John Treworgie (born ca. 1618) was the last Proprietary Governor of Newfoundland. Treworgie had worked as an agent at a Kittery, Maine trading post from 1635 to 1650. In 1651 he was named as one of a party of six sent to Newfoundland to arrest Sir David Kirke who had been accused of withholding taxes collected on behalf of the crown and otherwise violating the royal charter which granted him the governorship of Newfoundland. His party was also ordered to administer the fishery and collect taxes on fish and oil from foreign fishermen. He remained after the arrest of Kirke and was named governor by the English government and given authority over both migratory fisherman and colonists and ordered to fortify the colony.
In 1654 he and two other commissioners were arrested for illegally taking possession of David Kirke's property and was found guilty. Oliver Cromwell ordered a second trial which cleared him and Treworgie continued as governor until 1660.
In 1660, he asked for another term as governor but the legal conflict between Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore and the Kirke family over ownership of Newfoundland complicated matters and it's unlikely Treworgie ever returned to the island.
As governor, Treworgie was instructed to oversee the fishermen and the planters, to tax aliens, to erect fortifications and to welcome any other complaints against Kirke.
Although Treworgie was able to stimulate trade and the fishery as well as supervise the planters and the migratory fishermen, he and two other commissioners were arrested, in 1654, for taking possession of David Kirke's property.
Treworgie maintained that Kirke's possessions had been returned to his wife, but was nonetheless found guilty in a first trial; however, Oliver Cromwell requested a second trial, which in all likelihood cleared Treworgie's name, for he continued to serve as governor until 1660.
Treworgie was prevented from carrying out these duties when he, together with Sikes and Pyle, was arrested by James Kirke because of their seizure of Sir David KirkeÂ’s estates.
Treworgie appears to have continued as governor of the island until 1659 or 1660.
TreworgieÂ’s petition was referred to the secretary for foreign plantations but, with the Restoration, the controversy between Lord Baltimore [see Calvert] and the Kirkes over the proprietary right to the island was reopened and, for a time, direct governmental control lapsed.
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