Ancestors of Christopher John Augustine Morry





Peter Winsor

      Sex: M

Individual Information
     Birth Date: 1 May 1850 - Aquaforte, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada 109,1539
    Christening: 
          Death: 1940 - New York, United States of America ( at age 90) 8621
         Burial: 
 Cause of Death: 

Parents
         Father: Capt. Henry Winsor 3000,3825
         Mother: Ann Coulman

Spouses and Children
1. *Harriet Allen Chafe 5 
       Marriage: 26 May 1892 - St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada 5
       Children:
                1. Living
                2. Harry Winsor

Notes
General:
Harriet Chafe first married Washington Hill Windsor, bore 5 children by him and then on his death married his brother Peter and had 2 more children by him. This according to the Windsor Family Tree provided by Anthony Oliphant in June 2001.


Living

      Sex: M

Parents
         Father: Peter Winsor 168,1157
         Mother: Harriet Allen Chafe 5

Spouses and Children
1. Living



Peter Winsor

      Sex: M

Individual Information
     Birth Date: Bef 13 Sep 1723 - Denbury, Devon, England 508,8759
    Christening: 13 Sep 1723 - Denbury, Devon, England 8759
          Death: 30 Jan 1765 - Denbury, Devon, England 1462
         Burial: After 30 Jan 1765 - Denbury, Devon, England
 Cause of Death: 

Parents
         Father: Henry Winsor 996
         Mother: Mary 994

Spouses and Children
1. *Mary Cavell
       Marriage: Wallasey, Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, Merseyside, England

Notes
General:
291018:

For reasons unknown, the register of St. Mary the Virgin, Denbury as found on the FindMyPast images tends to skip around from burials to marriages to baptisms and there are gaps from one collection to the other so that they all need to be examined to fill in the blanks.

The first register of 119 pages is dealing with burials in the 1670s when it suddenly jumps to baptisms in the 1720s and misses the first four of the chidlren in this family. Their records are found in the second register. Peter Winsor is found on page 106 of 119 in this collection.


Peter Winsor Foster child

      Sex: M

Individual Information
     Birth Date: 27 Nov 1835 - St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada 427
    Christening: 28 Jan 1836 - St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada 427
          Death: Cir 1898 - Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada ( about age 63) 5
         Burial: 
 Cause of Death: 

Events

• Occupation: Ship's Rigger and Carpenter, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

• Religion: Protestant.

• Alt. Birth: 1835, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

• Court: Action by Constable Samuel Cose against Anne Winsor, Peter Winsor Jr. and Elizabeth Morry, Between 22 Jun 1849 and 23 Jun 1849, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

• Emigration: And then back to St. John's, Newfoundland, Between 1870 and 1880, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States of America.

• Residence: Brazil Square, 1898, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.


Parents
         Father: Capt. Henry Winsor 3000,3825
         Mother: Ann Coulman

Spouses and Children
1. *Catherine Mary Flynn 5 
       Marriage: 19 Nov 1861 - St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada 5

Marriage Events

• Minister/Priest: Rev. John Vereker, 19 Nov 1861, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Children: 1. Mary Anne Winsor 2. Peter Lawrence Winsor


Notes
General:
Enid O'Brien's email of 21/11/01 provides interesting information: Capt. Henry Winsor raised his first cousin Peter Winsor (son of Matthew Symonds Winsor and Charlotte Taylor) after they drowned at sea in about 1845 when Peter was about 10.

111109 from NGB: Peter WINSOR Matthew & Charlotte TAYLOR b Nov 27 1835 bap Jan 28 1836


Capt. Hon. Peter Ford Winsor JP MHA

      Sex: M
AKA: Esq., Sr. J.P. Peter Windsor 4647, Peter Winser 4647,5802,8760,8761, Capt. Peter Winser 7419, Peter Winsor 4490
Individual Information
     Birth Date: 5 Dec 1781 - Denbury, Devon, England 508,3683
    Christening: 21 Dec 1781 - Denbury, Devon, England 8762
          Death: 11 Oct 1864 - Aquaforte, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada ( at age 82) 411,2908,3683,7929,8760,8761
         Burial: After 11 Oct 1864 - Aquaforte, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada 23,411
 Cause of Death: 

Events

• Immigration: First arrival in Newfoundland with father, Peter Winser, 1797, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

• Military: Said to have been held as a French prisoner of war for several years, Cir 1801-1804, Arles, Languedoc-Roussillon, France.

• Education: Said to be well educated - how much unknown.

• Occupation: Masters of his father's vessel on the Grand Banks, 1802, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

• Military: Peter Ford and Jacob Winsor French prisoners of war, Between 1811 and 1814, Arras, Hautes-Pyrιnιes, Midi-Pyrιnιes, France. 090719:

I have been looking for corroborative evidence to support the story told by Anna Elton Morris that Peter Winsor (and his brother Jacob it seems) were captured and held prisoner for several years by the French during the Napoleonic Wars. The Hunter Family website provides such corroboration as follows (date, place of imprisonment and other details differ from Anna's account):

In 1811, Peter and his brother Jacob were captured off the Coast of Newfoundland by Napoleon's men and imprisoned in Arras, France. (See the French prisoner of war records below)

Note 1: Napoleon's Berlin Decree of November 21, 1806 allowed French forces to seize vessels and merchandise and imprison English citizens. In 1811 and during a return trip from Caplin Bay, Newfoundland, Peter's fishing boat was captured off the coast of Newfoundland by the French navy and he and his brother, Jacob, remained imprisoned at Arras, France from 1811 - 1814. This accounts for the gap between Peter's first two children. See "Prisoner of War records" below.

French Prisoner of War records - October 1, 1813. Brothers Peter Ford Winser and Jacob Winser were prisoners #1406 and #1414. This document shows that Peter was the 1st captain of the ship "Mary" and was captured on December 1, 1811 and arrived at Brest, France, on January 12, 1812. Jacob was the 2nd captain of the ship "Mary" and was captured on December 1, 1811 and arrived at Brest on January 22, 1812. (Prisoners of War, The National Archives, ADM 103/468 Part 2 [Register of British POWs Prisons, L-V, France, 1787-1820] No. 1406). When Napoleon was defeated, the brothers returned home and began making plans to emigrate to Newfoundland.

Note 1: In the will of Anthony Winser, son of Henry and Mary Winser and therefore Great Uncle of Jacob, written on January 27, 1813, it tells us that "Jacob is in a French prison". Both he and his brother, Peter, were abducted from Peter's fishing boat by Napoleon's men in 1811 and taken to Arras, France and imprisoned. He and his brother remained imprisoned from 1811 until Napoleon was defeated in 1814.

• Occupation: 1st Captain on the MARY, 1 Dec 1811, Devonshire, England.

• Occupation: Master of the RESOLUTION, Between 1814 and 1816, Dartmouth, Devon, England. The vessel sailed from Dartmouth and returned there from Newfoundland but had visited Miramichi in the meantime. This is unusual. It must have been involved in transporting goods rather than in fishing.

• Emigration: Built a Fishing Room in Aquaforte, 1815, Aquaforte, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

• Occupation: Contracted to cure catch of Bank Vessel of Capt. Tozier, 1815, Aquaforte, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

• Occupation: Seaman/Mariner, Between 1815 and 1817, Denbury, Devon, England. From Christening records of daughters Elizabeth Sarah and Sarah Payne Winsor.

• Occupation: Master of the Schooner RESOLUTION, Between 27 Feb 1815 and 28 Jan 1816, Dartmouth, Devon, England.

• Property: 21 Year Lease of Castle Famine Fishing Room by Nicholas Brand to Peter Winsor Jr. of Caplin Bay, 10 Aug 1815, Aquaforte, Newfoundland.

• Emigration: From Denbury; based upon the places of baptism of children, Between 1816 and 1819, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

• Occupation: Master of the Schooner RESOLUTION, from Vigo, Between 29 Mar 1816 and 19 Jan 1817, Dartmouth, Devon, England.

