Vital Statistics
Charles Speare Pinsent: 1838 – 1914 GRO1157 (Accountant, Bank Manager, St. John’s, Newfoundland)
Blanche Brown: 1850 – 1918
Married: 1883: St. John’s, Newfoundland
Children by Blanche Brown:
Constance Douglas Pinsent: 1884 – 1927 (Married Ernest Lee Birchby, St. John’s Newfoundland, 1911)
Eleanor Vicars Pinsent: 1886 – 1898
Earl Speare Pinsent: 1887 – 1958 (Lawyer; Married (1) Augusta Beatrix Dickinson, St. John’s Newfoundland, 1916: (2) Phyllis Ruth Hadwill, Montreal, Quebec, 1940)
Frances Isobel Pinsent: 1890 – 1987 (Married Kenneth Edgar Badcock, Bishop Auckland, Durham, 1915).
Family Branch: Hennock
PinsentID: GRO1157
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Charles Speare Pinsent was the third and youngest son of Robert John Pinsent, a justice of the peace in Brigus, Newfoundland, by his wife, Louisa Broome (née Williams). He was the youngest of three brothers. Robert John (later Sir Robert Pinsent) was the eldest and Thomas Williams Pinsent was the middle child. His brother’s lives are discussed elsewhere.
The boys were educated at Harbour Grace Grammar School; however, they may also have been schooled in England. The two younger boys seem to have been particularly good at arithmetic (Weekly Herald: 22nd December 1947). Charles spent his teenage years in Harbour Grace where – he (doubtless pressured by his abstemious father) paraded with the “Cadets of Temperance” when they put on an entertainment in July 1853 (Weekly Herald: 27th July 1853).
Charles studied accountancy and moved to St. John’s where, according to City Directories, he was a clerk at the “Union Bank of Newfoundland” on Duckworth Street by 1864. He rose through the ranks and was the bank’s provisional manager in June 1894 (Evening Telegram: 7th June 1894). The previous manager, Mr. Goldie, had retired and gone back to Scotland and Charles was formally confirmed in the top job a couple of months later.
Charles lived with his (by then retired) father and his other brother (Thomas Williams Pinsent) at #4 Cochrane Place, Military Road in St. John’s in 1871. However, his parents returned to England later in the 1870s and his brother left when he got married so Charles move out in around 1880. He advertised the house for rent as of May 1882 (Evening Telegram: 2nd May 1881).
As a young man, Charles was active in the “Artillery Section of the City’s Volunteer Force” – according to his friend and colleague, H. W. LeMessurier, J.P. – who wrote an article on the unit in the “Newfoundland Quarterly” 1914-15 – Charles was gazetted as an ensign in 1865, a Lieutenant in 1867 and Captain in 1869. Perhaps he was fortunate to be able to join the Volunteers in the first place – if, indeed, he was the Mr. Charles Pinsent who, with a Miss Cowan, was thrown from his carriage when their horse took fright and bolted in downtown St. John’s in 1863. If this was our Charles, his “injuries are said to be of a dangerous nature, (and he) had to be conveyed to the residence of Dr. Fraser” (Evening Telegram: 15th July 1863).
Charles’s brother Robert John Pinsent divorced his first wife, Anna Brown (née Cooke) in London in 1870 and Charles, as the family’s principal man of figures and accountant in the family, was on-hand to witness the signing of the separation agreement on 31st March 1870. Robert remarried a few years later. His life is discussed elsewhere.
Charles was a Director of the “Notre Dame Mining Company” in the early 1870s. The company sunk a shaft at Burton’s Pond on the northwest shore of Notre Dame Bay and successfully mined a small amount of copper ore before shutting down. He would have done better investing in the nearby Betts Cove property! It held a far larger and longer lived deposit.
Charles married Blanche Brown in St. John’s in 1883. She was the daughter of the “Comptroller of Her Majesty’s Customs” in Harbour Grace. It is worth noting that the Brown family introduced the Pinsents to New Zealand. Blanche had a sister (Fanny) and a brother (Douglas James Brown – yes it was a Scottish family). The former married in Newfoundland and went out to New Zealand in around 1865 and the latter married in New Zealand in 1876. Blanche’s niece (Mary Elizabeth Pinsent – daughter of Robert John Pinsent, the Magistrate in Harbour Grace) was to marry in Christchurch a few years later, in 1882).
