More Transcribed exerpts from"Colony Of Avalon" history, the tragic and historical events of "Ferryland", Island portion of our Province, "Newfoundland & Labrador". ENJOY! Beothuks A surprising discovery during the 1995 archaeological field season was evidence that Ferryland had been occupied by the Beothuks, Newfoundland's aboriginal inhabitants. Although a fragment of a stone knife and several flakes discarded during the manufacture of stone tools were found in 1986, the 1995 and subsequent discoveries revealed a much more substantial Beothuk presence than that indicated by both history and archaeology. Except for the writings of Henry Crout, who recorded John Guy's early 17th-century encounter with the Beothuks on the western Avalon and in Trinity Bay, historical sources are silent about Native people on the Avalon Peninsula; they are especially so for the eastern Avalon. The same is true for archaeology, for prior to 1995 no evidence of Beothuk occupation was known east of Blaketown, on the east coast of Trinity Bay. Excavations elsewhere in Newfoundland, however, had given archaeologists excellent examples of Beothuk settlements and collections of stone tools and other artifacts dating from the late prehistoric period to the early 18th century. More recent sites and historical documents record the last century or so of the Beothuks' existence. Beginning not long after Europeans began to exploit the coasts of Newfoundland, the Beothuks were displaced from their traditional territories, and by the mid-18th century were confined to the Exploits Valley and adjacent coast in central Newfoundland. Even in this area, among the last in Newfoundland to be settled by Europeans, they were soon denied access to the coast and forced to try to subsist on the impoverished resources of the Newfoundland interior. In little more than a couple of generations, the precarious nature of the resource base, conflict with Europeans, diseases introduced by Europeans, and probably other factors we will never unde! rstand, resulted in their extinction. The last Beothuk, Shanawdithit, died of tuberculosis in St. John's in 1829. The absence of references to Beothuks on the eastern Avalon Peninsula is probably a result of this shrinking of their home territories. By the time Europeans began to take the trouble to write about Native people, the Beothuks had probably already been displaced from the easternmost of their traditional territories. Prominent players in the area's history include Beothuk Indians, migratory fishermen from western Europe, and European settlers who first began to arrive in 1621. A 17th-century lead weight found at the Ferryland archaeology site. It would have been used in the handline migratory fishery which took place at Ferryland during the 1600s. Sir George Calvert, the first Lord Baltimore. In 1620, George Calvert (1579/80-1632) purchased a parcel of land in Newfoundland from Sir William Vaughan. The land extended from just south of Aquaforte to Caplin Bay (now Calvert). The following year, Calvert's colonists set off for Ferryland under the leadership of governor Captain Edward Wynne. After the colony had been established, Calvert obtained a larger land grant from King James I of England, who awarded him "the Province of Avalon". Although the archaeological history of Ferryland essentially stops with the French raid of 1696, the succeeding two centuries are filled with fascinating characters and events. Many of these are interpreted at the Ferryland Museum, a short distance from the Colony of Avalon Visitor Centre. Migratory Fishery It is not known when the first European fishermen visited what is now the eastern Avalon Peninsula. Vague but unproven traditions suggest that mariners from Bristol may have been visiting the offshore fishing grounds, and perhaps coming ashore for wood, food and water, before John Cabot's voyage in 1497. This letter, written between December 1497 and January 1498 by the English merchant John Day, contains valuable information about John Cabot's voyages. Day's letter reported details of Cabot's 1497 expedition and claimed that what John Cabot discovered "is assumed and believed to be the mainland that the Bristol men found." Whether or not there is a grain of truth to these traditions, it is clear from even the scant historical record that follows Cabot's voyage that western European fishermen were quick to exploit the resources reported by Cabot. Within a decade or so of his voyage, vessels from Portugal, Spain, the Basque country, France and West Country England were exploiting the vast cod stocks reported to exist off the coast of the "New-founde-land." By the 16th century, France was among several western European countries which were exploiting Newfoundland's cod stocks through a migratory fishery system. Ferryland, with its location as one of the easternmost points in North America, its conspicuous headland and excellent harbour, easy access to