The first relation of Iaques Carthier of S. Malo, of the new land cal∣led New France, newly discouered in the yere of our Lord 1534.
How M. Iaques Carthier departed from the Port of S. Malo, with two ships, and came to Newfoundland, and how he entred into the Po•t of Buona Vista.
AFter that Sir Charles of Mouy knight lord of Meylleraye, & Uicead∣mirall of France had caused the Captaines, Masters, and Mariners of the shippes to be sworne to behaue themselues truely and faithfully in the seruice of the most Christian King of France, vnder the charge of the sayd Carthier, vpon the twentieth day of April 1534, we dear∣ted from the Port of S. Malo with two ships of threescore tun apiece burden, and 61 well appointed men in ech one: and with such prospe∣rous weather we sailed onwards, that vpon the tenth day of May we came to Newfoundland, where we entred into the Cape of Buo∣na Vista, which is in latitude 48 degrees and a halfe, and in longitude *. But because of the great store of the ice that was alongst the sayd land, we were constrained to enter into an hauen called S. Katherins hauen, distant from the other Port about fiue leagues toward Southsouth∣east: there did we stay tenne dayes looking for faire weather; and in the meane while we mended and dressed our boats.
It seems another Jersey/St Malo ship was in the area when the two English privateers The Hopeful Luke and The James were attacking in the Trinity Bay area. The Mary and Jane of Jersey was also seized at Bonavista.35 It was a ship owned by Nicholas Bailhache, John Seale and John Nicolle. John Nicolle was Captain. He was a resident in St Malo. It seemed he functioned as a spy for the English during conflicts with France.36 The two deponents were John Nicolle and Marinus James ( Jr?). Marinus James Sr was recorded as from Normandy when he baptised his son in St Helier, Jersey in 1626. In 1648 widower John Seale had married Elizabeth Bailhache in St Brelade. The Bailhaches were an affluent St Lawrence family, most of whose male members were merchants and shipowners in St Aubin.37
We noted that the Bailhaches were shipping coal in the 16th century. Jean Bailhache was captain of The Fleur in 1579 and The Minion in 1580. Nicholas Balhache was captain of The Elizabeth in 1595. In 1600 John Bailhache was working for the Pory (Porée) family of St Malo shipping to Bristol from Cadiz. This Porée family seems to have been a merchant/naval/political dynasty in St Malo that dwarfed the Barkers of Bristol and was of much longer duration.
In 1619 a John Baillehache owned a bark The Fleur that fell and “slew” to workers while they were caulking it on the shore. The matter came before the Court and was adjudged a Deodand (a thing forfeited to God for the pacifying of his wrath). Baillehache was condemned to lose one moiety (half) of the Barque. Effectively The Fleur was put on trial and found guilty of ‘la morte casuelle’. In accordance with the principle of deodand, the Court ordered the forfeiture of part of the vessel, which would normally be sold on behalf of the King, with the proceeds being used to help the poor. Baillehache appealed to the Privy Council and they gave judgment that the whole ship was forfeited and that the “said Baillehache who hath carried himself with some obstinence and pervers in the persecution of the case do pay unto the King for his charges the sum of thirty pounds stirling.”38
Interestingly, in 1628 a Bark with a consignment of St Malo goods for one Baillehache was in St Aubin Harbour, Jersey. It was taken by an English privateer, Captain Barker. He was forced to return the prize based on Privilege of Neutrality of the Channel Islands.39 This is possibly, John Barker of Bristol who had an interest in a number of vessels and seemed to captain one himself.
In 1641 John Bailhache son of Nicholas is in St Malo and writes a letter back to merchants Elie Dumaresq and Elie de La Haule. He states that he has sent oars and other equipment suitable for the “terreneufions” (a term that went into disuse).40
In 1642 The George, master William Belin (Balleine or Bolyn?), and owned by John Baillehache and Co. of Jersey was taken by the Spanish armada just before reaching Alicante from Newfoundland – ”the losse of the said Ballcharch and company for the George and goods be lesse than five thousand pounds”.41
The Bailhaches were not exempt from the problems of the Civil War. In 1643 Jean Bailhache son of Nicolas was sworn in as Constable of St Lawrence. He was forced out of office at the end of 1651 with the arrival in power of the parliamentarians. He retook office in 1660 after the restoration of Charles II. His role would later be filled by Nicolas Bailhache Snr in 1663 and Nicolas Bailhache son of Jean in 1667.
It seems there could also be opportunities during the Civil War as well. In 1647 Benjamin Bisson was required to pay an £8,000 levy. To raise some of the money he sold his land in the fief of Noirmont in St Brelade to Jean Bailhache Jr for £3000.42 In the small world of Jersey, these two were probably cousins. It may have been a fair price.
In 1661 in Salem a Mr. John Browne (LeBrun) of Jersey entered into an agreement with William Stevens of Gloucester to build a ship of about 110 tons at £3 per ton. He had two partners: Messrs. Nicholas and John Balhack then in Jersey. This Mr. John Browne agrees to pay Stevens in goods.43
In 1681 a Jean Le Brun would marry a Sara Bailhache in St Brelade
In the Newfoundland Fishing Census of 1675 Nicholas Balhache is captain of the Mary of Guernsey in English Harbour (for Bilboa per Matthews files)
In the period 1680-1684, John Baillehache, merchant of Jersey, seems to be in a liquidity crunch. He petitions the king for short term protection from his creditors. He had experienced losses by sea and land but had real and personal assets to cover the debts.44
In 1686 Jeanne de Carteret, wife of Philip Marett, received from her mother Marie Bailhache “la petite maison de St Aubin proche le plein de la mer appellée la maison de Bas”
Meanwhile in St Malo in 1690, a doctor and lawyer, Olivier Baillehache, with other members of his family, started providing insurance services.45 It is not clear if this is a branch of the same family of interest.
Keith Matthews’ files show the family remained active while Jersey’s trade boomed from 1730-1870. Voyages included trade with Newfoundland and Labrador.
Nova Scotia 1829: Petitioner Douce Baillehache is a native of Jersey, age 65, the widow of Philip Bellehache. She has no living children. She asks a grant of the following lots: 50 acres purchased form James Sangster who received a lease in 1804; 570 acres purchased from Tremain and Stout who received a lease of 600 acres in 1803; and 180 acres for which she herself obtained a lease in 1803. She and her tenants have occupied the land for fourteen years. She holds also 170 acres granted to her husband, and 200 acres she purchased at Sheriff’s sale. Approved.46
There is an interesting will of Bristolian Capt. Thomas Yonge in 1628. It is made as he dies in Kinsale, Ireland. He would be a distant cousin of the Mary Yonge who married the Thomas Davies with a share in Bristol’s Hope. He leaves a quarter share in the ship Mary Fortune to his son John. He has a one eighth share in the cargo with merchants Edward Peters, John Crosse?, John Clements and William Clements. He also has a bill of exchange from Edward Ballhash. This is a not a Bristol name. Edward Ballhash is also found with Bristol merchant Francis Derrick challenging John Barker et al in court on their wine prisage from St Malo in 1626.
