RICHARD ELLIOTT 1793 - 1871 -by Angus G Elliott


Richard Elliott

Son of John Elliott/Elizabeth Holloway of Christchurch

bap. 05 Jun 1793 Christchurch, Hants. 
d. 11 Dec 1871 Fogo, NF. 
m. c1811 
illiterate.

by Angus Gordon Elliott

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(This article is the second in a series about the Elliott clan of Fogo and Notre Dame Bay area, Newfoundland.  Richard's father John Elliott was the subject of the first article.  Richard's baptism and arrival in Newfoundland at the age of 2 are described in that article.  Richard was the second youngest of John's nine children.  
As explained in the Introduction, much of the information below comes from the Slade Ledgers.)

1809 Oct - 1810 Oct:  missing record. 
  • Dr. Keith Mathews, late of the Memorial University of St. Johns, a historian, records a Richard Elliott as a servant of one John Slade, for 2 summers and 1 winter (2S1W) ending fall of 1810, for L16/-/-, to pay off passage from England....Slade Journal. 
         Income from wages L016/00/00 

1810 Oct - 1811 Oct: missing record. 
  • Richard paid Benjamin Gates L01/05/00, per Keith Matthews. Ben Gates has been around since 1786, selling bread of some sort.
1811 Oct - 1812 Oct: First record of Richard Elliott on Slade Ledgers. Two curious items were purchased: one on Nov 7th of 1/2 quire of wg paper, and later 1813 April 8th, one paper ink powder. Items hardly required by people who are illiterate. 
  • Presence of a family of sort, are indicated by 6 earthen plates, 1 pr woman's shoes, 100 needles? etc. Seems like an excessive amount of needles, but not an unusual purchase on a Slade Ledger. Richard buys shirts and shoes for himself as well, and he buys owl blades, which says something of his deportment. Also 1 doz pipes, for his pleasure. A little rum is bought here and there, but very little. 
  • Richard pays John Warrich's account L01/05/00. 
  • Richard pays George Bank's account L00/17/00. 
           Income from wages      L020/00/00 
           from George Banks       L000/10/00
                                    total        L020/10/00
           Expenses                         L020/13/08
                                  profit        L000/03/08


1812 Oct - 1813 Oct:   Purchases for this year include 4 cups and saucers, and ink powder. A little rum and pipes, otherwise a very quiet year. Yet Richard and family were there all year. 
  • Here Richard seems to have made some kind of deal with Slade. For his expenses for 1812/13 is carried forward into next year, and again in 1814, in fact for 3 years he would receive no cash, but is covered by Slade & Co. Slade marks the ledger here with the word Viz'l, which according to Webster the word is vizirial, and means "bearer of burdens". Could mean burdened with debt, or sorrow. 
          Income from wages   L010/00/00.carried 
          Expenses                    L012/12/07.carried 
  • Here I feel it is necessary to relate a story that is more fact than fiction. The story comes to me from a Danny Roberts, a fellow researcher of the Elliott family. A certain Richard Elliott and Susannah Ad(d)ey arrived at Greenspond, BB., around 1810, supposedly just after the birth of their sons Richard 1808 and John 1810 at Corfe Castle, Dorset. This to add to the previous daughter in 1801 at Christchurch named Susanna. On arriving at Greenspond, trouble developed between Richard and Susannah and they separated. She remarried a John Stroud, and they subsequently adopted the children who go by the name of Elliott Stroud. John Elliott Stroud died young at Greenspond of drowning. Richard after the divorce, disappeared and it is believed to be the Richard that now appears on the Slade Ledgers at Fogo. Greenspond records support this somewhat, but does nothing to connect the two Richards. 
  • I will say something in support of this theory still. The Richard that I have associated with was the son of John born 1793, and does not fit the scenario because of age. Weak as it may seem this Richard and Susannah Elliott of Christchurch does. It is assumed to be the Richard Elliott born 1787 at Portsmouth, St Thomas church, to Richard and Eliz. I am still trying to verify this. 
  • Still Richard Elliott’s MI at Fogo gives his age as 79 years when he died in 1871, so the birth date of 1793, does fit. 
1813 Oct - 1814 Oct:  A balance of L12/12/07 is carried over from previous year. 
  • Richard receives a little cash in advance of 20 shillings on Oct 25th. Of significance amongst his purchases are 1 pr small shoes. He also buys 5 yds of rand canvas. why? Sails? 
          Income from wages   L016/00/00 carried
          Expenses                    L028/14/07 carried

