Clarke's Head, Newfoundland is the first community on the north side of the mouth of the Gander River. A small community, which joined with several other small communities, to form Gander Bay.
History Clarke's Head is located near Gander in Gander Bay, Newfoundland. This lumbering community is said to have been populated by Aboriginals until European settlers moved near the community in the 19th century. People came to Clarke's Head for the salmon fishery and farming was important as well. In 1869 the Census of Newfoundland recorded a population of 69. In 1883 Clarke's Head had a road built leading to Victoria Cove, and by 1890 they had started exploiting timber. By 1935 Clarke's Head had a population over 300 with logging as the main source of employment.Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador
Church history There is records that show a school was operating in Clarke's Head in the late 19th century. In 1869 there were 61 members of the Church of England and 8 Roman Catholics. In 1905 a Church of England church was built, and a Roman Catholic church was also built.
Census information 1869 Population 69 Church of England 61 Church of Rome 8 People catching/Curing fish 19 Seamen/Fishermen 15 Inhabited houses 9 Stores/barns/outhouses 15 Fishing rooms in use 3 Oxen/Cows 12 Swine 1 Tons of hay 6 Barrels of Potatoes 221 Barrels of Turnip 1 Total # of Boats 2 Nets and Seines 37
Directory - Lovell's Directory describes Clarke's Head as a small fishing settlement in the Fogo Island-Cape Freels district with a population of 70.J. Lovell, Lovell's Newfoundland Directory, 1871. The names that are listed are: John Bursey, Fisherman Richard Bursey, Fisherman Charles Francis James Gillingham, Fisherman Nathaniel Gillingham, Fisherman Robert Gillingham, Fisherman William Gillingham, Fisherman John Harris, Fisherman
See also List of communities in Newfoundland and Labrador
References
External links http://ngb.chebucto.org/ http://www.ucs.mun.ca/~hrollman/index.html