Conception Bay North ~ Northern District

Broad Cove

Contributed by Wayne Perkins, August 2016. While we always strive for accuracy, there may be errors.

Some Ancestors of the Kings of Broad Cove

Early Kings – Devon, Portsmouth, Kittery and Boston

John King, grandfather of the 4 brothers of Broad Cove, came to Boston, and appears to be the son of one of the Kings of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Kittery, Maine. It has generally been accepted, that John, son of John, married Sarah Lee at Woodbury, Devon. This initially based solely on the fact that this is the only known record of a John and Sarah having a child of the right age, to be William of Broad Cove. Below is the evidence that connects John King, Senior, John Abbott, brother in law of John King, and Thomas Lee who were all mariners and who together had an interest in the Sloop Sea Flower of Boston. The will of Thomas Lee mentions his brother William Lee, and two daughters, Jane Lee and Rachel Lee. There is a christening record for Jane: 7 December 1699, Woodbury, Devon, but only a death record for Rachel, 23 March 1730.

The evidence includes a series of coincidental events related to the surnames of King, Palmer, Marden, Hunking/Hawking, Waldron, Webber, Abbott and Young, that together strongly suggest that John Senior is the son of one of the early Kings of Portsmouth and Kittery.

The area around Portsmouth, New Hampshire was not settled for religious freedom as were other parts of New England. It arose for business purposes to exploit the natural resources of plentiful timber and fish and the strategic location for trade. The area that became Kittery, Maine is just 2 miles north of Portsmouth.

Just like the early activities in Conception Bay, Newfoundland, there were births, marriages and deaths seemingly going unrecorded as the business activity substantially preceded the establishment of churches. So while some events went unrecorded, other events were recorded as fisherman “over-wintered” at their permanent residences in England, Ireland, the Channel Islands, or New England. Even in the case of Robert King born ca 1826 at Broad Cove and of his wife, Grace Kennedy, they seemed to have their children christened in the “off season” on the Western side of Conception Bay between 1856 and 1871, while they were in the process of establishing themselves at Bauline on the Eastern side of Conception Bay where a church and school came later.

There appears to be at least two separate lines of Kings of Kittery and Portsmouth: one descended from Richard King, and the others related to William King, Senior. There is no proof as to whether the lines are related or not. Of particular interest are several John Kings which are difficult to connect to either line.

Thomas Williams transferred Champernoon’s Island to Richard King 13 August 1649. His widow, Susannah, married second to Gabriel Tetherley. On 24 May 1699 the town, Kittery, granted 30 acres to son Daniel King of which Daniel kept 10 acres and Richard (perhaps, Richard, Jr.) received 20 acres.

In 1674, Daniel King, son of Richard conveyed land to Gabriel Tetherly. Daniel died in 1727, and his nephew George King administered his estate in 1729. The Dover Records give the birth of a William, son of Daniel and Mary King, 17 March 1698-9.

Richard King, apparent son of Richard, married Mary, daughter of George Lydston. He was a shipwright. On 20 May 1696 administration of the estate of Gabriel Tetherley was granted to Richard King who was called son in law (step-son) of Tetherly in 1696. Some speculated that Susannah was the widow of William, and further believe that Richard Junior was son of William, and therefore born between the death of William’s first wife (7 April 1662) and the death of William Senior ca May 1664. Note also that Daniel named a son, William.

The children of Richard and Mary included the following:

Sarah King, born 17 March 1687; married 1708 Joseph Young of York.

Susannah King, born March 1689; married Thomas Knight, 14 August 1710.

Richard King, born 26 February 1692; married Hannah Preble. In 1758 Hannah listed as widow.

Daniel King, born 6 Feb. 1693.

Mary King, born 9 March 1695; married Stephen Field, 10 June 1717.

George King, born 23 March 1697; married 28 May 1719, Margaret Adams. He was of Portsmouth in 1729. George and Margaret had a daughter, Margaret born 9 March 1719-20, and a son, perhaps other children.

Joanna King, born 12 Oct. 1699; married Peter Staples 31 May 1721.

Patience King, married Job Young of York, 17 Nov. 1727.

