Conception Bay North Region ~ Harbour Grace District

The Bristol's Hope 1637 Fishery.

Here are a few sporadic background details, demonstrating merchant adventurers shipping from Bristol, to the early Conception Bay Colonies. In the spring of 1619, Francis Derrick, merchant, shipped 9 Tons of lead by the vessel "Love", Captain Thomas Batten. Richard Long, merchant, shipped 3/4 Ton of lead --by the "Comfort", Captain John Gannne. Myles Jackson, merchant, shipped 5 Tons of lead by the "Pleasurer", Captain Richard Fletcher. John Barker, merchant, shipped 3 Tons of lead by the "Isaac", Captain John Ganne. Humphrey Browne, merchant, shipped calfskins; Humphrey Hooke, merchant, shipped 2 Tons of lead, and Andrew Charleton, merchant, shipped calfskins; by the same vessel, "Isaac". ( PRO: E 190/1136/3 ).

In the spring of 1625, shippers by the "George", Captain Charles Driver, were: John Gonning, lead; Francis Creswick, lead; John Langton, lead; Humphrey Browne, lead; & George Fenton, groceries. ( PRO: E 190/1135/5-6 ). In the spring of 1629, Thomas Taylor, Captain of the "Diligence", shipped lead. Thereby as is literally listed above here; one can see these specific merchant adventurer’s investment’s, in the early CB Colonies. In context, one may understand, these individuals were among “the core investors”, in the CB Colonies, during the era. Employing Sack vessels, and showing in English Customs. There may have been a larger number of other smaller “fishing vessels” sailing Bristol to Newfoundland, not recorded in the Bristol Port Books. Having no dutiable cargo. These fishing vessels shortening the turnaround time at Newfoundland, for the Sack vessels. The investing merchant adventurers, employing the Sacks, and controlling the happenings of the Colony at Newfoundland. Pulling the purse strings on contracts, for the selling and buying of dry cod at Newfoundland. Sending the cod to market, etc. More often the fishing vessels being paid for their catch of cod/their Voyage, at the value of the dried cod, as sold at Newfoundland. As a more complete listing of merchant adventurer investors becomes compiled, deeper understanding will be gleaned. The above details, providing insight into the amounts of lead being periodically shipped form Bristol, for use at the Cupids Cove Colony, and or, the Bristol’s Hope Colony. One may be assured, the lead as shipped, was almost exclusively used in the cod fishery. Apart from lead, calfskins, leather, and sometimes wares, the Bristol Port Books do not appear to show provisions and or victuals being sent to Colonial Newfoundland. Were other provisions procured at places like Cork, Ireland, where they cost less?

However, in the spring of 1637, a most remarkable increase in the amount of lead shipped, resulted in a much larger Fishery effort, at Bristol's Hope. Richard Long shipped 64 Tons of lead on 2 vessels, the Diligence, Captain Fabian Sanford; & the "Charles", Captain Nicholas Gatonby. Miles Jackson shipped 8 Tons of lead on the Rainbow", Captain William Stratton. The single English Customs entry for Bristol merchant adventurer/shipper Richard Long, as below, portends the expansive Fishery effort undertaken at Harbour Grace, from 1637 forward. Eclipsing all former efforts. One is left to wonder whether any Colonial undertaking, ever equalled the single shipment investment, in early 1637 at Bristol's Hope? For comparison sake, Joseph Jackson sent 17 Tons of lead to New England, the same spring. Less than 27% of the amount which was shipped to Bristol’s Hope, in Conception Bay. This is quite revealing, since the early history of the Newfoundland early Conception Bay Colonies, largely remains unknown.

( The 23 day of May, 1637. In the "Charles" of Bristol, burthen 250 Tons, Nicholas Gatenbie, Master, for Newfoundland & the Streights; Richard Long shipped 60 Tons lead in Sows[bars], paying 24 Pounds for the Customs duty. ) The "Charles", of 280 Tons, was launched on Jan 4, 1626. In 1626, the "Charles", was owned by John Barker & Richard Long. The vessel was later owned by Nicholas Gatonby. The 280 Ton burthen stat was gleaned from secondary printed sources, and is unexplained here. Such occurrences in general, are commonly seen.