1814 Oct - 1815 Oct: This time a balance of L28/14/07 is carried forward; which Richard continues to add to in spite of not having received any wage since Oct 1812. 
  • Richard pays John Warrick L01/10/00. 
  • Richard pays Rich Seller L03/00/00. 
  • Richard pays James Street L00/09/00. 
  • Some purchases are: 6 yds of printed cotton, 1/2 lbs of shoe thread, 1/2 lb of bee's wax, and 1 lb of 7oz leather. He must be doing some shoe repairs. 
  • Here we see the first `Sett of Exchange' #19 for L17/00/00 on Slade & Co. that is so common on all the other accounts. This must be something like a promissory loan. Is it possible Slade the merchant is now in the business of banking? 
          Income from wages          L024/00/00.
          Carried:
              past wages 1813             L010/00/00
              past wages 1814             L016/00/00
         18 lbs tea &
         18 gals molasses                 L009/18/00 
                                  total            L059/18/00
         Expenses                             L042/09/00
         Set of Exchange #19          L017/00/00
         paid James Street               L000/09/00
                                  total             L059/18/00 
  • Now at last, Richard receives income for 3 years of L10/00/00, L16/00/00, and L24/00/00. Plus we see L09/18/00 of Slade for the delivery of 18lbs of tea, and 18gals of molasses. A total wage of L59/18/00, which is exactly his 3-year expense. However, we must not forget the Sett of Exchange on Slade for L17, in Richard's favor. Why? 
  • It is worthy of noting here that Richard is assessed 2 shillings in Oct 1815 for St. John’s hospital. This is to pay for the building of a new Hospital at St, John’s, which opened Jun 1814. And each fisherman and servant alike would be assessed so each year, until Oct 1920. 
1815 Oct - 1816 Oct:  too bad to copy.

1816 Oct - 1817 Oct:  First we note here as in other accounts, Slade has a new clerk. Richard is free of debt, and his wages have increased from L10 in 1813 to L35 in 1817. 
  • Something strange is happening in Richard's life. He is consuming much more alcohol (rum), and this would continue for a number of years. The rum seems to be the prominent item on his list of procurement. 
  • Richard has a Watch Repaired on July 3rd, 1817 at a cost of L00/14/06.  This against an annual income of L35 is a considerable sum (Comparable to $1000.00 in 1992). I can only imagine the importance of a watch in 1817, in fact it may have been the only one in Fogo, Newfoundland at that time. But still an extravagant move, and Richard would repair this same watch twice more in the future at similar costs. 
  • Two more `Sett of Exchanges': one for L04/14/06 on Slade & Cox, and a second for L19/00/00 on Slade & Cox. (Cox being Slade’s new partner). 
  • Richard is paid L35/00/00 here, and with the delivery of 5lbs of tea, and 8gals of molasses for L03/13/00, and expenses of L39/01/06 Richard would receive L00/07/04 in cash. 
  • Where is Richard getting the Tea and Molasses he is selling Slade & Cox? Strange that Richard purchases 1 gal of Molasses at 9 different times from Slade & Cox throughout the year, is he just sitting on it? 
          Bal due Richard           L00/15/10
          Income from wages    L35/00/00
          8 gal molasses &
          5 lbs tea                        L03/13/00
                                  total       L39/08/10
          Expenses                       L15/07/00
          Sett of Exchange #9   L04/14/06
          Sett of Exchange #10  L19/00/00
                                 total        L39/01/06
                               profit        L00/07/04


