Newfoundland's British Nomads
Newfoundland was England’s first overseas colony, but its settlement did not follow the usual patterns: its communities were nomadic, moving around the island with the seasons.
John Lewis, a Methodist missionary in North America, wrote to his superiors in London in December 1817 about the difficulties of serving his flock in the winter months.
They go from 25 to 35 Leagues in to Soletary & unfrequented Bays for the sake of Killing as much Venson and other Game as supplyes their familyes all the winter ... they in general return in the later end of April or the beginning of May so you see they are but the Summer here and then immurged [immersed] in the fishery ...
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