Job Young, Jr., son of Job Young and Patience King, moved to Paradise, Nova Scotia and married Hannah Barnes.

The family of William King appears to originate in Ugborough, Devon.

There is a book about the King family of Suffield, Connecticut which provides detailed information on the descendants of a James King born ca 1647 in Ugborough, Devon. He had a brother, William, born December, 1643 and a father, William born about 1622. Dr. Alexander King, great grandson of James King left the following record regarding William King, Sr. who was interested in the Fisheries on the New England Coast: “and on his last voyage in that business he was cast away and drowned on the banks of Newfoundland. He had two sons, James and William, who both came to America and settled, William in one of the southern States, of whom I can give no further account.”

Per New Hampshire Court records, the inventory and appraisal of the estate of William King of Isle of Shoals was taken 28 May 1664 by John Hunking and John Marden. Administration was granted to son, William who was under age at the time and chose John Hunking as guardian. William Senior and William Junior are of the same approximate ages as William Sr. and William Jr. of Ugborough, Devon, mentioned above. William King, son of the William of Isle of Shoals married Sarah Palmer at Kittery in 1669. In 1821, John LeGrow and Betsey King at Broad Cove named their first son, John Palmer LeGrow. At the time there were no Palmer’s in the immediate area of Broad Cove. The use of this surname of Palmer is a key component of establishing the connection between the Kings of Isle of Shoals, Portsmouth and Kittery with the Kings of Broad Cove, Newfoundland.

It was not uncommon for early settlers to travel and relocate together, partnering in their fishing activities. So 100 years later, a candidate for William, born ca 1732, of the four King brothers of Broad Cove, Newfoundland is William King, mariner, who married Elizabeth Hawking (when written is similar to Hunking) on 19 February 1764 at Saint Savior’s, Dartmouth, Devon. This William King of Broad Cove left a will dated 1816 wherein he bequeaths his half of the fishing room and plantation known as “Maerden’s Room” to his sons Edward and William the other half already in the possession of his son John.

Sean T. Cadigan writes in his book, Hope and Deception in Conception Bay, the following while discussing the fact that, when a male head of household died, his property went to his son, not his wife: “Jane Mardon also found out about this practice in 1789 after her husband, John LeCoux, a former Jersey man, died leaving her their fishing room at Western Bay. James, a son Jane did not know about, showed up from Jersey claiming the room, and the Surrogate Court awarded it to him, allowing Jane only one-third of any proceeds from the lease of the property.”

The relatively rare Mardon name, appearing in three places: (1) Inventory of William King, 1664 at Isle of Shoals, (2) Will of William King dated 1816 at Broad Cove, and (3) property of John LeCoux in 1789 at Western Bay contributes to the writer’s belief in the connection to the William Kings of New England. As stated above, from Richard King of Kittery descends a Sarah King that married Joseph Young, and a Patience King that married Job Young. Young was later used as a first name in the King family of Newfoundland.

None of the John Kings, mentioned in the Kittery and Portsmouth records are documented as being related to either William or Richard King. One John King had a grant of land in 1671, suggesting a birth prior to 1650. This or another John was taxed in 1675 in Portsmouth. One of these John’s or another John King, married Hannah, perhaps Crockett, and had a son, Joseph, born 11 September. 1704, and that was killed by Indians in the same year.

Richard Webber is the maternal grandfather of John King who is the father of the four king brothers of Broad Cove, Newfoundland. Richard came to Isle of Shoals about 1669. He married Lydia Trickey ca 1674, widow of Edmund Green and daughter of Thomas Trickey and Elizabeth Shapleigh. In 1678, Lydia was a Tavern operator.

Given below is the will of Richard Webber that mentions his grandson, John King son of daughter, Elizabeth, and John King who married at Boston 1704.