1817 Oct - 1818 Oct: Richard still hitting the booze, even to the point of missing work at times and there is an entry in the ledger of `neglect of duty'. This indicates that Richard is employed daily by Slade. There is no evidence of a family. 
  • Richard pays Thomas Stacey L00/02/06. 
  • Richard pays Benjamin Osmond L00/10/00. 
  • In fact aside from the rum, wine, and tobacco, there appears to be very little purchases throughout the year. Richard sure has sunk into deep despair. 
  • Still on the register, dispersed throughout the year are 7 purchases of 1 gal of molasses, and 3 1/2 lbs of tea. I'm not surprised that in Oct Slade sees reason to credit his account with the same. Why? Why? 
  • Just as mysteriously, Richard receives L35/00/00 as wages for a year I'm certain he could not have drawn a sober breath. His purchase of liquor for the year were 46 qts of rum, and 9 qts of wine. Not exactly social drinking. With the balance due Richard from the previous year of L00/07/04, and repayment of molasses and tea of L02/19/06. He received payment from James Joliffe of L05/00/00, and from George Humpton L01/06/00. He realized a total income of L44/12/10. His expenses, or I should say his liquor bill came to L15/14/02, leaving him L28/18/07. This is the best year Richard has had financially. But the worst spiritually. My heart goes out to him. 
          Bal due Richard               L00/07/10
          Income from wages        L35/00/00
          from James Joliffe sr       L05/00/00
          from George Humpton   L01/06/00
          7 gal molasses &
          3 1/2 lb tea                       L 02/19/06
                                       total      L44/12/10
          Expenses                          L15/14/02
                                     profit      L28/18/07 
  • With his new found wealth, Richard disappears from Nov 13th to Apr 16th 1819, according to the ledgers. A record in the files of  Dr. Keith Mathews shows a Richard Elliott returning(?) from Poole, England Apr 19th 1819, on ship "Love and Unity" per Slade ledgers. To continue his dealings with the Slade ledgers on Apr 16 1819, with a cash advance of L05/00/00 on Slade.  

Notre Dame Bay ~ Fogo District

Fogo - Arrivals & Passengers, 1817 - 1831

Ships owned by John Slade of Poole
LOVE & UNITY
Sailed from Poole Quay 19th April 1819, and over the bar. 
Arrived 29th January 1820

(John) Hare (Captain)
Thomas Dawson             Richard Woodward
William Orchard                Robert Snook 
Richard Moore                   Henry Trinkol
Richard Elliott                 George Kitcatt
Charles Vivian                   James Elford 
Robert Samson                 Morgan Francis
Thomas Torraville              Joseph Vick      
R. Gales                              Thomas Gilbert
W. Gales, Younger

1818 Oct - 1819 Oct:  First Richard is missing from Oct 1818 to Apr 16 1819.  Then begins with a cash advance of L05/00/00 on Slade. He appears to be returning from England, at this time. 
  • Purchases on his account for the remainder of the year, suggest he has not lost his desire for rum. It tells us little else. 
         Income from wages     L00/00/00
         Expenses                       L07/03/10
                                profit     -L07/03/10


