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TRINITY BAY
1600 - 1800

 

 

NOTE: This file of research information was provided as part of Thomas R. Cole's Research notes on the Trinity Bay Area. It is presented here as it was received, as a set of research notes on people, places, and events that occurred in the Trinity Bay area for this period of history. There are many references to individuals and events that helped to shape the history of the Trinity Bay area. It covers the period from 1600 to about 1800.

1600

Second Book of Instruments 1597-1689: Southampton Record Office (Hampshire). Agreement between George Lyde, George Balling, (both of Swanage) and John Jeffrey of Southampton, 27 Feb 1600/1-

"...an arrangement was concluded when John Jeffrey, a Southampton merchant, lent ·20 to the joint-owners of half the ship the George of that city. Jeffrey was to receive ·25 within fourteen days of the ship's arrival at Bordeaux or La Rochelle from Newfoundland, or within a month of her return to England if she did not go to France. The half-owners, George Lyde and George Balin [Balling] of Swanage, agreed that their half of the vessel was to be enjoyed by Jeffrey as his own property, and gave bonds of ·50 as security..."

(TC Note - The above John Jeffrey was perhaps the first of the Jeffrey merchant family who were involved in the Newfoundland trade.

Random's Early History, by Leslie Dean - History of the Random Region of Trinity Bay.

The Random Region of Trinity Bay was included as Part of the North Falkland grant acquired from the London and Bristol Company around 1622 by Lord Falkland and called "Trinity Land". Sir Richard Whitbourne was engaged by Lord Falkland to promote the settlement of both the North Falkland Plantations. In this 1622 Discourse on Newfounfland, Whitbourne wrotte one of the earliests geographical references to the region now known as Random, referrring to the Smith's area as "the River" (or Arm) of Bonaventer" (Bonaventure). In all likelihood the sound was named after Sir Samuel Smith, who in 1622 was Treasurer of the Dublin Company headed by Lord Falkland. This company was established to promote the settlement and development of Lord Falkland's Newfoundland Plantation.

The residents of Bay de Verde, Newfoundland c1675:

Margaret Taverner (widow) (a unnamed son and a daughter lived with her) Andrew Taverner Robert Taverner Jospeh Phelan? Peirce Smith Christopher Hill (wife, son and daughter) James Jeffrey (one son) Richard Bayly Ezekiel Gardiner end

Can you identify any of them?
Tom Cole

Response From: Kathryn Whitaker

Margaret was the widow of ____ Taverner and the matriarch of all Taverners in Newfoundland and some who returned to Poole. She seems to have been very industrious - after her husband's death she carried on the fishery business with 10 servants. The William (Jr) had a wife, one child, 10 servants. Andrew Taverner was single with 18 servants. Robert Taverner single with 10 servants.

The census spelling for Phelan was ffalin.

Census of Trinity 1677:
Mich Quint & wife, 2 sons.
Tho. Carman & wife, 5 sons, 2 daugs.
Jarvis Horton.
Tho. Gabriell.

Random's Early History, by Leslie Dean - History of the Random Region of Trinity Bay.

One of the earliest references to the name of Random is found on the 1689 Thornton's map of Newfoundland which shows Southwest Arm as "River Random".

PANL Call no. GN 5/1/B/1 Trinity

12 Sep 1805, John CLINCH purchase of Fishing Room from Charles BRAXTON and wife Ann (nee BOWLES) - also mentions Dewes COKE Esquire, George GARLAND, Samuel DURNFORD; also quotes another Deed of 8 Oct 1738 for Phillip SWEET of Limehouse London, William SWEET of English Harbour,

Joseph BOWLES Merchant of Poole; also quotes another item mentioning James BAYLEY agent to Samuel WHITE, Joseph BOWLES;

PANL Call no. GN 5/1/B/1 Trinity (1805 12 Sep) , also quotes:
Conveyance dated 7 Sep 1699 Original owner Edward HILL, then William HARVEY, the Widow of William HARVEY, then her son-in-law Phillip SWEET, then his son John SWEET Planter.

1702

Prowse, DW., A History of Newfoundland From The English, Colonial, and Foreign Records, 1895. Belleville: Canadiana reprint series 33, Mika Studio, Belleville, Ontario. 1972.

Found in Prowse's "History of Newfoundland" referring to Wadham of Poole and his involvement in the Nfld. trade.

To Mr. Samuel Merrett. Sept. 21, 1702 from Pool. This serves to advice you that yesterday Mr. Thos. Wadham in the Hopewell of this place arrived here in three weeks from Trinity Harbour; he brings the bad news that about a week before he left 40 or 50 armed Frenchman came over by land from Placentia to Sillicove (TC Note- now Winterton), surprised the inhabitants killing 3 or 4 and took Mr. John Masters out of his bed rifled his house, and carried him and his goods aboard a Jersey ship laden with fish and sailed northward with the ship and 1,000 qtls. of fish but took no fish from the rocks; they much doubt their being gone to Bonavista where is only Captain Weston. A French man of war hath been off St. John's all the summer and hath taken seven ships in sight of that harbour. The Convoys were not arrived when he came away.

This letter was not signed in Prowse's History.

1713

However, trade with Newfoundland was only one aspect of the White family's business in the early 1700's; their ships were not only to be found off-loading cod fish in the ports of Spain and Portugal but at Barbados in the West Indies, Virginia, and nearer home in Baltic, Dutch and French ports, fetching and carrying supplies during the wars against France between 1689 and 1713. In Poole itself Samuel White also established a malting business, which was situated in Church Street.

PANL Call no. GN 5/1/B/1 Trinity (12 Sep 1805)

also quotes another Deed of 8 Oct 1738 for Phillip SWEET of Limehouse London, William SWEET of English Harbour, Joseph BOWLES Merchant of Poole;

1729

Statement signed by inhabitants of Trinity Bay, Aug. 12, 1729, expressing gratitude for lay ministry of John Moors.

Robet Archer
Philip Brock
Charles George
Thomas Law
Phillip Le Sweet
William Martin

Richard Gilbert
[TC Note – misread by the archivist – this is gillett] Henry Jeffery Phineas Melmoth Thomas Morrow Jonah Nowell
[TC Note – misread by the archivist – this is Newell] Christopher Redman Elizabeth Tight Richard Watterman Thomas Watterman

1731

#49 Inhabitants of Trinity to Bishop Gibson (undate) (about 1731)complaing of Kilpatrick's departure.

Robert Archer
Jonah Newell
Samuel Arvidson
David Langer
Phillip Le Sweet
William Martin
Phineas Melmoth
Thomas Hurd

Jonah Nowell [TC Note – misread by the archivist – this is Newell] William Orchard James Pottle Francis Squibe Thomas Watterman

1732, White family

The following residents of Trinity had at least one child baptized there in 1732 by Rev Kilpatrick:

Robert Archer
Robert Bowes
Edward Goldworthy
David Langer
George Morley
Edward Collier
Edward Fisher
Newell res, Newfoundland
James Pottle
Alexander Smith
John Sulley
Jacob Taverner
Richard Watterman
Thomas Watterman
Edward Wise

[TC Note - the childrens names are not recorded - just the fathers]

1739, White family

Since the family were Quakers they did not serve in any of the senior posts in Poole Corporation and this meant that they could save money which they would otherwise have had to spend on elections, feasting and other municipal duties of the day. However, they were far too wealthy and important a group to be excluded from the Corporation by the application of the strict letter of the law and as members of the Corporation in many ways thus gained the advantages while avoiding the full responsibilities of power. Not unexpectedly they played a part in the administration of the Poor Law in the town - Samuel White was one of the trustees of the newly built Workhouse in 1739.

1743

An earlier war in the century had caused them great anxieties: in 1743 Samuel White was alarmed at the prospects of France becoming involved in the war with Spain because losses to Spanish privateers had been so great.

1742 - 1744

Deeds relating to a plantation or room with houses and stage at Cape Noddick, Trinity Harbour

1. Letters of John Harden of Swanage, Dorset appointing Joseph Bowles of Poole and Willliam Orchard [TC Note - This is Archer?] of Trinity Harbour as his attorney in respect of the property of is late brother Samuel Hardy of Trinity Harbour Planter

2. release of William Orchard [Archer?]

