Newfoundland's Grand Banks Message Board

I am posting this more in hope than expectation but "nothing ventured, nothing gained"

Thomas Osborne was baptised in Chagford, Devon, on 27 April 1777. In a sworn statement dated 25 May 1816 he declared that he had lived in Newfoundland for three years. From other information he provided, I calculate that that would have been at sometime between 1798 - 1803. I believe him to have been an illiterate labourer and assume he remained single throughout his stay as he married shortly after his return to UK.

I realise that it is extremely unlikely that someone so totally unremarkable would have his existence recorded in any official document, but any information or suggestions that might give some clue as to what he was doing for those three years would be most welcome.