• Occupation: Contracted to cure Grand Banks catch of Mesrs. Codner & Jennings of St. John's, 1817, Aquaforte, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

• Literacy: Bride and Groom both signed the marriage register, 1 Jan 1819, Denbury, Devon, England. (Witness)

• Court: Charged with violent assault on Catherine Payne at Aquaforte, 18 May 1819, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Threw her out of the house that she occupied. Fined £10 and bound over. NB: This could be either Peter Winsor the elder or junior. No way of knowing from the court record.

• Occupation: Ship Building, Merchant, Politician, After 1819, Aquaforte, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Co-owned several vessels with his son, Henry, a Master Mariner, and other family members and business associates. These included the Pelter Emulator and Aquaforte.

• Occupation: Merchant Business, 1821, Aquaforte, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

• Occupation: Merchant and Planter, 14 Feb 1824, Aquaforte, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

• Occupation: Mariner, 1826-1832, Aquaforte, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Registration Number: S826030
Owner's Surname: Winsor
Owner's First Name: Peter
Residence: AQUAFORTE, NFLD.
Occupation: Mariner
Owner No.: 01
Partnership Divisor: 01
Shares: 26
Owner's Surname: Brazil
Owner's First Name: Maurice
Residence: FERRYLAND, NFLD.
Occupation: Mariner
Owner No.: 02
Partnership Divisor: 01
Shares: 13
Owner's Surname: Pitt
Owner's First Name: Robert
Residence: FERRYLAND, NFLD.
Occupation: Tradesman - Non-Marine
Owner No.: 03
Partnership Divisor: 01
Shares: 13
Owner's Surname: Winsor
Owner's First Name: Henry
Residence: AQUAFORTE, NFLD.
Occupation: Mariner
Owner No.: 04
Partnership Divisor: 01
Shares: 12
Was oner the builder: Yes for all four co-owners
Official No.:
Vessel Name: EMULATOR
Where Prev. Registered:
Year Prev. Registered:
Place Constructed: AQUAFORTE, NFLD
Year Constructed: 1825
No. of Decks: 1
No. of Masts: 2
Type of Vessel: Schooner
Length (ft.): 62
Width (ft.): 19
Depth (ft.):
Gross Tonnage: 96
Net Tonnage:
Year Registered: 1826
Official Closure Year: 1832
Reason for Closure: 12 [Registered de novo]
Place of Closure: ST JOHNS, NFLD.
Actual Closure Date: 1832.

• Occupation: Mariner, 1826-1832, Aquaforte, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Registration Number: S826030
Owner's Surname: Winsor
Owner's First Name: Peter
Residence: AQUAFORTE, NFLD.
Occupation: Mariner
Owner No.: 01
Partnership Divisor: 01
Shares: 26
Owner's Surname: Brazil
Owner's First Name: Maurice
Residence: FERRYLAND, NFLD.
Occupation: Mariner
Owner No.: 02
Partnership Divisor: 01
Shares: 13
Owner's Surname: Pitt
Owner's First Name: Robert
Residence: FERRYLAND, NFLD.
Occupation: Tradesman - Non-Marine
Owner No.: 03
Partnership Divisor: 01
Shares: 13
Owner's Surname: Winsor
Owner's First Name: Henry
Residence: AQUAFORTE, NFLD.
Occupation: Mariner
Owner No.: 04
Partnership Divisor: 01
Shares: 12
Was oner the builder: Yes for all four co-owners
Official No.:
Vessel Name: EMULATOR
Where Prev. Registered:
Year Prev. Registered:
Place Constructed: AQUAFORTE, NFLD
Year Constructed: 1825
No. of Decks: 1
No. of Masts: 2
Type of Vessel: Schooner
Length (ft.): 62
Width (ft.): 19
Depth (ft.):
Gross Tonnage: 96
Net Tonnage:
Year Registered: 1826
Official Closure Year: 1832
Reason for Closure: 12 [Registered de novo]
Place of Closure: ST JOHNS, NFLD.
Actual Closure Date: 1832.

• Owner: Co-owner of EMULATOR, 1826-1832, Aquaforte, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Registration Number: S826030
Owner's Surname: Winsor
Owner's First Name: Peter
Residence: AQUAFORTE, NFLD.
Occupation: Mariner
Owner No.: 01
Partnership Divisor: 01
Shares: 26
Owner's Surname: Brazil
Owner's First Name: Maurice
Residence: FERRYLAND, NFLD.
Occupation: Mariner
Owner No.: 02
Partnership Divisor: 01
Shares: 13
Owner's Surname: Pitt
Owner's First Name: Robert
Residence: FERRYLAND, NFLD.
Occupation: Tradesman - Non-Marine
Owner No.: 03
Partnership Divisor: 01
Shares: 13
Owner's Surname: Winsor
Owner's First Name: Henry
Residence: AQUAFORTE, NFLD.
Occupation: Mariner
Owner No.: 04
Partnership Divisor: 01
Shares: 12
Was oner the builder: Yes for all four co-owners
Official No.:
Vessel Name: EMULATOR
Where Prev. Registered:
Year Prev. Registered:
Place Constructed: AQUAFORTE, NFLD
Year Constructed: 1825
No. of Decks: 1
No. of Masts: 2
Type of Vessel: Schooner
Length (ft.): 62
Width (ft.): 19
Depth (ft.):
Gross Tonnage: 96
Net Tonnage:
Year Registered: 1826
Official Closure Year: 1832
Reason for Closure: 12 [Registered de novo]
Place of Closure: ST JOHNS, NFLD.
Actual Closure Date: 1832.

• Court: Grand and Petty Juries, Second Sitting of the Southern Circuit Court, 3 Nov 1826, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. (Juror)

• Court: Peter Winser vs Ewen Stabb, Oct 1827, Aquaforte, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Peter Winser tried to reclaim a part of the cost of shipping fish to England from the carrier, Ewen Stabb, because the weight on arrival was less than the weight when shipped (due to shrinkage). The court would hear nothing of it and went to great lengths to explain why this was not reasonable.

• Court: Cases as Plaintiff, Third Sitting of the Southern Circuit Court, 2 Oct 1827, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Peter Winsor v. Andrew Morrison. Robert Carter, Ewen Stabb and Matthew Morry arbitrated in case brought forward from previous term. In favour of Plaintiff. £10.

• Court: Member of Grand Jury, Third Sitting of the Southern Circuit Court, 2 Oct 1827, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Presiding: The Honourable Richard Alexander Tucker, Esq., Chief Judge of the Supreme Court

B. G. Garrett, Clerk and Registrar, SCC

John Bulger, Deputy Sheriff
William Carter, Magistrate & Custos Rotulorum (Keeper of the Rolls)
Andrew Morrison, Magistrate
John Preston, Magistrate
Richard Sullivan and John McLennan, Constables
Peter Gorman, Gaoler

Grand Jury:
Charles Hutchins (FOreman); Thomas Congdon, G. Brown; James H. Carter; Matthew Morry; John Morry; John Row; W. Richards; N. Stabb; P. Winsor; Thomas Norris; Thomas Norris, Jr.; John W. Saunders; M. Brazil; E. Stabb; A. Clift; B. Sweetland; Phillip Wright; Robert Evans; William Goff.

• Court: Peter Winsor v. Ewen Stabb, Third Sitting of the Southern Circuit Court, 3 Oct 1827, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Action to recover £7.2.7 - remainder of the cost of shipping salt fish to England.

The Defendant was exonerated by a very long, verbose and probably incorrect judgement by the judge referring to several irrelevant precedents.

• Occupation: Merchant, 5 Nov 1827, Aquaforte, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

• Court: Member of officials at 4th sitting of Southern Circuit Court, 4 Nov 1828, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. (Witness)

• Court: Peter Winsor v John Preston at 4th sitting of Southern Circuit Court, 12 Nov 1828, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Action to recover £3.9.4
Decision reserved to consultation with judges of Supreme Court.