3. release by John Hardin to Thomas Warden of Ringwood and William Green of Wimbourne Minster both Newfoundland planters (Hants RO 11M56/281 and 286)

Looking quickly through the list you sent a few names were familiar including

Fryer Joseph (wife Flower) b 1730. Who have a tombstone at the Independent Church in Meeting House Lane Ringwood.

I will get back to you about the others.
I know you have an interest in COLLINS in the area so I have included the short list of those Poor boys Indentured by the Christchurch overseers.

1744

While the next year Samuel White complained, "We have several ships now ready for sailing for the land (Newfoundland) but cannot here of any convoy. They tell us there is one but do not say his name, where she is nor when she sail which if he has not one soon the French war to will rewen our voiges - as indeed there was a great deal of money lost last year by the Convoy staying so long". Personal worries intruded too, for his own son, then aged 15, had been carried off by a French privateer into Brest or Dinan and he had to make arrangements for him to be supplied with money and exchanged for a French prisoner of war if possible.

1745

(c) Lease of plantation in Trinity, Newfoundland, 1745. (11M61/28). Hampshire Record Office.

Dear Thomas
We were unable to find the reference above, the number relates to a property lease on Ringwood. However at the end of the 1961 accessions index there was the following reference: HULSE and EYRE COOTE papers in CRO, Winchester

(c) Lease of plantation in Trinity, Newfoundland, 1745. (11M61/28). Hampshire Record Office.
Rev. Henry Jones 1745-47 moved from Bonavista to Trinity.
Rev Benjamin Lindsay in Trinity 1750-60.

1752

From: Colonial Secretary's Office, Outgoing Correspondence, PANL G.N.2/1/a:

Vol 2:
pg 334, 10 Aug 1752:
Re: Richard Waterman indebted to Masters & Ballard. Names mentioned: Benj. Lester, Thomas Webb, Mr. Sampson Mithlin (Mifflin), Mr. Thomas Clarke.

pg 335 Waterman vers John Hiscock (1752).

pg 336 Ditto of 334.

pg 337, 338, 339 1752 Mary Hurd w/o Chas Morley (only daughter of Thomas Hurd- deceased), vers Waterman, mentions Wm Cools, Rich Gillett.

pg 343. Wm. Cooles & Rich Waterman.

Vol 3:

pg 28. Re: N.Brooks (Executor of Mich Ballard's Will). Ballard's debtors:
Jas Pottle.
Wm Jones.
Robt Percey.
Robt & Thos Archer.
Jon Garrett.
Jacob Tavenor.
Wm Walters.
Jos Hiscock.
Darby King.
Jonas Newill.
Step Jones.
Thos Wiseman.
Benj Tavenor.
Andw Tavenor.
John Walters.
Capt Jno? Lemon.
Geo Ivamey.
Thomas Small.

Vol 3 pg 56 Joseph Newell claims his wife's plantation in St. John's.

1753

EDWARD ROWE, a planter who in 1753 was residing at Trinity and who became a justice of the peace.

Random's Early History, by Leslie Dean - History of the Random Region of Trinity Bay.

It would the several more centuries after Whitbourne's Discourse before the Random portion of Trinity Land would be effectively settled. A number of families, (for example John Baker, Sr. at Heart's Ease Beach) had taken up residence in the Random region by 1753 but effective settlement developed slowly.

From: Colonial Secretary's Office, Outgoing Correspondence, PANL G.N.2/1/a:

Vol 2: pg 334, 10 Aug 1752:
Re: Richard Waterman indebted to Masters & Ballard. Names mentioned: Benj. Lester, Thomas Webb, Mr. Sampson Mithlin (Mifflin), Mr. Thomas Clarke.

pg 335 Waterman vers John Hiscock (1752).

pg 336 Ditto of 334.

pg 337, 338, 339 1752 Mary Hurd w/o Chas Morley (only daughter of Thomas Hurd- deceased), vers Waterman, mentions Wm Cools, Rich Gillett.

pg 343. Wm. Cooles & Rich Waterman.

Vol 3:
pg 28. Re: N.Brooks (Executor of Mich Ballard's Will). Ballard's debtors:
Jas Pottle.
Wm Jones.
Robt Percey.
Robt & Thos Archer.
Jon Garrett.
Jacob Tavenor.
Wm Walters.
Jos Hiscock.
Darby King.
Jonas Newill.
Step Jones.
Thos Wiseman.
Benj Tavenor.
Andw Tavenor.
John Walters.
Capt Jno? Lemon.
Geo Ivamey.
Thomas Small.

Vol 3 pg 56 Joseph Newell claims his wife's plantation in St. John's.

1757

While Joseph White was content to remain living in the High Street, sometime early in the 1700's his brother Samuel moved from comparatively humble quarters in Lagland Street to a newly built mansion house more befitting the family's growing wealth and status in the town. This house, on the north side of New Street, was demolished about ten years ago but in 1973-4 Poole Museum's archaeological unit excavated the site, with the aid of numerous volunteers. Many fascinating relics of the family's life in the house were retrieved, especially from rubbish pits. Bottles and bottle seals bearing the initials of their relatives, the Vallis family, and the Carters, a family of wealthy Hamworthy rope-makers, who were close to the Whites, were unearthed. The prize item however was a particularly fine Chinese porcelain tea set which has been skillfully reconstructed by Poole Museum. In all, there is much evidence that the family's public reputation of parsimony did not prevent them from indulging in some luxurious living at home.

These great fortunes and precious possessions were not acquired without a great deal of enterprise and hard work; the family appear to have been always watchful for any opportunity to advance their business. An illustration of this appears in the papers of a leading merchant in Charleston, South Carolina, who had dealings with Samuel White in 1757. White's ship, Samuel and Dove, commanded by Captain Botley, came into Charleston early that year from Newfoundland, possibly with "refuse", or inferior fish for sale to plantation owners for feeding their slaves. White did not apparently normally trade into Charleston but would have known from the Jolliffes, who were heavily committed to this trade, that there were good profits to be made in carrying rice, especially from South Carolina to Portugal or Spain. However, he was not only anxious to secure a cargo of rice but keen too to find out if "white oak staves" were available. In the event he was disappointed but the Charleston merchant was able to put together a cargo for his ship by stressing that "we have been informed by indifferent Persons who know her that very few vessels in England will sail faster than she", and in April the Samuel and Dove sailed for Lisbon "under convoy of the Kennington and Nightingale, men of war", with 180 barrels and 35 half barrels of rice in her cargo.

It may be noted too that the Charleston merchant who handled the cargo of the Samuel and Dove in 1757 was evidently surprised that her captain had no money, or means of getting money, to pay for expenses of the ship while in port. He sent a bill for 95 pounds 7s 8d to Samuel White but was able to sweeten the pill by telling him that some of the expenses should be deducted from the crew's wages because they had carelessly sunk a ballast lighter in Charleston Harbour.

1759

The will of Montagu Harding c1759, of Sturminster Marshall, Dorset, now residing Bayly's Cove [i.e. Bonavista, Newfoundland]. Bequests to sister Susannah Harding and to friend John Bugden, son of John Bugden of Trinity, Boatkeeper. Also mentions James Lands (Sanders?) [most likely James Saunders] of Bonavista, Boatkeeper. This is Wimborne Minster Will.

1760

During the Seven Years War the Whites were involved in a further prisoner of war problem which illustrates how far these exchanges were from the methods of "total war" waged in the 20th century and how near they were to the earliest customs of chivalry. William Waldren, a Poole merchant, had been captured by the French and then exchanged for a French prisoner but the French, having received their countryman, then demanded that a French privateer captain should be returned instead. If this could not be arranged Waldren would have to return to France but it was possible that the French would accept a merchant captain instead! Unfortunately, however, we do not know exactly how this episode ended, whether Waldren had to return to France and an irate but too humble Frenchman had to return unwillingly to this country!

