Comments from Sweetman's letter book.
The good fishing around Red Island, and the name of the island, would seem to predate settlement, as evidenced by these entries from 1792 that appear in the 'letter book' of Pierse Sweetman, Irish merchant in Placentia.
"We have now, a skiff at Red Island .."
"Capt. Salmon was at Red Island at the time!"
"We have skiffs looking for herring at Paradise, Red Island, .."
A comment from Howley's "Newfoundland Name-Lore".
"Further out in the Bay is the very high and prominent Island called
from the bright colour of the rocks Red Island. It is composed of a
brilliant formation of red sandstone which shows almost salmon
colour in the opal light of the setting sun."
Comments from Lovell's 1871 directory.
According to "Lovell's Province of Newfoundland Directory for 1871":
Red Island, pop. 227, '.. large island in the center of Placentia Bay. .. The cod fishing is carried on with large boats. .. packet boat fortnightly'.
Merasheen, pop. 180, '.. fishing settlement'.
Fox Harbour, pop. 60, '.. small fishing settlement'.
Freshwater, pop. 22, '.. small fishing settlement'.
Long Harbour, pop. 139, '.. fishing settlement'.
L. Placentia (Argentia), pop. 383, '.. large fishing settlement'.
Placentia, pop. 400, '.. capital of the district of Placentia'.
Names from Gert Crosbie's "Births, Deaths and Marriages ..."
in Newfoundland Newspapers, 1825-1890". Dates of appearance in print in "[ ]".
Lamb, Elizabeth, wife of Garrett Lamb (planter), died at Red Island, Placentia Bay aged 27 on May 28th left 3 children. [Jul 7 1863]
McCarthy, James, (planter) Red Island married O'Connor, Sarah, youngest daughter of late Myles O'Connor of Carbonnear on May 10th at Little Placentia by Rev. P. Nowlan [May 30 1863]
McCarthy, born to the wife of Thomas McCarthy, a son at Fox Harbour, Placentia Bay [Oct 3 1867]
Lamb, Thomas of Red Island, married Malone, Mary Joseph of St. John's, on Oct 31 at Riverhead Palace by Rev. J. Ryan [Nov 2 1875]
Lamb, Mary Joseph, wife of Thomas Lamb, dies on 25th at Red Island, P.B. aged 33 [Mar 16 1880]
Barry, Elizabeth (Mrs.), native of Red Island, PB dies 6th aged 28 [Aug 9 1882]
Lamb, John, formerly residence of Red Island, P.B. died of erysipelas aged 64/94(?) residence James St. on 2nd [Jan 4 1881]
Lamb, Michael of Red Island, P.B., died age 53 years, on the 24th [Apr 29 1885]
Reddy, Thomas, 20 son of Michael Reddy of Red Island drowned St. Mary's Bay [Jun 24 1889]
Item from the "Newfoundland Specialized Stamp Catalogue".
According to the "Newfoundland Specialized Stamp Catalogue", Red Island had its own post office starting in 1891.
From an article that originally appeared in the "MUN Gazette" around 1975.
Probably the oldest student at Memorial this year is James McCarthy who is taking a course in Newfoundland History. Born in Red Island, Placentia Bay in 1892, Mr. McCarthy has been involved in the fishery most of his life, as a fisherman, skipper and store owner.
"We had a one room school and I left when I was fifteen and went fishing. Sometimes in those days there would be a man in the place who would be willing to teach us in the wintertime at night. There was no government program or anything like that, we'd get together and each of us pay a little for the lessons. Many a man learned to read and write that way. So this is the first time I've been in a regular classroom since 1908."
From Joseph Beete Jukes' journal written in 1839-1840, usually referred to as "Jukes' Excursions". He is departing from Merasheen as we pick up his story.
June 20th - ..... I set sail for Long Harbour. The wind was not very favourable, being south-southeast, but in hopes it would shift a little we made a long stretch off to the southward, and tacked when we thought we could weather Red Island. It soon however began to rain, and a breeze sprang up that sent a heavy tumbling sea after us, and obliged us to keep away. I went and lay down in the fore cuddy, a place about the size of a dog-kennel, and stinking of salt butter and fish, and was dread-fully seasick; and as soon as we got between Red Island and Merasheen, being under the lee of the former, we had no wind, and we lay rolling in heavy rain on the tumbling swell that came in after us. At last, by dint of oars, we got to a place called Indian Harbour, .....
