As Twillingate’s population grew, it was felt the town needed a bridge connecting the North and South Islands. In 1844 Magistrate Peyton sent a petition to the colonial Governor explaining the need for such a structure. In the petition he explained how residents of Twillingate had ” …suffered great loss and inconvenience in consequence of not having a bridge across the…Tickle..”

The Newfoundland Legislature approved €250 “to be appropriated in deepening the Tickle at Twillingate and in erecting a bridge across the same…,” providing an equal amount of money was raised locally.

With this provision met, Magistrate Peyton, along with John Slade, Abraham A. Pearce, and Samuel Prowse were appointed as a board of commissioners to see the work completed. Engineer William Thomas Wells was brought in from Nova Scotia to oversee the construction, at a rate of ten shillings per diem.

Wells travelled to Twillingate on the vessel Caledonia, and the Slade merchant house paid £2/17/9 toward tools he would have difficulty purchasing locally. The project got off to a good start, but it was not long before trouble arose.

The commissioners accused Wells of not conducting himself ” ….with that sobriety and attention which we had a right to expect from you…” The engineer was further reprimanded for “gross negligence” and being absent from his duties. Wells was later fired, the Commissioners telling him that “from and after this date [25 July 1844] we cannot recognise you as our servant and that you are at perfect liberty to seek any other service or employment you may think proper.” Following Wells’ departure both Pearce and Prowse resigned from the Board.