On February 18, 1636/7, the Bristol Hope Plantation at Harbor Grace, had come under the ownership of three Bristol merchant partners. Richard Long, Andrew Charl(e)ton, and Francis Creswick. All three had adventured previously in the Newfoundland Colonial enterprise, per Bristol outward bound Customs. They obviously invested heavily in the Harbour Grace based Fishery that Spring, by sending out 64 tons of lead. 128 thousand Lbs of lead, shipped from Bristol, to Bristol's Hope, provides a blatantly obvious scope, of the size of the Fishery effort undertaken. While some lead balls and shot would have been locally manufactured for muskets, and used in hunting and protection; the vast majority of lead shipped, would have been used in the Fishery. Representing quite a large Fishery investment at Bristol's Hope. Lead would have been used in cast nets & beach seines, for bait purposes. Passive standing nets could be weighted down with round beach rocks, sewn in hemp twine. Free, smooth beach rock being far more economical than lead shipped out of Bristol. Though it is unlikely nets were used in early Newfoundland, to any considerable extent. Handlines were a cheaper manufacture, yielding a fresher fish product. Astute rudimentary economics for the era, always included penny pinching. But with the 1637 shipment of lead to Bristol’s Hope, we see a degree of risk was taken, for envisioned profit. The merchant adventurers had the financial wherewithal, to effect a major increase in the CB cod fishery. Typical sources indicate that handlining was utilized, to catch cod in early Newfoundland. Including the Schemes of the Fishery. There is no consideration the lead was used for chimney flashing, vessel sheathing, etc., circa 1637. Such ideas are discarded. In 1960 Newfoundland, in rural fishing communities, any lead on a property, was utilized strictly for the fishery. Except the rare house, steel and tin flashing was installed around chimneys. It being more economical. In 1637, simple economics drove the economy assiduously, and veritably. As an example, we see the military contingents at St. John’s regularly received their pay late. By years in cases. One may be assured, lead was not shipped to Conception Bay in waste, or over supply. Beach rock could be utilized for handline sinkers. But not quite as time effective. Reducing the amount of cod fish caught. A longer turnaround time to load a 250 Ton vessel, with dry fish. Some 4500, or 5000 quintals, of dry cod. At 12 Shillings per Quintal? = 54,000 Shillings = 2,700 Pounds Sterling. The train oil paid for the salt? Timely profit, demanded lead sinkers. 17^th Century Colonial proprietors, were well versed, in time learned economics.

Following is some attempt at insight, into the type of expected lead usages in the 1637, Harbour Grace Fishery. If 500 Cast nets were used at Bristol's Hope in 1637, for various bait catches; at 20 Lbs per net, ( this being heavily weighted ), we have 10,000 Lbs of lead. If 500 beach seines were used in bait catching, at 50 feet each, and 75 Lbs of lead each ( this being heavily weighted ), we have 37,500 Lbs of lead usage. Giving a total lead usage, for cast nets and beach seines, of 47,5000 Lbs. Leaving roughly, 80,000 Lbs of lead from the 64 Ton shipment, for hemp handline hook sinkers. Enough for maybe 160,000 sinkers. Lead Sinker sizes would have varied with the depth of water fished, tide rates, etc. Excess lead, may have been bartered off, or otherwise sold. Each man in the boat, worked 2 lines, during good fishing. Throw one down, pull one up, equaling less down time. Spare sinkers, replaced those lost.

