Benjamin SWEETLAND J. P. ⁷⁰⁹

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Interesting: Matthew Morry and Co. and Benjamin Sweetland and Co. fishing activity, Cir 1780-1820, Calvert, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. ¹⁴³² Both of these companies which were based at the head of the bay utilised Stone Island Shooting Point as a shoreline attachment for fishing gear according to Kevin Reddigan in Courageous Souls

2. Alt. Birth, Bef 28 Feb 1790, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. ⁷⁰⁹

3. Baptism, 28 Feb 1790, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. ⁸⁶⁷

4. Census: Household of Robert and Ann Carter, 1800, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. ⁷⁰⁹ Including daughter, Ann Carter Sweetland (widow) and her son Benjamin Sweetland.

5. Property: Occupied by lease from the Holdsworth family a parcel of land near the Old Woman's Pond, Cir 1815-1834, Calvert, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. ⁸⁷³ It is not clear if this is the same land on which the house, parts of which still exist, was constructed. A description of the property they leased from the Holdsworth interests is found amongst other properties listed for sale by the latter in the Public Ledger dated March 7, 1827 (see attached).

6. Court: Surrogate Court Records GN-5-1-C-1 34-35 Division of R Carter Plantation, 9 Jan 1816, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. ¹⁴³³ Ann Sanders Morry (thourgh her husband Matthew Morry II) and her brother Robert Sanders agreement to division of plantation or fishing room left to their mother Mary Carter Sanders by her father Robert Carter I. This event was shared from Robert SANDERS who also shared it with Anne SANDERS (Party), Benjamin SWEETLAND JP (Witness), James Howe CARTER (Witness), and Matthew MORRY II JP (Party).

7. Court: GN-5-1-C-1 52-54 Commission on the Case of J Square vs M Morry & Co, 30 Sep 1818, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. ¹⁴³⁴ This is a Commission granted by Supreme Court Justice Francis Forbes to Robert Carter, J. P. to arrange security for the assets of Matthew Morry & Co. in Newfoundland pending the outcome of Matthew Morry's appeal against the judgement granted the month before to John Square This event was shared from Capt. Matthew MORRY who also shared it with Benjamin SWEETLAND JP (Party), Matthew MORRY II JP (Party), Robert CARTER JP (Party), and Robert CARTER JP (Party).

8. Residence, Between 1820 and 1835, Calvert, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

9. Court: Case as Defendants, Second Sitting of the Southern Circuit Court, 4 Nov 1826, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. ¹⁴³⁵ Ennis Grant v. Benjamin Sweetland and Matthew Morry. Judgement by confession. £22.12.0

This was probably a matter of wages owing to Sweetland and Company and Morry and Co. It isn't clear which of the two Matthew Morrys was a defendant but it hardly matters as it was undoubtedly the company that was really the defendant. This event was shared from Matthew MORRY II JP who also shared it with Benjamin SWEETLAND JP (Party).

10. Court: Case as Plaintiffs, Second Sitting of the Southern Circuit Court, 6 Nov 1826, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. ¹⁴³⁵ Benjamin Sweetland and Matthew Morry v. Patrick Evoy. Judgement by confession. £10.0.0. Value of bait supplied to Evoy and his servants during season.

11. Court: Cases as Defendant, Second Sitting of the Southern Circuit Court, 8 Nov 1826, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. ¹⁴³⁵ Michael Murphy v. Benjamin Sweetland & Co. Judgement for Plaintiff. £1.1.0 of the amount claimed - £3.3.0.

12. Employment: Served as the attorney and representative of Thomas Prosser of Stratford, Ireland, 1827, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. ¹⁴³⁶ He was mentioned in an indenture between William Goff and Willaim Kydd in the Southern Court records as being the agent who was responsible for lands rented to William Goff on the Northside of Ferryland which actually belonged to Thomas Prosser in Ireland.

SDC Vol 1 Fol 50-54 William Goff to William Kydd 04-12-1827

13. Court: Member of Grand Jury, Third Sitting of the Southern Circuit Court, 2 Oct 1827, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. ¹⁴³⁷ 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

14. Court: Henry Studdy v. John W. Saunders, Third Sitting of the Southern Circuit Court, 3 Oct 1827, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. ¹⁴³⁸ Plaintiff represented by Noah Clift. He wishes to eject Saunders from a store.

Special Jury with Benjamin Sweetland as Foreman. Witness is John Preston who worked for the Plaintiff as clerk for some years and knows his property in Renews well. It is adjacent to that of Nicholas Stabb but also to a flake owned by the Defendant. The locatiton of the store is marked by a boundary stone and it was never shared between the two. Witness John Kelligrew bore out this testimony. The Jury found for the Plaintiff but the award was only one Shilling. This event was shared from John William SAUNDERS JP who also shared it with Benjamin SWEETLAND JP (Juror) and Noah CLIFT Esq. (Power of Attorney).

