GC
971.5
N42c
V.4
no. 10-12
1834299 REYNOLDS HISTORICAL
GEr^EALOGY CGLLECTI©N
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1833 01072 4570
'^77^
COLLECTIONS
New Brunswick
Historical Society
No. 10
ST. JOHN, N. B.
Barnes & Co., Limited, Prince William Street
19 19
1834299
Officers for 1918-19
Rev. J.W.MiLLiDGE, B. A President
David H. Waterbury, Robert B. Emerson. . . .Vice-Presidents
John Willet, K. C Secretary
George A. Henderson Corres[)onding Secretary
J. R. Armstrong, Judyc County Court 'J'reasurer
Timothy O'Brien Librari.m
Council.
Hon. H. a. McKeown, Chief Justice.
Rev. William Armstrong Rev. H. A. Cody
L. D. Millidge Hon. J. B. M. Baxter, K. C.
INTRODUCTORY.
The New Brunswick Historical Society has taken part in several events of historic interest since the publication of the last number. One of these was the un\'eiling, on the after- noon of October 19, 191G, of the handsome bronze tablet mark- ing the site of the old Suspension Bridge at the western end. The ceremony was performed by His Honor Lt.-Gov. Josiah Wood, who spoke reminiscently. He was preceded by Mr. George A. Henderson, President, who made a brief address, referring to the prompt response of the provincial government when the matter of the tablet was suggested to them. He also mentioneel the objects of the Society in preser\'ing infor- mation in reference to the past in the I^'ovince and stated how the Society had marked in one wa>' and another matters of special significance. Other speakers were Hon. Geo. J. Clarke, Premier, Hon. J. B. M. Baxter, K. C., Attorney General, Mr. H. R. McLellan, Warden of the County, and Mayor R. T. Hayes of St. John.
On July 1, iOlS, at Annapolis Ro>'al, N. S., a sundial was unveiled by His Honor Lieut. -Gov. AlcCallum Grant, of Nova Scotia. Other speakers were Mayor Atlee, Prof. Koopman, of Brown University, Providence, R. I., A. L. Davidson, M. P., Mr. J. Plimsoll Edwards, President of Nova Scotia Historical Society, Justice Longley, a former President, Mr. Timothy O'Brien, Librarian of New Brunswick Historical Society, antl the venerable Jutlge Savary. The memorial was erected by Col. R. C. Shannon, of Brockport, N. Y., to the memory of his ancestor, George Vaughan, who took part in the capture of Port Royal in 1710.
On the afternoon of September 24, 1918, the beautiful bronze tablet, erected to the memory of Elias Hardy, was unveiled in the Court House auditorium by His Honor Chief Justice McKeown, who delivered an appropriate address. John Willet, K. C, read the paper on the distinguished counsellor-
(3)
4 INTRODUCrORY
at-law, prepared by Dr. W. O. Raymond, LL. D. Mr. H. A. Powell, K. C, who is descended from Klias Hardy's Ijrother, replied on behalf of the family. Mr. I). 11. W'aterbury, Vice- President, made the introductory speech.
Since 1914, death has remo\'ed from our midst three valued members, Messrs. Clarence Ward, William Murdoch, C. E., and P. Robertson Inches, M. I). Vov man}- yens Mr. Ward was the efficient Secretary and afterwards President. Mr. Murdoch and Dr. Inches were \'ice-Presidents for a num- ber of terms. The removal of Re\-. Dr. Raymond from St. John was greatly regretted by his colleagues. He has con- tinued to represent the Society at the annual meetings of the Royal Society at Ottawa.
The Society has completed the classification and binding of the muster rolls of the Loyalist regiments that served on the side of the Crown during the Revolutionary- War in the United States. The work comprises si.\ty odd volumes, which are handsomely bound. Later the books were sent to the Archi\es Department, Ottawa.
The olTer of a room in the Archives Department, Post Office, was accepted by the Society, and the books, papers, etc., removed to that building for safer keeping. An inventor)' of the various books, papers, maps and documents of historic interest was prepared by Mr. B. E. Paterson, and three t)pewrittcn copies of the inventory were made by the Archives Department here.
With much pleasure the Historical Society records that the Provincial Government continues annually to assist them with a grant in aid of their publishing fund.
John Willet,
Secretary. St. John, N. B., Sept. 15, 1<J19.
COLLECTIONS
OF THE
New Brunswick Historical Society
PETER FISHER. The First Historian of New Brunswick.
BY REV. W. O. RAYMOND, l.L.D.
Peter Fisher's claim to be the first of our historians rests upon two little books, both printed by a well known publishing firm in Market Square, in the City of St. John, in the early years of the last century. The first of these books appeared in KS25. It comprises HO pages, written in excellent literary style and, considering Mr. Fisher's limited sources of information, is re- markably accurate. In the preface he oliserves: "This work, however imperfect, must be useful, as gi\ing the first general outline of the Province, antl interesting to every person who possesses a feeling for his own tireside."
The other book, "iNotilia of New Brunswick," comprises 136 pages, and was printed in is;38. In the advertisement at the beginning, the author states that "circumstances have com- pelled him to relinciuish in part his original plan, and to contract the scope of the publication, since the times do not warrant any great outla>' on works of this description."
The two bo(jks are really i)amphlets in yellow pai)er covers, and are now so rare as to be much sought for by collect()rs of "Canadiana." Their title pages are here given, in fnc simile, and a comparison is of interest. It will be seen that both books are written under the nam de plume of "An Inhabitant," and the motto that follows is the same in each, namely:—
"Whatever concerns my country, interests me; I follow nature, with truth my guide."
SKETCIIXIS
NEW-BRUNSWICK ;
AN ACCOUNT OF THE FIIIST SETTLEMENT |
OF TILE PROVINCE,
Of THE
Country, climate, productions, inhabitants, oovERN.MLNr,
KiVERS, TOWNS, SETTLEMENTS, PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS, T«ADi:, KEVENL E, POl'ULATION, i<CC.
^n M])tibiiattt ot t\)c iJi-obincc.
*' Whatever concerns mt/ countrij, interests me , IJollow nature, with truth wj guide."
SAINT JOHN:
•pKIJ^TED BY CHUBB & SEARf, J>|ARKF.T-S^UARE.
. 18 25.
rs' <> T J T I A,
OF
NEW-BUUNSW[CK,
AND EXTExNDlNG INTO 1H;7,
COMPRISINO HISTORICAL, GEOCRAPIirCAI., STA i !STK A i
4. NO
c o >i :>n: u c i a l, .\ < ) i- 1 ( ; » : s
BY AN 1;\!I ARlTAr^T.
'•' Whntovcr concerns my Couiury, intciiiOt-j in^; " I Ibllow oaturo, with uulh my guido."
SAINT JOHN:
i-rin'ti:d Fon rvr. .\L''rii»ii, uy wi n/:v iiui^n, M.vRN'L'T-sou.inr.
I 8 'J H.
« NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Further comparison of the books will reveal examples of great similarity in phraseology, notably in the description of the first calamitous winter of the Loyalists at St. Ann's; also in the account of "The year without a sununer" (IS 10), and in some other places. Quite a strong argument could, if necessary, be adduced from internal evidence to prove that "Sketches of New Brunswick" and " Notitia of New Bruns^vick" were peimed by the same writer.
W. G. Mch^arlane, a former member of our Historical Society, has compiled a useful Bibliography of New Brunswick publica- tions, in which he states that "Notitia of New l^runswick" was written by Alexander Wedderburn. That this is an error is sufficiently shown by the book itself, in which the statement occurs, "The author has had the assistance of Mr. Wedderburn's statistics, from which he has extracted two tables. " These tables are found at page seventeen and pages sixty-two to sixty-four.
The late Joseph W. Lawrence, who was in his da>' the best authority as to the authorship of old New Brunswick publica- tions, wrote in his copy of Sketches of New Brunswick tlie words: "This by Peter Fisher." Some twenty years ago, the late William Insher, who was then living in St. John, informed me that Notitia of New Brunswick was written by his father, Peter Fisher. So the question of authorship may be regarded as defm- itely settled.
Before proceeding to consider the personality of our first historian and to speak further of his writings, it will be of interest to speak of his antecedents. His father, Lewis Fisher, served in the war of the American Revolution, on the side of the crown, in the New Jersey Volunteers, a brigade connnanded !)>• Brigadier General Cortlandt Skinner, the last Royal Att(jrney-General of New Jersey. The corps was sometimes known as "Skinner's Greens." It was numerically the largest organization of British Americans in Howe's army. Officers and men were mostly natives of New Jersey, New York and Penns> Ivania. One of the original six battalions was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Abraham Van Buskirk and it contained a large Dutch element. Among the officers were Major Van (\)rtlandt. Captains William
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 9
Van Allen, Peter Ruttaii, Samuel Ryerson, Jacob Van Buskirk and Waldron Blaan; Lieutenants Martin Ryerson, John Van Norden, John Heslop, John Sinionson and Joost (or Justus) Earle; Ensigns Colin McVean, Xenophon Jouett, Malcolm Wil- mot, William Sorrell and Frederick Handorff.
Among the iiven in the ranks — man\- of whom came to New Brunswick and settled near Fredericton — we find such names as VanHorne, Vanderheck, Ackerman, Fisher, Burkstaff, Swim, Ridner, VanWoert, Woolley, etc. B)- the settlement of so many men of this corps in New Brunswick, the same thrift^' " Knicker- bocker" element that figured in the development of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania was planted in this province.
Lewis Fisher joined the New Jerse>' Volunteers on December 7, 177G. He was taken prisoner a few weeks later, together with his brother Peter and fifteen others. After an absence of a >'eai and nine months he effected his escape and returned to his tluty on October 2, 177S. He was thenceforth stationed chiefly at Staten Island, where his three oldest children — P21i/a, Henry and Peter — were born. When the war closed the New Jersey Volunteers were cjuartered at Newtown, tliree miles east of Brooklyn, on Long Island, N. Y.
In the earlier muster rolls we find I'isher's name entered as Lodewick Fischer, but later he adopted tiie English form Lewis Fisher. His wife, Mary, was probabl\ of English parentage. She was the mother of a ver>- large famil>' and a woman oi resolute spirit, which she transmitted to her descendants.
The New Jersey Volunteers never numbered more than \,'A)0, of all ranks. They, however, rendered essential ser\ice in New- Jersey and in the defence of Staten Iskuid. One of the battalions under Lieut. -Col. Isaac Allen, was conspicuous for it^ gallaiitr>' in the canii:)aigns in (icorgia and South Carolina. At the close of the war the original si.x. battalions had been ccmsolidated into three, under command of Lieut. -Col. Stephen deLance\', Lieut. - Col. Isaac Allen and Lieut. -Col. Abraham VcUiBuskirk.
The war may be said to have ended with the surrender of the army under Lord Cornwallis, at Ycjrktown, on (Xno])er 11), 17X1, and little attempt at recruiting was made subseiiuentK'; con-
10 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
sequently the regiments continued to dwindle until, at the evac- uation of New York, two years later, they were not more than one-thiid of their original strength. The New Jersey Volunteers, a year after their arrival in New Brunswick, weie mustered by Thomas Knox, under the supervision of Col. Edward Winslow. The return is dated at Fort Howe, September 25, 17S4, and the number of those then on their lands, and for whom the Royal bounty of provisions was furnished, was as follows; —
Ml'ii Women Children Servants Total
Over 10 Under 10
1st New Jersey Vols. 158 57 57 30 0 320
2nd " " 132 45 44 3.S 14 273
3rd " " 173 04 47 42 0- 332
Total 403 100 14S 119 29 925
The commander of the 3rd Battalion, Lieut. -Col. VanBuskirk, did not come with his men to the River St. John but settled in Shelburne, where he was the first mayor of the town. The troops for St. John sailed in charge of Lieut. -Ct)l. Richard Hewlett as senior officer, with Lieut. -Col. Gabriel DeVeber second in com- mand. They left New York on September 15, 17S3, and arrived safely in St. John harbour on the 20th, with the exception of the transports "Martha" and "Esther." The foimer was wrecked near Yarmouth and more than half of her passengers were lost. The "Esther," in which VanBuskirk's battalion had embarked, got off her course in the fog and narrowly escaped destruction, arriving a day or two behind het sister ships.*
As Peter Fisher was born on Staten Lsland, on June 9, 1782, he was a very young Loyalist indeed at the time of his arrival in Blue-nose Land, being, in point of fact, less than sixteen months old.
Sir Guy Carleton's orders were that the several corps should proceed at once to the places allotted for their settlement, direc- tions having been given to Captain John CoWille, assistant agent of all small craft at the St. John River, to afford every assistance
*Sce Major Provost's letter, Appcndi.'c, pas^e .').■). Compare also Winslow Papers, pp. 131, 132; 13G. 137; and Ml.
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 11
in his power to the corps in getting to their destinations. Three days after their arrival the troops disembarked and encamped above the Falls, near the Indian House. Hewlett wrote Sir Guy Carleton that he feared thie want of small craft would greatly dela>' their progress. He writes again on the 13th October that the troops had been disbanded and were getting up the river as fast as the scarcity of small craft for conveying them would admit.
I shall pause here to relate an incident, which will indicate the source from which Peter Fisher derived the information he gi^^es us concerning the arrival of the Loyalists at St. Ann's and their subsequent hardships.
About twenty-five years ago William Fisher, the >'oungest son of Peter Fisher (father of W. Shives Fisher), read to me in his apartments in the old Park Hotel, in St. John, a manuscript which contained the recollections of one of his sisters of her various conversations with her old grandmother, Mary Fisher, concerning the coming to New Brunswick and the subsequent experience of her family at St. Ann's. Mr. Fisher did notentiust the manuscript to my hands but allowed me to make full notes, and afterwards at my request re-read the whole, in order that I might make sure of my facts. The story which noA\' follows is, of course, not quoted from the lips of the first narrator, but is based upon the notes made by her granddaughter in which are embodied the recollections of the conversations she had with her grandmother.
The Grandmother's Story.
We sailed from New York in the ship "Esther" with the fleet for Nova Scotia. Some of our ships were bound for Halifax, some for Shclburne and some for St. John's river. Our ship going the wrong track was nearly lost. When we got to St. John we found the place all in confusion; some were living in log houses, some building huts, and many of the soldiers living in their tents at the Lower Cove. Soon after we landed we joined a party bound up the river in a schooner to St. Ann's. It was eight days before we got to Oromocto. There the Captain put us ashore being unwilling on account of the lateness of the season, or for some other reason, to go further. He charged us each four dollars for the passage. We spent the night on shore and the
12 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
next day the women and children proceeded in Indian canoes to St. Ann's with some of the party; the rest came on foot.
We reached our destination on the Sth day of October, tired out with our long journey, and pitched our tents at the place now called Salamanca, near the shore. The next day we explored for a place to encamp, for the winter was near and we had no time to lose.
The season was wet and cold, and we were much discouraged at the gloomy prospect before us. Those who had arrived a little earlier had made better preparations for the winter; some had built small log huts. This we could not do because of the lateness of our arrival. Snow fell on the 2nd day of November to the depth of six inches. We pitched our tents in the shelter of the woods and tried to cover them with spruce boughs. We used stones for fireplaces Our tent had no floor but the ground. The winter was very cold, with deep snow, which we tried to keep from drifting in by putting a large rug at the door. The snow, which lay six feet around us, helped greatly in keeping out the cold. How we lived through that awful winter I hardly know. There were mothers, that had been reared in a pleasant country enjoying all the comforts of life, with helpless children in their arms. They clasped their infants to their bosoms and tried by the warmth of their own bodies to protect them from the bitter cold. Sometimes a part of the family had to remain up during the night to keep the fires burning, so as to keep the rest from freezing. Some destitute people made use of boards, which the older ones kept heating before the fire and applied by turns to the smaller children to keep them warm.
Many woman and children, and some of the men, died from cold and exposure. Graves were dug with axes and shovels near the spot where our party had landed, and there in stormy winter weather our loved ones were buried. We had no minister, so we had to bury them without any religious service, besides our own prayers. The first burial ground continued to be used for some years until it was nearly filled. We called it "The Loyalist Provincials Burial Ground."
We pause here to observe that the. site of this old grave-yard, is on the Ketchum place at Salamanca, just below I^'redericton, near the shore. Some rude headstones may perhaps yet be found there. The late Adolphus G. Beckwith told me that he remem- bered when a boy to have seen a number of pine "head-boards, " much decayed, but still standing in this (jld cemetery. The painted epitaphs, or inscriptions, were in some cases lairly well
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 13
preserved. He remembered, he said, that many of the names seemed to be German (or Dutch), a statement whicli.I liardly credited at the time, but which is entirely in harmony with the old grandmother's stoi>'. Continuing her narrative, she says:
Among those who came with us to St. Ann's, or who were there when we arrived were Messrs. Swim, Burkstaff, McCom- esky, three named Ridner, Wooley, Bass, Paine, Ryerse, Acker, Lownsberry, Ingraham, Buchanan, Ackerman, r)o:ile>', Vander- beck, Smith, Essington and some few others.
Here again the grandmother's story is confirmed by the Muster Rolls of the New Jersey Volunteers, lately placed by our Historical Society in the Dominion Archives at Ottawa for safe- keeping. Nearly all the names she mentions are to be found there. In Captain Waldron Blaan's Company, we find John Swim, Vincent Swim, Moses McComesky, David Burkstaff, Frederick Burkstaff. In Col. VanBuskirk's Compan>' we find Abraham Vanderbeck, Conrad Ridner, Abraham Ackerman, Morris Ackerman and Marmaduke Ackerman. In Captain Edward Earle's Company, Lodewick Fisher, Peter Ridnor and Peter Smith. In Captain Samuel Ryerson's Company, Samuel Buchanan. In Captain Jacob Buskirk's Company, James Ackerman.
Benjamin Ingraham, mentioned above, was a sergeant in the King's American Regiment; he served in the Carolinas, where he nearly died of yellow fever, and was severely wounded in the battle of Camden. He arrived at St. Ann's in a row-boat in October, 1783, and built a small log house in the woods into which he moved on the Oth of November, at which time there was six inches of snow on the ground.
The story now continues:
When the Loyalists arrived there were only three houses standing on the old St. Ann's plain. Two of them were old frame houses, the other a log house (which stood near the old Fisher place). There were said to have been two bodies of people murdered here. It could not have been long before the arrival of the Loyalists that this happened.
Many of the Loyalists who came in the spring had gone further up the river, but they were little better off for provisions
14 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
than we were at St. Ann's. Supplies expected before the close of navigation did not come, and at one time starvation stared us in the face. It was a dreary contrast to our former conditions. Some of our men had to go down the river with hand-sleds or toboggans to get food for their famishing families. A full supply of provisions was looked for in the S{)ring, but the people were betrayed by those they depended upon to supply them. All the settlers were reduced to great straits and had to live after the Indian fashion. A party of Loyalists who came before us late in the sjjring, had gone up the ri\-er further, but they were no better off than those at St. Ann's. The men caught fish and hunted moose when they could. In the spring we made maple sugar. We ate fiddle heads, grapes and even the lea\'es of trees to allay the pangs of hunger. On one occasion some poisonous weeds were eaten along with the fiddle heads; one or two died, and Dr. Earle had all he could do to save my life.
As soon as the snow was off the ground we began to l)uild log houses, but were obliged to desist for want of food. Your grand- father went up the river to Captain McKay's for provisions, and found no one at home but an old colored slave woman, who said her master and his man had gone out to see if they could obtain some potatoes or meal, having in the house only half a box of biscuits. Some of the people at St. Ann's, who had i)lanted a few potatoes, were obliged to dig them up and eat them.
Again a few comments will show the reliabilit)' of the old lady's narrative. The three houses she mentions on the site of Fredericton were those of Benjamin Atherton, built about 17()7 at the upper end of the town, near the site of the old Covernment House; Philip Weade's, which stood on the river bank in front of the Cathedral, and Olivier Thibodeau's, an Acadian, whose log house was at the lower end of town. The tradition regarding the massacre of some of the first settlers at St. Ann's refers doubt- less to the destruction of the French settlement there by AIc- Curdy's New England I^angers in February, 1759, as is described at page 242 in Dr. Raymond's "St. John River History." The party of Loyalists, who had gone further up the river in the late Spring of 1783, were the King's American Dragoons, who settled in Prince William. Resuming once more the narrative, the grandmother says:
In our distress we were gladdened by the discovery of some large patches of pure white beans, marked with a black cross.
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 15
They had probably been originally planted by the French, but were now growing wild. In our joy at the discovery ^ye called them at first the "Royal Provincials' bread," but afterwards "The staff of life and hope of the starving. " I planted some of these beans with my own hands, and the seed was preserved in our family for many years. There was great rejoicing A\'hcn the first schooner arrived with corn-meal and rye. In those da>'s the best passages up and down the river took from three to five days. Sometimes the schooners were a week or ten days on the way. It was not during the first year alone that we suffered from want of food, other years were nearly as bad.
The first summer after our arriA^al all hands united in building their log houses. Dr. Earle's was the first that was finished. Our pcoi^le had but few tools and those of the rudest sort. They had neither bricks or lime, and chimneys and lirei)laces \\ ere built of stone laid in yellow clay. They covered the njofs of the houses with bark bound over with small j^oles. The windows had only four small panes of glass.
The first store was kept by a man named Cairnes, who lived in an old house on the bank of the river near the gate of the first Church built in Fredericton [in front of the present Cathedral]. He used to sell fish at one penny each and l)utternuts at two for a penny. He also sold tea at ^2.0(3 per lb. which was to us a great boon. We greatly missed our tea. Sometimes we used an article called Labrador, and sometimes steeped si)ruce or hemlock bark for drinking, but I despised it.
There were no domestic animals in our settlement at first except one black and white cat, which was a great pet. Some wicked fellows, wIkj came from the States, killed, roasted and ate the cat, to our great indignation. A man named ("onle>' owned the first cow. Poor ("onley afterwards hanged himself, the reason for Avhich A\as ne\'er known.
For years there were no teams, and our people had to work hard to get their provisions. Potatoes were planted among the black stumps and turned out well. Pigeons used to come in great numbers and were shot or caught by the score in nets. We found in their crops some small round beans, which we planted; they grew very well and made excellent green beans, which we ate during the summer. In the winter time our people had sometimes to haul their provisions l^y hand fifty or a hundred miles over the ice or through the woods. In summer they came in slow sailing vessels. On one occasion l^r. Earle and others went up the river to Canada on snowshoes with hand sleds, returning with bags of flour and biscuits. It was a hard and dangerous journey, and they were gone a long time.
16 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
For several years we lived in dread of the Indians, who were sometimes very bold. I have heard that the Indians from Can- ada once tried to murder the people on the St. John River. Coming down the river they captured an Indian woman of the St. John tribe, and the chief said they would spare her if she would be their guide. They had eleven canoes in all, and they were tied together and the canoe of the guide attached to the hinder- most. i\s they drew near the Grand Falls, most of the party were asleep; and the rest were deceived by the woman, who told them tliat the roaring they heard was caused by a fall at the mouth of the stream which here joined the main river. At the critical moment the Indian woman cut the cord which fastened her canoe to the others and escaped to the shore, while the Can- ada Indians went over the fall and were lost.*
In the early days of the settlement at St. Ann's, some fellows that had come from the States used to disturb the other settlers. They procured liciuor at Vanhorne's tavern and drank heavily. They lived in a log cabin which soon became a resort for bad characters. They formed a plot to go up the river and plunder the settlers — provisions being their chief object. They agreed that if any of their party were killed in the expedition they should prevent discovery of their identity by putting him into a hole cut in the ice. While they were endeavoring to effect an entrance into a settler's house, a shot, fired out of a window, wounded a young man in the leg. The others then desisted from their attempt, but cut a hole in the ice and thrust the poor fellow in, who had been shot, although he begged to be allowed to die in the woods, and promised, if found alive not to betray them, but they would .not trust him."
Here the story of the old grandmother comes abruptly to an end. Enough, however, is preserved in these extracts to in- dicate the source of a good deal of the very valuable information concerning the early experience of the Loyalists in the New Brunswick wilderness, which appears in Mr. Fisher's "Sketches of New Brunswick." Doubtless what he has related on this topic in his little book is based upon what he learned from the lips of his mother. To her care and devotion, in all human probability, he owed his preservation Huring the first eventful winter spent under canvas on the old bt. r^ans plain.
•It is of interest to know that this legend was told by the Indians to the English settlers shortly after their arrival. The name of the Indian heroine is given as Malobianah, or Malabeain.
£^^^^^r-zy^3'^l^^
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 1 /
Peter Fisher acquired a pretty good education, for those days. A jac simile of his signature is here given, which sh(nvs that liis penmanship was ex- cellent, ami compared more th;>n fa\orahl>' with that of
his son and name-sake, Lewis Peter Fisher, who was for some thirt>- odd years mayor of Woodstock, and the leading (^ [\t
barrister of that place, and (^^J^ IfA^ ^ whose signature is also here l**^^
given for comparison.
The advantages of education were not great in the elder Peter Fisher's day, but he had a pretty competent instructor in an English school master. Dealing Stephens Williams, w^ho was born in Cornwall in 175 1, and came to Nova Scotia, a clerk in the navy in 1779. lie settled in Cumberland, N. S., where he taught school and was married, removing to Fredericton in 1790, where he again taught school for nearly forty years. He was an accomplished penman and an expert in aritlunetic and the elementary mathe- matics. There can be no doubt, I think, that Fisher was indebted to this gentleman for an education that was very fair indeed, in the then circumstances of the country. Fisher unquestionably possessed a good deal of natural ability, and was something of a philosopher, as will appear when we come to consider his writings. He carried on quite an extensive business in lumbering at one time. He was noted as a tireless pedestrian and there were few, even among his juniors, who could keep pace with him in a walk of fifty miles, which he thought nothing of. He married on August 15, 1S07, Susanna Stephens Williams, the Rev. George Pidgeon, rector of Fredericton, officiating at the wedding. Their family was a large one, seven sons and four daughters.* The late Judge Charles Fisher, who w^as born September IG, 1808, was the oldest. Another s^op., Henry Fisher, was Chief Superinten- dent of Education- v.. x^■e\v Brunswdck. Lewis Peter Fisher, a
•I am pretty certain that Susanna Stephens Williams was a daughter of Bealing Stephens Williams, the school master. — W. O. R.
18 NEW I5RUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
younger son, was for years Woodstock's most prominent citizen and a very eminent lawyer. Another son, William Fisiier, was for some years Indian Commissioner. One of the daughters was the wife of Hon. Charles Connell, Postmaster General, at one time in the local government, and a member of the fust Domin- ion Parliament for the County of Carleton. At least three of the sons of Peter Fisher were actively interested in education. Of these Charles Fisher received the degree of B. A. at King's College, now the University of New Brunswick, in 1830. His was the first class to graduate after the incorporation of tlu; college by Ro> al Charter, under the name of King's College with the st)ie and prix'ileges of a University. He read law with judge Street, then Advocate C.eneral, was admitted attorney in IN;,)! and barrister in IKV,'). He spent a year at one of the Inns of Court in England. His Alma Mater confeired on him the degree of D. C. L. in 18()(1. Judge Fisher during his public life was a warm friend of the College at Fredericton. At the session of the provincial legislature, in 1859, he moved the bill under which the old King's College vv^as transformetl into the University of New Brunswick. He was later a member of the Senate of the University.
Henry Fisher has already been mentioned as (;ne ol the early Chief Superintendents of Education. llispoilraiL maybe seen in the office of Dr. W. S. Carter, Chief Superintendent of I'.ducation, in I<Vedericton.
Lewis Peter Fisher, of Woodstock, was for years an active Trustee of the Carleton County Granunar School, and a stren- ous advocate of Free School Education. He had no children. By his will he left his large fortune to establish a number of institutions of an educational and philanthropic character in the town of Woodstock, the affairs of which he had long abl>' admistered as mayor. These institutions include: The Fisher Memorial Hosi)ital, established at a
cost of S30,000 00
Fisher Memorial Public School $70,000 00
" Vocational School, 15,000 00
" Free Public Library, 42,000 00
Total, $187,000 0
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 19
This is the largest individual benefaction to any community in New Brunswick, if not in the Maritime Provinces. The memorial buildings are all situated within the limits of the town of Woodstock, and, with the exception of the hospital, are handsome substantial brick buildings. In addition to the gift of the buildings and their eciuipment, the estate contributes from time to time to their maintenance, under the capable adminis- tration of the trustees, A. B. Connell, K. (^, and Col. F. 11. J. Dibblee. It avIU thus be seen that allhough the late Mayor of Woodstock left no child to perpetuate his name, his memory will be kept green for future generations as a philanthropist and a man of high ideals.
Space will not admit of any extended reference to the des- cendants of our hrst provincial histori.m. A short sketch of the Ufe of the Hon. Charles lM^her \\ill be found in Lawrence's "Judges of New Brunswick and their Times," pages r)2S-r)o2. As a man who in his day rendered c^ssential service to his native province, Charles I'i^her deserves a more extensixe biography than has hitherto been attenipted b> an\ writer.
We proceeil now to consider more in detail the two books Irom the i)en of the elder Peter Fisher.
"SI':etches of Niav Brunswick."
The title page of this little book will give a general idea of its contents. The account of the hrst settlement of the province is very well written and is marked !)> greater accurac\ than is to be found in the work of Moses 11. Perley, who follows next in order as provincial histoiian. Brief references only are made by Fisher to the Acadian period, although his account of the proceedmgs under Col. Frye at Fort Cumberland and vicinity is valuable.
Under the title, "A nanative of the pnx-eedings of the lirst settlers at the River St. John, under the authority of the Govern- ment of Nova Scotia," Mr Fisher supplies valuable information. He tells us of the preliminary steps taken in 1761 and the year following, by a number of persons of the County of Essex, Massachusetts, to procure the grant of a township twelve miles
20 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
square on the St. John River. Of the sailing of an exploration party from Newhuryport in May, 17(12. Of their design to include the site of the old Acadian settlement at St. Ann's in their tract, and h(nv the>' were deterred by the hostile iitlitude of the Indians from so doing. Of their suhsecjuent la\ ing out the Tow n- shij) of jNlaugerville, e.xtending from a I'iiie Tree on a ])()int of land a little below Manger's Island u]) to the lower line of what is now the Count)' of York.* The littU- book also contains interesting details of the coiu'se of e\ents at the mouth of the St. John Ri\er during the ru\(jlutionary ejjoch. St. John Wiis the first place in what is now British Anu'riea to suiter at the hands of the Yankee privateers.
In the month of August, 1775, a party from Machias, led by one Stephen Smith, entered the harbor in a sloo]) and burned Fort Frederick and the Barracks, ami nuide the men in the tort their prisoners. This event is thus recorded by Peter I-isher:
"A brig was sent from Boston to prcjcure fresh pro\'ii,ions ior the British army, from the settlements of the Ri\er St. John. The vessel was laden with stock, poultry, and sundry (jther articles, mostly l)rought from Maugerville in snudl \LSsels and gondolas, all of which had been put on board within about tifteen days after the brig had arrived. While she was w aiting for a fair wind and clear weather an armed sloop full of men from Machias came into the harbor, took possession of the brig, and two days after carried her off to Machias. The first night after their arri- val the enemy made the small party in the Fort prisoners, plundered them of everything in it, and set fire to all the Barracks but did not molest any of the inhabitants on the opposite side of the harbour. "
A few days since I have found corroboration of the above statement, with further details, in the Report of the Bureau of Archives for the Province of Ontario for 1904, pages (idO and OGl. It is there stated that Da\-id Black, late of Boston. ga\ e e\ idence, under oarh. on June 21, 17M'. before Commir-^iont-r Pembertun at Halifax, X. S.:
"That he is a native of Scotland; went to Boston in 1770 and settled there in trade. About July, 1775, he was one of an
•See extracts from Sketches .of New Brunswick in Collections of the N. U. Uistorical Society No. 6, pp. 292-295.
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 21
association appointed under General Howe for taking charge of provisions for the town of Bostcni. He with lourpartners fitted out a brig called the Loyal Briton to bring provisions froin the St lohn River. She sailed from r,oston a little after the Battle of'Bunker's Hill, and was taken by an American vessel m the mouth of St. John's River ^vith her lading on board. She was afterwards condemned. "
Black had one-hfth share in the xe^sel worth C3()0. The steps subseciuently taken \>y the British authorities for the protection of St. John and other idaces along the shores of the Bay of Fundv are narrated by Mr. Fisher. He also gives some account of the negotiations with the Micmacs and Mahseets and of the treaties agreed upon by goNcrnment with the savages. By no means the least interesting part of his book is his account of the hardships endured b>- the Loyalists who settled on the River St. John at the close of the American Revolution. He refers to this subject again in the introduction ol his ollie. book, "Notitia of New Brunswick," in the words toUowing:
"At St Ann's, where Fredericton was afterwards built, a few scattered huts of French, etc wer. '"''^'•^;1 T ^l\V\^r;;;7, "'' around being a continued wilderness; and '/^'^'^^ .,',';' '.;;^,^. wretched outcasts of their country pitched their tents he
cold month of October, than they were enveloped m sncm nca. > two feet having fallen the hrst night oi their encampment Nor did their difficulties end with the hrst year. rMciuently la these settlers to go with handsleds or toboggans throng h^_ w^oods or on the ice, from hfty to one hundred miles, to pioc uic a scanty supply for their tamishing lamihes.
All readers will regret that our author did not carry out his intention of dealing more fully ^^lth this extremely interesting subject, concerning which he wiites in his prelace to the Not.tia of New Brunswick:
" It was the intention of the writer to have given a short but faithful account of the hrst landing and ^^^'^^^^'''^''^^'^ Loyalists in the country in the >ear 1 .s.5, ^mUi such kctd o its early history as must be interesting to ^^^ jnhabiunts .m a there are many circumstances connected ^^■' '.^ ^^'^^^^^^ "^^^^^ will sink into oblivion, if not recordec, the ^^'l^^, ^ ^^ '{^"^ must be obx-ious to every person who teels an ''^"^^^^^ welfare of his country. As circumstances have ari.en to prcx cut
22 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
him accomplishing these desiraljle ()l)jects, he has introduced some preHminary observations on the sul)ject."
The description of the country as it was in 1S25 is interesting. The first census of the province had l)een taken in the previous year; the population was then 74,17(1. Education was in a very elementary stage as is sho\\n \)y statistics tlealing \\ith the schools, most of which were conducted on the National or Madras system. The names of the ancient i)edagogues are given, and are worthy of being held in remuml;rance. X'ery iuw women were then engaged in the teaching profession owing to lack of qualification.
This statement corroborates that ol Bishoj) Charles Inglis who writes to Dr. Morice, the Secretarx' of the S. P. (i., under date August K), 1799:
"You formerly inquiretl and now repeat the incjuir) , what my sentiments are about employing women, instead ol men, to teach in the Society's schools, especially for girls. I \er>- nmch ai)prove of the measure — I ha\e made incpiiries for women that were competent and willing to undertake the office, but could find none. To th.e clergy of both pro\inces (New Brunswick and No\a Scotia) I comnmni'ated the Societ>''s wishes and desired them to use their endeaxors to procure women for the Society's schools, but they ha\e been equally unsuccessful. In this countr)' few women cU'c competent to the employment, antl tb.osc who are, disdain it. Such is the temi)er and s[)irit of the inhabitants."
The statistics, dealing with exports and imports, ship-build- ing, lumbering, etc., are valuable. Up to 1S25 there is scarcely any mention of spruce lumber as an article of export. The first spruce deals cut in the province were sawn in 1S19, and the first cargo, which consisted of only 100,000 superficial feet, was s]npi)ed to FIngland in 1S22. But in 1S21 the port of St. John shipi^ed 114,1 1() tons of pine and birch timber; 1 1,534,000 feet of pine boards and planks; 1,923,000 staves; 491,000 pine shingles; 1,91S masts and spars; 2,G9<S oars and oar rafters, etc., and 1,435 cords of lathwood. In addition large quantities of lumber were shipped from Miramichi, St. Andrews, Richibucto and Bathurst. The amount of pine and birch timber shipped from Miramichi
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 23
was 141,384 tons, which was considerably nujrc than that troni St. John. But the Miramichi (ire in 1X2') caused a falhii^ off in North Shore shipments in the succeedin;,; >eeUs. higher writes:
" In this country there is no article tliat can in any det2;ree furnish exports C(}ual to the pine, wliich is manufactured in the simplest manner ^^ith but little trouble'. Most settlers who understand the use of an axe can manufactiiie it, llu" \\(u)d> fur- nishing a sort of simple manufactor\- for the inhabitants, fiom which, after attending to their farms in summei-, lliey cm draw returns during the winter for the supi)lies \\ hich are necessary for the comfort of their families.
A man settling on a wilderness lot has but little tlependence save on his own labor — i:)erhaps he has a small family; he com- mences with cutting down a small spot and erecting a hut in tlie summer or fall; he then moves on his family, and looks roimd tor sustenance till he can raise his hrst crop. His lunds are now^ exhausted, and he wants by his own labcjr to replenish them during the winter and provide a few implements of husbandr}', and nails, etc., for building a barn. Now, sui^i)(jsing his lot to l>e back from the river, and at a distance from old settlements u here labor is wanted, what does he do? Why he resorts to his i)ine — to the simple manufactory before noticed, and makes a few tons of timber, say twenty, thirty, forty or hfty, according to his ability. This timber probably he gets hauled to the water on shares, if he is very poor and has no team, the returns for Avhich the next spring furnish him with supplies and enable him to con- tinue on his land and p'rosecute his farming."
Fisher was himself engaged (juite extensi\el> in limd)eiing, and had an eye to aliuses that were rampant in his da>-. He protests against the inordinate consumption of ardent spirits — rum, gin, and brandy — of which, he sa\s, the inhabitants of the province consume in the course of a single year i at her more than twenty gallons on an average ft)r every male (ner sixteen years of age! It was believed in those days that lumbeiing could not l)e carried on at all without the use oi rum.
Another evil to which he refers was the wanton destruction of valuable young timber by lumberers who had no regaid for the future. The great Miramichi hre in October, ls2r), occurred about the time his first book was issued from the i)ress. No
24 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIKTY.
mention of the fire is found in its pages. He j^ives a very i^ood account of what is called, "The > ear without a suninier," A\iiich we shall refer to further on. His description of the old military post at Presque Isle, twenty miles above Wocxlstock, is ciuite interesting. But the space at our disposal will not admit of further extracts, and we must now |)ass on to refer more particularly to his second publication, wliich appeared in the year 1<S3S, under the title:
"NoTiTiA OF New Brunswick."
The introduction contains a fair synopsis of Acadian history from 1004 to the close of the American Revolution, including such incidents as the founding of Halifax by ("ornwallis; the Acadian Expulsion under Lawrence's direction; the proceedings of Monckton and Rous at the River St. John; B>ron's destruc- tion of the French squadron in the Bay of Chaleur; Col. Fry's operations along the North Shore of New Brunswick; and the coming of the Loyalists to the province in MS'A.
A number of extracts will now be gixen relating to the form- ation and growth of the Province of New lirunswick:
"Lieut. -Col. Carleton (brother to the General of that name who had preserved Canada) was appointed Ciovernor on August l()th, 1781. By his judicious and patriotic conduct the infant colony soon began to Ikmrish. To encourage the settlement of the interior, a town was projected and built on the Point of St. Ann's, on the river St. John, about eight\-h\'e miles up, at the head of sloop navigation, which was called Fredericton. This being the most central and eligible situation, was made the \)cr- manent seat of Government, being situated at nearh' e(|Ucd dis- tance from the towns and- settlements that were forming at Miramichi, Bay Verte, Passamaquoddy and other i)<\rts ol the province.
To facilitate the settlement of the upi^er St. John, which extends through a fine tract of country, nearly 40U miles above Fredericton, two military posts were established in the interior, one at Presque Isle, about ISO miles from the mouth (jf the river, and the other at the Grand Falls, 52 miles farther up. Barracks were built at each post for the accommodation of a company of soldiers, but these have been suffered to go to decay. Before
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 25
the French revohition, two regiments were stationed in New Brunswick."
A good deal of information respecting the two mihtary posts above referred to will be found in the "Winslow Papers, " printed under the auspices of the N. B. Historical Societ>- in I'JOl . 'Idle posts were designed by Engineer Dugald (\uiipbell in 17i)l, who also superintended their construction. The post at (".rand Falls was called " Fort Carleton. " Fisher sa> s that the isthmus farm- ed by the bend of the river at the (".rand l-^dls was originally cleared' by the troops stationed in garrison there, and l)ecame the site of the little town of Grand Falls. Barracks, etc., were constructed and troops were stationed at the place for a number of years, but few vestiges of the works now remain. At the old militars- post at Presque Isle, barracks and other military works were erected sufficient to accommodate three comixinies of soldiers, and it continued to be a military station until 1.S22; but every vestige of the works there has now disai)peared.* The bank at this place is very elevated, and the spot wheie the barracks stood is very commanding, having a line \iew ot the adjoining country and a beautiful island directl\- in front. There is in the Archives at (Ottawa a i^lan of the Prestiue Isle barracks by Dugald Campbell. The po^t was freciuently men- tioned in the early days of New Brunswick. The purpose ol establishing the garrison was chiefly to overawe the Indians and prevent their molesting the white settlers, and to mamtain the route of communication with (Juel)ec.
"Most of the old French settlers on the banks of the River St. John, on the arrival of the English removed further up the river, where, being joined by others from ("anada, they lormed a settlement distinct from the h:ngli>h and ha\ e ever .iiue been quiet antl well affected to the British (io\ e. nmenl . 1 1h> set- tlement, called Aladawaska, is situiited about niidwa\ between Fredericton and (Quebec, and is in a nourishing htate. _ . .
When the disbanded soldiers and refugees came liere m liS:^, there were but a few scattered hovels where St. John i^ now built, and the adjacent country exhibited a desolate cuul lorbuldmg
■ the aLLOunt of the condition of the Presquo Brunswick," by Fisher.
2() NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
aspect, peculiarly discouraging to people who had just left their homes in the beautiful and cultivated parts of the United States. Up the St. John River, the country appeared better, and a few cultivated spots were found occupied by old settlers from New England. "
After the Introduction, the Notitia proper begins, and is divided into eight chapters. The hrst of these is mainly tojjo- grai)hical and includes a description of the risers, lakes, moun- tains, and islands.
Mention is made of the fish caught in the rixers — salmon, shad, l)ass, herrings and a great di\ersity of pan lish, together with the royal sturgeon, then very common in the St. John Ri\er. The coast fisheries abounded with pollock, haddock, hake, mack- erel, halibut, cod, etc. Porpoise abounded in the ba\s, ami seals in the more distant fisheries.
"Not a twentieth part of the country," writes Fisher, "is >'et reclaimed from the wilderness. Till lately the settlements were confined to the seaboard and along the ri\x'r^, but within a lew years settlers have advanced into the interior, and llourishing back settlements are springing up in dilferent places."
Chapter II. of the Notitia treats of the Climate, Forests, Productions, Animals, Agriculture, etc, etc. Fisher indulges in some curious speculations as to the influence of the moon on the weather, which we need not further refer t(j, but the data which follows is no doubt pretty reliable, and may be (pioted verbatim.
"When the Loyalists came to this country in 1783, snow was seen on the coasts in June, and the winters for a number of >ears were excessively cold, and the snow very deep. The summers being likewise very warm and dry, insomuch that the Indian corn, a plant that requires much heat, flourished in great periection for a number of years and was the staple grain then cultivated. This was succeeded by a period in which the winters proved milder and were brcjken by freciuent thaws, the summers abating their warmth and the crops being less abundant; for it alwa>s follow- ed that a mild winter was succeeded by a cool sunimer; and although snow was seldom seen in June, still it was not uncommon in May, or late in April, hi what were called late seasons. Some years it would be earlier, and sowing would be considerably advanced, in dry weather, by the latter part of
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 27
April. From these data we find the seasons were formerly as variable as they have been of late. But to pursue these obser- vations a little further, it must be fresh in the recollection of the inhal)itants of the province that in LSlli, there was a fall of snow with very cold weather on the 7th of June — that a cold rit,^orous air was felt during the whole of that summer, which the sun when shining in meridian splendor could not subdue. Frosts were frequent in every month of that year, crops were blighted, even the never failing potato was chilled and did not yield half its usual increase. A succession of lean years followed, each improving till LS22, which was an extraordinarily fruitful year. '
The year ISKi was long known as "The >ear without a summer. " Rev. Frederick Dibblee, the first clergxman at Wood- stock, N. B., kept a daily journal for many years. In this he speaks of the hills on the opposite side of the ri\'er at Woodstock being, day after day, white loilh s}ioi^ in June. He writes, " Never, never, was there such a season." Somewhere about the 20th of June, the weather changed, and he writes, "Toda>' we lay aside our great-coats, which we ha\e worn for the past ten days. " In Madawaska the snow fell to a depth of six inches and the little birds died in large numbers. The crops Avere almost a total failure and a period of famine ensued, still known traditionally in Madawaska as ''La grande discttc." The devotion of Mar- guerite Blanche Thibodeau, "The Aunt of Madawaska, " (or "Ma Tante la Blanche")* at this sad time is still grate- fully spoken of by her descendants. She was an angel of mercy, and ahva\'s to be found where\'er there was sickness or star\'a- tion.
"The year 1S25 will long be remembered on account of its de- structive fires. A drought commenced about the middle of July and continued till the middle of October, which converted the whole country into a state of combustion ; in consecpience of which fires burst out simultaneousl},' in dilTerent parts of the province on the 7th of that ill-fated month, and swept away several flour- ishing settlements, and destroyed property to a great amount, as well as human life. A succession of years followed in which the rust prevailed just as the wheat was filling the ear. The year
•She was aunt of the Thibodeaus, Cyrs, Theriaults. ViolettfS. and other families notable for their powers of reproduction. Her multitude of rel.itions entitled her to be called in<leed, "the Aunt of Madawaska."
,28 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
1831 was an uncommon fine year, crops were abundant, fruits excellent — nature indeed this year appeared incline 1 to show man how easy it was to clothe the fields with abundance for man and beast. The year 1832 was a lean year, remarkable for a humid atmosphere. The cholera prevailed in the United States and Canada. Since 1832 the seasons ha\e item, in general, unfavorable. August, which was formerl>- a sultry month, appears to have become cool and frosty, which indeed is the main cause of the lean seasons. The winter of 1835-() was excessixely cold. In the summer of 1830 we had two severe droughts; tlie first commenced about the 10th of June and continued till the middle of July; the second commenced in August and nearly destroyed the pastures throughout the country. The summer of 1837 was very fine and the harvest very abundant."
"The extremes of heat and cold in the province are great. Farenheit's thermometer ranges in July from \)(f to 94° for se\xTal days. Extreme heat from 100° to 100°. The coldest weather usually takes place after the full moon in Januar>-, wlien the mercury sinks from 27° to 32° below zero. The extremes ot cold are from 35° to 38° below zero at Frederictcjn, eight>' or ninety miles from salt water."
It is interesting to compare Fisher's statement \\ith that (^f Hon. Jonathan Odell, who in a letter to Col. Edward W'inslow, written at Fred,ericton, September 8, 1711!, mentions his ha\ing once noticed a temperature as low as 40° below zero, just before sunrise. The highest lenijierature he had seen in i'^redericton, and that once onl\', was 07° of Farenheit, on June 2S, 17S0; but he had repeatedly seen it up to 94°.
" In treating of the seasons in this country it must l)e observed that in some \ears tiie Spring opens as much as a month earlier and the Fall hokls fine nearly a month later than in others. We may usually date the 0{)ening of our Spring about the latter part of April, when the rivers and lakes open and the snow disappears. May is the usual month for sowing and i^lanting the high lands, the intervales and low lands are not sufficiently dr>' lor cultiva- tion till June. In the early part of June the nights are chilly attended with freciuent frosts, particularly at the changes of the moon, which oftentimes injure the early llowering fruit trees, and it is not until after the summer solstice that the night air loses its rigor. As soon as the earth is so thoroughl>' warmed that the nights lose their chilliness, vegetation becomes surprisingly rapid. September is a pleasant month, the air is serene and pure. The
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 29
streams are usually lower than at any other period and the dr>' weather frequently continues till late in October.
Snow sometimes falls early in November, and lies until late in April, but this does not always hold. The rivers and lakes freeze about the middle to the last of November. It is not un- common to have frosts in every month except July, particularly on small streams, nevertheless roots come to maturity and grain ripens in most years, wheat being oftener hurt by rust than by frost. The Springs are indeed backward, but \egetati(jn is surprisingly rapid, and the Autunuis are usually \er\' fme. "
Fisher writes in another place: "The valley of the Oromocto, in common with almost all the streams in the prcnince, is \-ery subject U) frosts." tie also mentions that at the peace in 1 7S3 the New York Volunteeis and Royal (iuides and Pioneers settled on the Keswick stream. Here they found hue strips of inter\ale and very rich soil, subject, however, to early frosts. "Hiisin- deed," he says, "is common to all settlements along the \ alleys of small ri\'ers." It was also characteristic of low-King and wet places, which were called "frosty sjxfts." But as the country ^\■as cleared up the trouble in a large measure ceased.
Fisher speaks of the low-lying St. Ann's i)lain (selected as the site of the provincial capital by (governor (\irleton) as being liable to inundation from high freshets in the si)ring, and says, "There is an old tradition that the plain on which the town stands was swept by a great ice freshet a few years before the Loyalists came to the country." The correspondence of Simonds and White shows that this incident occurred about the year ITCiS. It swept away their trading post. A somewhat similar occurrence took place a little aboxe P^redericton, in April, 179S. This is described in a characteristic letter of Edward Winslow to Sir John Wentworth, governor of Nova Scotia, which foUow^s:
"We are just recovering here from one of the most tremendous scenes that ever was beheld, what they call an ice freshet. Major Murray, Captain Davidson, Col. Elk-good and man>' others li\'ing above me, lost every animal they owned. Davidson had (iO head of horned cattle, Ellegood 50 and Murray 40. I escaped, as I always do (upon all great occasions) by a hair's breadth. The water was up to my front door and six feet deep in my cellar.
30 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
I, every moment, for thirty-six hours, expected to lose my house. The mountains of ice were forty feet high directly in n\y rear; the stoutest of elms and maples were broken like pipestems — luck- ily when the mountains went off they took a direction just to avoid the buildings, and came in at the foot of the gardens, where they tore all before them. I detached my wife and all the Light Infantry part of my family, and stood reatly with a boat to run like a lusty fellow for the highlands. The ridge where the buildings stood was completely insulated. I saved all my cattle, and even my sheep and hogs — my fences of course went to the devil."
Fisher writes in his Notitia:
"It may be interesting to future generations to state that a partial inundation took place on April 11, 1S31, occasioned by an ice jam below Mill Creek, by which all the lower part of the town and the front street was laid under water, which came up above the Baj)tist Chapel in King Street, leaving but a small part of the buildings dry in the front and lower streets. The town from the adjoining heights appeared like a low island, with the buildings piirtly sulmierged, and the river in front piled with threatening masses of ice. The jam broke while the water was rapidly gaining on the town, and in a few lunirs the ri\xT resumed its usual current.
The statement which now follows is of interest, though it is not the first recorded phenomenon of the kind, as the author assumes.
"There has been but one shock of an earthcjuake experienced since the settlement of the country; this shock took place on May 22, 1827, at twenty-five minutes past three a. m.; the duration of the vibration was about forty-five seconds, the weather being very serene and pleasant."
I hav^e at present in my possession a letter of June 3, 1S17, written from the vicinity of Fredericton b> a sister of my grand- mother, containing a description of an earthquake which was so violent that "the house seemed to rock as if on rockers." It lasted but a short time. A New England paper mentions that on September 30, 1764, there was a very severe shock of an earthquake at St. John, about 12 o'clock, noon.
But the fact that our first historian should have noticed such events show^s that he was a careful obser\'^er. He also did not
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 31
neglect tradition. We have already mentioned his reference to the destruction of the Acadian settlement at St. Ann's and to the ice freshet of 17()8, of which he knew onl}' b>' tradition. He writes also:
"It ma>' not be amiss to observe that it is \'cry probable that this country has been denuded of its forests, and i)art of its scjil, at different periods by destructive tires. According to tradition one of these destructive hres took place not long before the Loyalists came to the country, which swept from the St. Croix to the St. J'ihn. Traces ot such a tire are still \isil)le in the coun- ties of Charlotte and Sunbury."
Walter Bates, in his narrative of the coming of the Loyalists to Kingston, sa>s, that on their arrix-al in ]\Ia>, ]7S'A, tlicN' i)ro- cured a boat in \\'hich David Pickett, Israel lIo>t, Silas Raymond and others e.KpliM-ed the St. John River for si.\ty miles. They reported that such inhabitants as the>' found were settled (m intervale land by the ri\er, and that the highlands had generally been burned by the Indians.
We have, ])erhaps, wen more authentic inhumation in the Journals of Sur\e\ors Dugald Campbell and John Peters, in connection with their exploration of the River Magaguada\'ic in 17117. The>' found the mountains ''considerabl)- high and some of them almost entirely destitute of Nerdure, being nothing but naked anil rugged eminences of rock." "We were in- formed," the)- add, "that about thirt>- )ears ago tliis country lor a great extent was entirely o\'er-run b>' a dreadful tn"e that consumed all the timber on the mountains excejjt a few lofty black stunrps of pine, so that on the whole this \icinit>' makes but a very desolate ajDpearance. " The\' found the ct)imtry like this for miles on miles. Peters sa>s, "The lire has destroyed a great quantity of i)ine timl)er, the country ai)i:)ears to be burnt for a great distance." Campbell writes: "The upland was formerly all burnt over and now^ produces nothing but a small growth of white birch, poplar and some spruce, wdth a mixture of larch on the borders of the meadows, and here and there a young growth of white or yellow pine. This account may describe generally all the burnt land that we have seen."
32 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
I'lirther on in his book Mr. Fisher devotes a good deal of space to a description of the Great Miraniichi Fire in iS'Io, which should be read in conjunction with the more lurid description of Robert Cooncy in his history of the North Shore, penned a few >ears earlier. The hre, according to Fisher, swept the coiuitry along the Miramichi for upwards of 100 miles and extended its ra\ages over nearly N,()0() scjuare miles and destroyeii property to the amount of nearly LSOO.OOO with the loss of nearh- '200 li\es.* Mr. Fisher's account of the hre is too long to quote. He mentions that the losses, ascertained at Miramichi and gi\en in to Sir Howard Douglas, amounted to £227,7 lo, but says the loss in the destruction of timber was included in the hrst estimation, and as usual in such cases was no doubt o\er-rated.
"Dry seasons attended, as in 1825, with great heats, prepare the country, particularly those parts encumbered with old trees and brush, for combustion; when the least spark sets tlie whole in a blaze. Indeed it is surprising the evils are not greater when we consider the numerous class of persons, such as Indians, lumberers and others, who roam through the wilderness and light up fires where they encamp, or shake the embers out of their pipes among dry leaves and other combustibles, and pass on unheedful of the evils of their thoughtlessness."
Had this warning, spoken nearly a century ago, been duly heeded, it would have saved the country many millions of dollars. Writing in 18.3(), our author says:
"The red, or Norway pine, is a close firm wood, of a tall growth, not as large as the white, but preferred before it for uses where great strength and durability are required — this kind is now getting scarce. The young growth on the Tobi(iue, formerly famed for its red pine, has been nearly destroyed b>' fire within a few years, and the large trees in most parts of the C(nmtry have been cut by lumberers. The white pine is also becoming scarce from the same causes. This tree, which has furnished our prin- cipal export in squared timber, is of large growth — seventeen tons of good timber is frequently obtained from one tree. The wood is not so firm as the red pine, but is an excellent article for
•Mr. J. W. Vanderbeck of Milltown, N. B., wrott- me on Nov. lOth, 1917. "I have ju.st come from the woods up on the Scvogle a branch of the N. W. Miramichi. An old resident showed me the nortli line of the Miramichi fire. Some of the old pine is left standing north of the line. On the south side there is a lot of large poplar and second growth lumber, but no old lumber."
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 33
boards, shingles, etc., and is particularly useful for the inside work of buildings."
He also mentions the black birch, which is principally used for squared timber to export and for shipbuilding. The birch was frequently cut on the Upper St. John and run down in rafts to Springhill, five miles above Fredericton. The birch raft re- quired careful handling, as being much heavier than spruce or pine and more difficult to steer, but on account of its weight it would always out-run any other kind of raft, and was not so much affected by a side wind. Consequently the experienced raftsmen preferred the birch raft to any other. At the time Fisher wrote his Notitia the manufacture of spruce deals was becoming an important industry, and further reference will be made to it when we come to consider the progress of the various counties of the province.
Remarks on the native animals and birds are brief. Fisher says that the moose, which was very al)undant when the province was first settled, had nearly disappeared; the same may be said of the lucifee. Bears were still numerous, but beavers were getting scarce, while wolves were but seldom seen, and the carcajou, or Indian devil, had disappeared of late years. Other animals included foxes, martins, peaconks, hares, carribou, mink, raccoon, squirrels, otter, |)orcupines, musquash and weasels. This was in 1.S37; but in the "forties" the red deer had become very numerous, and were followed by wolves, which also were numerous, and gave the farmers trouble in caring for their sheep. Birds are merely said by our author to be "much the same as in the neighbouring provinces; no classification has yet been made of them."
The pages devoted to the consideration of agriculture are very few. Comparatively little wheat was being raised, and the yield was uncertain on account of the prevalence of rust. Indian corn was more cultivated than now. It was an old sa>ing that a good crop of corn made everything plenty. The best season for planting it was the last week in May and the first in June.
The Indian used to say, "When a ma[)le leaf is the size of a squirrel's foot, it is time to plant corn."
34 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
"Among the ground crops, the potato holds the first place. This invaluable root flourishes in great perfection in this province, which seems to be its native place. The potatoes of New Brun- swick are superior to those of Nova Scotia, which are also of an excellent quality, greatly exceeding any produced in the United States. It furnishes one of the most productix^e and certain substitutes for bread of any known, and the province wcndd feel the want of this root more than any other of its i:)roductions. Potatoes yield from 150 to 300 bushels, and sometimes more, per acre. Potatoes when well planted in the proper season are a sure crop. They have failed but twice in forty \ears, and in these not totally. The years alluded to were 181G and 1n3(), in both of which potatoes wei'e a lean crop.
Beech-nuts furnish a fall feed for hogs, on which lhe\- fatten VL'vy fast, but the pork is of a r:>->li and oily te\!u''e."
Chapter III, treats of tlie various ri\eis of the proxince, and of the ve.\:ed Cjuestion of the international boiindarv , x\hich threatened to embroil us in war w ith our neighbour.^ in Maine.
Speaking of the River St. John, Fisher ,-i ite^, I'The hrst steamer (the C'.eneral Smyth) commennd iLmr^ing in Ma\-, l.SHl. The hrst that ascen^ieJ to \Vo>)dhlo.k v. a . [\\r A^)^L■lty, on April 30, 1837."
By order of Sir Howard Douglas a sinxcx of tlie lixir from Fredericton to the Grand Falls Vvas made b;, laiginec i I',, l'ouli^. The number of rapids encountered in this di. tancr was in all forty-hve — the most formidable being at the Meductic Falls, fort\' miles above Fredericton. The total perpendicular ascent to the lower basin below the r.raml h^dls was 177 feet, 3 inches, in a distcuice (from tdiai)el Bar t<j the i-'alls) of 125 miles, ?,\) chains. To this ascent we must add the perpendicular height of the Falls, 74 feet, and 45^^ feet for the gorge beknv ; making the total ascent in the river, from tide level at Springhill to the basin abo\e the Crand I-'alls, 298 feet, 11 inches.
Spring tides at Fredericton, in the summer season, rise only fourteen inches and die out at Chapel Bar about eight miles above.
Remarks on the Rivers Miramichi and Restigouche are \'ery brief.
Chapter IV deals with Inhabitants — Religion — Education. Fisher thinks the aborigines are fast declining, and that the
1834299
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 35
number in the province has dwindled down to about 1,500. However this may have been in 1837, it is certain frorn the latest census returns that there are now more than 1,800 Indians in New Brunswick. The total area of their reservations is now 39,713 acres.
There was in 1837 an Indian agent for tiie province, and once a year it was customary for the chiet and head men to assemble at Government House, where the\- were regaled with music and refreshments and usuall\' recei\ed a small i)resent. The Indian guide, "Gabe" Acquin, is said, on one occasion, to have been treated by a New Brunswick (ioverncn- (I think Sir Arthur Hamilton Gordon) to a small quantity of choice licjuor, and was informed that it was a hundred years old ! Gabe's rcph' \\as that
it was "pretty d d small for its age," which created nuich
merriment.
Fisher says, "At the mouth of the robifiue is a reser\e for the Indians with a few huts and a ^mall chapfl. llere a few Indians usually sit down, as they term it, lo keep possession."
Further on in his little book the author mentions the occur- rence of two pits containing human bones, about eight miles below Woodst(X"k on the east bank ol the St. John Ri\er:
"The pits are about six feet long and four feet wide, and are opposite Maductic I\)int, which has beiMi aKva\'s occupied by the Indians. They are onl\' a few rods from the main road, and have sunk considerab!\' below the main surface (jf the earth. This is what must be expe-cted from the (lecomi)osition of the fleshy parts. Skulls and bones lie on and near the surface, ha\ing been uncovered by the curious and thoughtless. There is no certain account how these pits originated. There is, howe\'er, a tradition that Gol. R(j(lgers came through the wilderness trom Quebec in the year 1700, with a party of the Queens Rangers and Mohawk Indians, and scourged the River St. John; that he surjjrised and destroyed a great man>- of those Indians who were encamped at the Maductic; that the remainder lied across the river and were either there destroyed and buried by Rodgers, or else those who escaped returned after he had gone and buried their dead in these pits. That Col. Rodgers after this {)roceeded to St. John, where being joined by a detachment from IVIanawag- onish, he took Fort Bourbon, afterwards called Fort Frederick, on Carleton Point."
30 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCII'TY.
Here Fisher has been badly misled by tradition, or perhaps we should say by confusion of events and places thai, are totally distinct. The scene of Rodgcrs operatit)ns was St. John's, Ouebec, not the River St. John, N. B., which he probably never saw. The military corps he commanded was not the "Ouecn's Rangers" but "Rodger's Rangers," mostly IndicUis. h^ort Bourbon is no doubt intentled for P\)rt Boishebert, which was at Woodman's Point just aboN-e the Nerepis. The old fort on Carleton Point which was taken by Colonel Monckton in September, ]7')S, not by Rodgers in ITdt). It was re-named F(jrt Frederick.
Light is thrown upon the prolxible origin of the nujrtuary pits by Parkman, in his descrii)tion of the Indian " h\'ast of the Dead." In the Huron country are to be found man>' "ossuar- ies," similar to the pits near Meductic on the Ri\er St. John. The Indian custom was that, after the expiration of a number ot years, the relatives disinterred the bones of their ancestors, and they were dismembered and reburicxl in a conunon recept- acle, the skulls being usuall>' grouped together, also the thigh- bones, etc. A feast — "The P^ast of the Dead" —formed an important part of the ceremony. In the IIur(jn countr>-, west of Orillia, many of these old ossuaries have been ft)und, some of them of much greater dimensic^ns than the pits at IMeductic described by Fisher. Further details a^ to these ossucuaes may be found in the publications of A. F". Hunter, 1\I. A., of the Normal School, Toronto.
Our author's reference to the Acadians which now follows is rather brief. He writes:
"They are in general like their ancestors, the old French neutrals, a (piiet, orderly and contented peo])le. The\ are with very tew exceptions of the Roman Catholic faith, and pay an altectionate anel sincere reverence to their priests, and an ini{)licit obedience to their si)iritual and temjooral instructions. Their settlements are generally so formed as to have a chapel to which the Avhole may resort. Their marriages are generally early and families large. It is rarely that they intermarry with the Fnglish. The Acadians of Madawaska are over 3, 000, and in Westmorland they exceed the English populati(m. Their j^rincipal occupations are agriculture and fishing. They are an orderly quiet people.
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 37
Almost all the right bank of the Memramcook is the land of the Frenchmen. Here they were settled in great numjoers before 1755, when they were forcibly removed by the British Govern- ment. It was at this place many of them were torn from all the comforts of life and cast on the wide world, destitute and forlorn, to suffer the hardships and privations so feelingly described in Mr. Haliburton's History of Nova Scotia. The Fre-nch make no great figure in improving a country; very mean houses and mere necessaries satisfy them. Hence the country in their neighbour- hood exhibits no permanent features of improxement. They can only l)e ranked among the small farmers of the country."
We may compare with the above the author's description of Madawaska.
"At the junction of the Madawaska with the St. John the main settlement commences, and extends down to near the ( .rand Falls, a distance of some forty miles, the whole district I)eing well settled on both sides of the river. The soil is easily tilled and very j^roductive and there are several fine islands. The inhabitants are mostly all French, many of whom ha\'e been settled here over fifty years, and always considered themseK'es as British subjects.* Madawaska has lately been divided into three sections — the upper Saint Emilie, the midtlle Saint Basil, and the lower Saint Bruno. Their dwellings at present consist chie !y of log huts, some of which are \'ery large, being comprised of two buildings joined together. W^ithin a few \ears some of them have begun to imitate the English in construc^ting frame houses. They have three chapels for divine service. The French in their manners are very li\'ely aiul hospitable. Most of their clothing is made by their women, who are stout and short, and slovenly house-keepers. So successful liave tlu'ir priests been in keeping the people in peace and harmony, that tluTc luu'e been hardl\' any magistrates until recentls'."
"The Old Inhabitants are those families who were settled in the province before the conclusion of the American Revolution. They were so called by the disbanded troops and lo>al refugees, who came to the country in 17S;^, and the appellation is still ay:)plied U) their descendants. The old race at Mauger\ille, Cumberland, and other places ha\e nearU' passed a\\a>-, but their descendants are spread through (he country antl are inter- mixed with the new comers."
•By the Ashburtou tivaty in IS 12 that part of the Madaw.iska SctllciiR'nt west of the River St. John was awardeil to the State of -Maine.
38 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
"The most numerous class of the population are the descen- dants of the Loyalists, who came to the province in 1783. These are the offspring of those genuine patriots who sacrificed their comforts and property in the United States, for their attachment to the government under which they drew their first breath, and came to this country, then a wilderness, to transmit the same blessing to their posterity, and who when it came to the trying point whether they should forsake their homes or abandon their King, preferred the former without hesitation, although many of them had young families, and the choice was made at the risk of life. As, however, the decision was made with alacrity, so was it persevered in with unwavering constanc\'. "
"Other classes include emigrants from the old country, dis- banded soldiers, retired officers (naval and militar)')> ^"icl persons of different callings and occupations wlio from time to time have come to the province, and who with their wealth, enterf)rise and intelligence have aided in raising the intellectual and plnsical standard of the community."
"The Blacks, scattered through the province in considerable numbers, in some cases are settled on land, but in general live in or near the towns, and are emplo>etl as laborers or hired as servants. "
By the first census in 1824 the population of New Brunswick was 74,17U. This census did not include the Indians or the Madawaska Settlement or the inhabitants of some of the Islands in Passamaquoddy Bay. The population in 1834 was (exclusive of Indians) 1 19,457, an increase of ()0% during the decade. The relative standing of the counties in point of population differed materially from that of today. Charlotte county, for example, was then the second county in regard to population. At the time the census was taken, Gloucester county included Resti- gouche; Westmorland included Albert; and Carleton included Victoria and Madawaska. St. John alone was more populous than Charlotte. The average per family, throughout the prov- ince was 6.51 , and the number of families exceeded the number of houses by nearly two thousand. There was no data at this period to determine the number of members belonging to any Christian denomination, but Fisher thinks they stood in the following order, viz.: Roman Catholic, Church of England, Methodists, Baptists and Presbyterians. As interesting features
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 39
of the religious life of the community he mentions the following circumstances. There has been a rapid increase of the Roman Catholics, which include nearly all the French, and most of the Irish emigrants. There are two Vicar-C^enerals and fifteen priests in the province. The Bishop usually resides at Charlotte- town. Salaries are from £lOO to £200 currency i)er annum. There was only one Roman Catholic Church in St. John, while there were three in Madawaska; also chapels for the Indians at French Village (eleven miles above Fredericton) and at the Indian village at the mouth of the Tobicjue. The largest chapel in the province in 1837 was at Shediac.
The Church of England was then regarded to a largo extent as the Established Church. "The Governor of the proviiue," says Fisher," is the ordinary and collates to all livings in the province." But while the nomination of rectors was vested in the Lieut. -Governor it was understood that appointments were made on the recommendation of the Bishop of Nova Scotia, who in his turn worked in conjunction with the parishioners and the Archdeacon of New Brunswick. The number of clerg>men was twenty-eight and there were forty-three churches and chapels. The stipends were paid, in whole or in part, by the English Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, which for some years received a grant from the British Parliament. The "Stone Church" in St. John, built in 1S24, Fisher says was the first church built of stone, erected in the province.
The Methodists are described as numerous and fast increas- ing, having 2,487 members in their societies, and twenty-one Wesleyan missionaries. The first Methodist Society in New Brunswick w^as formed in St. John in the autumn of 1791 by Mr. Abraham J. Bishop, a preacher from the Isle of Jersey. Con- ference was held once a year in May. A single man received as salary £30 to £40 per annum. A married man from £G0 to £70, with house and fuel found, and for every child an additional allowance. There was a chairman for each district. The first Sunday School house was that built in St. John by the Germain Street congregation. Woodstock had the credit of erecting the first Methodist Chapel with a bell and steeple in the province.
40 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
The first chapel built there was opened in August, 1834, and was burnt to the ground in the fall of 1.S35 and rei)laced by a more spacious building in 183(1.
The Baptists may be classed among the first settlers of the province. They were originally followers of George Whitefield or of Henry Alline, and the adherents were known as "New Lights." These people eventually received baptism by immer- sion and were formed into churches bearing the name of Baptist. In 1837 the number of their communicants was 2,355. The Baptist Seminary in Fredericton, was a iiigh classical school under the superintendence of the Baptist Association of New Brunswick. It was opened on January 4, 1830. About fifty pupils could be accommodated in the boarding establishment. The rate for boarders had been raised from ;i^l.50 to $2.00 per week. The attendance in 1837 was, males forty-five, females thirty-five, and the institution was open to all denominations. We need hardly wonder in view of the charges for board that it was not a financial success.
Most of the Presbyterians at this time were in connection with the Established Church of Scotland; but those who first established themselves in the country were seceders or dissenters from the Scottish Church. A few ministers sent out by Lady Huntington in the early days of the province were eniployed by the seceders, but there was no regular clergyman of the Estab- lished Church of Scotland till Dr. Burns came out in 1817.* The number of Presbyterian ministers in 1S37 was ten, and a Provincial Synod had been lately con^^tilutcd. The salaries were from £200 to £300 per annum. There were then in St. John two Presbyterian Churches, one of \\ hicli \\ as built ot brick ; tluu'e was also a Co\'enanters Church, and a Christi;in Chapel. Msher says that in Sheffield the seceders (Congregalionalists) ha\c a church which is th.e oldest in the proxincc. The franie was fir.-t raised in Maugerville.f but the situation being found inconveni- ent it was removed to SheftieUl on the ice and tinislied on tlie spot where it now stands.
*The first Pi-c.-,i)ytori.in iniiii-;t-r to ofHciato in St. John w.ii tht; Rev. J.imu'S I'V.isct who luul bwn c<lii(Mtf(l at the University of Kdini)iirk'h. S ._• Coll.'ctions of New Uniuiwi. k Ui.sloric.il Society, No. -1, pp. C.li, I l.i. Ur rnii iin..-.l only ., little whih.'.
tSec R.iyni.Hi.l's St. John River llitory, |,p. ;! I'.t-.'i.-.l .
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 41
Respecting the next four chapters of " Notitia of New Brun- swick," our space will only admit of brief extracts which must be culled "here and there.
As already stated, the oldest settled part of the St. John River was established at Maugerville in 1703.
Soon afterwards a number of families made improvements in the atijoining townships of Burton, Gagetown, etc., and called the whole district the County of Sunbury in Nova Scotia. The date of its formation was April 30, 1765. The first commission of the Peace was dated August 11, 1706, and that for holding of Courts of Common Pleas in 1770. The Courts of Justice were held at Maugerville until 17S3, when they were removed to St. John and afterwards established at Fredcricton. The Inferior Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions of the Peace served to regulate most of the internal police and government of the several counties. Here parish oflicers were appointed, parish and county taxes were apportioned, parish accounts were audited and settled, retailers and tavern keepers licensed and regulated, until the adoption of the municipal system at a later period. Fisher criticises the policy of selection of Colonial governors from the military profession, as not the best to furnish capable gover- nors in a colony possessing free institutions. 1 k- sa}s, "It is an old but none the less true saying that men may be led, but do not like to be driven." Fvidently such go\'ernors as C^.eneral Smyth and Sir Archibald Cami)bell were not persona iiriila with the common people. The author adds:
"It must be observed that the government of the towns in this province, with the exception of St. John, is not suficiently popular. While the people boast of belonging to a nation poss- essing a high degree of freedoni, they in fact have less share in the government than the inhabitants of what are called despotic countries; for even in Prussia the people have a greater share in the internal government of their towns than we have in New Brunswick, most of the parish officers in the several towns of that kingdom being chosen by the people, while in the towns in this province, with the exceptions of Church Wardens, the people have no voice in the choice of any of these officers. The Court of Se-isions appoint some of them, the Governor the remainder. Without wishing to trench on the Royal prerogati\'e in the person
42 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
of a Governor, it may be asked, who is the best judge of the quali- fications and fitness of the several persons required to fill the different stations in the internal police of a town, the pecjple who grow up with it, or a Governor who is a total stranger to it? Or why should the Sovereign's representative have the bother of filling up all the public stations, from the highest to a fire- warden or a member of the Board of Health? It is well known, indeed, that a Governor cannot know who are the proper persons for those offices himself, but nmst depend on the recommendation of one or two persons who engross his con- fidence, and who by that means in fact have always the nomin- ation of their favorites, and may be said to govern the country. This fact being admitted, the government of our towns may be said to be in the hands of an oligarch)- — the ver>' worst kind of government."
It is worthy of note that the year in which the Notitia of New Brunswick was issued from the press, Charles Fisher, the eldest son of Peter Fisher, was elected for the first time to the House of Assembh'. He was then a young barrister in his thirtieth year, and just beginning his career as a reformer. The able summary of the judicial system then pursued in the law courts of the pro- vince (see Chapter V,) may, I think, very probably have been penned by Charles Fisher, and the passage ciuoted above seems to be ear-marked as written or inspired by the young reformer. To him also I am disposed to attribute the detailed account of the system pursued at King's College, Fredericton, from which he had graduated a few years previousl}'.
Col. Thomas Carleton was appointed the first Governor of the province on August 1(3, 1784, and under Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of New Brunswick the boundaries of the counties were fixed and names given to them, and the counties divided into parishes with shire-towns. Governor Carleton built his own residence in good taste. He returned to England in 1803 and remained there until he die J in 1817, having been governor of the province thirty-three years. In 1810, shortly before the Governor's death, the legislature bought the property, including the mansion, from Lieut. -Governor Carleton for £3,500. The house was burnt down in September, 1825.
Fisher gives the Civil List of the province with a caustic comment on the disparity of the salaries, which he claims should
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 43
always bear a just proportion to the qualifications required and the services performed. A few items are here quoted, the salaries given in modern currency: Lieut. -Governor ,|16,9-i0; Commis- sioner of Crown Lands $8,470 ; Chief Justice$4,598; Puisne Judge S3, 146; Provincial Secretary $7,121; Attorney-General $2,002. The grant to the College was £l,(JUU stg. per annum, and the insignificant sum of £54 stg. was set apart for the Indians. The author writes thus of the College in Fredericlon :
"Kings College, situated on the acclivity of the hill in rear of the town, is no doubt the finest structure in the province. It is 171 feet long and 159 feet wide with projections. The principal materials used in the building are the dark gray stones found near its site. They are tastefully combined so as to form a beautiful variegated wall, particularly in the front, where the builder has given scope to his fancy with the happiest effect. The building contains twenty rooms for students, a chapel, two lecture rooms, besides accommodation for the Vice-President and Professors, in all forty-two rooms in the two main stories. In the other stories are accommodations for attendants, servants, and all other purposes requisite for a college of the highest class, which this is intended to be. "
"The object of the college, as declared in the charter is, 'The education of youth in the principles of the Christian Religion, and their instruction in the various branches of literature and science. ' The instruction of students is conducted (1830) by the Vice-President (Dr. Jacob) and two Professors (Dr. Somerville and Dr. Geo. McCawley). The day begins and concludes with divine worship. The time spent in daily lectures extends from 10 a. m. to 2 p. m. Students begin with such classical authors as Homer, Zenophon, Livy and Cicero, and advance to Eurijiides and Demosthenes. The Seniors enter on the study of Herodotus and Sophocles, and proceed to Thucydides, Aristotle, Pinder and Tacitus."
"The Oxford system^ of logic and the Cambridge course of mathematics are adopted by the respective Professors. There are lectures in Histor>-, Metaphysics, Moral Philosophy and Divinity. On every Saturday the Vice-President posts in the hall a subject for a general theme or essay, which at the end of the following week every student is required to present. The academical year begins on the first Thursday in September and continues, with a vacation of three weeks at Christmas and a few days at Easter and Whitsuntide, to the begining of July. Four
44 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
years are required for the B. A. degree, but residence seldom much exceeds three years. No religious test is imposed on admission to any degree except Divinity."
"The income includes an annual grant from the King of £1,000 stg. and a grant from the province of £1,000 currency. The college owns G,000 acres adjoining Fredericton, the >'early income of which there is no data to ascertain."*
Our author's notes on St. John are of considerable interest. Shipbuilding formed an important industry. In 183() there were seventy-five vessels built by St. John firms, besides six others which were sent to England, making 25,000 tons of shipping built in St. John in one year, being more than one-fifth part of all that was built in the United States during the same period. At the close of 1830 the vessels owned in St. John included41 ships, 38 barks, 39 brigs, 11 brigantines, 190 schooners, 8 steamers and S3 wood boats and sloops; a total of 410 vessels of 09,766 tons, navigated by 2,879 men. The total number of vessels entered at St. John and the small out bays in 1836 was 2,549, measuring 289,127 tons and navigated by 13,685 men. Imports for the year were valued at £1,185,473 stg., exports £555,709 stg.
Proceeding with his description our author says:
"Portland is connected with the city by a bridge on Mil Street. This place has two good iron foundries, the first erected in the province. It is also the place where most of the vessels fitted out at St. John are built, and having a great number of shipyards and timber ponds may well be called the workshop of the city.
"A little above the Falls is the site of the old Indian House, now known as Indiantown, where vessels of all descriptit^ns wait for the projjcr tide to jiass the Falls. There is a cluster of houses at the landing, most of which are occupied by raftsnien and others. Timl)er is laid up in a number of coves near Indian- town till wanted, when it is taken through the Falls in small rafts and put into ponds where it is properly scjuared and made ready for shipment. Near Indiantown is a steam mill for s.iwing deals, etc., the first in the prox'ince. During the seasf)n tlie place is the
•The LmJ referral to wis VL-ry ro-.ky and unproductive and the iiKonie, tlicri-fore, very small.
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 45
resort of all kinds of river craft. About 1837 the St. John Mills and Canal Co., composedchiefly of enterprising American capital- ists, cut a canal at Union Point (formerly known as Cunnabell's Point) where they built a block of mills with eight gangs of saws to which sixteen more saws were to be added. Messrs. C. D. and T. C. Everett erected here also a commodious llour mill." About this time a wooden bridge was in the course of erection from the Carleton shore to the highlands opposite, a distance of 1,4UU feet. The span across the river from the towers was 435 feet and the height 8U feet. Fisher says, "This W(jrk when completed will be an ornament to th-e cit>-, but it is to be feared it will never repay the spirited proprietor a fair return on the capital invested." It certainly never did, for it fell soon after- wards, and many lives were lost, and no attempt of a like kind was made until some sixteen years later. Carleton is said at this time to contain a neat Episcopal Church and Meeting House; it has a good fishery and some share in shipbuilding. "The site of old Fort Frederick is still to be seen at the extremity of the point, facing St. John, but is fast mouldering into oblixion."
At this period the old low wooden houses in St. John Avere fast disappearing and the city greatly im{)roving in appearance. Many new buildings of stone or brick were in the course of con- struction; also a number of substantial wharves, crowded with lofty stores and warehouses. The public buildings included a handsome new stone court house (lately burned), facing on King Square; a stone building for the mayor's oflice and otfier public functionaries; stone and wooden barracks in Eower Cove; Bank of New Brunswick of stone, still standing on Prince William street; a Grammar School builiHng on Charlotte street, near Horsfield; a Madras Sch(jol of brick and one of wood; a jail, poor house, cholera and marine hosi)itals, nine churches and two market houses. Just before the publication of h^isher's Notitia, a destructi\'e fire had consunu-d 115 houses and stores, among them the best in the city. M(jre than a third of the business part of the city, with jjroperty to the value of :&! ,000,000, was swept out of existence.
At this time there used to congregate on Market Scjuare al)out 150 i)ublic carts and coaches. There was a good deal of feeling
46 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
in the community opposed to the erection on the square of a spacious brick building, intended for a marlcet house, to replace the former building there which had been used as a Court House, Common Council Chamber, butcher's market, etc. It was felt by many that no building of such large dimensions hlunild be permitted on the Square, and that it would be much better for the public health and convenience if the filth>' sewerage from the butchers' stalls was not allowed to drain down into tlu- Market Slip. The sciuare, they contended, should be kept cntircl>- clear, and another site selected tor the building. The ci\ic go\ ernniL-nt was at this time in the hands of a mayor, recorder, six aldermen and six assistants, luider the st>ie of "The mayor, aldermen and commonalty of the Cit>' of St. John." Other officers included a sheriff, coroner, common clerk, chamberlain, iiigli constable, six inferior constables and two mar-hals. The cil\ re\eiiues amounted to £5,0UU per animm.
At this time there was an annual drawing of the hshiiig lots of the harbor in the month of January. Freemen and \\i(lo\\s of freemen, on payment of one shilling, were entitled to sluire in the drawing. The privilege oi first choice of the lots was generally sold to the fishermen, by the person obtaining it, for from 1" 10 to £50; subsequent drawings gradualK' decreased in \-alue, the numbers above 100 being not saleable. There were in St. John at this time four wards and two in Carleton.
The city had four incorporated banks, the liank of New Brunswick, Commercial liank, Cit>' Bank and a branch of the Bank of British North America, all gone out of existence. 'Idie incorporated companies included a Bridge Comijain , <.ai)ital £20,000; Water Company, capital £20,000; Stage Coach Com- pany, capital £25,000; St. John Mills and Canal Comi)an\-, capital £37,000; Whale Fishing .Company, capital £50,000; Fire Insurance Company, capital £50,000. Also a Chamber of Commerce. In the report of the latter for 1837 mention is made of the appointment of a committee to investigate the probable expense of a railway between Shediac and St. John.
