Burin

The Burin Peninsula is a Canadian peninsula located on the south coast of the island of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Burin Peninsula extends to the southwest from the main island of Newfoundland, separating Fortune Bay to the west from Placentia Bay to the east. It measures approximately 130 km in length and between 15-30 km in width. It is connected by a 30 km wide isthmus between Terrenceville and Monkstown. It was originally named the Buria Peninsula by fishermen from the Basque region during the 16th century.

Burin (2001 population 2,470) is a town on the Burin Peninsula in Placentia Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The Burin Peninsula is often affectionately nick-named "The Boot" due to its resemblance to the footwear when seen on a map, with the town of Burin located near the "heel". Burin is approximately 318 km from the capital of St. John's. Settlement in Burin dates to the early 18th century, although documentary evidence indicates that French fishermen had been fishing and exploring the area even earlier.

Burin was settled as a fishing community, with the earliest known evidence of settlement being in 1718. With the shelter of Burin harbour, the community thrived as one of the busiest fishing ports on the island. The town was incorporated in 1950, and included Burin North, Ship Cove and Burin Bay. In 1970 the town limits were expanded and now include Collin's Cove, Path End, Bull's Cove, Black Duck Cove, Long Cove, Green Hill, Little Salmonier, Hollet's Farm, Burin Bay Arm, and Salt Pond.

Burin was considered a safe haven for fisherman, the seasonal population between 1500 and 1600.

The names Buria and Burine suggest Spanish or French origin. The Basque were at Burin in 1650 and most likely earlier. A dispute between France
and Spain ended with the Spanish being prohibited from fishing on theSouth Coast.

In 1583 England took possession of Newfoundland by proclamation of Queen Elizabeth I, however the stuggle between the French and Engish continued. In 1696 a british fleet under Sir John Norris took refuge in St John's while the Frenchwere hiding in Burin. In 1697 the Treaty of Ryswick gave posession of most of Newfoundland to England, with the exception of Placentia and the Southwest coast. By 1717 the center ofFrench activity became St Pierre.

At the turn of the 18th century businesses were permitted permanent establishment in Newfoundland. The firms of Clarke and Young; later Walter Spurrier and Sons (which were well established by 1718) had large fishing premises at Burin. Timothy Spurrier succeeded his father Walter. And later his son William took over the business who bought out Waldren and Young to become the largest fishing establishment inNewfoundland at the time.

In the late 1600s merchants from Jersey, Channel Islands also set up fishing firms in an area that became known as Jersey Room. During the winter of 1740, 200 servants were left to protect the buildings and interests of the fishing establishments at Burin. More and more the wintermen brought over their families or married daughters of the early planters.

To escape the harsh laws of absentee landlords and famine, Irish men and boys signed on as "Youngsters" or menial workers. As seasons ended , many would hide, staying behind in hopes of settling and a better life. Meanwhile the Merchants in their efforts to control the fishery, misrepresented the country, stating it was unfit for human habitation.. They influanced the British Goverment to pass laws prohibiting settlement. English solders were ordered to destroy shelters, and no house was suppose to be built within six miles of the coast. Within this context Lord North, to discourage settlement, ordered "whatever they (fisherman) wish raw, give it to them roasted and whatever they wish roasted give it to them raw."