Samuel & Margaret Coleridge of Catalina

Samuel & Margaret are the first of the Catalina COLERIDGE families. Samuel, who was English, migrated to Catalina sometime before 1830. It is possible that Samuel is the son of William & Susanna COLERIDGE of West Teignmouth, born 8th December 1798, but this is just speculative as I have not yet found anything to corroborate his age.

Trinity Historical Society has a link to the Slade Papers, documents relating to the Slades who were the predominant merchants on the northeast coast of Newfoundland in the early nineteenth century. Robert Slade established his own business at Trinity in 1804 and expanded it to Catalina in 1813. This extract is from the List of Employees 1830:

The following is a list of servants engaged until Christmas next in the fall of 1830. At Catalina: Samuel COLERIDGE, cooper and store keeper, for 34 pounds and 23 shillings per ten for extra work.

St Peters Anglican Church Catalina has a record of Samuel’s marriage:

Samuel COLERIDGE married Margaret MANUEL on 13th November 1834. Witnesses James CRAM, John GUNTE(?).

St Peters Anglican Church Catalina records 8 baptisms to Samuel & Margaret COLERIDGE:

William COLERIDGE was baptised in 1835.

Ellen COLERIDGE was baptised on 2nd April 1837.

Samuel COLERIDGE was baptised on 30th December 1838.

Susanna COLERIDGE was baptised on 31 January 1841.

John COLERIDGE was baptised on 5th March 1843.

Elizabeth Sarah COLERIDGE was baptised on 30th March 1845. Date of birth 29th March 1845.

Mary Ann COLERIDGE was baptised on 15th August 1847. Date of birth 15th July 1847.

Joseph COLERIDGE was baptised on 5th May 1850. Date of birth 5th February 1850.

There are records of Samuel & Margaret’s daughter’s marriages.

Elizabeth Sarah COLERIDGE married Caleb DIAMOND on 5th January 1875 in Catalina St Peters Anglican Church. Witnesses Thomas STONE, Christina GUY.

Susannah COLERIDGE, of Little Catalina, married Samuel TEMPLEMAN, Fisherman, of Bonavista, on 4th January 1864 in Bonavista Methodist church. Witnesses John and Sarah MANUEL.

Lucy TEMPLEMAN’s birth was recorded in 1865.

Margaret Jane TEMPLEMAN’s birth was recorded in 1867.

While searching through the Memorial University of Newfoundland Digital Archives I came upon the following sad report in the diaries of William Sweetland magistrate at Bonavista:

Wednesday 30th April 1851 - dark gloomy Weather with Wind at East NE & NE - a Report just now brought that Mr Coldridge Messrs Slades Storekeeper & Cooper hung himself in the Cooperage this Morning !!! poor fellow he has been terribly afflicted with the Rheumatic Gout the sufferings occasioned by it I suppose must have broke down the Mind as well as the body - Mr Nelson who is their manager at Trinity is still so much afflicted in his Head that he cannot think or write but little.

There is a record of Margaret’s burial and a probate summary relating to Samuel's death:

Margaret COLERIDGE, age 44, was buried on 25th March 1852 at Catalina Anglican Cemetery.

22 May 1860. Letters of Administration of the Personal estate and effects of Samuel COLERIDGE late of Catalina in the Island of Newfoundland Cooper deceased who died 29 April 1851 at Catalina aforesaid left unadministered by Margaret COLERIDGE Widow the Relict of the said Deceased were granted at the Principal Registry to William COLERIDGE of Catalina aforesaid Blacksmith one of the Children of the said Deceased he having been first sworn. Former Grant Prerogative Court of Canterbury January 1852. Effects under £800.