There were such societies in existence as the St. George, St. Andrews, St. Patrick, Albion, British American, Friendly Sons
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 47
of Erin and Temperance societies. There was also a St. John Society Library and a Circulating Library. In tht^ year 1837 provision was made for the erection of a Penitentiary in what is now East St. John, and for a Lunatic As>'lum near the Bridge, now called the Provincial Hospital for Ner\^ous Diseases.
The St. Andrews and Quebec Railroad Associatic^i was formed about the year 183(1. Its chief supporters belonged io St. Andrews and the County of Charlotte. The Association was incorporated with a proposed cai)itcd ol tJ7r)t),0i)(). The distance from St. Andrews to Quebec as then sur\eyed was more than 270 miles. The sum of £10,000, obtained fiom C.o\ernment in 1830, was spent in exploring the projected route which ran north to the valley of the Aroostook and thence northwesterly through the "disputed territory" (since awarded to Maine by the Ash- burton treaty) until it arrived at the River St. Lawrence near Quebec. The estimated cost of the road was al)out ,Cl ,000,000 currency. Fisher says that according to American engineers it costs £000 a mile to keep a railroad in good order, and (he pro- posed railroad would reciuire £1-40, 000 annualK for rejiairs and. maintenance. He doubts whether, if tiie road were finished , any company would take and operate it as a free gift.
St. Andrews at thib time was the third largest town in the province, but its trade Avas dwindling, cuul the f)or(ler towns of St. Stephen, Calais and Milltown were fast rising in impor(ance.
Our author devotes an interesting chapter to the (luesti.ni of the trade of New Brunswick, from which the following ex(racts are taken :
"The Loyalists who came to New Brunswick incUuled among them none who might be called capitalists, who could afford to invest their money in a trade that was subject to many casualties and required a long time for a return. Had there been at the first sufficient capital employed in prosecuting the hsheries, erecting mills, building vessels and procuring lumber — for which materials were abundant, as well as a sufficiency of men to carry on the different branches of business, from the number of dis- banded soldiers, refugees and others who had come to the country and who no doubt would have remained in it had labor been provided for them — there is no doubt that a flourishhig trade
48 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY,
would have soon sprung up. But this was not the case. Every- thnig had to be created and a monopoly of abundant markets was of little avail to persons who had but little to sell."
"As a token of respect and gratitude to Lord Sheffield for his continued, though mistaken, efforts to advance the interests of the colonies by giving them an exclusive privilege to the West |
India markets, the province procured a full length portrait of his I
Lordship which was placed in the Province Hall." j
"At the period of which I am now speaking the exports to Great Britain were very small. A few ships were built and sent home to sell, masts and spars were also shipped, furs formed a !
respectable item in the home pa>'ments; but the principal source }
from which payments for British goods were derived was the large sums annually drawn by the half-pay officers, and the sums I
expended by government and the military."
"The period when our trade with the mother country assumed i
a new and important character ma>' be referred to IS(J8, when the |
shipping of squared pine and other timber commenced. The 1
continental system enforced by France in 1N0(3, and the American 1
non-intercourse acts of 1807 opened the eyes of the British nation I
to the danger of trusting to foreigners for a supply of articles of j
the first necessity. The result was the revival of the colonial j
system of Great Britain by which she frustrated the designs of i
France and America. The timber trade has gone on rapidly advancing for a number of years. Squared pine, or ton timber, forms a great item in the remittances from this province to the parent state; birch timber also forms a considerable article of our I
trade and is very abundant in the country."
" Next to squared timber deals are the most important article of export and bid fair soon to exceed all others. From the great quantities of excellent spruce in the prcnince, the great facilities of water power and the number of mills erecting in various })arts j
of the province, there is reason to believe that the deal trade |
will soon be the staple trade of the country. This branch of our j
trade has risen up within a few \'ears, its progress has been rapid j
and it bids fair to become one of the main sources of our wealth; j
and while the pine timber is falling olV for want of material, the !
deal trade is increasing. There are at present more than 400 saw j
mills in operation, and from the amount of capital and enterprise engaged, the number of m'ills is weekly augmenting, and the j
increasing trade in sawed lumber will more than ofTset the decreasing trade in pine ton timber."
"By proper management the supply for this branch of trade can be rendered almost perpetual. Spruce is found in most parts of the province in great abundance, and when one growth is cut
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. ■[[)
another will succeed. The supply could easily be rendered certain by allowing the waste districts where the timber abounds, to remain for the growth of spruce, and always to leave the young trees as much as possible uninjured. By always cutting only the large trees from year to year and preserving the small growth, a supply for a long time may be ensured. Masts, spars, lathwood, etc., are shipped to Great Britain, and boards, planks, shingles, staves, etc., to the West Indies."
Fisher's little book abounds with allusiotis to the linubering interest. As a practical lumberman himself he writes intelli- gently on the subject and at greater length than many of our early writers. At the time of writing he says that Charlotte County is (he greatest county for sawed lumber in the province.
"Scarcely a stream or lake suitable for the purpose but has its mills in operation, while the establishments at St. Stephen, Milltown, St. George and other places exceed anything of the kind in the province. Calais is a flourishing place, connected with St. Stephen by a toll bridge, having abundance of saw mills and abundance of lawyers. It has been stated that every two saws at this place support one law>er!"
At the Cirand Falls on the St. John, Sir John (\ildwell, formerly Receiver General of Lower Canada, had lately erected a large substantial mill where several gangs of saws and other machinery were in operation. The deals were taken to the place of rafting, a distance of about half a mile, on frames drawn by horses.
Notwithstanding the great fire of 1825, the Miramichi con- tinued to be one of the first rivers in the province for pine and spruce lumber. There was formed in 1 837 an association called "The New Brunswick Mill Comi)an>-," with a capital of £100,000, for the purpose of erecting twenty mills aiinuall>' at Miramichi, until they had completed the number of one hundred. Mr. Cunard's mills at Miramichi, on April 29, 1837, cut 42,271 feet of deals between 5 a. m. and 7 p. m., being the produce of 320 logs and employing fifty Workmen.
Other examples of the expansion of the lumber trade abound in the pages of " Notitia. " Mention is made of the Nashwaaksis Manufacturing Company, which hcul a capital of X'r)0,000, with
50 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
mills for sawing planks, boards and deals, circular saws for cutting laths, scantling, etc., also a grist-mill and oat crushing mill, a foundry and smithy.
In the vicinity of the settlements the pine was already be- coming scarce. The Tobique, formerly famed for its red pine, had been denuded of its treasures by a forest fire, but on the Meriumpticook and other upper tributaries of the St. John there was yet an abundance of pines of the loftiest growths.
The coal fields on Grand Lake supplied the troops in this province with coal as early as the first years of the last century. The coal mines were known and utilized to a limited extent, as earh' as the time of Charles La Tour, nearly three centuries ago. The "Salmon River Coal Company" in 1837 employed thirty to forty men. The workmen had succeeded in boring about 140 feet. The mining company had a capital of £20,000.
.The first attempt at the whaling business was made in 1832, when' a vessel was fitted out in St. John l)y Charles C. Stewart. Later several fine ships were emploved in llie \vh;ile fishery by merchants of St. John and CharK)ttc- Count), \\liich gave fairly good returns to their owners. In 1837 there were six St. John vessels thus employed, three of which were fitted out b>' the Mechanic's Whale Fishing Company.
Mr. Fisher has some interesting references to various places in New Brunswick which we can only just mention in closing.
The Pokiok gorge on the St. John River, j)robably seventy to eighty feet perpendicular, " is a sublime and imposing spectacle. "
The site of the old fort at Jemseg is mentioned. This old fort waiD in existence as early as 1G70, and was then, no doubt, the principal French fortification on the St. John. Old Fort Cumberland, formerly called Beausejour, taken from the French by Colonel Monckton in 1755, was at this time (1837) nearly in ruins. Vestiges remained of the fort at Bay Verte, called Fort Monckton.
The present city of Moncton was but a small trading place, known as "The Bend," with a few stores and houses, mills and a wharf where vessels at times came to load lumber.
The establishment of Mr. Jardine, about three miles above Richibucto, had given rise to a village, where there was a good
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 51
shipyard. Pine was already getting scarce in most of the himber districts, but spruce was very abundant, and quantities of deals were annually produced. Richibucto was a place of considerable trade, being an excellent shipping station, and a very pleasant place for a summer residence, being free from the "dense and tedious fogs," so frequent along the shores of the Bay of Fundy. A very interesting account of the New Brunswick and Nova Scotia Land Company deserves our consideration. A tract of 500,000 acres, on the east side of the River St. John in the County of York, was purchased by this company in the year 1S33. The center of the company's operations was in the Parish of Stanley, and in the two >'ears that followed the purchase of tlie tract zealous efforts were made to promote its settlement. The com- pany made a road from Fredericton to Stanley', and in the course of the next few years a considerable tract of land was cleared and under cultivation, with a population of se\eral hundred souls.
"The germ of the company's future town was called Stanley, in honor of Lord Stanley, the then cohjnial Secretary. It was situated on the Nashwaak River, about thirty-five miles aliove its confluence with the St. John. It had already good saw and grist mills, several stores, and a number of good dwelling houses, a school house, which also answers for a church, and other works in progress. Materials were also collecting to build a small church on what is called Church Hill, an eminence which over- looks this miniature town. A number of small lots have been laid out contiguous to the village, on which houses are built, and small farms improved. Stanley \^illage had not a tree felled for the purpose of cultivation prior to August 1834; it now exhibits a succession of small improved farms with families actively engaged in agricultural and other occupations."
A publication by Ackermann, issued in 1830, contains a number of colored sketches showing the character of the proposed settlement. The plates, and accompanying description, show the pioneer explorers encamped at the Nashwaak Stream; the erecting of the milldam; the process of clearing the town-flat; the saw mill completed; the tavern at Stanley; the Royal Road designed to extend from Fredericton to Quebec, and many other views. Many of the dwellings of the village, as designed by
52 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Mr. Stead the architect, were after the st>'le of the Swiss chalets, and were rather picturesque. Fisher ol)serves:
"When a nunil:»er of famiUes settle together in the wilderness, they are a mutual help and comfort U) each other, are enabled to form schocjls and provide the means of religious inslruction. It al>o prevents the children sinking into a state of dehaseincnt. " [A good deal more to the same effect. |
Unfortiniatel}' man>- of the immigrants \\ i-re \er\' unsuitable. A gO(xl many of them c.nne from the l>le of Sk> e, some were gentlemen not accustomed to larming at home, much less to clearing land in the dei)ths of the forest, liislio]) John Inglis of Nova Scotia visited Stanley in the sunnner (jf IS,"],"), cUid preached to ciuite a congregation amongst the bUukened stumjjs on the hill where it was proposed to build the church. The erection of this edifice was, howe\'er, deferred for more than f<»rty > ears, and the school house continued U> be used f(jr a church. When the writer of this j^aper went to Stanley' in 1S7N, howexer, the peo])le with commendable zccd set to work and in the course of a > ear and six months built a handsome church \\\{h a \er\- comfortable and well planned i)arsonage adjoining it.
The Land Company about the year \S',]{], laid out the village of Cami^belltown on the Miramichi, some little distance east of Stanley. The total number of settlers on the conTi)an\'s lands in 1837 exceeded si\t>' families, among them "i)ersons of prop- erty and intelligence sutTicient to form a good society."
An enterprising Americ-an, named I'homah Hoies, built a small town of his ON\ n on the banks of the Miramichi, about four miles beUnv Campbelltcjwn. It included an extensive store, a ta\ern, tradesmen's shop, good mills, and alnutst e\ er>' sort of building necessary tor a good trading establishment. He akso provided a schoolmaster and a chinch building ojjen to all denominations. j
The references to the lumber industry in Fisher's Notitia are i
man>'. In addition to those already mentioned he speaks of a I
large establishment of excellent mills on the Penniack Stream; of j
a range of mills of an impnned construction near the mouth of |
the Nashwaak, which cut last year about 2,000, OOU feet of lum- I
ber. These were the fore-runners of Alex. Gibson's famous mills.
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. o3
There were mills on the Oromocto River, at Black River in St. John County, and at Digdeguash in Charlotte County. At Lancaster there was an extensive industry. A company was formed with a capital of £;iO(J,()()U. They erected a number of mills with gangs of saws, circular saws, machinery for cutting laths, clapboards, shingles, etc. The comjian)' owned 50,01)0 acres of timber lands. The water power, about 400 horse power. Musquash also had a number of gootl mills. Large cjuantities of deals were manufactured at Shepod\' and at Bathurst. But in the early days of the province Charlotte C\)unty was pre-eminent as the greatest producer of sawed lumber in the New Brunswick.
Mr. Fisher obs^rve^ that there is:
"Scarcely a stream or lake suitable for the purpose but has its mills in operation or in progress, while the establishments at St. Stephen, Milltown, St. George and other places exceed any- thing of the kind in the province. The villages of Upper and Lower Milltown are seemingly the natural parents of the mill family, the whole country is crowded with them. St. (jeorge has a number of good saw mills, having the whole course ot the River Magaguadavic with its noble lakes t(j furnish lumber."
Shipbuilding had become another productive source of ex})ort trade to the mother country'. In addition t<j the extensi\'e business in the shipyards at St. John and its \icinit\-, there was a very large shijibuilding industry at Miramichi, where in 1S3() eight vessels, measuring 3,147 ton^, were built. Ships were built by the Jardines at Richibucto, also at St. Martins, Black I^i\er and at the mouth ol the Oromocto. A number ot vessels were also annuall>- building on the Kennebecasis, below Hamp- ton, foi the merchaiUs of St. John.
The fishery was and still is, a \er\' important industr\ in Charlotte Count)-. The waters of Pas^anuKiuoddy Bay abound with cod, liaddock, i^oUoek and other h^h. Mr. Fisher sa\s:
"Grand Manan is imri\-alled as a great fishing station. But there are only fourteen to twenty small \e>sels usualh" engaged in the business, the \'early procliice of which does not exceed £3,000. Grand Manan has a population of about 1,000 souls. Campobello has ab(jut the same population. It is the proi)erty of Captain Owen, R. N. Man>- of the inhabitants are his tenants. Quantities of cod and other fish are taken here and sold uncured to the Americans. r3eer Island and Lidian Island are i)laces of
54 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
considerable importance in regard to the fishery, particularly the former, which is very populous."
References to the fine farming districts of the province fill considerable space in the Notitia.
"Stock and the produce of the dairy may be considered the staple products of Westmorland County. The great Tantramar Marsh in Sackville is upwards of fifteen miles in length and in some places over four in breadth, most of it is d>ked. After mowing time this marsh appears to the spectator, standing on Fort Cumberland or some other elevated spot, dotted with an innum.erable number of hay stacks which are lost in the distance. The cows in this county are generally the largest in the province. The tides roll in with great velocit>- making a loud noise, which is heard at a great distance and animals, with manifest signs of terror, immediately make for the highlands."
"Maugerville and Sheffield comprise a rich strip of intervale. The houses are in general neat, barns spacious, country highly cultivated, settlers substantial land holders and good husband- men. The whole country like a continued garden; the roads excellent. The farmers in Canning seldom commence their labors till June, but so productive is the soil that in a few weeks the country exhibits the most exuberant vegetation. Indian corn flourishes in the highest perfection. Indeed a more fertile soil can scarcely be conceived than is found from Maugerville to the Jemseg."
"Sussex Vale is a low lying plain covered with neat country seats, well adorned with beautiful fields in the highest state of cultivation. The proprietors of some of these charming seats may well rank with the most scientific agriculturists in the prov- ince. Near the head of the \^ale are a number of salt springs."
The parish of St. Mary, York County, afforded an asylum in 1783 to the survivors of the old fort>'-second regiment. Many of their children are among the principal farmers on the Nashwaak, and a few old settlers are yet living. It seems as if the old Donalds will never wear out. They were visited by the Rev. Dr. McGregor of Pictou in 1S05. Me says that having been so long neglected a few of them had turned Methodist or Baptist but the "best and the worst of them remained Presb>'terians. "
And here we must bring our extracts and comments on the two publications of Peter Fisher to a close. Enough has been now submitted to sliow that the New Brunswick Historical Society does well to honour the memory of Peter Fisher, our first local historian.
new brunswick historical society. 55
Appendix.
The circumstances which attended the arrival of the Loyalist Regiments at St. John are detailed in the following letter of Major Augustin Prevost, inspector-general of the regiments, who was appointed to superintend their disband- ment. The letter was addressed to Ward Chipman, then in New York:
"St. John's River, September 29, 1783. My Dear Sir:
We arrived here Friday, the twenty-sixth of Septeml)er, the transports "Martha" and "Esther" excepted. General Fox and Colonel Winslow were just set out for their expediti(.)n up the river. They are expected back in a few days. I need not tell you how much I wish to meet Winslow.
It is impossible to describe to you the confusion we are in at this place for want of sufficient craft to transport the troops to their destination. I hope General Fox will exert his authority to relieve them from the distress they labor under, otherwise it is impossible to say what will become of one-half of them when once they are disbanded. I am pre- paring to set out in a small craft, which I have hired at my own risk, with 120 barrels of provisions, for the place where the grand depot is to be made, and where I dare say the whole will winter, called St. Ann, in Sunbury Townshij), ninety miles distant; but tlus 1 will not do l)efore the General's arrival and my exertions are no longer wanted at this place — and by the twentieth of next month I hope to return so as to take my passage to New York on board the same trans|)ort that brought me here.
I can say little of the country as yet, Ijut on my return I shall be a tolerable judge, when 1 will give you every infor- mation I can collect — till then believe me to be with affec- tionate and sincere regard and esteem, my dear Sir,
Your obliged and most huml)le servant,
Auc. PrI'-VOSt. Ward Chipman, Ksq.
The "Fall Fleet" sailed from Sandy Hook, N. Y., on the fifteenth of September, 1783, under convoy of a coui)le of British frigates. The troops were under conunand of their
5(5 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
senior officer, Lieut. -Col. Richard Hewlett, of DeLancey's 2nd Battalion, as we learn from the following letter:
"New York, September 12, ITS-"!. Sir:
You are to take command of the troops which are to proceed to the River St. John's in the Bay of l^iindy in Nova Scotia. On your arrival you will see that the stores intended for them are duly delivered, and you will tjke such steps as shall be necessary for the several corps i)roceeding immediately to the places allotted to them for their settle- ment, where they are to be disbanded on their arrival, provided it does not exceed the twentieth of October, on or before which day Capt. Prevost, Deputy Ins[)ector of British American Forces, has directions to disband them, for which purpose you will give him the necessary assistance.
The disembarkation of the trooi:)S must not be delayed as the transports must return with all possible despatch. Direc- tions hav^e been given to Mr. Colville, assistant agent of all small craft at the River St. John's, to afford every assistance in his power to the corps in getting to their places of destina- tion.
I am, etc., etc.,
r.UY C\\RLF/rON.
Lieut. -Col. Hewlett wrote from "St. John's, Bay of Fundy," on the twenty-ninth of September, to Sir Cniy Carleton:
"This day a small party of the Guides and Pioneers are landed, which proceed from tlie Falls uj) the Ri\'er St. John's tomorrow if the weatlier permits. I have given the necessary orders for the troojjs to disembark tomorrow and enca.mp first above the Falls, from which place they sliall be for- warded with all possiltle i'xpe(iilion to the ])h;(X' ol their destination, but am much afraid the want of small <Talt will grc tly pre\'ent their dis])at!h."
On the thirteenth of October Hewlett again writes to Sir Guy C'irleton:
'Tliis day ih.e entire body of the troops were disbanded and are getting v\\) the ri\er as sjieedily as jjossible. The want of small craft is tb.e only dela)' 1 hey ha\e. This will be handed you by Ma,ior I'rexost to whom I and tlie otiicers connnanding corps are under many obligcitious lor his great attention and (|uickness ol disi)atch."
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIKTY. i) t
ELIAS HARDY, Councillor-at-Law
BY Kiev. \V. O. KAVMONI), LL.D.
In a nameless gra\^e in the old burial ground, almost under the shadow of the Court House, repose the ashes of Elias Hardy, a man whose name was almost a household word in this com- munity during the fifteen years that followed the founding of the City in 1783. His death at a comparatively early age, and the fact that none of his descendants remain in the province suffice to account for the lack of appreciation on the i)art of our modern citizens of the services rendered in the earl>' da>'s of St. John by one of her most distinguished sons.
Elias Hardy was the son of a non-conformist minister. He was born at Farnham, in the county of Surrey, in the suburl)s of London, in 1744. He was educated for the bar and admitted Attorney and Solicitor in the Courts at Westminster Hall. Led by the spirit of adventure he decided to emigrate to "the King's Provinces in America", and while yet in early manhood came to Virginia. He went afterwards to New \'ork, where he formed a legal partnership with one John C. L. Roome and entered on the practice of his profession.
The disputes between the old Colonies and the Mother Country were now beginning to wax warm and ere long culminated in the Revolutionary War. During the ensuing years of storm and stress, PLirdy remained in New \'ork jiractis- ing his profession as he had opportunit>-. He was Itrought into the limelight by an incident which occurred late in llie summer of 1783, and which was the cause of not a little excitement among the Loyalists who were then congregatetl in New ^'ork.
The story, briefly told, is as follows: An association of lift>- five Loyalists, many of them of considerable prominence, others less conspicuous, sul)mitled a memorial to Sir ('.u\- Carleton, the Commander-in-Chief, i)raying for grants of lands in No\a Scotia (which of course at that time included New Hrunswick). It was proposed that the grants should ecjual those re.-ier\ ed lor field ofhcers of the arm>-, namely 5,()l)(J acres each. This would
58 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
be equivalent in all to a tract of 275,000 acres, or about 430 square miles, and was supposed to include the best locations and most fertile lands on the River St. John. At once there were mutter- ings of a coming storm both at New York and at Parr Town. On the Sth of August a meeting was held in New York and a committee, consisting of Samuel Hake, Elias Hardy, Capt. Henry Law and TertuUus Dickenson, was appointed to prepare and present a memorial to the Commander-in-Chief concerning the matter. The memorial, which was prepared by Hardy, was in excellent form and a very able presentation of the case. We may quote the following paragraphs:
"Your memorialists are much alarmed at an application, which they are informed fifty-five persons have joined in to your Excellency, soliciting tracts of land amounting in the aggregate to 275,000 acres, and that they have dispatched agents to survey the unlocated lands and select the most fertile spots and desirable situations."
"Your memorialists cannot but regard the grants in question, if carried into effect, as amounting nearly to a total exclusion of themselves and families, who, if they become settlers, must either content themselves with barren or remote lands or submit to be tenants to those whom they consider as their sui)eriors in nothing but deeper art and keener policy."
Inhere were at this time several thousands of Lo>alists at the mouth of the River St. John, all anxiously awaiting some definite information as to their lands. These lands had been promised them in the King's name before they left New York. The hope of re-establishing themsehes in new homes on British soil was the beacon-star that had led them northward and east- ward. But now landed i^i the Acadian wilderness, the>- found no adec[uate preparations for their reception. Congregated in huts and tents on the rocky hillsides at St. John, weeks and months passed in uncertainty and in helpless inacti\'it>- on account of the dela>' in alloting lands.
The warm-hearted and impulsi\'e Edward W^inslow, who was doing what he could to stir up the authorities in Halifax, speaks of the poignant distress of the disbanded loyal regiments. "We like the country," they said, "only give us some place we can call our own and laws for our protection."
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 59
Governor Parr's presence in St. John was certainly very desirable in the fall of 1783, but he never planted foot in the town which had been named in his honour. He tried to quell the hostile demonstrations, which at length broke forth in Parr Town, by removing some of the ringleaders across the Bay and blamed the "confounded lawyers" for the dissensions.
Meanwhile the firmness and decision of Sir Gu>' Carleton did much to solve the difficulty. Hardy and his committee waited upon him with their memorial and met with a most favorable reception. It was his opinion, Sir Guy said, that no person should be allowed to take up lands but those who meant to settle on them until the Loyalists were first SGr\ed. He assured the committee that he would do everything in his power for them and believed that they would have no cause to com- plain.
As an outcome of this episode, Elias Hard>' became the recognized champion of the cause of the common people. He came to St. John and was emi)lo>ed by the go\'ernnient in promoting the escheat of unsettletl tracts of land on the river, which had been granted during the last hfteen or twent>' years and remained unimproved by the grantees. Progress in the Court of escheats was very slow. Communication with Halilax was difficult. There were no Courts north of the Bay of I'\uuly, and what is now New Brunswick had only four members in the Nova Scotia House of Assend^ly. The emergency was so great that a new pro\'ince was formed, and Col. Thomas C\uieton came out in the fall of 17S4 as its first Governor. Courts of justice were speedily established ami were hailed with great satisfaction. Benjamin Marston, a cousin of Edward W'inslow and afterwards first sheriff of the county of Northumberland, writes in his diary under date February 1, 1785:
"The Supreme Court of Judicature opened this duy at St. John for the first time. The Chief Justice ga\e a very judicious, sensible charge to the Grand Jury. The advantage ot a dernier resort for justice in all civil nnd criminal cases will be very great to the people of this new Province. They will find a mighty odds between having justice travelling regularly about among them and being obliged to cross the Bay of Fundy and travel 130 miles to Halifax."
GO NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
The clamor for lands still continued, and Elias Hardy was kept busy in promoting escheats and drafting memorials to the Governor in Council. Governor Carleton was assiduous and sat in Council three days in each week at the old Council Cham- ber on Germain street. The extent of the labors of the Council can only be appreciated by those who have examined the im- mense number of land memonials on file in the Provincial archives. (It may be observed, in passing, that three years have been spent by one of the staff of the Dominion Archives in classifying and indexing these old memorials for lands, and the work is not yet complete).
In addition to his services in procuring lands for the new settlers Hardy was employed by the British (iovernmcnt in forwarding the claims of the Loyalists for compensation for their losses in the war. He was admitted an attorney at the bar of New Brunswick on the occasion of the opening of the Supreme Court by Chief Justice Ludlow on February 1, 1785. He was not long in being recognized as a leader in his profession.
About this time steps were taken for the incorporation of the city of St. John and the consequent disuse of the name of "Parr Town." Edward Winslow writes on January 13, 1785, to his friend Chipman: ."I have never been an enthusiast for towns and cities, but I emphatically endorse the selection of Col. G. G. Ludlow as mayor, and if Mr. Hardy is induced to accept the appointment of Common Clerk and the Council completed as planned I shall expect to see Halifax evacuated by the most respectable of its inhabitants and Shell)urne totally eclipsed, and that immediately."
The date of the incorporation was May 18, 17S5. Hardy did not take the position of Comnujn Clerk, which passed to the nestor of the New Brunswick l)ar, Bartholomew Crannell, comnionly known as " Ivitlier Crannell."
On the death of Bartholomew Crannell, in \7W, tliere were two applicants for the vacancy, namely l^lias Hardy and Gabriel V. Ludlow, the latter a son of the first Mayor and a nej^hew of the Chief Justice. Stephen Sewell, who was at that time a law student wdth Ward Chij^man, wrote to his brother Jonathan (afterwards Chief Justice at Quebec) as follows:
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIKTY. (U
"Gabe Ludlow has lost the Clerk's office in a strang^e manner. It is considered a curious circumstance by all the Whigs here. He had made application to the Chief Justice a long time ago to use his inHuence in his behalf, but as the demon of ill luck would have it the Chief never mentioned it to the ( io\'ernor till the latter showed him an -application from Hardy, whicli tlie Governor considered entitled to priority-. The Chief Justice was excessively urgent for his nephew, the (iO\ernor was as strenuous for Hard>' and ai^pointed him. It is sujiposed by some tha.t the v.iiole is political business, Init 1 am convinced that what chiefly actuated the Governor was his strict adherence to his word, for I am told he has declared that the first applicant for any vacant ofhce, if the {person is capable and not immoral, shall be appointed."
Hardy retained the position until his death. His ser\'ices were especially valuable in connection with much of our early civic legislation. For )ears nearly all the Acts and b\'-]aws connected with the government ol the city N\'ere drafted by his hand. He also tilled the offices of surrogate for the cit>' and county of St. John and of Clerk of the Court of Chancery. Meanwhile he continued to build up a large legal practice. Among his first influential clients was William Davidson, the well known founder of Miramichi, where he established himself in 1765 and was soon extensively engaged in lumbering, fishing, shipbuilding and trading.
During the American Revolution, Davidson was so harassed by Yankee privateers that he removed to Maugerville where he had as a neighbour, during the latter years of the war, James Simonds of St. John. These two gentlemen became iuNoKed in litigation in which the right to a tract of 10,000 acres, below Fredericton, was at issue. Hardy appeared for Davidscjn and Ward Chipman ft>r Simonds. The proceedings are on Idc in records of the Court of C^hancery and it was some )ears before the case was settled.* Hardy's connection with the suit served to establish his reputation and led to the historic suit of James Simonds against his old business i)artners, Hazen, Jar\is and White. It also l)a^'ed the way to his i)oliticcd career.
The first pro\incial election was held in iXovember, 17S5, under an exceedingly liberal franchise, as we learn from an
62 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
announcement in the Royal Gazette of the ISth October, 1785, to the effect that "All males of full age, inhabitants of the city and county of St. John, that have resided three months therein are entitled to their votes on this occasion." Hardy was at this time regarded as the leader of the democratic party in St. John, but to the surprise of many of his friends he issued the following card: "Mr. Hardy returns his thanks to such of his friends as have been pleased to declare their intention of voting for him at the election as a representative for this city and county; but begs they will not reserve their votes, as he does not propose offering himself as a candidate."
The sequel, however, will appear in the following extract from Sheriff Marston's diary, under date Thursday, November 17, 17S5. He writes at Miramichi:
"Today held an election for two members in the General Assembly. William Davidson, an inhabitant of Miramichi, who has great influence over the people here, many of them holding lands under him and many others being in his employ, was chosen for one, and by the same inffuence Elias Hardy, an attorney, an inhabitant of the city of St. John was chosen as the other. This will disappoint some of my friends who hoped that George Leonard, Esq., and Capt. Stanton Hazard would have obtained the election. But 'twas impossible. They were unknown here and we who recommended them were but strangers. 'Tis therefore no wonder we did not succeed against an artful man who had an inlluence and knew how to use it.''
The poll in the various counties in olden time was open for about ten days, being moved about from place to place, open voting being the rule, so that the state of the poll was always known.
The Government party in St. John were strong in the district of the "Upper Cove," and the opposition were just as strong in the "Lower Cove," and as the election progressed the hostility between the two parties became intense. On the evening of the third day a tremendous riot took place at the Mallard House, on the corner of King and Germain streets, in which windows were smashed by the democratic party, who were the attacking faction. A number were injured on both sides, brickbats being
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 63
freely used, and eventually it was found necessary to call out the troops in garrison at Fort Howe to support the civil authority. Several arrests were made, one of the Lower Cove candidates being among the number. At the subsequent trial s^ome of the rioters were punished by fine and imiirisonment.
At the conclusion of the voting the opposition candidates had seemingly a considerable majority, but a scrutiny was demanded and Sheriff Oliver at its conclusion returned Messrs. Bliss, Billopp, Chipman, Pagan, Hazard and McGeorge as elected, while the Lower Cove candidates, Messrs. Dickinson, Lightfoot, Grim, Bonsall, Boggs and Reid were declared de- feated. An appeal was afterwards made to the House of Assembly, which sustained the Sheriff's return. It is not necessary to enter here into the merits of the controversy. Hardy, although a reformer, was not a bitter partizan, and seems to have shown his sagacity in keeping out of the turmoil of the first St. John election. As a member of the legislature his services were important. He was painstaking and industrious in committee work and his eloquence and abilit}' in debate soon obtained for him a leading place.
Upon the dissolution of the House in 1792 he was elected a member for the city and county of St. John. In the same election Ward Chipman suffered defeat. When the third House of Assembly was elected Hardy was again pressed to be a candi- date, but was obliged to decline on account of the state of his health.
Throughout his life he was an extremely busy man. In addition to his civic and parliamentary duties and the calls of his profession he had the social claims of the Masonic Order, of which he was one of the founders in St John.
As an all round lawyer tradition says Llias Hardy had no peer. Among the important cases in which he was concerned was that of Benedict Arnold versus Munson Hoyt. Arnold was for a time a resident of St. John. The suit was brought by the General against his former business partner for slander. Hoyt it seems accused Arnold of setting fire to their store in Lower Cove, on which he had recently effected insurance to the amount
64 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY,
of £5,000. The store with its contents was entirely consumed. The case came to trial before Judge Isaac Allen at the September Court in 1790. Arnold claimed damages to the amount of £5,000 but the jury only awarded him twenty shillings, which was regarded practically as a verdict for the defendant. Attor- ney-General Bliss and Ward Chipman a})peared for Arnold, and Elias Hardy for Ho^'t. The St. John public apparently had not a high opinion of Arnold's inte^rit>' and their sympathy was with the defendant.
Another celebrated case in wiiich Hardy was retained, and which proved a lucrative one for the lawyers, was that of Williom Hazen versus James Simonds. The case was the outcome of business transactions between the parties extending over a period of twenty years, a large amount of property, including ownership of the Marsh from the city out to the Manor House, being involved. The case was of so intricate a charact.-r that it was before the Courts, in one form or another, for twenty-five years. Chipman was retained to look after the interests of his father-in-law Hazen, and Simonds was represented by Elias Hardy. The proceedings were protracted and the documents connected therewith voluminous. Chipman on July 19, 1791, fded a bill of complaint against Simonds — a formidable roll of parchment comprising 12,000 words. Hardy on February 3, 1792, filed the answer of Simonds containing 5,800 words.
Then on Noveml)er 17, 1794, Hardy filed the cross bill of Simonds against Hazen, Jarvis and White, containing 17,000 words written on a roll of paper 20 feet 6 inches long and 20 inches in width. Not to be outdone Chipman filed an answer in behalf of his clients of 19,()00 words.
The proceedings of this old Suit in ( hancery arc preserved in the record office in Fredericton. The student will find much information in these venerable parchments concerning the mode of procedure in vogue in the early days of the province, and also will gain some idea of the industry and ability of men who were giants in their profession in their generation. To the student of our local history the records are of equal interest as they shed a floor of light upon the history of St. John during the twenty years that ante-date the coming of the Loyalists.
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 65
Enough has now been related to show the place held by Hardy in public life. A few words may be added with regard to his character in private life. Here we may quote from the brief obituary notice printed by ("hristopher Sower in the Royal Gazette of January I, 17'J9:
"Eliiis Hardy formed but few friendships, but in these he was always sincere, atid the l)rilliancy of his wit and good humour made him tlie life of every circle of which he formed a jjart. He has left a wife and four children to lament the loss of an afiec- tioncite liusband and indulgent parent." The home of Klias Hardy stood on Lot No. 417 on the south side of King street midway between Charlotte and Germain. He purchased one- half of the lot from the Rev. John Beardsley in 1795 for the modest sum of ten shillings.
The death of Klias Hardy took place at his residence on Christmas day, 17i)S, in the fifty-fourth year of his age, "after a long illness which he bore with the greatest fortitude." Three days later his mortal form was borne to its last resting-place in the old burjal ground attended by a large concourse of St. John's leading citizens.
Hardy's wife was bZmma, daughter of Peter Huggeford, M. D. In the Revolution Ur. Huggeford was surgeon of the Loyal American Regiment, raised by Col. Beverley Robinson of New York. The Chaplain of the regiment was Rev. John Beardsley. The lots drawn by the chai)lain and surgeon were on Charlotte street, nearly opposite the Dufferin Hotel. Other officers of the regiment were Hon. John Robinson, mayor of the city at the time of his death in 1828, and John Ward, grand- father of the late Clare Ward, who died in 1846 at the age of ninety-two years, being at that time the oldest half-pay officer in the British service. Dr. Huggeford was living in New York in 1800 and his daughter Mrs. Hardy also went there to live with her children after the death of her husband.
But while friends and kindred returned to the United States, all that was mortal of Llias Hardy remains with us, and though the exact spot where he was laid at rest is not known, this we know that the city of the Loyalists retains within her bounds
66 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
to-day all that could die of one of her distinguished founders. His ashes lie beneath the shadow of the meteor flag that waves aloft above the neighbouring hall of justice, and his memory is now preserved by the memorial tablet placed in the Court, of which he was in his day and generation a conspicuous ornament.
The writer of this paper deems it an honour to have gathered the fragments which tell, however imperfectly, the life story of the son of the non-conformist minister of Farnham, Elias Hardy, "the London lawyer," and to lay this humble chaplet on his nameless grave.
Toronto, May 28th, 1918.
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 67
ROBERT COONEY.
First Historian of Northern and Eastern New Brunswick
BY REV. W. O. RAYMOND, LL.D.
The first attempt at writing a history of New Brunswick was that of Peter Fisher, in 1825. Mr. Fisher was the father of Charles Fisher of Fredericton, one of our provincial leaders in the battle for responsible government, and later a judge of the Supreme Court, Judge Fisher, it may be observed in passing, was a member of the first class to graduate at King's College (now the University) in F"redericton, after the incor- poration of the college by Royal Charter in 1S2S. His bio- graphy will be found in the closing pages of "The Judges of New Brunswick and their Times." He died at Fredericton on December 8, 1880, at the age of seventy-two years. His father, Peter Fisher, was born on Staten Island, New York, on June 0, 1782, and came to New Brunswick with his parents in September, 1783, in the well-known "Fall Fleet," which arrived in St. John on September 27. Mr. Fisher's little work, "Sketches of New Brunswick," was printed by Chubb & Sears of St. John in 1825. It is now rare and eagerly sought after by book collectors.
The next provincial historian of any note was Robert Cooney, who wrote a book entitled, "A Compendious History of the Northern and Eastern parts of the Province of New^ Brunswick," which was published in Halifax by Joseph Howe, in 1832. Howe was at that time editor of the "Nova Scotian," and just entering upon his political career.
Cooney soon afterwards became a Wesley an Methodist missionary. Later in life he wrote his autobiography, which was printed in Montreal in 1856, and is now rarely met with. From its pages we glean the notes that follow.
G8 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
In the opening chai^ter Cooney says:
"I was born in the parish of Saint Mark, in the ancient city of Dublin, on the 21th of June, lS():i. It will be seen that I was born in troublous times; and that I an\ 'a citizen of no mean city.' . . . We resided for se\ercd years in Townsend street, directly opposite the Parish Chapel, an (jld and unpre- tending edifice in the forn^ of a cross, which was attended by a very large and rather miscellaneous congregation. Among the notabilities that attended I have often obser\'ed tlie Karl of Fingal, Lord French, Sir Thomiis h'smond, Daniel OTonnell, Sir Patrick Bellew and others of less note They inspired me, 1 must say, with a faxorable oj)init)n of their devotion antl zeal; and the total absence of e\erything like distinctions of caste and position, made them great favorites with the [leople. "
('ooney's father died when his son was only eighteen years of age. The lad received a good education, and thought of becoming a priest. In his books he not infrecjuentl)- introduces Latin quotations. He obser\es in his autobiography:
"The death of my dear father seriously affected our whole domestic economy, and my hojjes of becoming a priest fell to the ground. The 'res aiii'jisia donii'~—()uv straightened cir- cumstances— forbad the indulgence of such ambitious hcjpes. "
He decided to emigrate to America. At that time the tide of emigration did not How so strongh' to the I'nited States as it did afterwards, and Cooney contends that had ])ro,ner legis- lative encouragement been afforded, the settlement of New Brunswick would have been greatly advanced. We may add that if the province had been called "New Ireland," as was at first proposed (and certainly was seriousl>' contemplated), there is little doubt that the Irish race would ha\"e greatly predominated in this proN'ince.
Cooney sailed from Dublin for IMiramichi on August 24, 1824, in the ship "Earl of Al)erdeen." Her captain was a Scotchman named Ligertwood, a graduate of Marischal College. He had the unusual Christian name (for a Scotchman) of C.eorge Washington. The \'essel had a forty- two da>'s passage and arrived safely at her destination on October 5.
"Miramichi," Cooney observes, "is not the name of a town or village but that of a large and beautiful ri\er. In the Micmac
NKW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. ()9
language, the diminutive noun is formed by the addition of 'sis,' and hence this river was formerly called Restigouchesis, in contradistinction to the Restigouche, a somewhat larger river that flows into the Bale des Chaleurs. "
Almost precisely o'ne year after his arrival occurred the great Miramichi P^ire. Hie description of the contlagration contained in his autobiograjihy is abbre\iated from his History — the phraseology being for the most part identical. He observes:
"I was, at the time of the Great Fire, residing within a mile of Newcastle. If my opinion be entitled to any consider- ation, a greater calamity than the FWe which happened in Miramichi never befel any forest country, and has been rarely excelled in the annals of any other; and the general character of the scene was such that all it required to complete a picture of the General Judgment was the blast of a Trumpet, the voice of the Archangel and the resurrection of the Dead."
This tragical incident, like many such occurrences of old times, was commemorated in doggerel rhyme. The \erses which follow were written by Thomas ]\I. Jordan, whose descend- ants are still found on the Miramichi, and were printed in an old provincial newspaper. They were sometimes sung in the lumber camps in winter evenings to an old tune in a minor key. I met the other day, in New Westminster, B. C., a man named Archie Patchell, formerly of Stanle>-, York (\nuity, who had worked as a lumberer on the Miramichi in his >()ung da\s, and found that he could recite the "poem" with some interesting variations. I belie\e that while the poetr>' is pretty bad the description is accurate as to details.
When Miramichi Was Reducici) to Ashes.
This is the truth what I now tell >()u
For mine eyes in part tlid see, What did happen to the people
On the banks of the Mira^michi.
The seventh evening of Gctol)er,
Eighteen hundred twenty-five, Two hundred jicople fell by hre.
It scourged those that did survive.
70 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Some said it was because the people's Sins did rise like mountains high,
Which did ascend up to Jehovah, He would not see and justify.
In order to destroy their lumber,
And the country distress, He sent the fire in a whirlwind,
From the heaving wilderness.
'Twas on the Northwest first discovered Twenty-two men there did die.
When it had swept o'er the meadows To Newcastle it did fly.
While the people were asleeping
Fire seized upon the town, Tho' fine and handsome was the village,
It soon tumbled to the ground.
It burnt three vessels that were building;
And two more at anchor lay; Many that did see the fire
Thought it was the Judgment Day.
Twelve more men were burnt by fire
In the compass of that town. Twenty-five more on the water
In a scow upset and drown.
A family below Newcastle,
Were destroyed among the rest.
Father, mother and three children, One an infant at the breast.
Thirteen families were residing
Just out from Gretna Green: All of them were burnt by fire.
Only one ali^•e was seen.
Then it passed to Black river, Where it did burn sixty more;
So it forc'd its way with fury. Till it reached the briny shore.
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 71
Forty-two miles by one hundred,
This great fire did extend, All was done within eight hours,
Not exceeding over ten.
As I have spoke of things collective,
Now I intend to personate, And speak of some of my acquaintance
With whom I was intimate.
A lady was drove to the water.
Where she stood botii wet and cold Notwithstanding her late illness.
Had a babe but three days old.
Six young men both smart and active,
Were at work on the Northwest, When they saw the fire coming.
To escape it tried their best.
About two miles from where their camp stood,
There were found each one of them But to paint their sad appearance,
I cannot with tongue or pen.
To see these fine, these blooming, young men,'
All lay dead upon the ground. And their brothers standing mourning.
Spread a dismal scene around.
Then we dug a grave and buried.
Those whom did the fire burn; Then each of us that was living
To our dwelling did return.
I heard the sighs, the cries and groaning.
Saw the falling of the tears; By me this will not be forgotten
Should, I live a hundred years.
Sisters weeping for their brother.
Father crying for his son. And with bitter heartfelt sorrow
Said the mother Fm undone.
It killed the wild beasts of the forest,
In the river all the fish, Such another horrid fire
See again, I do not wish.
72 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
For three years after his arrival at Miramichi, Cooney filled the position of chief clerk "in a very respectable mer- cantile house." The business consisted chiefly in importing British and West India goods and provisions, which were sold to the lumberers, from whom pine timber, deals, lathwood, etc., were received in return and shipped to different ports in Great Britain and Ireland. The house also manufactured timber rather extensively on its own account, and employed a con- siderable capital in ship-buildinr;.
In 1S28, Cooney became chief clerk in the office of an eminent barrister who became afterwards a Q. C. and a dis- tinguished member of the provincial legislature. "This gentle- man," he says, "had very few if any superiors, either at the Bar, or in the Senate. He was eloquent, well educated, and liberally endowed with personal and social qualifications. He possessed, one would suppose, everything that could be desired in order to insure success; but he failed — failed notwithstanding all his advantages, — and was obliged, after many years of pro- fessional and public life, to remove to the United States." [Query — who was this? Cooney does not give the name.]
About this time the death of Richard Simonds, Esq., M.P.P., made a vacanc)' in the representation of the county of Northumberland, and James D. Fraser, F;s(|., and Joseph Cunard, Esq., were candidates, the latter l)eing the choice of the electors after a keen contest.
Cooney was acti\'e in behalf of Cunard, and his influence, which was considerable, with his countrymen and co-religionists, seems to have turned the scale in Mr. Cunard's faNor, although the contest was fierce and protracted. Mr. iMaser's candidature had the approval of Bishop McEachern (who, like iMaser, was a Scotchman) and his Eordship was highly displeased at Cooney's interference.
One of the results of the (piarrel was that Cooue>- relin- quished his desire of entering the i)riesthood. He docs not, howe\er, seem to luue cherished any personal animosity
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 73
against his old friend, the missionary priest at Miramichi, Father William Doilard, of whom he writes:
"Mr. Doilard was consecrated Bishop in tlie year ISR), and exercised episcopal jurisdiction in New Brunswick, until he died. He bore his prelatic honors in a very becoming man- ner; and was the same plain and unostentatious man, with his mitre and pectoral cross, that he was before he received them."
Towards the close of 1829 he took up editorial work on the "Northumberland Cdeaner," a weekl>' paper that "ad\-ocated liberal principles in a moderate and consistent manner." His connexion with journalism led to intimate acquaintance with the mercantile and professional classes and a general knowledge of the entire community. "What with editing, corresponding, and so forth," he says, "my hands were pretty full." Yet he found time to travel through the northern and eastern parts ol New Brunswick, then in such a wilderness state that he might almost be said to have explored it. Freciuenth' he had to "camp out." He a\ailed hiniself of many o{){)ortun.ities to converse with the Indians in their wigwams, with the lumberers in their camps, and with the Acadian habitants and other old settlers. These inciuiries occupied some months and resulted in the publication of a small octa\'o ^-olume entitled, "A Com- pendious History of the Northern antl h'astern parts of the Province of New Brunswick." He refers \o the book as "a kind of pioneer, clearing the wa>' for others, into which Moses Perley, Dr. Gesner, and other eminent i)ro\ incialists ha\e since entered."
It is not necessary in this paper to enter into the considera- tion of the details of Mr. Coone) 's experience as a "Wesle>an Missionary" further than to sa>' that during the next twenty- fi\e >'ears he was stationed in turn at the h)llo\\ing places: Murray Harbor, I'. E. I.; Liverpool, Halifax, and ('.u> sliorough, N. S. He was then sent to Quebec, where the \ essel on which he was a passenger anchored near H. M. S. "Mcdabar," ot seventy-four guns, flagshi]) of the scpiadrcju that had accom- panied the Earl of Durham to Canada in his cai)acit>- of C,o\crn(;r (jeneral and Lord High ConnnissicMier. The i)re\ious year had
74 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
witnessed the well known rebellion of 1837 ■ — which was renewed in the autumn of the next year. Cooney gives quite a stirring account of the disorders at Odell Town, at La Colle and Napier- ville.
He was next sent to Stanstead, in the Eastern Townships. and three years later to Montreal. In 1845 he went to Toronto From thence he came, in July, 1847, to Saint John West (or Carleton), and two years later was appointed to the city acros? the harbor, where he remained three years. In 1852 he went to Mill Town, St. Stephen, where he found a handsome thriving little town. Saw mills were erected on every available site, from Calais to Baring, a distance of about six miles. He found his circuit rather "flinty soil," and thought the principles of Methodism were "too pure for the generality of the people." He specifies "smuggling" as a very common thing with the trading part of the community, and not uncommon even in some churches. A form of doctrine and discipline much inferior to Methodism would, he thought, find fa\'or in the border towns and villages along the picturesque and beautiful l)anks of the Saint Croix.
Cooney visited Fredericton in the summer of 1854. This place he mentions was formerly called Saint Anne's Point, but adopted its present name as an avowal of its high conservative principles and to express its respect for his late Ro>al Highness, Frederick, Duke of York. It had now become an Episcopal city and the seat of a cathedral.
"There is something pleasant in the situation," he sa>s, "a good deal of the picturesque and the beautiful in its ancestral trees, and in its general nts in nrhe appearance. The city is the headquarters of a regiment of infantry. There is also a small but neat artillery barracks. The legislative chambers and public ofifices are inclosed within a \ery handsome sc|uare near the river; and on an eminence, a short distance beyond the suburbs, is the only university of which the colony can boast. It stands alone in frigid and solitary state; not adding much as a public edifice to the architectural distinctions of the metropolis and still less, in the opinion of some, to the intelligence or erudition of its inhabitants.
Fredericton also contains the official residence of the Lieu- tenant Governor; also a very respectable and well conducted
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. /D
academy belonging to the Baptists, and several places of wor- ship, among which the Anglican bishop's chapel (St. Annes) is distinguished by its Puseyitish aspect, and the Wesleyan church by its beauty and capacity."
Cooney's Irish sense of humor crops out frequently in his pages. He was popular as a public lecturer and was a ready and impressive speaker. His lectures in the old Institute course in St. John were attended by capacity audiences. In his autobiography he observes:
"I try to preach with all simplicity and patience and plain- ness of speech. My language was at first considered a little too elevated, and my style a little too descriptive; but I have succeeded in greatly modifying these peculiarities, so that the least informed of the people can mark, learn and inwardly digest what they hear."
Cooney's sense of humor leads him to give place in his pages lor the following:
"The whole American commonwealth is just now engaged in the discussion of almost innumerable subjects. These are chiefly the Maine Licjuor Law, the Railway to the Pacific, Free Trade, the Fisheries, Abolition of Slavery, United States Bank, Steam Navigation, and last, but not least, Women's Rights. The meetings held for the vindication of this last measure are very frequent and sometimes boisterous. Among the ludicrous results of this false assumption, we notice lately the ordination of Antoinette Lucy Brown as pastor over a Baptist church in New Jersey. There were present on the occasion a brace of senators, an equal number of female M. D.'s, and some other fair celelM-ities in theology and science. Surely the men are going out of fashion. Their pre-eminence is waning away, and their glory is departing They will soon become obsolete. Jada est alea. "The die is cast." "I am for Women's Rights," he says, "by which I understand the right to do all the good they can in every right and proper way. "
Cooney's observations on the City of Saint John and his predictions respecting its future are natural!}' of some interest to us. He thus described the place in 18").").
"The city is situate at the mouth of the river Saint John, where it forms itself into a safe and commodious harbor, through which it flows into the Bay of Fundy.
70 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
It was settled by some loyalists, who fled from the revolted American colonies during the progress of the revolution. We have no means at present to determine either the amount or the quality of their allegiance, nor can we form any correct estimate of the privations they endured, or the courage they manifested, or the sacrihces they made; and they have been sometimes made the basis of claims and assumptions neither \'ery limited nor v^ery modest."
It may be observed in passing that Cooney was an ardent reformer, and the recent political battles fought to (jbtain "responsible government" had created in many minds a marked hostility to the Tory party and their progenitors, the U. E. Loyalists. Hence the animus in the paragraph which loUows:
"In New Brunswick, the loyal refugees and their descend- ants, generally speaking, have fared exceedingly well. They have had more than Benjamin's portion; they have had the lion's share. The family compact consisted of refugees and their connexions, and from the settlement of the Province until a few years ago, when responsible go\-ernment was intro- duced, they had everything their own way — office, emoluments, titles. They grasped all, and, as long as they could, they held all. Many of them were amiable and honorable men in private life and in their mercantile transactions; but their political inspirations were imbibed from the foundations of the most rabid Toryism, while their religion seemed to consist of nothing more than a subscription to the thirty-nine articles,, and a hatred of the Dissenters.* These people, however, founded Saint John, and their descendents attach so much importance to that event, and regard it with such intense feelings of tradi- tional veneration, that they still celebrate the anniversary thereof with commendable zeal and si:)irit. "
"The city lies on both sides of the harlxjr, and contains a population of from twenty-five to thirty thousand inhabitants. The original charter was very narrow and exclusive, framed in such a way that the corporation was under the direct control of the government, while the mayor himself was, ''de facto, de jure," their mere nominee. This charter was lately cancelled and a new and liljeral one enacted in its place; and. by virtue of this instrument the municipal government is vested in the mayor, and a certain number of aldermen and councillcMs, all
♦i-Dti"/ -i'-in ti 111.-.' f ,.-)tf ,1 tint L. \. WiliDt.S. L. TiU-v. Chirl-U<-i-iliT. Win. J. RiU-hie and otlu-r Icadinj; reforiu'jrs were all of loyalist origin, thuiiKli zealous ii'toniuTS.
NEW BRUNSWICK lIISTt)RICAL SOCIETY. /7
elected by the popular suffrage of the free-holders and rate- payers.
"The history of this city has been marked by many painful vicissitudes. It has suffered deepl>' and freciuently 1)\' com- mercial depressions and most disastrous lires. Indeed the business part of the city has been twice reduced to ashes, but still the indomitable energy and unwearied persexerance of the people have carried them through all, and S.iinl b'hn, like the fabled bird, has risen from its ashes, and is now more comely and beautiful than it ever would liax'e been had it not passed through these terrible but renovating ordeals. All the burnt districts have since been built up with large and substantial stone and brick edifices; so that King street, Prince William street, Rock/ Hill, the North Market Wharf, Dock street, Nelson street, etc., present a \'ery imjjosing aj)i)earance.
"The city is well provided with suitable places of worship for the various Protestant denominations, and the Roman Catholics are now erecting a very large cathedral which iov size and architectural beauty, will suri)ass e\'ery ecclesiastical edifice in the eastern ]:)rovinces.
"Saint John possesses two very handsome squares and a very respectable supply of i)ublic Iniildings. Among the latter the Custom House, Court House, the Banks and the Mechanics' Institute are the most prominent. There are also in the vicinity of the city, but indifferent directions, the Pro\'incial Lunatic Asylum, a magnihcent Suspension Bridge (lately finish- ed), an Alms House and the Provincial Penitentiary. A new Town Hall is contemplated. Several of the stores and warehouses are really magnihcent; and, taken altogether, Saint John, in all that constitutes a colonial city, has \'er\' few superiors.
"In our humble ojiinion, a high and prosperous career lies before Saint John; its future is calculated to inspire large conceptions and lofty anticii)ations. In less time jirobably than we imagine the shores of the Atlantic and those of llie Saint Lawrence and of the Bay of Fundy will sw;irm with an industri- ous and enterprising race, there will be large cities and jwpulous towns in all these coasts, and among them the city of Saint John will lift up its head crowned with metropolitan dignity-, and demonstrating in her j)ros[)erit3' the truth of her civic motto, "0 fortunati quorum jam mcenia surount."
Among the interesting incidents at St. John at this period was the turning of the first sod of the railwax- which was i)ro-
78 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
posed to be built from St. John to Shediac. This event Cooney describes in the following terms:
Railroad Demonstration at Saint John.
"September 14, 1854. This dear old city has had many a gala day, and has passed through many an eventful one. We have heard of the notable day when the indignant Blue-noses burnt the late Lord Sydenham in efifigy, having previously carried the said effigy through the principal streets of the city. A few years after this harmless ''auto de /c," his lordship visited St. John as Governor-General. The citizens, being apprised of his intention, received him in a most gratifying manner with deputations, addresses, processions, etc. The opening of the crystal palace, the opening of the fountain in King Square, and other public events, such as political exhibi- tions and temperance demonstrations, have treated St. John to many a holiday; but the railroad display surj)assed them all.
"His Excellency, Lieutenant Governor Head, came down from the Celestial city (Fredericton) attended by a suitable, though terrestrial, escort. He came in all the pomp and pano- ply of vice-regal state; and his excellent lady turned uj) — yes actually turned up the first sod of the 'great European and •North American Railway,' and His Excellency wiieeled it off in state. And then — what then? Why, the bands struck up the national anthem, the city bells rang out a merry peal. "
There was an imposing trades procession too, which Cooney does not mention. In it there walked nearly two thousand shipwrights representing a score of ship-yards. The proces- sion was nearly two miles in length and occupied an hour in passing a given point.
"To finish the celebration of so important an event as the turning up and the wheeling off of the saitl first sod, there were fire-works, and after the fire-works a ball, and after the ball a supper, and after the supper supplementary dancing, and in the midst of the dancing a crash — a giving way of the temporary building in which these orgies were performed, by which several persons were severely maimed and wounded, and one young man killed. "
Cooney indicates that there was delay in commencing the construction of the railway and writes, a year or so later: "The
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 79
day for turning the second sod, like the Greek calends, has not arrived yet," and the project was believed to have been abandoned. It is needless to say that such was not the case. The event of the turning of the first sod and the locality where it occurred are commemorated by the well known "Celebration Street," which overlooks the spot, and which derivesd its name from the event which Cooney has recorded.
In the month of January, 1855, Cooney set out from Mill Town with the intention of driving to St. John, where he had promised to deliver two lectures in the annual course at the Mechanics Institute. He was accompanied by his wife. An extract from his book in this connection will be of interest:
"After a great deal of toil and hardship we arrived, about dark, at Macallum's at Digediguash, having in the whole day performed a journey of about twenty miles. When we had been seated a little while, I perceived that a boy, probably ten years of age, or thereabouts, was very anxious to converse with me, and that the topic uppermost in his thoughts was the war with the Russians. This was while the public mind was filled with the emotions produced by the terrible battles of the Alma and of Inkermann. The prodigious feats of valour performed by the Allies, and more particularly the conspicuous chivalry and intrepidity of the Scotch Brigade, seemed to have taken exclusive possession of the boy's mind. I spoke to him of the evils of the war; the immorality that attended it; the orphanage and widowhood it produced, but all to no purpose; he could see but one feature in it and that feature was the British beating the Russians. I tried to lead him off by adverting to his studies, to what he was learning; but it was of no use, his voice was still for war.; and a little while before he retired, after a pause in the conversation, perceiving that he was about to resume the old familiar theme, I ventured to ask about arithmetic; and in an instant Duncan (I think that was his name), caught a new idea, and acting upon it with great promptitude, said, "Don't you think, Mr. Cooney, that the British w^ould beat the Roosians, though they were ten to one against them?" And he went off saying, "'I guess they would!"
"Should this lad ever become a soldier," adds Cooney, "there is no doubt but he will sustain the traditional eminence of the clan Macallum, and if required risk healtii and life and everything to help the British to beat the Roosians."
so NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Finding the roads from Magaguadavic to St. John were entirely bare, the trip had to he abandoned But early in February another attempt succeeded, and after a two days trip St. John was reached, the new Suspension bridge crossed and the wayfarers hospitably received by Mr. William Wright at his home in Brussels Street.
"This gentleman," Cooney observes, "and his l)rother Mr. Richard Wright, are practical ship-builders and ha\X' contri- buted very largely to elevate New Brunswick built vessels to the distinguished reputation they now^ enjoy. The Messrs. Wright conunenced life not many years ago, having little else, probably, than a good character, industrious habits, and a determination to go ahead and to succeed. The position they now occupy at the head of the ship-builders of the eastern provinces, furnishes another instance, anu^ng the many which the history of trade and commerce sujiplies, of wdiat may be achieved by uprightness, ability and perseverance.
This firm has l)uilt some of the best and largest shi[)s that have been constructed in British America. The list of vessels built by them would engross more space than is at our disposal; we shall therefore only mention the " I)a\'id Cannon," the "Beejepoore, " the "Dundonald," the "(juiding Star," the "Star of the Fast," and the "Morning Light" — recently launched and at present the largest vessel ever built b>' any of our colonial ship-wrights. Touching the character and dimen- sions of this superb specimen of naval architecture an American paper observes: The New Brunswickers have abundant reason to be proud of their feats in ship-building; and are now saying a good deal, but not a word too much, in favor of the ship "Morning Light," lately launched at Saint John. She is 2G5 feet long, and measures 2,368 tons, and is said to be the finest and most expensive ship ever built in British North America. "
Under date Monday, February' 15, LSoo, occurs the following item in Cooney's journal:
"Delivered one of the promised lectures this evening in the Mechanics' Institute. The weather was very favorable, and the walking good. The hall of the institute was crowded and several had to go away, not being able to procure seats. The subject was of a character rather interesting and popular, and owing to these circumstances, the lecture was well received by the audience, and commendingly reviewed by the press."
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. SI
Cooney, as already mentioned, was a fluent sjjeaker and possessed a ready wit an<l keen sense of liunior which made him a popular platform speaker. He was of small stature — about the size of the late liishop Medley. His height he once stated, in reply to a tjuestion was "six feet lacking tweKe inches." While on a tour in Western Canada he was obliged to seek repose, one night, in a bed far too short for him. This was a grievance upon which he had not reckoned. "It is well known," he observes, "that I am not one of the race of Anak yet in this instance I could not obtain a bed long enough. I thought upon Procrustes, and what lie had to suffer, and this reconciled me to the inconvenience. The room was small too, but then I am not very large myself; and why should not there be small rooms as well as small men." What, howe\ er, tried him most was a large tomb-stone standing upright at the foot of the bed, with a long and pathetic epitaph, surmounted by a very lugubrious looking device (probably a grinning sat>T). He got up in the morning very much unrefreshed.
While on the (diarlottetown circuit Conney once held a meeting in a large room in a farm house. The apartment was rather long and crowded with people, and as the preacher stood upon the floor some of the congregation at the other end of the room could not see him. One of his hearers after a time said in a tone audible to the entire assend)ly, "That man is not tall enough to be a minister," and without more ado he forced his way throught the crowd and went out, but soon returned, bearing a pig's trough on his shoulder, and putting it dcjwn, imerted, of course, very good nature Uy and devouth' said, "There, brother, stand on that, and may the Lord bless you."
About the same time he had an equally trying experience at a rural place on Prince Edward Island, known as "Little York." A missionary meeting was to be held and as there w as no con- venient hall the meeting was held in a barn, half lilletl with hay and with different kinds of grain lately gathered in. When the speakers arrived the building was crowded with j^eople; some huddled together upon the hay and corn, and (others on e\ery kind and description of seats, arranged on the floor. The
82 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
pulpit, a dilapidated flour barrel, stood in a corner, bottom up. To this quarter they made their way as best they could. A
Mr. — then took the Bible and hymn book ofif the
barrel; turned it upside down, and very gravely told Mr. Cooney to get into it.
" I tried, " says Cooney, "but could not succeed; tried again, and down came barrel, preacher and all; some shouted, some cried glory, some one thing, and some another. The people seated on the hay and grain became excited, and came sliding and rolling down one after another, but in the midst of all the disorder some one struck up a tune and in a few minutes the troubled waters were assuaged, while several voices sang, as only iMiglish voices can sing, these defiant and animating words,
"We are soldiers fighting for the Lord, Let trembling cowards fly," etc.
They had, it appears, a vei y successful meeting and a large collection for foreign missions.
It must not be supposed that Cooney 's autobiography is filled with such incidents as these. The major portion of it is of a serious and religious character. Some portions are too controversial to be quoted to advantage in this paper.
While in St. John he was intimate with sucli leading Meth- odists as David Collins, Henry Marshall, Edward Lloyd, Richard Thorne, Aaron Eaton, William and Richard Wright and others whose names are still familiar to the Methodist community of the city.
When he made his visit in 1855 he preached in the old church on Germain Street in the forenoon, and in the Centenary Church in the evening. He remarks that "Of all i)rayer meetings held by the Weslcyans in America, perhaps there is not one better attended or one that is more distinguished for devotional fervour than the Monday evening prayer meeting held in the basement story of the Centenary Chapel. Sometimes there was on Sunday evenings at the meetings for prayer an attendance of five to six hundred."
The Methodists were probably the first denomination to hold evening services in St. John. Cooney says:
"I have heard Sunday evening preaching denounced from an Episcopal pulpit on more than one occasion. I have heard
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. S3
an Anglican bishop in one of our Colonial cathedrals declare that such a practice was both unseemly^and vulgar, and I have heard the same prelate, in the same cathedral, preach on a Sunday- evening himself; and not only preach himself but also announce that there would be preaching there and in all the city churches every Sunday evening during winter. Sunday evening preach- ing is now as common among Episcopalians as it is among the various bodies of Dissenters."
Cooney was a reformer and would fain have abolished the usage of tobacco as it existed in his day. Here again we shall let him speak for himself:
"I have had ample means to perceive that tobacco smoking and chewing are almost universal habits — particularly among the French Canadians. At the station houses, on board the steamers, and even in the cars, — in short, everywhere, — -it is nothing but smoke and chew; chew and smoke; something like the bill of fare in the primitive parts of Connemara — potatoes and salt twenty-one times a week and salt and potatoes twenty- one times a week. On the railways the smoking is conhned to the second class and baggage cars; but the masticating depart- ment, with all the expectoration that attends it, is carried on every where. The quid is supreme."
At the time when Cooney wrote in 1855, the Wesleyan male academy at Mount Allison, Sackville, had been in operation more than twelv^e years. The female seminary was opened in August, 1854. Rev. H. Pickard, M. A., was President and Professor of Mental and Moral Science, with four assistants, one of whom was the late Dr. J. R. Inch, who was afterwards Chief Superintendent of Education for the province. In the Female Seminary there were five instructors. Miss Mary E. Adams being Chief Preceptress. The course of study included all the branches of a common English, literary and scientific, and a classical education. It may seem amazing, in these days, to find that the charges for board, washing, fuel, lights, tuition, etc., were only $100.00 for the academical year — forty-three weeks. Cooney observes:
" It is quite natural for each religious body to do what it can to have its own educational institutions, and so long as this agency is used in an honorable manner, with a due regard to
81 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIliTY.
the rights and feehngs of others, I am ready to bid them God speed." "A singular fatality," he continues, "has attended nearly all our Colonial universities, and no wonder;, for estab- lishments, less adapted to the wants and circumstances of the country could not well be. What could he more absurd than to erect in a new country, seats of learning encumbered and fettered with the obsolete and impracticable statutes of Oxford and Cambridge. It was like putting Saul's armoiu' on l)a\-id. Large tracts of the public lands and the pet)i)le's mones' iuu'e been la^^ished upon these instituliouh, but all to no i)urp()se. Our poor universities were strangled. K\ er\' attempt at reform was resisted, until reform became incapal)le. A new creati(jn became indispensably necesscir>'. The old estcdjlishments, such as Toronto, Windsor, Fredericton, etc., ha\'e fallen under the crushing, the o\'er-whelming weight of anticpiated charters, red tapeism, and ecclesiastical domination."
It is hardly just to sa>', as Cooney does in this extract, that the old universities he has named h.id "fallen," in the sense that they had ceased to be, although up to that time they had failed to reach the goal at which they aimed. Doubtless there is much truth in his argument that antiquated charters and narrowness of policy, from an ecclesiastical point of \ie\v, greatly ham[)ered the development of these institutions. The period at which he writes was one of transition. The colleges at Fredericton and Toronto eventually changed their names as well as their "cUUiciuated charters," but were able to maintain tiieir historic continuity. King's College, Windsor, retains its name and to a considerable extent its denominational character, but its cliarter is now much more liberal than it formerly was and it is no longer a state-supported institution.
That the colleges of old time did not adxance more rapi(ll>- was not due entirely to their "antiquated charters." It was due in an even larger degree to the inefhcienc\- of the prepara- tory schools, \'ery many of the grammar schools included, to the poverty of the people and the genercd indifference with which they viewed the higher education.
The narrow polic>', however, of King's College, Windsor, and King's College, Fredericton, was chiefly responsible for calling into existence some half dozen denominational colleges.
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. N5
Whether it would have been better to have had one large central University, with the various denominational colleges affiliated and clustered about it, an 1 an attendance of twelve or fifteen hundred undergraduates, or to have the present system of small colleges is too large a question to be here discussed.
And now it is time to bring these o!)SL>rvations on the auto- biography of Robert Cooney to a close. The book is of very considerable interest and of some historic importance. Copies are rare.
Toronto, January 11)19.
86 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
RETROSPECTIVE RAMBLE O^/ER HISTORIC ST. JOHN.
BY D. H. WATERBURY
In lieu of the paper on the proposed subject for which it appears I have been slated and for which I have not, up to the present, been able to obtain sufficient data, I may be permitted to take up a portion of this evening's meeting with a hurried sketch of what might be called a Retrospective Ramble over Historic St. John, with an attempt at a picture of the site of the city before the advent of the white man, when the Indian roamed over its rocky peninsula hunting, and the wigwam and canoe graced its coves in fishing seasons.
This hilly peninsular headland, its base indented with coves and rocky caves, reared its twin peaks to a height of about 140 feet above the mean level of the sea. There were lateral minor hills and ledges as are indicated by the elevations herein given. The surface was rough — knobs, boulders and pot holes, swamps and ponds — but from the sea the appearance of the hills would be softened by the forest growth over them. The geological formation is Cambrian, the oldest formation with fossils which can be recognized. A strip of volcanic rock crosses the southern extremity in a direction north-east and south-west (West St. John is much the same with more volcanic rock in the vicinity of Martello Tower). North of the harbour the oldest rock, chiefly limestone and schist, with intrusions of granite, is found.
The growth over the peninsula was generally spruce, some cedar, little or no pine, as the surface was too rough and slaty for such.
The Coves. — The large cove at the southern extremity, at first called Lower Cove, ran inland be> ond what is now called Britain street. This is largely a made-up street; Charlotte street extension is also over this cove. The upper cove, including Market Slip, came in beyond Water street, which is a built up
86 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
RETROSPECTIVE RAMBLE OVt:R HISTORIC ST. JOHN.
BY D. H. WATERBURY
In lieu of the paper on the proposed subject for which it appears I have been slated and for which I have not, up to the present, been able to obtain sufficient data, I may be permitted to take up a portion of this evening's meeting with a hurried sketch of what might be called a Retrospective Ramble over Historic St. John, with an attempt at a picture of the site of the city before the advent of the white man, when the Indian roamed over its rocky peninsula hunting, and the wigwam and canoe graced its coves in fishing seasons.
This hilly peninsular headland, its base indented with coves and rocky caves, reared its twin peaks to a height of about 140 feet above the mean level of the sea. There were lateral minor hills and ledges as are indicated by the elevations herein given. The surface was rough — knobs, boulders and pot holes, swamps and ponds — but from the sea the appearance of the hills would be softened by the forest growth over them. The geological formation is Cambrian, the oldest formation with fossils which can be recognized. A strip of volcanic rock crosses the s(;uthern extremity in a direction north-east and south-west (West St. John is much the same with more volcanic rock in the vicinity of Martello Tower). North of the harbour the oldest rock, chiefly limestone and schist, with intrusions of granite, is found.
The growth over the peninsula was generally spruce, some cedar, little or no pine, as the surface was too rough and slaty for such.
The Coves. — The large cove at the southern extremity, at first called Lower Cove, ran inland be> ond what is now called Britain street. This is largely a made-up street; Charlotte street extension is also over this cove. The upper cove, including Market Slip, came in be>'oiid Water street, which is a built up
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 87
and filled in street. This cove was bounded northerly by (now called) York Point. A number of deep rocky caves were on the east side, or Courtenay Bay shore. The southern extremity of the peninsula (near Ballast Wharf) was named Point Debbeig. Beyond York Point, the tide water ran in easterly past the present railway depot. Mill street bridge, and on to the vicinity of what is now Dorchester street extension, and in early days small vessels have gone up this far to load. On the east side also tide water ran in westerly for some distance. A rocky ledge at the north near the centre and west end of City Road, which has been cut through for the 1. C. R. track, is all that prevented the peninsula from being completely an island. Water courses and many small rivulets ran down the sides of the hills in the hollows. Four or five of the largest of these streams should be mentioned.
One starting near the northerly side of King Square (where was a cedar swamp extending toward Union street) made its way westerly down through Market street to Gerjiiain, southerly to King street, thence westerly and down into Market Slip at Water street. Another rising south of King street, east of S>dney, flowed southerly, crossing Leinster, Princess, Orange and on to St. James street where it crossed Sydney, thence past corner of Britain and Charlotte and emptied into the Lower Cove a little south of Britain street. Still another in this locality, staiting south of King Square, flowed southerly to Duke, crossed Char- lotte street and continued down, crossing Queen and Harding, St. James and Britain and emptied into the Lower Cove. There were two which rose on the high land north of Waterloo street, one from the vicinity of Cliff street ran south, crossed l^addock and Waterloo, then turned easteily near Union stieet, continuing between Brussels and St. Patrick streets, crossed foot of St. David street and out to shore of Courtenay Bay there; the second rising on Vinegar Hill (so called) rear of Cathedral, ran not far from the latter, crossed Waterloo, Richmond and St. Patrick streets and on to foot of St. David street and into the bay. On the east side of the peninsula, two or three short rapid streams, one between Elliott Row and King street and at least another, a little south of Mecklenburg street, fell over the bank
88 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
to the Bay Shore. There were large dei)osits of brick clay in the vicinity of some of these streams where they ran through hollows or flat places and near the shore. The shoals and reefs at the south or sea end were higher then than now, that is, the natural filling in or silting around them was not so high. The billows of the Bay dashed more furiously o\er them in earlier times.
The Coming of the White Man. — The discovery and naming of St. John River by Champlain, A.D. 1604 — the early French settlers — the story of LaTour and Charnisay — Fort La Tour — the early settlers from the English colonies, Massachus- setts, etc., and the arrival of the Loyalists after the Revolu- tionary War, 1783; these are all matters of history and fairly well described in sundry publications and it is not at all the purpose or ambition of this hurried sketch to attempt any further description.
The first English name of the settlement on the peninsula was Parrtown — called so in honor of the then governor of Nova Scotia, of which province New Brunswick w^as Sunbury Count}'. The west side was named Carleton, after Sir Guy Carleton, Commander-in-Chief at New York. In 1 783, after the arrival of the Loyalists, the population was about r)()()(). It may be said that a city was born in a day.
The next year, 1784, St. John was made a city by Royal Charter, the oldest chartered city of the British Colonies.
Then there came the planning of the City, and what an undertaking this was in this almost impossible locality; what courage, faith and labor! East and west, north and south, o\er rocks, hills, swamps and boulders, roads were run; forests were cleared; rock excavated or reduced, swamps filled, etc. It is said that the expenditure for preparing the surface alom.- for the city has co.-t as much as would build a modern city of the size in a favora!)1e locality. Aftei the lines of the streets were run and trees cut down the stumps in many ])laces remained for \ears.
Tuic Indian Name ok the Site oe thk: City. — A recorded fact is that about the year 1770 a scliooner was built at Upper Cove (Market Slip) and named " Monnecjuasli, tlir Indian nan e
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. SO
of the peninsula on which little old St. John now stands." It should certainly be interesting, if not important, to know the meaning of the word " Monnequash. " 1 have seen it spelled also Managuashe and Man-ak'-wes. The spelling is i)honetic, the Indian language having no alphabet. The spelling of the words by the French and English ^'aried.
The Indians appear always to ha\eh ad an appropriate meaning for the names the>^ gave localities; natural objects, etc. In this they differed from the white people w ho, in man> or most cases named places, villages or towns in a most absurdly- inappro- priate manner. A northerly boundary of the St. John of today is the Kennebecasis River. In Indian the termination "sis" is the diminutive. Kennel)ec = snake; Kennebecasis = little snake river. Any one who has observed the serpentine or tortuous course of the little river as it winds its way through its beautiful valley in Kings Count>' will readily admit the appropriateness of the Indian name. For a number of years the writer tried to discover the meaning of the word or sentence "Monnequash," " Man-agu-ashe" or "Man-ak'-wes," consult- ing glossaries and taking advantage of any o[)portunit>' to question an intelligent Indian; in one or two cases ones who had been educated at mission school; had also the assistance of a friend who had some knowledge of Indian words and customs.
With the suggestion "Hills and Angry Waters" as the meaning, the effort was thought rewarded with success. To anyone viewing the hilly peninsula and the breaking of I-'undy's angry billows over the reefs and the swirl of the harbor or river currents around the coves, the a[)propriatencss oi the name would be apparent. A friend remarks, "If it is not the correct meaning, it ought to be." The opinion, howe\'er, that the name alludes to some animal, fish or bird abundant in or frecjuenting the locality, or to some festival or custom of the Indians, is not abandoned.
An old map showing the place has it " Men-ak'-wes, " and also "Menagoueche, " the hrst no doubt h'nelish, the latter a French mode of spelling the name. A good authorit>- (Canong) states the meaning is uncertain. Another (Rand) belie\-es the
90 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
meaning to be "Where dead seals are collected." Some later research by the writer gives the opinion that the word or sentence means " Place of his pillow, or where head rests, " but the question is still a speculative one. It would appear that the word or sentence is of such antiquity that the Indians themselves of this period are without real knowledge of its meaning.
A digression might be made here in remarking on the meaning of the name Manawagonish Road. In old maps or prints is found the Indian expression " Ma-na-wa-ko-nes-ek" (place for clams) clearly alluding to the shore and mud flats; not the highway. The long cumbersome word Manawagonish is neither Indian or anything else, and efforts have been made for relief, by calling it at one time Meogenes and later Mahogany, which means nothing appropriate. The Maliseet Indians had a high- way or great trail along the coast here before the coming of the white man and a proper name, retaining Indian origin, more euphonious and practical, would be "Maliseet Road" for this highway. It is somewhat remarkable that residents of this part of the province have not, ere this, petitioned the Legislative Assembly to change the unmeaning awkward name of Manawa- gonish. Maliseet Road is suggested.
MAN-AK'-WES '
The Indian Name ok tuk SiTiC of Saint John City.
Where bold the hills outjutted to the reef rough swept with spray, And Wygoody's swirling water met the tides of Fundy Bay, " An Indian Chieftain with his tribe had camped upon a day By the coves and purling brooks of Man-ak'-wes.
Straight stood the chief outgazing o'er the billows flecked with
foam Where the broken sunbeams wander and the shapeless shadows
roam. The South wind brought its message of the salmon speeding
home To their river haunts beyond bold Man-ak'-wes.
1. The spelling is phonetic, the Indian language having no aljjhabet, the spelling of the words by the French and English varied. Ex. Ouigoiidy, \\'yKoody, (St. John Riverj. Mana- Buashe, Manequesk, etc.
2. Fond du Bale — End or distinctive part of the bay. i. e., between the southerly coast of New Brunswick and the nortli westerly coast of Nova Scutia. Bale Franc.iisc named by the French included this portion and along the coast of Maine, the southerly limit l)eing the Bouthwcst coast of Nova Scotia from Cape Sable. Fond du Bale became localized into Fundy Bay.
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 91
Then blazed the bon-fires brightly on the hills from bay to bay, And the Indian braves and maidens danced and sang in wild
array, The Indian Chieftain and his tribe feasted 'till dawn of day In the old and loved resorts of Man-ak'-wes.
Again gazed Panamsequis ' o'er the deep on-rushing tide. Now, his eyes were strained in wonder, low he bowed his head and
sighed, And to his people thus he spoke, humbled his voice and pride, On the forest camping ground of Man-ak'-wes.
My brothers, braves and children, of the noble Maliseet, Your hearts will burn with anger at the sight your eyes will meet; Behold — upon yon swelling flood the vanguard of a fleet Which shall take from us our rugged Man-ak'-wes.
Many moons ago a vision by the great Manitou sent. Appalled mine eyes and spirit and I heard my tribe's lament, I saw a wondrous great canoe with glistening wings, intent On harbour making here at Man-ak'-wes.
Braves of some mighty nation, strange and of features white. With thunderous magic weapons which bla/ed upon the night, My people, like the fallen leaves, sadly in hopeless plight Were scattered from the glens of Man-ak'-wes.
The vision changed and clearly I saw, with wondering eyes, Habitations huge and strange of a mighty race arise. People of marvelous ways and deft of hand and wise Swarming great trails o'er Man-ak'-wes.
Then came to me a spirit' by the "Hills and Angry Waves, "^ Its foot-fall like the tramping of swift and countless braves, Its presence as the surges in the deep and rocky caves Along the shores of lofty Man-ak'-wes.'
Its features stern, unyielding, were wreathed in vapor cold. Its glittering mantle, crimson stained, woven Are and gold. It raised an arm commanding, and now oui fate is told — It pointed from beloved Man-ak'-wes.
1. Pananiseciuis. Name from the fisliins; festival.
2. Commercialism.
3. " Hills and An^ry Waters " — a free translation.
4. The general appearance of the site of St. John City, before the advent of the white man, was of two hills or a hill with two crowns Hanked by ridges, deeply indented with coves and covered to the shores with forest, chiefly lir. spruce and pine. Many small brooks ran down to the shores, where were some deep caves along the shore, particularly on the east shore, though now filled up, traces of them can yet be seen. The writer remembers two or three at least of them with rocky ceilings twenty to thirty feet deep and fifteen to twenty feet high, with sandy Uoors. One of the most pleasureable recreations of school boys was the building of fires in these caves and roasting clams.
92 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Some Elevations. — The highest peak on the peninsula, the southern peak or hill, is near the corner of Wentworth and Leinster streets, rear of Centenary Church, and is about 140 feet above mean sea level. There is little, if any, difference between the heights of this and the northerly peak (north of corner of Carleton and Coburg streets). The depression between the two hills was deepest near east end of Union and St. 13a\'id streets; running westerly and gradually rising at west end of Union where there was a precipitous drop to the river. The top of Block House hill (so called) was about 13S feet. King Square, near head of King street, is 100 feet above mean sea level, or about 70 feet above Prince William street. Market Square (Upper Cove), at foot of King street, is 30 feet above mean sea level; Queen Square, lower side, 53 feet higher — 76 feet. Britain street, where reclaimed, was tide level. About locality of Union Depot is two feet. Haymarket Square is twelve feet and the height of land near Coburg and Cliff, rear of the Cathedral, is 12G feet above sea level.
There has been little reduction, if any, less than three feet, at the two highest points on the peninsula, but nearly every street, east and west, north and south, has had, in some por- tions, large excavations or reductions, and in others fdlings. Some of the notable rock cuttings may be named: Dock street, King street East, where the Block House Hill was cut through about fifteen feet deep; the hill reduced from Elliott Row to Union street, at Pitt; the west end of Union street; parts of Germain, Carleton, Cliff, Coburg, Chipman Hill and many others, all to be seen today to more or less extent indicat- ing the labor and expense exacted in preparing the natural foundation of the city.