June 21st - Thick fog, but on a little breeze rising we set sail; the fog, however, soon cleared off, the breeze died away, and we lay on a glassy sea under a blazing-hot sun in a perfect calm. We were obliged to take to the oars, which, being small and short, had but little effect on our heavy boat, and we were nearly all day getting across to the harbour of Red Island. This place was composed of red granite. We got comfortable quarters at a Mr. McCarthy's, and I slept with several of the male branches of the family in a long, low loft, extending the whole length of the house, with a range of narrow beds, or berths, along the wall on one side, and stores and provisions on the other. A little window at one end let in light, and a trap-door or hatchway in the middle of the floor, opening into the kitchen below, let in air.
June 22nd - Thick fog and quite calm till about nine, when a breeze from the south springing up, we set sail, and had a fine run past the Ram Islands into Long Harbour. .....
From the textbook "Rocks, Minerals and Scenery of Newfoundland", published in 1957.
In some parts of our coasts the rocks are especially colourful. Red Island in Placentia Bay is made conspicuous among the many there by its bright red, granitic rocks.
From the "Newfoundland Supplement" volume to "The Encyclopedia of Canada", published in 1949.
Red Island lies in the centre of Placentia Bay on the south coast of Newfoundland, 20 miles from Argentia. It is so named because of the red sandstone on the island. Fishing is the only industry. Pop. 322.
From the "1913 McAlpine Gazetteer".
RED ISLAND, a post money order office, fishing settlement in Placentia and St. Mary’s district, 12 miles from Placentia, where all business connections are made. Reid Nfld. Co.’s steamers call here; has 1 store and express office. Pop. 400.
Names from the "St. Bride's College Annual" for 1940.
St. Bride's College, also known as "Littledale", listed the following young women as being boarding students for the 1939-1940 term:
Marie McCarthy of Red Island
Molly McCarthy of Red Island
Annie Ryan of Red Island
Bernardine Reddy of Placentia (but born and raised on Red Island)
From the "American Coast Pilot" by Edmund Blunt, 1822 edition.
From Mortier head to Red island, the course is N.E. by E. distance 16 leagues. This island is high, and may be seen in clear weather 12 leagues from the deck. The south end of it bears from Placentia road N.W. distance 4-1/2 leagues.
Red island is high barren land, about 5 miles long and 3 miles broad. The south point lies N.W. 11 miles from Placentia road. On the east side near the north end is a small harbour, which is only fit for shallops.
From the "American Coast Pilot" by Edmund Blunt, 1857 edition.
RED ISLAND is high, being visible 11 or 12 leagues, and wears a barren appearance, about 4-1/2 miles long and 2-1/2 broad. Its Southern point bears N.N.W., distant 11 miles from Placentia Road, and E. by N. 16 leagues from Mortier Head. On the Eastern side of the island, and near its Northern end, is a small cove or bay, fit only for small craft.
From "The Newfoundland Pilot" by W.F. Maxwell, 1878.
Red island, 900 feet high, composed of reddish gneiss, is nearly flat in outline with steep bold shores. At the east extreme is a small settlement on the shores of a cove that has good shelter from off-shore winds.
From a report entitled "The Coasts and Banks of Newfoundland", by the U.S. Hydrographic Office in 1884.
Red island, 4 miles long and 2 miles wide, differs in character from Newfoundland generally, and the coast of Placentia bay particularly. The hills attaining an elevation of 880 feet, are more massive in form, with smooth slopes, and are seperated from each other by deep valleys. The highest is situated near the middle of the island, about a mile from the southwest extreme, and another flat-topped summit of nearly the same elevation lies a little to the westward of it. On the western slope of the highest hill is situated a gray spot that, when seen from the westward, appears like a small cloud or smoke. A conical hill, 862 feet high, slopes to the southwest extreme, and the Tolt, a sharp cone 723 feet high, is situated about the middle of the island and a mile from the northeast extreme; a white stripe extends from the summit nearly two-thirds down the north face of this hill. A hill surmounted by a conspicuous bowlder 505 feet above high water is situated over the north extreme, and the east shore is backed by wooded hills, Harbortolt, the most conspicuous, being a truncated cone 465 feet high. The east shore is formed by rugged points with shingle beaches intervening off which temporary anchorage may be obtained by large vessels in 10 fathoms, with shelter when winds blow from the shore.
