PEOPLE OF BELL ISLAND
S
S
THE SAPP NAME ON BELL ISLAND
by Gail Hussey-Weir
Created September 2017 / Updated August 2025
by Gail Hussey-Weir
Created September 2017 / Updated August 2025
SAPP NAME ON BELL ISLAND, c.1898 to c.1969:
As far as I can determine, Joseph Charles Sapp (1879-1969), known sometimes as Joe and other times as Charlie, was the first of the Lebanese-born Sapps to live and work on Bell Island and, with some gaps over the years, maintained his business there for a total of about 30 years until he died at the age of 90 in January 1969. His wife, Ellen (1882-1955), was the daughter of Michael J. Gosine (1856-1938), another long-time Lebanese businessman of Bell Island. The Michael Gosine family left Lebanon in 1894 and first went to Ashland, Kentucky, an industrial growth area that had been attracting Middle-Eastern immigrants for several decades. After marrying in Ashland in 1898, Joseph C. and Ellen Sapp immigrated to Newfoundland, first to Bell Island, then St. John's, before returning in 1947 to spend the rest of their lives on Bell Island. They and their only child, Rosie, who died in infancy, are buried in St. Michael's RC Cemetery, Bell Island.
Joseph's brother, Albert C. Sapp (c.1885-1956), and his wife, Rose (1896-1986), first had their business on Bell Island during the years of the First World War before moving to Yarmouth, NS, where others of their family had put down roots. After five years there, they went back to Syria for four years before returning in 1929 to Bell Island, where Albert maintained his business until his death in 1956, a total of 34 years. Rose continued in business there for a total of 48 years, until her brother-in-law, Joseph, died in 1969. She then moved to Halifax, where her brother, Abraham Leo Saab, was living. She died in 1986 at the age of 90. She and Albert are buried in St. Michael's RC Cemetery, Bell Island.
Rose Sapp's brother was known as Abraham Leo Sapp (1896-1983) when he was a shopkeeper on Bell Island for a few years around the time of the First World War. He gave his hometown as Bell Island when he signed up for military service in WWI in May 1918; he was discharged from duty in July 1919. Meanwhile, his and Rose's cousin, Raymond Melan Sapp (c.1875-1957), was also a merchant on Bell Island from about 1915-1918 before he and his wife, Rose Andrea Joseph (1882-1956) moved their family back to Yarmouth, NS, where they had lived for a few years before coming to Newfoundland. In June 1920, Abraham Leo Sapp left Bell Island for Yarmouth to live with his cousin, Raymond and family. A year later, Abraham married Raymond's eldest daughter, Mamie (c.1900-1978), and they moved to Halifax, where they reverted to the Saab spelling of his name. Mamie died there in 1978 and Abraham in 1983. Raymond and family had remained in Yarmouth, where his wife, Rose, died in 1956 and he died in 1957.
The following bios are the result of my research (mainly online; sources given in text) on Abraham Leo Sapp/Saab, Abraham M. Sapp, Albert Charles Sapp and his wife Hana Rose Saab, Joseph Charles Sapp and his wife Ellen Gosine, and Raymond Melan Sapp and his wife Rose Andrea Joseph:
As far as I can determine, Joseph Charles Sapp (1879-1969), known sometimes as Joe and other times as Charlie, was the first of the Lebanese-born Sapps to live and work on Bell Island and, with some gaps over the years, maintained his business there for a total of about 30 years until he died at the age of 90 in January 1969. His wife, Ellen (1882-1955), was the daughter of Michael J. Gosine (1856-1938), another long-time Lebanese businessman of Bell Island. The Michael Gosine family left Lebanon in 1894 and first went to Ashland, Kentucky, an industrial growth area that had been attracting Middle-Eastern immigrants for several decades. After marrying in Ashland in 1898, Joseph C. and Ellen Sapp immigrated to Newfoundland, first to Bell Island, then St. John's, before returning in 1947 to spend the rest of their lives on Bell Island. They and their only child, Rosie, who died in infancy, are buried in St. Michael's RC Cemetery, Bell Island.
Joseph's brother, Albert C. Sapp (c.1885-1956), and his wife, Rose (1896-1986), first had their business on Bell Island during the years of the First World War before moving to Yarmouth, NS, where others of their family had put down roots. After five years there, they went back to Syria for four years before returning in 1929 to Bell Island, where Albert maintained his business until his death in 1956, a total of 34 years. Rose continued in business there for a total of 48 years, until her brother-in-law, Joseph, died in 1969. She then moved to Halifax, where her brother, Abraham Leo Saab, was living. She died in 1986 at the age of 90. She and Albert are buried in St. Michael's RC Cemetery, Bell Island.
Rose Sapp's brother was known as Abraham Leo Sapp (1896-1983) when he was a shopkeeper on Bell Island for a few years around the time of the First World War. He gave his hometown as Bell Island when he signed up for military service in WWI in May 1918; he was discharged from duty in July 1919. Meanwhile, his and Rose's cousin, Raymond Melan Sapp (c.1875-1957), was also a merchant on Bell Island from about 1915-1918 before he and his wife, Rose Andrea Joseph (1882-1956) moved their family back to Yarmouth, NS, where they had lived for a few years before coming to Newfoundland. In June 1920, Abraham Leo Sapp left Bell Island for Yarmouth to live with his cousin, Raymond and family. A year later, Abraham married Raymond's eldest daughter, Mamie (c.1900-1978), and they moved to Halifax, where they reverted to the Saab spelling of his name. Mamie died there in 1978 and Abraham in 1983. Raymond and family had remained in Yarmouth, where his wife, Rose, died in 1956 and he died in 1957.
The following bios are the result of my research (mainly online; sources given in text) on Abraham Leo Sapp/Saab, Abraham M. Sapp, Albert Charles Sapp and his wife Hana Rose Saab, Joseph Charles Sapp and his wife Ellen Gosine, and Raymond Melan Sapp and his wife Rose Andrea Joseph:
Abraham Leo Sapp, AKA Saab (1896-1983): Shopkeeper; Private in the Royal Newfoundland Regiment #4909, WWI. He was born Abraham Leo Saab in Hadeth-El-Jibeth, Lebanon, January 15, 1896 to Marion (aka Mary? maiden name Anthony) and Leo (aka Elias?) Brohiem Saab. (Marion and Leo remained in Lebanon. Information from "Heritage-ancestry-of-the-alam-alijure-allen-elkhoury-emin-chalela-shlala-families-1.html" in September 2017. Note: Could not find this URL in September 2021, however, the same information was found at: "dokumen.tips/reader/f/heritage-document-prepared-by-dr-julio-aljure-al-.html".) It is not known when he came to Newfoundland or Bell Island, but his sister, Rosie, and brother-in-law, Albert Sapp, were General Dealers on Bell Island about 1912 through 1919. As well, his cousin, and future father-in-law, Raymond Melan Sapp (see bio below), was listed as a General Merchant on Bell Island in the 1915 Directory.
Abraham Leo enlisted to serve in the Royal Newfoundland Regiment in WWI on May 6, 1918. He served for 1 year, 86 days and was discharged July 30, 1919.
In 1918, his cousin, Raymond, had moved his family permanently to Yarmouth, NS. On June 21, 1920 "A. Sapp," an unmarried businessman, age 24, born Syria, arrived in North Sydney on his way to Halifax, NS. Also in June 1920, Albert and Rosie Sapp moved to Nova Scotia. (They spent the first half of the 1920s in Yarmouth.) The 1921 Census for Yarmouth, NS, shows "Leo Sapp," merchant, age 25, living with his cousin Raymond Sapp's family. On August 21, 1921, Abraham Leo Sapp, shopkeeper, whose age is given as 27, married Raymond Sapp's eldest daughter, Mary, AKA Mamie. Following their marriage, they moved to Halifax where they went by the surname "Saab." Mamie died Nov. 27, 1978 in Halifax. Abraham died April 16, 1983 in Halifax. They are buried in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Sackville, NS.
Timeline (with some guesswork) for Abraham Leo Sapp:
Born 1896 in Hadeth-El-Jibeth, Lebanon, Syria.
1912-1919: Abraham Leo Sapp's sister Rosie and her husband, Albert Sapp were General Dealers on Bell Island.
1915: Abraham Leo Sapp's cousin, Raymond Melan Sapp, was a General Merchant on Bell Island.
1915: Abraham "M" Sapp listed in 1915 Directory for Bell Island as selling "dry goods, etc. Bell Island Mines."
1918: Abraham Sapp enlisted on May 6 for military service in WWI; hometown Bell Island; occupation storekeeper.
c.1918: Raymond Melan Sapp left Bell Island to live in Yarmouth, NS.
1919: Abraham Sapp discharged from military service July 30.
1920: On June 21, "A. Sapp," unmarried businessman, age 24, born Syria, arrived in Nova Scotia from Newfoundland, on way to Halifax. Also in June 1920, Abraham Leo Sapp's sister Rosie and her husband, Albert Sapp, left Bell Island to live in Yarmouth, N.S.
1921: Census for Nova Scotia lists "Leo Sapp, merchant, age 25" living with his cousin Raymond Sapp's family in Yarmouth.
1921: On August 21, Abraham Leo Sapp, shopkeeper, age 27, married Mary (AKA Mamie) Sapp, eldest daughter of Raymond Sapp. Abraham and Mamie moved to Halifax and went by the surname "Saab," the spelling of the family surname in Lebanon.
1956: Abraham "Sabb" visited Bell Island in April for the funeral of his brother-in-law, Albert C. Sapp.
1978: Mamie Saab died Nov. 27 in Halifax.
1983: Abraham died Apr. 16 in Halifax.
Time on Bell Island and known relationships:
Abraham Leo Sapp appears to have lived and worked on Bell Island for a few years only, possibly from about 1912, but maybe not till after 1915, until 1918, when he signed up for military service. He may have then lived there for a year before moving to Nova Scotia, where he remained.
Abraham Leo Sapp's sister, Rosie, and her husband, Albert Sapp, were General Dealers on Bell Island.
Abraham Leo Sapp's cousin, Raymond Melan Sapp, was a General Merchant on Bell Island in 1915; Abraham Leo Sapp
married Mary (AKA Mamie) Sapp, eldest daughter of Raymond Sapp.
Abraham Leo enlisted to serve in the Royal Newfoundland Regiment in WWI on May 6, 1918. He served for 1 year, 86 days and was discharged July 30, 1919.
In 1918, his cousin, Raymond, had moved his family permanently to Yarmouth, NS. On June 21, 1920 "A. Sapp," an unmarried businessman, age 24, born Syria, arrived in North Sydney on his way to Halifax, NS. Also in June 1920, Albert and Rosie Sapp moved to Nova Scotia. (They spent the first half of the 1920s in Yarmouth.) The 1921 Census for Yarmouth, NS, shows "Leo Sapp," merchant, age 25, living with his cousin Raymond Sapp's family. On August 21, 1921, Abraham Leo Sapp, shopkeeper, whose age is given as 27, married Raymond Sapp's eldest daughter, Mary, AKA Mamie. Following their marriage, they moved to Halifax where they went by the surname "Saab." Mamie died Nov. 27, 1978 in Halifax. Abraham died April 16, 1983 in Halifax. They are buried in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Sackville, NS.
Timeline (with some guesswork) for Abraham Leo Sapp:
Born 1896 in Hadeth-El-Jibeth, Lebanon, Syria.
1912-1919: Abraham Leo Sapp's sister Rosie and her husband, Albert Sapp were General Dealers on Bell Island.
1915: Abraham Leo Sapp's cousin, Raymond Melan Sapp, was a General Merchant on Bell Island.
1915: Abraham "M" Sapp listed in 1915 Directory for Bell Island as selling "dry goods, etc. Bell Island Mines."
1918: Abraham Sapp enlisted on May 6 for military service in WWI; hometown Bell Island; occupation storekeeper.
c.1918: Raymond Melan Sapp left Bell Island to live in Yarmouth, NS.
1919: Abraham Sapp discharged from military service July 30.
1920: On June 21, "A. Sapp," unmarried businessman, age 24, born Syria, arrived in Nova Scotia from Newfoundland, on way to Halifax. Also in June 1920, Abraham Leo Sapp's sister Rosie and her husband, Albert Sapp, left Bell Island to live in Yarmouth, N.S.
1921: Census for Nova Scotia lists "Leo Sapp, merchant, age 25" living with his cousin Raymond Sapp's family in Yarmouth.
1921: On August 21, Abraham Leo Sapp, shopkeeper, age 27, married Mary (AKA Mamie) Sapp, eldest daughter of Raymond Sapp. Abraham and Mamie moved to Halifax and went by the surname "Saab," the spelling of the family surname in Lebanon.
1956: Abraham "Sabb" visited Bell Island in April for the funeral of his brother-in-law, Albert C. Sapp.
1978: Mamie Saab died Nov. 27 in Halifax.
1983: Abraham died Apr. 16 in Halifax.
Time on Bell Island and known relationships:
Abraham Leo Sapp appears to have lived and worked on Bell Island for a few years only, possibly from about 1912, but maybe not till after 1915, until 1918, when he signed up for military service. He may have then lived there for a year before moving to Nova Scotia, where he remained.
Abraham Leo Sapp's sister, Rosie, and her husband, Albert Sapp, were General Dealers on Bell Island.
Abraham Leo Sapp's cousin, Raymond Melan Sapp, was a General Merchant on Bell Island in 1915; Abraham Leo Sapp
married Mary (AKA Mamie) Sapp, eldest daughter of Raymond Sapp.
Abraham M. Sapp: Merchant. He appears in the 1915 Directory for Bell Island selling "dry goods, etc. Bell Island Mines." Other than this listing, I could not find any other reference to Abraham M. Sapp on Bell Island. There was an Abram Melan Sapp (1884-1957) in Carbonear in 1913 according to the death record of his son, Joseph Abraham Sapp, who was born there in 1913 and who died in Shelburne, Nova Scotia in 1953. The family seems to have moved to Nova Scotia sometime before 1921 and remained there. It is possible that Abram Melan Sapp was doing business on Bell Island in 1915. See Raymond Melan Sapp's bio below for similarities of movement.
Another possibility is that the 1915 Directory got the middle initial wrong and that the listing should have been for Abraham "L." Sapp, whose bio is above.
Another possibility is that the 1915 Directory got the middle initial wrong and that the listing should have been for Abraham "L." Sapp, whose bio is above.
Albert (Abbla) Charles Sapp (c.1885-1956) and Hana Rose (Rosie) Saab (1896-1986): Merchants. Abbla (Albert) Charles Sapp was born in Hadeth, Mount Lebanon, Syria, c.1885 to Ann and Charles Saab. Hana Rose Saab was born in Hadeth-El-Jibeth, Lebanon, 1896 to Marion (aka Mary?) and Leo Brohiem Saab. Marion and Leo remained in Lebanon. (Information above from "Heritage-ancestry-of-the-alam-alijure-allen-elkhoury-emin-chalela-shlala-families-1.html" in September 2017. Note: Could not find this URL in September 2021, however, the same information was found at: "dokumen.tips/reader/f/heritage-document-prepared-by-dr-julio-aljure-al-.html") Albert is listed in the 1908-09 McAlpine's St. John's Directory as a clerk in his brother J. Charlie Sapp's dry goods business at 398 Water Street. Albert's middle initial is given as "J." in that listing.
On February 22, 1909, Albert Sapp, shopkeeper, 23, born Syria, arrived North Sydney, NS, aboard the Bruce, from Port aux Basques, NL, destination Halifax, NS. Two months later, on April 20th, Albert and Rose married in Halifax, where she had been living since 1904. They moved to Bell Island in 1912. Albert is recorded in the 1913, 1915 and 1919 Directories for Bell Island as a general dealer selling:
"dry and fancy goods (ready-made), jewellery, etc., groceries, fruit and confectionery,
tobacco, cigars and cigarettes, temperance drinks. Prices right. East Bell Island, Mines."
