Job Brothers & Co., Limited
Encyclopedia
Job Brothers & Co., Limited (formerly: Bulley, Job & Company, Bulley, Job & Cross, Job Brothers; commonly referred to as Jobs) was a Colony of Newfoundland-based mercantile empire that spanned three centuries. The main business of the company centered around production and development of fisheries
rather than trading. The Job Brothers & Co., Limited letterhead, however, self describes the company as "steamship owners, general merchants, agents, and importers" as well as "exporters of dried cod fish, herring, salmon, lobsters, seal skins, whalebone fertilizers, cod oil, medicinal cod liver oil, seal and whale oil". Jobs' vessel, the Blue Peter, was the first floating, frozen-fish processing
outfit in Newfoundland.
, Devon
as the sole proprietor. Eventually, Bulley's son, Samuel took over the business. When his daughter Sarah married John Job (born Haccombe
, Devon) in 1789, Bulley made Job his partner in the newly formed company, Bulley, Job and Company. The company's main division focused on the fish trade, including the purchase and export of codfish, with fishermen or other traders as clients. Another division handled the shipping and outfitting of vessels that participated in spring seal hunting.
The company and its partnerships evolved over time. In 1808, when Nathan Parker joined the company, it was renamed Parker, Bulley and Job. Within the next twelve years, when Parker retired and James Cross of Liverpool joined the company, it was renamed Bulley, Job & Cross. In 1834, at age 15, Stephen Rendell
, later a merchant and politician, apprenticed with Jobs. An 1839 reorganization put Robert Job and Thomas Bulley Job
in charge of Bulley, Job and Company in St. John's
, while Samuel Job and John Job Jr. were in charge of Job Brothers in Liverpool
, England. About the same time, with the retirement of Thomas Bulley, the company was renamed Job Brothers. The partnership included the four sons of John Job: Robert Job
, Thomas Bulley Job, Samuel Job and John Job. Others joined the firm in the next few year thus leading to its renaming as Job Brothers & Company. Other partnerships ensued over the next century.
Between 1867 and 1872, Jobs built three large "wooden walls" (wooden-hulled naval vessels) that were used for sealing
, including the Neptune, at the same time also establishing plants at Bay Bulls, Catalina
, and L'Anse-au-Loup that converted fish offal
into fertilizer. In the last century, Jobs pioneered artificial fish drying at its plants in Blanc Sablon
, L'Anse-au-Loup, and Forteau. Its steamship, the Blue Peter, was the first floating, frozen-fish processing outfit in Newfoundland. Other diversification included manufacturing, mining,processing, and timber. Jobs bought the Hector around 1871, rebuilt it and renamed it Diana. By 1898, it had acquired another steamer, the Nimrod.
incorporated Job Brothers & Co., Limited. Thomas Raffles Job, grandson of the original John Job, became its president. The other three family members, great-grandsons of John Job, became the directors. In 1912, Jobs had a new steel steamer, the SS Nascopie
.
After Thomas Raffles Job died in 1917, William Carson Job became the company's second president. With William Carson Jobs retirement in 1919, Robert Brown Job became the company's third president. In 1928, the Hudson's Bay Company
purchased a majority of the company's shares but these were re-acquired by Jobs fifteen years later. In 1945, Northatlantic Fisheries purchased sixty percent of Jobs' shares. Other Jobs plants were sold in the next two decades. The remaining Jobs plant in St. John's closed operations in 1967.
Fishery
Generally, a fishery is an entity engaged in raising or harvesting fish which is determined by some authority to be a fishery. According to the FAO, a fishery is typically defined in terms of the "people involved, species or type of fish, area of water or seabed, method of fishing, class of boats,...
rather than trading. The Job Brothers & Co., Limited letterhead, however, self describes the company as "steamship owners, general merchants, agents, and importers" as well as "exporters of dried cod fish, herring, salmon, lobsters, seal skins, whalebone fertilizers, cod oil, medicinal cod liver oil, seal and whale oil". Jobs' vessel, the Blue Peter, was the first floating, frozen-fish processing
Fish processing
The term fish processing refers to the processes associated with fish and fish products between the time fish are caught or harvested, and the time the final product is delivered to the customer...
outfit in Newfoundland.
Early history
The business originated around 1750 with John Bulley of TeignmouthTeignmouth
Teignmouth is a town and civil parish in Teignbridge in the English county of Devon, situated on the north bank of the estuary mouth of the River Teign about 14 miles south of Exeter. It has a population of 14,413. In 1690, it was the last place in England to be invaded by a foreign power...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
as the sole proprietor. Eventually, Bulley's son, Samuel took over the business. When his daughter Sarah married John Job (born Haccombe
Coffinswell
Coffinswell is a small village in South Devon, England, just off the A380, the busy Newton Abbot to Torquay road. It lies within Teignbridge District Council.Coffinswell has a church dedicated to Saint Bartholomew with a Norman font...
