Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
General material designation
- Textual record
Parallel title
Other title information
Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Supplied title based on the contents of the fonds
Level of description
Reference code
Edition area
Edition statement
Edition statement of responsibility
Class of material specific details area
Statement of scale (cartographic)
Statement of projection (cartographic)
Statement of coordinates (cartographic)
Statement of scale (architectural)
Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
-
Photocopied [196?] (originally created 1770-1918) (Creation)
- Creator
- John Munn and Co.
Physical description area
Physical description
45 cm of textual records
Publisher's series area
Title proper of publisher's series
Parallel titles of publisher's series
Other title information of publisher's series
Statement of responsibility relating to publisher's series
Numbering within publisher's series
Note on publisher's series
Archival description area
Name of creator
Administrative history
John Munn and Co. was involved in the Newfoundland fishery supply trade, especially the inshore and Labrador fisheries, and was one of the most successful firms in Conception Bay in the nineteenth century. The sealing industry was equally important in the firm's operations, and the company was one of the first in Conception Bay to invest in steam vessels for this purpose. During the 1870s and 1880s, the firm was the leading supplier of sealing vessels in Conception Bay and was able to compete with Water Street mercantile houses of St. John's.
The firm was established in 1833 as Punton & Munn by Captain William Punton (d.1845) and John Munn (1807-1879), a native of Port Bannatyne, Scotland. The principals had been in the employ of Baine, Johnston & Co. at St. John's. When Punton died, John Munn became sole principal of the company. Munn continued with the assistance of his relatives: son William Punton Munn, and nephews Archibald Munn (1814-1877) and Robert Stewart Munn (1829-1894). The firm flourished and, in 1872, became John Munn and Co., with John remaining as principal and William P. Munn and Robert S. Munn admitted as partners. When Thomas Ridley and Sons, a prominent competitor in Conception Bay, was declared insolvent in 1873, John Munn and Co. purchased that firm's Harbour Grace premises and several of its fishing rooms in Labrador. It also assumed the role of supplier for many of Ridley's former clients. In 1873, John Munn (or John Munn and Co.) also acquired the Harbour Grace Standard, the local newspaper, with nephew Archibald Munn as the publisher.
John Munn had married Naomi Munden of Brigus in 1838 and the couple had three daughters, Isabella, Elizabeth Naomi, and Susannah in addition to their son, William. He was elected to the Newfoundland House of Assembly as the Conservative member for Conception Bay in 1842 and retained his seat until 1848. Before the granting of Responsible Government in 1855, he was appointed to the Legislative Council. He represented Harbour Grace in 1869 and held his seat until 1873, when he retired from politics. In addition to his business interests, he was a strict follower and member of the Presbyterian church. He was made a justice of the peace for Harbour Grace in 1843. John Munn retired to England in 1878, and died 28 September 1879 at Southport, Lancashire, near Liverpool.
In 1882, William P. Munn died, leaving his cousin Robert Munn as the sole principal of the firm. The firm encountered financial difficulties during the 1890s, culminating in the bank crash of 1894. Both Robert Munn and John Munn had been directors of the Union Bank, and the firm had financed much of its operation through that institution. The collapse of the Union Bank plunged the firm into bankruptcy from which it did not recover.
Custodial history
The originals of these documents were in the custody of Mack Lee, Harbour Grace. They are believed to have been found in the Customs House at Harbour Grace.
Scope and content
This fonds consists of photocopies of separate items which were kept at the premises of John Munn and Co. in Harbour Grace. It includes seal landing books, 1849-95, Harbour Grace Customs records, 1770-1918, and minutes of the Conception Bay Mutual Marine Insurance Club, 1850-87.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Arrangement
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
No restrictions
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Copyright is held by the Conception Bay Museum.
Finding aids
Finding aid is available.
Associated materials
Accruals
Alternative identifier(s)
Standard number
Standard number
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Control area
Description record identifier
Institution identifier
Rules or conventions
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation, revision and deletion
Created - May 15, 2013
Language of description
- English