by Calvin Evans
No. 229: Mother-in-law of Thos. Butt & Edward Lawrence, Blackhead. This property had one stage, one flake and three houses and came to the two men “by deed of gift from their mother-in-law.” Date is 1790.
No. 231: Mother-in-law of John Moran, Blackhead. This property had one stage and one flake and came to John “by deed of gift from his mother-in-law.” The present occupier was Dinah Pippy; was she involved in the fishery? Date is 1806.
No. 240: Tabitha Mulcahy, Broad Cove. This property consisted of two plots and had one stage, one flake and three houses. It came to Tabitha “by her husband’s will for her natural life then to devolve to Bakers children.” Tabitha was occupying the property in 1750. In 1766 it was occupied by David Whealon.
No. 245: Widow of John LeGrow, Broad Cove. This property had one flake and three houses, and came to the five children of John LeGrow “by deed of gift from their mother.” It was occupied in 1776 by Joseph Bagg.
No. 250: Mother of Michael Thistle, Mully’s Cove. This property had one stage, one flake and two houses. It was “bequeathed to (Michael) by his mother’s will.” Date is 1777.
No. 254: Mary Dalton & Sons, Broad Cove. This is very probably the same Mary Dalton as in No. 181. This was “bequeathed by her father’s will” and in 1777 was being rented to Morgan Hingay for 10 shillings per annum.
No. 287: Catherine Bryan, Chappels Cove. “This room is being claimed by Catherine Bryan, daughter to Jno. Terry the original owner.” It had one stage, one flake and two houses and in 1795 was being occupied by Philip Whealon. See also No. 395.
No. 295: Grandmother of Michl. Corbut, Chappels Cove. This was left to Michael “by deed of gift from his grandmother.” Date is 1801.
No. 298: Bridget Kennedy, Harbour Main. This had been held by Bridget and was purchased from her by Wm. Moores, Jr., for 6 pounds 10 shillings. Date is 1803.
No. 301: Mary Wall, Harbour Main. This property which Mary owned had been “cut out of the woods.” Date is 1794. James Wall owned an adjacent property with one stage, two flakes and three houses. Date is 1786. Was this a husband and wife team?
No. 324: Julianna O’Neal, Harbour Main. This was “by seaside” and had one stage, one flake and three houses, and had been purchased from Philip Eno or Shano (writing is indistinct). See No. 338. Date is 1793.
No. 329: Ann Penny, Harbour Main. Ann was occupying this property which had been left to her “by her grandfather’s will.” Date is 1794.
No. 334: Mary Drohan, Harbour Main. This property had been “cut out of the woods” and was occupied by Mary. Date is 1792.
No. 338: Elizabeth Terry, Harbour Main. This was listed under the names of Thomas, John, Wm. and Edward Terry and had one stage, three flakes and two houses. It had been purchased from Ph. Eno (same as Philip Eno or Shano in No. 324?) “for 1 pair of shoes,” and was being occupied in 1774 by Elizabeth. Whether the four brothers or the sister made this astute deal is uncertain.
No. 351: Mother-in-law of Jas. Hedderson, Gasters. This was left to Jas. Hedderson of Turk’s Gut “by deed of gift from his mother-in-law” and he was occupying it in 1796.
No. 382: Mary Merrigan, Collier’s Dock. This property was unoccupied in 1780 but was owned jointly by Edward and Mary Merrigan; it had been “cut out of the woods.”
No. 390: Mother-in-law of John Wall, Collier’s. “Note: This room is disposed of by Bill of Sale dated 1 December 1787 to Thos. and Lawrence Dunn for 90 pounds.” Apparently it was later than this that it came to John Wall “by deed of gift from his mother-in-law” for he was occupying it in 1801.
No. 392: Mary Whealon, Mary Cullin and Mary Cole, Collier’s. This property, which had one stage, one flake and two houses was curiously divided among five people: Mary Whealon was to hold 44 yards “during her natural life,” Jas. Cole 43 yards and John Cole, Mary Cullin and Mary Cole 15 yards each, “in the whole 132 yds.” The property came to them “by deed of gift from John Cole”; this was probably John Sr. dividing his room among family members. Date is 1778.
No. 394: Ann, Catherine and Wm. Narrowcot, Collier’s. This had one stage, two flakes and one house, and came to the three “by deed of gift from their grandfather.” In 1781 it was occupied by John Lee. Was he the husband or brother of Mary Lee? See No. 395.