In 1703, Léger de la Grange won the financial backing of major Québec merchants for a raid on English Newfoundland. He received letters of Marque from Governor-General Vaudreuil and outfitted the ship Joybert as a privateer. Léger de la Grange snuck into the English port of Bonavista on Newfoundland, sunk two storeships of 200-300 tons each, sunk another small vessel and captured a 250-ton London ship known as the Pembroke Galley whose hold was packed full of valuable dried cod. He brought the prize back to QC where much of the cod was sold and the rest sent on to Bilbao in Spain along with the Pembroke Galley.
He also burned two storeships of 200-300 tons each, and sunk another small vessel.
(French ‘Corsairing’ in the Americas during the War of the Spanish Succession by Mike LaMonica)
(BRITISH-COLONIAL PRIVATEERING IN THE WAR OF THE SPANISH SUCCESSION 1702-1713, NICHOLAS MORLEY)
Most of the material is available due to the volunteers at Marinelives.com and Colin Greenstreet. I have paraphrased portions of their transcriptions of the Admiralty Court records. 27
It seems, in Trinity Harbour, a group of Jersey/St Malo fishermen were seized and 2 ships(?) and the equipment, dried cod and oil taken as prizes in July 1649. Two parliamentarian privateers, The James – Captain Johnson and The Careful Luke – Captain Godson, took an opportunity to attack 5 fishing vessels. The Pelican, The Guift, The George, The Esperance and The Amity had made the trip from St Malo in the spring and had been fishing and preparing their catch. Claims were brought before the Admiralty Court as St Malo was outside the Civil war which had been raging in England. The ships had coquets (documents) from St Malo customs which should have dissuaded the attackers.
William Peters of Jersey aged 24 years, late master of The Pelican was deposed:
“and saith that at the time of the said seizure there was salt and victualls aboard the said shipp, together with halfe a dozen muskets, some powder match and bullet, and noe merchandizes or moneys or other goods saving about a dozen and half of Jersey stockings, and that there were lying ashore to be dried about 24 or 25 thousand fish, and there were alsoe ashore six hogsheads of oile, which fish and oile were fished and taken for accompt of Malthurin Le Montays/Montais, John Couteur, and Edward Vautier merchants of Jersey and owners of the said vessel. Ammunition and provisions, and the said fish and oile after the said seizure were againe put aboard the said shipp and brought away by the said Captaine Johnson and Captaine Godson.”
In 1658 Philippe the son of Mathurin le Montays is baptised. Mathurin married Elizabeth LeCouteur daughter of Jacques and Esther of St Owen in 1650.
He described the intended itinerary:
“the said vessell went last out on the said voyage from Saint Malo’s in March last, but this deponent and some of his company were hired at Jersey, and saith the said ship was to have retourned from Newfound land to Bilbao and there to have discharged her ffish and oile and to have taken aboard such lading as the said merchants should give order for and retourne therewith to Saint Malo’s or Jersey as the said merchants should order”.
Thomas Vincent of Jersey, aged 28, on the Pelican, also provided a deposition. Philip Brideau of Jersey sailor on The Guift aged 22 yeares deposed concerning that ship. He said the owner was a Jersey merchant named (William?) Seaward? (of St Brelade). A Pierre Brideaux married a Francoise Vincent in St Ouen parish possibly indicating family connection between the two deponnets.
William Vibert of Jersey aged 33, master of the Esperanza was also deposed. He had been similarly pillaged. He was working for the account of Jacques Lempriere and Gilles Du Pin, both of St Malo. David LeBreton, son of Thomas Le Breton and Esther Bandinel would marry Marie Du Pin daughter of Gilles. Thomas Lempriere, son of Jacques would marry Elizabeth Le Breton, David’s sister. Thomas Lempriere would setup in St Brelade where his in-laws operated at Jersey’s main harbour, St Aubin. Thomas Lempriere’s son also named Jacques would become the headline Captain of that generation.
Vibert’s fish were destined for Cadiz and Bilbao. Thomas Le Riche of Jersey, a 24 year old sailor on the same ship the also gave a deposition.
Nicholas Bichard aged 30 of Saint Lawrence, Jersey master of The George testified as well:
“after the seizure there were put aboard her 130,000 driefish and 21 hogsheads of oile which fish and oile had bin taken by the said shipps company before the said seizure and the said fish was laid a drying ashore when the seizure was soe made, and saith the said fish and oile were taken for accompt of and belonged unto ffrancis le Galle a ffrench man living in Saint Mallo in ffrance and his partners living in Jersey, who were the Proprietors thereof.”
The ship “was set out from Saint Malos in her last voyage, whence shee came last the 24th day of March last past which hee knoweth because hee went out then master of her, and saith hee was hired at Saint Malo’s, and that the said shipp was to goe from Newfound land and discharge her lading of fish and oile at Bilbo in Spaine and there to take in her lading of iron for Saint Malo aforesaid”
Symeon Le Sibirel also testified and may have been an owner according to one account. He outlined the history of Jacques Lampiere. In his deposition he indicated that Lampiere was accustomed to sending a group of ships in which he had an interest to fish co-operatively in Newfoundland. In Jersey this probably meant that the owners and captains probably had some family connections. The small number of surnames makes it difficult to separate the various lines. Jacques Lempriere’s grandmother was a Sarre, possibly Rachel. Symeon Le Sibirel’s mother was Judith Sarre. Symeon married Susanne LeBailly. A LeBailly would sign a petition of Newfoundland merchants in 1717.
Nicholas Bichard was a master of The George. William Seward Jr, son of the owner of The Guift, would marry Jeanne Bichard in 1687. The owner of The Pelican, Edouarde Vautier was married to Laurence Bichard. The Bichards had history as mariners. Jean Bichard was master and owner of a barque in St Aubin in 1583. Nicolas Bichard was captain of the Lyon in 1595 and Thomas Bichard was a master ca 1635.
The Lampieres were possibly the 2nd most influential family in Jersey after the De Carterets. It looks like they were a dynasty that spanned centuries in the Newfoundland fishery as well. A branch would also settle in Portugal to handle that end of the trade. The family had interests in multiple vessels in the 1600’s and would be even more active in the 1700’s as noted in Keith Matthews name files .28
Jerripedia (online) lists the branch from St John’s/St Helier as one of the 3 leading mercantile families ca 1600. This would likely be the time of Thomas Lampiere of St Helier.
The Le Seberil family also seems to have been active at that time with a Captain Peter Le Sebirel being recorded at Bristol in 1601. In 1650, Symon Le Seberil, a 46 year old Jersey expat exile in France provided substantial information on the Lempriere family before the Admiralty Court. Symon had been living in St Malo and nearby Plower (Plouër-sur-Rance). Plouër, upriver from St Malo, had a Huguenot community and church. Le Seberil had known Jacques Lampiere for about 20 years and saw him now and then at the Huguenot church in Plouër.
The deposition states that Jacques Lempriere had left Jersey during the troubles of the English Civil War. His family supported the Parliamentarians and was on the wrong side of the rival De Carteret family who had taken control for the Royalists:
From the “Island of Jersey for the parliament of England the said James Lamprier to this deponents knowledge did sett out and imploy a man of warre on the behalfe of the said Parliament and their adherents against all that apposed them att his owne propper and particular costs and Charges. All which hee saith hee did out of the heights of his affection to them and theire cause, and by the consent and approbation of the said Colonell Lydcott. And soe much this deponent saith is publiquely and notoriously knowne in and through all the said Island.”
“And saith hee is a man that for such his extraordinary affection to the Parliament of England and their proceedings had his estate confiscated and lost at Jersey at the beginning of the late warres in England. and was himselfe proclaimed traytor there, and after that had his wife and family banished from thence.”
“the said James Lamprier for theise 7 yeares last past or thereabouts hath every yeareconstantly used to sett out one or more shipps or his part therein from Saint Mallos to Newfound land”.
Jacques Lampriere (son of Thomas) has been the owner of one third share of the ship Amity “whereof Thomas Lamprier was late Master”, since about 1642. His share in the ship had been bought from Thomas LeBreton and John LeMaistre of Jersey. His ownership further included “ her Tackle apparell and furniture and alsoe that a third part of her ladeing of fish oyles and other goods and provisions abord her and ashore att Newfound Land”. James Le Febure, aged 22 sailor of Jersey, testified that Thomas LeBreton had maintained a share in the ship and saw it depart. Possibly LeMaistre maintained an interest as well. Jean LeMaistre and his wife Magdoleine Guille were godparents to Thomas LeBreton’s son Jacques in 1642.
The Shepherds of Harbour Grace seem to have a later connection to the LeFebures. An interesting Bouton baptism lists Elizabeth Le Breton, wife of Thomas Lempriere grandfather of the child, as a godparent in St Helier in 1686. This Thomas may be Jacques’ son by a first wife. Marital ties between two families supporting business partnerships were normal. A Shepherd daughter would marry into the Bouton Family.
“that the said Lampriers copartners (LeBreton and LeMaistre?) in the said ship the Amity doe live the Island of Jersey, but also sometimes stay in St Malloe to take order about the setting foreth of the said ship each man providing for his owne pt therein”
Le Seberil personally observed the preparation of the ship and “in or about the moneth of Aprill last past (1649?) the said James Lamprier did furnishe and sett out his said one third part of the said ship the Amity on a trading voyage from the Port of Saint Mallo to Newfoundland to catch fish and to carry the same for Bilbao and there to dispose thereof and soe to returne againe for Saint Malo with the proceed of such goods for his owne propeer Accompt”
“saith hee hath heard that the said ship since her last departure from Saint Malo came and arrived at Newfound Land and there her Master and Companie made a great store of fish and oyles which were seized upon together with the said ship by Captaine Godson.”
“hee was present when the said Mr Lamprier bought and gave earnest money for his said parte in the said ship the Esperance to the said Jaques Oliver about Xmas last was a twelve moneths & likewise afterwards paid some part of the money agreed”
“hee was present and sawe the said James Lamprier pay moneyes to one Mr da Parae? and agree for provisions which were used about the setting of his said parte of the said ship to sett upon this last goeing for Newfoundland. And saith that the said Vibert upon the said Lampreer sold 1 quarter parte of his said halfe in the said shippe the Esperance of Jersey …….ymediately before the goeing out to Newfoundland upon this present voyage in which she was seized”
“that the other halfe Owner of the said ship the Esperance, Mr da Ring? by name liveth in St Maloe in ffrance and hath soe done ever since he first knowe him which hee saith bin by the tyme of 3 or 4 yeares or thereabouts”
“by the space of theise two yeares last past or thereabouts the said James Lamprier was and att this present ought to bee the true and lawfull owner and proprietor of one quarter and one halfe quarter parte of the shipp the Esperance and of her Tackle apparell and Furniture as allsoe of such part of her ladeing of fishe and oyles and other provisions as were on bord her when shee was seized and taken by Captaine Johnson in Newfoundland.”
“this deponent being present when hee bought one halfe part of the said ship but hath since that sould one quartertr of his halfe to the said Vibert? being present when hee bought the same which said half part hee soe did buy of one Jaques Olivier of Gurnsey about 2 yeares since this deponent being at the bargaine makeing and seeing of the Earnest penny by them the said Lamprier.”
“And saith that in or about the moneth of Aprill last past the said James Lamprier did furnish and sett out his said part in the said ship from Saint Mallos to Newfound land for a fishing voyage as is arlate and soe from thence she was to have proceeded andcarryed her ladeing to Bilbao and was at length from thence to returne again to Saint Mallos for his propper use and Accompt. that being a voyage usually undertaken and performed from Saint Malloes”
Captain Woodson and the 1650 Privateering Attacks in Trinity and Bonavista
Unlike in the international conflicts discussed, privateering by the Parliamentarian side in the English Civil war was generally not so lucrative. This discouraged participation and even resulted in subsidized victualing for twenty-five ships in 1644. The main problem was that the major ports were controlled by the Parliamentarians leaving a low volume of traffic in the Royalist ports.28 K. R. Andrews found that the most profitable privateering voyages combined regular merchant traffic and opportunistic privateering. This is similar to the circumstances in the Trinity Bay skirmish.
In March 1650 Capt Woodson of The Careful Luke and Capt Johnson of The James were sent by the Parliamentary government “as convoys for the fishermen going to Newfoundland, and are to attend them there during the fishing season.”29 It would seem that they judged the Jerseymen to be worthy prizes rather than escortable. Jersey had sided with Parliament and was generally so aligned religiously and in sentiment. However, Sir George Carteret had taken over Jersey on behalf of the King and was conducting successful privateering from the island. Disaffected Jersey merchants conducted business from St Malo in perilous circumstances. De Carteret would surrender in December 1651. It seems that Jersey ships knew they were targets. In 1651 the Captain of The Reason, after returning from Europe, reported that he took a Jersey prize with poor John and stockings, whose men left her and ran ashore.30
It turns out that Captain William Godson (Goodson) who led the attacks on the Jersey fishing boats would become an important officer in the Parliamentarian Navy. He entered the service of the government in 1649.He was a part owner of The Hopeful Luke. A blank charter contract is found for The Hopeful Luke amongst naval papers in December 1650.31 He was working on the Mediterranean convoy in 1651 as transporter and victualler to the fleet.32 William Goodson was said to have been highly skilled and had a fast track career. He fought against the Dutch and attained the rank of Rear Admiral in 1653.33
This was well after the start of the Civil War. The navy would have been full of men with radical religious convictions and Goodson probably had stronger views than them. In 1660, when the monarchy was restored, he stepped aside while other officers quickly changed their stripes. This was enough to later make him suspect in a plot to kill the king in 1662. His voluntary retirement does not seem to have impeded the careers of his family. His grandson, Sir Charles Wager (1666-1743), would become the First Lord of the Admiralty.
