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Thomas Oates was a planter at Carbonear, Newfoundland. From 1820 to 1850, Oates always operated one or two vessels and was involved in the fishery, coastal trade, seal fishery, and probably the Labrador fishery. By 1853, he was operating a small trading business from his premises on the south side of Carbonear. His customers purchased small amounts of dry goods and provisions, and large amounts of rum from his store, which also served as a tavern. They settled accounts from their shares of sealing voyages, or with fish, cod oil, timber, or labour.

In 1820, Thomas Oates registered the Swift, a 59-ton coasting and fishing vessel, built in 1812. Two years later, in partnership with William Thistle, Oates registered the Little Belt, and the owners alternated as captain of the vessel. In 1826, Oates was also captain of the Joseph, an 80-ton brigantine owned by George Forward. In 1828, he purchased the Thirteen Brothers and Sisters, a 97-ton schooner that he used as a sealer, a fish collection boat, and a coastal trading vessel.

In 1852, Oates purchased the 150-ton brigantine Belle in partnership with his son, Thomas Jr. This vessel was the centre of the Oates's operation during the 1850s. The vessel was used in the annual seal hunt and, in the summer months, provided passage for people and goods to Labrador, returning with fish. The Belle was registered de novo in 1861 to Thomas Oates Jr. and prominent Carbonear merchant John Rorke. By then, Thomas Oates Sr. was no longer involved in the business. In 1868, the Belle was lost at sea. Members of the Oates family probably continued to operate as small traders, but they did not appear again on the Newfoundland vessel register.

William Thomas Martin (1945-) was born to Harriet and Donald Martin in Cartwright, Labrador, where he was educated. He later moved to Happy Valley, married Ethel Decker and had 3 sons, Charles, David and Dennis. During his time in Happy Valley he worked with the Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, served on the Town council and was employed by Joymac Construction. He later moved to the Labrador Straits and worked on several shrimp trawlers travelling from Labrador to Greenland. Since moving to English Point, Labrador, he has married Shirley Barney.

Thomas L. Blake (March 22, 1843-October 2, 1935) was born in Hamilton Inlet, Labrador to Lydia (Brooks) and William Blake Jr. He kept a diary detailing life and social conditions in Labrador from 1883-1890. Thomas had never been to school and was taught to read and write by his mother who had been taught by her father, Ambrose Brooks. Thomas spent time in Nova Scotia where he attended day school. Later he taught night school in Labrador at Lester's Point. Throughout his life Thomas Blake was a trapper and a fisherman and had four wives.

The Western Union Telegraph Company (Western Union) was set up in New York in 1851 to construct a telegraph line between St. Louis and Buffalo, New York. Western Union built extensive telegraph lines throughout the United States. In 1910, it set up a cable station at Bay Roberts and contracted with Telcon for the installation of a cable between Hamel, New York and Penzance, England. The first Bay Roberts cable station was a wooden structure on Church Hill. Today, it is a family residence. The structure served the company until a large brick building was completed on Water Street in the spring of 1914. Even from the early days, the operation of cables at Bay Roberts was semi- automatic, and this feature was gradually developed until sometime prior to World War II when the operation of the station became completely automatic, and all the messages passed through Bay Roberts without being touched by human hands. In 1926, Western Union laid “loaded” cables from England to Bay Roberts and from Bay Roberts to New York. In 1928, they laid a “duplexable” loaded cable between Bay Roberts and Horta in the Azores. It is estimated that Bay Roberts provided 75% of the desperately needed North Atlantic cable service given during World War II. Prime Minister Churchill and President Roosevelt had their own private line through this station. There was also a private line between Ottawa and the Canadian Command in Europe.

More than 30 people were employed at the Bay Roberts station at the height of its activity. By 1957, the number of staff was fewer than 20. The last superintendent was Chester Smith who was in charge of the operation when it closed down in 1960 and the building closed out in 1963.