Blanche was an impressive amateur artist and a bound album of her paintings – entitled “The Wild Flowers of Newfoundland” (dated 1882) was recently put up for sale on-line by “Attic Books” of London, Ontario. The couple had one surviving son (Earl Speare Pinsent) and two surviving daughters (Constance Douglas and Frances Isobel Pinsent). Sadly, a second daughter, Eleanor Vicars Pinsent died at the age of twelve.
The 1880s were a good time for the family: Robert John was appointed to the “Supreme Court” in 1880, Thomas Williams was busy collecting water rates in St. John’s and Charles Speare was working away at the “Union Bank”. The families met socially – on one occasion on board “H.M.S. Tenedos”, which was having an “At Home” (Evening Telegram: 18th January 1884). They all lived in the same world; they attended levees at Government House and elsewhere, made donations to the usual charities and took a strong interest in the Anglican Church.
In another article in the “Newfoundland Quarterly” in 1914-15 (a memorial or obituary [that includes the above photograph] of Charles), Mr. LeMessurier tells us that Charles was initiated a Mason in “St. John’s Lodge, No. 579” 1863 and that he worked his way up the hierarchy. He was “Worshipful Master” of the lodge in the early 1870s and “when Sir. W. V. Whiteway succeeded Mr. J. S. Clift as Grand Master of the “District Grand Lodge,” Mr. Pinsent became his Deputy, and after Sir William’s death he acted as District Grand Master until the appointment of the present incumbent of the office Mr. J. A. Clift”. Charles was “Past Deputy District Grand Master R. F.” the oldest “Past Master,” and the oldest member of St. John’s Lodge of the order when he died in St. John’s in 1914.
There were three Freemason Lodges in St. John’s Newfoundland around this time: St. John’s Lodge, affiliated with England; Tasker Lodge, affiliated with Scotland and – from 1876 onward, Shannon Lodge, which was affiliated with Nova Scotia. The “Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Convocation of the Royal Arch Chapter Masons of Nova Scotia [1876]” contains correspondence between its secretary and thirty-seven Companions of the “Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of England” who prayed for dispensation to open a break-away Chapter in St. John’s aligned with them, to be called the Shannon Chapter. Charles Speare was one of the signatories. He was said to be its “Scribe.” Why the need for new Chapter, I do not know! The companions claimed to have separated from their parent Lodge on amicable terms. The Nova Scotians gave their dispensation for “Shannon Lodge, No. 9”. Charles was an active member throughout his life – although he was later affiliated with the over-arching “District Lodge”.
Back in St. John’s, Charles was “Secretary” of the “St. John’s Masonic Mutual Insurance Company Limited” and he kept the books into the 1900s. In January 1883 he was able to assure the members that they were in good shape. At the same time, he informed the shareholders that there had been three deaths since the last annual meeting – Brothers Pinsent (William Pinsent – a ship’s captain from the TEIGNMOUTH Branch of the family), Searle and Warren and their claims had been promptly paid (Evening Telegram: 18th January 1883). Two year’s later he was installed as “treasurer” of Shannon Chapter and he was one of several shareholders in the “Masonic Hall Joint Stock Co. Limited” to call on a Mrs. Pilot to thank her for her work in organizing a bazaar for them (Evening Telegram: 28th October 1886). Charles was appointed “Secretary” and later “Treasurer” of the “Masonic Hall Joint Stock Co.” (which included members of all the Lodges) and was, for several years, responsible for organizing its “Annual General Meetings” – which were usually held in January or February (e.g. Evening Telegram: 20th January 1893).
The early 1890s were a particularly busy time as the lodges were growing fast, however a great fire destroyed their Hall – along with much of the downtown core of St. John’s in 1892! The Masons decided it was time to build an impressive new Temple. Charles called several extraordinary meetings of the “Joint Stock Company” to discuss possible sites and plans for the edifice (Evening Telegram: 23rd September 1892 and Evening Telegram: 7th May 1894). The cornerstone was laid on 23rd August 1894.
