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Journal of Rev. Martin Blackmore

(1845 - 1848 at Burgeo)

Note 1: Although Rev. Blackmore came to Burgeo in 1842 these are the only entries in any Journal that I am aware of, if anyone knows of any earlier entries please contact me with details.

Note 2: The entries noted in []'s are entries taken from the Parish Register and intended only to enhance this journal and were not part of the original.

Note 3: Red entries are by Bill Crant and blue entries are additions by Brenda Crewe Alverson.

1845

Jan. 1st	Circumsion. Held services in the church, commented on the Epistle and Gospel for the day. A large number present. Spent the Evening with Mr. H. Dicks & family who had invited myself and Mrs. B. to tea mainly to improve the occasion by religious conversation & reading. Had prayers with the family and took leave.
Jan. 2nd	Met with a large party at the house of John Jordan and spent 2 hrs. with them, instructing them in congregational singing. Closed as usual with a time of scripture and prayer.
Jan. 5th	Sunday. Instructed the children in the school. Preached twice in the Church. In the after-noon the congregation was unusually large. All present were very attentive.
Jan. 6th	Epiphany. Held service in the Church, all the inhabitants, with but few exception, were present, commenced on the Epistle & Gospel.
Jan. 8th	Held the usual Wed. afternoon service. Commented on the history of Abraham.
Jan. 9th	Met the singers and spent the evening with them.
Jan 10th	An opportunity offering to St. John's drew out two petitions praying the House of Assembly to grant us a sum of money for a school & for a road.
Jan. 12th	Sunday. Held service in the Church at Lower Burgeo in the morning. In the afternoon went up to the Sand Bankss, held service there and buried two infants, twins. [ Hannah Isabella Cox and  Isabella Emma Cox, 1 day old]
Jan. 13th	Visited __ ? and obtained from the merchants agent there two sticks with which I hope to lay the foundation for an additional piece to the church.
Jan. 15th	Held the usual Wed. evening lecture in the Church, congregation small, the weather being very cold.
Jan. 16th	Devoted the evening to the instruction of the Singers.
Jan. 19th	Sunday. Preached twice and attended Sunday School. In the morning christened a little boy. This has been the coldest day we have yet experienced. The congregation was smaller this afternoon than it has ever been before. The cold is so intense that but few women could attend. [Richard Parsons of Henry & Elizabeth]
Jan. 22nd	Held service in the Church. Commented on the history of Jacob.
Jan. 23rd	Met the singers & gave notice of my intention to spend the Thursday evenings for the future in catechizing on the Epistle to the Hebrews.
Jan. 26th	Sunday. Weather mild. Instructed the children in the Sunday School. Preached twice in the church; Congregation larger than usual on both occasions, very attentive. In the afternoon christened an infant, received another in the church and churched a woman. [Emma Osmond of Edward and Elizabeth]
Jan. 29th	Held service in the Church and addressed the communicants, many others present, listened with great attention.
Jan. 30th	Commenced my Thursday evening catechizing. About twenty persons present - who appeared to take great interest in the word of searching the scriptures for passages explanatory or in Confirmation of the Apostles arguments. At closing I promised if this exercise was considered useful to meet them again. Thursday. Several present declared themselves much gratified & told me they should be most happy to attend.
Feb. 2nd	Sunday. Instructed the children in the Sunday School and held services twice in the Church. In the morning administered the sacrament of the Lord's Supper to nineteen Communicants. The weather has been severely cold today. The sacramental bread, though kept in a cloth, were frozen hard - gave notice of service on Wed.
Feb. 5th	Ash Wednesday. Held ~ service in the Church, large congregation present. Observed several Rominish among the congregation. Continued my weekly Bible Chapter at the house of Mr. J. Cox for the number present was small owing to the dark time of the Evening & the rain.
Feb. 7th	Friday. Had morning service in the Church. About 50 persons present.
Feb. 9th	Sunday. Weather mild. Held two services in the Church & the children in the school.
Feb. 11th	Visited the people living on the Sand Bankss.
Feb. 12th	Held Service in the Church. Commented on the history of Jacob.
Feb. 13th	This evening the weather being favorable, a larger number than usual attended the Bible Chapter meeting and a very interesting conversation ensued from some of the questions. I proposed to them from the Chapter Meetings consideration, 3rd Chapter Epistle to the Hebrews. I cannot, but hope good will result from this means of grace.
Feb. 14th	Morning service in the Church. Weather very cold.
Feb. 16th	Sunday. Two services in the Church & attended the Sunday school.
Feb. 19th	Evening meeting at Mr. Vatcher's. This was more numerously attended than any other previous meeting.
Feb. 21st	Morning prayer in the Church.
Feb. 23rd	Sunday. Instructed the children in the School. Preached twice in the Church. Churched a woman, the day being fine many from the other islands were present.
Feb. 26th	Afternoon service in the Church. Continued my lecture on the Old Testament history.
Feb. 27th	Met the Bible Chapter, the night being dark. Not as many as usual were present, but the meeting still continued and I trust profitable.
Feb. 28th	Morning service at the Church.
Mar. 2nd	Sunday. Attended Sunday School and held service in the Church here at Lower Burgeo. In the afternoon walked over the ice to Upper Burgeo & held service.
Mar. 5th	Afternoon service in the Church and lecture.
Mar. 7th	Morning service in the church, the weather being unusually rough, snow drifting only 4 persons present, was prevented from meeting the Bible Chapter.
Mar. 9th	Sunday. Attended school and held service at Lower Burgeo and in the afternoon at Upper Burgeo.
Mar 11th	Visited with Mr. E. Anderson & family in their winter place at the Barrisway about 9 miles from Burgeo. The old man was much pleased to see me and at his request I held service. The day being fine the journey was very pleasant. [I believe Mr. E. Anderson is Edward Anderson.]
Mar 12th	Afternoon service as usual.
Mar 13th	I met the Bible Chapter.
Mar 14th	Held service and buried the wife of a Planter about 12 miles from Burgeo. A number of strangers being present Preached a funeral Sermon. [Ann Guillaum, age 32, of Connoire Bay]
Mar 16th	Attended school and held service twice at Lower Burgeo.
Mar 19th	Had an interview with the Sup. of Education and succeeded in obtaining a grant of money for the support of a teacher in Burgeo.
Mar 20th	Visited Jersey Hr. about 2 miles from Harbour Breton and was entertained by Mr. Chapman the agent for Nicoll Co.
Mar 21st	Good Friday. Harbour Breton. Preached twice at Church here, a real spacious building lately erected. Christened one infant in the morning and two in the afternoon. A congregation of about 70 persons present. [Hannah Hill of John & Magdalin; George Gaden of Thomas Eppes & Jane; Andrew Ellis of Andrew & Susan]
Mar 22nd	Visited Little Bay, 6 miles from Harbour Breton. A formerly occupied establishment, but relinquished for several years past to see if the a dwelling house could be made suitable for the temporary residence of a clergyman, but found it a ruin quite untenantable.
Mar 23rd	Easter Sunday. Reached home, weather being very cold. My Congregation being some-what smaller.
Mar 25th	Left Harbour Breton for Burgeo. Feel much indebted to Mr. Ellis the agent for Newman Co. for the kindness he has shown me during my stay.
May 26th	Reached home at 8 o'clock this evening. Found it all has been well during my absence. Praised be to God of all goodness.
May 30th	Sunday. In the afternoon service at Sand Bankss.
Apr. 2nd	Held service this afternoon and addressed the communications.
Apr. 5th	Called to Furby's Hr. to baptize a child who proved to be alarmingly ill. [Samuel Hare of James and Mary]
Apr. 6th	Attended Sunday School and instructed the older children. Preached twice in the Church here. In the morning administered the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper to 21 persons. I have felt this was refreshing to many present.
Apr. 9th	I delivered a lecture on the Departure of the Children of Israel out of Egypt was pleased to see a larger number than I had predicted. After service churched a woman.
Apr. 10th	Hearing that a young man from Ramea had met with an accident and was not expected to live. I left home and proceeded the 9 miles, upon my arrival I found the youth had died on the preceding evening. After a little while I proposed to read to the people affected which was gladly accepted to I read the 40th Psalm making some remarks applicable to the deceased and ended with Prayer. As a solemn feeling appeared to prevail in the minds of all present.
Apr. 11th	I visited several of the families residing here and in the evening held service and christened six infants. [Sarah Ann Paine of James & Ann; Richard Kippen of James and Mary; John Dominey of William & Charlotte; Mary Jane Scott of William Cook & Elizabeth; Morgan Jeans of Thomas & Elizabeth; Sarah Hatcher of George and Grace]
Apr. 12th	A change of wind having taken place. A large sailing boat was manned and this morning I reached home in safety. The corpse had been brought up for burial.
Apr. 13th	Sunday. Held service in the Church and christened two children & after service buried the corpse of the young man brought here from Ramea. This service was as is usual on such occasions, very largely attended. In the afternoon held service again and admitted an infant into the Church whom I had privately baptized. [Henry Bond of Uraih & Sophia; William Kinslow of Dennis & Ester, no record of the private baptism.] [James Matthews, age 24, was the young man who died at Ramea on the 9th and buried in Burgeo on the 13th.]
Apr. 16th	Held service in the church. The attendance at this service is gradually increasing.
Apr. 18th	Visited all the families residing in Furby's Hr..
Apr. 20th	Sunday. Went to the Upper Island of Burgeo. Held service in the Church there and mar-ried a couple in the afternoon & returned & held service in the church at Lower Burgeo. Gave notice of the Bishop's intention to hold a confirmation here and appointed Tuesday next for examination of candidates. [Robert Harris to Caroline Richards]
Apr. 22nd	Met the female candidates for confirmation 18 in number. Most of them married women and aged, held a long and interesting conversation with them and was much pleased with their answers to the several questions I proposed. In the evening met thirteen male members of the congregation & went through a similar course of instruction with them.
Apr. 23rd	Wed. I held the usual service, at wh a larger number was present than I observed on any previous occasion.
Apr. 27th	Sunday. The weather being too blusterous let the Upper Island people come for me. I preached twice in the Church here and instructed the children in the Sunday school.
Apr. 29th	Addressed the female candidates for confirmation and very much pleased with the answers they gave to several questions I proposed. In the evening met the male candidates and went through a similar course of instruction. I was truly gratified in the understand-ing of several of the older persons. God grant - that this may be a profitable season.
May 1st	Ascension Day. Held full service in the Church here wh I am happy to say well attended.
May 4th	Sunday. Went to Upper Burgeo & held services there. Instructed the children & christened an infant. [William Matthews of James & Hannah]
May 6th	Met the candidates to be confirmed, the females in the church and the males at my house in the Evening.
May 7th	Got a crew of lads to put me up to the Sand Banks. Crossed over from there to the Island & collected the people in the Church and addressed them on confirmation.
May 8th	Have been twice every day for the last week to visit Mrs. C. Dicks, who has taken dangerously ill with puerperal fever. There being no doctor in the place have administered medicine which has had the desired effect of reducing the fever but has left her very weak. Read prayer with them.
May 9th	Sunday. Attended the Sunday School & held services twice at Lower Burgeo. In the Evening visited Mrs. Dicks who is still seriously ill. Read to her and prayed with her.
May 12th	Held a meeting in the Church and elected Church Warden.
May 13th	Again met with the male and female candidates for confirmation. Visited Mrs. Dicks and find her better.
May 14th	Continued my weekly lecture on the Old Testament History. Was pleased to see a goodly number in attendance.
May 15th	Was called to baptize an infant supposed to be dying. Administered medicine to the mother. Visited another family and administered medicine to the sick infant. [John Carrol of James & Catherine]
May 18th	Sunday. Went to Upper Burgeo. Held service there & examined the Sunday School children.
May 20th	Examined the female candidates for confirmation in the afternoon & in the evening met the male candidates at my house.
May 21st	Held service in the Church and lectured on the Old Testament.
May 25th	Sunday. At Lower Burgeo held service twice in the Church. In the morning christened two children and in the afternoon buried an infant born dead. Attended the Sunday school morning and afternoon. [Edward & Joseph Dicks of Henry & Susannah] [John Carrol, age 11 days was only burial recorded]
May 27th	Examined some of the candidates for confirmation.
May 28th	Went to the Island, Upper Burgeo. Held services twice.
June 1st	In the morning administered the sacrament of the Lord's Supper to nine communicants, made a collection for the purpose of purchasing a font - Examined the candidates for Confirmation.
June 2nd	Called to the Island, Upper Burgeo, to baptize two infants (twins) just born very weak. [George and John Scard of Thomas & Elizabeth]
June 3rd	Examined candidates for Confirmation.
June 4th	Held service in the Church and lectured.
June 6th	Examined candidates for Confirmation.
June 8th	Held service twice in the Church at Lower Burgeo, which was numerously attended. In the afternoon churched a woman. Attended Sunday school. At the morning service between 60 & 70 children present. Commenced during the last week to lengthen the Church which is now much too small for the congregation.
June 10th	Married a couple at the Church on Upper Burgeo Is. [James Cox to Sophia Read]
June 11th	Held the usual service.
June 15th	Unable to go to the Upper Island on account of the weather. Held service twice in the church here and attended Sunday school.
June 18th	Held service in the Church. The attendance very good.
June 19th	The "Spartan" frigate arrived here. Had a visit from the Captain, another from the Chaplin.
June 21st	Dined on board the "Man of War".
June 22nd	Sunday went to Upper Burgeo Island held two full services and examined the young candidates for confirmation.
June 24th	Visited the families residing in Furby's Harbour.
June 25th	Engaged in getting lumber for the completion of the additional piece now joined to the Church.
June 29th	Sunday. Two full services. In the morning administered the sacrament of the Lord's Supper to twenty-one individuals. In the afternoon christened fiver children and churched a woman. The congregation on this occasion was very large. Every seat fully occupied. It was very encouraging to see so many apparently anxious to hear the word. Oh, that they may not hear in vein. [Sophia Picot of Nathan & Ann; Charles Dicks of Christopher & Elizabeth; John & Mary Jane Thomas of William & Martha; John Hare of George & Mary]
June 30th	Met the people for the purpose of getting them to transfer te new school hours to the Board of Education.
July 2nd	As usual service in the church; attendance not withstanding the engagements of the people as business very good.
July 4th	Have been busily engaged superintending the workmen employed in lengthening the church which I am thankful to say going on much to my satisfaction.
July 6th	Held service twice in the Upper Island Church, instructed the children between the services and churched a woman. The congregation in this church are very attentive and very regular in their attendance.
July 9th	Service in the Church. Lectured on the history of Balaam.
July 13th	Sunday. Held service twice attendance large on both occasions, a goodly number occupying the vacant space in the unfinished part of the Church. Instructed the Children in the Sunday School. 54 present.
July 16th	Visited the people in Upper Burgeo. Covered the floor of the Communion with carpeting and altered the pulpit stairs.
July 20th	Preached twice at Upper Burgeo. The Church was so full in the afternoon that several persons were obliged to stand. Received two infants into the church and instructed the Sunday school between the services. [Omitted from the register]
July 23rd	Had this morning on rising the great pleasure of seeing the Bishop's yacht standing in for the harbour. Went out immediately and got a crew to put me on board to meet wit his Lordship the Rev. T.F.H. Bridges - Welcome them to Burgeo and after piloted them to anchorage, took breakfast then brought them ashore. Then brought them to the Parsonage - accompanied his Lordship on board again & spent the Evening in making arrangements for future operations.
July 24th	Went to visit the yacht and brought the Bishop Mr. B. onshore. After breakfast visited the settlement and into the school and church, but later caught in rain which was falling and had been for a fortnight. Much of the pleasure we should have had was diminished.
July 25th	Rain, wind, fog and the Bishop intended to proceed on to St. George's Bay. He proposed to call here on his return, this appearing a favourable opportunity to visit the settlement to the Westward. I have taken a passage with him intending to land at Channel and get home from there in time to receive his Lordship on his return. The accommodations on board the Bishops yacht are excellent. There is a private cabin for his Lordship & a large cabin containing six sleeping berths which may be curtained. They also serve for comfortable seats. Cabin is very lofty is well lighted & is fitted with a general dining room and for a place to hold service. The wind increasing we were off Lapoile a mile the weather very thick.
July 26th	Found on rising this morning that we were standing off but unable to Approach the land owing to dense fog under which it is now enveloped. Oblige keeping my berth all day being very sick.
July 27th	Sunday. Remaining standing in & off so near that we can hear the breakers but unable to see it. The fog is so dense. About 11 o'clock the weather began to clear & we caught a glimpse of land. On approaching more closely we found ourselves Westward of Cape Ray. His Lordship upon learning this has determined to take me on to St. George's Bay. The further we go on now the clearer the weather becomes. Commenced preparations for service. The Crew were assembled in the large Cabin. I read the prayers, Mr. Bridges preached. We were now in fine weather & can see the fog rolling thickly on the land behind us but the wind is very light.
July 28th	Had to encounter some heavy squalls of wind off Cape Anguille but the beautiful yacht bone up manfully, towards evening the wind increased and we were obliged to reef the sails, but still pushed on and just before sunset we rounded Sandy Point and dropped anchour having beat upwards of fifty miles during the day. Mr. Meek the Missionary here, shortly came off to the yacht and gave us a hearty welcome. Night drawing on and the wind still blowing strong we remained on board.
July 29th	Went on shore in the company with the Bishop and Mrs. Bridges & were most kindly received by Mr. Meek & family. Went to morning prayer in the Church. Mr. Meek officiated. Visited the school which his Lordship examined at some length - Afterward walked round the Point. The land is very low, is composed of fine white sand & runs off shoal with the sea. It is particularly at the back & upper part of the Point very prettily studded with young spruce & fir trees. The Church is a nice building 47 ft. by 27 stands in the middle of trees within a short distance of the Parsonage & School Room & is seen from the water with good effect. Along the shore there are between 30 or 40 houses and stores of various sizes & various directions. The people generally appeared in very comfortable circumstances and are evidently more attached to their minister.
July 30th	We did morning prayer in the Church and in the afternoon I helped in measuring the Burial ground around the Church and Parsonage. The weather is unusually fine and we are told that there is scarcely any fog at any place in the Bay.
July 31st	Read the morning service in the Church & was occupied the remainder of the day in measuring and marking the boundaries of a very extensive piece of land which the Bishop had authority from the government to take as Church land.
Aug. 1st	Minister did morning service and we completed the measuring of the land.
Aug. 2nd	Read the service in the Church and attended with the Bishop at a Public meeting held in the school when the Lordship delivered an address to the candidates for confirmation.
Aug. 3rd	Sunday. Helped in the morning at the consecration of the Church, named St. Stephen the Martyr. Read the Gospel - his Lordship preached, afterwards started the consecration of the Burial ground.
Aug. 4th	This day the service of Confirmation was administered by the Bishop with much solemnity to 63 individuals. I read the lessons - the Bishop preached the sermon. The wind blowing out of the Bay. We took leave, not without - mutual (?) of our kind friends Mr. & Mrs. Meek and got underway to return.
Aug. 5th	Winds very light.
Aug. 6th	Went into Codroy harbour, landed and welcomed by Mr. Pride. Visited all the families in the settlement. In the Evg went ashore again when Mr. Bridges led service and christened five children. Then afterwards addressing the parents and sponsors. [Hannah Holland of William & Catherine; Agnes Moore of James & Jane; Maria Besson of William & Hannah; Ann Lapham of John & Jane; William Collier of Thomas & Elizabeth]
Aug. 7th	Left Codroy & rounded the Cape, but the wind fair we were obliged to anchor off Channel for the night.
Aug. 8th	Went into Port-aux-Basque & shortly afterwards the Bishop and Mrs. Bridges proceeded to the settlement of Channel. Here we went on shore and visited there announcing the Bishop's intention to hold service. In the interval I with Mr. Bridges visited all the families. Mr. B. commenced service and christened seven children. The Bishop afterwards addressing the congregation. Left this place in the evening, but was becalmed off Rose Blanche. Lay too for the night. [Martha Julia Marett Bagg of John & Hannah; George Evans of John & Madeline; Morgan Hickman Gange of Edward & Mary; Samuel Forsey of Aaron & Susan; James Evans of George & Grace; Jane Guillam of William & Catherine; Sarah Bragg of Joseph & Mary]
Aug. 9th	Anchored in Rose Blanche, went on shore and visited every house in the settlement, conversed with the inhabitants and made arrangements for holding service in the Evening. Mr. B. held service and christened three children. The Bishop, as usual addressed the congregation. After getting on board a family arrived from Burnt Islands bringing an Infant with them which they were anxious to have baptized. Promised we would go ashore tomorrow. I went ashore and christened the child. [Elizabeth Sams of Reuben & Sarah; William Beck of Robert & Mary; James Sams of Thomas & Mary; James Wilton of Soloman & Rachel]
Aug. 10th	Sunday. Got under weigh very early hoping to reach LaPoile in time for morning service, but wind failed. Held service on board the yacht. I, the prayers. Mr. B. preached. The wind springing up about 2 o'clock we reached LaPoile. Mr. Renouf came on board and arrangement was made for holding service. At 4 o'clock the bell belonging to the establishment was rung and the congregation assembled in Mr. Renouf's dining room. Mr. B.[Blackmore] read prayers and christened two children, the Bishop preached. After service I met with several of the Western Point people who begged me to visit them as they had several children to be christened. Arranged to meet them tomorrow morning at the head of the harbour. [Thomas Winter Stark Renouf of Thomas & Mary; Mary Elizabeth Falle of Richard & Eleanor; Pricilla Anderson of Thomas & Elizabeth; John Stickland of John & Sarah; William Kendle of John & Sarah]
Aug. 11th	Got a crew from Mr. Renouf to row me to the head of the great - harbour where I found two of the Western Point men, walked with them through a tangled thicket of brushes, across a neck & then got into their boat & I was rowed to Western Point. Landed and christened three children and addressed the congregation. Returned to LaPoile the same way. [Priscilla Anderson of Thomas and Elizabeth, John Stickland of John and Sarah, William Kendle of John and Sarah]
Aug. 15th	Have been detained by light winds and fog at LaPoile until today when the wind changing to the westward. We bade farewell to our LaPoile friends & started for Burgeo, which we had great pleasure of reaching about 4 o'clock in the afternoon. I found praise be to God, all well.
Aug. 16th	Went on board the yacht early this morning. I took his Lordship and Mrs. Bridges to the Sand Bankss and from there across to the Island, made arrangements for the consecration of the Church here, took the names of the candidates for confirmation. After our return the Church flag was hoisted and at 6 o'clock we held service. I read the prayers and the Bishop addressed the people.
Aug. 17th	Sunday. Morning service at 10 o'clk. the people assembled outside the door and waited for the Bishop and I, at the their head, delivered a petition for the consecration of the Church, which his Lordship having received and read, commenced the Consecration service and after entering the communion rails directed Mr. B. to read the sentence of consecration, by which the Church at Lower Burgeo was set apart dedicated to Almighty God by the name of St. John the Evangelist. This service being ended, I commenced with the usual service, the Bishop preached and afterwards administered the sacrament of the Lord's Supper to 25 communicants. After the second lesson I baptized an infant in the afternoon at Upper Burgeo the same service was read and the Church was consecrated & dedicated to Almighty God by the name of the Church of St. James the Apostle. I read the prayers, the Bishop preached. This Church was crowded. Gave notice of confirmation and sacrament tomorrow. On my return found the candidates for confirmation assembled, according to appointment, in the school room, took their names and addressed them briefly on the service & then returned home almost worn out. [Isaac Dicks of Henry & Susan]
Aug. 18th	Went aboard the yacht ½ pt 8 and proceeded with the Bishop, to Upper Burgeo. We found the people assembled. I read the morning service after wh the Bishop commenced the confirmation service addressing and confirming the females first. I was in the body of the Church arranging the candidates all present appeared to engage in the service with becoming serious expressions and several were evidently much effected. The Bishop laid his hands and bestowed his blessing on 43 persons, 24 females, 19 males - after the communion service the sacrament of the Lords Supper and 14 communicants. Returned with as little delay as possible and at 4 o'clock commenced service here. Mr. Bridge administered the rite of confirmation to 59 persons - 28 females, 31 males and afterwards preached a very impressive sermon from the words of Moses to the children of Israel. "Thou Last this day the Lord for thy God & after the congregation were dismissed we measured off a large plot of ground surrounding the Church & Parsonage as Church Property.
Aug. 19th	The wind being fair and the Bishop anxious to leave, I repaired to the yacht and accompanied him outside the Island and bade them farewell. Mr. Cox putting me back. These services in which I have engaged through the necessity of hurried will not I trust be unattended with the Divine blessing. God grant than many souls may be quickened through them.