Old Wells. — To recall the locations of some of the {)rinci- pal public wells supplying water to the City in old times may be interesting. There were, of course, many private wells, generally good spring water. There were three large wells near King Square — one on the east side nearly on a line with the King street boundary of the old graveyard, across the road and a little north-west of the Court House. One north side of the Scjuare,
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 93
near the corner of Sydney, opposite Park Hotel, and another near the south-west corner of the Sciuare. A well between Princess and Orange streets, near the Sydney street line; one near the corner of Duke and Sydne\' and (jne of the most notable on Union street, east of Jones' Brewer>-. Water was sold from these wells, in some cases the owners carting the water in hogs- heads and selling by the pail.
Much (.A local interest, romance and stor>- could be related about these old wells if space permitted. There was a celebrated well near Fort Howe; another fine one is near the corner of Millidge Avenue and Rockland Road. I'he completion of the extensi\'e water system of the City disposed of nearly all of these wells — as also the sewering of the C it>' dispcjsetl of the streams which ran down the hill sides.
Some Practical or Approximate Distances. — Across the harbor between the present ferr>' floats is 12700 feet, little more than half a mile. Long Wharf, at head of harbor, to Partridge Islatid wharf, about 12700 feet, or nearh tw(^ and one-half miles. Ballast Wharf to Partridge Island Wharf 7S50 feet, or less than one and one-half miles. C^mrtenay Ba}- from about end of King street, across directly west about 3200 feet, or over si.x-tenths of a mile; above breakwater 4000 feet. From Marsh Bridge to outer end of new breakwater, Courtenay Ba>', about 8150 feet, more than one and one-half mile. From Red Head to Partridge Island about 9/00 feet, or little less tlian two miles.
Land Measurements. — Air Line. — Ihiion street from water to water about 4500 feet, four-fifths of a mile. Across the city east to west on line with Queen Stjuare ."iOOO feet, over two- thirds of a mile. From Mill street to Marsh Bridge about 5200 feet, or about a mile. From Ballast Wharf to King Scjuare 3800 feet; from Ballast Wharf to C(;rner Union and Waterloo 4450 feet; from Ballast Wharf to Union Dejx)! 5500 feet. From end of Ballast Wharf to Marsh Bridge 8000 feet, or over a mile and one-half.
94 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Of course surface measurements would be greater. In some cases considerable. The above are approximate air line measure- ments.
King Square is east and west 400 feet by 350 feet along Charlotte, approximately three and one-third acres. Queen Square 400 feet by 350 feet, a little less than three and one-third acres. The old graveyard is 400 feet by 300 feet, about three and three-quarters acres. These places were at first enclosed, the last enclosures were posts about twenty feet apart with two lines of chains running through them around the grounds now without enclosure.
Some Old Buildings. — The first City Hall, on the slope of Market Square. The lower or western half of the basement had space for and was occupied as a general store. The ground floor, entrance from King street, was occupied as a city market. and the upper floor was used by the Courts and Council Chamber. This wooden building was taken down in 1S37 and a building of brick replaced it. This, however, was destroyed in the fire of 1S41.
A celebrated resort was "The Coffee House," corner of King and Prince William streets.
The Court House, corner of King and Sydney, east of King Square, was commenced in 1824, completed and first occupied in 1S30. On King street, near corner of Germain (where west portion of Royal Hotel now is) a two story frame house, called the "Mallard House," stood, and here the first parliament of New Brunswick met, 1786.
Trinity Church — first church, — -was built in 1788. St. Malachi's Chapel, first service held 1815. A large wooden building at corner of King and Charlotte streets was the first Masonic Hall, afterward the St. John Hotel, a popular resort in its day and of much local celebrity. The first service in the Cathedral was held on Christmas day, 1855.
The space at the southern end of the peninsula, called the Barrack Square, as extensive barracks were built there, was in former days one of the most popular resorts in the city, partic-
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 95
ularly on days of military functions, reviews, etc. The story of the barracks, practically the military history of early days, would be an important, most interesting and considerable work. The old block house which stood on the hill top. King street east, and the Martello Tower, West Side, were built during the war of 1812.
Changes in Street Names.— Waterloo street was not named until after 1816. Before that it was called the Westmor- land Road, running from Union street. King street, east of Sydney, was called Great George street. Princess street, east of Sydney, was called Saint George street. St. James street, east of Sydney, was called Stormont street.
Old Ships and Shipyards. — The greatest and most im- portant of the industries of old St. John was wooden ship building Some of the finest and most celebrated wooden vessels of the world, in their time, were constructed here, beautiful clipper ships and carriers that made the name of St. John known in all quarters of the globe, that made St. John the fourth port in the British Empire.
A valuable and interesting contribution to the history of this city would be a good account of the shipyards and ships of this period. It would be a work in itself of some magnitude.
This article can only touch on the subject and give the names of but a few of the best known or largest ships from about A.D. 1850 until about A.D. 1883, when the industry was drawing to a close: — ■
"Tasmanian, " "William Carvill, " "Star of the East, " "Star of the South," (sister ships); "Tiptree," 1650 tons; "Uncas," "Welsford," "Sovereign of the Seas," "Liilies, " 1665 tons, "Peter Maxwell," "Marco Polo," "Mount Pleasant," "Queen of the North," 1668 tons, "Mistress of the Seas," 1740 tons, "Royal Family," "Empress of the Seas," "Adriana," "Lampedo," "War Spirit," "Eurydice," "Howard D. Troop," "Marathon," " Edith Troop," "Lightning," 1600 tons, "Prince Amadeo," 1602 tons, " Prince Waldemar, " 1691 tons, "Thomas Hilyard," "Minister of Marine," 1648 tons, "Empress of
90 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
India," 1700 tons, "Eastern Light," "Alexander Yeats," 1589 tons, " Birnam Wood," " Erin's Isle, " 1800 tons, "Honolulu," " Vandalia, " " I'^uonious, " "Ilonowar," "Morning' Light," 2400, etc., etc.
Ship-building >'ards were at Courtcnay Ba>', Straight Shore, Carleton, etc., and at times all full> occu[)ied, with not one ship alone under construction but two, three c»r more. I ha\ e it on reliable authority' that in one day there were counted thirty-iour ships under construction in the yards of St, John, and this may not have been at all the largest number at an>' one time.
Shipyards. — W. & R. Wright built at head of Courtenay Bay, in vicinity of present cotton factory. Here a long wharf ran out called Wright's Wharf. The>' are credited with buikling the largest ship built in St. John.
Nevins & Eraser's >'ard was near Marsh Bridge. John Mc- Donald's opposite, on north side of the creek. Here were built seven ships in one >'ear. Ritchie's shipyard (John Stewart) was on Marsh Creek south of the bridge. Pott's built on east side of Courtenay Bay near old Poor House and built also previously at foot of Princess street, Courtenay Bay. Ciuikshank & Pit- field built east of the creek and launched into it. James Smith built the "Marco Polo" below Marsh Bridge. There were vessels built near foot of Union street, Manaton's Field, so called. Fisher's shipyard was at south end of Charlotte street at Sheftield street. Ruddick, A. McDonald, D. Lynch, Hilyard and Roberts built at Straight Shore. Ships were built near Portland Bridge, so called; near the corner of Mill and Main streets. John Clark built and launched into river below falls. W'm. Olive & Sons' shipyard was at Market Place. Thos. McLecxl's near Old Fort. James and Wm. Olive, also Stackhcmse and McLachlan at Old Fort. W. Ring had a yard at Sand Point. Scannnell Bros, built near end of old bridge, Union street, Carleton. Stackhouse & Thomson built in the so-called Wellington Bay, east of Blue Rock. Ships were built above the falls and on the Kennebecasis River.
new brunswick historical society. 97
The Old Public Burial Ground, St. John.
" History numbers here Some names and scenes to long remembrance dear, And summer verdure clothes the knvly breast Of the small hillock where our fathers rest, Theirs was the dauntless heart, the hand, the voice. That made the desert blossom and rejoice."
Here it lies, appropriately, in the heait of our city, as the memoiy of its silent occupants should rest in the hearts of our citizens. For here were laid the mortal remains of the founders of St. John — the framers of its laws; its honored servants and respected citizens; its noble women — our grand-sires and grand- dames of a century ago.
What can be recorded of this old "God's Acre" that is authentic? The task is difficult. There are few data. Very many of the old gravestones and head-boards have been destro)- ed, and day after day, old citizens, from whose memories much could be drawn relating to it, are dropping out of life's race and are themselves laid away in some silent city.
The case of this old grave-yard is not singular. The history of many other institutions and monuments of our city, if recjuired, would present the same difficulties. How apparent is the neces- sity for our Historical Society and how zealously should its work be prosecuted, so that they who come after may not have to regret the loss of information and blame the indifference of their predecessors.
For some time after the settlement of the city, the site and vicinity of the old burial-ground was a wilderness, covered with cedar, spruce, etc., and with swamps.
When Paul Bedell laid out the city in 1783, the lots com- prising the Burial-Ground (bounded by King, Sydney and Carmarthen streets and by the rear of the Union street lots) were reserved for the purpose, and shortly afterwards the place was fairly cleared and prepared for it.
The first fence surrounding it was undoubtedly the Ijrush or snake fence commonly seen in the country. 'J'he i)lace was a
OS NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
little larger then than now, as it encroached on King and Car- marthen streets. The running of the lines of those streets took a few feet from it. The first walk made was one running easterly from Sydney s'treet and ending near the centre of the ground. This was the only one required for some time. In fact the appearance of the Burial-Ground quite up to the time of its closing, resembled a large field dotted with tombstones and head boards. The only ornamentation was the native trees and shrubs.
Further mention of Mr. Bedell will not be out of place. He died in 179G and is undouljtedly burietl here, though no stone has been found that marks the spot.
No engineer today could more creditably set out the cit> — a work of great difticulty; and to him are due our thanks for our generously broad and straight streets and fine squares. In 1784 the building of an English church was commenced on the south- west corner of the Burial Ground, opposite where the Court House now stands. The frame was prepared and ready for raising. Some persons near the place A\here (he Centenary Church now stands were burning bruhh from a clearing; the fire spread, gathering strength as it went, passed o\'er the grave-yard, destroyed the church frame and went on for miles over hill and swamp, only ending its career when the banks of the Kennebecasis barred its further progress. Little trace was left of the existence of a burial-ground. In all probability what graves were marked at this time had only head-boards, which would be destroyed.
The oldest stone is that of Coonradt Hendricks, 1784; and his, if not the first, is the first known interment. It will be found not far from the western gate, on the south side of the middle pathway.
At first the stones placed here would be obtained from England. It is not likely that any would be brought from the United States, the "late unpleasantness" being too fresh in the memories of our early citizens. One of the early stone-cutters in St. John was John Milligan — the same who built Burn's Monument at Ayr, Scotland. Mr. Milligan is buried here, where
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 99
his monument may be seen. The first grave-digger was a colored man named Edward Burr, who for fifty years served in that capacity. Burr was a character in his way and well known. His sombre occupation of the day was relieved at night by his playing the fiddle for dancing parties.
The intention to build a church on the Burial Ground was abandoned after the frame was burnt. The lots between Char- lotte and Geimain streets were afterward presented for the purpose, where Trinity Church was built.
There were undoubtedly some interments in Trinity Church ground, but the soil was too shallow for this purpose and the New Brunswick Legislature, in 1789, passed an Act forbidding further burials there.
Bodies were afterward taken up and re-interred in the public burying ground. Re-interments also took place from a grave- yard in the rear of a building on Germain street, between Duke a'nd Queen streets, used as a church and city hall. The last one buried in that place was Thomas Horsfield (1<S19) after whom Horsfield street was named. Bodies were removed from a small burying-place (probably private) on Princess, near Germain street, and from other places and re-interred here.
In 1S22, the building of a second Church of England was contemplated, and the Corporation gave the same site (south- west corner Burial Ground) which had previously been given and abandoned. The advertisement for proposals to build this church may be seen in the City Gazette of January 30, 1823.
There were, howev^er, objections made to building here. The terms on which the Corporation had granted the lot required that the fence around the Burial Ground should be kept in lepair by the Church. This, some asserted, was too great a task; others objected to the location. Finally Judge Chipman offered a lot of land at the head of Wellington Row, and there St. John's Church was built (1824) which has long been popularly known as the Stone Church.
The brush or snake fence at first surrounded the Burial Ground was displaced by a close board one, in all probability not "a thing of beauty."
100 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Of the notable funerals that wended their melanchoh' way to this final resting place, mention may be made of that of William Wanton, Esq., Collector of Customs of this cit)- f(jr over thirty years. He died in 1S1(5, aged eighty-two >ears. William Campbell, Esq., second mayor of the cit>- and {xjstmaster for twenty-one years; he died I'>bruar>' 10, IN^."). He had resigned his position as ma\or in iSKi on account of adwuiced age and was given a pension b>- the city of X'lOO per annum. There was no city debt then; A\liich fact, beside^ the long and faithful services of Mr. Canii)bell, nui)' account for the pension, ddie reader, if inclined to di\'erge, may contrast the past with the present financial condition of the cit\-. William Cami)bell was a i)rominent Free Mason, and his f uncial jjrocession, like that of Mr. Wanton, was iuuloubtedl>' an imposing one. Another interment of note was that of Hugh Johnston, Sr. His body was tlie last removed from the old ground to the cemeter> . In this now historic ground are laid to rest judges, rectors, ma>(jrs and chamberlains of our city, British officers and prix'ate soldiers. The latter, it appears, were buried in the scuith-west corner, which, it is likcl>', was reserved for them.
It is to be greatly regretted tliat so many of tlie grave-stones have been destroyed, man>' wantonly. Many of them, instead of being repaired and re-set, were buried in a trench at the lower part of the ground. The greatest age recorded on an\' of these grave-stones is that of Richard Partelow, ninety-eight years. Mr. Paitelow was the great-grandfather of the Honorable John 'R. Partelow.
A few years ago could be seen, near the Sydney street gate, a head-board marking the resting-])lacx' of Peter Paul. An Indian and his scpiaw liad been buried here. The writer has no information concerning them, but willujut doubt the\- were settled in the city and respected.
(\jnsequ(;nt ujion the oi)ening of tlie Ciiurch of I^igland burying ground at the head of Courtenay Bay, the interments in the public Burial (iround became less frecpient. The v'Wy was growing rapidly around it and the space remaining for interments was becoming small, although for twent>- years longer it was to
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 101
share with the Church of England ground the Iionor of providing places for the repose of the mortal remains of our citizens. Then the lots and graves were kept in good condition; the place was a sacred resort. New-made graves were gazed on by weeping eyes. Sad hearts strewed flowers ov^er grassy mounds. Then the rustling of its grass and the whispering of its trees had a sad and solemn sound, and none cared to linger within its gates at night. Now its asphalt walks are pressed by the hurrying feet of men careless of those who rest beneath; the schoolboy romps upon its sward; the night brings not a fear or dread to lad or maiden passing through.
In 1S48 an Act was passed by the Legislature closing the ground for burial purposes. For some time the opinion had been held that further burials there would be detrimental to the health of the city.
While the penalty would appear to ha\'e been sufficient to prevent anyone from placing a corpse in the place, it is, however, asserted that after the Act, two or three bodies were surrepti- tiously buried theie at night. It is said that the body of Redfern, who was hanged in 1S4G, was smuggled in there and buried, the body having l>een covered with lime. This was prior to the closing.
The following records the death of the last woman l)uried here : "Died, 21st April, ISIS, Miss Mar>' Ander.son, aged se\"ent> -fi\e years, one of the first settlers of this Pro\ihce and for many years a resident of this cit\', where she was known by the name of Polly D>er."
Miss Anderson was l)orn blind. She was \x'ry popular and moved in good society. The name Dyer given her was probabK' her stepfather's.
The last interment was that of W'm. Henderson, slioemaker, who died April 30, and was buried on the e\ening of the same day — the last day on which the i)lace was to remain o[)en for burials. Mr. Henderson, whose wife and family- had been buried there, prayed fervxMitly on his death-bed that \n- might die before the closing of the Burial Ground, so a^, to be laid beside those most dear to him.
102 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
One verse from the Newsboy's Address to the patrons of the New Brunswick Courier of 1851 gives this interesting informa- tion :
"We've railed the graveyard round, and spread A grass-green quilt above the dead, Beside the trees we've planted; And closed it up to save affright, For if folks entered there at night 'Twould certainly be haunted."
As the address records transactions of the year then just past, it shows that the fence was put up sixty-six years ago. This fence became dilapidated and was removed somewhere about 1S90 and the grounds left without an enclosure.
After the closing of the ground, a caretaker was appointed by the city, who, besides a small yearly payment, had the privilege of cultivating flowers for sale. Mr. Henry Ward was the first who had charge, and in his time the grounds were laid out, walks made and beds and flower-mounds built. A walk was made along each side of the grave-yard, near the fence; the centre one was extended ; another run to the north-west gate to reach Union street, and other walks were made, both with an eye to symmetry and to accommodate the people passing through to streets adjacent. There have been several changes in the office of caretaker, with a greater or less degree of improvement in the appeal ance of th£ place. Flower mounds and beds have in- creased, walks have been made or altered, and the thoroughfares covered with asphalt. A flagstaff was erected in 18C() on the occasion of the visit of the I'rince of Wales, from which on historic days floats out the flag so loved in life by those who repose beneath it. A beautiful fountain and jet, about the centre of the grounds, placed there in 1SS3, the Centennial year, is the gift of a public spirited citizen, George F. Smith, Esq. The old spot is certainly a beautiful place and readily repays the little care and attention bestowed upon it — yet at least two attempts have been made to take this — one of the few breathing places in our closely built city— from the people.
Many years ago a number of persons, principally interested in property on Elliott I^ow and vicinity, pushed the Common
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 103
Council hard to order the extension of the street on the north side of King Square directly through the grave-yard to Elliott Row. Happily this did not succeed, the Council voting "Nay." In 1850, the temperance societies applied to the Council for per- mission to build there a Temperance hall; and what so nicely suited their ideas was a part of the old Burial Ground, near the centre gate, fronting on Sydney street. The Coimcil actually voted it to them with but one dissenting voice, that of Thomas McAvity, Esq., ex-Mayor, who was then a member of the Council. At the time it was thought by some a censurable thing for him to object to the project. But that he had a better appreciation of the wishes and sentiments of the citizens generally was quickly proven when a petition for rescinding the order was presented to the Council, so largely and influentially signed that there could be no mistaking the dissatisfaction created b>' the grant and the order was rescinded. The petition was presented to the Council by the late Walker Tisdale, Esq. It is to be hoped that no other proposal to treat this ground as other than an historical and sacred spot will ever be entertained by our City Council, but that it will be further beautified for the comfort and pleasure of our citizens.
Some years ago the New Brunswick Historical Society had a tree-planting and a number of the monuments and grave-stones re-set and repaired and the head-boards painted and re-lettered. They also copied for preservation all the epitaphs then remaining in this historic plot. On May 18, 1883 (the centennial anniver- sary of the landing of the Loyalists), a military salute was fired over this old God's Acre in honor of its patriotic dead ; and in the fall of that year, over one hundred and fifty trees were planted by the New Brunswick Historical Society. While the place has since been looked after so far as keeping the grounds in order, it is believed, however, that there is a gradual disappearance of the grave stones.
104 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
THE SAINT JOHN SUSPENSION BRIDGE. William Murdoch, C. E.
In the original settlement of what is now the City of St. John, there were three separate colonies; one being that about the battery on the West Side on the mainland, near Navy Island, known in authentic history as Fort Frederick and claimed by some historian to have been the site of La Tour's colony. The district was laid out as a town plot toward the end of the eighteenth century and called Carleton.
A town plot was planned for the eastern side of the mouth of the St. John River, bounded on the north by what is now Union street, and called Parrtown, John Parr having been at that time Governor of Nova Scotia, which then embraced the present Province of New Brunswick, and Sir Guy Carleton having been Commander-in-Chief of the British forces at the close of the American War of Independence.
The third district was that lying north of Union street and extending westward to the River St. John. A portion of this district, with the addition of Parrtown and Carleton, became consolidated into one corporation in the >ear 1785 and was styled the City of St. John. The remainder, extending north- ward to Kennebecasis River, was in the Parish of Portland.
In those early days the inhabitants found considerable difficulty in crossing the mouth of the river from one part of the city to the other, as the range of tide \aries between twenty- eight and seventeen feet according to the i^eriod of the moon. This, considered with the gorge about 500 feet in width at the head of the harbour, through which the tide delixers into the rWer at high water and flows out of the ri\ er at low tide, (-auses dangerous currents in the harbour, wliicli were difficult to negotiate by the earl>' oarsmen, and still are b>' tlieir successors.
After all of the usual attemjUs to ferry the harbour 1)>- means of scows, etc., had produced a state of mind in the inhabitants which caused them to welcome any attempt to ameliorate their condition, a promoter jiroposed a bridge in extension ol Watson street. West, to cross tlie ri\ er to Portland below the gorge. A charter was obtained in the >ear 1S;]5 incorporating Benjamin
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 105
L. Peters, Ralph iVI. Jarvis, Nehemiah Merritt, John Robertson, James Peters, Jr., James Hendricks, David Hatfield, Robert W. Crookshank, Robert Rankin, Robert F. Hazen, Edward L. Jarvis, Charles Simonds, Edward B. Chandler, William Ciane, Hugh Johnston, Thomas Wyer, John W. Weldon and Jedediah Slason, as the St. John Bridge Company. The capital stock was set at £20,000 and increased by Act of the Legislature in the spring of 1S37 to £28,000 and the work begun. A road was laid out, now known as Merritt street, to form the Portland approach, and a toll house built here. A timber pier was erected on the left side of the river and a primitive form of cantilever bridge begun. The land arm, which reached up to the toll house was, I understand, to serve as a counterpoise to the northern half span. As I am unaware of any records describing this structure nothing is left but to recall recollections imparted by old residents who had seen or heard of it, all of whom are now dead. In August of the >ear IcSIJT, while under- going erection, this fell, killing seven workmen and wounding others, the last of whom survived until about ten >ears ago.
Another bridge was attempted later on at the site of the present railway steel bridge at the falls, and it, too, fell, leaving the two communities still separated by the swift running waters of the River Saint John.
During this {period a steam ferry boat was built and installed in the year 1(S40, to run from the western end of Princess street to Sand Point on the western, or Carleton side of the harbour until a terminus was built for it at the end (^f Rodney Wharf where it now is.
This boat, which was calletl the "X'ictoria," was engined by Robert Foulis, a \ersatile Scotchman who had stra\ed here during the early years of the eighteenth centur\ and of wlujin it seems well that, b>' way of digression, a few words might be gi\'en. He was a nephew of the brothers Robert and Andrew Foulis, of (ilasgow, printers and publishers, wiiose I'roductions were the a(lmiratit)n of all their contenipoiarics, and whose edition of "Horace," jjublished in the year 17 1 1, was hung up, sheet by sheet, in (ilasgow Uni\ersity and a reward olTered for the disco\er)' of a single error.
106 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
This scion of an intellectual breed was, I understand, a graduate of Glasgow University. After various experiences, when a young man, even to serving as surgeon in a whaling ship, he finally settled in the City of St. John and became a land surveyor, artist, analytical chemist and a civil and mechanical engineer. His survey of the River St. John is still in vogue in the Crown Land Office of this province; his microscopic portraits are exquisite works of art. His chemical knowledge ranged from analyzing ores to making his own whisky when overtaken by adversity. As an engineer he is said to have endeavored to promote a canal, upon the peninsula which contains Douglas Avenue, connecting the harbour of St. John with Marble Cove in order to make the river accessible at all times by means of locks. While operating as a mechanical engineer and owning a foundry he engined the ferry boat referred to, besides the first steam craft to ply the river to Fredericton and employed the late George Fleming, whose marine and locomoti\'e engines, later on, became household words, and whose grandsons now operate the Phoenix Foundry. Mr. Fleming, when a young man, arrived in St. John from Scotland and was immediately engaged by Mr. Foulis. Later on when Mr. Foulis was the engineer of the light and signal service of the government of New Brunswick, his principal charge being Partridge Island whereon was an automatic fog bell operated by heavy clockwork supplied with pendulum and weights, he proposed a steam whistle instead of the bell, steam whistles being then new to the world. Later on his suggestion was acted upon; there was no patent law then and tiie inxentor, though in his old age, blind and poor, was given no compensation, and the iuAcntor ot the fog horn died in jioverty. ,
Now to return to our subject: William K. Reynolds, a native of New England and owner of a saw mill and timl)er limits at Lepreau, offered to erect a wooden suspension bridge across the gorge below the falls where the ground stands about one hundred feet above the tide at low water, the distance from cliff to cliff is fully six hundred feet and the width of water about five hundred feet.
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 107
A canvass was made among the citizens for the sale of stock in a company to build and operate the structure. An Act of Assembly was obtained in the year 1849 incorporating the Suspension Bridge Company, the only incorporator named in the Act being Mr. Reynolds. Sufficient stock was subscribed to justify a beginning and the work commenced in the year 1851.
Edward W. Serrell, a famous designer of suspension bridges, was engaged to prepare plans and supervise the work; and the promoter, William Kilby Reynolds, was employed to carry out the plans.
Mr. Serrell was an Englishman who had been bred, in his native country, to the trade of a cabinet maker, in which capacity he came to this continent and found employment in the United States. He took a deep interest in bridges, especially those of the suspension kind, of which he made models, and finally struck out as a bridge engineer, in which capacity he soon became famous and built the one which spans Niagara river at Lewis- town, then the longest in the world, being 1040 feet.
A word about suspension bridges: The principle is of ancient origin and has long been in vogue among primitive peoples, even among the apes, a branch of the animal kingdom that humans do not associate with. They are said to ha\ e the habit of linking their bodies one to another, each grasping the tail of the other, and suspending this living chain from a tall tree over- hanging the clifT of an inaccessible gorge, then swinging them- selves to and fro, as a pendulum, increasing the momentum, until the opposite side is reached when the duty of the endman in this case is to attach himself to some object and thus form a bridge on which the migrants cross the ravine. Primitive suspension bridges have consisted of two ropes thrown from cliff to clifif and a floor secured thereto, the ropes being well tightened and a roadway thus obtained. Such viaducts have long been used in Peru and in Thibet.
The modern suspension bridge consists of this [)rinciple, the points of suspension being elevated to such a height that a floor can be hung from the chains or ropes to the level of the roadway. The British and European general practice was to hang such a
108 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
deck from chains and the American to use wire ropes, a pro- nounced example of the former being that over Menai Strait, in Wales, and of the latter type, the first Brooklyn bridge in New York.
The Welsh bridge was a pioneer structure of the kind and, for a long time, looked upon as one of the wonders of the world. It connects Carnarvonshire with the Island of Anglesey, where the strait has a width of about nine hundred feet. The susjien- sion span of iron measures 579 feet, 10 inches, from centre to centre of towers, with a clear height of 102 feet above high water level. The Carnarvonshire approach consists of three spans of 52 feet, 0 inches each, and measures in all, inclusive of piers and embankment, about 400 feet; the Angles^- approach has four spans similar to those on the opposite end and a total length, including embankment and piers, of about 5G0 feet, thus giving an entire length of viaducts of about 1540 feet. It contains two roadways of 12 feet each in width and a footpath 4 feet wide between them. This work was begun in the year 1818 and completed in the year 182G under the plans of Thomas Telford, who himself was as great a wonder as his famous bridge.
Thomas Telford's home was that part of Scotland, bordering upon England, made classic by Sir Walter Scott. In the olden days it produced a kind of tourist, hated by the English for a reason given once by a gentleman of Northumbrian parentage who, when addressing Saint Andrew's Society of this cit}', at an annual dinner, informed his hearers that although he had neA-er heard of any of his ancestors' remains being in Scotland, he had no doubt that a good many of the bones of his ancestors' cattle reposed there.
In later years the Scottish border produced the poet James Hogg, known as the Ettrick Shepherd; Thomas Carlyle, the Sage of Chelsea, and the subject of this sketch who was the leading engineer of his day, and founder of the institution of Ci\'il Engineers of which he was its first president, an office which he continued to hcjld for several years until his death.
He was born in Eskdale, Dumfrieshire, in the >ear 1757. Wlien a child he assisted his father who was a shepherd. At
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 109
fifteen he was apprenticed to a stone mason, and in his leisure studied Latin, French and German as well as English; then he essayed to be a poet, writing a number of effusions o\er the nom dc plume of " Eskdale Tarn," but his real measure A\as found when employed in Edinburg at the erection of houses in the "new town." Here he turned his attenlion, \\lien twenty- three \ears of age, to architectural drawing, and t^\ o years later we find him in London, where he was emplo>ed in the erection of Somerset House. \n 17N4 he superintended the building of a house for the Commissioner of Portsmouth Dockyard and repaired the castle of the member of Shrewsbury, Sir \V. Pultenay. This gentleman, realizing the attainments of the clever young Scotchman, secured his appointment to the office of Surveyor of Public Works for the County of Salop; when the most brillian.t of careers opened up before him, although he was thirty-five years of age when he built his first bridge. He designed and supervised the construction of a number of canals in Great Britain and Sweden, roads in Aarious jiarts of EuropjC and Britain, including 920 miles through the Highlands of Scotland, where he built no fewer than 1100 bridges, and similar work in the mountains of Wales, thus gi\ing the name which still attaches to the class of roads known as "Telford." His principal docks were in Pultenaytown, Aberdeen, Duntlee, London and Glasgow^ and the >'ear before his death he rejK)rted on the water supply of London.
It was in the course of his work in Wales that he designed the Menai and Conway suspension bridges on the line of a new road to Ireland, and he was consulted on this continent when the attempt was made to jn'omote the Ba>' \'crte Canal. He died at the age of se\ent>-se\ en years and was biuied in Westminster Abbey in September, ISol.
The I'2ast Ri\x'r suspension bridge was designed b> John A. Roebling, civil engineer, of New \'ork, and completed by his son, Col. W. A. Roebling. It consists of three spans, the main one being L'^O.'^V^ feet and the side sjjans \)'M) feet each, making a total length of 31'),")}^ feet. The ajjproaches measure 25333-'2 feet, giving a grand total of .V.IS',) feet, or one mile and
110' NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
709 feet. The height of roadway above high tide is 135 feet ;
towers are 272 feet and the breadth of bridge is 85 feet. I
Each wire of the bridge was dipped repeatedly in oil which i
was allowed to harden between the dippings until each wire i
had a moderately thick coat of hardened grease to prevent j
oxidation. Each of the four cables contains 5700 wires thus treated, the wires running longitudinally and securely wrapped '
on the outside, the diameter of each cable being fifteen and one- half inches. The strength of these steel wires is rated at 1 (50,000 pounds per square inch. j
The senior Roebling also constructed the combined railway \
and passenger bridge at Niagara Falls, on the suspension plan I
and, in doing so, exercised his ingenuity in overcoming elasticity |
which is the objection to such for railway purposes. |
Its length is 821 feet, 4 inches and the cross-section consists j
of a four sided box 18 feet deep with a lower floor 24 feet wide, j
for team travel, and a top for railway tra\'el and foot passengers j
with a total width of 25 feet. The walls of this box are lattice i
girders securely fastened, with the object of obtaining rigidity I
under a rolling load. It is suspended from four cables of 3040 wires each and measuring ten inches diameter when wrapped. The ends of the cables in all such bridges are securely anchored !
into the ground that they may resist the strain imjjosed upon them, and the tops of the towers are furnished with iron saddles, placed on rollers that the cables may move without overturning the towers.
Returning to the St. John suspension bridge. The promoter pushed his work of construction iai the years 1851 and 1852 but, as his franchise under the Act of 1849 terminated in April, 1852, and a finish could not be made on time, he obtained an extension until April 1, 1853, from the Legislature on April 7, 1852, and the work was performed as bargained.
Mr. Reynolds having undertaken with his subscribers that he would finance the entire operation alone until the bridge would be completed, and the Legislature having, in the session of 1850, voted a bonus of £2,000 to be distributed pro rata among the stockholders after completion of the bridge and a
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Ill
report from a competent engineer appointed by the Government certifying approval of the bridge and its approaches, very little risk was taken by the stockholders.
The Government appointed Alexander L. Light, a prominent and well known engineer of the time, to inspect the structure and the new roads leading to it. He reported as follows, \\z: — ■
(From the •'Courier," May 2S, 1853.)
Report on the Saint John Suspension Bridge, to Hon. J. R. Partelow.
Sir: — I beg to report to you for the information of His Excellency the Lieut. -Governor and the Government, that according to instructions received from you, bearing date tlie 21st January, I have carefully examined the St. John Suspension Bridge, erected under the authority and by virtue of the powers granted by an Act of the Legislature intitled "An Act to Incor- porate the St. John Suspension Bridge." And I hereby certify that the same is constructed in conformity with the requirements of such Act, and that (within the Hmits and conditions herein specified) it is of sufficient strength and quality in all respects to render it perfectly safe for lite and property passing over the same.
The bridge is of the description generally called "Wire Suspension Bridge," being composed of ten cal)les, fi\'e on each side, each cable containing three hundred strands of No. lU wire, or three thousand in all. These cables pass over massive towers of masonry and are made fast to the solid rock behind by heavy anchors as will be hereafter described.
The span of bridge from centre to centre of points of susi)en- sion is six hundred and thirty (630) feet; width of roadway between parapet, twenty-three (23) feet; with a fifteen feet carriage way in the centre, and four feet cixch side for foot paths. The whole being suspended seventy feet above extreme high water mark.
I have examined all the component parts of the bridge, including the foundation, and have subjected the wires, sus- pending rods and floor timbers to a breaking strain, in order to form a safe calculation of the actual strength of the bridge, upon all which I beg to report in detail.
The towers upon the western side of the river are built upon two different kinds of rock, the northern part being built U[)on limestone, whilst the southern is erected upon a very hard dark colored trap rock. Between these rocks there is a decided
112 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
fissure, which, I am informed, (for now that the tower is built I have no other means of knowing) did not extend under the northern tower, but ran out to nothing at the southeastern face of the same. This fissure, Mr. Re>-nolds, the contractor, tells me has been carefully cleaned out and rammed full of concrete and broken stone. On the edge of the fissure, where I had an opportunity of examining it, this is now nearly as hard as the rock itself.
This must be watched and kept carefully sealed up to prevent the water from getting in, which if allowed to enter, and to freeze, might do serious damage. So long as this is guarded against I consider the towers to be perfectly safe, as I am led to belic^■e that all earth has been excavated from under them, they Ijcing built upon the solid rock, each of the different descrip- tions of which stands firmly upon its own base.
The towers upon the eastern side of the river are l)uilt upon a shaly slate rock. The northeastern tower has been regularly stepped down with steps cut at right angles to the horizon until it attains a firm footing at the bottom from whence it has been built up entirely of strong granite masonry, of a firm and durable character. The southern tower has likewise been cut tlown to a solid foundation; but whether from economical or other motives the base of the tower, which should be the strongest, having to carry the superincumbejit weight of the whole, has been built of limestone rubble masonry, of not nearly the same strength as the masonry in the tower erected upon it, which is constructed of granite This I consider a mistake, for though the work is safe and will last, I doubt not, for many years, yet it is not by any means of the same durable nature nor in keeping with the rest of the work.
To remedy this defect I would recommend the outside of this rubble work, where it is exposed to the weather, to be covered with a good coating of cement, made of the best li\'draulic lime; and the outside of this to be weatherboardcd. With due attention to this it may be made to last for an indefinite space of time.
The towers themselves are built of first-class granite masonry. They are fifty-one feet, nine inches high abo\'e the base, fiiteen scjuare at the bottom and six feet square at the toj) of tower below the coping. The coping stone that the saddle rests upon is seven feet square and one-half (34) ^^ct thick. Each of the other courses is two feet thick. The stone at the outside of the towers is composed of, is grey granite of a fine grain and durable nature. The stones are dressed smooth upon the beds and builds, but the outside is rough, technically called with a quarry
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 1 13
face with an arris or tooled margin one inch wide round the edge of each stone. The filling in the centre of the towers, I am informed, is composed of the best class limestone rubble laid in cement and grouted, each course being leveled off to correspond with the granite face before the next was laid. So far as I can judge from carefully examining the outside of the work it seems executed in a faithful and workmanlike manner. (For strength of tower see appendix).
On top of the towers rest the arrangements for compensating the contraction and expansion of the V^ack stage. This consists of a lower plate of cast iron 3x4 feet square, bedded in the masonry and firmly fastened down with copper dowels to prexent any movement of itself. This plate is perfectly smooth on its upper surface. On it are inserted seven wrought iron cylindrical rollers; on these rollers a saddle is placed which consists of a plate of cast iron perfectly smooth on its lower surface to corres- pond with the upi)er surface of the lower plate.
The top of the plate is cut out into five grooves 8}^ inches apart from centre to centre, semi-cular and 3}/2 inches diameter at bottom, and formed on a curve of 4 feet 6 inches radius in longitudinal direction of the bridge. In these grooves the cables rest. The effect of this arrangement is, that in the event of contraction or expansion of the cables from variations of temperature, the saddle moves along upon the rollers without wracking the masonry of the towers. I consider this an excellent plan and well adapted to answer the purpose intended.
The cable are ten in number, five on each side of the bridge, laid parallel to each other and composed of three hundred strands of No. 10 wire, about one-eighth inch in diameter of each cable, or 3000 strands in all. Before these cables were made the wire was boiled in linseed oil and franklinite, which prevents corrosion. I am informed there were six barrels of oil used in their ]:> reparation. These cables are hung over the top of the towers on each side in catenarian curves, the droop from the tops of the towers to the apex of the curve being about forty- five feet.
The cables on the land sides are carried back over the tops of the towers as nearly as possible on the same angle as on the bridge side of the tower. This causes the pressure on each side of the tower to be the same, the resultant of which is a vertical pressure. The cables are carried back on this angle until they meet the surface of the rock, where they are fastened by suitable arrangements of links and shackles of sufficient strength to anchors of wrought iron. These anchors are straight bars of best refined round iron four and one-(|Ucirter inches in diameter.
114 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
There are two of them in each cable, the one set six feet behind the other, in holes drilled by machinery eight feet into the solid rock, at right angles to the tangent of the curvature of the back stays, and these secured by filling round them with iron wedges and lead. From the unfinished state of the anchor pits (the masonry proposed to be built over them not being yet com- menced) the earth had washed in partially covering them, so that I could not examine them thoroughly. The parts exposed, however, were securely fastened. I would recommend that these anchors be housed over either with stone or brick arch or wooden house extending the whole length of the shackles, and the drainage from the same, which is not by any means perfect now, be made thoroughly complete.
Five of the cables on the western side of the bridge have been spliced. I do not anticipate any danger from this as it is made in what is technically called the retm-n, after the cable has been passed cU-ound the frog of the anchor which is well and securely clamped; moreover from experiments that I have made on wire si)liced in this m;iimer, the wire broke at the perfect part and not at the splice. Suspension bridges in l^urope are gener- ally made of wires of promiscuous lengths, Sj^licing theni when- ever the coil was run out. In the l'^rii)<)'.;rgh Bridge, — the largest bridge of tlie kind in Ivv.roi.e — the tdbUs were made in this manner.
[j- The susjiension rods are three-eighth inch by six-eighth inch and are 'in different lengths to suit tlie ciuAe of the lables. There are 14/ on each side of the Ijridge, or 2^ 1 in all. They are suspended from the cables at every four feet, alternating regularly from one cable to the other l)eginning witli the outside and going regularly on by steps of four feet at a time to the inside one, then beginning with the outside one again. These suspending rods have a stirrup at their lower extremities, into which the transverse beams of the roadway are fitted and are there nailed fast to prevent their slipping off. They are each of them provided with one or two turnbuckles according to their length. These are for the purpose of adjusting them by to Ijring them all into the same degree of tension. These suspension rods are amply strpng enough, as will be shewn in the appendix, where the strength of the bridge and its individual parts are explained (Reference to four feet foot- path on each side marked by longitudinal scantling each side of 15 feet carriageway, but paper mutilated so it cannot be copied verbatim) .
The transverse beams of the road are three by fourteen inches in the middle, and three by twelve inches at the sides
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 115
where they fit into the stirrups. This gives a slight curvation to the cross-section of the roadway and allows the water to run off the sides, where it passes through cast iron scuppers. The transverse beams are placed four feet apart froni centre to centre.
The planking for the carriageway is placed longitudinally and rests upon the transverse beams. The planks composing it are three inches in thickness and from six inches to a foot and upwards in width, and from twenty to forty feet in length. On each side of the bridge above and below the transverse beams are the top and bottom chords of a section of eight inches by five inches and fiv^e inches by five inches. These are [)rocured in long lengths of not less than thirty feet and spliced, bolted and banded together so as to make tiiem ecjual to one continuous timber extending from one end of the bridge to the other. Iron bolts, three-quarter inch section, pass through these top and bottom chords, and through the interxening transverse beam at every crossing of the same. These chords have the effect of stiffening the bridge and distribute any i)assing load over three or four of the suspending rods.
The timbers of the handrail on the outside of the bridge are five inches by five inches. The posts are morticed into the upper chords and are braced with diagonal braces of a similar section, extending from the foot of one post to the head of another, forming a series of St. Andrews crosses. The tops of the posts are morticed into the handrail, the top of which is capped with a moulding extending one inch over each side of the same. The whole is trussed up tight by three-quarter inch bolts passing through the handrail and by the side of the vertical post and screwed up tight with a nut underneath the top chord.
The platform of the bridge has a slight curvature across the river of nine inches, the same being inverted to the curve of the chains. This curvature \-aries of course with tlie degree of temperature; in the extreme heat of summer the bridge will be nearly a level jjlane.
At either end of the bridge are six guys, three on one side and the same number on the other. These guys are small cables of wire one inch in diameter, extending from the rock on either side of the bridge, where they are fastened to the bridge itself, the guys upon one side pulling against the guys on the other in sucli a manner as greatly to neutralize the effects of the wind. These guys, however, are very imjierfcctly put in, being badly made, indifferently fastened and by no means in the proper state of tension. I would recommend these guys to be immediately attended to, and made as perfect as it is
IIG NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
possible to make them, as I consider that there is more to be feared from the effects of the violent gusts of wind which sweep through the gorge than from almost any other disturbing cause.
The approaches to the bridge are only ccjmpleted for about 150 feet on each side. The roads leading thereto are bad; on the eastern side there is a steep hill within .'JOO feet of the l)ridge, which should be cut down to a grade of 1 in 25, before heavy loads can be taken up it with any degree of facility. In fact — when the hill is covered with ice, as it was when I made the survey, it is almost impassal)le for loaded teams. The rest of this road passes through tlie Portland Town ship\'ards and is more or less blocked up with timber
From the end of the 150 feet approach at the western side of the bridge to the junction of the main road near the Asylum the road creeps round the base of sloping ground and is decidedly unsafe at any pace beyond a walk, when there is ice upon it.
The Act with regard to the road and approaches is indefinite as to how far they are to be completed. I estimate that it will require £200 to make a good road in keeping with the rest of the work from a point leaving the main road by the Asylum west of the bridge, to the same distance on the eastern side of the river.
The amount of work still remaining to be done to render the work perfect, and if which, if neglected, will considerably lessen the ultimate durability of the bridge, but which at the same time does not interfere with its being used for the present are: First, Repairing the spiral winding of the cables, technically called the sewing, where it has been broken in many jilaces in taking them over the towers. If this is not done the wa.ter will get into these places and do serious mischief. Second, painting all the ironwork of the bridge a white color with white lead and oil. The white color materially weakens the action of the sun and allows any symptom (»f incipient oxidation immediately to manifest itself. Third, coating the limestone rubble masonry in the southeastern foundation with hydraulic cement and weather-boarding the same; likewise pointing the joints of the masonry in all the towers with cement. Fourth, finishing and refastening guys. Fifth, cleaning out, thoroughly draining and housing over anchors. Sixth, completing the roads to and from the bridge.
I have estimated that £500 is a sufficient amount to complete these iten\s.
Speaking generally, with the exception of the aboxe men- tioned items, I consider the workmanship well executed and creditable to all concerned.
NEW HRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 117
I cannot conclude this report without respectfully recom- mending that the wise intention of the Government with rei^nrd to it 1 eing periodically inspected should be carried out. Sus- pension bridges in jiarticukir recpure to l)e carefully wotched, the stability oC the whole dei)ending in <• great measure upon the perfection of its parts. It is no use if the cables are strong and equally strained if the suspending rods are not in adjustment, and vice versa.
In conclusion I would merely add that in the survey nothing has been taken for granted where there was the least possibility of applying a test; and where the least doubt could be enter- tained the fullest pra(^tical exi:)eriments have been made with a deep sense of the responsibility incurred
All of which is respectfully submitted by Your obedient servant,
(Sgd.) Alexander L. Light. St. Andrews, 25th February, 1853.
APPENDIX.
On the Ultimate Strength of the Bridge and all its Component Parts
The safe strength of the bridge I estimate to be 131 tons gross.
From the result of six experiments that I have made upon the strength (jf the wire used in the construction of the St. j(jhn Suspension Bridge, I found that hung in a catenarian cur\'e at the same angle over tlie points of suspension and suspended over saddles struck to the same ra.dius the)- broke with an average weight of .S4U jjounds net upon each wire. Now tb.ere are 3000 strands of wire in the ten cables: We therefore get 3000 X 840 = 2,520,0()() lbs =1,125 tons, as the absolute strength of the cables
The suspended weight of the l)ridge I calculate to be 150 tons. This includes the weight of the cablrs tliemseh-es between the points of suspension, the susi)en(Iing rods, lloor timlu'rs, and all other suspended weight of the bridge. Deducting this 150 tons, the weight of the bridge, frcjm the absolute tensile strength of th^ ciib'les will leave 975 tons as the extraneous load theoretically that would cause fracture.
The best authorities upon construction, howexer, {vide Tredgold, Nicholson, Rennie) infcjrm us that in order to be perfectly safe, either in wood or iron, we should ne\'er allow more than a (piarter of the breaking strain as a safe loatl. My
118 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
own practice has always agreed with this. Now dividing the 1,125 tons, the absohite strength of the cables, by 4 for a safe load we get 281 tons, and deducting from this 150 tons, the calculated weight of the bridge, we have 131 tons, as the safe load the bridge will sustain without a shadow of doubt, this being equally distributed all over the platform of the same.
I am informed that it was the intention that the bridge should bear a human being upon every two feet square. Now taking the average weight of man at 15U pounds net there should be 373/2 pounds upon every superficial foot, and there being 13,340 superficial feet in the platform of the bridge we have: 13,340 X 37^4 = 223 tons, as the load that this calculation would give. To arrive at this strength I believe one-third of the breaking strain was assumed as a safe load. Taking there- fore as before 1,125 tons as the absolute strength of the cables, this, divided by three, leaves 375 tons; deduct from this 150 tons, the weight of bridge common to both calculations, we have 225 tons as the dafe load according to this calculation, and my own experiments upon the strength of the wire. One-third of the breaking load may be safe, but a one-quarter I feel per- suaded is more in accordance with general practice.
Though 225 tons, or even 131 tons, may seem a large load and more, probably, than ever will or should be allowed upon it, yet it is but fair to say that this is not by any means the greatest load that could possibly come upon it. The heaviest load that a bridge is liable to be subjected to, is estimated by various writers at 120 pounds per superficial foot. This is considering the bridge l)y some unforeseen circumstance to be crowded with people. This agrees with experiments of my own, as I have had no difificulty in crowding twenty persons averaging 150 lbs. each into twenty-five superficial feet. Mr. Brunei, in his report upon the Hungerford Suspension Bridge, says, "That a bridge should be able to support 120 pounds per superficial foot besides its own weight, and that no bridge can be called perfectly safe that will not do this." Now taking as before the platform of the bridge as 13,340 superficial feet, and 120 pounds per foot as the greatest load that can by any possibility come upon it we have 13,340 X 120 lbs. = 1,000,800 pounds, or 714 tons, as the greatest extraneous load the bridge can be subjected to. We have pre\-iously shewn that 975 tons is the extraneous load that would cause fracture of the cables. Deducting 714 from 975 we have 201 tons excessi\'e strength theoretically after the platform is fully loaded. This is taking the most extreme
case and it would require the weight
(Paper mutilated and cannot be read, but reference appears to
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 119
be made to strength of cables not in direct ratio to number of
wires but being less than ratio) This
load even for a very short time, were they by any possibility subjected to it, I consider very doubtful indeed, as it is found that a wire cable made of 1000 wires banded together does not possess 1000 times the strength of a single wire, even though every wire be of the same strength. This is from the great practical difficulty in drawing them all straight alike and straining and bending them the same. This is the reason why builders generally assume so small a proportion of the breaking strain for a safe load. Of this, however, every engineer must judge lor himself. It is very certain there is no economy in risk. An excess of strength is far better than a deficiency.
On the Strength of the Towers.
It has been previously stated in this report that the pressur^ upon these towers is vertical. It will therefore be suffi( ient to provide for this pressure They are built upon a firm base and of such proportions as to ensure their own stability, being built of the best material and laid in cement, it being taken for granted that the workma'nship is good, of which from the fine appearance ot the outside of the work I consider there is little doubt. It is proposed to demonstrate their strength. The part of the tower below the tower has the smallest sectional area. They are here six feet square containing 30 sf]uare feet in each tower, or 144 square feet collectively at tlie four points o< su{)i)ort. This crushing weight of granite varies from two to six tons per square inch of surface. Taking the lowest average would give us 288 tons crushing weight upon each square foot. Now as there are 144 square feet in the area of the surface of the tcnvers we get 144 X 288 = 41,472 tons as the crushing weight of the four towers, or more than forty tons the extreme weight can by any possibility be brought upon them.
On Strength of the Anchors.
Each cable is fastened by a se])arate attachment to its own anchors. The smallest sectional area that these attachments pre- sent is twelve and one-half inches or two shackles each two and one-half inches by two and one-half inches. There are therefore twenty attachments, of twelve inches each to the ten cables. The strain on these attachments is directly tensile. Any load applied on the bridge is immediately conmmnicated through the cables and over the saddles to the anchors at either end. I'^or instance, were twenty tons applied on the platform of the
120 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
bridge there would be a strain of twenty tons upon each set of anchors, less the friction over the saddle. Therefore, to arrive at the strength of the anchors, only half their number must be taken into account, or one for each cable. The tensile strength of refined iron varies from sixty to eighty thousand pounds per sectional inch (according to quality). In calculations for large castings it is only considered advisable to take a sixty as a safe
load. We have therefore 10 X 125 X -~.^— ^ = 1,250,000 pounds, 558 tons, for a safe load.
On the Strength of the Suspending Rods.
There are 147 on either side of the bridge, or 294 in all. The amount of weight required to break one would be about eight tons. They have all been tested, I understand, with a strain of four tons. Before loading the bridge I subjected one to a strain of five tons striking it violently at the same time with a hammer to cause vibration. It bore this without shewing any symptoms of weakness. Assuming, therefore, eight tons to be breaking strain, taking one-quarter of this, or two tons, multiplied by the number of rods, we have 2 X 294 = 5.S8 tons as a safe load for the rods, were this load equally distributed over the platform of the bridge. Moreover the ujjper and lower chords and trussed handrail have the effect of distributing any passing load over three or four of the suspending rods; and the more so on account of a certain degree of llexibility in the cable, which settles imperceptibly when the load presses heavily upon any i:)articular point. If two of the suspension rods upon one side were taken out, leaving twelve feet of the roadway unsuj - ported, there would still be strength enough in the chords and handrail so to distribute the load on to the two next adjoining rods, as to require about seven tons to cause fraction of the roadway.
On Till!: Stri:ngth of the Transvici^se Bf,a.ms.
The transverse beams of the roadway which suj)|)ort the planking are three inches by fourteen inches in the middle roundecl on top to three inches by twelve inches at the ends From actual experiments that I have made since my return to St. Andrews, u[)on beams of the precise length, si/e of scantling and description of timber of those used in the St. John Suspen- sion Bridge, taking the mean of those experiments, I fcnmd they broke with a deid load of four tons hung in the middle of each beam, which would be equivalent to about eight tons distributed all o\-er the surface of the same. These l)ean)s,
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being covered with long three inch planks laid longitudinally, and extending over several spaces, and firmly spiked down at the crossings of each, has the effect of more than doubling the strength of an individual beam upon which there may be a pressure, (but has no effect upon the beams collectively), and moreover distributes any passing load over the adjoining beams in proportion to the length of the load. A load of three tons, including teams in one of the usual wagons of the country, would be distributed over about three beams or twelve feet. The breaking strain of these three beams (where the load is distributed) would be twenty-four tons as I have already shewn. In order to be safe, one-ciuarter of the breaking strain, or si.x tons, only should be allowed; and as a load of three tons, includ- ing teams, will always be liable to be passed by another of the same weight, I therefore consider that loads of three tons are as much as can pass one another with safety.
On the Strength of the Planking in the Roadway.
The planks in the roadway are three inches thick and vary from six inches to upward of a foot in widtii. Their bearing between the transverse beams is three feet, nine inches. They are firmly spiked down at every crossing. The ultimate strength of a plank six inches wide, and three feet nine inches bearing, firmly fastened at each end is four tons. Taking the quarter of this, or one ton, as a safe load, it is as much weight as ever should be on a single wheel. This is while the |)lank is new and unworn. When the plank becomes worn down to two inches in thickness, it will then bear ujd only half this load, and must be removed. I consider it would have been much safer and more economical to have planked the carriage way in the middle with four inch jjlanks, leaving the foot-pallis covered as they are at present. This would have rendered the bridge much stiffer and steadier and would only ha.\e iidded al)out ten tons to its weight. There is one inch wear in a three-inch plank, for when it becomes two inches thick it must be remo\'ed ; while on the other hand, there is two inches or d(juble wear in a four inch plank. The decay need not be taken into act'ount for in such a dry and airy position as the deck of the Suspension Bridge, good white pine i)lank will not suffer much fr(jm decay in less than five or six years.
122 new brunswick historical society.
Summary.
Tons.
No. 1. — Absolute tensile strength of cables 1125
No. 2. — Suspended weight of bridge, including cables 150
No. 3. — Extraneous load, theoretically, that would cause
fracture 975
No. 4. — Greatest extraneous load that the bridge could
ever be subjected to 714
No. 5. — Safe strength of cables 281
No. 6. — Load that bridge will bear with perfect safety 131
No. 7. — Greatest load that anchors will bear collectively
with perfect safety 588
No. 8. — Load that suspending rods can bear collectively
with perfect safety 558
No. 9. — Load that beams will bear collectively 294
No. 10. — Greatest loads in tons that can pass one another
with safety 3
No. 11. — Greatest loads upon a wheel 1
Description of the Testing.
Having decided upon the safe strength of the bridge, I resolved to test the whole structure with seventy tons, or a little more than half of its safe load. This was done by means of carts loaded with bricks, in the following manner:—
Thirty carts were first placed upon the bridge, each cart and its load weighing two tons, these carts extended in double lines completely from one end of the bridge to the other, the carts upon one side not being opposite each other, but breaking joints as it were, the carts upon one side being in between two on the other. These carts were taken on one at a time, and its horse and driver allowed time to get off before another was brought on, the bridge all the time undergoing inspection to see if every- thing was in order. After all these carts had been placed in their position which were previously marked for them, then three double teams, weighing upwards of three tons each, were led one at a time from one end of the bridge to the other, l,)etween the double line of carts. The horses were then taken off and the wiiole load, amounting to about sevent>' tons, was left standing for an hour while the whole of the bridge underwent a close inspection without hnding anything out of place. In the meantime the carts were made fast to the two lines of chains attached to the stationary power erected at either end of the bridge and were then wound simultaneously off, the last of each line of carts passing one another in the centre of the bridge, the
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 1 23
the carts upon the north side going off at the eastern end and those at the south side going off at the western end.
On the seventh day of June, 1853, the stockholders held their first annual meeting after the shares having been distributed and paid for, about three-fourths of the total amount of £20,000 having been represented. They enacted by-laws, passed a motion to solicit help from the Province in completing the road, thanked the provisional Directors and elected their successors, as follows: —
Charles Brown, President,
Richard Whiteside, Jr., Secretary.
The Bank of New Brunswick, Treasurer.
Joseph Fairweather, x
William T. Ritchie, ^.
-^•^, y Directors.
James D. Lewin,
William K. Reynolds, ^
Honoural^le Charles Simonds, who was one of the incorpora- tors of the Company whose bridges fell, would seem to have lost all faith in bridge promoters. When solicited by Mr. Reynolds he refused to subscribe stock, but promised that should the promoter succeed in his enterprise he would donate him £100. Accordingly Mr. Simonds lived up to his offer, and in July, 1853, handed the lucky contractor the money.
The fondest expectations of the promoter must have been realized on the first day of September, 1853, when the right to collect tolls for one >^ear was offered at public auction and brought the sum of £1,065, being about 9.27 i)er cent, on the £18,000 of capital stock subscribed. 'I'he bidder, Mr. Hartwell B. Crosby, was justified in paying this price, as the receipts, during February of that year, ranged from £5 to £7 per day. This elysian era was, however, not continuous. A storm did serious damage in the spring of 1858. The description given in Harper's Weekly of May 1st of that >ear with an accom- panying picture of the bridge, as wrecked, and the Fredericton stage on the edge of the opening, is so vi\id that it is ciuoted verbatim, as follows, viz: —
124 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
(■'Harper's Weekly," May 1st, 1858.)
On 24th March a violent storm raged throughout the Pro- vince. As night fell the wind became so violent that the flooring of the bridge over the St. John River was upset and thrown into the river. The girders soon followed the example; and shortly after dark a gap of some 200 feet divided one extremity from the other. Matters were in this state when the F'redericton Coach drove, as usual, upon the bridge. The horses, which were travelling rapidly, came to a dead halt. The driver, in the storm and darkness, could see nothing; and, not unnatur- ally, plied the whip with some vigor. To his amazement the horses stood stock still. He whipped afresh, more severely than before; but the animals did not flinch.
With some impatience the driver got ofif his seat, supposing that there must be a log in the way, or that the harness was in disorder; and intending to lead his team past the doubtful point. Meanwhile the travelers inside, who, in that storm, were not in the happiest frame of mind, were loud in their reproaches and abuse of the lazy animals.
On alighting the driver could find no log in front of his team. In fact, he could see not a yard in front of him. All was blank darkness. He advanced a few steps, and finding nothing that could justify the sudden stand of the animals, turned about, resolved to lead them forward, when a sudden flash of lightning illuminated the scene. The spectacle which then shone out made his blood run cold. He was standing within a few inches of the chasm of the bridge. One step more would have precipi- tated him into the abyss. Had the horses not stopped when they did the coach would have gone over, and the NorAvalk catastrophe would have been renewed on a smaller scale.
One can readily realize the emotion with which the driver and passengers returned thanks to the Almighty for their provi- dential preservation from an awful death.
In the year 1875 the Government of the Province, under the powers reserved to itself in the Company's charter, took over the bridge, paying the Company the sum of .'3^05,000.00, and from that time on it was a free bridge, travelletl constantly by the public until the new steel arch built alongside was opened and the old landmark for ever closed to travel. The \vork of demolition began about August 25, 1015, and was completed September 13 of the same year.
Suspension bridges may now be classed among things of the past. Their flexibility which causes a rolling load such as a
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL HOCIETY. • 125
locomotive to drive a wave ahead and produce the effect of a constant climbing effort, besides the racking strain on such structures, has caused their condemnation, and place has been giv^en, by them, for the rigid type known as the Cantilever, which is of the same family and well suited to the carrying of heavy rolling loads.
In recognition of service rendered, the Provincial Govern- ment has left the foundations of the four towers which carried the bridge and, on the southern face of the southwestern one, has placed the two original inscription stones, one being "William K. Reynolds, Builder," and the other "Edward W. Serrell, Engineer." In addition to these stones, a brass plate superscribed with a picture of the bridge and subscribed with the following inscription is being prepared, \-iz:- —
This Tablet
Marks the site of the old
SUSPENSION BRIDGE
The first which spanned the River St. John.
Erected after other attempts failed.
It. was for years a Toll Bridge
Then made free to the Public.
Opened for use 1853.
Removed 1915.
126 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
REMINISCENCES OF ST. JOHN FROM 1S49 TO 18(30. Rev. J. W. MiLLiDGK, B. A.
In these notes if the personal pronoun is used and family affairs brought in frequently, I ask for the leniency of the breth- ren. In no other way can a true and life-like account of those distant times be reproduced by me.
My recollection goes back a little further than 1S49, but it is somewhat hazy and is very little concerned with events outside of the nursery and infant school. But in "49" such startling events occurred as to stamp that year permanentl>^ in my memory. In the first place we moved into a new house in the May of that year, the first move since my parents' marriage. The house was of an entirely different design to any that had before been built in our city. Before that houses hacl no origin- ality. One was as much like another as peas in a pod, and all were of a distressingly plain design. But in 1S48, Mr. Stead, an English architect, descended on us, and my father was one of the first to employ him. The result was- a building which attracted a great deal of attention. People came from far and near to see the "Swiss Cottage," as they called it. We had to leave the house we were in on May 1st and the new house was not altogether finished, so it was no uncommon qircumstance for visitors to open a door and find us at a meal. They would retire much discomfited, while we rather enjoyed it. The house cost surprisingly little — only a thousand pounds ($4,000). Times were bad, the best white pine was $20.00 per thousand and wages very low. A good joiner could be had for four shillings a day. And an immigrant from Ireland could be hired for £50 a year to work about the place. I knew one who, on that income, paid rent down in Portland and brought up a large family. Some years after his wages were raised to £60 a year, but they never got any higher. An e.Kcellent cook was content with $4.00 per month and a chambermaid and nurse $3.00 each, and were glad to get it. When times, a few years after, improved a little,
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 127
I can remember that it was quite a matter of congratulation wiien millmen were paid SI. 00 a day.
The next important event in 1840 was the Orange riot of July 12th. Society in St. John at that time was cut up into numerous clicjues and sub-sections, and all were animated with a spirit of animosity against each other. The population largely consisted of immigrants, and they brought the tribal spirit of antagonism with them to their new home. Fights were of common occurrence and minor riots not unknown, but all were eclipsed by the celebrated disturbance of the 12th July. A son of a man who worked for us was full of the great procession that was to come off on that day, so I was extremely anxious to go with him and see it. But my mother, who probably knew more about the danger than I did, strictly forbade my going. Had it not been for this prohibition I would luu^e been in the middle of it. As it was I compromised by going to my grandfather's house, corner of Union and Dorchester streets, where 1 heard the guns going off, quite a respectable volley, and afterwards saw the procession marching through the cit>' where e\'er>thing was safe. This untortunate affair caused a tremendous excite- ment, and the Orangemen were not allowed to march through the city for a number of years, the next procession being in 187G, when extraordinary precautions were taken. I was a sergeant in a battalion that held the Court House in that >'ear. We were all fully armed with ball cartridge sensed out. I was in charge of a party that kept the Court House steps clear as the procession was passing. It seems to me that the precautions were quite needless; still the authorities, having had one scare, were not to be caught napping again. But by that time old animosities had pretty well died down, and people were contented to live and let live.
The last permanent impression '49 made on me was in September when our fine new house took fire. We had had a very wet night and in the morning my father determined to burn out the kitchen chimney. We were all extremely interested in the operation and after the chimney had flamed and roared for a time smoke was obser\'ed coming out of the valley in the
128 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
junction of the main house and the ell. By some strange over- sight no ladders had been provided and there was a race to my grandfather's barn for one. When it was brought it proved to be rotten and collapsed as soon as any weight was put upon it. The flames spread and it seemed as if the house must go. Sir Leonard Tilley lived next door to the Valley C'hurch of that
day and kept the key. Mrs. Tille> Sir Leonard's first wife —
soon heard of the fire, and going up into the tower rang the church bell. This gave the alarm in the city and the engines came out, and there being an abundance of water in the brooks near by, in consequence of the rain of the night before, the house was saved. The entire roof was, however, burned off but the floors were so well deafened, that the fire C(juld not get down before the engines arrived. When the house was repaired a zinc roof was put on, which lasted until three years ago, when we replaced it with one of galvanized iron.
It might be as well here to say something about the fires of St. John. The city was built almost entirely of wood. In fact the name "Stone Church," and the distinguishing appellation of the family who lived in what is now the Knights of Columbus Hall — the "Stone House Peters" — indicate the extreme rarity of construction in that material. One of my first recollections before "49," when we lived in Sewell street, was being taken out of bed, set on a table, wrapped up in a blanket and carried to my grandfather's. I remember seeing the flames coming out of the roof and meeting the engines running up to the fire. My parents were out to dinner somewhere, but so slow was communication then that they did not know anything about the fire till their return. A very large fire occurred in York Point in '49, and a large one in King street. I think the same year, part of the tower of old Trinity was burned by sparks from this fire and I can distinctly remember when the gilded vane and ball fell with a great crash. By great exertions the church was saved only to go up in fiames in 1S77. Very poor means for extinguishing fires were provided. The firemen were all volunteers and lived anywhere. Four or five bells of no great size were distributed through the city. If any one dis-
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 129
covered fire, he would run to one of these bells and ring it vigor- ously. Somebody else would hear it and ring another, so the firemen would be gradually aroused and would drag their engines by main strength and stupidness to wherever they thought the fire was. The foreman then would make many anxious enquiries for a well and one having been found, the suction pipe placed in it, the hose stretched, every one standing by would take a hand at the brakes, and a strong stream would be directed on the fire. But by this time the original building would be pretty well burned down and the firemen's efforts would be directed to saving adjoining buildings. There were very few hydrants in the city at that time, and the water was not always on. The supply came from Lily Lake, with a pumping station at Marsh Bridge. The reservoir was on Carmarthen street, the highest point of the city. The reason the water was not always on was that people would use too much and pumping would be too expensive, but I suppose that in case of a fire some one would turn it on if the fire were in the district served by the company's pipes.
Drinking water was sold in the streets by men who made a business of it. Two pails for a penny was the charge. W'ater for w^ashing was caught from the roofs and every family had either cisterns in the cellar or hogsheads outside. All washing was done by the family. I do not know of a single laundry in St. John at that time.
Nothing of any striking importance occurred in "50," "51," "52," "5o," except a great revival of shipbuilding, but as that has been very fully described by a writer in one of the papers not long ago, I shall not say much about it except to give some account of the celebrated ship "Marco Polo." She was a distinct departure from the common run of ships before her. She had three full decks, the upper being flush, no poop, or forecastle, but with small houses at each hatch. She was much sharper than any built here before. Considering the great number of fine ships that have been built there, the Marsh Creek is the most God-forsaken hole that could possibly have been discovered. The "Marco Polo" being so much larger than
130 ' NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
any which had gone before her, it was decided to wait for the highest spring tides before launching, and to save time her lower masts were stepped, then her topmasts hoisted, with all the standing rigging set up. When tiie proper day came the launch took place with much cheering and demonstration, but the ship ran slap into the mud on the opposite side of the creek, and there stuck fast. All efforts to drag her off proved fruitless and when the tide went down she fell over towards the city and it was thought she was ruined. Then there was great recrimin- ation. The owner blamed the builder and the builder blamed the owner, and both blamed the English concern who had given the order for her. She stayed in that position for a fortnight, till the spring tides came again, and then, considerable excavating having been done, came off quite easily. I can remember her distinctly lying in the mud, canted at an angle of forty-five degrees towards the city. She went to Liverpool, was fitted out for Australia, and did the passage in sixty-six days, breaking all records. She did the return trip in sixty-three days, and afterwards made the astonishing record, for a sailing ship, of going twice round the world by of way Australia in a year. She did-more than that, for she placed the character of St. John on a firm foundation that lasted for more than thirty years. The Wrights built some fine clippers and ended with the "Morn- ing Light," the largest ship ever built in the Maritime Provinces and probably in Canada, 2400 tons, but she never distinguished herself as a sailer. They owned her themselves and perhaps gave her captain orders not to drive her to the extreme limit. Clipper ships soon tear themselves to pieces and damage cargo, and it is only when freights are very high indeed that the owners can stand it. This is not the place to discuss the causes of the decline of shipbuilding in our province. It is generally attributed to the steel steamship, but even if that had not come in there would have been a very serious falling off in the industry. In the sixties, even, it became very difficult to obtain timber for a large ship and any of you who may notice the wretchedly small logs that come to our saw mills now will easily perceive how impossible it would be to build any large vessels here. As
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 131
we took the shipbuilding trade away from the old countries, so some newer one would have taken it away from us. It would probably have been British Columbia or California.
1854 was a remarkable year, for in the first place the Crimean War broke out and the Imperial troops all went away, the prices of everything went up and wages with them. Flour was twelve dollars a barrel. I have no idea what sugar was. In fact very little refined sugar was used in those days, — brown, straight from the plantation in the West Indies, was in common use by those who could afford to buy it, but molasses was used by the working people for every household purpose, including sweeten- ing the tea. In the second place we had an awful scourge in the cholera that devastated the city tliat year. It came in a ship, and finding a splendid field for its activity, in a single month had carried off over a thousand of our popiilation. The city was almost deserted, every one who could get away left. We stayed where we were, being much further out of town than we are now, and our well being new was (juite uncontaminated. The city richly deserved an epidemic. We talk of the horrors of the slum sections now, but they are purity itself compared with prominent streets then. Hundreds of domestic animals were kept; it was said, in some cases in the very rooms where the family lived. A dog died on King street and was left there several days and dead cats was considered a natural feature. After the cholera, when some attempt was made to mend matters a little, hand bills appeared with this inscription, "No pigs, and not more than two cows to be kept on any city premises." This was considered a very serious infringement on the liberty of the citizens. They wanted liberty to poison themselves as they had always done. There were also a few health police appointed, who wore this inscription in gold letters on a blue ribbon round their hats — "Board of Health." They especially provoked the animosity of the working classes, and many jibes were cast at them.
The business interests were booming, every shipyard working to its full capacity. Many more saw mills than we have at present, and some were working day and night. Large fleets of
132 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
sailing vessels filled the harbour in summer but scarcely any in winter, a complete reversal of the present state of affairs. Three banks managed our financial affairs — the Bank of New Bruns- wick, the Commercial Bank, and the Bank of British North America. They were small affairs compared with the present establishments. I knew most about the Bank of New Bruns- wick as my father was president of it for seven years. There were a cashier, a teller and two clerks. The president was not expected to give his whole time to the bank; there were two discount days a week, when the directors met and decided who was to get accommodation. The president had a limited power of discounting during the rest of the week. When my father was elected the salary of the president was £150 a year, after- wards it was increased to £200, but it never got above that during his term of office. My father would often bring home packages of bank notes to sign and we children were delii'hted to take each one as he signed it and place it so that it would not blot. . He would bring home notes not worth more than a cent each, and take back next morning several thousands of dollars, all of which was extremely interesting to us. Of course you all know that our currency was in pounds, shillings and pence, in fact we used all kinds of currency and it was in a state of chaos. The only coins of our own were one penny and one-half penny, but we used English sovereigns, crowns, half crowns, shillings and sixpences, Yankee quarters and half eagles, dollars, quarters and dimes, Mexican dollars, a coin called a York shilling (73-2 cl.)r and any circular piece of metal that looked like silver, whether it had any inscription or not. The half crown passed for three shillings one and one-half pence, the shilling for one shilling two pence, the sixpence for seven pence, the Yankee money for its face value, so you can imagine the times we had making change.
1861 is a little beyond the date set for the conclusion of this paper, but as it was the year of the reformation of the currency I thought it better to transgress a little. The government of the province decided to introduce decimal currency and there was much foreboding 'and dismal prophecies ol the difficulties we were all going to have, especially the workmen and people
NKW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOriHTY 133
accustomed to small transactions. I was clerk in the Millidge- ville shipyard at that time, had about seventy-five ipen to pay off on Saturday and a number of others who were on what is called "jobs." When I drew the money from the bank, I went to the Custom House and got five dollars'worth of the new cents the government had ordered from England, went to the yard and paid e\-ery man witliout one word of dissatisfaction One Saturday we were using pounds, shillings and pence, the next dollars and cents, the only difference being that the accounts were much more easily made up, and I believe that in all other concerns the change was just as easily made. The government afterwards publicly thanked the business men for the prompt- ness with which they had adopted the new system.
The years "55" and "56," were uneventful, except that things were not going with such a rush, wages declined somewhat and prices fell; 1857, however, brought a great change. In May of that year the Mutiny in India broke out and a dej^ression set in over all the business world. Ships in Liverpool could not be sold, most of the yards in St. John closed and tliose which kept open reduced wages fearfully. Men could get very little employment so became desperate. There was talk of opening soup kitchens, but things did not get as bad as that. Robberies and burglaries were frequent, and my father was stopped one night as he was coming home through the \'alle>', which was then a most dark and desolate place. He frightened off his assailant and next day bought a revolver which was alwa\s kept loaded. November was a most gloomy month — fog and rain and failures depressed everyone, and then the whole community was startled by the McKenzie murders. McKenzie lived in an out-of-the- way place near Blaxk River. He had some mone>' which he would lend at very high interest. Sla\in, his son, aged about eighteen, and Breen, went to his house one evening, murdered the whole family, including an infant in arms, secured all the money and set the house on lire. For some days nothing was heard of it and then it was supposed the house had burned accidentally and the family with it. The criminals, howe\'er, had not sense enough to keep their own counsel and let out the • whole story They were arrested, tried, and sentenced. Slavin
134 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
and Breen to be hung, young Slavin to imprisonment for life as he had not done anything but go with the others. Breen committed suicide in his cell. Slavin was hung in front of the jail and young Slavin released after twenty-one years.
The building of the railroad from St. John to Shediac, which rejoiced in the ambitious name, "European and North American Railway," afforded some relief, as many got work though at low rates of pay. Its construction was slow. After working a year they had not got to Torryburn, being held up by Lawlor's Lake. It seemed impossible to fill it up, people said it had no bottom, probably it was the crater of an extinct volcano. Finally rafts were sunk, well ballasted, and a road bed formed in that way.
I have been asked to give some account of the streets and roads of that day. They were very bad; sloughs of despond in wet weather and Saharas' of dust in dry. The dust storms that used to rage along King and Prince William streets on a windy day were maddening. Nothing was ever done to mitigate the nuisance. When water was sold by the bucket you can easily imagine not much could be spared for watering streets. It is strange salt water was not used, but nobody seemed to bother about it. The roads near the city were sometimes allowed to fall into a disgraceful state of disrepair; but the most flagrant instance of neglect I remember was on the hill leading towards the wharves at Indiantown. It was the result of a quarrel between the government of the province and the parish of Portland. The government would not grant any money as they claimed populous places should keep their own streets in repair, and as a man who held some parochial office told me, "the parish was not going to keep up a road for all the traffic of the up river counties that came to and from the steamboats, so they were going to allow it to get so bad as to be impassable." It was pretty nearly that when I saw it, but I do not know how the thing was finally settled. What is now Rockland Road had no special name, but the hill going down to the Valley Church was called "Gallows Hill " It was much steeper than at present as can be seen from the rocks through which it has been cut and the fill-in at the foot. The gallows, which had disappeared long before my time,was erected at tiie highest point, where everybody
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 135
could see it, and was not a temporary affair put up once in twenty years or so when required; but a substantial timber structure, and was one of the institutions of the state. Criminals were hung in chains and their bodies were left to decay or be eaten by crows.
I have heard my grandfather say, that when a young man he had often to make use of Gallows Hill at night and would put his horse to the gallop to get past the dreadful object as soon as possible. Truly I think we may say "we are better than our fathers," in some respects at least. In the early '50s there was no Parks street. Harris street at its upper end was a precipice only to be negotiated safely by a goat or active school boy. Millidge street was put through mainly by the exertions of Dr. Hamilton. Two houses at its foot happened to burn down quite opportunely and the doctor bought the land very cheaply and kept it till the city took it over from him at the price he paid for it. We all contributed, — my share was S30.00, the tamily altogether must have given ,'$1,000 — still the cost to the city was very great.
Time would fail me to tell all my recollections of those times and your patience would be exhausted listening to them. The difficulty of travelling, the slow receipt of news from Europe, the isolation in the winter, made us depend very much upon ourselves, so social entertaining was much more a feature of our life than today. The only means of getting anywhere except by stage coach was by steamboat to Boston twice a week in summer and not at all in winter Canada was a foreign land to us. We knew there ware two cities, Montreal and Quebec, and that was about all we did know. One could get to Montreal in two days, if all went well, by leaving St. John Monday or Thursday, but if a gale from the southward came up the steamer would put into some harbor and wait for fine weather, so then connection with the train at Portland would be missed and another day required. Liverpool was our great headquarters; all our ships went there for sale, most of our deals were shipped there. All the dry goods men went there annually on their way to Manchester to purchase stock; some went across twenty times without ever going to London.
136 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
ADDRESS OF CHIEF JUSTICE H. A. McKEOWN AT THE UNVEILING OF THE HARDY TABLET.'
On Tuesday afternoon, September 24, 19 LS, the Hard)- Tablet was unveiled in the auditorium of the Court House, St. John, with befitting ceremonies.
Mr. D. H. Waterbury, ViceT^resident, opened the proceed- ings in a brief speech as follows:
May it Please Your Honor :
We are assembled here today — The New Brunswick His- torical Society, His Worship and City Commissioners and a number of prominent citizens — for the purpose of doing honor to the name of an early Loyalist citizen of St. John and province of New Brunswick — Elias Hardy.
Mr. Hardy was one of the first lawyers of the Provincial Bar, 1785. He was the second common clerk of the city. He had represented Northumberland county in the first provincial general assembly, later was a representative of the city and county of St. John.
Some years ago Venerable Archdeacon Raymond, ex- President of the society, wrote a sketch of Mr. Hardy's life, which, I believe, was read before the New Brunswick Historical Society and published. Subsequently the facts, coming to the knowledge of descendants and relatives of Mr. Hardy in the United States, very much interested them, particularly Jane L. Hardy of Ithaca, N. Y., and Charles Elias Hardy. They felt that the name of so worthy an ancestor, who was reposing in an unmarked grave, should not be forgotten. The fact that his name was not inscribed in any juiblic way was realized and that he being a distinguished citizen and represen- tative of St. John, it would be an ap])ropriate and conuiiendable act for them to arrange if possible for the erection of a suitable memorial in this city. They took steps in this direction which culminated in our gathering here this afternoon to unveil to the memory of Elias Hardy this fine bronze tablet which, with the permission of the authorities, has been secured in place on the wall of this old historic Court House.
Your Honor, as you have kindly consented at the request of the New Brunswick Historical Society to perform the usual function at the unveiling of the tablet, and as a paper prepared by the Venerable Archdeacon Raymond is to be read by the secretary of the Society, I shall not i)rolong these preliminary remarks and delay the i)leasure to the present assembly of hearing your Honor's ad Ire-s on the subject.
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 137
After the reading of Dr. Raymond's paper b>' the Secretary, His Honor Chief Justice H. A. McKeown dehvered the following address:—
Mr. President and Members of the New Brtinsivick Historical Society.
Gentlemen: The Court has been pleased to observe the memorial which you have placed upon one of the pillars of this room in commemoration of the late Elias Hardy, Esquire, who, with eight other attorneys and barristers, were admitted to the bar of this province on the first day of February, 1785, and it has also heard with satisfaction the biograi)hical sketch pre- pared by the Reverend W. O. Raymond, LL. D., and read by John Willet, Esquire, K. C, Clerk of the Court.
Believing as we do that the administration of justice is the most important function of the state, the Court is always alert to appreciate the services of gentlemen who, as solicitors or counsel, appear before it in the interests of parties compelled to resort thereto for redress. It is a fact well worthy to be remembered that at its inception the Court of this province, both bench and bar, was constituted of men of outstanding ability and power, and while the proceedings of this afternoon are with propriety devoted wholly to a consideration of Mr. Hardy, I have thought that it would be opportune to place upon the records of your Society some facts regarding the establish- ment of the Court, and concerning its first judges and prac- titioners.
On the sixteenth day of August, 1784, the King gave to
Thomas Carleton a Royal Commission authorizing him to set
off the province of New Brunswick distinct from Nova Scotia
and appointing him governor thereof, and directing him to
take steps to summon a legislature and to erect and constitute
Courts of justice. Touching the jurisdiction of the Courts,
he Governor of the new province was inxested with: "full
'power and authority, with the ad\ice and consent of his
'Council, to erect, constitute and establish such and so many
'Courts of Judicature and Public Justice within the province
'as he and they should think fit and necessary for the hearing
'and determining of all causes, as well criminal as ci\'il, according
'to law and equity, and for awarding execution thereupon, with
'all reasonable and necessary powers, authorities, fees and
'privileges belonging /hereto." It has been well remarked by
Mr. Lawrence, the historian, that the Supreme Court of New
Brunswick has, by conmnssion from the Crown, "all the power
13S NEW BRUNSWICK HISTGRICAL SOCIETQ
"and jurisdiction of the three Superior Courts at Westminster "Hall."
The full powers of the Court of Kings Bench, of Common Pleas and of the Exchequer Court of England were thus con- ferred upon the Court which was created by virtue of such authority, and lawyers regard with satisfaction the circumstance that this ample jurisdiction was established at a time when Lord Mansfield, then Chief Justice of the Kings Bench, one of the greatest of English judges, was passing under his hand that branch of the universal law of nations known as the Law Mer- chant; rejecting what was inapplicable or cumbersome, and incorporating its permanently valuable elements into the English common law by a series of judgments now regarded as classic, which created conditions rendering possible the vast expansion of English commerce during the nineteenth century.
On the first day of February, 1785, the opening session of the Court was held. Proclamation having been made, com- missions under the Great Seal of the province were read appoint- ing the Honourable George Duncan Ludlow, Chief Justice, the Honourable James Putnam, Senior Puisne Judge, and Colin Campbell, Esquire, Clerk of the Court. The two other puisne judges, the Honourable Isaac Allen and the Honourable Joshua Upham, were not present although there is good authority for saying that to both these gentlemen commissions had then been issued appointing them members of the Court.
Ward Chipman, Esquire, had been appointed by the home government as Solicitor-General for the province. The Attor- ney-Generalship had been bestowed upon one Samson Blowers, who, however, was not present and never became a member of the New Brunswick bar. The Attorney-Generalship of Nova Scotia having become vacant, he was appointed to that position whereupon W^ard Chipman was acting Attorney-General of this province at the opening of the Court, and he with eight others were immediately sworn in as barristers and attorneys. The list of practitioners admitted to the bar on that day is as follows: Ward Chipman, acting Attorney-General, Bartholemew Cran- nell, Elias Hardy, Amos Botsford, Joseph Garnett, Colin Camp- bell, Samuel Denny Street, William Wylly, Timothy Wetmore.
Inception.
