Torsten Anderson (Feb. 9, 1834-19-) was born in Norway. He came to Labrador in the late 1840's as an employee of the Hudson's Bay Company. Torsten's real name was Torstein Kverna. Torstein is an old Norwegian spelling and pronunciation of Torsten. He changed his surname to Anderson in Labrador because Kverna was too difficult to pronounce, and because his father's name was Anders. The name Anders had been in the family for about two hundred years when Torsten was born. Torsten Anderson was the first man to settle in Makkovik, Labrador. He married Mary Thomas in 1859 and had a family of six boys and four girls.
The Trinity Benefit Club was formed in February 1838, at a meeting held in the old Court House at Trinity, by Reverend William Bullock, incumbent of the Trinity Mission, and other members of the town. At the first meeting 76 people were enrolled in the club, officers were elected. and Rev. Bullock became the first president.
The purpose of the club was to provide relief and assistance to members and their families in case of sickness and death. The club received its present name in 1846, being previously known as The Trinity Club and the Independence Club. The club was nondenominational and was “the very essence of brotherhood”. The Club flag, which was probably designed by Rev. William Bullock, depicts the shamrock, thistle and rose joined in unity.
Membership in the club was open to male residents within a certain age range, who resided within the area from English Harbour to British Harbour. The club continues to meet twice a year on Candlemas Day and All Saint’s Day. The Trinity Benefit Club is unique to Trinity. With no outside affiliation it has maintained a healthy financial record and strong membership for over 160 years.
In 2003 the club celebrated its 165th anniversary.
Source: The Trinity Benefit Club fonds.
From 1753 onward, General Quarter Sessions were held at the court to settle civil disputes. The sessions were presided over by the Justices, who during this period, included Thomas Warden, John Garrett Blake, Samuel Harris, and Benjamin Lester. From 1766 a surrogate court was held annually to handle more serious complaints. It was presided over by Naval Officers acting as deputies of the Naval Governor and included Richard Edwards, Richard Locke and John Cartwright.
The Trinity East Co-operative Credit Society Ltd, is based on the Co-operative unions first established in England by textile workers in the 1840's, and introduced to Newfoundland by Sir Wilfred Grenfell in 1896. The Trinity East Co-operative Credit Society held its first meeting on January 10th, 1945 in the home of the Chairman, Mr. Charles Brown. The Society had a constitution and was open for membership to any member of the community of Trinity East who applied and was approved. It was started as a type of co-operative bank for use by the members of the society. Its objects and purposes were to promote in its members thriftiness, create a source of credit for its members, for productive purposes, promote membership to the regional or central co-operative organization and to preform any other acts which would help attain the above goals.
The organization had four different parts: the board of directors; the officers; the credit committee and the supervisory committee, each being made up of five, four, three and three members respectively. The board oversaw the general operation of the group and influences decisions made at monthly and annual meetings, the board of directors being elected by members. The officers hold particular tasks within the organization and they are required to preform them, the officers are elected by the board of directors. The credit committee oversaw the applications for loans and withdrawals and met at irregular time intervals, and are elected by the membership. The Supervisory committee oversaw the financial running of the organization, supervising and reporting any issues within the organization quarterly.
The Trinity East Co-operative Credit Society Ltd. is a form of credit co-operative, or credit union, that was set up by the individuals of Trinity East to provide for themselves financial services at the best possible rates.
In Newfoundland by 1950 there where 82 registered credit societies with assets over $300,000 and nearly 5,000 members. Therefore this movement was fairly strong during the period of the Trinity East Co-operative Credit Society Ltd. The smaller societies were often connected to a credit central, which was an organization which pooled the surplus funds of its member societies and made loans to individual societies.
The Trinity East Co-operative Credit Society Ltd. became a registered co-operative in 1947. The date of termination for the Trinity East Co-operative Credit Society Ltd. is unknown at this time, regular meetings and associations with the Avalon Co-operative Counsel was in existence in 1950.
The rules of the Trinity Mutual Insurance Club were adopted at a meeting of vessel owners and masters at Trinity on March 17, 1888. R. S. Bremner, merchant of Trinity was elected the first chair of the club. The club was formed to insure vessel owners against marine risk. Membership in the club was open to owners or legal representatives of British registered decked vessels who resided in the south side of Trinity Bay, from Catalina to Seal Cove. Insurance was restricted to vessels employed in the coasting trade, not including sealing or [foreign] trading vessels.
In 1901 the name changed to the Trinity Mutual Marine Insurance Club. In 1907 the rules were amended and the club was incorporated as the Trinity Mutual Marine Insurance Company Limited. The purpose of the club was to insure on the mutual principal against every description of marine risk; to establish different classes of insuring members; to acquire real property for the purpose of the company; to satisfy claims; to carry on the business of the company; to secure funds; to trade shares and securities for the company. For the purpose of registration the company was said to have 300 members.
In 1899 the club insured 224 schooners with a combined tonnage of 8459 tons, valued at 185,122 pounds. The Company reached its peak in 1909 with a high of 368 vessels insured. From that time on, membership began to decline and by 1920 there were only 88 vessels insured. In 1923 the company, having too few members to bear further losses, went into voluntary liquidation.
Source: Trinity Mutual Marine Insurance Company Limited fonds; Rupert Morris family history