Englee
Englee today as viewed from the top of Barr'd Island
Englee is located at the mouth of Canada Bay along the northeast coast, a part of the French Shore known as le petit nord. The harbour was actively used by French fishing fleets from the migratory cod fishery. A well-protected harbour, it was also close to large stands of timber in Canada Bay for boat repair and construction of stages and wharves.
In 1702 the English trapped French fishing ships in Englee harbour during a series of skirmishes resulting from the French raids on St. John’s.
Like other harbours in the region, settlers began arriving in the early 1800s from the south of Newfoundland in search of better fishing grounds and better access to the spring seal herd. Towards the end of the 19th century, a fish processing plant was established and run by series of companies well into the late 20th century.
In 1936 the Grenfell Mission established a nursing station in Englee.
Englee Photos : ( Click each for full size )
Fishermen shovel salt which was imported in large amounts to process cod.
Englee : A Shooting at Boutitou
As settlement increased on the French Shore, so did competition between French fishing boats and the English-speaking settlers looking for good locations to set their nets. In August 1878 at a small harbour near Englee, called Boutitou in French and Hilliar’s Harbour in English, the distrust between the French and the settlers came to a head.
As the French Captain from Binic, Brittany told the story, he had experienced several incidents of theft of his nets and other gear, which he blamed on James Dempsey, the lone English-speaking fisherman in Boutitou. While he could not prove his case, he set his men to watch Dempsey’s movements. Previous interactions with Dempsey had only elicited searing and rude remarks from the fisherman. The French men followed him to his stage and watched as he went up from there to his dwelling. Shortly after they landed on the stage, a shot rang out from Dempsey’s direction, wounding one of the French crewmen.
James Dempsey told a different story. He said he was returning from trading and partying on a nearby schooner when he saw the French crewmen following him. Previously he had tried to call out to the French fishermen but never got any response. He saw them following him and tried to speak to them again but to no avail. So he rowed home, tied his boat to the stage and went up to his cabin. Looking back he saw the crewmen land on his stage, which made him uneasy. In order to scare them off, he decided to fire an unloaded shotgun at them. When one man fell wounded in the leg, Dempsey realized there must have been a bit of shot remaining in the gun. He said he had not intention to hurt anyone.
James Dempsey ended up in court to defend himself against the charge of assault and was eventually acquitted. A little more than 20 years later the French fishing fleets left the French Shore for good. Today there are still descendents of Dempsey family living in Englee and Roddickton.
Photos : ( Click each for full size )
The small harbour of Boutitou
Found on the rocks at Boutitou, this marking is thought to be either a sundial or compass made by French fishermen using the harbour.