1819 Oct - 1820 Oct:  Richard starts the year owing Slade & Cox L07/03/10, although he has moneys owed him by Slade & Cox for wages. The ledgers state `By wages for 2 summers & 1 winter ending 20th Oct 1820', and suggest that he is paying off passage to Newfoundland, and he did indeed just arrive. This also smacks of servitude, but I would bet it is the same Richard of 1809. 
  • On October 28 1819, Richard pays Elizabeth Randle L00/15/00. But more interesting here Richard`s life takes a change for the better. He cuts down on his drinking. He settles down to repairing his own shoes (1 cobblers hammer), buying ribbons and cloth, and generally things that a family man would buy. On April 28th 1820 he buys 1 yd. of calico from Randle, there's that name again. Now I don’t want to make too much of this coincidence, but I will. For a start in 1821, a baptism of a Mary dau of Richard and Elizabeth Elliott of Fogo, planter occurred. Secondly the name Randle would pop up again in a most conspicuous way, in the record of credit of L14/17/10 to Richards account via the account of Randle & Elliott. This could be construed as the employee or partner marrying the daughter. 
  • On Aug 9th 1820 Richard shipped a box to England, via Slade & Cox for L00/03/00. Insignificant. And then Nov 3rd he purchased a `Sett of Exchange' # 32 on Slade & Cox for L26/00/00. And incidentally he appears to be outfitting a boat (ship) for fishing in 1823, and in fact this sett of exchange would be followed by two others. A large sum of money for the purchase of a large item or favor on Slade. I would ascertain that a similar settlement of Exchange would be present on the account of Randle. I wish I had more to go on. 
  • As I said previously his wages for the past winter and 2 summers till 20 Oct 1820, was L45/00/00. Again there is a refund on the purchases of 5 lbs of tea and 8 gals of molasses, and Richard cleared his bill of L47/00/00, and had L00/17/09 left for mad money. But don’t forget the settlement of Exchange. 
          Income from wages          L45/00/00
         8 gal molasses 5 lb tea      L02/17/00
                                      total        L47/17/00
         Expenses for 2S1W            L20/19/03
         Set of Exchange #32         L26/00/00
                                      total        L46/19/03
                                    profit        L00/17/09


1820 Oct - 1821 Oct: Richard still likes his Rum and wine, and buys more than his share this year. Other purchases on the ledger include 6 yards of black cotton and 2 yards of ribbon July 10th? then on Oct. 24th he paid the parson L01/01/00 for services. 
  • A rare document compiled in 1823 by Rev. T. Laugharne, concerning 19 pages of baptisms for the Fogo Twillingate area from 1816 - 23 showed a baptism of a Mary dau of Richard and Elizabeth Elliott of Fogo date 23 Oct. 1821.There can be no clearer evidence here that one record substantiates the other. Richard and Elizabeth have a daughter Mary, baptized here by Rev. T. Laugharne. I believe that Nov 1820 is a good time for the birth, due to a purchase of 2 yds. of Swanskin on Nov. 23. This is not conclusive, but wouldn't it be handy if every purchase of Swanskin meant a birth? 
  • Edmund Elliott and Elizabeth of Change Islands had 5 girls and 1 boy baptized at once, 28 August, yet Change Islands is only 20 miles away from Fogo by boat. Reputation has it that Rev. Laugharne was not diligent in visiting his parishes, in fact was negligent. And because of absenteeism, there was often a need for multiply baptisms. But where was John Leigh who was supposed to be covering Twillingate and Fogo at this time 1817 - 18, before his move to Harbour Grace. 
         Bal due Richard             L00/17/09
         Income from wages      L35/00/00
         from Wm Orchard        L00/10/06
         from Charles Matton    L01/00/00
         tea & molasses               L03/02/00
                                   total       L40/10/03
         Expenses                         L14/03/03
         paid James Meechan     L00/07/00
         Sett of Exchange #52    L10/00/00
                                  total         L24/10/03
                                 profit        L16/00/00 
  • I don't want to overlook the presence of a Sett of Exchange #52 here on Slade & Co. in Richard's favor for L10/00/00. 
  • Richard appears to have established a good life for himself in a very short time. He would have to clean-up his act a little to maintain that standard. And does so in the near future, as we will see. But first he must take a leave of absence again from 11 Nov 1821 to 1 Nov 1822, why is still a mystery. 
1821 Oct - 1822 Oct:  missing records, also for Edmund of Change Islands.