Confirmations at Upper Burgeo - 1845

Males
Name	Age	Name	Age
1. John ANDERSON	30	11. Wm ANDERSON	17
2. Henry Stickland	32	12. Thos ANDERSON, Sr.	47
3. James MATTHEWS	32	13. Thos ANDERSON, Jr.	16
4. Robert ROSE	37	14. Edwd ANDERSON	59
5. William ANDERSON, Jr.	35	15. John ANDERSON	19
6. William ANDERSON, Sr.	70	16. Thos McDONALD	25
7. Amos CUTLER	26	17. Richd SCARD	24
8. George ANDERSON	19	18. George DICKS	38
9. William MEADE	21	19. Joseph BLUMPIED	28
10. Edd ANDERSON	17

 

Females
Name	Age	Name	Age
1. Susan ANDERSON	54	13. Francis McDONALD	23
2. Elizabeth RICHARDS	19	14. Susan CHEVALIER	24
3. Frances ANDERSON	26	15. Eleanor SKEARD	22
4. Hannah MATTHEWS	28	16. Harriett ANDERSON	14
5. Sarah Stickland	28	17. Eleanor ANDERSON	14
6. Eliza HICKMAN	18	18. Eliazbeth DICKS	31
7. Sarah KIPPIN	15	19. Susan ANDERSON	23
8. Mary Ann KIPPIN	18	20. Ann COX	23
9. Berthania ANDERSON	42	21. Sophia COX	19
10. Jane ANDERSON	19	22. Sarah COX	19
11. Grace BLAMPIED	18	23.Ester ANDERSON	14
12. Ester ANDERSON	54	24.Susan RICHARDS	14

 

Confirmations at Lower Burgeo - 1845

Males
Name	Age	Name	Age
1. James ROSE	31	17. John MATTHEWS	42
2. Christopher DICKS	32	18. John NORTHCOTT	23
3. Henry DICKS	34	19. Charles COLLIER, Sr.	60
4. Joseph DICKS	40	20. Charles COLLIER, Jr.	30
5. Stephen VATCHER	25	21. George VATCHER	29
6. Henry MATTHEWS	16	22. Joseph VATCHER	16
7. William MATTHEWS	36	23. Thomas LUSHMAN	16
8. Thomas STEVENS	35	24. James CURRIE	15
9. Henry DICKS	71	25. Manuel VATCHER	18
10. Richard VATCHER	21	26. Joseph WATTS	19
11. John MATTHEWS	17	27. William DUM	21
12. Thomas MATTHEWS	30	28. Samuel HOWE	21
13. Samuel MATTHEWS	27	29. George BOWDRIDGE	23
14. William KINSLOW	35	30. John COX
15. Joseph MATTHEWS	21	31. Richard PARSONS
16. William CURRIE	14

Females
Name	Age	Name	Age
1. Martha VATCHER	50	15. Sarah ORCHARD	42
2. Susan DICKS	25	16. Elizabeth COLLIER	53
3. Deborah ROSE	23	17. Eleanor MATTHEWS	18
4. Francis MATTHEWS of Joh	36	18. Ester KINSLOW	36
5. Maria VATCHER	22	19. Mary Ann CURRIE	18
6. Jane JORDAN	25	20. Eliazbeth DICKS	15
7. Susanna DICKS	56	21. Charlotte MATTHEWS	17
8. Mary MATTHEWS	28	22. Sarah GUY	16
9. Martha VATCHER John	15	23. Mary PARSONS	23
10. Susan MATTHEWS	15	24. Bethania COLLIER	22
11. Elizabeth DICKS of C	24	25. Emma KINSLOW	19
12. Sarah MATTHEWS	14	26. Jane COX
13. Francis MATTHEWS	21	27. Martha BAGG
14. Deborah MATTHEWS	25	28. Sarah READ

Copy of Census taken for the District of Fortune Bay - 1845,
extending from Bonne Bay to Cape Ray inclusive.

