![](/mha/images/sp.gif) |
|
![](/mha/images/sp.gif) |
Home Holdings and Collections Finding Aids John Rorke & Sons Limited fonds, 1879-1933
John Rorke & Sons Limited fonds, 1879-1933
2.5 metres of textual material
Administrative history
John Rorke (d. 1896) came to Newfoundland from Athlone, Ireland in 1824 to work as a clerk at
the newly established fishery supply and general trade firm of Bennett and Ridley, probably at
Harbour Grace. By 1830, he had married Mary Toque, and had established his own fishery
supply business at Adam's Cove, just north of Carbonear. In 1837, Rorke, along with co-owner
Ann Toque, registered the Elizabeth, a 109 ton schooner. Two years later, Rorke purchased and
set up business at the Slade and Elson premises in Carbonear. At the new location, the firm
expanded rapidly. Rorke soon moved beyond the typical outport fishery operation, and became
involved in the annual spring seal hunt, supplying three vessels in 1846 and six in the following
year.
The firm opened two Labrador branches, St. Francis Harbour and Venison Island, to participate
in the Labrador "stationer" fishery, which was prosecuted by many Conception Bay residents
who migrated to the Labrador Coast each year. To successfully participate in the Labrador trade,
Rorke needed several vessels. Between 1839 and 1920, the firm registered forty-eight vessels in
Newfoundland, ranging from 50 to 150 tons.
From 1863, John Rorke Sr. was active in the politics of the country and was elected six times for
the district of Carbonear between 1863 and 1878. He was part of F.B.T. Carter's confederate
slate in 1869, and went on to become part of William Whiteway's government in 1878.
Whiteway appointed him to Executive Council in 1879, where he remained until his death in
1896.
John Rorke's sons, John and James, who had joined the firm in 1880, took over the business
upon their father's death. C.T. Bennett of Bristol, John Senior's old employer, maintained the
connection with the Rorke's as their agent, handling John Rorke & Sons Limited's import and
export business in Britain. James died in 1918 at about the same time the firm began to change
direction - perhaps due, in part, to a couple of coincidental occurrences. In 1919, Bennett's
business closed and two of the firm's foreign-going vessels, the Callidora and the Olinda, were
wrecked. John Rorke & Sons Limited largely withdrew from the export and import business
about this time, opting instead to sell fish to and buy goods from St. John's firms, especially A.S.
Randell. This change may have been anticipated for some time because, from 1896 to 1920, the
Rorkes acquired only two vessels, one in 1902 and one in 1917, both under James' name.
By 1920, James Rorke's sons, John and James, had joined their uncle John in the firm.
Sometime after James' death, the Rorkes established a separate
operation known as the Rorke Fish & Coal Company Limited, which specialized in the sale of
coal as well as Labrador cured codfish, and fresh and pickled salmon. Following the death of the
second John Rorke in 1929, John and James Jr. incorporated John Rorke & Sons Limited. The
incorporation documents clearly stipulate that the assets of the Rorke Fish & Coal Company
Limited were to be excluded from John Rorke & Sons Limited. John Rorke & Sons Limited
continued to operate the store at Water Street, Carbonear until 1980. The firm liquidated its
assets in 1981.
Sources: Rorke Name File, Keith Matthews Name Files, Maritime History Archive; Reid, Arthur, Carbonear
Merchants, Student Research Paper, Maritime History Archive, 103-D-05-04; Newfoundland Directories, 1890,
1936; Dictionary of Newfoundland and Labrador Biography, Harry Cuff Publications, 1990; Ships and Seafarers of
Atlantic Canada, CD ROM, Maritime History Archive, 1998.
Scope and content
This fonds contains correspondence and shipping papers for the company operations from 1879
to 1933. The bulk of the firm's records, from 1862-1951, including the ledgers and most of the
bound volumes are held at the Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador (PANL) in
private papers collections no. P7/A/11. Material of particular interest in this collection is the
correspondence and accounts of C.T. Bennett of Bristol, which sheds light on the complexities of
the marketing structure and the economic factors which affected the saltfish industry as well as
giving insight into the day to day operations of the business. Also included are vessel
expenditures and charter parties. Of particular interest is the architect's specifications for the
building of the Stonehouse, on Water Street, Carbonear, which is in the correspondence for 1907.
Much of the material was in its original folders, such that it was possible to discern an existing
order, although an attempt had been made at re-arrangement at some period during its custodial
history. The correspondence from 1918-1930, in particular, still more or less conformed to its
original arrangement. The remaining correspondence was loose for the most part. Schooner
disbursements were either in packages or envelopes, and most of the Account of Sales sheets
were in envelopes. The order that was imposed on the collection through this arrangement
follows as closely as possible the form and function of the material itself. The correspondence
divided naturally into two series, 1880-1918 and 1919-1933, coinciding with changes and
restructuring within the firm. All the other material is grouped according to form and arranged
chronologically. The fonds is organized in four series: Correspondence, 1880-1933; Financial
records, 1879-1920; Shipping records, 1881-1923; Miscellaneous bound volumes, 1892-1920.
Custodial history
This collection of material from the Carbonear firm of John Rorke & Sons Limited was donated
to the Maritime History Archive in 1990, by Alan Cass, officer of the Carbonear Historical
Society. The 8 boxes of material had been found in the Rorke's warehouses when the buildings
were taken over by the town, after the firm's closure in 1980. The material was donated to the
Historical Society to dispose of as they wished, and after obtaining permission from members of
the Rorke family, they agreed to donate the collection to the Maritime History Archive.
Notes
Supplied title based on the contents of the fonds.
Copyright is held by the creator or his/her heirs.
Maritime History Archive finding aid 96.
Related material can be found in Rorke, John & Co., Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and
Labrador, MG 465; Rorke Family Collection, 1908-1911. Centre for Newfoundland Studies
Archives, MF-247.
Accession number 1990001
Location Bank 49 and 50
Series 1. Correspondence, 1880-1933
1.01 Correspondence, 1880-1917
1.02 Correspondence, 1918-1933
Series 2. Financial records, 1879-1920
2.01 Account of Sales, C.T. Bennett 1879-1917
2.02 Statements on Account, C.T. Bennett 1879-1920
2.03 Half-yearly Accounts, C.T. Bennett 1912-1915
2.04 Account of Sales, various firms, 1879-1917
2.05 Statements on Account, 1879-1920
Series 3. Shipping records, 1881-1923
3.01 Schooner Disbursements 1881-1913
3.02 Shipping Papers 1905-1923
Series 4. Miscellaneous bound volumes, 1892-1920
|
![single pixel](/mha/images/sp.gif) |
![single pixel](/mha/images/sp.gif) |