• Court: Peter Winsor v John Preston at 4th sitting of Southern Circuit Court, 19 Nov 1828, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. After review of the case heard on the 13th, the Court rules that the Plaintiff is due to passage money of Grant's servant and Defendant had no recourse in the matter.

• Land Grant: Petition by Peter Winsor, 4 Apr 1829, Aquaforte, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

• Court: Member of officials at 6th sitting of Southern Circuit Court, Between 26 Oct 1830 and 6 Nov 1830, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. (Juror)

• Court: Noah Clift v Peter Winsor at 6th sitting of Southern Circuit Court, 1 Nov 1830, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. (Party)

• Court: Robert & James Carter v Peter Winsor and owners of Emulator at 6th sitting of Southern Circuit Court, Between 4 Nov 1830 and 6 Nov 1830, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. (Party)

• Owner: The PELTER, Between 1831 and 1869, Aquaforte, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. (Owner)

• Property: Anna Elton Morris suggests this was the first land grant in Aquaforte. It was not., 3 May 1832, Aquaforte, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Winsor
Peter
Aquaforte
8 - 2 - 33 (A-R-P)
1832 03-May
440
SDC-2
13
.

• Property: SDC Vol 2 No 440 Fol 13-16 Grant to Peter Winsor 03-05-1831, 3 May 1832, Aquaforte, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

• Court: Grand Juror, Circuit Court, 17 Sep 1832, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

• Court: Harris, Messrs., & Co. v. Peter Winsor at 1833 sitting of Southern Circuit Court, Between 19 Oct 1833 and 30 Oct 1833, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Action to recover £109.1.1. Case stood over to next Term.

• Occupation: Captain [and co-owner] of the "Pelter", sealing vessel, 19 Apr 1834, Aquaforte, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

• Interesting: Conversion of several of his daughters by Father Duffy, Aug 1834, Aquaforte, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. This account appears in Robert Carter's diaries:

Sunday, 10 August 1834
" Considerable sensation excited in Mr. Winser' s [sic] family last week, it being discerned that some of his daughters had been baptized into the Catholic faith by Rev. Duffy who had been hospitably received and entertained by Mr. Winser during the winter at his house." There is a much larger picture behind this than the brief entry conveys. Peter Winsor (note the correct spelling of his name as he then used it, though he later changed it to Windsor) entertained this well-loved Roman Catholic priest at his house not out of the goodness of his heart or a sincere interest in a rapprochement between Catholics and Protestants on the shore, where much tension existed between the religions. He needed Father Duffy' s support in order to win over the majority Roman Catholic population so that he could be elected to the House of Assembly in the next election. He had been defeated by Robert Carter, RN, the cousin of the diarist, in the first election for the House in 1832 and this was all a carefully planned part of the scheme for Peter Winsor to eventually usurp Carter, which he did successfully in 1836 as a result of this support from Duffy. Winsor could therefore not openly condemn Duffy for going behind his back and baptizing his daughters without losing his support. Indeed, he himself eventually converted, though only for show. He denied his conversion on his death bed.

• Appointment: Administered the oath of office as JP for Aquaforte by Robert Carter, 13 Sep 1834, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

• Court: Accused of violent assault on Catherine Cose, 20 Apr 1835, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

• Court: Cose, Samuel a.t.s Winser, Peter at 1835 sitting of Southern Circuit Court, Between 29 Oct 1835 and 4 Nov 1835, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Record Damaged. Judgement by Confession.

• Court: Dullanty, John a.t.s Winser, Peter at 1835 sitting of Southern Circuit Court, Between 29 Oct 1835 and 4 Nov 1835, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Settled. Action withdrawn.

• Court: Gregory, William a.t.s Winser, Peter at 1835 sitting of Southern Circuit Court, Between 29 Oct 1835 and 4 Nov 1835, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Record Damaged. Action to recover (?) Parties appear in person. Judgement by Confession.

• Court: The King v Winser, Peter at 1835 sitting of Southern Circuit Court, Between 29 Oct 1835 and 4 Nov 1835, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Indictment for assault on Samuel Cose on 26 Aug 1835. Pleads Not Guilty. Petty Jury verdict Not Guilty.
.

• Court: Winser, Peter v William Gregory at 1835 sitting of Southern Circuit Court, Between 29 Oct 1835 and 4 Nov 1835, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Action to recover (?). Judgement by confession.

• Court: Brine, Mary v William Carter at 1836 sitting of Southern Circuit Court, Between 1 Nov 1836 and 10 Nov 1836, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. (Power of Attorney)

• Occupation: Merchant, 1837-1858, Aquaforte, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

• Owner: Co-owners of the brig AQUAFORTE, 1837-1858, Aquaforte, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Registration Number: S837048
Owner's Surname: Winser
Owner's First Name: Peter
Residence: AQUAFORTE, NFLD.
Occupation: Merchant
Owner No.: 01
Partnership Divisor: 01
Shares: 40
Owner's Surname: Winser
Owner's First Name: Henry
Residence: AQUAFORTE, NFLD.
Occupation: Mariner
Owner No.: 02
Partnership Divisor: 01
Shares: 12
Owner's Surname: Jones
Owner's First Name: George
Residence: AQUAFORTE, NFLD.
Occupation: Mariner
Owner No.: 02
Partnership Divisor: 01
Shares: 12
Was owner the builder: No for Owner1 Yes for Owners 2 and 3
Official No.: not given
Vessel Name: AQUAFORTE
Where Prev. Registered:
Year Prev. Registered:
Place Constructed: AQUAFORTE, NFLD.
Year Constructed: 1837 [actually 27 Sept 1836 - R Carter Diary]
No. of Decks: 1
No. of Masts: 2
Type of Vessel: Brig
Length (ft.): 69
Width (ft.): 19
Depth (ft.): 12
Gross Tonnage: 108
Net Tonnage:
Year Registered: 1837
Official Closure Year: 1858
Reason for Closure: 12 [Lost at Sea]
Place of Closure: Newfoundland Coast
Actual Closure Date: 1857.

• Election: Member of the House of Assembly of Newfoundland for Ferryland, 15 May 1837, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Judge Prowse reported that Peter Winsor held office between 1836 and 1837 but this is incorrect. Patrick Morris was elected in the 1836 election with the support of Peter Winsor and Father James Duffy. But that election was overturned and a new election took place on Monday, May 15 1837. Peter Winsor ran unopposed that time and hence was acclaimed.

• Court: Cose, Catherine a.t.s the Queen at 1838 sitting of Southern Circuit Court, Between 31 Oct 1838 and 7 Nov 1838, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Assault & Battery [on Peter Winser]. "Ignored".

• Court: Cose, Samuel a.t.s the Queen at 1838 sitting of Southern Circuit Court, Between 31 Oct 1838 and 7 Nov 1838, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Assault & Battery [on Peter Winser]. True Bill, J. H. Carter, foreman. Plea of "not guilty". trial following day. Verdict for Defendant. John Murray, foreman.

• Court: Holdsworth, Henry v Peter Winser at 1838 sitting of Southern Circuit Court, Between 31 Oct 1838 and 7 Nov 1838, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. In assumpsit to recover £8.6.8. Plaintiff by his attorney, Philip Wright. Special Jury, Matthew Morry, foreman. Verdict for Plaintiff. £7.7.11.

• Court: The Queen v Peter Winser at 1838 sitting of Southern Circuit Court, Between 31 Oct 1838 and 7 Nov 1838, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Assault & Battery on Catherine Cose. Petty Jury, John Coulman, foreman. Not guilty.

• Court: Bryan, Terence a.t.s of Peter Winser & Henry Winser at 1839 sitting of Southern Circuit Court, Between 28 Oct 1839 and 8 Nov 1839, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Action to recover £19.16.4. Plaintiff appears and indicates cause settled.