No. 395: Catherine Bryan and Mary Lee, Collier’s. This property had come to the two women “by deed of gift from their father-in-law.” It had one stage, one flake and two houses and was occupied by Peter Bryan in 1793. Was this Catherine’s husband? For Catherine’s other property see No. 287. “Note: Mrs. Hedderson is to have the grass annually that the meadow ground produces during her natural life.” This may have been Mrs. Jas. Hedderson, whose husband held property in Gasters (See No. 351), Collier’s and Turk’s Gut. The name is also spelled “Edderson.” See also No. 394 for John Lee.
No. 405: Ann Rober (or Hober), South Shore, Broad Cove. This had been purchased from Ann by John Hanall of Portugal Cove for 25 pounds. Date is 1797.
No. 454: Sisters of Wm. Mugford, Port de Grave. This property had one stage, two flakes and two houses, and was “bequeathed by father’s will” to William Mugford and two sisters (unnamed). A note says it was “built” in 1770.
No. 457: Wife of George Voy, Port de Grave. These two plots were given or left to George Voy “by his wife.” It had been “built” in 1802 and was then being occupied by Patt. Brown who was leasing it for 10 years at 6 pounds (per annum?).
No. 459: Wife of Samuel Batton, Port de Grave. This “was bequeathed to his wife by her father.” Date is 1789.
No. 474: Mother of Thos. Snow, Port de Grave. This was “bequeathed by his mother’s will.” Date is 1777.
No. 475: Exactly the same as No. 474.
No. 484: Mary Butler, Port de Grave. This extensive “room” of 132 yards frontage consisted of one wharf, two flakes, four gardens, four stores, one cook room and four houses. It came to Mary “by deed of gift from Edward Baker.” John Butler (Jno. Butler’s son was undoubtedly Mary’s brother. See No. 492, also No. 485). Jos. Furneaux, agent to Wm. Newman, is mentioned, probably because part of the “room” was being leased to Wm. Newman for 11 years at 45 pounds per annum. Date is 1765.
No. 485: Mary Butler, Back Cove, Port de Grave. Similar to No. 484, except that M. Butler (presumably Mary) is the occupier. Date is 1765.
No. 491: Mother of Jas. and Wm. Wells, Port de Grave. These two plots had one stage, one flake, one dwelling house and one store, and came to the two brothers “by deed of gift from their mother.” Date is 1776.
No. 492: Mary Butler, Port de Grave. This was “bequeathed to her by her father’s will, Jno. Butler.” It was being leased to Wm. Newman and Wm. Jeffers. Date is 1765. See also Nos. 484 and 485.
No. 493: Ann Mugford, Port de Grave. Her first name looks like “Amy” in the record; it is indistinct. The property had one stage, two flakes and three houses and had been “cut and cleared agreeable to Act Wm. III 25.7.” Ann’s husband Robert left his property to her “for her natural life” in his will of 1793. Ann died in 1813. See Chapter 2 under “Women and Property” for the complicated situation that arose for the Mugfords, because of Ann’s inappropriate actions. The date for No. 493 is 1725, which is probably when the property originally was granted to the Mugford family.
No. 504: Charity Noseworthy, Patience Dwyer and Edward (?) Nugent, Port de Grave. “Edward” may be “Edwina.” Consider the notes. This property had been “possessed by their ancestors for the term of 105 years.” Another note says: “Purchased from Ann Stretch for 20 pounds by their father who died intestate and now claimed by the 3 daughters.” Ann Stretch must have been a family member, one of the “ancestors.” Ann Stretch also owned two properties in Harbour Grace. The occupier of No. 504 in 1798 was Ed. Nugent (Edwina?). See also Nos. 978 and 1036.
No. 506: Ann Coveduck, Port de Grave. Ann’s father, Matthew Anthony, left Ann a piece of property which had been “possessed for 105 years” by their ancestors. Date is 1780. He also left Ann’s husband, Joh
n Coveduck, a slightly smaller piece of property which had been in the family for 105 years, so he had equally divided his property between his daughter and his son-in-law. Curiously the date on No. 505 (John Coveduck’s property) is 1760. The property had been in the Anthony family from at least 1700.
No. 514: Mother of George Dawe, Sr., Port de Grave. This property, which had one stage, one flake and three houses, was “possessed by his ancestors for 160 years,” and was “bequeathed to him by his mother’s will.” Date is 1755. Assuming that the person who recorded the data was figuring backward from 1805, this property had been in the Dawe family since 1645.
No. 528: Bridget Morgan, Port de Grave. This had one stage, two flakes and two houses and came to Bridget “by deed of gift from her brother-in-law.” It had been “possessed for 30 years.” Bridget was occupying the property in 1785. Joseph Morgan owned and occupied the property that was “bordering on Bridget Morgan” (No. 529). It had one stage, three flakes and three houses. This would seem to be another brother (or brother-in-law) and sister (or sister-in-law) team. There is no date on Joseph Morgan’s property.