As above indicated the first Chief Justice of New Brunswick was George D. Ludlow, who had returned to London from New York on the evacuation of that city by the British. Mr. Ludlow had been a judge of the Supreme Court there before the revolu- tion, and fought during the whole revolutionary war as a colonel
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 139
in the loyalist forces. He came to this province with Governor Carleton as a member of his executive council as well as the head of the bench to be created. He was a descendant of General Ludlow, a trusted and able companion in arms of Oliver Cromwell and one of his most aistinguished commanders. At the time of the American revolution a branch of the Ludlow family had resided in New York for about one hundred years, and after the unsuccessful attempt to hold that part of the country for the King, George D. Ludlow and his brother Gabriel accompanied the retiring governor to England, atid both being appointed executive councillors, they returned to America with Governor Thomas Carleton to assist him in his work of main- taining British institutions upon this continent.
No reports of the judgments of the Court are available until the year 1825 — about forty years from its ince[)tion — • conse- quently we ha,ve no record of the judgments or rulings of the first occupants of the Bench except in a few cases which, by reason of their importance or singularity, have escaped oblivion. But a perusal of the cases reported in the earliest vohmies shows that the judges of those days were building on foundations well and truly laid by their unreported predecessors, and from these reports it is not difficult to estimate the character and quality of the work theretofore done.
I have mentioned that Chief Justice Ludlow had been a Supreme Court Judge in New York. He was fifty-one years of age at the time of his appointment to the Chief Justiceship of this province and he presided over the deliberations of the Court for twenty-four years. Until the capital of the Province was located at Fredericton, he resided at West St. John. There- after he secured a large grant of land a few miles above the capital where he lived in considerable style and dignity during the remainder of his life.
The portraits of many of the successors of Chief Justice Ludlow are hung upon the walls of the Supreme Court room at Fredericton, but thus far none has been provided of hini who first held this high office. I have had the opportunity of seeing a reproduction of a miniature painting, which represents him as a man of slender build, of beardless face, with piercing black eyes, whose features are indicative of determination and power of will. He died at his home on the thirteenth day of Nov- amber, 1S08.
James Putnam, the senior puisne judge of the Court, and the last Attorney-General of Massachusetts Bay under the Crown, was born in Salem, Mass., in 1725. When the revolution broke out he was practising law in Boston and was one of the most
140 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
prominent citizens of that place, occupying a foremost position not only at the bar but in the financial and social lif^ of the city as well. A graduate of Harvard, connected in marriage with the powerful Chandler family, with a lucrative practice and large possessions, all the influences of self-interest and prudence seemed to counsel moderation on his part. But he flung himself heart and soul into the struggle. Me was a C(jlonel in the loyalist army and was present at the l)attle of Bunker Hill. At the evacuation of Boston in March, 1771), he went to Halifax with the British troops and later sailed to New York and bore arms there in continuation of the struggle. His espousal of the loyalist cause so incensed the Massachusetts legislature that his return to the United States was forbidden by statute, and attached to such legislatio'n was the penalty of deportation if the offender should disobey, and for a second disobedience on his part the penalty of death was to be inflicted. Of course all his proi)erty was confiscated.
When the loyalist forces withdrew from New York Mr. Putnam accomiianied the retiring governor to London. He was appointed a member of C.overnor Thomas Carleton's new executive, council and senior puisne judge of the new province. Of the four judges who originally composed the Bench he was the only one who made his permanent residence in St. John. Being almost sixty years of age at the time of his appointment, it would seem that the exertion and privation of military life had weakened his vitality for he lived only five years after coming to this country, and died in St John in October, 178'J, aged sixty -four years, his death causing the first break in the original membership of the Court His remains were interred in the old burying-ground near the Court House, not far from the south-east corner of the cemetery. T(^ one standing near that corner, an iron railing inclosing a burial lot is easily visil)k'. The railing is about five feet high, embedded in stone, and seems to be in perfect preservation. There is no break or entrance on any side, but on looking through the railing one can see a raised tomb, covered with a large flat stone resting upon four closely joined and unbroken granite slabs which com]:)rise the four sides of the entrance to the vault wherein the remains of James Putnam were laid to rest over one hundred years ago. Since his burial the vault has been reoix-ned to receive the remains of his wife, his son, his daughter, a grand- child and a great-grandchild; as well as those of J(Miathan Sewell, vice-admiralty judge for the district of Nova Scotia. The Putnam tomb is the best preser\'ed Loyalist landmark within the city, and where could it be better placed than within a stone's throw of the building where to this iliiy British judges
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 141
and British juries sit to administer British law? This unselfish and patriotic man, who risked his life and all he had for the maintenance of British institutions, and who himself for five short years administered British justice within this province, now sleeps well almost within the shadow of the Court House where his successors in ofiice sit today. Upon the covering- stone is carved this inscription — "Sacred to the memory of "the Honourable James Putnam who was appointed a member "of His Majesty's council and a member of the Supreme Court "in the organization of the government of this Province at its "original formation in A. D. 1784. He had been for many "years before the war which terminated in the independence "of the United States of America, an eminent Barrister-at-law "and was the last x^ttorney General under His Majesty in the "late province of Massaciiusetts Bay. He died the 2;!rd day "of October, A. D. 1789, aged sixty-four years."
The third member of the Bench was Isaac Allen, whose name is the best known and most distinguished in the judicial history of New Brunswick. His grandfather was a Supreme Court judge in New Jersey when that state was a British pro- vince. At the commencement of the war Isaac Allen was practising law at Trenton, N. J., but he at once entered the conflict and had command of the Second Battalion of New Jersey Volunteers with the rank and title of Lieutenant-Colonel.
His adhesion to the Loyalist cause deprived him of a large property in Pennsylvania of which he was the then owner and which was declared forfeited by the executive council of that state, while against himself it was ordered by the same authority that he return to take his trial for treason or stand attaint.
Having fought throughout the entire war, at its conclusion he came with his family to Nova Scotia. He was appointed a member of Governor Carleton's council and the second puisne judge of the Court, whereupon he removed to New Brunswick and obtained a large grant of land a short distance above hVed- ericton where he resided during the remainder of his life. He served as a member of the Court until his death in October, 180G; during all of which time he also sat in the executive council of the province. He left one son, John Allen, who represented York county in the legislature for twenty-five years, and also filled the position of judge of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas for that county, and whose son, Sir John C. Allen, was the Chief Justice of the province of New Brunswick for eighteen years and sat upon the Supreme Court bench from the year 18G5 to 1894.
I think the most interesting New Brunswick relic of the war is a drum which accompanied Colonel Allen's men to battle and which is now preserved in the home of T. Carleton Allen, D. C. L,.
142 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Registrar of the Court. Conspicuous in the hall of Dr. Allen's home at Fredericton, and above the doorway which gives entrance to his residence, this war worn remembrancer of the days of strife fills its honoured place. Something of the real presence of war envelopes it even yet, as it hangs there with its head partly battered in, its fastenings worn and frayed, its straps and ropes showing the rough usage of those years of conliict, while still legible, though half effaced, upon the drum head one may read — "2nd Battalion New Jersey Volunteers, 1777."
Joshua Upham was the fourth member of the Bench. He passed through the same stormy scenes of war and the ties which united these four judges must hav^e been very strong. Each was an exile from his place of birth, each had suffered the confiscation of his property and each had passed through the fire of actual warfare. Mr. Upham was a native of Brookfield, Mass., and was born in the year 1741. He is in the list of Harvard graduates of the year 1763 and was practising law at Worcester when the war broke out. He received the appoint- ment of junior major in the King's American dragoons, and bore an active part throughout the conflict As in the case of the other judges he was appointed to membership in the execu- tive council of the province as well as to a seat on the Bench of the Supreme Court. It was he who presided at the session of the St. John Circuit in December, 17S9, when two young men, Fitzgerald and Clarke, were indicted for burglary and on being found guilty were sentenced by Judge Upham to death by hanging. The sentence was publicly executed a short distance from where the Court House stands, oh the eighteenth day of December, 1789.
He made his home at French Village, on the Hammond River in Kings County, where he had received a large tract of land, and the name of the parish perpetuates Judge Upham's memory within that county.
In the year 1S07 Judge Upham went to England at the request of the other judges and with the consent of the executive council to draw the attention of the Home government to the smallness of the judicial salaries and to request an addition to the same. He succeeded in this mission and was thus instru- mental in having the salary of the Chief Justice raised from £500 to £700 and those of the other judges from £300 to £500. But he never lived to enjoy the fruit of his mission. Being taken ill in London he died there in 1807 and he was buried in the old land to which he and his colleagues had given such ample proof of their devotion
Mr. H. A. Powell, K. C, replied on behalf of the Hardy family.
COLLECTIONS
New Brunswick
Historical Society
No. 11
SAINT JOHN, N. B.
Barnrs cS: Co., Limitkh, Prixci: Wim.iam Strffh
1927
Officers, 1926-1927.
President D. CARLETON CLINCH
Vice-Presidents AMON A. WILSON K.C.,
Sheriff, Saint John.
JOHN WILLET. K.C.
Corresponding Secretary GEORGE A. HENDERSON, Esquire,
Stipendiary Magistrate, Saint John.
Treasurer ALFRED MORRISEY
Librarian TIMOTHY O'BRIEN
Council
DR. WILLIAM Macintosh
REVEREND C. GORDON LAWRENCE, B.A. WILLIAM DOUGHERTY D. GORDON WILLET EDWARD L. RISING
i^^
INTRODUCTORY.
Since the issue of the last Bulletin, No. 10, (Part 1, Vol. 4), this Society has held their regular monthly meetings continu- ously at their meeting room in the Natural History Society Building, kindly offered by that Society. At these meetings short papers were read by Mr. O'Brien, Librarian; John W'illet, K. C, Secretary; Henr\' W'ilmot, Kscfuire, and others, on matters of local interest and which were at the time referred in the several newspapers of the da\-.
Our nuetings called for reminiscences of the past, all of which are verified by the members present.
Since 1S19, changes have taken place in the memliership, and death has remo\'ed some of our \alued and loyal members:
Past President Kqv. J. W. Milli<k;-e, 15. A., retireil minister.
Past President and Treasiu'er, lion. J. Rusbell .Arin^trt^ni.;, retired Jmli^e, Saint John Count)' Circuit.
Re\-. \V. (). Raymond, Past President, Secretary ot the .Societ)-, Historian and Author, in October, 19l2.'], at Toronto.
Jaines S. I'dagior, late Post Master, .Saint John, retired.
T. C. L. Ketchuni, Ksquire, B.\., Barrister and foiunali^t, Woodstock, N. H.
(ieorge P)lake, ICsciuire, late Chief Engineer Saint John I'ire Department.
We ha\'e acquired the possession and cc^Urol of the large model wooden ship, " [Robert Reed," a t\'pe of the class of woollen ships or \cssels built in Saint John and \icinit>' in the early sixties. It represents the class of ships owned b\' Saint John merchants; the Black Ball line trading between Saint John and Li\^erpool, Crreat Britain.
This model was built in IS,');], and was used and exhibited in the great parade of Trades manufactines and mechanics in the procession in the (^ity of Saint John on the celebration of the Turning of the First Sod of the Kin'opean and North Ameri- can Railway track t)n the Idth Se])tember, IS.")."). This model is placed in the F.xhibition Building, Saint John, for inspection and exhibition 1a' and A\ith the consent of the Directors of the Saint John Exhibition Association.
The Society gratefidly acknowledge the annual grant of the Provincial Oo\ernment in aid of the publication, ttnid.
John \\ii.li:t, Saint John, N. B. . Secretary.
COLLECTIONS
New Brunswick Historical Society
EPITOMISED HISTORY OE SAINT JOHN, ,\. H.
1!Y JOHN WILLET, K. C. MeNAQUASHI (PAIiinOWN) AND ITS StKKJ'ITS, H)1^7
Samuel de C^iamplain, bom Bronage, l^^raiice, was a sea captain and the son of a sea captain. He accompanied a Spanish fleet to Mexico and the West Indies, and on his return wrote an account of the expedition.
In IGU;^ he made his first voyage to Canada, being sent out by one Ue C^iastes, on whom some territor>' in ihat country had been bestowed. In 1()04-1GU7 he was engaged, together with De Monts (to whom De Chastes's privileges had been transferred), in exploring the Canadian coast, and in seeking a site for a new settlement. In 1GU8 he made his third voyage. In this year he commenced the formation of a settlement of Quebec. He was made Lieutenant-C<eneral of .New I* ranee. Owing, however, to cjuarrels with the Indians, the settlement seemed likely to fail; but under the \ice-royah>- ul the Due of Montmorency, and still more under \ice-royalt\ of Due de Ventadour, it began to Hourish. In \{j2\) it met with a re\erse; C-hamplain being forced to surrender to an English lleet com- manded by three brothers named Kirk. He was carried to England, but was restored to liberty in IGol:!. He retinned lo Canada the next year and died there in fGoT). He published several volumes containing accounts of his work. His works were published in f87(). He came up "The Bay." He named it "La Baie h>an(;aise."
14 ;j
144 N'i':\V ISRl'N'SWKK IllSlOiai Al
I\Ir. S. I'^. Dawson in his jjouk, "The Saint Lawrence," sa\ s the Ba>- of I'undy was known to ihu IVjilugLie^e a^ "J^aia F'undo," (lhe deep ba>) long before l)c iNionls dv ( hamplain named it La Haie l^ranraise. Ah'. L Iv. ( hahfunr, Cliief (geog- rapher ol the I)(Mninion, adds that the actual origin ol the name seems to he obscure; but it is Hkely descri[)ti\ e, as suggested al)0\'e. Another authority, Mr. llcnsle>' K. lioHnden, Associate Archivist in charge of the Ma[) Division at Ottawa, supplements this inlormatii)n as toUovss: "The name gi\'en b>- I )e jMonts was liaie Fran(;aise, whilst the depth of the bay was known as 'Fond de la Haie.' d'he Lnglish sailors cut out all reference to I'Vench ownership and took to the hOnd dc la Haie. ddiis soon became h\)nd de Baye and finally 'I'\md\ .'" \\)u v.ill find the whole in Al)be Farland's "Histoire de Canada" in the last edition of (iarneau's work, that editetl by his nephew and Dr. Doughty 's edition of Kno.v's jotn'nal ( "hami)lain Societ}- edition.
Nj^v Bruxsw k k
The founfler of the House of Brunswick was Azo II, Alarcjuis ot Tuscany, in the elexenth century, wIkj married Kemigonda, iieiress of the Counts of Altorf, and sister of \\'clj)h ov (.iuelph, thus uniting the two houses of Este and (iuelph.
(iueli)h, son of Azo, married Judith of Inlanders, who was descended from Alfred the (ireat of Kngland. His posterit>' acquired Brunswick and Lunenlnirgh. Idie family is di\ided into two branches:
1st — Brunswick-Wolfenbuttal (the (lerman liranch).
2nd — Brunswick-Hanover (from which are descended the reigning House of Britain).
Ernest Augustus, of the Brunswick-Hanover house, was created Elector of Hano\'er in 1()02. He married Sophia, daugh- ter of Elizabeth, daughter of James I of England. Their son, George Louis succeeded his father as Elector in 1698, and was called to the throne of (".reat Britain in 1714. George I was the twenty-first lineal descendant of Azo, founder of the Royal House ot lirunswick.
MI^W RRUN'SWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 115
Caroline, wile of Cieorge IV, was the sister of l-'iederick William, Duke of Brunswick, 1771-1S15, wIkj was killed at Waterloo. It is therefor allowable to speak of the House of Brunswick — although Brunswick-Hanover would be more correct.
Every effort was made to give the name "Gu\" to the new province, se[)arated from Nova Scotia.
lulward Winslow was one of the leading agitators to change the name to " Xew Brunswick." His letters were submitted to the Secretar\' ol State, and these, aided by other representations, resulted in the name becoming "New Brunswick;" the Ro>'al House of Britain at that time being called the House of Bruns- wick.
Lord Sidne>' communicated the decision (jf the imperial Government to Colonel or (jovernor Parr, in August, 1784, and the land^s "l>ing to the north of tlie Bay of Fund>" were to lie erected under a new form of government. The Gcnernment of New Brunswick was formed by Imjierial appointment and decree, and on the eignteenth May, 1785, charter wiis granted.
New Brunswick, New Jersey, was called " Frigmore's Swamp." Cater, in lO'.X), John Inian built a ferry across the Raritan Ri\'er, and the name was changed to Inian's h\'rr\-. In 171 1 the present name was adopted in honor of the House of Brimswick. It was gr^uited a Royal Charter in 1730, so whether named by the Loyalists or not, the origin goes back to the con- nections which the name has with the then reigning house and which would be extremely appropriate io a new settlement here. (See Perley History of New Brunswick).
On Saint John the Baptiste day, June 24, 1G04, a I^Vench craft sailed up Saint John Harbour and River until it grounded. On board there were three famous men, the founders of ''\e\v France:" I)e Monts, Champlain and Foutrincourt.
Champlain claimed the honor to be the discoxerer of this sheet of water and he named it "The Saint John."
De Monts and Champlain went to the St. Croix, and on an island in that river erected fortifications and buildings with a view of forming a permaneiit settlement. This was afterwards
146 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
abandoned and the colonists removed to Fort Roval. There was established a settlement which became the headquarters of French power in Acadia.
When De Monts and Champlain came to Acadia the>' found the Micmacs living at Fort Royal, and at the mouth of the Saint John l-iiver. in C'hamplain's time another trilie of Indians called the Malicetes occupied the ui:>[)cr [)ortioii of the Saint John River. At a later date this tribe extended their camps further down the river until finally they reached the mouth of the river; the Micmacs giving way to them and confining them- selves to the Peninsula of Nova Scotia and that portion of \c\v Brunswick which borders on the (".ulf of St. Lawrence and the Bay Chaleur. These tribes were always friends and allies. 'I'he Indians at Fassamaquoddy were jNIalicetes.
The Charter of De Monts ga\ e him jurisdiction of the terrilor>' of Acadia, constituting tlie whdlc of .\o\a Scotia and the southern half of New Hrimswick. The pri\ilege^ did not yield profit and the monopoh- of trade was rexokcd in tiiree years when it had been granted to Foutrincoun, wlio had been with De Monts on his first vo\age to Acadia. He (jl>tained a grant of Fort Royal from the King of France.
The English laid claim to Acadia on the ground of fabots' discovery; and in 10 12 James I gave Sir William Alexander a grant in North America, embracing the whole tif the Fro\ ince of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Ihe terriior) was to be known Ijy the name of Nova Scotia, and so continued until 17N J, when New Brunswick was made a separate proxince; the name ot Nova Scotia being cc^nfined to the .\o\'a Scotia Feninsula. All this time Sir William Alexander, created b^arl of Stirling, was Hereditarydaeutenant, Admiral and Justice-( -eneral. On the death of lames I, in 1025, Alexander obtained from Charles I a confirmation of the grant.
In ]02<) Charles Saint luienne de l,i Tour was created a baronet of Nova Sccjtia, with the title of Sir (diaries Saint Etienne de la Tour, Seigneur de la Tour and Vaure.
In 10;^2, by treaty March 2'.), Fort Ro>al was restored to the French and the fort that the Scotch had built was destroyed.
NKW HRUXSWK K HISTOKK AL SOCIETY 147
A coniniissicjn was granled to Charles tie la 'I\)ur Jul)-, IGol, appointing him King's Lieutenant-Commander in Acadia.
The New P^rance Company sent ships and sui)j)lies and on March 27, 1032, Isaac de Razilly entered in a compact to put the Company of New France into possession of Port Royal, lie took with him a train of men, one of whom \va> Charles de Menon, Seigneur D'Aulnay de Charnissa>', a relati\e of Car- dinal Richilieu, who became the life-long enem> of CMiarles de Saint Etienne.
Before I^e Razilly arrived in Acadia a b'rench part>- came to Penobscot, where New Plymouth colonists had established a trading post, after La Tour had been dispossessed. The hVench, jiretending they had just arri\ed trom sea, had lost their reckon- ing, that their ship was leaky, and that they desired to repair her. The trading post being in a weak state the I'renchmen resolved to help themselves to the contents of the house, loaded their vessel with the goods. The French did not injure or imprison the Englishmen in charge, but when they had secured their plunder they set them at liberty. It is supposed Claude de la Tour was the head of the party and that he had taken this means to carry out the treaty and reimburse himself for his losses at Penobscot when taken from him by the 1-^nglish.
On January 15, 1(J35, Charles de Saint Etienne Sieur de la Tour was granted the fort, the habitation of La Tour on the River Saint John. During this year La Tour removed part of his establishment from Cape Sable to Saint John. Although the lather ot La T(Uir seems to have been a jcMnt owner with his son of the land at the mouth of the Ri\er Saint John, and to have taken a share in the erection of the f(jrt there, his name is not connected in any way with the subsefpient e\ents in the history of Fort La Tour.
D'Aulnay Charnissay, a young adventtuer from Paris, came to Acadia some time prior to the erection of h'ori La Tour.
When De Razilly became (io\ernor of Acadia in 1(1:52 La Tour and D'Aulnay were his Lieutenants, and on his death in IG3G I)'Aulna\- ai)i)ears to have been appointed C.o\ernor of that portion of Acadia lying to the north of the Bay of Fundy,
148 NI-:\V HRUNSWICK lIlsroKU AI. SOtlKTY
while La Tour's commission as (lovernor extended over the whole of Nova: Scotia.
D'Aulnay's fort was at Penobscot, but he had als(j a fort at Port Royal which had been transferred to him 1)\' Claude de Razilly, brother of the deceased governor. The actual transfer to Charnissay was not given until 1042, although Charnissay was in possession and treated the propert>' as his own.
It thus appears that while La. Tour's fort at Saini John was within the territory of I)'i\ulnay, the fort of D'Aulnay was within the jurisdiction of La Tour. This state of affairs caused endless jealousies in the minds of such ambitious and j)owertul men, and finally was the means of bringing about the most violent contests between them.
Fort La Tour, so ably and favoral'ly defended by Machime La Tour, was situated at Portland Pdint, on the east side of the harbour of Saint John. Upon its site the Peabod\ lu.use was built. It afterwards became the property of James Si- monds, son-in-law of the said Francis Peabody. In this house James White lived for some years. The green mound near the nail factory at the shore end of Portland Street marks the site.
January 15, 1G35, Charles de Saint Ltienne, the Sieur de la Tour, described in the grant as Lieutenant-General for (he King on the coast of Acadia in New France, was granted the fcjrt and habitation on the River Saint John, i\\c leagues frontage on the river and ten leagues into the country.
In 1635 La Tour was fully settled in the fort and he was the first white man that planted a colony on our shores.
The fur trade was a great source of profit. l)'AuIna> did not look with complacency on the prospect of his rival reaping a benefit from Indian traffic in a place he regarded as properly his own. All U'Aulnay's energies were directed to the task of dispossessing La Tour and destroying his power. His infiuence in France with the great Cardinal Richelieu was a powerful means.
One accusation which was preferred against La Tour was that he was a heretic and therefor unworthy ruler of the faithful subjects of the King in New France. Whatever La Tour was
NiaV liRUN.sWK K 111S']( )KK AL SOCIETY 149
he was not a person of serious convictions on relij^ious matters.
D'Aulnay's efforts in l-Vanceagainst La Tour were not success- ful. (3n February lU, 1G38, the King wrote to D'Aulnay, "You shall jje my Lieutenant -( general (jn the coast of lUchmins, beginning from the middle of the terra hrma of Bale l->an(,-ois therein towards X'irginia and (".overnor oi J^enoltstiuis. Another government cjI the Sieur de la Tour, m\- Lieutenant-Cieneral on the coast of Acadia, shall be from the middle of Baie h>an(;ois to the Straits of Canseau. Therefore you are ncjt empowered to change any arrangement in the settlement al the River Saint John made l)y the said Sieur de la Tour, who will direct his economy and his people according to his judgment, and the said Sieur de la Tour shall not attempt to change anything in the La Have and Port Royal nor in the ports thereto belonging."
D'Aulnay was not discouraged by his first failure from pursuing and injuring his rival. He visited France se\eral times, and at last got a letter from King Louis with order direct- ing La Tour to go to France and answer charges brought against him. In the e\'ent of La Tour refusing to obe\- this mandate, lJ'Aulna>' was to seize his person, make an inventory oi his effects and take possession of the fort and all his goods. This order was dated February 13, Ui-ll ; and ten days later La Tour's commission as governor was revoked by the King on the alleged ground of misconduct of his past.
D'Aulnay lost no time in taking measures for the execution of the mandate. A ship, the St. Francis, was sent to take La Tour to I'Tance; but La Tour informed the cajjtain that the accusations against him by D'Aulnay were so false that he did not consider it to take so long a voyage for the purpose of refuting them, that he preferred to remain in his adopted country and had more faith in the security of his fort than in the impartiality of the tribunal by which he was to be tried. The St. Francis returned in August, 1G4I, without La Tour. Knowing that D'Aulnay would be the party entrusted with any ex])edition or means against him, he resolved to strike at the root of his rival's powers.
in November, 1S41, he sent a representative (Rochettej to
150 M^V [{RUMSWICK HISTORICAI, SOCII'/rV
Boston with a proposal to aid in attacking D'Aulnay's fort at Penobscot. Rociiette was received well. The Governor, W in- throp of Massachusetts, declined the propositions.
D'Aulnay went again to France, and in 1(542 oluained an order from the King directing D'Aulnay to seize La Tour's 4'ort and take his rival prisoner.
La Tour kept himself informed as to what was going on in France and was soon apprised of his danger.
In October, 1842, he sent his Lieutenant to Boston, carr^'ing letters from La Tour to John Winthrop, Governor of Massachu- setts Bay, desiring assistance from the people against his enemy Charnissay. No public action was taken. La Tour's Lieuten- ant met several merchants and made proposals to them with regard to opening up trade with his master. They sent goods to trade with the French Governor at Saint John. On the voyage back to Boston these merchants stopped at Pemequid, which was a common place of call between Acadia and Boston. They met ('harnissay there. Learning that they had come from La Tour at Saint John he told them that La Tour was a rebel and showed them a copy of the order to arrest. Gharnissa>' sent a printed copy to (Governor Winthrop with a threat that if any of the merchants of Boston sent their vessels to trade with La Tour he would seize them as lawful prizes. This order was useless without an armed force to support it. La Tour was not a man to give up hope at the least show of danger.
But Charnissay had secured, while in I'^rance, a transfer of all the estate, property and interests ol Isaac de Razilly in the Acadian ventures by deed dated January- Ki, 1(112.
La Tour, disappointed in his hopes for aid from Boston, once more turned himself to the land of his birth and sent for support. His friends responded speedily and sent an armed \essel to him loaded with i)rovisions and war materials and armed with 140 men. The name of the vessel was "1'he (4ement," but before her arrix'al La Tour was almost ruined.
In 1()4;5 D'Aulna)' had completed his combinations against La Tour, cc^llected his forces, set sail from Port Royal to attack La Tour. His armament was six ships and .")()() men. La Tour
NEW I5RUNSWUK lUSTORUAI. SOCIETY 151
had not a single ship at his tort and the tew small boats used in shore fisheries would be useless against D'Aulnay's force. La Tour knew his friends in Rochelle, France, would noi fail him, and relying on speedy aid and support he presenicd a Ixild front and refused all terms of submission.
The Harbour of Saint John was stric^K- l)lockaded. Large vessels la>' in the southwest channel between Partridge Island and the mainland, while smaller \-essels rode at anchor on the opposite side of the island.
So both channels were commanded and La Tour was effec- tively cut oh' from the bay. After a month's strain the Clemeni made her appearance in the ba\-. i,a Tour saw, even with the support thus presented, he would not be in a contlition to defeat his enepiy, so he resolved on a bold measure to defeat his enemy and raise the siege. In the night, after the first apjiearance of the Clement, he passed through D'Aulnay's squadron in a shallop, leaving the fort to be defended by his men and embark- ing with Madam La 'Lour, set sail for Boston to solicit aid from the English; the\- were fa\-ored with fair wind and made a rapid voyage.
The arri\'al of the Clement in iJoston was sudden and unex- pected.
He again met the Governor, John W'inthrop. He stated his difficulties and asked for assistance from the people against his enemy D'xAulnay. The authorities felt restrainetl from granting active aid to La Tour but gave him permission to enlist such men as were disposed to join him and hire such ships as he might require. He hired four armed vessels which were supplied by fifty-two men and thirty-eight cannon.
On July 14, IGlo, all preparations were completed and La Tour set sail for Saint John. When they reached Saint John they found D'Aulnay's vessels still at anchor b>' Partridge Island and the fort safe. As soon as D'Aulnay saw this hostile fleet bearing down on them he slipped his cables and stood right home for Port Ro>'al, closely folhjwed by La Totir's force.
After a hard chase and sharp running fight across the bay D'Aulnas' ran his vessels ashore.
152 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL S()( IKTY
Captain Hawkins, who commanded the New Englanders, sent a messenger ashore with a letter from the C.oxernor of Massachusetts to Charnissay. This letter Charnissay would not open as it was not addressed to him as " Lieutenant-C.eneral for the King in Acadia." He refused to come to terms.
La Tour urged Hawkins to send a force ashore to attack the enemy. Hawkins refused to give orders, but signihed that if any of the crew chose to go ashore with La Tour lhe>- might do so. Thirty responded and the united forces attacked C'harnis- say's position. Charnissay was defeated. The Boston vessels returned to Saint John where Fort La Tour had been suddenly freed from its blockade. While there a small craft belonging to Charnissay fell into the hands of the New Englanders laden with -100 moose and 400 beaver skins. The l)ootv was di\ided between the crews of the lioston vessels and La Tour.
Before leaving for Boston one of the ships sailed uj) the Rixer Saint John about twenty leagues and loaded with coal. This must have been Grand Lake coal. This is certainly the o'dest coal field discovered in New lirunswick if not in America.
Charnissay, after defeat, went back to France to obtain stronger force to destroy La Tour. La Tour spent most of his time in Boston engaging in trade.
Lady La Tour went to England at the close of U)4;L She chartered a ship to bring out supplies for l\)rt La Tour. She spent all the spring and most of the summer of 1044 in trading along the Nova Scotia coast so that they were six months on the voyage from Europe. Instead of going to Saint John with his cargo the captain brought up at Boston, where he arrived in September. Off Cape Sable the ship was boarded b\ Charnissax , but Lady La Tour was concealed and the \essel passed unmo- lested. At Boston Lady La Tour brought action against the captain and ship and recovered £2,000 damages upon which she took the ship in execution.
La Tour only partially succeeded in prosecuting trade relations with Boston. The authorities divided on the question and it was suggested that Charnissay be acquainted of the action of La Tour h\ letter. In answer to such notice C"harnissa\' sent
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 153
a representative, ]\I. Marie, whom Boston people sirt)ngl>' suspected to be a friar. He brought a commission under seal of the King of France showing the proceedings against La Tour were verified, and on behalf of Charnissay requested the magis- trates to aid him against La Tour. They proposed a reconcilia- tion between the rivals, to which IMarie replied that if La Tour would submit he would assure him life and liberty; if he were taken he would be sure to lose his head in France; and as for his Lady, she was known to l)e the cause of his c(nitempt and rebellion and therefor they could not let her go to him; but if they would send her in any of their \essels C'harnissay must take her.
The result of the negotiations between the parties was that a treaty of peace was established, whereby they agreed to abstain from hostile acts against each other.
This cut off La Tour's hope of trade with New England and cast him on his own resources.
When this matter was being concluded La Tour was in Boston. Charnissay was at sea, ho\ering round Penobscot with his vessels to pre\'ent his return to Saint John.
Fortune favored La Tour. He set sail for Saint John with provisions for the fort and in compan\' with a \ essel from New England similarly laden, he passed with a fair wind to a fort near Penobscot. Then when an adverse gale sprang up — he knew Charnissay would make for a harbor, he put to sea and stood for home where he arrived.
Meanwhile Lady La Tour arrived in Boston and commenced her suit against the Clement, recovered her verdict for £2,0U(), purchased supplies, hired three ships and determined to dispute the sovereignty of the Acadian seas with (Miarnissay, set sail for Saint John with her stores on board. She passed to her destina- tion without being accosted or molested.
On her return, she found La Tour away trading in the bay, and in the fort two or three friars and other parties whom she had reason to suspect had been bribed b\' (liarnissay to betray the place. These men she at once ejected from the fort, and they soon confirmed her worst suspicions. They went to
154 NKW BRUNSWICK HISTOKRAL StJClKTV
C'harnissay and reported the weak stale of the fort. Relying on the representations made Charnissay hastened to attack La Tour. lie at once ran his ship up the harl)Our, moored her close to the fort and proceeded with cannon to attack. A brief and bloody contest ensued. Lady La Tour inspired the men in the fort with courage equal to her own, and the guns being well served Charnissay's \essel was greatly shattered in the battle.
He cut cable and attemi)ted retreat but the east wind carried him up the riN-er {)reventing his return. To prevent his siiip from sinking, he towed her round behind the j^oint below the fort and ran her ashore below Sand I'oint. This took place I'^ebruary, 1(145.
On April 13 C^harnissay again appeared before Vovi La Tour. Disbarking his men he proceeded to attack fr(;m the land side at Negro Point and for three days was kept at ba>' by Lad>' La Totu- and her fifty men.
On Easter Sunday, when the garrison was engaged in service, a Swiss sentry permitted Charnissay's forces to approach without giving an alarm. Lady La Tour at the head of her men opposed the attack and defended the fort vigorously. Twelve of (liarnis- say's men were killed and many wounded, ("harnissay fearing a repulse, proposed honoral)le terms of ca[)itulation which were accepted by Lady La Tour. Having obtained possession he hanged all the garrison except one man who was pardoned on becoming executioner for the others. With a rope about her neck, Lad>' La Tour was bound to witness (he deadi of her bra\'e men and was so ill treated that she died three weeks af{erwar(Is, leaving a young child who was afterwards sen( (o I'Tance in care of a nurse.
Tiie ruin of Fort La Tour was complete. La Tour was compelled to take refuge in Boston, and af(erwards Quebec, while his rival occupied his possessions and enjoyed (he results of a large and profitable trade.
D'Aulnay C harnissay's principal residence was at Lort Royal but his trade at Saint John was large. He was an exacting and disagreeable neighbor to the English settlers in Massachusetts Bay. He did not long enjoy his good for(une, for in the summer
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. loo
of 1650 he was drowned in the river ai Port Ro}al l)y the up- setting of a canoe. His affairs were in a state of great confusion. He owed large sums of monej', and judgments were signed against him for supplies and money.
One Le Borgue had a judgment and hnding no pr(jpert\' in France to satisfy this claim resolved to come to AcacHa in 1G54 to assert his claim to the lands in Acadia and take possession. He was circumvented. A new force a[)peared in the shape of a fleet sent out from England by Lord Protector (Vonnvell lo attack the Dutch settlements in America. When the>- arrixed in Boston peace had been concluded l)etween England and the Dutch; but previous to leaxing England they had receixed instructions to act against the possessions nf the h^ench in America after the Dutch had been disposed of. This afforded the \ew Englanders an opportunity to drive the hrench out of Acadia. Five hundred men under command of Major Ivohert Sedgewickwere raised in haste, and embarking on board \\arshii)s they made for Acadia. Neither Port Ro>al or I-'orl Pa Tour was in a position to meet such a force and so the wliole of Acadia passed into the hands of the English and was not restored until 1007.
It appears that La Tour's father had been connected with Sir W'illian-i Alexander's scheme of colonization. Both father and son were Ijaronets of X(Aa Scotia and both had received from him extensive tracts of land in Acadia.
La Tour was able to approach Cromwell, iKjt only as a baronet, but as a grantee of an English King. The result of his efforts was the receiving in July, 1050, in conjunction with Sir William Temple and \\'illiam Crowne from Cromwell a gram of the greater part of Acadia, including the whole coast of the Bay of Fundy on both sides and one hundred leagues inland. Temple was appointed governor of this domain.
La Tour afterwards s{jld his interest in Acadia and entered into private lite.
D'Aulnay Charnissay was drowned in the ri\er at I'ort Po\al near his fort in 1()5(), leaving a widow and se\ en children all of whom went to hrance.
!.')() XI-.W 15RrXS\\I( K 111SHM<UAI. SOCIETY
III l(i(i(l C^uirles St. Ktiunne de la Tour, like his ri\al, was drowned at the age of sevent>-four \ears and was Iniried in his l)elo\'ed Acadia at Carlcton, Saint John.
In UH)? Acadia was again ceded to I'rance. In 1(U)0, in a war between Britain and France, .\cadia again changed hands, btit e\entually became British territory by the Treat)' of I trecht in 1713. This treat\' left the bcHinds tmde- lined, causing further contlict. Xoxa Scotia was clcarl>' men- tioned, but the I'^-ench contention was that Acatlia was what was intendeei and that was onl\' situate on the south and east of No\a Scotia.
In 1758 three ships and two transjioris with a Highland regiment left Boston with the object of cajnuring I'ori La Tour. This regiment landed at Negro Point, cut their wa\- through the woods, attacked and carried the fort b\' assault. Tiie fort was then garrist)ned l)y the British and renamed h'ort I'rcderick.
In i7()0 James Simonds came to Saini John and engaged in business but getting into trouble with the Indians, was forced to retire.
In August 17G4, he returned, accompanied b\' James White, Jonathan Lea\'itt, Captain Francis Peaboch' and Hugh (Juinton.
On the evening of their arrival at I'ort I^ederick, (\irlett>n, another arrival presented himself in the i)erson of the lale James Ouinton, Fscpiire, a farmer living on the Manawagonish I\(jad, Parish of Lancaster, who was ]\1. P. P. for Saint John County in the Legislature of New Brimswick.
Simonds and White built houses on the foot of lM)rt Howe. Peabody went up river and settled and founded Maugerx ille.
In 17(33 townships had been granted on the Saint John River and elsewhere. We are interested in the townshii)s of Parr on the east side of the Harbor of Saint John and Conwa\- on the west side.
Parrtown was described: "All the lands and waters thereto adjoining, or running in by or through the same, bounded by a line to commence and beginning near I'ort Howe at Portland Point at low water mark, and thence running a direct line to a small point or ledge of land at the cause\' by the old sawmill,
NEW bri;ns\vu'K ihstoru.m, xxii'iA lo-
ihence east northeast tinti! a diieci line sliail sirikL- ihc crcL-k running through Hazen's Marsh on the cast side ol the l^astern District aforesaid, thence along the course ot the said creek to its mouth, thence by a line running south nineteen degrees west into the bay until it meets a line rinining east from the soutli point of Partridge Island and along the said line to the said [join I, thence by a direct line to a i)(/nU (jn the shore which is at the southeast extremity of a line running sotith fort\-two degrees east from the Rixer Saint John, to the Buy ot i'untly and ter- minating the town U)ts of the Western District aforesaid, thence al(Mig tlie said line north f(jrt>-two degrees west to the l\i\er Saint John aforesaid and continuing the said course across the said ri\'er until it meets the op{H)site shore and from thence along the north shore of the said river at Icnv water mark to Portland Point aforesaid, and every part and parcel thereof are and shall hereafter be a cit\' incor[)orated of a nuuor, reccjrder, six alder- men and six assistants, \)y the name of the ('it\' of Saint John.' "
Conway was described "as lying on the west side n\ the l\i\er Saint John, bounded on that side of the ri\er and running back on the Bay of I'\md>- about ten or twelve mile^." \\'ithin it is a good harb(jr called Alusqtiash C'o\e, where a xaluable tract ol salt marsh, said to be 2,500 acres, and which in the ojMnion of many judicious pers(jns are easiU' d\ked, at the head ot which is a riser navigable for small \essels ^ix or se\en miles, and perfectl)' well calculated for mills. With these adxaniages it is recorded that the township ma\- acconmiodate a considerable number of families. Although it is generalK supposed that the upland is not very good, some of the best i)art of it on the peninstila nearest to Saint John has been tormerl\- granted and settlement had been made.
Conway was called after Henry S. C^onwa\', Secretar>- of State for the Colonies in IT.So.
This grant was estreated.
On October 2, 17(i5, by Letters Patent under the C.reat Seal of Nova Scotia, there was granted to James Simonds, James White, and William Ilazen and others, a tract of land from the
158 NKW URUNSWICIC HISTORICAL SOCIF/FY
north side of I'nion Street West, west to the River Saint John, and north to the Kenneijeccasis River.
Statement as to White, handed to me by his grandson Louis D. ]\IilHdj2;e, Esqiure:
JAMES wiirrE
Latk HuiH SiiKRiFF OF Saixt Johx From ISIO TO 1847
To all persons who are at all familiar with Xew Brunswick history the names of Hazen, Simonds and White, the pre- Loyalist settlers, are very familiar.
Of the second generation, many (;f whom were more or less prominent in the community, not so much is known.
James White, the first of the name who settled in this part of America, married a daughter of Capt. Francis Peabod\', and by her had quite a numerous family, most of whom died young, but one son (Jas. White, Jr.,) and three daughters reached maturit>'.
The daughters were Mary Elizabeth, who married Sheriff Gabriel DeVeber, of Gagetown, Qtieens Co., N. B.; Susanna, who married Jas. Peters, brother of Gharles J. Peters, Altt)rney- General of New Brimswick; and Sarah, who nuirried one Halstead, and lived for some time in New York.
James White the elder, and Jas. Simonds, were brothers-in- law, Jas. Simonds ha\'ing married Hannah, daughter of Gapt. Francis Peabody.
The following obituary notice from an issue t)f the Saint John (ilobe will interest those who knew anything of the late Sheriff White, born 1770, died August, IcSfxS.
"A good man has departed from among us, at the ripe age of eighty-eight years; and although such an event might natur- ally be expected at that period of life, yet we are pained to announce the death of James While, Esq., so long well known as the High Sheriff of the City and County of Saint John.
"No man while living was more honored or respected in this community, and his death lea\'es a \'oid which with many will not easily be filled.
"The father of the deceased was one of the first settlers in this harbor, in which he landed with others on May IS, I7G2, just twenty-one years before the coming oT the Lo>-alists.
"On the day mentioned the frame and materials for a house, which the party brought with them, were taken on shore and set up at Portland Point. It was occupied on May 21 , the party
M-:\v imuNswiCK iustokkal socikty 15<J
meantime taking shelter in the Barracks at lH)rt Frederick, then occupied by a military forcti.
"A few years after the subject of this notice was fast ap- proaching manhood when the Loyalists arrived and landed on the rocky peninsula, called by the Indians Munocjuis, upon which the greater part of this city now stands.
"The whole of Mr. White's long life has been here spent. He saw the foundations of the city laid, he grew up with it, and saw it advancing step by step from the felling of the hrst tree until it attained its present dimensions and dense population. Our city with all its improvements and modern advantages has thus sprung up within the lifetime of one man, who is now called to a better world, after a well spent life, and whose memory will long be cherished by many — very many — who are deeply indebted to him for acts of benex'olence and disinterested kind- ness that can never be forgotten."
Sheriff White was born at Sheflield, uu the Saint John River, and when he was aln^ut four months old, together with his mother, was brought io Saint John in a canoe by a trusty Indian.
He used to relate that upon one occasion, when he was a \ery young boy li\ing at I'ortland Point, several \'essels were sighted coming into the harbor. His mother was so alarmed that she took him down into the cellar of the hotise for safety. Their fears proved groundless, the visitors being merely traders peace- ably disposed.
Of tlie first James White it was told that he could exert greater inlltience o\-er the Indians than an\' other man in the settlement, they ha\'ing the highest opinion of his honestx and integrity-.
I'he trade with the Indians was chiell)' b\- wa\' of l)arter, the lurs and other commodities which they brought in being taken in exchange lor such supjjlies as they reciuired.
Somewhat suspicious of the ordinary-, methods ol weighing, it was usual for Air. White to use a imiciue method of computa- tion. Thtis he would say, " Now, brother, when I \nii my hand on the scale it will weigh one pound, and when 1 put my foot on it the foot will weigh two pounds." This procedure alwaxs appeared to satisfj^ the Indians who felt that in dealing with Mr. \Vhite they received all to which the>' were entitled.
Ihitil the date of his marriage Sheriff White livetl in his father's old home at the head of the Marsh near ("oldbrook, and here his sister, Mary Elizabeth White, lived with him, and acted as his housekeeper, prior to her marriage to Sheriff Nathaniel DeV'eber, of Oueens Co.
1()0 m;\\ HRLN^\\'i( k iii^ioRK ai s()('ii':r\'
\\ lien aljout forty years of age Sheriff White married I^Hza- belh C'ran'ston, daughter of Lewis DeBlois.
About 1S5G Sheriff White stated to Thomas Milhdge, one of his grandsons, that lie had as a small l)o\-, with his father, walked 1)\' a jiath in the woods (which is now Main Street) from Portland l\)int t(j the Market Square to see the Loxalists land on May IcS, 17S3.
It is related that upon one occasi(jn a -poor half-witted Irish hoy stole a loaf ot bread, tor \\hich he was sentenced b\- the late Ward ("hipman t(j be hanged. Sheriff White did not consider that the nature of the offence justihed such an extreme penalty, but the judge was inexorable, and as the gcnernor would not exercise his prerogative, the sentence had U) be carried out. This so enraged SheritT White, that he and Ward ('hi[)man were ne\'er again on friendly terms.
The late General Cofhn whose residence was at the Xerepis was a great friend of Sheriff White and always staxed with him when he was in the city.
in 17G8 troops were withdrawn from h^ort I-rederick, except a corporal and four men.
In 1774 the hrst representatixes for the C"otmt\- of Sunbury in the Noxa Scotia Legislature were Charles Morrib, son of the Surveycjr-C.eneral of Nova Scotia, and James Simonds, of Saint John.
In 177.) attempts were made at bhip-building in the har- bor in the simimer of this >-ear - the foreman was a Mr. Jones. The Irame ol the vessel was up and i)artl)- planked and the pros[)ects fair for launching in the fall, but this was n<jt realized. The \-essel was being built at "Simonds Point," now known as "York Point," and burnt, totally consumed.
In 1777, on September 24, Mr. Michael hTanklin, Indian Commissioner, made a treaty with the Malicetes and Micmacs at Fort Howe and succeeded in getting the treaty the Indian Chiefs in Boston had made and signed. The Indians were faithless, and again renewed their demands in 1770 but they were not satisfied until they had received promises of large presents. This was the last attempt at Indian war.
Fort Howe was held by a small force under command of Major Studholm.
\1-:\V IJRUXSWUK lIlM'ORirAL socim'v IGl
Alasls were exported from Saiiu jnlin tor ilie use of ihe Xavy ill 17S1 .
On January 21, 17S3, a treaty of peace was signed between Britain, France and Spain. The Revolulionarx' War was ended and armies disbanded, many of tlu- troops were remo\ed from New l^igland, New \'ork, and other sections of America, to New Rrunswick and Xova Scotia.
New Brunswick was known as Sunbur\- ('ouiit\, in the ProN'ince of No\a Scotia, and tliis coimt\' was set apart and now established as "The Pro\ ince of New Brimswick." C'ol. Thomas Carleton was appointed lirst governor July 2S, 17S4. He came to Farrtown on November 12, 1781. Nc.\t da\- he took the oath of office and appointed his Council.
Farrlown was named by Major Studholm and others in consequence ot a letter from Governor I'arr to Major C.ilfred Studholm, wherein he makes the request pointedU-, but sa>s ///(// the idea origuiated in fciiiale vanity.
A new plan was ]3roposed, viz., that of incorporating the new towns at the mouth of the Ri\'er Saint John and forming a city by the name of "Saint John," and thus practiccdly pre\ent- ing a serious representation from the peoi)le.
Letters i:)atent were issued under the (keat Seal of N»)\a Scotia ])}■ J<jhn Farr, h",squire, Captain Ceneral and Ct^mniander- in-Chief in and over His Majesty's Frovince of No\-a Scotia and its dependencies, the Admiral of the same, etc., etc., etc., gi\'ing and granting and confirming unto the grantees sexerally the lots as numbered on the plan and drawn b)' the said grantees. These letters patent were issued and dated the fourteenth day of August, 17(S4.
The town was laid out in 1,454 lots and granted to the Loyalist families residing therein.
Grantees on the j^eninsula numbered 1,184 in Farrtown, and 93 in the other grants on the west side of the harbor.
Farrtown was plotted and planned by Faul Bedell and dated December 17, 1783.
162 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORKAL SOCIliTV
The City and County of Saint John was estabUshed and defined by an Act of Assembly:
"All that tract or district of land situate in the lVo\ince of New Brunswick, bounded southerly on the Bay ot Fund\', easterly by Hopewell Township, and on a line running from the northwest corner of said township due north in the count\' northerly by a line running east northeast and west southwest from the southern-most point of the Kennebeccasis Ri\er where it joins the River Saint John and westerly b\' a due north line from Point La Proe in the Bay oi Fund\- as att)resaid ;" and did thereby ordain, establish and declare that all and singuhu' the lands and waters comprised witliin the line aforesaid should forever thereafter be continued antl remain a district and separate count\', and, including the C lt\' ol Saint John, shall be called and known anil distinguished b\ the name ol the ( ity and Count}' of Saint John.
The (_\)unt\' of Saint John was di\ided into to^\li^hil)s or parishes and for our present ptupose, the hrsi towii or parish was called and known b\- the name of Portland, bounded on the south by the Bay ot h\nidy and eabiern shore of the Harbor of Saint John, and the se\'eral northern bounds and limits of the said City ot Saint John, int the east b\- the eastern boundary line of Lot Xo. 1 granted to Samuel Hughes, continued lo the northern boundary line, running [ram ihe shore to the Ba\' of Fundy north fifteen degrees west ; on the north b\- the northern boundary line of said cotmt\- and on the \\esl by the eastern shore of the River Saint John and the limits of the said coimt\-. On April 'A(l, 17N5, on the petition ot tlie inhabit. mis ot the Town or District of Parr h'ing on the eastern bide of the Ri\'er Saint John, and Carleton on the west side thereof ai the entrance of the Ri\er Saint John aforesaid, both of which said districts are in the Province ot New Bnmswick in America, it was repre- sented to Thomas Carleton, Fscjuire, < iox ernor and C\)mniaiuler- in-Chief in and o\er said pro\ince that ihe\- had b\- liieir exer- tions concjuered many of the dilhculties attending the settlement of the country, and that the>' were anxious to remoxe the remaining e\ils they at present labor imder, part of which flow
NKW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY lf)3
from tlie want of a regular magistracy tor the sate and orderly government of the district they inhaljit. They also represented that they humbly conceived that an important step towards the desirable end would be granting them a Charter of Incor- poration, under the sanction of which they might be enabled to ordain such bye-laws and regulations as their peculiar wants and rapid growth urgently call for. That the advantages to be derived from a charter empowering them to establish such ordinances as are requested for the good government of a })oi)u- lous place were so obvious they thought it necessar\' only to hint at them, and that the speech- administration of justice, both civil and crTminal, would be greatly aided by erecting a Mayor's Court and Quarter Sessions, and they humbly hoped this ccjnsideration alone would be suiticient to induce compliance with their request, and confidently promised that their prudent use of the liberties would justify the favor.
These was thereupon given and granted unto the inhabitants of the said districts as they were thereby united, and the said districts and all the lands in, by or through the same, bounded as previously described.
The city was governed by a Common Council consisting of a Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen, Councillors, with other appointed officers. The city was divided into wards. At first there were four on the east side, — Kings, Queens, Dukes, and Syd- ney; and two on the west side — Guys and Brooks; each with two representatives — Alderman and Councillor.
The Mayor at first was appointed b>' the Pro\'incial (Govern- ment until 1850. The first Mayor, (iabriel C Ludlow, 1785. The last appointment by government, Henry Chubb, 1850.
In 1850 Common Council elected their own chairman — who was Mayor: Thomas Harding, 1851; William (). Smith, 1852. Afterwards the Mayor was elected annually, as were the Alder- men and Councillors.
On February 25, 1850, the (^harter of the City of Saint John and the government thereof was changed b>- a bye-law; the office of "Councillor" in each ward being substituted by name of "Assistant Alderman."
164 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
In 1SS4 the office of "Councillor" was abolished, and instead each ward elected two Aldermen.
In time other wards were created. Kings was di\;ided and Wellington created. Wellington was divided and Prince created.
The west side wards were originally (luys and Brooks; afterwards divided and Albert created.
In 1890 the Council was established as the Mayor antl one Alderman for each ward, and two Aldermen-at-largc.
In l'.)07 the Council Avas composed of Mayor, one Alderman for each ward and four Aldermen-at-large.
In March 26, 1912, the government of th(?city was changed and composed of a Mayor, and four Commissioners, elected by the people; the Mayor was elected for two >'ears and the (\)m- missioners retiring every two years.
In 1871 (by 34 Vic, c. 11, page lil) the inhabitants of the Parish of Portland becoming ambitious and not desirous ot being considered longer as suburbanites, "asked for and secured, on May 17, 1871, 'An Act Incorporating The Town of Portland.'" It was divided into four wards numbered 1, 2, ;], 4, and a fifth was added and erected March 21, 1878.
In 1883 the name of the Town of Portland was changed to that of the "City of Portland."
In 1888 An Act of Assembly was passed authorizing a vote to be taken by the inhabitants of the Cities of Saint John and Portland on the matter of extending the boundaries of the City of Saint John so as to include the City of Portland. The said vote was taken, resulting in favor of the union, b\- a large majority.* An Act was passed in 1889 carrying the views and wishes of the inhabitants into effect, called The Union Act, 1889, which incorporated both cities as one and became operative on May IS, 1889 — the one hundred and fifth anniversary of the landing of the Loyalists.
*\'ote for City Union. Saint John . . Portland
|
For |
Against |
|
1650 |
694 |
|
553 |
413 |
2203 1107
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 165
By this Union Act, uniting these cities — Saint John and Portland — the wards of the latter were confirmed Init under names instead of numbers: Victoria Ward known as 1 ; Dufl'erin Ward known as 2; Lansdowne Ward known as 3; l.orne Ward known as 4; and Stanley Ward known as 5.
Portland was called after William Henry Cavendish Bentinck third Duke of Portland, — Premier of (ireat Britain, from April 5, 1783, -- till his defeat and resignation December 17, of the same year.
Many of the founders of the Cit\- of Saint John, and of the establishment and settlement of New Brunswick, were an educated, polished, refined and cultured class in ci\il, professional and military life.
There were Harvard men among them; notably lion. Edward Winslow, an accomplished scholar and gentleman of fine presence and engaging manner, — a graduate of Har\ard. He was appointed Master-Muster-Cjeneral of the Loyal I-Orces with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of New Brunswick in 1S07.
Ward Chipman, also a graduate of Har\ard College, who was appointed Attorney-General of New Jkunswick in 1784, and others.
Attorney-Ceneral Chipman drafted the Charter of Saint John granted by the Governor of Nova Scotia. He was the first Recorder of the city.
On May 2;>, 1785, the Common Council ordered that the Mayor be requested to report at the next meeting of Council a proper device and inscri[)tion for the City Seal. On Ma}' 26, 1785, the Mayor, pursuant to request, laid before the Board a device and inscription for the City Seal, and the same being approved of it was ordered that the same be perfected, and the Mayor was requested to employ an artificer who may be capable of execution. This device was designed by Ward Chip- man, Recorder.
The first Mayor was Hon. Ciabriel (.. Ludlow, appointed 1785 to 1795.
160 N'liW BRUNSWICK HISTORIt'A[. SOCIKTY
The lirst Common Clerk, Bartholomew Crannell, appointed 1785 to 1790.
The first Recorder, Ward Chipman, appointed 1785-1S09.
First Chamberlain George Leonard, appointed 1785 to 1787.
As stated liy late Dr. S. D. Scott, "This city, springing all at once where several thousands of Loyalists, escaping from New York and New England, camped on the j)romoniory at the mouth of the noble river, there on the rocks and among the trees, the lirst huts and l)arracks were built."
"Chi{)man, who loved his Virgil so well that he used to quote, him in private letters, being called upon io find a motto for the new city at once bethought of Virgil's account of the wanderings of Aeneas and of the time when seeking a place to found his new city, he came upon the site where Queen Dido, not yet infelix, was building Carthage, watching the ancient Tyrians bustling about like bees, extending the wall, building the citadel, rolling up the stones by hand, locating their houses, founding their theatre, comparing their fortunes with his own troubles and uncertainties, Aeneas exclaimed, "() f(jrtunate people whose walls already are rising."
These words of Aeneas were adopted as the motto of Saint John and one reads on the records and stationer}- oi the city to-day this line:
'''O fortiniati quorum jam niooiia surguut."
Saint John was the first incorporated city in the British Colonies, enjoying full corporate rights of self-government.
The work of the founders of city and provincial buildings and business was thoroughly and thoughtfully considered and planned before permanent buildings and improvements were commenced. 'I'he city was fully plotted.
Having now before us the plan of the city by Paul Bedell, dated December 17, 1783, we find the names of the streets as laid out on scale representing sixt>' feet in width, with the exception of two, (namely, King and now Broad) at 100 teet in width. Why?
There is no reason for this given that the writer knows of
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORUAI. SOCII'.TY 1(17
but there must be a reason, and thus we are left to conjecture. At the time — thestatement has been repeatedly made at dilYerent times by reliable authority- — that there was an " Upper Cove" and "Lower C^ove." In the knowledge of the writer, as boys we had broils between the "Up Towners" <ind "Lower Covers." The city must have been popularly divided into two'divisions. Political elections aggravated this teeling of enmity. Feelings ran to riot. The result of the first election for assembly was so displeasing to the governor that he personally visited se\'eral places in New Brunswick, ending in his selecting Parish St. Ann on the River Saint John. This place was selected by him as the capital, and it was re-named Fredericton in honor of the Duke of York.
Outside communication with the outsirle world was by water, and landings would be at, near or in the coves — and to facilitate travel and traffic larger avenues of ai)proach to or from such would be greater than elsewhere.
King Street, at the head of the harbor, would be the natural roadway for the greatest or most direct traftic xo, with and from tiie l^pper Cove, and therefore 100 feet would be allowed it. "Main," then, — now "Broad" — forthesame reason would be for the lower section of the city, bounded as it was b\' the Lower Cove and harbor, and so receive 100 feet in width. It also ap[)ears by the plan that only two streets of the peninsula — Union and "South," afterwards "Sheffield" — ran from the harbor to Courtenay Bay, east and west, and only one north and south from the base of the peninsula to the Ba\' of Fund>-, - Sidne\', - under one name. All other cross streets named commenced at Sidney and ran east and west under difTerent names.
There is no reason recorded for this course, but a reasf)n there must have Ijeen, and we are again left to surmise.
Could it be that Sidney, its full length, and cut through and laid upon the ridge of the peninsula, would be a residential section of the city, having amfile natural advantage for sanitar\' conditions, there being full opportunit\' for satisfactor>' drainage — north, south, east and west.
The Bedell plan carries us to the south side of Union Street
16S XKW HRLN'SUICK lllsToRKAl. SOtli:TV
only. (This street was to be called Ciilfred Street, after ^Major Gilfred Studholm, but this suggestion did not take.)
R. C. ]\Iinette's plan of 1818, — thirt>-tive >'ear^ later, — takes in land to the north of Union Street from Sni>the to Coburg Streets, and then north to Pond and the City Road, with the prepensed extensions of Waterloo, Brussels and Mrin Streets converging at Haymarket Square at the City R()ad, which was the boundary line between the Parishes oi Portland and Simonds and the City of Saint John. No street in the city should be less than fifty feet wide. Looking on the plan south to north we find: All land south of Broach iew A\enue (formerly Main) was retained by the Imperial (io\ernment and authori- ties for military purposes. Here was erected the Barracks and necessary adjuncts for harbor protection.
Broadview AviiNUii. — Running from harbor tt) Courtenay Bay, called "South" Street originally, but was re-named in honor of "Lord Shef^eld," as a token of recognition of his ser- vices to the British North American Colonies in supporting the British Navigation Laws against the Baltic influences.
Lord Shet^eld was by name Sir John Baker Holroyd. In 1781 he was raised to the Peerage of Ireland as Baron Shellield of Dunamore. At a meeting of the Common Council, ]\larch 15, 1805, a vote of thanks of the Corporation was gi\ en to the Right Honorable Lord Sheffield for His Lordship's exertions by his late and former publications in support of the British Navi- gation Laws on which the prosperity of this and His Majesty's other North American l^rovinces so greatly depended. That the freedom of the city is humbly presented to His Lordship) in a box to be made of maple, and that a picture from an engrax ed likeness presented to the Corporation by the Honorable George Leonard be enclosed in a suitable frame and hung up in grateful remembrance of his public ser\'ices. (Jeorge Leonard, o\ Massachusetts, Second in Command, was a member of .New Brunswick Council, an active man, Legislator, Magistrate, Colonel of Militia, and Superintendent of Fisheries, died at Sussex, 1826.
For many years Sheffield Street was a jjeaceful place, with
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 169
a few cottages and much vacant land in the neighborhood partly occupied as gardens and for pasturage.
A great change came about in 1821 when the garrison was removed from Fort Howe, which place had been occupied by the military since the coming of the Loyalists in 17S3.
The Barracks in Lower Cove was iinished in 1831 and the 74th Regiment, Col. French, last regiment otcui)ying Fort Howe, was removed to the new Barracks on land south of this street.
The Sheffield Street today presents but little resemblance to the Sheffield of sixty or seventy years ago.
The removal of the regular troops after Confederation, the destruction by the tire of 1877 of all buildings, the erection of the new Armory and tearing down and demolishing the "Old Rookeries" erected here after the fire, have made a vast change. Before these later dates the old rookeries sheltered and harbored a nondescript and lawless assemblage of both sexes who gathered here from all directions, following the quarters of the soldiers as is the custom of all garrison towns wherever the cantonments of the military are established, and where the sailors are closely allied.
These harpies congregated to prey upon the soldiers and pandered to the worse vices. All these changes ha\e completeU' altered the character of the street. In those bNC-gone da\s a Saturday night was little short oi pandemonium. Dance halls were wide open filled with soldiers, sailors and others strug- gling and shuffling vigorousl>' in rough and boisterous dancing to the tunes of squealling pipes and fiddles played 1)>' brc^ken down old men whose only livelihood was stra\' cop[)ers contri- buted by the participators in the fandango, eked out b>- a slight nightly contribution from the jjrojjrielor of the hall. The halls were brightl>' illumined with (andles, and latterl\- with oil lamps.
Rum circulated freely, and as the nights wore on rows and fights became general and in order, resulting in se\ ere injuries inflicted among those engaged in the strife.
The soldiers when hard pressed would unloose their belts on which were the brass buckles and fastenings, and swinging
170 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAI. SOCIETV
round their heads, striking with force, inllict ghastly wounds.
The scanty poHce were sometimes unable to cope with the mob, and were frequently assisted by a military squad of from ten to twenty men, who patrolled the streets right after night fall.
After the military left, this section became a prowling ground for a low type individual who [greyed on the deluded strangers who wandered down there under the impression that they were enjoying the fast life of the city.
This street had several l)ye names conferred on it: Kelly's Row was one; another the name of a 'I'lirkish cit\' on the Danube which, during the Crimean War, had made a brave defence against the Russians, which so took the fancy of the bo>s * * * they gave it the name of "Kalafat" after that city.
Freeman's ("hant\' of the day had a refrain:
"Oh hand me down my brand new hat Till 1 go down to Kalafat."
The Halifax Herald of that day once noted the fact "That Saint John away from home will be glad to learn that Kalafat has not >et been taken."
In lUll, on the motion of the Alderman of Sidney Ward (John B. Jones, Esq.), the name was changed to that of Broad- view Avenue, but this name has never become i:)opular and will not in the present generation at any rate. Fhe original name "South" would have been more acceptable and was exi^ressive.
Vulcan. — Off Charlotte Extension to Sydney. Saint John Iron Works situate on this street.
Broad. — Running from harbor to Courtenay Bay. Origin- ally named "Eanning" Street after Colonel Edmund Fanning of North Carolina, a graduate of Vale. Cazetted Colonel December lo, 177(); raised the King's American Regiment. Went to Nova Scotia, and on September '2'.i, 17S.'), was ai)pointed Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia, in 17S() he became Lieutenant-Ciovernor of Prince Edward Island, which position
NliW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 171
he held for nineteen years. He died in London, IMS. (hi his removal the name Main was substituted, and it so remained until after the union of the Cities of Saint John and Portland, when it received the present name, not to contiict with ]\Iain in the north end, running the full length of south of Portland to the river. The name Broad is apj^ropriate, it, with I^ing, being the only streets 100 feet broad.
Britain. — Running from harbor to l)a\-. This street was named "Saint Andrews" in the "Bedell" as well as "Minette" plans, in honor of the patron Saint of Scotland, but was changed to Cireat Britain Street about ISIS, Saint Andrew l)eing trans- ferred to another street further north for special cause. The name was given the street full length to the bay as "(".real Ikitain," but latterK' the (Ireai was dr()p[)ed and so it carries tliis name to the present. The Lower ("o\e ran inland bcxond this street at the west end from a jjoiiii between Charlmie and Sidney. I'he west end is a hll u|) and made passable to [he- south end of Prince William, — Reed's i\jint. The Scotch Presbyterians of Saint John held ser\ ice on this street until iSlS
Saint JamI':s.— Running from harbor to ba>'. Saint James Palace, London, was destroyed by tire in LS09 and no doubt to commemorate that building the name was given. It appears on the Bedell plan as the western end of the street from Sidney. ^J'he extension of the street from Sidney to the bay was called Stormont in honor of Right Honorable L-avid Viscount Stor- mont, April 2, 17S3, who was President of the Pri\ y C\)uncil of England in the Pitt Administration.
Hardinc;. — I^Tom harbor east to Charlotte. In honor of Thomas Harding, an Alderman of Dukes Ward, ISO.'), and a son of William Harding, one of the grantees of the cit>- lois — who drew lots Xos. 5 and ."^5. In IS.li) this street was widenctl to its present dimensions.
Pa(;an Plac k.— C.ermain to lots fronting on east side Prince William Street. This was the pri\'ate j)ropert>- of William Pagan, who came to Saint John from New ^'ork in 17s;5. He represented Saint John in the first Legislature. He married
1/2 XEW IJRUNSWICK UlSTORKAl. SOCIl'TV
and was appointed by the Charter (jne of ilie Alderman of this cit\'.
This property became the residence of William Wright, Ksciuire, AcKocate-Cieneral, appointed l.SKi, and continued until his death in 1805. He practised law in Saint John, was a great Chancer}' law\'er, and was greatly interested in real estate, lie owned pro[ierty bounded on the souih of ihe (ily Road from about half-wa\- on the south of City Kciad to (he junction of C.ilbert's Lane and running liack north to the l*ul)lic C.ardens. He died suddenly. All this real estate was the subject of a Chancery suit. The late William ]\I. birvis was appointed Receiver of his estate. This property was planned and plotted and sold in building lots. \\'right Street was called after him.
Saixt AxDRiiW.s. — Running from Si(hie\- Street to Carmar- then. The Scotch residents in Saint John, Presbyterian l)y denomination, in 17S4 met and organized and appointed a committee to apply to the government for a grant of land on which they might l)uild a chiuxh, school house, manse and jxjor hfjuse. The committee appointed \)y them i)etitioned and procured a grant of city lots of land l>ing now on the northern half of the block of land fronting on Saint James and the southern half of the block of kind fronting on jMecklenburg Street between Sidney and Carmarthen, under the (ireat Seal of i\o\a Scotia dated the twenty-ninth day of June, 17S4. To open up this block of lots, forty in all, a street was laid out. It received the name of Saint Andrews Street and it is so named in the Minette Plan, 1818.
Saint Andrews was then dropped from Britain which was continued to the bay.
Queen. — From harbor to bay. So called in honor of Queen Charlotte, consort of George HI, from harbor to Sydney — as appears by the Bedell Plan — and from Sydney east to the bay, "Charlotte." It got its present name full length of street after Studholm had been dropped from present Charlotte Street.
N'I';NV r>RLN"S\VI('K IIISTORK Al, so(ii:tv It'.j
DuKi:. — From harbor to l)a\'. Fhc western end ol this street was named "BLilkelly" and the eastern end trom Sydne\' to the ba>' "M<jrris" on the Bedell IMan, and within (he kncjw- ledge ot the writer. Bulkellv was the name of lIonoral)le Richard Bulkell>-, who accom{)anied C'ornwallis to No\a Scotia in 17^1) when he founded Halifax. He was Secretary <jf Xo\a Scotia imder thirteen successive governors until 17'.).'!, when he retired in fa\-or of his son. He died at the age of eighty-three.
Morris was the name of the Honoraltle (diaries JNl orris, the lirst re|jresentali\ e of Sunbury County in the Legislature ot \ova Scotia. He was the son of Colonel Honorable John ]\Iorris, Sin\'e\'or-C.eneral of No\-a Scotia. In the "Minette" Plan, ISIS, this street was still divided, but "Duke" had been substituted for " Bulkelly." Abjrris was continued for sonie time, and within the knowledge ol the writer, when "Morris" was dropped and Duke extended from harbor to ba\' - on tlie site of the annex of the \'ictoria School was the Church of the Disciples of Christ and in the basement was one of the city schools taught b>' the late James, afterwards Dr. James Hutch- inson, M. !)., and the late Edward ]Manning, M . A. Idiese gentlemen in the sj^ring of 1.S5S went to Saint John C.rammar School on the Corner of Horsfield and Ccrmain Streets, succeed- ing Messrs. Blanchard and March. Dr. Hutchinson atterwards practised his protession in Saint John. Lulward ^Manning went to Prince l£dward Island and, returning, succeeded Mr. John March as' Secretary' of the School Board of Saint John.
The name is titular and called after the Duke of Kent father of late Queen Victoria the C^iood who visited Saint John in f70f.
ORANGJi. — Sydney to bay. In honor of Frederick, Duke of Orange, who was C(jmmander of the Hanoverian Army troops in the Napoleonic War in Belgium, as allies of the British under Wellington. He was killed at the Battle of Waterloo, June IS, ISIS He was present at the Duchess oi Richmond's l)all in Brussels before the battle.
Princess. — Harbor to bay. On the Bedell plan this street is noted as in two divisions — west of Sydney Street, lAng; east of Sydne\', "St. Georges."
174 NEW BRUNSWICK IllSTt)RICAL SCX IHTY
On the jMinette plan, 1S7<S, the west had been changed to "Princess," and the east remained St. (ieorges. "St. Georges" was afterwards dropped and the name Princess Street applied to the full length.
Col. William Tyng was sent to Saint John in 17.s;^ by imperial authority as Commissariat Agent for the Lo\alists. Me was one of the Commissioners appointed to allot the grants at Parrtown to the Loyalists. He left Saint John, retired to C.agetown (Oueens Count>) about 178(); was Sheriff of (Jueens Ct)unt\-. lie died in I'ortland, Me., 1S()7.
Saint CJeorge was the titular Saint ot ICnglaiul.
Princess was called in honor ot " I'rincess Amelia," the \t>imgest daughter ol King C.eorge 111, l)orn Atigust 7, llS'A, died in bSU).
The west end of this street, from C.ermain to harlior, was a high precipitous cliff but on July 21), ISoO, this bkjck was ojjcned for traffic. A team laden with cordwood ascended the hill that was left, to C.ermain Street with ccjmparative ease. Rock\- Hill had been cut dcjwn to a grade that was trave!lable,but it retains this surname U) the prcbent (la> .
HoKSFiiLi.D.-C.ermain t(j Charlotte. Named in honor of Thomas Morsfield, a loyalist who came to Saint John in 17s;5. He was one of the grantees of lots in Parrtown. He drew Pot N(j. 92. He was a well-to-do Brocjklyn merchant. He was the first Warden in IVinity Church, in which a tablet wds erected to his memory. He lixed on C.ermain Street.
Church. — hTom Prince William to C.ermain. Was so called on account of it being (as it is to-day) an approach to Trinity Church on the east side of C.ermain.
Cooper's Ali.ev. — From Cross Street to Prince William. On this small j)art of land was located the cooperage business ol the port, which was of much importance to Saint John at this lime. It was near to the then beach where Water Street ^so called) is now located. Traffic was from this alley across IVince William to an alley on the west side of Prince William Street to Saint John (Water Street) which was the beach. This alley
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 175
was called at different times and ages, " Horsheld's," "Cireen's," and latterly Jardine's Alley.
King. — Running full length to bay. This was a divided street. In Bedell's plan from harbor to Charlotte Street, and from Sydney Street to bay, "Great George." This was the main artery of the city for the Upper Gove, as it is to-day, up to Charlotte Street. Towards the eastern end of the street there was quite an eminence on which was erected a Block House for protection from attack, and a fire alarm for the protection from fire. Through this hill was cut a passage of about twenty. feet width to connect with the bay. In the early sixties this hill was removed and the street reduced to its present dimensions to Courtena>' Bay.
The name (jreat (George was discarded and King Streel East substituted. Why East? Is it not surplusage.-' Between "King and King Street East" is King Square.
Elliott Row. — Carmarthen to bay. In honor of Honorable Sir George Augustus Elliott, afterwards created Lord Heathfield, Eebruary 2, 1783, defender of Gibraltar and afterwards (jovernor thereof December H, 1783.
Union Street. — Harbor to bay; the head of the harbor and part of the bay. The union of the waters and the l>aseline of the peninsula of Parrtown. The land to the north side of this street had Ijcen pre\iously granted to James Simonds, James White and William Hazen. This is the north line on the Bedell plan. The Minette plan takes in land to the north- west and north to a cove and Pond Street. This street was first proposed to be called Gilfred Street in honor of Major Gilfred Studholm, and was the roadway between harbor and the coimty, but this did not take and Union Street was desig- nated.
York Point was situate at the harbor end of Ihiion and was called after the Duke of York.
Smythe Street. — Union to Pond Street. In honor of Governor George Stracey Smythe, aide-de-camp to Wellington
170 NiaV BRUNSWICK HISTOKICAL SOCIETY
at Waterloo, second Governor of New Brunswick in 1SJ2. It was opened in September, 1839, and was reduced to its present dimension ot tifty feet in 1877, after the great fire in Saint John of that year. The tire started at a point west of this street on a wharf pro[)erty, and laid waste all the City of Saint John up to the corner house on the south side of Union (leaving that corner house and live houses on the west side ot l^rince William Street south and four houses on the east side of same Street, south) until it was stopped on the north side of King Street at house op[)osite Cross Street, where all houses south to the harbor were destroyed (except the Court House, Engine House and C^iaol). All houses in a south-easterly direction from the corner of Pitt on the west side to Queen Street on the south were left standing.
DrL'KY I.axk. — Off Union to North, was called after Drury Lane Theatre, London. This section of the city at that time was a resitlential quarter; military and olficials li\ed here and it was quite a social centre. There was a theatre at the corner of this street at \'ork Point in August, 1S18. The military intluence with the theatre patrons gave rise to the name.
Mill. — OlY Cnion to the north to Paradise Row. Called so on accoinU ol its being the roadway to Simonds Mill at the site ol the (\inadian Covernment Railway Station, and on to Main Street.
STRFJiTS RUNNL\Cx NORTH AND SOUTH
Pi:TiiRS Wharf. — Called after Hon. Charles J. Peters, Attorney-General of New lirunswick trom 1828 to 1818, a period of twenty years; not in either Iredell or Minelte plans. The beach was filled up, wharted and timbered, and laid out for warehouses.
Ward. — Not in either Bedell or Minette plans; was named in honor of John Ward, member of the Legislature of New Ikunswick, 1808, 181(), 1819. He was for many years recog- nized as the father of the city. On May 18, KS-io, he was
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIKTV lit
presented by the city with an address being then ninet>' \ears of age. The street was opened on April 5, 1S2,S.
Saint John Street. — Irregularly called Water Street; from harbor to Market Square. Not in the Bedell plan, but is marked on the Minette plan as Saint John Street. It was formerly a beach or flat of sea-shore and was filled up, wharfed and built upon, made a street and planned to-day as Saint John. Name indicates surroundings, with wharves and slips for water trailic. Formerly it only ran to Duke Street but was extended to Reed's Point as at present in 180G.
Dock Str1':et. — Called, as name indicates. Does not appear in the Bedell plan. At that time it was land covered with water. It appears, however, in the Minette jilan, for in the time between the plans, 17n;j-1818, the land had been made up by filling. All this section of the city was beach or fiats. It was widened on September 20, IcS;]*.), and made fifty feet. After the Saint John Fire June 20, 1877, it was further widened to the extent of twelve feet on the eastern side line and c(jntinues the same widil; to-day sixty-two feet to Union and joins Mill Street.
Neeson. — x\orth Wharf to Union. In honor of Lord Nelson the hero of TrafcUgar, 1805, It was widened in September, 1839.
Prince Willia.m. — I^Vom harbor to U^nion. In honor of Prince William, brother of (ieorge 111, afterwards King William IV. Me also held the title of l^uke of Clarence. He followed the sea, was an admiral and was knowai as "The Sailor Prince.'-
Cross. — Between Church and King. On both plans — Bedell and Minette's — and name indicates circumstances. This short street runs parallel with Prince William and Germain, and was widened to fifty feet in 1855. Benedict Arnold lived on the west corner of this street and south of King; Lot No. 406, from 1787 to 1701. Afterwards Hon. Attorney-Cieneral Bliss bought house and lot for £;i50. In 1811 it was purchased by Charles McPherson. It was converted into stores and was known as the Bragg building.
178 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Canterbury.— Running from Church to Princess Street. Was opened in 1855. Was called Canterbury after the Governor of New Brunswick, popularly known as Thomas Manners- Sutton. W'as extended to Saint James Street in 1877, and further extended in 1878 to Britain.
Germain. — From harbor to Union. In honor of George Sack- ville; born January 20, 1710, created Lord George Sackville, 1720-1770; Lord George Germain, 1770-1782, died August 20, 1785. He was a soldier as well as statesman. Was in the Pitt Administration, 1777. At one time it was the street of churches — Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptists.
Charlotte. — From harbor to Union. On Bedell's plan the word "Studholm" appears, as also on the Minette's plan. This was a main street running north and south. At the time Queen was extended to Courtenay Bay its full length, the name Char- lotte was substituted for "Studholm." It is titular and was called after the Queen Consort of (^eorge HI.
Major Gilfred Studholm was born near Dublin where he owned a small estate. He entered the army and in 177() was given a commission in Loyal Nova Scotia volunteers. He was gazetted a captain July 15, 1770, in the Ro^al P'encible Americans and rendered effectual service in repulsing an attack by the rebels on Fort Cumberland. In the fall of 1778 he was ordered to the mouth of the Saint John River where he built l-^ort Howe and remained in charge as Major until the arrival of the Loya- lists. He was actively employed in assigning lands to the different corps as they arrived, his assistant being Lieutenant Samuel Denny Street. He was a member of the first Council of the province. As a reward for his services he got a large grant of land in the Parish of Studholm, in Kings County, to which he retired, and where he died on October 10, 1792, at the Millstream at the age of fifty-four years.
Sydney Street. — From harbor to Union. As it appears on the Bedell and Minette plans runs on the crest of the penin- sula. In honor of Right Hon Thomas Townsend, created Lord Sydney, March 4, 1783, and who was Secretary of State in the
NliW BRUNSWICK HISTORRAI. SOCIETY 179
Pitt Administration. lie was a man of imperial ideas. He founded a British Colony in New South Wales, Australia. The name Port Jackson, the then capital of that colony, ^vas dropped and changed to Sydney, in his honor. Sydney, Cape Breton, also honored him.
Mecklenburg. — Of^' Sydney to the bay. Called after Sophia, Queen Consort of (ieorge III. The Queen's father bore the title of Duke of Mecklenburg-Sterlitz. The name was bestowed in honor of the birthplace of the Queen.
Leinster. — Off Sydney to the ba>'. In honor of Lord Edward Fitzgerald, born October 15, ITG!}, served in military life at Fort Howe, Saint John, in 1784. Bishop Inglis writes in his diary, "I met Lord Edward Fitzgerald, an agreeable genteel young man." Lord Edward Fitzgerald's story is a tragic one. A disappointment in love induced him to come to New Brunswick. William Cobbet was a sergeant in his regiment and he spoke highly of him. Lord Fitzgerald was a patriotic young Irishman.
Carmarthen Street. — Harbor to Union Street. In honor of Right Honorable PVancis Osburne, Marquis of C'armarthen and Imperial Secretary of State December 3, 1783.
Wentworth. — Harbor to Union. Called after (^.overnor Sir John Wentworth, second Governor of Nova Scotia in 1792. He was the last Royal Governor in New Hampshire and held the commission of the Surveyor of the King's woods in America. He came to Nova Scotia with the Loyalists and was an intimate friend of the Hon. Edward W'inslow, one of the founders of the province, and one of the judges of the Supreme Court of New Brunswick.
Pitt. — Harbor to Union. In honor of the Honorable William Pitt, Prime Minister of England, 1784.
Crown. — Not on Bedell plan, but on Minette's; from Union to between King and Leinster — now to the harbor. The origin ot the name is uncertain and purely speculative. It has been all filled in along the Courtenay Bay shore the full length.
So far Bedell plan.
180 NKW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Minette plan, ISIS:
North. — Running east and west from harbor to George Street. In honor of Lord North, Earl of (.uilford and Secretary of State in the Pitt Administration, 17S3. Besides it incident- ally happens that at this time it was the northern street of the cit>' and to the county line at Vond Street.
Pond. — East and west to City Road. Called after the Mill Pond, of which it was on the southern bank to the north line called the City Road.
City Road. — The main thoroughfare from the county into the cit\', and marks the boundary line of the city and ct)unt>-.
George. — Off Union to Pond. . Called after King George III.
Hazen Avenue. — Off Union to Carleton Street. Practically a continuation of Prince William Street, through the Chipman grounds, when such was partitioned off and sold into building lots to open this block of land and called Hazen Avenue by the heirs of the property.
Chipman Avenue. — A cross street parallel with Union and Carleton Streets and called in honor of the owner of this lot at one time, Hon. Chief Justice Chipman.
Carleton. — Running east and west parallel with Union to Coburg. After Sir Guy Carleton, Commander-in-Chief of the British forces in New York, and knighted Baron April 11, 17S6. He was appointed Governor-General of Canada and elevated to the peerage as Lord Dorchester August 15, 17S(i.
Peel.- — Off LInion to Carleton Street. In honor of Sir Robert Peel, Prime Minister of England, 1833, who was l)orn February 5, 1788, died July 2, 1850. In 1809 he was returned to Parliament. In 1810 he became Under-Secretary of the (^olonies; 1812 Secretary for India; 1818 he instituted the Irish Constabulary which were named "Peelers," and this name was extended to the police generally.
Wellington Row.^ — Off Union to Carleton Street. Con- tinuation of Germain Street for one block — Union to Carleton.
NEW HKUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY ISl
Was called in honor of Duke of Wellington, the hero of Waterloo, June 18, 1815. Was planned Wellington Street, l)ut was changed to Wellington Row 1818.
