History of Kelly's Island

Pirates - Peter Easton

Local legends connect Kelly's Island with pirates that frequented Conception Bay in the 17th century, including the well known Peter Easton. The Cupers Cove colonists documented encounters with Peter Easton in Harbour Grace, near Bell Island, and in Cupers Cove in 1611-1612, and in his book, Sir Richard Whitbourne detailed how he was kidnapped by Easton 1611. The accounts by the colonists and sir Richard Whitbourne do not mention Kelly's Island. However, local legends tell of Peter Easton and other pirates visiting Kelly's Island and leaving buried treasure.

Pirate Ship
Detail from painting by Pam Williams
www.crossroadsforcultues.ca

One legend from the turn of the twentieth century tells of a British naval officer who hired a local fisherman to row him to the Island. When they landed on the Island, he went across the Island alone. Some time later he came back with a large, heavy pot. He demanded that the fisherman land him in an uninhabited part of the mainland. He left the boat, and as he was walking away, he threw a gold coin to the fisherman.

Was there treasure on the Island? Is there still hidden treasure? As of today, these questions have not been answered.

Rock Quary

During the 1800s, a number of well known Newfoundland structures were constructed, at least in part, with rocks from Kelly's Island.

In 1834, Bishop Michael Anthony Fleming, the Roman Catholic Bishop of St. John's, revealed a plan to build a large and imposing Cathedral for Newfoundland. He envisioned a stone structure, built from stone from local stone quarries. One of the stone quarries was located on Kelly's Island. The stone was hewn by hand by Irish workers. Bishop Fleming even cut stone at Kelly's Island himself and loaded it into boats up to his waist in water.

Stone from Kelly's Island
Used to Construct
St. John's Basilica
Located in Capital of Newfoundland, St. John's

Some stone from Kelly's Island was also used to construct other local landmarks. As well, stone from Kelly's Island was used to make headstones, some of which can be seen in Holyrood.

Local Landmarks with Stone from Kelly's Island

St. Paul's Anglican Church Harbour Grace	Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Cathedral Harbour Grace
Rorke's Stone Jug, Carbonear

Ecology of Kelly's Island