No. 539: Mother of Richard Porter (Mary?), Hibb’s Hole. Richard Porter’s property in No. 539 has a note “bounded on the S. W. by his Mother’s Room…” For possible explanation, see No. 540. See also No. 605.
No. 540: Mary Porter, Hibb’s Hole. This property had one stage, one flake and two houses and was owned by Richard Porter, having been “purchased from his mother for 6 pounds per annum during her life time.” Mary Porter was occupying the property at the time of recording. No date given. The property had been “possessed by his ancestors for 106 years,” i.e., from 1699. See also No. 605.
No. 544: Rachel Dawe, Port de Grave. Rachel’s husband had been Jno. Dawe. This property had been “bequeathed by her father’s will.” She was occupying the property in 1775.
No. 547: Widow King & Sons, Brigus. This had one stage, one flake and one house. It had been purchased from Conway Heighington for 26 pounds and had been “possessed for 21 years.” Conway Heighington held property in Harbour Main and Susan Heighington of Bristol bought property in Musketta (See No. 807). No. 547 was being occupied by Widow King in 1784.
No. 571: Dinah Roberts, Brigus. These two plots were “by Catherine Antle’s garden” and had one stage, two flakes and one house. It had been “possessed by their ancestors for 80 years” and came to Dinah “by deed of gift from her father.” Dinah was occupying the property in 1771. See No. 575 for Diana Roberts. See also No. 574 for Widow Antle.
No. 572: Mother of John Rabbitts, Sr., Brigus. This property had been “possessed for 55 years” and came to John Sr. “by deed of gift from his mother.” Apparently his nephew, John Rabbitts, Jr., was his partner.
No. 574: Widow Antle and Wm. Antle, Brigus. Both Wm. Antle and Widow Antle occupied the property in 1782 which had come to the widow “by deed of gift from her father-in-law.” Wm. Antle, Sr., also held property in Brigus (No. 567) which had been “bequeathed to him by his father-in-law’s will.”
No. 575: Diana Roberts, Brigus. Whether this is the same as Dinah Roberts (No. 571) cannot be determined; both names are clearly spelled. This property was owned by John Roberts (Diana’s son) “by deed of gift from his mother.” Date is not given.
No. 579: Grace Walker, Brigus. This property had come to Grace “in consequence of lying void.” She was occupying it in 1797.
No. 582: Grace Norman, Brigus. This property came to Grace “by deed of gift from her mother-in-law” and she was occupying it in 1786.
No. 583: Ann Roberts, Brigus. Part of this property was purchased, part came to Ann “by deed of gift from her father,” and part was “cut out of the woods.” Ann was occupying the property in 1772.
No. 587: Mother of Robt. Knight, Brigus. This property came to Robert by “deed of gift from mother,” and he was occupying it in 1800.
No. 600: Mary Anthony, Cupids. Mary acquired this property because it was “lying void.” She was occupying it in 1770. Joseph Anthony owned No. 604 “by deed of gift from his father-in-law.” Was he Mary Anthony’s husband?
No. 605: Mary Porter, Cupids. Wm. Coveyduck purchased this property from Mary Porter for 4 pounds, and he was occupying it in 1783. See Nos. 539 and 540.
No. 608: Mary LeDros, Cupids. This property was “cut and cleared agreeable to Act. Wm. III chap. 25. Sec. 7.” Mary was occupying it in 1762.
No. 676: Widow Merser, Bay Roberts. This property had been “possessed for 100 years” and belonged to “the heirs (children) of Jas. Merser Sr. (deceased).” It was occupied by Widow Merser in 1800.
No. 682: Patience Parsons, Bay Roberts. Patience had become owner of this property as a “gift from her father.” She was occupying it in 1769. See also No. 963 for her property in Harbour Grace.
No. 689: Grandmother of Edward Russel, Bay Roberts. This property had come to Edward “by his Grandmother’s will.” Date is not given.
No. 696: Mother-in-law of Thos. Caravan, Bay Roberts. This property had come to Thomas “by his mother-in-law’s will,” and he was occupying it in 1781.
No. 697: Mother of Wm. Snow, Bay Roberts. This property came to William as a “gift from his mother.” He was occupying it in 1795.
No. 699: Mother of Wm. & Edward French, Bay Roberts. This property was “a gift from their mother” to William and Edward. They were occupying it in 1780.