Dorchester. — From Ihiion to City Road. This street was laid out by Ward Chipman, by dividing the block of land between Wellington and Coburg Streets. So called on the Minette plan of 18G0, now known as Wellington Row and running north to the City Road, but the course was diverted at the corner of Sewell Street, to the eastward to face the Passenger Railway Station of the E. and N. A. Railway at Pond Street, on the south side, by the Common Council on the petition of the agents and attorneys of the owners of land on the northward and westward of the northern e.xtension as at present established by Act of the General Assembly, 32 Vic, c. 65 (1809), on October 25, 1882. The depot was removed later westward to face on Mill Street and there is now a freight station at this point.
CoBURCi. — From Union to Hazen's Castle. Titular after Prince Albert, Consort of Queen Victoria, who was Prince of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, born 1840; died 1861.
Sewell. — Off Coburg to Pond. In 1811 Ward Chipman purchased from the Honorable W^illiam Hazen a block of land beginning at the lot occupied by St. John Church, Carleton Street, head of Wellington Row, thence along Carleton Street to Coburg, thence down Jaftrey or Jeffries Hill, thence past where now stands St. Paul's Church, thence northwest to Jenny's Spring, thence south to the place of beginning; in all thirty-six acres, for £6U0, and one of the streets laid out in the block was named Sewell Street, after a citizen of Saint John who died Chief Justice of Quebec.
Garden. — Off Coburg to City Road. After a garden culti- vated by W^illiam Jaffray or Jeffrey at the foot of the hill or near the City Road. This street was long and popularly known as Jeffrey's Hill. To show the advance made in 1824, Alexander Wedderl)urn, Secretary of the New Brunswick Society, gave notice that the New Brunswick Society's Annual Cattle Exhibi- tion and Competition will take {)lace on the second October on
182 KEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIKTY
the heights near Jeffrey's Garden precisely at twelve o'clock. In the sixties the triangular lot between Coburg and Hazen Streets was a field from which balloons were let loose, a sight for large and interesting crowds. To this day it is spoken of as Jeffrey's Hill.
Hazen. — From Dorchester to Hazen's Castle. In honor of Hon. Roliert L. Hazen, long Recorder of the city and member of the Legislative Council of New Brunswick, who built the large wooden house at present owned and occupied by Hon. Sir J. Douglas Hazen, Knight, Chief Justice of New Brunswick.
CharlI'LS. — Dorchester to Rock, north. In honor of Charles Hazen, Esquire, son of the Hon. William Hazen.
Rock. — A continuation of Charles, north, running parallel with City Road. The name indicates surroundings.
Waterloo. — Oft Union to Wellington Market or Haymarket Square as now called.
"There was a sound of revelry by night."
The revelry by night here referred to was a grand ball given by the Duchess of Richmond, whose husband was Charles, fourth Duke of Richmond, who at that time was the British Ambassador in Brussels to the Kingdom of Belgium. At this ball, in honor of the Duke of Wellington, in Brussels, were the Duke ot Richmond, Wellington with his staff including Frederick, Duke of Brunswick and William, Duke of Orange, who had each commands under Wellington. Brunswick was in command of the German allies, and Orange the Hanoverians. Word by message was given to Wellington in the progress of the ball of the movements of Napoleon. At once the command was given to Brunswick and Orange to join their respective commands. The ball was broken up. Wellington at once retired to join Blucher, and the order of march commenced.
Brunswick was killed at Quatre Bras June IG, 1S15. Orange was killed at Waterloo, June 18, 1815.
The Duke of Richmond was appointed in 1S18 (".o\ernor- General of Canada. In the early summer of 1819 the Duke
NEW BRUNSWICK HlSTOKICAl. SOCIETY IS'-i
visited Sorel, Quebec, then a military post, and was bitten by a young fox that a soldier had in confinement. He proceeded to Kingston and from this place proceeded through the wilderness for a considerable distance on foot, to near where Ottawa is now located, the journey being made for the purpose of looking over the route for the projected Rideau Canal. Near Ottawa he was seized with hydrophobia with which he had been infected by the bite of the fox and after a few days of great suffering died on August 28, 1819, in a settler's shack in a little clearing near where is now the Town of Richmond, Carleton County, Ontario. The body was conveyed to Quebec and l)uried in a vault in the walls of the i\nglican Cathedral. The first and only CoN'ernor- General of Canada in office and the first buried in the country ot service.
From Union Street to the Roman C^atholic Cathedral the street is filled in with earth and stone fourteen or liftecn feet deep to make even the present elevation.
The hill beyond was called Vinegar Hill, a l)uilding at the foot thereof being used for the manufacturing of that liquid.
Peters. — From Coburg to Waterloo. In honor of the Hon. Charles J. Peters, Attorney-General (jf New Brunswick, who owned land from Union to this street running north along Coburg. He was the son of James Peters of (jagetown, N. B., was born in 1772, came to the province with the Losalists. He was Attorney-General in 1828 and held office until his death in 1848. He owned a block of land bounded on the south b\' Union Street, running up Coburg northerly and northeasterh' to the northeasterly corner of this street and down Peters U) Green's Alley. To improve and open up this block of land he laid out this street, and for a right of entry to the rear of his lots fronting on Union, Coburg and Peters, opened an alley on the east side. He built his house, which is now the Knights of Columbus' property, in 1824. Stone Church, the Court House and his house were built in the same year.
Paddock. — Coburg to Waterloo. In honor of Adino Pad- dock. Doctor Adino Paddock was formerly of Bf)slon, son of
184 Ni'Tw inu'iS,'s\\"irK iiisTt^KKAi. so(,n-:TY
Major Adino Paddock, who planted the Paddock Kims in Tremont Street, Boston. In 1779 he went to England, studied medicine and surgery. Returning to America he became surgeon in the King's American Dragoons. Settled after the war at Saint John, N. P., Init later went to St. INIary's, York County, where he died.
C^LiFF. — Coburg to Waterloo. The name indicates the surroundings.
GoLDiNG. — From Waterloo to the western boundary of Hazen Castle lot. In honor of John Golding, a merchant in Saint John who owned land on this street running to Hazen boundary line. He built and lived on the corner of WaterUx) and this street. His family settled on the Ri\er Saint John. "At C.olding's" yeb.
RiiBECCA. — Running parallel with Waterloo from Colding to the rear of the property of the Roman C^atholic Bishop. This street was called after his daughter, Rebecca by name, who was killed on board a woodboat or schooner sailing from the harbor for up river. While passing through the river at the falls a large boulder broke away from the surrounding overhanging cliffs at the falls, fell on board and killed her.
Castle. — Off Waterloo to the rear of Hazen Castle. The rear approach to the residence.
WiiiTi-:. — Off Waterloo Street to the rear of the General Public Hospital. In honor of James \\ hite, one of the grantees of the lands alread}' referred.
Hos'PiTAL. — Oft Waterloo to entrance of the General Public Hospital grounds and popularly known as Cedar Hill.
Alma. — Waterloo to City Road. After the Battle of Alma, Crimea, September 20, 1S54.
De'lhi. — Waterloo to City Road. After the Siege of D^lhi, India, Mutiny September 20, 1857.
Brindlky. — Waterloo to City Road. In honor of Miss
NEW URUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOClK'n 185
Deborah Brindle},' llazen, daughter of tlie laie W iUiani Ha/en, one of the grantees already referred to.
Richmond. — Off Waterloo to Saint l^urick. In honor of the Duke of Richmond, ("harles Lennox, who was Minister- (".eneral of Ordnance in England in 1782, a great friend of the Duke of Wellington. It was at the Duchess of ivichniond's Ball that the news came to Wellington of Napoleon's movements. Reference has already been made to the "Sound ot revelry b>' night." Also of the death of the Duke as ( ".t)vernor-( icneral of Canada.
ExMOUTH.- — Off Richmond running parallel with Waterloo to Brussels Street, now "Prince Edward." Edward Pellen, Viscount Exmouth, British Naval Officer, born 1757. He went to sea at thirteen years of age. He reall>' was a midshi{)man in the "Blonde" during the American War. He attained great success, was created Vice-Admiral in 1809. In 1821 he retired into private life and died January- 3, 1833. He fought in the Battle of Champlain and York and with gallantry and skill saved "The Carleton," under whose command she was doing good noble service.
Middle. — Off' Waterloo to Brussels. Owner's choice, being the centre c^f a block of land running north on Waterloo and Brussell Streets.
Crow Alley. — Off Waterloo to Brussels. Public but not recorded.
Brussei^s. — Union to Wellington IMarket or Haymarket Square. On t^he second day of August, 1921, the name of this street was changed by the Common Council on the petition of the property owners and residents to " Prince Fldward." Chang- ing the name of a street will not enhance the \'alue of the property thereon nor increase the interest therein be\'ond sentimental purposes; besides it affects the description of proi)erties, causes unnecessary trouble and expense in conveyancing and f(jr other reasons. In this case had it been necessary to consult His Royal Highness, and he knowing the reasons gi\en and the
18f) X1':\V RRUNSWKK HISTORICAL S()( IICTY
circumstances, he would no doubt have declined the proffered honor and have at once replied that he would in no way counten- ance such an act nor would he have been a party to the obliter- ating the name of an important factor and chapter in the history of the Battle of Waterloo. By all means for good and sufhcient reasons let the Common Council restore the name to the original.
Clarence,. — Off Brussels to Albion. In honor of the Duke of Clarence who became King William IV of England.
Brunswick. — Off Brussels to Albion. In honor of Frederick William, Duke of Brunswick, commander ot the (German allies under Wellington and who was killed at (Juatrc Bras, June 10, 1815.
Hanon'ER. — From Brussels to Albion. Titular after one of the titles of King George III, elector of Hanover. The title ceased on the ascension to the throne ot England by X'ictoria, for by the Salic Law no female can rule in the Hano\erian dynasty.
Sain't Patrick. — Union to Clarence Streets. In honor of the patron Saint of Ireland.
Erix. — Extension of Saint Patrick to Wellington Market, Haymarket Square. The C.aelic name for Ireland.
Wellington Market (Haymarket Square). — The termini of the County Road and junction with the city streets, Waterloo, Brussels, Erin, City Road and Gilbert's Lane. x\amed from the fact that the produce of the county, hay and wo(jd, were here weighed and measured, [)ublic scales having been here erected.
On March 2tj, 1856, it appears that owing to the increase of Saint John and the trade thereof, it became absolutely necessary to establish a market place tor the sale ot hay and wood. The C^ommon Council were authorized to buy a parcel of ground for the purpose of establishing a hay market. On March \'.i, 1S97, to remove any doubts as to whether the city could use such ground for any other j^urpose than that of a hay market, legis- lation was procured that this lot should lease as a Public Market,
NKW IJRUNSWICK HISrORK'AL S()( IICTV hS7
then known as "Wellington Market," and l)e used as a Public Sfjuare or for any other purpose the ("oninion (\)uncil may from time to time decree advisable.
Saint David. — Union to Clarence Streets running parallel with Saint Patrick. In honor of the jjatron Saint ol Wales.
AlbK)\. — Clarence to Cotirtenay Bay, running parallel with Erin. Roman name lor England.
CouRTiiNAY. — Saint David's to l)a\-. After the ba> which was named in honor ot John ( (>urtne\-, who was afiijointed and gazetted Master-Surveyor of Ordnance in the Pitt Adminis- tration, April 2[), llS'A, and was designated to the waters in the Des liarres survey in Pjrilish North Airierica. There i^ a difference in the spelling of the name here, and the name by which he was api^ointed and gazetted.
Main. — The main aventie trom the Ri\er Saint b>hn at Indiantown and the outside counties of the prcnincc b\- way of rix'er, Douglas A\enue, Adelaide Street, and other branch streets and roadways at Mill and Paradise Row. Originally planned "The Road to Indian house." Xame indicative of use.
LoNc; Wharf. — Off Main Street, south. A roadway to the Long Wharf now in the possessitMi of the C. N. R. System.
Acadia. — Main to C. N. R. Called in honor of the Branch Colony in the Maritime Provinces.
PoRlLAND. — Main to C. N. R. Originally i)lanneel "Port- land Point Street." Idie road to the old fort erected b\- Cdiarnis- say. On the change ol the name oi "Portland Street" to Paradise Row the wc^rd "I\)int" was dropi)ed.
ChapI':!.. — Off Portland to Chatham. Called after the Methodist Church or Chapel in those days on the corner ot this street and Portland.
Hh.h. — Between Simonds and Chatham. Called on account of it being on the crest of the hill, as its name indicates.
(\amden. — Between Portland and C. N. R. Charles Pratt, Marquis, born 1714, called to bar \7'.>S. He distinguished
]SS NEW 1!1U XSWK K HISTORICAL SOCIETY
himself 1)\' his exertions in hehalt" of the American (^olonies, and in 17(i(i was Lord Hi^h Chancellor. Died April IS, 17!)4.
Chatham. — Between Simonds and (". V. R. In' honcjr of Lt)rd Chatham, who was W'illiani Pitt, Prime Alinister of England, elevated to the peera,i;e 177().
SiM()M)S.--Main to ililyard. in honcM' cjf James Simonds, one of the grantees to the north (jf l^arrtown already referred to. This is the oldest street in Saint John.
Bkoors. — Parallel with Main and between Simonds and Sheriff. Was hrst only a prixate right of wa>- from Simonds t(^ the rear of honses on Sheriff.
Was called Snipe Street, popularly. B\' the purchase of a lot on Sheriff and demolishing the building it was enlarged on the west end and was adopted as a street, ami was called after a scho(jl teacher. Brooks by name, who li\ed on tliia street. Me was the father of the present Mayor's clerk.
Ann. — Off Ikooks Street parallel to Simonds, between Brooks and Main. Called in honor oi the youngest daughter of James Simonds already referred to and known to ihe younger generation as Xancy SiuKjnds.
Siii^RiFi'. — Between Main and Ililyard. Called after James White, son of one of the grantees already referred to, the fifth High Slieriif ol the County of the Cit\' and County ol Saint J(jhn. Appointed 1S16 and died 1S5S.
Murray. — Main and Hilyarti. In hontjr of the son of one of these grantees, William Mazen, Murray by name.
Harrison. — From Main to Hilyard. In honor of Re\'erend Canon Harrison, first rector of St. Ltike's I^)iscopal Church, in the north end.
Hilyard. — I^Vom Portland to Chesley. In honor of Henry Hilyard, Kscjuire, seccjnd Mayor of the Cit>' ot Portland and Mayor at the time of the union with Saint John in 1889. He was the h^inancial Manager of the tirm of the Thomas Hilyard & Sons, general business, on the Straight Shore, ship-building, ship repairing and milling.
NEW HRUN-SWICK 111 STORKAI. SOt'IHTV JS!»
SiKAir SiioKi'; Road (officiailN- known as ('liesle\- Street). — A coiiiiiuiatioii ol lliUard iiinnin;^ west to the Suspension liridge. A tutile attempt was made to ehanu,e the iiame ol ("liesley. The Straii;lit Shore Road speaks tor itsell, implying; length and narrowness of the thoroiightare. It was ealled after John A. Chesle>-, Esqtiire, a prominent member of the City oi I'orthmd Council, lie was one ot the commissioners who lornuilated the basis ot union between the two cities. He was al>(j a member of l^arllament representing the C\)unt\- ot Saini jolin at Ottawa.
Ali'RRiTT.^ Off Bentley and running with ('hesle\-. In honor of one Xeliemiah Merritt.
Bi-;xTLEY. — The general contour of harbour and the Straight Shore from the Mill Fond at the western end ol Paradise ]\ow at its junction with Main Street and continuing along the scnith sitie ol ]\Iain Street westerly to Indiantown presented a diflerent a[)pearance from the present. In 18-4 nati\e grow th of small trees and shrubber\' lined the sloping banks ot the harbor and ri\er with no unsightly piles oi lumber, mill refuse, shanties and tumble down wharves, marring the river and harbor Iront. I'he old brick building still standing on the ti[)!X'r side of the Straight Shore Road was in early da\s at the Bentlev Street Corner. It was at that time considered a s])acious mansion. It was built and owned by one John BentK', a Lo>alisi who tlrew Cot \o. l.'JIJ in the city lots. He was a merchant in old Saint John, wlu; had a place of business between i^rincess and Church Streets. This house was chosen b\- a committee of citizens as the summer residence of the Go\-ernor in Saint John, when the C.oxernor, Sir Howard Douglas, came here. He was well liked in Saint Jcjlin for his urbanity, kindness of manner, his taking real interest in the welfare of the city and pr<n'ince, which was full\- appreciated by liis I{;.\cellenc\-.
Dou(iLAS AvKXUii. — Main to Bridge. In honor of Sir Howard Douglas, C.overnor of the Prtnince in 1824. He paid a visit to Saint John. The occasion was marked !)>• man\' important 1 unctions, a civic address and felicitous reply and
190 NEW HKUXSWICK HISTORICAL SCKIKTY
main- other ceremonies. A few da)'s after the festixities, he sent to the Clt\- Hall the following additional letter, which no doubt is still preser\ed among the city's archives:
^, „ ,, CarlI'ITon, October 5, 1824.
My DilAr Sir:
The favorable and pleasing impression made upon me on approaching and landing in the City of Saint John will always be remembered with corresponding satisfaction directing itself towards the persons who were deputed to receive me, the popu- lation which greeted me and the beautiful site of the City in which I had the pleasure of forming your acquaintance. My impres- sion in regard to local circumstances confirmed me on a review of the city that I cannot resist the inclination I feel to {)oint out the only circumstance of a nature not pleasurable, which I will venture to impart before hal)it shall ha\'e power to lessen the surprise, and permit me to say, the disgust with which I perceix'ed that pigs and hogs are permitted to go at large in the beautiful City of Saint John, disfiguring its neatness, polluting its streets, depositing nuisance aiul exhibiting indelicate offence in all the thoroughfares of the town.
1 have referred to the Charier of Saint John in hoi)es that I should fmd myself empowered to correct an e\ il to which in such a case I should instanth' put a stop. But, though I hnd no such right ol interference 1 will not doubt the effect which the honest avowal will ha\e in appealing to the proper authorities against the continuation ot so intolerable a nuisance and to express my conviction that no inhabitant ot the cil>- can tor a moment permit the purpose for which their oftensix'e indulgence has been tolerated to be put in competition with the disagreeable and disgusting elt'ects of such a practice.
Whilst pointing out this permit me to observe that building materials laid on the streets should be restricted to such spaces as will have the thonjughfares clear and keep the streets free from rubbish as is the case in all cities and towns, and when added to these corrected measures the streets of the Cit}' of Saint John shall be improved as they may easily be by road making process, cleanliness and commodiousness befitting the great and rising importance and which character every inhabitant will, I am persuaded, be unwilling to l)lemish and aml)itious to establish.
Believe me, dear sir,
\'ours very faithfully,
(Sgd.) Howard Douglas.
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 191
This is the main avenue and the artery connecting the city with the county north and west to Saint John.
Clarendon. — Off Douglas and parallel to Main. In honor of Duke of Clarendon, an eminent and accomplished British statesman in the sixties. He died in his office as Foreign Secre- tary in Lord Russell's Adminis^iation, among his boxes and paj)ers, devoting his every facult\' of mind and time to the pul)lic service. He died June 27, 1870.
Alexandra. — Douglas to Chesley Street. In honor of Queen Alexandra, Queen Consort of King Edward \'II. Queen Mother, dearly beloved; died November 20, 1925.
Cedar. — Main to river, Marble Cove. Growth of cedar trees on hill facing Marble Cove.
Kennedy. — In honor of James Kennedy, a member of Town Council of Portland, merchant and contractor. JMemorial fountain to his memor>' erected at Intliantown Wharf, opjjosite Bridge Street.
Fort Howe. — In honor of Sir William Howe, the (\)m- mander of the British Forces in New York at the time of the evacuation in 1778, succeeding Ceneral (iage. At his own request he was recalled in 1778 and was succeeded by Sir Henry C^linton. Born August 10, 1720; died July 12, I8l-i.
Elm. — Running parallel io j\lain. Called for a forest of elms growth at one time covering this locality. Set out ()ctol;er 10, 1890, and before that date was known as "The Black Spring Road."
Magazine. — From Elm to Barker. Situate liack of Fort Howe and was popularly known as "The Military Road." The Magazine is at the Ijack or northern side ol the tort and on this account the name was given.
Lansdowne AviCNUi-:. — Continuation of l'21m Street north and named after the ward of that name.
Dui^iiA.M. — PVom Main north. In honor of John George Lambton, Earl of Durham. Born April 12, 1792, appointed
192 NEW HRUNSWICK IHSTOKICAI, SOC IKTY
Governor-Cieneral of ("anada after the rebellion of is.'i?. He unfortunately adopted measures which were held to he beyond his ccjuferred powers. These measures were disappro\ed of by the House of Lords. He became so deeply incensed b>- reason of their act that he returned to England witiiout awaiting recall and the government marked their disapjjroxal gf his course of conduct by directing that the customary salute on arri\al be denied him. lie reported direct to the Oueen and his pe;lic\- was practically justilied by being ad()i)ted b\' his successor. He died in Cowes, Isle f)f Wight, July 2S, is 10.
Elc.in. — Alain Street to 13r\'den. In honor of James Bruce, Earl c^f Elgin and Kincardine. Born in ISll. Was a[)j)ointed Governor-! '.eneral of Canada in KSUi and for eight years admin- istered government by a[)pl>ing the constitutional princi])les of the Mother Country. His frank genial m.mners begot him goodwill and he was the most loved man in C anada. He was commissioned to China and made two visits, and on his return the second time he was api)ointed C.overnor-( leneral ol India. He died in India November 20, iSiV,], and was buried there.
Metcalk. — Off Adelaide to Holly Street. In honor of Baron Metcalfe. Born in Calcutta, January 'AO, 17S5. He was diplomatically in India, and was transferred U) Jamaica. Was successful in both capacities, but resigned on account of his health. Returned to England in 1S42. In 18 13 he was appointed Gov^ernor-General of Canada and raised to the peerage in 1S45; died September 5, 1S4G.
PoKioK. — From bridge parallel with ri\'er. Indian name meaning "The River that rims through narrows."
Spar Cove. — Off Pokiok, north, parallel with Adelaide Road. Wood for spars.
Bellf.view. — Off Pokiok, north. Name indicates situation.
VisHART. — From Adelaide west. In honor of son-in-law of Henry Simonds, Count Vishart DeBury.
Teck. — Between Lansdowne and Dufferin Avenues. After Francis, Prince of Teek, who married Princess Mary of Cam-
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIKTV lOo
bridge, March, ISGG, and father of Queen IMary, Consort of King George V.
Adelaide. — Main to Millidge Avenue. In honor of Queen consort of William IV. IMarried July 11, 1814; died December 2, 1849.
Millidge Avenue. — Continuation of Adelaide to the Kennebeccasis. After Thomas Millidge, Esquire, one ot the councillors of the Town of Portland who marrietl in 1810, a daughter of Sheriff \\ hite.
Victoria. — Off Adelaide to Holl>'. In honor oi Queen Victoria the Good.
Newman. — Off Adelaide to Holly. After John Newman, who lived on the Sandy Point Road. The brook running through this tract of land from Lakes Howe, Dark, Crescent and others, on or off the Sandy I'oint Road to the river, also bears his name. The street was established in October iU, 1890.
Bryden. — Adelaide to Holly. After James G. Bryden, local land owner and resitlent.
AlbI'RT. — Main to the north. After Prince consojt Prince Albert. Born August 20, 1819; married February 10, 1840; died December 14, 18G1.
Cunard. — j\lain to Newman. After Thomas Cunard, one of the old residents of Indian town.
Holly. — Main to Sand Cove Creek. In honor of Shadrack Holly, Esquire, first Mayor of the City of Portland.
Bridge. — Main to Spar Cove Road. After the bridge crossing Newman's Brook to the river.
Paradise Row. — East from Main to Wall Street. This street is planned by Minette as Portland Street. In the fifties this was an ideal residential street, in the city yet in the country. On the north side of the street there were many wealthy and well to do citizens who built their homes on lots one hundred
194 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
feet front running north. These homes were erected 150 feet or more from the north line of the street and fine lawns were made facing the south and the street in front. It was the finest street at that time about Saint John. The residents were ship- owners, ship-builders, merchants and manufacturers. It was a relief and pleasure to them when they got home to have privacy and comfort and in that they took great pleasure. It was to them "Paradise." It is an important street now and is the way mostly chosen to get to the east and north of the city Street-cars on a double track cross here on the nortliern circuit_
Foundry Lane. — Paradise Row to C. N. R. lands and freight sheds.
Southwark.^ — Paradise Row to C. N. R. Practically unused. Uncertain.
Lombard. — Parallel to Paradise Row, along C. X. R. lands. Called after Ptolemy Lombard, who was the land agent ol the Hazen Estate property. He was an Englishman and he may have had in mind Southwark of London and so attached the name above referred to. lie died March 11), 1857, aged sixty- nine years.
Dorchester Street Extension. — This was the northern terminus of Dorchester Street, Saint John, as laid out by the Hazen Estate, before the deviation of that street in LSti',).
Harris. — Off Paradise Row to Rockland R(ku1. In honor of James Harris, h^sciuire, the owner of Harris I'\)un(lr\ »S: Car Works, and now C. N. R. property. He was one of the first councillors in the Town of Portland.
Canon Street. — Harris to Wall. I'alled in honor of Canon De Veber, first rector of St. Paul's Cluirch (l^piscopal) almost opposite this street. He was rector ol the jiarish tor thirty- seven years.
Millidge. — Paradise Row to Rockland Road. In honor of Thomas Edward Millidge, Esquire, and a member of the first Council of Town of Portland already referred. I'he follow-
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 195
ing sketch is related by the surviving member of the IMiiledge family Lewis D. Millidge:
THOiXIAS EDWARD AIILLIDGE'
]\Tr. Millidge came of an old English family which has been prominent in the affairs of the State of C.eorgia ever since the first of the name who came to America, landed with (general Qglethorpe in IToiJ, as his secretary, friend and ad\'iser.
Millidgeville, the former capital of Georgia, bears the famih- name; and the University of (ieorgia, at its founding at Athens, received from the family estate the gift of a tract of (340 acres of land.
The grandfather of the subject of this sketch was Surveyor- General of the colony of New Jersey, and on the outbreak ot the American Revolution, joined the Loyalist forces as a Major (jf Skinner's dragoons. He remained in the army until the end of the war, and came with the Loyalists to \ova Scotia and settled at Annapolis, and was member for Annapolis C\uint>' in the first House of Asse^mbly at Llalifax.
His son Thomas came to Saint John and started business, and in ISOl he married Sarah Simonds (one of the daughters of James Simonds) w!io was the men her of Thos. E. Millidge. Mr. Millidge served five years in a large business, and was then assisted by his father to go into business for himself. As the city was growing steadily he did very well. The demand tor wooden ships being good in England he started Iniilding and generally sent three vessels to Liverpool every year tor sale. Eighteen hundred and fifty-five was a year of great depression in Saint John as there was no demand for ships in luigland and in consequence all the ship-^-ards ceased building. There was not much work for the ship-carpenter. The N. H. ("lovernment started building the E. «S: N. A. I^ailway and many good cari)en- ters went to work on it at sixty cents a day. However times improved after the Indian Mutiny and ship-building started again, after many of the builders had lost nearly all their money. Mr. Millidge lost over ,t>1 00,000.00 and had to com- mence again on borrowed mone\'.
After building at Millidge\-ille for thirty-three years he had built 100 square rigged shii:)s there, the end of the ship-building came in Saint John, never to be again started, as steel had (inally replaced wood in the construction of ships.
In ISIO T. E. Millidge married Sarah, daughter of SherilY White.
196 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORUAL SOCIETY
Mr. Millidge was born in 1S14 and died in 1894.
When the Town of Portland concluded to build Millidge Street, they said that the people in that localitv' must give $050.00 as a subscription before they would undertake the work. This was accordingly done, Mr. Millidge giving the most of that sum.
Mr. Millidge was President of the Bank of Xew Ikunswick for six or seven years prior t(j 1835.
(/iiUFJB. — Off Paradise Row south. In honor of Henry CMuibb, who was the owner of property in this locality'. One of the publishers of "The Saint John Courier," one of Saint bihn's earliest newspapers. Last Ma>-or ol Saint John appointed In' the government. Born 1787; died 18.")().
MooRic. — Almost parallel with Rockland Road and joining same at angle. In honor of a man b>- the name of Moore, w hcj owned property here, and extending back st)utherly to Main Street.
KiTCiiiiNER. — Rockland Road to Barker, along the eastern side of h^ort Howe. In honor of V\c\d ?\larshal Ibjratio Herbert Kitchener, Britain's greatest general, drowncLl at Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands; at the explosion of H. M. Sts. Hampshire, on his way to northern Russia to inier\'iew Russian jjowers in respect to the C.erman war.
Barker. — Continuatit)n of Magazine Street or Military Road. Named October 10, 181)0, in honor of ( ".eorge A. Barker, Esquire, Mayor of Saint John at the date of the union of Saint John and Portland, 18S9. The first Maycjr of Saint Jt)hn to die during his term of ofhce.
SoMERsiiT. — Running frt)m Barker Street north towards the Kennebecasis River. Called after Mtzroy James Henry Somer- set (Baronj from 17S8; died 18,"),'). He was an luiglish C.enercd, raised to the peerage as Baron Ragkui. loitered the army in 1804. In 1807 he was attached to the staff of Sir Arthur W'ellesley. He accompanied \\'ellesle>' to Ptjrtugal lirst as Aide-de-Camp, then as Militar>' Secretary. At Waterloo he lost his right arm antl cjuickly acc^uired the facllit\- of writing
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIIiTY 197
with his left. He was appointed j\iilitar>' Secretary to W elling- ton who was Master-Cicneral of Onhiance till the tleath of W'ellinti^ton who was ( "oinniander-in-Chiet ot the British I'Orces. He was appointed j\Iaster-( leneral of ( )r(lnance and shortl>- afterwards raised to the peerage and sat in House of Lords as Lord Raglan, in 1851 he was appointed to the command of the English trcjops sent to the Crimea, Russia. He died June 28, 1855.
'\\'i-;ll]':sl):v. — Running from Adelaide Road to Sandx' Lolnt Road west and east, (\dled after .Arthur \\'ellesle\\ afterwards Duke of Wellington. Born in 17()'J. lie descended Ironi the family of Cc^lley or C'cnvley, which had been settled in Ireland for centuries. 'Lhe L)uke's grandtather assiuned the name ot Wesley on succeeding to the estate of ( .erritt W esley, a kinsman of the famous di\ine. In the Duke's earl\- letters lhe family name was spelled "\\ esley," the change from\\'esle\- to \\ ellesley was made in ITIK). He entered the arm\- as ensign cjf 73rd Regiment in 17'.)7, became Major of o'.lid and purcluised Lieu- tenant Colonency of same regiment in 179;]. Before he was twent\'-one \ears (jt age he represented the family Lorcjugh Trum in the Irish Parliament. His hrsl experience oi acti\e service was in 17',)L-1795, when the British forces were dri\en out of Holland. In 179()ser\ed India. In 171llH"ol. Wellesley's eldest brother, Lord INIornington, was (un"ernor-( General of hidia. Quitted India 1S05 (now Sir Arthur W'ellesley) and returned to England, hi 1808 took a command, went to Spain and Portugal and took part in the Peninsula War. \n 1815 Wellington and Blucher were aj^jjointed to in\ade iMance and the last la[) ot the Napoleonic War was entered on and was ended June 18, 1815, at Waterlocj. Went into i)olitics, Prime Minister 1827; died September 14, 1852, and was buried under the dome of St. i'aul's in a manner worthy both of the nation and of the men of the tlay.
RocKL.VND. — b'ormerly lM)rt Howe Road changed from Rockland Road to l\ockland Street. Name in(licate^ surround- ings. Gallows Hill was ap[)licd to the east end of (his street. Public executions took i>lace to the west (-f Hoh' Trinitx' church.
198 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Cranston Avf.nue. — Rockland nurih. In honor of the wife of Sheriff White, Elizabeth Cranston DeBlois.
Military Road (Magazine Street). — The road nsed by the military to Fort Howe and Magazine.
Cedar Grove Avenue. — Cranston Avenue to Park Street. After a cedar grove through which it was cut.
Mount Pleasant Avenuic. — Park to Lily Lake. The situati(jn and \'iew gives name.
llAWTiioRNic Avenue. — Unofhcial.
Sandy Point Road. — To the entrance on the south to Rockwood. Mawthorne hedge being planted on the west side of road. Mount Pleasant on the east.
Parks. — Rockland Road to Mount Pleasant. I'^nnierly known as Cradle Hill.
Wall. — C.arden Street to bluff of rock facing north. Called after wall of Rock Bluff.
BuRPEK Avenue. — Wall to Alount IMeasant. Named In' the Town Council of Portland ()ctt)ber 10, 1S9(), in honor of Hon. Isaac Bur[)ee, first Chairman; afterwards Minister of Customs in Federal Parliament and Re])resentatl\e lor Saint John Count}'.
Winter. — Wall to Stanley. One of the seasons.
Saint Paul. — Off Winter to Burpee Avenue. After St. Paul's Church property at the junction at Winter and Wall.
Spring. — Winter to south Mount Pleasant. One of the seasons.
Factory. — Winter to C. N. K. grounds. Approach to Cotton Infills.
Su.MMER. — Winter to south Mount Pleasant. One of the seasons.
Autumn. — Winter to (\ N. Ry. grounds. ( )ne of the seasons.
Johnston. — Winter to C. N. Ry. grcnmds. After the
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTOKRAL SOCIETY \W
owner of the property in this section. Charles Johnston, sixth High Sheriff of Saint John ('onnl\-; appointed in IS 17, died in 1S5S in the fort\--se\enih year of his age.
WuKiHT. — Called after William Wright, h^stpiire, referred to in Pagan Place.
GooDERiCH. — Off Wright to Seele>' Street. In honor of Visconnt C^.ooderich, Prime Minister of ['England, 1X25. A great friend of Wellington.
Spruce. — Off Wright to Seely Street. Named October 10. 1S90, by City Council.
Prospect. — Off Wright to Seely Street. Fine full view of Courtenay Bay and surrounding Count>' to the east o\ Saint John.
PiXE. — Wright to Seely. Name of tree.
Si:elv. — Parallel to Wright and the south boundary of Public Cardens. In honcjr oi W illiam Seely, a prominent man in Portland affairs, both as a jjarish and town, and owner ot land here
Stanley. — Off City Road to Wright Street. In honor of C.o\'ernor-Cieneral of Canada, Lord Stanley- of Preston, Jmie 11, 18SS,
Celebration. — Off Stanley to C. N. R>'. grountls. The scene of the turning of the sod on the occasion of breaking ground on construction of the then E. & N. A., now C\ N. R. to the west, ISS):!.
Clyde. — Off City Road to railway grounds. There was a lot of land owned by the Saint Andrews Curling Club. This clui) for years played in open air on Lily Lake. The\' purchased a lot adjoining the railway grountls, and to ha^■e access to same they opened up this right of \va>' antl ga\e it its present name.
Meadow. — Off City Road to l'^)rresl Street. Arising from conditions of situaticjn.
Forrest. — Parallel with Cit\' Road on the south of railway grounds. Was formerh' called Brook and was changed to
200 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTOUICAL SOCII'.TV
Forrest after a member of the Town ("(niiuil of I\)rtlaiul, John J. Forrest by name.
City Road. — From Fond at the foot of (Uirden Street if> Haymarket Square. The bounchiry line of the city w ith count)' of the City and C\)unty of Saint John. 'I'he main r(ja(h\a\- for trax-el and tralhc from and to the cii>- with the count\-.
Blair.- City Roati to Rock Street. Called after Ceoroe I^lair, a constable and caty marshall, who li\ cd on {\\\> street.
RkiiI'V. — Cit>' Road to lands of Ceneral Fublic l'os|)itaI. Called after the owner and builder of the lirst house on this street, James lviche\' by name, lie was a painter by trade.
C^iII.iH'LRt's L.\ne. — Off }{a\niarkel Sciu.iie to Fil\- Lcdce. Called by Menr)' Cilljert, and was the ai)j)roach to the resideiKe (jf Henr>^ Ciilliert, Fsciulre, aftei wards l)a\enp(>rt Sc-hool, and thoroughfare to i^il)!ic Cartlens, Park and Lily Lake.
M.VRSH. — Off }!a\niarket S(]uare to Creek. .\ame indicates situation and conditions.
KiMisALL. — Ha\-markei Square to Creek. Called after fohn Kimball, who had a wool warehouse here. Idie business is carried on to-day b\- his son, C.eor.u,e A. Kimball.
RoTiUisAV A\i:Nt:i-:. — Ahirsh Bridge to Rothesa>-, Kings Count)'. Origuially and po[)ularl\' called the Marsh Road.
Short. — Off Rcjthesay A\'enue to Creek. Calletl on account of its length.
FRKDiiRiCK. — Off Rothesay Avenue to Creek. In honcM" of Frederick L Doherty, a i)rominent member oi the Town ( Ouncil of Portland, lie w'as a shipbuilder and was poinilarb- known as "The Snoc^t l^uster."
ON THF WFST SIDF Oh" HARBOR, (\\RLFTOX Pt)Ni). — Harbor to county line. Alter mill pond.
DuxiiAM. — Llarbor to county line. In honor of land owner and former member of the C\)mmon C^)uncil.
NEW BRUNSWICK IIISTORU AL SOCIETY 201
Claren'CE. — Harbor to county line. In honor of Duke o Clarence, afterwards King William 1\'.
SuTTOX. — Harl)or to county line. In honor of the (Vo\ernor of New l^runswick, Sir Thomas Manners-Sutton. lie was Governer of Xew Brunswick in LSol when he was thirl y-se\en years of age, and continuetl in olhce till lS(il. Ik- succeeded to the title X^iscount C\uiterliur\' in iSilD, and died in ls77.
Suffolk. — Harbor to county line. After the C\)unt>' of Suffolk, Massachusetts, of which Boston is the chiet cil\-.
ProtI'X-tiox. — At harbor front. Called as a breakwater protecting the whar\'es and ships on harbor tront. Crossing ot this street was legalized to and for such purjjoses b\' the C. R. K., 11)14.
Cermaix. — Harbor to count\- line, in honor of Lord C.eorge Germain, X'iscount Sack\ille, 17S2.
Saixt Jam1':s.-1 [arbor to county line. After "Saint fanies" Palace, Lonilon.
Oui':i':x. — To Watson. In honor of Oueen Charlotte, consort of King C^eorge III, married Septemb.er N, 1701, died No\ ember
17, ISIS.
QuiCEX SquarI'. — Between Saint John ai^,d Saint James Streets. In honor of above.
Mixi-'.TTi:. — After R. C. Minette, U. L. S., who made an authorized plan oi the city, ISIS.
Saixt Joiix. — Cnion to county line. Called after the Cit\' of Saint John.
AlbI'RT. — Aiinette to C. P. R. In honor of Prince Albert, Prince, consort of Oueen X'ictoria.
Saixt C.]':or(.I':.— Commences Ludlow and runs to county line. In honor of England's patron Saint.
TowiCR. — I'>om I'uion to Martelhj Tower. Roadwa\- to the tower on Lancaster Heights.
202 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Charlotte. — Union to coiinU' line. In honor of Queen Charlotte, consort of King (ieorge III.
Rodney. — From Union to couni\- line. In lu)nt)r of Sir George Bridges Rodney, Baron, 17112, luiglish Admiral, Ijorn February li), 17S1, died May 2 1, 171)2.
W'iNSLOW. — Union to county line. In honor of Hon. Fdward W'inslow, a judge of the Su[)reme Court of New lirunswick, 1M)7. In 177() he was appointed General Masier-Alusier of the Pro\'incial Troops from Nova Scotia to West hlorida. He Kjok a prominent part in the division oi .\o\a Scotia to form the Province of Xew Brunswick. Was a member of the lirst council of the i)rovince. He and his family were grantees both in Barrtown and Carleton. He drew Lot Xo. 80 in Parrtown and 202 in Carleton. Died jMa>' 1.'], 1S15.
Guileord. — From Union to county line. Called after Lieutenant Gilfred Studholm, Reference U> him under "(liar- lotte." This street is properly "Gilfred" and is so marked in the original plan of Carleton.
Duke Street.- — Union to county line. In honor of the Duke of Kent referred to in " Duke," Saint John.
King. — Union to Courtney Hill. So called in honor of King George III. In 1S59 this street was extended (JlO feet with the same width as at present, ninety feet w ide.
pRiNcr:. — Union to county line. In honor of Prince William, afterwards William IV.
Water. — Along water front. Name indicates situation.
Union. — Harbor front to Middle. Called in commemoration of the union of Parrtown and Carleton to form the Cit>- of Saint John. In the words of the Charter, "to the inhalntants of the Town or District of Parr lying to the east side (jt the Kixer Saint John, and Carleton on the west thereof, at the entrance of the River Saint John aforesaid, both which of districts are in our Province of New Brunswick in America."
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 203
MiDDLE.^ — From Union to Fort P^rederick ("Okl Fort"). On account of it being on the ridge of the point to the fort.
Market Place. — Saint John Street to river. The market place.
Victoria. — From Saint John to railway grounds. Titular.
Ludlow. — Harbor to river. In honor of the Honorable Gabriel Ludlow. He drew three lots in Carleton, 196, 197 and 198, where there was formerly a garden worked and used by the French, and for many years after a fine orchard was in evidence. He was a member of the first council in New Brunswick, and on the organization of the City of Saint John he was the first ]\la>or. He resigned his office of Mayor 1795. In ISO)), in the al)sence of Governor Carleton, he was sworn in President of Coimcil and Commander-in-Chief of the Forces. He died in 18;52 in his eightieth year. He lived in Carleton and was buried in the cjld cemetery adjoining the I^resbyterian Church on Courtney Hill, and a tombstone is there visible.
W'atsox. — Harbor to river. In honor of Sir Brook Watson, born at Plymouth in England in 17;)5. His parents died when he was not more than ten years old. He was sent out to Boston. He was sent to sea, and at Saxannah had a leg bitten off 1)>- a shark while bathing in the harl)or. In 1750 he came to Cumber- land C\)unt>', X. S., where he was employed in military ser\ice under Col. John Winslow. Dtu'ing the Rc\'olutionar\' War he was Commissar}' at Xew V(jrk, 17Sl-17s;). At the peace he retired to England, when he was not long after elected to Parlia- ment. He was knighted, Ijecame L(jrd Mayor of London. He was a great friend of Elder Edward Winslow. He did a large business with Saint J(;hn. In 17S() he was apiioinled agent at London for the government of the Province o{ Xew Brunswick.
Lancastick. — The boundar)- line Ijetween the City of Saint John and Parish of Lancaster.
204 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
STREPZTS CLASSIFIED Royalty
King, (Jueen, Princess, Prince William, Prince Edward, Duke, Charlotte, Adelaide, X'ictoria, Albert, Hano\er, Brunswick, Clarence, JVIecklenburg, Orange, Coburg, Prim e.
Governors and Administrators
Carleton, Smythe, Douglas, Wentworth, Ludlow, Wins- low, Sutton.
Military and Naval ^ G
Wellington, Nelson, Elliott, Rodne\', Kitchener, Carle- ton.
Battles 4
Waterloo, Brussels, Alma, Delhi.
Saint John Civic Officials 8
White, Sheriff, Hazen, Simonds, Olive, Barker, I'\)rrest, Minette.
Saints 6
St. George, St. Andrew, St. Patrick, St. David, Saint John, St. James.
Imperial Statesmen 19
Pitt, Sydney, Germain, Canterbury, Carmarthen, Leinster, Richmond, Exmouth, Stanley, (.ooderich, Elgin, Somerset, Durham, Metcalfe, Peel, Courtenay, Brook, Watson, Guilford.
Country Names
Britain, Albion, Erin, Acadia, Southwark.
new brunswick historical society 205
PkominI'Nt Local Cutzjins 30
Horsfield, Hardinir, Paddock, Tetcrs, Sewell, (Gilbert, Wright, Pvlillidge, Burpee, Seeley, Blair, Hihard, Harrison, Bentley, Chesley, Harris, Merrill, Molly, Cunard, Kennedy, Parks, Lonilfard, ('■oldin^, Kimball, Simonds, Charles (Hazen), h^ederick (l)ohert\), Brintlley (Hazen), Ann (Simonds), Rebecca (folding).
Local Oi5ji-:cTS AND Fi'ATUREs 20
Cliff, Rock, Pond, Meadow, IMarsh, Bridge, C.arden, Mill, Tower, INLigazine, Dock, Shorl, C'liy Road, Union, Prospect, Belleview, Paradise Row, Mount I'leasanl, Chapel, Church, Castle, Canon, Lligh, Celebration, Rockland Road, Market Place, Main, Broad, Broad- \'iew.
Seasons
Winter, Summer, Spring, Autumn.
Trees
Elm, Cedar, Spruce, Pine, Hawthorne Avenue.
206 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
SOME NOTES ON THE HISTORY OF CHARLOTTE COUNTY, NEW BRUNSWICK
Rev. J. W. MiLLiDGE, M.A.
The aborigines found by the first white men visiting these shores were, of course, Indians of the Algonquin, Micniac, and MaUcete tribes, and were in a constant state of warfare and feud which prevented all approach to anything like ci\ilization. They lived by hunting and fishing, but as in winter such means of livelihood often became precarious, many of them resorted to the deep indentations on the sea-coast of what is now Cliar- lotte County, Oak Bay, Bocabec, and other places, where in winter a comfortable subsistence was available. Thickly wooded hills came down to the salt water shutting off the c(jld north and west winds, numerous springs and streams of fresh water alwa>'s flow into the bays, and abo\e all, an exh.uistless supply of clams could be obtained from the Hats at low water.
Large piles of the shells of these bivahes are found to-da\' where the ancient inhabitants had their winter encampments, and fragments of pottery, stcjiie, axedieads and bones of the deer, cracked open to e.xtract the marrow, are occasionally dug up from these deposits. A remnant of these tribes still occupies its ancient home, but its number is constantly diminishing, and its extinction is only a cpiestion of time.
Meanwhile it is pleasant to state that as a whole these children of the forest have been kindly treated 1))- the whites, and have lived in peace with all men. They never took the warpath against their invaders, nor eonmiitted any great crimes against their persons or their propert>'. They are not indus- trious, but by hunting, hshing, basket and canoe making, and an occasional job in river driving, they manage to get a living, by them deemed comfortable.
In Ilaxre de (^race, hTance, on .\pril 7, 1G(J4, Sieur de IMonts, Baron de Poutrincourt, Count de Orxille, Champlain, priests. Huguenot ministers, and about a hundred others; sailors.
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIKTV 207
soldiers, artizans, and servants; these intended foimders of a new empire sailed from Havre de (jrace, April 7, 1004, and safely crossed the Atlantic. Having reached America, the next care of DeMonts was to hnd a suitable place for his settlement. After carefully examining the densch' wooded coast of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and disco\ering the Harbor and River Saint John, the account of which is deeply interesting, but must be omitted, as this paper concerns Charlotte (\)unty only. Why DeMonts did not settle at Saint John is a mastery; perhaps it seemed too bleak and rock>'. Haxing sailed from there down the Bay of Fundy, passing the Wolves, which he named the IMagpie Islands, from the great number of those birds found there, some of the young they cajjtured and ate, finding them very fair eating, as good as pigeons. From the IMagpie Islands they went to a ri\'er on the mainland called "I. a l^i\iere Ues I'Ltchemins." Near the mouth they discoxered a small attractive island which they named the "Hol>- Cross." This island, now called Dochet, is in latitude forty-hve degrees six minutes north and longitude sixt\'-eight degrees scNcn minutes west. It was at that time about a mile in length, and thickly covered with cedar trees. It was summer. The genial air was fragrant with the sweet odors of the forest. The birds were singing. The river seemed alive with fish; while moose and deer in large numbers roamed in the woods ot the mainland. Here was a paradise; they thought. And here at once ihe>' decided to locate and build the city of the future. The water around the island would be a safe barrier against sa\age toes, and a commodious place for shipping. Wharves would line the shore. Splendid l)uildings would arise on the land. W ealth, luxury, art, science, religion, would adorn and glorify the gor- geous capital of a new realm. Never was there a location more inviting and promising. Accordingly, in July, 1()04, they landed on this beautiful island and l)egan their work. Trees were felled, streets and squares laid out, foumlations arranged, cannon moimted, and even a small church and a cemetery provided. The site of this resting place for the dead has long since been washed away. This incipient city was on the north-
208 NKW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIICTV
western end of the island, where some faint traces of its founda- tions are still visible. In the autumn, a portion of the part)' returned to France for supplies and recruits, and se\eniy-nine persons were left to guard the little village and t(j experience the rigors of winter. They were well clothed and pr(;\ isit)ned, without fear and full of hope. Mardshij), hulTcring and death were not in their pleasant programme. \\ inter apijroached. The fierce winds art)se and wrenched the faded lea\es from the trees. The air grew sharp and cutting. 'I'he birds lied to their southern homes. The snow sifted down, and wrapped the dead and frozen earth in its white shroud, (heat bUjcks of ice were piled on the shore, or hurried by in the black angr} water. Communication with the mainland became diflicult, and fresh water could not be easily obtained; hres could not keep out the awlul cold. It became so intense that the wine Iroze, and had to be dealt out by weight. l)a\- antl night these poor exiles shivered as with ague. Scurxy attacked them, .\earl\- all were sick, and before spring, thirt>'-h\e of them were carried to the little cemeter>'. The r(jmance endetl. h^xeryone of the emaciated and frost bitten surxixors were fully con\inced that that bleak island was n(jt a suiuUjle place for .i great cit\-. The buildings were taken down, loaded into \essels and carried to Port Royal, N. S., now Annapolis; and in August, Kit)."), ihex' all left never more to return. There can l)e no doubt that the winter 1004- UIO,") was one of exceptional se\erit\ . As a rule the winters are mild and open. The writer of this pa])er li\ed for thirty years within sight of IJochet Island, and during that somewhat extended period there were only two winters that could be at all compared with that one. Hut last winter, r22- 1923, resembled it. 'bhe writer saw on January ;]rd the American cutter "Ossipee" breaking out thick ice off the public wharf, St. Stephen, in order that some coal laden schooners at anchor below Dochet might get up and reliexe the fuel situation in that town and Calais. And Fassamaqucjddx' Hay was frozen so solidly that some men came o\er from Deer Island to St. Andrews on the ice one mc^rning and returned in the afternoon, a very rare occurrence.
NEW HRUXSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIliTV 209
There was one result from DeJMont's occupation of Dochet Island of great practical importance. Owing to the ignorance of colonial affairs of the Ikitish Government, much doubt was felt about the boundary between New Brunswick and Maine. Had they been alert and sent a Irigale from Halilax to smoke out a nest of Yankee sciuatlers at Miichias, there would ha\'e been no trouble and the eastern lujimdary of the State of Maine would have been the Kennebec Ri\er; l)ut this was not done and the Americans claimed the Magaguada\'ic, and some e\en the Saint John as their l)oundar\'. B>' the treat>- of 17S.'), it was agreed that the St. Croix Ri\er should be the line. Subse- quently, however, a doubt arose in\olving which of the larger rivers of Maine was the St.Groix. All admitted that it was the river near whose mouth was IH'Mcjuts island; but where a\ as that island? The few white men settled in Charlotte Countx', N. B., or Washington County, Me., knew nothing alxnit it, the Indians had no traditions concerning so transit(jr>- a settlement, especially as it was no concern of theirs; and (diami)lain's maps were too imperlect to give a correct idea of the localit\-. The changes wrought by nearly tw^o centuries of forest growth and decay, of rasping tides and chemical decomposition, had of course obliterated every visible \estige of the old k'rench settle- ment. But search was made, and in 17',)S, after a long and careful examination, the Commissioners ajjpointed to trace the boundary line discovered beneath the underl)rush, ledge and sand on Dochet Island the unmistakable remains of the foun- dations of DeMonts' houses. That settled the (luestion, and Canada obtained a valual)le slice oi territor\' including the im;)ortant Island of Grand Manan.
For a hundred and lifty-h\e >ears the count\- remained as empty as before the coming of the I'^rench, when, it is said, Alexander Hodges, Joseph Parsons antl one l'rel)ble, settled at Pleasant Point not far from Eastport in I7(»;i; in the same year James Boyd and James Chaffery came to Indian Island, in all probability these were the hrst permanent white settlers in the St. Croix valley. In 17()^), James Brown and Jeremiah I'rost located at St. Andrews. lUit the real settlement of the count\-
210 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTOKICAL SOCIETY
began in 178-1, when the Loyalists, alter the American Re\olu- tion, began pouring in. The settlement of St. Andrews resembled that of Saint John. In 1784 many luuidrcds of dispossessed Loyalists arrived and at once laid out a town site. The peninsula they selected was much more attractive than the one chosen in our case; the ground sloped beautituUy Ironi the highest point to the bay, without any irregularities, or nu)nstr(,)us rocks, no swamps, or muddy streams. The climate also is much better, and while the large timber trade existed St. Andrews threatened to be a formidable rival of Saint John. Hut e\il days were ahead. Changes in export regulations permitted St. Stephen to capture most of the trade. The emancipation of the West India negroes destroyed the lucrative trade carried on with these islands, the ship-building industry never llourished as it did in Saint John. Several attempts at manufacturing that looked promising at first came to nothing, a ro|je walk, a brewery, and a paper mill, all, one after another, were closed. The Charlotte Count}- Bank failed after a troubled existence of a few years, and many attempts bv' prominent citizens to advance the interests of the conununiiy were also unsuccessful.
At a very early period, only a )ear or two after the opening of the first really successful railwav' in Knglantl, the Li\erpool and Manchester in IS'-'A), a companv' was formed in St. Andrews to construct a railway to connect that town with C^i^'*-'! *-'•-'' ^i'i<^l though little was done at first, trains were run as far as ( diamcook in 1851. Several stoppages of the work occurred from want of funds, but by 1857 the line was open as far as Canterbury, before a single mile of railway was open in Saint John. As an inde- pendent road it was not very much of a success, but since its amalgamation with the C. 1*. R. consitlerable freight has been carried. But the development of St. .Andrews as a summer resort by that great corporation has brought much prosi)erit}' to the place, and during the tourist season two trains dailv' are run, quite a contrast to three trains a week before the amalga- mation.
The real settlement of the rest of the county also began in 1784, when several persons of Mis Majesty's 71st Regiment,
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 211
with Others from Nova Scotia, Massachusetts and elsewhere, united in a coporate body, called the "Cape Ann Association" and obtained a grant of a large tract of land in what is now the Parish of St. David. This grant was gi\'en to David Clendenin and 147 others. Many of them, and some accompanied by their wives and children, in that >'ear and the next, permanenth- located on the grant. Among them were William Moore, William Vance, Thomas McLaughlin, Reuben Smith, Samuel Thomas, Josiah Hitchings, Francis Norwood, Nathaniel r'arsons, David McAlister, and others whose names cannot be ascertained. The descendants of these people still occup\^ larnis in St. Daxid, and the writer of this paper is personalh' ac(iuainted with many of them, hnding them sterling characters all through. W illiam IVIoore, who appears to ha\e been the most wealth)' and ener- getic of them all, built a saw mill and grist mill, cjii Dennis stream, at the locality ever since called "Moore's Mills," and some attention was soon paid to lumbering. The farms yielded bountiful harvests, the river and streams were ali\e with fish, and ihe forest with game, the industrious women wo\e all the cloth needed for garments; there were no taxes t(^ pay and expensive fashions to follow; their houses were \\arm and comfortable, and the thrifty colonists had no reason to complain of their wilderness homes and enjoyments. They ought to ha\e been, and probably were, a contented and happy people.
The Town of St. Stephen owes its origin to a company led thither by Capt. Nehemiah ^larks. He was a nati\e of Derby, Connecticut, and was a man of marked ability' and energy. He joined the British forces in the Revolutionary War. At its close in 1783, in company with many other Loyalists, he sought a home in Nova Scotia. He was allowed a pension of JLDO a year, and had talent enough to win success anywhere. Not hnding in f-falifax an opening that was suitable to his energy and ambi- tion, he left that city and with 1U4 others sailed in a small vessel to St. Stephen. They landed June 24, 1784, in front of the present town and pitched their tents along the bank of the river. Having assisted his people in building log houses and making preparations for the coming winter, he returned to Halifax to
212 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
obtain from the government grants of land and other assistance. He was successful. Tlie government being anxious to have the provinces remaining loyal to the Crown, well peopled, willingly granted to each actual settler 100 acres of land, a generous supply of farming tools, and regular army rations for three years. Not long after Jones and Morrison, Royal agents, surveyed and laid out the land into village lots and hundred acre farms; and one each of these was given to each man. Th>e colonists were now fairly started and their prosperity seemed to be assured. Before their rations ceased, ihey would ha\x' abundant time to lell the trees, prepare the soil and raise a supply of food. Hut serious obstacles were in the way. Some of ihe men had been in the army long enough to accpiire a distaste for the steady habits and hard labor needed in clearing the land and culti\'aling the soil. Others knew nothing about the farming, ami were able to accomplish but little, e\en though diligent. (Jtheis were intemi:)erate, and therefore worse than useksb as citizei^s. '1 hree careless years passed away; the rations ceased and hard times began, bittle provision had been made iuv this emergenc>'; the improvident people had but little money to i)iu'chase sup- plies, and no good market was near. Haggard destitution soon set in. h\)od, clothing, tools, glass, nails, becanie alarmingl}' scarce. Of course in this privation there was much suffering, sickness and discouragement. But "necessity is the mculier oi invention." By the skillful use of wooden pegs, ccjmforlable houses and turniture were constructed without nails. Shoes were made of raw hides taken from the moose and deer. The hunter and fisher brought in food. I'arming began in earnest, and soon yielded a fair return. Max was raised and wool grown. The lumbering business began to be i)ushed with \ig<jr, and vessels came with merchandise to barter for the timber. At first none of these vessels were owned in St. Stephen, but in 17U7 Alexander Golden built a small schooner in St. Stephen, and two years later, Joseph Porter built another. These were the first vessels built on the river above St. Andrews. In 1800 Capt. N. Marks died. And here ends the pioneer age of St. Stephen.
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 213
Since that time, slow btit steach' progress has marked the passing years. During the nineteentli century the hnnber trade i)rought much prosperity; that has now comi)letel\' disappeared and most of the manufactured lumber sold in the town comes from British Columl)ia; a large export of jnilpwood brings in considerable mone\- t(j the farmers who cut it on their ow n places and haul it during winter when nothing can be done on the iarms. W hate\'er it brings in is spent in St. Sic|)hc!i and (Jther towns, so although not so spectacular, pr()l)abl\- as much or more ready mc^ney is brought into the ci)unir>- as in the da\s when lumbering llourished. But it is in manufacturing that the present and luture of St. Sieijhen is assuretl. An immense cotton mill, at Milltown, i)ractically the same town, eni])loys 5U0 hands. It is dri\en b)' the St. ("roix, so no expense for fuel is necessary; raw material can l^e deli\ered \)\ wati-r within a mile or twt), the manufactured product can be sent a\\a^• by three railroads, numbers of employees can. be obtained from three towns. C",anong's confectionery is a li\e concern sending its productions as lar as the i^acihc ccnisi. The St. Croix Soap Works manutaciure the well known "Surprise Soap" used everywhere. All these industries arc causing a great dexelop- ment, and the town is extending back from the rixer, so the future seems to be assured. These acti\ities [)ro\idc a capital market for the i;roduce raised by the farmer of Cliarlotte (V)unt\', so there is no need of the cry so often heard, that nothing can be sold.
St. Stephen and Calais are in different countries, one under Monarchical Government, the other under Republican, >et they have the same water system, St. Stephen supi)l\ing Calais, the same electric light, street railwa\- and gas, - - Calais supijbiiig power tor St. Stephen. The citizens fraternize on all occasions, our people celebrating the 1th July with much greater ardor than they do Dominion Day. Many marriages ha\e taken place between the young people of both towns, so there is little possi- bility of the existing harmon\' e\'er being disturbed.
214 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
GEORGE \V. ORSER AND THE "ORSERITES."
By M. L. Hayward, PIartland, N. B.
New Brunswick has not yet attained to the highly speciaHzed industrial development of the Eastern States, neither do we possess the buoyant optimism of the "last great West," but, whatever our deficiencies along other lines, we have no dearth of churches, creeds, sects, denominations and religious organiza- tions. The prominent ratepa>'er or defaulter of any fair sized New Brunswick town, who remains at home on the Sab!)ath day, must admit that he does so from choice, and not because he cannot find a gathering of congenial worshippers, be he Greek or Barbarian, Jew or Gentile, Unitarian or Vegetarian.
All these churches, however, at least the prominent ones, have certain points in common. They existed long before the Province of New Brunswick was born or thought of — they were transplanted to our virgin soil, and their centres of religious gravity are beyond the confines of the province. The Jew looks to Zion — the Catholic to Rome, where the succes-^or of St. Peter rules a vaster spiritual Empire than has been. The Methodist honors the memory of the English \\'es!e>s — the Presbyterian loves the heather, the soimd of the bagi^jjcs and the name of the Scottish John Knox, while the Christian Scien- tist rejoices in the faith once deli\ered to Mary leaker Iuld>'.
While this is true, the Province of New Brimswick can truthfully claim that we have one Church that is nati\e to the soil — founded and organized in New Brunswick by one (^f the native born, incorporated under the laws of the province, and confining its religious efforts in a large measure to its particular sphere of influence in the Counties of Carleton and Victoria and the northern part of York.
The founder of this organization was George W. Orser, and it is proposed to give herein a brief account of his life and per- sonality, with especial reference to the sect which he founded and fashioned during its early and formative years.
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY _! 1 0
This George \V. Orser was a son of William Orser, and the family tradition is that William Orser was a New York Loyalist, born at Sing Sing, New York, in 17()2; that he was. of Dutch descent, his parents having been born in Amsterdam; that he came to New Brunswick and married Mary Blake, the first white female born on the Saint John River of English parents, and that her father was killed by the Indians during the tlistur- bances growing out of the American activities on the river during the Revolutionary W^ar.
William Orser's name does not aj:)pear in Sabine's Lo\alists, in Kelby's List, nor in the Loyalist Claims, but I conclude that he was a Loyalist for the following reasons:
1. The family tradition is clear-cut and i:)Ositive.
2. In the case of Currie vs. Stairs, 25 N. B. R. 4, one of the vital points involved was whether William Orser's descendants were British subjects, and his grandson, Moses P. Orser, testified without objection that William Orser was a Loyalist.
The family tradition also says that William Orser and ]\Liry Blake were married in or about the \'ear 1S()2, and came up the Saint John ri\'er in canoes in search of a home, bringing with them a family of twelve children, the offspring of their former marriages divided on the ancient and honorable basis of fifty- fifty; that they stopped at the Mouth of the Beccaguimic Ri\'er where Orser had taken up a grant of land, and spent the first night under their canoes near the springs that now finnish a portion of the water supply for the Town of Hartland, which is built upon the original William Orser grants, and which claims him as its first settler and the founder of the town.
The attitude of this town today towards this same William Orser is a striking example of the New Brunswick viewpoint. If Orser had fought under Washington and been the first settler in an American town, some prominent feature thereof would bear his name, his monument would occupy the centre of the Public Square, there would be an "Orser Day" set apart on the local school calendar, and his descendants would be inflated with ancestral pride. When the Town of Hartland was incor- porated and the streets thereof named, the writer urged upon
21G NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
the committee in charge the propriety of recognizing William Orser as our first settler, and a former resident of the town made a similar plea on behalf of William S. Nevers, a later and promin- ent citizen, hut both suggestions were rejected, the committee preferring such threadbare names as Main, High, King, Queen and Prince.
One of his descendants, however, it is said, still has the axe wherewith William Orser is alleged to ha\'e cut the first tree on his domain, and which, says T. C. L. Ketchum in his recent and interesting History of Carleton County, is exhibited with as much pride as if it were a battle-axe used t(j chop off the head of a fellow Christian.
C.eorge W. Orser, the son of William and Mary, was born at Piartland, then known as the "Mouth of the Beccaguimic," on June 27th, ISl,'], was reared under pioneer conditions, and suffered from the lack of educational advantages that beset the early settlers. The facts regarding his life and religious activi- ties herein set forth are largely taken from the "Life ot C.eorge \\ . Orser," written by his nephew, Rev. Charles H. Orser, |-)ub- lished in 1014, and a book which enjoyed a considerable local circulation in Carleton County. The style is rather prolix, and exhilfits that species of hero worship that distinguishes Boswell's Johnson, as well as the bitter type of religious prejudice prevailing during the period covered, but it is accurate in the main and contains a great deal of really valuable information regarding early conditions on the upper Saint John. Any quotations in this paj^er not specifically identified are taken from this book.
"At the age of fifteen years he was truly and ha[)pily con- verted, having passed through the work of regeneration and experienced the spiritual birth," sa\'s his biographer already referred to. "Soon after his conversion he felt the call of C.od, to go and labor in his cause," and for a \'car or more he stead- fastly preached to the people the unsearchable riches of Christ's Kingdom. At one of his services he preached for three hours in succession without any break. "The audience," his biographer tells us, "was shrouded in tears and fears." (Orser's Life, IS).
After this fax-orable and precocious beginning, owing to his
NEW RRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIKTY 217
youth and the fact that he was without the surrouncHngs of church government and the fellowship of the Christian ministry, and where they were not to be obtained, he became discourac;ed, confined his work to a more private capacity, and ceased his j)ublic calling for several years.
At the age of twenty years he married Abigail Sliaw, a (laughter of Reverend Jonathan Shaw, one of the ministers of the church then known as "the Church of Christ," which after- wards assumed and bore for many years the name oi Free Christian Baptist, and which some years ago merged with the Hajnists to form the United Ba[)tist body.
In passing we may remark here that the rix'alry l)etween the Free Christian Baptists and the regular Baptists, diflering as they did largely on the (juestion of foreordinati(jn and the final perseverance of the Saints, was especialh- keen. In ls;]S Rev. Edward JManning, one of the "Fathers" of the Baptist denomination, in reporting on a missionary tour to the Baptist churches along the Saint John River, says: "Some of them ha\e nearly, if not quite, h-st (heir \'isibility; and another denomina- tion, called ' Freewillers,' ha\-e taken the groiuul. ThcN' style themselves 'The diristian Church.' — O, this is distressing, to see those little hills of Zion neglected and given up to a lamei\tal)le sterility." (Bill's History of the Baptists, i;J7).
Shortly after his marriage Mr. Orser again took u\) the ministry, was baptised l)y his father-in-law, and for several years "laboured with much power and blessing and the results were manifold in the saving of precious souls. He laboured on, and in the year 1,S43 he was engaged in a gracious revival in his own community."
The result of this work was that in May, IS-i;], he was ordained by Rev. Charles MacMullin, Samuel Ilartt, William Pennington and Jonathan Shaw, four prominent ministers of the Church of Christ whose names are still "h(Hisehold words" in certain sections of Carleton County, to quote a well worn phrase. At that time this particular body of people had no organization nor church name, and Mr. Orser was declared a regular ordained minister of the Church of (Tirist with full power to assume the duties of an ordained minister.
218 NEW BRUXSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIIiTY
As a result of this revival at Hartland a number of coinerts were baptised by Mr. Orser, including his wife and his only son G. Elijah Orser, his "oldest brother, Stephen, was the first with him to break water," as his biographer phrases it, and as further result a church was organized at Beccaguimic, or Hartland as it is now called. G. W. Orser was one of the charter members, and in 185-i this sect was incorporated by the New Brunswick legislature under the name of Free C^hristian Baptists.
Following his ordination and the organization of this Hartland church, "the Reverend G. \\\ Orser soon became the leading minister in Carleton County and his serx'ices were much in quest and sought after by his Christian friends. So popular had he grown among the people of his choice that he soon began to get the cold shoulder of some of his brethren that were not so much sought for as he." (CJrser's Fife, page 23. )
This feeling of friction continued to de\'elop in the denomina- tion, and, "to many of the men he stood in connection with in the Free Christian Baptist Conference, he became the dark horse, so to speak, and a thorn in their side, lie would not be saddled and rode where they wanted him to go. hViction became apparent in the body proper. Threats were resorted to and a spirit of intimidation soon was sweeping o\'er the country, and through the churches, relative to the audacity and daring of this supposed unruly black horse. The real bone of contention proved to be not that he, Mr. Orser, was disloyal to his God or the principles of Holy Writ, nor could they fault his strict adherence to the doctrines that he strictly honored, but he did not join up with some of the new methods introduced by some of his brethren, and declared by them to be necessary for the furthering of the best interests of the Free Christian Baptist body." (Orser's Life, 70.)
The foregoing quotation gives the ke>'note of the dispute. It was the old case of a house divided against itself into two opposing parties, one favoring innovations, changes and reforms, the other preferring to walk in the old ways, and to stand fast in the faith once delivered to the saints. G. W. Orser was the leader of what we might call, without any political signihcance,
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 210
the Tory faction, a Puritan of the Puritans, and strenuously opposed the (then) modern theories, especially, "salaried ministers, a time limit for such amount of dollars as the chmxhes obligated themselves for; no salary, no preaching. A free gospel and free access to it were the righteous principles of his heart. He had lixed in that freedom and he could not be bound. Neither have the free principles of the (lospel so far as he could prevent it be bound by fetters of men or denominational rule. What he started with he would preach and teach, and to (".od's glory and his own credit as a preacher he ke[)t that principle through life, and died with it after fort>' and more \-ears of strenuous efforts. He died game. His steadfastness for a free gospel to the poor lost him his position after some \'ears of struggle with his Free (diristian Baptist brethren." (Orser's Life, 71.)
The foregoing quotations, of course, set forth the "Orser" side of the controversy, and the b^ree Christian liaptist i)eoi)le were equally zealous in upholding the righteousness of their cause.
"George Orser was stubborn, headstrong, domineering and o\'erbearing. He 'drove his stakes' in the conierencc and the rest of the ministers had to knuckle to him. It was a case of one man making himself the 'boss' of the entire denomination, so there was nothing to do f)ut turn him out," is the argument which I ha\'e heard expressed around l-^ce Christian Baptist firesides in my more \'OUthful days, and the contro\'ersy ran true to the form of those doctrinal difficulties which in time past ha\e disrupted some of the larger denominations which we might designate as the "Big b'our." Individual churches, families and neighborhoods were acutel}' divided with ('■. W Orser as the storm centre; funeral ser\Mces attended b)' ministers of the opposing factions sometimes partook of the nature of joint debates and at times the contro\ersy even took on a political tinge.
"We could have elected him if it hadn't been for the d
'Orserites,' " I once heard the ardent supporters of a Baptist deacon declare at the close of the poll in a parish election.
220 NEW HRUXSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
To enter into the merits of the controversy at this time woukl i)C unprofitable; to decide who was in the right of the matter would be impossil)le; l)ut the result was that Mr. Orser was forced out of the Free Christian Baptist denomination under circumstances which reilect some of that wisdom of the wil>' serpent which is supposed to go hand in hand with the harmlessness of the gentle dove.
According to Rev. C. H. Orser in his reminiscences accom- panying his Life of G. W. Orser, Re\^ Aaron Kinney was one ot G. W. Orser's sturdy opponents in the Free Christian I^aptist Conference — a dispute arose between them in connection with the Hariland Church, of which Mr. Orser was pastor. At the General (\)nference held at Waterville in 1S74 a conmiittee (A five members was appointed with authorit>' to deal with the matter, and it is safe to assume that Mr. Orser's enemies felt that the Lord and the Conference had delivered him into their hands.
At this time Mr. Orser was not the only minister connected with the Hartland church. Three \'Oung and regularly licensed ministers of the Free Christian F^aptist denomination were members, and it happened that they were all Orsers and relatives of G. \\\ — Charles IL, a son of his brother Edward and the author of the Life of G. W. Orser referred to herein; Moses P., a son of his brother J. Moses; and G. Elijah, the only li\'ing son of (;. \V. Orser.
The committee evidently found that the Hartland (Tiurch was strongly "Orserite" in sentiment before the word was coined, and, following the example of worldly and grasping corporations, a reorganization was decided on; out of the original membership of thirty-eight two only were taken into the reorganized church — and the remaining thirty-six, including Rev. G. W. Orser and the three Orser ministers already referred to, were left out. Then Rev. G. W. Orser was dismissed from the Conference on the ground that he was not in good standing.
This proceeding naturally brought Mr. Orser before the public in and be>'ond the sphere of his spiritual intlucnce, and it may not be out of place at this stage to say something of the
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 221
man himself and his personality and characteristics — a diiiicult task to even the proiessional historian with a mass of documen- tary material to draw from — doubly so in this case, with nothing except tradition and memor)- in their most precarious and fragmentary form, and colored by religious prejudice, favorable and otherwise.
However, certain points seem clear, and although absolutely nothing in the way of his sermons has sur^'ivcd — his preaching was entirely extemporaneous and lie no doubt regarded notes in the pulpit as one of the works of the Devil — he was undoulu- edly a speaker of remarkable power, a natural orator, and it is probably not exaggerating to say that with the advantages of education and a wider stage he would ha\'e compared favorably with the great pulpit orators of his time.
He was evidently a keen debater and rather enjoyed giving and receiving hard knocks. It is safe to assume that his public utterances were often a skilful blending of the evangelical and the polemical. In speaking of a funeral sermon which he preached shortly after his separation from the h^ree Christian Baptist denomination, we are told that, "He had some target before him in the persons of five ministers of the I-^ree C'hristian Baptist body. For him at that time he seemed to steer clear of personalities, but without douljt sfjme of his shot, hot as it was, found a stopping place near those targets. At least so they reported after the service." (Orser's Life, 9S.)
"Some few times in my experience, laboring with him, have I seen the lofty heads lowered under his scathing and scoring wit and sarcasm," says his nephew biographer.
As the result of the impressions and opinions of the man which I have endeavored to harmonize, I ha\c often felt tliat in the give and take of heated discussion Tvfr. Orser was some- what of the forceful type of the late Sir Charles Tupper, and would have taken a high rank i)oliticali\', if he luul labored in the legislative iialls of the Devil instead of in the \'ineyard of the Lord.
In his religious views he was strongly e\'angelical, strcnuousl>' opposed to changes and innovations, and anything api)roaching
222 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
pretence or "side" evidently aroused iiis ire. His disi)osiiion was, I think, somewhat peppery where matters of principle were concerned. In his general make-up he was inclined to be "tjuick turned" as the people of his day and generation woukl say.
" I'lainly," says Rev. C. H. Orser, " he was the wrong preacher to undertake to pull very much, e:^pecialh' where he had no orders to go."
At the same time Rev. C. H. Orser's book, page after page, extolls his modesty and retiring disi)osition, his kindness to the younger ministers, and his unassuming manner to those not so highly entlow etl as he.
Absolutely nothing in the way (jf a portrait of the man is or ever was in existence, as he refused, as a matter of [principle, to have a picture taken, and did ncjt appro\'e of picture taking generally, including it in his general and sweeping condemnation of "graven images," but he was, I am told, rather tall, full faced, light complexion, and with eyes reflecting a keen intellect and an active disposition.
The frequent charge that he was opposed icj Suiid;i\' Scho(jls is not true. I have been assured by reliable parties that they have attended Sunday Schools under his charge, although he probably insisted that the>' should not o\ ershadow the preaching services.
Following the separation from his former church afhliations there came, we are justihed in interring, a ])eri(xl of hcsiiaiion on the part of the dismissed clergyman, "lie seemed just a little dazed, not that he thought for a moment that he had done wrong, but he scarcely could get out of the idea that he had f)een dealt wrongly and unchristianh' by those with whom he had former connection with. And to be deprixed of church and a church home, that he had jusll\- laboured to provide himself and others with, he seemed to feel just as bad for others as he did for himself." (CVser's Life, 89.)
We can imagine his dismissed brethren crowding around him, the long and anxious evening consultations, the urgent requests that he continue in the work, and build up a new church for those who had been dri\'en into the sjiiritual wilderness, and
222 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL St)CII£TY
pretence or "side" evidenily aroused his ire. Mis disposition was, I think, somewhat peppery where matters of principle were concerned. In his general make-up he was inclined to be "(jiiick turned" as the people of his day and generation would say.
" Plainly," says Rev. C. M. Orser, "he was the wrong j)reacher to undertake to pull very much, ebpecially where he had no orders to go."
At the same time Rev. C. M. Orser's book, page after i)age, extolls his modesty antl retiring disposition, his kindness to the younger ministers, and his imassuming manner to those not so highly entlowed as he.
Absolutely nothing in the way (jf a portrait of the ukui is or ever was in existence, as he refused, as a matter of i)rincij)le, to ha\e a picture taken, and did not ai:)pro\e of i)ictme taking generally, including it in his general and sweeping condemnation of "graven images," but he was, I am told, rather tall, full faced, light complexion, and with e>'es retlecting a keen intellect and an active disposition.
The frequent charge that he was opposed to Sunda\' Schools is not true. 1 have been assured by reliable parties that they have attended Sunda\' Schools under his charge, although he probably insisted that they should not o\ershadow the preaching services.
Following the separation from his lormer church affiliations there came, we are justified in inferring, a period of hesitation on the part of the dismissed clergyman, "lie seemed just a little dazed, not that he thought for a moment that he had done wrong, but he scarcely could get out of the idea that he had been dealt wrongly and unchristianh' by those with whom he had former connection with. And to be deprixed of church and a church home, that he had justl\- lalxnued to provide himself and others with, he seemed to feel just as Ijad fc^r others as he did for himself." (Orser's Life, 89.)
We can imagine his dismissed brethren crowding around him, the long and anxious evening constiltations, the urgent requests that he continue in the work, and build u\) a new church for those who had been driven into the spiritual wilderness, and
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 223
for a man of Mr. Orser's undoubted energy this period of inactiv- ity could not last long. Shortly after his dismissal he was called on to preach a funeral sermon at Knowlesville in the Count\' of Carleton, and it is characteristic of the spirit of the time that we are told that, "One of his then personal enemies followed him to that appointment," and, encouraged by his fa\'orable reception, in the month of November, 1874, he began a series of revival services at Carlisle in the Parish of Brighton, about ten miles from his birthplace, and here he organized the first church of the new denomination under the name of the Free Baptist Church, with thirty-three charter members.
A few days after the close of the Carlisle campaign J\Ir. (Jrser started in at Hartland, and "here his staunch old brethren and sisters," meaning thereb>' those former F. C. Baptists who had been left out in the reorganization already reterred to — • "gathered around him and pressed him to organize then and there, a church, taking the new name ol the church at C^irlisle," and this church, we are told, "gatheretl in all the outcast that lived in Hartland." (Orser's Life, 02.)
He met there, his biograph\' tells us, " the same old opposition in full array," and that "one of his greatest opposers was his youngest brother," showing that Carleton County took its religion as seriously in the seventies as it did its politics in later years during the strenuous days of Carvell, h^lemming and B. F. Smith.
M. P. Orser was a member of the New Hartland church, and was licensed to preach by it — C. H. and G. E. Orser were licensed by the Carlisle church, and in December, IS?.!, the four Orsers began a religious campaign at Lower Wakefield where G. W. Orser resided at that time, and about midway between Hartland and W'oodstock on the western side of the River Saint John.
"Here those four Orsers commenced to surve>' the walls, finding them in a dilapidated condition. Yet by divine direction they decided to rebuild, not on the old wall, but gathered of some of the old stones and put them with others into the new spiritual building. That, then and there, was instittited into a church for another name." (Orser's Life, 93.)
224 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
During the progress, or rather at the inception of the cam- paign at Lower Wakefield, M. P. and G. E. Orser were ordained to the regular work of the ministry by the laying on of hands of Rev. G. W. Orser, assisted by Rev. Herman Shaw, a Baptist minister of Maine, C. H. Orser was ordained at Carlisle later, so that the first four ordained ministers of the hVee Bai)iist denomination were all Orsers and relatixes of the original founder, and it is not surprising that, while the>- were cjtVicially named Free Baptists, they were commonh' called "Orserites" by their opponents and the general pu1)lic, and the expression is still a significant one to man\' of the old meml)ers of the denomination.
In less than a year from the beginning of the mo\ement I\Ir. Orser was instrumental in organizing, not the seven churches of x'Xsia, but se\'en nourishing churches in Oarleton and X'icloria Counties, and in July, LS75 or 1S7(), the 1-Vee Bai)tist C.eneral Conference of New Brunswick was organized at East I^lorence- ville in the County of Carleton, consisting of the four Orser ministers, the Rev. Elijah Sisson, and delegates h'om the tollow- ing churches: Carlisle No. 1, Hartland No. 2, Lower W'aketield No. 3, Perth No. 4, Windsor No. 5, Wicklow .No. 0, and Abjii- quart No. 7.
Rev. M. P. Orser was elected the first moderator and S. Hayden Shaw, a prominent layman of the Hartland church, was the first clerk, and at the close of this conference a new church was organized at East Florencexille.
At this first conference it was decided to hold (|uarterly meetings with the various churches, and in October, 1S75, a meeting was held at C.reenfield in the County of (^arleton, the Presbyterian brethren opening their church for the gathering, and Rev. Gideon Estabrooks, a Baptist stalwart of (\u'leton County and two other ministers of the same denomination, attending in a friendly capacity. It is interesting to note that a Baptist minister assisted Rev. G. W. Orser in his first ordina- tion service, and from the beginning a very different feeling existed between the Free Baptists and the Baptists on the one hand and the Free Christian Baptists on the other — a circum-
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY li-lo
Stance that is easily accounted for by the fact that the Free Baptists felt that the}' had been unjusth' exiled from the Vrte Christian Baptist body, and had no such feeling towards the regular Baptist. Besides, if we nia\' assume that religious ordination does not remove all traces oi human nature, the Baptists did not object to seeing their I-^rce Christian Baptist rivals harassed by a Hank attack from those who had formerh- been in spiritual communion with them.
We may also note that at C.reenlield the new denomination "had the oi)en opposition of one of the hVee Christian Baptist ministers, he visiting and trying to persuade the people to have nothing to do with such a bad lot as would attend our quarterly meeting, it we were entertained by them." (Orser's Life, 121.)
In January, 1S71) or 1877, a (juarterh- meeting was held at Lower Wakefield, "on the old batlle ground." "Now after one year, here we are with a vast crowd of d\ed-in-the-wool ( )rserites. i\Iy! how it pleased our hostile frien.ds to give us that l)ecUitiful cognomen," Rev. C. IL Orser tells us, recalling the da\'s when the word Methodist was apj^lied to that peoi^le under somewhat similar conditions.
At this gathering C.eorge W. Orser was, of course, the central figure, and at the morning ser\ice on the Sabbath day he delivered "one of the greatest sermons in elfccts, that can l)e recorded so far in the history of the l^imitixe Baptists," i)reach- ing from John 7:;>7-;].S.