 

Total Number of Families: 1644 Total Number of Professionals: 2 Total Number of Servants: 505 Total Number of Traders: 22 2173 No. of inhabitants. Total Episcopalians 2089 Roman Catholics 28 Weslyians 56 2173 Children under 14 yrs. of age Male Female 449 419 In School 51 48

  Population from Cape Ray to Cape LaHune - 1845

Settlement	Families	Children under 14	Individuals
Cape Ray and neighbours	15	43	92
Channel and neighbours	29	72	162
Isle aux Morte	10	36	69
Burnt Islands and neighbours	16	28	83
Brazils and neighbours	8	17	47
Rose Blanche	13	35	82
Petites	10	30	61
Garia and neighbours	20	30	61
Western Point and neighbours	9	31	48
LaPoile - Great Harbour	7	11	110
Eastern Point, Little Bay to Otter's Point	20	58	133
Upper Burgeo	23	44	136
Lower Burgeo	53	139	385
King's Harbour & Bay d'Loup	6	6	29
Red Island	11	22	54
Deer Island	6	22	38
Fox Island	13	?	?
Cape La Hune	10	?	45
Ramea	15	28	56
Totals	294	741	1828

Aug. 24th

Sunday. Held services in the morning at Upper Burgeo, returned and held service in the afternoon at Lower Burgeo. Christened and infant. [Elizabeth Boyce of William & Jane (Red Island)]

 

Copy of Notice to the Church. This is to give notice that all plot of ground round the Church and Parsonage extending 440 ft. North & South and 860 feet East & West bounded in front by the road and in the rear by a pond has been set apart as Church property at Burgeo, Aug. 21, 1845 Signed M. Blackmore, Missionary (Merchant) John B. Cox (Teacher) John Jordan Church Wardens

 

Aug 28th	Visited the Upper Burgeo Island & distributed the books left by the Bishop.
Aug. 31st	Sunday. Attended the Sunday school, instructed the children. Preached and held service twice in the Church at Lower Burgeo. In the afternoon christened and infant. The Church was unusually full today, a number of strangers were present. [George Organ of George & Eleanor (Red Island)]
Sept. 3rd	Married today a couple. The man in this case a Roman Catholic, but very favorable towards our religion. [William Roche to Matilda Newson]
Sept. 5th	Called out to visit a man taken suddenly ill & supposed to be dying. Hastened to the house of Mr. Cox and found his father-in-law [Hugh Bagg] stretched out on the floor insensible - breathing but very heavily the Doctor by his side, bleeding him but without the slightest effect. Stayed about half an hour during which time he continued to get worse, breathing still more difficult and totally insensible finding I could be of no more service. I left for a short time. On returning found the Doctor had ceased to make any further efforts. The death rattle was now sounding in his throat & all hope was gone. After addressing a few solemn words of Exhortation to the friends and attendants in the house, I left again, in about 10 minutes he was dead - the deceased was a remarkably stout man and by no means temperate. He has never manifested any regard for religion and has now cut off without so much as time to cry for mercy.
Sept. 6th	Called to see the friends of the person so suddenly taken off, made some suitable observations wh were well received. Find they wish to have him buried tomorrow.
Sept. 7th	Sunday. In the morning went to the Upper Island and held service, baptized an infant, returned immediately and in the afternoon went to Mr. C. [Mr. Cox’s] house & from there preceded the corpse to the Church. A very large number of friends and relatives, several from distant settlements following. Upon reaching the Church I commenced the service and afterwards preached to a very crowded audience. Many were unable to get in the Church and stood outside to listen. I addressed the people from 103 Psalm, Verses 15 -18. All persons were deeply attentive and several appeared much affected. After service I committed the body to the grave. [George Harris of Robert & Caroline] [Buried: Hugh Bagg, age 60]
Sept. 10th	This morning married a couple in the Church. In the afternoon Christened an infant brought in for that purpose 45 miles from the westward. [Married: William Vardey to Mary Parsons] [Uriah Organ of Michael & Sarah (Brazils)]
Sept. 11th	Visited the people on the Sand Bankss.
Sept. 14th	Went to Upper Island, held service twice. Instructed the children between services.
Sept. 17th	Christened an Infant brought from Fox Island. [Wilson Kettle of William & Mary]
Sept. 21st	Held service twice in the Church at Lower Burgeo. In the morning , Christened an Infant & Churched the mother. Instructed the Children in the school morning and afternoon. [Meshack Dicks of Joseph & Mary]
Sept. 23rd	Married a couple in the Church at Lower Burgeo. [Charles Robins to Hannah Groves]
Sept. 24th	Christened an infant brought in from a neighbouring settlement & churched the mother. [John Groves of George & Elizabeth (King's Harbour)]
Sept. 28th	Sunday at Upper Burgeo. Held Service twice. Churched a woman and instructed the children of the Sunday school.
Oct. 5th	Held service twice in the church at Lower Burgeo. In the morning christened an infant. In the afternoon churched two women. Instructed the children. [Elizabeth Ann Norkett of John & Elizabeth]
Oct. 8th	Christened an infant brought from Ramea. Visited three families in Furby's Hr. [Simon Kippen of James and Mary]
Oct. 11th	Christened an infant from Red Island. This is the fifth infant that has been brought from distant settlements to this place for the purpose of being christened. Doubly and increasing value is being placed upon the ordinances. [Ann Foot of Robert & Hannah]
Oct. 12th	Held Service twice at the Upper Burgeo. Administered the sacrament of the Lord's Supper to 12 persons. Instructed the children in the school between services.
Oct. 14th	Visited a sick woman on one of the neighbouring Islands, directed her attention to the love of the Lord, Jesus. Visited two other families - the weather for the last two weeks has been unusually fine, like what is known in Nova Scotia, the Indian Summer.
Oct 19th	Sunday. Held service twice at Lower Burgeo. Administered the Lords Supper to the communicants. Instructed the children in the school.
Oct. 21st	All day yesterday & through out the night I was most anxious for Mrs. Blackmore when expected her hour of trial had come. Today at ½ P. 1 A.M. after much suffering she safely delivered of a daughter, a fine grown and stout-looking child. I feel I cannot be sufficiently grateful. God help me train up this little own for glory.
Oct. 22nd	Symptoms of the speedy approval of winter appeared today on the hills in the country were white with snow.
Oct. 25th	Christened an infant from Red Island and married a couple belonging to the same place. [Gabriel Viltore of Samuel & Sarah; Samuel Billard to Sarah Foot]
Oct. 26th	Held service twice at Upper Burgeo and bade the people farewell. They are all in leading up to their winter quarters in LaPoile Bay.
Nov. 2nd	Sunday. Held Service twice in the Church at Lower Burgeo. The weather very wet but attendance not withstanding good.
Nov. 3rd	Called to go to Upper Burgeo to bury an infant while there baptized an infant and churched the mother. [Sarah Read of Francis & Susannah; Burial: John Scard, 5 months]
Nov. 5th	Christened two infants in Lower Burgeo and married a couple. [George Kinslow of Dennis & Esther; John Thomas LeMoine of George & Catherine; Thomas Wm. Rendle of St. John's to Catherine Smith of Lower Burgeo]
Nov. 9th	Held service twice in the Church at Lower Burgeo. Instructed the children in the Sunday school.
Nov. 14th	Busy every day superintending the laying plank on the road in Burgeo & overseeing the men engaged in ceiling the Church - six of the Planters have been for some time past engaged in this work which is rapidly approaching completion.
Nov. 16th	Sunday. Held service twice in the Church and attended the Sunday school. In the afternoon christening my own infant. Oh that she may give early evidence of spiritual regeneration. [Julia Ellen Blackmore of Martin & Ellen]
Nov. 23rd	Sunday service twice and attended Sunday school morning and evening. In the morning churched Mrs. B. [Blackmore]
Nov. 24th	Christened three children & churched the mothers. [Elizabeth, Jabez & Susannah Prosser of Samuel & Rachel]
Nov. 26th	Wednesday. Evs met the members of my congregation at residence of Mr. J. [John] Jordan and delivered a lecture on the first part of the Pilgrims Progress. The room was crowded and all present were evidently much interested. Closed after commenced with singing and prayer. It is my intention to continue these expositions through the winter. God grant they may be productive of good.
Nov. 30th	Held service twice in the church and instructed the children in the school. Our Church is now ceiled on the inside and looks very well.
Dec. 3rd	Continued my Wedy Evg lectures at wh a much larger number of persons were present than previous.
Dec. 6th	Married a couple. [Matthew Gore to Madeline Hare]
Dec. 7th	Held service twice and instructed the children in the school.
Dec. 10th	Wedy Evg service continued my lecture that appeared to excite general interests was enabled to speak with much freedom. I pray that it may not be without profit.
Dec. 12th	The weather this week has been unusually rough. Gales of wind everyday, together with drifting snow has kept everybody indoors.
Dec. 14th	Sunday. Attended the Sunday school and held service morning and evening in the Church.
Dec. 17th	Wedy Evg lectured as usual. The house very full.
Dec. 21st	Held service and instructed the children.
Dec. 22nd	Called out to one of the adjoining Islands to baptise an infant. Visited a young girl long confined with a bad leg.[Register says Thomas Bond of Uriah & Sophia (Lower Burgeo, certainly a contradiction]
Dec. 25th	Christmas Day. Held service in the Church. Congregation unusually large. In the afternoon I married a couple. [William Bovitt to Charlotte Matthews]
Dec. 26th	Visited the greater number of my parishioners conversed with them and left a tract with each family. In the Evg called out to Furby's Hr. to baptize an infant apparently very sick. [Martha Gore of Matthew & Madeline]
Dec. 28th	Sunday. Held two services in the church. The congregation especially in the afternoon was very large and very attentive. At the close of this service and after all the rest of the congregation had left, one individual addressed me stating he wished to participate in the sacrament by notice of which I had given this morning. He related in his simple way his wish to forsake his old course of sin and forgetfulness of God and henceforth endeavor to live for Eternity. His wife also assented to use her own expression, was nearly capsized about the same matter, I am led to remark this circumstance more particularly as in the morning I was somewhat discouraged by the though how little frail appeared my labours. Attended Sunday school and instructed the children of the fourth class who were very attentive; constant in attendance and I trust improving.
Dec. 31st	Wed. Ey resumed my lecture on the Pilgrims Progress in the house of H. Dicks, although large was crowded both in the kitchen where I sat and in a small interior room. All very attentive. [H. Dicks most likely refers to Henry Dicks.]