They moved to St. John's for a short time, where they were storekeepers on Water Street before leaving for Nova Scotia in June 1920. During the 1920s, they were living in Yarmouth, NS. In 1925, they returned to their homeland of Syria for four years before moving back to Bell Island in 1929. On October 13, 1931, their house (and store) on Bennett Street was destroyed by fire. It was reported in the Bell Island news section of the Daily News in the summer of 1932 that A.C. Sapp was rebuilding his store that had been destroyed by fire. The shop was on the north side of Bennett Street, two doors east of the East Track. Some of the merchandise they sold in their dry-goods store included dishes, wallpaper, hair ribbons, knitting wool, embroidery silk, and school supplies. Albert also cut panes of glass. It was said that whenever he was cutting glass, he would repeat the phrase, "In God we trust." At the annual Fall Agricultural Exhibition held in October 1938 at the Arena, where businesses donated prizes for best live stock, vegetables, flowers and fancy work, A.C. Sapp donated a prize of a set of dishes.
The February 22, 1941 edition of The Daily News stated that the grocery department of the Royal Stores (Water Street, St. John's) had on display in their window two lemons, one of which weighed 1 and 1/4 pounds, grown by Mrs. A.C. Sapp on Bell Island. They are listed in the 1945 Census and the 1949 and 1953 Voters' Lists for Bell Island. The July 6, 1955 edition of The Daily News featured an item entitled, Visiting Syria:
"On Sunday, July 3rd, Mrs. A.C. Sapp of Bell Island left for her home in Lebanon, Hadeth-El-Jibeth. After 26 years
since she saw her mother and father, it will be a reunion with her brothers, one of whom she hasn't seen in 52 years.
He is coming from Columbia, South America. Her father is 88 and her mother is 84, and both are hale and hearty.
Mrs. Sapp will be gone for five or six months."
The March 21, 1956 edition of The Daily News noted on its "News From Bell Island" page that Mr. Albert Sapp, who had been "on the sick list for some time," was now a patient at St. Clare's Hospital. He died of a heart condition less than a month later, on April 10, 1956 at age 71 years. "A Tribute of Late C. Sapp" appeared in the April 14, 1956 Daily News. In it, his birth place is given as Hadeth-el-Joubbe, Mount Lebanon. The article stated that he was the brother of Joseph C. Sapp, also a merchant of Bell Island (see his bio below).
As late as 1969, the Telephone Directory for Bell Island lists "Mrs. Albert Sapp, Bennett Street." Her brother-in-law, Joseph Charles Sapp, died in 1969, at which time she was the only remaining Sapp on Bell Island. (She and Albert had no children.) Her brother, Abraham Leo Saab, was living in Halifax, which may be why she moved there. Rose Sapp died April 21, 1986 in Halifax, NS, at the age of 90 years; she and Albert are buried in St. Michael's Roman Catholic Cemetery, Bell Island.
Timeline for Albert Charles and Rose Sapp:
Born c.1885 & 1896 respectively in Hadeth, Mount Lebanon, Syria;
1904: Rose Saab living in Halifax;
1908: Albert worked as a clerk in his brother Charlie Sapp's dry goods business in St. John's;
1909: Albert travelled to Nova Scotia from Newfoundland;
1909: Albert and Rose married in Halifax, NS;
1912: moved to Bell Island.
1913-1919 Directories for Bell Island list Albert Sapp as a general dealer on Bell Island;
1920: shopkeepers on Water Street, St. John's; moved to Nova Scotia in June;
1920-25: living in Yarmouth, NS;
1925-29: visited homeland in Syria;
1929: returned to Bell Island to live;
1932: rebuilding store on Bell Island that had been destroyed by fire;
1955: Rose visited family in Syria;
1956: Albert died on Bell Island, age 71;
1969: Mrs. Albert Sapp was still in business on Bennett St., but probably moved to Nova Scotia that year;
1986: Rose died in Halifax, NS, age 90.
Time on Bell Island and known relationships:
Albert and Rose Sapp lived and worked on Bell Island from 1912-1919 (7 years) and then from 1929-1956 (for Albert, a total of 34 years) and 1929 to about 1969 (for Rose, a total of 48 years).
Rose's brother, Abraham Leo Sapp, lived and worked on Bell Island from about 1912 until 1918, when he signed up for military service, then from 1919-1920.
Rose's cousin, Raymond Melan Sapp, was a merchant on Bell Island in 1915.
Albert's brother, Joseph C. Sapp, was a merchant on Bell Island from about 1898 to about 1907, and from about 1947 to 1969.
On February 22, 1909, Albert Sapp, shopkeeper, 23, born Syria, arrived North Sydney, NS, aboard the Bruce, from Port aux Basques, NL, destination Halifax, NS. Two months later, on April 20th, Albert and Rose married in Halifax, where she had been living since 1904. They moved to Bell Island in 1912. Albert is recorded in the 1913, 1915 and 1919 Directories for Bell Island as a general dealer selling:
"dry and fancy goods (ready-made), jewellery, etc., groceries, fruit and confectionery,
tobacco, cigars and cigarettes, temperance drinks. Prices right. East Bell Island, Mines."
They moved to St. John's for a short time, where they were storekeepers on Water Street before leaving for Nova Scotia in June 1920. During the 1920s, they were living in Yarmouth, NS. In 1925, they returned to their homeland of Syria for four years before moving back to Bell Island in 1929. On October 13, 1931, their house (and store) on Bennett Street was destroyed by fire. It was reported in the Bell Island news section of the Daily News in the summer of 1932 that A.C. Sapp was rebuilding his store that had been destroyed by fire. The shop was on the north side of Bennett Street, two doors east of the East Track. Some of the merchandise they sold in their dry-goods store included dishes, wallpaper, hair ribbons, knitting wool, embroidery silk, and school supplies. Albert also cut panes of glass. It was said that whenever he was cutting glass, he would repeat the phrase, "In God we trust." At the annual Fall Agricultural Exhibition held in October 1938 at the Arena, where businesses donated prizes for best live stock, vegetables, flowers and fancy work, A.C. Sapp donated a prize of a set of dishes.