Returning once again to the assaults on the Jerseymen fishing in Trinity Bay, Newfoundland, the story of The George of Jersey is not as straight forward as it appears. A number of Plymouth mariners testified in November 1650.34 They recount that in 1642 The George of Plymouth was owned By Nicholas Opey (Opie), Nicholas Harris & Company. This ship was sent to Newfoundland to fish and then proceed to Aveiro, Portugal to pick up salt, oil and other goods. On its return voyage it was caught in an extraordinary storm and was blown into Falmouth, Cornwall. Sir Nicholas Slanning was Governor of Pendennis Castle there. He seized the ship on behalf of the King. The Master had been William Martin. Jacob Randall told that there were, in rows, 12 or 13 ships similarly seized and their captains imprisoned. Mariners gave depositions that The George of Jersey is actually The George of Plymouth.
Possibly counter to the above testimony, a Captain John Cramp of London testifies that the ship known as the George of Jersey was known to him in 1642. The (St) George made a trip from Newfoundland to Alicante and was owned by John Bailhache. William Balleine was Master. That ship was seized by the King of Spain and sold.35
Nicholas Opey was a shipowner involved in the Newfoundland fishery. In 1628 and 1629 he and Robert Trelawney had sent out The Confidence of Plymouth with a Letter of Marque.36 In 1658 things would not be so cozy between these two families when Nicholas Opie Jr. chartered The Orion from a John Trelawney and John King. The ship was taken by Spanish privateers after a trip to Newfoundland and Barbadoes.37 Nicholas Opie Jr is listed among a group of traders from Plymouth and other Devon ports who signed testimonials on the trade with Portugal in 1656.38 He became a customer for Plymouth and Fowey in 1660. Richard Opie was the Mayor of Plymouth in 1699.
Nicholas Harris seems to have been involved in the fishery as well. He may, however, have been more interested in the tobacco trade. In 1628 he was part owner of The Anne that brought tobacco back from Virginia.39 In 1626 he was listed as owner of a 120 ton flyboat and a 50 ton caravel.40 In 1634 he was one of eight Plymouth licensees for tobacco and operated 6 shops – one in Plymouth and 5 in other Devon towns.41 Without an approval, tobacco could only be offloaded legally in London.
The Admiralty Court was known for its corruption and it is hard to tell who was telling the truth in the case of The George. Locals would seem to have the ability to line up the judges on their side one way or another. The Jersey mariners and owners on the other hand, were experts at playing the middle ground, gaining advantages on both sides of the channel. In 1636 a Jersey Captain was taken by the Turks. He convinced his captors he was from St Malo. The French were in league with the Turks at that time and he was set free.42
We have noted that Trinity Bay was favoured by the Channel Islanders in the 17th century and possibly earlier. Late 17th century census records show their presence. After that records seem to reflect predominately English and Irish origins. This is partially a result of the sometimes creative anglicising of surnames. Participation from Jersey seems to have had a mini-boom during the English Civil War (1642-1651). The void left by the English in the fishery was a boon to the Channel Islanders, New Englanders and French. In 1649 there were concerns that St Breaded in Jersey was left undefended by the unusually high seasonal migration of the fishermen.43 Jersey had been sending about 20 ships to fish and possibly all of these to Trinity Bay. Guernsey sent about four ships. No doubt, where seasonal ships ventured, interest in planting would grow. By the 1670’s however, the ship count would decrease to three or four. The Jersey merchants complained that they could no longer compete with the French. They were under pressure in French markets where a duty of a crown per quintal had been imposed since 1644.
The French duty was probably in retaliation for the English duties enforced by David Kirke on French ships.44 It seems that this factor alone would not impede profitable access to the Spanish market. The parliamentary privateers may have inflicted severe financial damage on the Jersey merchants. Possibly the imposition also factored into their outfitting arrangements with the Maloin merchants. Merchants who had relocated during the civil war may have remained expats, partnering directly with the St Malo merchants.
Some accounts have the Channel islanders migrating over time from Trinity Bay into Conception Bay. This may have occurred after the French attacks decimated the English population in that area. In Harbour Grace we see the central district was full of early Jersey/Guernsey references in the Plantation records of 1804. These people may have moved into abandoned or unwanted properties after 1708. As a result of the treaty of 1717, the French were forced to abandon their properties. Some Channel Islanders familiar with the French operations migrated and opportunistically filled that void as well.
The names in two Trinity Bay petitions in 1729 and 1731 in particular caught my eye. William Martin has a solid oral history reporting the family’s origins in Guernsey.45 Philip Brock is likely Philip Le Brocq of Guernsey as well. A William Brook in London lobbied for fortification of Trinity in 1703.46 Phillip Le Sweet is Phillip Le Sueur. The name Le Sueur means sewer or shoemaker. However the word “sueur” has a literal translation of perspiration or sweat. The Sweet family intermarries with the Brock, Harvey and Bestone families. A property conveyance dated 7 Sep 1699 shows: “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.”47 On 23rd February 1725 in St Helier, Jersey, there is a baptismal record of Philippe Le Sueur born to Phillipe Le Sueur and Ann Hervy. It notes that the child was born in Newfoundland the summer before. Another property document confuses the matter somewhat. It references “a Deed of 8 Oct 1738 for Phillip Sweet of Limehouse London, William Sweet of English Harbour”. In London at that time there was a French Huguenot family of Le Sueurs from Calais.48 John Sweet b ca 1710 would marry Mary, sister of John Brock. These Jersey families seem to remain in a close community. In his will of 1760 Jerseyman James Vibert (Webber) of Western Bay mentions his goddaughter Mary Sweet, daughter of Robert Sweet.
Given the alteration in the names I have to wonder if Bestone was actually Bisson. In the 1769 ledger of Governor Byron lists John Bisson’s fishing room next to that of and a Mr. Bolter and William Warn, Jr in the Perlican area.
I thought that Sweet was a pretty wild name mutation but the Harvey surname also seems to be a grossly mutilated result. This name of English origin seems to have evolved as it passed between parishes in Jersey. A further round of mutation occurs with the now French name in Newfoundland.
The 1699 conveyance mentioned above indicates that William Harvey was the father-in-law of Phillip Sweet/Le Sueur. That would make Ann Hervy in the Jersey record, his daughter. I find no record of Ann however. The godparents of Philippe Le Sueur Jr are Sara Gisfard and Philppe Laurens. This is not Ann’s mother but probably her cousin who was living in St Helier.
This is not the end of the Giffard connection to Trinity Bay. In 1702 planters Abraham and John Jefford (brothers?) are reported having 13 servants in the winter and 30 servants in the summer. Abraham had married Marie Seward in 1685. In 1686 William Seward is again found as a godfather – now to Abraham Giffard Jr. A Nephew of Abraham, Jean Giffard married Jeanne Pipon in 1702. The Pipons were another fishing dynasty in Jersey. This branch in St Brelade seems to be separate from the Giffords of Trinity with William Harvey.
The Carbonear plantation records show that a property 4 plots over had been sold by John Sweet and Richard Dolby to Sarah Squires in 1791. I think it is likely that this Sweet was another Le Sueur and Dolby was possibly Dolbel.
