ST. JOHN’S OVER A CENTURY AGO.
Living Conditions in Newfoundland, as Revealed in the First Volume of The Royal Gazette.
WRITTEN IN 1907, BY THE LATE J. W. WITHERS, THEN KING’S PRINTER

PROPOSALS
For Printing a Weekly Paper to be
Intitled the Royal Gazette assct. Newfoundland Advertiser,
Intended for the Diffusion of Useful as
well as Ornamental Knowledge, News
and Liberal Amusement in General.

The work will be published early every Wednesday morning and sent to the houses of subscribers in town, and to such public houses, inns, etc., as the Outharbor subscribers may direct.

The Royal Gazette, &c., will be printed on a neat type and good densy paper, in a folio form. The terms of subscription will be One Guinea per annum, payable half yearly.

In order to evince the uprightness and integrity of the Editor’s intentions, he will not ask for subscriptions in advance; he will first publish regularly three months, after which be makes no doubt every gentlemen whose name graces his list will readily pay the half year on demand.

As profession of service is no proof of sincerity, the Editor will not trespass on the time of the public with a line about the merits of the undertaking-time and experience will be the proper judges of its general utility.

Advertisements will be gratefully received and inserted at One Dollar a square for the first and Eighteen pence for each subsequent insertion.

The preceding articles include the general plan upon which the work is meant to be edited, and which it is hoped upon being properly executed will meet with the countenance of the public.

The Editor hereby pledges himself to use his host endeavours to render The .Royal Gazette a work of merit; and as far as his exertions or abilities will permit, worthy the patronage of the public.

Should a moderate number of subscribers previously offer, so as to afford a tolerable prospect of success, the first paper will be issued on Wednesday, the 6th of May next. By the Public’s most obed’t Humble Servant,

(Signed) JOHN RYAN.
St. John’s, Newfoundland,
Sept. 10th, 1806

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Subscribers’ Names:

Thos. Tremlett
John Harries
John Rennell
George Thesiger
A. H. Brooking
H. Phillips
Dan. Coughlan
John Broom
R. Hutton
George and Thomas Keough
John Murray
Thomas Forth Winter
Alex. Miller
Hunt, Epps & Gaden
William Elmer
Thos. Williams
D. Rennie
Nich. and Jos. Gill
John Ryan for George Elliot
Hunter & Co.
Alex. Boucher
Thomas Meagher
Hunt, Stabb, Preston & Co.
R. Pike
W. Skerrett
Thomas Cook
James O’Donel for Dr. Lambert
John Houston
Wm. B. Rowe (2)
Alex. Haines
William Haley
W. Tonge
J.Macbraire
James Melledge
Parker & Knight (4)
Pat.Hines (3)
D. Duggin
Dan.Codner & Co.
Crawford Robertson & Co.
Patton. Baine & Co.
Luke Maddock
Tim.Ryan
Wm. Goff
J. Williams
Henry Shea
J. Ryan for W. Newman
Eighard Langley
Walter MacAllaster
John Dowsley
Augustus Mainson
Jer Hearn
John Masters
John Stentaford
John and Peter O’B Riordan
John Bonver
George Winter
Adcombe G. Henley
Corelius Quirk
Philip Breenlen
Robert Parsons
William B. Thomas
Henry Batten
John Way
Richard Cooke
Wm Notting
Lionel Chancey
Joseph Krornagh
Wm. Best
John Barnes
Simon Solomon
Peter LeMessurier
Dan. Marett & Co.
John Barry
Wm. Walch
Timothy Flannery
Benj. Walters
Pat. Flannery
John P. Grace
John Scott
Charles Hutchings
David Brien (3)
B.Johnson
John. Travers
Peter McAuslan
George Lilley
John Snelgrove
Joseph Costello
James June
Joseph Whiteway
Samuel Prowse
R. E. Armstrong
Francis Hanlain
Thomas George Mackim
Richard King
R.Tuffe for Wm. Armstrong
Dominie King
John Wall
Goss & Butler per L. Knight
Bombardier Lindas
Wm. Noble
David Dodrick
Philip Christian
Capt. Muddle
James Anderson
John Murch
Anthony Steward
Alex. Hutchinson
Sergt. J. P. Klein
Sergt. Alex McLeod
James Strikley
Robert Hammill
Mr. Parker
Mr. Linagar
Capt. Summerville
Dr. Thomson
George Trapnell
Thomas Murphy
J. Biggs
Dr. Trembell
Peter McKie.
His Excellency John Holloway, Esq.
John Villeneufue & Co.
John Dunn
Mr. Lanlgey
Wm. Power
Miller & Fergus
Arnall, Dalton & Arnall
Dinah Elliott
G. Kemble & Co.
James Kennedy
John Tanner
John Haley
Mrs. Geo Best
Dr. Dunnogan
Henry Parsons
Wm. Denning
Dr. Connors
Dr. Shea
Dr. Dan. O’Connor
Dr. Richard Shea
Joseph Tumbaun
Wm. Pinsent
Thomas Mullowney
Mr. Langley
Wm. J. Delany
Thomas Ever
Dr. Sterling
Richard Kelan
Mrs. Maloney
J. Churchill & Co.
James Brown