No. 726: Sarah Barrett, Bread and Cheese Cove (Spaniard’s Bay). This large plantation measured 187 yards by 200 yards and had one stage, two flakes, two houses, three gardens and one meadow. It was “cut and cleared” and granted to Sarah Barrett in 1755. Eric Gosse affirms that Sarah Barrett owned “this important fishing establishment,” this “large and thriving fishing enterprise,” and that she was probably related to Abram and David Barrett and “may have held the power and influence as matriarch in this family.” Of the 38 plantations in Spaniard’s Bay, Sarah’s was designated as No. 24.
No. 728: Sisters of Thos. Smith, Bread and Cheese Cove. This property came to Thomas Smith “by deed of gift from his sisters.” Thomas was occupying it in 1797. Eric Gosse affirms that it consisted of one stage, two flakes, two houses and gardens, and was “one of the best establishments in Bishop’s Cove.” It was designated as No. 26 of the Spaniard’s Bay plantations.
No. 730: Jane Smith, Bread and Cheese Cove. This plantation consisted of more than eight acres and had been registered by Jane in 1763. Part of it had been “cut and cleared” and part had been purchased from Jno. Percey for 10 pounds. There was one stage, one flake, one house and three gardens. Eric Gosse writes: “It was considered to be a typical well-balanced fishing establishment for a family engaged in the inshore fishery. The cash returns from the fishery, combined with fresh vegetables from its gardens and meat from raising sheep and goats, ensured a simple and healthy livelihood for Jane Smith and her dependents. How this remarkable woman came to own such a well-developed fishing enterprise is unknown. She had to manage and control her rough Dorset fishing crew, supervise the household chores and the cultivation of her fields. Also she was responsible for the proper salting, drying and marketing of the all-important cod as well as the pickling of other species, such as caplin, herring and mackerel.”
No. 734: Children of Richard Gosse, Bread and Cheese Cove. This property belonged to “the children of Richard Gosse deceased,” but the language of the next sentence is curious: “Bequeathed to her husband by his father’s will.” Date is 1775. According to Eric Gosse, “These orphans were brought up by their great-uncle Robert Gosse, Sr., and his wife Catherine.”
Plantation No. 33 in Spaniard’s Bay, Catherine Gosse, Bread and Cheese Cove. Robert Gosse, Sr., died in 1794, and his widow, “the redoubtable Catherine,” took over the fishing establishment, though there is no record of this in the Plantation Book. Eric Gosse writes: “She proved herself to be a successful businesswoman and in 1804 she purchased a sizeable plantation in Carbonear from Thomas Mann for 30 pounds sterling. This property
was immediately leased to the local firm of Gosse & Chancey for 31 years at the rate of 5 pounds sterling per annum. As a widow and dowager, Catherine was the undisputed matriarch of the Gosse family of Spaniard’s Bay until her death in 1818.” She had reached the age of 92. See also No. 892.
Not in Plantation Book: Sarah (Sheppard) Gosse, Bread and Cheese Cove. Sarah’s husband Israel operated fishing plantations with his brother Moses in Bishop’s Cove, Northern Cove and Harbour Grace. Israel died in 1876, and Sarah outlived him by eight years. Eric Gosse writes: “…after which the original fishing plantations were sold and all the children of the marriage moved to Northern Cove.” It is not known to what extent Sarah was involved in the business; it is probable that she continued as overseer in the mode of other women of Spaniard’s Bay.
No. 742: Mother-in-law of Michael Power, Spoon Cove. This undescribed property was “a gift” to Michael “from his mother-inlaw.” Date is not given.
No. 745: Elizabeth Smith, Island Cove. Elizabeth Smith had owned this property but sold it to Joseph Drover for 5 pounds. Joseph was occupying it in 1776.
No. 757: Elizabeth Lynch, Island Cove. Elizabeth obtained this property by “gift from her father-in-law.” She was occupying it in 1789.
No. 768: Ann Noseworthy, Bryant’s Cove. Ann received this property by “Grant from the Governor.” She was occupying it in 1801.
No. 776: Elizabeth Higgins, Harbour Grace, South Side. This property had been “cut and cleared” and was occupied by Elizabeth in 1774.
No. 788: Susannah Taylor, Musketta, South Side. Susannah received this property because it had been “lying void.” She was occupying it in 1779.
No. 807: Susannah Heighington, Musketta, North Side. Susannah’s residence was given as Bristol, so she may have been a recent arrival, or an absentee landlady. She purchased the plantation from Samuel Pike for 150 pounds in 1803 and it was being occupied by D. Hartry and M. Kerney of Harbour Grace. These may have been her agents. See Nos. 305 and 547.