Charles was among the presiding officers when Shannon Lodge installed its officers at the “Annual General Meeting” held in January 1893 (Evening Telegram: 20th January 1893), and – as “District General Secretary” and a “Past Master” – he was called on to assist the “Deputy Grand Master” (Rt. Hon. Sir William V. Whiteway) to install St. John’s Lodge’s slate of officers when it held its “Annual General Meeting” (Evening Telegram: 29th December 1892). One way or another, he performed these task many times in the years that followed.
All went well in St. John’s until December 1894, when the “Commercial” and then the “Union” banks collapsed. Charles (the “Manager”) and the directors of the latter were charged with issuing fraudulent financial statements in 1893 and 1894, and of issuing dividends while knowing full well that the bank would be unable to pay (Evening Telegram: 23rd July 1895). The “Union Bank” unquestionably did declare a six percent dividend “by order of the Board, Chas. S. Pinsent, Manager” on 6th December 1894 (Evening Telegram: 6th November 1894) – just days before the bank collapsed. The “Union” and “Commercial” banks failed on “Black Monday” 10th December 1894. Charles attempted to right the ship in the weeks following. When asked what caused the Union Bank to go down, he replied: “Because the Commercial had not opened its doors, because exchanges of that Bank had been dishonored, and because the Savings Bank had made a demand upon them for the specie; they were therefore compelled, in the interest of all to suspend” (Evening Herald: 2nd January 1895). Sadly, there was little he could do.
Notice of the charges were reported throughout England (Gloucester Citizen: 22nd July, 1895 etc.) and the Empire at large, including Australia (Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate: Tuesday 10th September 1895) and New Zealand (Daily Telegraph: 19th September 1895). The directors were released on $36,000 bail and two additional sureties of $18,000 each. “Manager Pinsent” was released on a somewhat less stringent bail terms; however, he agreed to testify and a few days later the Crown dropped his charges (Dundee Courier: Friday 2nd August 1895). This development was, I suspect, less well advertised!
Charles had had the misfortune to be appointed manager of the “Union Bank” in August 1894 (Newfoundland Daily News), just before the financial crisis which was essentially triggered by a London bank calling on the “Commercial Bank” for a payment. The cod fishery had been unreliable for several years and several well-known merchant firms that supplied out-port fishermen with credit through the fishing season (under the historic “truck” system – whereby payment was expected at the end of the season) were hurting and drawing heavily on the banks.
To make matters worse, some of the principal merchants were on the boards of the banks and they had borrowed heavily (sometimes questionably) to keep themselves afloat. The “North Adams Transcript” (a Massachusetts newspaper (23rd July 1895)) went so far as to say that they had appropriated between four and five million dollars to their own accounts. There were other contributing factors too. A great fire that had consumed half of St. John’s in 1892 had impacted trade and commerce and the Government had found itself on the hook for the bulk of the cost of constructing the railway across the Island.
The Crown case opened with testimony from bank staff designed to elicit how the bank’s statements had been determined in 1893 and 1894. The principal take-away being that the Mr. Goldie, the previous manager, was responsible for the former and that the 1894 balance, although signed by Mr. Pinsent, was largely based on Mr. Goldie’s work (Evening Telegram: 6th August 1895). Mr. Goldie had, perhaps conveniently, retired back to Scotland. The witnesses also testified as to the bank’s dealings with the various directors. However, this seemed to raise more questions than answers.