1762

They lost very heavily during the Seven Years War (1756-63) when it is said that Joseph White lost all but one of his 14 ships and had not insured one of them. One of these vessels was the sloop Thomas, which disappeared with her crew of 23 men on a voyage to Goose Bay in Labrador. At this time too, Sir Peter Thompson noted that the Whites had lost no less than 12,000 quintals of fish in Lisbon, forfeited when Portugal was forced into the war on the side of the French and Spaniards in 1762.

1762

This document included here because so many of the surnames were familiar in Trinity, but suspect they were all St/ Jonh's people

Selectmen's Minutes, City Document No. 147, Vol. 19, (Boston) 1762.

[97] At a Meeting of the Selectmen, October 21, 1762.-:
Present Thomas Cushing Esq.
John Scollay Esq.
Benjamin Austin Esq.
Samuel Sewall Esq.
Mr. Sam P. Savage.
Ezekiel Lewis Esq.

The Honourable Thomas Hubbard & Thomas Hancock Esq. be a Committee from the Honble. His Majesty's Council. Represented, that Mr. George Morley and a great number of other Persons, lately come into this place from Newfoundland, had apply'd to the Governor and Council to help them, to a passage for themselves and Familys to New foundland being very desirous of returning there again the Committee therefore desired that the Select men would make enquiry into the Circumstances of those People, and Report the same as soon as may be.

The Selectmen accordingly made enquiry into this matter and having examined the said George Morley and others, find that there is about Nineteen Familys of the Newfoundlanders making in all Ninety three Souls; that they are in [98] Necessitous Circumstances, and not able to procure Employs that will support them, and consequently must be a great charge to the Province unless the Assistance they require should be afforded them - whereupon.

Voted, that a Memorial be drawn up and preferred to His Excellency Governor Bernard & the Honble. His Majestys Councill, respecting the Newfoundland Familys which was accordingly done, and is as follows - Viz:

Province of the Massachusetts Bay.

To His Excellency Francis Bernard Esq. Capt. General and Commander in Chief, in and over said Province, and to the Honourable His Majestys Council.

The Memorial of the Subscribers, Selectmen of the Town of Boston.

Humbly sheweth:

That the Honourable Thomas Hubbard Esq. and Thomas Hancock Esq. a Committee from the Honourable Board have desired your Memorialists to enquire into the Circumstances of George Morley [99]. And others, who lately came from Newfoundland Your Memorialists have accordingly made the enquiry and find they are truly necessitous Persons, and as they cannot meet with employ here are desirous to return but are not able to pay the passage of themselves and Familys, they therefore request some Assistance, which Assistance if not afforded them and they continue here during the Winter, great charge will thereby accrue to the Province; all which is humbly submitted to your Excellency and Honours wise consideration.

Signed by the six Selectmen above and also by Samuels Hews.

Boston October 25, 1762.
His Excellency Francis Bernard Esq.
At a Meeting of the Selectmen, October 25, 1762, PM.
Present (as above but excluding John Scollay).
[102]. Memo. of the Familys now in this Town who came from ye Land, with their Circumstances as taken from George Morley, the twenty second of this Inst. October.

George Morley, his wife & five children, not able to pay their passage to the Land.
Henry Radford, his wife & 6 children.
Walter Degrave, and sister.
Morgan Murphey, wife and 3 children.
James Winter, wife, father & Mother and a child.
John Marshall, his father & mother & 2 children.
James Clark, his wife & 8 children.
Joseph Pottells, his wife and 7 children.
Mary Greenlace, and four children.
James Howell, wife and 7 children (very poor).
Mary Worth, and two children (very poor).
William Pulling, and Wife.
William Stone, his wife and one child, not able to pay their passage to the Land.
Patrick Connell, and Wife.
Edward Freeman, and 3 children.
Joseph Newell, his wife and a child.
Andrew Murphey, and wife.
George Wood, his wife and 2 children.
William Whiting, his wife and 4 children.

1764

STREET, THOMAS, ship's captain, shipowner, merchant, and office holder; baptized 1724 in Poole, England, son of JOHN AND MARY STREET; d. 1805 in Charlton Marshall, England.

Throughout most of the 18th century the Street family of Poole had a strong association with the Newfoundland fishery. Both Thomas and his brother PETER commanded ships and served as Newfoundland agents for Poole's opulent Quaker family, the Whites, which had its headquarters at Trinity. Thomas Street first appears in 1764 as captain of JOSEPH WHITE's Mermaid.

Rev James Balfour in Trinity 1764-74.

1768

Like other Poole merchants the Whites also had to take great risks in order to amass their fortune. Samuel White's sloop Jenny went down with all her crew in a bad storm in Newfoundland in 1768.

In Newfoundland history the name Jeffrey and Stree has been mainly associated with that of JOHN AUGUST, a Beothuk Indian and one of the few members of that ill-fated tribe to have had a friendly intercourse with the English. According to tradition, John was captured as a child by some fishermen, who chanced upon him and his mother near Red Indian Lake in August 1768 and killed the woman.

According to JOHN CARTWRIGHT, George's brother, John was taken as a child to England, probably by Street, and "exposed as a curiousity to the rabble at Pool for two pence apiece." Trinity burial records show that John August was interred in the churchyard there on 29 Oct. 1788, and a notation in the burial entry reads "a native Indian of this Island, a servant to Jeffrey and Street."

Thomas Street resided with his family in Trinity until 1789, but frequently crossed to Poole on business. According to local parish records, "Capt. Thomas and Christian Street" presented two sons for baptism at Trinity in 1768, another at Heart's Content in 1771, and a daughter at Trinity in 1781. Street's wife was evidently CHRISTIAN ROWE. daughter of Edward Rowe.

Re; Thomas Street
Formerly agent for Joseph White.
Uncle of William Hill. Trinity Register.
Benefactor of Joseph White will 1771 ie 1771-85 with James & Joseph Randall
Peter Street and William Munday.
Capt. Thomas Street, Newfoundland agent for Joseph White. Mentioned in White's
will 1771- also his brother Peter Street.
Will of Joseph White PRO, 362 Trevor, 1771
In Heart's Content 1771.

1771

CO 194 Vol 30 (1771) Film B/675 Bugden & Quinland

At the General Assizes held in St. John's, Newfoundland the third day of October in the Eleventh year of his Majesty's Reign George the third of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith and so on in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & seventy one before Michael Gill, Edward Langman, William Thomas, George Williams and Charles Walley, commissioners appointed by his Excellency the Honourable Governor Byron to hear and determine all common causes/ Treason Excepted/ according to Law & Justice & to proceed to sentence or Acquittance as the case shall require.

The Grand Jury of our Sovereign Lord the King present John Quinland for the Murder of John Bugden in the words following.

The Jurors present for the Lord King upon their oath that John Quinland late of English Harbour in Trinity Bay, mariner not having God before his Eyes but moved and seduced by the Instigations of the Devil about the (___) of June in the Eleventh year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the third King of Great Britain did in Trinity Bay aforesaid with force feloniously of his Fore thought Malice in and upon John Bugden then & there being in the Peace of God of the said Lord the King make an assault and the said John Quinlan then & there feloniously Voluntarily and of his Fore thought Malice did throw overboard from a Skiff they were then in, the said John Bugden in Trinity Bay aforesaid by such the said John Bugden was drowned and so the Jurors aforesaid upon their Oath aforesaid say, that the said John Quinlan, the said John Bugden in Trinity Bay aforesaid in manner & Form aforeaid, feloniously, Voluntarily and of his Malice did kill and Murder against the Peace of the said Lord the King His Crown and Dignity dated in St. John's, Newfoundland this eight day of August and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & seventy one.

William Lukem			Robet Bulley - Foreman
Richard Honnywill James Escott Jun.
William Ford John Newman
John Codner Rich. Newman
Jonas Perriman Sam Webber
John Hall Jas Goss
Henry Norman Jn. Rogers Jun.
Thomas Bulley, Jun. Edward Essones
Jno. Penson James Turner
William Basket Richard Hutchings
Thos Clift William Gaden
Sam Cocking William Geaves Jun.

And afterwards that is to say at the Court aforesaid the said John Quinlan under the Custody of the Sheriff Rich. Welsh to the Bar being brought in his proper person and being asked to hold up his hand, and whether he was guilty of the Felony & Murder he was charged with in the said Indictment, to which he the said John Quinlan answered he was not guilty, the Clerk of the Peace then saying "Culprit, how will you be tried?", the offender answered by God and his country..