the inshore fishing grounds and extensive cobble beaches upon which fish could be dried, may have been one of the earliest ports visited by migratory fishermen. English participation was limited until the mid-16th century, but beginning about 1560 English participation in the migratory fishery increased rapidly, and they soon became the dominant fishing presence on what was to become the " English Shore." Traditionally, the master of the first English ship to arrive at a particular port became the fishing admiral, a sort of unofficial governor of that port for the coming fishing season. Thus William Sayre was admiral of Ferryland during the summer of 1597. Reminders of the days of the fishing admirals exist in the many place names - Admiral's Cove, Admiral's Point and so forth - that can be traced to the pre-settlement period. At Ferryland, the fishing admiral period may have ceased with the first permanent settlement in 1621, but migratory fishermen continued to visit the harbour throughout the 17th century. A beechwood shovel used in the migratory fishery to spread salt over dressed fish. Found at the Ferryland archaeology site, it may have come from one of the 17th-century vessels sunk in the harbour. Although the shovel's precise date is uncertain, it falls somewhere between 1600 and 1800. David Kirke and the Pool Plantation The Kirke family, particularly Sir David Kirke, his wife, Lady Sara Kirke, and their three sons, are much underrated players on the stage of Canadian history. In 1628 Sir David and his brothers combined to capture both Nova Scotia and Québec from the French, the latter surrendered by Champlain himself. Under the terms of the ensuing treaty these territories were returned to France, and in 1637 a syndicate headed by Sir David was granted the entire island of Newfoundland in recompense for their efforts on behalf of the crown. At the same time Sir David was granted a coat of arms, which survives today as the coat of arms of the province. Newfoundland Coat of Arms granted to Sir David Kirke in 1638. The 17th-century issue of this coat of arms was forgotten over time. After being rediscovered, it was adopted by Newfoundland as its official coat of arms in the 1920s. Sir David was soon to take advantage of this grant. In 1638 he arrived at Avalon, dispossessed the Calverts' representative and established residence in the mansion house. Since Kirke was governor of all of Newfoundland and chose to establish himself at Ferryland, it is not altogether improbable to see Ferryland as Newfoundland's first capital. Sometime not long after the Kirkes' arrival, the name Avalon disappeared and the settlement began to be referred to as the Pool Plantation, perhaps in a conscious effort to obliterate the memory of Calvert's venture. The Calverts did not forget Avalon, however, and legal action between the two families continued intermittently for more than four decades. Sir David Kirke was an unrepentant Royalist, and after the Civil War he was called to England to account for his activities in Newfoundland. While he was there, Cecil Calvert, second Lord Baltimore, took the opportunity to press his suit over the proprietorship of Avalon. Cecil Calvert, second Lord Baltimore. Cecil Calvert (1606-1675) was George Calvert's son and heir. In 1632, Cecil became the second Baron of Baltimore and the first Lord of Proprietary of both Avalon and Maryland. Kirke lost this round of litigation and died in prison. Sara Kirke and her sons paid no heed to this judgement, however, and continued to reside at Ferryland and conduct business as usual from the Pool Plantation. Lady Kirke must have been a remarkable individual. After the death of Sir David she managed affairs at the Pool Plantation and became one of the most successful fish merchants on the English shore. Indeed, according to census figures from the 1660s and 1670s, Lady Kirke owned more stages, boats and train (cod liver oil) vats and employed more servants (fishermen and fish processors) than any other planter on the English shore, including her sons. If Lady Kirke was not the first Newfoundland proprietor to make the fishery profitable, she was almost certainly British North America's first woman entrepreneur. Lady Kirke died sometime in the early 1680s and, according to local legend, lies buried somewhere on the Ferryland Downs, just east of her Pool Plantation. Her sons survived her and ran successful enterprises at Ferryland and elsewhere on the eastern Avalon until 1696, when a French raid destroyed most of the English settlements. The three Kirke brothers were captured and imprisoned at Placentia, probably with the thought that they could be ransomed. Two died at Placentia and the third died at St. John's a short time later, thus ending the Kirke period in eastern Newfoundland. The Colony of Avalon is located in the town of Ferryland, a one hour drive south from Newfoundland and Labrador's provincial capital, St. John's.