1846

Jan. 1st	Held service this morning in the Church & commented on the Epistle for the day. The congregation was nearly as large as on Sunday. In the evening I drank tea with the family of H. Dicks. I praise God afresh for having brought us the commencement of another year in peace. I have much to be grateful for.
Jan. 4th	Sunday. Instructed the children in the school. Held service twice here in the Church. In the morning administered the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper to 24 persons - two new communicants. In the afternoon christened an Infant. [George Pike of William & Elizabeth]
Jan. 7th	Held my Evg service in the house of T.M. which was largely attended. Their large kitchen and dining room were both filled. Oh what a blessing many attend the instruction. I was enabled to communicate. [T. M. may be Thomas Matthews who was one of those confirmed in 1845 at age 30.]
Jan. 11th	Sunday. Attended school and held service twice in the Church. In the morning churched a woman.
Jan. 14th	Christened an infant and churched the mother. Visited Furby's Hr. and a sick woman living there. In the Evg met a large assembly at the house of Mr. J. C. and continued my lecture on the Pilgrims Progress. [J. C. may be John Cox.] [Martha Jane Anderson of William & Susanna]
Jan. 18th	Sunday. Instructed the children in the school and held service twice in the church. In the afternoon christened an infant and churched the mother. [Rhoda Windsor of John & Frances]
Jan. 19th	Today the weather has been unusually rough and severe. The thermometer has been down to 22 degrs. below the freezing point. All the day indoors.
Jan. 21st	Held my weekly lecture in the school room wh was well filled & all present appeared very attentive.
Jan. 24th	Called to baptize an infant of one of my parishioners supposed to be very ill. [Sarah Kinslow of William & Emma]
Jan. 25th	Sunday. Attended Sunday school & held service twice. In the afternoon admitted an infant into the church and churched two women.
Jan. 28th	Gave the concluding lecture on the Pilgrims Progress this evening. The school room in wh this meeting was held was nearly full.
Feb. 1st	Sunday. The weather bitterly cold. Thermometer at 21 (F) dgs. Below the freezing point. Held service in the Church morning and afternoon both not withstanding the cold were well attended. In the afternoon received an infant into the Church and churched the mother. Instructed the children in the Sunday school. [Not noted in register]
Feb. 3rd	Walked over the ice to the Sand Bankss. Visited all the families there. This is the first week the ice in the Reach has been strong enough to bear the walking on.
Feb. 6th	Visited one of the adjoining Islands & conversed with the people living there; more particularly with a young woman confined to a room with a bad leg.
Feb. 8th	Sunday. Instructed the children in the Sunday school and held services twice in the Church. Snow storm in the evening.
Feb. 9th	The weather unusually rough. The wind blowing strong from the N.W. and snow drifting. The thermometer has been falling every hour and now (Evg) 20 (F) dgs. below the freezing point within doors.
Feb. 10th	Weather extremely cold. Thermometer down to 28 dgs. (F) below the freezing point but rose 6 degrees during the day but is now falling again. Two of our fowls have died today through the severity of the frost and two others are injured.
Feb. 11th	Last night fearfully cold - found the glass, this morning only 3 degrees above zero. The wind is blowing a gale from the N.N.W. & driving the snow in clouds. The harbours are frozen over and there is ice on the sea as far as the eyes reach. A man coming from the merchants into the harbour about a quarter of a mile has got his face frost burnt. Glass has risen only one degree all day & is now Evg.
Feb. 12th	The sun is shining today and the glass has risen 6 degs.
Feb. 13th	Weather still very cold wind N.N.W.
Feb. 15th	Sunday. Glass at 10 all day. Held service twice in the Church & instructed the children in the school. Congregation much thinned by the cold.
Feb. 16th	Glass at 4 degs. above indoors.
Feb. 17th	Weather warmer.
Feb. 18th	Day fine, walked over the ice to the Sand Bankss and visited the people residing there.
Feb. 19th	Weather very rough, snow drifting all day. The last month we have been obliged to drink melted snow. Every brook frozen up.
Feb. 22nd	Sunday. Instructed the children in the school & held service in the morning at Lower Burgeo. In the afternoon walked to the Sand Bankss & held service there.
Feb. 25th	Ash Wednesday. Held full service in the Church.
Feb. 27th	Morning prayers in the Church. About 30 present.
Mar. 1st	Sunday. Weather very cold. Therm. 22 dgs. below the freezing point. Held service twice in the Church and instructed the children in school. In the evening delivered an address, in the house of Mr. J. Cox, wh wh [which] was crowded, to those young men who were going shortly to the ice.
Mar. 2nd	Thermometer 2 degrees lower than yesterday.
Mar. 3rd	Crossed the harbour on the ice & visited four families on an adjoining island.
Mar. 4th	Morning prayers in the Church.
Mar. 6th	Morning prayers in the Church. Attendance very encouraging.
Mar. 8th	Sunday. Instructed the children in the school and held service in the Church, in the morning at Lower Burgeo, in the afternoon walked to the Sand Bankss and held service there.
Mar. 11th	Morning service in the Church at Lower Burgeo.
Mar. 13th	Morning service in the Church at Lower Burgeo.
Mar. 15th	Sunday. Held service twice in the Church at Lower Burgeo & instructed the children. Prevented going to the Sand Bankss by a storm of snow and rain.
Mar. 18th	Morning service in the Church.
Mar. 20th	Morning service in the Church.
Mar. 21st	A large quantity of drift ice has come in from the sea & filled the harbour & extends out seaward several miles.
Mar. 22nd	Sunday. Instructed the children in the school and held service twice in the Church. In the morning churched a woman. In the afternoon christened an infant. The congregation today has been unusually large owing to three boats from Fortune Bay. [Dinah Rose of James & Deborah]
Mar. 25th	Morning service in the Church. Churched a woman.
Mar. 27th	Morning service in the Church.
Mar. 29th	Sunday. Instructed the children in the school and held service twice in the Church. In the afternoon christened an infant, gave notice of a meeting tomorrow for the purpose of forming an auxiliary to the Church Society. [Ellen Matthews of Thomas & Deborah]
Mar. 30th	Met some of my parishioners in the Church and laid the foundation of our auxiliary Church Society. Found people very willing to contribute.
Apr. 1st	Held service in the Church which was rather largely attended.
Apr. 3rd	Morning service in the Church. Have had additional subscribers to our Ch Society come forward both yesterday and today.
Apr. 5th	Sunday. Instructed the children in the school & held service in the morning at Lower Burgeo. In the afternoon got a crew to row me up to the Sand Bankss & held service in the Church at Upper Burgeo. The people of this place have just returned from their winter quarters & were very glad to see me. Gave notice of my intention to administer the sacrament next Sunday.
Apr. 8th	Morning service in the Church.
Apr. 10th	Good Friday. Held service and preached in the Church at Lower Burgeo in the morning, and at Upper Burgeo in the afternoon. Congregation large at both settlements.
Apr. 11th	Christened an infant and churched the mother. [Sarah Timbuary of John & Rachel of Bay d'Leau]
Apr. 12th	Sunday. Instructed the children in the school & held morning service in the Church at Lower Burgeo. Administered the sacrament of the Lord's Supper to 30 communicants. In the afternoon held service at Upper Burgeo, christened an infant and administered the sacrament of the Lord's Supper to 11 persons. [Jane Kipping of George & Elizabeth]
Apr. 19th	Sunday Evg St. John's, Reached this town after a rough and in some respect dangerous passage of five days, rough in consequence of encountering a heavy sea and dangerous owing to the unusual quantity of ice now on the St. John's coast, but God has been gracious to all and self, wife and little one are now safely anchored in our desired harbour. Never were there so many islands of ice seen together in this neighbourhood before. We counted 70 in most remarkable forms, having the appearance of ruined castles. Some were of great size with very lofty pinnacles. Altogether they formed to me a novel and astonishing sight. Our voyage has been somewhat longer than usual, we having been obliged to put into Renews and remain there one day in consequence of wind being foul. In this place we were most kindly treated by Mr. & Mrs. Goodridge and made to take up our abode on the shore, wh [which] proved a great refreshment after being so long confined to a small cabin.
Apr. 24th	(Friday) Preached the Evg Lecture in St. John's Church, the congregation very small.
Apr. 26th	Sunday. Mr. Bridge had left town for Petty Harbour and has commissioned me to do his duty here. Privately baptized an infant and conducted the morning service. Assessted by Mr. Tuckwell. In the afternoon I read prayers. [Not in register]
May 1st	Friday Evg Preached the Evg Lecture in St. John's Church.
May 2nd	Left St. John's this afternoon for Petty Harbour. Visited several of my old acquaintances here who expressed much pleasure seeing me and took up my abode for the night at the Sunday school house.
May 3rd	Sunday. Attended the Sunday school and instructed a large class of boys and held service twice in the very pretty Church lately erected here. The congregation good and very attentive. In the afternoon admitted an infant into the Church and after service walked home to St. John's.
May 6th	Our vessel returns to Burgeo and we must bid farewell to our friends in St. John's. We take two little girls round with us to supply the place of a full grown servant wh we cannot get in St. John's.
May 12th	Have again reached our home, endeared to us all the more by our short absence & by the difficulties we have experienced in reaching it. The weather has been very unfavorable and we have put into two harbours on our way home, Renews & Trepassey but praised be to God we have been kept and everyone here seems glad to see us.
May 17th	Sunday. Went to the Upper Island. Preached twice, instructed the children. Christened an infant and Churched a woman. [George Scard of Richard & Eleanor]
May 19th	Visited a poor little child, fearfully scalded, recommended some local remedies, but with small hope of recovery. In the evening called to baptize an infant dangerously ill. Accompanied the father to his residence about a mile from Burgeo. [George Parsons of William & Edith]
May 21st	Sunday. Preached twice at Lower Burgeo. In the morning christened an infant & churched the mother. In the afternoon christened an infant and received another into the Church. Instructed the children in the school both morning and afternoon. [Alexander Guy of William & Ann; James Matthews of Samuel & Frances]
May 28th	Went to the Sand Bankss, Upper Burgeo & baptized an infant supposed to be very ill. Vis-ited several families residing there. [Philip Thomas Blampied of Joseph & Grace]
May 30th	Baptized an infant brought from Red Island. [John Billard of John & Elizabeth]
May 31st	Held service morning and evening at Lower Burgeo. Instructed the children in the school and churched two women.
June 2nd	Buried two little infants, one an only child, was followed by a large congregation. The other, the child of very poor parents, from a short distance, had only a few mourners, the father & mother & four friends. Addressed a few words suitable for the occasion to both companies. Afterward churched a woman. [George Parsons, 1 month and Joseph Ingram, 7 months]
June 7th	Sunday. At Upper Burgeo. Held service twice. Instructed the children. Christened two infants - Churched a woman and gave notice of a meeting on Wedy next for the purpose of opening a subscription to the Church Society. [Ellen Chevalier of Augustus & Susan; Emily Anderson of John & Francis]
June 10th	Went to Upper Burgeo for the purpose of commencing the subscription referred to on Sunday, but the Capelin having come in all the men were out hauling bait. Got 10 sub-scribers then crossed to the Sand Bankss. Visited the several families residing there.
June 12th	Went to Furby's Hr. and baptized an infant supposed to be very ill. [James Hase of George & Mary]
June 14th	Sunday. Held service twice in Lower Burgeo. Both service were very largely attended - Gave notice of the sacrament and in the afternoon christened an infant. Instructed the children in the school. [James Maven of Richard & Sarah]
June 20th	Buried a woman brought up from Red Island. [June 19th, buried Sarah Simms, age 95, of Red Island]
June 21st	Sunday. Weather is very stormy accompanied with heavy rain that the people in Upper Burgeo were prevented coming for me as usual. Held service twice in Lower Burgeo and instructed the Children in the school.
June 24th	Married a couple in the Church at Lower Burgeo, in the morning. In the afternoon called to the Sand Bankss to bury an infant. [Lot Cossar to Elizabeth Lawrence] [Philip Blampied, 1 month, of Upper Burgeo]
June 26th	Have been this week superintending the removal of the East window in the Church at Lower Burgeo. Wh have now been replaced with a fine three lighted - Gothic window.
June 28th	Sunday. Weather stormy with thunderstorms. A crew from Upper Burgeo succeeded in getting down and I accompanied back and held service twice in the Church and catechized the children between services.
June 29th	Today a vessel has arrived from St. John's bringing the mournful intelligence that that town has been almost totally destroyed by fire. It commenced at ½ pt 8 in the morning & by 5 o'clock that evening 2000 houses had been destroyed & 12,000 persons left without a home. Every merchant store & warehouse with one exception has fallen a prey to the devouring element. Property to the amount of one million has been consumed. The old Church of St. John's is among the buildings destroyed. Everyone of Mrs. B's relations have suffered. Wind was blowing a gale and caused the fire to spread with astounding rapidity.
July 5th	Sunday. At Lower Burgeo, held service twice. In the morning administered the sacrament of the Lord's Supper to 30 communicants. In the afternoon christened two infants and admitted another into the church. Churched two women. The day being fine, the congre-gation was very large. Many attending from the more distant Islands. Instructed the children in the school. [Thomas Francis Vautier of Francis & Sarah; Jonathan Ford of James & Mary]
July 12th	Held service twice in the Church at Upper Burgeo and instructed the children in the school. After the Evening service was applied to marry a couple but ascertained that the young woman had not obtained the consent of her parents who reside at some distance and I declined until such consent could be obtained.
July 16th	Called to go to the Sand Bankss to baptize a child supposed to be very ill. While there churched a woman and visited the other families. [Selina Ann Cox of Frederick & Ann]
July 19th	Held service twice in the church at Lower Burgeo and instructed the children in the school.
July 21st	Went to an adjoining island & baptized an infant thought to be seriously ill. Administered some medicine they had at hand & left promising to see them again. [James Carrol of James & Catherine]
July 23rd	Visited the infant mentioned above & found it much better.
July 25th	Started very early in a small boat for LaPoile. Was out all day winds being very light. Towards evening we were quite becalmed & as it grew dark I lay down on my carpet bag in the little cuddy, endeavoured to go to sleep.
July 26th	Sunday. By rowing our crew have succeeded in getting into LaPoile. Went on shore and was kindly received by Mr. Renouf - after taking some refreshment notice was given of my intention to hold service. When about 30 persons assembled & I proceeded with the morning service and preached in one of the sitting rooms in the dwelling house. In the af-ternoon held service again and christened two infants. [Mary Sophia Ann Renouf of Thomas & Mary; Samuel Benjamin Thomas Fudge of John & Ann]
July 27th	Finding that a boat was going on from hence to Sydney, I found the master & he kindly consented to convey me up the shore as far as the wind would permit without carrying him out of his course. Though light the wind continued favourable & I was landed at Burnt Islands about 17 miles westward of LaPoile. It being late in the evening, I got some refreshment at the house of J. Hiscock and retired for the night.
July 28th	Visited all the families in Burnt Islands, nine in number & gave notice of my intention to hold service in the afternoon. About 4 o'clock crossed to the house of B. Kippen & a large congregation soon assembled. Christened 7 children and afterwards addressed the people - took tea with the godmothers and arranged for a crew tomorrow to carry me on to Isle-au-Morte. [Susanna Eastmant of Robert and Sarah; James & Sarah Kippen of James & Eleanor; Francis (son) & Sarah Guillaume of Michael & Elizabeth; Anne Kippen of Benjamin & Frances; Benjamin Kippen of John & Elizabeth all of Burnt Islands]
July 29th	Started immediately after breakfast and in about an hour reached the Eastern Isle-au-Morte. Landed and found that only the women were at home some of the men being out fishing and the rest having gone northward. Waited until evening when the fisherman came in & then baptized three children and addressed those present. Finding it not convenient to stay here the night I got one of the men to row me onward to the Upper Isle-au-Morte, where I stayed for the night at the house of P. Dykes. [Philip LeFresne of Prosper & Prisilla; Thomas Guillaume of Charles & Ann; Pricilla Huelen of John & Susan all of Isle au Morte]
