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Saunders-Sweetman (family)
Family · 1744-

Saunders & Sweetman, an Irish-based mercantile company, was involved primarily in the Newfoundland fish trade, with headquarters in Poole, Waterford, and Placentia, Newfoundland. Like many businesses of its time, the corporate ties in the Saunders & Sweetman firm were reflected in marriages between heirs.

Saunders & Sweetman originated in a business established at Placentia, Newfoundland circa 1753 by Richard Welsh, New Ross, Ireland. William Saunders (17? -1788), a resident of Bideford, Devon, became involved with the Newfoundland trade as a clerk in the employ of Welsh. By 1744 Saunders was living in Newfoundland, where he leased pasture at Point Verde. Saunders eventually became managing agent for Welsh's firm at Placentia. Saunders also married one of Welsh's daughters.

Following the death of Welsh and his son, Saunders, as son-in-law, received a partial inheritance. By 1772, he had established his own firm, William Saunders and Co., with premises at Poole and Placentia. By 1786, William Saunders and Co. had become one of the most prosperous businesses in the Newfoundland trade and the leading mercantile house in Poole, with several ocean-going vessels, a presence in a dozen southern European fish markets, and Newfoundland premises at Great and Little Placentia, Point Verde, Paradise, and Marticott Island. Saunders also had a farm at Brule. The firm traded for provisions with Qu‚bec merchants and with New England merchants via Marmaduke Hart, St. John's.

After William Saunders' death (1788), his younger brother Thomas entered into partnership with Pierce Sweetman (fl. 1770-1841), formerly employed by William Saunders as agent at Placentia. Pierce Sweetman, a Catholic, was the son of Roger Sweetman, who had married one of Richard Welsh's three daughters. The firm became known as Saunders and Sweetman. The business expanded its connections to the markets of southern Europe, especially Bilboa and Oporto, facilitated by the close cultural and religious links between Catholic Iberia and Ireland. The company hired hundreds of men yearly from southeastern Irish ports to work in the Newfoundland fishery. Many families living in the Placentia area today attribute their presence to the firm's recruitment activities.

When Thomas Saunders died (1808), the business dissolved and the firm's holdings were advertised for sale. The Sweetmans acquired the property and continued operations on their own. By now, Pierce's brother Michael was in charge at Placentia. Pierce Sweetman settled in Waterford, but continued to direct company affairs from there. In 1813, Pierce sent his son Roger to Placentia to revitalize operations.

In the 1820s, Pierce Sweetman began outfitting vessels for the annual seal hunt, an enterprise hitherto prosecuted mostly by St. John's concerns and firms on the northeast coast in closer proximity to the seal herds. In 1841, Pierce Sweetman died and the business passed to son Roger.

Roger Sweetman continued the trade, despite increasing competition from local firms. The firm remained a major mercantile presence on the south coast and parts of the southern Avalon peninsula, although the migratory fishery was replaced by the resident fishery and few servants from Ireland were required at Placentia. The firm finally terminated operations in 1862, with the death of Roger F. Sweetman.

The Saunders and Sweetman family were an extremely successful family business, outlasting most of their English and Irish contemporaries in the trade. Their activities also illustrated a religious cooperation unusual among interest groups involved in the Newfoundland trade, as the Sweetmans were prominent Catholics and the Saunders, respected Anglicans.

St. John's Athenaeum
Corporate body · 1861-1898

The St. John's Athenaeum (1861-1898), a non-denominational library and cultural centre, was established in 1861, three of St. John's literary organizations amalgamated to form the Athenaeum Library: the St. John's Library Society (established 1820), the Young Men's Literary and Scientific Institute (established before 1848) and the Mechanic's Institute (established before 1849). The new library opened on Water Street in March 1861, with a collection of 2500 volumes, 60 newspapers and a reading room open to both men and women. The library was also a cultural center, holding weekly lectures.

In 1875, the library relocated to a new building on Duckworth Street. The building held the library collection, a reading room, and an auditorium that seated one thousand. The ceiling was painted by Alexander Pindikowsky, the Polish artist who also painted the ceiling of the Colonial Building. The Athenaeum was lost in the great fire of 1892. An effort was quickly made to re-establish the collection and a new library was opened that winter with 1000 books. However, the smaller library lacked public support, and closed permanently in 1898. St. John's was without a public library until the Gosling Memorial Library opened in 1936.

S.O. Steele & Sons Ltd.
Corporate body · 1899-1989

S.O. Steele & Sons Ltd., a Newfoundland family business, was established by Samuel Owen Steele in 1899 at 100 Water Street, St. John's. Steele emigrated from England to Newfoundland in the 1880s, and established a furniture and dry goods business in St. John's.