The February 22, 1941 edition of The Daily News stated that the grocery department of the Royal Stores (Water Street, St. John's) had on display in their window two lemons, one of which weighed 1 and 1/4 pounds, grown by Mrs. A.C. Sapp on Bell Island. They are listed in the 1945 Census and the 1949 and 1953 Voters' Lists for Bell Island. The July 6, 1955 edition of The Daily News featured an item entitled, Visiting Syria:
"On Sunday, July 3rd, Mrs. A.C. Sapp of Bell Island left for her home in Lebanon, Hadeth-El-Jibeth. After 26 years
since she saw her mother and father, it will be a reunion with her brothers, one of whom she hasn't seen in 52 years.
He is coming from Columbia, South America. Her father is 88 and her mother is 84, and both are hale and hearty.
Mrs. Sapp will be gone for five or six months."
The March 21, 1956 edition of The Daily News noted on its "News From Bell Island" page that Mr. Albert Sapp, who had been "on the sick list for some time," was now a patient at St. Clare's Hospital. He died of a heart condition less than a month later, on April 10, 1956 at age 71 years. "A Tribute of Late C. Sapp" appeared in the April 14, 1956 Daily News. In it, his birth place is given as Hadeth-el-Joubbe, Mount Lebanon. The article stated that he was the brother of Joseph C. Sapp, also a merchant of Bell Island (see his bio below).
As late as 1969, the Telephone Directory for Bell Island lists "Mrs. Albert Sapp, Bennett Street." Her brother-in-law, Joseph Charles Sapp, died in 1969, at which time she was the only remaining Sapp on Bell Island. (She and Albert had no children.) Her brother, Abraham Leo Saab, was living in Halifax, which may be why she moved there. Rose Sapp died April 21, 1986 in Halifax, NS, at the age of 90 years; she and Albert are buried in St. Michael's Roman Catholic Cemetery, Bell Island.
Timeline for Albert Charles and Rose Sapp:
Born c.1885 & 1896 respectively in Hadeth, Mount Lebanon, Syria;
1904: Rose Saab living in Halifax;
1908: Albert worked as a clerk in his brother Charlie Sapp's dry goods business in St. John's;
1909: Albert travelled to Nova Scotia from Newfoundland;
1909: Albert and Rose married in Halifax, NS;
1912: moved to Bell Island.
1913-1919 Directories for Bell Island list Albert Sapp as a general dealer on Bell Island;
1920: shopkeepers on Water Street, St. John's; moved to Nova Scotia in June;
1920-25: living in Yarmouth, NS;
1925-29: visited homeland in Syria;
1929: returned to Bell Island to live;
1932: rebuilding store on Bell Island that had been destroyed by fire;
1955: Rose visited family in Syria;
1956: Albert died on Bell Island, age 71;
1969: Mrs. Albert Sapp was still in business on Bennett St., but probably moved to Nova Scotia that year;
1986: Rose died in Halifax, NS, age 90.
Time on Bell Island and known relationships:
Albert and Rose Sapp lived and worked on Bell Island from 1912-1919 (7 years) and then from 1929-1956 (for Albert, a total of 34 years) and 1929 to about 1969 (for Rose, a total of 48 years).
Rose's brother, Abraham Leo Sapp, lived and worked on Bell Island from about 1912 until 1918, when he signed up for military service, then from 1919-1920.
Rose's cousin, Raymond Melan Sapp, was a merchant on Bell Island in 1915.
Albert's brother, Joseph C. Sapp, was a merchant on Bell Island from about 1898 to about 1907, and from about 1947 to 1969.
Joseph Charles Sapp (AKA Charlie, AKA Joe) (1879-1969) and Ellen Gosine Sapp (c.1882-1955): Merchants. Joesph Charles Sapp was born in Hadeth, Mount Lebanon, Syria February 15, 1879 to Ann and Charles Saab. Ellen Gosine was born in Mount Lebanon in c.1882 to Mary Solomon (c.1861-1917) and Michael J. Gosine (1856-1938). In 1894, the Gosine family left Lebanon for Ashland, Kentucky, an industrial growth area that had been attracting Middle-Eastern immigrants for several decades. About 4 years later, Joseph C. Sapp and Ellen Gosine married in Ashland before immigrating to Newfoundland in 1898. Ellen Sapp's 1956 obituary states that they spent "a short time on the Iron Isle prior to taking up residence in St. John's, where Mr. Sapp carried on a flourishing business for 40 years." This was at 398 Water Street in the building formerly owned by Mansour Joseph, who had returned to Lebanon due to ill health in 1905. The 1904 Directory for Bell Island lists "Charles Sapp, General Dealer." It seems that this is the name that Joseph Charles Sapp was known by at the time. He is listed in the 1908-09 McAlpine's St. John's Directory as a "General Importer and Dealer in General Dry Goods. Ready-made clothing a specialty." (His brother, listed as Albert "J." Sapp, was a clerk in his business.)