July 30th	There being but 2 families here & only one man at home I engaged him and three little boys to row me on to Margaree - but a heavy swell coming in from the sea. We were forced to land & make our way across country through bushes, bogs & for 3 miles to Margaree where I found six families and after a little while got them together & held service & christened four children. It being yet early in the day & a crew going to Channel I took passage with them in an open skiff but before we reached Channel. The rain came down in heavy showers so we were completely drenched ~ landed as quickly as possible and went to the house of Mr. W. Bagg whose wife received me very kindly, dried my clothes by the fire & took some refreshment and then the weather clearing up I visited some of the families residing here and sent word around to all the rest that I would hold service. In about an hour the congregation were assembled in the school room wh was completely filled - commenced service and christened seven children & afterwards preached from 4C1 Epi. John 7 & 8 Verses. When all were gone, I discovered that there were two children, yet to be christened whose parents had not been able to get them ready ~ not knowing how short my stay might be as there were two boats going back at the first chance of wind. I waited for them till they were ready then administered the sacrament of Baptism to them ~ making nine infants ~ returned to the house of Mr. W. Bagg for the night. [Hannah Collier of John & Elizabeth; Mary Francis of William & Ann; Mary Ann Wal-ters of James & Jane; Joseph Osmond of George & Elizabeth all of Margaree; Harriett Dennis of Thomas & Jane; Morgan Beaufit of Morgan & Sarah; Julia LeMoine of John & Ann; Maria Guillaume of William & Catherine; Samuel Vatcher of John & Charlotte; Charlotte Bragg of Philip & Lavinia; Eleanor Galpin of Joseph & Ann; Agnes Bragg of William & Mary; Sarah Ann Bragg of Philip & Lavinia all of Channel]
July 31st	In the morning the wind being ahead and my stay thus prolonged. Three more children were brought out to be christened. In the afternoon was occupied in writing to St. John's. There being an opportunity shortly from this place. There is a Church in building nearly covered, it is being put up by & at the expense of Mr. W. Bagg who proposes remunerating himself by selling Pews, but no one knows his plans and he is away. I could learn nothing upon wh I could depend. It is I am told to be open to all or any minister who may come along. A Church is indeed much needed here as the population is rapidly increasing, but I fear this will not be the answer. [Edward Guillaume of John & Mahala; Timothy William Pike of John & Catherine; Aaron Foscey of Aaron & Susanna all recorded as being from Channel]
Aug. 1st	Left Channel early this morning in a boat bound to Rose Blanche. The wind was fair at starting but died away. A heavy sea also came rolling in from the southward w made our situation very unpleasant. I was very sick just before dark. We had drifted down the shore and were off Rose Blanche & by putting out the oars & with the help of a little wind wh sprang up we continued to get in faint & weary. I was kindly welcomed here & provided refreshment wh I thankfully accepted.
Aug. 2nd	Sunday. Morning at Rose Blanche held service and christened four children. In the evening was put on to Petites a distance 3 miles and as the people had just assembled, they being accustomed to have prayers amongst themselves, I held service. The room was crowded with attentive hearers. [John & Philip Hatcher of Charles & Mary; Morgan Hannam of John & Maria; John Bovil of Thomas & Susanna]
Aug. 3rd	Got a crew consisting of one man and three little boys and was rowed to Seal Islands between 2 or 3 miles, landed & visited all the families residing here, four in number and the afternoon christened two children. After service accompanied a crew to the neat settlement, Garia, and after landing engaged in the services of a little boy to accompany me through the settlement. Wh is somewhat scattered & gave notice of a service as we passed along. Just before dark a congregation of about 40 persons assembled when I preached and christened three children. [Charles Chislett of John & Sarah; Fanny Trim of John & Evilina both of Seal Island; Henry Troke of Henry & Hannah; Esther Brown of William & Eleanor; Robert Parsons of Nathanael & Susanna all of Garia]
Aug. 4th	Engaged the services of a crew to put me on to the Western Pt., LaPoile where I meet some kind and I trust Christian people by whom my visits have always been welcomed. Assembled all that were in the place & held service. Christened three children after service. Had a long and interesting conversation with those present on the matter of the sacrament of the Lord's Supper & our obligation to partake of it. Was much pleased with the earnestness manifested by these people in religious matters. [John Robert Anderson of Robert & Elizabeth; Thomas Kendle of John & Sarah; Hannah Stickland of John & Sarah]
Aug. 5th	Was rowed by Mr. Stickland and his little boy up an arm called LaPoile, at the head of wh we landed and walked across the hills and through the brushes to the south side of the Great Harbour where we got a boat and rowed to the opposite side and landed on the room and Mr. R. kindly welcomed me home again.
Aug. 6th	There being an opportunity for Burgeo by the same little boat & with a fair wind set out for home, but when we were within 9 miles the wind changed against us and after tacking several times we made no progress. I determined upon taking the little yawl & with the help of a boy to row home. We just left before sunset, but both wind and night being against us, we made little progress. Soon, also we lost sight of the boat so that now we were obliged to give up all hope of return. The night was fine but about ½ pt. 11 we were off Upper Burgeo and scarcely moved. But providence favoured us and after two hours more rowing we got safely home. I went immediately to the house & found all well. The boat got in the next morning 9 o'clock.
Aug. 9th	Sunday. Went to Upper Burgeo. Held service twice. In the morning christened an infant & churched a mother. After morning service instructed the Children & in the afternoon christened an infant & churched another woman. [Dinah Rose of Robert & Maria; Thomas, son of William Mauger & Sarah Kippen]
Aug. 10th	Visited a sick woman.
Aug. 12th	Went to Upper Burgeo visited six families. Obtained a crew to remove & pile a quantity of lumber for ceiling the Church, collected several subscribers for the Church Society & then crossed to the Sand Bankss, visited a family there. Returned home in the evening, but on getting out of the boat & to the railing of Mr. Matthews stage my feet slipped from under me & my right arm got twisted in one of the upper rails, I felt a wrench & on extracting it I fell to my side quite useless. Immediately called for help concluding my arm was broken. Some neighbours ran to my assistance while others started for the doctor. I walked up to the house and was helped by Mr. Picot who kindly led me to undress, when we found that no bone had been broken, but that the elbow was dislocated. The doctor came shortly after & put it again in it's place, but did not bandage it. I then went to bed, but not to sleep. The pain from my arm being too acute. This was a sudden stroke and seems most afflictive, but He who does all things has laid it upon me & most assuredly for my own good.
Aug. 13th	Passed a very uneasy nigh, my arm very painful. The Doctor came early this morning & found my elbow was out again and much swollen he know had to use his knee to put it in place. An operation wh gave me much pain. He know bandaged my arm and left some cold lotion with directions to keep the bandage constantly wet.
Aug. 16th	Sunday. Unable to get to the house of God & to join with my people in public worship felt very sorrowful but was incited to gratitude by the thought that was the first Sunday in four years that I have been kept by sickness from performing my duties. My arm is much easier.
Aug. 22nd	I am thankful to be able to write that my arm is becoming more and more easy. The swelling is gradually going down, though I am yet unable to move it without help from the other hand. I have several times visited a sick person this week and have had many kind visitors from my parish.
Aug. 23rd	Sunday. Thought myself well enough to go to Church and attempt some part of my duties. Engaged Mr. Jordan to read the morning service. I took the communion service and preached but found my arm so painful at the close of service that I was compelled to give up the thought of further duty for the day.
Aug. 26th	My arm still mending though yet very weak. The day being moderate & a crew going to Upper Burgeo, I ventured to accompany them. To relieve my arm I got A.C. to lead the prayers & lesson. I reading the communion service & preached the sermon. In the after-noon christened an infant though with considerable difficulty being unable to move my arm without assistance ~ Returned home in the evening a little fatigued but without hurt-ing my arm. [Not listed in register as Aug. 26th Emma Jane Stickland of Henry & Sarah entered as Aug. 30th]
Sept. 1st	An opportunity being about to offer for sending to St. John's, the last probably for this year. I have been lately busy collecting for the Ch Society in accordance with the Bishops circular letter and have succeeded better than I expected.
Sept. 3rd	Closed my collections & wrote the Bishop forwarding a list of subscribers to the Church Society and an order for £ 28 - 7 sh. the amount of subscriptions received.
Sept. 4th	Have recorded eight additional subscriptions to the Ch Society amounting to £ 2 - 12 sh and the vessel being still here wrote a note to the Bishop enclosing an order for that amount.
Sept. 6th	Sunday. Held service twice in Lower Burgeo. In the morning churched a woman and in the afternoon christened an infant. [John Vatcher of Stephen & Maria]
Sept. 10th	Married a couple from Hunts Is. in the Church at Lower Burgeo in the morning, and in the afternoon went to Upper Burgeo and married a couple at the Church there. [John Rose to Edith Porter of Lower Burgeo; William Mead to Elizabeth Richards of Upper Burgeo]
Sept. 12th	Went to Upper Burgeo and married a couple in the Church there. [William Mauger to Sarah Kippen]
Sept. 13th	Sunday. Went to Upper Burgeo and held service twice. In the morning administered the sacrament of the Lord's Supper to seven communicants ~ the rest being away from home. Between the services instructed the children in the School.
Sept. 14th	Married a couple in the church at Lower Burgeo. [Charles Bungay to Mary Hare]
Sept. 15th	Visited a sick child and endeavoured to lead her mind to the Saviour.
Sept. 20th	Held service twice in the Church at Lower Burgeo ~ and instructed the children in the school ~ gave notice of the sacrament.
Sept. 24th	Was visited by an aged couple from Hunt's Is. who wished to converse with me respecting the sacrament of the Lord's Supper of which they were desirous to partake. Had an interesting conversation with them on the nature and obligations of that sacrament & was pleased with their remarks. They were in Ch when the sart [sacrament] was last administered but did not stay on, reaching home they both felt very sad & on the wife asking her husband the cause of his sadness he replied "We have committed a very great sin today in not staying to the sacrament". The wife immediately said "Well, I have been thinking so, too." And they both determined not to let another oppy [opportunity] pass by without speaking to me on the subject.
Sept. 25th	Visited the sick child again & conversed with her but find her very full of apprehension.
Sept. 27th	Went to Upper Burgeo & held service twice there. Instructed the children between services.
Sept. 30th	Held service in the Church at Lower Burgeo in this afternoon and addressed the communicants.
Oct. 1st	Called to see the sick girl mentioned above and found her recovering.
Oct. 4th	Sunday. Instructed the children in the school and afterwards held service in the Church. Congregation large and very attentive. Administered the sacrament of the Lord's Supper to 26 communicants. In the afternoon went to Upper Burgeo and held service there.
Oct. 7th	Visited fifteen families residing on the Sand Bankss and on the Island of Upper Burgeo.
Oct. 11th	Sunday. Instructed the Children in the school at Lower Burgeo. From there accompanied a crew to the Upper Island & held service there, returned and again held school at Lower Burgeo and after service christened an infant and churched two women. [Thomas Janes James of George & Susannah]
Oct. 14th	Visited three families in Lower Burgeo, each having sick members.
Oct. 18th	Sunday. Weather having been very stormy of late, the Upper Burgeo people being prevented coming for me. Held service twice in the Church at Lower Burgeo. In the morning received an infant into the Church. Instructed the children in the school after service. Also read an extract from the Bishop's letter acknowledging the receipt of the contributions to the Church Society.
Oct. 20th	Occupied in writing letters to St. John's and England.
Oct. 21st	Visited two families.
Oct. 25th	Sunday. The Upper Island people have left for their winter quarters in LaPoile Bay, held service twice in the Church at Lower Burgeo in the morning churched a woman. Instructed the children in the school. In the evening visited a sick woman & read a sermon to her and some of her relations assembled in the house.
Oct. 31st	We were visited by a most violent storm of wind and rain. Our house was rather elevated there and shook and cracked in a fearful manner. The Church flag staff is blown down.
Nov. 1st	Sunday. Called early today to go across the harbour to baptize an infant very ill. Returned and instructed the children in the school & held service in the Church. Christened and infant. Instructed the children again in the afternoon & held service. Congregation very large on both occasions. [John Bovil [sic] of William & Catherine; Manuel Matthews of William & Mary]
Nov. 3rd	A crew came for me from the Sand Bankss to visit a sick woman there and read to and comfort the woman, but I fear with little effect, as she was suffering very acutely from pain in her head. Returned and in the afternoon visited _______ who is confined to his bed with fever, read & prayed with him. Visited four sick children. There has been a species of low Typhus fever in the harbour now for two months past and not less than eight individuals are now suffering from it.
Nov. 5th	Visited three families in each of wh there are sick persons. Read and conversed with S.N.
Nov. 8th	Sunday. Instructed the Children in the school in the morning and held service in the Church. Christened an infant & churched a woman. In the afternoon a crew came for me and carried me to Upper Burgeo. Held service in the Church there where nearly every member of the families left were present. [Mary Ann Parsons of William & Edith]
Nov. 10th	Visited four families. The sickness alluded to above is increasing.
Nov. 12th	Visited several sick persons, between thirty and forty have no suffered from this fever.
Nov. 15th	Sunday. Instructed the children in the school. Held service in the morning in the Church at Lower Burgeo. Christened an infant. In the afternoon went to Upper Burgeo & held service in the Church there. Baptized the infant, churched the infant. [Samuel Matthews of John & Francis of Lower Burgeo; James Stephen Cox of Samuel & Frances of Upper Burgeo]
Nov. 17th	Visited three sick families.
Nov. 22nd	Sunday. Instructed the children in the school & held service twice in the Church at Lower Burgeo.
Nov. 25th	Held service in the Church here more particularly for the communicants and preparatory to the administration next Sunday of the Holy Communion. All communicants with the exception of three now suffering from sickness were present.
Nov. 29th	Sunday. The weather very stormy ~ during the whole of last week we have had heavy gales of wind with rain ~ preventing having school by the storm. The rain beating through the window. Held service in the Church wh withstanding the weather was well attended. In the morning administered the sacrament to sixteen individuals, the rest being away from home or prevented from sickness. In the afternoon received an infant into the Church and churched the mother. [No note of this in the register]
Nov. 30th	St. Andrew's Day. Held service in the Church. The morning being very wet & stormy, I had anticipated a small congregation but was surprised to the number between 40 & 50 present.
Dec. 3rd	Visited several sick persons.
Dec. 6th	Sunday. Instructed the children and held service twice.
Dec. 13th	Sunday. Weather very stormy. Instructed the children and held service twice in the Church.
Dec. 15th	Visited two sick families.
Dec. 19th	The fever which has been so long in Burgeo is I grieve to think spreading. Four additional families have it here now in their houses, three cases in one family. Though it has not proved fatal in any instances. Visited three families now suffering.
Dec. 20th	Sunday. Instructed the children in the school and held services twice in the Church. In the morning christened an infant & churched the mother. [Philip Porter of James & Edith]
Dec. 21st	St. Thomas Day. Held morning service in the Church and delivered a short lecture on the Gospel for the day. Not withstanding the weather was very stormy ~ the service was well attended.
Dec. 22nd	Visited three sick families.
Dec. 24th	Married a couple in the Church. [Robert Wills to Miriam Crew]
Dec. 25th	Christmas Day. Held morning service in the Church which was largely attended. In the afternoon visited the sick. There are six cases of fever in the community.
Dec. 27th	Sunday. Instructed the children in the school and held service twice in the Church. The number of sick persons thinning the congregation. This evening there were four pews entirely empty. A circumstance which has not occurred before during my ministry. After the second service visited the sick families and conversed with them who could bear it. The family mentioned above as having six of it's members laid down with the fever have now two more taken with the same sickness, only the mother and the daughter left to attend upon the others. There are at this time fourteen cases of the fever.
Dec. 28th	The fever has at length made its appearance in my own family. The eldest of our two little servant girls has taken the infection & is now confined to her bed with strong fever. Visited several persons this afternoon. The fever has now assumed from the Typhoid ~ 18 are sick.