From Probate Records of the Province of New Hampshire 1635-[1771], Volume 32

RICHARD WEBBER 1719/20 PORTSMOUTH

In the Name of God Amen

The Twenty fourth day of febuary Annq Dom one thousand Seven hundred & nineteen twenty I Richard Webber of Portsmouth in new Hampshire in New England Bucher being Weak of Body * * *

Imprimis I Give unto my Granson John abbit five shillings

Item I Give unto my Granson John King five shillings

Item I Give unto my Grandaught^r Mary Bickam five shillings

Item I Give unto my Daughter Hannah five shillings

Item I Give unto my Daughter abigall five shillings

Item I Give and Bequeath unto my well beloved wife all the rest of my Estate Reall & P^ersonall y^e House Land and wharf & wharfeidge where I now live and all the preveleidges to the same belonging to be to her Disposall and also my P^ersonall Estate whatsoever and wheresoever she paying the above Legacies – And I Doe hereby Constitute and Appoint my well beloved wife to be my sole Executrix of this my Last will and Testament and I Doe utterly Revoak Disanul & Disalow all former and other wills and bequests by me formerly made Ratifying and allowing for firm Effectual & Irevocable this and noe other to be my Last will and Testament and intestimoney thereof have hereunto set my hand and seale the Day and yeare above said

signed sealed & Declared By Richard Webber

the said Richard Webber to be

his Last will & testament in

P^resents of uss

W^m Huncking

Jabez Pitman

Joseph Pitman

[Proved June 10, 1720]

Richard Waldron was Judge of Probate of Richard Webber’s will in 1720, his father came to Dover, New Hampshire about 1635. It appears that William Waldron of Burton Bradstock, Dorset, who made the agreement with William King in 1769 could be related. Both appear wealthy.

Richard Webber aged 82 years died 25 May 1720, and Lydia Webber, aged 69 Years died 30 April 1721 and were both buried in the Point of Graves Cemetery, Portsmouth. In her will, Lydia mentions only daughters: Abigail and Hannah.

John King married Elizabeth Webber, daughter of Richard and Lydia, 14 September 1704 in Boston Massachusetts. John is claimed by some to be the father of Richard King from whom descends the Kings of Scarborough, Maine, and that John was a whitesmith. A subset of Richard’s descendants add children beyond 1725. John was primarily a mariner connected with John Abbott, another son-in-law of Richard Webber, and with the Sloop Sea Flower. The precise ownership of the sloop, Sea Flower, is unclear, but the will of Thomas Lee of North Carolina in 1722 revealed his one third interest. This Thomas Lee appears to be of the Lee’s of Woodbury, Devon, confirming that John King, husband of Sarah Lee is the father of the four King Brothers of Broad Cove, Newfoundland. Comparing death records in Boston with Baptismal records in Woodbury reveal that William Lee and Thomas Lee, who resided in Boston were the brothers of John Lee of Woodbury, the father of Sarah Lee. It also appears that the Thomas Lee and brother William referred to in the will of Thomas Lee are not Sarah’s uncles, but have some other sort of relationship.

The children of John and Elizabeth baptized at 2^nd (Old North) Church include:

John King, born 2 January 1705/6, christened 6 Jan 1705/6.

Elizabeth King, born 13 January 1706/7, c. 19 Jan 1706/7.

William King, born 31 August 1709, c. 4 Dec 1709, died young.

Richard King, born 25 October 171l, c. 28 Oct 1711, and died 16 Jan 1715 “age 2.”

Lydia King, born 19 January 1713/4, married Samuel Pritchard 23 April 1739.

Elizabeth died 20 November 1715, Aged 38 years, born ca 1677 and was buried at Cobb’s Hill.

John married Mary Stowell 2 April 1718. Their children included the following:

Richard King, born 1718 – birth not recorded. A relationship claimed by some descendants.

Mary King, born 8 June 1719, married Joseph Grandy of Casco Bay, Maine.

Sarah King, born 27 February 1720/1.

There are additional children associated with John and Mary: David, Rebecca, Josiah, Martha, Katherine, and Captain William King, c. 27 June 1725, married Mary, born ca 1736, daughter of Major and Charity (Edwards) Goldthwaite.

Whether John King is the father of these additional children depends on whether he survived in December of 1720 when the sloop, Sea Flower was reported as lost at Placentia Bay, Newfoundland.

In his will Richard Webber identifies his occupation as butcher, but in his younger days he may have had other interests. There was a Richard Webber, Master of the ship, Rainbow in Calvert, Newfoundland in 1681.

