John Aspell

Abt 1790 - Aft 1849  (~ 60 years)

• Name	John Aspell
  Born	Abt 1790	Rider's Harbour, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland   [1]
  Gender	Male
  Court Action	1 Nov 1820	Trinity, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland   [2]
  John and his father, Andrew, declared in court that they were insolvent.
  Court Action	28 Jun 1833	Trinity, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland   [3]
  It appears that hard economic times prevailed in Newfoundland throughout the 1820s and on into the 1830s. The following narrative tells of a deed that was carried out by John Aspell and Richard Sevier about 22 Dec 1832. It was likely an act of desperation because they were destitute and their families were starving. There are a number of entries about this 1833 case in the Trinity Court Records but some of the "short-hand" notations are open to interpretation. 28 June 1833 - David Baily [Plaintiff/Prosecutor] vs. [Defendants] Jn. Aspell and Richard Sevier (Box 180 Page 442) "Charged with breaking into two Store Houses about 22nd December last at Bonaventure and stealing there from Provisions, the property of the Prosecutor, said Store Houses are situate at Bonaventure in Trinity Bay." It appears that John and Richard were arrested within days after the charges were laid and imprisoned at Harbour Grace Gaol. A court document (Box 181 - Page 731) indicates that from:"1 July to 30 Sept - John Aspbell and Richard Sevier - No of days confined - bef.(Sep 30 inclusive) 92 and 68 aft.". During this same time-frame it appears that John and Richard's destitute families had been supplied with provisions. The Trinity Court records (Box 181 - Page 511) show: Credited Sept 30, 1833 "Gosse, Tack, & Fryer: their account for Provisions amount £47/currency supplied the families of Sevier and Aspbell of Riders Harbour, then in Harbour Grace." It is hard to tell if this last ambiguous statement was referring to their families being at Harbour Grace, or just the accused themselves. I could not find the exact date when John and Richard went on trial but another record (Page 181 - Page 617) states: "Return of Cases before the Honorable Northern Circuit Court at Harbour Grace by the Magistrates between the 19th Oct. and the 20 Nov. 1883. Date of Complaint- June 28, 1833. Prosecutors: Rex [i.e. the Crown] David Bayly - [Defendants] John Aspbell & Richard Sevier. The final reference (Box 181 Pages 506 and 625) states:"Return of Commitment Fee & dieting of Prisoners at the Public Expense in his M[ajesty's] Gaol at Harbour Grace, Newfoundland from 1 Oct. to the 31 Dec. 1833 (both days inclusive). John Aspbell & Richard Sevier - No. of days confined: bef. 25, aft. 5". This information is unclear. It could mean that they were tried on October 25 and released from prison 5 days later. It is obvious from the foregoing records that John and Richard had been imprisoned for most of the fishing season of 1833, but there is no indication if they returned to Rider's Harbour, or stayed at Harbour Grace after their release.
  Voter	1832 - 1849	Harbour Grace, Newfoundland   [4]
  The name of a John "Aspel" appears in the Voter's Lists at Main Street, Harbour Grace from 1832 to 1844, and a John Aspel is listed at the Marsh, Carbonear for 1847 and 1849. His name then disappears, but from 1855 to 1865, Andrew Aspel, Kerry Lane, Harbour Grace is listed. While we know who Andrew Aspell was, the surviving records give insufficient evidence to prove, or disprove, that the John Aspell listed earlier was Andrew's father. The only other Aspel voters, Michael and Edward, listed in the same area and time-frame appear to be a father and son from an unrelated Aspell family. (Michael Aspell, aged 90, a native of Co.Wexford, Ireland died at Kildare Road, Harbour Grace in 1889.)
  Died	Aft 1849	Harbour Grace, Newfoundland   [1]
  The absence of John "Aspel" (possibly born at Rider's Harbour, Trinity Bay) from the Voter's Lists after 1849 likely indicates that he had died about that time.
  Person ID	I3389	Families of Calvert (Caplin Bay), Newfoundland
  Last Modified	4 Jul 2016

  
  