"For one hour and thirty minutes the labor and intellectual opening of the spiritual meaning of this prophec>' was ne\er more spiritually illustrated or more powerfully delivered by mortal man since the da>-s of Jesus' proclaiming it," says his interesting biographer. "There, standing in the presence of his audience, we behold the face of this man>' sided i:)reacher, his indomitable will power forging to the front in his every utterance, the shining face, denoting what power or inlluence, was mo\ ing him. The high nights of altitude to which he arose in that most memorable sermon, and carried his audience to. The immediate results of the Holy Spirit's power over the conditions of his chinch. The spiritual results of such an attitude upon the spiritual. The
22G NEW HRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SfXliaV
genuine principle that might and ought to Ije the fruit and experience of all churches. He seemed to re\'el for an hour or more in portra>'ing the glories aiul beauties of the presence of Holy inspiration, and the possibility of the peo])le of Cod claiming those divine rights and living in them. That any (lescrii)tion of this scene, in a word picture, will fall far short of correct description, but the stamj) is there as a fixture on the hearts of very man>' who had the i)ri\ ilege of this great lu\ur\- on a spiritual basis." (Orser's Life, 127.)
During this time the Free Baptists had not remained on the defensive. They were planting new churches, and shortl>- after three former Free Christian Baptist ministers joined the new body, Revs. S. E. Sprague, E. W. Harlle}-, and Ifarxex' Ibiger- man, so that when the second general conference met in a barn in Upper Kent in LSTO, "we were not all Orsers now, and to our people it must have sounded strange indeed to hear ainthing or any one addressed or referred to but an Orser." At this time a total membership of 775 and 19 churches reported, and appar- ently one church at least had been organized in the State of Maine.
At a quarterly meeting at Hartland in Octol)er, ls7(), a new church was dedicated, and we can api)reciate the proud state- ment that, "this was one of the days of da>s to the iVimitive Baptists."
In January, bS77, a quarterly meeting was held at Perth in the old Free Christian Baptist church, but whether we are to infer from this that the church was partly abandoned or that the spirit of op[)osition between the two denominations was beginning to die out, is diflicult to say, but there was some difficulty at this session, "caused by the little Baptist minister. Skinner. But like a gentleman he made his a[)olog\'. He was set on l)y one who dare not do so himself, but like other opposi- tion, it had an en(\, ix)ssiblyfor the glory of Cod, and the better- ment of us all." (Orser's Fife, l(i<).)
In July, 1S77, at the yearh' meeting held at IMonquart twcnt>'- four churches reported, and there were seven ministers outside of the four Orsers, which, Sa\s C. H. Orser, was "not a \ery
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 227
pour showing for a few preachers to make. You will remember, also, that we were not preaching all the time. We had our farms and families to look alter, and we did not get. very large returns linancialh' from our Hocks. The}-, many of them, were building churches and had \'er\' much on their hands for the first ten or twehe years, so that we had to look largel\' to our farms for the support ol our tamilies."
" I ht)pe our young men will not get abo\e any honest employ- ment if the needs of their homes demand it," Air. Orser concludes. "Our denomination was tounded with preaching, praying, tears, and sweat, sore heads, sore hearts, s(^re hands, and sore feet. Our wives had it just as hard as we, and some ol them just a little harder."
In the meantime the new denomination was extending geographically. At a quarterly meeting held at C\irlisle, January, 1879, churches at Deer Island and Alars Mill, Maine, were received into the conference, and a new church building at Carlisle was dedicated "built out of the free gifts of the people. All the material for its construction were furnished from Carlisle products."
At this meeting Rev. \\\ A. Alorang was ordained, and the ordination sermon by Re\'. (i. \\ . Orser "was re[)lete with the necessary instructions, doctrinalK' and practically, for the benefit of the young minister, accom{)anied b\- the proper spiritual guidance in his after life."
In 1NS2 at the conference held at Monquart, Carleton County, forty-two churches reported, in 1883, we find that a committee consisting of Rev. M . P. Orser, S. H. Shaw, and Joseph Orser were appointed to prepare a Treatise of h^iith for the Denomina- tion, and Rev. Elijah Sisson, the first minister of the denomina- tion outside of the Orsers, was dropped from the list of ministers and church m.embership.
During all these years at the various conferences and quar- terly meetings Rev. G. W. Orser was of course the central figure, but at the annual conference at l^pper W'icklow in, apparently, 1884, he was unable to attend on account of illness, and it was evident that his life work was drawing to a close. In that year
228 NEW BRUNSWICK IIISTOKJCAL SOCIETY
he made a visit to Deer Island, hut in it resulted no benefit to his health; on the way home he stopped at Canterbury Station where special services were being held, and there he ga\'e his followers to understand that his work was done. He was evidently suffering from a form of paral>'sis, and we are told that he had lost his ability to preach or take part in any luisiness, secular or religi(His. He attended a meeting at (^uUcrbur\', asked Rev. C 11. Orser to preach, attempted to speak after the sermon, but could not repeat the text from memoi'\\
In speaking of the service afterwards. Rev. C. H. Orser qucjtes him as follows:
"I do not think that I ever heard Brother Charles preach so well in my life. Oh, how I love these young brethren. I want >'OU to help them allyou possibly can, for you will have to depend on them now. No doubt I will soon leave you all. How much these young men helped me. How well they lune stood around me, when friends and s^'mpathizers seemed so few. But m>' Ciod has gi\'cn me scores of proved friends in my last years, for which I can praise him."
On that occasion his followers evidently realized that their leader would not be with them long, and we can imagine that the way loc^ked dark before them. "Oh, hard for us to gi\e him up. How dark it seemed for us to go on without him. His great interest for his brethren and the churches iiad affiliated them so strongly to this superior and powerful preacher, and such a leader of men. His was the God-given abilit\' to lead others. He was so careful and kind-hearted to his little Hock. To turn our minds away from and realize that he was no more on earth, the thought of this stung us to the Ncry centre of our being," sa>'s C. H. Orser on page 214 of his book. "His utter- ances on this last occasion of meeting in general meeting has lived with us all these years, and as we pen this bit of hislcny concerning the man, above all others, in our confidence and esteem as a preacher of righteousness I am fully satisfied that all Primitive Baptists who have come in personal contact with Cj. W. Orser and sat under his ministrations will not find fault with my eulogy or estimation of this worthy man and i)reacher." (Page 21().)
NEW HRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 229
These Free Baptist people, we must remember, were ordinary everyday folk, travelling the ordinary paths of life, but at this time they must have felt as the followers of Gladstone, Mac- donald or Laurier did when they began to realize that the "Grand Old Man" or the "Knight of the White Plume" had reached the milestone that marks the summit of the journey and had began to travel the sunset western trail.
Early in 1885 his health improved, and he was able to attend a service at the Carlisle church ; here, in the cradle of the denom- ination, he preached his last sermon, and, C. II. Orscr tells us, "his strength and mind carried him on in his sermon for thirty minutes, seemingly in his old time life and \'igor." Then "his strength of voice failed him and he sat down, seemingly quite exhausted from the labor of that sermon. But how seemingly fitted for him to preach his last sermon where he really began his labors in building a new denomination. I hax'e ever believed," Mr. C. H. Orser declares, " that God had this arrange- ment in charge," and in the preceding ten years he had gathered together forty-five churches with 2,()()0 members, and twelve ministers who had aided him in accomplishing that work.
In March, 1885, Mr. Orser suffered from a third slroke of paralysis and passed away at Mount Pleasant in the Parish of Peel where he had lived for some time. His funeral services were held in the church at Harlland, Rev. W. A. Morang preached the funeral service and vhe was buried in Lower \\\ike- field where he had founded his third church and livetl for some years. His friends have placed a Ijeautiful monument over the grave, and the house in which he lived a short distance fnjm the graveyard is still standing.
Following Mr. Orser's death, Rev. D. E. Brooks and Rev. Addington Giberson took the lead in the denomination, which continued to grow steadily but slowh'. Mr. Giberson, we may note, was himself of Orser descent, his mother, Lydia, having been a daughter of Edward Orser and a granddaughter ot \A'illiam, the Loyalist progenitor.
During the intervening years the records are rather scanty but in 1889 a church at Lowell, Massachusetts, was received
230 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
into the conference, showing that the denomination was extend- ing geographically at least, and in 1883 or thereabouts a body of people in the western part of Nova Scotia, called. Free Chris- tian Baptists and under the leadership of Rev. Samuel W. Bennison, affiliated with the New Brunswick denomination.
Finally the Free Baptist people decided to become incor- porated by the name under which they had sailed for nearly a quarter of a century, and on Februar>' 25, 1897, j\lr. (\ L. Smith, one of the members for Carleton County, presented to the Legis- lature a bill to incorporate the b^ree Baptist denomination, and, on March 3, Mr. John Sivewright [^resented the petition of Rev. Dr. Joseph McLeod, the leading Free Christian Baptist minister in New Brunswick, against the l)ill.
On IMarch, b'ith Mr. Smith committed the bill and the report of the decision may l)e found on pages 131 and 132 ot the Ssnop- tic Report of the proceedings of the [.egi^lati\e Assembly tcjr the year 1897.
"Mr. Smith said this bill was promoted by the religious body that was quite numerous in the Counties of Carleton and Victoria," says the official report. "They had properly adver- tised the bill in the press. After the bill was brought before the house opposition had developed to it on the ground that the title proposed was an infringement upon the right of the l>ee Chris- tian Baptist church of New Brunswick. IMr. Smith quoted from several religious and secular newspapers to show that this was the commonly accepted title of the latter body. He thought there was a sufficient distinction between the two names. The Free Christian Baptist church had been allowed the choice of a name and the same privilege should be alUnved the promoters of this bill."
Mr. Sivewright, one of Cloucester's members, took the lead in opposing the bill on the ground that "it was an attempt to filch the trade mark of another denomination," and read many extracts from newspapers to show that the Free Christian Baptist church was frequently known as the Free Baptist church.
"This society had a right to be incorporated," said Mr.
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY L'o 1
Sivewright, "l3Ut it was unreasonable and unfair that the Free Baptists of the province should be robbed of their name by a few Orserites of Carleton County. The various Protestant churches did a grand work, but don't let us manufacture any more of them," he declared, which produced the time-honored "laughter." "In Nova Scotia and the United States," he went on to sa>', "the body of ("hristians which ahiliated with the l^'ce Christian Baptists of New Brunswick was incorporated under the name of the Free Baptists."
j\Ir. A. E. Killam, one (jf the Westmorland County members, "strongly protested against the VhH as an infringement ui^on the rights of the k^-ee Christian Hainist denomination. It would greatly confuse matters in Westmorland and other eastern counties."
The tamous H. H. Pitts of York said the bill "was a slur upon e\'er\- I'Tee Baptist in New Brunswick. I'nder the Act for incorporation of companies under letters patent, the goxern- ment was \'ery [^articular to refuse incorporation ol companies bearing similar names to that of c()mj)anies already existing, and the same rule should be ai^iilied in this case," and in con- clusion he mo\ed that the further consideration of the bill be postponed tor three months.
Dr. Silas Alward, one of the Saint John members, suggested that the name be Orser Free Baptists, to which lion. Mr. Tweedie objected, and Messrs. Porter and Be\eridge ol X'ictoria favored the bill. Mr. Smith stated Orser b'ree Baptist was acceptable to Dr. McLeod, Mr. Hill, of Charlotte, opposed the bill, and finally progress was reported with leaxe to sit again.
On March 10th Mr. Smith recommitted the bill and the further discussion may be found on page IMD of the S\noptic Report.
"Mr. Smith read extracts from letters of Rev. Messrs. Orser and A. D. C.iberson," says the report, "showing that these people were the only Free Baptists in New Brunswick and that they were simply asking for incorporation by the same name as they had gone by for twenty years. He also read the report of Rev. Joseph McLeod, who was a delegate from the Free Christian
232 NEW HRl^XSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Baptist Conference to the Free i^aptist Conference during the past year, and claimed the reverend gentleman in his own re])ort recognized them l)y their own name, the name under which they seek to be incorporated. He was glad to see the Christian spirit so prevalent in the reverend gentleman's report upon the doings of this other Christian body and he thought the same good feeling should be continued, and these gentlemen allowed the name they ask for. But whether they gained their point or not they would still continue their good work imder the name of Free Baptists and if the bill did not carry they would again be to this legislature asking for the same privilege now enjoyed by other denominations. In conclusion Mr. Smith read from the Consolidated Statutes of 1854 the incorporation of the Free Christian Baptist Church of New Ikunswick to show that this was the name voluntarily taken by the friends on the opposing side."
Mr. Sivewright again took the lead in opposing the bill. "He quoted from the Religious Intelligencer, the organ ot the Free Christian Baptists, to show that all meetings and conven- tions they were designated as Free Baptists. The word 'Chris- tian' was not considered as an expletive, and being so, was now generally dropped by that denomination of Christians. The legislature should treat fairly the appeal of those who had petitioned for a recognition of their rights and not of an insignifi- cant sect of seceders to usur[) their name and sa\-: 'W'e arc the Free Baptists of New Brunswick, and the parent body which we left have departed from the faith and are renegades and apostates from the tenets and dogmas of the Free Baptist Church.' The Orserites do not believe in the ordination of their clergy."
Mr. Smith promptly and properly contradicted this state- ment.
"Well, they do not believe there is any warrant in the Bible for missions or Sabbath Schools, and ridicule the idea of an educated ministry," Mr. Sivewright replied. "The pastorate consists principally of those engaged in farming during the week and who occupy the pulpit on Sunday. Cincinnatus was called
NEW BRUNSWICK IIISTORJCAL SOCIIiTV L'.j.i
from the plough by the senate of Rome to drive back the uivader and save the country, and on the same principle the Orscrites take their pastor from the plough to save their religion and repel the inroads of the devil. The Honoural)le member from Carleton, thepromotorof the bill, had worked with great earnest- ness and energy to carry this Ijill, and deserved the cordial thanks of the body who desired incorporation. l!is zeal and efforts will be ineffectual. The little craft he had launched will have to be called back for repairs, and when she started again on her voyage he hoped she would meet a gale and be ship- wrecked unless she had her {)roper name painted on her prow," Mr. Sivewright concluded, and mo\ed that the chairman leave the chair and "report progress."
j\Tr. IT II. Mc(\iin, another Carleton Counts' member, said he would like to see the bill pass. "The people who desire tliis legislation were a most deserxing body of Clirislians," he said, "and he did not see in what respect the i)assage of this bill would interfere with the I'Tee Christian Baptist church. The legislature should give the promotors of this bill a fair chance. They did not want to steal the title whiili the Vrvv (^hrisiian Bajnists claimed, and he did not think the passage of the bill would in any way injure the I'ree Christian Pjaiuists. He had had a comnumication from Re\'. E. P>rooks declaring that the promotors of the bill positixeK' refusetl to accejjt the title of 'Orser Baptists.' "
The relusal of the I'Tee Bai:)tist peojile to acce])t the }:)roi:)osetl title is easily understood. The\- were zealously lo\al to the memory of C^.. W . Orser as the founder of their denomination, but the term "Orserites" had been a|)plied to them in derision by their opponents, and while they might in time hase accepted the title, even as the Methodists adoi)ted their name, not to mention the XVhig and Tory parties, the Free Baptist people refused to be forced to accept the name at the behest of their religious rivals, so the bill dropped and was not heard (jf again during the session of 1S07.
WTen the legislature met in 1S9S the Free Baptists were again on hand, and Mr. \^^ F. Dibblee, one of the members for
234 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Carleton Count)', j^resented the legislature a petition signed by Mayor Hay of the Town of Woodstock, ex-niayor \\\ S. Saun- ders, Stephen B. Appleby, Rev. W . F. (diapnian, J. V. (".ardcn, F. B. Car\'ell, FL A. Connell, A. Flenderson (none of whom were meniljers of the Free Baptist denomination), and iiol) other ratepa>ers of the County of Carletcjn in' fa\()r oi a bill inct)ri)or- aling the I'Vee i3aj)tist denomination of Xew Brunswick.
This bill was again opposed by the hVee Christian Iiaptist denomination on the ground that the names of the two denomina- tions being so similar contusion was liable to arise, that the I'^ree Christian i^ajitist denomination ha\ing been incor[Kjraled, was entitled to protection tor its legal corj:** irate name under the legal principle applical)le to trade mark cases, and they defeated ihe bill 1)\' a manoeu\'re which shows that all the political acumen of the province did not reside in the heads of the jjoliticians thereof. On the twent\'-fifth day of h^ebruar}', the same day that Mr. Dibblee introduced his bill to inct)riK)rate the i''ree Baptist denomination, Mr. Carpenter, one of the members for Queens, introduced a bill to change the name of the bVee Chris- tian Baptist Conference to the Free Baptist Conference of Xew Brunswick.
XaturalU' this procedure letl to consideral)le irritation and a feeling somewhat remote from one to brotherly lo\e.
"It we are tr\ing to steal \'our corporate name, as you allege, wdiy do \'ou attempt to change that name and take the one that we have used without objection for nearly thirt\' years.-'" '1 he Free l^aptist supporters asked with considerable show of reason.
Mr. Carpenter's bill was agreed tt) on the third of March, and, consecjuently, the b^ree Baptist peoi)le had no groimd to stand on, their desired name has been api)roprialed b\' the legislature to another sect, and the b'ree Baptist i)e()ple were called on to agree to another name or to go nameless and dis- credited. A meeting of some of the leading ministers was held at Hartland to talk over the matter, and we can infer that it was an anxious one. Finally on the suggestion of Rev. S. W. Bennison, the name "Primitive" was selected, and on March 17, a bill was agreed to to incorporate the Primitive Denomination of New Brunswick.
NEW RRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 1^33
After incorporation tmder the new name the former Free Baptist body flourished quietly and made steady progress, and the present standing of the denomination may be best indicated by the following statistics kindly furnished to the writer by Rev. A. H. Hatfield, one of the }-ounger ministers of the denom- ination who is rapidl)' coming to the front.
The approximate total church membership is about 2,r)0(), of which about four- fifths are in Xew Brunswick, anrl the balance in Maine and No\'a Scotia in equal pr<jp()rtions. " I feel safe in sa}'ing that we ha\'e a nominal following ot o,()()0 pet)pie or more," says Mr. Hatfield.
Number of ordained ministers, ten; number of licentiates, five.
Total number of church buildings at least thirty-seven.
"We have about twenty-six church buildings in New Bruns- wick erected, with about five or six new ones under consideration, some of these have already laid their foundations. There are quite a few organized churches, in places, where as yet, they have no church buildings," sa\'s Mr. Hatfield.
Such is an imperfect review of the history of the iVimitive Baptist body down to the present time. The ancient name of "Orserites" has Ijeen dropped entireh', and the new name has been heartily adopted by the denomination and, from the out- sider's standpoint, would seem to be more appropriate and expressive than the one for which they contended so strenuously, and. of which they claim to have been unjusth' deprixed, as lhe\' are a "Primitive" body in the strictest and better sense of the word.
They are almost exclusively a rural church, and it is safe to say that there is not the name of a single rich man on any Primi- tive Baptist Church Book at the present time.
Their belief is equally primitive, and is of that t\'f)e of ex-an- gelical protestantism which existed between ISOO and IS.IO. The entire church membership beliexes the old IVstament and believes it literally. The>' have not weighed the respecti\e merits the old fashioned ChristianitN', on the one lumd, and Darwinism and the higher criticism on the other, and decided
2o() NEW I5RUNS\VICK HISTORICAL SOCUCTV
in favor of the old ways. It is no slur upon their church mem- bership to say that the bulk of them do not know that Darwinism and the higher criticism exist.
There is some truth in Mr. Si\'ewrit;ht's charge that they ridiculed the idea of an educated ministry, in the sense that they feel and feel very strongly that a degree from an institution of higher learning is not an absolute qualification for preaching the gospel. One of their clergymen took a course at an academy, but is, 1 believe, the only one of their ministers at the present time who has had this advantage, and all (jf their ministers in the past have been self educaled men who recei\ed no schooling beyond that provided by the ordinary schocjls of their time and locality. At the same time, many of them were men of real intellectual power. The writer, who is not one of them, has heard some sermons preached by some of these "uneducated" ministers in remote localities in Carleton Count\' \\hich will compare favoral)ly with the efforts of man>' ccjllege graduates in the more prosperous denominations.
There is also something in the charge, if it ma\- be called a charge, that many of their ministers engage in secular occui)a- tions, and as Mr. Sivewright said, leave the plow for the pulpit,' although, as the general standard of living improves an increasing number of the ministers have found it possible to devote all their time to church work, but it is safe to say that in the modern year 192:2 there is not a kid-glo\'ed j^reacher in the dent)mination and not one of them who would not be willing at an\- time lo turn his hand to honest and manual toil, feeling that if I^uil could pay his way by making tents it is not beneath the dignity of a Primiti\e Ba|)tist minister lo culli\ate the soil of his native province.
Moreover, the reason for this condition is an hoi"ioural)le one, as it arises from the fact that the denomination is still l()\'al to the principle on which George W. Orser separated from the I'^-ee Christian Baptist body, namely, a free gosjjel and no stated salary for a minister. "We believe if men are worth\' and called of God, God will impress his people with the needs of his servants and make the necessary provision or, in other words,
NEW BRUNSWICK IIISTOUICAL SOCIETY 'I'.M
simple faith in God. These years of high prices ha\^e surely been a test, but Cod is true," one of their clergymen says in response to an inquiry as to their present s>'stem along this line.
The charge that they do not believe in Sunday Schools is also an unfounded one, as the following extract from their church covenant will show :
"We will sustain the benevolent enteri)rises of our denomina- tion and church, such as missions, education, Sab]>ath Scho(jls, moral reform, and all other which lend t<j the glor>' ot (lod and the welfare of men."
"I v.'ould say that about one-half of our churches have Sunday Schools," Rev. Mr. Hatfield informs me, which is a good showing considering the fact that the churches are practically all in country places, with a scattered membership, and where Sunday Schools are not as easily maintained as in towns and villages.
In conclusion, I trust that the foregoing rambling paragraphs, may be of some slight interest to hearers and readers, that ihis paper, imperfect as it is, may shed a little new light ujxjn a really interesting phase of the local histor>' of Carleton ('ount>', and that those of us who adhere to larger and more prt)sperous denominations may ex-er retain a kindh- feeling towards the kindly and honest Primitive Baptists — Xew Brunswick's hrst and only native denomination.
238 XEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
HOW SAINT JOHN CELEBRATED IN THE GOOD OLD TIMES
W'hex Tnic FiKST Sod was Tuknku tor Eukdpkax and Xokth AMinacAx Railway Constklchox
Proceeuings of Sep-ie.muu:r 14, lS.j:i, Recalled
John Willet, K. C, March, 1922
(Compiled fium NewspapL-rs) .
The weather on Wednesday was most propitious for the imposing demonstration which took place in this cit\- (jn the occasion of the turning of the First Sod of the European and North American Railway. For some days previous the steamers from e\'ery c|uarter were crowded with passengers who came to witness or to take part in a ceremony which has been so much talked of and from which so much is expected. Ample and comfortable accommodations were, howe\'er, prcnided for all who came. At early dawn a salute was lired from Fort Howe by the Militia Artillery and soon after eight o'clock members of the different trades and other bodies were seen hurrying to their place of meeting to join in the procession which had l)een i^'cvi- ously arranged according to the following progrannne b\' the Chief Marshal, Charles Johnston, P!^sq., High Sheriff, and a committee of the Railway Company.
ClTlZEXS ox lIokSEHACK
In uniforms and with banner
High Slieriff of tlie Cily and Count>' of Saint John
The C.rantl Marslial
Asst. G. Marshal Asst. C. Marshal
President ami Directors of Meehanics' Institute
Preceded by Crand Banner of Institute
Band of H. M. TOth Ricct.
TRADi:S
IIoiSK Carpkxtkk.s axd Joixkrs
With banners and a work sho]) in full operation, drawn by horses
Iniforni: Full tlress, white ajjron, emblem of trade
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 239
Ship Carpenters
Marshal, Grand Union Banner, carried b\' four Standard Bearers in uniform, followed b>':
Xo. 1 — Foreman and operatives in uniform from James Smith & Sons' Yard with banner and model of the Marco Toio, drawn b>- horses.
Xo. 2 — Foreman and oiK'rati\es in uniform from Messrs. F. J. Ruddick's
Yard with banners. Xo. 3- — Foreman and operatives in uniform from Messrs. W. & R. Wright's
Yard with banners and a ship, the model of the "Guiding Star,"
drawn by four horses. Xo. 4^ — Foreman and operatives in uniform from Messrs. Storms' & King's
Yard with banners. X'o. 5 — Foreman and operatives in uniform from Messrs. McLachlan &
Stackhouse's \'ards with banners and a model shij), drawn b}- horses Xo. G — F"oreman and operatives in imiform from .Mr. Alexander Sime's \'ard
\\'ith banners. Xo. 7 — r-'oreman and operatives in uniform from Mr. John Fisher's \'ard
with banners. Xo. 8 — Foreman antl Of)erati\'es in uniform from J. McDonald & Co.'s Yard
with banners and A Ship on the Stocks Read)- for Launching, drawn
b>' four horses. Xo. 9 — Foreman and operatives in uniform from Messrs. W. & J. Olive's
\'ard with banners. X''o. 10^ — Foreman and ojx'ratives in uniform from Mr. J. Xe\in's ^'ar(l with
banners and a full rigged shi]), drawn 1)>- four horses. Xo. 11- — Foreman and operati\es in imiform from W. Rotts & Sons' \'ard
witli Ijanners and A Shijj on Stocks in Gourse of Construction with
operatives at work, drawn b\' four horses. X'o. 12- — I'oreman and oi)erati\es in uniform from Mr. John Thompson's
\'ard with banners and A Ship on Stocks in Course of Construction,
drawn by four horses. Xo. 13 — Foreman and operatives in uniform from Messrs. Rutldick & Ilil-
>ard's \'ard with banners. X'o. 14^ — Foreman and ojieratives in uniform from Thompson & Stackhouse's
\'ard with banners. Xo. 15 — Foreman and operatives in uniform from Brown i^ Anderson's \'ard
with banner and A Ship on Stocks in I'Vame, drawn by four horses Xo. 16 — Foreman and ojjeratives in uniform from Joseph Sulis & Sons' Yard,
with banners.
240 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Blacksmiths and P'ouxders
Marshal, with Banner
A Blacksmith's Car
A Moulder's Car
An Engineer's Car
A Steam Engine all in full operation
Uniform: In full dress with blue rosette and badges
Paixthrs
Marshal, with 13anner
Uniform: In full dress with rosettes of the three primitive colors. Gold
palette suspended from necks.
Masons and Stonecutters
With Banner Marshal
A Brick Press, A Stone Cutter's \'ard, drawn by four horses with workmen
in full oi)eriition. Uniform: In full dress with emblems of trade, white apron trimmed with blue.
Bakers
Marshal, with Banners
Uniform: Black coat, white vest and trousers, drab hat, white gloves, white
apron trimmed with blue.
Printers
Marshal, with Banner
A printing press in operation, drawn b>- horses, jirinting and distributing
Celebration Songs.
Cordwainers
Marshal, with Banners and a Reiirescntation of King Crispin and Queen
Cris])iana on a carriage drawn by horses.
Uniform: Full dress, white glo\es, drab apron trimmed with blue.
Tailors
Marshal, with Banners and a Representation of Adam and Eve in the Garden,
on a carriage drawn by horses.
Uniform: Full dress with blue scarf.
Millers
Marshal, with Banners
A Flour Mill in 0]Kration on a carriage, drawn b>' horses.
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 241
Riggers and Sailmakers Marshal, ^vith Banners
Cabinet Makers
Marshal, with Banners and a Work Bench with workmen in full operation.
A carriage with Furniture, drawn by horses.
Uniform: Full dress, carrying Mahogany Staff.
Mayor ant) Corporation of Fredericton
Mayor and Corporation of Saint John
Executive CoiMmittee of Portland Convention
Engineers of E. & N. A. Railway
Band
Portland Fire Companies
Ass't. (irand Marshal
No. 1 Portland 1-^ngine Company with engine and hose cart.
Uniform: f^lue shirt trimmed with white, black trousers, glazed hat with
gold band.
Portland Engine Company of Messrs. K. Rankin &. Co., with engine and
hose cart.
Uniform: White shirt, blue trousers and glazed hat.
City Fire Brigade
Chief Engineer on horseback
No. 1 Wellington Engine Company with engine and hose cart.
Uniform: Blue shirt trimmed with white and red, black trousers and glazed
hat — name of engine.
No. 3 Engine Company with engine and hose cart.
Uniform: Blue shirt trimmed with white, black trousers, red hat with motto
No. 2.
Band
No. 4 Engine Company with engine and hose cart.
Uniform: Blue jacket trimmed with scarlet, white trousers, black hat with
gold band and motto Piioeni.x No. 4.
Band
No. 5 Engine Company, with engine and hose carriage, tender, etc., drawn
by horses.
Uniform: Blue shirts trimmed with white, white trousers, black glazed hat
\\ith number.
242 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
No. G Engine Company, with engine and liose carriage.
l^niform: f^.reen shirt trimmed \\ith gold, black trousers, gilt helmet hat,
white belt.
No. 7 (Carleton) Engine Comixiny, with engine and hose carf.
Uniform: Red shirt trimmed with blue, white trousers, glazed hat.
No. 8 (Carleton) Engine Company, with engine and hose cart.
Uniform: Blue shirt, black trousers with red stripes, black hat.
Hook and Ladder Comjjany, banner, drawn by horses.
I7niform: Blue jacket, black trousers trimmeil with red, black glazed hat
with gold b:uui.
No. 9 Carleton Boys' l^ngine Com]xiny, with engine and hose cart.
Uniform: bellow shirt trimmed with red, black trousers.
Portland and City Juvenile Engine Compan>-, with engines.
Police IM..\gistr.\tes of Saint John and Portland
Magistrates of City and Col ntv
Farmers from Parish of W'estfield, Kings County
Assistant Grand Marshal'
Millmen
Marshal, with Banner
Uniforms: White shirts, black trousers, black belts and glazed hats.
Messrs. Reed & Wright's Black Ball Line of Saint John and Liverpool
Packets
With banner and a full rigged clipper ship, with a screw propeller steamer
following in the rear, drawn by horses.
Branch Pilots of Port of Saint John
Marshal
Uniform: Full dress, band on hat, with motto, carrying spyglasses and
speaking trumpets.
Assistant C^rand Marshal
Band
Freemasons In full costume, with banners, paraphernalia.
Assistant Grand Marshal
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 243
Description of Emblems, Etc.
The House Carpenters and Joiners made a very respectaljle appearance. In their workshop, which was fitted up on a large wagon, drawn by four horses, men were busy in their various occupations of the craft, and a sash machine was at full work.
The Ship Carpenters were one of the largest and linest bodies in the procession. The men from the various yards were dressed in appropriate uniforms and some of them bore emblems of their trade with several standards on which were inscribed appropriate devices and mottoes. Models of vessels in various stages of construction were drawn on wagons, suitably decorated. The model of the world renowned "Marco I\3lo," from Messrs. James Smith & Sons' yard; the beautiful model of Messrs. \\\ & R. Wright, "C.uiding Star," about twenty feet in length, completely timbered, etc., and a vessel on the stocks with the men actually at work from the >'ards of Messrs. \\\ Potts & Son, attracted, and deservedly, much attention.
The banner of the Blacksmiths and Founders was a woman leaning on an anchor, ^b)tt(), " By hammer in hand all arts do stand." Second Ijanner, an anchor and chain. Motto, " r>ar not, it will hold fast." In this body were comprised the Edge Tool Makers, whose banner bore various devices, edge tools, etc., and the motto, '"Tis by our aid all work is done." The Farriers with appropriate banner and motto. The grand banner of the body bore the usual devices - the arms and the mottoes — for the general benefit. This l)ody made a fine showing and mustered about two hundred strong. After them and l^elonging to the same body came the men from the foundries, with their banner, numbering over three hundred men, those from the foundry of Messrs. Harris & Allan with blacksmiths and moulders at work, from the Fleming & Humbert with a steam engine at work, and those from the Eagle Foundry, (Mr. Smith's). (3ne of their banners bore the arms of the trade and the motto — Industry and Benevolence Unite in Friendship.
244 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The Painters mustered about fifty strong and made a very respectable appearance. Banner, painters' arms — shield sup- ported by St. Luke, their Patron Saint; and a leopard. Motto — ■ Amor Honor et Obedientia.
The Masons and Stonecutters mustered about one hundred and fifty strong, and looked well in their neat dresses. The brickyard was hard at work throwing off bricks. The stone- cutter plied the chisel and mallet busily, and on one car was borne barrels of cement, plaster, etc. llieir banner showed an arch with a railway train passing over it.
The Bakers numbered about ninety, and were inferior in appearance to no body in the procession. Their banner was, sheaves of corn, and men, in working dress. Motto — Vor the Good of All. They bore gilt peels, dockers, etc.
The Printing Press was drawn by greys. Supporting the canopy were the figures of Faust, Guttenberg, Caxton and I'^ranklin. The car bore the inscription: "Knowledge is Power." Attending on the press was a devil in proper shape, horns, hoof and all. The following is a copy of the song composed by Mr. Redfern, which was thrown off as the procession moved along:
Well may Pleasure rule the day ■ —
Banners \va\'e and music play —
Worthy Craftsmen lift the head,
March along with measured tread ■ —
Civic body, learn'd jMofession,
Join the holiday procession.
Well may guns our ears assail — :
Most suspicious epoch, hail!
Let New Brunswick shout and sing? Autumn's changed to cheerful Sjjring: Spring of hope, a day more bright, Dawns upon our ravish'd sight; Doubt and Fear and dark dismay I'ly before its cheering ray ■ — \\ hile we turn the railway Sod Let us give due thanks to God!
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 2-i5
God, who gives to active man Hands to work and skill to plan, Means to guide o'er earth and ocean, With amazing locomotion; Places lightning in his hands, Bids it fly at his commands; Light the streets, outrun the mails Through the seas and terra's vales.
Archibald and Jackson cheer, Stephenson without a i:)cer; Man unborn shall sing their jiraise — Laud their names in joyful la> s, Blazen them in history's pages, Hand them down to future ages; Cheer them now as liruubwick's friends Till the Welkin rings and rends.
Brunswick late, though not the last, Now "the Rubicon is pass'd;" Mount the fiery, reeking steed. Try his mettle, power and speed; Let his rider be but steady, Never reckless, rash nor heady; Then will town and country cousins Fill the trains by countless dozens.
When the cars shall take the track,
\\ hat a rush to Shediac!
There will be many a shell fish lover
(Like a greedy cow in clover),
Gul]) his oysters with a gust.
Fill his paunch and swell his bust;
Then return with evening's train —
Take his tea at home again.
Hobson, you ma>' hang your lip. Hang your harness with your whip; Soon will cease your occupation, When the rail cars take the station; When you see the steam horse start, Co and burn your lazy cart; Turn old IXobbiu out to grass — Cry in "doom" "alas, alas!"
246 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
What our eyes this day behold, Other nations, young ami old, Deem no novel thing nor odd, What to them the starting sod; All to them is time mis-spent If it turn no dime or cent. Then for dollars what a strife? Dearer these than limb or life.
Oh, the folh'! oh, the crime,
Staking life on speed and time;
Mowing human souls a\\a> ,
Like a gambler's cash at ]jlay.
Muman souls are too much worth
As a stake for aught on earth;
W hat to tlu'se are richest gems,
Cold or pearls or diademsi' ■ ■
Though in time we be behind, Let us all their losses mind; Double tracks are good defences, 'S'et far better sober senses. Ne\-er tru^t an engineer Fond of sjjirits, wine or beer; I'ut the liciuor law in force. Let no ta-vern mark the course.
\\ ortln' strangers, while we pay Honor to this hapyjy day; While we honor )Ou no less, Let us not forget the ])ress: High as the jjower of steam; Great as is the Railway Scheme; High above electric wires, Still the glorious Press asjiires.
Guttenbcrg and wizard k^aust. Your high fame will ne'er be lost! Bursting through the mist of time, Still it shines in every clime: Where's the man that has not heard Caxton's name and Franklin's words; Great illustrious honored names. We will ne'er forget your claims.
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 247
Splendid fount of love and light; Buhvarks of a people's right! Ciibbet for the base transgressor Scourge of tyrant and oppressor; Friend of science, art and knowledge, Aid of author, school and college; Source of human happiness — Hail transccndant, peerless Press!
The Cordwainers are, in nearly all cities, a strong and respect- able body. On this occasion they numbered about 251) and maintained the old renown of the gentle craft.
King and Queen Crispin were dressed in royal style and did no discredit to the characters.
The Tailors are also generally a large and well looking body, and so on this occasion they looked exceedingK' well in their rich dresses and nice scarfs. They numbered IT)!). Ad.am and Eve stood their part well. They were fi)llo\ved by a (iolden Lamb another trade banner. Two camels, with the motto, '^Concordia Parvne res Crescent."
The only Millers that turned out were those from the Hotsford Mills, of which Alessrs. 1. <S: R. Reed are proprietors. They were twelve in number, dressed in uniform. Their banner, Ruth Gleanin.g in the Corntield. Motto, "The Ivirth Shall \'ield Her Increase." Olnerse \'iew of the !M)isfor(l Mills at Little River. IMotto, "Peace and I'lcntx' Crown the luirth."
They had a mill in full operation. This was worked by the motion of the wagon on which it was drawn, the wheat being by this means elevated intf) the hopi)ers, then i)assing between two stones and ground into Hour. It was attended by the miller, Mr. Lake, and his gang.
The Riggers mustered 100 strong: dressed in frt)ck coats and white trousers. Banner, ship with riggers at work. M(jtto, "do On and Prosper."
The Cabinet Makers, ninety strong, made a very creditable display. Their warerooms contained many rich articles of furniture and their workshops with men at work. Both looked
248 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
very well. Banner with a figure of Justice and mottoes on the obverse a sideboard, hands-locked, and the motto, "Love and Unity."
The Directors of the Mechanics' Institute, the Mayor and Corporation of Saint John, the Police and County Magistrates, the Executive Committee of the Portland Convention, Railway Engineers, etc., and the President and Directors of the European and North American Railway Company all appeared in carriages provided for the occasion.
Among the Executive Committee of the Portland Con\'ention were John A. Poole, Esq., of Portland, and Judge Chandler, of Maine, well known and tried friends of the great work.
The Engine CoxMpanies
No. 1 Portland Company numbered 70 strong, headed by hose cart and band; the company of Rankin & Co., ab(Hit 120 men; City No. 1, "Wellington," (K) men; No. ;j, "Queen," (50 men; No. 4, "Phoenix," GO; No. 5, "Ahva\s Read)'," (iO men; No. G, Eaugh-a-Ballagh, 70; Nos. 7 and N, Carleton, two fire companies, were about 70 each.
Their engines were drawn by horses. Two of the Fredericton companies were also on the ground, No. 1 with about 25 men and No. 2 with 40 men. They are a fine body of men. They had with them a splendid hose cart, built altogether by a hVeder- icton mechanic, and which attracted so much attention at the Provincial Exhibition.
The Saint John companies had their usual banners, decora- tions, etc., with their engines, hose carts and tenders fitted up with the greatest taste and care, and No. G had a magnificent new hose cart built by C. E. Bunting & Company — a beautiful piece of workmanship, but No. 5 decidedly bore off the palm for the style in which they got up their part. First came their tender, ornamented like all the others and drawn by two black Shetland ponies, led by colored boys in white dresses and turbans, etc. Then the beautiful engine, drawn also 1)>' four gra>' htjrses, led by four colored grooms, etc. After this followed their Curator in ancient costume — ■ knee breeches, silk stockings,
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 249
silver buckles, etc. This turnout was really a magnificent one, the company having also brought a fine band from Boston expressly for the occasion. The appearance of the whole brigade was highly creditable and nothing was wanting on their part to render the procession what it was.
The Millmen
Those to whose labors and energies and powers of endurance the country owes so much made a great display of their strength and numbers, mustering 1,000 strong. We belie\e all the mills in the neighborhood were well represented.
Banners, mill, circular saw at work, etc., etc., "Deals, the Export of Saint John." Besides these the men of the Mosquito Cove mills had a private banner.
Messrs. Reid & \\'right's "Black Ball Line" exhibited a banner, on the front side of which was the pioneer packet ship "Middleton," lying at the Custom House wharf discharging goods, and a screw steamer with the "Black Ball" flying at her masthead coming up the harbor. IMotto, "Speed and Safet\'," "Trade and Emigration." Obverse, a locomotixc called the "Robert Stephenson" is seen in the fore-ground, with a Black Ball packet ship and a screw propeller in the distance. Motto, "Onward: The Age of Enterprise." This was followed by about 50 seamen, the crews of the packet ships "Joseph Tarrelt" and "Essex," now in port, dressed in blue shirts, white trousers and glazed hats with the Black Ball painted on the hat.
Then came the four Canadian ponies, drawing a full-rigged clipper ship named the "William Jackson," and a screw steamer with the Black Ball flying, followed by 100 men in similar dress to the seamen, comprising the discharging and loading gangs of the Black Ball line. During the progress of the procession firing was kept up from a small brass cannon on board of the "William Jackson."
The Pilots numbered 25 men strong. They apj)earcd what the}' ha\e so often proved themselves, a respectable, intelligent body, worthy of the great trust re[)osed in them.
250 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The Freemasons closed the procession. Tliere were se\'eral lodges, the members of all numbering {probably 300, with their banners, emblems, badges and elaborate parapiiernalia under the command of the Right Worshipful the Hon. Alexander Keith, the Grand Master.
It was after ten o'clock before all the bodies had taken up their places in the procession. The number of men who took part in it is estimated at 5,000, and with the vehicles in which some of the number of the emblems of the trades were conveyed, extended a mile and h\'e-eighths, the whole taking an hoiu" to pass any one place. After i)assing in order through a portion of Sydney, Union, Dock, Prince William, St. James, Cermain, Iving and Charlotte streets, and the .Market and King scjuares, the procession proceeded b>' the wa\ of Hrussels street to the (\'lel)ration Grounds in the \'alle\-, near St. Pau.l's Church. Here a neat pa\'ilion had been erected for the occasion on which was inscribed, "The PZuropean and Xorth American Railwa\'," surmounted by the City Coat of Arms <uid decorated with Hags, evergreens and railway shovels.
His Excellency the Lieutenant-C.overnor and suite arrived on the grounds about one o'clock and was welcomed with a Roval salute lired b\' a C\)mpan\- of the Ivoyal .ArtilJerN', immedialeh' after which the ['resident and Hirectors ot the Iv.iro|)ean and North American Railway ach'anced iii a body, and Robert Jardiiie, I'^scp, the President, read the address:
May it ]il'jase Voiir l-lxccUcncy
Th;.- I'rcsidfiit and Directors of the Kuroji-an and Xonli American Rail- way in \c\v l-runs\\ick thank ^'(Jur i'xcclk-nc>- for -o pi-ornptly acci'])tin,!,^ their in\itation lo aid in celcliratiivj, tlie conmieru ( nient of (h/ i.;.^''' ^vork entrusted to tiuir ciiarKe, a work not ^ini]d\ of h)cal or ccjlonial, Ijul, we \enture to atld, of national interest.
It will form a link in the mie.hty ch.dn ^vhich is to liind (".real I'irilain more closely lo her ccjlonies and per])etuate fei-lin;,;s of amit>' with the (ireat Republic of the Western World.
The thousands that crownl the hills around us, thj dee]) enthiisi ism ])er- N'adint;- e\ery class, the existing feelings of hoj)e and jiride which animate e\cry face i)roclaim to all that results are antici])ated from this w ork which language is powerless to convey. From Lake Huron to the .\tl antic the course for th;; iron horse is laid, and the wealth which is to enable oursjlves
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY L'o L
and children to de\'elop the rich resources of our jjroxince and to spread ci\ilization through our broad lands conies from the homes of our fathers. Though we cannot claim the balmy air of other climes, yet Providence has placed around us in rich abundance all that can stimulate to industry and reward enterprise — exhaustless forests, rich mines, invaluable fisheries, productive fields, wide spreading rivers, and a climate healthy and in\ igor- ating. The plague and the pestilence which at periods decimate the fairest [jortions of the earth, the con\'ulsions which rock might>' cities from their fuimdations, to us are unknown.
Our winters are severe, but they retard not our labors, and we nia\- fairly call the attention of Your Excellency to the success which has attended the e.\ertions of our artisans and mechanics. Our ships now hold a proud position in the mercantile marine of England and may vie with the foremost specimens of naval architecture the world has hitherto producetl, our agricultural cajia- bilities are daily becoming more apparent and when, b>' means of that great work the commencement of which we have met to celebrate, our facilities of intercourse shall have been increased and the title of immigration directed to our shores, we ma>- safely assure to the industrious immigrant a honi^ which will lea\e him no cause to regret the land of his maturity.
I3ut there are some e\ents \'our Excellenc>' foreshadowed on this occasion which we cannot pass o\-er in silence. At jjresent our sister colonies and ourselves, though under the same flag and enjoying the same free institutions are comparatively strangers to each other, our interests disunited, our feelings estranged, our objects divided. F"ioni this work, from this time, these differences must jiass away, a more intimate union, a more lasting inter- course, must now arise and the British jjrovinces become a powerful, a united portion of the British h'mjiire.
For the attainment of these great ends, the legislatures of ("anada, Xova Scotia and New Brunswick have wisely passed most important measures, which, preser\ing unfettereil their revenues and without burdening their peojile, have nexertheless induced the eminent capitalists of ICngland to make these provinces the field of their great railway operations, and we can- not but congratulate \'our E.xcellency that an undertaking so auspicious of our future welfare should have been projected, fostered and matured during \'our E.xcellency's administration of the government of the province.
In conclusion we beg to express our sincere wishes for the health and happiness of \ourself. Lady Heat! and faniil>', and to request that Your Excellency do now proceed to turn the first sod of the I'^uropean and North American Railway.
By order of the board,
R. Jakuine, President.
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To which His Excellency replied as follovys: Mr. PRiisiDENT AND Ghxtlkmen:
I can assure you that it is with the most sincere pleasure and satisfaction that I ha\e accepted your invitation to take part in the ceremonies of this day.
}lo\\e\er unworthy I may be to represent our Sovereign on this occasion 1 feel sure of one thing — I can utter no wish for the prosjjcrity of New Bruns- w ick \\ hich is not heartily concurred in b>' our gracious (Jueen.
I am fully conscious, Sir, of the \ast im]:)ortance of the undertaking this day commenced. I see around us a vast multitude of men who fix their eyes on this spot as the centre from which they hoi)e that the results of suc- cessful industry and intelligence may spread as in increasing circles through- out the length and breadth of your country. You speak of the resources of this country, I have during my stay among you seen something of these resources. I have travelled many of your forests and tracked many of your ri^•ers. 1 sympathize fully with the anticipations of future prosperity which you express.
I believe that under the blessing of a gracious Providence a great future await these provinces. I earnestly pray that this railway may be one of the means for promoting so grand an object ■ — that it may draw closer and closer, the ties of common allegiance which makes all these provinces part and parcel of the British Empire ■ — that it may teach the people of Canada, of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island the great fact that their interests are identical, and inspire them with a desire of unity of juirpose and unity of action such as has not yet existed. If these sentiments ])revail, I ha\e no fear for the future greatness of British North America. \'ou ha\e justly said therefore that our meeting is one not of mere local character; but there is still another jioint in your address which requires to be more s])eciallv noticed.
We have now the pleasure of welcoming among us a distinguished officer of the I'nited States navy.
I rejoice in this opportunity of assuring him as the rejircsentative of his countr\-, that we hope to find in this railway an additional pledge of jjerpetual friendship and mutual intercourse between two great nations. The more we know one another the more sure we are to cherish these feelings and to appreciate the benefits of commercial intercourse. Our blood and our language are one and I heartily trust. Sir, that the harmony and good feeling which now exist between us may never be broken.
It will always be a source of pleasure to me to think that I have during my administration of this province been concerned in the conmiencement of this railway. It will, moreo%'er, be a further source of gratification to recollect the kindly welcome which you have this day given to nryself and Lady Head and for this I desire, Sir, again heartily to thank you.
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The Rev. Dr. I. A. D. Gray, Rector of Trinity Church, then offered up the following appropriate prayer in his usual eloquent and impressive style:
O Infinite God, who are most high over ail the earth, who from Heaven Thy dwelling place regardest the children of men, a])portioning the bounds of their habitations and measuring to them as Thou seest ht, thy manifold blessings; to Thee in all undertakings we would ap])roach in lowly adoration, acknowledging Thee as the King Eternal, Immortal, Invibible, " ui)on whom we depend for life and breath and all things. It is by Th>- So\ereign appoint- ment, O Father of Mercies that our lot is cast where wholesome laws and equal rights and true freedom prevail; and in an age when so much is dis- covered and effected for the advancement of human hapjiiness. It is from Thee, the "Fountain of Life," that wisdom entereth into the heart of man, that knowledge enriches his soul, and that through his agency blessings are multiplied around us. O grant that in the day of our prosperity we may never forget the hand that gi\es it, that we may e\er ascribe the praise where it is justl>' due, remembering "that e\er\' good gift antl e\ery jjerftct gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of Lights." We offer to Thee our grateful praise for ha\'ing so far jirosj^ered the design which has called us together on this occasion, and pray that under the blessing of thy Providence it may in due season be hapi)ily brought to its completion, and we further pra>- that when it is completed it may, through Thy continued favor, provide the substantial interests of our ])ro\ince, of our sister colonies, and of those countries beyond our Lmpire, with which we stand in close and amicable relations. Grant that it may advance not mereh- wealth and population and arts and commerce, but harmony, ])eace and friendly inter- course between man and man.
May that intercourse, as it extends from nation to nation, be maintained under hallowing influence of the religion of (lirist, leading men of different countries to live as members of one great famih- under one God and P\ither of all until from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof "Thy name, O Most High, shall be glorified."
Finally, O Lord of Heaven and Earth, Who dwelleth in the beauties of holiness, we ask that as we have acknowledged Thy I*ro\idence in the beginning of this work, so we may Thine authority in all of the time.
May those who preside over it be inllucnced liy the principles of pure benevolence, duly considering the interests of their fellowmen, careful in the provisions they make for the safety of human life. May they e\er recognize the supremacy of Thy Law, the honor of Thy (jOS])el, and the pre- eminence of that Name which is above every name in Heaven and Earth; even the name of Jesus Christ, Thine Eternal Son, to Whom with Thee, O Father, and the Holy Spirit, be Gl(jr>, Majesty and Dominion world without end. Amen.
254 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
After which the first sod of the European and North American Railroad was most gracefully and skilfully raised and thrown into the wheelbarrow by Lady Head, amid the vociferous cheers of the surrounding multitude within the hearing of some 18,000 to 20,000 individuals. The Masonic ceremonies usual on such occasions were performed by the Right Worshipful the Hon. A. Keith, of Halifa.x, Provincial Grand Master, and those having been gone through with, the whole was concluded with the singing of the 100th Psalm, accompanied by the Portland f^rass Band.
His Excellency and Lady Head, with other distinguished visitors, including Commander Shubrick and other officers of the Ignited States men-of-war l^ilton and Princeton, then returned to the pavilion, when the Mayor and Common C^ouncil of the city presented the following address to His Excellency, which was read by His Worship the Mayor:
May it please \'our I'xcellency, Mr. Ma>or, Aldermen and Comnion- ality of the cit>' of Saint John ha\e undue gratific.ition in meeting \'our Excellency on this interesting occasion — one full of so much hope for the future to the pcojjle of this province.
We do most sincerely conj^ratulate Your Excellency that this great scheme of railway has been commenced and so far progressed under your adminis- tration of the government of this iiro\ince, and ue most sincerel}' hope that \'our Excellency may be permitted to witness as our i..icutenant-( lo\ernor the full comjjletion of the work and beneficial results that we have a right to exjjcct will follow the introduction of this modern model of locomotion — results which ha\'e been realized from the adoption of .similar works in other places.
We also respectfully request through Your Excellency to be allowed to congratulate our fellow subjects in this province on our nourishing jirospects and our hope of future benefit by the extension of railways in directions not now contemplated, and which will connect in iron bands with our neighbors on every side. The effect of such communications and facilities of transport w^ill enhance the value of our productions in places where but for such facilities they would be but of little worth and cheapen that which we recjuire to import and to distribute through the interior of our province. We also believe that with such facilities for moving people and transporting good, intelligencies will follow in the train and be extensively diffused through the length and breadth of the land, and be a greater benefit by far than the mere mercantile profit, which is so generally looked for as the grand result to be desired.
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That our hopes and wishes may by the Omnipotent Power that go\'erns all things be permitted to be realized and that the same beneficent Power may grant Your Excellency, Lady Mead and your family wealth and happi- ness is our humble and sincere prayer.
By order of the Conmion Council,
James Olive, Mayor.
To which His Excellency replied as follows: Mr. Mayor and <;jentlemen:
It is now between fivii and six years I first landed in this cit>-. .\t that time all interests were depressed and >-our commercial pros])ects were clouded and gloomy.
On the present auspicious occasion I see by signs which admit of no mistake this state of things has passed awa>-.
•A gracious Providence has blessed your enterprise and industr_v and has poured out its fa\ors on all around us.
It is difficult for me to express the ])leasure which this result insjMres. I see around me the marks of comfort and prosjierity which ha\e shed their influence on the home of the ship's carpenter and the mechanic as well as on the prouder mansion of the successful merchant.
It is my earnest prayer that this prosiK-rity ma>- continue and that the enterprise which we this day commence ma>', und-r Pro\idence, be tiie means by which wealth and intelligence are diffused thruuglujut >'our land.
I agree with you that it is impossible to overcome the inijjortance of this undertaking, and I do indeed congratulate myself that I h;i\e been permitted in the course of my administration to assist at the solemn observ- ance of this day.
Most heartily do 1 thank you for your kind wishes towards myself and family and for the desire which you express for the com])letion of this great work.
My stay in New Brunswick depends on the commands of our gracious Queen, but whenever I may leave you and wherever 1 may go 1 shall retain a lively recollection of the welcome which you have this day given me on the part of the City of Saint John.
The Governor then retired and the assemblage commenced to disperse, the various trades reforming in line and marching through Portland, Dock and King streets to King Square, where they separated.
256 new brunswick historical society
The Wheelbarrow and the Spade
The Wheelbarrow and the Spade used at the first turning of the sod were in appearance quite in keeping with the other arrangements required for the celebration of the auspicious event, both being unique and beautiful in design and workman- ship.
The barrow in outline represented the form of a lion, the forepaws grasping the spindle of the wheel, the hinder feet answering the supports to the barrow, the tail with its graceful curves forming the handles. The outsides and feet of the barrow are of black walnut richly carved, the inner sides and end being birdseye maple. The bottom is of butternut, thus affording a combination of woods peculiarly pleasing from the contrast they exhibit.
The wheel of the barrow is of black walnut, encircled by a brass rim which with other castings used in its construction were from the brass foundry of Mr. Hayward. The blending of the different woods were happy and effective, the black walnut of which the exterior is composed being the growth of our sister Province of Canada, while the birdseye maple interior and the butternut bottom on which the first sod was placed are the woods of our own province.
The Spade in design is both elegant and substantial, present- ing in its appearance beauty and utility combined. The blade is of polished steel manufactured by E. J. W. Broad of this city. The handle is of black walnut, handsomely carved. In the centre of the carving is a silver shield, the manufacture of Mr. John Barry, which relieves and forms a beautiful contrast with the dark wood by which it is surrounded. The woodwork of the wheelbarrow and spade was manufactured at the cabinet making establishment of Messrs. J. & G. Lawrence and are splendid specimens of their workmanship.
As we understand that for the present the wheelbarrow and spade will be deposited in the museum of the Mechanics' Insti- tute, it will be needless for us to enlarge further on the subject
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 257
than to advise all who are desirous to see these beautiful imple- ments to avail themselves of the opportunity that will be offered them for so doing.
The Luncheon
His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor arrived at the Custom House Building at a quarter before 3 p. m., and at 3 the doors of the banquet room were opened. It is calculated that upwards of 700 persons were present. The chair was filled by R. Jardine, Esq., President of the E. and N. A. R. Co. On his right sat His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor, Mr. Betts, Mr. Neal, of Portland, etc., and on his left Commodore Shubrick, William Jackson, Esq., AL P.; John A. Poor, Esq., Hon. J. \V. Johnston, Esq., late Attorney-General of Nova Scotia, etc.
Among the strangers present besides Messrs. Jackson and Betts, were Capt. Lethess, London; Mr. Bidder, Superintendent of the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada; Mr. Roberts, Engineer; Hon. Adam Eirrie, Canada; J. D. Gibb, Esq., Montreal; Mr. Morris, Montreal; J\lr. Clapham, Quebec; Mr. Mcintosh, Toronto; Mr. Ravenal, South Carolina; Mr. Thresher, New Orleans; Hon. Ruel Williams, Augusta, Me.; the Mayor of Portland, Me.; Mr. Morton, C. E.; Mr. Bailley, New York; John Neal, Esq., Portland; Aid. Furbish, Col. Thomas Warren, Hon. B. McCable, Mr. Edward D. Upham, Mr. F. B. Liddy, Mr. W. Kershall, (Canal Bank), Mr. W. B. Benson, Mr. Joseph Ring, Mr. Sowerby, members of the City Council, Portland; the Mayor of Calais, Me.; Judge Chandler, Calais, Me.; Hon. George Downs, Mr. E. Barnard, Calais, Me.; Mr. Pike, ex- Mayor; Col. Bian Bradbury, Collector, Eastport; Mr. A. Hayden, Mr. J. Shadod, R. Charborne, Hon. Freeman H. Morse, Mr. Levi H. Lowell, Calais; Hon. Alexander Keith, Halifax; Hon. J. E. Fairbanks, Halifax; Hon. Statet Brown, Yarmouth; Hon. John Morton, Cornwallis; George E. Morton, Halifax; Henry Fryer, Esq., Halifax; John W. Cade, M. P. P., Digby; Thomas Killam, M. P. P., Yarmouth; Hon. I\Ir. Coles, Prince
258 NEW BRUNSWICK IIISTORICAl. SOC lETV
Edward Island; Doctor Courey; members of the FIxecutive Council of New Brunswick, several members of the Legislative Council, Hon. D. Hanington, Speaker and nearly all the members of the Assembly, the Mayor and Corporation of Saint John, judges and high sheriffs of several counties, several ol'hcers of the U. S. frigates Princeton and Fulton, several olTicers of the Garrison, Mr. King, contractor for the St. Andrews and (juebec Railway; Mr. Beatteay, C. K.; Mr. Giles and the engineers of the E. and N. A. R. (^o., etc.
After partaking of the repast, the lirst toast gi\en was, of course, "The Oueen," which was drunk with all [)()ssil)le honor and amid enthusiastic cheers.
His Excellency Sir Edmund Head then rose and said that he did not rise for the purpose of repeating the expressi(Mi of his gratification on this occasion, or of again asserting the great pleasure he felt in viewing what he saw around him, because he had already told them to-day v/hat his feelings were. Hut he would remark that when he first came here, six years ago, the state oi the province was very different Ironi what it now is. Some change had taken place since then. He had watched its progress with great satisfaction, and this feeling came with double force when he witnessed the kindness, the cordiality and friendliness which had been dis[)layed on this great occasion.
He could only say that his own opinion of the importance of this meeting had not been exaggerated and he looked forward with the utmost confidence to the future pros[)erit>' of \ew Brunswick in connection with the i^roceedings of this day. He had already uttered on paper and read to them this morning his sentiments on this subject, Imt he had thought it right now to repeat in a more familiar manner that those written remarks were his own genuine sentiments. There was now present very near him a gentleman of well known ability and prominence from the sister Province of Nova Scotia, who had witnessed the memorable proceedings of this day, and he (Sir E. H.) wished that that gentleman might carry away with him an earnest hope that a unanimity of action should now j.irevade all the British American Provinces, and that New Brunswick, Nova Scotia,
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAI, SOCIETY 259
Prince Edward Island and Canada should be proud of the collective name of British North America. But not to be mistaken he must observe that he was far from entertaining any feeling but that of the greatest friendship towards our neighbors on the western border, of whom such a distinguished meml)er and officer (alluding to Commodore Shubrick, who sat near His Excellency), was now present. It was our duty and our interest to cherish the feeling and the hope that peace between Great Britain and the United States should be perpetual, so that the advantages respectively possessed by the two countries might be perpetually interchanged. Respect for law and order was a characleristic of both countries and he hoped that the conduct of all on both sides the border would continually show that they all belonged to the same race. These were sentiments intimately connected with the railway scheme which was hereafter to form an iron link between these provinces and the United States, and by means of which facilities for intercommunication were to l»e extended in Ixjth directions. His Excellency concluded amidst thunders of applause by proposing the health of the President of the United States, which was immediately drank with all possible honor and vociferous acclamation.
The chairman then gax'C as a toast Commodore Shubrick and the United States Navy.
The gallant commander on rising to respond ol)ser\cd that as lar as (he toast was pcrscMial to himsell he could gi\e nothing in return but his thanks. With regard to the navy of the United States perhaps it did not become him to sa\- much. At lu^me they usuall\- called it "The Infant .\a\\-," and he supposed it was consideretl as an infant Hercules. It was \er>- far from a full grown Hercules at present and theri'fore tlie\' must have the inlant gradually to deve'op himself. I>ut he would say a word or uvo al)Out the ser\'ice to which he belonged. A \-ery extra.N'agant idea existed in the United States of the stale of the fisheries in the C.ulf of St. Lawrence a.'ul of the state <>f affairs between the tishermen of the:-e itroxiiues and the lislu'rmen of the I'^nited States. It was sup[)osed the>' were all i)rL-!)aring to cut each other's throats, that swivels, bowie-knives and re\()l\X'rs
260 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
were the order of the day among these and that therefore it was necessary to send vessels of war on both sides to keep the peace. But he found no such thing when he came among them. He found them fishing together side by side, in perfect amity and if anything annoyed them it was that the men-of-war came there with their revolvers and paddle wheels to scare the fish and hinder their business. And what did he find when he came here? On returning from a short cruise and on his way home his anchor had hardly touched ground when a committee came on board to invite himself and his ofiicers lo be present on this interesting occasion. For his part there was nothing farther from his thoughts than the being so invited. Me had not thought about the subject and therefore he was prepared to say but very little about it.
But he found the people here preparing to build a railway to bind the State of Maine, and if the State of Maine then the whole of the United States (because they were all united together as one and individual) to the Province of New Brunswick. The railroad was a necessary consequence of their natural position and connection. The provinces and states were naturalh' one in interest and in sympath)'. Vou could not separate them, immaginary geographical line could not do it. C'.od had made them one, and those whom God had joined together man could not separate. There might be, as doubtless there were, jjoints of differences between the dilfercnt peoples and their instituticms and customs, but these must be worn down and gradually assimilated. It was the business of those who made the laws to do this, he did not know how it was to be done, but he supposed it would be done and he thought the time was not tar distant when it would be eli'ected. He would not detain the comixmy any longer in saying what might be nuich better said by others present, but he would beg leave to oiler a sentiment, \'iz.: "Prosperity to the Great European and American Railroad."
After the gallant commander's toast had l)een duly honored the chairman proposed Our Sister Provinces and Our (hicsts.
A unanimous call was immediatel\' for the Hon. J. W. Johnston, late Attorney-General of Nova Scotia, to respond to
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this toast, who accordingly rose for the purpose. Commencing, however, in a low tone of voice, we could not distinctly hear the honorable gentleman's first words and repeatedly through his long and eloquent speech the buzzing of subdued conversation in the room prevented many observations from reaching us.
Mr. Johnston, after noticing the gratifying manner in which he had been called upon observed that he thought he might say on behalf of all the sister provinces that the kind sentiment expressed in the toast was entirely reciprocated by them and would be gratefully acknowledged.
On behalf of Nova Scotia he could say with more assurance and on the part of himself with the most grateful and heartfelt thankfulness. It was impossible to witness the celebration of this day without having prominently brought to memory the meeting three years since, a meeting which had justly filled a large space in the celebrations of the day at that time; because unquestionably, at that Convention of Portland the ground was prepared and the seed was sown which they had seen to-day brought to successful germination and he looked forward and saw it advancing to maturity and crowned with fruii ot great abundance, he could feel exfiectations of highest order, but they must still look backward to the Convention of Portland as having been the great originator of this scheme. Sagacious minds had there formed the great idea which the minds assembled here were now prepared to carry into operation. Persevering energy had been put forth for the purpose of maturing the great scheme and those present would recognize the Convention of Portland as having devised and originated it.
The great undertaking was not one of provincial but national interest. Of the three parties who met at Portland, Xew Hrims- wick had the honor of being the first to carry out her part of the arrangement. For a short time, perhai)s, she had taliered from the principles which should actuate Colonists, \'i/., the duty antl necessit\' of being the car\-ers of their own fortunes; but under happy auspices and under powerful and friendly influences and assistance she was brought back in due time to her first purpose and now with her comijany tornied, her legis-
262 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
lation matured and her arrangements made she was seen engaged in carrying on the work. (After some other observations in the same strain which had not perfectly reached us, Mr. J. continued.) Another of the parties of the Portland Convention, the Stateof Maine, had the honor of originating this great scheme and at the time when the Convention met she had already taxed her energies to the promotion of the great work. Since then she had slackened in her elTorts but he now looked upon her as a giant refreshed (he would not say with wine) and to her eternal honor she had lately redeemed all her pledge and was now fully prepared to go forth to the completion of her work and assuredh' from the energy, perseverance and skill which she had exhibited we might feel full of confidence that her coiu'se in future would be marked with the like energy antl determination. Of the third party of that convention (No\a Scotia) perhaps it might be as well that he should say nothing. (Laughter.) But if clouds and darkness hung o\'er her head they were but the natural concomitants of the political differences which had disturbed her repose and impeded her progress. But might we not take hope the same energies and principles which had been witnessed elsewhere, would hereafter so effectuall>' work that railway committees of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick would fairly work together and as the rainbow brilliancy eman- ates from the darkest clouds we might hope that the future of Nova Scotia would equalh' e\'ince a brilliancy in striking con- trast with the past. It would not become him to say much of the benefit which New Brunswick would be likel>' to deri\e from this railroad, but there weie tome prominent features which could not escape notice. The work which was this da\' l)egun was indeed desired to minister to the benefit and jjrogress of this province.
He saw on the nt)rthern border a land su|)erabundantly fertile, waters teeming with lish and throughout the province extensive and valuable forests. Yet as regards the wealth and prosperity of New^ Brunswick these resources had hitherto been comparatively inelTcctual; but the railroad was destined to render them fertile and productive in the highest degree. Could
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it be doubted that when the railroad should be completed the waters and the coasts, the bays and the rivers and the forests and the lands of this province will be rendered increasingly and abundantly profitable, and that this great work will therefore be a universal benefit as regards the province and ot particular benefit as regards the City of Saint John. It would be so undoubtedly, and who would doubt that these benefits being brought to Saint John could stimulate the energies ot ihe citizens. And who that had seen the energy, the industry and the public spirit manifested by them on this great occasion could doubt that they are prepared to exert themselves so wisely and so well as to reach that position which the good Proxidence of God (he believed) was aliout to place within their reach. But there was one aspect to which the consideration ot pro\-incial railwa>-s was to l)e presented that in his mind had alwa\'s thrown almost into the shade commercial and material achaniagcs. He must be blind who had not eyes to see the manifold instru- ments which the Providence of God is at this moment using for the purpose of bringing into connection the divided families of men. He (nor I) had always considered it w^as one of the most honorable characteristics of the railroad that it was planned and conceived by men who belonged U> different governments and countries and it was so i)lanned for the purpose of l)ringing them into closer connection with each other. Hut there was also an aspect of a minor character which touched his mind. He looked upon railroads being formed in all these pro\'inces as highly necessary agencies in affecting a measure which was of the first importance in the i;)rosperity of British N'orih America. He referred notablv to the union ot these pro\i:i(X's 1>\' the material iron band, but also to a closer miion of (-onlederation as one colony. To his mind the advantaL;es from such a measure, both as regards our [josivion with reference to foreign countries, as regards our Parent State and as regards oiuscKes, woultl be so great that he considered this as a measiu'c of supreme and overwhelming importance. Indeed, he had not e\es to >ee nor ears to hear, nor judgment to understand any olijeclion to a scheme so palpably fraught with benefit to these jn-ovinces.
264 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
It might seem out of place that he as an inhabitant of one of the smaller provinces should venture to advocate such a scheme. He remembered that some years ago when certain delegates from Canada came to Halifax he was very much amused to perceive that arguments from the little Province of Nova Scotia were looked upon pretty mucli as a young man with a little purse would be looked upon by his elder brother with a full one. It was just at the time when the spoils from the casual revenues had been realized. The delegates were rather purse-proud, and it seemed to be thought rather pre- sumptuous for Nova Scotia to utter an opinion. But he trusted that a time was now coming when all ]>reju(.lices and all local influences would be forgotten, that C\mada would oxercome all such distinctiveness and that association with her sister colonies of smaller means and dimensions would e\'en by her be looked upon with favor and Mr. Johnston viewed the railroad as a measure of the first importance in effecting such a connection. Mr. Johnston then proceeded in humorous st>'le to compare the efforts of small countries to enhance their own consequence and magnify their dimensions to what is commonly seen when a being of less than ordinary dimensions and stature endeavors to make up for his miniature size by assuming a straightened figure, a pompous strut and a look of importance, and argued that such was often the effect of small colonies in their indi\'idual i:)olitic efforts. But when these provinces shall become united in one — under one sovereign indeed, as at present, but also under one general local government — under the same laws and instliu- tions, and actuated by the same interests and polic>'; and when we see them respected in such a confederation b>' the other nations of the earth as inhabitant of such a countr\- I will feel that there will be necessity for making himself of importance for the purpose of giving himself his just position in the world. He (Mr. Johnston) kxjked on the work of this da\- with a double interest because wherevier railways were spoken of with interest in British North America this question of amity and connecticjn was mixed up with them; and they were looked upon with greater and double interest as being a jt)int work, better than
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anything v/e could individually accomplish. He most earnestly hoped and prayed on behalf of those whom he represented that this great work would fulfil the largest expectations of those concerned in it and that they would justify themselves most signally by their ultimate success.
The Hon. Mr. Coles of Prince Edward Island next spoke, but there was such a confused noise of conversation all around that we could hear but few of the honorable gentleman's remarks.
We understood Mr. Coles to observe that Prince Edward Island could necessarily take no further part in this railwa\' than to appreciate its importance and benefits. That colony would benefit by it from the increased connection and irallic which it will create between the Island and this i)ro\-ince. The ])eo[)le of Prince Edward Island appreciated the enterprise of those of New Brunswick in carrying out an undertaking in which they had sacrificed all political differences to effect. All parties had united in this work, and it was gratifying to him this day to see the bone and sinew of New Brunswick turning out with luiani- mity and heartiness to do honor to this great occasion. He believed that those who had so turned out felt as he felt, that this great work would be a lasting benefit to all. It would be a lasting benefit to Prince Edward Island and to all these provinces. The Islanders had heretofore been in the hal)iL of exporting their produce to Halifax, whence it was resliii)ped to New Brimswick, but for the last few >'ears he said they had found a direct market for themselves in Saint b>hn; and whereas their exports in IS-IS were \'alued at Cl4(), ()()() in 1852 they amounted to £800,000. They found in New liruns- wick a ready market for all their produce; all they wanted was a market, and that market would be vastly increased l)y the facilities afforded by the railroad. Then Mr. Coles made some further observations of a similar nature which the increasing murmurs of con\'ersation prevented further hearing.
Dr. C^onroy, of P. E. Island, then rose, but the same dinicultv prevented our catching many of his remarks. Dr. C. euh^gized Mr. Johnston's speech and hoped that all the pro\'inces would unite heart and hand in making us one people. He felt that
2GG NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
"little shall I grace any cause in speaking of mj'self," but he could not but feel that he spoke today with more pride than e\'er he spoke before. He felt proud of being a humble link in the chain — the railway chain — that will bind us all together in bonds of amity. Dr. C. also eloquently expressed his sense of the spirited and amicable proceedings of the da)-, and the patriotic and loyal sentiments that had been uttered, which, he said, made him feel proud of being a liriiish subject, and he trusted that a truh' British heart would be found as pre\'alent in Prince Edward Island as many others had of the British Dominions (the conversational confusion around us was such, however, that we could not catch the concluding observations of Dr. C.)
His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor then rose and said that there appeared to be one omission in the toasts, not because the persons had been forgotten or their services rioi appreciated; these services had l^een attended to b\- the learned gentleman from Nova Scotia, when he said that the man nuist be blind who could not see that the nations of the world were being drawn closer together; new ties were l)eing formeel and who were forming these ties? How were these ties being made.'' To wh(jm were we in this pro\-ince indebted for them? Whose fostering care was it to which we might look forward for these hopes to be realized? It was the aid and assistance of British cai)italists brought forward and offered when we were almc^st despairing of success in this enterprise. If the caj)ital were drawn entirely from our own resources either our CDnimerce must for a time stand still, or we niiisl i)ut an end to all other entcrprises. Enless this capital came into the country (as it had cow.c on terms wliich would ]:!r<)\-e clDubK' adxantageoLis) how were we to get the nione\- for a;'.\- pr.blic wtirks? If a man had £r)()l) or Cl, ()()() whic^h he thought he might in\'est in railwa\' works he must draw it from his bank or from the merchant v. ho had it in use, and thus his capital would be thrown out ot [iro- titable emi^loyment. Other operations nuist in the meant ir.ie stand still, if we could not get the money for such jniblic works externallv. Therefore, said His Excellenc\', " Vou and \(;ur
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 2()7
sons (for I have no personal interest in the matter as I do not belong to the province") will look forward with thankfulness to those gentlemen who have come forward at this moment to your aid, in this great and important work.
Two of them are present here today; they are largely engaged in other projects of a similar nature, not only here but in other countries as well as elsewhere on this continent, and I think it incumbent on us to express our sense of their valuable services by drinking the health of Messrs. Peto Brassey-Betts and Jackson.
After the toast was proposed by His Excellency had been drunk with enthusiastic and continued applause, Mr. Jackson rose and replied as follows:
In acknowledging the toast which has been jiroposed by so illustrious an indivitiual and recei\ed in such a gratifying manner, I feel some dinu-idt\-; but I do not feel any difliculty in exjiressing the gratification which in>' i>art- ners and myself have experienced in witnessing the elforts made co oi)erating with us in this enterprise. We have seen a will, a heart thrown into the whole of your operaticjns and a fixity of i5urix).^e which can only end in one wa>-. That gi\es to us who may be said to be the capitalists alluded to b^- His Excellenc\- (ant! I si)eak with diffidence and deference and representing the capitalists of England). It gives to us a confidence greater than 1 can e.\]Mess. It gives us an assurance that among you the general benefit is to be considered before the jjrivate interests; it gives us an assurance that the same spirit will be acteil ui)on throughout and that every man will patiently wait for his turn to come before thinking of self. I came here last year a stranger, I came c|uite un])rei)ared to see what 1 ha\'e seen; I came as a practical man versed in commercial affairs, and iiaving for thirty-six >ears been hard at work at the plough. 1 came to see and hear and learn, but all that I have heard or read of or seen or witnessed does not come u]) to what I have seen in these British ])ro\'inci'S.
Here (Mr. Jackson) was interrupted by a long roar of vehe- ment applause.
I came here that I might be useful — first, to myself, don't be mistaken; I tiid not come here on the narrow minded principle of mereh- selfish interest, regardless of others, but working on the true i)rinci]3le that he who works for himself can only do so effectually not by working at the cost of others but for the benefit of others. I have travelled through all these ]:)rovinces and I will challenge any man in this room to say that he has gone through all the same districts, that he has seen the same scenery or witnessed as much of
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these provinces as I have. I have gone through them on the jjrinciple that my friends and partners will ask me on my return "Have 30U seen all these things that you speak of?" and I am prepared to say " I have." To use an American piece of phraseology, " I am projierly posted up."
Your wives and babies are unequalled; your forests and fisheries are inexhaustible; your soil is fat, producing subsistence for man e\'cii while he is destroying it, for in these \oung countries man destroys while he creates. Your indomitable self-will and energy are beyond all praise and will assuredly lead you on to ])ros])erit},' and wealth. One portion of your great ])rovince is a fertile producer of food; another portion produces e\ery mineral necessary to the interests of mankind, and these want only the combination of one with another, the uniting of them together, to render them abundantly a\ailable. ^'ou have within you the means of attaining a great greatness and >ou nmst attain it. Therefore when I came here last year I did not hesitate in meeting your wishes, in promoting your interests and in making a profit for ourselves.
That profit may be long in coming, but our children will enjo\- it, and the principal being in honest hands we may safeh- trust it with you. 1 took the measure of New Ikunswick, of Nova Scotia and of Canada. I saitl: "It will ne^■er do for conflicting interests to exist here, the work can onh' be done by a combination of all the provinces." It was said there would be difficulties in New Brunswick. I saw none. In Canada there was much greater diffi- culties; there were conflicting interests to be reconciled, there were the jealousies of various localities to be o\ercome. But what has hajipened there? We have brought about the amalgamation of the whole: all these interests are now united. There is not one of them that is not satisfied: all are united in one great combination to carry out the whole project.
There are many in this room who can witness that I ha\e ne\er lost sight of the Lower Brovinces or of your interests.
You have only occasion to sink your own local differences, all your con- flicting prejudices and feelings. Do not look at this district or at that tlis- trict, but at the whole province. Let us feel that New Ikunswick without Maine is useless, let the iron band move over all alike, and you will find that yourselves will be infinitely greater and more ])rospcrous than can now be concei^•ed. The works in Nova Scotia will be simple and easily effected. We have thought it our duty to lay before you a comi)rehensive scheme, and I intend to do so before I go away from hence to entreat you to sink all your differences and to establish a railroad through the northern and the southern districts of this province. No doubt many of you have read the speech of that eminent man, Mr. Stephenson, at Toronto. He spoke impressively of the folly of legislation which has been experienced in these matters in the Mother Countr}-, arising from conllicting interests, and legislation and legal expenses he showed that from sixty to se\enty millions of money ha\e been thrown away in these contests. Now, >ou cannot afford that. We came here courting no man's favor and fearing no man's frown. We have had
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 2G9
railway experience in every part of Europe and are therefore well versed in the business; and in this undertaking, of which the first sod has been turned today, we feel that we have a right to speak. We have a right to give our views clearly and explicitly. They are not the views of today or of a few days, but the views of every day since 1 left you last year.
We have also since then taken the views and opinions of others, of men of eminent experience and judgment, and we can only say that if dropping all local feelings and differences, and forgetting all sectional prejudices j'ou will unite together, with us, we will carry the whole thing through for you. But there must be no want of confidence, for that we will not overlook. We stand on our character and if you dispute that you drive us out of the country. We stand on that and we ha\e a right to it, for we ha^•c earned it b>- long experience and practice. We vill stand on the scheme ad\anced b>- Mr. Poor at Portland, ^'ou must give a little now that you may rca]) nuicli. We will carry the railroad through the whole of your ])ro\ince, which will redound immensely to the good of all. 1 am glad to see many here from various parts of the province apparently approving of our propositions. l>ut if you think you can do better, then at once tear off the seals from the contract and annul it. But there is not one single word of that contract which we will ever deviate from in the slightest degree; and under that contract we will make a railroad through your province which will be a iiattern card for your sister pro\ ince to come and look at. We will deal w ith you as we ha\ e ever dealt with others and will come to you with our character in our hands requiring your entire confidence. K\er\' thing that we ha^■e hitherto done in New^ Brunswick shows that we ha\e the fullest confidence in ;^ou. We believe that there is a fixity of purpose in you worthy of being trusteti, and one great proof of that is that the right and hard bargain that you ha\e made with us. That we consider as a guarantee of your entire sincerity and good faith. (Here from the bustle around us we lost a few words.)
I do hope and trust that this railroad, which \\\\\ unite the ]jro\inces, will ha\e the effect that has been shadowed forth b\- i)re\ ious six-alcers.
1 ha\X' heard but one feeling in t^inada, of a tk-sire to meet this ([uestion fully, fairly and freely; and 1 think it but right to state that if ever >ou come to meet this question of provincial union, Canada is ])repared to do her duty; and I believe that Nova Scotia is equally pre]xired. I have had the honor of interviews with the Duke of Newcastle and Mr. (iladstune, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on this subject, and think I may sa\' that the jjrojeit is favorably viewed by the government at home.
In Canada, so strong is the desire to ojien further and more ra]iid com- munication between the ])ro\inces that Canada is i)rei)ared tu make great sacrifices to effect this measure.
If you are prepared to meet her in a kindred sjiirit; if you will only forget the i)ast and will only endeavor to remember what will benefit all the ])rov- inces unitedly there can be but little doubt of a successful arrangement of
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the matter. I can tell }oli that your honest indomitable perseverance and indListr>- ha\e given >ou a high character in Canada; and if you onl>- go on in the same wa>' you will effect a most imjjortant change in \our situation. Vou have a land teeming with riches; you have w ithin yourselves resources of unparalleled extent and value, and if you only go on in the right spirit you will leave to those who are to follow you such <ui inheritance and possession as any portion of the world might envy; and if \ou meet Canada in that spirit your united efforts and resources mubt result in rapid i)ros])erity and greatness.
I may not have another opportunity of ])a\ing my respects to so inan>- of the inhabitants of your pro\ince, but I feel assured that when vve meet again I shall feel at home among \ou; and it will giw me the greatest jileasure to meet again. When I come again 1 hojjc that all vvili meet togrther with good feeling and unanimity; that all v.ill act together witii good intenti(Mi to unite in ]iromoting the permanent i:)ros]H'rit\- of the ])ro\ince al large, which will assuredly promote our own intli\i(lualit\-. 'I'lic surest wav to attain our emls is to stud}' the good of the public at large in all our i)rojceLs and enterprises.
Mr. Jackson sat down amid tluinders of applatise, which were repealed again and again.
Immediately after which His Excellency Sir Edmund Head and suite, the American naval of^cers and many others retired at 20 minutes past 5 p. m.
Hon. J. H. (iray proposed the health of J<jhn A. I'oor, Esq., which was drunk with enthusiasm.
