Power

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A surname of England and Ireland, from Old French Pohier - the man from Poix (Picardy), or from Old French povre, poure - poor, or ? from Old French poer - one (em)power(ed) to do something, a herald. MacLysaght notes that the de in the Irish form de Paor should be le, - the poor man, consequent on a vow. POWERS - son of Power appears to be rare. (Reaney, Cottle, MacLysaght). Guppy traced the variant Poore in Hampshire; Spiegelhalter traced Poore and Power in Devon; MacLysaght traced Power mainly in Waterford and adjacent counties, among the fifty most numerous Irish names.

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At Caplin Bay: The Newfoundland Journal of Aaron Thomas - 1794: Aaron Thomas, probably a steward on the H.M.S. Boston, a British man-of-war that had anchored in Caplin Bay, tells of how he came upon "a House in the Woods, kept by an Irishman of the name of Poor, a man of about 40, who had marry'd a young wife, very fair and beatifull. They had four children, were tolerably well-to-do in the world and seemed a happy Couple".
  A list of names of all Masters, Servants, and Dieters residing in the District of Ferryland for the Winter of 1799 & Spring of 1800: Michael Power - dieter working for Matthew Morry & Co. The same Michael Power was also listed as a master, with eighteen men (dieters) working for him.
  Ferryland Census 1800: Michael Power, Alice Power, James - 13, John - 11, Joseph - 7, Elenor - 4 1/2, Alice and Catherine, infant twins.
  Newfoundland Wills 1830 - 1962: 1845 - Volume 1- Folio 467. Robert Power of Caplin Bay, late of the Parish of Killea, Co. Waterford, Ireland.
  Voter's List for Caplin Bay: 1840 - Robert Power, John Power, Michael Power & William Power; 1841, 1842, 1844 - Robert Power, John Power, Michael Power; 1845, 1846, 1847, 1849, 1852, 1855 - Michael Power & John Power; 1859 - Michael Power Sen. (constable), Michael Power Jun.
  Lovell's 1871 Directory: Michael Power, planter.
  McAlpine's 1870/71 Directory: Michael Power, planter; Joseph Power, constable.
  McAlpine's 1894 Directory: M Power, of M'chl, School teacher; Patrick Power, of Michael, fisherman; James Power, of Michael, fisherman, Michael Power, of James, fisherman; William Power, fisherman; Michael Power, of John, fisherman, Thomas Power, fisherman; John Power, fisherman; Patrick Power, of Thomas, fisherman; Michael Power, of Thomas, fisherman; Joseph Power, of John, fisherman; Joseph Power, of Joseph, fisherman; James Power; of John, fisherman.
  McAlpine's 1898 Directory: James Power, of Michael, fisherman; Michael Power, of James, fisherman; William Power, fisherman; Michael Power, of Michael, fisherman; Patrick Power, of Michael, fisherman; Patrick Power Sr, fisherman; James Power; of John, fisherman; Joseph Power, of John, fisherman; Joseph Power, of Joseph, fisherman; Thomas Power, fisherman; Michael Power, of John, fisherman; Patrick Power, of Thomas, fisherman; Michael Power, of Thomas, fisherman; James Power, of Thomas, fisherman; Ellen Power, wid. James.
  McAlpine's 1904 Directory: James Power, fisherman; Patrick Power, fisherman; Michael Power, fisherman; Mich Power, of Jas, fisherman; William Power, fisherman; Patk Power, of Mich, fisherman; Michael Power Sr, fisherman; Thomas Power, fisherman; Joseph power, fisherman; John Power, fisherman; Patk Power, of Thos, fisherman; Mich Power, of Thos, fisherman; Jas Power, of Thos, fisherman; Jos Power, of Joseph, fisherman.
Family History: Michael Power was one of the earliest permanent settlers at Caplin Bay. In the latter decades of the 1700s, he settled there at the head of the bay. His home was on the north side of a salt-water pond, protected from the sea by the strand known as 'The Beach.' No records identify Michael's Irish county of origin. However, in the will of Robert Power, probated in 1845, we learn that he was formerly from Killea Parish, Co. Waterford. He died at Caplin Bay in 1844. Based on the details of his will, it would appear he was Michael's brother. The Irish parish of Killea, located on the south-west side of Waterford Harbor, was not far from Passage East, an important stopover point for many transatlantic voyages to Newfoundland. Unlike many of their fellow countrymen, who may have never seen the ocean before their voyage west, Michael and Robert Power were likely seasoned fishermen before they crossed the Atlantic to Newfoundland.
  The Ferryland Census of 1800 recorded that Michael and Alice Power and their five children lived at Caplin Bay. Later records suggest they likely had at least nine children in total, six sons and three daughters. By the 1840s, while other families were only beginning there, the Power family was into its third generation at Caplin Bay. At least two sons of Michael and Alice Power married and lived at Caplin Bay, while another son married there but later moved to St. John's. The Voters List of 1859 shows that Michael Power Sr. (of Michael) was then the constable at Caplin Bay. Although the surname appears somewhat diminished at Caplin Bay per Lovell's 1871 Directory, it was prevalent in documents of the late nineteenth century and into the early twentieth century.
Present Status: Present Status: There are several Power families at Calvert and quite a few descendants from intermarriage with other families. In addition to Power families still living at Calvert, there are descendants of Michael and Alice Power throughout Newfoundland, the rest of Canada, the U.S.A., and other countries.

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