Fogo Island was used as a summer home by Beothuck Indians long before Europeans entered local waters.  Evidence of Beothuck habitation has been found at various locations on Fogo Island, including in and around the Town of Fogo.  Local evidence has also been unearthed that Fogo Island was once used by the Maritime Archaic Indians.

In their quest for new and abundant sources of cod, the Portuguese were navigating local waters in the 1500's.  The famous French explorer, Jacques Cartier, also dropped anchor in Fogo Harbour in 1534 on one of his voyages.

Fogo Island is said to appear on a Portuguese map which was originally done in 1529.  As early as 1499 the Portuguese were looking for cod along the northeast coast of North America.  Diogo Riberio, a Portuguese, was enlisted by the Spanish crown to update a map of the, then, known world.  The inset here is a tracing of the western hemisphere portion of one of Riberio's maps.  Some of the place names which were included are: Tierra del Labrador, and Tierra Nueva de los Bacallaos or - the Newfoundland of cod fisheries.

The Portuguese connection is the most commonly held theory as the the origin of the name "Fogo". Many believe it is derived from the Portuguese word Fuego - meaning fire.  While this may be true, the reason for the choice of a name for the island remains unsolved.  One theory holds that numerous Beothuck campfires seen along the shoreline prompted the choice.  Another touts the prevalence of forest fires on the island, and still another sites a second Fogo Island, in the Cape Verde group, which sailors were reminded of when they first arrived.

It is generally accepted that the first permanent settlement in the area, which is now the Town of Fogo, took place in the early 1700's.  There is some evidence however to suggest the first English settlement could well have started as early as 1680.  Whatever the case, Fogo is undoubtedly the oldest settlement in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador north of Bonavista Bay.

The Island is included in detailed coastal charts of Newfoundland produced by Captain James Cook between 1762 and 1767.  So detailed and full of information were these charts that they are still the best reference sources for some of the province's coastal waters.  The map includes a reference to Tilton Harbour (now Tilting) and related notes suggest that both Tilton Harbour and Fogo Harbour were settled on or before 1729. Other areas, not that distant from Fogo Island, are said to have been settled on or before 1660.

The migratory fishery being operated by the English and French within Newfoundland waters has been going on for many years by the late 1600's and permanent settlement had already started.  Even before the Treaty of Utrecht gave the French fishing rights from Bonavista to Point Riche, 
the abundance of fish and the harbour at Fogo attracted settlers.  It is believed that during the decade between 1690 and 1700 the French left the Fogo Island area for fishing grounds further north.  This produced an opening for British dominance in the area.

During the 1700's fish merchants started to set up permanent local premises.  Many abandoned using their own vessels for fishing and started to deal with fishermen based on shore.  One of the most prominent merchants in Notre Dame Bay was John Slade of Poole, Dorset, England.  Slade  was quick to take advantage of the numerous resources which this area had to offer.  He was also one of the main figures responsible for local development at the time.  Men from England and Ireland arrived at Fogo on Slade vessels and were indentured here for varying periods of time.  The Slade enterprise started in 1748 and as time went by more and more people from Britain were staying in 
Newfoundland and either bringing their families or starting a family here.  The local population of planters - who were really settlers in Newfoundland who supported themselves through the inshore fishery - started to grow.

John Slade is recognized as one of the first to begin sending vessels to fish along the Labrador coast during the summer.  He is credited with having founded the mercantile complex - now a national historic site - at Battle Harbour. His diversified interests led to the implementation of a 
bartering method known then as the truck system.  In exchange for supplying the necessities of life, he would purchase whatever was produced by planters, loggers and trappers.  A credit system  was also put into effect for employees of planters and other operators whereby goods were provided and marked against forthcoming wages.  The balance at the end of the season was usually relatively  small amount in cash or additional credit for planters. 

A true entrepreneur of his time, John Slade utilized vessels which sailed on trading voyages between Fogo, Poole and Waterford in Ireland.  These ships were dispatched to Spain and Portugal on trading excursions adding even further to Slade's wealth. One of the trading ships, the Bulbury, is said to have gone down in Eastern Tickle near Fogo in August of 1819. 

