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These pictures were taken from a book called "History of The Trinity Benefit Club " which was complied and presented by Rev. Canon Lockyer to the Trinity Benefit Club on Nov 1, 1920.2
Rev. William Bullock - Founder and First President of The Trinity Benefit Club (1838-1841)Mid 1800s
Trinity, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Credits:Trinity Benefit Club
Trinity Historical Society
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Biography Rev. William BullockRev. William Bullock was born in the year 1797at Prittlewell, Essex, England. As a cadet from the Bluecoat Naval School in London, he entered the Royal Navy as a midshipman. During his first action in the Bombardment of Algiers in H.M.S. Mutiny, under Lord Exeter, Rev. Bullock jumped overboard to rescue a fellow seaman who had been knocked into the water by a falling spear.
When he attained the rank of Lieutenant he was transferred to H.M.S. "Snap," commanded by his brother Frederick, who later became Admiral, to do survey work on the Eastern Coast of Newfoundland. He was not impressed and was upset with the poverty, isolation and lack of religious care he found along the coast, so much so that he decided to join the pioneer clergy who were labouring in the mission field.
When he returned to England he resigned his naval commission and was ordained Deacon on March 31, 1822 by the Bishop of Chester, and two weeks later was ordained Priest by the Bishop of Lincoln who acted for the Bishop of London. He stated his ordination was to help in the cure of souls in his majesty's colonies. He was appointed to the missionary work of Trinity Bay with headquarters at Trinity. In 1823 he married there, Mary, the daughter of the Rev. Dr. John Clinch of vaccination fame and remained married for 51 years.
Rev. Bullock in extreme necessity took up medicine and surgery. The old doctor at Trinity who had gone to St. John's got caught by winter there. Meanwhile there was much sickness and many accidents back in Trinity. In this emergency he was determined to do his best. He had no medical diploma of course, but he did hold a legal warrant as coroner which he playfully told a friend might help him a bit if he were to get in any trouble with the law. Having all the tools for the job inherited from his father-in-law, the Rev. Dr. Clinch, Rev. Bullock actually did a good job and when the old doctor returned and retired from practice, Mr. Bullock with popular acceptance carried on until the new doctor arrived.
In 1838 Rev. Bullock founded a club at Trinity for the people's benefit in times of sickness and death. Its constitution emphasized the true spirit of brotherhood in that it comprised all ranks and callings, rich and poor, of all denominations between British Harbour and the Horse Chops. This old club, known as the Trinity Benefit Club, the only and oldest of its kind in the Island, is still going strong even after 120 years of unbroken continuity. The benefits accruing from this club were a Godsent to the poor of those pioneer days and if state welfare in these latter days has somewhat ruled out its necessity, it nevertheless remains the symbol at least of the principle of brotherhood, a living memorial of its humane founder William Bullock.
By the reason of circumstance and not by choice, the Rev. William Bullock left Trinity after serving there for 18 years. He then went to Nova Scotia where he continued his work for the next 27 years. He died "in harness" there on March 7th, 1874 aged 77 years, 52 of which he served in the ministry of the Church. He is buried in Camp Hill Cemetery in Halifax, where his grave is marked by a granite cross erected in grateful remembrance of him by his parishioners there.
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Alexander W. Bremner - President (1856-1862)Circa Late 1800's
Trinity, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Credits:Trinity Benefit Club
Trinity Historical Society
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Doctor Robert White - President (1872-1912)1860's
Trinity, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Credits:Trinity Benefit Club
Trinity Historical Society
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Biography of Doctor Robert WhiteDr. Robert White was the son of Charles White and Eleanor (Ellen) Clarke. He was born October 23, 1831, the fourth of seven children. He married Caroline Clunn of Trinity on October 25, 1855. They had eleven children, one of whom, Arthur Ernest White, was to follow in his father's footsteps and become the doctor for the local area. Dr. White had a medical practice in Trinity from 1858-1911. He was also a member of the Trinity Benefit Club serving as its president for forty years, 1872-1912; and was made its first honorary president.
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Dr. Arthur E. White - President (1912-1913)Trinity, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Credits:Trinity Benefit Club
Trinity Historical Society
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Biography of Arthur Ernest WhiteSon of Dr. Robert White and Eleanor (Ellen) Clarke. Received his medical education in Philadelphia, U.S.A. His handsome graduation certificate, signed by all of his professors hangs in the Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland. White returned to Newfoundland and followed his father in medical practice in Trinity. Some of his medical equipment can be seen in the local museum. He was also a member of The Trinity Benefit Club being President 1912-1913.
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Edwin Grant - President (1913-1933)1900's
Trinity, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Credits:Trinity Benefit Club
Trinity Historical Society
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Walter N. White - Secretary (1920)1900-1920's
Trinity, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Credits:Trinity Benefit Club
Trinity Historical Society
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William McGrath - Treasurer (1920)1900-1920's
Trinity, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Credits:Trinity Benefit Club
Trinity Historical Society
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Joseph Morris - 63 Years as a Member1900-1920's
Trinity, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Credits:Trinity Benefit Club
Trinity Historical Society
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Info on Joseph MorrisSon of Jacob Morris, Joseph Morris founded an Insurance Company in cooperation with other leading merchants of the area, for the benefit of merchants and vessel owners along the coast, its territory extended from Cape Freels in the North to St. John's in the South, it was named, The Trinity Mutual Marine Insurance Company, with its headquarters in Trinity and Joseph Morris its first President. This was the first Insurance Company in its class in the Country, and most of the vessels of that day were insured with it.
His father Jacob, owned James Morris & Sons and by the late 1800's he was in his early seventies. The burden of leadership in the business then fell on Joseph's shoulders. Joseph proved very capable of the task, and kept adding to the business,using vessels in the cod and the seal fisheries while others were used as fish collectors and in foreign trade. The business name was now changed to J. & J.
Just a year after taking over the business, Joseph Morris ran head first into a terrible calamity, the cause of which was the Bank Crash of the Commercial Bank in St. John's, which bank was looking after the monetary affairs of his business; overnight Joseph Morris discovered that he had lost heavily in the crash, and was more than broke himself, as his business had lost all its Cash Assets, and that we was in debt to his Creditors to the tune of about ten thousand dollars. He was able to talk his Creditors into giving him a stay of execution for at least the time being. From there he worked his way back up through his insurance company and in 1899 the company insured 324 vessels owned by 125 owners and firms. The company continued to grow until 1909, in this year insurance was carried on 368 vessels, whose combined tonnage was 14,012 and the total insured value was $428,932.00.
Joseph Morris was also a very important member of the Trinity Benefit Club and was rewarded in 1920 for being a member of the club for 63 years with a flashlight being presented to him by the club.
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Reginald Mills - 62 Years as a Member1910-1920's
Trinity, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Credits:Trinity Benefit Club
Trinity Historical Society
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