Isle aux Morts: Located on the south coast, 10 km east of Channel-Port aux Basques, there is both a town of "Isle aux Morts" as a well as a number of small islands with the same name, which translated from French means "Deadman's Island".

It is believed that the name was given to the area by Basque fishermen as it was a site of many maritime disasters. Settled in the 1800s three early settlers have been credited to have saved many individuals whose ships were wrecked by violent storms, common on this coast - George Harvey, his 17-year old daughter, Anne and 10-year old son, Tom.

In 1828, a large brig, the Dispatch, ran aground on a large rock. One by one, the three of them, plus their Newfoundland dog "Hairyman" were able to rescue 163 of the 200 passengers and crew.

Those that survived had clung to a rock for a week with little or no clothing or food. A few years later the total crew of 25 of the Rankin were also saved by the Harvey family.

Unfortunately, on several occasions, they also had the grim task of burying those that they were not able to save, after their bodies were washed up on the local beaches.

As Brooks (2013) aptly commented "a name like Isle aux Morts is a constant reminder to Newfoundlanders and Lab-radorians of the peril of the sea and the dangers fishermen encounter in the many bays and harbours all around the coast of the province".

In the 2016 census, there were 664 residents recorded, a 7.3% increase over the 619, five years before.

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/IsleauxMorts