1822 Oct - 1823 Oct:  From the purchases early in this year, Richard appears to be a Cooper, such as 2 red shirts, 1 cooper axe, 1 drawing knife, etc. He also appears to be paid extra for `days work', indicating contract work. And there was purchases of wire hoops at different intervals later. 
  • In this year Richard also sees it worthwhile to get his Watch repairs again for the second time, for the sum of L00/12/00. 
  • He is still fishing however, the ledger list many purchases for outfitting a boat for same. Such as a herring net 8 sco. & 30 rods at a cost of L03/15/00, hake hooks and shore lines, and also squid hooks. He buys a Grapnell 32 lbs used to anchor a boat, and of no small size. 
  • Could the Sett of exchanges have been to procure a boat? 
  • In the family way a purchase of 1 pr sm shoes in July is possibly for Mary, now walking. (assuming Nov. 1820 as birth date). In Oct a pr boy's shoes was bought. The presence of a son tells me the John of Fogo (who would appear on Slade’s ledgers in 1831) could be one and same. 
  • I suspect this boy to be the son of a previous wife, for two reasons. First if Richard married Elizabeth Randle in 1819, she could not be the mother, too young. A monument in the Anglican Cem at Fogo states Elizabeth died 31 Jan 1868, age 69, so birth would be in 1799. Secondly, Richard appeared to have a wife in 1811, and a child in 1813. He bought a pr sm shoes in Dec. 1813. Curiously enough 1 yd. of Swanskin was purchased on 6th Jul 1812. There is little evidence of a family after that, until 1819 when I suspect Richard married again. For the years 1813, 14, 15 Richard is `Visierial', which means `bearer of burdens' (per Webster). Also from 1812-16 each year in October Richard is assessed L00/05/00 for `Doctors Box'. A total of L00/25/00, and this over and above his payment for hospital L00/02/06.Then Richard fell apart, drinking excessively. The only conclusion I can come to is Richard was indeed married in 1811. He did have a child (son John?) and his wife died as a result of the birth? It appears she would suffer for five years before dying, sending Richard into severe grief which lasted until his trip to England. When he returned he paid Elizabeth for the care of his child, and shortly after married her. If this is all speculation, this is however pure speculation. However, this fee 'Hospital Boxes' could be an assessment all fishermen are to pay towards the building of the New Hospital in St. John’s, Nfld, which opened June 1814. And indeed Oct 1815 is the first year Richard was assessed this 2/0. 
  • The baptism of a Margaret to Richard and Elizabeth of Fogo, on 24 Jun 1823, is also recorded on the Laugharne document. Which means that she was born after 1821, or shortly before Mary was baptized or she would have been included. This indicates a missionary was not present for two visits, or for 3 years 1819 - 1823. It is interesting that Richard did not use his account here to pay the parson for the service. Could this mean that he had cash on hand. His earnings were good, but they were given as credit by Slade & Cox. This is not unusual because lots of credit was required to outfit a boat for the fishery. 
  • This is the first year that he outfits a boat for the fishery and seems to have done very well. If Randle is a partner, it appears that he is the lesser as we will see in the following year. 
          Bal due Richard             L16/11/11
          Income                           L60/17/11
                                   total       L77/09/10
          Expenses                        L43/09/10
          Set of Exchange #64    L08/00/00
                                   total        L51/09/10
                                  profit       L26/00/00 
  • The Bal owed Richard of L16/00/00, suggests that Richard was available and was employed by Slade & Cox in 1821/1822. So what has happened to the records are also a mystery. 
1823 Oct - 1824 Oct:  missing records, also for Edmund of Change Islands. 