1847

Jan. 1st	The Circumcision. Held service in the Held service in the Church which was well attended & lectured on the Gospel.
Jan. 2nd	Sent for early this morning to visit one of the sick persons H. Dicks. [Henry Dicks] Was requesting to read & pray with him, which I did making such remarks as I though were applicable to this case. Had a visit from one of the communicants who thought I alluded to him in some remarks wh fell from me yesterday in Church. He called to assure me he had not countenanced in anyway some riotous proceedings wh had been carried in the houses adjoining.
Jan. 3rd	Sunday. No school today. The school master being one of the sick together with the greater number of children who usually attend. In the afternoon churched a woman and after service visited four sick families.
Jan. 4th	Called today by another sick person C.D. who is much troubled in mind as well as body, conversed with him & prayed with him & left him somewhat comforted, called upon another sick family. [C.D. may be Christopher Dicks.]
Jan. 5th	Visited a single man, a servant in the house of W.C. [William Curry] who was found lying in a very neglected condition, found him in a wretched crib in a loft totally dark in a very filthy state. Until yesterday he had not been changed for three weeks. It is a miserable family he is living with. The doctor has given him up. He was unable to speak much or at all distinctly, but found he could understand what I said. Directed him to pray & told him of the love and pity of the Saviour, could not stay long, the stench was so great. On my way home called on C.D. found him still distressed in mind, on account of the greatness of his sins, sit before him the power of the Savior's blood & prayed with him.
Jan. 6th	Epiphany. Held service in the Church and lectured on the Gospel for the day.
Jan. 7th	The single man mentioned on the 5th is dead. He died I am informed in great agony. Visited three sick families ~ read to and prayed to H.D.[Henry Dicks] [Thomas Sibley, age 24 and servant to William Curry, died.]
Jan. 8th	Buried the poor creature who died yesterday.
Jan. 9th	Sent for to visit C.D. conversed long with him to cast himself with sympathy on the Savior.
Jan. 10th	Sunday. Held service twice in the Church. The congregation, on account of the prevailing sickness was smaller than at any time before since I have been in Burgeo. After the close of service visited four sick families. The fever is several cases has as seemed as very alarming appearance. Our girl is still confined to her bed with it.
Jan. 14th	Sent for to visit another family in which the fever had made its appearance. Read to and conversed with them who appear anxious about his soul.
Jan. 16th	The weather this week has been unusually rough and boisterous. The cold too is server. Our glass indoors 18 deg. Below freezing point.
Jan. 17th	Sunday. The weather very sever, glass lower than yesterday 2 degrees. Held service twice in the Church. The men only were able to attend. The weather and the number of sick has sadly reduced the attendance.
Jan. 18th	Visited the W.C. family found all with exception of Mrs. C. [Sarah Curry] herself & the infant [Manuel] sick. W.C. very restless urged him to pray & directed him to the Saviour.
Jan. 20th	The climate of Nfld. at this season of the year seems to be particularly variable. Yesterday it was mild and the glass at 36 ~ today it is bitterly cold and the glass down to 100 ~ 200 below the freezing point indoors. We have had three such sudden changes within the last week. The wind chops round to the north & generally blows hard, freezing instantly all the while.
Jan. 21st	Weather bitterly cold - 80. In the afternoon somewhat milder ~ visited five of the sick families. Several new cases.
Jan. 22nd	Have just heard of the death of W.C. [William Curry] He was the master of the man buried a fortnight since & attended at the funeral but unwell immediately after his sickness assumed the aspect of malignant typhus & has carried him off thus rapidly. He left a widow and eight children, six of whom are sick with the fever and from the wretchedness of their habitation, I fear it will go hard with them. God have mercy upon them.
Jan. 24th	Sunday. Preached twice in the Church here. In the afternoon buried W.C. and addressed the congregation in the necessity of being prepared for death & Eternity. [Burial of William Curry, age 52]
Jan. 25th	Weather again bitterly cold, glass this morning -80. In the afternoon ran over the hills into the harbour to visit the house of S. Matthews [Samuel Matthews] - on entering was greatly shocked to find that about two minutes before she had departed this life, her eyes shut closed & the flush of fever upon her cheeks. This is an awfully sudden case. She had been sick for a few days before, but yesterday I was told by her husband she was better. She [Frances Curry] is the daughter of W.C. [William Curry] whom I buried yesterday & has left two infant children. She is only 22 years of age. Oh, grace to live as on the border of the Eternal world. Mrs. B. (wife) has been sick all day with strong symptoms of the fever.
Jan. 26th	Buried the woman that died yesterday. Weather very cold, obliged to keep one hand to my ear all the while I was reading the service in the grave yard to keep it from being frost burnt. Glass at -60 this morning. The vapour on the sea for the past week has covered the surface like a cloud of steam. [Buried Frances (Curry) Matthews, age 22.]
Jan. 30th	The weather during the last week has been unusually rough. Snow drifts every day.
Jan. 31st	Sunday. Held service twice in the Church in the afternoon christened an infant after service visited four sick families. The violence of the of the frost is abating. Nearly all that have been sick are recovering. [Matilda Hare of James & Mary]
Feb. 2nd	Day very fine and mild ~ no wind & the sun shining quite warm.
Feb. 7th	Sunday. Held service twice in the Church wh was much better attended than for many previous Sundays, several that have been sick were present.
Feb. 10th	Visited two families.
Feb. 12th	Visited one sick family.
Feb. 14th	Sunday. Held service twice in the Church. Congregation increasing.
Feb. 17th	Ash Wednesday. During the last fortnight the weather has been very mild, but today the wind has changed & it has become very cold. This has had a very great effect on diminishing the members of the Church today. Wh were very few compared with former occasions. Held service and preached.
Feb. 19th	The wind north, temp zero, got the colors hoisted & held prayers in the Church, ten persons present. Met a man waiting for me outside who requested me to come in the course of the day to visit his wife, Mrs. K. who has been recently confined of a still born child & is troubled in her mind concluding herself to blame. Endeavoured to set her mind on this point. Read to her a portion of the Bible & prayed with her. The sun has shone out brightly today and has caused the glass to rise to 10 deg. But now towards evening it is falling again. The wind has been blowing strongly all day & the sea has been completely covered with vapour. At breakfast, though sitting close to a fire in a Franklin stove, we found our cups frozen to the saucer, after having had hot coffee in them & during the short interval wh elapsed between the pouring of it & our drinking it.
Feb. 20th	Last night dreadfully cold, could scarcely sleep. Thermter again at zero. The harbour is frozen over ~ wind blowing strong all day ~ glass down 8 0 below and fell again at Evg.
Mar. 16th	It has pleased the Almighty again to afflict me the day after my last entry, Sunday Feb. 21st, I had held service in the morning & proceeded again to the church for afternoon service, when on going up the Church steps wh were covered with ice, my foot slipped and attempting to save myself from falling by laying hold of the rail I gave my arm a sudden twist and fractured the bone just above the elbow. Not certain of the fracture I went into the Church & tried to put on my surplice but found myself unable. The doctor was sent for and I returned home. After some little delay my arm was set. No swelling took place and it has continued easy. Wednesday, March 10th I ventured to go again to the church & had morning prayers & buried an infant & churched the mother on Friday and Mar. 12th had morning prayers and on Sunday last Mar. 14th I was enabled to do the whole duty, both morning and afternoon. In the morning I christened an infant. Then thought this is the arm that I injured, I have been so confined with it, Never have I suffered an equal portion of pain & within another fortnight I hope it's God's will to leave off the bandages. I pray that these trials may not their effect. [March 10, 1847, burial of Sarah Ellen Norkett, 7 weeks] [May 14, 1847, Manuel Curry of William & Sarah]
Mar. 17th	Morning prayers in the Church. Well attended.
Mar. 19th	Buried a young man, a servant to Mr. Nicholl's room, about three weeks since he received an injury while launching a boat, inflammation ensued & carried him off the day before yesterday, he expressed a wish to see me but the message was not brought until the day fallg [following]. I was then on my way to visit him when I was informed of his death. [James Brickel, age 27, died on March 18, 1847]
Mar. 20th	Morning prayers in the Church. In the afternoon was sent for to visit Mrs. K. found her in a very low & despondent state of mind, induced in a great measure by weakness of the body, conversed with her on the promise of God to the penitent, read a portion of the scripture & prayed with her.
Mar. 21st	Sunday, attended the school and held service twice in the Church. The weather being mild, the attendance was large.
Mar. 24th	Morning prayers in the Church.
Mar. 25th	Visited Mrs. K. of Furby's Hr. she continued still in a desponding state of mind greatly caused by evil thoughts, read to & prayed with her, left her somewhat comforted.
Mar. 26th	Morning prayers in the Church.
Mar. 28th	Sunday. Instructed the children in the school and held services twice in the Church. After Evening service was called to visit a sick woman, conversed with her in the state of her soul & read some portions of the scripture. While there heard of a man on Mr. Nicholl's Room being dangerously ill, went on immediately to see him, found him groaning very heavily and totally insensible. He had been seized with brain fever the day before that & had since been raving, tried to rouse him but could not succeed. Addressed a few words to the men around me & returned home very tired.
Mar. 29th	Visited the sick woman mentioned above, found her better.
Mar. 31st	Morning prayers in the Church.
Apr. 2nd	Good Friday. Full service in the Church which was very largely attended. In the afternoon was informed by the Doctor that the man I had seen on Sunday was dying, hastened over to the house to wh he had been removed but on reaching it was met by the inmates who told me he had just breathed his last. The fever had turned to typhus and carried him off rather unexpectedly.
Apr. 3rd	Buried the man referred to above. The weather unusually rough, snowing and blowing as in the depths of winter. There is more snow on the ground now than has been known for many years past. [Joseph Watts, age 21]
Apr. 4th	Easter Sunday. Instructed the children in the school and held service twice in the Church, congregation large on both occasions ~ in the morning administered the Sacrament to 25 communicants. Was much pleased to see three members of the congn [congregation] come forward for first time to partake of the sacred feast.
Apr. 5th	Attended a meeting of the seatholders and elected two church wardens for the coming year.
Apr. 11th	Instructed the children in the school and held service twice in the Church, both services very largely attended. In the morning churched a woman & christened an infant. [John Crew of Samuel & Marhta]
Apr. 13th	Visited a sick woman. Called on two other families.
Apr. 17th	Visited a sick woman. Read to and prayed with her.
Apr. 18th	Sunday. Instructed the children in the school and held service twice in the Church.
Apr. 21st	Visited a sick woman. Read to her and explained various passages of Scripture and engaged with them in prayer.
Apr. 24th	Mrs. K. the sick person referred to above is getting low and the Doctor thinks she can't recover. Visited her this afternoon & conversed with her on the state of her soul. She appears very anxious. Read to her and prayed with her.
Apr. 25th	Sunday. The people of Upper Burgeo have returned from their winter quarters. A crew having come down for me. I accompanied them and held service twice in the Church. In the morning christened an infant and churched the mother and in the afternoon christened another infant & churched the mother. [Frances Ellen Dicks of George & Elizabeth; Ambrose Robert Forward of Lambert & Hannah]
Apr. 26th	Visited Mrs. K. who is evidently growing worse, could not converse much with me owing to her difficulty breathing - read to her & prayed to her. A heavy fall of snow today has again made the ground white. The weather is very cold & spring will be very backward. The ground is frozen quite hard, yet for the last fortnight, the drift ice has been on & off every day covering the surface of the ocean as far as the eye can reach, our little harbour is full of very heavy masses of ice wh have come in from the sea.
Apr. 30th	Visited Mrs. K. read and prayed with her. She is somewhat better, speaks of deriving comfort from what I read.
May 2nd	Sunday. Instructed the children in the school at Lower Burgeo and held service twice in the Church. In the afternoon christened an infant & churched the mother. Used the new Stone Font on this occasion for the first time. [George Cosser of Lot & Elizabeth]
May 5th	Visited three sick families.
May 8th	Sunday. Held service in the Church at Upper Burgeo. In the afternoon christened an infant. The congregation was very large and unexpectedly increased. In the morning a small French schooner with 53 men on board, fishermen, has put in here being prevented going onward by the immense quantity of drift ice in the neighbourhood, finding that there was a service between 30 or 40 of them, though all Catholics & but few able to speak a word of English, came to the Church remained the whole service kneeling and standing with the rest of the congregation & apparently very attentive. In the afternoon six were present. [Amelia Matthews of James & Hannah]
May 11th	Visited two sick persons.
May 13th	Ascension Day. Held service in the Church & churched a woman.
May 16th	Sunday. Instructed the children morning & afternoon in the school at Lower Burgeo & held service twice in the Church wh was largely attended on both occasions. In the morning christened an infant. [Elvina Collier of Charles & Bethanah]
May 18th	Visited both merchant establishments and adopted measures for raising a subscription for the purpose of erecting a gallery in the Church which owing to the number of men connected with the "Rooms" is again too small.
May 19th	Visited Mrs. K. conversed with her and at her request read to her from the scriptures and prayed with her.
May 23rd	Sunday. Went to Upper Burgeo. Held service twice in the Church there.
May 26th	Called to visit a sick woman, a communicant at Hunt's Island about ½ mile from the larger Island of Burgeo. Found her surrounded by her friends who were in expectation of her decease, conversed with her and heard her expressing her full hope of salvation through the Merits of the Saviour. Read to her some portions of the word of God & prayed with her. Conversed with the children & visited three more families on the Island.
May 30th	Sunday. Held services in the Church at Lower Burgeo. In the morning administered the sacrament of the Lord's Supper to twenty-six communicants, was pleased to see two who have refrained from joining have come forward & partake of the memorials of their Savior's love. Instructed the children in the school both before and between the services,
June 1st	Visited four sick persons - conversed long and very seriously with an aged man who though sick & very feeble. Still clings to the hope of living many years.
June 6th	Sunday. Went to Upper Island and held service there twice in the church. In the morning administered the sacrament of the Lord's Supper to twelve communicants. In the afternoon christened an infant. Gave notice of the fast to be observed on Wednesday next on account of calamities by fire, tempest & scarcity of food wh this Island has been visited. [Julia Ellen Scard of Thomas & Elizabeth]
June 7th	Visited an aged individual.
June 9th	Wednesday. A day of fasting humiliation. Held service in the morning at 10 o'clock at Lower Burgeo. The Church was crowded. All the men from both the "Rooms" were present ~ and all listened to the address I delivered with great attention. In the afternoon went to Upper Burgeo and held service there. Scarcely an individual belonging to the place was absent ~ and in both settlements all business was laid aside for the day ob-served with becoming seriousness. God grant that it may have been an acceptable service.
June 10th	Got a boat and with the assistance of *M. Vatcher rowed out to Hunt's Island and visited *Mrs. P. who is still confined to her bed. Read to her and prayed with her. Buried a child brought from Red Island. [Most likely Manuel Vatcher and Mrs. Porter] [Buried on June 12th: John Organ, 3 weeks, of Red Island]
June 13th	Sunday. Instructed the children in the school & held service twice in the Church at Lower Burgeo. In the afternoon churched a woman. "H.M.S. Vesuvius" war steamer, has put in here. Went on board and was shown over the vessel - began to write a letter to send by her to St. John's.
June 16th	Buried an infant from Red Island. Afternoon visited a sick person. [Thomas Organ, age 3 weeks]
June 20th	Sunday. Went to Upper Burgeo. Held service in the afternoon, christened an infant & churched a the mother. [Thomas Harris of Robert & Caroline]
June 25th	Selected some material and commenced enlarging for the second time our Church at Lower Burgeo.
June 27th	Sunday. Instructed the children in the school, held service twice in the Church at Lower Burgeo. Congregation very large on both occasions.
June 29th	St. Peter's Day. Held service in the church at Lower Burgeo, about fifty persons present.
