Mary Travers (1783-1854)

31. Finally, walk along Water Street to the War Memorial and take the stairs up to Duckworth Street. Across from the Memorial was Kings' Place, the site of Mary Travers' tavern and early government in Newfoundland.

Mary Travers ran a tavern or hotel at King's Place opposite the site of the National War Memorial. It was described as a "modest, two-storey frame building" and a favourite gathering place for clubs and societies, including the Sons of Erin and the Dialectic Society.

Site of Mary Travers' Tavern
Site of Mary Travers' Tavern
186-188 Duckworth Street, St. John's, NL (across from the War Memorial)
Photo by Linda Cullum. © 2023.

In 1832 the hotel was used as a polling station for the election of members to the first Newfoundland House of Assembly. Between January and June 1834, the House of Assembly held its first legislative session at the tavern/hotel. The Members neglected to pass an appropriation for rent, so an irate Mrs. Travers treated them like any other indigent roomers and ejected them from her premises. She also seized the Speaker's chair and hat, the mace of the Sergeant-at-Arms, and desks, books and papers belonging to the House of Assembly.

Mrs. Travers was summoned before the bar of the house and threatened with the direst punishments unless she relented and released the furniture. She laughed at their threats and told them flatly, no rent, no furniture.

In 1835 the furniture and government papers were recovered by the government after a new order was passed by the legislature for payment of the rent.

Sadly, Mary's tavern/hotel was destroyed in the St. John's fire of 1846. Sometime after this, Mary Travers and her seven children moved to Kildare Capes, Prince Edward Island. In 1851 and 1854, she again petitioned the Newfoundland government to recover the money she was owed. There is no record of Mary Travers or her family ever receiving payment for her services. Mary died in Prince Edward Island in 1854.

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