Bishop Family History Now Playing: "Days Of Our Lives" BISHOP HISTORY (as told by Ray Leamon b. Nov. 3, 1929, Grandson of Lucinda Batten Leamon) I received a letter from Ray Leamon on June 09, 2000 which contained so much history of my Bishop ancestors as well as some of the history of Port de Grave and surrounding areas. I have transcribed this as close as possible to what he has written. His handwriting is difficult to read due to a combination of Old English style writing and small. My Bishop Chart was mailed to Ray by Jackie Ebsary (with my permission). Based on what he read from these pages, he has written 9 pages in response. These are typed exactly as Ray has written, errors of any kind included. OVERVIEW Your John Bishop family is a solid presentation.
Nfld was in early times a number of Harbours where fisherman from specific areas of South West England came. Early census shows the males fishing in Nfld. The Port de Grave Cemetary and the one in Burnt Head are separated by the two mile of salt water in the Bay de Grave. The names are the same. You will very very likely find your early Bishop Grandmothers came from them. They did not move about and tended to marry in their area. (signed) Ray Page 1. I have been asked by Jackie Ebsary to write you on the Bishops, some of whom are well known to me. Jackie is a decendant of Samuel the Cooper and I am a descendant of Captain William. Two of five sons of John Ebsary born Kenn Devonshire, 1768. The Leamon's who came to Nfld also came from Devonshire. The earliest record is of a Saxon Rheiner Leamon who had a lifedom in Essex in 1090. They have a Coat of Arms which is listed in the Battle Order of English Heraldry. Born 3 Nov 1929, I have had the last 10 years to research my family history. I have been retired since 1989 which makes if full time work, I am connected to the Battens, Taylors and of course Jacob Bishop whose wife Susan Batten was the Aunt of my Grandmother Lucinda Batten Leamon. I first found the name Bishop
in the Govenor's files PANL GN21A
1775 in an inquest into the death
of John Bishop. The
Captain of the Brig Phoenix was
hunting water fowl along the shore
on the South Side of St. John's
Harbour. While passing John
Bishop's house, he tripped and the
gun discharged. Mr. Bishop
was standing in his house at the
time when the shot load entered
striking him under the left
shoulder blade. The Govenor
ruled his death accident. There
were no other details. The
inquest in the Govenor's
handwriting was the bare details. Page 2 On one of my trips to the Anglican Church Archives Newton Morgan who comes from Port de Grave asked me what I knew about John Bishop who lived on the Southside mid 1700's. I told him, then he said he had a family who came here after his death and they were cared for by relatives. We were satisfied it was the same John. He was killed in a fight or something Newton was told. We found John Bishop Mary Hutcheson 22 Oct 1770 Henry 18 Oct 1772 James This couple were not married as the wives maiden name was stated. There were no baptisms recorded after James. By 1780 1790 A family of Bishops were living in Pickeyes. By 1805 the Bishops held the western side of the cove and there was a hill named Bishops Hill Petten and Butler held the remaining land on Pickeyes. This gets complicated by another family of Bishops in Back cove. 1780 probably a bit earlier most of the back cove Bishops and several families of Roach who were also Church of England moved to Bay Roberts in 1820. The predominant family was now John Bishops. End of Page 2
Page 3 The Battens from the Channel Islands are of Norman extraction and go back to the days when the Vikings Angles Saxons Normans and Basque inhabited Coastal Europe, Many of the family names found in Nfld became Anglicised. Batten was originally Batton. Nfld place names St. Johns Petty Hr Bay Bulls are found on Jersy in the same order St. Jean Petite Harve Baie Bay de Boule. There were four Norman Sail in St. John's 1523 when Capt John Rut visited. Those fellows no doubt named it. Samuel Batton occupied the Picco Rooms in Pickeyes 1705. Samuel Batton married Ann Butler and was given Land by her Father Tom Butler in Port de Grave. Interred next to Tom Butler a site which remains to day sacred ground. In 1817 Capt Buchann R.N. reported only two families of Battons left in Port de Grave. The other six were found in Bareneed. This proves what my Grandmother told me. Her Grandfather a ship owner had moved to The Docks. East of the Church his large property bounded the water front of the most sheltered part of the harbour known as The Docks, Ring Bolts can still be seen where the earliest fisherman the Jersyman moored their vessels. I like to believe it was Sam's relatives who first fished there. End of Page 3 Page 4 My Grandmother Lucinda Batten married my Grandfather William John Leamon in Petty Harbour 25 May 1891. He died in 1942 and I would be sent to Petty Harbour as she insisted on remaining in the Old home stead. She would tell me of meeting Grandfather when she came to Petty Hr to work in Jacob Bishops store. She mentioned his wife was her Aunt and the Bishops travelling to The Labrador in their vessel to take part in the codfishery. Labrador Fishery