The petty Jury then being called upon the panel and a full Jury appearing the prisoner was told, they were to pass upon him Life & Death and that he might challenge any of them. The prisoner not objecting against any of them. The Jury was sworn well and truly to try the prisoner and to bring in a true verdict.

Name of the Jury

Edward Stokes - Foreman		Mich Little
Rich Penson Rich Wills
Thos Seward Edw. Hunt
John Decan Tho Eyres
Giles Evans Tho Row
John Jones Tho Wakeham

When the Indictment was recited and the Jury duly acquainted with the Crime of which the prisoner was indicted and that the prisoner pleaded not guilty and for his tryal hath put himself upon God and his Country. The witness being sworn to give his evidence to speak the truth, the whole truth & nothing but the truth - viz:

The Examination of William Ivamy taken upon Oath the twenty third day of July 1771 relating to the Death of John Bugden his Master. The deponent being between sixteen and seventeen years of age, sayth that about a month or more since, his master John Bugden, John Quinlan, with himself the Deponent was in a skiff above Heart's Content in Trinity Bay then going to set the nets when his said Master, the said Quinlan, had a dispute about the Master saying that himself with the Deponent would lay in the Mainsail, the said Quinlan then said that he would lay in the mainsail when the said Quinlan took the said Bugden by the Collar with one hand, with the other between his legs hove the said Bugden into the sea on his back, the boat being under sail with the Wind in the Quarter, the said Quinlan then vered? towards the said Bugden with sails standing. The Deponent then asked Quinlan if it was not better to haul in the sails, who answered it was no matter, let him bide, there being a Great sea they could not turn? a head, they then tried to fetch with their sails but the sea breaking they soon lost sight of the said Bugden, they then made their way for Heart's Content being in the cove the said deponent asked Quinlan how his master got overboard. Quinlan then said it don't bother? me. I don't know how he came overboard, the Deponent being in the Mereny? when his master was hove overboard.Quinlan did not suppose the Deponent saw him,. They remained at Heart's Content that night and the next day the wind being fair they left Heart's Content bound for English Harbour, the Deponent steering the Skiff as the said Quinlan said he could not stear her. There being only Quinland & himself in the Boat they got to English Harbour when for some time the Deponent being afraid of Quinlan did not discuss how his master was drowned till he was so troubled in his mind and obliged him to discover it to Mrs Sweet at english Harbour who said she would not keep such a fellow in! her house but had him secured by tying his hands behind him & had going in the Boat where then he was and sent to this place on Sunday last

Wm (his mark) Ivamy

Sworn the day above
before me Michael Gill J.P.

The said Deponent William Ivamy having in Court again sworn the truth of the above and to answer truly to such Questions as shall be asked him which were as follows:

Did you William Ivamy see the prisoner throw your Master overboard? Ans - I did see the prisoner throw my Master overboard by taking him by the Collar and between his legs.

Did your Mistress desire you to swear anything against the prisoner? Ans - She did not.

Was you awake when Quinlan threw your Master overboard?
Ans - I was awake and saw it done.

Had your Mistress any quarrel with the prisoner or your Master?
Ans - They had not that I know of.

What was the reason Quinlan could not steer the boat?
Ans - He said he could not steer the boat home.

William Beaton of full age of Trinity Fisherman being sworn was asked -
Did you ever hear any bad actions done by the prisoner?
Ans - I have heard of his misbehaviours by the people.

The evidence of Joseph Pinhorn who being also sworn in Court being of full age.
District of St. John's
Joseph Pinhorn being duly sworn saith that he Heard John Quinlan say on the very day he the said John Quinlan was apprended and taken up that the Boy should not live long, and also heard it when said Quinlan spoke the above words to the Boy himself, further says not.

Joseph (his mark) Pinhorn
Sworn before me at St. John's
this 1 day October 1771
Edward Langman Just. Peace

The Evidence of John Jillett (Gillett) sworn before Edw. Langman Esq. and in the Court John Jillett being duly sworn saith that on the same day that John Quinlan was apprenhended and taken up he heard the said Quinlan declare and say before the whole boat Crew that his Mistress should not long enjoy herself after his caneing? and returning back, further not.

John (his mark) Jillett
Sworn before me at St. John's
the 1 day October 1771
Edward Langman Just. Peace

The Evidence being finished. The prisoner was asked what he had to say in his defence to which he replyed as follows:

My Master, self and Boy went out to sea he bid me make (flip?) bid me make one for myself and then went to Bonaventure, and when he thought fit we went to Rider's Harbour. I said will you go to any other Harbour This day (Dallying?) a spell we had his fish which I drest while I was boiling the kettle then I took it up and we Eat it and a pint of Flip? of his rum, then the Master said Bill you had better lay down in the (Miren)? I said he will rot the (Miren?) by watering it. Master saw I had worked hard all day now come and take a spell, and before I turned my face he was overboard I screeched out and tryed to take him in and before I came to him he was gone so I put into Bonaventure and my Mistress said she would pay me my wages. And the boy said he was in fear of his life.

The charge was given to the Jury in few words that on one Evidence for the King sufficent in all Causes/ Treason Except/ and that a Person of fourteen years of Age is a sufficent Evidence if when it appeared to them the person was guilty of Murder as set forth by the Indictment they should bring the prisoner in guilty if otherwise they should say so.

When after the Oath given to the officer to keep every Person sworn at the Inquest together in some private and convenient room withour Meat, Drink, Lodging or Fire/ Candle Excepted/ and not to suffer any person whatsoever to speak to them or any of them untill such Time as they agreed of their Verdict, unless it be to ask them whether they be agreed of their Verdict nor without leave of the Court -

The Jury with the Officer then withdrew and in about half an hour or more returned into Court who being asked if they had agreed in the Verdict the Foreman answered, Yes. To such the Jury replyed they had, and being if the prisoner was guilty of the Murder as Set forth by the Indictment, the Foreman answered he was guilty, to which the Jury also replyed he was guilty.

The prisoner then under the care of the Sheriff was ordered to the Bar, held up his hand and to hear the Sentence as the Court had recorded.

When sentence was passed as follows:

That you John Quinlan be returned to the goal from whence you came and from thence be led to the place of Execution and there to be hanged by the Neck untill you are Dead, Dead, Dead and the Lord have Mercy upon your soul.

Court House, St. John's, NewfL 3 October 1771
Michael Gill
Edward Langman
Wm Thomas
Geo Williams
Chas Walley

As there may be some favourable circumstances relating to the prisoner which do not so clearly appear to us, we therefore, leave it with your Excellency if you may think proper to Reprieve the prisoner till his Majesty's plea is known.

To Mr. Byron of 2 March 1771 (1772?).

1771

When Joseph White, the head of the firm, died in 1771, he divided an estate valued at 150,000 pounds among his kinsfolk and Newfoundland agents. The Newfoundland component of his estate, consisting of his "plantations, houses, stages, and other buildings... with all... ships and vessels... boats and fishing craft, goods, effects and stores," was left to his nephew JOHN JEFFREY and his five "Newfoundland servants or agents," Peter and Thomas Street, JAMES and JOSEPH RANDALL, and WILLIAM MUNDAY.

White's will also stipulated further that his chief executor and heir, SAMUEL WHITE, was to provide a partnership consisting of Jeffrey and the Newfoundland agents with 10,000 pounds capital over 14 years so that they could carry on the trade "for their own benefit and advantages" in "equal dividends or proportions." and perhaps establish an independent firm of their own. Under this arrangement a new firm styled Jeffrey, Randall, and Street was formed.

1772

See Flinn for trial of Mary Power & Robert Fling for murder of Maurice Power.

