 Rowley had accompanied John Guy on his expedition to Trinity Bay from Cuper's Cove in search of the Beothuk to make friendly relations with them for trade.In 1618 or 1619 both Rowley and William Hannam had entered into a partnership with Sir Percival Willoughby by accepting a grant to half his land as described from a line drawn from Carbonear to Heart's Content to include all land north of that line in exchange for development separate from the Cuper's Cove Colony.Disagreements with Hannam had delayed this plan but he did convince eight settlers from Cuper's Cove to settle Heart's Content in the winter of 1619.