Red island harbor is available for a few small vessels only, and is fronted by several extensive rocky shoals. It is 267 yards deep and about 100 yards wide, with 8 feet water in it. A thriving settlement surrounds the harbor.
The outer shoal, with 3 fathoms water on it, lies SSE., distant 250 yards from the north entrance point of the harbor.
A rock with 1 foot water on it, the summit of a shoal 200 yards in extent, lies S. 3/4 W., distant 467 yards from that point, and a rock with 2 feet water on it is the shoalest spot of a similar bank, and is situated SW. 3/4 S., distant 300 yards from the same point.
Pig ledge shoal, with 5-3/4 fathoms water, bears SE. 1/4 E., 400 yards from the north point of Red island harbor.
Cochrane Cove, 200 yards deep, with a shingle beach at the head, lies half a mile south of Red island harbor. Shoals extend 300 yards from the south entrance point of this cove, which is low and rocky. Little Seal island well open east of Red island, bearing N., leads east of these shoals. Cochrane hill, 589 feet high, is conspicuous when seen from north or south, and is situated three-quarters of a mile south of Cochrane cove.
Coast - The south and west shores of Red island are fringed by rocks, and several streams flow over the cliffs from lakes in the valleys of the interior. A shoal with 13 feet water on it lies 350 yards SW. by W. of Ragged point, the south extreme of the island. The west shore is remarkable from the red color of the cliffs, which shows conspicuously when the sun is high and bright.
Hole-in-the-wall point, the west extreme, is a small projection of a reddish-gray color, and is so named from a hollow through it. A shoal lies close off the point. A large bank, with 5-1/2 fathoms water, lies half a mile WSW. of the southwest point of Red island.
Southwest cove, on the west shore, is fringed by a beach of shingle. Small fishing vessels find shelter here with off-shore winds, in 6 to 9 fathoms. Southwest cove head, west of this cove, is also known as Blue point, from the apparent color of the land in ordinary weather. Long point, in the middle of the west shore, is low and sloping. Shoal water extends nearly 200 yards from its extremity.
Goat island, 750 yards long, and narrow, is surmounted by a remarkable tree, 108 feet above high water; the west and south shores are foul, but the east shore is steep-to. There is no passage for a stranger between Goat island and the north extreme of Red island, from which it is distant 250 yards.
Red island shoal, with 4 feet water on it, an isolated and most dangerous ledge, lies in the fairway of Placentia bay and breaks only in bad weather. It bears WSW. 1/4 W. 1-1/2 miles nearly from Rowland rock, and NW. 1/4 W. 2 miles from Fish rock. There is deep water at 100 yards all round. Fish rock, SE. 3/4 E. well open east of Fox island, leads south, and Tom Power lookout ENE. 1/2 E. shut in with the Lower Rams, leads north of this shoal.
Comments from the "Newfoundland and Labrador Pilot 1917".
"Red Island is situated eastward about 1-3/4 miles from the south- eastern part of Merasheen island. On the south-western slope of the summit of the island, which is 880 feet high, is a grey spot, that appears like a small cloud or smoke on easterly bearings. The Tolt, a sharp cone 723 feet high, has a white stripe extending from its summit nearly two-thirds down its north-western face.
Red Island harbour, close westward of a point on the eastern coast of Red island, is fronted by several extensive rocky shoals, and available for a few small craft only. It is 1-1/3 cables deep, and about half a cable wide, with 8 feet water in it. A settlement surrounds the harbour.
Cochrane cove, one cable deep, with a shingle beach at the head, is half a mile southward of Red Island harbour."