How many fishermen were at Bristol's Hope in 1637? Numerous, is a very conservative estimate. If a fisherman was allotted 10 lead sinkers per year, this equals 16,000 men. If 20 sinkers per fisherman, per year, = 8000 men. If 30 sinkers per fisherman, per year, = 5,333 men. If 40 sinkers per fisherman, per year, = 4,000 men. One may reasonably conclude conservatively; “at least” on the scale of 1000 or 2000 fishermen at Bristol's Hope, in 1637. On the order of 12 or 25 vessels, bringing out 80 fishermen per vessel? This is feasible. Quite reasonably, and possibly, maybe even more fishermen. Far more vessels left England Ports for the Newfoundland Fishery, during this era. Maybe on the order of 2 or 3 hundred vessels. Non dutiable, cod fish cargoes, were not required to register with Customs. Dutiable Train Oil cargoes, had to register with Customs. One may expect the vessels out to Bristol’s Hope in 1637, didn’t all clear from the Port of Bristol. Some may have been chartered from Ports like Topsham & Dartmouth, Devon; Lyme Regis, Weymouth, and Poole, Dorset; Fowey and Falmouth, Cornwall; the Island of Jersey; Ireland, etc. We see the later mixture of old Country roots, in Conception Bay. It can be thus understood, that Harbour Grace and the surrounding inlets and bays, saw “numerous” fishermen, circa 1637. A substantially larger increase, in enterprise. The Fishery effort would have been spread out, including surrounding harbours. Fishermen caught more cod if separated by a distance. This was time learned knowledge. John Hibbs & family, from Bristol, would not have been lonely in Conception Bay. The Fishery effort at Bristol's Hope, in 1637, in all likelihood, exceeded that of Sir David Kirke, later at Ferryland. Little wonder why Conception Bay held a high proportion, of the early Newfoundland population.

The population of Bristol in 1637, may have been about 5000? Many Harbour Grace fishermen, would have been recruited from the hinterland of the city of Bristol. And elsewhere geographically. One thing appears certain. The proprietors of Bristol's Hope in 1637, never under supplied the fishermen, with lead, for fishing gear. If they had, the number of fishermen there in 1637, far exceeded 1000 or 2000 individuals. Together with other merchant’s cargoes, the shipping of some 72 tons of lead, was indeed a serious effort. An effort whereby those in charge of the Colony, certainly provisioned that enough cod would reach markets, to ensure profit. Allowing respectable margin, for possible losses. Hemp lines may have been sourced elsewhere, more cheaply than at Bristol. Salt, clothes, and other victuals. If the sequestration of the estates of Royalists by Parliament, played a role at Bristol's Hope, notorious delinguents had their personal and real estates seized. Including their money, goods, manors, land, and profits. If the suppliers and victuallers of Bristol's Hope no longer functioned, did the fishermen largely return home, to England? On 3rd July, 1649, Francis Creswick petitioned to compound on his sequestered estate. If a "delinquent" wished to recover his estate he had to apply to the Committee for Compounding with Delinquents based in London. Andrew Charleton had died in 1643. He would have escaped compounding. What about Richard Long? Richard Long is seen to have CB shipping interests later on. As well, Henry Creswick. Tradition appears to have continued, in spite of the political financial troubles.

