About Us
History of Trinity
Trinity and its surrounding area is a place where people have lived for thousands of years. Its beautiful landscape may have been first discovered by the Maritime Archaic people around six thousand years ago, and over the centuries, the area was also home to the Dorset, the Pre-Inuit, and the Beothuk people.
Trinity became a European colonial settlement in the seventeenth century and has been a thriving North Atlantic community ever since; shaped by its natural harbour, rich resources, and resilient people. Its well-protected port, ideal for fishing and trade, made it a prime location for early European settlers and merchants. It is a many-storied place with a rich and complex history that we invite you to explore.
Early Indigenous Histories in Trinity
The town of Trinity, its harbour, and the ocean bight in which it is located have been home to diverse Indigenous cultures. Traces of the Dorset and Pre-Inuit people have been found in archaeological sites nearby, dating back thousands of years. Evidence of more recent Beothuk occupation has also been found in the vicinity. The early colonial record notes their use of paths that crossed the Bonavista peninsula, from Bonavista Bay to Trinity Bay.
The Beothuk people were among the first of North America’s Indigenous peoples to have encountered Europeans. All too often, the Beothuk were met with violence from settlers, and growing settlements like Trinity cut them off from vital food resources at the coast. The Beothuk responded by refusing contact with white settlers and instead making use of the materials these settlers left behind, such as iron and sailcloth. Because of this, very few Beothuk individuals are named in colonial records. But as we will see, Trinity played a very important role in two of these individuals’ stories.
Early European Settlement
By the 16th century, Portuguese, French, and English fishermen were using Trinity’s harbour seasonally as part of the migratory fishery. These fishers would built temporary structures on the foreshore that they would abandon when the migratory fishing season ended. The Beothuk would make use of these abandoned materials, reworking iron into fishhooks, arrowheads, and harpoons and using sailcloth to cover their shelters, called mamateeks. Much of what happened in Trinity Harbour in this early period has left no record, but we can imagine the many encounters and experiences this place must have witnessed.
One of the earliest detailed records of Trinity comes from Sir Richard Whitbourne, an English navigator and writer, who held the first-ever Admiralty Court in North America in Trinity in 1615. His writings provide valuable insight into early life in Newfoundland and helped encourage permanent settlement.
Conflict, Shipwrecks, and Maritime Challenges
Trinity’s strategic location made it a target during military conflicts. In 1696, the town was attacked by the French, and again in 1762 when they occupied the area as part of the final battle for Newfoundland during the Seven Years’ War. The remains of Fort Point, built to protect the harbor, remind visitors of Trinity’s role in defending the colony.
The North Atlantic’s unpredictable waters have also made the region a graveyard for ships over the centuries. Numerous shipwrecks have occurred along the Bonavista Peninsula, including vessels lost to storms, ice, and war. While many wrecks remain undiscovered, some have been documented by divers and historians.
The Fishing Industry and the Growth of Trinity
In the 1700s, merchants from Poole, England, established Trinity as a key centre for the Newfoundland fishery. These firms controlled trade and supplied local fishermen with goods in exchange for dried cod, which was produced by fish workers on the foreshores of Trinity and its surrounding communities. The best quality dried salted cod was traded in European markets for luxury goods, while the worst quality salt cod was used to feed enslaved people on sugar plantations in the British Caribbean. The small town of Trinity was once an important hub in this complex network of imperial exploitation and trade.
By the 1720s, about 30 permanent families lived in Trinity, while 200-300 seasonal fishermen arrived each year. Both settlers and migratory workers hailed almost exclusively from England’s West Country—today’s counties of Dorset, Devon, Wilshire, and Hampshire—and from the Irish counties of Cork, Waterford and Wexford. Displaced from their traditional ways of life through enclosure, economic downturns, and civil unrest, they came to Trinity seeking to improve their lives. Many did, enjoying freedoms and standards of living well above what they would have in England and Ireland. But many also experienced extreme hardship, dangerous work, and economic exploitation.
For centuries, Trinity’s inshore, Grand Bank, and Labrador fisheries sustained the community. The Lester-Garland House, once home to a powerful merchant family, still stands today as a testament to this era of prosperity; even if much of this wealth was taken back to England.
