Adam's Cove, Newfoundland Colony One Place Study

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Adam's Cove, Newfoundland
Surnames/tags: One_Place_Studies Canada Newfoundland_Colony

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Contents 1 Adam's Cove, Newfoundland Colony One Place Study 1.1 Name 1.2 Geography 1.3 History 1.4 18th Century Families 2 Sources

Adam's Cove, Newfoundland Colony One Place Study

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Name

Geography

Continent: North America

Country: Canada

Province: Newfoundland Colony

District: Bay de Verde

GPS Coordinates: 47.86798520304546, -53.1005158802911

Elevation: 73.0 m or 239.5 feet

History

The first settlers arrived in Adam's Cove about 1725 were from Dorset, Devon and the Channel Islands Others may have grown up in Newfoundland, like John Hudson, who was born in Devon but may have spent his childhood on his father's plantation in Hudson's Cove, St. John's. Others like Philip Holmes (Heaume) were from Jersey in the Channel Islands. In second half of the 18th century, Catholic families of Irish ancestry began to arrive beginning with Patrick Murphy who, according to Hudson family lore, bought a plantation from Burris or Burrows. In 1788 he and another possible Irishman, Richard Farrell, were clearing land there. Other possible possible Irishmen include James Adams who rented land with Patrick Murphy, and Michael Shea who was a partner with James Adams, who may have been brothers-in-law. The Cahills may be another. The Murphys, Sheas, Farrells and Cahills did not baptise, marry or hold funerals in the Blackhead Church. Instead there is documentation that they traveled to Harbour Grace to the Catholic Church which was newly established at the beginning of the 19th century.

18th Century Families

Early Families before 1750

• Holmes (Heaume, du Heaume) The first Holmes in Adam's Cove were from the Channel Islands where the name was Heaumes or sometimes du Heaumes. By the late 1700s the name was anglicized to Holmes. Phillip was a very early Holmes to settle on the Northshore. In 1748 he was a witness to the will of John Hudson of Adam's Cove where he signed his name as Heaume. The Holmes profile start with Philip: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Holmes-8545

• Hudson: John Hudson was in Adam's Cove prior to 1748 when he wrote his will there. He was married at the time and mentions children. It is believed he was one of the sons of Matthew Hudson of Hudson's Cove, St. John's who appears in a number of early records circa 1700. While there is no evidence that Matthew Hudson was in Adam's Cove, the Hudson profiles will begin with Matthew: https://www.wikitree.com/index.php?title=Hudson-17015&errcode=new_profile

• Reans, (Rhines, Rines, Rians): John Rhines received an Adam's Cove Plantation in 1756 (or 1766) from his mother-in-law. If 1766, it is likely she was the wife of Philip Holmes who died in 1766. The family profiles start with John https://www.wikitree.com/index.php?title=Reans-5&errcode=new_profile

Families who arrived 1750 - 1775

• Diamond (Dimond, Dymond, Dimmond) The administrators of the Diamond website have put together an impressive summary of the Diamond family in North America. (See https://www.familytreedna.com/groups/dimond-newfoundland/about/background). In Newfoundland, they document an "Ann Dimond and her son Robert living in Adam’s Cove in 1794/5, at which time they mortgaged, for 132 pounds, their fishing room—property that bordered on land owned and mortgaged by William Diamond. About year later, in 1796, Ann’s property formed part of the holdings of William Dimond & Co. Moreover, the property was noted as having been “bequeathed by his mother’s Will”, which suggests that Ann, who was clearly the owner of the property in 1794/5, had died. It can therefore safe to said that pre-1800 Diamond adults in Adam’s Cove consisted of at least John, Ann, William, and Robert and that they most likely represented two different generations. (Certainly, at least, Robert was Ann’s son.)" It is assumed that John who was born in 1723 was likely the first Diamond in Adam's Cove so the Diamond Profile starts with John: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Diamond-2123