John Slade died in Poole, England in 1792, however the Slade family would continue in the Town of Fogo for a number of years to follow.  John's only son, John Hayter Slade, had died in Fogo in 1783 at 28 years of age.  The estate was taken over by his five nephews - John, Robert, Thomas, and David Slade and George Allen.

During the years following the death of John Slade Sr. the Slade nephews went through a period of partnership and expansion. They operated branches of the company in numerous locations throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, including: Fogo, Tilting and Twillingate. 

Between the years 1774 and 1830 the American revolution, the French revolution, the wars of Napoleon and the conflicts between the British and the Americans all helped to discourage competition in the fish trade.  While business was flourishing, the Slade company was in danger of having vessels taken by American and French Privateers and the port at Fogo was somewhat exposed.  This led to the British Navy placing canons along the shore at Fogo and a local militia was trained to man the guns.  Some of the vessels which carried goods for the Slades were also granted licenses by Britain to protect unarmed ships and to capture enemy ships.

The fortification at Fogo is credited to one James Coughlin, who had fishing premises at Wigwam point and who is said to have arrived in the mid 1760's, operating as an agent for merchants located  in Bristol, England.  Coughlin is also credited with being the father of Pamela Simms.  Pamela is said to have been born at Fogo, however at an early age she traveled to England and eventually caught the eye of French nobility.  One portrait of her may be seen today at the Palace of Versailles. Pamela led a colourful life and was married to the famous Irish patriot Lord Edward Fitzgerald as well as to a U.S. Consul.  You can view the story of Pamela Simms life.

The Coughlin enterprise at Fogo fell on hard times and was acquired in 1782 by Thomas Street. Street's company was subsequently secured in 1813 by Thomas Slade and William Cox.  The partnership between Slade and Cox also opened in Twillingate.  Thomas passed away in 1816 and left his interest in the company to Robert Slade and William Cox.  Robert took over as manager at Fogo.

This Fogo business would change hands several more times until in 1918 it was picked up by a conglomerate of investors from St. John's - The Newfoundland and Labrador Export Company. This firm lasted right up until 1958.  Fogo managers included Ernest Hyde and Stanley Layman.

Meanwhile, the original John Slade and Company was eventually purchased by a bookkeeper of the firm who was employed at Twillingate - John W. Owen.  A second bookkeeper at Twillingate who was then working for Owen was sent to manage the Fogo operation.  His name was Henry Earle.  Earle purchased shares in the company and later bought Owen out completely.  This was the beginning of the Earle dynasty in Fogo which would last until 1968.

As for the Slades, there are no descendents left in Fogo, however there are three memorials to family members at St. Andrew's Anglican Church within the community.  The first is a marble plaque which is dedicated to the memory of one Robert Slade and his two sons - John and Robert Standley Slade.  These three are the descendents of the original Robert Slade - nephew of the first John Slade who started the business.  Both sons died at the early age of 28 years.  Within the church yard grounds is a monument to a John Slade as above who passed away in 1847.  This John was a member of the House of Assembly for this district.  Also in the church  grounds is an iron tablet dedicated to John Hayter Slade and to Robert Standley Slade.

The Town of Fogo has a rich and colourful history.  In addition to the many fish merchants who operated within the community over the years, stories abound about various aspects of community  life.  Of particular note are; the local Marconi wireless station; Layman's cooper shop; Lem Anthony's forge; the loss of various vessels in and around Fogo Harbour; and the older communities which once existed within walking distance of Fogo.  At the present time there are two museums within Fogo: Bleak House, which was originally built by the Slade family and taken over by the Earles; and the old Roman Catholic school house which was one of the first to be constructed in rural Newfoundland.  Plans are also being made for a building to be erected on the old Marconi site which will include information on the wireless station, and for a possible reconstruction of an old cooper shop.  Many older homes are still in evidence in Fogo and have been well preserved over the years.

The photos below show two sections of town as they appeared in the early 20th century; and the area still know as Wigwam Point in the early 1900's.

 

Fogo, Southeast looking Northeast	Fogo, North Side	Wigwam Point 1905