New Chelsea - New Melbourne - Brownsdale - Sibley's Cove-Lead Cove: Even though these five communities are "joined" by hyphens, they do not reflect "amalgamated" communities, rather they are five unincorporated fishing villages that are linked for the purpose of the Census, to form a "Designated Place".

The population in 2016 for the five, sat at 494, a slight decrease of 1.8% from the 503 recorded in 2011.

1. New Chelsea: Originally one of eleven Seal Coves that were in existence in 1896, the townsfolk were told that they needed to change their community's name as the postal service was perplexed as to where to deliver mail.

The name Chelsea was proposed by some of the residents who had relatives living in Chelsea, Massachusetts and obviously liked the name. Why the word 'New'' was added is unknown, but there are two other "Chelseas" in Canada, one in Nova Scotia and one in Quebec, maybe it was just to be "different".

From the ENL, comes the following synopsis of the community's history: Tradition has it that New Chelsea saw some seasonal use by residents of Old Pelican from the mid-1700s.

The community traces its founding to an Old Perlican fisherman named Rodgers, who built a schooner there in 1790. Towards the end of the century families such as Harrises, Johnsons and Whiteways are said to have come there from the Northern Bay area of Conception Bay, while the Belbins and Pynns are said to have fished out of New Chelsea and wintered at Mosquito (Bristol's Hope) before moving to New Chelsea year-round in the early 1800s....

From the earliest recorded population of 127 people in 1836, New Chelsea grew to a community of 365 people by 1921, based on an economy of inshore fishing supplemented by sawmilling on Big Brook, at the bottom of the Cove, and logging "in country"....

Since the 1940s a general scarcity of cod in the area has led to a dramatic decline in the population of New Chelsea.

By the 1980s most of the few remaining fishermen made much of their living from other species such as crab. capelin and squid processed at the P. Janes and Sons plant in Hant's Harbour.

2. New Melbourne: Originally known as Russell's Cove (perhaps named after Samuel Russell from nearby Old Perlican who lived there in the area far back as 1681), New Melbourne was named to honour Viscount Melbourne, Prime Minister of Britain from 1834-41.

Why the "New" new was added, and for that matter why Lord Melboume was chosen to be commemorated, is unknown.

3. Brownsdale: According to material contained in Wikipedia, "tradition has it that John Brown, who had migrated from Old Perlican around 1820, was the first settler in Brownsdale.

He had established a sawmill there and was Brownsdale's first merchant. The original name of Brownsdale was Lance Cove South; the name was changed around 1910 to provide distinction from the two other Lance Coves on the island.

According to material presented in the ENL, at the time of settlement, the inshore fishery was the mainstay of the community, but over time "the cultivation of the soil and the raising of livestock became important.

In more recent years the inshore fishery declined but in the 1960s and early 1970s deep sea fishing improved with the construction of long-liners.

4. Sibleys Cove: According to ENL sources, this community is usually "considered to include Torquay (pronounced, and sometimes spelled Tar-quay).
Sibley's Cove was believed to be named after migratory fisherman, who one would assume had the name of Sibley, with permanent settlement as early as the early 1880s.

In 1824 George Temple was recorded as a planter in "Silby's Cove" or Selby's Cove.. In 1860 it appears in the records as having two names: "David's Cove" and "Solomon's Path".

Sibley's Cove first appears in the Census of 1874 (along with nearby Lead Cove), with a combined population of 61.

Ten years later Sibley's Cove alone had over 90 residents Over time the community flourished and by 1901 there were 67 people living in Sibley's Cove.

5. Lead Cove: According to ENL sources, it is believed that the community took its name from the lead-grey rocks that are common in the cove, "however, a local tradition holds that it was named by the earliest settler, Abraham Button, who felt that he had been "led" to the site from Old Perlican in his search for a place to settle".

Button built the first house in 1870 and was soon joined by others from Old Perlican: the families of his brother, Jim Brookings and George Lambert.

Relying predominantly on the fishing industry to support the community, the "first commercial activity of note in Lead Cove was a liver factory established by William Button [his brother? his son?] in 1916, collecting [cod liver oil] from several nearby communities".

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/NewChelseaNL