1824 Oct - 1825 Oct:  missing records, also for Edmund of Change islands.

1825 Oct - 1826 Oct: Richard starts the year with a visit to Dr. Power for L--/07/06, on Nov 10th. He purchases 1 yd of swanskin again here Feb. 2nd.1 cooper axe, and then on Sept. 9th, 1 pr sm shoes. Surprised? 1 cobbler’s pincers. Gun, and powder & shot. 
  • Richard pays John Green L00/06/00. 
  • Richard sends freight on 16 Dec to Poole.
  • Richard sends freight on 12 June.
           Bal due him 1824/25       L28/18/01  (why?)
           John Muggridge  pays    L00/07/00
           Joseph Oake sr. pays       L00/07/00
           William Richards pays    L01/00/00
           George Ouerr pays          L00/05/00
           Randle & Elliott pays       L14/17/10
           Fish                                    L02/17/09
                                    Total         L48/12/09
          Expenses                            L08/00/01
          Set of Exchange #18         L10/00/00
                                     Total         L18/00/01
                                     Profit        L30/12/08 clear
  • Realizing L14/17/10, from his partnership with Randle means this to be his only income. Richard's account showed little of the expenses incurred in outfitting a boat this year so either of the accounts Randle/Randle & Elliott, must have done so. 
  • In D' Alberti's report on the fishery for this area he records a William Randle in 1803. Could be one and same. 
  • On April 5th Richard purchased 1 yard of L.L. canvas, this may mean long liner canvas. If so then could they be using a long liner as a boat? 
1826 Oct - 1827 Oct:   In this year Richard is busy outfitting a boat for the fishery again, at considerable expense. The items purchased are much the same, except the usual qt of rum is replaced with gin which I find out later is because of the shortage of rum rather than a change of taste.
  • Richard pays George Ouerr L01/05/09.
          Bal due from 1826/27            L30/12/09 why ?
          Proceeds of seal hunt            L01/02/11
          Proceeds of fishery                L48/10/11
                                 Total                  L88/05/08
                                 Expenses          L54/09/07
                                 Profit                 L33/16/01 clear
         No settlements and no drafts.

1827 Oct - 1828 Oct: On Apr 4th Richard buys 12 bundles of hoops. On April 28th 1 pr small shoes. And on June 18th Repair of Watch for L00/05/06 again for third time.1 pr boy’s shoes.1 complete set of 'Such' sails for L09/00/00 on Oct 28.
  • Richard pays Henry Symes L00/15/00.
          Bal due from 1826/27     L33/16/01 why ?
          Proceeds of fishery         L54/04/10
                                 Total           L88/01/00
          Expenses                          L62/01/03
          Slade draft #42               L05/00/00
                                  Total          L67/01/03
                                 profit          L21/19/09 clear
  • I think merchant is taking advantage of Richard. He certainly doesn’t believe in paying interest.
1828 Oct - 1829 Oct:  Among the purchases of this year is found 1 pr sm shoes on Mar 7th. Would love to know how long a pair small shoes last. On Jul 24th sent freight to Poole via "Superb", Thomas Slade ship.
  • Richard pays Thomas Brown L04/00/00.
  • Richard pays Thomas Zebrocoa L04/00/00
         Bal due for 1827/28       L16/19/09 why ?
         from James Taylor         L01/00/00
         proceeds from fishery  L52/12/09
                                    total     L69/12/06
         Expenses                        L59/17/10
                                  profit     L09/14/08 clear  (no settlements or drafts)

1829 Oct - 1830 Oct: missing records, also for Edmund of Change Islands.

1830 Oct - 1831 Oct: Richard buys pitch and varnish in May. For ship or home? a boats grudgeon and handsaw, with handsaw files.1 pr woman`s shoes and 1 pr woman`s hose. To name a few items.
  • Part of the record (folio 290) (Aug -Nov) missing. Unable to figure expenses.
  • He seems to have an employee, one Mr. Breen who (as is customary) is allows to purchase on his (Richards) account.
         Richard pays Thomas Dawson     L00/17/00
         Bal due for 1829/30                       L11/10/07 why ?
         proceeds from fishery                   L50/19/07
         proceeds from seal (inshore)        L16/09/00
         23 days work (2 shillings)               L02/06/00
                                              total             L81/05/02
         Expenses                                          L62/07/04
         Expenses not recorded                  L14/09/11
                                             total              L76/17/03
                                            profit             L04/07/11 clear (no settlements or drafts)

