Settlement on Brunette Island

The oral history of Brunette proposes that the island was named by the French, who controlled the whole of the southern shore of Newfoundland during the seventeenth century until 1713. Whether the French actually settled on Brunette is debatable, but the word "Brunette" is the French translation of "brownish".

Former residents of Brunette recognized three distinct geographical subdivisions of the island - Mercer's Cove, Forward's Cove, and Bragg's Cove.

Oral tradition suggest that these three were named after the first settlers. This, however, is questionable since neither of the names are common to Brunette. Some people believe that Mercer's Cove may have resulted as an English corruption of the french name "Messieur", implying that the island may have been initially settled by the French.  In any case, Mercer's Cove remained the largest populated section of Brunette Island over the years.

Subsequent to the departure of the French from the southern coast, English settlers gradually moved in and took possession. These inhabitants found excellent fishing grounds that were ice-free all year round.

English settlement of Brunette Island occurred during the latter years of the eighteenth century or the early years of the nineteenth. Such established names as Price, Douglas, Gualton, Miller, Hillier, Scott, Rose, Sparrow, and Thornhill indicate that the first settlers were primarly of west country stock, especially from countries Devon and Dorest.

By 1836 Brunette Island was a thriving settlement with a population of one hundred and three people. The population stayed consistent between 1836 and 1921, reaching a peak of three hundred people in the early 1950's.

For more information on the people who lived on Brunette in 1921, check out the following Interent site:

Project 21 - Census of Brunette