Frederick Bancroft
Encyclopedia
James Frederick Bancroft (August 5, 1855 – September 3, 1929) was a Canadian
educator.
Educated in Chester
, Frederick Bancroft moved to Newfoundland, where in 1877 he began teaching in the Methodist
school at Little Bay Islands
. He subsequently taught in Church of England
schools at Pass Island
, English Harbour
, Chance Cove
, and Bay Roberts
. By 1890 he held a first class teaching certificate
, but his certificate was downgraded to second class a year later. He soon helped found the Newfoundland Teachers' Association and quickly became president.
About a year after founding the NTA, Bancroft quit the teaching profession. In December 1891 he left to Bonne Bay
, where he obtained a position as sub-collector of customs with a much higher salary as when he was a teacher.
n 1904 Bancroft had been transferred to the customs service at St. John's
, where he worked until 1912. He subsequently worked as a land surveyor
and, after World War I
broke out, as a recruitment officer. Eventually, he withdrew to his estate at Topsail
where he engaged in experimental farming until his death in 1929 at the General Hospital in St. John's. He is buried in the Church of England cemetery in Topsail.
Bancroft's name is still well known in NLTA circles, and each year since 1980 this organization has bestowed Bancroft Awards on outstanding members.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
educator.
Educated in Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
, Frederick Bancroft moved to Newfoundland, where in 1877 he began teaching in the Methodist
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
school at Little Bay Islands
Little Bay Islands, Newfoundland and Labrador
Little Bay Islands is a community in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It consists of Little Bay Island, Macks Island, Goat Island, Harbour Island, and Boatswain Tickle Island. The highest mount is Campbell Hill, which is 125 m high....
. He subsequently taught in Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
schools at Pass Island
Pass Island, Newfoundland and Labrador
Pass Island is a resettled community located on the Southern Shore of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Many remnants from previous settlements are still visible across the ocean separating it from the community of Seal Cove, Fortune Bay...
, English Harbour
English Harbour, Newfoundland and Labrador
English Harbour is a village on Trinity Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador at Trinity Point. The Way Office was established in 1883 and the first Waymaster was Henry G. Batson. It had a population of 190 in 1956...
, Chance Cove
Chance Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador
Chance Cove is a town in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The town had a population of 310 in the Canada 2006 Census.-See also:* List of cities and towns in Newfoundland and Labrador...
, and Bay Roberts
Bay Roberts, Newfoundland and Labrador
Bay Roberts is located on the north shore of Conception Bay on the Bay de Verde Peninsula in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada...
. By 1890 he held a first class teaching certificate
Certified teacher
A certified teacher is a teacher who has earned credentials from an authoritative source, such as the government, a higher education institution or a private source. These certifications allow teachers to teach in schools which require authorization in general, as well as allowing educators to...
, but his certificate was downgraded to second class a year later. He soon helped found the Newfoundland Teachers' Association and quickly became president.
About a year after founding the NTA, Bancroft quit the teaching profession. In December 1891 he left to Bonne Bay
Bonne Bay
Bonne Bay is a bay in Newfoundland, Canada. It is located on the western side of Newfoundland and separates Great Northern Peninsula from the rest of the island. It is a part of Gros Morne National Park. Bonne Bay has a population of about 7000 people....
, where he obtained a position as sub-collector of customs with a much higher salary as when he was a teacher.
n 1904 Bancroft had been transferred to the customs service at St. John's
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
, where he worked until 1912. He subsequently worked as a land surveyor
Surveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
and, after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
broke out, as a recruitment officer. Eventually, he withdrew to his estate at Topsail
Conception Bay South, Newfoundland and Labrador
Conception Bay South is a town in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The town is commonly called C.B.S..As of 2006 the population was 21,966 which makes the town the third largest population centre in the province behind the cities of Mount Pearl and St. John's...
where he engaged in experimental farming until his death in 1929 at the General Hospital in St. John's. He is buried in the Church of England cemetery in Topsail.
Bancroft's name is still well known in NLTA circles, and each year since 1980 this organization has bestowed Bancroft Awards on outstanding members.