Mr. Pinsent’s evidence was given under oath over a period of almost a month, starting on Tuesday 20th August (Evening Telegram: 24th August 1895). He was subjected to direct and cross examination, followed by a second round of re-direct and re-cross examination. The Newfoundland newspapers covered the case in excruciating detail – up to and including analysis of the financial details. It is hardly surprising that even Charles found it hard to keep track: “In my statement of transfer of the shares, on Friday, I overlooked Sir Robert Thorburn’s account, as trustee. He had 18 shares as trustee, and sold in August 1887, to James Goldie, trustee, Twelve Shares; A. G. Smith, 3 shares; Sept. 1891, R. J. Moore, 1 share; C. Nichols, 2 shares. In another account he had 15 shares, as trustee, which he also sold in 1887 to A. G. Smith. Mr. Goldie never had any shares of his own” (Evening Telegram: 27th August 1895). A month later, “Mr. Pinsent Corrects His Previous Testimony: I wish to explain referring to the figures I gave yesterday respecting the liability of the Government of Newfoundland to the bank, on the 31st of May, 1893, and on the 10th of December, 1894. Instead of being indebted, as I said, to the bank on May 31st, 1893, in $73,484.55, they were in credit $112,183.40, owing to the credit balance at the customs, which I overlooked in Giving that Statement” (Evening Telegram: 25th September 1895).
One of the Telegram’s correspondents went so far as to say: “Dear Sir. — I notice so many alterations, amendments, discrepancies and counter-statements in Mr. Pinsent’s evidence re: “The Bank Scandal” that I should fancy, if the examination continues much longer, the poor, bewildered man won’t know whether he is standing on His Head or His Heels — what he has sworn to and what not. In fact I shouldn’t be a bit surprised if they got another dozen or two of lawyers on to him whether he wouldn’t be induced to swear that the bank is able to pay “one hundred cents on the dollar” and that it has never been smashed at all (Evening Telegram: 28th September 1895).
Eventually, it came time for the directors to respond – and several did by quoting Mr. Pinsent who, in truth, had not presented particularly damning evidence against them – at least with respect to their handling of the bank. For instance, The Hon. H. W. Harvey notes that “Mr. Pinsent, the principal Crown witness, testifies (Sept. 2) to the fact that it was the duty of the manager, and the practice also, to compile the annual statement from the balance-sheet of the books of the bank, and to submit it to the Directors with a recommendation as to the disposal of the funds, and to draw up the annual report. Mr. Pinsent states that he assisted Mr. Goldie in preparing the statement of 1893, and that Mr. Goldie suggested what appropriations should be made for bad and doubtful debts, dividends, and bonuses, and the amount to be taken from reserve to allow the usual dividend to be declared.” Elsewhere, “Referring to that statement of 1893, Mr. Pinsent says, I have no doubt now that it was a correct statement, from the information he had at the time. I Believe the Statement and report drawn up by Mr. Goldie to be true in every particular, and the directors adopted them without any alteration. (Evening Telegram: 12th November 1895). The trial came to an end and the directors were allowed to walk.
The damage had been done though, and Newfoundland was left without a reliable currency. Those beautiful “Union Bank” notes with Charles Speare Pinsent’s signature on them were now of questionable value. Eventually, the Bank’s $10.00 bill was reduced to an effective value of $8.00. Charles Speare must have regretted his appointment as “manager”; however he stayed as one of the bank’s trustees and helped wind it up.
The Canadian banks moved in and, over time, they helped to stabilize the economy. The financial crisis had brought down the Government in 1894 but, after a period of turbulence during which he was convicted of an unrelated act of corruption, the Rt. Hon. Sir William V. Whiteway returned to power on a “Pro-confederation” platform. Sir William was the most senior Freemason in Newfoundland at the time and Charles had been his friend and deputy for years, so it is perhaps not so surprising that he arranged for Charles Speare to be appointed “Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod” in 1898 (Evening Herald: Thursday 2nd April 1914). He was said to be an “accountant” living at #2 Devon Row, Ducksworth, in St. John’s at the time.
An undated and unattributed newspaper clipping made by Lady Pinsent (wife of Sir Robert John Pinsent, 1834 to 1898, see elsewhere) states: “his reign (at the bank) was all too short, but to him, at least, no blame can be attached for the unfortunate closure. His life was spent in the service of the Bank, and it seems a cold irony of fate when, having achieved the highest step, the rude awakening shattered his hopes and destroyed so promising a prospect.” It goes on to say, “Mr. Pinsent, as Usher of the Black Rod, will worthily maintain the honours, dignity and traditions of the office.” He was present in that capacity when the Legislature opened on 19th February 1902 (Western Star: Wednesday 26th February 1902) and served from then on until his death.