In the nineteenth century, as the migratory fishery gave way to a settled one, the town’s economy expanded beyond fishing to include shipbuilding, lumbering, and coopering. By 1869, the population peaked at over 800 people.
Notable Figures
Trinity has been home to several historical figures who played important roles in Newfoundland’s development:
Sir Richard Whitbourne (1561–1635?) – An English explorer, naval captain, and writer who held the first Admiralty Court in North America in Trinity in 1615. His detailed accounts of Newfoundland encouraged English settlement.
Rev. Dr. John Clinch (1749–1819) – A missionary, physician, and close friend of Edward Jenner, Clinch is credited with introducing the smallpox vaccine to the New World while serving in Trinity. His contributions to medicine and public health were groundbreaking.
John August (c 1760- 1788) – In August of 1764, a four-year-old Beothuk boy was riding on his mother’s shoulders when she was shot and killed by fishermen. They took the boy back to Trinity, seeking the reward that the colonial government offered for any captured ‘Red Indian’. They named him John August, after the month he had been captured, and he is one of only eight named Beothuk individuals in the colonial records. Despite grief, anger and dispossession, John August built a life for himself amongst the settlers in Trinity Bay, becoming a well-respected boatsman and fisherman out of Catalina. He died in 1788, sometime in his 20s, and was buried in the crypt of the old St Paul’s Church in Trinity. His Beothuk name is unknown.
Oubee (c 1784-unknown) – Like John August, Oubee was captured by fishermen in 1793. These fishermen had killed her family, shooting her mother, father, and brother in their mamateek at an unknown location further west on the island. Oubee was brought to Trinity, where she was placed in the care of Thomas and Betsy Stone. While she lived in Trinity, Reverend John Clinch interviewed her and recorded a list of Beothuk words: the very first Beothuk lexicon ever written. Oubee was taken to England by the Stones later that same year and lived with them in Dorset as a servant. While some sources suggest she died shortly after, there is no clear record of what happened to this young Beothuk girl and her death record has not been found. Oubee was the only known Beothuk person to have lived in England.
Emma Hiscock (1870–1949) – A resilient businesswoman who ran a general store and household on her own after her husband’s passing. Her story, preserved through the Hiscock House, reflects the determination of women in outport Newfoundland who played a critical role in community survival.
Historic Buildings and Cultural Preservation
Today, Trinity is one of Newfoundland and Labrador’s most remarkable heritage towns. Many of its original buildings have been carefully preserved, including:
The Court House, Gaol, and General Building – A historic structure reflecting Trinity’s legal and civic history.
The Green Family Forge – A working blacksmith shop dating back to the 18th century.
The Lester-Garland House – Once the residence of prominent merchants, now a museum showcasing Trinity’s commercial past. Benjamin Lester built large brick house and enlarged his shop and counting house. Both still preserved (Lester-Garland House and Ryan’s Shop).
The Hiscock House – Originally a general store and residence, this building later served as a post office and a branch of the Royal Bank. Now a museum, it is dedicated to the life of Emma Hiscock, a determined widow who managed her family’s business and played a vital role in Trinity’s commercial and social life.
Due to these efforts, Trinity has become a model for heritage conservation in Newfoundland.
A Thriving Arts & Tourism Destination
Beyond its rich history, Trinity has evolved into a vibrant cultural hub. The Rising Tide Theatre and the renowned New Founde Lande Trinity Pageant bring history to life through storytelling and performance, attracting thousands of visitors each year. Sustainable growth in tourism, arts, and small businesses has allowed Trinity to flourish while maintaining its deep connection to the past.
Trinity & Discovery UNESCO Global Geopark
A geological wonder—over half a billion years in the making.
Trinity is part of the Discovery UNESCO Global Geopark, a region celebrated for its extraordinary geological history, spanning over 580 million years. From ancient fossils to glacial landscapes, the area tells the story of Earth’s evolution.
The town’s iconic Trinity Harbour, shaped by natural forces over millennia, is a testament to the region’s geological significance. Nearby, Fort Point stands as a rugged headland of resistant rock, once a natural defense against invaders.
Today, Trinity’s dramatic cliffs, marine terraces, and coastal landscapes invite visitors to explore the powerful forces that have shaped Newfoundland for hundreds of millions of years.
Click Here to learn more about the Discovery Geopark and its geosites.