15. Occupation: Merchant, 1828-1834, Calvert, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. ^54,1440

16. Court: Member of officials at 4th sitting of Southern Circuit Court, 4 Nov 1828, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. ⁸⁷⁷ B. G. Garrett, Clerk & Registrar
Ewen Stabb, Deputy Sheriff
William Carter, Justice of Peace
John Preston, Justice of Peace
Andrew Morrison, Justice of Peace
Richard Gorman, Gaoler
Richard Sullivan, Constable
John Torr, Constable

Grand Jury:
Benjamin Sweetland, foreman
Robert Carter, R.N.
G. Brown
J. Carter
A. Carter
Thomas Congdon
N. Clift
Robert Evans
William Goff
Mr. Morry [sic]
James Morrison
Thomas Norris
William Richards
J. Rowe
J. Saunders
Peter Winsor
Henry Winsor
Thomas Right
William Sweetland This event was shared from Hon. William CARTER Esq.

17. Occupation: Merchant, Caplin Bay, 9 Nov 1828, Calvert, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. ⁴⁴³

18. Property: Purchase of property from William Shelley, South side, 5 Dec 1828, Calvert, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. ¹⁴⁴¹ SDC Vol 1 Fol 81-82 Walter Shelley to Benjamin Sweetland 05-12-1828 transcribed by Kevin Reddigan.

It is notable that it was at this time the Sweetland's were still acquiring and accumulating land holdings in Caplin Bay. I had previously assumed that they had acquired their property in Caplin Bay much earlier.

19. Court: Benjamin Sweetland, Esq. v Patrick Congdon at 6th sitting of Southern Circuit Court, 27 Oct 1830, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. ¹¹⁶ Action to recover £1.6.0. for rent. Defendant admitted claim. Award to Plaintiff.

20. Court: William Carter, Esq. v John Hutchins at 6th sitting of Southern Circuit Court, 27 Oct 1830, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. ¹¹⁶ Action to recover £7.15.4. Referred to Robert Carter and Benjamin Sweetland, Esq. for arbitration. Found for Plaintiff. This event was shared from Hon. William CARTER Esq. who also shared it with Robert CARTER JP (Arbitrator).

21. Court: Benjamin Sweetland & Co v various at 6th sitting of Southern Circuit Court, 4 Nov 1830, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. ¹¹⁶ Two cases heard on this day:
Benjamin Sweetland & Co. v Robert Swain, William Wade, Edward Kough & Timothy Brien

Action to recover £5.7.0. Matter left to Ewen Stabb and Noah Clift to arbitrate who decided for the Plaintiff without costs.

Benjamin Sweetland & Co. v Patrick Clancy
Action to recover £9.0.0. Settled

22. Court: Benjamin Sweetland v Patrick Congdon at 7th sitting of Southern Circuit Court, 10 Oct 1831, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. ¹¹⁷ Action to recover £13.4.0 Stg. Settled.

23. Owner: The SNIPEFISH; Returned from St. John's, 28 Aug 1832, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. ^850,1442 Co-owned by Matthew Morry Jr. and Benjamin Sweetland 1825-1842 according to ACSP This event was shared from Matthew MORRY II JP who also shared it with Benjamin SWEETLAND JP (Witness).

24. Appointment: Junior Magistrate, Cir Dec 1832, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. ¹⁴⁴³

25. Occupation: Merchant, Caplin Bay, 15 Dec 1832, Calvert, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. ⁸¹³

26. Appointment: Deputy Sherrif, 1833, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. ¹⁴⁴⁴

27. Court: Bryan, Nicholas a.t.s Benjamin Sweetland at 1833 sitting of Southern Circuit Court, 19 Oct 1833 to 30 Oct 1833, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. ¹¹⁷ Action to recover £9 for non-fulfillment of agreement. Petty Jury determined no cause of action.

28. Court: Member of officials at 1833 sitting of Southern Circuit Court, 19 Oct 1833 to 30 Oct 1833, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. ¹⁴⁴⁴ B. G. Garrett, Clerk & Registrar
Benjamin Sweetland, Deputy Sheriff
Robert Carter, Justice of Peace
Peter Gorman, Gaoler
Richard Sullivan, John Cummins, William Broderick and Michael Jackman, Constables This event was shared from Robert CARTER JP

29. Property: Bankruptcy Sale of business articles, The Public Ledger, 22 Apr 1834 to 1 May 1834, Calvert, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. ^879,880 According to Robert Carter's diaries, as reported by Kevin Reddigan in his book, Courageous Souls, on page 211-212 the sale was not very successful. The same was covered in the Law Society book "A Merchant Magistrate..." Vol. 1, Pg 86:

Thursday, 1 May 1834
" Was at Caplin Bay at sale of B. Sweetland & Co. effects, few purchases." This sets down for the first time the timeline of the closure of Sweetland business operations in Caplin Bay prior to Benjamin' s departure for Trinity and William' s to Bonavista as Magistrates in those towns.