His reputation restored, Charles Speare and his wife Blanche were invited to attend an “at home” at Government House (Evening Telegram: 21st April 1904) and Blanche took at least one of the daughters (“Miss Pinsent” presumably Constance) on a trip to England. They arrived back in St. John’s from Liverpool on the “R.M.S. Buenos Ayrean” in September that year (Evening Telegram: 13th September 1904). Charles and Blanche also attended other social functions, with or without their growing children (Earl, Constance and Frances). For instance, there was that “Brilliant Ball” at Government House with British and French naval officers in attendance to which they took Constance (Evening Telegram: 13th September 1905). She was twenty-one years old. Similarly, there was the dance of “H.M.S. Calypso” a month later (Evening Telegram: 12th October 1905) and another “at home” at Government House the month after that (Evening Telegram: 17th November 1906). In August 1909, they attended the “Society Wedding” of Miss Muriel Winter to a Mr. Ryland of Warwickshire, England (Evening Telegram: 12th August 1909). One has to wonder if they knew of the DEVONPORT Pinsents’ link to the Rylands through their own English relatives. Sir Richard Alfred Pinsent had married Laura Proctor Ryland in August 1878. The Reverend Earnest Birchby, an English born “Clergyman” who was a “Curate” at St. Thomas’s Church in St. John’s was present at the service.
Constance married Rev. Birchby at St. Thomas’ Church in St. John’s on 12th July 1911. She was given away by her father and Frances, her sister, was one of the bridesmaids. The attendees included just about anyone who was anyone in St. John’s (Evening Telegram: 13th July 1911) and the present list was extensive! The Pinsent family seem to have colluded: Lady Pinsent and her daughter Beatrice gave a set of silver teaspoons and sugar tongs; her son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. F. W. H. Pinsent (Frank and Janet) gave a silver tea pot. They were living in England by then. Constance’s sister Frances gave a tea cloth and Mrs. R. H. Pinsent (Ann) a Japanese tea cosy. Her father and mother came up with a cheque – and an old blue china dish. Mr. Birchby, who had been on the staff of the Church, accepted a position in the United States shortly thereafter, and the couple moved to Pennsylvania. Their first son was born in the States in March 1913 (Indiana State Board of Health: Ancestry.com).
Meanwhile, after they came of age, Earl and Frances joined the rest of the family in attending the city’s social events in St. John’s. For instance, the whole family attended the “at home” held at Government House in October 1910 (Evening Telegram: 5th October 1910) and the Coronation Garden party held there the following June (Evening Telegram: 24th June 1911). Presumably Frances must have been the “Miss Pinsent” who accompanied Charles and Blanche to events like the reception at Government House held to honour the King’s Birthday on 3rd June 1913 (Evening Telegram: 4th June 1913). Her elder sister had married by then. In July of the following year, we find Frances and her brother Earl attending a garden party at “Government House” at which they were introduced to H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught (Evening Telegram: 17th July 1914). Charles had died and Blanche was probably down in the United States by then.
Frances had been educated at Bishop Spencer College in St. John’s – the girls equivalent of Bishop Feilds College. She passed her primary “Council of Higher Education” exams in 1903 (Evening Telegram: 8th September 1903) and her final exams five years later, in 1908 (Evening Telegram: 1st September 1908).
Frances seems to have been musical and was among a group of young ladies who gave a concert at the Asylum in May 1905 (Evening Telegram: 29th May 1905), and she assisted Miss Hutchings in putting on an entertainment for the children in the “Feild College Kindergarten” in December that year (Evening Telegram: 20th December 1905). She played the piano and received an intermediate grade certificate from “Trinity College of Music” in June 1906 (Evening Telegram: 16th June 1906) and a higher grade certificate from the same institution in June 1908 (Evening Telegram: 25th June 1908). Frances was artistic too. She seems to have also won a prize for silk embroidery at an Art Exhibition held in St. John’s in April 1908 (Evening Telegram: 9th April 1908) – and was given a handbag as a prize for her work at the end of the year (Evening Telegram: 24th December 1908). She was also an actress. The young people of the town put on a performance of “Miss Elizabeth’s Prisoner” at the Casino Theatre in December 1913. It was a romantic comedy set during the American war of independence. Frances played the part of “Molly” (Evening Telegram: 27th November 1913). What she had to say and how well she said it is not recorded.