There are two Richard Webber’s of Devon of the right age to be Richard of Portsmouth, one of whom appears to have been born in Colynton, Devon 1638/39. Colynton is just 18 miles from Woodbury.

Here are some records regarding the Sea Flower.

1714. The Sloop Sea Flower of Boston, 40 tons with six men entered out 3d of November carrying bread, butter, beer, onions, and peas for the logwood cutters in the Bay of Campeachey.

Vessels entered at Boston:

11 June 1716: Daniel Wyer ye sloop Seaflower from Connecticut, John King a Mariner.

21 September 1716: John Abbott ye sloop Seaflower from New Hampshire, One Woman & Two Children.

From The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut [1636-1776] edited by James Hammond Trumbull and Charles Jeremy Hoady. AT A MEETING Of THE GOVERNOUR AND COUNCIL IN NEW LONDON

April 2^nd, 1719

Upon the arrival of the sloop Sea Flower, John King, master, from Saltertudas, in this Harbour on the 17th instant, advice was brought to the Governour, that one of the men belonging to the said sloop was sick with small pox; whereupon his Honour immediately issued forth his warrant directed to the sheriff of the county of New London, to prevent any of the said vessel’s company from coming on shoar……..

Ordered: That Mr. King and his apprentice be discharged from their confinement on board the said sloop, provided they cleanse themselves thoroughly, and immediately take passage for Long Island where they belong, and do not come on shoar in the town before their departure.

Ordered, That Mr. Jonas Green be forthwith sent on board the said…..

A Joshua Benjamin was a mariner who maintained meticulous records of his voyages. The Clement Library at the University of Michigan is in possession of the Joshua Benjamin Journal 1716-1734. The research guide states that in Volume 1, on pages 88-89, mention is made of the Sloop Sea Flower from Boston to Newfoundland and back 1724.

This is an important document for determining the fate of John King and John Abbot in 1720.

The will of Thomas Lee given below connects John King, John Abbott and Thomas Lee and their respective interests in the Sloop Sea Flower. Interestingly it is dated after the apparent loss of the Sea Flower off the coast of Newfoundland and perhaps the loss of both John King and John Abbott.

North Carolina, In the name of God Amen. I Thomas Lee of North Carolina Aforesaid Mariner being sick & weak of Body, but of perfect mind and Memory praise be to God for the Same. Do make and Ordaine this my last will and testament in Manner & form following that is to Say first and principally I Commend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God hoping through the “mservits” Death and Passion of my Savior Jesus Christ to have pardon and forgiveness and to Inherit Everlasting life and my body I Committ to the Earth to be buried at the Discretion of my Executor hereafter named and as touching the Disposition of all Such Temporal Estates it hath pleased the almighty God to bestow upon me. I give & bequeath as followeth:

Imprimis: I will that all my just Debts and funeral charges be paid and discharged.

Item: I Give and bequeath unto my brother William Lee Mariner my third part of the sloop Sea Flower now belonging unto me…

Item: I will that all my Debts and Goods now in North Carolina be sold and the money Equaly to be Divided between my two daughters named Jane Lee & Rachel Lee and I do hereby Constitute and Appoint “Coll^tt:: Mauvice More Executor of this my last will and Testament and Do hereby Revoke diasannul and make void all wills and testaments heretofore by me made In Wittness whereof I the Said Tho^s Lee to this my last will and Testament have hereunto Sett my hand and Seal this 23 Day of July Anno Dom. 1722

Signed Sealed & Delio Thomas

Presence of us Lee

Lyles Shute his mark

Anthony Green

his

Th’os T Prskot

Given that it is possible that the Kings of Broad Cove may descend from the Kings of Ugborough, additional information is provided. Ugborough is a small village in southern Devonshire between Plymouth and Dartmouth. The Kings of Ugborough left Devon, perhaps for the last time, probably in the summer of 1662, first settling at Isle of Shoals and variously lived in the areas that are now Portsmouth, New Hampshire; and Kittery, Maine. They became involved in the Newfoundland fisheries and subsequent generations would return to England or parts New England during the winter months. Merchants and sea captains of Dartmouth, Devon and Poole, Dorset dominated trade with Newfoundland. There are several records of sea captains by the name of King sailing between these ports and Newfoundland. With the constant transport of fish to market and the transport of supplies to Newfoundland the Kings and LeGrows had ample opportunity to move from place to place.