Mr. Poor rose to respond and observed that not one now present could look forward to any expectation of witnessing another occasion like this, which had brought them together. He might well feel proud of having takeit any part in a measure which had united on an occasion like this so large an assemblage from so many different quarters for one great purpose. The Portland convention was a kind of "love at first sight." When first they met together they felt all the tenderness, all the differ- ences, all the blushing bashfulness of young lovers. They looked forward with diffidence when they made their first proposition. But how had that call been responded to? His own noble government on one side and the noble provincial government on the other side had made mutual advances, and he looked forward with confidence that the two countries would soon be indissolubly united. A little further courtship might
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do them no harm, but he looked forward with confidence to a connection which would render them inseparably one. He might perhaps be misunderstood; he was no politician he hoped, and expected that the present political relations between the two countries might long continue. The great and glorious government under which he lived owed to the parent country those institutions and principles which had made the United States what they now are, which had reversed the figures of their number and increased them from thirteen to thirty-one, and he believed that if it had not been for the presence of a greater power on this continent the United States would not have been what they now are, because they would not have had the stimulus and emulation which have actuated them. He believed that under the providence of God they owed more to the government of New Brunswick -than to all the other provinces put together from the continual intercourse and traffic between the two countries. The people of both owned a common origin, they had a common interest and a common destiny. They were bound to become one in all those purposes for which life was to be desired. This was not a question of government, of politics or of banner. On one side the glorious banner waved which for a thousand years had braved the battle and the bree/e; on the other side was the glorious (lag of the thirty-one stars, in all its beauty and splendor and the adherents of both felt that they both belonged to the same family, they were kith and kin of the same blood, and it behooved them to keep together for all national and beneficial purposes. If he had only lived to see this day he would say that he had not lived in vain. The ties which had long existed between the two countries, ties social and commercial, would now be commended, the proceedings of this day would strengthen those ties of friendship and good feeling that ought ever to prevail between them. He could not but congratulate his own countrymen and those of this province. What had they seen today for the first time? A great inter- national communion.
From the farthest States of the South, from the oldest State in the Union (South Carolina) and from the youngest State of
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the Union, members of their respective populations this day formed part of this great aggregation of a kindred race they meet together as part and parcel of the great scheme which was begun on the eighteenth July, 1850. They all had a common origin, a common interest and let that community of feeling continue forever. Let them each like the stars that travel in the heavens round the Sun as their common centre regard with one common feeling Old England as their parent and their centre of attraction. They all wanted the products of each others territories, let them that reciprocity commodities be extended and they would all enjoy together the rich products of the north. (Long continued applause here drowned the voice of the speaker during several sentences.) They knew that to a few sturdy minds who never had faltered they owed this great project which they had now seen promoted and established this day. The various parties concerned in the project had been gloriously represented here today but he wanted to hear from the different States whose citizens were now here present. He would therefore propose as a toast the LInion of the States, the Union of the Provinces and the common interests of all.
In reply to this toast Mr. J. W. Thrasher of New Orleans, rose, but from the causes already mentioned we can give but a slight sketch of his excellent speech. Mr. Thrasher said he was here from one of the most Southern portions of the American Union and representing one of the most advanced portions of what is called Young America, for the purpose of uniting with New Brunswick in the measure which had brought this assembly together, that of making the first stroke in the European and North American Railway. No one came with more cheerful heart and willing feet than he did. The people of the South contemplated with no petty jealousy the great scheme of those of this province were now carrying out.
(After some figurative observation on this point, Mr. Thrasher proceeded to say that.) The ties that were now being created between the countries would bring them nearer to Old England, and with carrying out the views which most of the South had been accused of having entertained, and Young America hailed
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with delight the event which the present assembly were now about to commemorate. He would not now touch on abstract principles, but on the practical working of such deeds as they had that day seen done. The new lights of civilizations which were now dawning on the world taught us that true patriotism did not consist in a blind egotistical love of country, to the exclusion of all other feelings and principles; but in the increase of mutual ties of interest and concord; in the augmentation of the reward and dignity of labor; in the diffusion of knowledge and power; in the extension of the rights and principles which first saw the light of day at Runnymede in the government and elevation ot man in the l^roader career of human progress. These were the principles which he hoped to see carried out not only on the northern frontier, but on the southern boundaries of the United States and even in that Isle whose shores and whose sons he loved so well. Cuba had already tasted some of these sweets of progress. Her railroad now extended hundreds of miles; her steam and water power were seen on every hand; the issues of her press elevated more widely among her people than those of the Mother Country did among hers; and the products of her industry were found in every part of Christendom ; and having tasted some of the sweets of progress she longed for the whole benefit of its commission. They all knew that those high principles of Young America could not be carried out at all times and by all means (other than peaceful means might be necessary and would that it were not so) but none the less did Young America hail the event and commemoraticMi of this day. We had formed here today a tripartite convention which should endure to the end of time. He could not forget in this auspicious moment his native state and the part she had taken in this great enterprise, the Pine Tree State had taken the lead in this noble enterprise and might she ever lead where the nations would proudly follow. He rejoiced on the occasion of forming such ties of amity which should ever characterize the communications between our respective countries; the principles which engen- dered them were of the highest and most enlightened order and
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he might well exclaim "How beautiful are the feet of those on the mountains who bring glad tidings with great joy."-- " Peace on earth, good will towards men."
Mr. W. Jack then made a few observations to the hospitality of the Ladies of Portland to the visitors from New Brunswick at the Convention of 1850 and proposed as a toast, The Ladies of the "State of Maine."
The toast was pleasantly responded to by John Neal, Esq., of Portland, and in the course of his remarks, he observed that there was one aspect of the times which had not been touched upon. There was a cloud gathering in the north (of Europe), a great battle was yet to be fought, and where the legions of the north should be in the field, England and America must be found side by side; they must trust each other and co-operate together. Let there be perpetual peace between these two great nations, their people must all become preachers of peace, that was the doctrine for them and for their children. Those now present had heard the gallant Commodore Shubrick state how peacefully he found their fishermen employed in amit\' and good- fellowship; although the newspapers, those privileged ruffians, represented such a totally different state of things. He (Mr. N.) had actually heard that the other day an American fisherman entered complaints before the authorities here against Commo- dore Shubrick, supposing him to be a British Commander. (Laughter). To find these naval commodores la>'ing their ships side by side in friendly communion, preaching peace to all around, ought to fill all of our hearts with thankfulness and urge us to re-echo the sentiments that had just been uttered — "Peace on earth, good-will towards men."
After the above, the Mayor of Portland, the Hon. J. H. Gray, Mr. King, (the contractor for the St. Andrews and Quebec Railway), John Wilson, Esq., the Hon. John Robertson, Mr. S. Binney and the Hon. E. B. Chandler briefly addressed the remaining guests, but we could no longer see to take notes.
The health of the chairman was proposed by John Kerr, Esq., and responded to, when the party separated, apparently much pleased with the entertainment.
new brunswick historical society 275
The Fireworks
Commenced about seven o'clock with signal rockets in the triangular field at the top of Jeffrey's Hill. This part of the fete was under the management of Messrs. S. K. Foster and Charles V. Foster, who deserve great credit for their exertions in the matter, as the display gave general satisfaction to the assembled thousands. About half-past seven some of the finer pieces were concluded. The following is the list of pieces:
Rockets, single and in fights, from half a pound to si.\ pounds. Palm trees, with wheels of variegated fires. Crown, variegated fire. Plough, variegated fire. Maid of the Mist. Polka Pigeons. Mechanic's Arm with Hammer, variegated colors. Great Railway piece with motto. Success to the Great Railway Battery, filled with serpents. The Palm Trees were ignited by the Pigeons which were sent to them from the opposite side of the field. This operation seemed to please the spectators very much.
The Ball
The new building recently erected by Mr. Stewart for a foundry and named for the once "The Railway Pavilion," situated near the Valley Church, was fitted up on the occasion as a ball-room in the most beautiful manner, the sides of the main apartments being lined with glazed cotton — pink, blue and white alternately. It was brilliantly illuminated with gas, which added greatly to the general effect. A temporary gallery for the musicians was fitted up at one end of the building, and a raised platform with couches on the opposite side was fitted up for His Excellency and Lady and other distinguished guests. The pillars and beams were also gaily decorated with Mowers and spruce and we feel confident in stating that it would have been very difficult to have fitted up a more magnificent ball- room even for Royalty. Shortly after nine o'clock the company began to assemble, when dancing commenced and was kept up with great spirit, and by half-past ten the i)avilion appeared to be quite full. About this time there were about 800 persons present and the scene was most imposing. On the raised plat- form stood His Excellency and Lady, surrounded by his suite,
X76 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Commodore Shubrick and officers of the American squadron, and a number of elegantly dressed ladies, while the centre portion of the pavilion was crowded with the dancers, among whom might be seen many beautiful ladies, as also officers in uniform. The band of H. M. 7Gth Regiment occupied the gallery, and we need not inform our readers that the music was highly appreciated. A building near the pavilion was set apart as a refreshment room, where the company adjourned from time to time as they felt inclined, and enjoNcd delicacies of the season, and for those who preferred it, there was plenty- of sparkling champagne and other wines. A portion of the building was set apart for a dressing room for the ladies, and a card room was provided for the gentlemen. We regret to state, however, that about one o'clock in the morning, and just when the company was beginning to break up after spending the most agreeable evening of one of the most brilliant days ever witnessed in New Brunswick, the gallery occupied by the band gave way, the beam supporting it breaking completely through the middle at a place which it was afterwards found out had been worm eaten. Some of the ladies standing in that locality were severely injured. Mr. Rainford, a young gentleman in the Hon. John Robertson's office, was knocked on the head by the main beam in its fall and was carried away quite insensible, in which state he lay for several hours. There were some medical gentlemen present who were unremitting in their attentions to those who were injured. The scene which ensued beggars description, some ladies fainted, while others were running eagerly about to see if any of their relatives and friends had suffered injury. After some time, however, order was restored and the company quietly dispersed, with many regrets that this accident should have occurred at the conclusion of the festivities of the day. \\'e learn that Mr. Rainsford is much better, and that good hopes are entertained of his recovery. It is extremely fortunate that the accident happened so late in the evening, when the number present was comparatively few, and it is surprising that although all the bandsmen fell or slid down to the floor, none of them received more than slight bruises.
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 277
LIFE AND TIMES OF DR. JOHN CALEFF, A PROMINENT LOYALIST
By Henry Wilmot
In beginning this paper it may be well briefly to refer to conditions prevailing in the American Colonies clnring the Revolution.
The position of the Loyalists after the Declaration of Inde- pendence was indeed a painful one and showed the impossibility of neutrality.
Probably a large portion of the American people would gladly have remained neutral, but the Declaration left no neutrals, he who opposed independence became, ipso facto, an enemy of liberty.
Frequently members of the same family joined opposite sides resulting in the deplorable misery of fratricidal strife. Thus by the action of Congress, thousands of peace loving citizens were classed as enemies, rebels and even traitors, because they declined to relinquish their rights as British subjects, and swear allegiance to a new and self-constituted authority.
Dr. John Caleff, the subject of this sketch, son of Robert and Margaret Stanniford Caleff, was born in Ipswich, Massachu- setts, in August, 1725. Llis first wife was Margaret, daughter of Rev. Nathaniel Rogers, a distinguished divine at that period of colonial history. She lived but a short time, dying at the early age of twenty-two years. In 1750 he married Dorothy, daughter of Rev. Jedidiah Jewett and Elizabeth Dummer his wife, both of Rowley, Mass.
The records in the family Bible, now in the possession of Miss Helen Mowat of Beech Hill, St. Andrews, show there were eleven children by this marriage, of whom this narrative chielly concerns Mehitable, fifth daughter, born in 17().S and who married Captain David Mowat of St. Andrews.
It may be stated here, that Dr. Caleff was connected b\- birth or marriage with many of the best families of the colonial
278 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
period, and notwithstanding the unpopularity of such a course, he steadfastly adhered to his convictions, and was loyal to his King first, last and for all time, as his grandfather Robert had been in his stand against the witchcraft delusion of that period.
He was a member of the Massachusetts Legislature at the date of the Revolution; and was one of the seven famous Recinders.
As a result of his activities on the Royalist side, he was proclaimed a traitor, and later on a large price was set upon his head. Before the removal of his famih' from Massachusetts Dr. Caleff was sent by the Penobscot Loyalist Association on a delegation to England, with the object of establishing the Penoloscot River as the north-eastern boundary between British and American territory, a number of Loyalists had settled along the latter river, supposing they would be within British territory, but later on were compelled to remove to St. Andrews and other places further north. He remained in England two years and had been very hopeful of success for some time, when, on a certain morning, upon entering the office of Lord North, Premier of (ireat Britain, who had used his utmost iniluence in support of the Penobscot boundary, he was greeted by the latter with the exclamation, "Doctor, doctor, we cannot secure the boun- dary, the pressure is too strong."
Just here, a brief reference to the boundary question may be in order. The American plan in dealing with ('.real IJritain, seems to have lieen to claim, in the first instcUice, everything in sight, on the principle of "heads we win tails \()u lose" after- wards, generously conceding something.
The dispute over the Oregon territory began in bS27 and was not finally settled until ISKi. The extremists in C\)ngress claimed the whole Pacific coast up to Russian lerritor>', their slogan being "fifty-lour fort)' or fight."
Great Britain elaimed from the mouth of the Columbian Ri\er, but finally conij^romised on the forty-ninth i)aral!el, thereby surrendering a magnificent domain, that had long been under her tlau.
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 279
The British commissioner was quoted as saying: "The country was not worth fighting for anyway, since, while the rivers swarmed with fish, the blamed salmon would not rise for the i\y."
The north-east boundary dispute became acute soon after the arrival of the Loyalists, and as we have been told, the pressure became too strong to admit of a reasonable settlement, and the final award by the King of the Netherlands in 1842, practically conceded the whole American claim.
Again, the same tactics seem to have prevailed in the settle- ment by arbitration of the Alaska boundary in 1903.
Lord Alverston, the British Commissioner, coincided with the American contention, and the Canadian aribtrators refused to sign the award.
The writer's father, when referring to a resolution favouring annexation to the l-nited States, once moved in the House of Assembly by a meml)er for the County of Saint John, said, that the descendants of the Loyalists at that time, would have resisted such a movement by force of arms.
The late Sir Cicorge Parkin, who, as trustee of the Rhodes scholarship tund, became intimately acquainted with political and social conditions in the United States, was strongly of opinion, that a higher type of civilization would result, by the two great branches of the Anglo Saxon race on this ( ontineni, working out their destiny separatch', on dilTereni lines, rather than b\- union or annexation.
But to retiu'n to our narratix'e; Ijcfore Dr. Calelf sailed to America, his wife, who api)ears to ha\e b'een a \igorous and resourceful woman, fearing violence at the hands of the Re\'olu- tionists, prior to her husband's return, chartered a snuill sl()C)p, which she loadetl with lurniture anfl personal elTccts, and set sail with her family for what is now New Brimswirk, Init then practicalK' a wilderness. During their trip up the Ba\- of Fundy, a thick snow storm prexdiled; alter much exposure the}- managed to land at Red Mead, the intrei)i(l mother and >-oung children making their way with great ilillicult> to I'airlowii, as Saint John was then called.
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In the meantime Captain David ' Mowat, realising, the serious position in which Dr. Caleff would find himself, should he attempt to return to Ipswich, chartered a vessel, and after cruising off the coast for some time, managed to intercept the vessel in which he was returning, and took him off. They landed somewhere on the coast of Maine, disguised themselves as Indians, and finally managed to reach Parrtown, after swim- ming the rivers and enduring many hardships en route.
It would appear that Captain Mowat was not entirelj' disinterested in his efforts on the doctor's behalf, since as already, mentioned, he afterwards married his daughter, Mehitable. Mention may be made that at the close of the Revolutionary War, Jedidiah, son of Dr. Caleff, returned to Rowley, Mass., and held the property of which his father was the owner for some time, but matters were made so uncomfortable for him, that he was obliged to leave Rowley and return to New Bruns- wick, abandoning the property, which was subsequentl}' con- fiscated by the American Government.
While residing at Parrtown Dr. Caleff lived at Lower Cove, then an entirely detached settlement from Upper Cove, of which the present Market Slip formed the centre, and at the time, there was no way of communication between the settlements, excepting by way of the beach. He was attached to the garrison, at Fort Howe as surgeon and physician, and for a time as acting chaplain, and was obliged daily to make his way there, climbing over rocks and through Ijushes, sometimes in winter' wading through snowdrifts up to his armpits.
In accordance with his position, he wore the regulation uniform of that time, a blue coat with large brass buttons, and some of the latter are still in the possession of the Mowat family.
About 1791 Dr. Caleff removed to St. Andrews, and built a house there at the upper end of the town, in front of which were planted elm trees, some of which are still standing. The late Edward Jack, whose mother was related to the Mowat family, wrote much in his life time concerning old times in Charlotte Count}-.
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 28 1
He states that, when in England, Dr. Caleff became ac- quainted with Selina, Countess of Huntingdon, a pious and charitable lady, who sent by the doctor on his return to New Brunswick, a large collection of Bibles and hymn books, he having informed her, that the Loyalists had lost most of their books during the war.
To quote further: "Dr. Caleff was one of the Puritan gentry of Massachusetts, was highly educated and wrote admirably, with brevity and simplicity. He died before my remembrance, but I was well acquainted with his daughters, who lived to a great age, as well as with his son, who owned what is now known as Fry's Island, where he resided for a long time."
It may be of interest to add that the writer, when a small boy visited his relative, Mr. Harry Mowat at Bayside and has a distinct recollection of seeing Miss Sarah C\ileff who resided with her nephew, and who, as stated by Mr. Jack, died there at a very advanced age.
The late D. Russell Jack, in " Acadiensis," states that Dr. Caleff took part in the siege of Louisburg by the New Eng- landers, on account of which he left in manuscript, now unfortu- nately lost. He was also present at the siege of Penobscot, the only published account of which is to be found in the library of Harvard College.
In conclusion it may be related, that the subject of this sketch, departed this life in October, 1S12, and in the old church- yard at St. Andrews-by-the-Sea, can still be seen the elms he planted, a century or more ago, and which stretch their branches lovingly, over the moss grown tombs, of Dr. John and of Dorothy his beloved wife.
COLLECTIONS
OF THE
New Brunswick
Historical Society
No. 12
Completing \'ol. IV with Index
SAINT JOHN, N. B.
Barnes & Co., Limited, Prince William Street
1928
Officers, 1927-1928.
President DR. AMON A. WILSON, K.C., High Sheriff, Saint John.
Vice-Presidents W. SHIVES FISHER
WILLIAM A DOlKiHERTV, Jr.
Secretary
DR WILLIAM Macintosh
Corresponding Secretary GEORGE A. HENDERSON,
Stipendiary Magistrate, Saint John.
Treasurer ALFRED MORRISEY
Librarian TIMOTHY O'BRIEN
Council REV. C. GORDON LAWRENCE, B.A. DAVID H. WATER BURY D. GORDON WILLET HENRY WILMOT
INTRODUCTORY.
Since the publication of the last number of its Collections, the New Brunswick Historical Society has taken part in several events of historical interest. One of these was the unveiling of the monument in memory of the Hon. Gabriel G. Ludlow, first Mayor of Saint John, on Friday, May 18th, 192S, on the site of the grave of the famous Loyalist, at the old graveyard in the rear of the West Saint John Kirk, marking the observance of the 14.1th anniversary of the landing of the United Empire Loyalists at Saint John.
During the Revolutionary War Gabriel G. Ludlow was Colonel and Commandant of DeLancey's Third Battalion. At the close of the war he came to New Brunswick and settled at Saint John, where he held the office of Judge of Vice-Admiralty and was a member of the Provincial Council. In 17S5 he was ai)pointed Mayor of the city of Saint John by the Provincial (jovernment, which position he held until 1795. From the year 1SU3 until his death in ISOS, Colonel Ludlow administered the Gox-ernment of the Province during the al)sence of the Lieutenant Governor. Thomas Carleton. During this period he was also Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty's forces in New Brunswick.
On August 27th, 192S, at the Customs House, Saint John, two bronze tablets were unveiled to the honour and memory of Robert Foulis of Saint John, inventor of the world's first steam fog whistle in bSo-l, antl Benjamin F. Tibbits of Queens County, N. B., inventor of the world's first marine compound engine in 1842.
During the past year the Society has lost two \'alued members by death: John Willet, K. C, Clerk of the Saint John Circuit Court, who was for many years an efficient secretary of this Society, and Edward L. Rising, President of the firm of Water- bury (S: Rising.
Meetings were held regularly during the past >'ear at which a number of valuable papers were read.
The thanks of the Society are due to the Pro\'incial Ciovern- ment for their annual grant, to the newspapers of the province for their generous sui)port, and to the Natural History Society of New Brunswick for the use of their rooms in which the Society has met during the year.
The present number of the Collections completes Volume 4, the inde.x at the end covering the last three numbers.
Wili.i.^lM ALvcIntosh, Saint John, N. B., Secretary.
September 2oth, 1928.
COLLECTIONS
OK THK
New Brunswick Historical Society
HISTOIRE Dll AL^DAWASKA
Record of ihe Youngest (^ounty of the Proxince Told in Book Eorm
VeneraijlI': Archdkacon Raymond, LL.l). (1U21)
It is a lamentable fact that in New Brunswick our county history has been neglected ; the history of the i)ro\ince as a whcjle has recei\ed some attention, and in this connection the following names are worthy of honourable mention: Peter I'"isher, C. L. Hatheway, Robert Cooney, Or Robb, Dr. (lesner, Moses Perley, Alex. Munro, W'edderburn, Ilannay, Lawrence, lulward Jack and a few others of later date.
But county history has not recei\^ed the attention with us that it has in the neighbouring Province of Nova Scotia.
Until within a year past, the only municijxd dixision of New Brunswick of which the history has appeared in book form is the City (jf Saint John. Here, one history was altemi)ted some thirty-five or more years ago by the late 1). R. Jack, who was then little more than a school-bo>'.
Some very creditable attempts ha\e been made from time to time in various periodicals and in local newspapers to provide reliable information concerning the history of dilterent parts of the province, one of the most \aluable contributions being that of James Vroom covering the early history (jf the C(junty of Charlotte, publishefl in the "St. Croix C^)urier," some twenty years ago.
But the fact remains that until the year 1920, no county history had been published in book form, save Mr. Jack's rather inadequate little book on "Saint John."
2S7
288 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
It is quite remarkable that when, at length, another book of the kind appears, it does not deal with one of the old and well- known counties of the province, but with the youngest of them_ all, the County of Madawaska, and that it should also be the work of two young men of Acadian ancestry, born within the county and printed in their mother-tcnigue, which is not luiglish, but French.
Madawaska is situate at the extreme northwest angle of New Brunswick, and is a district regardeil by the majorit}' of our people as isolated and comparati\'ely unknown; yet this district of our province has produced a history of its own and a \ery readable one, too. It is a nicely printed volume of 450 pages.
The initial step in this achie\'ement should be credited, in all fairness, to a young school-teacher. Prudent L. IMercure, of Ste. Anne de Madawaska. I had the pleasure, some twenty years ago, of furnishing the young man with such information as I possessed, which was considerable, and of stimulating him in the task of collecting more.
Born and li\'ing in my boyhood on the Upper Saint John, I was, more or less, in touch with the Madawaska country in my young days, and naturally interested in it. My relati\es, of the name of Beardsley, lived for years abo\ e the Grand Falls.
In the course of time Madawaska has suffered the fate of the ancient kingdom of Poland, and, like the Caul of Julius Caesar's day, is divided into three parts {oninis Gallia est divisa in partes ires). The Madawaska district now includes Madawaska, N. B., Madawaska, Me., and Madawaska, Que. But in spite of its political division, the district has produced, in book form, a history of its own. The facts relating to its early history were gleaned chiefly by Mr. Mercure, with the valuable aid of Senator Therriault, of Lille, Maine, and some few others. The accumu- lated materials have been discreetly edited and put in good literary form by the Abbe Thomas Albert, of Shippegan, Glou- cester County. The Abbe, being a native of Madawaska, doubtless the writing and editing has been to him a congenial task. Mercure died not long since, whilst cmi)!oyed in the Department of the Dominion Archives in Ottawa, and did not
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIKTV 2S9
live to see the publication of the book. The consuniniation of the undertaking; was due almost entirely to the public spirit and generosity of Senator Patrick Therriault.
I do not propose at this time to enter further into a consider- ation of the contents of this very interesting bcxjk, but to give some idea of the style and manner of it will c|uote, in translation, the following passage, which tells the not unfamiliar story (jf the destruction of the Mohawk war-party at the Grand Falls as it was told the first Acadian settlers of Aladawaska by the Indians, nearly 150" years ago. 1 ([uote now from the "llistoire de Aladawaska," page 12:
"The Madawaska tribe of Indians occupied the \allc>- i)f the Saint John, from the Grand Falls upwards as far as Seven Islands, including the valley of Lake Temiscouata. Their chief resort, from time immemorial, was at the mouth of the Ri\er Madawaska. Their village here was fortified with a strong palisade formed by large pieces of wood planted in the ground, which constituted an enclosure almost impregnable to the enemy.
"The Indians on the river below, as also those of the Penob- scot and Kennebec, sought refuge within this fortification when an invasion was threatened by their enemies.
"Although far removed, the Iroquois were their inveterate enemies, and on various occasions they were engaged in bloody conflicts. Indian traditions record two great raids of the Mohawks, who burned their fort and massacred a large niunber of the occupants. The most notable of these war raids was that of 200 Mohawks from Upper Canada, bent on exterminating the Malecites. The Iroquois attained the River Saint John b\' way of the Etchemin, which falls into it at a little Malecite \illage at the mouth of the Slagash, and killed all of the inhabitants there.
"When they arrived at the Indian t(nvn of Madawaska, the brave Pemmyhaouet, Grand Sagamore of the Malecites, with a hundred of his warriors, immediately organized for the delense of the fort. The combat which ensued was one of the most memorable of which there is mention in the Indian legends. The brave Pemmyhaouet fell in the struggle and his son was
290 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
mortally wounded. As fast as the defenders fell under the arrows and tomahawks of their assailants, their wixes and daughters took their places. It was only after an engagement of several days and -when overpowered by the arrows and spears of the enemy that the, brave defenders abandoned the place.
"The ferocious Mohawks found in the ruined fort, hidden in a corner of the enclosure, two women, who demanded death as a deliverance. These were Necomah, the wife of the old chieftain, and Malobiannah, the fiancee of the son of Pemmy- haouet. The Sagamore's son had succumbed to his wounds and the two women had bra\'ed the wrath of the Alohawks in order to give the rites of sepulture t(^ those dear to them.
"Intoxicated with their success the Irocjuois resolved to pursue their ravages as far as the lower valley of the Saint John, but they were unaccjuainted with the na\-igation of the rixer; so, seizing the two capti\es they carried them with them as guides for their expedition.
"When night came on the bark cancjes were tied together and left to the guidance of the young Malobiannah — ^Necomah, the wife of the old chief, being already dead of grief.
"Malobiannah, weeping her fiancee, weeping also the mis- fortunes of her nation, yet cherishing in her heart the desire of revenge, resolved to sacrifice her life to avenge those she loved, and at the same time to save from disaster her brothers of Medoctec and Sukpaque, the Indian \illages below.
"She led the fiotilla (jn towards the murderous falls. At some distance from the gulf one of the warriors, among those worn out with fatigue and wrapped in deep slumber, was aroused by the distant roaring of the falls and asked the guide what was the cause of the disquieting sounds that he heard. 'It is the noise of a small tributary,' she said, ' that here joins the Walloos- took.'
"The Mohawk, reassured by the calm reply of the girl, resumed his slumber, whilst the flotilla was being drawn rapidly on towards the abyss.
"They were now, indeed, only some hundreds of feet from the gulf. A current, swift and powerful — the current of death
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 29i
— {le coiimnt de la niort) drew them onward to the l)rink, and the sound of the mighty cataract thundered in their ears. Reahzing their imminent peril, they sprang from their canoes, but it was too late. Hurling their maledictions they disappeared amidst the foam of the raging waters, hearing meanwhile the cry of triumph of the heroic maiden, in which she mingled the name of her kner and the nation she had avenged.
"The Malecite heroine has been sung in the languages of the Abenaki, the English and the French, but what a rich theme is here for the future writer of romance of Madawaska.
"(ireek history, so full of chivalrous deeds of every sort, affords nothing more noble or sublime than the sacrifice, so unselfish and so little known to fame, of this obscure daughter of the forest."
Since the above article was written, an excellent History oi Carleton County, by T. C. L. Kelchum, Escp, barrister anil journalist of Woodstock, has been printed b>' "The C.lobe, Limited." The author was a member of X. B. Historical Society, and his death took place a few years ago.
292 np:w Brunswick historical society
A CHAT ON THE WAY FROM THE CTTV TO OONDOLA POINT ON THE BEAUTHTIL KENNEBECASIS
David H. Waterburv (1920).
Sliall we lea\-e the city \)y narrow Hiussels street^ with its street car track and shabby houses, although it is the great avenue and tlie gatewa>' to the cit>-, or b>' the more historic Waterloo street, with its better class of buildings.-' Waterloo street, then !
Before turning up Waterloo street, obser\e the C.olden Ball on building at the south-eastern corner of Sydney and Union. There has been a golden ball on a building here, and the place has been known as "C.olden Ball Corner" for o\er one hundred years. A Mr. Hopley came from Ireland about 1815 and at this corner erected a building of dimensions adequate to include a theatre as well as a tavern. Later, at the rear, was added a place for a menagerie or horse show. It is stated this was the first theatre constructed in Saint John, and was no doubt small, yet of sufficient importance to attract, or to ha\e the honor of the presence of that celebrated actor, the elder Booth, who played here in 1841. Mr. Hopley, in keeping with the times, or in commemoration of old customs, placed on the corner of his building a golden ball as his sign. In olden times, when educa- tion was not as general as at present and many people could not read, inns and commercial houses of necessity- had signs which could be easily understood by the wayfarer, such as the "Red Lion," the "Crown and Anchcjr," the "White Horse," etc., etc., and here we ha\-e, though without the same necessity, the "Golden Ball" on this corner.
Commencing at Cnion street, which was at one time the limit of the city as originally planned in 1783, Waterloo street did not get its name as such until after the battle of Waterloo in 1815. It was hardly to be classed then as a street. It was the commencement of the "Westmorland Road," and the chief or
Since named Prince Kchvarei Street.
NEW URUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 20o
only outlet from the city on the east, and was nothing more than a rough country road, steep and with rocky ledges and depres- sions through which brooks ran or in which puddles stood. A brook rising at the higher ground to the north ran across it to llnion street and there was cjuite a large pond in the \ icinit>' of what is now the corner of Waterloo and Paddock streets. This was a favorite resort of skaters in winter. Some called it Pad- dock's Pond. There has been much labor and expenditure in putting this street into tolerably good shai:>e.
Of the westerly corner of Waterloo and Llnion streets, where Mr. Porter's store now stands, I ha\e not at present informatitm as to the first building erected there. There was in the \icinity, I believe, a brickyard or pottery and a tannery. Of the eastern corner the earliest recollection is of a triangular building with a shop in it kept by a Mr. Justice. One of his articles of merchan- dise was molasses candy, and. Oh! such candy. Has an\'thing ever been made since to equal it? Molasses cand>' of Ixn'hood, made at a time when molasses was molasses.
Continuing along Waterloo, the first street to the left is Peters street, opened up in 1819; the next Paddock street, shortly after. Cliff street was possibly opened up a little previously to 18 H). In this ^'icinity the land north of Waterloo street was owned, a portion by the late Hon. C. J. Peters and another part by the late Dr. Adino Paddock, hence the naming of the streets Peters and Paddock. Two or three buildings in the vicinity are interesting, but of minor importance.
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception: A cathedral may have been contemplated by Bishop Dollard, the first incum- bent of the diocese, who died in 1851. But the conception and carrying out of the erection of this fine edifice was by Bishop Connolly, who succeeded him and who was consecrated at Halifax in 1852. The ceremony of the blessing of the corner- stone of the cathedral took place on 25th April, 1853. It was some years after the completion of the main l)uilding that the spire was erected. This was in 1872. The beautiful work in bas-relief on the facade representing the Last Supper is a copy of the great work by the celebrated Leonardo da Vinci. The golden cross which surmounts the spire was renewed al)out 1!)02.
294 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
This cross is nine feet high; arms six feet across. From the ground to the top of the cross the height is two hundred and forty feet. This is a l)eautiful land mark. At times when a low fog or haze obscures the main building and spire, the golden cross, illumined by the sun above the haze, appears, seen from elevated parts of the cit>', as if alone or unsupported in the atmosphere, and the effect is remarkable anil inspiring.
Opposite the Cathedral on the right is Richmond street. In the early days of the city this \icinity was frequenth' called X'inegar Hill. The place was not defined b>' any boundaries or authority, and the name is now ne\er, or \ery rareK', heard. One given origin of the name was that a \ inegar factory was in the vicinity- and probably there was such. Another statement is that the hill was called after a somewhat historic {)lace in Ireland; one or two families from that locality ha\'ing immi- grated here and taken up residence on it.
On the right, a little beyond the Cathedral, on the brow of the hill, opposite Golding street, is the Waterloo Street Baptist Church, organized 1842. Elder Hartt was the first ])astor. Farther dow^n, on the left, on the corner of Alma street, is St. Mary's Episcopal Church; the corner-stone of this was laid Ascension I^ay, 9th May, 1861. Re\'. M. Swabey was the first minister.
Cjoing down this steep hill, which is o\er one hundred feet high, look after your brake lest you run intt) a street car or other vehicle at the foot, where we find llaymarket Square. Near the foot of the hill on the right hand formerly stood a farmers' hotel.
Haymarket Scjuare is not, like many places, named without rhyme or reason. It is justly entitled to its name as it w^as in early days a hay market ; a large flat muddy field before the branch track from the Intercolonial Railway was run through it and around the Courtenay Bay shore on the east side of the city to the harbor docks. In the fall of ISSii, the centennial >'ear of the landing of the Loyalists, the Haymarket Square Club under- took the improvement and beautifying of the central part of this square, laying out walks, sodding, planting trees, etc., and
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 2',) 5
al^out 1887 erected the drinking fountain on the western extrem- ity, which has since been removed to the eastern extremity as you see it. At the southerly side of the square is the connection of Brussels street with the Marsh road.
Brussels street was named after the Duke of Brussels, one of the German allies of the Duke of Wellington. " 0 Icnipora! 0 mores'" Waterloo street, or the Westmorland road, which at the time of the ojjcning up of Brussels street, was the only outlet at the east, was \ er\' steep and rough and one ma\' imagine what the conditions of the district where Brussels street now runs must have been uhen the first road was run o\er that steep hill. Ne\ertheless, to escape that hill, people were making their, way, avoiding the boggy or marshy land, as much as possible, by skirting the fcjot of the hill; also attempting to dri\e [)ast it.
The construction ot a roadwas' was imi)erati\e. It (~aii easily be realized that the founding of this street under the conditions was a difticult and expensi\'e undertaking.
Near the junction of Brussels street and Union is the old Brussels street Baptist Church, built first for a mission, 1847, dedicated 1849, organized as a church bS-jO. The first pastor was the Rev. Samuel Robinson, or Father Robinson, as he was popularly called by his congregation.
After this digression we resume our position at Haymarket Square and proceed to the Marsh Bridge, constructed o\er what has been called, from the earliest settlement, the Marsh Creek, although there was an Indian name for this stream, which at present I regret I am unable to give. This is an historical spot at which we will stop a moment.
In 1788 the New Brunswick House of Assembly voted a sum towards the expense of building a bridge across the Marsh Creek. Hazen,Simonds and White, owners (;f the marsh, supplemented this, and James Simonds undertook the building of the first marsh bridge or aboideau. Previously there had been some dyking done of the marsh, and a large portion of it reclaimed by the shutting out of the tide. The width of the aboideau built in 1788 is given as seventy-five feet at the bottom and twenty- five feet on top. Long before, near the mouth of the creek in
2\)b NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
this vicinity, there was a French grist mill, and tradition also places on the left further up the creek the site of a French ship- yard. The vessels built here would be small, but the fact indicates the fluvial conditions existing at the time.
Not long after the completion of the aboideau, two saw mills, operated by the tide, were built in this vicinity by Mr. Simonds. Evidently the venture was not successful, as they were practic- ally ruins before IS 12. There has been in the past considerable controversy over the responsibility for the maintenance of this aboideau and the proportion of cost to be borne by the city corporation, owners of the marsh and the pro\'incial government. A better understanding may now prevail and the bridge be maintained by the local government, city and Canadian Northern Railway. There has also been an interesting controversy over the meaning of the word aboideau applied to the construction, which was for the purpose of shutting out the tide water from the marsh at high tide by flood gates, as well as for providing a way over the creek. This present substantial structure, princi- pally of concrete, was completed in 1910.
Looking to your right at the head of Courtenay Bay are the former sites of several of the old shipyards, where some of the largest and finest wooden ships in the world were built, which carried the name and fame of Saint John to all parts of the world. Here were the shipyards of \V. cs: R. Wright, Ne\'ins & Fraser, John McDonald, the Smiths, King, St(jrms, Ouikshank & Pitfield, Dunlop and others. A good view of East Saint John can be obtained and of the great breakwater being constructed to make a harbor of Courtenay Bay;, also a glimi)se of the Alms House, County Hospital, and the Reformatory, and the large stone building once a provincial penitentiary.
As we proceed along the Marsh road, past Courtenay Bay, you may observe on the left towards Rockwood Park the location of what was once called Gilbert's Island, of which very little remains. The railway authorities have pretty well removed it to enlarge the railway yard which is now called the " Island Yard" commemorative of the rocky projection which undoubt-
KEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 297
fdly was an island at one time; a \'ery picturesque spot with its Irees, rugged banks, etc. Layers of shore sand and shells have been found on it in excavations.
We leave the old Westmorland road which turns to the right and on which near this junction is the Church of England Burial (iround, opened about 1828. Before taking this new^er road over the marsh, which has by resolution of council, October, 1!)12, been named "Rothesay Avenue," mention should be made i){ the great flood on the marsh.
In the year 1854 (year of the cholera) the fall freshet after a period of torrential rains was extreme; the river overflowed its banks in the vicinity of Drury Cove and inundated the marsh to such an extent that a large lake was formed extending from the foot of Waterloo street to the rising ground at what is now Brookville. Passengers by stage, farmers, gardeners and milkmen on their way to the city had to abandon their vehicles and resort to whatever conveyance could be obtained oxer the flood. Mails, freight and passengers were taken on in boats at the foot of Waterloo hill and landed beyond the Manor House at Robertson's, Brookville. The Marsh has experienced nothing like this since, and if any such inundation had occurred previ- ously no record appears to have been made of it.
Among the more prominent industries to be found in this section of the road, or in fact in the city, two may be named:
The McAvity's "Maritime Plant" Brass and Iron Machine Shops; brass, iron and steel foundries with spur lines of railway. The plant occupies about ten acres of floor space. Work of this kind was suspended during the war and the plant turned to the manufacture of ammunition, shells and castings. Orders had been received for about 850,000 shells 9.5 and 9.2. A great quantity was shipped before the closing of the war, about three hundred thousand in 1917-18. Since the close of the war these plants have reverted to their manufacture of \al\es and fittings, great quantities of which are exported.
The Crosby Molasses Co. storage plant has a capacity of 7,500 puncheons. This firm is now building two immense steel
298 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Storage tanks in the city with a total capacity of (iOO.OOU gallons; doing a large business with the Maritime Pro\inces, the Province of Quebec and shipping largely to the West.
At the junction of the Marsh road with Russell street, which connects with the old Westmorland road, is the property formerly called "Jardine's" and even at this date old timers so si)eak of it. The residence, built by Mr. Robt. Jardine, a prominent citizen of Saint Jt)hn, about 1S4,3, was, with its spacious and beautiful grounds, one of the most notal)le and possibly one of the finest suburban residences in the province at the tinie. It was then considered away out of town; was a land mark and place of public interest. Time has changed conditions, here as elsewhere, commercial enterprises have encroached on it ; ne\er- theless, some of its old time distinction remains.
The One Mile Mouse is on the left opposite Jardine's and the cross road. This, at one time, was a popular resort as a ta\ern. It was also known as Ward's, who was probalily the hrst proprie- tor. How long previous to sixty years ago its history extends, the writer has no present record. Beyond on the hillside is Fernhill Cemetery, endowed by nature with all possibilities for a grand and exceedingly lovely resting place f(jr the remains of those whose labors are over. Much has been done by the cemetery company to add beauty and convenience of walks, shelters, fountains, etc., to the grounds, and much more may be done. There are many notable features and elegant monuments within its bounds. The grounds comprise about two hundred acres and there are some fifty-two miles of avenues, and paths. The cemetery was first opened in 1848. The first burial was that of Miss Georgianna Campbell, in that year. There are now resting in their narrow beds within this l)eautiful cemetery about eighteen thousand three hundred and fifty. Verily a City of the Dead.
A short way past Fernhill, and running oft" at a right angle over the marsh, over the bridge across the creek and up between the hills is a by-road leading to Ashburn Lake, a beautiful spot where there is the well found club house of the Ashburn Lake Fishing Club.
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Just beyond on the main road, is St. Bartholomew's Church, Anglican, built in 1915; in charge then and since of Rev. R. T, McKim.
After passing the one mile house, the road onward to the three mile house, broad, level and straight as an arrow, was considered the speedway of Saint John for many years. It was unicjue in its way. Probably no such stretch of roadway could be found in America to excel it for dri\ing, and full advantage was taken of this in the old days for racing, particularly in winter, and before automobiles became so common and street car tracks were run along it. The Marsh road here was broad enough to accommodate five or six horses abreast and it was an exciting spectacle to witness a brush among the fastest trotters of the city, well dri\en by their owners, either on the way to the "Three Mile House" or returning home after an afternoon's fun.
Among the many famous horses exercised on this road in ti:e early days were the white stallion "Jehu," which was exceedingly fast as well as \ery beautiful, owned by Mr. C.eo. P. Sancton. The chestnut gelding "Wolfe," owned and driven by Archibald Brown, quite an expert dri\'er. The brown gelding "Moose," owned and tlrivcn Ijy Isaac Campbell. The black gelding "Pig," a pacer, and able to hold his own with the best of them, was owned by George Stockford, then High Constable. Mr. George A. Barker, the first mayor of the city, after the addition of Portland, 1889, was one of the owners of the famous grey gelding "Crown Prince." He also owned and drove the beautiful bay mare "Vanity." There were others of lesser rate. A decade later we had John Fitzpatrick with the chestnut stallion "Mambrino Charta," a magnificent horse; Chas. \V. Bell who had developed "Crown Prince," 2.25, "Flying Dutchman" and a host of other horses, all of which were a credit to him. Thomas Furlong owned and drove the roan gelding "Andy Johnson," 2.32, and was an enthusiast in horses and racing. Barzillai Ansley, agent of International Steamship Co., always kei)t good horses and drove them with skill, owning among others a |)air of black horses closely matched that were the admiration of all. Mr. Ansley also owned the white mare "Lady Firbush," one of
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the fastest trotters of her day, raised in Maine. Another con- spicuous figure on the speedway in winter was Stephen T. (mold- ing, livery stable keeper, who droxe nian>^ a good one and whose office in town was the rendezvous of all the horsemen. I). C".' Clinch drove the cross matched team composed of the grey mare "Wildflower," and black gekling "Patsy;" also "Regal Pan- dect," 2.22H- and others.
After an afternoon's racing up and down the road and "be- tween heats," those of a convivial turn adjourned to the "Three Mile House," kept by Daniel McA\'oy, a genial soul and first rate host, who could mix a hot Scotch or get up a game supper equal to any. No one came away from McA\oy's the "worse of wear," the hot whiskies being carefully mi.xed and not e\'er strong. Many old timers now look back with regret to those halcyon days when the jingling of sleigh bells as (he trotters mo\'ed back and forth at a 2.40 gait or better, and the cheer>' shouting of the dri\ers and spectators along the roadside was so inspiring.
Our road goes on past the Golden Grove I^(;a(l, which turns off to the right, and quite near the junction of these roads and a short distance apart are the Three IVIile House and Moosepath Driving Park, the latter promoted 1S70, opened August, 1871. The first name of the railway siding near the Three Mile House was "Moosepath," and after this the driving park was named. The racing track is a half mile oval, \ery good, but considered a little heavy. It is fenced around and has a grand stand of about four hundred capacity; the regulation judges' stand and appurtenances. Many celebrated horses have been seen on it and notable races have taken place. The bay stallion " Nelson," made the trotting record for this park in 1803 — 2.\7'ji.
Somewhere in the early part of last century there was on the Golden Grove Road, and not far from its junction with the Marsh, an inn or tavern called "Frog Pond," no doubt so named on account of the existence of a hrst-class and extensive article of the kind in the immediate vicinity. This inn was a popular resort for pleasure, sleighing and dancing parties, and I am informed that occasionally honeymoons were spent there. I
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 301
believe the place was considered quite respectable, but accidents or incidents are possible any time or place, and "Frog Pond" was not an exception and a boisterous party or fight was not unknown there. Old folks of a generation or two ago became reminiscent of "Frog Pond."
The first or original Three Mile House was on the left side of the road opposite the site of the later one. It was a long, low, one and a half story building; a typical old country inn. Its last proprietor was Daniel McAvoy. After the passing of the utility of this house, the present Three Mile House was built about 18()4, a building much more commodious. The first proprietor was the same Daniel McAvoy, and here was the mecca of the military and civil-sports, horsemen, men of leisure of the city and surrounding country, American tourists, and it was not without its patrons in the professions, commercial lines, manufacturers, bankers and brokers. Here were geniality, generosity and jollity; exchanges of views and news; hot toddy or their favorite beverages at the bar or the side tables; lunches or meals, card rooms and billiard room; such a resort and condi- tions as could not now be found, could not exist with prohiljition. The place has since been re-named "(ilen View," and is of a more private character.
Just beyond is the plant of the J. A. Pugsley & Co., Ltd., for assembly, retail and general repair of automobiles, large brick buildings having about ;5t),nOO scjuare feet of concrete floor space.
Over a century old, now a popular public resort and called "Ye Manor House" has been considerably altered in the last few years. The construction of this large substantial stone edifice was commenced the first years of the last century (about 1815) by Mr. Cudlip, an ofificer of the British Navy, who had married the daughter of John Waterl)ury, one of the loyalists. The late John W'aterbury Cudlip, a prominent citizen, was a son. The Manor House later became the property of Mr. (>eorge G. Gilbert, a noted sporting man in his day. For a number of years the late Mr. John McAvity resided there and cultivated the extensive farm in connection with it; later Mr. Henry Drum- mond. It is stated that the late Dr. Inches, one time President of the N. B. Historical Societv, was born in this house.
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In this ^■icinity summer houses and permanent residences are going up and the suljurb is now called "Glen Falls," named after the small fall of a brook flowing from the hills beyond. F^or a distance of two or three hundred yards past Glen Falls the road runs over a flat, sedgy ground and then turns sharply to the left and we are at the end of the great marsh. Turning again to the right we go up the rising ground of Brookville, four and one-half miles from Saint John. The picturesqueness of the place appeals to you at once. A charming little hamlet of pretty residences, most of them of a substantial or i)ermanent class with their lawns, hedges and shade trees. The prctt>' little Methodist Church, built in 1910, was a gift to the denomination by Mr. W. R. Tennant. The road we passed on the left, just before reaching Brook\illc, leads to Drur\' G()\e on lheKennel)e- casis Ri\'er. Summer residents also And this a pleasing rescjrt.
There are some who think Brook\'ille is far enough from the city for a suburban residence. Others belie\e it too nCcU' as it is subject to fog from the bay at times. This is no tloubt true, but the fog is not an unalloyed detraction as it is beliexed to be the cause oi the beatitiful complexion of the I5ro(jk\ille ladies. This statement being made in the presence (jf a l^othesay lady she promptly asserted that fog also got as far as Rothesa\', to which she was assured that the fact was perfectly exident and a generous quantity of fog at that.
Leaving Brookville we cross the bridge o\'er the Canadian National Railway track. The highway here has been most commendably imjiroNed. Formerly narrow, crooked and rcjcky and the cause of many accidents, it has been within the last year or two straightened and widened wvy considcrabh'; gi\en a good top and is now quite up-to-date.
Lawlor's Lake: Note where the railway track crosses this small pond approximately three hundred feet wide. To state the length of time and cost of filling and effort to get a foundation for the track here, one would run the risk of being considered a prevaricator, the amount would be thought fabulous. The place began to be considered the bottomless j^it or that it went through to the antipodes. A statement of jxjssible credence is that it is part of the crater of an extinct volcano.
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A few yards further up the road the dark (jld looking excava- tion in the Hnie stone liill is the place innw which stone used in the construction of the Cathedral was taken, nearly seventy years ago.
In the immediate vicinity is the Provincial Lime Company's plant. Here lime rock is excavated and crushed for pulverized lime for soil purposes and pulp mill purposes. The lime kilns" in the vicinity are now operated by the compan>' and twenty to thirty men employed. The old original lime kilns were built and operated by the late C-eorge Hornbrook about the middle of the last century.
We have now reached Torryburn, some six miles from the city, a quaintl}' pretty hamlet. Whence its name? The l)rook or burn is in evidence, but whether anyone named Torry li\ed there is a question.
The substantial and \-enerable looking stone and brick building on the west side of the railway' track with its hue grounds extending to the shore of the bay is the home of Air. Keith Barber and formerly occupied by his father, the late James Barber. Eastward of the track on the hillside is a similar residence, the property of Messrs. Peters *S: Sons, l^oth places were erected some time about bS45 by the late C^.eorge 1 lornbrook. A number of other rural residences are of recent erection.
The Clairmont House, lately destroyed by lire (P,)]*)), was a feature of this place and had an interesting local history. It was a two and a half story brick house, with pitch roof; some fine trees in front of it. It had its bar, barns and horse baiting stalls and equipment for a good class of inn. It was built about bS()3. Its first proprietor was Chas. Watts. He left it al)out bS()7. Afterward Mr. McGowan for a number of years occupied it as a public house, and it was during his time that the celebrated "Tyne" or Renforth crew, English champions, put up at it and trained for the race with the Paris crew, LS71. Conditions after- ward varied with the different proprietors of the ta\ern. While the house was generally quite respectable, at times it was con- sidered somewhat shady and fights and bloodshed occasionally sullied its reputation. However, it was generally a popular
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resort. At the time of its destruction a dancing party of persons from the city was in progress and somewhat boistert)iis. That night the place was entirely destroyed l)y fire, only portions of the brick walls left standing.
The famous Paris crew, composed of Saint John men who had won that title and the rowing championship of the world at Paris, I'Vance, during a great exhibition there in 1S()7, was challenged by the celebrated English "Tyne" crew in an efiort to obtain the championship, and the race was arranged to take place on Kennebecasis Bay.
As stated, the "Tyne" crew put up at the Clairmont House. The Paris crew put up at Johnson's Ta\ern, then on the hillside near Appleby's Wharf, a little abo\e Torryl)urn, about se\en miles from the city. Both crews trained strenuously and on the 23rd day of August, 1871, the race came off, resulting in a victory for the Paris crew, and also the lamentable death of the English former champion, James Renforth, stroke of his crew, caused by his exhaustive and heroic efforts to win. Renforth collapsed in his boat. The Paris crew had passed them about two-thirds of a mile from the start. Renforth was carried ashore to the Clairmont House, where he died about an hour after. The event cast a gloom over the city. It was deeply and sincerely regretted. The race was for a distance of six miles (three miles with turn) in best boats, four-oared crews. The training place of each crew had been visited by many persons from the city, and at the time of the race many from the provinces, United States and even from the other side of the ocean ca:me to witness it.
The remains of the old Appleby Wharf are still to be seen. At this place there was, about the middle of last century, a ship- building yard and a number of vessels were built here by Mr. Appleby.
The Bishop's Picnic Cirounds at Torryburn are perhaps the most popular and largest attended of any such in the province. There is a spur line of railway running to the grounds, which are quite extensive, continuing to the shore of the river. These fine grounds, are provided with all appurtenances for picnicing, and
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY o05
their use as sucii dates back to the suinnier of ISGO, wlien the first picnic was held. About one liuntired yards Ijcyond the 'I'orryburn railway station the count>- line crosses the road and Kings count>' is entered.
We come nt)W to the beatitiful rural handet of Ivenforth, most picturesquely located on the hillside and shore o\erlooking the bay, pretty summer houses, and some of more permanent con- struction, all with their verandahs, flower beds and shrubber\'. The place has grown in the last fifteen or twenty >'ears. Its quaintly prett> little Anglican Church "St. James the Less" was built lull, and is in the [)arish kxiked after by the Rev. Canon Daniel. The new wharf here, built in 1*)17, is one of the best on the river. It is approximately 150 feet in length.
Renforth was named after the celebrated English oarsman, James Renforth, who lost his life in the rowing race between the Tyne and the Paris crews in 1871, the story of which has l)een told here. Commemoration of the name was a fitting recognition of his heroic effort. Under the railway bridge here is the winter road to the Kennebecasis and on the shore nearby once stood a celebrated tavern known as Ciodfre>'s. Sleighing and dancing parties fretjuently made this their objectixe. This j^ilace was generally called "Poverty Hall." I ha\e not learned the origin of the singular name, but that there was little indication of poverty about it. In this vicinity was one of the hrst, if ncU the first, trotting park constructed in this pro\'ince. Also, the first militia training camping in the province or possibly in Canada after Confederation. After Mr. Godfrey, the place. was kept by Mr, Doran until it became untenantable with age or the business outrivalled by the Clairmont House.
Riverside: Here on the hill with its fine and extensive grounds is the new home of the Riverside Coif and Country Club just about completed and presenting an ideal elevation for such a building, spacious and substantial. The cost of the structure is given as about thirty thousand dollars.
In ISGO when H. R. H. the Prince of Wales, Duke of Saxony, Cornwall and Rothesay (late King Edward VII) visited Saint John, part of the entertainment arranged for the occasion was a
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trip by steamboat to points on the Saint John River and Kennebe- casis Bay. On the Kennebecasis about six miles from the main ri\'er and nine from Saint John where is a beautiful co\e was considered the place from which the Prince should get a \iew of the magnificent bay and beautiful surrounding country. The steamboat "Forest Queen," gaily decorated and commanded by Capt. Chas. Hatheway, was provided and the Prince wental)oard escorted by a guard of honor selected from Captain McLaughlaii's Artillery Company, of Carleton. Mr. Isaac J. ()li\e, of the Marine Department, was one of the guard of honor and perhaps the only one now living. A short stop was made near A[)pleby's Wharf after which the boat proceeded up the Saint Jolui River. I am informed that a small wharf was built at Rothesay by Hon. John Robertson, expressly for a landing jilace for the Prince. This was the forerunner of the present fine hnig wharf.
The European & North American Railwa>', one of the first built in America, had just previous to the Prince's \isit been laid from Saint John to Shediac, passing close to the shore of the bay. Appleby's Wharf, or Riverside, so called, was one of the stopping places on the line but at that time there was no platform or stopping place where the Rothesay raiK\ay station now stands. There was an old wharf in the \'icinity. I am informed that there was a small platform or stopping place a little farther up the line than Appleby's Wharf called "Kennebecasis," perhaps only a temporary arrangement.
Mitchell's map, which was used in negotiating the Treaty of Paris, 178.3, and also in settling the tiuestion oi the boundary between Maine and New Brunswick, terminated by the Ash- burton Treaty, 1S42, appears to be an authority. On that map the name of the river is spelled "Canabeki." The Indian language ha\ing no alphabet, the spelling of Indian words by the early settlers was necessarily phonetic and varied. The word "Canabeki" or "Kenebeka" — Snake, with the addition of the Indian diminutive — sis, thus Kennebecasis -- Little Snake — is quite appropriate for the small river which winds its way down the N'alley to the bay, but applied to this magnificent bay would not be so. Howe\er, the name now as adopted will probably
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remain for ever and aye, but the present pronunciation is incor- rect if the Indian manner is to be considered; that was the short sound of a and the accent on the last syllable or diminutive sis — Kennebecasis — not as generally pronounced now with the long sound of a and accented — Kennebec-a-sis.
At this time the locality was beginning to be considered by Saint John people in comfortable circumstances as a most desir- able place for summer residences and as a resort for picnic parties or pleasure excursions. There were a few farm houses there and also residences of two or three city families. It was not until after the first Prince's visit that the district was named Rothesay, after one of the titles of His Royal Highness, Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay.
Among the early residences of note: The residence of Mr. Joseph Allison, formerly the old Wiggins house; residence of Mr. Mackay, formerly the (\idlip house; the Troop house, now the property of Dr. W. W. White; residence of General Domville, now occupied by his son. Senator Domville; Hall, Fairweather, Almon residences, etc. Passing the charming grounds of the Domville residence, which is a gem of landscape, and crossing the picturesque bridge over the brook, the place assumes the character of a village or small rural town of remarkable beauty. Its first class main road and pretty by-roads and lanes; the numerous beautiful homes and summer residences, with their well kept lawns and hedges, ornamental and fine old trees appeal to one. An atmosphere of comfort and refinement pervades the place.
The Kennedy House, the local hotel, is not far from the railway station. The residence of Lieutenant-Governor Pugsley, still nearer, has lately (1919) been the scene of a garden party arranged for and honored by the visit of the second royal prince to the district: H. R. H. Edward, whose natural, gracious and manly bearing has endeared him to all Canadians.
Rothesay has a consolidated schocjl, a commodious brick building, up to date in its appurtenances, built in l'.)l().
There is also the Rothesay Collegiate School for boys, and "Netherwood," a private school for girls.
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There was a yacht or boat chib here over twenty-tive years ago, but it was small. The present prosperous club, with its large active membership and many fine yachts and niotcn- boats is a feature of the place. A very pleasant sight is the pretty and various boats at anchor in the cove.
The fine Anglican Church, St. Paul's, has as rector the popular I^ev. Canon I^aniel. This church \vas built a year c^r two previously to 1808, jointly by Anglicans and Presb>'terians, and first used jointly for years. Rew Dr. Donald was first minister. The Presbyterians now occup}' tlu'ir own i)lace of worship here.
As we pass along new houses are seen in the course of erection, and here the road descends rapidly and crosses a highway bridge over a bro(jk which shapes its course beneath the railway and on to the river.
The railway- bridge, with its stone piers, is in the immediate vicinity of the Fairvale siding and under this bridge the road leads into the village of Fairvale. A rc^ad at the left runs to a cove on the river and along this and at the cove are man\' summer houses and some of more permanent construction. The main road onward for about half a mile gives an occasicjual view of the river, and is bordered on both sides with handsome residences and pretty summer homes.
Fairxale, about nine and three-ciuarter miles from the city, may be considered a rival of Rothesay. W hile but a few years ago, as late as 1905, there was little more to be seen than farm land and the old time farm houses, the ob\'ious qualifications of the place for summer residences, the beauty of the location and scenery have impressed many of the city people effectixely and the growth has been rapid. It is stated that the transfers at the railway siding, (for it is little more than a siding at present) are greater than at Rothesay and the need of an adequate and up- to-date station house is imperative and I believe one has been promised. Fairvale has two outing clubs. One has a fine club house, formerly the Card house, a short distance from the station. Another club has a large property further up the main road upon which a club house may soon be erected. From all points along
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 309
the road is obtained a view of a beautiful counti)', but when the point is reached at which the bay ct)mes into \ie\\ the beauty is enhanced to an inspiring degree, (iems of scenery and grand panorama of hill and dale, woodland and ri\er and \ar\ing horizon are presented along the entire road.
Continuing we cross a tine new bridge o\'er a brook, and ascending the gently rising grountl \ie\v the road running down to the old Titus shipyard. This bridge and environment; meadow, brook, dells and fine trees, is another of the gems of. landscape and immediately beyond it on the right is the pleasant residence of Miss Catheline, the popular post-mistress; the post office is attached to the residence. On the left nearly opposite is a large frame building now fitted up as a summer residence, but first erected as a house ft)r ship carpenters employed in the shipyard mentioned.
The \'aluable property, comprising several acres and residence of Air. Carter, is at the junction of the main road and the one to the river bank; a beautiful location. Here are well kept grounds, a good orchard and all that appears desirable for a pleasant country home. P^urther along the by-road to the river, Air. Carter has erected a number of sunnner cottages.
The old shipyard on the slu)re, which is in part meadowlike, was once the scene of considerable activity in the building of vessels during the time of nourishing wooden shipbuilding between the years 1<S50 and 1890, before the days of iron ships. The place was generally known as the Titus shipyard. I beliex^e that Mr. Richard Titus was the pioneer of this industry here and quite a number of vessels were built of xarying sizes, st)me of them barques. In 1885 when the industry was drawing to a close, the last vessels built there were the "Valetta," a schooner of ninety-nine tons, and the "Adeline," a three-masted schooner of one hundred and ninety-three tons; the latter built for J. F. Watson and V. S. White by Henry Titus, son of the former ship- builder.
Continuing along the road, just beyond the post office, we see on the left a cluster of summer cottages and camps and a lane running d(nvn to the shore. In close proximity is "Hillhurst
310 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Hotel," the home of Mr. Thos. B. Roberts, about eleven miles from the city. Here is a popular resort and a fine property with a nursery of fruit trees and near the hotel Mr. Robert's store and summer restaurant. "Summer Hill" increases its elevation directly opposite and extends along the easterly side of the road for some distance. From the top of this hill a glimpse of the City Cathedral spire is obtained. On the right the little Baptist Church in a dent in the hill, the church built in 1854, and opposite on the left is "Sunset Grove" where the writer occasionally hangs up his hat. Between that and Hillhurst Hotel is a small public wharf built by the local government and at which the boat when running to Hampton stops to land or take on passengers and freight, if requisite. It is also a landing place for yachting parties and various boats and canoes. At this wharf is a small pretty sandy cove, a favorite resort for l)athers. On tliis part of the road the best \'iews of Long Island and the smaller island and co\'e. Moss Glen, Clifton and other notable features across the river are here presented, and the bay takes on a lake like aspect. At Moss Glenasailing vessel, the "Ada A. Mclntyre," 42o tons, was launched in 1918, and another vessel is now seen under construction here.
All the way from Torryburn to (K)ndola Point the locality is remarkable for its wonderful sunsets, the indescribable glory of coloring and cloud eft'ect. There are also the most delightful reflections in the bay when the surface is perfectly calm, the features of the banks, foliage and slujres reversing and matching so perfectly and distinctly that patterns are suggested for unique works of art. Here the sky, land and water meet to exchange smiles of recognition and reminiscences which the atmosphere gathers up and l)lends in mystic hued refulgence and casts upon the licjuid mirn^r of the bay in challenging ri\alr>-. Then the rainbows! At times the complete arc is seen of wonderful vi\'idness, both extremities apparently nestling and melting into the bosom of the bay.
Continuing along the road, with its varied foliage, cedar seems to love the place; it is in evidence everywhere. We pass the old Kierstead house, which is over a hundred years old,
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 311
Standing on the bank where the water of the bay at times reaches its wall. Opposite on the hillside is another old time house, now occupied by Mr. Arthur Marr. This is a typical old time home- stead, most picturesquely situated with its barns, orchard, fields and pasture land running over the hill to the back road.
Now one of the prettiest parts of the road is reached, the branches of the large willows extending o\-er it, giving the effect of an umbrageous avenue.
High up on the hill oxerlooking the world, or at least a \ery lovely portion of it, is an old iMcturesijue Iniikling, now .the residence of Mrs. Pettingil, a popular member of the community, organist of the Bai:)tist church. This coUjnial home, with its number of great chimneys and fire-places, is still large thcnigh not of former dimensions. The barns and appurtenances are reminiscent of old times. Within the residence are antitiues of furniture which are the en\\- of visitors. All along the road are old time farms and houses dotting the hillside or on the ri\er bank, with here and there the summer homes of later arrixals.
St. Luke's Anglican Church is beautifull>' situated on the steeply rising ground, a short distance from the road and on a cross road which takes its undulating, winding way o\er hill and dale toward the railway station at Ouispamsis. The church was built 1S;52, or just pre\iously, and consecrated KS.'!.") b>- Bishop John Inglis. The first minister was the Kl'\ . W'm. W. Walker. It is now in charge of Rev. Canon Daniel.
The burial ground adjoining the church lias a number of fine monuments sacred to the memory of departed residents of the locality, many of them of Loyalist families.
Flewelling s Wharf is about twel\ e and a half miles from the city. Generations of local history might be a term ai)[)lied here. Neither time nor space will permit the sior>' of this old wharf un the banks of the Kennebecasis; its comedies and tragedies and locally notable e\'ents. Here is the topical countr}' general store, with its post office and dream\- atmosphere, lien- also can be obtained marriage licenses and a Justice of the Peace. In this vicinity is the summer home of Dr. (.. V. Matthew, late of H. M. Customs, and other pleasant homes, and the road con- tinues with never lessening charm.
312 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SCKIETY
The old Merritt Homestead on the Hill: The property is of considerable extent, including Gondola Point, and owned by one of a family which was amongst the oldest settlers of Saint John of loyalist times. The old house, even before the present repairs were undertaken, had preserved its air of quality and distinction. We have arrived at Gondola Point, about fourteen and a half miles from Saint John, the loveliest place at the end of the loveliest road out of Saint John. The bay narrows here to the river. A steam cable ferry for passengers and vehicles plies between the point and the opposite shore. The early settlers made the passage in small canoe-like boats or dugouts, which they called "gondolas" to distinguish them from hshing boats or freight scows. The frequent use of these boats at the point no doubt gave the name to the place.
The symmetrical wooded point and charming cove, with their beautiful, deep, sandy border laved by the gently deepening water and the wooded recesses of the hillside combine in a delightful resort for bathers and pleasure parties. Directly across is Clifton, with its wharf and pretty hillside homes and church. Adjoining it a little farther up the river is Reed's Point, of controversial bridge fame. The bridge across the ri\er here was destroyed some years ago.
Just back of the river shore, between the hills, nestling in its vales and ridges, is historic Kingston, the former shiretown of Kings county and one of the earliest settled places, dear to the hearts of the Loyalists.
The up river perspective with its vanishing point near Hampton gives an enchanting view difficult to <lescribe; the ideal and despair of artists. 'Hie soft blue haze thinly veils the greens and purples of the hills; the golden sheen of the sunlight reflected by the surface of the water per\'ades the atmosphere. The varied views of bay, hill, dale and forest, headland, cove and island are fascinating. A visitor having exclaimed, "This equals the grandest Italian scenery," recei\'ed the reply in accents of astonishment, "Italian scenery, indeed! Why, man, it equals the grandest New Brunswick scenery."
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 31,3
INCIDENTS IN THE HISTORY OF SAINT JOHN, NEW BRUNSWICK
Venerable Archdeacon Raymond, LL.D.
(Brief statement on tlie occasion of tlie approaching visit of the Prince of Wales and addressed to His Royal Highness at St. John's, Newfoundland, diiriny August, lUl'.).)
The Saint John River was discovered by the great explorer Champlain on the 24ih of June, 10U4 — the natal day of St. John the Baptist — and named, in honor of the day, "la riviere Sain.t Jean." 1 he event is duly recorded in Champlain's very inter- esting narratixe, published in 11)12, and a plan of the harbor is also given which is easily recognized.
Champlain describes the remarkable falls at the mouth of the river where the battle, old as the centuries, is waged twice in every twenty-four hours between the outflowing waters of the mighty river and the inflowing tide of the Bay of Fundy. The river is the largest that enters the Atlantic between the mouth of the St. Lawrence and the Gulf of Mexico, a sea-board of more than 3,000 miles. The tributary streams of the River Saint John penetrate every one of the fifteen counties of New Bruns- wick, with the exception of Gloucester, and also seven counties of the Province of Quebec and four of the State of Maine. So that the waters of twenty-five counties find their way into the Atlantic through the narrow outlet betw^een the lofty cliffs, only about 250 feet asunder, at the mouth of the Saint John. The view of the falls at certain stages of the tide, as seen from the new bridge, is a very remarkable one and greatly admired by tourists. The name of the river was given also to the harbor and eventually to the City of Saint John.
The ter-centenary of the discovery of the River Saint John was fittingly celebrated by the citizens on the 24th of June, 1904, and a fine monument of the great explorer Champlain, (who is known as "the Father of Canada") now stands on Queen Square. It was erected in honor of the ter-centenary which ante-dates by
314 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
four years the ter-centenary of the founding of Quebec by the same illustrious explorer in IGOS. The festival at Quebec in 1908 was honored by the presence of His Majesty King George V, then the Prince of Wales.
For 150 years the French kept possession of the Saint John river valley. The period of history under the French regime is picturescjue. On the shores of this harbor Charles Fa Tour, in IGIiO, built his fort and held sway as a feudal chief for some years despite the efforts of his rival, d'Aulney Charnisay, to dispossess him. Taking advantage of Fa Tour's al)sence Charnisay attacked the fort, which was bravely defended by AladameFa Tour at the head of her little garrison. It was eventually taken by the treachery of a Swiss sentinel, and the unfortunate Marie Fa Tour was brutally compelled to witness the execution of her brave soldiers, standing herself beside the scaffold with a halter about her neck as though she were a vile criminal. She died broken-hearted a few weeks later, and her ashes and those of her husband lie somewhere within the limits of our city. She is known as "the Heroine of Acadia."
It was not until the 16th of September, 1758, that a British expedition, under the command of Colonel Robert Monckton, took possession of the French post at the mouth of the river, and the valley of the Saint John passed finally into the hands of the English. Monckton built and garrisoned Fort ITederick, on the site of the old French Fort (opposite Navy Island, in Carleton). He was second in command, under W'olfe, next year at the taking of Quebec and was severely wounded on the J-*lains of Abraham.
Under the protection of Fort Frederick the first English- speaking settlers, from Massachusetts, established themselves on the shores of the harbor just under the shadow of the towering limestone rock, which is now called Fort Howe. The peninsula, which today forms the principal part oi Saint John, was origin- ally so rocky and forbidding, with its wild crags, swamps and ravines, that it remained without inhabitants until the close of the American Revolution in 1783. During that year no less than 14,000 loyal exiles, chiefly from the old colonies of Massachu-
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 315
setts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, came to settle on the River Saint John. IVIany of them had served on the side of the King during the war in the British American regiments. At least 25,000 men of all ranks, were enrolled in these loyalist corps. Thousands of loyal subjects were proscribed and banished Tor their loyalty to the mother country and their possessions confiscated. Others again volun- tarily sacrificed their possessions and all the endearments of the land where they had been born and bred and came to the wilder- ness of New Brunswick to begin life anew under the British Flag. These exiles were the United Empire Loyalists. Their motto — • "Faithful alike to (iod and King."
Saint John may be said to have been born in a day.
Sir Guy Carleton provided a fleet of transports at New York, which took on board the loyalists who had chosen Saint John as their destination. On the 2()th of April, 178,'^, upwards of twenty vessels sailed under convoy of British Frigates from Sandy Hook, New York, and after a wearisome voyage arrived safely at the River Saint John. Some days were spent in clearing away the brush wood and erecting hurricane houses, tents, and other rude shelter, and on the ISth of May, 3,000 of the loyal exiles landed in the wilderness on the site of the city. The prospect was indeed unpromising. As one of the loyalists says in simple words: "Nothing but wilderness before their eyes, the women and children did not refrain from tears." But
'Twas British wilderness Where they might sing. Long live the King, And live defended by his laws And loyally uphold his cause.
'Twas welcome wilderness. Though dark and rude. And wild and unsubdued. For there their hands I3y hated treason undefiled, Might win for them they loved A Home on British lands.
31() NEW HRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
During the ensuing months vessels continued to arri\e from New \'ork. Some of them came singly, others by two and threes. lOwards the end of June there came the "Summer Fleet" with two thousand lo)'alists, and on the 2(')th Septeml)er arrived the "Fall Meet" with upwards of ;j, ()()() people, mostly ofificers and soldiers of the loyalist regiments with tlu-ir \vi\es and dependents. Many of them passed their first winter in hastily built cabins, some in canvas tents, mereK' thatched with spruce boughs. They suffered grievously. Many died ot cold and exhaustion and lack of proj^er food.
The loyal sentiments of the founders of Saint John is manifest in the place names they chose. The wards, into which the city is di\iiled bear such names as King's, Oueen's. Prince, l)uke's, Victoria. The streets l)ear such names as King, (Jueen, Prince William, Princess, Crown, (".eorge, (diarlolte, X'ictoria', Duke, Britain, Brunswick, Hano\er, Clarence, Albion. The two principal sciuares are King Scjuare and (Jueen Sfpiarc. Both are laid out after the pattern of the Fnion Jack, the paths as in the diagram.
The sentiments of the founders survi\e in their descendants. Our fathers fought in 177t)-S3 to maintain, if the>' could, the unity of the Empire, and came here that they might remain under the British Flag. Our sons have died on the fields of Flanders and of France in behalf of the Empire, and of luunan liberty-, "Faithful alike to God and King" as their forefathers were.
Two years after the city was founded in 178.') it was incor- porated f)n its natal day (the ISth of May) by the (ioxernor-in- Council, and the Charter afterwards received the Royal approval. The charter was modelled on the lines of that of the City of New York under British rule. Saint John remained for almost fifty years the only incorporated city in British America. T(xla>' it claims the distinction of being the oldest incorporated city in the Empire outside the United Kingdom, although its charter has been greatly modified in the course of time.
In days when wooden ships controlled the commerce of the world, Saint John owned more tonnage than any port in the
NEW 15KUNS\VICK HISTORICAL SOC ll'TV 317
world save Liverpool, London and Glasgow. There were in Saint John and its vicinity twenty-five shipyards gi\'ing employ- ment to se\'eral thousands of workmen. In those days our people built their ships, owned their ships, sailed their ships, and insured their ships. Mindful of her past the city is now making a strenuous effort to de\'elop its harbor and to make it one of the national ports of the Canadian Dominion.
Tiie city has had to overcome great difficulties in laying its water mains, gas pipes, and sewers in the solid rock, in cutting down precipitous clifts and crags to render the streets passable, in building whar\es sufficient to accommodate ocean-going ships of large size in a harbor, where the tide rises some twenty-six feet. The growth of the city has been hampered by destructive conflagrations, notably the Great I'^ire oi 1877 in which more than half the business part of the city was destroyed, some ten miles of streets left in blackened ruins, $25,000,000.00 of prcjperty consumed and 20,000 people rendered homeless.
Saint John at its incorporation adopted as its motto, "0 fortiinati quorum jam vioenia surgunty
The founders of the city caught the spirit of the poet Virgil, as embodied in these familiar words, and built their city in defiance of all natural obstacles of crag and clift' and rugged rock.
In the same spirit Saint John in 1877 Phoenix like arose from her ashes and is today a much better built cit>' than before the conflagration.
In the same spirit she has expended some millions of dollars in developing and enlarging her harbor, gradualh' over-coming natural obstacles and making it the winter port of Canada. Just 150 years ago the first small vessel was built and launched in our port. The builders were somewhat discouraged at the outlook and talking of removing to some place with a larger population and a better outlook. They were encouraged to remain by James White, one of the pioneers from Massachusetts, who said "Cheer up, lads, don't be discouraged; why ships will come here from England yet." And they have come.
Saint John has endeavored to live up to the motto of her founders — "Faithful alike to God and King"^ — ^ by greeting
318 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
with a joyous welcome seven members of the lloyal Family of England.
In 1794 she entertained His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent, the father of Queen Victoria. In 18()0 she welcomed the late King Edward, then the Prince of Wales, who was escorted to the Chipman Mansion, Union street, in which his Oand- father. Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, had been recei\ed as a guest more than sixty years before. As the Prince entered the grounds some thousands of schocjl children sang "Cod bless the Prince of Wales," and threw flowers in his pathwa>-. T\\l'\ sang an additional \erse to the National Anthem.
"Hail, Prince of Brunswick line, New Brunswick shall be thine, Firm has she been. Still loyal, true and bra\e, Here England's flag shall wa\'e And Britons pray to save A nation's heir.
The Prince of Wales was then a young man, only eighteen years of age, but, even at that early age, displayed the marvellous tact and courtesy that in later years rendered him so beloved by the people.
In the course of the next few years Saint John was honoured by visits from Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, and somewhat later !)>• a \isil from the Princess Louise and her husband, the Marciuis of Lome, ("iover- nor-General of Canada.
The visit of His Majesty King George V and our Gracious Queen Mary in 1901, as the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, is comparatively of yesterday. They were joyfully and loyally welcomed by the city of the loyalists.
Lastly we had the visit of His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught, who came to us in the dark period of the late dreadful war to bid us be of good cheer. We recall today the words of the late Sir Wilfrid Laurier in the Canadian House of Commons,
'^
^i<1 M 'iA -' "k
Oi.i. Cini'M \N M • \-ic
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL S(X-IETY ol'J
" When (jreat Britain is at war, Canada Is at war," and remember the thrill that passed through the commimit\- on the memorable 4th of August, 1914, when it was learned that the British Empire had cast in its lot with France and Belgium in the most momen- tous crisis in the world's history. This province and this city have given the flower of our young manhood amongst the 500,000 Canadians who enlisted to tight tiie Empire's battles. Today there is hardly a town, or parish, or \illage in New Bruns- wick that has not some of its sons laid to their hnal rest in the far-away fields of Flanders and of France, while others have returned to us to bear through life the daily burden of dependence on the care of others conseciuent upon the wounds they recei\-ed.
Saint John welcomes the coming of the l^rince of Wales not only as the Heir-apparent to the Throne, but as one who in the trenches has shared the experience of t)ur own bra\e lads, and can say with truth the wortls immortalized by the late King Edward VH., and repeated by thousands who lune made sacri- fices during the war, "/ have done my bit."
Saint John, as the commercial metropolis of New Brunswick, welcomes the coming of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, and regrets that his \'isit is not a longer one.
320 NKW HIUINSWICK IIISTORKAL SOCIETY
EVENTS OF THE I)EC\^l)E, 18(10- 1S7() Rev. J. \V. Millux;e, B.A. (192])
The end of ISGO found Xew Brunswick in a fairly prosperous condition; shipbuilding was beginning to re\ i\'e after a some- what prolonged stagnation, and some ships sold in Li\erpool at good prices. There was much acti\ it>- in the deal trade, and a large trade in produce was carried on \\iih the United States. This state of affairs was suddenh' ended on r2th April, IStil, when the Southern rebels fired on Fort Sumter, and at once ended all possible chance of a peaceable settlement of the difh- culties between North and South, and ushering in the bloody war which raged for four years between the two sections of the Republic. But the shot fired on that April da>- had, also, a far-reaching intiuence on our own fortimes.
By stopping a British mail steamer, the "Trent," and taking prisoners two Southern delegates (Mason and Slidell) to European Governments, the Empire was brought to the verge of war with the Northern States, and though their Go\'ernment backed down and surrendered the delegates, appearances were so threatening that the Imperial Go^'ernment sent out large reinforcements to Canada. As, by this time, navigation on the St. Lawrence being closed, they nearly all had to pass through Saint John; and our harbour, in the winter of lSGl-()2, presented a li\ely spectacle. Steamer after steamer arrived, filled with troops and numitions of war. To the citizens, who, at that time, had rarely seen an ocean steamship, and never more than a regiment of soldiers, the activity and bustle were very exhilarating; espccialh' as we were not paying a cent; and, on the other hand, were coining money for the supplies and transportation needed for this large body of troops.
At that time there were no railways of any great importance in the province, so the soldiers were sent forward by sleds on the highways. The outbreak of the American rebellion had caused
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIKTY :]2\
a serious decline in our lumber trade, and hundreds of inen and horses would ha\e been idle had not an une.\})ected sourcx' of employment offered itself. Two da>s were occupied on the trip to Fredericton, and the remainder of the journey lo Ri\er de Loup, where the drand Trunk Railway was reached, in equally easy stages. So i)erfecl were the arrani^enients and so good the provisions fiu'nished that although it was the ikj)th of winter not one ileath took place.
When it was decided, in London, that a contingent .-should be sent out, some brilliant genius at the Wdr Otiice remembered that in New Brunswick and Canada the snow wa^. ])rett\- deep at this season, and the artillery Wduld ha\ e great dilticully in dragging their guns on wheels. So \\^)olwich was set to work in a great hurry making sledges, as the\' were called, and which, when landed in Saint John, caused uncontrolled laughter among all who saw them. The>' were nuide of two planks, snii)e(l off at each end to resemble sled rtumers, and connected b\' \ery inadequate crossbars without any braces; each plank had several wings of no great strength attached to the sides by staples. Had a gun been on one of them and a slew encomUered on the road, the entire outht wcndd have collapsed. Thev' were, of course, never used, and were piled up for some time back of the Custom House, in all probability' ])eing used for fuel in the end.
Volunteering became very popular among the young men. The (.overnment supplied arms, but the volunteers bought their own tmiforms and ])aid the expenses of their drilbhalls and instruction. Several varieties of imiform could be seen at anv' general parade, as the men paying for their uniforms flecided what should be their colour and cut. The one exception was the artillery, which always conformed to the Rov'al Artillery in this matter. I belonged to Captain B. Lester Peters' battery, and can testify to the immense beneht derived from the drill and the esprit de corps developed. As the war went on the Imperial (^.overnment sent out peremptory orders to the Pro- vincial Governments to do something for their own defence, so the New Brunswick House passed a Militia Act, calling out
322 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
every able-bodied man between sixteen and sixty, and dixiding the country into districts, under the command of colonels, with smaller districts under captains, and as everyone was profoundly ignorant of all military matters it was determined to establish a Camp of Instruction at Fredericton in 1(S()4. As a preliminary an Officers' Corps was established at Saint John to instruct young men anxious to distinguish themseUes. I jcMiied this corps and when the camp was opened at Fredericton received a lieutenant's commission. We were to stay there one mcjnth, July. Men were collected from all o\ er the proxince. The pay of a private was fifty cents a da>-, with all rations. A red serge tunic, with blue cap) of same material, was serx'etl out to each man; but they had to prox'ide their own pants and boots, which did not always make for uniformit>-.
How to get us all there was the next [irobleiTi; the only railway of any importance was the European cv N(;rth American, a very high-sounding title, but onl>' lOS miles long, between Saint John and Shediac. All the men from the North Shore, from Albert, Kings, Saint John and Charlotte Counties were transported by this line to Rothesa\', where a si)ur ran out to a wharf at that time; here the steamer Sunbury was waiting for us, and embarking, were soon on the wa\' down the Kennebecasis to the Saint John, where we made frecjuent stops to pick up detachments at the various landings. Fredericton was reached about dark and we were marched to the Exhibition Buildings and grounds at the back of the city. Xext morning we were licked into some sort of shape, forming two battalions of six companies each and a batter>' of artillery. A captain of the 15th Regiment was commandant, with the temporary rank of Colonel, to give him precedence o\'er the two militia lieutenant- colonels, whose tactical knowledge left much to be desired. Non-coms from the 15th instructed the men, working very hard to initiate them into the mysteries of the goose step and forming fours, and in two or three days the men could march fairl>' well. Old muzzle-loading ritles w^ere served out; in fact, there were no other kind then, the men being taught much useless drill as to loading and the use of the ramrod. In about a fortnight we
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 323
were considered sufficiently advanced to undertake battalion movements and then the fun commenced - companies ftndmg themselves unexpectedly in awkward -^-^--- , ^^°" ^^^,!."^^ of our time it was decided to have a great field-day, the loth Regiment to be brigaded with us. Then a puzzhng situatjon, indeed, developed. Our battalions were numberec .m It could not by any stretch of imagn.atu.n be expected that an Imperial regiment should be No. 3 battalion, commg af er a rabble of colonial militia who, three weeks belore, scarcely knew ; foot from left. So it was decided that the 15th should be No 1 battalion, and ours 2 and 3. But then another diificulty at once arose; we had become accustomed to the word of c-on.- mand: "1st battalion do so and so, 2nd battalion, advance and so on, that it was feared the field-day would end m contusion worse confounded if the numbers were suddenly changed. I Ins situation worried the senior (officers considerably and we juniors were earnestly exhorted to keep our ears open, and try to reme.n- ber that although we were No. 1 battalion we were n<.t No but No. 2 f..r this day only. Finally, at the last monu'iU the day before, some bright genius discovered a way -;^| " '1 ,,' difficulty. Our numbers were to remain as bef.)re and the l..tn Regiment was to be the 15th. The field-day came ofi without a hitch. We were inspected by the Lieutenant-( ..ncrnor who told us that he had never seen such a splendidly well-drilled body of men, which led us to believe that he was either sa> mg the thing that was not, or that he had seen very little of this country s
'^'^ \ve''Ill had a splendid time; no serious breaches of discipline, and no sickness whatever; the surgeons had nothing at all to do and the Provost-Marshal very little. I remember, one day, a captain of a rural company came to the Commandant nj a state of great excitement, saying that one of his men had just deserted and wanting to know wi.at was to be done. ' Nothing, said the Commandant, "let him go."
