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Cupids was the first official settlement on the island. Here in 1610 John Guy of Bristol located his colony under charter from King James the First of England. Guy brought out a company of thirty nine and built his "Sea Forest Plantation" at the head of the small harbour then known as Cuper's Cove. The letters which Guy wrote home to the parent Company have been preserved in Bristol, England, and they tell of the first winter spent in Newfoundland and give a description of the buildings erected under his personal supervision. At the head of the Bay de Greve Guy had a sawmill and there too he made experiments at farming in the New Land. Owing to piratical raids and the opposition of West England fishermen the colony did not prosper. A granite monument reminds the visitor that here once was laid the foundation of English speaking America.
The London and Bristol merchants chose John Guy to lead the settlers to Newfoundland. The King had granted the colonists all the land between Cape St. Mary's and Cape Bonavista. Guy chose Cupids as the site of his settlement called "Sea Forest Plantation". He also built wharves, stores, stages, houses for the settlers, and a fort for protection. Soon land was cleared for a farm. Sheep, goats, pigs, cows, and hens had been brought to Newfoundland, and crops were planted. Some of the settlers engaged in fishing. Trap Skiff Adventure Boat Tours to Cupids are available
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John Guy had made a good beginning, but the West Country fishermen were determined to destroy his colony. He made laws to protect the colonists and their property and to preserve the forests and fishing grounds. But the fishermen would not obey his laws. They said that the King had ordered Guy not to interfere with them. Moreover, Guy's colony was raided by pirates. Many pirate ships cruised round the coast of Newfoundland. They seized fishing ships and destroyed some. They destroyed settlements and carried off large numbers of fishermen. They also stole boats, arms and ammunition, food and provisions, as well as cargoes of dried fish and wine. One year Guy claimed that pirates had stolen goods worth 2O,OOO from his colony.
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