To his Excellency John Campbell Esquire
Governor of Newfoundland & &
The Petition of Matthew Morry most humbly
Sheweth.--
That your Petitioner hath cleared
and begun to build a Fishing-Room at the Head
of Capling - Bay, in the District of Ferryland,
which Spot of Ground, never was cleared, or occu-
-pied by any Person whatsoever, its situation being
Eighty Yards South - West from the Pond in
Length and Eighty yards North - west in breadth
with a Flake over the Pond.
Your Petitioner
most humbly prays, your Excellency, will
secure by a Patent the possession of the said
Premises to himself and Heirs, and your petit-
-ioner as in duty bound will ever Pray.
These Certifie, that the spot of ground
Matthew morry now occupieth in Capling
Bay for the Fishery appears by the ancient
Inhabitant’s Testimony never to have been
occupied before by any Fishing Ships, Boat-
-men or Inhabitants since their Remembrance
nor hath it been occupied since mine, now
Forty two Years, but cut and cleared from the
Woods by the Petitioner who hath this Year
two Briggs, a shallop and Skiff on the
Fishery. the benefit of air that attends the
Ships-room from this Spot being cleared in the
manner aforesaid is very great. In testimony
to which I have set my Hand in Ferryland
8th Septr 1784
Robert Carter Justice Peace –
I do hereby strictly forbid any person or persons whatsoever
interrupting the within mentioned Matthew Morry
in the quiet and peaceable Possession of the within
mentioned premises so long as he shall continue to
occupy the same for the use of the Fishery.
St. John’s 15th Sepr 1784
By Command of the Governor John Campbell
A. Graham
NB: On the cover of the petition is written this annotation:
Mr. Justice Carter
is desired to acquaint
the Governor with the
merits of the within Petition
St. John’s 31 August 1784
A. G.