1831 Oct - 1832 Oct: Again 1 pr small shoes on Jan 21st, and 1 pr child's hose. He Repaired his Watch for L00/15/00 on July 20th, for the fourth time,1 bundle of Hoops.
  • Something new is happening here. Richard is employing John Elliott (son?) at his side, and at the end of the year he is shown sharing the catch with him.
         Richard pays John Elliott    L39/15/00
         Bal due for 1830/31              L004/07/11
         proceeds from fish               L102/18/11
         from George Pelly                L000/13/00
                                     total            L107/19/10
         Expenses                                L106/04/06
                                    Profit           L001/15/04 wow !
  • But if it’s any consolation, he did pay John for his share of the catch in his expenses, for L39/15/00.
1832 Oct - 1833 Oct: On Nov 20th Richard pays John Randle's account L03/00/00. Has Richard bought out Randle`s share of the business? He is now sharing the catch with his son John, and rightfully so. Randle is not mentioned again in the records.
  • From his account Richard is outfitting a boat though. He purchases 1/2 a net of 8 sco. & 40 rods on June 27th, and a check of John's account showed he paid for the other half. That would suggest a fifty-fifty partnership. And it does look like Randle (1798 - 1862) has retired.
  • Richard still as a family, as we see him buying a pr child's shoes on Jul 4th.
          Richard pays John Elliott
                            as part of catch     L27/18/04
          Bal due Richard                       L01/15/04
          Income from fishery               L75/17/05
          from Silvester Breen               L03/14/00
          from George Pelley                 L00/12/00
                                             total       L81/18/09
          Expenses                                  L64/00/05
          Share to John Elliott              L27/18/04
                                             total       L81/18/09
                                            profit      L00/00/00
  • At this stage Richard is gaining little from his venture, but is looking after his son. Expenses are kept low, but the proceeds from the fishery is also low.
1833 Oct - 1834 Oct: missing record.

1834Oct/1835Oct: There is a new clerk recording for Slade.
  • There are no purchases on Richard's or John's accounts between Oct 23rd and June 5th. This usually means that the family is also away. The winters are very severe on the Island of Fogo, and if I had an opportunity to live in the interior of Newfoundland as an alternative I would certainly take it. This would also explain the load of timber delivered to Slade in June. And if so, John was no stranger to the Notre Dame Bay, even long before he and his family move there in 1889.
  • Richard is seen buying 1/2 of a herring net, on 23 June. No one buys 1/2 a net so he most likely has a partner. And the other half is recorded as a purchase on John Elliott's account. It is good to see Richard sharing the expenses as well with his son. This is a 20 rod Herring net, not the same as the other net purchased in 1832.
  • There is lots of other evidence on record suggesting that Richard and son John are outfitting for another season of fishing & sealing, although fishing is by far the predominant industry.
  • One significant purchase on his account is that of a pr boy's shoes. So Richard still has a family, even though John is obviously independent.
         Richard pays John Elliott  
                as his share of the catch.      L15/13/03
         Richard pays Henry Miller          L00/03/00.
         Income from sealing                    L05/13/00
         Income from fishing                    L47/13/04
         Income from Timber                   L03/04/09 *
                                              total          L56/11/02
         Expenses                                       L40/17/11
         Share to John Elliott                   L15/13/03
                                              total          L56/11/02
                                             profit         L00/00/00
  • Gee, expenses equal income, isn't that some coincidence.
  • * The Timber here is 405 feet of 2 in spruce, delivered to Slade & Cox in June. Richard and John could have been up the Bay of Exploits cutting timber. Considering the shortage of timber on the Island of Fogo it’s not surprising. The fact that it is recorded as 2 in spruce, may suggest it is pre-cut wood. Sawmills were very scarce on the Island of Newfoundland at this time. In fact the first recorded operation in Newfoundland was at Botwood around 1900. However, the likelihood of there being some sort of operation (small though it be) cannot be ruled out. And of course there is `Pit` sawing.
  • I think Richard and son John and families are wintering in the hinterland, up the Notre Dame Bay. And a good possibility it is the Exploits Bay, and maybe even at Burnt Arm. Where it is well known to have large tracts of good timber. He is considered to be squatting, and Richard would not settle, but his son will in 1885.
1835 Oct - 1836 Oct: missing records.