When His Excellency the Governor invited the cadets onboard “H.M.S. Cornwall” to a dance at Government House the “Misses Pinsent” (Constance and Frances) were among the young ladies who were also invited (Evening Telegram: 8th October 1910).
Frances Isobel married Paymaster Kenneth Edgar Badcock, R.N., of “H.M.S. Arethusa” during the “First World War.” He was from Bishop Auckland, in the north of England, and they married quietly there on 30th December 1915. The event was more subdued than her sister’s had been as Major Stanley E. Badcock had recently died in France. Kenneth, who was Secretary to Commodore Reginald Y. Tyrwhitt of the Light Cruiser Squadron, had received a “mention in the dispatches” for his conduct during the battle of Heliogland, when his ship had sunk the “Bleucher” (Evening Telegram: 15th January 1916). Sadly, his own ship “H.M.S. Arethusa” struck a mine and sank in the North Sea the following month. Presumably he was on shore at the time. One way or another, Kenneth survived. He was awarded the D.S.C. (Distinguished Service Cross) the following year – “though for what services we have not been informed” (Evening Telegram: 27th September 1927).
Charles was a committed Anglican who attended the biennial sessions of the “Dioceses of Newfoundland Church Synod” and was appointed to its “Education Committee” in 1891 (Evening Telegram: 4th July 1891) and the “Board of Directors of the Church of England College” in 1896 (Evening Telegram: 15th July 1896). He held the latter position for many years – frequently reading its biannual report at the Synod. The institution later became known as “Bishop Feild College” (Evening Telegram: 28th June 1900) and Charles’ son Earl went there in the early 1900s. What he thought of it when his father turned up in his official capacity on Speech day, I do not know.
In 1908, Charles also attended the Synod as a member of the “Lord’s Day Alliance”, an organization that was trying to extend religious reach into the Colony’s outports: “Mr. C. S. Pinsent referred briefly to the desirability of forming branches in the outports and read a letter from the organ of the Alliance, The Lord’s Day Advocate, on the prospects in England. In reply the Bishop welcomed the deputation and said it was a source of pleasure and gratification to receive it. He believed that our people are anxious that there should be no encroachment on the Sabbath rest” (Evening Telegram: 29th September 1908). At the following Synod, he was elected as “Lay Secretary”, while also reporting on College matters and lobbying for the “Alliance” (Evening Telegram 16th June 1910). A few days later he attended the Methodist Conference on behalf of the “Alliance” (Evening Telegram: 21st June 1910). He put in his last appearance in June 1912.
The bank failure was embarrassing but the Masons did not seem to be unduly concerned by financial or political scandals. The Masons’ new temple opened with great pomp 23rd January 1897. Members of all three lodges processed through the streets in full regalia and entered the temple carrying salt, corn, wine and oil and conducted the appropriate ceremonials (Evening Telegram: 23rd January 1897). Charles played his part – Bro. C. S. Pinsent carried the oil in a silver vase and responded to a toast proposed by Bro. Past Master Mott of Avalon Lodge to the “Representative of the Grand High Priest, R.A. Masonry, N.S.” at the dinner afterwards.
The Masons processed again on Jubilee Day in June that year. Around 300 dressed in full regalia marched through the streets to Government House where “District Grand Master” Pinsent delivered an address to be given to the Governor and sent to Queen Victoria. They then returned to the Temple where they lined up for photographs (Evening Telegram: 26th June 1897).
Charles kept up his routine handling of the Annual General Meetings of the “Masonic Joint Stock Co. Ltd.” and he either installed or assisted in the installation of officers of the three St. John’s Lodges throughout the early 1900s. In addition, he was also called upon to handle special events. The three lodges in St. John’s hosted 12 members of the “Grand Lodge of Massachusetts” in 1903 (Evening Telegram: 3rd September 1903) and a couple of months later the members of St. John’s Lodge received “a handsome cup that had been given to them by the visiting American brethren” (Evening Telegram: 29th December 1903).