July 3rd	The work on enlarging the Church is proceeding satisfactorily. We have taken down the side and adding 10 feet in width.
July 4th	Sunday. A very stormy day. The people of the Upper Island unable to come for me. Instructed the children and held service twice in the Church at Lower Burgeo.
July 6th	Visited the people living on the Sand Bankss and at Upper Burgeo. A great number are becoming sick again.
July 9th	I have again to record the goodness & loving kindness of the Lord. Today about ½ pt. 12 o'clock my dear wife gave birth to a healthy little boy [Martin Mason Blackmore]. God grant that he may be a child of the Lord ~ both are well.
July 11th	Sunday. Went to Upper Burgeo and held service twice in the Church there. After my return went across to an opposite Island to visit a young woman very ill of typhus fever ~ found her insensible and dying ~ about an hour after reaching home was informed of her death.
July 12th	Buried the young woman [Charlotte] that died yesterday. She belonging to one of the oldest families [Matthews] in Burgeo, a large company assembled to follow her remains to the grave, before leaving the Church I delivered a short address to the people present reminding them of the mercy they had experienced in being thus far spared & exhorting them without delay to devote themselves to the service of God. This young person only 18, was when I first came to Burgeo a girl in the Sunday school ~ at 17 she married, and now removed almost suddenly, leaving a husband and little one to grieve for her. We were honored today by a visit from his Excellency, the Governor & suite, who has been round the Island so far as St. George's Bay and Bay of Islands & put in here on his way back to St. John's. His Excellency made many inquiries and after viewing the settlement went on board the steamer wh in the Evg proceeded on her way. [Buried: Charlotte (Matthews) Bovit]
July 18th	Sunday. Instructed the children in the school and held service twice in the Church at Lower Burgeo. In the morning christened an Infant and churched a woman. [Martin Crew of William & Ann]
July 25th	Sunday. Held service twice in the Church at Upper Burgeo. Arranged for the recarrying of the Sunday school.
Aug. 1st	Sunday. Instructed the children in the school and held service twice in the Church at Lower Burgeo. In the morning christened two infants and churched a woman, also administered the sacrament of the Lord's Supper to 29 communicants. Two persons came forward on this occasion for the first time. In the afternoon preached on behalf of the Church Society. Visited the school and examined the children. [Elizabeth Dicks of Christopher & Elizabeth of Upper Burgeo; Martin Ingram of Joseph & Mary at Lower Burgeo]
Aug. 8th	Sunday. Held service twice in the Church at Upper Burgeo. Administered the sacrament of the Lord's Supper to 9 persons. Instructed the children between the services. On the way homeward visited two sick families on the Sand Bankss.
Aug. 13th	Visited three families on the Sand Bankss. In which are several sick persons.
Aug. 15th	Sunday. Held service twice in the Church at Lower Burgeo and instructed the children in the school. In the morning churched Mrs. B. In the afternoon christened my own little boy and another little girl and churched the mother. [Frances Parsons of William & Edith; Martin Mason Blackmore of Martin & Ellen]
Aug. 16th	Got a boat & boy to assist me & rowed to Aldridge's Pond about ½ mile distant and visited a family in great distress ~ husband sick ~ gave some temporary relief.
Aug. 22nd	Sunday. Went to Upper Burgeo. Held service twice in the Church there and instructed the children in the school. At the close of the service in the afternoon began a collection for the Church Society. Visited two families on my way home.
Aug. 23rd	Commenced the collection for the Church Society, Lower Burgeo. Visited all the inhabitants on two of the Islands.
Aug. 24th	St. Bartholomew's Day - Held service in the Church, forty persons present. In the afternoon visited one of the families in Furby's Harbour, collecting subscriptions.
Aug. 25th	Got a boy to assist me and rowed to the Island opposite and visited the families there ~ and from there thence to the other group called Hunt's. Visited several families there.
Aug. 26th	Assisted by a boy rowed to the Sand Bankss and then to the Island of Upper Burgeo for the purpose of closing my collection at this place, find the people quite willing to give, but much stricken in circumstances owing to the failure of the fishery and the very high cost of provisions. Several families I regret to find have the fever wh has been so long about Lower Burgeo in their homes but of milder character,
Aug. 28th	Closed my collection for the Church Society ~ amount £ 25 14 s 6 p. Prepared offering for St. John's and enabled to send it on to the Bishop. I have had this last week three men constantly at work about the addition to the Church wh is now making progress.
Aug. 29th	Sunday. Held service twice in the Church at Lower Burgeo and instructed the children in the school.
Sept. 3rd	Left Burgeo in a small dry fish boat for the purpose of visiting some of the settlements to the eastward.
Sept. 4th	Reached Fox Island 15 miles from Burgeo. Visited all the inhabitants 10 families. In the afternoon got a crew to row me to a little settlement called Mosquito Harbour about 2 miles further East. Found three families there with several yet unbaptized. Perused them to bring their children to Fox Island tomorrow wh they engaged to do.
Sept. 5th	Sunday. Held service twice in one of the Planters Houses at Fox Island and christened nine children. In the evening assembled a little company and passed the time in singing & I made profitable conversation. [Rosanna Young of James & Elizabeth; Samuel Hayman of Benjamin & Mary; Jonas, Sarah & George Cains of Kish & Esther; Rebecca Warren of John & Frances; Mary & Thizza Suter of Aaron & Anne; Isaac Clothier of Charles & Jane]
Sept. 8th	Left Fox Island this morning having been detained sailing by bad weather and crossed to Ramea ~ visited all the families there, and finding an opportunity for Burgeo embraced it and reached home in the Evg
Sept. 9th	Married a couple this morning in the Church at Lower Burgeo. In the afternoon christened an Infant belonging to Deer Island & churched the mother. [James Ingram to Mary Crew; Samuel Kinslow of John & Ann]
Sept. 11th	Christened an infant belonging to Cinq Cerf. [James Groves of George & Elizabeth]
Sept. 12th	Sunday. Went to Upper Burgeo and held service twice in the Church there. In the morning churched a woman, examined the children between the service, and in the afternoon christened an infant. As evening drew on the weather became very stormy with heavy rain, was compelled owing to the great swell to walk home by way of the Reach through the wet bushes and along by the landwash until I got soaking wet. Did not reach home until near 7 o'clock & was obliged to change all my clothing. [John Mead of William & Elizabeth]
Sept. 16th	Married a couple in the Church at Lower Burgeo. [James Hare to Susanna Smith]
Sept. 18th	Have been busy this week superintending the workmen in the Church, the addition to wh I am happy to write, drawing towards completion.
Sept. 19th	Married a couple in the Church at Lower Burgeo before the morning service. Afterwards held service and christened an infant and churched the mother. Instructed the children in the school between the services. In the afternoon held service again and christened another infant. [William Anderson of Otter's Point to Mary Anne Organ of Red Island; Christopher Dicks of Joseph & Mary; Charles Boyce of William & Jane]
Sept. 21st	St. Matthews Day. Held service at the Church at Lower Burgeo and gave brief exhortation on Apostles' History.
Sept. 23rd	Married a couple in the Church at Lower Burgeo. [Easu Rymes to Ann Saunders]
Sept. 25th	Christened two infants brought for that purpose from Red Island. [William Foot of Robert & Hannah; Robert *Villord of Samuel & Sarah] (Villord may be a spelling variation of Billard.)
Sept. 26th	Sunday. Held service twice in the Church at Lower Burgeo & instructed the children in the school.
Sept. 29th	St. Michael ~ Held service in the Church at Lower Burgeo and gave a short lecture on the nature and office of the angles.
Oct. 3rd	Sunday. At Upper Burgeo. Held service twice and instructed the children. Visited three sick families.
Oct. 7th	Visited four families in Furby's Hr.
Oct. 10th	Sunday ~ Held service twice in the Church at Lower Burgeo. In the morning administered the sacrament of the Lord's Supper to 22 communicants.
Oct. 12th	Got a boy to assist me and rowed out to Aldridge's Pond to minister to the temporal wants of a poor family residing there. Visited another family in the same place and held a serious conversation with the father on his neglect of Eternal things, various excuses pleaded not so much required of the poor, not so bad as others.
Oct. 13th	Drew out a petition & obtained 45 shillings for the above family.
Oct. 17th	Sunday ~ Held service twice in the Church at Upper Burgeo. This will be the last occa-sion on which I shall have service in the Church, the people being now in readiness to go to their winter quarters. [On this date the register reflects four baptisms at Cape La Hune; John & Elizabeth Mead of Meshach & Ann; Maria & Ann Pink of John & Maria]
Oct. 18th	Visited three families.
Oct. 19th	Received Mr. Appleby & family bound to LaPoile to take that portion of the mission.
Oct. 23rd	Got a crew and visited a sick man residing at Hunt's Island. Read to and prayed with him.
Oct. 24th	Sunday. Read the prayers in the morning. Mr. A. [Appleby] preached in the afternoon, christened two infants. Mr. A. taking the rest of the service and churching a woman. [Martha Rose of James & Deborah; Margaret Kinslow of William & Emma]
Oct. 26th	Visited a sick man in the Harbour.
Oct. 27th	Paid another visit to the Harbour.
Oct. 28th	St. Simon & St. Jude's Day ~ held service in the Church & lectured in the afternoon, visited Hunt's Island.
Oct. 31st	Sunday. A crew coming for me from the Sand Bankss, went with them and held full service twice in an uninhabited house there. Mr. Appleby who is with us took the duties for me at Lower Burgeo.
Nov. 1st	All Saints Day. Held Service in the Church & lectured.
Nov. 3rd	Saw to the removing of eight bodies to the Church buried many years ago in various parts of the Harbour.
Nov. 4th	This day Mr. Appleby and family bade us farewell. The wind having become fair for LaPoile.
Nov. 5th	Visited several families in the harbour.
Nov. 7th	Sunday. Held service twice in the Church at Lower Burgeo. In the afternoon christened an infant & churched the mother. Instructed the children in the school. [Sarah Hatcher of Robert & Mary]
Nov. 8th	Visited a distressed family.
Nov. 11th	Shipped packages and letters to St. John's.
Nov. 14th	Sunday. Instructed the children in the school & held service twice in the Church at Lower Burgeo.
Nov. 16th	Our Doctor has been absent in St. John's for two months past, the care of administering medicine now falls upon me, having lately five cases of violent purging all of wh I have been able to relieve.
Nov. 17	[*The following entry, on Nov. 17th, was not in Bill Crant's edited version on ngb.chebucto.org] Was informed last Evening of a body having been found on one of the outmost uninhabited Islands in a peculiar situation, accompanied two of the Hunts Island people this morning to view it & see if necessary to remove it-landed at Hunts Island and took in old Mr. Porter and then rowed out to the Island wh is called Rencountre a rather large island with very lofty land. Reached a little cove and walked across about 1/4 mile ascending all the time till we came again in sight of the sea. Here the spot was pointed out and clambering over the large masses of rock wh has fallen from the sides of the cliff. About halfway up the mountain, and in a hollow formed by a large piece of fallen rock with every opening once carefully closed by a small pieces of the broken rock with birch under. On removing these rinds, a quantity small gravel mixed with red ochre became visible, and on moving this over a number of small oblong pieces of ivory or polished bone, each about 3 inches in length, widely carved on both sides & pierced at one end, were found. Upon searching farther many flat circular stones pierced through the center, each about an inch in diameter & some very small were found. Then some glass beads, then two iron heads of hatchets very much decayed. Then a spear head made of bone, with several slight sticks of wood of about a foot in length-quite round-the handle made of bone & pierced, of a knife with a portion of a blade very rusty still in it. All these things were close together and mixed up with a quantity of ochre, and at the very mouth of the tomb and had been placed apparently under or just before the head of the individual buried, for on penetrating somewhat further into the cavity wh was very narrow so that the man that was with me was obliged to lay down & removing some more of the rinds we came to the skull wh was that of a man with a very flat crown & projected much behind. The teeth nearly all entire & very strong. Concluding on the various articles found & the manner of the internment that it was the remains of one of the Aborigines or Red Indians buried very long ago. I had the bones put in again & enclosed in the rinds & the opening closed up with the loose rocks, taking away with me some few of the pieces of ivory & the spear head to be preserved as relics of Indian manners. The place of this internment is singularly wild high up in a cliff, the sides of who is strewn with broken fragments of granite & overlooking a little cove facing the open sea and only accessible on this side in very smooth water. When or how these Indians came here,  for there must have been several, will ever remain unknown. None were ever seen or heard of in the vicinity by the oldest inhabitants of Burgeo. They must have been intercourse with Europeans on account of the iron & beads in their possession, but this intercourse must have been very limited or else their spear heads would have been of iron. This metal must also been esteemed for we found portions of two larger nails among the remains. It could not have been the remains of any of that tribe of Indians now about here because they have long adopted the European mode of burying in coffins and do not, that I am aware bury either their implements or ornaments with the dead I forgot to notice that a number of sharp pieces of flint were mixed with the ornaments being I concluded arrow heads-Altogether I was much struck by the resemblance this natural tomb must have peered like those ancient sepulchres found in the East and of wh. scripture gives us some notice high up in the sides of a cliff not indeed hollowed by art but formed in a natural hollow made by the fallen rocks not covered with earth but reposing on the level surface of the stone. With all his ornaments & weapons of war buried with him and were not of earth but of rocks piled around-the resemblance in some respects is very striking. This has excited much curiousity in the neighbourhood. Perhaps if the search was prosecuted further more remains might be found. The masses of fallen rock are very numerous & cover a large space of ground.
Nov. 19th	Heavy snow fall ~ Visited a sick family ~ administered to the relief of an Infant very ill.
Nov. 20th	Heard of the death of the infant [Frances Parsons] ~ I visited yesterday went out to see and converse with the mother. Snowing and drifting all day. Called upon for medicine for another infant. Visited it and gave some powders.
Nov. 21st	Sunday. Instructed the children in the school & held service twice in the Church. In the afternoon buried the infant that died yesterday. Visited another sick child. [Buried Frances Parsons, age 5 months, of Lower Burgeo]
Nov. 27th	Since Thursday last we have had heavy rains with scarcely half an hour intermission.
Nov. 28th	Sunday ~ Instructed the children in the school and held service twice in the Church at Lower Burgeo. Congregation for the time of the year very encouraging.
Nov. 29th	St. Andrew's Day ~ Held service in the Church and delivered a short lecture.
Dec. 1st	Meeting and opportunity visited the Sand Bankss. Called on four families residing there & left them some tracts.
Dec. 5th	Sunday ~ Instructed the children in the school and held service twice in the Church at Lower Burgeo. In the morning administered the sacrament to 21 communicants. Congregation on both occasions large.
Dec. 6th	Received our new Church windows from St. John's. They are very pretty, being stained to imitate ground glass.
Dec. 8th	Visited three families.
Dec. 12th	Went to the Sand Bankss to bury poor Stephen Cox. He has been slightly deranged from his infancy & latterly has been getting much worse. On Friday evening after dark he went out to go to his brothers & missed his way and walked into the sea. His body was found yesterday almost covered with sand. The weather being stormy we had to go by way of the Reach. I held service and returned hoping to be in time for service in Lower Burgeo, but was too late. [Stephen Cox, age 33]
Dec. 19th	Sunday. Instructed the children in the school and held service twice in the Church. In the afternoon christened two infants and churched three women. [Benjamin Marks of John & Amelia; Maria Jane Bungay of Charles & Mary]
Dec. 21st	St. Thomas Day. Held service in the Church and delivered a short lecture.
Dec. 25th	Christmas Day. Held service in the Church & christened an infant. Congregation very large. Spent the evening with the family of one of me communicants & endeavoured to improve it with suitable conversation. [Julia LeMoine of George & Catherine]
Dec. 26th	Sunday. Held service in the Church. In the afternoon christened an infant. Weather very cold & stormy ~ during the last week the weather has been unusually rough, winds high and frequent snow storms. [Manuel Maven of Richard & Sarah]
Dec. 27th	Married a couple from Hunt's Island in the Church. [James Wills to Elizabeth Porter]
Dec. 28th	Had a little party of my parishioners to tea. Endeavoured to make the occasion profitable.
Dec. 30th	Visited the families residing on the Sand Bankss walked on the ice over the ponds.

