Campbell's Creek: Located on the southern coast of the Port au Port Peninsula on th west coast of the island, according to an article in Decks Awash magazine researchers Memorial University have found that most early settlers of Campbell's Creek came from Antigonish, Nova Scotia in the early 1850s.

The majority were Roman Catholic Gaelic-speaking, and of Scottish origin. One of the earliest family were the Campbells who arrived in 1853.

They, like the others, knew noting about the area but were simply trying to avoid paying taxes on their land in Cape Breton. Knowing that the land in Newfoundland was "free for the taking" over they came eager to settle.

Some went to the Port au Port Peninsula, settling in Sandy Point and Piccadilly; others settled in the Codroy Valley.

It was written in a Decks Awash article that: salmon, cod and lobster fisheries generated most income in those early years, and nearly all families kept domestic animals. Wool was sent to the Codroy Valley and Stephenville to be carded, and there were several fox farms.

In 1913, a silver fox pelt was reputed to have been sold for $1,750, but since even $17.50 would have been considered a good price at that time, it's likely the decimal point was incorrectly noted.

From the Benoits First Nations website there is some controversy as to whether or not the information above is correct, Benwah (2004) wrote that:

According to Decks Awash magazine, researchers at Memorial University say "most early settlers of Campbell's Creek came from Antigonish, Nova Scotia, were Roman Catholic, Gaelic-speaking, and of Scottish origin. Steve and Daniel Campbell (sometimes called Donald), were among those who came from the Western Islands in Scotland to Cape Breton in 1853."

Their knowledge of the West Coast and in particular this area is inaccurate and misleading to say the least.

In reality, the majority of the families were Mi'kmaq, last names include Jesso, and Benoit.

In Decks Awash it is stated that: "When it was learned that land in Cape Breton was to be taxed by 1854, they moved to Newfoundland, where it was still free for the taking, and Daniel Campbell settled in the Codroy Valley at Little River, now known as St. Andrew's.

Stephen Campbell went to Sandy Point and John Campbell ended up in Piccadilly before moving probably in 1853 to Campbell's Creek, which was then known as Pieroway's Cove, named for Pieroways from Sandy Point who fished there in summer.

John's son Archie is said to have brought the first cow through the woods in 1854. He died in 1937."

Most or all of the Campbell families may have been of Mi'kmaq ancestry - if they are in fact descendants of the Camus families who are documented Mi'kmaq.

In issue # 16.4 of the Newfoundland Ancestor, a publication of the Newfoundland and Labrador Genealogical Society, an article called: The Camus (Cammie) Family of Bay St. George, Nfld. by Allan Stride #339, states that:

"The Sandy Point R.C. register has a birth entry of a child for one Stephen Camet (pronounced Camay) during the year 1854 which is somewhat mysterious.

Light has been shed on the possibility that certain members of the Camus family actually changed their name to Campbell. This Stephen Camet in later entries of the church registers is identified as Stephen Campbell, so is this person a Camus or has the Reverend Alexis Belanger made a mistake in the entry?"

Decks Awash adds that "Mike and Don Campbell may also have been early settlers and Captain Archie Campbell built a 30-35-ton schooner in the community. Several families arrived later from Margaree, Cape Breton. Other early residents were French speaking families named LaCosta and Marche, along with Scots MacDonald and Gillis, and English families Gale, Noseworthy and Hall."

They omitted that the Marche family is Mi'kmaq and French speaking. It seems that there is little knowledge of the Mi'kmaq families who were a large part of the fabric of community life on the Port au Port Peninsula.

Used with permission from "Uncovering the Origin of 1001 Unique Place Names in Newfoundland and Labrador" 2021 Jennifer Leigh Hill

Address of this page: http://nl.ruralroutes.com/CampbellsCreek