• Hollett: Joseph Hollett Sr. appears to be the first in Adam's Cove The Hollett family starts with his profile https://www.wikitree.com/index.php?title=Hollett-290&errcode=new_profile

• Luther: Although one or both parents were from Adam's Cove, currently their names are not known So the profiles for the Luther's starts with Stephen https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Luther-2935

Settlers who came after 1775

• Adams: James Adams may have been from Ireland according to Prof Mannion and came to Adam's Cove along with other Irish families including Murphy, Farrell and Shea. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Adams-62716

• Baggs: Joseph and Frances Baggs were in Adam's Cove about 1775. They are NOT to be confused with Joseph and Frances (Gosse) Baggs of Spaniard's Bay who were married in 1816 and are a younger generation that the Adam's Cove Baggs. Profile starts with Joseph Baggs https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Baggs-591

• Cahill: Michael Cahill came to Adam's Cove when he married a local girl. His first wife must have died and, in 1806, he married Elizabeth Baggs, likely the sister of Joseph Baggs. https://www.wikitree.com/index.php?title=Cahill-2412&errcode=new_profile

• Evans: Robert Evans was in Adam's Cove by 1786 when he cleared land out of the woods. He was only 23. It is possible he came to Adam's Cove possibly from Western Bay when he married a local girl. The Evans family profile starts here: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Evans-42752

• Farrell: Richard Farrell arrived in Adam's Cove with Patrick Murphy. Together they cleared land there in 1788 180 yrds. from E. to W. and 98 yds. from S. to N. 1 Garden. He was the brother-in-law of of Samuel Hollett. Joseph Hollett Sr. gave Richard a share of a fishing room in 1806. Richard likely had married Joseph's daughter.

• Gill: A James Gill may have owned property in Blackhead recorded in Colonial Office Secretary Letterbook April 12 1753. However, this may be the Blackhead near St. John's. The first confirmed Gill to Adam's Cove was William Gill. However, his grandmother was from Adam's Cove and possibly his mother as well. His profile is here https://www.wikitree.com/index.php?title=Gill-12028&errcode=new_profile

• Martin: Nicholas Martin was in Adam's Cove by 1787 when he was sued by Thomas Power. He cleared land there in 1790: 3 plots 113 yds. from E. to West 126 yds. from N. to S. 1 House 3 Gardens (Plantation Book pg 33 entry 205). Nicholas and Eleanor had 6 sons baptized at the Harbour Grace Anglican Church: James, Thomas, Richard, John, Joseph, Michael. They may also have had a son, Samuel. The Martin profiles start with Nicholas: https://www.wikitree.com/index.php?title=Martin-82408&errcode=saved.

• Murphy: PatricK Murphy may have arrived with Richard Farrell about 1788 when they cleared land together - 180 yrds. from E. to W. and 98 yds. from S. to N. 1 Garden.

• Murray: In 1786 John Murray cleared 2 plots out of the woods 40 yds. from S. to N. 68 yds. from E. to W. 2 Gardens (Plantation Book pg 33, entry 205). He also rented from the Martins. In 1818 Jane Murray of Adam's Cove and her sons were sued by Richard Anderson in the Carbornear courts suggesting that the Sr John had died. John Sr. had a son, John Murray and a grandson John Murray, a ship captain with interests in Carbonear and Belle Island, who died in 1827 leaving his widow Ellen. John Jr. was his executor. https://www.wikitree.com/index.php?title=Murray-26288&errcode=new_profile

• Shea: Michael Shea and James Adams had property together in Adam's Cove that was indentured (mortgaged) in 1795 (Newfoundland Deeds Vol 14 pg. 149). They did not register this property in the Plantation Book suggesting they no longer had it by circa 1805.

Sources

Plantation Book 1805/6 in the Colonial Office Records https://mha.mun.ca/mha/viewresults_i.php?Accession_number=2018-0116&numrows=18: online at https://nlgenweb.dreamhosters.com/cbnorth_nor22_42_05.htm