  Father	Andrew Aspell,   b. Abt 1765, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland ,   d. Aft 1820, Rider's Harbour, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland  (Age ~ 56 years)
  Mother	Bridget Mealey?,   b. Abt 1765, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Married	Abt 1788	Trinity Bay, Newfoundland   [1]
  Estimated year based on the marriages of their sons and daughters.
  Census	1800	Rider's Harbour, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland
  Although the "census" does not give detailed names, analysis indicates that the Archibald family mentioned was very likely Andrew, Bridget and their five children.
  Family ID	F1872	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Bridget Brinnick,   b. Abt 1790, White Point, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Married	13 May 1814	Trinity, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland   [5]
  St. Paul's CE Parish. In this era there was no Roman Catholic parish established in the Trinity/Bonavista Bay area. A priest from St. John's traveled out annually and performed baptisms and marriages in the outlying settlements. It appears that John and Bridget grew impatient so they decided to get married by the Anglican minister at Trinity. The groom and bride's names were recorded there as John Archibald and Bridget Brunnick. In September of that year, when the Roman Catholic priest finally arrived, their marriage was also solemnized within that religion.
  Married	23 Sep 1814	Rider's Harbour, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland   [6]
  The church records relating to the Aspells of Rider's Harbour start with the marriage of John Aspell. This marriage is recorded in St. John's (Basilica) Parish under the heading "Marriages in the Northern District". Groom & bride's names recorded as John Asbell and Bridget Brinnik. It appears they were married at Rider's Harbour since the witnesses at the marriage were recorded as Andrew and Catherine Aspell, likely John's father and sister.
  Children	+ 1. James Aspell,   b. Abt Oct 1815, Rider's Harbour, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland ,   d. 6 Apr 1885, St. John's, Newfoundland  (Age ~ 69 years) + 2. John Aspell,   b. Abt Oct 1817, Rider's Harbour, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland ,   d. 9 Apr 1883, Montréal, Quebec, Canada  (Age ~ 65 years) + 3. Andrew Aspell,   b. Abt Sep 1819, Rider's Harbour, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland ,   d. 24 Feb 1887, Brigus South, Newfoundland  (Age ~ 67 years) + 4. Richard Aspell,   b. Abt Oct 1820, Rider's Harbour, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland ,   d. Bef 1871, St. John's, Newfoundland  (Age ~ 50 years)   5. Mary Aspell,   b. Abt Sep 1825, Rider's Harbour, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland ,   d. Yes, date unknown + 6. Patrick Aspell,   b. Abt Sep 1826, Rider's Harbour, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland ,   d. Yes, date unknown + 7. Joseph Aspell,   b. Abt Sep 1829, Rider's Harbour, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland ,   d. Aft 1891  (Age ~ 62 years)
  Last Modified	10 Sep 2016
  Family ID	F902	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map		Born - Abt 1790 - Rider's Harbour, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland Married - 13 May 1814 - Trinity, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland Married - 23 Sep 1814 - Rider's Harbour, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland Court Action - 1 Nov 1820 - Trinity, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland Court Action - 28 Jun 1833 - Trinity, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland Voter - 1832 - 1849 - Harbour Grace, Newfoundland Died - Aft 1849 - Harbour Grace, Newfoundland  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Sources

  [S90] Approximate date based on another recorded event, Reddigan, Kevin, (A date calculated by using a recorded date and a person's age, or by estimating the most likely date, based on other recorded life events). [S113] Keith Matthews Name Files, 1500-1850, Matthews, Keith, (The Maritime History Archives, Memorial University of Newfoundland), Keith Matthews Name Files, 1500-1850 -- File A079 - Archibald. [S116] Harbour Grace Court Records, (Original pages of court records for cases processed at Harbour Grace), GN5/4/B/1 - Boxes 180-181. [S4] Newfoundland Voter's Lists, Newfoundland's Grand Banks, (Online: http://ngb.chebucto.org/V1928/1dist-vl-idx.shtml, copyright © 1999-2015. Transcribed lists of eligible voters, by town and district, from 1832 onward). [S47] St. Paul's Anglican Church - Trinity - Baptisms, Marriages and Burials 1753 - 1867, Family History Society of Nfld & Labrador. [S29] FamilySearch™ - LDS, ([online database] copyright (c) 2008, Intellectual Reserve, Inc.), St. John's > Catholic Basilica of Saint John the Baptist > Marriages with index 1799-1820 > image 56 of 99.