John Slade

     John Slade was born on October 20, 1704 in Poole, Dorset, England.² He was christened on April 19, 1719.^1,2 He was the son of John Slade and Anne Sergaent.¹ John, orphaned at the age of 8, probably received some basic education in the Free School and an early mariner apprenticeship, for seafaring was the backbone of Poole’s economic life. Soon, John was captaining Poole merchant ships on voyages to the Channel Islands, the Mediterranean and Ireland. His first recorded visit to Newfoundland was in 1748 as the captain of the Molly, a trader owned by Joseph White. John made many trans-Atlantic voyages at the helm of Molly, records show three roundtrips in 1750. He remained at the helm of Molly until 1751 when he became captain of James Kittier’s Dolphin. He continued sailing between Poole, the Mediterranean and Newfoundland. Usually, he spent winter months in Poole and spring and summer months in Newfoundland. Occasionally, he would over-winter in Newfoundland.¹ Usually spent winter in Poole and spring and summer months in Newfoundland. Occasionally, he would over-winter in Newfoundland.³
     John married Martha Hayter on February 16, 1752 in Wareham Parish, Dorset, England, at Holy Trinity Church.^4,5, the daughter of John Hayter, a prosperous merchant in Poole & Newfoundland of a slightly earlier era.^4,6 Shortly after the wedding, John purchased his first ship, the 90 ton Little John and headed to Newfoundland to begin his own trading company. His previous experience had given him first-hand knowledge of the expanding fishing trade in northern Newfoundland.
     The fishing trade between Poole and Newfoundland had been active for 200 years and was well established by the time John arrived. Most of the fishing was from small boats or ships brought from Poole. John saw the advantages of Newfoundland residents fishing year-round from the shores. Not only would the fishing season be longer, he would not have the expense of providing all of the fishing boats. In the winter, employees could harvest seal skins and oils, and other furs for sale in Europe. John encouraged settlement in Fogo and Twillingate bringing fishermen, tradesmen and laborers from western England and Ireland. Life was difficult in England at the time and the settlers found themselves nearly self-sufficient in Newfoundland with their small gardens, farm animals, all the fish, game and berries they could eat. The Slade employees soon brought their families.
     John used and improved an existing Truck system with the residents in his employ. He would supply everything they would need to survive that was not available on the island – food, clothing, prayer books, building materials, guns and ammunition, rum, tobacco, etc. In return, he bought everything the residents produced – salted cod, cod liver oil, furs, lumber, train oil, smoked/salted salmon and berries. An elaborate system of credit was established allowing purchases before the end of the season against their pay. As the season closed, each employee “settled up” with their purchases subtracted from their wages. They were paid the remaining amounts. During the 1760’s Slade also began trading on the Labrador coast. He exported various goods to Newfoundland and imported cod oil, and furs of beaver, otter, fox and marten, as well as seal skins. The diversification from fish to furs and employing year-round workers set Slade apart from other mariners who dealt in the trade of fish only.
     Slade & Co. vessels continued to make regular trips between Fogo and Waterford, Ireland. Regular trips were also made to Spain and Portugal for salt and cork and to Italy for wine and fruit.
     By the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, the Slade & Co. was firmly established at Twillingate, the main base, with a supply and staple collection system that served settlements and exploitation outposts throughout Notre Dame Bay and along the Labrador coast. The revolutionary years were difficult for Slade. American privateers plagued his ships and establishments. In the fall of 1775 he lost several vessels and ten fishing boats in a storm. His wharves in Fogo were destroyed in the fall of 1782 by a gale that also washed away his stages at Twillingate with some 800 quintals of cured fish. Wartime conditions in Poole made it difficult to recruit seamen and servants. He decided to stay in Poole permanently, leaving the issues in Newfoundland to younger relatives.^7,8,9,10

     John Slade died on February 17, 1792 in Poole, Dorset, at age 72.¹ John Slade's estate was estimated, perhaps conservatively, at £70,000, a millionaire in his time. Upon his death, his business was shared equally between his five nephews: John Slade Jr., Robert Slade, Thomas Slade, David Slade and George Allen. John Slade Jr. took over operations in Poole, Thomas took over the Fogo branch and Robert took Twillingate operations. Through his heirs his firm continued to be a major economic and social force in northeastern Newfoundland and Labrador until the 1860s, when it was sold out of the family.⁷

A more detailed Biography of John Slade can be found by clicking on the source citation below.⁷