In the 1913 Directory for St. John's, he is listed as "J. Charlie Sapp, importer and jobber in General Dry Goods, Clothing, etc. at 398 Water Street." He is listed in the 1921 Census for Water Street, St. John's, as Charles although, in later years, he was known at Joe Sapp on Bell Island. In 1921, Ellen Sapp and her sister, Sadie Gosine, travelled to Halifax, NS, aboard the Rosalind, enroute to Yarmouth for a 4-week visit, which suggests that, like other Bell Island Sapps, there was a connection to the Sapp-Saab family of Yarmouth. An unfortunate event was recorded in The Daily News of Nov. 5th 1941, stating that a former resident of Grand Falls had been arrested the previous week "on a charge of holding up Mrs. J.C. Sapp in her store on Water Street and attempting to rifle the cash register. He was sentenced to six months for assault and attempting to steal." In 1947, when Joseph was about 68 and Ellen was about 65, the Sapps moved to Town Square, Bell Island, where they carried on their business enterprise, and where Ellen's sister, Sadie Gosine, was also in business. At this time, he was known as "Joe." They are listed in the 1949 and 1953 Voters' Lists for Bell Island. Ellen Gosine Sapp died December 29, 1955 at age 73. J.C. Sapp advertised his houses and business on No. 2 Road for sale in 1958 (see below), however, he appears in the 1962 and 63 Voters' Lists for Bell Island as a storekeeper. He died January 29, 1969 at age 90. Joseph, Ellen and their only child, Rosie, who died in infancy, are buried in St. Michael's Roman Catholic Cemetery, Bell Island. Joseph was the brother of Albert C. Sapp, also a merchant of Bell Island. (See his bio above.) Source: The Daily News, Jan. 7, 1956, p. 5.
Timeline for Joseph Charles and Ellen (Gosine) Sapp:
Born 1879 & c.1882 respectively in Syria;
1894: Michael J. Gosine (Ellen's) family left Lebanon for Ashland, Kentucky;
c.1898: Joseph Sapp and Ellen Gosine married in Ashland, Kentucky;
1898: immigrated to Newfoundland, possibly to Bell Island;
1904 Directory for Bell Island: Charles (believed to be Joseph Charles) Sapp is a General Dealer on Bell Island;
c.1907: moved business to 398 Water Street, St. John's, where they operated for 40 years;
1908-09 McAlpine's City Directory: J. Charlie Sapp is a General Importer & Dealer, 398 Water Street, St. John's;
1913 Directory for St. John's: J. Charlie Sapp Importer & Jobber in General Dry Goods, Clothing, etc., 398 Water St.;
1921 Census: shopkeepers on Water St., St. John's;
1921: Ellen Sapp & her sister, Sadie Gosine, travelled to Halifax en route to Yarmouth for 4 weeks;
1941: Mrs. J.C. Sapp was the victim of a hold-up in her store on Water Street;
1947: moved their business to Town Square (No. 2 Road), Bell Island, where Sadie Gosine was also in business;
1949 & 1953: listed in the Voters' Lists for Bell Island;
1955: Ellen died on Bell Island;
1958: Joseph Sapp advertised his houses and business on No. 2 Road for sale;
1962-63: Joseph listed as a storekeeper on Voters' Lists;
1969: Joesph died.
Time on Bell Island and known relationships:
Joseph Charles and Ellen Sapp lived and worked on Bell Island from c.1898 to c.1907 (about 9 years), and from 1947 to 1955 (for Ellen, a total of about 17 years), and from 1947 to 1969 (for Joseph Charles, a total of about 30 years).
Joseph Charles' brother, Albert C. Sapp, was a merchant on Bell Island from 1912-1919, and from 1929-1956.
Ellen Sapp was the daughter of Michael J. Gosine, merchant of Bell Island.
In the March 26, 1958 edition of The Daily News, the following advertisement appeared on page 14:
For Sale at Bell Island, Dry Goods and Novelty Business. Nice size store and large property. 15 room house, heated, hot and cold water, bathroom, sewerage. Ideal place for hotel. About 150 feet from Town Square, Bell Island, opposite new park [see map below], short distance from new Post Office. Good size yard and two other houses rented, one of the houses 8 rooms, and the other 4 rooms. Ready for inspection any time. Interested parties apply to J.C. Sapp, Bell Island.
This image of the Joseph C. Sapp shop on No. 2 Road was captured from a 1968 video, courtesy of Gord Johnson.
In the 1913 Directory for St. John's, he is listed as "J. Charlie Sapp, importer and jobber in General Dry Goods, Clothing, etc. at 398 Water Street." He is listed in the 1921 Census for Water Street, St. John's, as Charles although, in later years, he was known at Joe Sapp on Bell Island. In 1921, Ellen Sapp and her sister, Sadie Gosine, travelled to Halifax, NS, aboard the Rosalind, enroute to Yarmouth for a 4-week visit, which suggests that, like other Bell Island Sapps, there was a connection to the Sapp-Saab family of Yarmouth. An unfortunate event was recorded in The Daily News of Nov. 5th 1941, stating that a former resident of Grand Falls had been arrested the previous week "on a charge of holding up Mrs. J.C. Sapp in her store on Water Street and attempting to rifle the cash register. He was sentenced to six months for assault and attempting to steal." In 1947, when Joseph was about 68 and Ellen was about 65, the Sapps moved to Town Square, Bell Island, where they carried on their business enterprise, and where Ellen's sister, Sadie Gosine, was also in business. At this time, he was known as "Joe." They are listed in the 1949 and 1953 Voters' Lists for Bell Island. Ellen Gosine Sapp died December 29, 1955 at age 73. J.C. Sapp advertised his houses and business on No. 2 Road for sale in 1958 (see below), however, he appears in the 1962 and 63 Voters' Lists for Bell Island as a storekeeper. He died January 29, 1969 at age 90. Joseph, Ellen and their only child, Rosie, who died in infancy, are buried in St. Michael's Roman Catholic Cemetery, Bell Island. Joseph was the brother of Albert C. Sapp, also a merchant of Bell Island. (See his bio above.) Source: The Daily News, Jan. 7, 1956, p. 5.
