JAGO, JOHN, minister at St John’s, Newfoundland; b. 1684; d. sometime after 1724. Son of George Jago of Egloskerry, Cornwall, John Jago was educated at Exeter College, Oxford. Little is known of his early ministry, except that in 1717 he was vicar of St Keverne, Cornwall.

By 1723 Jago was acting as minister in St John’s, Newfoundland. Disorder and crime were rampant in the town; debts were collected by force and the local inhabitants were ruthlessly exploited. As the British government ignored repeated recommendations and appeals for some form of civil government to be established in the settlement, the leading property owners of St John’s decided in 1723 to form an association “for the mutual preservation of H.M. peace, and the protection of us and ours, during the winter, that is, until the arrival of a British fishing ship in this harbour.” The subscribers, who were to forfeit £50 bail if they broke any of the articles of association, elected three men (including the minister, Jago) as justices. Commodore Robert Bouler, reporting to the Board of Trade and Plantations in 1724, mentioned that the three justices had held regular courts during the winter months and had settled a number of local disputes.

After this period of service in Newfoundland, nothing more is heard of Jago. He may have returned to England, but he seems to have held no further ecclesiastical positions.

Carson I. A. Ritchie