The other adjacent property Clement purchased from Jerseyman Philip Tocque. Pierre Le Sueur is said to have lost a business partner over his religious conviction and that may have been Philip Toque. J. Allan Penny’s History of English Harbour has Tocque as an early inhabitant there. The Toques and Le Sueurs no doubt knew each other. The Tocque family of Carbonear were principals in Tocque and Levi trading company. It may not have been formed at the time of the sale. J. Tocque captained The Corbet Packet, Jersey Privateer, in 1780. The Kitty, Captain Tocque arrived at Guernsey, from the fishery & Corunna in 1784. (David Anstey Notes: https://sites.rootsweb.com/~cannf/pw_lloyds1781-1790.htm)
We have previously noted that a John le Maistre/Masters was an owner of the ship taken in 1650 in Trinity Bay. A further possible Jersey connection I wonder about is a John Masters, Jr. He was born in Scilly Cove in 1689 to planter John Masters, Sr who is reported to be from Dorset. John Masters Sr. was caught in a French raid in 1702 and killed(?).50 The French left in a Jersey ship the French had taken in Scilly Cove. His widow removed to Poole where John Masters Jr became an apprentice of William Taverner. He married Taverner’s daughter Sarah. He became a very successful captain and merchant in the Newoundland trade and eventually Mayor of Poole in 1748.51
The Taverner family also had a connection to the Sweets. Sarah Taverner born ca 1748 would marry William Sweet. She was the daughter of a Sarah Taverner.
In 1753 three planters from Trinity – Thomas Lawrence, Thomas Degrish and Michael Dunphy -fished in Heart’s Ease. Thomas Degrish was a de Gruchy descendant whose family is recorded in Christchurch, Hampshire. In 1711 an early Thomas Degreshe wed Charity Verge.52 In 1750 Thomas Degresh wed Elizabeth Newsam. The DeGrish home in Trinity Bay is now the Trinity Museum. A merchant Elias de Gruchy was Mayor of Southampton in 1682 and 1697. He was active in the Newfoundland fishery. Lawrence is probably a Jersey name as well.
Some Interesting Records of Newfoundland Captives in Quebec53
There is a record of 2 prisoners taken back to the Montreal area from Port de Grave. They were probably captured in 1697. Jeanne Tourgis was a native of Jersey. Her fifteen year old son, Philippe Joseph Montaye, was also captured. A 1699 St Owen, Jersey burial record has Jeanne Montais née Tourgis, wife of Philippe son of Jean. She did not survive long after her capture. Another record shows her son Philippe Jr baptised in 1683. He remained in Quebec.
Based on the histories in the Port de Grave area it is difficult to find a Jersey plantation Jeanne would have been working on. The Snow family was possibly active in the Port de Grave area before John Snow is found on Little Belle Island in 1709. They were probably operating out of Jersey from the 1650’s at the latest.
When a prize vessel is judged to be in very poor condition, it may be set on fire once the cargo has been offloaded. For example………… Hughes Paul (a French corsair) burned the Blessing because he was himself pursued by another English ship near Trinity Bay, Newfoundland.
August 17, 1708?
Joseph Lafosse (a French corsair) , with his crew of 80 sailors, seized the Pelican in Trinity Bay, on the English coast of Newfoundland, a prize which brought him 35 quintals of bread and 12 quintals of beef and tallow……..and the booty from looting of a few dwellings
(Privateering activities in a French colonial port: Plaisance, Newfoundland, during the War of the Spanish Succession, 1702-1713, Nicolas Landry)
The voyage of M. Charles Leigh, and diuers others to Cape Briton and the Isle of Ramea.1597
The second day of August, hauing taken in water and wood, we put to sea from that harborow in company of the Hopewell, with purpose to go directly to Parlican, which is an harborow in the North part of Newfoundland, where we expected another prize. But when we came to sea we found our sailes so olde, our ropes so rotten, and our provision of bread and drinke so short, as that we were constrained to make our resolution directly for England; whereupon we drew out our reasons the fourth day of August, and sent them aboord the Hopewell, to certifie them the cause of our resolution for England: wherat they were generally offended, thinking and saying, that we in the prize went about to cousin and deceiue them. To conclude, they sent us word that they would keepe vs company for England.
There are a small number of records from the late 16th century that specifically document Channel Island involvement in the Newfoundland fishery. Sometimes Norman vessels are assumed to be from the Channel Islands. This may or may not be true. As in southern England, there are a wide range of small ports in Normandy that participated in the fishery. Prior to about 1670, Jersey did not have a suitable port for its ships during the winter. The ship owners would store their vessels in the safer mainland harbour of St Malo. Similarly the Guernsey ships would use the Brehat Islands. St Malo was a major port of departure for the French fishing fleet. Ships from smaller ports, including Brehat could be fully equipped and possibly financed from this port. In the triangle trade St Malo was a better market for Spanish goods as well. Some ships ca 1650 seemed to be bringing iron from Bilbao to St Malo. There are indications that the Channel Islands served as a labour pool for the St Malo fleet beyond the scale of Jersey ships.
Until 1689 the Channel Islands maintained their neutrality which was recognized by both French and English. This meant, generally, they could select their trade opportunities advantageously.
In the frequent times of war it usually meant increased traffic funnelling through the islands around trade restrictions. This could be done with a nod from the crown or through the back door via smuggling.
I think it is likely that the Jersey merchants would depart with the Malouins when participating in the fishery. There would be added security, logistical, financing, and possibly marketing advantages. It seems there were commercial partnerships as well. Operating in such a manner, the Jersey ships might be difficult to differentiate on departure or while operating in the fishery. Since St Malo was in Brittany and the Channel Islands and some smaller ports were Norman, a mixed fleet of Norman and Breton vessels might actually be the combined St Malo fleet. Commercial connections were strong. The fishing industry was well-developed by 1628. The Malouin fleet alone had a hundred and twelve vessels working, which represented three thousand five hundred to four thousand fishermen.7
The St Malo fleet would split once it got to Newfoundland. One group headed south to the area around Plaisance, another to the Grand Banks and a third headed north to the French Shore. The Jerseymen seemed to have favoured Trinity Bay which would have placed them on the boundary area of the French Shore, buffering the English and French activities.
Looking at the Bristol port books in 1595 and 1600 there are a few St Malo voyages recorded. There seems to be a heavy representation of the Channel islands in both ships and captains bringing the cargo. The St Malo merchants seem to have preferred Channel island captains for voyages to Bristol and maybe England. They are said to have distrusted (maybe wisely) the English “infidels”. As St Malo boomed in the mid-17th century, it seems that the Channel Islanders were established as trusted middlemen.8
One of the first official notices of Jersey in connection with the Newfoundland fisheries was in 1589 when the West Coast merchants were prohibited from sending their cargoes of fish to France and were directed to send them to Jersey or Guernsey.9 The Channel Islands would play this intermediary role in many conflicts for a century. The practice would be modified into a smuggling conduit when the islands lost their neutrality in 1689. The trade would be two way with the French goods in demand being made available on the islands as well.