The Bishops and Battens were stationers. There was no Doctor, no Coast Guard, no radio Anything you forgot you did without. Grandmother spoke of the waterfont Shed and the mountain of supplies that grew larger as the sailing date neared. All clothing was gone over and repaired A day before the sailing Bread Cookies and Cakes to last the Trip would be baked. On Sailing day they tried to cross Trinity Bay before nightfall. On the Labrador there were icebergs. After five days hard sailing there was a further delay while the house repairs were completed. They moved ashore for the Summer. End of page 4 Page 5 Capt John had the difficult task of screening families who would be living together for five months in a hostile Land. There were no services and of particular concern was the screening of people who would cave in if exposed to a life threatening situation Groups were Generally of the same faith and family. The concern of being able to cope with Natures elements is reflected in the Hymns in common use here "When the billows roll and the Cables strain Will your anchor drift or firm remain Guide me oh thou Great Jehovah Pilgrim in this Barren land And dark is his path on the wings of a Storm" In the last one they see a hell with water and wind not fire. I am certain that the Battens and Bishops knew and trusted. Their many years fishing in "the Land God gave to Cain" tells it all. I have enclosed a Jacobs family History written by Walter Simms also a history of Petty Hr Parish that he served so well. I will on the following pages complete Walters Storey. End of Page 5 Page 6 William William's children: Susanna married Jacob Bishop 28 Jan 1842, John married Harriet Lear, Emma married Elijah Dawe. Susanna & Jacob had sons George Henry, John, Henry Jacob White. George Henry married Mary Ann Way and had a son named Henry who married Elizabeth Rowe. Henry and Elizabeth had a son Harry and a daughter Olive. Henry Jacob White married Katherine Webber and had sons George, John, Harold, Henry and Eric. John & Harriet had a daughter Lucinda. Lucinda had a son John Malcolm. John Malcolm had a son Ray Leamon. Emma & and Elijah had a son William. William had sons Chester and Lewis. Chester now 95 still heads the largest building supplies in Nfld. which he founded. His brother Lewis Salesmanager. Jacob Bishop was a licenced Church Layreader/School Teacher who came to Petty Harbour to replace Richard Allen who had retired. At that time, a clergy came from St. John's once or twice a month for Communion and Marriages. Baptisms, burials, the Sick and Sunday Service made Jacob a very busy fellow. The one room school Just west of the Church had the teachers residence attached. A door in the house opened into the classroom. Wood for the house was cut and delivered. Fish and vegetables for the asking. The children were required to bring a Junk each day for school Heath. A spring well Just up the Hill provided a never ending supply of sweetwater. To this day residents prefer it to the towns water. End of page 6 Page 7 The property where the School and Church are located was once the Property of John Chafe who lived there in 1708. It went to his eldest son Edward who we beleive built the first Church St Davids 1780. The earliest headstone 1811 Henry Chafe was Edwards brother. Jacob Bishop was surrounded by Edwards children who were generous to their Church and very active. Jacob Bishop had wonderful neighbours and must have been very happy there. Two headstones: Jacob 23 Jan 1899 age 79 Susanna 1 May 1891 age 71 The Lees who live in sight of the Church yard tell me Henry Jacob White visited his parents grave site every week. Henry Jacob White married Katherine and their large home with a General store attached was located on the main road. The had the mail and a contract for freight and passengers From the local railway station. Mother told me I was five months old when the Bishops picked me up at the station and brought me to Petty Harbour. The last Bishop to run the store was Henry J Ws daughter Mary Elizabeth who had a late marriage to Alexander G. Lee about 1945. He was a widower. If my mother went to the store in a slack time she would bring out the teapot and cookies and they would have a chat. Remember my mothers Grandfather John Henry Ebsary was an older Brother of Allen Pitts Ebsary husband of Mary Ann Mercer. End of Page 7 Page 8 Alexander G. Lees first Cousin Cartrelt(?) Lee maried Rebecca Ann Bishop. This is another Branch of the Bishops Clan who kept a farm at Manuels Conception Bay. Cartrelt(?) and Rebecca Anns Daughter Marion marrion married Harold son of Henry Jacob White Bishop. They had a vegetable farm on the Highway leading to St. John's. They had two sons Roy and George who married built their homes on the farm and became farmers. George died of lung cancer 1958 leaving two children Roy is still living there. Charles came to St. John's and founded CHR Bishop Plumbing He lived on Cowan Ave near me and I would see him from time to time. Henry was a housing contractor and part time farmer I had met him at funerals a number of occasions. Eric was the mechanic foreman at the Royal Garage when he opened his own shop on Topsail road I had my car serviced there. End of Page 8 Page 9 Henry Jacob White is interred in the New Cemetery P.H. opened 1905 Mary Elizabeth Lee 30 Jan 1956 age 63 Henry Jacob White Bishop 29 Oct 1925 (notes between the two listed above read Family Plot) Katherine Bishop 30 Jun 1943 (notes beside "was a Webber UC people) George Hubert Bishop 25 Oct 1925 age 22 1/2 Kathleen Webber Bishop 30 May 1923 13mth There is enclosed Head Stone photos. Canon George Henrys Wife and Son Anglican Cemetery Forest Rd St. John's. (signed) Ray Leamon Updated on July 12, 2002
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