• Residence: Retreat, 1840, Aquaforte, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

• Residence: Retreat/Poole/North Side, 1840-1859, Aquaforte, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. 1840 - Retreat (Peter Winser)
1841 - Poole (Peter Winser Esq.)
1842 - Retreat (Peter Winser)
1844 - ditto ditto
1845 - ditto (Peter Windsor Esq. Sr.)
1846 - ditto (Peter Windsor Sr. Esq.)
1847 - ditto ditto
1849 - ditto ditto
1852 - Riverhead ditto
1855 - missing
1859 - North Side (Peter Windsor J.P. dead)

There is a glaring mistake on the 1855 and 1859 Voters Lists. He was not absent from Aquaforte in 1855, though he may have been temporarily operating from St. John's in his official capacities. And he certainly was NOT dead in 1859. He did not die for another five years after that. There is no accounting for such a serious error.
.

• Court: Gardner, Thomas a.t.s. Peter Winser and Henry Winser at 1840 sitting of Southern Circuit Court, Between 21 Oct 1840 and 31 Oct 1840, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. In assumpsit to recover £5.5.6. Plaintiff and Defendant in person. Judgement by confession.

• Court: Harding, Christopher a.t.s. Peter Winser and Henry Winser at 1840 sitting of Southern Circuit Court, Between 21 Oct 1840 and 31 Oct 1840, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. No service of Writ.

• Court: Member of officials at 1840 sitting of Southern Circuit Court, Between 21 Oct 1840 and 31 Oct 1840, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. (Justice of Peace)

• Court: The Queen v Samuel Rich, Thomas Hogan and Edmond Hogan at 1840 sitting of Southern Circuit Court, Between 21 Oct 1840 and 31 Oct 1840, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Feloniously st4ealing three gallons of wine to the value of 6 shillings the property of Peter Winser. Plead not guilty. Petty Jury declares not guilty.

• Court: Appointment of Justices of the Peace in the Southern District, 1843, Aquaforte, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

• Court: Shannahan, John v Peter Winser at 1844 sitting of Southern Circuit Court, Between 23 Oct 1844 and 1 Nov 1844, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Continued from previous term. Action in assumpsit to recover £3.0.0. Simms for Plaintiff, Clowe for Defendant. Petty Jury gives verdict for Plaintiff in full amount.

• Property: Store at the Point of Beach containing gear for the "Pelter" destoyed by fire, 6 Feb 1846, Ferryland, Newfoundland. Mr. Winser's Store at Aquaforte burnt
down with all its Contents last Night
consisting of Sails & Ice Gear of Brig "Pelter" -
Point of Beach Store. -
.

• Religion: C of E , Converted To Catholicism, 1847.

• Religion: Converted to Roman Catholic, 11 Apr 1847, Aquaforte, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Entry for Sunday 11 April 1847
Reported that P Winser Esqr J.P.
for Aquaforte to have become Roman Catholic
and
Sunday, 18 April, 1847
Peter Winser at R Chapel today first time since turned.

• Religion: Converted to be Roman Catholic, was Baptized and Married in the faith, 21 May 1847, Aquaforte, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

• Election: Member of the House of Assembly of Newfoundland for Ferryland, 1848, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

• Interesting: Made petitions to House of Assembly re need of a teacher at Ferryland and for a good road from St. John's to Trepassey, 24 Feb 1851, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. In the Public Ledger for this date.

• Documentation: Petitition to provide support via roadwork to destitute of Ferryland, 29 Oct 1852, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. This petition appeared in the Public Ledger of this date having been sent at the best of a meeting including Peter Winser [sic], Matthew Morry, John Morry and James Howe Carter. The petition was sent on their behalf to James Crowdy, Administrator, by Sheriff John Stevenson.

It is noteworthy that, while the cause for this petition was the failure to the fishery and the potato crop in 1852, the following year in 1853 another report in the Public Ledger stated that the fishery had been remarkably good in that year in that part of Newfoundland.

• Election: Member of the House of Assembly of Newfoundland for St. John's East, 1855, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

• Appointment: Stipendiary Magistrate and JP, 1857, Aquaforte, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

• Documentation: Gave testimony before the Fisheries Commission, 1857, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Peter Winser, Esq,, M. H. A., examined.
I am a native of Devonshire, and came to this place with my father, in 1797. I went to the banks as a fisherman in my father's vessel, and continued so employed for seven years, In the year 1802, during the interval of peace between Great Britain and the French Republic, I was master of my father's vessel on the banks, and saw several French vessels fishing there, but as they did not anchor, or make use of bultows, they did not annoy or injure us. In the year 1815, I built a fishing room at Aquafort, and in 1816 engaged with Captain Tozier, of Topsham, to cure his vessel's catch of fish, who was then employed in the bank fishery; and then it was for the first time, I heard of the French using bultows on the banks, and doing great injury to the British fishermen, as no private enterprise could compete with a nation that gave such extraordinary bounties. Two years afterwards, I engaged to cure a banker's fish, for Messrs. Codner and Jennings, a mercantile establishment then in St. John's, and often heard Captain Warren complain of being annoyed and injured, by the French fishermen surrounding him, with their bultows on the banks. I have not the least doubt on my mind, but that our banking fishery was destroyed in consequence of the extraordinary bounties given by France. I am also of opinion that if the French are allowed to partake in our fisheries on the Labrador and Belle Isle, their bounties will have the same effect there. The French bank fishery greatly injures the fishery on our eastern shore, and our men who used to fish there are compelled to proceed to the Labrador; some years since we had a large spring cod fishery on our eastern shore, but the French bank fishery has destroyed that altogether; by the use of their bultows they intercept the mother fish before they approach the coast to spawn.
Peter Winser
.

• Court: List of Grand Jurors in SDC, Between 11 Oct 1859 and 12 Oct 1859, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

• Alt. Burial: 11 Oct 1872, Aquaforte, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.


Parents
         Father: Capt. Peter Winser 168,5429
         Mother: Sarah Symons 168

Spouses and Children
1. *Sarah E. Payne 168,1157 
       Marriage: 5 Dec 1801 - St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada 3288,3683

Marriage Events

• Minister/Priest: John Harries, 5 Dec 1801, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

• Witnesses: Elizabeth Gascott, Thomas Payne, Richard Penny, 5 Dec 1801, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Marriage Notes

5 August, 2000:

Today I am deleting from this record the existence of a second son Henry (born 1805) who existed according to my Aunt Jean's records but not according to Helen Steinke's more accurate Winsor information.

150113:

5-Dec 1801 St. John's Peter WINSOR Sarah PAYNE Elizabeth Gascott, Francis Payne STJB [Peter Winsor (1781-1864) was born at Denbury, England. He eventually settled at Aquaforte. In the 1830s, he was the member for Ferryland District, in the House of Assembly.]

NB: Notes are by Jill Marshall and/or Kevin Reddigan who are both partially responsible for the collection of Ferryland marriages in St. John's churches that appears on the NGB website.

090818 from Notes by Nimshi Crewe (MG281):

"5 Dec. 1801. Peter Winsor and Sarah Payne were married by me, John Harris. This marriage was solemnized between us: Peter Winsor Sarah Payne In the presence of: Richard Penny Elizabeth Gascott (Her X Mark) Thomas Payne.

Above is an extract from a marriage register of the Anglican Cathedral, St. John's, Nfld.

N. C. Crewe 14 Nov. 1966"

270919:

Anna Elton Morris's research notes given to me by Patricia Lester Pike in July 2019 suggest that they were married in Harbour Grace. I have seen such errors in regard to other marriages that were in fact performed at the Anglican Cathedral and have not found out what the source of this error is.
Children: 1. Capt. Henry Winsor 2. Elizabeth Sarah Winsor 3. Sarah Payne Winsor 4. Jane Winsor 5. Caroline Winsor 6. Capt. Peter Windsor 7. Capt. John Winsor 8. Anna Louisa Winsor

Notes
General:
There is a large discrepancy on the date of death with the 1864 date seeming more logical.

