William Taverner

William Taverner was a government surveyor. It was his job to travel into the unknown areas of Newfoundland. He made maps of those places for Britain. It was also his job to write reports about the natural resources that might be useful to Britain.

Being the government surveyor was no easy task. Taverner was on his way home from a trip along the southwest coast. It had been tiring and dangerous. There were no roads into the country. There was only the wilderness, the sea and—as he had just found out—Mi'kmaq Indians.

Britain was trying to encourage settlement of the southern part of Newfoundland. The French had always tried to keep British settlers and fishermen away from the area. During his trip William had discovered why. The place was blocked with useful resources—timber, beaver, rich fishing grounds.

But Taverner also had bad news to report. The French were spreading rumors about Mi'kmaq Indians. They wanted to scare British settlers away from the area. William Taverner sighed. He raised his pen. The government surveyor began to write a report he knew would not please his British bosses.

To the Right Honorable Lords of Commissioners of Trade and Plantations (1715)

...The French from Cape Breton are very busy spreading reports that the Indians of Cape Breton are coming to St. Peters and the harbors to steal from the French inhabitants who remain there. Their plan in spreading these rumors is to hinder the inhabitants of those places from going to Cape Ray to catch fur and to keep the English inhabitants from settling in those harbors. So far their plan has worked. The boats won't go furring on that coast and there is not one Englishman come to settle there... In my humble opinion could the Indians of Cape Breton be prevented from coming over to Newfoundland, it would be of great use to the [fur and fish] Trade.

Your lordships most humble and obedient servant

William Taverner*