by Charlie Bown
Gregory Normore, 1717- 1783, the first settler on Bell
Island, built his house in the year of 1740.He was helped in this by his sailor
friends from his ship. These men would go to Kelly’s Island and bring back
heavy rocks for a fireplace, or so we are told.
In the fall of that year, all these sailors went home to
England loaded down with cod fish, so that Gregory was left all alone. He almost
froze to death that first winter on Bell Island and he vowed to himself that he
would have a women to warm his bed by the next winter.
Sure enough, our Gregory set sail for Carbonear, a thriving
community in those days. Gregory sharp eyes soon spotted a lovely young girl
named White working in her father’s grocery store and started to court her.
Gregory did not hold with this long courtship business and by the fall he was
married and brought his bride to live on Bell Island. It seems now that our
Gregory did not have any more winter nights as they had seven children.
As the years passed, Gregory tilled the soil and fished off
the ledge. He would go to Portugal Cove with his produce and on to St. John’s
where he got a good price for his vegetables. Cabbage grown on Bell Island was
said to be very tasty due to the salt in the air. As Gregory’s family grew
into adulthood they went to St. John’s for their education. A few of them came
back to Bell Island but others went away on ships like their father before
them’
Gregory Normore is buried in the old graveyard at the top of the Beach Hill. This graveyard is kept in good repair by the Anglican Church. You can visit Gregory’s grave and read on his headstone the following: In memory of Gregory Normore of Great Belle Isle who died the 14 day of July, 1783, aged 66 years. He lived respected and died lamented.