Timeline for Joseph Charles and Ellen (Gosine) Sapp:
Born 1879 & c.1882 respectively in Syria;
1894: Michael J. Gosine (Ellen's) family left Lebanon for Ashland, Kentucky;
c.1898: Joseph Sapp and Ellen Gosine married in Ashland, Kentucky;
1898: immigrated to Newfoundland, possibly to Bell Island;
1904 Directory for Bell Island: Charles (believed to be Joseph Charles) Sapp is a General Dealer on Bell Island;
c.1907: moved business to 398 Water Street, St. John's, where they operated for 40 years;
1908-09 McAlpine's City Directory: J. Charlie Sapp is a General Importer & Dealer, 398 Water Street, St. John's;
1913 Directory for St. John's: J. Charlie Sapp Importer & Jobber in General Dry Goods, Clothing, etc., 398 Water St.;
1921 Census: shopkeepers on Water St., St. John's;
1921: Ellen Sapp & her sister, Sadie Gosine, travelled to Halifax en route to Yarmouth for 4 weeks;
1941: Mrs. J.C. Sapp was the victim of a hold-up in her store on Water Street;
1947: moved their business to Town Square (No. 2 Road), Bell Island, where Sadie Gosine was also in business;
1949 & 1953: listed in the Voters' Lists for Bell Island;
1955: Ellen died on Bell Island;
1958: Joseph Sapp advertised his houses and business on No. 2 Road for sale;
1962-63: Joseph listed as a storekeeper on Voters' Lists;
1969: Joesph died.
Time on Bell Island and known relationships:
Joseph Charles and Ellen Sapp lived and worked on Bell Island from c.1898 to c.1907 (about 9 years), and from 1947 to 1955 (for Ellen, a total of about 17 years), and from 1947 to 1969 (for Joseph Charles, a total of about 30 years).
Joseph Charles' brother, Albert C. Sapp, was a merchant on Bell Island from 1912-1919, and from 1929-1956.
Ellen Sapp was the daughter of Michael J. Gosine, merchant of Bell Island.
In the March 26, 1958 edition of The Daily News, the following advertisement appeared on page 14:
For Sale at Bell Island, Dry Goods and Novelty Business. Nice size store and large property. 15 room house, heated, hot and cold water, bathroom, sewerage. Ideal place for hotel. About 150 feet from Town Square, Bell Island, opposite new park [see map below], short distance from new Post Office. Good size yard and two other houses rented, one of the houses 8 rooms, and the other 4 rooms. Ready for inspection any time. Interested parties apply to J.C. Sapp, Bell Island.
This image of the Joseph C. Sapp shop on No. 2 Road was captured from a 1968 video, courtesy of Gord Johnson.
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In 1958, a new Municipal Plan was prepared for the Wabana Town Council. This was at the height of mining activity when the future of Bell Island was looking rosy and only a year before things started to go downhill for Wabana Mines. A feature of the new Town Plan was a municipal park on the land where the hospital and the Seniors' Home are now located. Sapp's property was right in the middle of this map, located around the corner from Town Square on No. 2 Road (shown as West Mines Road on the map).
Source: "Wabana Bell Island Report on the Municipal Plan, January 1958," Canadian-British Engineering Consultants, Halifax, NS. |
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Raymond Melan Sapp (c.1875-1957) and Rose Andrea Joseph Sapp (1882-1956): Merchants. Raymond Melan Sapp was born in Mount Lebanon, Syria, c.1875; Rose Andrea Joseph was born there in 1882. It is unclear how they came to North America and Newfoundland, but they may have followed the same route as Joseph Charles and Ellen Gosine Sapp and many others from their homeland who came through Ashland, Kentucky, USA in the late 1800s. As well, some of the few records available for them indicate that they had strong ties to Yarmouth, NS., as did another Bell Island couple, Albert Charles and Rosie Sapp. Indeed, Rosie Sapp was Raymond's cousin. Raymond and Rose's eldest child, Mary, AKA Mamie, was born c.1900 in Yarmouth. Their next child, a son, "D," was born in Canada in 1904. Their third child, Sadie, was born in St. John's in 1907, so it seems they came to Newfoundland sometime between 1904 and 1907. The 1908-09 and the 1913 McAlpine's Directory for Carbonear lists R.M. Sapp dealing in Dry Goods, Notions, and Confectionery on Water Street, Carbonear. Their fourth child, Martha, was born in 1911 in Newfoundland, presumably Carbonear, where their fifth child, Julia, was born in 1914.
The only record found linking R.M. Sapp to Bell Island comes from the Bell Island Directory for 1915 in which he is listed as "General Merchants." The family moved to Yarmouth, NS, in the Spring of 1918. Information given on the Passenger List for the Kyle arriving in North Sydney, NS, from Port aux Basques, NL, on May 18, 1918, states that R. M. Sapp, then 42, was a businessman born in Syria, had previously been in Canada (then a separate country from Newfoundland) in 1909, and was a "Returned Canadian." His destination was Yarmouth, NS. Travelling with him were his wife, "Mrs. R. M. Sapp, 37, born in Syria; daughter Mary (known as Mamie), 18, born in Canada (known to be from Yarmouth, NS, from her marriage certificate); son 'D,' 14, born in Canada; Sadie, (age given as 9, but actually 11 according to her birth record), born St. John's, NL; Martha, 7, born Newfoundland; Julia, 4, born Carbonear (according to her 2003 obituary); and Josephine, 3, born Newfoundland (probably Bell Island). Raymond and Rose's eldest daughter, Mamie, married Raymond's cousin, Abraham Leo Saab, who was a brother of Albert C. Sapp's wife, Rosie, in Yarmouth in 1921. Raymond M. Sapp died March 20, 1957; his wife, Rosie, died April 19, 1956; they are buried in Our Lady of Calvary Roman Catholic Cemetery, in Yarmouth, NS.
