The story of the law in Greenspond is one, among other things, of merchant adventurers, admirals, commodores, commanders, magistrates and circuit judges. That story constitutes an integral part of the community’s history and is interwoven with its social, political and economic development. In 2012 Chris Curran and Linda White wrote an overview of the legal history of Greenspond that was published in the book, The Face of Justice on the Northeast Coast. It was published by the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador. It provides an outline of Greenspond’s legal history from early times to the opening decades of the 20th century. It places the law, and its formal apparatus, within the broad sweep of the history of this important and colourful community on Newfoundland’s northeast coast and lays the groundwork for further research in this area. Access article here.
The Law at Greenspond by Chris Curran and Linda White
The Face of Justice on Newfoundland’s Northeast Coast
First published in 2012, the essays contained trace the development of justice over Newfoundland’s northeast coast from the migratory fishery of the 18th century to the pre-confederation debates of the 20th. They were written by academic, public, and community historians and reflect the growing interest in our legal history both within and outside the university community. Contributors include: Dr. Melvin Baker; Hon. Gerald Barnable; Dr. Jerry Bannister; Robert Cuff; Christopher Curran, Q.C.; Jim Miller; Gerald Penney; Dr. Hans Rollmann; and Linda White, with an introduction by The Hon. J. Derek Green. Continue reading about The Law at Greenspond
The Court House
Court cases were held in Greenspond in whatever space was available. The minutes of the Supreme Court Northern Circuit show that cases were heard as early as 1804. In 1843 we first see the first mention of the local school being used to conduct court. In that year Robert Dyer, wrote that the school House belonging to the Newfoundland School Society was being used by the court and they were paid for this. By 1858 a Court House had been built to serve the district. A report in the Journal of the House of Assembly for 1858 states that the new Court House was not finished. They also wrote that there was a need for a jail yard for the prisoners. Learn more about Greenspond Court House
Court Cases
- 1827 October 8, 1827: John Sleat, Mary Sleat and Susan Elliott VS William Coleman and William Broden to recover ₤147 2 2
- 1827 October 9: John Brine & Nathaniel Smith v. John Bingley Garland & George Garland;
- 1827 October 9: John Edgar Esq. v. Thomas Smith.