Saturday 22 March 2014

When did the Brinstons leave Sound Island?



Sound Island is no longer inhabited. The Newfoundland’s Grand Banks site http://ngb.chebucto.org/ shows Communities Evacuated under 'Centralization Program' as listed in 1965 Report of Department of Public Welfare. Sound Island is included with 12 families evacuated.

The Maritime History Archives at Memorial University of Newfoundland has a number of photographs taken during the resettlement of isolated Newfoundland communities. There are several taken in 1951 of Alex and Annie Stacey’s house launched at Sound Island, Placentia Bay, and moved by sea to Garden Cove, Placentia Bay. http://www.mun.ca/mha/resettlement/moving_house_1.php#p5

Wikipedia states (without citing a source) that the residents of Sound Island were evacuated in 1953 and moved into Garden Cove. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_Cove,_Newfoundland_and_Labrador

Do you know when the last Brinstons left Sound Island? When did your Brinston ancestors leave and where did they settle?

Thursday 20 March 2014

Early Brinstons on Sound Island, Placentia Bay, Newfoundland



William Brinston and his wife Elizabeth Beazley had 9 children on Sound Island between 1808 and 1831. Seven of their children being male created the potential for many descendants carrying the name Brinston in succeeding generations. 

Children of William Brinston and Elizabeth Beazley:

Sons
Henry 1808
Charles 1810
John 1814
William 1816
Thomas 1821
Robert 1823
James 1830

Daughters
Louise 1817
Jane 1831.

Other Brinston researchers have told me they believe William was the first Brinston on Sound Island, that he was likely born in Burin or Hants Harbour and that there were Brinstons in Burin in the 1760s.  

Lovell’s 1871 Directory which can be found on the Newfoundland’s Grand Banks Site http://ngb.chebucto.org/ described Sound Island: “An island at the head of Placentia Bay on west side, district of Placentia and St. Mary's. The population are engaged in both the cod and salmon fishery. Distant from Harbour Buffett 11 miles by boat, from Little Placentia by packet boat, fortnightly, 20 miles. Mail fortnightly. Population 227” 

Some Sound Island residents in 1871, all fisherman unless otherwise noted:
Brenston Robert, planter
Brenston, Thomas
Brinston Henry
Brinston James
Brinston  John

The above could be 5 of the 7 sons of William Brinston and Elizabeth Beazley; alternatively, some or all could be from succeeding generations.

Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland[1] cites Josiah Brinston, of Sound Island (Placentia B.), 1858 as an early example of the name and states that the name Brinston is found at Swift Current, Arnold's Cove and Garden Cove, all Placentia Bay communities.


[1] Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary (Memorial University of Newfoundland, 1976). Corrected edition by William J. Kirwin. (Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press, 1998).