In 1886, Steele married Sarah Harris, niece and adopted daughter of James Hunt Martin and his wife Hannah (Tucker) Martin, both proprietors in their own right. James Martin, an English immigrant who had arrived in Newfoundland in the first half of the nineteenth century, had established a hardware store on Water Street. Hannah Martin opened a china shop circa 1848. The china shop was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1892, but Hannah rebuilt it in 1894. Their children having died young, James and Hannah adopted Sarah Harris. After Hannah died intestate in 1899, Sarah inherited the china shop, thus making way for S.O. Steele & Sons Ltd. Hannah had operated the shop as a part-time concern but S.O. Steele expanded it into a full-time business by developing a wholesale trade, importing china from Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Europe, and later, Japan. Local firms, Ayre and Knowling, provided competition in the first decade of the twentieth century.

S.O. Steele's two eldest children, Owen William and James Robert, joined the family business. When war broke out in 1914, both sons enlisted in the Royal Newfoundland Regiment. Owen Steele was killed at Beaumont Hamel, but James Robert survived, returning to resume his position in the family business. Sarah and S.O. Steele retired to Paignton, Devon, England in the early 1920s, passing the firm to sons, James Robert and Victor.

The firm survived the depression of the 1930s and, like many others, thrived during World War II, with increased business stemming from the establishment of military bases in Newfoundland and the great influx of foreign military personnel to St. John's. In the 1940s, James Harris Steele, the second son of James Robert, entered the business, to work along with his father and uncle.

By the late 1960s, however, large chain stores were supplanting outport merchants, S.O. Steele's chief wholesale customers. Despite the decline, S.O Steele & Sons Ltd. survived by developing a strong retail trade to complement the wholesale business. This shift prompted the firm to import more expensive china which was of less value to the outport market.

James Robert Steele died in 1970, and Victor retired in 1976, leaving James to operate the business alone. When James retired in 1989, Victor's widow and son decided to close the business.The building at 100 Water Street was purchased by Breakwater Books who have restored and refurbished the century- old property.

Corporate body · 1924-1965

The Newfoundland Outport Nursing and Industrial Association (NONIA) was formally established in 1924. The aims of the organization were two-fold: to provide medical and health care to families of outport (rural) communities, and to support the nurses financially through the production and sale of knitted goods and other crafts by women in the regions served.

The nursing component of NONIA commenced when the Outport Nursing Association (ONA) was formed in 1920 by a group of prominent St. John's residents including Lady Constance Maria Harris (wife of the governor) and Lady Helena Squires (wife of the prime minister). Encouraged and supported by government, the ONA recruited four trained nurses in England (with expertise in midwifery) on two-year contracts and assigned one each to the communities of Hodges Cove in Trinity Bay, Rose Blanche on the south coast, Joe Batts Arm on Fogo Island and Daniels Harbour on the Northern Peninsula. The nurse at Daniels Harbour, Myra Grimsley (later Bennett) provided medical care to inhabitants along 200 miles of coastline. Salaries of the ONA nurses were initially provided by a government grant, but the association (and the government) had hoped the program could become self-sufficient and that the regions served might raise half of the nurses' salaries. When it was discovered that most were unable to raise this amount through subscription, a new strategy was devised.

In 1922 Lady Allardyce (wife of the next governor) suggested introducing "knitting circles" to produce goods for sale as a fund raiser, a plan used in the Shetland and Orkney Islands to support the war effort. Volunteer committees were organized to produce sweaters and knitted items. Each family was expected to provide the services of a volunteer worker. Weaving was introduced in some places (e.g. Pools Cove in Fortune Bay) with the aid of the International Grenfell Association (IGA). By these efforts, the industrial component of NONIA was organized and a crafts industry encouraged among outport women.

NONIA recruited nurses, mostly British, who were well-trained in all aspects of medical care, including midwifery, and who were able to work independently of doctors and hospitals. The association supplied them with dressings and drugs and guaranteed them a salary of $900 per annum. Between 1920 and 1934, forty-five NONIA nurses were stationed in twenty-nine outports, treated over 83,000 patients and made 230,000 home visits. Many found the work in the isolated and remote places very arduous and left after one term. In 1935 the Newfoundland Commission of Government established a cottage hospital system to provide medical facilities, nursing services and midwifery training in rural areas. The NONIA nurses became the first nurses employed by the newly-formed system under the Department of Health.

