Thomas Rowley (settler)
Encyclopedia
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
. Rowley had accompanied John Guy on his expedition to Trinity Bay
from Cuper's Cove in search of the Beothuk
to make friendly relations with them for trade.
In 1618 or 1619 both Rowley and William Hannam had entered into a partnership with Sir Percival Willoughby
by accepting a grant to half his land as described from a line drawn from Carbonear
to Heart's Content
to include all land north of that line in exchange for development separate from the Cuper's Cove Colony. Disagreements with Hannam had delayed this plan but he did convince eight settlers from Cuper's Cove to settle Heart's Content in the winter of 1619. Then in 1620 he had abandoned the venture with Percival Willoughby citing he had not received legal title to the land.
Rowley has been remembered in a poem by Robert Hayman
, governor of the Bristol plantation, when he wrote;
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
, 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...
was one of the first settlers of John Guy's colony at Cuper's Cove, Conception Bay
Conception Bay
Conception Bay is a Canadian bay located on the northeast coast of the island of Newfoundland. The bay indents the Avalon Peninsula with the opening of the bay to the Atlantic Ocean at the northeast. It is bounded by Cape St. Francis in the south and Split Point near Bay de Verde in the north...
, Newfoundland, Canada
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...
. Rowley had accompanied John Guy on his expedition to Trinity Bay
Trinity Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador
Trinity Bay is a large bay on the northeastern coast of Newfoundland in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.Major fishing communities include Trinity and Heart's Content.-Industry:...
from Cuper's Cove in search of the Beothuk
Beothuk
The Beothuk were one of the aboriginal peoples in Canada. They lived on the island of Newfoundland at the time of European contact in the 15th and 16th centuries...
to make friendly relations with them for trade.
In 1618 or 1619 both Rowley and William Hannam had entered into a partnership with Sir Percival Willoughby
Percival Willoughby
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...
by accepting a grant to half his land as described from a line drawn from 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:...
to 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...
to include all land north of that line in exchange for development separate from the Cuper's Cove Colony. Disagreements with Hannam had delayed this plan but he did convince eight settlers from Cuper's Cove to settle Heart's Content in the winter of 1619. Then in 1620 he had abandoned the venture with Percival Willoughby citing he had not received legal title to the land.
Rowley has been remembered in a poem by Robert Hayman
Robert Hayman
Robert Hayman was a poet, colonist and Proprietary Governor of Bristol's Hope colony in Newfoundland.-Early life and education:...
, governor of the Bristol plantation, when he wrote;
my good friend Master Thomas Rowley who from the first plantation hath liv’d in Newfound-land, little to his profit.