Other names mentioned:
Edward White.
Edward Langman.
Nicholas Gill.
William Thomas.
Charles Walley.
Robert Bulley.
Samuel Webber.
Governor Shuldam.
John Phillips.
James Winter.
Henry Radford.
Giles Evans.
James Tracey.
William Penney.
Alexander Long.
Thomas Wakeham.
Peter Prim.
Samuel Bulley.
Thomas Batten.
James Eyres.
James Dougherty.
Christopher Spencer.
Richard Langhorn.
John Elliott.
Thomas Bath.
Mr. White.
John Lodge.
Andrew Maloney.
Thomas Kidman.
William Hills.
Edward Hinds.
Charles Hide [Hyde].
Bridget Merrigan.
Peter Rose.
Elizabeth Fleming.
Susanna Eales.
Joanna Cheek.

1772

CO 194-- Vol 30 1772 Film B/675.

At The General Assizes held in St. John's, Newfoundland, the sixth day of October in the Twelfth Year of His Majesty's Reign George The Third of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King Defender of the Faith and in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy Two before Edward White, Edward Langman, Nicholas Gill, William Thomas, Charles Walley, Robert Bulley and Samuel Webber, Commissioners appointed by His Excellency Governor Shuldham to Hear and Determine all Criminal Causes/ Treason excepted/ according to Law and Justice and to Proceed to Sentence or Acquittance as the case shall be given.

The Grand Jury of our Sovereign Lord the King, present Robert Fling and Mary Power for the Murder of Maurice Power, in the words following. The Jurors for Our Lord the King upon their Oath present that Robert Fling late of Trinity Harbour in this Island, Splitter and Salter, and Mary Power, Widow of Maurice Power, Late of Trinity Harbour aforesaid, Fisherman, not having the Fear of the Lord before their eyes, but moved and seduced by the instigations of the Devil, on or about the twenty sixth day of May in the Twelfth Year of the Reign of Our Sovereign Lord George The Third of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King Defender of the Faith and so forth between the hours of one and four of the clock in the forenoon of the same day in the House of said Maurice Power on the North side of Trinity Harbour aforesaid with force feloniously of Their Malice forethought in and upon the said Maurice Power, husband of the said Mary Power then and there being in the Peace of God and of Our S! overeign Lord the King made an assault and the said Robert Fling and Mary Power did with a cord of rope and handkerchief about his neck strangle and choak the said Maurice Power while he was sleeping then in his bed by which the said Maurice Power was killed and murdered. And so the Jurors aforesaid upon their Oath aforesaid do say that the said Robert Fling and Mary Power the said Maurice Power in Trinity Harbour aforesaid in manner and form aforesaid feloniously, voluntarily and of their malice aforethought did kill and murder against the Peace of Our said Lord the King His Crown and Dignity and against the Peace of the Statute in such case made and provided- dated St. John's, Newfoundland, this Sixth day of October and in the Year aforesaid one Thousand and Seven Hundred and Seventy Two.

And afterwards that is to say at the Court aforesiad the said Robert Fling and Mary Power under the custody of the Sheriff, John Phillips, to the Bar being brought in their proper persons and being asked to hold up their right hands and whether they were guilty or not guilty of the felony and murder they were charged with in the said indictment to which the said Robert Fling said not guilty and the said Mary Power said not guilty-- the Clerk of the Peace then saying to Robert Fling "Culprit, How will you be tried?"- The Offender answered by God and his Country. The Clerk of The Peace then saying to Mary Power, "Culprit, How will you be tried?", she answered by God and Her Country.

The Petty Jury then being called upon the Panel and a full Jury appearing the Prisoners were told that they were to pass on them life and death and that they might challenge any of them. The Prisoners not objecting to any of them the Jury was then sworn well and truly to try the Prisoners and bring in a Verdict who were as follows:

James Winter, Henry Radford, Giles Evans, James Tracey, William Penney, Alex'r Long, Thomas Wakeham, Peter Prim (Foreman), Samuel Bulley, Thomas Batten, James Eyres, James Dougherty.

The Examination of Christopher Spencer taken upon Oath being asked concerning the Murder or whether he knew if Robert Fling was on board that night to which he replied he knew not as he was not himself on board.

Christopher Spencer.

The Prisoner Robert Fling having before on his Examination before the Justices declared that the said Christopher Spencer had called him up that morning, but on hearing the above evidence he said he thought it was he that called him.

Richard Langhorn being duly sworn declared that in the evening before the murder Robert Fling came on board the vessel and asked him where he should put his bed upon which he said he must carry it down the forescuttle and lay it on the platform upon which the said Fling carried down his bed and soon after returned upon deck and he said that he saw him come up the fore hatches the next morning he supposed about 7 or 8 of the clock but not before.

Richard Langhorn.

John Elliott being duly sworn said that on the Monday evening before the murder he with others went on board the vessel in the skiff and found Robert Fling walking by himself on the deck and that he went directly to his berth and left the said Fling walking by himself on the deck.

John Elliott.

Thomas Bath being duly sworn said that on Monday evening before the night of the murder he with John Elliott and others went on board the vessel in the skiff and found Robert Fling walking by himself on the deck and that he went directly to his berth and left the said Fling walking by himself on the deck.

Thomas Bath (his mark).

Robert Fling being asked where he was on Tuesday morning while the rest of the men were at work in getting boards and the things on board said he was on shore with Edward Hinds and others he believes in the bait skiff and carried with them some empty puncheons and carried some pease to Mr. White's stores.

John Lodge being then sworn said he saw Robert Fling the day before the murder on shore on the north side but could not recollect that he saw him after whereupon he the said Fling said that they went on Tuesday together with the pease. John Lodge (his mark).

Robert Fling and Mary Power the Prisoners being called to the Bar and the Jury present and hearing the charge read the Evidencers were then called and first:

Andrew Maloney being duly sworn and examined concerning the murder of Maurice Power said that he was not in Trinity at the time of the murder but that it was the general opinion of the people there that it was done by his wife and her confederates.

Thomas Kidman being duly sworn and asked if the deceased Power had in his life time ever told him that he was afraid Robert Fling would murder him the said Power. Kidman replied he did not, that the morning after the murder he saw Fling about 8 of the clock come ashore and on talking of the death of Power asked him where he kept last night, to which he replied on board the vessel.

Wiliam Hills being duly sworn and asked if he was the person who saw a man schull from the north side the morning after the murder and whether he knew him to be Robert Fling or not. He said he did not see anyone schull off that morning and that he did not know Robert Fling nor ever to the best of his knowledge saw him.

Edward Hinds being duly sworn said that in the morning of the murder he went by his master Mr. Spencer's orders on board the vessel to call the hands up which was before sun rising, that he did not go off the deck, that he stayed on board some time while the hands, meaning the men, turned out and he collected some loose things, that Robert Fling came ashore in the boat with him but that he did not know who also or who went on board with him or what boat he went in or anything also except that he was certain that he saw the said Robert Fling.

Charles Hide [Hyde] being duly sworn said he never saw Robert Fling till the Monday afernoon before the murder, when he brought him on board and then went on shore again, whether he came on board any more that night or not he could not tell as he the said Hide went to bed he supposed soon after nine of the clock, that he saw Robert Fling next morning at breakfast on board.

Bridget Merrigan being duly sworn said as in her diposition taken at Trinity and that Robert Fling did not ask her after he came in from the Bankss what he had best do whether he had not best make off and that she should reply he had not as there were no evidences against him as declared by the other prisoner Mary Power.

Mary Power objected to the evidence of Bridget Merrigan by saying she had been before perjured and accused her of several misdemeanours upon which the said Bridget Merrigan was ordered to withdraw and the truth of that and the said Bridget Merrigan's character was then enquired into of Andrew Maloney and Thomas Kidman the two most reputable of the evidencers from Trinity when it appeared there was some foundation for what Mary Power had asserted.

All the above evidences from Trinity being examined the prisoners were asked what further defences they had to make, they still continued to plead innonence and to accuse each other. Mary Power desired Peter Rose who she said was then in court might be called and examined which being done he the said Peter Rose declared upon oath that Mary Power upon his asking her how she did said bad enough that her husband was dead and he being surprised at it went to see the corps and that the said Mary Power said she found him dead by her side.

The evidences then being summed up, the chardge was given to the jury and they were asked if they had any further questions to ask to which they said they had not but desired to have the perusal of these examinations which being granted the court was adjourned at five of the clock in the afternoon and the prisoners were remanded back to prison. Then two constables were sworn to keep every person sworn of the inquest together in the Court House without Meat Drink Lodging Fire or Candle and not to suffer any person whatsoever to speak to them or either of them or to speak to themselves until such time as they had agreed on their verdict unless it be to ask them whether or not they had agreed on their verdict.