Information from Enid O'Brien in an email on 3 May 2000:

"I just had a look over our previous correspondence and I note one thing which I should clear up immediately. When I said the Winsors were "colorful" I meant only "interesting" and not in a bad way. I had an account from Anna Elton Morris (a descendant) who noted one of the first Win(d)sors was captured by the French at the time of the Napoleonic wars and spent a number of years imprisoned in Arras, France. Peter was MHA for the district of Ferryland X3 with the help of a Catholic priest, Father Duffy, who came into his house and converted a couple of his daughters to Catholicism unbeknownst to Peter. There are numerous letters in the early papers from Peter as politics at that time was quite different than it is today. People voted along religious lines and when you think about it, it is amazing how he managed to get elected three times in a predominantly Catholic district. Also, there was another Winsor who went to South Africa and found a diamond mine and they named a town after him called Windsorton. I believe in just about every generation of Winsors there were drownings, even up to the Ocean Ranger (our big Newfoundland tragedy around 1984 when there were two Winsors drowned). They were a very respectable family and I really just meant they were an interesting family."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Anna Elton-Morris address to 1988 Winsor Reunion in Aquaforte (transcript sent to me by Enid O'Brien, July 2000):

THE WINSER, WINSOR, WINDSOR FAMILY REUNION AT AQUAFORTE ON JULY 29, 30 AND 3lST. 1988.

BY ANNA ELTON-MORRIS

IT IS DELIGHTFUL TO BE IN THIS HALL AND SEE SO MANY WINDSOR'S CELEBRATING IN THIS YEAR OF 1988 AND KNOW THAT SINCE 1840 AND PROBABLY PRIOR WINSORS FROM AQUAFORTE HAVE COME TO FERRYLAND TO SOCIALIZE. MY PURPOSE IS TO TELL YOU OF ONE OF YOUR ANCESTERS. OF HOW HE CAME TO NEWFOUNDLAND, OF HIS FAMILY, HIS BUSINESS, HIS RELIGION AND POLITICS.

THE FIRST PETER WINSOR TO SETTLE IN AQUAFORTE WAS BORN TO PETER AND SARAH SYMONS WINSOR IN DENBURY, DEVON, ENGLAND IN 1781. HIS FATHER WAS A SEA CAPTAIN AND FISHED ON THE GRAND BANKS. PETER AND HIS BROTHERS ACCOMPANIED HIM ON HIS FISHING VOYAGES AND EVENTUALLY BECAME SEA CAPTAINS THEMSELVES. THREE OF HIS BROTHERS SETTLED IN NEWFOUNDLAND. JACOB IN AQUAFORTE, ANTHONY IN EXPLOITS AND MATTHEW IN ST. JOHN'S. PETER'S GRANDFATHER WAS JACOB MARRIED TO MARY HINKSON, PETER'S GREAT GRANDFATHER WAS HENRY WHO WITH HIS WIFE MARY LIVED IN DOCCOMBE, NEAR DENBURY, DEVONSHIRE, ENGLAND.

IN DECEMBER OF 1801 AT THE AGE OF 20 PETER MARRIED SARAH PAYNE AT THE ANGLICAN CATHEDRAL IN ST. JOHN'S. SARAH WAS ONLY 13, JUST IMAGINE! I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIND OUT IF SARAH WAS AN ANCESTOR OF THE PAYNE'S LIVING TO-DAY IN AQUAFORTE BUT WILL KEEP SEARCHING. AFTER THEIR MARRIAGE THEY RESIDED IN DARTMOUTH, ENGLAND.

END PAGE 1

THE TIME PERIOD WAS THAT OF THE NAPOLEONIC WARS. THE DANGERS OF THE TIME ARE BROUGHT HOME TO US WHEN WE REALIZE THAT ON A RETURN TRIP FROM CAPLIN BAY, NEWFOUNDLAND, PETER'S SHIP WAS CAPTURED BY THE FRENCH AND HE SPENT SOME YEARS IMPRISONED AT ARRAS, FRANCE.

IN 1800 THERE WERE ALREADY PEOPLE LIVING IN AQUAFORTE AND THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT PETER LEASED LAND IN CAPLIN BAY FROM NICHOLAS BRAND. SO HE WAS WELL ACQUAINTED WITH THE AREA BEFORE HE CAME TO SETTLE. ABOUT 1817-1818 PETER, HIS CREW AND THEIR FAMILIES ARRIVED AT AQUAFORTE. THEY LIVED ABOARD SHIP UNTIL THEIR HOUSES WERE BUILT. AS PIONEER SETTLERS THEY BROUGHT OUT WITH THEM SEEDS, FRUIT TREES, AND SUPPLIES. THEY FARMED TO THE EXTENT IT WAS REQUIRED TO SURVIVE. THEY KEPT SHEEP, GOATS, CATTLE AND HORSES. THEY HAD BLACKSMITHS, CARPENTERS, EVERYBODY WAS A HATCHET AND SAW MAN. THERE WAS SOMEONE TO LAY OUT THE DEAR DEPARTED, THEY ALWAYS HAD PLANKS IN THE STORES TO MAKE COFFINS WITH, THEY SPUN THEIR OWN WOOL AND KNIT THEIR OWN UNDERWEAR, ITCHY AS HELL UNTIL AFTER THE FIRST WASH OR TWO. IT WAS TYPICAL OF NEWFOUNDLAND LIFE IN THE l8TH. CENTURY. AS HIS FISHERY EXPANDED, PETER BECAME A MERCHANT SELLING FISH IN ST. JOHN'S AND OPERATING A GENERAL STORE IN THE COMMUNITY. IN 1823 HE RECEIVED A GRANT OF LAND UNDER THE LEMARCHANT GOVERNMENT.

ONCE SETTLED, PETER REQUIRED MORE SHIPS FOR HIS BUSINESS. IN 1819 HE BOUGHT A BOAT FROM SWEETLAND'S FOR 35 POUNDS.

END PAGE 2

IN 1835 HE WAS CAPTAIN OF THE RESOLUTION. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION I WENT TO THE NEWFOUNDLAND REGISTRY OF SHIPS. THIS GIVES THE SHIPS NAME, YEAR BUILT, BY WHOM BUILT, DECKS, MASTS, LENGTH, TONNAGE, TYPE, REGISTRATION NUMBER AND OWNERS NAME. IN 1825 THE SCHOONER EMULATOR WAS BUILT IN AQUAFORTE BY JOHN ACKRELL AND WAS OWNED BY PETER WINSOR MASTER, MAURICE BRAZIL, ROBERT PITT, BLACKSMITH AND HENRY WINSOR. IN 1831 THE SCHOONER PELTER WAS BUILT IN AQUAFORTE BY PETER WINSOR THE OWNERS WERE HENRY WINSOR, MASTER MARINER AND PETER WINSOR MERCHANT. IN 1837 THE BRIGANTINE AQUAFORTE WAS BUILT IN AQUAFORTE BY PETER WINSOR THE OWNERS WERE PETER, MERCHANT, HENRY MASTER MARINER, GEORGE JONES MASTER AND CAROLINE WIFE OF DAN HENRY. ONE ASTONISHING FACT IN THIS INFORMATION IS THAT A WOMAN IS LISTED AS CO-OWNER OF A SHIP. THE LIST OF OWNERS GIVES SOME INSIGHT INTO HOW CLOSE KNIT THE FAMILY MUST HAVE BEEN; FOR HENRY WAS HIS SON, CAROLINE WAS HIS SISTER AND CAPTAIN JONES HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW. THESE SHIPS AND OTHERS WERE USED FOR FISHING AT THE BANKS, THE INSHORE FISHERY, THE SEAL FISHERY,WHALING, BRINGING FISH TO ST.JOHN'S AND RETURNING WITH SUPPLIES. AQUAFORTE HAD BECOME A THRIVING COMMUNITY.