Le Messurier noted per Henry Harrisse’s history:
” in May, 1591, the fishermen of Guernsey, through one Colin, applied to the municipality of St. Malo for permission to fish in Newfoundland, but were refused.”10
The French consider this request by an English dependency to be further recognition of France’s rights in Newfoundland established by the visit of Jacques Cartier in 1534.
In 1601 Captain Nicholas Rowse of Jersey is recorded bringing horses from Cork to Bristol in the Mary of Jersey. Later that year John Rouse is recorded bringing wine to Bristol in the same ship. The Channel Island captains would be familiar with this part of the English coast. Coal was imported to Jersey from nearby Wales in the late 1500’s. Some Welsh port books survive and indicate regular traffic from 1557 to 1603.11 The surviving records seem to indicate about 10 shipments a year. Captains conducting this trade would likely have been well-suited to join the St Malo fleet. The owners would probably be adequately capitalized as well. Some names that appear will present themselves in the fishery later on. A sampling:
10 May 1580 Bonaventure of G’sey John Vavor (Beauvoir)
6 Aug 1580 Minion of Jersey John Balhashe (Bailhache)
20 Dec 1580 Dragon of Swansey John Nicholl (Nicolle?)
1 Jan 1587 Good Hope of Jersey Rychard Cartred (De Carteret)
12 Aug 1587 Lyon of Jersey John Merkett (Marrett)
8 Mar 1588 Gabriell of Guernsey Jasper Olyver (Olivier)
1 Jun 1588 Stare of Jersey George Butler (Le Boutilier)
11 Sep 1588 Mynion of Jersey Philip Javeryng (Janvrin)
24 Jun 1588 Bona Spira of Jersey John Gyllam (Guillaume)
18 Apr 1589 Bonaventure of Jarzey John Fylynk (Filleul)
19 Feb 1595 Jonat (Jonas) of Jersey Peter Le Brock
17 May 1595 Elizabeth of Jersey Nicholaus Ballyhashe (Bailhache)
20 Feb 1600 Prymrose of Jersey Peter Jamveringe (Janvrin)
31 Mar 1600 Marye of Jersey Andrew Ffeliander (Filiander)
17 Jun 1600 Michell of Jersey Thomas Tamveringe (d’Auvergne)
23 Apr 1601 Flowerdeluce of Jersey Peterus Servere (Sebirel)
30 Jun 1603 Amitie of Jersey Petrus Zeale (Seale)
A few of these ships (3-4/year)and captains appear with others in the Bristol port books as well:
23/01/1595 Jonas of Jersey Peter Brocke from St Mallos
23/01/1595 Seaflower of Jersey George Buttler from St Mallos
11/08/1595 Minion of Jersey John Rouse from St Malos
13/08/1595 Margarett of Jersey Nicholas Maistor (Le Maistre) from St Malos
06/11/1600 Elizabeth of Jersey John Balhatch from Cadiz
30/12/1600 Recompence of St Malo Brian le Dean from Cadiz
29/12/1600 The John of St Malo, Phillipp LeSeuer from San Lúcar
02/01/1601 Grene Crosse of St-Malo John Bezen (Bisson??) from Cadiz
11/02/1601 Marie of Jersey John Roose from Cadiz
14/08/1601 Marie of Jersey Nicholas Rowse from Corke
The trade with Southampton from the Channel Islands would have been much stronger than with Bristol. Channel Island names appear in the surviving port books of the 1400’s. The 1428 entry of John DuMaresq captaining the ship Mary of Guernsey for owner William Nicolle seems like it could have been from any century. Fourteen families including the de Havilands were granted beneficial trading rights to Hampshire and Dorset and commercial ties seem broader than that alone would indicate.
In January 1594 the Governor of Guernsey Thomas Leighton writes to a Mr Carey, concerning Newfoundland:
“I receiv’d your Letter by Mr Pawlet &c. These are to let you understande, that at the Request of Denise Rousse, I have granted him Lycence to take certaine Mariners out of the Island of Guernsey, to go on voyage with him to Newfounde Land for fishe. And also, at the earnest intreatice of my good friend Mr John Hopton of Southampton, have given leave for Ten Men and two Boys more to go the same Voyage, with Isaiah Berney, Merchant. Therefore, I pray you lett them pass, if they be willinge.”11
John Bailhache Sr. of Jersey was part owner of The Hope of Southampton. He sent it to Newfoundland in 1631.13 In 1636 Andrew Nichols of Jersey, master and part owner of The Peter was in some trouble for importing whalebone contrary to the Greenland Company monopoly. The cargo was from Abraham Herault in Jersey to John Herault of Southampton.14
Rosemary E. Ommer noted that after a ship voyaged to Newfoundland “ In 1587, the Royal Court dealt with a dispute over cargo of Newfoundland cod, and in 1591 John Guillaume was fined 300 crowns because he sold his Newfoundland fish in St Malo.”15 The activity of the Jerseymen in Newfoundland would likely have been increasing as it had been a focus of Sir Walter Raleigh during his governorship (1601-1603) of Jersey. Sir Walter Raleigh obtained a “grant of application” in Newfoundland, and induced seamen from Jersey to start a fishery on his grant near St John’s. Saunders, the Jersey historian, believed that this grant was at Ferryland (Forillon to the French). As Governor Raleigh not only encouraged trade with Newfoundland, but also with Virginia, New England States and Caribbean Islands. Jersey seamen braved the ocean to bring back cod fish and oil, skins, furs, sugar, tobacco, etc. Jerripedia lists the following three families as “master traders” at this time: d’Auvergne (St Ouen), Lempriere (St Helier), Le Breton (Lily Langtry branch).
From A People of the Sea: “By the mid-seventeenth century, Jersey alone was sending at least ten vessels each year to Newfoundland. According to Dumaresq ‘the Islanders addicted themselves to fishing’. At one time he claimed as many as twenty vessels from Jersey were engaged in the fishery. The number of Guernsey vessels sent to the fishery seems to have been less.”16
Oral history has the Martins of Jersey/Guernsey trading from Newfoundland about 1550 or earlier. The following record indicates that the Le Marchants, connected by marriage, were trading very early: H. W. Le Messurier recorded this:
“Thomas Le Merchant, agent in Spain of James De Beauvoir, .– later traded on his own account with Newfoundland, for on June 6, 1608, the Royal Court of Guernsey granted him permission to transport out of the Island, as provision for his ship–aux parties de Terre Neuve–ten thousand biscuits, provided that, should during the following summer, the harvest prove poor and the necessity of the island require it, he should supply 80 quarters of wheat, local measure, of good quality, to be sold to the Islanders at the current prive of 12 sous sterling per quarter.’17
In the 1601 Bristol port books James De Beauvoir of Guernsey was also shown as the merchant receiving lead shipped on the Mary of Jersey. He also sent goods to Bristol on the Seaflower and Minion in 1595.