At five of the clock on the afternoon the commissioners being met by adjourment the Prisoners Robert Fling and Mary Power were brought to the Bar. The Jury were then called and directed to look at the Prisoners and were asked whether they had agreed on their verdict to which their Foreman replied They had. They then were asked if the prisoners were guilty of the murder set forth in the indictment or not guilty. To which they replied by the Foreman The woman Mary Power is guilty. The man Robert Fling is not guilty whereupon Robert Fling was acquitted and sentence was passed upon Mary Power as follows:

That you Mary Power be returned to the goal from whence you came and from thence be led to the place of execution and there to be hanged by your neck till you are Dead, Dead, Dead and the Lord have mercy upon your Soul.

Court House
St. John's
Oct 14, 1772.
Court House.
St. John's, NF Land.
14 Oct 1772.

The above Robert Fling to be sent out of the Island in the first Vessel that sails from here for Ireland, never to return any more to Newfoundland.

Edward White, Edward Langman, Nicholas Gill, William Thomas, Charles Walley, Robert Bulley and Samuel Webber, Commissioners.

Court House.
St. John's.
17 October 1772.

Elizabeth Fleming, Susanna Eales and Joanna Cheek (Chuk)! were duly sworn as a Jury to Examine Mary Power now in the goal under sentences of Condemnation and gave has their verdict that they find has to the best of their knowledge to be with child and about five months gone.

Edward White, Edward Langman, Nicholas Gill, William Thomas, Charles Walley, Robert Bulley and Samuel Webber, Commissioners.
End

1773

The Whites' business in Poole was rated for 50,000 pounds in the Poor Rate of 1773, a figure nearly double that calculated for the prosperous business of the Lester brothers in the same year. Quite apart from their business of the Lester premises, the family had become sizable property owners in the town and owned tenements in Lagland Street, Church Street, Market Street and White Bear Lane.

1774

These varied enterprises were exceedingly profitable and the fortunes amassed by the family in the 18th century were the largest by then accumulated by Poole merchants. When Joseph White died in 1771, "he was possessed of a real fortune of 150,000 pounds which he left, a few legacies excepted, to his nephew Samuel".

1774

Thrift was another prime reason for the White's success as merchants, although their contemporaries used stronger terms such as "Quaker misers"! It is only too clear that they had an unfortunate reputation as grasping individuals amongst their fellow townsmen. A contemporary observer noted their "absolute parsimony" and told how Samuel White was accustomed to cut an irregular piece of bacon from the flitch hanging in his kitchen when he left the house in care of his solitary maid servant. He would lock this piece of bacon away carefully and on his return fit it on to the flitch to assure himself that the servant had not stolen any bacon from it during his absence! Isaac Lester, [TC NOTE- He was a cousin to the White's] the Poole merchant, once remarked, "that family can ask anything but will do nothing for anybody". This may be discounted as mere jealousy on his part but evidence from a Newfoundland missionary confirms his view. This clergyman complained bitterly in 1774 that his house in Trinity was over-shadowed by part of the Whites' factory there, [TC NOTE- Adding insult to injury, this was a blubber factory where cod livers were melted, creating a not very pleasant smell.] "built by order of a Quaker miser from Poole".

At the outbreak of the American revolution Jeffrey and Street had a fleet of ten vessels ranging from 30 to 250 tons, eight of which had been built in Newfoundland.

As one of the chief inhabitants of Trinity, in 1774 Street became a member of a committee which undertook to build a fort and which established a tax of a quintal per boat and a half quintal per fishing skiff to pay the cost.

MISCELLANEOUS WILLS AND DEEDS

1786-1805

Registry of Deeds , Wills and Grants
Confederation Building, ST. JOHN'S, NEWFOUNDLAND
Volume 16, page 104

Thomas Crew of Poole said he had resided at Trinity in Newfoundland several years prior to 1799, in the capacity of clerk or agent to the House of Jeffrey, Randall and Street.

[TC NOTE- By 1775 this firm changed names to Jeffrey & Street; Randall was bought out.- See DCB, Biography of Thomas Street. From this we can pin point Thomas Crew's presence in Trinity- i.e. prior to 1775].

1775

Thomas Street had little capital when the company was set up, but accumulated enough so that within a few years he and Jeffrey had bought out the other partners and by 1775 were operating under the name of Jeffrey and Street.

Jeffrey and Street had proved to be formidable competition for other Poole firms. Jeffrey possessed considerable assets apart from his inheritance from White, and was energetic and ambitious for both wealth and power. He managed the Poole end of the trade and actively pursued a political career there. The more practical and sea- experienced Street became manager of the Newfoundland end and resided mainly in Trinity. Jeffrey and Street owned and operated several mercantile establishments in Trinity Harbour, and had branches at Bay de Verde, Heart's Content, Old Perlican, Scilly Cove (now Winterton), Catalina, Bonavista, Barrow Harbour, and Greenspond.

In 1775 Thomas Street was appointed a justice of the peace.

Thomas Street- In charge of Ordinance Trinity 1779.

1779

The success of the firm of Jeffrey and Street in Trinity between 1775 and 1789 may be attributed to the fact that the firm was well capitalized from the beginning, and to the aggressive and effective management by the two chief partners on both sides of the Atlantic. In the late 1780s, however, when the Newfoundland trade began to decline, Jeffrey became impatient with it and anxious to withdraw his capital. The partners may have had personal differences as well, and in 1789 they decided to terminate their association. Relationships evidently soured considerably after the separation.

1779

The initial link between the Lester and Garland families was the marriage in 1779 of George Garland, the son of a yeoman farmer of East Lulworth, Dorset, to Amy Lester. Shortly after the marriage Garland, who had already embarked upon business with his brother and uncle in Poole and Southampton, became a salaried manager in Lester's Poole counting- house. This event turned his career in a new direction. He was soon managing most of the practical aspects of Lester's Newfoundland trade, on which account he travelled extensively both in England and on the continent, buying supplies for transatlantic shipment and selling the incoming staples of salt cod, train oil, salmon, and other products.

1783

Northward of Cape Freels, the firm (Jeffrey & Street) was involved from its beginning in the salmon fishery on the Gander River and in 1783 took over the premises and trade formerly belonging to JEREMIAH COGHLAN at Fogo.

1784

But the White's principal activity was at election times, when their block of family votes, normally five in number, and the votes of their relatives and friends such as the Rolles and Vallis families, counted for a great deal. Thus, whatever their fellow merchants and burgesses thought of them privately, they eagerly canvassed the Whites' votes and in 1784, for example, Joseph Gulston (jun) lost his seat for Poole partly because he and his "manager", Benjamin Lester, could not persuade the Whites to vote for him.

Thomas Street
In Gander Bay 1785.

When GEORGE CARTWRIGHT visited Catalina in 1785 he found John August in the employ of a Mr. CHILD, an agent of Jeffrey and Street, and recounted that he had been captured when about four years old. John apparently became the master of a fishing vessel, and one writer states that each fall he went up Trinity Bay and travelled into the interior of the island to visit his people.

Rev. John Clinch in Trinity 1786-1819.

1786

At the height of their trade, about 1786, Jeffrey and Street were exporting annually about 50,000 quintals of salt codfish, an amount only slightly less than ten percent of the total exported from the whole of Newfoundland that year, and exceeded only by the 60,000 quintals marketed by the firm of BENJAMIN LESTER. They were heavily involved in the supply trade with Newfoundland planters, the offshore or Banks fishery, the seal fishery, and shipbuilding. Between 1773 and 1787 the firm built 26 vessels at Trinity and Heart's Content, but normally operated between 10 and 15 ships at a given time.

1788

Trinity burial records show that John August was interred in the churchyard there on 29 Oct. 1788, and a notation in the burial entry reads "a native Indian of this Island, a servant to Jeffrey and Street."