Charles was getting on in years but there is no sign that he cut back on his Masonic duties. M. E. Comp. Black, who was visiting “Shannon” Chapter presented R. E. Comp. C. S. Pinsent, R.G.H.P. “with a beautiful gold jewel, the gift of the Grand Chapter”. In making the presentation, he made “complimentary reference to the services rendered by R. E. Comp. Pinsent during his long tenure of office” (Evening Telegram: 27th April 1906). Three years later, when the “District Grand Lodge” held its convocation in November 1909, “Past Master” C. S. Pinsent was “presented with an address and a piece of solid silver plate in recognition of his services as District Grand Master after the death of the D. G. M., Sir W. V. Whiteway (in 1908). Brother Pinsent has the honour of being the oldest Past Master of St. John’s Lodge, and he was also Deputy to the late District Grand Master 10 years. The presentation was made by District Grand Master Clift in a suitable speech, to which Mr. Pinsent made an appropriate reply” (Evening Telegram: 23rd November 1909). Sir William died in July 1908, just a few days before he was to officiate at the opening of yet another lodge, “Avalon Lodge,” and it fell to Charles, as his deputy (and later replacement) to perform the rites (Evening Telegram: 30th June 1908).
The year 1913 was a particularly busy one for Charles. In March he gave the “Fourth Biennial Lecture” in connection with the “Tasker Educational Service.” According to the Evening Telegram: “Mr. Pinsent is the oldest Past Deputy District Grand Master of the English Lodges and it is a rather striking coincidence that the youngest Past Master, Mr. Walter Edgar, delivered the lecture last year. Mr. Pinsent is deeply versed in Masonic annals and history in Newfoundland, and no doubt, a large gathering, of the members of the Mystic Tie will assemble to hear the discourse and incidentally help the Tasker Educational Fund which has done so much for Education here, its beneficiaries belonging to all denominations. We feel sure the lecturer will be greeted by an audience large as to number, appreciative as to sentiment and confident as to the interesting matter they will hear” (Evening Telegram: 3rd March 1913).
Charles’s was getting on in years; however, he was still able to open a new Masonic Lodge at Botwood in Newfoundland on 22nd September 1911. During the opening, Bro. Pinsent gave an address which was printed in full in the Evening Telegram (22nd September 1911). In it, he touched on the origins and principles of Freemasonry and he specifically mentioned the two charities that the organization supported – the “Tasker Educational Fund” and the “Masonic Benevolent Fund”. He also commented on the lay-out of the “Masonic Hall,” and explained its symbolism with respect to the Freemason Hierarchy. When the lodge had been duly established, the officers were installed. In 1913, Charles was back in Botwood to see a new slate of officers installed in its new and “beautiful hall” (Evening Telegram: 23rd September 1913). Similarly, he was involved in the consecration of a new lodge on Bell Island in December 1913 (Evening Herald: 12th December 1913). Freemasonry was not exactly in the shadows. It was thriving.
In December 1913, “St. John’s Lodge No. 579” honoured Charles on the occasion of his 50th anniversary as a member of the lodge. He had been admitted on 5th December 1863 and had risen to the top ranks in the craft. The lodge presented him with a “handsomely illustrated address on silk” (Evening Herald: Saturday 6th December 1913). He was its oldest member. A week or so later, when the members of the Scottish affiliate, “Tasker Lodge No. 545,” met to honour their “Past District Grand Master”, John Cowan, they also elected Charles an “Honorary Member of Tasker Lodge” noting that: “Although a member of the English Branch, he presided over “Tasker Lodge” some years ago.” Mr. Pinsent replied to the many kind expressions of appreciation. The brethren then proceeded to the Banqueting Hall, and an enjoyable time was spent until midnight (Evening Telegram: 13th December 1913).