In the parish register a Thomas Kinge had a daughter Joanna buried at Ugborough in 1579. He was of the right generation to be the father of William Kinge.

William Kinge married Margery. Their children included:

Alicia Kinge, c. 1577.

Joanna Kinge, c. 1577.

Thomas Kinge, c.1581

Robert Kinge, c. 1584.

William Kinge, perhaps son of William, married Christina Lapp 27 September 1621, in Ugborough.

William Kinge, perhaps son of the above William married Agnes Elwell 16 October 1642, in Ugborough. Their children included:

William Kinge, baptized 31 December 1643.

James Kinge, baptized 7 November 1647.

There could have been other children listed in the records, but not transcribed.

William King, husband of Agnes is believed to be the one that drowned on the Banks of Newfoundland. Agnes died 7 April 1662 in Ugborough.

The author of the Kings of Suffield was focused on his ancestor, James, and appeared to make no attempt to obtain information on any brothers of James.

William King, of Isle of Shoals died off the coast of Newfoundland in 1664.

After the passing of William King, Senior, there remained in Kittery 4 or 5 Kings of the same generation: William, Junior; Richard, Junior; Daniel and one or two John’s.

William King, son of William married Sarah Palmer daughter of William Palmer on or about 24 August 1669. They received “their marriage portion” 24 August 1669 consisting of 13 acres near William Palmer’s old home, which had been burned. In 1666, William King, Jr. bought 25 acres of land from Charles Allen in Greenland, a town south of Portsmouth and sold it to Philip Lewis in 1671. Administration of William King, Jr.’s estate was given to Sarah 6 November 1677. which would normally indicate the death of William, it may reflect convenience for the disposition of property, if the family was moving on. Another source states the granting of administration to William Palmer, father in law of William King in 1681 and yet again about 1696 when two children of William and Sarah: Samuel and Sarah, are mentioned. In 1669 William King was referred to as late of Portsmouth. William Palmer in 1670 gave 12 acres to Peter Glanfield to raise his daughter, Rachel, age 3 years, nine months. He died ca 1697.

A statement in the Maine Historical and Genealogical Recorder:

1696 Samuel King and Sarah King call William King “father,” and William Palmer, “grandfather”

(York Reg., IV 89)

These are only two documented children of William and Sarah and only because of the deeds involving Samuel King and sister, Sarah King. That is, no church records or property records.

Samuel King, was a soldier at Oyster River in 1696 and was at Newcastle in 1708. Joshua Weeks, son of Leonard, gave a life lease of 8 acres to Samuel King and wife Elizabeth in 1724. Elizabeth died 3 November 1735. Samuel married second to Abigail Kelly 8 July 1736 who died 31 May 1742. Samuel married third to another Elizabeth in 1743. His will dated 12 December 1745 mentions only wife, Elizabeth and daughters, Elizabeth Keniston and Sarah King. Dr. John Weeks and John Watson were executors.

Sarah King, deeded land to brother, Samuel in 1696, was a “Wells witness” in 1696 and appeared in court January, 1698.

In the return of possessions held in Conception Bay is an abandoned fishing room in Bay de Verde north of Western Bay in the name of Samuel King.

In the Newfoundland Colonial Records:

June – September, 1721, of the 17 bonds for £500, given in Newfoundland agreeing not to take men to New England who were not originally from New England, one is by Samuel King.

Thomas Cole’s list: Fishermen, Mariners & Seaman of Poole has two entries:

John King 1720/1721, of Poole Burgess, DHC

John King 1740 of Poole – Administration – William Pike of Poole Mariner, Nicholas May of Poole Mariner, Hannah Pike & Sarah May, the sisters, administratrixes.

Hannah was born 1701and Sarah was born 1707, both daughters of Nicholas and Hannah King. Hannah married 17 Feb 1724 William Pike who was active in trade at Carbonear, Newfoundland. James King married Charity Budgen 2 Oct 1729, both of Poole. The administration of the estate suggests that the John King that died in early 1740 is the son of Hannah and Nicholas King.

