According to local stories, Princess Sheila was born to a royal family in Ireland. In the early 1600s, her family sent her by ship to France to study in a convent. While crossing the English Channel, her ship and all its passengers were captured by Dutch pirates. Later the passengers were freed by Peter Easton, who was on his way to Newfoundland. He took the freed passengers with him to Newfoundland.

As the story continues, on the voyage across the ocean, Sheila and Gilbert Pike, Peter Easton's Lieutenant or second in command, fell in love and were married at sea. They arrived and settled in Mosquito, which is today called Bristol's Hope.

Princess Sheila was said to have given birth to the first English child in Newfoundland. According to the story, her child was born before the recorded birth of the child on March 27, 1613 to Nicholas Guy's wife in Cupers Cove. In 1697, Abbe Baudoin was with Pierre d'Iberville when he attacked Harbour Grace. Abbe Baudoin says: â??This harbour is the first established by the English on the island of Newfoundland. Three years ago a settler died here who was born in this place. He was 83 years old when he died.â?? If the story Abbe Baudoin was told is true, the man must have been born in 1611. Some people use Abbe Baudoin's statement to support the legend of Princess Sheila. However, there is no proof that a baby was born and there is certainly no proof that a baby was born to Gilbert Pike and Princess Sheila.

Although we can never know if Princess Sheila was a real person, she represents many of the early women settlers who worked hard with their husbands to build new lives in Newfoundland. According to one version of the story, she was known for working to help her husband and to care for the sick in the community.

With her husband, she is said to have started one of first families to settle in province of Newfoundland which is the Pike - Soper family. There are many people in the province of Newfoundland who claim to be descendents of that family.

The Kiwanis Club of Carbonear, in cooperation with the Johnson Family Foundation, has established a park and a story board devoted to history of the Pike â?? Soper family.

The Legend of Princess Sheila