Charles’s health had been failing and he had been forced to cancel a few engagements; nevertheless, his death – and the nature of it- still came as a shock to the whole community: “he left his home on Military Road for the Masonic Temple, as he rarely missed a function of the Order, and doubtless in the heavy snow and with the high wind his heart was overstrained, tho’ he contrived to open the door of the building and enter the hallway, but as he did he collapsed and death was instantaneous”. The masons contacted his family and his son Earl (who was also a mason) and others laid him out in the reading room covered by the Lodge Flag.
The evening’s event, the installation of Officers of yet another lodge – “Whiteway Lodge No.3541”) – was cancelled and, sometime after midnight the “Grand Master” of the lodge and other brethren took him home to his family (Evening Herald: 2nd April 1914 and Evening Telegram: 2nd April 1914). An “enlarged portrait of the late D.D.G.M. Brother Charles S. Pinsent, who died suddenly on April 1st 1914, when entering the Temple was unveiled. It is a peaking likeness of a brother beloved” was unveiled when the “Whiteway Lodge” again met to elect officers a year later (Evening Herald Saturday 3rd April 1915). The lodge, which was named after Sir William, had been formed in 1911.
Charles Speare Pinsent left his estate, worth $10,600, to his wife “for the benefit of herself and my child or children in such manner as she may deem desirable” and he appointed her as his executrix. The St. John’s Daily Star tells us that Blanche and her son Earl Speare Pinsent returned to St. John’s after spending the winter of 1914/1915 in the United States with Mr. and Mrs. Birchby and at least one of their children on 21st May 1915.
Rev. Ernest and Constance Birchby lived at Hughesville in Pennsylvania. He died there in 1922 and Constance and her children moved to Kensington, in Maryland. I am not sure why. When her mother Blanche went down for a visit in 1916, she predictably gave her son, Earl Speare, as her “home” contact and her daughter, Constance, as her intended destination (Canada-U.S. border Crossings: 1916). She returned from Halifax in dense fog on the “S.S. Florizel” on 27th July 1916 (Evening Telegram: 27th July 1916). Constance died in Maryland in 1927.
Blanche’s son, Earl Speare Pinsent, had qualified as a lawyer by the time he married Beatrice Dickinson in September 1916 (Evening Telegram: 7th September 1916). His life is discussed elsewhere. When he married and moved out of the family home, his mother sold off the furnishings at #53 Military Road in St. John’s (Evening Telegram: 2nd November 1916) and went to live with her daughter Constance (Mrs. Birchby) in the United States.
Blanche died in Hughesville in the United States and her body was returned to St. John’s for burial by rail (Evening Telegram: 23rd July 1918). She was buried with her husband at the “Church of England Cemetery” (St. John’s Daily Star: 24th July 1918). Earl arranged for her interment. Blanche left her estate to her three children, Constance, Earl and Frances. Her Will shows that most of her effects were still to be found at “Earl’s house”. Clearly, she had left them with him when she moved to the United States. Blanche gave her family portraits, her old china, the contents of a work box, and an old Bible that had (apparently) belonged to “Oliver Cromwell’s Secretary” to Constance, and her diamond ring and much of her silver to Frances. Her daughters split her financial assets. Earl received his father’s watch, bookcase and books, silver masonic tray and furniture (Newfoundland Probate Office). Her estate was valued at $7,760.41 after probate.
Family Tree
Grandparents
Grandfather: John Pinsent: 1753 – 1821
Grandmother: Susanna Speare: 1766 – 1830
Parents
Father: Robert John Pinsent: 1798 – 1876
Mother: Louisa Broom Williams: 1808 – 1882
Father’s Siblings (Aunts, Uncles)
Mary Speare Pinsent: 1794 – 1882
Susanna Speare Pinsent: 1795 – 1819
John Pinsent: 1796 – xxxx
Robert John Pinsent: 1798 – 1876 ✔️
Elizabeth Pinsent: 1801 – 1828
Sophia Speare Pinsent: xxxx – 1805
Male Siblings (Brothers)
Robert John Pinsent: 1834 – 1893
Thomas Williams Pinsent: 1837 – 1890
Charles Speare Pinsent: 1838 – 1914 ✔️
William Burton Pinsent: 1846 – 1846
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