The Western Union Telegraph Company (Western Union) was set up in New York in 1851 to construct a telegraph line between St. Louis and Buffalo, New York. Western Union built extensive telegraph lines throughout the United States. In 1910, it set up a cable station at Bay Roberts and contracted with Telcon for the installation of a cable between Hamel, New York and Penzance, England. The first Bay Roberts cable station was a wooden structure on Church Hill. Today, it is a family residence. The structure served the company until a large brick building was completed on Water Street in the spring of 1914. Even from the early days, the operation of cables at Bay Roberts was semi- automatic, and this feature was gradually developed until sometime prior to World War II when the operation of the station became completely automatic, and all the messages passed through Bay Roberts without being touched by human hands. In 1926, Western Union laid “loaded” cables from England to Bay Roberts and from Bay Roberts to New York. In 1928, they laid a “duplexable” loaded cable between Bay Roberts and Horta in the Azores. It is estimated that Bay Roberts provided 75% of the desperately needed North Atlantic cable service given during World War II. Prime Minister Churchill and President Roosevelt had their own private line through this station. There was also a private line between Ottawa and the Canadian Command in Europe.

More than 30 people were employed at the Bay Roberts station at the height of its activity. By 1957, the number of staff was fewer than 20. The last superintendent was Chester Smith who was in charge of the operation when it closed down in 1960 and the building closed out in 1963.

The Newfoundland Ranger Force, modelled after the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, was formed in 1934 following recommendations from the Brian Dunfield, Deputy Minister of Justice. This new organization would operate from detachments in remote areas while the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary would continue as the regualar police force in the larger towns of the Avalon and Bonivista peninsulas.
As its inception of The Newfoundland Ranger Force was placed under the Department of Natural Resources because the Rangers were to act as game wardens, and also because Justice was a relatively miner portfolio in 1935. The First Chief Ranger was Major Leonard T. Stick, an officer of the Newfoundland Regiment and a veteran of the Battles of Beaumont Hamel and Gallipoli.
The Rangers never numbered more than 72 men at any one time. Recruits were to have a minumum education of Grade XI, making the force somewhat exclusive for Newfoundlanders in the mid 1930s. Trainees were to be in top physical condition, not less than 5'9" in height or more than 189 pounds, single and between the ages of 21 and 28.
Rangers were to be responsible for carrying out the policies of no fewer than six government departments. The department of finance required that they collect custom duties and other fees and act as work commissioners. For the Department of Natural Resources they were responsible for the inspection of the logging camps, the enforcement of game laws, the issuing of licences and organizing and directing the fighting of forest fires. Rangers also acted for
Public Health and Welfare by issuing relief payments, arranging medical treatment and hospitalization when necessary and escorting mental patients to Hospital in St. John's. They enforced criminal law, investigated suspicious deaths and fires in some areas acted as deputy sheriffs for the Department of Justice. For home affairs and Education they acted as truant officers and organized adult education programs. For the Department of Public Utilities, Rangers supervised the maintenence and construction of public roads, wharves and break waters. The Force was effectively a liaison between outports residents and the government which, during Commision Government, acted without political accountability.
The first 30 recruits were sent to Detachments across the Island from Twillingate to Bonne Bay, and Labrador from Hebron to Cartwright. They were given rations for their stay and those going to Labrador were given buillding materials to construct their detachment quarters. Though the first recruits did not finish training until the fall of 1935, by spring of 1936 only the Hebron detachment was still under construction. Transportation of each detachment was on foot, by dog sled or in small boats.
The Rangers were received with mixed feelings into communities which had never been policed and where game and liquor laws were unpopular. The Rangers, who for the most part, had no previous experience in the north, were plagued by loneliness and cultural differences and this presented some problems. The criminal offences that the Rangers dealt with were minor, usually involving liquor and game infractions, common assult and petty theft. As peacekeepers, The Rangers tried to settle problems short of criminal prosecution.
With the outbreak of World War II, some Rangers Joined the Armed forces overseas and shortly after that an order was passed declaring the Rangers and Essential service. The War brought many new duties to the Force including assisting magistries in recruiting others for military service, returned deserters, and enforcing rationing and blackout orders. They also watched for enemy submarines and aircraft in coastal settlements. By 1945, there were nine detachments of the Rangers in Labrador.
Following confederation, the Province decided to dispense with the Ranger Force. They officially disbanded on July 31, 1950 and some of the Rangers joined the RCMP. Former members have helped to preserve the history of the organization through the Newfoundland Ranger Force Association, which was formed in 1968.