The People

In 1855 when Mr. Joseph Green went to Shoe Cover from St. John’s, there was one family living in North West Arm (later renamed to Burlington) -this was the family of Mr. White. There is no record to who Mr. White was, where he came from nor where he went to after he left. When Mr. Green took his family to North West Arm the following year, there was a month before Mrs. Green saw another woman, so it had seemed that Mr. White and his family had left. The next family who arrived to this growing town was the Mills family from Tizzard’s Harbour. Shortly after the Mills’, the Perry family came from Indian Islands. The Dwyer family moved in from Hillview, Trinity Bay and the Robbins family came from Bonavista.

The first Government Land Grant was issued to Mr. George Marsh in 1872. This land was located in Winter House Cove (pictured to the left -what is now called Perry’s Cove) on the south side of the Arm. Mr. Frederick Martin’s grant was dated 1874, as is that of James Young. Subsequent grants were issued until the final one in 1924. In total there were 45 grants of land which covered about 199 acres.

From the Census Returns dating back as far as 1874, we find that the people cultivated the land, kept animals, and followed the inshore fishery as well as the Labrador Fishery. They cut and sawed lumber, built houses, schools and churches. They cut firewood and sold it to people living in places such as Twillingate, where firewood was scarce even in those days.

The original last names have changed greatly since the beginning of
this town. Original names include:

• Marsh
• Hudson
• Pike
• Higgins
• House
• Milley
• Green
• Jennings
• Robbins

Many of these names are not found in Burlington any longer and have been replaced with such names as Foster, Moores, Goudie, Kelly, Elliot, Saunders, Lush, Burton and Mitchell. There was a George Moores on the original list of land grantees but there is no connection with the present Moores families now living in Burlington.

There is very little information available about the White Family – the first family to settle in North West Arm. It seems that this family had left around 1856 but must have been living there for some years previous to this date. He told Mr. Green that when he first arrived, the forest was burnt wood. When Mr. Green moved to the area, he recorded that there was ‘plenty of green, growing timber’. Using the simple logic of it takes 50 years for a tree to become large enough to be considered timber, this places the first around 1800 with Mr. White and his family moving in the area shortly after.

In old marriage records at Nipper’s Harbour, it shows there was a marriage between Azarilla Mills and Mary Ann White and is dated October 31st 1883. F. White is listed as a witness to the marriage. Past residents thought that these were some relation to the first White family that settled in North West Arm.

In 1884, James Albert Rideout came to North West Arm. He was the son of Joseph Rideout. James married Elizabeth Bartlett of Tilt Cove, daughter of William Bartlett and Martha Mills. Martha Mills was the sister of Abraham Mills who pioneered schooner building in North West Arm. He and his four brothers, George, Ambrose, Joseph and Nathaniel had come to Burlington just after the Green family. Sadly, Abraham and Joseph drowned in December of 1882, along with William Mills, William Young, William Milley and William Gosse. The schooner building industry was taken over by Abraham’s son Eliezer and in turn by his son Abraham-who is recorded to have died in 1971.

Today, the eldest person living in Burlington is Mrs. Levina Rideout who was born May 19th 1914, followed by Mr. Claude Lush who was born on November 11th 1918.

Home Town Heroes

During World War 1, nine young men from our town went overseas. Joseph Mills, John Roberts, Percy Green, Leander Mills, William Young, Roland Young, Stanley Lush, Fred Martin and Richard Patey. Unfortunately not all those that left, returned. Three of these brave men were killed; these were Joseph and Leander Mills, and John Roberts.

(Pictured Above, Left to Right: Stanley Lust, James Perry, Geddis Lush)

During World War 2, six young men served. These were: Wesley Bartlett, Fred Robbins, Geddis Lush, Winston Lush, Raymond Bartlett and Roland Young. Roland Young served in the Forestry, and there was also one lady who served for her country- this was May Vokey who was in the army’s air force.

Reginald Martin and James Perry also served their country.

Shaun Majumder spent many years of his life in Burlington growing up in his mother’s hometown.  Now that Shaun has moved on and is now a nationally recognized stand up comedian, he’s never hesitant to call Burlington “home.”  When asked where he’s from, he’s happy to explain the small town in Newfoundland that brought him so much when he was young (including much of his comedy material).  Shaun’s career in show business is also beginning to proceed into the United States, where he’s auditioned for dozens of television sitcoms and movie roles.  His resume is quickly growing into something people are willing to pay attention to, but everyone in Burlington has been proud of him since his very early days of stardom when not too many people knew who he was.  Possibly the highlight of his career has been his 2004 Gemini Award win.  Not long after Shawn won the award he returned home to “show it off” to the rest of the people in the town he loves.  Everyone hardly knew what to think of such a great honor for our hometown boy, and celebrated his achievements with a parade through town and a party at the town hall with everyone invited.  Many of Shaun's aunts, uncles and cousins still live in Burlington, and we’re also be proud to welcome his father, Mani and his wife, Liesl, as of recently.  Shaun travels all over the country and all over the world performing in comedy clubs and appearing on television, but there’s no doubt that no matter what he does, he’ll always be close to home.

Rex Goudie is one of Canada's favorite rockers thanks to the hit Television show Canadian Idol.  Rex entered the competition early in 2005 while he was in St. John's visiting some relatives.  His cousin dared him to go try out, so he did-and Canada is glad!  Moving his way through the competition, Rex made it down to the final two out of thousands of competitors and became runner up to Calgary, Alberta's Melissa O'Neil.  Born in Dawson Creek, BC., Rex's father was born and raised in Burlington.  When Rex was very young, his parents moved back to Burlington and that's where they stayed, and still live.  Rex attended school here in Town and that is where many of his musical talents showed.  Even from an early age, Rex showed signs that he was very musically inclined.  As he moved into High School he was found walking the hall with a guitar in his hand almost constantly.  Lunch time breaks included a concert by Rex with a crowd gathered around offering requests.  High School also began something that most of Canada believes started when Sass Jordan announced it on national television.  But the reality is that the name "Sexy Rexy" only went public on Canadian Idol, and before then was always a nickname many of Rex's female friends stuck on him even at a young age.  Now that Rex is amazing audiences and producing albums for the biggest record company in the country, there's no doubt that Burlington is, and always will be "Rexcited" about our hometown boy's success.

The Share Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to help provide medical needs for the Baie Verte Peninsula, an area of Newfoundland said to be several years behind the times, especially in the area of Health Care.
They are determined to help the people of the Baie Verte Peninsula receive the attention they have been denied for so long. They are committed to do whatever we can to help make a difference in people's lives by assisting mainly in helping raise finances to provide medical equipment and services. Holding fundraising events and promotion has been our key areas of focus since our formation.
The foundation owes much of its promotion to the two celebrity founders and Burlington natives, Recording Artist Rex Goudie and Actor/Comedian Shaun Majumder. By assisting in the area of health care, the Share Foundation gives back to the Baie Verte Peninsula and has the privilege of helping those who need it most, in an area of utmost importance.
You can check the SHARE Foundation out online at: www.sharefoundation.ca .