Sir Percival Willoughby was a prominent land owner, businessman involved during his lifetime variously in mining, iron smelting, glass making and as an investor in the Company.
Background
He married Bridget Willoughby, evidently his third cousin, the daughter of Sir Francis Willoughby builder of the surviving Wollaton Hall. She as co-heiress of her father, inherited Wollaton Hall and they eventually moved into the new hall.
Career
Willoughby was knighted by King James I on 20 April 1603 at Worksop and shortly afterwards became the member for Tamworth in King James" first parliament. He was replaced in a by-election in 1604 but was returned again in 1614. Willoughby was drawn into the Company venture by John Slany, to whom he was heavily in debt.
The orders to the party was to leave the colony and develop Willoughby"s own tract which was all that land north of a line drawn between Carbonear and Heart"s Content on the Bay de Verde Peninsula.
This also included the rich fishing grounds around Baccalieu Island. Bartholomew Pearson and a surveyor named Olney had made the trip to to access its mineral and agricultural potential.
Willoughby"s main interest lay in the mining potential of Bell Island and was very critical of his parties’ lack of exploration upon their return to England. Willoghby"s entitlement to the land was becoming increasingly harder to maintain as he could not find anyone to settle on lieutenant