ONCE PETER HAD ESTABLISHED HIS BUSINESS HE TURNED HIS THOUGHTS TO POLITICS. HE GOT HIS FEET WET WORKING TO GET PATRICK MORRIS ELECTED IN 1836. ON THE EVE OF ELECTION DAY THE CROWD ASSEMBLED AROUND THE COURT HOUSE IN FERRYLAND. PETER USED TANTALIZING LANGUAGE TO STIR UP THE CROWD AGAINST CARTER AND CREATE

END PAGE 3

POPULARITY FOR MORRIS. THE OTHER PARTY COULD NOT BE HEARD AND PETER WAS CHASED AND CARRIED THROUGH THE HARBOUR WITH FLAGS FLYING. HE WAS ELECTED THREE TIMES TO THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY. ON HIS FIRST ATTEMPT THE PARTY HAD FATHER DUFFY ASSIST HIM IN HIS CAMPAIGNING. PETER WAS PROTESTANT, THE SHORE WAS MAINLY CATHOLIC AND NO DOUBT THE PARTY WISHED THE PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH SUPPORTED MR. WINSOR. THE ENTRY THAT ROBERT CARTER MADE IN HIS DIARY IN 1834 IS QUITE INTERESTING, QUOTE "WIND STRONG AT E. N. E., DULL AND HEAVY WITH CONSIDERABLE SEA ON THECOAST. REV. C. SHEARS PERFORMED SERVICE TWICE AT CHURCH. CONSIDERABLE SENSATION EXECUTED IN MR. WINDSOR'S FAMILY LAST WEEK IT BEING DISCOVERED THAT SOME OF HIS DAUGHTERS HAD BEEN BAPTIZED INTO THE CATHOLIC FAITH BY REV. DUFFY WHO HAD BEEN HOSPITABLY RECEIVED AND ENTERTAINED BY MR. WINDSOR DURING THE WINTER AT HIS HOUSE. CLEARED OFF FINE TOWARDS EVENING" END QUOTE.

THE DAUGHTERS WOULD HAVE BEEN SARAH AND JANE. THAT A ROW ENSUED BETWEEN PETER AND FR. DUFFY IS SEEN IN THE REFERENCE IN ROBERT CARTER'S DIARY ON FEBRUARY 24TH., 1835 WHERE HE REFERS TO FR. DUFFY HAVING CURSED THE PELTER AND THOSE WHO WOULD GO IN HER TO THE ICE. THOSE OF US WHO HAVE HAD EXPERIENCE OF THE EFFECTS ON A FAMILY WHEN A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY CHANGES RELIGION OR MARRIES OUTSIDE THE FAITH CAN WELL IMAGINE THE RACKET THAT TOOK PLACE! TO GIVE YOU AN INSIGHT INTO PETER'S FEELINGS ON THE SUBJECT JUST 13 YEARS LATER I'D LIKE TO READ A COPY OF HIS LETTER OF 1847 PUBLISHED IN THE PATRIOT. QUOTE

END PAGE 4

QUOTE:

Letters of P. Winsor

From the Patriot May 12, 1847

Dear Sir, Perceiving that you have made a beginning to record the conversions; or rather the return of a number of persons to the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church from which (according to my humble opinion) our Fathers should never have separated, I now beg of you (unworthy and mean as I am) to add my name to the number; for I have been taught by my Divine Master that "whosoever shall deny me before Men, Him will I also deny before my Father which is in Heaven" and again "he that loveth Father and Mother more than me is not worthy of me, and he that loveth son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me, and he that taketh not his cross and followeth after me, is not worthy of me " .

At some future time (God Willing) I intend to make known all the particulars of my enquiries after Truth, during the last five years of my secluded life.

I remain, dear Sir, Your obedient servant, Peter Winser.

BY 1847 PETER AND 14 MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY WERE BAPTIZED INTO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AT ADMIRALS COVE, NOW PORT KIRWIN. A SERIES OF LETTERS ON WHY HE CONVERTED WERE PRINTED IN THE PATRIOT AT THE TIME. THESE LETTERS SHOW THAT PETER WAS A VERY SPIRITUAL MAN AND WELL VERSED IN THE BIBLE. AS WE ALL KNOW AT THE END OF HIS LIFE PETER BECAME DISENCHANTED WITH THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND HE WAS BURIED IN THE MEADOW, AQUAFORTE.

[NB: Anna may have assumed this but it appears not to have been the case according to his full obituary in the Patriot which said he died at perfect peace with his conversion. In fact, the reason he was buried outside of the St. Luke's churchyard was almost certainly because he was no longer an Anglican and there was no RC cemetery in Aquaforte at that time. CJM 201222]

BACK TO THE ELECTIONS. PETER DID GET ELECTED TO THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY IN 1836 AS THE MEMBER FOR THE DISTRICT OF FERRYLAND. AFTER HIS TERM OF OFFICE HE SOUGHT RE-ELECTION AND THE FOLLOWING

END PAGE 5

IS A LETTER HE PLACED IN THE PATRIOT FROM APRIL TO AUGUST PRIOR TO THE ELECTION OF 1848.

QUOTE:

Aquaforte March 28, 1848

To The Independent Electors of the District of Ferryland

Gentlemen:

Having represented you in the 2nd. House of General Assembly, and for four years devoted all my energies to the discharge of the arduous duties imposed upon me, and as you have observed the manner in which I used my utmost endeavouries to fulfil them, I shall (God Willing) present to you an opportunity of signifying, by your votes, whether my opinion and conduct have been approved by you, If, then, Gentlemen, you are of the opinion that I did my duty faithfully according to the trust reposed in me, and never bartered your rights through a base subserviency to those in power,- if you consider that I never lost an opportunity of promoting the improvements, effected generally throughout the Island, but more particularly in our own District then you will, I am sure, support my humble claims to your representation.

In conclusion, Gentlemen, I have a single observation to make to you; that I am pleased and proud to observe that in the neighbouring Colonies that great first principle of the British Constitution, Responsibility of the Executive to the People through their Representatives, has been acceded to; it is almost unnecessary for me to assure you, that if chosen as your Representative, I shall consider it my bounden duty, with every energy that I am possessed of, to claim the same conclusion for Newfoundland. In a word, I shall do my utmost as hitherto, to ameliorate the condition of the brave, the generous and most meritorious Fishermen the very bone and sinew of the Country.

I have the honour to remain, Gentlemen, Your faithful servant, Peter Winser.

Inserted Ap 5,12,19.26 May 3,10,17,31 June 7,14,21 July 12,19,26 August 2,9,16 Poling Nov 16

UNQUOTE.

END PAGE 6

FOR A NON CATHOLIC TO BE ELECTED TO OFFICE IN A CATHOLIC DISTRICT MUST HAVE BEEN QUITE SOMETHING IN THOSE TIMES. PETER MUST HAVE HAD QUITE A PERSONALITY AND BEEN WELL RESPECTED. HE CERTAINLY WORKED HARD FOR HIS DISTRICT. HE WAS ALWAYS VERY CONCERNED FOR THE POOR. ONE OF THE SPEECHES HE GAVE IN 1849 WAS ON PAUPERISM. HE CONTINUALLY SUPPORTED AND IMPLEMENTED PETITIONS FOR BETTER CONDITIONS IN THE AREA. HE WAS APPOINTED BY WARRANT TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IN THE ELECTORAL DISTRICT OF FERRYLAND IN 1836 AND REAPPOINTED THROUGH 1862. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE ROADS COMMISSION AND DID ALL HE COULD TO IMPROVE THE CONDITIONS OF THE ROADS AND TO EXTEND THE ROAD. HE SAT IN THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DISTRICT OF FERRYLAND BEING ELECTED IN 1837 AND 1848 AND FOR ST. JOHN'S EAST IN 1855. ON HIS APPOINTMENT AS STIPENDIARY MAGISTRATE FOR THE DISTRICT HE RESIGNED HIS SEAT IN THE HOUSE.