From page 87 of the book "The Kingdom of Canada" by W L Morton, published in 1963. The setting is the winter of 1896-1897, as the French-Canadian commander d'Iberville and his troops maraud from their base in Placentia.
Striking up from Placentia, the Canadians captured St. John's, and then picked off one by one the isolated settlements along the coast. The houses, flakes and boats went up in flames; the hapless captives were huddled in St. John's and on Red Island in Placentia Bay.
Early Red Island postmasters 1886-1899.
According to "The Nineteenth Century Postal History of Newfoundland" by Robert Pratt, Red Island originally had a Way Office, opened in 1886. The Way Office, a sort of auxiliary Post Office for places where a full Post Office was not needed, was upgraded to a Post Office in 1891 when Way Offices were eliminated.
There were two Waymasters during the period 1886 to 1899:
Elizabeth Dunphy, appointed 1886
Patrick Dunphy, appointed 1891
List of Red Island postmasters - April 1949 to October 1968.
Miss Lillian Gregory, April 13 1949 until September 18 1949, resigned.
Miss Genevieve Agatha Norman, November 2 1949 until December 1 1952, transferred to St. Alban's.
Miss Betty Mary Ennis, December 1 1952 until November 18 1954, resigned.
Frank Strickland, January 13 1955 until November 21 1955, resigned.
Raymond Joseph Rose, October 29 1955 until March 26 1961, resigned due to illness.
Mrs. Nora Rose, April 12 1961 until April 1 1967, resigned.
Paul McCarthy, July 2 1967 until October 16 1968, permanently closed.
From the 1916 edition of the "Report of the examinations conducted by the Council of Higher Education, Newfoundland ...", chapter "Pass and Distinction Lists, 1916". All students are Red Islanders.
Intermediate Grade - Honours Division:
Bessie Dunphy, St. Bride's Academy Littledale, distinguished in English Grammar, English Literature, Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Shorthand and Needlework. [later to be known as Sr. M. Camillus]
Katie McCarthy, St. Bride's Academy Littledale, distinguished in English Grammar, Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Latin and Shorthand. [later to be known as Sr. M. Chrysostom]
Intermediate Grade - Pass Division:
Catherine Reddy, Convent school Placentia, distinguished in Needlework.
Julia M. Reddy, Convent school Placentia, distinguished in Shorthand and Needlework.
Preliminary Grade - Pass Division:
Mary M. Lambe, R.C. Superior school Red Island.
Janie McCarthy, R.C. Superior school Red Island, distinguished in Arithmetic.
C. J. Rose, R.C. Superior school Red Island, distinguished in Arithmetic.
Angela M. Whelan, R.C. Superior school Red Island, distinguished in Arithmetic.
Population numbers from census records.
Red Island population (from Newfoundland census):
1836 - 83
1845 - 126
1857 - 188
1869 - 227
1874 - 246
1884 - 293
1901 - 407
1911 - 443
1921 - 484
1935 - 433
1945 - 337
At the time of resettlement, the population was around 250.
From the "Abstract Census and Return of the Population, &c. of Newfoundland, 1857".
Red Island has 188 inhabitants, of whom:
36 males and 37 females are under the age of 10,
15 males and 22 females are from 10 to 20,
24 males and 22 females are from 20 to 30,
8 males and 5 females are from 30 to 40,
7 males and 3 females are from 40 to 50,
5 males and 3 females are from 50 to 70,
1 male is from 70 upwards.
There are 25 men and 25 women married.
There are 176 born in Newfoundland, 1 born in England, and 11 born in Ireland.
All are Roman Catholics.
From the "Census of Newfoundland and Labrador, 1901".
Red Island has 407 inhabitants, of whom:
82 males and 63 females are under the age of 10,
29 males and 44 females are from 10 to 20,
30 males and 46 females are from 20 to 30,
30 males and 17 females are from 30 to 40,
21 males and 14 females are from 40 to 50,
15 males and 11 females are from 50 to 70,
2 males and 3 females are from 70 upwards.
There are 73 men and 73 women married.
There are 3 men widowers, and 5 women are widows.
There have been 23 births, 8 deaths, and 7 marriages in the past 12 months.