, Devon) in 1789, Bulley made Job his partner in the newly formed company, Bulley, Job and Company. The company's main division focused on the fish trade, including the purchase and export of codfish, with fishermen or other traders as clients. Another division handled the shipping and outfitting of vessels that participated in spring seal hunting.
The company and its partnerships evolved over time. In 1808, when Nathan Parker joined the company, it was renamed Parker, Bulley and Job. Within the next twelve years, when Parker retired and James Cross of Liverpool joined the company, it was renamed Bulley, Job & Cross. In 1834, at age 15, Stephen Rendell
Stephen Rendell
Stephen Rendell was an English-born merchant and politician in Newfoundland. He represented Trinity Bay in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly from 1859 to 1873....
, later a merchant and politician, apprenticed with Jobs. An 1839 reorganization put Robert Job and Thomas Bulley Job
Thomas Bulley Job
Thomas Bulley Job was an English-born merchant and political figure in Newfoundland. He represented Trinity Bay in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly from 1846 to 1852 as a Conservative....
in charge of Bulley, Job and Company in 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...
, while Samuel Job and John Job Jr. were in charge of Job Brothers in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, England. About the same time, with the retirement of Thomas Bulley, the company was renamed Job Brothers. The partnership included the four sons of John Job: Robert Job
Robert Job
Robert Job was a merchant and political figure in Newfoundland. He was elected to represent Bonavista Bay in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly in 1836....
, Thomas Bulley Job, Samuel Job and John Job. Others joined the firm in the next few year thus leading to its renaming as Job Brothers & Company. Other partnerships ensued over the next century.
Between 1867 and 1872, Jobs built three large "wooden walls" (wooden-hulled naval vessels) that were used for sealing
Seal hunting
Seal hunting, or sealing, is the personal or commercial hunting of seals. The hunt is currently practiced in five countries: Canada, where most of the world's seal hunting takes place, Namibia, the Danish region of Greenland, Norway and Russia...
, including the Neptune, at the same time also establishing plants at Bay Bulls, Catalina
Catalina, Newfoundland and Labrador
Catalina is a community located on the eastern side of the Bonavista Peninsula, in the province of Newfoundland, Canada. Catalina adjoins the union town of Port Union, the town built for and home to the Fisherman's Union Company established by Sir William Coaker.The name of the town is purported by...
, and L'Anse-au-Loup that converted fish offal
Offal
Offal , also called, especially in the United States, variety meats or organ meats, refers to the internal organs and entrails of a butchered animal. The word does not refer to a particular list of edible organs, which varies by culture and region, but includes most internal organs other than...
into fertilizer. In the last century, Jobs pioneered artificial fish drying at its plants in Blanc Sablon
Blanc-Sablon, Quebec
Blanc-Sablon, Quebec is the easternmost community in the province of Quebec, Canada, between the municipalities of Côte-Nord-du-Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent and L'Anse-au-Clair, in Labrador...
, L'Anse-au-Loup, and Forteau. Its steamship, the Blue Peter, was the first floating, frozen-fish processing outfit in Newfoundland. Other diversification included manufacturing, mining,processing, and timber. Jobs bought the Hector around 1871, rebuilt it and renamed it Diana. By 1898, it had acquired another steamer, the Nimrod.
Later years
In 1909, the Erik broke its shaft and had to be tugged by another Jobs' vessel, the Beothic. In the same year, Thomas Raffles Job (son of Thomas Bulley Job), Samuel Ernest Job, William Carson Job, and Robert Brown JobRobert Brown Job
Robert Brown Job Knt. was an English-born businessman, politician, and economic unionist in the Colony of Newfoundland. He was the oldest elected member of the Newfoundland National Convention.-Early years:...
incorporated Job Brothers & Co., Limited. Thomas Raffles Job, grandson of the original John Job, became its president. The other three family members, great-grandsons of John Job, became the directors. In 1912, Jobs had a new steel steamer, the SS Nascopie
SS Nascopie
SS Nascopie was a steamship built by Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. She was launched on December 7, 1911 and achieved speeds of 14.1 knots during her sea trials...
.
After Thomas Raffles Job died in 1917, William Carson Job became the company's second president. With William Carson Jobs retirement in 1919, Robert Brown Job became the company's third president. In 1928, the Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
purchased a majority of the company's shares but these were re-acquired by Jobs fifteen years later. In 1945, Northatlantic Fisheries purchased sixty percent of Jobs' shares. Other Jobs plants were sold in the next two decades. The remaining Jobs plant in St. John's closed operations in 1967.
Further reading
- Job, R. B. (1954). John Job's family: A story of his ancestors and successors and their business connections with Newfoundland and Liverpool, 1730-1953. S.l: s.n.