This partnership (ie Jeffrey & Street continued until 1789, when it was dissolved and the independent firms of John Jeffrey and Company and Thomas Street and Sons were formed. According to one observer, when Jeffrey and Street separated they divided 40,000 pounds capital, after having repaid Samuel White 33,000 pounds, a sum which represented repayment of the 10,000 pound loan, three percent of the profits of the trade up to that time, and probably also the purchase price of mercantile properties and ships.

At the outbreak of the American revolution Jeffrey and Street had a fleet of ten vessels ranging from 30 to 250 tons, eight of which had been built in Newfoundland. In 1778 their brig Dispatch was captured by privateers while going into San Sabastian, Spain, with a cargo of fish. In 1779 the brigTriton was taken while fishing on the Grand Bankss, and the next year an American privateer captured their 200- ton Adventure, bound from Poole to Greenspond. Despite these losses, the firm actually increased its shipping, and in 1783 had 12 vessels totalling 1,800 tons. In 1788, just before the partnership was dissolved, it owned 15 vessels, one of which was the Hudson, commanded by Jeffrey's nephew, JOSEPH W. JEFFREY, and another the Swift, captained by Street's son, PETER STREET.

The success of the firm of Jeffrey and Street in Trinity between 1775 and 1789 may be attributed to the fact that the firm was well capitalized from the beginning, and to the aggressive and effective management by the two chief partners on both sides of the Atlantic. In the late 1780s, however, when the Newfoundland trade began to decline, Jeffrey became impatient with it and anxious to withdraw his capital. The partners may have had personal differences as well, and in 1789 they decided to terminate their association. Relationships evidently soured considerably after the separation.

Following his separation from Jeffrey, Thomas Street's Newfoundland trade generally declined, and in the period between 1791 and 1801 the number of his ships was reduced from nine to four. Nevertheless, in the winter of 1801 he was employing some 100 servants at his Trinity premises, compared with 150 employed by Benjamin Lester, 22 by Jeffrey, and (10?) by THOMAS STONE, the other chief merchant in Trinity. He still owned considerable property in Newfoundland, and his main premises at Trinity had four dwelling houses occupied by his agent and clerks.

To prepare for his retirement, Street bought a country estate at Charlton Marshall, ten miles northwest of Poole, and purchased other properties in Poole itself, among them the High Street mansion and five Hill Street tenements of THOMAS HYDE, a Newfoundland trader and oil dealer who had gone Banksrupt. In directing his trade, managed in Newfoundland after 1789 by his sons, Street spent most of the winter in Poole and the summers at Charlton Marshall.

In directing his trade, managed in Newfoundland after 1789 by his sons, Street spent most of the winter in Poole and the summers at Charlton Marshall. He became active in local politics, being elected coroner in 1792, sheriff in 1793, and mayor in 1796. Politically, Street aligned himself with the Lester and Garland families, with whom he seemed to have had good personal relationships, and actively campaigned for the election of Benjamin Lester, an active member of parliament for Poole in 1790, and similarly for GEORGE GARLAND in 1800. In many respects Street and Lester had similar traits: both were Anglicans, both had become Newfoundland merchants, both had resided in Trinity during the 1760s, and both had married Trinity- born women. The chief opposition to Lester's party in Poole was one led by Street's former partner, John Jeffrey.

From: Ian Andrews
Subject: RE: Oubee

Tom

Here's the attachment - it is an extract from an article I wrote for the Wessex Newfoundland Society newsletter, the LINK, several years ago on Beothuks.

The next contact in our less than honourable story took place in July 1791.Three hunters went up Charles Brook in Notre Dame Bay, reportedly to take vengeance on am Indian party who were believed to be responsible for the recent theft of their salmon traps, nets and other property. In the one sided affray that followed a Beothuk man was killed and a young girl called "Oubee" was captured It is likely, because the men were in the employ of Lester, that "Oubee" was taken to Trinity and cared for by Thomas Stone, Lester's agent there. While in Trinity she communicated to the Revd John Clinch, the surgeon-clergyman, same part of the Beothuk vocabulary - Thomas Stone had been in the habit of returning to England each year, but when he finally left Trinity to retire to England in the autumn of 1791 he took "Oubee" with him. Benjamin Lester's diary in Dorset County Record Office, records their arrival in Poole on January 1st, 1792, and on the following day "Mr and Mrs Stone went in a shais (chaise) to her mother at Anderson, carried his little negro boy and Indian Girl with him." The Negro presumably came from the West Indies, and we know no more of him, but it is reported a few months later that "Oubee" had died. A letter written in 1797 stated that "Oubee" was "treated with great care and humanity by Mr and Mrs Stone." [As well as working for the Lesters and helping to create their large fortune Stone had amassed some interests of his own, which when he left Here managed for him by a Devonian, Philip Coates, who had married Sarah Taverner. Thomas Stone died at How in the perish of Great Canford, in July, 1820 and left an estate of £6,000 mostly to his nephew John Way of Southampton, who was probably related to Henry Way, his successor as Lester's agent at Trinity.l We do not know Oubee's age when captured, but she had made an attempt to escape, although "they caught her ere she could run far." It has been supposed she was about nine years old, in which case she too died young, but not before her contact with Europeans had in her case led to the valuable recording of some parts of the Beothuk language, undertaken by the Revd Dr John Clinch, [Revd Clinch had sailed from Poole to Bonavista in 1775 and is remembered in Trinity, where he is buried, as the person who, through his friendship with Jenner, carried out the first vaccination in Nortb America.

Hope this helps - I am sure you knew all this anyway! Tell me of the other immigrants - were they to Dorset?

Do you know about our Wessex Newfoundland Society - I was a founder and am on the Committee - I can give you more details, if you want?

IAN


1792 is the year of Stone's retirement to Dorset.

One was a little girl (Newfoundland Red Savage, whom other sources called Oubee) who was abducted after her parents were killed, "...carried to Trinity, and treated with great care and humanity by Mr. & Mrs. [Thomas] Stone, who took her with them to England, where she died...".

From sla:
BENJAMIN TAVERNER DIED 1793, AGE 80.

In 1793 Street was called before the House of Commons committee on the Newfoundland trade to address issues raised by some of the other Newfoundland merchants, such as WILLIAM NEWMAN and PETER OUGIER of Dartmouth and JEFFREY and JOHN WALDRON of Poole. He argued that the establishment of a customs- house in Newfoundland [see Richard Routh] was of "great advantage to the fair and lawful trader" and that customs fees "were of little consequence to the trade in general." Street also defended the integrity of JOHN CLINCH, the Anglican missionary and collector of customs in Trinity, against accusations levelled by Jeffrey that Clinch was incompetent in performing his duties.

Miscellaneous Wills and Deeds 1786-1805, Registry of Deeds, Wills and Grants, Confederation Building: NA 6/1/23.

In 1794 the following were appointed constables for the District of Trinity:
West Side;
Hitchcock, Henry
Brine, John
White, William
Woolridge, Richard
Stone, Robert
Frampton, William
Etheridge, James
White, Stephen

North Side:
Thomas Fifield
Ryan, Darby

South Side:
Spurrell, John
Pinhorn, Joseph

Supreme Surrogate Court of Trinity Sept. 12, 1794

Residing at Trinity in 1800 were: John Bryan from Wincanton, Somerset (signed John Brine), Thomas Street from Poole, Jasper & Thomas Hiscock; and Jasper Piercey.

Thomas Crew of Poole said he had resided at Trinity in Newfoundland several years prior to 1799, in capacity of clerk or agent to the House of Jeffrey, Randall and Street. (Vol 6, pg 104).

From sla:
JONAH NEWELL DIED 1797, AGE 71.

1797

When this fortunate nephew of Joseph White (Samuel White) died in 1797 it was reported that he was worth nearly 200,000 pounds.

1798

Lester Garland, son of George Garland, Sr., went to work for a marketing company in Leghorn (Italy), where he died in 1798 at the age of 15.

From: J. W. Hughes

My DORSET family roots include:

PELLEY, Samuel Richard [b. c. 1720-1735] [brother of William] father of Richard [died 1836 at Hant's Harbour, NF], Alexander and Josiah, whose origin is variously suggested as Poole and Wimborne Minster and Sherborne, Dorset, as well as Winkton, Christchurch, Hampshire.