PETER HAD EIGHT CHILDREN, THREE SONS AND FIVE DAUGHTERS. HENRY MARRIED ANN COULMAN. PETER MARRIED ANNA JENNINGS WINSOR, HIS FIRST COUSIN. JOHN MARRIED ANN EVANS. ELIZABETH SARAH WAS BURNT TO DEATH AGED 7. SARAH PAYNE MARRIED CAPTAIN GEORGE JONES. CAPTAIN JONES WAS DROWNED IN 1844 ON A VOYAGE TO GREENOCK. SARAH'S SECOND MARRIAGE WAS TO GEORGE OLIPHANT. SARAH WAS THE ROMAN CATHOLIC TEACHER IN AQUAFORTE AND WAS STILL TEACHING AT 73 THE POOR CHILDREN. JANE MARRIED WILLIAM SWEETLAND MORRY, CAROLINE MARRIED HER FIRST COUSIN DAN HENRY WINSOR.

END PAGE 7

NANCY, THE YOUNGEST, MARRIED WILLIAM MORRISSEY. HER MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE LISTS HER NAME AS ANN LOUISA AND ONE WONDERS IF SHE CHANGED HER NAME AS SHE CHANGED HER RELIGION.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN A MORE RACY VIEW OF PETER, YOU CAN ALWAYS CHECK THE COURT RECORDS. IN TIMES GONE BY IT SEEMS TO ME THEY WENT TO COURT TO SETTLE ALL KINDS OF FRIVOLOUS CLAIMS AND CERTAINLY THEY MAKE INTERESTING READING.

IN CLOSING I WOULD LIKE TO READ PETER'S OBITUARY FROM THE PATRIOT, ST. JOHN'S 25 OCT. 1864

DIED AT AQUAFORTE, ON TUESDAY THE llTH. INSTANT PETER WINSOR ESQUIRE AGED 83 THE LAMENTED DECEASED WAS FOR MANY YEARS ENGAGED IN THE STAPLE BUSINESS OF THE COUNTRY AND BY STRICT HONOUR AND PROBITY IN ALL HIS TRANSACTIONS GAINED THE RESPECT AND ESTEEM OF ALL WITH WHOM HE HAD CONNECTIONS AND TRANSACTIONS. HE SAT IN THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY FOR MANY YEARS AS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DISTRICT OF FERRYLAND AND DURING THE WHOLE PERIOD WAS A MOST STRENUOUS ADVOCATE OF THE RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE PROGRESS OF THE COLONY. HE RESIGNED HIS SEAT ON BEING APPOINTED STIPENDIARY MAGISTRATE FOR THE DISTRICT HE REPRESENTED. SOME YEARS SINCE THE DECEASED BECAME A CONVERT TO THE CATHOLIC FAITH AND WROTE A PAMPHLET ON THE SUBJECT OF HIS CONVERSION WHICH CREATED A GOOD DEAL OF INTEREST AT THE TIME.

IN THIS FAITH HE LIVED CONSISTENTLY AND DIED WITH PERFECT RESIGNATION TO THE DIVINE WILL. REQUIESCAT IN PACE.

THE DEATH NOTICE AND OUR KNOWLEDGE OF PETER'S RELIGION AT HIS DEATH DIFFER. HOWEVER, YOU'VE SEEN THE GRAVE STONES IN THE MEADOW SO JUDGE FOR YOURSELF.

END PAGE 8

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Frank Galgay records the events surrounding the conversion of Peter's two daughters but does not mention that many more in the family later converted, including Peter himself:

Sometime between 1800 and 1830, the community was settled, and among those settlers was a Windsor, who established a large fishing room. This man, Peter Windsor, came about 1815, and by 1836, there were 125 people in the community. Later, Peter Windsor served as the Member of the House of Assembly for Ferryland district defeating Robert Carter, whose family had been established in Ferryland for over a century. Although he was not a Roman Catholic, Windsor had been supported strongly by Father James Duffy, the controversial parish priest of St. Mary's, who had served as a curate in the Ferryland Parish. Father Duffy spent some time at Windsor's house, helping him plan and carry out his campaign, and the two men were very friendly. In a diary kept by Carter, the defeated candidate, he records that, following the election, there was great turmoil in Peter Windsor's house, when he discovered that during his stay Father Duffy had secretly convened two of his daughters lo Catholicism. FROM: A Pilgrimage of Faith. Frank Galgay. Harry Cuff Publications Limited. 1983

Frank Galgay, in his book "A Pilgrimage of Faith", also records that Matthew Morry sat on the Board of Education for Ferryland from 1836 to 1841 when it was non-denominational and then on the Protestant Scool Board in 1845. By 1862, after Matthew had died, his son John was a Board Member. Other relations serving during these years included Robert Carter, H.M. Customs, Robert Carter, R.N., James Carter, Benjamin Sweetland, and Peter Windsor, MHA.

270812: Nimshi Crewe had a file on the Winsor family of Aquaforte. The original material is now in the Crewe Papers at The Rooms and I went through it and copied almost all of it this summer. A few duplicate pages I kept as well. Here is one of Nimshi's notations

Winsor, of Aquaforte In the volume Select Cases from the Records of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland, compiled, by Robert R. Wakeham, lawyer at St. John's, and published, by Henry Winton, St. John's, 1829. there is the report of Winsor versus Stabb, at pages 543-7. No doubt this case is also to be found in the corresponding volume of the regular series of the Nfld. Law Reports. The case was tried, in the Southern Circuit Court at Ferryland, on 4th October 1827 before Chief Judge Tucker who afterwards entered the following judgement upon it. The details need not be copied here, except to say that Owen Stabb had sent a quantity of fish to England in a ship of which Peter Winsor was owner and master ------ a dispute arose about payment of the freight, upon which Winsor sued Stabb xxxxx for a small sum he felt due to him ----- the Judge said the case, tho' trifling in amount concerned, involved important and difficult legal questions ------ Winsor lost his case. My note. This is undoubtedly the Peter Winsor of Aquaforte who was married at St. John's to Sarah Payne, and became M.H.A for Ferryland in 1837, as Captain Thomas H. Goodyear, married to his descendant and working on the Winsor family history & tree, tells me that he was a sea-captain. Signed 19 November 1966, N. C. Crewe

110315:
In an account of the tour of the Anglican Bishop around the outports of Newfoundland on the church schooner HAWK in 1848 he mentions having to put into Ferryland due to weather and the time of day. He had not intended to stop there but rather to proceed to Renews. It is not clear why he would bypass Ferryland which had a larger resident Anglican population in favour of visiting Renews, which at the time had only four or five families of this faith and no existing church (one was under construction at the time). Whatever his reasons, he did visit Ferryland and participated in the Sunday services. Then he mentions the situation regarding one prominent Aquaforte merchant who had converted to the RC faith. This can only be an allusion to Peter For Windsor. He says:
"An influential inhabitant of the latter place has lately conformed to the Roman Catholic faith, and has used his utmost endeavours to induce his large family to follow his example. But though some have fallen away, I have reason to hope and believe, that on the whole, his desertion has had the effect of making his relations and neighbours more concerned to prove and improve their churchman-ship. How have I sighed and prayed this day for the restoration of unity, that we all might be one, even as Thou, O Father, art in Christ, and Christ in Thee!"

From other accounts, it appears that Peter did not encourage his family to convert but rather was convinced to convert by several of his daughters who had already been converted by Father Duffy. His conversion was also strategic because without being a member of the RC faith he stood little chance of representing Ferryland district as an MHA in the next election since almost all the voters were by then Catholic.

170615:
Peter is the grant holder of a plot issued in 1831 that would appear to have been at the intersection of the main road from Ferryland past Aquaforte to points south and the loop road that went into Aquaforte and out again further south. But it is not clear at which end of that loop the land would have been located. This may be "The Meadow" where he and a number of his family are buried because they converted to Catholicism and could not be buried in St. Philips churchyard with the rest of the Winsors and relatives. A transcript of this grant is found in his Media Gallery.