An interesting incident in 1622 relates to the ship Mary of St Malo. The ship was taken while returning from Canada by a Huguenot privateer from La Rochelle and brought into Plymouth.18 The ship was falsely entered in the customs by Gabriel Valea of Rochelle who claimed he had purchased it. Officers of the Admiralty apparently mistreated the French captain and crew and embezzled the proceeds on the sale of the cargo and ship. The complaint had been submitted by Thomas Martin and other merchants of St Malo. I think it is possible that this merchant is from the Guernsey family and joint ownership of vessels with the St Malo merchants would indicate very strong commercial ties. The St Malo merchants may have picked a Channel islander to represent their cause. Much earlier, in 1613, a judgment from Guernsey against Noel Lihou was decided in favour of a Thomas Martin and partners by Monsieur Thomas Andros.19
Jersey/St Malo Ships Taken in Trinity Harbour – 1649
Most of the material in the next two sections is available due to the volunteers at Marinelives.com and Colin Greenstreet. I have paraphrased portions of their transcriptions of the Admiralty Court records. 27
It seems, in Trinity Harbour, a group of Jersey/St Malo fishermen were seized and 2 ships(?) and the equipment, dried cod and oil taken as prizes in July 1649. Two parliamentarian privateers, The James – Captain Johnson and The Careful Luke – Captain Godson, took an opportunity to attack 5 fishing vessels. The Pelican, The Guift, The George, The Esperance and The Amity had made the trip from St Malo in the spring and had been fishing and preparing their catch. Claims were brought before the Admiralty Court as St Malo was outside the Civil war which had been raging in England. The ships had coquets (documents) from St Malo customs which should have dissuaded the attackers.
William Peters of Jersey aged 24 years, late master of The Pelican was deposed:
“and saith that at the time of the said seizure there was salt and victualls aboard the said shipp, together with halfe a dozen muskets, some powder match and bullet, and noe merchandizes or moneys or other goods saving about a dozen and half of Jersey stockings, and that there were lying ashore to be dried about 24 or 25 thousand fish, and there were alsoe ashore six hogsheads of oile, which fish and oile were fished and taken for accompt of Malthurin Le Montays/Montais, John Couteur, and Edward Vautier merchants of Jersey and owners of the said vessel. Ammunition and provisions, and the said fish and oile after the said seizure were againe put aboard the said shipp and brought away by the said Captaine Johnson and Captaine Godson.”
In 1658 Philippe the son of Mathurin le Montays is baptised. Mathurin married Elizabeth LeCouteur daughter of Jacques and Esther of St Owen in 1650.
He described the intended itinerary:
“the said vessell went last out on the said voyage from Saint Malo’s in March last, but this deponent and some of his company were hired at Jersey, and saith the said ship was to have retourned from Newfound land to Bilbao and there to have discharged her ffish and oile and to have taken aboard such lading as the said merchants should give order for and retourne therewith to Saint Malo’s or Jersey as the said merchants should order”.
Thomas Vincent of Jersey, aged 28, on the Pelican, also provided a deposition. Philip Brideau of Jersey sailor on The Guift aged 22 yeares deposed concerning that ship. He said the owner was a Jersey merchant named (William?) Seaward? (of St Brelade). A Pierre Brideaux married a Francoise Vincent in St Ouen parish possibly indicating family connection between the two deponnets.
William Vibert of Jersey aged 33, master of the Esperanza was also deposed. He had been similarly pillaged. He was working for the account of Jacques Lempriere and Gilles Du Pin, both of St Malo. David LeBreton, son of Thomas Le Breton and Esther Bandinel would marry Marie Du Pin daughter of Gilles. Thomas Lempriere, son of Jacques would marry Elizabeth Le Breton, David’s sister. Thomas Lempriere would setup in St Brelade where his in-laws operated at Jersey’s main harbour, St Aubin. Thomas Lempriere’s son also named Jacques would become the headline Captain of that generation.
Vibert’s fish were destined for Cadiz and Bilbao. Thomas Le Riche of Jersey, a 24 year old sailor on the same ship the also gave a deposition.
Nicholas Bichard aged 30 of Saint Lawrence, Jersey master of The George testified as well:
“after the seizure there were put aboard her 130,000 driefish and 21 hogsheads of oile which fish and oile had bin taken by the said shipps company before the said seizure and the said fish was laid a drying ashore when the seizure was soe made, and saith the said fish and oile were taken for accompt of and belonged unto ffrancis le Galle a ffrench man living in Saint Mallo in ffrance and his partners living in Jersey, who were the Proprietors thereof.”
The ship “was set out from Saint Malos in her last voyage, whence shee came last the 24th day of March last past which hee knoweth because hee went out then master of her, and saith hee was hired at Saint Malo’s, and that the said shipp was to goe from Newfound land and discharge her lading of fish and oile at Bilbo in Spaine and there to take in her lading of iron for Saint Malo aforesaid”
Symeon Le Sibirel also testified and may have been an owner according to one account. He outlined the history of Jacques Lampiere. In his deposition he indicated that Lampiere was accustomed to sending a group of ships in which he had an interest to fish co-operatively in Newfoundland. In Jersey this probably meant that the owners and captains probably had some family connections. The small number of surnames makes it difficult to separate the various lines. Jacques Lempriere’s grandmother was a Sarre, possibly Rachel. Symeon Le Sibirel’s mother was Judith Sarre. Symeon married Susanne LeBailly. A LeBailly would sign a petition of Newfoundland merchants in 1717.
Nicholas Bichard was a master of The George. William Seward Jr, son of the owner of The Guift, would marry Jeanne Bichard in 1687. The owner of The Pelican, Edouarde Vautier was married to Laurence Bichard. The Bichards had history as mariners. Jean Bichard was master and owner of a barque in St Aubin in 1583. Nicolas Bichard was captain of the Lyon in 1595 and Thomas Bichard was a master ca 1635.
The Lampieres were possibly the 2nd most influential family in Jersey after the De Carterets. It looks like they were a dynasty that spanned centuries in the Newfoundland fishery as well. A branch would also settle in Portugal to handle that end of the trade. The family had interests in multiple vessels in the 1600’s and would be even more active in the 1700’s as noted in Keith Matthews name files .28
Jerripedia (online) lists the branch from St John’s/St Helier as one of the 3 leading mercantile families ca 1600. This would likely be the time of Thomas Lampiere of St Helier.
The Le Seberil family also seems to have been active at that time with a Captain Peter Le Sebirel being recorded at Bristol in 1601. In 1650, Symon Le Seberil, a 46 year old Jersey expat exile in France provided substantial information on the Lempriere family before the Admiralty Court. Symon had been living in St Malo and nearby Plower (Plouër-sur-Rance). Plouër, upriver from St Malo, had a Huguenot community and church. Le Seberil had known Jacques Lampiere for about 20 years and saw him now and then at the Huguenot church in Plouër.
The deposition states that Jacques Lempriere had left Jersey during the troubles of the English Civil War. His family supported the Parliamentarians and was on the wrong side of the rival De Carteret family who had taken control for the Royalists:
From the “Island of Jersey for the parliament of England the said James Lamprier to this deponents knowledge did sett out and imploy a man of warre on the behalfe of the said Parliament and their adherents against all that apposed them att his owne propper and particular costs and Charges. All which hee saith hee did out of the heights of his affection to them and theire cause, and by the consent and approbation of the said Colonell Lydcott. And soe much this deponent saith is publiquely and notoriously knowne in and through all the said Island.”
“And saith hee is a man that for such his extraordinary affection to the Parliament of England and their proceedings had his estate confiscated and lost at Jersey at the beginning of the late warres in England. and was himselfe proclaimed traytor there, and after that had his wife and family banished from thence.”
“the said James Lamprier for theise 7 yeares last past or thereabouts hath every yeareconstantly used to sett out one or more shipps or his part therein from Saint Mallos to Newfound land”.
Jacques Lampriere (son of Thomas) has been the owner of one third share of the ship Amity “whereof Thomas Lamprier was late Master”, since about 1642. His share in the ship had been bought from Thomas LeBreton and John LeMaistre of Jersey. His ownership further included “ her Tackle apparell and furniture and alsoe that a third part of her ladeing of fish oyles and other goods and provisions abord her and ashore att Newfound Land”. James Le Febure, aged 22 sailor of Jersey, testified that Thomas LeBreton had maintained a share in the ship and saw it depart. Possibly LeMaistre maintained an interest as well. Jean LeMaistre and his wife Magdoleine Guille were godparents to Thomas LeBreton’s son Jacques in 1642.
The Shepherds of Harbour Grace seem to have a later connection to the LeFebures. An interesting Bouton baptism lists Elizabeth Le Breton, wife of Thomas Lempriere grandfather of the child, as a godparent in St Helier in 1686. This Thomas may be Jacques’ son by a first wife. Marital ties between two families supporting business partnerships were normal. A Shepherd daughter would marry into the Bouton Family.
“that the said Lampriers copartners (LeBreton and LeMaistre?) in the said ship the Amity doe live the Island of Jersey, but also sometimes stay in St Malloe to take order about the setting foreth of the said ship each man providing for his owne pt therein”
Le Seberil personally observed the preparation of the ship and “in or about the moneth of Aprill last past (1649?) the said James Lamprier did furnishe and sett out his said one third part of the said ship the Amity on a trading voyage from the Port of Saint Mallo to Newfoundland to catch fish and to carry the same for Bilbao and there to dispose thereof and soe to returne againe for Saint Malo with the proceed of such goods for his owne propeer Accompt”
“saith hee hath heard that the said ship since her last departure from Saint Malo came and arrived at Newfound Land and there her Master and Companie made a great store of fish and oyles which were seized upon together with the said ship by Captaine Godson.”
“hee was present when the said Mr Lamprier bought and gave earnest money for his said parte in the said ship the Esperance to the said Jaques Oliver about Xmas last was a twelve moneths & likewise afterwards paid some part of the money agreed”
“hee was present and sawe the said James Lamprier pay moneyes to one Mr da Parae? and agree for provisions which were used about the setting of his said parte of the said ship to sett upon this last goeing for Newfoundland. And saith that the said Vibert upon the said Lampreer sold 1 quarter parte of his said halfe in the said shippe the Esperance of Jersey …….ymediately before the goeing out to Newfoundland upon this present voyage in which she was seized”
“that the other halfe Owner of the said ship the Esperance, Mr da Ring? by name liveth in St Maloe in ffrance and hath soe done ever since he first knowe him which hee saith bin by the tyme of 3 or 4 yeares or thereabouts”
“by the space of theise two yeares last past or thereabouts the said James Lamprier was and att this present ought to bee the true and lawfull owner and proprietor of one quarter and one halfe quarter parte of the shipp the Esperance and of her Tackle apparell and Furniture as allsoe of such part of her ladeing of fishe and oyles and other provisions as were on bord her when shee was seized and taken by Captaine Johnson in Newfoundland.”
“this deponent being present when hee bought one halfe part of the said ship but hath since that sould one quartertr of his halfe to the said Vibert? being present when hee bought the same which said half part hee soe did buy of one Jaques Olivier of Gurnsey about 2 yeares since this deponent being at the bargaine makeing and seeing of the Earnest penny by them the said Lamprier.”
“And saith that in or about the moneth of Aprill last past the said James Lamprier did furnish and sett out his said part in the said ship from Saint Mallos to Newfound land for a fishing voyage as is arlate and soe from thence she was to have proceeded andcarryed her ladeing to Bilbao and was at length from thence to returne again to Saint Mallos for his propper use and Accompt. that being a voyage usually undertaken and performed from Saint Malloes”
There is a reference in the Matthews Name Files to a Samuel Gasnoy (Gasnier?) who got in a bit of of a tight legal situation in Harbour Grace around 1755 (he missed court because he was in Jersey).
A possible early participant in the fishery from the Wheadon family is recorded in the John Davis accounts. Edward Thurman makes a payment to J. Wheadon in 1741. Edward may have been assisting Samuel Thurman with wrapping up the John Davis’ business affairs.
The BRAZIL family of Harbour Grace. John BRAZIL born 1691 & came to Newfoundland in 1711 & settled in Harbour Grace. His wife’s name was Mary maiden name unknown. These BRAZIL’s were mainly Church of England. [July/2003]
Seary’s Names of Newfoundland has Gideon Firth in Harbour Grace in 1771. This seems to be an error. Keith Matthews notes have Gideon Fiott in Harbour Grace at that time. Brother of Nicolas, he was a regular captain in the Newfoundland trade. Given that the Fiotts were from Jersey, it is interesting that a William Firth marriage was recorded in Jersey:
This record lines up nicely with a couple who recorded baptisms in Harbour Grace. That couple seemed to have a connection to the Jersey Perchards.
Edwards is a common name in Bristol and there seem to be connections to the Newfoundland fishery.
From the Anthony Varder Ledgers provided by D. Anstey:
1697 – Moneys Received of Mr. Thomas Edwards, 98 Pounds, and 17 Shillings.
1698 – Moneys Received of Mr. Thomas Edwards of house_100 Pounds.
`1699 – Moneys paid Captain Edwards per Bill, 32 Pounds.
1699 – Moneys paid to Mr. Thomas Edwards, paid per Order, 32 Pounds
1700/1701. My Son in Law Daniel Jones was taken tenant from Son Thomas Day in College Green, which now is in possession of Mr. John Edwards, gentleman; and possessed by myself. [Anthony Varder Sr.].
Henry Edwards with Edward Stephens (and 3 children) at Harbour Grace 1708. John Davis 2nd wife Joan Stephens.
List of the Officers in Newfoundland, commissioned October, 1709.
*Harbour Grace Island: Henry Edwards, Governor. Robert Pynn, Jonathan Webber, Captains. William Parsons, William Burt, Edward Stephens, Lieutenants.
Marriage License Bonds: Oct 5. 1695
John Davis, Bristol, sailor, and Patience Edwards, St. Stephen, W.: Bdm. Henry Warren, Bristol, joiner: at St. Stephen. (60)
This John Davis of St Stephen, Bristol was the Newfoundland merchant who died 1739. At the time of his death he owned the ships Susannah, Triumvirate, St Joseph and Nassau.
Newfoundland Family Histories 