By 1925 the crafts component of NONIA involved 615 workers in 35 communities. After 1935 NONIA continued as a non-profit craft manufacturing and retailing operation. Released from the responsibility of having to subsidize nurses' salaries, NONIA was now able to contribute to the economic self-sufficiency of outport women by paying them on a piecemeal basis for their work. The number of production centres increased and the quality of goods was improved. NONIA goods became well-known for their excellence. In 1956 the association moved into wholesaling. In 1958 a retail store was opened at a prime location on Water Street in St. John's which still operates. In 1965 NONIA merged with the Jubilee Guilds (another crafts organization) and assumed control of their commercial operations. The latter organization then became the Women's Institute.

Corporate body · 1896-

During the years 1875-1876, the Methodist Church sent Rev. James Pincock to the Pilley's Island Circuit to minister to the people of Pilley's Island, Robert's Arm, Port Anson, Head's Harbour, Miles Cove and Wellman's Cove. Pilley's Island first appeared on the station sheet in 1892 in connection with Little Bay Islands. This station was served by two ministers with one stationed at Pilley's Island. The first church at Pilley's Island was built in about 1896. Roberts Arm's first church was built during 1875-1876.

By 1911, the circuit name was Little Bay Islands, Long Island and Pilley's Island being served by three ministers. In 1913, Long Island and Pilley's Island were separated from Little Bay Islands and there was a minister in each of these communities. The communities were together again for a time in 1914, and by 1916, all three were separated and Pilley's Island appeared as head of a mission until 1930 ministered by J.A. Spencer. By 1931, Pilley's Island had preaching places in the following nearby communities: Head's Harbour, Mile's Cove, Roberts Arm, Wellman's Cove, and Port Anson.

Pilley's Island became affiliated with the United Church on June 10, 1925, having been a Methodist Congregation prior to that time. The pastoral charge at the time of the union included Triton, Robert's Arm, Card's Harbour, Brighton and Sunday Cove Island with a total membership of 148 families. The organizational structure of the pastoral charge is based on the Session, Stewards, Official Board model.

Pilley's Island was a thriving copper mining and fishing community but when the mine closed, and shifts of the population occurred with people moving around for employment, the spirit went out of the community and the church was almost destroyed.

From 1972-1979, Pilley's Island pastoral charge had a stationed minister, Rev. R. Kraglund, who was instrumental in fostering interest in the church. During 1978, stewardship of the pastoral charge increased by 34% over 1977 and considerable donations were made to the building fund in Pilley's Island and South Brook. The old church at Pilley's Island was renovated and a new church at South Brook was nearing completion in 1979. By 1989, Pilley's Island pastoral charge was responsible for Beaumont, Lushes Bight, Pilley's Island, Roberts Arm and South Brook.

Today the pastoral charge is made up of congregations in Beaumont, Roberts Arm and South Brook and the name has changed from Pilley's Island Pastoral Charge to the Green Bay South Pastoral Charge.

Family · [176-]-

The community of Exploits was initially settled by Europeans in the mid- to the late-eighteenth century. The settlers were attracted by a thriving fishery which they supplemented by sealing. The first census (1836) reported a resident population of 220.

In 1857 there were two merchant families operating out of Exploits: the Manuels and the Winsors. By the end of the 1880s, the Manuel family became involved with the export of Exploits fish to Portugal and Spain.

In the mid to late twentieth century, the community of Exploits has been virtually abandoned. Just two residents remain. The Manuel family has remained prominent in other areas of Newfoundland.

Corporate body · 1889-1963

In the early days of Methodism in Botwood, (which was known as Ship Cove then), Botwood was a part of the Exploits Mission, with the minister or missionary stationed at Exploits. This mission had many subdivisions over the course of time.

In 1889 the Exploits Mission was divided, and the Exploits Bay Mission was formed, with preaching appointments at Burnt Bay (Lewisporte), Indian Arm, Loon Bay, Scissors Cove, Kite Cove (Laurenceton), and Ship Cove (Botwood). The first minister under the boundary set up in 1889 was Rev. James Nurse. Rev. Frank Hollett was the first ordained minister stationed at Botwood. In 1898, this mission appears in the Minutes as Botwoodville.

Rev. C.R. Durant was appointed to the charge in 1905. It was during his pastorate that the first Methodist church was built at Botwood. The foundation for the Methodist church was laid in September 1905 and it was opened for worship on April 2, 1906. During this time, Laurenceton was added to the circuit name and it was named Botwoodville and Laurenceton pastoral charge. Northern Arm was also an appointment of this circuit. Laurenceton appears as a separate mission in 1918; It was during the pastorate of the Rev. W. Edgar Mercer from 1924, that the Methodist Church of Botwood became a part of the United Church of Canada. Shortly after the union of churches, plans were laid at Botwood for a new church with twin towers. The new structure was dedicated in 1928 while Rev. Mercer was still pastor.

