Trinity House Transactions:

9 Feb 1610 -
 
Proposal made by London and Bristol merchants to the privy council, referred to Trinity House.

The petitioners, having used the fishing trade of Newfoundland, are confident that the 
country is habitable in winter because it is in latitude 47 degrees, which is further south 
than any part of England and is the same as Bordeaux. It is full of woodland and fair rivers
stocked with fish, and there are fowls and edible animals such as stags. The voyage from 
England and Ireland takes only three weeks, with reasonable winds, and the island is as near
to England as it is to Spain. They seek to establish a plantation with a few men to make 
trial thereof, especially since they would not be molested because savages have not been 
seen there. The following reasons may be considered:

(a) 200 ships with about 6,000 mariners go there each year �whereby great benefit accrueth 
    not only to many private persons, but also to the whole commonwealth by the increase of
    navigation and trade in merchandise which ships going thither to fish  and in manner   
    empty are fit to carry all matters for plantation�

(b) If a foreign prince or state took possession of the land and erected fortifications, 
    thereby debarring the use of harbours and fishing, the consequences would be very 
    serious. Indeed, the French tried to winter there in about 1580, but by lack of foresight
    they all perished �for want of necessaries for plantation�.

(c) If the plantation succeed, fishing would be secure forever, and the commodity greater 
    because of the probable increase in the number of ships engaged in the trade, since 
    planters could fish in boats in places otherwise unusable for lack of harbours.

(d) The settlers could provide supplies to the fishermen, care for the sick, and look after 
    the boats.

(e) The ground may be fit for tillage and pasturing cattle, and the woodland put to use.

(f) The settlers will learn whaling for great profit, as the Biscayans already do on nearby 
    coasts.

(g) It is hoped that the country will afford furs, �heath�, pitch, turpentine, boards made 
    from pine trees, mast and yards for small ships, soap- ashes, stags, skins, hawks, of all 
    kinds, seal skins, train oil and either copper or iron mines which in view of the woods 
    and rivers might easily be very profitable.

(h) The land lies on the direct route to Virginia and a plantation or fortification there would
    make it a service rendezvous.


Letters patent are sought for a small settlement in an area not previously occupied by 
Christians, together with rights in respect of fishing and the use of the land.



24 Feb 1610 Trinity House to the privy council

Mr John Slanye of London, Mr. John Guy of Bristol, and other merchants  brought the above 
proposal. 

The corporation considered the plan at their meeting at Ratcliffe today and concluded that 
people could live there and that a plantation would be valuable in view of the fishing trade
and for other reasons, provided that there was no interference with the freedom of fishing 
now enjoyed.


Hugh Mearit, master
William Jones
William Bygate
Robert Rickman
William Jordan
William Hare
William Sims
Nicholas Diggens
John Goodlad
William Goodlad
Robert Kitchen

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