleted and alternative

petroleum sources were discovered to replace seal oil.

Illustration by Percival Skelton. From Joseph Hatton and M. Harvey, Newfoundland, the Oldest British Colony (London: Chapman and Hall, 1883) 304.http://www.heritage.nf.ca/exploration/sealhunt.html

Salt Fish Market…and beyond…• NF sold it’s salt fish (1 million Quintals in

1814) to Southern Europe, Brazil and the British Caribbean. There was a huge market for this quality product but it was a global market.

• Without diversification in the late 1800’s, NF was at the mercy of global events beyond its control.

• By 1914, competition reduced NF’s global market share to 30%

• Alternate species in the 1700s included salmon, Seal and Herring. Lobster was harvested in the late 1800’s.

• 1900’s saw expansion to squid (30s), scallops (60s), redfish (60s), shark (64), crab (67), shrimp (70s), aquaculture in the 80s (salmon, trout, mussels).

Photographer unknown. Reproduced from the Archives and Manuscripts Division (Coll. 137 03.02.002), Queen Elizabeth II Library, Memorial University, St. John’s, NLhttp://www.heritage.nf.ca/law/coll_137_03_02_002.html.

Population Boom

• It was easier to immigrate to NL andf immigrants started to include other nationalities including those of Lebanese, Chinese and Jewish origin.

• In the sane way that we saw the needs of communities develop over time as they expanded, a stable collection of communities formed the ever expanding needs of a Population.

Representative Government

• No longer a collection of work camps, NF was assigned a year round governor in 1817. In 1825 it was recognized as a colony. This was not a democratic system, however and people pressed for the opportunity to elect representatives that made decisions representing their interests.

• Rep Govt was granted in 1832. Elected representatives were in the lower House of Assembly while the Upper Legislative Council held important positions assigned by the governor. The lower house had little power but did bring issues forward from 9 districts represented by persons elected in public ballots (by men 21 or older that occupied a house in the district)

World War 1• As a colony of British subjects, NL pushed to

supply its own regiment of volunteers to the effort. Many were sacrificed in support of the allied forces. War was also very expensive and the economy took a significant hit.

• Newfoundland was now thrust onto the global stage and recognized for its global contributions.

Commission of Government

• NL became more complex with a skilled populace that wanted better control of its own destiny. From 1934 to 1949 a Commision of Government was formed to better manage the economy, education, health, welfare, law.

World War 2• Again, NL was greatly impacted.• WW2 saw the establishment of foreign military

bases that would have a lasting economic – and genetic – impact upon NL to this day.

• Relationships with its war allies were solidified and NL was changed forever. Many soldiers brought back new skills and “war brides”. Many also came back with needs related to disability, jobs, and housing. The experiences ond influence of those who returned would forever change who we are.

The Golden Age – 1900-14• As discussed on page 289, almost the entire economy concentrated

on the fishery and 19th century saw NL continually fluctuating between a surplus and a deficit.

• Diversification needed a railway. Goods and people could now be shipped across the province, supporting a growing population and industry.

• NL had imports and exports. Premiers managed relations with the US, Canada, the British colonies, and beyond. The ambitions of Premier Sir Robert Bond would be opposed and lead to his retirement.

• Bond would purchase land and establish Whitbourne, retiring there and passing in 1927. He named the land after Sir Richard Whitbourne who, 250 years before Bond, recognized the potential resources in NL beyond the fishery.