New Perlican: Heading up the Avalon Peninsula, along the east shore of Trinity Bay, one comes to "New Perlican" before "Old Perlican", however it is more logical to talk about the "old" before the "new.

Old Perlican is one of the oldest fishing communities in Newfoundland. Migratory fisherman from England used the area as a major fishing station as far back as the 1600s. The name was originally listed as Parlican as far back as 1597. Almost a century later, around 1689, the qualifiers "Old" and "New" were added to distinguish between the two "Perlican" towns that had been settled in the same bay.

The name, Perlican is believed to come from the name of the bird, a "Pelican" and while the bird is not found in Newfoundland, Pelican was a common name for an English ship.

Sir Francis Drake, sea captain, pirate, explorer and slave trader, named his vessel, in which he circumnavigated the globe between 1577 and 1580, the "Pelican" before it was renamed the Golden Hind, mid-voyage, in honour Sir Christopher Hatton, whose crest was a golden hind, aka a female red deer.

In addition, it is known that HMS Pelican is a common name for a ship belonging to "her or his Majesty". That name was given to sixteen ships between 1626 and 1938.

Old Perlican, incorporated on March 31, 1971 is a town of over 600. In 2016 there were 633 residents, a 4.2% decrease from the 661 recorded in 2011. New Perlican, incorporated on September 28, 1972 is the smaller of the two. In 2016 there were 166 residents, compared to the 210 enumerated in 2011 (a 11.45 decrease).

The town of Old Perlican was immortalized in the folk song, "George Alfred Beckett", which can be found in the Memorial University of Newfoundland website

George Alfred Beckett is my name as you may understand

Brought up by honest parents I belong to Newfoundland

From a pleasant little village so beautiful and grand

Near the Atlantic Ocean, a place called Old Perlican.

My parents reared me tenderly the truth I will make known

And good advice they gave to me when I was leaving home

My mother prayed for my return as she had done before

As I left home that day to roam far from my native shore.

To the coalfields of Cape Breton my course I then did stray

And for to get employment I landed in Glace Bay

But little did my parents think when they bid me good-bye

This awful crime I would commit and be condemned to die

One evening late last autumn as you may understand

To take me out on Tower road I engaged a taxi man

He little thought as we rode on I had an iron bar

These dreadful wounds for to conflict and rob him in his car.

From thence I made a quick escape to get home was my plan

I left Glace Bay and sailed away back home to Newfoundland

It was 'bout three weeks later the police were on my trail

Arrested me for murder and brought me to St. John's jail

From there back to Cape Breton my trial for to stand

And never no more to see again my own dear native land

The jury found me guilty the judge made this reply

On the thirtieth day of April for this murder you must die

Here's to my aged parents I now must bid adieu

My sisters and my brothers and likewise my children too

My not forgetting my dear wife wherever she may be

So loving kind and gentle for the fault as all with me.

I wish to thank all my dear friends who were so kind to me

My clergymen and lawyers who tried to set me free

Likewise the warden of the jail who courage to me gave

Long may he live to enjoy his health when I am in my grave.

My life is almost to an end my days are just a few

Take my advice and... live and avoid those troubles too

And never murder anyone no matter what you do

Or like me you'll die on the gallows at the age of forty-two.

Now to conclude and finish from this world I must depart

For the murder of Nick Matthews (Marthos?) I 'm sorry to the heart

And let all men take warning to heed to what I say

May the Lord have mercy upon my soul when I do pass away.

According to the website, the incident was recorded in the "In the Bay Roberts Guardian" on Friday, December 31, 1930: George Alfred Beckett had made a full and complete confession to the murder of Nicholas Marthos, Glace Bay taxi driver, on Sept. 22nd.

Beckett was arrested several weeks ago at his father's home in Old Perlican and extradited to Glace Bay, C.B. According to the website, there is a Beckett heritage site in Old Perlican "but it is not known whether the family were kin of George Alfred".

It is also suggested that Beckett "is probably the composer, although it is conceivable that someone else related the story from his point of view".

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/NewPerlican