Fonds - Assumption Parish (St. Mary's, N.L.) fonds

Title and statement of responsibility area

Title proper

Assumption Parish (St. Mary's, N.L.) fonds

General material designation

  • Textual record
  • Graphic material

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Title notes

  • Variations in title: St. Mary's Parish
  • Source of title proper: Title based on correspondence in the fonds

Level of description

Fonds

Reference code

Edition area

Edition statement

Edition statement of responsibility

Class of material specific details area

Statement of scale (cartographic)

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Statement of scale (architectural)

Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

Dates of creation area

Date(s)

  • 1843-1985 (Creation)
    Creator
    Assumption Parish (Roman Catholic), St. Mary's (NL)

Physical description area

Physical description

17 cm of textual records
1 photograph: b&w

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Archival description area

Name of creator

(1834-)

Administrative history

Assumption Parish was established in 1834 and included the communities from Portugal Cove South to St. Vincents. However, Assumption Parish was divided twice. When Holy Redeemer Parish was established (ca. 1845), Portugal Cove South, Trepassey and St. Shotts were separated from Assumption Parish. In 1923, the communities of Peter's River, St. Stephen's, and St. Vincent's were removed from Assumption Parish to create Sacred Heart Parish. Assumption Parish currently includes the communities of Riverhead, Mall Bay, Coot's Pond, Path End, St. Mary's, Point La Haye and Gaskiers, with the parish church at St. Mary's.

The first parish priest assigned to Assumption Parish was Rev. James Duffy. However, priests visited St. Mary's prior to Father Duffy's arrival. Rev. Timothy Browne, for instance, who was stationed at Renews, performed 13 marriages at St. Mary's in 1825 and 1826.

By 1840 Rev. Duffy had established a church and school in St. Mary's; this church was dismantled in 1949 and rebuilt by 1950. Aside from the original school established by Rev. Duffy, a commercial school was opened in 1851. With the arrival of the Presentation Sisters to the parish in 1859, a convent school was established at St. Mary's.

Some of the communities in Assumption Parish also had their own church and school, including Riverhead and Mall Bay, which had a small chapel built sometime between 1895 and 1905 (replaced ca. 1963). Schools were also established in Mall Bay (1944), at the Gulch, Point La Haye (1943) and Gaskiers and Point La Haye (1951).

Parochial organizations in Assumption Parish included the Crusaders of Mary, the Children of Mary, the St. Anne Society and the Holy Name Society.

Custodial history

Scope and content

Fonds consists of sacramental ledgers, including baptismal registers (1843-1948), illegitimates baptismal register (1901-47), marriage registers (1844-98) and death registers (1891-97, 1927-75). The fonds also includes financial statements (1915-30); documents related to parish property and buildings (1955-78); correspondence (1951-79); parish documents (1891, 1915-19); and parish boundaries (1985). There are also addresses prepared for the Bishop's visits (1951, 1961); one photograph and related records.

Fonds also includes printed material which relates to the Parish's history and activities

Notes area

Physical condition

Immediate source of acquisition

The immediate source of the fonds is Assumption Parish but additional material has been added by the archivist and other donors.

Arrangement

Language of material

  • English
  • Latin

Script of material

    Language and script note

    English predominates. Some Latin documents included. No transcripts.

    Location of originals

    Availability of other formats

    The following registers have been photocopied: St. Mary's baptismal registers (1843-1948); St. Mary's illegitimates baptismal register (1901-48); St. Mary's marriage register (1844-90); and St. Mary's death register (1891-97).

    Restrictions on access

    Restrictions on access apply. Consult the archivist.

    Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication

    Researchers are required to use the photocopied registers for conservation reasons.

    Finding aids

    Box list available

    Associated materials

    See Holy Trinity Parish fonds for records that predate the establishment of Assumption Parish. As well, see Holy Redeemer Parish fonds and Sacred Heart Parish fonds for records on communities that were once part of Holy Trinity Parish.

    Related materials

    Accruals

    Further accruals are not expected on a regular basis but the fonds remain open for the transfer of any additional material that may be forwarded.

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    Standard number

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    Status

    Draft

    Level of detail

    Partial

    Dates of creation, revision and deletion

    Created - May 27, 2013

    Language of description

    • English

    Script of description

      Sources

      Accession area