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James Cawley
Samuel Newman
David Dunell
Joseph Gover
Wm. Taylor
James Lane
John and R. Brine
Thomas Atkens
Richard Langley
Archibald Nevins
Richard Hammond
Thos. Murphy
Robert Dooling
Michael Murphy
Win. Branscombe
John Harvey
Wm. Phipard
Pat. Murrin for Wm. Power (2)
Ml. Farrell
John Brophey
Robert Lee
George Hutchings
John Winter
M Warren (paid)
Boden
W. Withycombe (paid 5/3)
W Rendell, jr.
John Williams
Wm. Stephenson
Murphy & Gleeson
John Burke
Walter Murphy
Follett, Hoyles & Co.
Edward Kenney
John Godfrey
Lieut. Estaff
Wm. MacLeod
W. Warren
T. A. Ruggles
Francis Gillman (N. S. R. Quartermaster)
F. Goff
John Steward
Wm. Kirby
Benjamin Johnson
Joseph Church
John Byrne
Richd. Purcell. R.A.
Alex.. Dunbsten
Rover Angel
Mrs. Withycombe
M. Neave & Sons
James Sinyard
John Keith
John Shuett
Michael Currun
Pat. Murrin
Charles Jade
R. Keefe
Arch. C. Dodd, Esq
Richard Hooper
Mr. Solomon
Constable Phippard
Sergt. Grant
Mr. Street
Sergt. James Brophy
John Duncanson
Sergt. John Congdon
Mr. Byrne
Mrs. King
Adjt. Moores
Mr. McCarthy
Sergt. Dent
Jacob Harbs
Mr. Roe (2)
Sergt. McCullach
Matthew Henesey
W. P. Carter
Sergt. John Brady
George Gutheridge
Sergt. Stewart
Williamson, M.D.
Wm. Matthews
Stuart S. Hill
Rev. Parson Vialette
Sergt. James Brophy
Mr. Warren
Stephen Woollcock
Jonathan Parsons
Mich. Curran
Mr. John Wall
Thomas Dolenty & Co.
Gosse, Chancey & Co.
A. Nevins
Roberts & Moore
John O’Donald
Michael Hennessy
Robert Kenny
James Brown, R.A.
Levi McCulloch
Parsons & Gover
Dr. James Oakley
Mrs. Towill
N. Gibbs
Lieut. J. McNab
John Guest
Wm. Raystone
Thos.Parr, Esq.
Mrs. Lilly
Kearney & St. John
Alexander Camel
M. O’Lannigan
Wm. Lilly
Jordan & Henderson
Wm. Jordan
Thomas Parsons
Wm. Adams
Philip Coats
Wm. Brien
H. E. Gaden
Wm. Cull Mr.Hampton
George Moulton
Peter Brown
Richard Bishop
Rev. A. Fitzpatrick
Dr. Nich. Brand
Mrs. Butler
Mr. McCarlmon
Mr. Canada
Wm. Barnes.

Source: Pages 162 and 163-When Was That? By H M Mosdell, M.B. Together with an Appendix“St John’s Over a Century Ago” by the Late J W Withers, St John’s, Nfld Trade Printers and Publishers, Limited 1923 Reprinted by Robinson-Blackmore Printing and Publishing Ltd 1974