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Krause House Info-Research Solutions (© 1996)
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Report/Rapport © Bill O'Shea ---
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House
Info-Research Solutions
Researching the
Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site of Canada
Recherche sur la Forteresse-de-Louisbourg Lieu historique national du Canada
Extracted from © The Seagull
Louisbourg Heritage NotesJanuary 2002
Information needed about Louisbourg lightkeeper - 1890
I’m trying to put some flesh and blood on keepers who worked at the 1842-1923 Louisbourg lighthouse. They included Laurence Kavanagh III, Laurence Kavanagh IV, William Burke, James P. Burke, Phillip Price and William Cameron.
I am particularly interested in William Burke who was light keeper here for about a year in 1889/90. In 1890 he returned to Main a Dieu having traded jobs with James P. Burke who was the fisheries overseer in that community.
There are a number of William Burke’s, but I don’t know which one was at the lighthouse. Can you help? My telephone number is 733-2873.
1891 Census of Main a Dieu, Family 6, p. 2
Burke, Wm 40 - Ship Master - can read and write
Wife: Ellen E. 39
Children: Rosalia 11, David J. 9, Catherine 7, Mary A. A. 5, Euphrania G. 3.
1891 Census of Main a Dieu, Family 114, p. 23
Burke, Wm Jr. 34 Fisherman - can read and write
Wife: Susan 42
Children: Catherine 5, Paul E. 2.
Birth - William Burke, born 24 April 1851, father Michael Burke, mother Honoria Flavin.
Birth - William Burke, born 19 June 1856, father Patrick Burke, mother Catherine Roach.
Birth - William David Burke, born 18 July 1862, father David Burke, mother’s name not written.
Birth - William Walter Burke, born 31 January 1861, father John Burke, mother Mary Burke.
Death - Capt. Wm Burke, 65 years old, June 1920
Years ago at the Park
By August 1962, the new road between the old Sydney Road ( Terra Nova ) and the water tower site was constructed and graded enough to let trucks place the waterline pipes alongside it.
In September 1962 work began on the watertower and by October 15 it was ready for testing. The tower was painted for the first time in the summer of 1963.
In the summer and fall of 1963 a "grizzly-type" screen was constructed at Black Rock. It was used to separate rock in the material excavated at the fortress. Today - still called the Grizzly - it is a parking lot though it was used to stockpile gravel for the waterline installation. Anyone knowing the origin of the term "grizzly" please contact me.
The 1800s in Louisbourg and Main a Dieu
Helen was working with me on a research project when she found the following information . It is from transcriptions of Cape Breton newspapers by Mildred Howard a Cape Breton genealogist. They are found in the Beaton Institute of the UCCB.
v The news item below refers to the old narrow gauge Gisborne railway which ran to Havenside between 1874 and 1883.
Coroner’s Inquest on the body of Alexander Campbell killed at Louisbourg the 15th. He came to his death by a locomotive engine while shunting car into the coal shed, the property of the Sydney & Louisbourg Railway Co. The body was caught between the coal bunker and the boiler. He was scalded by escaping steam and water and sustained fracture of the back. (North Sydney Herald, 23 May 1883 )
v Lists of District # 6, Louisbourg & District # 5, Mainadieu office holders in 1884.
Louisbourg
Assessors: Jno. McDonald, Donald McPhee
Collector Co. Rates: George Kehoe
Inspector thistles: Hy. Diggins (Henry)
Health Wardens: Thos. F. Townsend,
Jno. Cryer
Clerk License: Michael Holland
Hog Reeve: Thos. Connington
Measurer Coal and Wood: Chas. Stacey
Pound Keeper: Lewis Baldwin
Surveyor Lumber and Timber: Chas. Stacey
Magistrate to swear District Officers:
Francis Lewis
Presiding Officer: Geo. Kehoe
Overseers Poor: Jas. Price, Jno. Gillis,
Stephen J. Murphy
Clerk: Martin LeVatte
Overseers Highways: Elias Townsend,
David Townsend, Thos. Kennedy, Jno Cryer, Chas. Townsend, Jr., S. J. Fiander,
Thos. Kelly, Michl. Holland, Richard Kelly, Jas. McLellan, Angus McInnis,
Alex Matheson
Constables: Geo. Kehoe, Michl. Holland, Robt. Ranson, Donald Townsend,
Elias Townsend, Andrew Lynk,
Laurence Price, Jas. McInnis,
Rory McDonald, Jas. McLellan, Jas. Jewel, Albert Jewel
Main-a-Dieu
Assessors: Danl. S. Scott, Laurence Willett
Collector Co. Rates: Jas. P. Burke
Dist Clerk: Wm. Burke
Licence Clerk: Jas. Dillon
Hog Reeve: Jas. Martell
Inspector Beef, Port and Fish: George Scott
Pound Keeper: Alex McDonald,
Thos. Martell
Surveyor Lumber & Timber: Joseph Dillon
Presiding Officer: Geo. Scott
Magistrate for Collectors Bonds: Geo. Rigby
Commissioner Streets: Capt. Jas. Farrell
Overseers Poor: Jas. Campbell, Geo. Scott,
Thos. Young
Overseers Highways: David Campbell,
Wm. Shaw, David Hart, Wm. Grandy,
Patk. Gallant, Jas. O’Donald,
( Little Lorraine) Saml. Tutty,
( Big Lorraine) Jacob Gibbs, Angus Johnson,
Jos. McLain
Overseer, Scatarie: Benjamin Wadden
Constables Scatarie: Jas. Power,
George Spencer.
Health Wardens, Scatarie: Capt. Jas. Brown,
Capt Jas. Burke
Health Wardens, Mainadieu: Jas Campbell,
Chas. Dillon
Measurer Coal and Wood: Thos. Martell
Constables: Patk. Campbell, John Brown,
J. Brown, John Bourinot, Jas. O’Donald, Thos. Peach, Jr., Geo. Tutty.
- Bill O’Shea