When William Waldron makes a gift of the fishing room that was contemplated by the 1769 agreement, one might conclude that Waldron and King are related somehow. In the Hampshire. English Parish Records Volume 4 Mr. Richard King of Winchester and Mrs. Elizabeth Waldron married 19 March 1699/1700.

Among the records of St John’s Anglican is one dated 25 February 1756 pertaining to the burial of Elizabeth King, wife of Richard King, carpenter. A George King was buried 18 July 1759 at St. John’s Anglican. These were of the same generation as Richard and George, sons of Richard King and Mary Lydston of Kittery.

John King, son of John married Sarah Lee 17 February 1727 at Woodbury, Devon. Their children included the following born and christened at Woodbury:

King, Mary, c. 30 Jan 1728, (of the right age to have married Richard Rattenbury.)

King, John, c. 8 June 1731.

King, William, c. 16 December 1733, married 19 February 1764 to Elizabeth Hawking.

King, Sarah, c. 5 November 1738

King, Ann, c. 29 March 1741.

There is also the christening record of John, son of John and Sarah King dated 10 March 1736, at St. Paul, Exeter, Devon, suggesting a second son John, and that the first son, John, died young.

This Newfoundland record suggests that John, husband of Sarah Lee, was also a mariner and more involved in transportation than fishing.

14 January 1750, John King of Conception Bay summoned to St, John’s regarding wages due.

William Waldon or Waldron of Burton Bradstock, Dorset married 13 March 1736 at the parish of Askerwell to Frances Travers of Loders. He would be contemporary with John, the father of William King. Learning where the paths of William King and William Waldron crossed might help to identify where the Kings were just before settling in Broad Cove, Newfoundland. Frances died in Dorset 2 April 1764. As mentioned in William Sr.’s will, William Waldron ultimately transferred his one half interest in the land, house and fishing room at Broad Cove by Deed of Gift to William King. This gift again suggests that William King and William Walden were related. In the register of St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Trinity, Newfoundland is the record of a William Waldron interred in 1816. In the Hampshire, (now Dorset,) records there is the marriage of William Walden and Sarah Budgen on March 15, 1787. There are also numerous Kings and Bugdens, along with some Waldrons recorded in the register of St. Paul’s.

CHANNEL ISLANDS CONNECTION

The Kings and LeGrows of Bauline descend from the Kings and LeGrows of Broad Cove. In subsequent generations there were numerous marriages between the Kings and the LeGrows. The LeGrows apprear to be more clearly of Channel Island descent. The name LeGrow is an “Anglicized” version of Le Gros. A Mr. King and Mr. Pippy brought a law suit against, Thomas LeGrow in 1796. Both Pippy and King married daughters of John LeGrow who died in 1773. The transcription of the records of the trial do not reveal the given name for Mr. King, but documents the first marriage between a King and a LeGrow, perhaps in the first generation of Broad Cove Kings. That is, a wife of Thomas, James, Senior or Edward, Senior.

There existed a card written ca 1900, reputedly sent from the Isle of Jersey to Alfred Erling King signed “your cousin, C. Knight.” In it, C. Knight states “The Kings were Jersey men.” The card also contained references to “Uncle John,” “Aunt Fanny” and “Grandfather Knight.” This information comes from Al Beagan’s “Genealogical Notes of Newfoundland.” Alfred Erling King was born July 1842 to William King of Broad Cove and Maria Squires of Torbay.

William King, Senior, of the four brothers of Broad Cove, had a son, John, and a daughter, Frances, who were possibly “Uncle John” and “Aunt Fanny.” It is uncertain, however, as to which generation the “card” refers. Since there is evidence suggesting that William King Senior of Broad Cove married Elizabeth Hawking and the spouses of the children are somewhat known except for William Junior, perhaps this William Junior married a Miss Knight. The Kings may indeed be, in some way, Jersey Men, or perhaps their long association with the LeGrows might lead one to that conclusion. Their connection could go back to Portsmouth, Kittery and Boston. The birth/christening records as well as marriage records of the three younger brothers of Broad Cove: Thomas, James and Edward remain a mystery, and when found might further clarify the long time King and LeGrow connections. POOLE AND OTHER DORSET CONNECTIONS

The agreement enterd into by William King, Sr. of Broad Cove in 1769 with William Walden of Dorset, calls into question how they met. There are records indicating that Waldron was a mariner and perhaps a merchant at Poole. The land purchased in 1788 by William, Thomas, James and Edward at Broad Cove was formerly owned by an Edward Pike. There was a Captain John Pike, native of Poole, Dorset, England who came to Newfoundland about 1775. He was married to Elizabeth Green, sister of his business partner. Green & Pike were active merchants supporting the fisheries from Carbonear.

In the book Soe longe as there comes noe women, mention is made of a William King of Wimborne Minster, Dorset, a merchant. There was a Christopher King at Trinity in 1754 from Wimborne Minster, Dorset, England.

From the Keith Mathews files are numerous references to ships sailing between Newfoundland and England captained by Kings and LeGros.’ Also among his records is that of the baptism at Poole Dorset, June, 1796 of Young King, son of John and Ann. This is of particular interest. He is a contemporary of the Young King of Broad Cove that married Grace Crummey of Western Bay 31 December 1817. This Young King, according to his death record was born ca 1792.

The Dartmouth muster rolls and Teignmouth register of sixpences provide information on the early participants in the Newfoundland fishery. Those at the Newfoundland Maritime Archives are not indexed at this time and therefore difficult to research. Dartmouth and Teignmouth were two of the most important ports for those heading to Newfoundland. Apprenticeship indentures and settlement examinations also document early participants. The settlement examinations often included place of birth, place of residence, marital status and types of employment. Also the usual wills, deeds and administrative papers provide sources for determining the origin of Newfoundland settlers. The Lester Garland Papers at the Dorset Record Office and similar merchant books and papers are a source of genealogical information. An examination of these sources may yield more information on the Kings in Newfoundland.

Entry Number 547 in the “Return of Possessions for Conception Bay, 1805,” is that of land occupied by Widow King & Sons in 1784, at Brigus. The land had been in the possession of the King family for 21 years having been purchased from Conway Heighington for 26 pounds. It remains open for interpretation as to whether the purchase date was in 1763 or in 1784, perhaps bequeathed in her husband’s will. It was approximately 3.9 acres.

In the book by E. R. Seary: Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, a Jane King is mentioned at Brigus in 1784, and was likely to be the above “Widow King.” Another transaction at Mulley's Cove pertains to land owned by James & Edward King that was bequeathed by their father’s will in 1784.

So from this, one can conclude that John King, after the death of Sarah, perhaps married Jane and had three sons: Thomas, James and Edward. John died ca 1784.

Since there are Waldens/Waldrons at Trinity along with many Kings, the origins of John and William King of Trinity in 1708 is of great interest.

Other Kings mentioned in the book by E. R. Seary may be descended from the Kings of Portsmouth and Kittery. The Seary list includes:

James King at Upper Island Cove, Conception Bay, 1763

Robert King at Trinity Bay, 1772

John King at Perry’s Cove, Conception Bay, 1791

John King at Small Point, Conception Bay, 1793 William King at Torbay, St. John’s North, 40 years in Newfoundland, 1794

John King, at Bell Island, Conception Bay, 40 years in Newfoundland, 1794

James King at Broad Cove, Conception Bay, 1797

Daniel King at Port de Grave, Conception Bay, 1799

James King at Western Bay, Conception Bay, 1800

Richard King & sons at Old Perlican, Trinity Bay 1800, 1801

William & John King at Crockers Cove, Conception Bay, 1802

Robert King at Old Bonaventure, Trinity Bay, 1806

Mary King at Harbour Grace, Conception Bay, 1807

William Warn of Old Perlican, Trinity Bay maintained a business ledger. For the period 1749 to 1759 there are entries for Henry King, and Stephen King. In 1781 there was a list of homeowners in St. John’s that included Dominick King and Simon King. These given names suggest a Channel Islands connection.