Percival Willoughby
Encyclopedia
Sir Percival Willoughby was a prominent land owner, businessman involved during his lifetime variously in mining, iron smelting, glass making and as an investor in the Newfoundland Company. He married Bridget Willoughby, evidently his third cousin, the daughter of Sir Francis Willoughby builder of the surviving Wollaton Hall
. She as co-heiress of her father, inherited Wollaton Hall
and they eventually moved into the new hall. Willoughby was knighted by King James I
on 20 April 1603 at Worksop
and shortly afterwards became the member for Tamworth
in King James' first parliament. He was replaced in a by-election in 1604 but was returned again in 1614.
Percival Willoughby's business partner, Huntingdon Beaumont
, was responsible for constructing the Wollaton Wagonway
.
, to whom he was heavily in debt. Appointed to the council which managed the company's affairs in 1610 he sent his third son Thomas
to Cuper's Cove
in 1612 along with Henry Crout
and six apprentices. The orders to the party was to leave the colony and develop Willoughby's own tract which was all that land north of a line drawn between Carbonear
and Heart's Content
on the Bay de Verde Peninsula
. This also included the rich fishing grounds around Baccalieu Island
. Bartholomew Pearson
and a surveyor named Olney had made the trip to Newfoundland to access its mineral and agricultural potential. Willoughby's main interest lay in the mining potential of Bell Island
and was very critical of his parties’ lack of exploration upon their return to England.
Willoughby's partnership in 1618 with Thomas Rowley
and William Hannam to give them half of his tract for a nominal fee had turned sour. Willoghby's entitlement to the land was becoming increasingly harder to maintain as he could not find anyone to settle on it. Then in 1631 he entered into a partnership with Nicholas Guy
, who at the time was living in Carbonear.
Wollaton Hall
Wollaton Hall is a country house standing on a small but prominent hill in Wollaton, Nottingham, England. Wollaton Park is the area of parkland that the stately house stands in. The house itself is a natural history museum, with other museums in the out-buildings...
. She as co-heiress of her father, inherited Wollaton Hall
Wollaton Hall
Wollaton Hall is a country house standing on a small but prominent hill in Wollaton, Nottingham, England. Wollaton Park is the area of parkland that the stately house stands in. The house itself is a natural history museum, with other museums in the out-buildings...
and they eventually moved into the new hall. Willoughby was knighted by King James I
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
on 20 April 1603 at Worksop
Worksop
Worksop is the largest town in the Bassetlaw district of Nottinghamshire, England on the River Ryton at the northern edge of Sherwood Forest. It is about east-south-east of the City of Sheffield and its population is estimated to be 39,800...
and shortly afterwards became the member for Tamworth
Tamworth (UK Parliament constituency)
Tamworth is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- History :...
in King James' first parliament. He was replaced in a by-election in 1604 but was returned again in 1614.
Percival Willoughby's business partner, Huntingdon Beaumont
Huntingdon Beaumont
Huntingdon Beaumont was an innovative entrepreneur in coal mining, who built what is currently credited as the world's first wagonway. Regrettably he was less successful as a businessman and died having been imprisoned for debt....
, was responsible for constructing the Wollaton Wagonway
Wollaton Wagonway
The Wollaton Wagonway , built between October 1603 and 1604 in the East Midlands of England by Huntingdon Beaumont in partnership with Sir Percival Willoughby, is currently credited as the world's first overland wagonway and is therefore regarded as a significant step in the development of...
.
Newfoundland
Willoughby was drawn into the Newfoundland Company venture by John SlanyJohn Slany
John Slany , merchant, ship builder, born Shropshire, England, was secretary of the Newfoundland Company and a member of the Merchant Taylor's Company...
, to whom he was heavily in debt. Appointed to the council which managed the company's affairs in 1610 he sent his third son Thomas
Thomas Willoughby
Thomas Willoughby colonist, born Wollaton, Nottingham, England was one of the first settlers in John Guy's colony at Cuper's Cove, Newfoundland, Canada...
to Cuper's Cove
Cuper's Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador
Cuper's Cove, on the southwest shore of Conception Bay on Newfoundland's Avalon Peninsula was an early English settlement in the New World, and the second one after the Jamestown Settlement to endure for longer than a year...
in 1612 along with Henry Crout
Henry Crout
Henry Crout settler, explorer was most likely from Devon in the English West Country. He became an investor in the London and Bristol Company and acted as Sir Percival Willoughby agent and guardian to his son Thomas at the Cuper's Cove plantation in Newfoundland.Crout was impressed with...
and six apprentices. The orders to the party was to leave the colony and develop Willoughby's own tract which was all that land north of a line drawn between Carbonear
Carbonear, Newfoundland and Labrador
Carbonear is a town on the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. As of 2006, there are 4,723 people living in Carbonear, down from 4,759 in 2001.-History:...
and Heart's Content
Heart's Content, Newfoundland and Labrador
Heart's Content is an incorporated town in Trinity Bay on the Bay de Verde Peninsula of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The natural harbour that makes up the town is located on the east side of Trinity Bay and it is built along the northeast side and the southeast base of this...
on the Bay de Verde Peninsula
Bay de Verde Peninsula
The Bay de Verde Peninsula is the largest peninsula that makes up part of the Avalon Peninsula, of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada...
. This also included the rich fishing grounds around Baccalieu Island
Baccalieu Island
Baccalieu Island is a 5 km² uninhabited island at the northern extremities of Conception Bay near the community of Red Head Cove, Canada. It is separated from the island of Newfoundland by Baccalieu Tickle, a small strait and an abundant fishing ground....
. Bartholomew Pearson
Bartholomew Pearson
Bartholomew Pearson yeoman, settler, born in Wollaton, Nottingham, England was one of the group of English settlers of John Guy's colony at Cuper's Cove, Newfoundland, Canada who had arrived in 1612, two years after the colony was established.Pearson was most likely sent by Percival Willoughby to...
and a surveyor named Olney had made the trip to Newfoundland to access its mineral and agricultural potential. Willoughby's main interest lay in the mining potential of Bell Island
Bell Island
Bell Island is a Canadian island located off Newfoundland's Avalon Peninsula in Conception Bay.Measuring 9 km in length and 3 km in width, Bell Island has an area of 34 km²...
and was very critical of his parties’ lack of exploration upon their return to England.
Willoughby's partnership in 1618 with Thomas Rowley
Thomas Rowley (settler)
Thomas Rowley , explorer and pioneer, born Shropshire, England was one of the first settlers of John Guy's colony at Cuper's Cove, Conception Bay, Newfoundland, Canada...
and William Hannam to give them half of his tract for a nominal fee had turned sour. Willoghby's entitlement to the land was becoming increasingly harder to maintain as he could not find anyone to settle on it. Then in 1631 he entered into a partnership with Nicholas Guy
Nicholas Guy
Nicholas Guy was one of the first settlers at the London and Bristol Company's Cuper's Cove, colony in Newfoundland, and was the father of the first English child born in Newfoundland and subsequently all of the country of Canada....
, who at the time was living in Carbonear.