For about twenty-five years after The Methodist Church in Newfoundland became part of The United Church of Canada, many of the features of Methodism continued - the prayer meeting, in some places class meeting, the annual Missionary Meeting, and in most churches, the Order of Service of the 1914 Methodist Discipline was followed. The Women's Organizations and Circuit Boards were continued for thirty-five years inmost congregations. There was a strong emphasis on Christian Education, and new organizations - Explorers, Trail Rangers, Tuxis and Newfoundland Girls in Training were formed. The Methodist Organization, The Epworth League for young adults, continued for some years, but later the name was changed to The Young People's Society.

The old official boards of the Methodist Church weren't dissolved until 1934 and new ones were appointed according to the manual of the United Church of Canada.

Corporate body · 1892-1981

Although the Shoal Harbour Mission wasn't mentioned in Minutes until 1871, the early settlers of Shoal Harbour, who came from Hants Habour on the south side of Trinity Bay, had settled there by the mid 1800's. It is believed that these people being of the Methodist faith built a little church that was dedicated to the glory of God and opened for worship on February 11, 1866. John Tilley, Moses Tilley, Aaron Tilley and David Palmer were the builders of this first little church. The mission at that time had thirty appointments.

This was their place of worship for 26 years during which time a considerable number of families moved to the area. Not long after the opening of the first church, a parsonage was built and the first residential Minister, Rev. William Swann, arrived. He was stationed at Shoal Harbour from 1871-1872 during which time he spent six months in the area with 30 appointments to visit, most of the which worship during the week night and rarely on Sunday.

As there were no roads then, or for many years after, the Missionary had many dangerous journeys. For the early years the only church in the area was at Shoal Harbour. This church was soon followed by a church at Lower Shoal Harbour (now Clarenville) and George's Brook. Because of the large area to be covered in the Shoal Harbour Pastoral Charge, Shoal Harbour, Lower Shoal Harbour and George's Brook had lay readers who helped out the Minister.

Somewhere between 1872 and 1885, the first church was turned over for re-modeling and used as a school and a new church opened for worship on June 30, 1892. A forest fire swept the area shortly after destroying many of the homes and the church and parsonage as well. All church records previous to 1892 were destroyed in the fire.

In 1874, the Shoal Harbour circuit included the whole bottom of Trinity Bay with more than twenty appointments which was supplied by two men, of whom Thomas W. Atkinson was one. During this same period, a church was completed at George's Brook, and one was made suitable for services at Lower Shoal Harbour, and several others were in course of erection. During his three pastorate, Rev. Atkinson witnessed the building of six churches and school houses and many members were added to the church.

Boundary changes in 1878, saw Shoal Harbour divided into two missions - Random North and Random South and later the former went back to the title of Shoal Harbour. Several other missions were made out of portions of the old Shoal Harbour field. The present appointments are Shoal Harbour, Clarenville, George's Brook, Broad Cove and White Rock.

On December 30th of that year a firm decision was made to build a new church and this, the third church, was dedicated on December 9, 1894. Then in summer of 1903, a forest fire again swept the area and the third church was burned down. A church was dedicated early in 1903 at White Rock and another at Broad Cove, now Harcourt, in the pastorate of James Pincock. We have no record of when the fourth church was started at Shoal Harbour but the Trustee Board Records show that the exterior of the church was completed during 1906 and on October 31, 1907, the new church was dedicated by Rev. Sydney Bennett, Minister at Britannia, acting on behalf of the President of Conference, who was unable to attend.

The cornerstone of a new church at Clarenville, formerly Lower Shoal Harbour, was laid on August 13, 1923, by H.G. Coppin, Chairman of the District. At the time of the union of the Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational churches to form the United Church of Canada in 1925, the Shoal Harbour pastoral charge had four preaching places and Rev. Isaac Davis was administering to 164 families there.

The Opening an Dedication Service for a new church at George's Brook and Milton was held on July 29, 1962 under the pastorate of Rev. Edward George Bailey. Late in 1962, the congregation of Shoal Harbour decided that the old church was inadequate for their present needs. Work began shortly afterwards on the new church and it was completed on the outside. The closing service for the old church was conducted on June 28, 1966 and then the old church was demolished. For over a year, worship was conducted in the basement of the new church while it was being finished . The dedication ceremony for the new church was conducted on September 15, 1968.

Presently the pastoral charge of Shoal Harbour administers to the following communities: Harcourt, Milton-George's Brook, Monroe, Shoal Harbour.