William Bevil Thomas
Encyclopedia
William Bevil Thomas was a prominent merchant
, land developer
and sea captain
who is, with his descendants, notable in the history of that city and in the history of Newfoundland and Labrador
province
.
Thomas was from a line of merchant mariners from Devon, England and was genealogically
connected with many other prominent families in Newfoundland, England
and New England
.
Daniel Woodley Prowse
wrote:
Treworgie married a woman of Newbury, Massachusetts
in 1646 and through her Thomas may be descended from the puritan
s of Massachusetts Bay Colony
.
Thomas' shipping operations brought him along a triangular route that included Britain
, the Caribbean
and Newfoundland. In 1757, he married Elizabeth Way in Dartmouth, England. The couple's two sons, William Thomas
and Henry Phillips Thomas, were prominent men in the generation after their father. According to Prowse:
The author also mentions that William Thomas was one of the most prominent Protestant merchants who rallied for a local legislature
during the administration of Sir Thomas Cochrane
.
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
, land developer
Land development
Land development refers to altering the landscape in any number of ways such as:* changing landforms from a natural or semi-natural state for a purpose such as agriculture or housing...
and sea captain
Captain (nautical)
A sea captain is a licensed mariner in ultimate command of the vessel. The captain is responsible for its safe and efficient operation, including cargo operations, navigation, crew management and ensuring that the vessel complies with local and international laws, as well as company and flag...
who is, with his descendants, notable in the history of that city and in the history of Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
province
Provinces and territories of Canada
The provinces and territories of Canada combine to make up the world's second-largest country by area. There are ten provinces and three territories...
.
Thomas was from a line of merchant mariners from Devon, England and was genealogically
Genealogy
Genealogy is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogists use oral traditions, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigrees of its members...
connected with many other prominent families in Newfoundland, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
.
Daniel Woodley Prowse
Daniel Woodley Prowse
Daniel Woodley Prowse was a lawyer, politician, judge, historian, essayist, and office holder.Born in Port de Grave, Newfoundland , he was the fourth of the seven children of Robert Prowse and Jane Woodley...
wrote:
The family of the Thomases are probably the most ancient in this Colony; their connection can be traced back to the Shapleighs (one of whom was grandfather to John TreworgieJohn TreworgieJohn Treworgie was the last Proprietary Governor of Newfoundland. Treworgie had worked as an agent at a Kittery, Maine trading post from 1635 to 1650...
, the CromwellianOliver CromwellOliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
Governor of the Colony), thence through the Bevils to William Bevil Thomas. The Thomases carried on business at Dartmouth and St. John's in partnership with a Mr. Stokes, as Thomas & Stokes.
Treworgie married a woman of Newbury, Massachusetts
Newbury, Massachusetts
Newbury is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 6,666 at the 2010 census. Newbury includes the villages of Old Town , Plum Island and Byfield, home of The Governor's Academy , a private preparatory school.- History :Newbury Plantation was settled and incorporated...
in 1646 and through her Thomas may be descended from the puritan
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
s of Massachusetts Bay Colony
Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was an English settlement on the east coast of North America in the 17th century, in New England, situated around the present-day cities of Salem and Boston. The territory administered by the colony included much of present-day central New England, including portions...
.
Thomas' shipping operations brought him along a triangular route that included Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
and Newfoundland. In 1757, he married Elizabeth Way in Dartmouth, England. The couple's two sons, William Thomas
William Thomas (politician)
William Thomas was a merchant and politician. Thomas was elected to the House of Assembly representing the district of St...
and Henry Phillips Thomas, were prominent men in the generation after their father. According to Prowse:
...officials and merchants vied with each other in creating country residences and farms [...] finest of all, Brookfield, the property of William and Henry P. Thomas.
[...] William Thomas was foremost in every benevolent work. As a very young man he was secretary to the society for improving the condition of the poor; he was equally distinguished as a merchant and a politicianPoliticianA politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He filled all positions well, whether presiding at a religious meeting or as president of the Chamber of CommerceChamber of commerceA chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
. Through a professedly religious man, sometimes the old leaven broken out him. He was very active, and fond of directing everybody. Often, as he paced his long wharfWharfA wharf or quay is a structure on the shore of a harbor where ships may dock to load and unload cargo or passengers.Such a structure includes one or more berths , and may also include piers, warehouses, or other facilities necessary for handling the ships.A wharf commonly comprises a fixed...
, if one of his shipShipSince the end of the age of sail a ship has been any large buoyant marine vessel. Ships are generally distinguished from boats based on size and cargo or passenger capacity. Ships are used on lakes, seas, and rivers for a variety of activities, such as the transport of people or goods, fishing,...
s was beating in the NarrowsThe Narrows, St. John'sThe Narrows, the only entrance to St. John's Harbour, Newfoundland, is a narrow channel between the Southside and Signal hills. It has a least depth of 11 metres and at its narrowest point near Chain Rock is 61 metres wide....
, say his fine brigBrigA brig is a sailing vessel with two square-rigged masts. During the Age of Sail, brigs were seen as fast and manoeuvrable and were used as both naval warships and merchant vessels. They were especially popular in the 18th and early 19th centuries...
the Cynthia, Captain Goldsworth, he could be heard muttering, "LuffLuffLuff or luffing may refer to:* Luffing, when a sailing sheet is eased so far past trim that airflow over the surface is disrupted* The leading edge of a sail...
, confound you, Goldsworth, luff, you lubber!' Brookfield, the fine house at Devon Row, their Water Street premises, and the beautiful cottage at Topsail, are monuments to the large progressive ideas of the Thomases, and especially of the constructive ability of Henry Phillips Thomas.
The author also mentions that William Thomas was one of the most prominent Protestant merchants who rallied for a local legislature
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
during the administration of Sir Thomas Cochrane
Thomas John Cochrane
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Thomas John Cochrane GCB was an English naval officer and colonial governor.-Naval career:...
.