There are 3 male orphans and 1 female orphan under the age of 15, and 1 crippled/disabled pauper.
There are no persons deaf, deaf and dumb, blind, or of unsound mind.
All 407 residents were born in Newfoundland and are Roman Catholics.
There are no clergymen, 1 teacher, no lawyers, no doctors, and 2 merchants/traders.
No one is engaged in office or shop work, no one is engaged solely in government service, there are no farmers, and no mechanics.
No one is engaged in lumbering, mining, factories or workshops.
There are 184 fishermen and others who cultivate land, of whom 114 are males engaged in fishing or curing fish, and 78 are females engaged in curing fish.
There are 3 people otherwise employed.
There are 48 males and 85 females who can read, and 36 males and 69 females who can write.
There are 72 children under 15 who have attended school the past year, and 72 children under 15 who have not attended school the past year. All live within 1-1/2 miles of the school.
There are 11 vessels engaged in the fishery, of a total tonnage of 272.
There are no vessels engaged in either the Banks or Labrador fisheries.
There are 119 nets and seines and 8 traps.
There are 4 lobster factories, with a value of $70, and 230 lobster traps, with 7 men and 1 woman employed in the factories, with a catch of lobsters in 1900 of 43 cases.
There were 7,043 quintals of codfish caught and 7,845 gallons of cod oil produced in 1900, but no catches of salmon or herring, or production of seal oil reported. There were no seals caught in 1901. Total value of fish products for 1900 was $29,857.
There is 1 Roman Catholic church.
There is 1 school, where 40 is the "number of scholars that can be accomodated".
There are 80 houses inhabited by 82 families, and 1 house uninhabited. There are 9 houses being built and 18 houses built in the last 12 months.
There are 119 barns and outhouses.
There is 1 factory building and 2 business premises.
Value of rental is $3,505.
Fishing rooms in actual use - 49.
There are 11 sailing vessels from 20 to 60 tons, with a total tonnage of 272.
There are 99 boats of sizes from 1 to 30 quintals, and 11 boats from 30 quintals upward.
1 boat of 28 tons was built in 1900.
There are 119 acres of occupied land, 100 of which are improved - 72 acres are pasture and 28 acres are gardens.
There were harvested 51 tons of hay, 587 barrels of potatoes, 2 barrels of turnips, and 99,800 heads of cabbage. No wheat, barley, oats, or other root crops were reported.
There were 16 cows, 35 other horned cattle, and no horses. There were 281 sheep, 1 swine, 2 goats, and 370 fowl.
There were 6 cattle, 99 sheep, and 1 swine killed.
There were 691 pounds of butter made, 837 pounds of wool, and no furs.
From the "St. John's Daily News", Aug 5, 1920.
Fatal Accident At Red Island.
A fatal accident occurred here on Thursday last, when John Northover, a resident of the place was shot by the accidental explosion of a gun. In company with his brother and uncle, he was fishing about six miles from his home, and in moving the gun in his boat the trigger caught in some object, the discharge entering his right lung and arm. First aid was rendered by Mr. Ryan and on arrival at his home, almost two hours later, Doctor Rendell, who happened to be visiting, did all that was possible and ordered the injured man to Hospital. He left here about three pm. in Mr. J. V. McCarthy's motor boat, which was met en route by another having on board Rev. Fr. Savin who chanced to be coming here, and the last Rites were immediately administered. On arrival of the injured man at Placentia, Sergeant Kent and Mr. T. P. Kemp made all arrangements possible and had him brought to the train where he died about nine p.m.
The body was returned to Red Island yesterday morning where internment took place this morning after Requiem High Mass, Celebrated by Rev. Fr. Savin, assisted by Rev. P. J. Kennedy.
The relatives of the deceased take this opportunity to thank the people of Red Island and Placentia for their consideration and kindness. Sympathy of the whole community goes out to his sisters, Mrs. Patk. Mulrooney of Red Isld., Mrs. Patk. Healy of Fox Hr. as also his brother Mr. Alphonsus of Red Island.
Deceased saw active service in the Great War, having enlisted at the outbreak. - R.I.P.
Red. Island, P.B. July 31 1920