30. Occupation: Merchant, Caplin Bay, 29 Aug 1834, Calvert, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. ⁵¹⁷

31. Appointment: Magistrate for the Southern District, 24 Sep 1834, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. ^118,1445

32. Court: Member of officials at 1835 sitting of Southern Circuit Court, 29 Oct 1835 to 4 Nov 1835, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. ⁸⁸² William Lilly, Esq., Acting Clerk & Registrar
Benjamin Sweetland, Deputy Sheriff
Robert Carter, Justice of Peace
Thomas Congdon, Justice of Peace
Thomas Wright, Justice of Peace
William Sweetland, Justice of Peace
Peter Gorman, Gaoler
John (McGlynn) and Michael Sullivan, Constables This event was shared from Robert CARTER JP

33. Property: Indenture to sell two parcels of land on south side to Matthew Whelan, 24 Jun 1836, Calvert, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. ¹⁴⁴⁶ A curious transaction in which Matthew Morry is selling these bits of property to Matthew Whelan but in fact Father Timothy Browne and Benjamin Sweetland are paying the purchase price of £10. Mentioned also in Kevin Reddigan's book Courageous Souls on page 241 This event was shared from Matthew MORRY II JP who also shared it with Benjamin SWEETLAND JP (Trustee).

34. Court: Coulman, William v William & Benjamin Sweetland at 1837 sitting of Southern Circuit Court, 3 Nov 1837 to 10 Nov 1837, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. ⁸⁸⁶ Trespass & Ejectment. Settled.. This event was shared from William COULMAN who also shared it with Benjamin SWEETLAND JP (Party) and William SWEETLAND JP (Party).

35. Occupation: Magistrate earning £30 per quarter, 1839, Trinity, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. ⁸⁸⁷

36. Occupation: Clerk and Storekeeper for James Howe Carter, 1842, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. ¹⁴⁴⁷

37. Court: Appointment of Justices of the Peace in the Northern District, 1843, Trinity, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. ⁸⁸⁸

38. Court: NDC Vol 9 Fol 465 Benjamin Sweetland et al from Patrick Fowlow 05-10-1843, 5 Oct 1843, Trinity, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. ¹⁴⁴⁸ Patrick Fowlow donates land for a school to the local ministers and the members of the Board of Education, including Benjamin Sweetland

39. Appointment: Magistrate; Earned £75, Bef 1849, Trinity, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. ⁸⁵⁸²

40. Occupation: Stipendiary Magistrate and Judge for Labrador Coast, Between 1862 and 1865, Trinity, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. ^{780,1449,1450}

41. Occupation: Lawyer, Commissioner of Subpoenas, Stipendiary Magistrate, JP, Coroner, 1871. ¹⁴⁵¹

42. Emigration: From Trinity, Newfoundland, Between 1872 and 1880, Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States of America. ¹²⁵

43. Property: Sale of Sweetland house and property near Old Woman's Pond, 1872, Calvert, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. ¹⁴⁵² Property sold by Thomas Graham Morry to John "Kough" (Keough) whose heirs still occupy a vestige of the old house.

Kevin Reddigan believes that this house was purpose built for Benjamin and William Sweetland ca 1820 (Courgeous Souls, Page 134).

44. Census: 1537 Pacific Street, 1880, Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States of America. ¹⁴⁵³ Household of Ben Sweetland 89 with daughter Marie Hall 49 and grandniece Elenor Sweetland 17

45. Residence: 1537 Pacific St, 2 Jun 1880, Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States of America. ¹⁴⁵⁴ Ben [sic] Sweetland a widower, 89, living with his daughter, Marie Hall (a widow), 49, and one "grandniece" (granddaughter?), Elenor [sic] Sweetland, 17, and a servant.

46. Alt. Death, 22 Dec 1883, New York, New York, New York, United States Of America. ⁸⁶⁹

47. Alt. Death, 22 May 1884, Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States of America. ¹³⁹

48. Alt. Burial, After 27 May 1884, Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States of America. ⁴⁹ 060318 from Find A Grave

Benjamin Sweetland
BIRTH13 Feb 1790
DEATH27 May 1884 (aged 94)
BURIAL
Green-Wood Cemetery
Brooklyn, Kings County (Brooklyn), New York, USA
PLOTLot 6006, Section 66
MEMORIAL ID58044172 · View Sour