030816:
Not everyone would agree with the glowing description of Peter Winsor found in his obituary in the Patriot (an RC favouring newspaper) as given above. William Sweetland, then Magistrate in Bonavista, wrote in his diary on April 6, 1853 (found in the MUN Digital Archive Initiative and housed at the MHA) "Peter Winsor is a pest to Society - a damned dishonest old Scoundrel". No doubt Peter's conversion to Catholocism played a large role in the determination of how various people felt about him.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

160218 from Diary of Robert Carter:

Saturday, 19 April 1834
"Old Mr. Winser went out in the Pelter on Tuesday, and he returned last evening having taken on board 500 seals off and in sight of St. John's in two days, then driven in by weather."
Two interesting facts to observe here. First, "Old Mr. Winser" was Peter Winsor (note the spelling of surname), who had just been elected a Member of new House of Assembly in 1832. He was only 53 at the time but that may have been considered old for a sealer captain. The second interesting fact was that seals were taken off St. John's, something never seen in modern times. Even given the stated weather conditions leading to this phenomenon, it seems that ice movements in those days were different than what they are today.

Sunday, 10 August 1834
"Considerable sensation excited in Mr. Winser's [sic] family last week, it being discerned that some of his daughters had been baptized into the Catholic faith by Rev. Duffy who had been hospitably received and entertained by Mr. Winser during the winter at his house." There is a much larger picture behind this than the brief entry conveys. Peter Winsor (note the correct spelling of his name as he then used it, though he later changed it to Windsor) entertained this well-loved Roman Catholic priest at his house not out of the goodness of his heart or a sincere interest in a rapprochement between Catholics and Protestants on the shore, where much tension existed between the religions. He needed Father Duffy's support in order to win over the majority Roman Catholic population so that he could be elected to the House of Assembly in the next election. He had been defeated by Robert Carter, RN, the cousin of the diarist, in the first election for the House in 1832 and this was all a carefully planned part of the scheme for Peter Winsor to eventually usurp Carter, which he did successfully in 1836 as a result of this support from Duffy. Winsor could therefore not openly condemn Duffy for going behind his back and baptizing his daughters without losing his support. Indeed, he himself eventually converted, though only for show. He denied his conversion on his death bed.

090719:

I have been looking for corroborative evidence to support the story told by Anna Elton Morris that Peter Winsor (and his brother Jacob it seems) were captured and held prisoner for several years by the French during the Napoleonic Wars. The Hunter Family website provides such corroboration as follows (date, place of imprisonment and other details differ from Anna's account):

In 1811, Peter and his brother Jacob were captured off the Coast of Newfoundland by Napoleon's men and imprisoned in Arras, France. (See the French prisoner of war records below)

Note 1: Napoleon's Berlin Decree of November 21, 1806 allowed French forces to seize vessels and merchandise and imprison English citizens. In 1811 and during a return trip from Caplin Bay, Newfoundland, Peter's fishing boat was captured off the coast of Newfoundland by the French navy and he and his brother, Jacob, remained imprisoned at Arras, France from 1811 - 1814. This accounts for the gap between Peter's first two children. See "Prisoner of War records" below.

French Prisoner of War records - October 1, 1813. Brothers Peter Ford Winser and Jacob Winser were prisoners #1406 and 1414. This document shows that Peter was the 1st captain of the ship "Mary" and was captured on December 1, 1811 and arrived at Brest, France, on January 12, 1812. Jacob was the 2nd captain of the ship "Mary" and was captured on December 1, 1811 and arrived at Brest on January 22, 1812. (Prisoners of War, The National Archives, ADM 103/468 Part 2 [Register of British POWs Prisons, L-V, France, 1787-1820] No. 1406). When Napoleon was defeated, the brothers returned home and began making plans to emigrate to Newfoundland.

Note 1: In the will of Anthony Winser, son of Henry and Mary Winser and therefore Great Uncle of Jacob, written on January 27, 1813, it tells us that "Jacob is in a French prison". Both he and his brother, Peter, were abducted from Peter's fishing boat by Napoleon's men in 1811 and taken to Arras, France and imprisoned. He and his brother remained imprisoned from 1811 until Napoleon was defeated in 1814.

190720:

This is curious. Even though Peter Winsor was himself a merchant and businessman of some note in his area, he evidently took it upon himself to oppose the appointment of Thomas Wright, a Ferryland Merchant, as a Stipendiary Magistrate contending that this status would prevent him from judging cases in an unbiased manner. While this is undoubtedly true, it sound a bit like the pot calling the kettle! In this same year he ran for and was elected as the local Member of the House in the Legislative Assembly, a position that would even more be one in which a merchant's personal biases could be exercised.

Here is what Robert Carter wrote about this in his diary:

Sunday, 5 June 1836:
A public notice was stuck up against Mr. Wright's [Thomas Wright] fence today headed "Caution!!!" desiring the people to beware and not to sign a paper going about in favour of that person as Stipendiary Magistrate; "that no person in the District possessed sufficient abilities for it but who were connected with or were themselves merchants and unfitted thereby to hear a case." Signed by the Friend of the People, P. Winser.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
From the House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador:
Peter Winsor (1781-1864) was born at Denbury, England. He eventually settled at Aquaforte. In the 1830s, he was the member for Ferryland District, in the House of Assembly.


Peter Lawrence Winsor

      Sex: M

Individual Information
     Birth Date: 12 Sep 1878 - St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada 93
    Christening: 6 Nov 1878 - St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
          Death: Bef 1898 - St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada 93,8763
         Burial: 
 Cause of Death: 

Parents
         Father: Peter Winsor Foster child 5,427
         Mother: Catherine Mary Flynn 5

Spouses and Children
1. Living

Notes
General:
031106:

Notes on this birth on the Newfoundland Genweb site: "A Peter Winsor and Kate Flynn were married Nov 19 1861 (Roman Catholic) and had a son Peter Lawrence bap Sep 6 1878 (Roman Catholic); perhaps the son was also baptized at St Marys Ang. "


Peter Robert Winsor

      Sex: M
AKA: Peter Roberts J. Winsor 282,3681
Individual Information
     Birth Date: 24 Sep 1846 - Aquaforte, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada 282,283,1688,4475
    Christening: 15 Nov 1846 - Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada 282,1688,4475
          Death: 19 Sep 1867 - Aquaforte, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada ( at age 20) 2777,3681
         Burial: After 19 Sep 1867 - Aquaforte, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada 2777
 Cause of Death: Drowned

Events

• Minister/Priest: H. H. Hamilton, 15 Nov 1846, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

• Religion: Converted From C of E To Catholic, 1848.

• Will: Will of Robert Evans, 20 Jan 1865, Renews, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. (Heir)


Parents
         Father: Capt. John Winsor 6,168,282,283
         Mother: Ann Evans 6
        Marriage Did Not Marry
                 

Notes
General:
Drowned according to death record in Family Bible.

270413: Gravestone in Our Lady of Fatima RC Cemetery in Aquaforte reads:

In memory of Edward beloved husband of Ann Condon d- Feb 7 1871 age 76 also, his son John drowned Sept 19 1867 age 38 also, son Peter Robert Windsor who met the sme fate at the same time aged 22

I presume that there was no family to remember him and that he was remembered along with the family of the man with whom he perished.


Living

      Sex: F

Parents
         Father: Washington Hill Winsor 23
         Mother: Elizabeth Ann Mercer 23

Spouses and Children
1. Living



Living

      Sex: M

Parents
         Father: Washington Hill Winsor 23
         Mother: Elizabeth Ann Mercer 23



Richard Winsor

      Sex: M

Individual Information
     Birth Date: Bef 28 Jul 1692 - Denbury, Devon, England 950
    Christening: 28 Jul 1692 - Denbury, Devon, England 950
          Death: 
         Burial: 
 Cause of Death: 

Parents
         Father: John Winsor 461
         Mother: Living


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