1836 Oct - 1837 Oct: Another new clerk.
  • 1836 Census Richard and Elizabeth at Fogo Harbor. Have 1 house, 2 males under 14 Abel and John 1 male 14
  • Richard has no purchases on record between Oct 29 and May 15 again so I imagine he is in the Notre Dame Bay again for the winter. Also John and family is missing from Aug 1835 to Jun 1838.
  • All purchases are mainly for subsistence. There is no mention of John here and expenses are low.
          Richard pays David Cundin    L02/02/00.
          Income from fishing                L65/17/05
                                                 total    L65/17/05
          Expenses                                   L65/14/05
                                               profit    L00/03/00
  • Speculation Although the record does not show any timber being delivered to Slade & Cox. It is still very likely that Richard joined John in the interior for the winter months, and John stayed on there from August 1835. Is it possible that this is the first move to Burnt Arm? I doubt it. The births of all children were shown in Fogo. Still John is in Fogo only long enough to deliver fish, and pickup supplies. It is possible that they would need the service of Slade & Cox, even if they are residing at Burnt Arm. WOW!
1837 Oct - 1838 Oct: This is the final record of Richard Elliott on Slade & Cox. It is where Slade & Cox sold out to Earle & Sons, and those ledgers are possibly in the archives at this time. However I have not had time to look at them.
  • Richard and family again make no purchases for Oct 23 till May 1, so it is assumed they are wintering inland. It is interesting to note however that before each of these winter excursions, many articles are bought in large amounts such as 6 lbs of Coffee, 47 1/2 lbs butter, 6lbs of tobacco, 3 1/2 lbs of lard, etc.
  • In Oct 1838 Richard buys 1 pr boys shoes. He pays the Fogo Church L03/10/00, which is mighty generous of him. This appears to be an assessment on each citizen of Fogo, to pay for new Church of England church.
          Richard pays Henry Simms   L01/07/00
          Richard pays John Elliott       L02/08/07
          Income from fishing               L96/10/01
                                              total      L96/10/01
          Expense                                   L94/06/04
  • Account seems to be carried over to portfolio 168, and it’s fate is unknown at this time.
  • The Richard of Fogo, born 1793 at Christchurch, Hampshire (Hants) would now be 45 years of age, and hardly put out to pasture. On his last ledger with Slade & Cox, he purchased 1 pr Boys shoes which indicates he still has children living at home. One boy anyway. What is known of his family is partly fact and partly assumed. John, son and partner is undoubtedly family, and most likely of a previous marriage. It is assumed this previous marriage ended in her death. And Richard remarried in 1819. A rare document compiled in 1823, concerning the baptisms of various children and adults in the area by Rev. T Laugharne, and witnessed by Mr. A. Tucker, attributes two children to Richard and Elizabeth Elliott of Fogo, and they are Mary and Margaret. So we now have three children. A calculated guess puts Mary’s birth in 1820 which would make her 18 years of age, and Margaret’s birth in 1822, making her 16 years and also a young woman. Still there is the presence of a boy haunting the records for the past years, so that would be four children.
  • From marriages that occurred at Fogo in 1840 to 1850 etc., we would guess that Richard had the following children:
    • John b 1829 m Esther Russell
    • Mary b 1820 m ?
    • Margaret b 1822 m Charles Torraville 1844
  • Richard would die 11 Dec 1871, but in 1852 he paid dues to the Church of England, a fact that is recorded in the archives at London, England. And then in 1853 he did not. However, this is coincident with Edmunds of Change Islands lack of contribution of years 1850 -1853. At this point I am in doubt as to whether or not I checked other years than 1850 - 1850. But at that time Change Islands had its own church, and Edmund would very likely be paying there. Also Edmund was not assessed for a new church in 1838, as was Richard and John. (Edmund was 75 years of age here).
1852 Anyway Richard was alive and kicking in 1852, at 59 years of age. While he is not dealing with Slade & Cox, still he would be dealing with some merchant, possibly William Cox & Sons. There would be merchant ledgers somewhere covering 1838 on. Also there is 120 vol of Earle papers that I have not looked at, at the Gosling Library, St. Johns, NFLD.

1871 - On 11 Dec 1871 at Fogo, Newfoundland, Richard dies aged 79 years (recorded on his MI. at St Andrews Church, Fogo).


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