----- Ordinance for the Government and Security of Bristol. 28 October 1645.
"Forasmuch as Francis Creswicke Mayor, Humfry Hooke, Richard Longe, Ezekiell Wallis, Alexander James, Thomas Colston, William Fitz Herbert, Henry Creswicke, William Colston, Nathaniell Cale, William Bevan, Richard Grigson, and John Elridge, Aldermen, and Members of the Common Council of the City of Bristoll, have (as both Houses of Parliament are credibly informed by divers well-affected Persons of the said City) become very much disaffected to the Proceedings of Parliament, and forward and active to promote the Designs of the Enemy, so as their Continuance in the Magistracy, Government, and Common Council of the City (of so great Concernment to the whole Kingdom) will be altogether inconsistent with the Safety and Welfare thereof in these Times of War and Danger: It is therefore Ordained, That the said Francis Creswick, Humfrey Hooke, Richard Longe, Ezeckiell Wallis, Alexander James, Thomas Colston, William Fitz Herbert, Henry Creswick, William Coleston, Nathaniell Cale, William Bevan, Richard Gregson, and John Ellridge, be forthwith suspended from their respective Places of Aldermen and Members of the Common Council of the said City; and that the Committee of Parliament for the City of Bristoll, appointed by this or any other former Ordinance, do speedily and effectually proceed to the Examination of their several Delinquencies, and return the Proofs of their Delinquencies, proved by sufficient Testimonies upon Oath, to the Parliament, to the End the Parliament may proceed to further Judgement: And they do further Ordain, Nominate, and Appoint, John Gonning Mayor of the City of Bristoll, to all Intents and Purposes, in the Room and Place of the above mentioned Francis Creswick; hereby enjoining and requiring the Sheriffs of the said City, presently after such Proof of Delinquency as aforesaid, to summon the rest of the Aldermen and Common Council Men of the said City, or such others, which, by and according to the Charters of the same, ought to be present, to meet, within Two Days after the said Summons, at their usual Place, and then and there to give unto the said John Gonning, according to the ancient Custom, the Oath usually taken by him which is chosen Mayor of the said City, and to elect so many other Persons, Freemen of the said City, well-affected to the Parliament, as will complete the Number of those Persons above mentioned, which shall be so disabled and removed as aforesaid; and that no Person for the Time to come shall be elected into any of those Places, whose Person shall be imprisoned, or his Estate sequestered, by virtue of any Ordinance of Parliament: And they do further authorize the said Committee, or the major Part of them, to remove and displace all other Inferior Officers of the said City from their respective Places and Offices, which shall be proved before them to be Malignants or Delinquents, within the Compass of any Ordinance of Parliament, and to elect others to succeed them in their Offices and Places, who shall execute and enjoy the same by virtue of this Ordinance: And be it Ordained, That all Person and Persons shall have free Liberty to trade and traffic, by Land and Sea, to and from the said City, as formerly they might have done when the same was under the Obedience of Parliament: And the Lords and Commons do further Order and Ordain, That Serjeant Major General Skippon Governor of Bristoll, Edward Stevens, Alexander Popham, John Ashe, and Richard Aldworth, Esquires, Robert Haynes, and Denis Hollister, be added to the Committees of Parliament in the said City, who have hereby as full Power and Authority, together with them, to all Intents and Purposes, as if their several Names had been inserted in the former Ordinances."

----- British Record Society Publication. Volume 6. 1935. The Deposition Books of Bristol. Volume 1. 1643-1647. Edited by: Miss H. E. Nott. Pages 142/143.
John Gonning, Bristol Mayor. September, 1646. A 300 ton Bristol ship named the "Fortune", at Musketta/Bristol's Hope, Newfoundland. "Anno domini 1646, Simon Wills, Master of the good ship called the "Fortune" of Bristol burthen 300 tons or thereabouts, in her last voyage from New Found Land to the Port of Bristol..." In 1644 Symon Wills was Master of the "Dove" of Bristol. Simon Wills, Bristol Mariner, was born circa 1605. The "Fortune" was a large vessel, to have visited the early Newfoundland Fishery, and would have taken plural months to load with codfish, train oil, etc. A 300 Ton vessel would carry approximately 6000 Quintals of dried cod. For comparison, a five man rowboat crew ( 3 in the boat & 2 ashore ), may have dried 200 Quintals in an average fishery season. 30 such boats, would catch 6000 Quintals. It is possible that the crew of the "Fortune" consisted 150 men at Bristol's Hope in 1645? Using 30 shallops/skiffs, or boats? Less men and shallops/skiffs or boats, would be required to produce 6000 Quintals of stockfish, if it were a good fishery season. Consider in general, 20 Quintals per Ton of cargo capacity for dried cod. Say 6000 Quintals of dried codfish at 12 Shillings per Quintal marketed = 3600 Pounds Sterling. The proprietor(s) cleared for this voyage circa 2600 Pounds Sterling? The common man could not undertake to finance such voyages. But folk like Mayors, Aldermen, and prominent merchants, could afford to invest in such Adventures. This was a general theme at the English ports, during the era. Evidenced via the early Newfoundland Schemes of the Fishery, and other surviving documents.
*Year 1724. A small fishery year. Conception Bay shipped 11,000 quintals of dried cod, in 4 vessels.

------ Jean Beaudoin, 1696, wrote: "This harbour[Harbour Grace] was the first harbour established by the English in the island of Newfoundland. Three years ago, an inhabitant who was born here, died at the age of 83." Born circa 1610/11. John Guy born 1613?