WHITE, William [c. 1735 - died 1795 at Trinity, TB, NF] m. 5 June 1760 to Honora ARCHER [daughter of Robert ARCHER and Elizabeth surname unknown] at Trinity, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland. The time and place of arrival in Newfoundland leads one to think that WHITE and ARCHER were in some way tied to the Poole, Dorset, merchant network.

HALL, John [c 1770]. John was recorded as "mate of y(d) Minerva belon(g) to Mr. Stone" in the baptism record of his daughter, Margaret, with Elizabeth Clothier. He was recorded as "Mate of the ship Victory, belong(g) to Ben(j) Lester, Esq(e), in the baptism record of his daughter, Eleanor, with Elizabeth Clothier. He was recorded as "Master of the Brig(d) Chamon belong(g) to B. Lester, Esq(r)" in the baptism record of his son, John, Jr., with Elizabeth White. Benjamin Lester was agent to Garland out of Poole, Dorset. Was John a Dorset Man??

My ancestors of unknown British origin - whose surnames appear in DORSET and SOMERSET registries - include:

WISEMAN, Thomas [c. 1705] m. Sarah [surname unknown] parents of John.

SPURDLE/SPURRELL, John [c. 1732 - 1765] m. Mary [surname unknown] parents of Mary.

HURDLE/HURDELL, Thomas [c. 1708 - 1811] m. Mary [surname unknown] parents of Mary.

And, my ancestors from SOMERSETSHIRE include: PIT[T]MAN, Samuel [c. 1765] m. [1794] Elizabeth HELLIER, parents of Joseph [1795], John [1798], Ann [1803], Hannah [1805] and Benjamin [1807], all of Crewkerne, Somersetshire.

CLOTHIER/CLOUTHIER, John [c. 1735 - died 1809 at Trinity, TB, NF] of Yeovil, Somersetshire, m. [1764] Mary HURDELL [c. 1749] in Trinity, Trinity Bay, NF.

CROCKER, John [b. 1775 - died 1859 at Trinity, TB, NF] of Parish of Charlton Withom [?], Somersetshire, m. Mary WISEMAN [1787] at Trinity, Trinity Bay, NF.

STONE, Henry [c. 1768] of either Glastonbury, Somerset, or Parish of Pinhoe, Devonshire [!], who married [1794] Mary HOGARTH [b. 1774], atTrinity, Trinity Bay, NF.

Finally, my link to The Irish in Newfoundland:

Priscilla (Pricilla) CALLAHAN [c.1822 - 1903] of New Perlican, NF, daughter of Cornelius CALLAHAN, a Protestant. Priscilla m. Thomas PELLEY in 1842 and had ten children:

	Richard 	[1843 - 1928] 		m. Ann POOLE;
Joseph [1845 - 1919] m. Christianna REED;
James [1847 - 1927] m. Hannah HARRIS;
Ellen [1849 - 1931] m. James PITTMAN [my great-grandparents];
Mary Jane [1851 - ? ] m. Robert FRAMPTON;
John Thomas [1854 - 1929] m. Sophia BARRETT;
Priscilla [Cilly] [1855 - 1905] m. Moses STRONG;
Cornelius [Tw. 1861 - 1936] m. Jane Ann TILLEY];
Mary Ann [Tw. 1861 - 1927] m. Simeon TILLEY;
Emily [1863 - Baptised at 8 weeks; no further record].

Hi Dan - In W. Gordon Handcock's book, "So longe as there comes noe women", it refers to a Tilly (no e):

p. 202 In Trinity Bay, burial records specify Christchurch as the native-place of
individuals such as Andrew Brock (1768, aged fifty years),
Mr. James Bugden (1771, aged fifty-nine years),
GEORGE TILLY (1772, servant to John Moores),
Richard Sparkes (1773, thirty-one years),
Thomas Hewitt (1774, servant to Mr. Lester), and
James Pottle (1781, eighty years),
whilst marriages involved
John Bugden (1771),
James Gooby at Old Perlican (1773), and
Stephen Hookey (1774).
Other Trinity Bay surnames linked with Christchurch roots in wills and other sources include
Burry, Bursey, Coombes, Cram, Dean, Emberley, Gillett, Hopkins, Kirby,
Lockyer, Moores, Reid, Sweet, and Waterman."

Greetings, y'all--
I am researching the above names.
My G-Grandmother was Gwenelda Tilley, born 1869. Here is her sibling list:
Cecelia [Settle] (b.? - d.?);
Kenneth (b 8/1885 - d.?) ;
William (b.? - ?d.?);
Ethel (b.? - d.?) ;
Mary Jane (b.? - d.?) ;
Eliza [Newberry](b.? - ?d.?) ;
Joseph (b.10/1886 - d.?) ;
Gwenelda (b. 1869 - 1931) ;
Eli Agustus (b. 5/15/1876 - 3/24/1968) ;
Samuel (b. 1881 - 1952).
I have many holes in birth & death dates.
I have descendant information only on three of these siblings and will share.

Their parents were Mary Frances Fudge (b. 9/22/1846, Round Harbor - d.?) and Eli George Tilley (b. 4/1843, Kellegrews - d.?). Eli G. was listed in the 1921 Census). They were married 7/1/1865 in Shoe Cove. Looking for death dates/location for both.

I am looking for Eli George Tilley's ancestors and siblings, for which I have nothing yet.

Mary Frances Fudge was located in LDS records. Her parents Charles Martin Fudge (b.? - d.?) and Ann Winsor (b. 11/23/1830, Aquaforte - d.?) had in addition to Mary Frances, the following: George (b. 3/1852 - d.?); James B. (b. 8/1851 - d.?) and Charles Martin (jr) (b. 8/1854 - d.?). I am looking for additional confirmation that this is Mary Frances' real line.

From: Lorne Collins

Robin - Handcock's book had a few things to say on Gilletts:

p. 195-196 "Two years later (Susan's note--referring to 1760), Trinity parish records show that a Matthew Abbot intermarried with GRACE GILLETT, a daughter of RICHARD GILLETT, formerly of Christchurch, but in 1760 a married planter in Trinity. In 1761-1764, Matthew and Grace Abbott presented three children for baptism. Grace Abbot "aged thirty-one years, spout to Mr. Matthew" died in Trinity in 1771 and "Matthew Abbot Sr., aged seventy-two yars" was also buried there in 1794. His son Matthew Abbot Jr., baptized in 1761 and married in Trinity in 1792, was in 1801 owner-occupier of a fishing room and married with three sons."

and here is an interesting reference -

p. 125-126 "The specific biographical information which is available shows that among the fifty-one surnames which apparently vanished from Trinity, English Harbour, Bonaventure, and Salmon Cove after 1753, at least twelve families perpetuated themselves through the marriage of females into new patrilines. Thus, while the surnames of Archer, Bound, Crowcher, Carter, Hussey, Pike, Reedman, Shambler, and Welsh disappear (without burial explanation), the marriage registers record nuptials of eleven females bearing one or other of these surnames. Similarly, another ten females who married between 1753 and 1801 were apparent descendants from three 1753 patrilines (GILLETT, Morley and Waterman), surnames seemingly lost before 1801 by mortality".

Maybe this explains why you're having difficulties finding your Gillett ancestors. Sorry it doesn't talk about US emigration, but perhaps it lends support to your theory, if the British born Gillett's had died out or inter-married by 1801? Perhaps the re-introduction of the name did come from the South. Interesting thought...

From: Robin & Ann Simpson

Hi all
Can anyone tell me if the Gilletts of Nfld emigrated from the US. I've found a line in the states with all the right names and since we've been at a dead end for years we're willing to entertain anything. Does anyone know of info on early emigration from the US (18th century). Just in case anyone has bumped into her, we're looking for Dinah GILLETT (GILLET) who married Thomas (John) DALTON and had Sarah DALTON b1857 all in Western Bay.

Thomas R Cole

 

 

Contributed by: Thomas R. Cole (August 2000)
Page revised: August 2002 (Terry Piercey)

Updated with entries for 1729, 1731 and 1732 by Thomas Cole (October 2010)

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