Timeline for Raymond Melan and Rose Sapp:
Born c.1875 & 1882 respectively in Mount Lebanon, Syria (probably Hadeth);
1900-1904: in Yarmouth, where first 2 children born;
1907 in St. John's, NL, where third child born (where registered, so may actually have been born in Carbonear);
1908-09 McAlpine's Directory for Carbonear: lists R.M. Sapp, "Dry Goods and Notions," Water St. Carbonear;
1911 in Newfoundland (probably Carbonear), where fourth child was born;
1913 McAlpine's Directory for Carbonear: lists R.M. Sapp, "Dry Goods and Confectionery," Water St. Carbonear;
1914 in Carbonear, where fifth child was born;
1915 on Bell Island, where R. M. Sapp shows up in the Bell Island Directory listed as "General Merchants"; and where their sixth child was likely born;
1918: moved to Yarmouth, NS, where they remained;
1921: eldest daughter, Mamie, married Abraham Leo Saab, who was a brother of Albert C. Sapp's wife, Rosie, in Yarmouth; Abraham & Rose Sapp were witnesses (this may or may not have been the Abraham M. Sapp who was a businessman on Bell Island in 1915);
1956: Rosie Sapp, wife of Raymond M. Sapp, born Mount Lebanon, died, buried in Yarmouth, NS;
1957: Raymond M. Sapp, born Mount Lebanon, died, buried in Yarmouth, NS.
Time on Bell Island and known relationships:
Raymond Melan and Rose Andrea Joseph Sapp lived and worked on Bell Island for about three years from 1915-1918. Raymond was a cousin of Abraham Leo Sapp/Saab and his sister, Hana Rose (Mrs. Albert C. Sapp). Abraham Leo Sapp/Saab married Raymond's daughter, Mary/Mamie.
The only record found linking R.M. Sapp to Bell Island comes from the Bell Island Directory for 1915 in which he is listed as "General Merchants." The family moved to Yarmouth, NS, in the Spring of 1918. Information given on the Passenger List for the Kyle arriving in North Sydney, NS, from Port aux Basques, NL, on May 18, 1918, states that R. M. Sapp, then 42, was a businessman born in Syria, had previously been in Canada (then a separate country from Newfoundland) in 1909, and was a "Returned Canadian." His destination was Yarmouth, NS. Travelling with him were his wife, "Mrs. R. M. Sapp, 37, born in Syria; daughter Mary (known as Mamie), 18, born in Canada (known to be from Yarmouth, NS, from her marriage certificate); son 'D,' 14, born in Canada; Sadie, (age given as 9, but actually 11 according to her birth record), born St. John's, NL; Martha, 7, born Newfoundland; Julia, 4, born Carbonear (according to her 2003 obituary); and Josephine, 3, born Newfoundland (probably Bell Island). Raymond and Rose's eldest daughter, Mamie, married Raymond's cousin, Abraham Leo Saab, who was a brother of Albert C. Sapp's wife, Rosie, in Yarmouth in 1921. Raymond M. Sapp died March 20, 1957; his wife, Rosie, died April 19, 1956; they are buried in Our Lady of Calvary Roman Catholic Cemetery, in Yarmouth, NS.
Timeline for Raymond Melan and Rose Sapp:
Born c.1875 & 1882 respectively in Mount Lebanon, Syria (probably Hadeth);
1900-1904: in Yarmouth, where first 2 children born;
1907 in St. John's, NL, where third child born (where registered, so may actually have been born in Carbonear);
1908-09 McAlpine's Directory for Carbonear: lists R.M. Sapp, "Dry Goods and Notions," Water St. Carbonear;
1911 in Newfoundland (probably Carbonear), where fourth child was born;
1913 McAlpine's Directory for Carbonear: lists R.M. Sapp, "Dry Goods and Confectionery," Water St. Carbonear;
1914 in Carbonear, where fifth child was born;
1915 on Bell Island, where R. M. Sapp shows up in the Bell Island Directory listed as "General Merchants"; and where their sixth child was likely born;
1918: moved to Yarmouth, NS, where they remained;
1921: eldest daughter, Mamie, married Abraham Leo Saab, who was a brother of Albert C. Sapp's wife, Rosie, in Yarmouth; Abraham & Rose Sapp were witnesses (this may or may not have been the Abraham M. Sapp who was a businessman on Bell Island in 1915);
1956: Rosie Sapp, wife of Raymond M. Sapp, born Mount Lebanon, died, buried in Yarmouth, NS;
1957: Raymond M. Sapp, born Mount Lebanon, died, buried in Yarmouth, NS.
Time on Bell Island and known relationships:
Raymond Melan and Rose Andrea Joseph Sapp lived and worked on Bell Island for about three years from 1915-1918. Raymond was a cousin of Abraham Leo Sapp/Saab and his sister, Hana Rose (Mrs. Albert C. Sapp). Abraham Leo Sapp/Saab married Raymond's daughter, Mary/Mamie.