Job Brothers & Co. Limited

Originating in Devon, Job became a prominant business family operating in St. John's and Liverpool through the 19th and 20th centuries. They were involved in importing goods, exporting fish, sealing, mining, timber and manufacturing. John Job came to Newfoundland in 1780 as an apprentice and later partner of Samuel Bulley, a merchant from Devonshire. In 1809 Bulley, Job and Company moved their business and residences to Liverpool. By 1839 other family members were involved in the company, which operated under the name of Job Brothers and Company (in St. John's) and Job Brothers in Liverpool. Shipping was the major occupation of the company, which owned a fleet of ships to transport salt, coal, and general cargo to St. John's and shipped salt codfish to the West Indies and Brazil, returning to Great Britain with sugar. They also sent vessels to the annual seal hunt. Partners in the business in 1939 were Robert Job and Thomas Bulley Job in St. John's and Samuel Job and John Job Jr. in Liverpool. Both Robert and Thomas Bulley Job became prominent in business and political life in St. John's. A succession of partnerships occurred during the next 150 years during which the company was in business. They were involved in the Labrador fishery and had plants at L'Anse au Loup, Blanc Sablon and Forteau in the first decade of the twentieth century. At the same time they also diversified into timber, mining, manufacturing and processing. In 1945 Northlantic Fisheries Ltd. under the direction of Hazen A. Russell acquired 60% of the company's shares, and was operating fish plants at Grand Bank, St. John's, Englee, St. Anthony and Bonavista. Russell left Job Brothers and took over ownership of the plants at Grand Bank and Bonavists and the remaining premises were sold off. The plant in St. John's closed in 1967. Job Brothers were involved in a number of other companies, including Standard Manufacturing, Newfoundland Marine Insurance, Colonial Cordage, Blue Peter Steamships, Blue Buoy Foods.

Source: From "The Job Family and Its Business Concerns in Newfoundland" by Randall Godden, 1974. (MHA 103-D-5-5) and the Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador.