Pays Cove (sometimes spelled Peys Cove) is an abandoned town in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada that had a peak population of 11 in 1935.[1]

Pays Cove Peys Cove
Abandoned Town
Pays Cove Location of Pays Cove in Newfoundland
Coordinates: 47°39′36.9″N 54°49′20.4″W
Country	Canada
Province	Newfoundland and Labrador
Census division	Division 2
Census subdivision	Division 2
Population  (1945)
• Total	7[1]
Time zone	UTC– 3:30 (Newfoundland Time)
• Summer (DST)	UTC– 2:30 (Newfoundland Daylight)
Area code(s)	709
Bay	Fortune Bay

History

Located directly between the communities of English Harbour East and Grand le Pierre in Fortune Bay, Pays Cove was first settled in the late 1800s[2] by the family of Cyrus White who were recorded in the 1904 Business Directory for the town that year.[3] Its name is presumed to have originated as 'Peas Cove.'[1]

At about 1914, the families of William and Alfred Barnes moved to Pays Cove to settle from Harbour Mille.[1] Their primary occupation was fishing for cod and lobster.[1] With very limited space in the cove for settlement, the community never rose above two or three families throughout its entire occupation.[1] Pays Cove's last resident was Jacob Barnes who lived in the community up until 1980.[1]

Demographics

Pays Cove was first recorded in the 1901 census with a population of two,[4] later identified as the family of Cyrus and Elizabeth White.[3]

In 1921, the families of William and Esther Barnes as well as Alfred and Rebecca Barnes were recorded in Pays Cove for a total population of 9.[1]

In 1936, Newfoundland Directories released a business directory that listed the head of each household with their occupation in the town of Pays Cove.[5] It is adapted below:

In the 1945 Newfoundland Census, Pays Cove's population was recorded at 7 people.[1]

See also

• English Harbour East
• Grand le Pierre

References