1848

Jan. 1st	New Years Day. (The Circumcision) Held service in the church wh was largely attended.
Jan. 2nd	Sunday. Instructed the children in the school and held service twice in the Church. The weather the last three days has been very mild again, glass nearly to temperature.
Jan. 4th	Held another little party of my parishioners to tea.
Jan. 6th	Epiphany. Held service in the Church wh was well attended ~ delivered a lecture. Weather very rough, drifting snow.
Jan. 7th	Visited five families in the harbour.
Jan. 9th	Sunday. Instructed the children in the school & held service twice in the Church. Weather cold in the morning with Easterly wind. In the afternoon snow and in the evening torrents of rain with gales from S.W. The glass has been ranging from 20 to 40 the whole week. One day 20 degrees warmer than the previous one.
Jan. 11th	Had two of my parishioners to tea.
Jan. 16th	Sunday. Held service twice in the Church & instructed the children in the school. Weather very stormy ~ heavy rains. Had a very sever cold. Congregation small.
Jan. 19th	The weather for the last week has been unusually mild. Thermometer at 50 degrees but today a change has taken place, drifting snow & glass this evening down to 18 & promising a cold night.
Jan. 20th	Last night bitterly cold. Glass at 12 F. Has been sadly tried with Rheumatic Pain in the head.
Jan. 23rd	Sunday ~ Held service twice in the Church at L.B. and instructed the children in the school. Glass falling.
Jan. 24th	On rising this morning after a very cold night, found the Therer at 10 ~ and still freezing very hard.
Jan. 25th	Conversion of St. Paul ~ Held service in the church & delivered a short lecture ~ Christened an Infant & churched the mother. Glass on the rising at 10 ~ but the wind changed and got around to S.W. and now evening the glass is at 26. [Elizabeth Jane Blampied of Joseph & Grace of Upper Burgeo]
Jan. 30th	Sunday ~ Held service twice in the Church & instructed the children in the school.
Feb. 6th	Sunday ~ Held service twice in the church. In the morning administered the sacrament of the Lord's Supper to 15 communicants. In the afternoon christened an infant & churched the mother ~ Instructed the children in the school. [Mary Ann Roberts of Robert & Edith]
Feb. 7th	The weather for the last ten days has been unusually mild. Glass never below freezing, wind East. This is extraordinary as happening at the coldest part of the winter.
Feb. 9th	Visited three families.
Feb. 13th	Sunday. Instructed the children in the school and held service twice in the Church.
Feb. 17th	Received letters from St. John's with intelligence of the destruction of Mr. Mudgers' premises by fire and the top of three packages of clothes, books, etc. which I had sent round previous to our removal.
Feb. 20th	Sunday. Instructed the children in the school and held service twice in the Church. In the afternoon churched a woman. The weather with one or two days exception continued very mild. Little or no snow on the ground and the winter is fast passing away.
Feb. 27th	Sunday. Instructed the children in the school & held service twice in the Church. In the afternoon christened an infant & churched the mother. A change in the weather took place yesterday and ___ ? has been very rough and cold. Glass falling all day. At 16 in the evening. [Henry Bowles of Henry & Bridget]
Feb. 29th	A very cold night last night. The ther r 2° above zero in room. The sea was covered with steam resembling a boiling pot, but the sun is shining brightly and the middle of the day will be warmer.
Mar. 3rd	Visited a sick man ~ weather very boisterous with continual snow fall.
Mar. 4th	Got the three small windows put into the Church, wh now looks very pretty. A very heavy drift of snow last night.
Mar. 5th	Sunday ~ Instructed the children in the school and held service twice in the Church.
Mar. 6th	Drifting snow all day, wind N.N.W. and getting very cold. Thermometer at 9 P.M. only 10 above zero.
Mar. 8th	Ash Wednesday ~ Last night bitterly cold, found the glass 6 above zero at 10 o'clock A.M. it had risen to 10, went to Church & held service. Only 17 persons present. We have no stove in the Church and at such times when the wind is N. it is very cold. Mild in the afternoon. Wind round East. Visited a sick man.
Mar. 10th	Morning prayers in the Church. In the afternoon visited a poor sick man sent here from LaPoile conversed and prayed with him. He is an Englishman from Somersetshire. A great change in the weather, heavy rain, glass up to 48°. Snow fast going.
Mar. 12th	Sunday ~ Instructed the children in the school & held service twice in the Church. In the evening visited the sick man & prayed with him, but there is little hope of his recovery.
Mar. 13th	Visited the sick man again, conversed with him. Directed him to look to the Saviour, but his cough is so distressing & his weakness so great that he could pay but little attention.
Mar. 15th	Held morning service in the Church. The young man mentioned above is dead.
Mar. 17th	Morning prayers in the Church and buried the young man noticed above. A large congregation. [Daniel Marsh, age 23, died of consumption]
Mar. 19th	Sunday ~ Instructed the children in the school & held service twice in the Church. A number of strangers present belonging to the boats that have put in here on there way to the Westward.
Mar. 22nd	Morning prayers in the Church.
Mar. 24th	Morning prayers in the Church.
Mar. 26th	Sunday ~ Instructed the children in the school & held service twice. In the afternoon christened an infant. [Thomas Gunnery of Thomas & Elizabeth]
Mar. 27th	Christened an infant brought 15 miles from Little River for that purpose. [Susanna Clarke of John & Susanna]
Mar. 28th	Morning prayers in the Church.
Mar. 31st	Morning prayers in the Church.
Apr. 2nd	Sunday ~ Instructed the children in the school and held service twice in the Church. In the morning administered the sacrament of the Lord's Supper to 24 communicants ~ two new ones ~ one a young man. In the afternoon churched a woman.
Apr. 5th	Morning prayers in the Church
Apr. 6th	Visited all the families in Upper Burgeo and on the Sand Bankss.
Apr. 7th	Morning prayers in the Church.
Apr. 8th	Visited Hunt's Island ~ christened an infant. Afterwards visited four families on another Island. [The only baptism recorded for that day is of John Matthews of Thomas & Deborah of Lower Burgeo]
Apr. 9th	Sunday ~ Went to Upper Burgeo and held service twice in the Church there. The people have all returned from there winter quarters at LaPoile. There was a large congregation on both occasions. Bade them farewell ~ being now at the point of quitting Burgeo ~ Many showed much affection.
Apr. 11th	Tomorrow we are to leave Burgeo & sail for St. John's, and I must bid farewell to a people among whom I have laboured for six years. I think not without a blessing ~ God grant we may all meet before the judgment throne with joy.
Apr. 12th	This Evg left Burgeo after a party with my parishioners, a crowd of whom accompanied in a boat and showed by their tears their affection and regret at our departure. As we were sailing out of the harbour the people gave us a further token of respect by firing their guns and waving their hands. I remained on the deck of the boat, wh was fast carrying us away from a place where we have so long dwelt in peace, until it got quite dark, & then went below to my berth.

 

In May of 1848 Rev. Martin Blackmore & family took up residence at Bay Roberts, Conception Bay, his new mission. For Clarification- Churching of a woman, was a service conducted by a priest or a lay reader in which the woman came to the Church (usually alone) and in a very short private ceremony gave thanks to God for the birth of her child. In the Prayer Book of this time it also contained references to a "cleansing" - a carry over from the Jewish tradition that a woman was some how made "dirty" by bearing a child. Submitted by Rev. Loch Fiander, Anglican Priest (retired)

Transcribed by Bill Crant, Jan. - Feb. 2000.
Revised: July 2002 (Terry Piercey)
Revised May 2013 by Brenda Crewe Alverson. Revisions in blue.

 

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