The people of Fredericton were very sorry to have us go. Atherton, who kept the hotel of that name, and catered for he officers^ said to me the day we left. "We are going to buy a few
*Sir Arthur Haniiltoa Cordon.
324 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
thousand feet of cheap boards." "What for?" I asked. "To board the city up after you go," he said. We returned to our homes the same way we came. The Sunbur>' tcx^k us to l^othe- say, and the European & North American Ixailway tlie rest of the tri{).
In the autumn an attempt was made to put into practice what we had learned at Fredericton. Bills were posted e\ery- where calling the militia to muster on the Hats at C\)urtena\' Bay on a certain day when the tide would be oul. B\' this lime 1 was captain in the 2nd Battalion, Saint John C"ount\- Militia, and had all the territory north of the settled part of Tortland, as it was then called, to the Kennebecasis, round l)y Boar's Head to Indiantown, for m>' company. I api)ointed four reliable men as sergeants and scurried round and obtained uniforms tor them of those we had at the camp. I also borrcnved sabres, from a place, I have forgotten, for them. When we were all assembled, near Scott's Corner, we were a motley looking crowd. The ofificers and sergeants made some attempt to get them into column of fours, and we marched down Alain street in remarkabh- good order considering e\'erything. Scjmetjne got hold of an old tin kettle and it was thrown from one to another throughout the whole company; no notice was taken of this, however, and it was soon dropped. When the place of muster was reached, the field officers were there, mounted; the rolls were called and some attempt made at battalion drill, wheeling into line and back again into company formation. Nearly 2,0()t) men were present, and this muster was kept u{) for several years, but gradually fell into disuse. Those that did not attend were fined, prosecution being attended to by the Colonel and Adjutant.
Very lively times were experienced in Saint John between 18G0 and 1870, socially, commercially and politically. The Imperial troops made things lively socially. The Confederate cruisers, who played havoc with the northern shipping, gave a great boost to our ship-building industry, and startling changes in our political status were inaugurated.
I said, in the opening pages of this paper, that the shot fired at Fort Sumter had a far-reaching effect ui)on ourselves. There is a monument in St. Ann's (^hurch, Fredericton, to the memory
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 325
of Captain Pipon,* Royal Engineers, who was drowned in the Restigouche, while on a survey to locate the boinidary between Canada and New Brunswick. Such a statement could ne\er l)e made again, and one very cogent reason why it could not, was that shot fired at Fort Sumter on 12th April, lS(il. No amount of argument could ever ha\'e brought about C\)nfederation ; but the logic of a conmion danger soon accomplished it. Here we were, four or five separate provinces without any kind of unity or basis of common action for defence against aggression. Two important sections, the Government of one ha\-ing lasted sixty- two years, the other twenty years longer, and not knowing \\here their boundary was until determined for them by the Ro>'al Engineers, in the habit of passing all kinds of hostile tariff acts. All this was changed in the course of two or three \ears into a firm alliance, where measures of defence could be taken with some hope of successful resistance. Of course, a stiff political opposition was put up, but Confederation carried eventually, and in the spring of 1807, Queen Victoria signed the British North America Act, which made us a nation.
Sackkd
TO THE .Ml'MOKV OK
*CAPTA1\ JOHN HODC.E.S PITOX, OF Her Majesty's Corts of liuvAi. I^'ngineeus,
OF NOIKMONT MaNOK Hoi'SE, IsLE OF JeKSEV,
Aged 2.S Years, Who was Drowned in the River Restk;olche, on the 2Sth of Octoher,
1840, Whilst Endeavocring to Save the I.uii of a I"eli.o\v-Cki;atl're.
He was emiiloyed, at the time of his death, in condiictinj^ the e.xploration
survey for a railway to connect the Britisli Nortli America Provinces,
and as Her Majesty's Commissioner for the settlement of the
boundary between Canada and New Brunswick.
His early death and melancholy fate will be a source of tleej) and lasting
sorrow to his many attached friends.
His best memorial is in the hearts and affections of tho^e who
knew and loved him.
The Province of New Brunswick has erected this tablet to his memory,
to testify to his friends and the distinguished corps to which he
belonged, its respect for his character and its
regret for his loss.
RESl'RC.AM
320 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The events of that stirring time are too well known to need rehearsal, but one very dangerous episode should not be passed over. At the close of the War of Secession a very large number of men were disbanded, and some of them, Fenian sympathizers, were organized into a marauding force. No actual invasion was attempted in our province, but we were very uneasy for some time, and steps were taken to protect the border. Many inhabi- tants of St. Andrews and St. Stephen sent their silver and other valuables out to the country to be buried, for protection from the raiders. In Saint John we awoke one morning to find a number of houses with the word "pull" chalked up on the doors; this caused considerable alarm, but nothing came of it; it was probably a practical joke. About 1870 it began to be realized that the days of the wooden sailing ship were o\er, and most of the shipyards ceased operations. Considerable unemi)kj>'ment ensued, many men left the city, the population began to decline and it was some years before other industries arose to take the place of our leading one. In all probability ship-building would have died a natural death in a few \'ears. The large timber was all cut off, and imported tifnber would have been far too expen- sive, as it pro\'ed in the case of the few vessels built here in late years by the aid of large Government subsidies.
Confederation proved its practical value in the late War, and although many grave mistakes were made, Canada's share of the Empire's defence was not unworthy of the brightest jewel in the British Crown. We have to face many problems and some dangers, but shall surmount them all, and may look forward confidently to a larger, healthier and more beautiful city than in the past.
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 327
CONCERNING A NAME Venerable Archdeacon Raymond, LL.I). (li)21)
Our great master-poet Shakespeare says, "What's in a name?" Sometimes there is a good deal in a name.
As a boy I used to car\'e the initials W. O. R. with my jack- knife, as all boys will, in various public places, but ne\'er liked to be asked what the 0. stood for, because the rei)ly was usually greeted with derision. My second name was Odber, and the only person of this name known to my school-fellows was a certain Odber McMichael, who was, I belie\'e, rather a notorious individual, whom it was never my fortune to meet.
In the course of time, howe\'er, I became a little curious to learn the origin of the name in New Brunswick, but it was not until recentl}' that its origin was really disco\ered. It goes back seemingly to the beginning of Saint John as an inccjrporaled city, and invokes a rather cu-i'ious story.
Saint John was incorporated on the 18th of May, 1785, just two years after the "Landing of the Loyalists."
It then received a so-called "Royal Charter," drafted by Ward Chipman, Solicitor-General, along the lines of the Charter of New York. The Charter is older by more than half a century than that of any other Canadian city; and it has probably been oftener amended than that of any city in Canada. Under this (^barter Colonel Gabriel (j. Ludlow — lately commander of the 3rd battalion of DeLancey's Loyalist Brigade — became the first mayor, Barthf)lomew Crannell first common clerk, and Ward Chipman, first recorder. A common council, constables and other functionaries were appointed.
The incorporation of the city was co-incident with the estab- lishment of a niunber of business houses in Saint John. Among these was the firm of "Hall, Lewis, Odber & Co." Their adver- tisement appears in an old newspaper as early at least as 1780.
328 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Some of the accounts of the firm, beautifully kept Ijy Mv. Odber, the junior partner, are preserved among the manuscripts in the Dominion Archives at Ottawa.
The junior partner was manager of the business in New Brunswick. His name in full was Thomas Treadway Odber. He was, I think, an Englishman by birth, a man of ability and culture, who soon made his place in the community, tie is mentioned quite often in old letters of the period. (See W'inslow Papers, p. 335, under date November, 178(5.) The firm had a branch of their business in Fredericton and Colonel Edward W'inslow, who had just gone there, sent letters b\' Mr. Odber to his friend, Mather B\ies, Jr., in Saint John.
Mr. Odber was evidently a friend of Captain I^lijah Miles of Maugerville, who was a half-pa>' officer of Col. Ludlow's bat- talion of DeEancey's Brigade.
We find in the Re\'. John Beardsley's register of baptisms, the entry of the baptism of a son of Elijah Miles, by the name of Thomas Treadway Odl)er. This occurred soon after the parson came to Maugerville in 1786. This young scion of the Miles family, Thomas Treadv/ay Odber Miles, grew up to be a leading man in the Maugerville community. He was a colonel in the militia, as his father had been, and also the principal parish magistrate, specially licensed to solemnize marriages. As his full name was rather cumbersome to use as a signature, in view of the amount of legal business he was called upon to transact, he usually signed his name Thos. Odber Miles. Squire Miles took to wife, March 11, 1815, Sarah A. Carman, a sister of Samuel Carman, my grandfather, and the latter named one of his sons Odber Miles Carman, after his Uncle Odber ]\Iiles. From my uncle the name of Odber was handed down to me.
After a time the firm of "Hall, Lewis, Odber iS: Co." ceased to do business in New Brunswick and Mr. Oilber probably returned to PZngland. His name, howe\er, lingers among us still.
As germain to this subject it may be mentioned that the oldest established business in the province today is that of A. Chipman Smith & Co., on the west side of King Square in
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIKTY ;)29
Saint John. It was founded about 1790 by Dr. Nathan Smith in a Httle shop in St. James St., adjacent to his residence in Lower Cove. Dr. Smith served in the American Revolution as surgeon in DeLancey's Loyahst Brigade and received a grant of 550 acres of land just below the old Indian town of Meduciec, in the grant to DeLancey's 1st battalion, in the Parish of Wood- stock.
His son, William Howe Smith, was also a physician, and married into the Miles family of Alauger\ ille. In consecjuence of the relationship thus established with Thos. Odber Miles, the doctor named his son William Odber Smith.
The residence of old Dr. Nathan Smith in St. James St. was a landmark in Saint John until the Great Fire in 1877. From it the old front door with its antique knocker — both of them brought from New York in 1783 -- was saved at the time of the fire by Dr. Smith's grandson, William Odber Stewart.
There was near the old home, in early days of the city, a pond, known as "Dr. Smith's Pond," where the boys used to skate, undisturbed by constable or police.
Dr. William Ibjwe Smith, after the death of his father, removed the drug shop from St. James St. to the Market Scjuare, foot of King St. He died in 1822, at the age of forty-hve years, and his son, who was then only a lad of eighteen years of age, successfully carried on the business until his death in 1871.
During this period the Irish immigration ga\e Saint John a big boost and the young druggist attributed not a little of his success to the initial letter O in his name. The Irish immigrant commonly read the name on the sign over the door, William 0' Smith and patronized him accordingly.
They also helped elect him mayor of Saint John, a position that he filled with much acceptance for several terms, and which in later years was ably filled by his son, the late A. Chipman Smith.
Among other things for which the City of Saint John has to thank A. Chipman Smith was the erection of the present Country Market on Charlotte St. As the old Country Market at the
330 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
foot of King St. was moved up the hill to Charlotte St., so did A. Chipman Smith move the drug business from Market Square into the new market building, where it still continues in his name, being in the one hundred and thirty-first year of its continuous existence. The next oldest firm is probably that of J. & A. McMillan on Prince William St.
[As seven years has passed since the above paper was written, A. Chipman Smith & Co. are now (1928) in their one hundred and thtrty-eighth year in business.]
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY o31
THE FIRST EARL OF SHEFFIELD Timothy O'Brien (1924)
At a Court of the Mayor^ Aldermen and Assistants of the City of Saint John, in Common (\)uncil assembled, at the City Hall of the said City, on Friday, the fifteenth day of March, 1805, present: His Worship the Aia>'or, William (\impliell; Aldermen, (ulbert, Johnston, Carrison, Whitne;^'; Assistants, Miles, Wetmore, Harding, Ketchiini and LinL;lh\vaite; it nv as
"Resolved, That the thanks of this Corporation be given to Right Honourable Lord Sheffield for His Lordship's exertions Ijy his late, as well as by his former publications, in supjiort of British na\igation laws, on which the prosperity of the Empire at large, and, more particularly, of this and His Majesty's other North American Provinces, so greatly depends.
"Resolved, That the freedom of the city be humbl>' i:)resented to His Lordship in a box, to be made of wood of this country, and that a picture, from an enlarged likeness of His Lordsiiip, presented to this Board \)y the Honourable (^.eorge Leonard, P^scp, be enclosed in a suitable frame and hung up in the City Hall, in grateful remembrance of his pul)lic ser\ices.
"Resolved, That the recorder of this cit>' be requested to transmit the foregoing resolutions in such manner as may be most respectful, re(]uesting His Lortlship's acce[)tance of the gratitude of this (\)urt."
The City Llall was the name gi\'en to the building on the Market Square. The basement, at first, was a general store; ihe first flat, with entrance from King St., was occupied as the City Market; the upper storey, with the platform the length of the building, was used for the Courts and the Council Chamber from 1797 to 1830, when they removed to the new Court House opposite the King Square. In 1837 the structure was taken down, to give place to the brick building, burnt in the fire of 1841. In this the civic offices were in the second siorey; the lower sections being occupied by butchers and as a countr>^ market, with a section of the basement as a lock-up.
3o2 Ni:\V 15UUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
lion. C'.corgc Leonard, wliose name appears in ihe resolutions, thro.ughoul his life, was a i;reai friend and admirer of tlir I lonour- al)K' I'.dward W inslow. llis namt.' Ircqurnlly app(,\u> in tin- Winslow I'apers ( 1 77tl- 1S2»1), pnl)ii>lu'd in 1!)()1, nndri- ' ilic auspices of the New Brunswick Historical Sociel>-, and edited al)ly by the late Rev. Dr. W. (). Ra>mond, M. A. Mr. Leonard hailed from Massachusetts, and was second in ccjmmand of the Associated Refugees. In 17S3 he was one of the agents employed in locating the loyalists on the Ri\er Saint Jt)hn. He was a member of the Council of New I^rimswick; in the Legislature, as a magistrate, colonel of the militia, and the execution of the \'ery difficult ofhce of Superintendent of Trade and Fisheries, he was active and fearless. As a churchman and as one of the commissioners of the New England Company- for the cixilizing and christianizing the Indians he was eciually energetic. His death took place in 182(), at Sussex \^ale. On a tombstone, in Sussex, erected to the memory of Lieutenant Andrew Stockton and his wife, Hannah, it is stated that the couple were married in the City of Saint John, then called Parrtown, 4th April, 17S4, by the Honourable George Leonard. It was the inst ceremony of the kind in the town. Mr. Leonard was one of the grantees of Parrtown, and drew Lot o9; it extended half way up Union St. to Prince William St., and Lot 38 was drawn by his son. On the two lots a fine residence was built and the grounds tastefully laid out. The house stood back from Dock St., with lawn and terrace in front. For many years that section was the fashion- able one in Saint John. On the arrival of C>o\crnor Carleton, in 1781, the Leonard house was prepared for him.
The original name of ShelTield St. was "South St.," a name suggestive of being the southern of Parrtown streets. In I'.Jll, the name was once more changed and called Proad\ iew A\ enue. The land south of Sheffield St. was outside of the bounds of Parrtown. hrom 1N2() to the remo\al of the Imperial troops, follo\\ ing Coiifediiatioii in lMi7, it w .i> (u iiipied 1 1\ lliein.
William Campbell, who pit titled at the I'oimcil meeting, was born in Worcester, Mass. He went from Boston to Haliftix with the British army in 177G, and from there to New York. At the
NEW HkUNSWKi; insTOltlCAI. SOCIKIV -'^J
neace in 1783, he went to Nova Scotia, and tl.ree years later sett Id in Sain John. He was a native of ArgyOeshne, Scotland and died in 1S2;1 aged eighty-two years. Mr. Campbe 1 was h second mayor of Saint John, an.l served twenty years as the Che magistrate. He was. also, the postmaster o tlte oty, and re Led both offices fron, old age, the city g.v.ng hnn a pension ,7Tm per annum for seven years ,ill his deatl. In those days he, a c,ti.en died without heirs, the Mayor an. Councl ; te ded the funeral. -They stood by the grave ol XX.lhanr Campbell, in 1S2:), and they should stand there now and look at h neglected graxe and broken tontbstone," declared a 1 kr a meeting in ISSIl, celebrating the centenary o. the andh g of the loyalists. His predecessor was the Honom..ble GabiS v.. l.udlow, who occupied the Mayor's than rom rZ to I71..V Hon. John Robinson, who d,ed u, office n 1.S2S It five x-ears mavor. Messrs. l.udU.w, Campbell and Rnn'u between them held the oihce of chief mag.strate or fony-two vears. The appoinl.nen.s were made by the 1 .ox n ca Vovc-umeut for sisty-hve yea.s, 17S.V1S50, a,td dunng he . ,,,■ ,l,r,.e ve,.-s there were fourteen other gentle- 'r:rs:;:ct : n';';^ tle'coLnon Cou„cil began electing the " a .. r and since 1S..4 they have been ch..sen by- the ct.zens.
Saint John's Masonic L.,dge, .,n :«l.h N'-v™' - ■ !«!> ; erected a stone to Mr. Campbell's .ne.nory, ur .he Ol.l Bnrymg rrniind to replace the original one.
T ; date of 5th March, 1SU7, H.,u.,urable ( .e.,rge 1 eouar. , among other matters, infor.ne.l l,..r.l Sheffield ';"/-. -^-- ,ive Council ha.l closed their sess,.,.t the prex.ous lay ""^^^
he wrote " the first moment to inform y.n.r l-..rdsh.,> that 1 laid b fore e House of Assembly, your Lordslnp's letter, w.th wh.ch ta'h noured. and which was listened to w.th utuch applause bCth whole House -the galleries, being full of people from dme,'nt parts of the country, joined in the acknowledgement d.tteient pa rendere.l the Colonies by youi
rr d 1 ,; T "s ™ of Tl^O was nnmchately voted to cover all e°p ens s for your Lordship's picture to the Colony, and a place n tTe P,ovi.Ke Hall assigned for its being hung. The House
334 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
also voted an Address to His Majesty on the subjects of the islands in the Bay of Passamaquoddy (now in i)ossession of American subjects), the loss of the carrying and illicit trade, etc., etc. This important paper, which I am anxious for your Lordship to see, as a corroboration of the facts stated in your Lordship's book on the na\igation system, conlirnis in\' state- ments to the ministers for years past."
When tlie fidl-sized portrait of His Lordshij:) arri\ed in due course from England, it was placed behind the Speaker's chair in the House of Assembly. It remained there until the sunnner of ]S2(), in which \ear a C\)at-of-Arms was purchased for the House of Assembly l)y the Pro\'ince Agent, in London. On its arri\al, by order of His Excellency, LieuteUiUit-C ".on ernor Snnth,* it took the place of the Earl of Shetlicld's i)ortrait, which was remo\ ed to the (^.o\ernment House. 'That proceeding did not meet with the ai)proval of the members of the 1 louse of Assembly, as the following extract from its proceedings discloses:
"HOUS]': OF AsSEMliLV,
Wednesday, Januar>' .'5 1st, 1821.
Mr. Ward C'hipman moved the following order:
Ordered, That the portrait of Lord Shetiield, which has been
remo\ed from its former place o\er the Speaker's chair, be,
forthwith, restored to the same."
On the question the House di\ided: Yeas, twehe; nays,
eleven.
Satuiday, k\biuan- 3, ]<S21.
On motion of Mr. Chipman,
Resohed, That the portrait of Lord Shetiield, instead of being restored to its former place t)\er the Si)eaker's chair, as directed in the resolution of Wednesday-, last, be placed in such other part of the House as the Speaker may direct.
*In the south transept of the Cathechal, in IVedericton, tliere is a tine niarljle tal)let to the memory of l.ieutenant-("-o\ernor (Uorge Stace\- Smyth. A beautiful medallion at tiie toj) shows the strong features (jf the resohite old soldier, whose scul[)tured swortl recalls the held of Waterloo, where he was A. D. C. to Wellinjiton
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY iio")
On the return of the portrait to tlie Prcjvince Hall, it was placed by the Speaker, William Botsford, in the Speaker's room, leaving the Royal Arms behind the Speaker's chair. For twenty years the portrait remained undisturbed, but shortly after the arrixal of Sir W^illiam Colebrook, to assume the governorship in 1841, the portrait, at his request, was sent to the Government House. The picture was nearly ruined by His Excellency's boys, having made it a target at which they shot arrows. After Sir William left the pro\ince, the H(jnoural)le Robert L. Hazen, oa learning its state, had it sent to Boston, to be repaired. On its return it found a place, until the night of the fire, ISSO, in the Legislatixe Council Cdiamber in the I'roxince Hall. Since the abolition of the Upper House, so-called, the i)<)rtrait has found a resting place in the l^'o\'incial lUiilding.
Wriling from Fredericton, August 2S, 1S()(), to Lord Shefheld, the following statement was made by the Honourable Edward Winslow:
"The sober and sensible part of the community knows how to appreciate your Lordship's exertions. The intelligence of the bounties on fish and the arrangements for conxoys was receixed here with every mark of gratitude and satisfaction. These favours were considered as an earnest of that justice which we have always been taught to look for from our political parents. By your Lordship's public declarations, justice has been done to the character of the country and its inhabitants, and they ha\e revived those principles of loyalty which -were beginning to droop. I brought out with me one of your Lordship's books for Mr. Botsford and one for Mr. Leonard, and a third (unbound) for myself. To gratify the public at large, I have caused it to be published by chapters (commencing with the seventh) and I have taken the liberty of introducing the first number by an extract from Mr. Alley's pamphlet. The editor of a new paper, 'The Fredericton Telegraph,' is now reaping the fjcnefit of the publication by an increased demand and extended circulation of his paper."
Till liKM !•
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCll'TY '.'uil
the sheriffs, in making no return, led to their ])eing coniniitted to Newgate, b\' order c^f the House of Coninions. On a re-election, Messrs. Holroyd and Veo had a large majorit}' ; their oppoisents were returned by the intltience of the ('(ujioration officials; but on petition, Messrs. Holroyd and \'eo were decl.ircd dul>' elected.
When the famous petition from the Protestant Assuciation was presented to the House of Commcjns 1)\- Lord Ct'orgt' ( ".ordon, on June 2, 17<S(), Holroyd laid hold of Lord L.eorgc, sa\ing: "Hitherto, I ha\e imputed your conduct to madness, but now I percei\ e that it has more of malice than madness;" adding. at the same time that if any of the mob made an entram-c to the House, he \\t)tdd instantly intllct sunuiiary \engeance on his Lordship as the instigator. Holroyd, at the head of a detach- ment of the Northiunberland Militia, was acti\-e in suppressing the riots that sprang from the noble Lord's action.
On January 1), 17<S1, Llolroyd was raised to the Irish i)eerage as Baron Sheffield of Dunamore, in the C"ount\' of Meath, and on December 17, 1783, as Baron Shefheld of l\osc(Mumon. \\ hile an Irish peer, he sat as a meml)er of parliament for Bristol, and took an acti\'e part in the debate, especially in o])position to \\ ilberforce's motion for the abolition of sla\ery, in 1791, and in favour of union with Ireland, on April 22, 17*.)1). On }u\y 2i), 1802, he was raised to the peerage cjf the United Kingdom as Baron Sheffield, of Sheffield, Yorkshire. Linally, he was created Earl of Sheffield and Viscount Pe\'ense\', in the peerage of Ireland, on Januar>' 22, 18l(). He ser\cd as president of the Board of Agriculture in 18013, as a pri\y coimcillor and a Lord of the Board of Trade in LS07. His death took place on Ma>- 'AO, 1821.
Earl Sheffield married, first, in 1707, Abigail, onl\- daughter of Lewis \\'a>', of Richmond, Surrey; \>y her he had one son, who died >-oung, and two datighters; she died in \7\)'A. Secondl)-, in 1704, Lucy, daughter (A the late l^arl of ("hidiester, who died without issue the foHowing year. Thirdly, on January 0, 1708, Anne, daughter of the second Earl of Ouilford, K. (•., l)y whom he had one son, C>eorge, the second earl, and one daughter.
338 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIliTV
Sheffield Estate and Sheffield Place was regarded as a model of farming, and he was considered one of the leading authorities of the time on commerce and agriculture. He made the acquaint- ance of Ciibbon in 1704, at Lausanne, Switzerland, a city which, since the Great World War, has assumed international impcjrt- ance, became his most intimate friend and edited his posthumous works. The famous historian said of him: '"riie sense and spirit of his political writings have decided the public opinion on the great question of our commercial intercourse with Ireland. He has never cultivated the arts of composition; but his ma- terials are copious and correct, and he lea\es on his paper the clear impression of an active and vigorous mind." The greater part of (iibbon's published correspondence was with Shet'tield. The friends are both buried in Fletching Church, in which parish Sheffield I^lace stands. His numerous writings justify r!il)bon's praise, says a well-known contributor to the 1 )ictionar>' of National Biography. "Many of his pami:)hlets are contained in the pamphleteer," he adds. He wrote: (/') "Obserxations on the Commerce of the American States," 1783; (ith edition, 1784. This was written in oppc^sition to the bill introduced !)>• Pitt in 1783, proposing to relax the navigation laws in fa\'our of the United States. It was the beginning of a long contro\'ers>' and finally led to the abandonment of the scheme. (Jibbon declared that "The Navigation Act," the palladitim of (ireat Britain, was defended, and, perhaps, sa\ed by his pen. (//) "Observations on the Manufactures, Trade and Present State of Ireland," (intended to prove that Irish prosperity could only be maintained by a friendly connection with Great Britain). (Hi) "Observations on the project for abolishing the sla\e trade," anon, 1790; 2nd edition, with additions and the author's name, 1791. iiv) "Observations on the Corn Bill," now defending in Parliament, 1791. (v) "(iibbon's Miscellaneous Works," edited, 17811; other editions in 1S14 and 1837. (vi) "A Speech on the Union of Ireland," April 22, 1789. (vii) "Re- marks on the Deficiency of Grain," occasioned by the bad harvest of 1799-1800. [viii) "Obserxations on the Objections Made on the Export of Wool from Great Britain to Ireland,
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 339
1800." (ix) "Strictures on the Necessity of In\'iolably Main- taining the Na\igation and Colonial System of (ireat Britain," 1804. (.v) "The Orders-in-Council and the American Embargo Beneficial to the Commercial and Political Interests of Great Britain," ISOo. (xi) "On Trade in Wool and Woollens," 1S13. ixii) "Report of a Meeting at Lewes Wool Fair," 1S13, (a similar report also in 181G.) {xiii) "Observations on the Impolicy, Abuses and False Interpretation of the Poor Law," 18i;>. {xiv) "On the Trade in Wool and Woollens, including an Exposition of the Commerical Situation of the British F^m- pire." (xv) " A Letter on the Corn Laws," 1815. [xvi) "Re- marks on the Bill of the Last Parliament fcjr the Amendment of the Poor Laws, with Observations, etc.," 1810. {xvii) "Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Edward Cdbbon," published j50st- humously, 1820.
Sheffield's son and grandson succeeded as second and third Earls, the latter, 1832-1900, being a well-known patron of cricket, with whose death the earldom became extinct. The Irish barony, howe\'er, under a special remainder, passed to the fourth Baron Stanley, of Alderney, who thus became Baron Sheffield of Roscommon.
840 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIKTY
SOME REMINISCENCES OF THE CITY OI' SAINT JOHN AND PROVINCE OF NEW BRUNSWICK, IST.O-ISSO
Rev. J. W. MiLLiDC.E, B.A., (1<)22)
There is not the slightest doubt that the decade l)etween those dates was a disastrous one, perhaps, to the whok- world, cerlainh- to the continent' of North America.
A frightful hurricane, known as the Saxl)>- C:ale, had, on the 4th October, 1N(U), le\elled most of the forests on the seadward of New Brunswick and Maine, blown tlown many homesteads and barns, killing numbers of stock animals, and wrecking some hue shii)s. The after-eftects of the gale were felt \ery seriously in the following spring; the papers of Ma>- and June are full of accounts of hres in the woods, when the blow-downs got in a blaze, and nothing could be done to sttjp them, owing to the tangled condition of the fallen timber. Several villages, like Lepreaux, Digdequash and Second Falls went oui of existence, while St. Ceorge, Baring and other jilaces lost a great part of their population. Frightful conflagrations Icjok place; one at Chicago, 8th October, 1871, when, in what was the greatest fire of modern times, 2,124 acres were burned over, S;19(),U()(J,000.00 of property were destroyed and 250 people lost their lives. In Boston, i)th November, 1872, another great fire occurred, not, however, attended with any loss of life; hundreds of warehouses, filled with costly goods, banks, oftices, churches, etc., involving a loss of $80,000,0t)().()(), were consumed; and our own fire of 1877, of which more will be said later. In July, 1870, war broke out between France and Prussia, in which the former, totally unprepared, was hof^elessly defeated, suffered the loss of Alsace- Lorraine and condemned to pay the encjrmous indemnity of 5,000,000,000 francs. Then were sown the seeds which produced the late desperate war forty years later.
In our own city and province much business depression was felt. The wooden shipdiuilding industry was dying, and, al-
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY lUl
thtjugli some tine ships were still being built, e\ ery one could see that it would not last much k)nger. Crowds of men no longer thronged the shipyards, only a few of the best and most reliable men being retained. Se\ eral subsidiary trades were also effected ; sailmakers, riggers, boat-buiklers, blacksmiths, painters an'd e\en car\ers were forced to close. This latter trade catered to the custom of having a ligure-head on every ship, a custom which had come down from remote anti(|uity, for we read in the Acts of the Apostles, 28, v. 11, that St. I*aul, on his journey from Malta to Kome, took ])assage in a ship whose sign was Castor and Pollux, that is, two heathCn gods who were supposed to direct the ship safely o\er the pathless deep. When steam tocjk the place of sails, it gave the death-lilow to this old su[)erstition ; l)ut it also took the bread out of the mouths of several families in Saint John. The Commercial Bank had failed l^efore the decade began, but its effects were still felt, and a failure for $125,000.00, with a di\idend of $0.25 on the dollar, may be attributed to it. Another failure for $85,000.00, with a dividend of $0.05 to the dollar, was the result of dabbling in Wall St. funds; a new thing, which led to much distress among those who had entrusted their little all to the speculator. All this com- mercial depression had a singular effect u[)ou the city, which 1 heard abl>' expounded by the late Silas Ahvard, K. ("., at a lecture in the old Mechanics' Institute (winter course of 1875). He said we were suffering in two directions: The men of means, who had made their money exploiting the resources of the country, were leaving for Liverpool and London, where they could invest their capital more profitably, and the strong, able- bodied workmen, who, really, were the upbuilders of the nation, were obliged to go where work could be had.
In 1873 a tremendous collapse in business in the United States took place, which had a bad reflex action upon New Brunswick business. Several firms engaged in the Ignited States trade collapsed, and one spectacular failure took over $;]50,000.()0 out of one of the banks and closed several saw-mills. At one time there were fourteen of these mills below the falls, some of them \ery large and employing about one hundred men each;
342 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
now there is only one that saws at all steadily. These mills not only gave a great deal of employment but supplied an immense amount of cheap fuel for the people. Lath edgings, which often Hicluded substantial pieces of wood, could be had for the cost of haulmg, twenty-five cents a load for a short haul; fifty cents for a longer one. I have often purchased a whole vear's kindling wood for ninety cents, while last October, one load cost me $n 55- the five cents the driver explained, was for sales tax.
These mills sometimes blew up; one notable explosion occurred in May, 1871, in Kirk and Daniel's mill, situate just where the C. N. Railway shed is n.nv on Long W harf. The mill was shut down for breakfast, when one of the three boilers over the sawdust furnace exploded, tore through the end of the building, turned end over end, and landed 200 feet out in the pond; another took the opposite direction through the engine- room, out at the back of the mill. These explosions were always attended with loss of life, but the singular fact about this one was that the two, who lost their lives, had no business in the mill One was a little girl of ten years, who had come for water to a tap between the sawdust and main boik-rs, and was scalded to death; the other, a boy, of twelve, picking up chips in front of the mill, was struck by the flying boiler and killed instantly. A still more singular circumstance was that a sawdust wheeler who was standing on the top of the furnace, within six feet of the exploding boilers, escaped with scarcely a scratch. But gener- ally some of the firemen lost their lives on these occasions.
An item from the "Daily Telegraph" of June 10, 1S71, breaks the otherwise somewhat gloomy chronicle:
"A rare sight was witnessed yesterday in the harbour, the wmd blowing from the north, above Sand Point, and from the south, off the beacon. Large vessels were seen sailing up and down, each with square yards and schooners were seen approach- ing each other 'wing and wing.'"
Here is another item from the same copy: "A very charming young lady of this city who is so very fond of her dear Augustus that she cannot go shopping without
NEW HRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY o-lo
seeking some little present for him, learned that Messrs. Page Bros., (now Ferguson & Page) had a new article which she was determined to purchase for him. Walking along King St. with a friend from the country, exclaimed: 'O! here is Page Bros, store.' 'No,' said the other, 'this store stems to be kept by Mr. Jewelery.' "
Following Confederation the last Royal Gt)\'crnor left the province, and the Imperial troops were removed from Saint John and I'^edericton. These measures were deeply deploretl b^' \ cry many, but, in reality, the>' were not to be regretted. The governors kept ali\e aristocratic and reactionary conditions that shoidd haAC no place in a new country. The governor's wife usually managed the social activities of Cu)\ernment House and there was much discontent manifested at her decisions. For instance, during the satrapy of Sir Edmund Head, Fad>' Head decided that no retailers or their families should be in\ iled to the social functions. "The line mvist be drawn somewhere, you kncnv." There were in Fredericton at that time two brothers; one sold groceries retail, the other sold alcoholic liquors, whole- sale. The retailer's family was strictly excluded from (".o\ern- ment House; the wholesaler's warmly welcomed. One of the regrets expressed for the withdrawal of the troojjs was the loss of the money the\' expended, but that was onl\' a drop in tlie bucket, and our proxince had to contrilnite .'^40,()l)0.0() a > ear towartls their upkeep, so the balance after all was not \ery much in our favour. And then their moral inlUience was not of the best. The troops at hVedericton, however, performed one ver\- useful functi(jn without ever leaving the barracks. That citv' is a great himl,>ering center, and in the s]:)ring hundreds of river dri\ ers are l)aid off almost simultaneously. The combination of numbers of men shut uj) in camps in the woods all winter, plenty of money and unlimited rum — had it not been for the presence of the soldiers ^ — would have reproduced the conditicnis over in Maine where the river drivers, the first night after their arrival, worked off their superfluous energy in pulling the town to pieces, caring nothing whatever for the small civil force that might be brought against them. But in Fredericton, where a strong party of well-
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armed men could be brought against them in a few minutes, the rioters confined their depredations to the low dives where the\' obtained their liquor. However, the governors and troops have all gone, leaving nothing to recall their memor>' but some dilai)i- dated barracks and the white elephant of (ioxernment House, long since abandoned l)y the Licutenant-( '.on ernors, who did not relish spending their entire salary in the upkeep of a building that had outli\ed its usefulness. By this time it woidd ha\e been tumliling down had it not been for the T.reat World War. W ith some alterations it made a capital hospital, where inan\' returned invalids were treated; but only a government with unlimited resources could afford to keep it up. I was all through it last winter; down in the basement were three large boilers, and the fireman said it took two tons of coal a da>' to keej:) the building warm. In old times it was warmed with wood, taking 5(J0 cords a year paid for by the province.
The next excitement was the celebrated boat-race on the Kennebecasis when Renforth met his tleath in so tragic a manner. Aciuatics from this time seemed to decline, and what had once been a \ery favorite pastime became almost ncjn- existent. Our oarsmen were once celebrated over the whole English-speaking world, but now, since the ad\ent of the motor boat, scarcely a man can be found who can rcnv decently.
Nothing \'ery startling occurred from this time until 1S77, when a large part of the city went up in smoke. Histories of this calamity are easily accessible, so only the barest account will be given here. Wednesday, 2()th June, dawned beautifully, a high wind was blowing, but the day was \ery fine. About noon dense clouds of smoke rolled over the city; some uneasiness was felt, but it was soon discovered that the woods were on fire towards the northwest. This had scarcely passed over when a warehouse on a wharf in York Point caught fire. A woodboat was discharging baled hay into this warehouse and it was set on fire by sparks from Kirk & Daniel's mill. The fire soon got out of control and cinders, carried by the high wind, spread the fire all over the south-eastern part of the city, distracting the efforts of the firemen. It was hoped that the brick and stone houses
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORRAL SOCIETY IMS
in the business section would prevent too great a spread of the conflagration, but the masses of wooden buildings all burning together produced such a heat that the internal woodwork of the brick houses soon took fire, and they burned as readily as the others. All the afternoon and succeeding night the lire raged, no efforts being made to stop it, as they were seen to be useless, and were directed to the saving of what effects could be carried to a place of safety. But much of what was renio\ed was after- wards destroyed. 'Hie whole atmosphere seemed to be full of heat. I saw a piano that had been carried into the centre of Queen Scjuare, far from any burning houses, l)urst into llanies, and ni\' cnvn beard at the same time was set on hre by a fl>ing cinder. People were pretty well distracted but there was no panic. Many looking for a place of safety went U) Reed's Point Wharf, and might ha\e been trapped there had il not been for the International steamer, which took them all aboard, fed them and landed them on the Island. Another boat oi the same line, on the way to Saint John, kept her steward department busy cooking food to be distributed to the distressed peoi)le on her arrival. The ne.xt day the city presented the appearance of a bombarded place; the walls of most of the stone and brick buildings were still standing, while piles of smoking debris smouldered for more than a week. Se\eral li\es were h^st. Garrett Cotter and Peter McGoxern were killed by a falling cornice. James Kemp and Thcjmas Holmes put s(;me things they had saved in an old boat and started for Garleton; the bottom of the boat broke and they were drowned. Mrs. (\jholan was smothered on Smythe St. All that was left of Mrs. Bradley were some bones, found on her do(jr step, after the hre. The remains of Richard Thomas were found on the site of R. O'- Brien's saloon, Germain St. Robert Fo.x, Haymarket Square, not having been seen since, has been pronounced dead. Mrs. Reed, Lower Cove, could have been sa\ etl if the fire had not crazed her. Her two sisters, the Misses Clark, lost their lives, one of them burning in her house, corner of Sydney and Main Sts. In a short time relief measures were instituted in hundreds of cities and towns, and soon a steady stream of all sorts of
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commodities poured in. Much of the stutY was of very Httle value; it was stored and distribution made in the Victoria Rink, on City Road. The manner of the distribution of the clothing was, to say the least, peculiar; a man stood on a platform with a barrel at his side. The rink was crowded with men and boys. He would take out a hat, for instance, throw it as far as he could. Someone would grab it antl lea\e; then he might throw a \est in another direction, and so on, until tlic barrel was empty; another would then be handed up and the process repealed. The report that free food and clothing could be had for the taking soon spread abroad, and a great number of loafers and hoodlums made their way to Saint John. A man, whose name I have forgotten, st)on after this came from Chicago and straightened out matters, so that the relief was distributed more impartially. A large amount of money had been subscribed, and under his supervision, nuich of it was in\'ested so that it produced an income for the sufferers for many years. Just after the lire a patrol of militia, to which I beh^iged, \\as instituted, antl kept down any attempt at rowdyism, and two companies of the 97th Regiment came round from Halifax, camped on Chipman lawn, but not being needed, soon went back again. A small warship also came and landed a party of sailors, with a gun, which did good serxice blowing uj) standing walls that might ha\e been dangerous. The basement wall of the Post Office on I'rinecss St., however, resisted all their bombardment; shot after shot was fired against it without making the least impression. A \'ery different building it was from some of those which went up to replace those that had been destroyed. Large numbers of United States bricklayers came down to work at the re-building; they could walk right around our men laying brick, but some- times before they finished a building, it would come down by the run, the mortar never getting a chance to set. A notable case occurred on Prince William St., where a building fell and seriously damaged Messrs. McMillan's new store, breaking a large hold in the south wall. A lawsuit was the outcome of it. A feeling akin to despair settled down on the people after the fire. Just when most of the means of subsistence seemed to be
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 347
slipping away, to have their homes, their places of business and their churches taken from them, as in a moment of time, seemed too much to bear, and many people seemed to think that the city would fall into same state of inanition that St. Andrews, Shelburne and Louisburg had fallen. But a better spirit soon prevailed, many buildings were run up, and no failures of import- ance occurred. The loss was about $28,000,000.00, with insur- ance of over $7,000,000.00.
Quite apart from the Great Fire, 1877 was remarkable as a year of fires. In September a large fire swept the corner of Union and Waterloo Sts., destroying a good many buildings. Then, in October, a fire started near Rankin & Co.'s premises, at the foot of Portland St., and burned to the corner of Main St., destroying the Methodist Church and many dwellings. In this fire the mate of the Empress, a boat that ran on the bay, was burnt out, after the same experience in the Great Fire. He said afterwards that this was the eighteenth time he had been burnt out in Saint John. In May and June there were large fires in St. Stephen and Woodstock, which destroyed much valuable property, and wiped out important business sections of those towns.
Some people seem to think that the insurance in these cases replaces all losses and that we are as well off as before; but this is a great mistake; a large amount of valuable property has gone up in smoke, many families have been disturbed, their furniture, even when carried to a place of safety, often damaged, and the seeds of disease implanted, through exposure or excitement, that occasionally proved fatal. Then the belief that the insurance money is a sort of gratuity, coming from no one knows where, is a complete fallacy. W^e are all paying for those conflagrations in the seventies now. Our premiums, for insurance, are ridicu- lous. In England and France, where buildings are scientifically constructed, the rate is very low. In Philadelphia, where they are very particular about fire damage, the premium for ordinary dwellings is one-quarter of one per cent, for three years, and there is a policy written, covering the whole life of a building or if it lasts so long a century for three per cent. Now, there must
348 NEW nRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
have been a cause for all those fires in the seventies, and it is not far to seek. The weather was very dry, the winds were high and vast conglomerations of wooden houses had been run up as close to each other as they could possibly be placed, making as fine a combination of circumstances as could be concei\'ed for the activities of the fire fiend. It was astonishing how soon business began to right itself. In a few days great acti\'ity began to be displayed. The greatest enteri)rise was manifested by the papers, the "Telegraph" and the "Globe" getting out an edition the very ne.\t day after the fire, — quite a curiosity in journalism.
A great extension of railways in this decade made travelling much easier. Boston was connected by rail on one hand and Quebec and Halifax by the Intercolonial on the other; but these new routes displaced several steamboat lines, which no longer proved profitable. Great Montreal firms began to send their travellers into Maritime territory, and our own wholesale firms were obliged to order most of their stock from them, thus cutting off their English import trade which had been so profitable in the past. All these changes had a bad effect on the city, and population fell off quite seriously. I shall probably be con- sidered a calamity howler, but these notes are simply records of facts that seemed to crop up altogether, and the effects produced were inevitable.
It has been well said that "Happy is the nation that has no history," and it is true enough, for when things are g<Mng along smoothly and people are getting their living quietly, "marrying and giving in marriage," the historian finds nothing to write about, but the people usually find a good deal of comfort and contentment in "the trivial round, the common task." But when great disasters overtake the people and thousands find their means of livelihood suddenly cut off, a deep impression is produced upon their minds, and the more calamitous it is the more interesting it becomes.
The city survived the crisis and is now on the highway of prosperity. There is now no thought of wholesale exodus, but
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 349
rather a pressing in of people looking for employment, filling up every vacant tenement and producing a housing dilTiculty never experienced here before.
All we require now is patience, perseverance and progressive- ness, and the city will come out all right. We have many natural advantages, a favourable geographical position, enor- mous resources in the continent behind us, which must have an outlet, or rather, outlets, on the Atlantic Coasts, and there are works under way, which will, when completed, make Saint John one of the best equipped ports in North America.
350 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
BEARS IN NEW BRUNSWICK IN THE OLDEN TIME Venerable Archdeacon Raymond, LLJ3., (1921)
In my young days stories about bears were often related by the old settlers. The farm of my grandfather in Lower St. Marys had as its lower line the boundary between the Counties of York and Sunbury. A road called the "County Line Road" here ran back at right angles to the River Saint John. The land that bordered this road was pasture and partly overgrown with bushes. Raspberries grew in abundance and cattle roamed at large. Bears were numerous along the County Line Road but were usually so well fed, owing to the abundance of berries, that they were little dreaded. One of my uncles, when quite a small boy, in going after the cows one evening was running heedlessly along the cow-path when he ran slap into a bear lying asleep in a hollow. He tumbled over him and rolled headlong. It was hard to tell which was the most frightened the boy or the bear. Each fled in a different direction.
The bears were, however, partial to sheep and very destruc- tive to the farmer's flocks, antl the goxernment oftered a con- siderable bounty in cash for the nose of every bear, young or old. This helped to stimulate a crusade and the life of bruin became very hazardous ere long. Bears were shot and caught in traps by the score.
On a Sunday afternoon, sixty-five years ago, <jne of my uncles and his young wife went for a walk out the C\)unt>' Line Road, having their baby with them in her small carriage. They encountered unexpectedly a she-bear and two cubs. Not having his gun and the mother bear being rather cowardly, my uncle chased the cubs up a tree and ran home for his gun leaving his wife with her baby at the foot of the tree to keep the cubs there until he returned. The old bear growled threateningly, and prowled about in the underbrush. The cubs attempted to descend but the plucky young wife stoned them u[) the tree
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 351
again and held her ground until the return of her husband with his gun. He shot the cubs and in due time received the bounty from the go\'ernment, but could not manage to get a shot at the old bear, which kept out of reach of his musket. This plucky young woman was a girl Ijorn in our (,'ity of Saint John.
This story I had from my mother.
In Woodstock, N. B., the home of my childhood, £)ur nearest neighbors were my father's uncles of the Beardsley family. Most of the men were tall powerful fellows (there were six brothers). Perhaps the most so of all was "Uncle Ralph," who was tall, well-proportioned, and weighed about 250 pounds. His strength was great, as the following story will show:
The brothers, John and Ralph, one day found the remains of a fine steer that had been killed and partly devoured by a liear. The creature they judged by his tracks to be a \'ery large one. They decided to watch for the bear the next night, presuming that he would return to continue his banquet.
Armed with the old-fashioned fiint-tock muskets, they lay in wail beside the remains of the steer. A thunder-storm came on and one of the brothers said, "the bear will come with the storm." This proved true. A flash of lightning revealed the bear beside the steer and taking aim as best they could in the uncertain light the brothers fired. The priming of Ralph's gun had been wet by the rain and the gun missed fire, but the ball from Uncle John's musket passed directly through the bear's head and he rolled on the ground. John ran forward eager to administer the coiip de grace but tripped over a root and fell on his face, the bear rolling directly upon him.
Uncle Ralph seized his musket by the muzzle and swung the heavy brass-bound butt with all his strength upon the head of the l:)ear. "llie butt was splintered by the might blow, but the bear was not rendered unconscious. Seizing the iron gun-barrel Ralph proceeded to pound the life out of the bear, and did not desist until he had smashed the barrel of the musket into three pieces. He said afterwards that blows on the creature's head seemed of no use, but that when he pounded him on the nose
352 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
he soon got the better of him. To his great reHef he succeeded in saving his brother uninjured. The bear was a very large one and Ralph Beardsley's feat was often spoken of in the neighbour- hood in my young days. I have something more to say- about bears, but would like to interpolate another reminiscence first.
When the Prince of Wales, afterwards King Edward VII., visited Fredericton in 18(50, the people of the surrounding country flocked to the capital to do honour to the heir to the throne. There was then no railway and the river road from Woodstock to Fredericton was filled with a constant procession of carriages bearing loyal citizens to the capital to welcome the Prince. The desire to see him was intense. Uncle Ralph was amongst those who drove to Fredericton, and on his return had many stories to relate, and he told them well. One that I recall was that on the day when the Prince opened a park near the Government House, at the upper end of the town, the people had gathered in such crowds that (there being no eminences in the park) only a few could see him. A disconsolate young lady of diminutive size found herself unable either to penetrate the crowd or to see over their heads. She attracted Uncle Ralph's attention. He saw her difficulty. He had himself a wife who was a little woman and he inquired if he could help her. She told him she had come a long way to see the Prince and that as he was going away on the morrow she would be nmch mortified to have to go home without even ha\ing had a look at him.
"Come with me," said Uncle Ralph, and he led the way to a tree not far from where the Prince was standing. "Can you climb?" he said. She answered "I can try." Taking her foot in his big palm and steadying her with the other hand he lifted her in the old time fashion in which ladies were lifted into the saddle by their cavaliers, up to the lowest branch of the tree. "Now climb," he said. She soon made herself a comfortable seat, and said excitedly, "Oh, I can see him splendidly here; he is only a little way from me."
"Take plenty of time," he said, "I will stand guard." In due course he assisted her down, received her grateful thanks and she went on her way rejoicing.
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Soon afterwards he found a man, of the stature of Zaccheus, who had tried in vain to see the Prince. He confided his trouble to Uncle Ralph. "Today is the third day he has been here," he said, "and I haven't seen him yet, I shall have to go home without seeing him."
Constables were now busy keeping the people from climbing trees, but Uncle Ralph again led the way to his tree. He said to the constable "Here is a man who has come a long way to see the Prince, and I want to help him, and seizing the little man he chucked him high up among the branches, at which the crowd laughetl. The constable looked rather apprehensively at the gigantic man, whose smile had in it something of the 'Nemo nic inipiDie lacessit.' "
He laughed and suffered Zaccheus to remain, with the big man as his guardian. "Take plenty of time," said Uncle Ralph, "you may never again have a chance to see the future King of the Empire."
Through the kindness of our corresponding member. Dr. W . F. Uianong, of Northampton, Mass., 1 ha\e had the i)ri\ilege of studying his photo-stat copy of P. Campbell's "Tra\els in the Interior parts of North America in 1701, 1702," i)rintcd in ]''.(linl>urg in 1703. The photo-stat cop)' is from the xolunie in the library' of Congress. The books are now \'ery scarce and a C()i>>' was sold at auction some little time ago for !n;>5().()().
The ilescription of his trip through New Briuiswick - up the ri\er to I'redericton, then up the Nashwaak to the Highland Settlement made there by the old 42nd Regiment, then up the Kennel)ecasis to Sussex, and then west to Passama(|uo(l(l\' and C.rand IManan, is all full of interest.
I shall only \'enture to gi\e some extracts relating U> Jn'ars ill Niw Brunswick: These extracts 1 gi\e verbali)ii whhoui note or comment. He writes on September 2, 1701: "After we had passed Major CcjA^-'s (C\)ffin's) beautiful seal, i)!easanth- situ- ated on a point (Woodman's Point) on the west side of the ri\er, we landed * * * Here I was informed that two men, in coming down the ri\'er, had attacked an old bear and two young ones, swimming acrt)ss the rixer, which the>' kilk'd.
354 NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Another man, in his boat alone, met a bear swimming across, and struck him with his axe and wounded him; but by the force of the stroke the axe fell overboard. The wound exasperated the bear to such a degree that it was with the utmost difticulty the man could keep him from boarding him and in the slruggle he bit one of his fingers; but at last he sho\ed off his boat and got quit of him.
* * * "On an island, called Spoon Island, there were seven bears killed in one day. A gentleman and his son, near the house in which I then lodged, had been out working at the hay, having pitch-forks and rakes. Seeing a monstrous bear, quite close to the river, they pressed so hard upon him as to drive him into the water. They then thought they had him secure, as there was a boat near them, to which they immediately ran ; and having pursued and come up with him, they struck and pelted him with the pitch-forks and shafts till they broke them to pieces. The exasperated monster now, as they had no weapon to annoy him, turned the chase on his adversaries; and fixing his forepaws upon the gunnel of the boat attemi)ted to get in.
"They did all they could to keep him out, but their efforts w^ere in vain, — he got in. S(j that at last tlu'>' had nothing else for it, but either to jump out iuto the water (M- htay in the boat and be torn to pieces. They chose the former and swam ashcjre. Tlie liear, now master of the boat whence the enemy had battered him, was so severely galled with the strokes and woimds he had recei\ed that he made no attempt to follow, but continued in the boat, otherwise he might have soon o\ertaken tliem, and have had ample revenge as he could swim three times faster than they.
"They immediately ran to the house for guns, and when they came back saw him sitting in the boat, and dipping one of his paws now and then in the water, and washing his wounds; on which, le\elling their pieces, they shot him dead.
"The landl(;rd of the house I put uj) at, when this story was told, showed me one of the paws of this bear, A\hi(Ii, on account of its great size, he kei)t as a show, and added tliat it was as big as a yearling calf. So that one may easJK- concei\e the luuoc and destruction committed in a countr-s' so nuich infested with
NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 355
such monstrous and ravenous animals, especially on sheep, the simplest and silliest of all creatures, which fall an easy prey to beasts of far less strength and size. IVIany of these harmless, yet useful animals, were destroyed by bears in this very neigh- bourhood, where one man sustained the loss of thirty of his sheep within a short space; and even young cattle often were devoured, and carried off by them; yet they prefer swine, when they can get them, to any other meat.
* * * "After satisfying myself with everything neces- sary for me to see in this part of the River Saint John, I left my coat in the boat, the day being warm and sultry, and proceeded in my waistcoat and trousers twelve miles on foot. * * *
" I proceeded on the road, which had hitherto continued along the river side, but now struck off from it and led into a thick wood. * * * ]>sjy sooner had I entered this dreary wilderness than the many stories I had heard of the bears re- curred to my mind, which made me so apprehensive as to be at a stand whether to return back or push forward. I chose the latter. My dog, who was along with me and to whom I trusted much in case of being attacked, kept ranging al)Out for game and was but rarely in my sight; so that I had constantly to call on him to keep him in, lest a bear should spring out of the wood on me in his absence; for it being Sunday (as before said) I had left my gun, along with my servant, in the boat, and I began to cut a stout stick with my pocket knife. While bent down at this work, such was my apprehension, that I kept constantly looking around me, lest a bear should seize me by the posteriors.
"After being fortified with this stick I proceeded on without any further concern. Had I been so well informed as I after- wards was, I would have been under no such apprehension, as it is very rare that a bear,- no way molested by man, will attack him unless she happens to have young cubs. In that case it is dangerous to go near her den, but no bear would keep her >'(jung so near a place so much frequented by her mortal enemies, the human species, as that road was."
So much for bears in New Brunswick.
INDEX.
INDEX
AcQUiN, "Gabe," 35.
Adams, Miss M. E., 82.
Albert, Abbe Thomas. 2.S8.
Alexander, Sir VVm., 155.
Allen, Isaac, 7, G4, 138.
Allison, Joseph, 307.
Alverston, Lord, 279.
Alward, K. C, Silas, 230, 341
American Rcvoliilion, 88, MS. 314.
Anslev, Harzillai, 2-)9.
Arnold, Benedict, ti.i. b4. 1/7.
Ashburton Treaty, 3t)6.
Atherton, Benjamin, 14.
Atlee, Mayor, Annapolis, N. S., .S.
British North America, 46, 132. City of Saint John, 46. Commercial, 46, 132, 341. ,. ,o.
New Brunswick (now Nova Scotia) 4b. 13^. Barber:
James, 303. Keith, 303. Baring, 74, 340. Barker, George A., 299. Barrack S.iuare, 94. Bates, Walter. 31. Baxter, Hon. J. B. M., 3. Bay of Kundy, 313. Bcardsley:
John, 351. Rev. John, 65, 328. Ralph, 351. Beckwith, Adolph, 12. Bedell. Paul, 97, 161, 16b. Bell, Charles \V., 299. Bellew, Sir Patrick, 68. Bentley, John, 189. Bishop, Abram, J., 39. Black, David, 20. Boies, Thomas, 52. Boston, .340. Botsford, William, 335. BrookviUe, 302. Brown:
Archibald, 299. Charles, 122. Brussels, Duke of, 295. Burns, Dr., 40.
BuryinK Ground, C. of E.. 100. Byles, Jr., Mather. 328. C.M.uwELL, Sir John, 49. Caleff, M. D., John, 277. Campbell:
Duuald, 25. Isaac, 299. William, 100, 331.
'^'^ S^'cuy (Lord Dorchester), 10, 11, 56,57, 59,88,104,180,31,5. Lt.-Gov. Thomas, 24, 59, 60, 137. 140,
285, 332. Township of, 104.
Carlyle, Thomas, 108. Carman, Samuel, 328. Carter:
E. S., 309. Win. S., 18. Castor and Pollux, 341. Cathedral:
Kredericton, 334. Saint John, 94, 293. Chamber of Commerce, 46. Champlain, 88, 193, 145. 206, 313 Chandler, Hon. E. U., 274. Chapel. St. Malachi's, 94. Charnisav, 88. 147. 1,54, 155 Chicago, 340. 340. Chipman. Ward. 55. 60, 64, Chubb, llciirv, 162. 196. Chubb & Scars. 6, 7, 67. Churches,:
St. Ann's, 324.
St. Bartholomew's, 299.
St. James the Less, 305.
St. Luke's. 311.
St. Paul's. 308.
304. 18, 327.
_.. St.. 295. ,.rloo St., 294. 303. . J.. 3.
:s3,':
Baptist, Bru Baptist. \Va Clairmont Housi Clarke. Hon. C,cm Clifton. 310. Clinch, D. (-., 300. Cobbelt. William. Cofhn, Major, 3.5.3. Colebrooke, Sir Wi . Collins, David, 82. Colville, Captain, 10. Confederation, 326. Connecticut, 315. Connell:
A. B., 19. Hon. Chas., 18. Connolly, Bishop, 293.
Conway, Township ol, loL
Cooney, Robert, 67, 85, 2S7..
Cornwallis, Lord, 9, 24.
Courtenay Bay, 100. '294 , .124.
Court House, 3, 94, 127.331. .
Crannell, Bartholomew, L>8, 160, 3
Crimean War, 131, 170.
Cromwell, 155.
Cudlip, John W.,_301.
Canard, Joseph, i2.
Custom House. 133, 322.
C.\NON, 305, 30,S, 31
D.^N1EL, Ki Davidson:
M. P., A. L.. 3.
Ca|>tain, 2.S.
William. 61, 62. Da N'inci, Leonardo, 29. L DeLancey's Brigade, 9. DeMonts, 143, 145, 2(16, : Dc\'eber, Lt.-Col., G., 10
Dibblee:
Col. F. H. J., 19.
Rev. Fred, 27. DiRdequash, 340. Dochet Island, 207. Dollard, Bishop, 73, 293. Dominion Archives, 288, 328. Domville, Hon. James, 307. Donald, Rev. Dr., 308. DoLiKlas, Sir Howard, 32, 34, 1S9, 19 Durham, Earl of. 73.
Eaton, Aaron, 82. Edwards. J. Plimsoll. 3. Elections, First Prov., 61. Elle«ood, Col.. 29. Esmonde, Sir Thos.. G8. Everett:
C. B,. 45.
Thomas C, 45.
Fairvale, 308. Fairweather, Joseph, 122. Fall Fleet, 55. 57. 316. Fanning, Col.. 170. Fernhill Cemetery, 298. Finsal, Earl of, 68. Fisher:
Chas., 17. 19, 42, 67.
Henry. 17.
Lewis; 8. 9.
Lewis P., 17. 18.
Peter, 5, 56, 287.
William, 11, 18.
W. Shives, 11. Fitzgerald, Lord Edward, 179. Fitzpatrick, John, 299. Flanders, 316. Fleming, George, 106. Forts:
Boishebert, 36.
Carleton, 25.
Cumberland, 54.
Frederick, .36, 160, 314.
Howe, 10, 63, 93. 156, 169, 314.
LaTour. 88. 149, 154.
Sumter. 320, 32-i. Foulis, Robert, 105, 285. France, .58, 316, 340. Francklin, Michael. 160. Eraser, James D.. 72. Fredericton, 21, 33, 74, 321. French, Lord, 68. Furlong, Thomas, 249.
Gallows' Hill, 134, 135. Ganong, Dr. \V. F., 353. Garrison, Alderman, 331. Gesner. Dr.. 73. 287. Gibbon, Edward, 338. Gibson, Alex., 52. Gilbert:
Aid., 331.
George G., 301. Glasgow, 317. Glen Falls. .302. Golden Ball Corner, 292. Golding, Stephen T., .300. Gondola Point, 310. Gordon:
Lord George, 333,
Ll.-Gov. A. H., 35, 323. Government House, 344, 352. Grand Falls. 34, 49, 288, 289. Grand Manan, 55. Grant, Lt. -Governor, 3.
Gray:
Rev. Dr., 253.
Hon. John IL, 270. Great Fire of '77, 317, 329, 344. Gulf of Mexico, 313.
Halifax, 346.
Hampton, 310.
Ilanington, Hon. Dan., 258.
Hannay, Dr. James, 287.
Harding:
Alderman, 331.
Thomas, 163. Hardy:
Charles E., 1.36.
Elias. 57, 66, 136, 181.
JaneL.. 136. Harris, James, 194. Hartt. Elder. 294. Hatheway :
C. L.. 287. Captain, 306.
Hayes, Mayor, R. T., 3. Haymarket Square. 294. Hay ward, M. L., paper by: George W. Orser
and the Orserites, 214. Hazen:
Sir J. Douglas, 182.
Hon. Robert L., 182, 335.
William. 64, 181. Head:
Sir Edmund, 78, 250, 343.
Lady. 254, 343. Henderson. Geo. A.. 3. Hewlett, Lt.-Col. R., 10, 56. HiUhurst Hotel, 309. Hill, Lewis. Odber & Co,, 327. Hilyard, Thomas, 188. Hornbrooke, Cieo., 303. Horsfield, Thos., 99. House of Assembly, 63, 295, 334. Iloyt:
Israel, 31.
M unson, 63, 64. Huggeford, M. D., Peter, 65, Hunter, M. A., A. F., 36.
Imperial Government, 320. Inch, J. R., 83. Indian Legends, 289. Inglis:'
Bishop Chas., 179.
Bishop John, 311. Ingraham, Sergt., B., 1.3,
Jack,:
D. Russell. 281, 287. Edward, 2S0, 287. William, 274.
Jackson. M. P., Wm., 257. Jardine, Robert, 2.50, 251, 298. Johnstone:
Alderman, 331.
Charles, 238.
Hugh, Sr., 100.
Hon. J. W.. 260. Jones, John B., 110.
Keith, Ho.n. .\lex., 250. Kennedy House, 307. Kent, Duke of, 318. Ketchum:
Alderman, 3.31.
Thomas, C. L., 216, 291. KiUam. M. P. P., A. E., 231.
INDEX
King:
Edward VII, 305, 318, 352.
George v., 314, 318. King's College:
Fredericton, 43, 84.
Windsor, N. S., 84. Kirk & Daniel's Mill, 342. Knox, Thomas, 10. Koopnian, Prof., 3.
Last Supper, The. 293. La Tour:
Sir Chas., 50, 88. 146, 156, 314.
Lady, 152, 154, 157, 314. Laurier, Sir Wilfrid, 318. Lausanne, 338. Lawlor's Lake, 302. Lawrence, Jos. W.. 8, 137, 287. Leonard, Hon. Geo., 62, 166, 331. Lepreaux, 340. Lewin, J. D., 122. Light, .Mex. L., HI. Lingthwaite, Aid., 331. Liverpool, 317, 320, 341. Lloyd, Edward, 82. London, 317, 329, 341. Longley, Justice. 3. Ludlow:
Hon. G. D.,59, 60, 61, 138, 139.
Hon. G. G., 139, 163, 165, 285, 327, 333.
Gabriel \'., 60.
Macintosh, Dr., Wm., 285. Mackay, Hugh, 309. Madawaska:
Maine, 288.
New Brunswick, 288.
Quebec, 288. Maine, 313. Mallard House. 62, 94. Malobiannah, 290. Manawagonish Road, 90. Marco Polo. 96, 129. Marcuus of Lome, 318. Marr. Arthur. 311. Marshall, Henry, 82. MarsLon. Benjamin, 59, 62. Martello Tower, 86. Massachusetts, 314. Matthew. Dr. Geo. P., 311. Maugerville, 40. Mechanics Institute, 341. Mercure, Prudent L., 288. Miles,:
Alderman, 331.
Elijah, 328.
Thomas, T. O., Millidge, B. A.,Rev
Reminiscences of Sa 12G.
Some Notes on History of Charlotte County, 206.
Events of the Decade of 1860-70, 320.
Some Reminiscenses of Saint John and Province of New Brunswick, 1870-1880, 340. Millidge, Thos. E., 193, 195. MiUigan, John, 48. Milltown. 17, lO, 74. Miramichi Eire, 1825, 23, 32, 69. Monckton, Major Gen. Robert, 36, 314. Moosepath, 300. Moss Glen, 310. Morice, Dr., 22. .Morris, Hon. Chas., 173.
328.
. J . W. , papers by : ' ■ ■ John, 1849-1860,
Mowat:
Capt. D., 277, 2S0.
Miss H., 277. Munro, Alex., 287. Murdoch. C. E., William, paper by: The Saint
John Suspension Bridge, 104. Murray, Major, 29. McAvity:
John, 301.
Thomas, 103. McAvoy, Daniel, 300. McEachern, Bishop. 72. McFarlane, Wm. G., 8. McKenzie Murder, 33. McKeown, Chief Justice, address at Un\eiling
the Tablet to Elias Hardy, 136. McKim, Rev. R. T.,299. McLellan, Warden H. R., 3. McLeod, Rev. Dr. Jos., 230.
Necomah, 290.^
Nelson, Lord, 177.
New Brunswick, 320.
New Ireland, 68.
New Jersey, 315.
New York, 315.
N. B. Government, 321, 325.
OiiiTUARY Notices or Members ok Society
Armstrong, Hon. J. Russell, 142.
Blake, George, 142.
Elaglor, James S., 142.
Inches, P. Robertson, 4.
Ketchum, T. C. L., 142.
Millidge, B. A., Rev. J. W., 142.
Murdoch, C- E., William, 4.
Raymond, LL.D., Ven. Archdeacon, 142.
Rising, Edward L., 285.
Ward, Clarence, 4.
Willet, K. C, John, 285. O'Brien, Timothy, paper bj-: The First Earl
of Sheflield, 331. O'Connell, Daniel, 68. Odber, Thomas T., 328. Odell, Jonathan, 28. Old Burying Ground, 97. Old Sus[jension Bridge, .3. Olive:
Isaac J., 306.
James. 255. One Mile House. 295. Orange Riots, 127. Owens, R. N., Cai.t., 53.
Paduock, M. D., .Vuino, 18.3, 293.
Page Bros., :j43.
Paris Crew, 304.
Parkin, Dr. CJeo.. R., 279
Parr, tlovernor. 59.104, 145, 161,
Parrtown. ,')9, 101.
Partelow;
Hon. John R., 111.
Richard, 100. Passaniaiiuoddy Bay, 53, 334. Paterson, B. E., 4. Peel. Sir Robert, 180. Pemberton, Coinm., 20. Pemniyhaouet, 2S9. Pennyslvania, 315. Perley, Moses H., 19, 73, 287. Peters:
Hon. C. J., 187, 293.
Col. B. Lester, 321.
John, 31.
INDEX
Pettingil, Mrs., 311. Pickard, M. A., Rev. H., 8.5. Pickett. David, 31. Pipon, Capt. John H., 325. Pitt, William, 179. Pitts, Herman H., 231. Poor, Hon. John A., 257. Portland, Parish of, 104. Poutrincoiirt, 145, 140, 20G. Powell, K. C, H. A., 142. Prevost, Major, 55. Prince of Wales. 307, 313. Prince Alfred, 318. Prince Arthur, 318. Princess Louise, 318. Prussia. 340. Pui,'slev, Lt.-Gov., 307. Putnam, Judge, 138, 139.
Quebec, 313. Queen Mary, 318. Queen Victoria, 318, 325. Quinton, Hugh, 156.
R.WMOND, LL.D., Yenerahle Archdeacon, papers by:
I'islier's History of New Brunswick, 5.
Elias Hardy, Counsellor-at-law, 57.
Cooney's History of Northeastern and Eastern New Brunswick, 67.
Historic du Madawaska, 287.
Incidents in tlie History of Saint John New Brunswick, 313.
Concerning a Name, 327.
Bears in New Brunswick in the (Milen Time, 350. Raymond, LL.D., Venerable Arclideacon, 136,
137. Ravmond, Silas, 3L Railways:
E. and N. American, 306, 312.
Grand Trunk, 321. Renforth, 305. Renforth, James, 304. Reynolds, W. K., 106, 107, 110, 123. 125. Rivers:
Saint Croi.x, 209.
Saint John, 41, ,")8, 106, 313.
St. Lawrence, 313, 320.
Kennebecasis, 89, 104, 292, 302. Richmond, Duke of, 182. Ritchie, Wm. J., 122. Riverside, 305. Robb, Dr., 287. Roberts, Thos. B., 310. Robertson, Hon. John, 274. 306, 333. Robinson:
Col. Beverley, 65.
Hon. John, 65.
Rev. Samuel, 295. Rodgers, Col. ,.35. Roebling:
John A., 109, 110.
Col. W. A., 109. Roome. John C. L., 57. Rothesay, 306. Royal Hotel, 94.
St. Croi.x Courier, 287.
St. John Hotel. 94.
St. Andrews, 47, 210, 326.
St. George, 49, 340.
St. John, 5, 58. 75, 104. 107, 125, 315.
St. Stephen, 47, 49, 74, 211, 326.
Shannon, Col. R. C, 3. Sancton, Geo. P., 299. Savary, Judge, 3. Saxby Gale, The, 340. Scott:
S. D., 166.
Sir Walter, 108. Second Ealls, 340. Serrell, C. E., E. W., 107, 125. Sewell, Jonathan, 140. Shediac, 306, 322. Shellield. Lord, 168. Shubrick, U. S. N., Com., 259. Sidney, Lord, 178. Simonds:
Hon. Chas., 123.
James, 61, 64, 156. 195.
M. P. P., Richard, 72. Sivewright, M. P. P., John, 2.30. Skinner, Brig. Cicn'l., 8. Smith:
A. Chipman, 329.
A. Chipman & Co., 328.
Charles L., 230.
George F., 102.
Nathan. M. D., 329.
Stephen, 20.
Wm. Howe, 329.
William O., 163, 329. Smyth, Lt.-Gov., 334. Sower, Chris., 65. Speedway of St John, 299. Stanley, Lord, 51. Steamer Simbury, 322. Stewart, Charles C, 50. Stockford, H. C, Cleorge, 299. Stockton, Lt. A., 332. Studholme, Major. 160, 161, 178. Sunbury County, ItiO. Sundial at Annapolis, N. S., 3. Swabey, Rev. M., 294.
Tei-koru, Thomas, 108. Tennant, Wm. B., 302. Therriault, Hon. P., 288, 289. Thibodeau, Olivier, 14. Thome, Richard, 82. Thrasher, J. W., 272. Three Mile House, 299. Tibbits, Benjamin, E., 285. Tillry, Sir Leonard, 128. Tisdale, Walker, 103. Titus:
Henry. 308.
Richard, 308. Torryburn, 3U3. Trent Affair, The, 320. Trinity Church, 94, 99. Tyne Crew, 303. Tyng, Col. Wm., 174.
Union Jack, 316. United States, 320, 341. Upham, Judge, 138, 142.
Valley Church. 134. VanBuskirk, Lt.-Col., 9. Vanderbcck, J. W.. 32. Vaughan, George, 3. Vroom, James, 287.
Walker, Rev., W. W., 311. Wanton, William, 100. Ward. John. 65.
Waterbiiry, D:ivid H., papers by: Willet, K. C, John, papers by:
Retrospective Ramble Over Historic Saint Early History of Saint John, 143.
John, 86. How. St. John Celebrated in the Good Old
A Chat on the Way from the City to Gon- „,.„ ,, Tunes 238.
dola Point on the beautiful Kenne- ;;' r*^' ^- C-. John, 4, 13(5, 137.
becasis, 292. Williams, B. S., 17.
Waterbiiry, John, 301. Wilniot, Henry, paper by:
Watson, Urook, 203. I'ife and Times of Dr. JohnCaleff, Proin-
Weildcrbiirn, Alex., 277. „, , '""-'"t Loyalist, 279.
Wellinulon, Diikeof, 182, 197, 295, 330, 331. Winslow, Hon. Kdward, 10, 28, 55, 58, 00,
Wentworth, Sir John, 29, 179. , , •^-«. '^^5-
Wcstmoiland Road, 292. Winslow Papers, 328.
Wetmore, Aid., 331. ^X""'^ General. 314.
..,. .. Wood, Lt.-Gov., 3.
^^ ""'-■■ Woodman's Point, 353.
James, 266, 317. Woolwich, 3.31.
Dr. Walter W., 307. Wri^;ht: Whiteside, Richard, Jr., 122. Richard, KO.
Whitney, .\U1., 331. William, 80, 172.
COLLECTIONS
OF THE
New Brunswick Historical Society
A. D. 1894 to 1928.
Volume I. with Index at end of No. 3.
Page
1. New Brunswick Historical Society, by C. Ward, Esq 7
The King's New Brunswick Regiment, by Jonas Howe, Esq 13
The Maugerville Settlement, by James Hannay, D.C.L (33
Documents relating to Sunbury County 89
Justice Perley's Court Documents ^^
Report of Committee on Claims of Old Inhabitants, Saint John
River 1^^^'
Documents of Old Congregational Church at Maugerville HU
H. Documents of Old Congregational Church, Maugerville (con- tinued) ^ " '^'*
Letters of James Simonds, written at Saint John, A.D., 17(34- 1785 1^^
Business Contracts of Hazen, Simonds, White, et al 1^/
Journal of Captain William Owen at CampobcUo, 1770-71, edited by William F. Ga,.ong, Ph.D l'^^^
The (31d Meductic Fort on the River Saint John, by W. O. Raymond, M.A "-^
III Medical Men of Saint John in its first half-century, J. W. Law-
97-;
rence . ' "
Selections from papers and correspondence of James White,
17G2-1783, edited by W. O. Raymond, M.A 3(Ki
Early History and Settlement of Crand Manan, by Jonas
Howe, Esq '^"^^
Volume II, with Index at end of No. 6.
Pack
IV. Introductory, by C. Ward, Esq., Secretary T)
Journal of Capt. Wm. Owen, R.N. (second paper), by W. F.
Ganong, Ph.D ^
Census of Conway and Saint John in 17r)5, contributed by Isaiah W. Wilson -^
1 contents'
Pagk The James White Papers (continued), edited by W. O. Ray- mond, M.A oO
The Pennfield Records, edited by James Vroom, Esq 7'i
The North Shore" " of New Brunswick, by W. C). Raymond, M.A ' 8]
V. Introductory, by C. Ward, Esq., Secretary 139
Sketch of Nova Scotia, in 1783, edited by W. O. Raymond,
LI..D 142
Historical-Geographical Documents, edited by W. F. (ianong,
Ph.D.:
(1) Monckton's expedition on the Saint John, in 17n8 Hj',l
(2) Mitchel's Diary and Survey at Passaniaquoddy in
17(i4 175
Loyalists in Arms, by W. O. Raymond, LL.D 18'J
Roll of Officers of British American or Loyalist Corps, by
W. O. Raymond 225
Some Loyalist Transport Ships, 1783 273
A Fragment from the Winslow Papers 280
VL Introductory, by C. Ward, Esq., Secretary 285
Papers relating to townships on the Saint John, edited by W. O. Raymond, LL.D.:
(1) Maugerville 287
(2) (iage, Conway, Burton, Sunbury and New-town 302
Historical-Geographical Documents, edited by W. F. (janong,
Ph.D.:
(3) Smethurst's Journey in 17()1, Nepisiguit to Fort
Cumberland 358
Royal Commission and Instructions to (jovernor Carleton 391
Life and Administration of (jOvernor Carleton, by W. O.
Raymond, LL.D 439
Volume III, with Index at end of No. 9.
VII. Introductory, by C. Ward, Esq., Secretary 5
Historical-Geographical Documents, edited by W. F. Ganong, Ph.D.:
(4) Richard Denys, Sieur de Fronsac and his settlements .... 7
In the Days of the Pioneers, by Rev. W. C. Gaynor 55
Exchange Coffee-House at Saint John, by Lt.-Col. J. R.
Armstrong 00
Benjamin Marston of Marblehead, Loyalist, by W. O. Ray- mond, LL.D 79
contents 111
Page
VIII. Introductory, by W. O. Raymond, LL.D., Secretary Ill
Story of Old Fort Frederick, at Saint John, by W. O. Ray- mond, LL.D 113
Historical-Geographical Documents, edited by W. F. (ianong, Ph.D.:
(5) Survey of the Magaguadavic River in 1797 167
Founding of Shelburne and Early Miramichi, Marston's Diary,
edited by W. O. Raymond, LL.D 204
Founding of Church of England in Shelburne 278
The Disbanded Soldiers at Shelburne 294
IX. Introductory, by W. O. Raymond, LL.D., Secretary 299
Historical-Geographical Documents, edited by W. F. Ganong, Ph.D.:
(6) The Destruction of Burnt Church 301
(7) Foundation of Modern Settlement at Miramichi 307
State of Madawaska in 1831, edited by W. O. Raymond,
LL.D 344
Report of Dean and Kavanagh on Madawaska in 1831 386
Volume IV, with Index at end of No. 12.
X. Introductory, by John Willet, K. C, Secretary 3
Peter Fisher, First Historian of New Brunswick, by Rev. W. O.
Raymond, LL.D 5
Elias Hardy, Counsellor-at-Law, by Rev. W. O. Raymond,
LL.D 57
Robert Cooney, First Historian of Northern and Eastern New
Brunswick, by Rev. W. O. Raymond, LL.D 67
Restrospective Ramble over Historic Saint John, by David H.
Waterbury , 86
Saint John Suspension Bridge, by William Murdoch, C. E 104
Reminiscences of Saint John, 1849-1860, by Rev. J. W. Miilidge,
B.A 126
' Address of Chief Justice McKeown at Unveiling of Hardy
Tablet 136
XL Introductory, by John Willet, K.C., Secretary 142
Epitomised History of Saint John, by John Willet, K.C 143
Some Notes on History of Charlotte County, N. B., by Rev.
J. W. Miilidge, B.A 206
George W. Orser and the Orserites, by M. L. Hayward, Hart- land, N. B 214
How Saint John Celebrated in the Good Old Times, by John
Willet, K.C 238
Life and Times of Dr. John Caleff, a Prominent Loyalist, by Henry Wilmot 271
iv CONTENTS
Page
XII. Introductory, by Dr. William Macintosh, Secretary 285
Histoire du Madawaska, by Venerable Archdeacon Raymond,
LL.D 287
A Chat on the Way from the City to C.ondola Point on the
Beautiful Kennebecasis, by David H. Waterbury 292
Incidents in the History of Saint John, New Brunswick, by
Venerable Archdeacon Raymond, LL.D 313
Events of the Decade, 1860-70, by Rev. J. W. Millidge, B.A 320
Concerning a Name, by Venerable Archdeacon Raymond,
LL.D 327
The First Earl of Sheiheld, by Timothy O'Brien 331
Some Reminiscences of the City of Saint John and Province
of New Brunswick, by Rev. J. W. Millidge, B.A 340
Bears in New Brunswick in the Olden Time, by Venerable
Archdeacon Reymond, LL.D 350
COLLECTIONS
New Brunswick
Historical Society
No. 11
SAINT JOHN, N. B,
Barnes & Co., Limited, Prince William Street
1927
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
• • Page Epitomized History of Saint John, N. B.
Street, Names and for Wliom Called, John Willet, K. C 143
Some Notes on the History of Charlotte County, N. B., Rev. J. W. Milledge, B. A.: 206
George W. Orser and the Orserites, M , L. Hay ward, Hartland, N. B..„ : 214
How Saint John Celebrated the Good Old Times, John Willet, K. C : .238
Life and Times of Dr. John Caleff , A Prominent Loyalist, Henry Wilmot : 271
C01BBECl.'.ili'i
•', k..
New BrunswiCTP
Historieal : Sictety
No, 11
CC'i'-jVLE ii'i'j Vol. IV v^^j
S/JNT JOHN, N. B. B^MfBS & Co., Limited, Prince William STaLB-"
J^^ki^L^; iw2J>tSii "^yCx^iV
TABLE OF COM-ENTS
Introductory 2--''^
Histoire du Madawaska, 1iy Venerable ArchdeacOiS Raymon.i
LL.L). . . ' 5^;
A Chat on the Way from the City to Gondola Point on the Beautiful Kennebecasis, by David H. Waterbury . ..... 50^
Iitddents in the History of Srunt John, New Brunswick. h\ Venerable Archdeacon Raymond, LL.D . . . ..,..,> J)
E-'f .itF of the Decade, 1SGO--70, by Rev. J. W. MiTidge, f] A.. .3J(>
Concerning a Name, by V^enerable Archdeact a Raymond, LL.D ' .,. .327
T he Firbt Earl of Sheffield, by Timotliy O'Brien , . . '"'
Some Reminiscences of the City of Saint John and Province ,-,1 New Biijnbwick, by Rev. J, W. Miilldg-e, B.A. ;U0'
Bears in New Brunswick in the Olden Time, l^y \enerable Archdeacon Raymond, LL.D 350
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Peter Fisher, the first historian of New Brunswick, by Rev. W. O. Ray- mond, LL. D , 5
Elias Hardy, Counsellor at Law, by Rev. W. O. Raymond, LL. D 57
Robert Cooney, first historian of Northern and Eastern New Brunswick,
by Rev. W. O. Raymond, LL. D 67
Retrospective Ramble over Historic St. John, by David H. Waterbury.. 86
Saint John Suspension Bridge, by William Murdoch, C.E 104
Reminiscences of Saint John, 1849-60, by Rev. J. W. Millidge, B. A 126
Address of Chief Justice McKeown at Unveiling of Hardy Tablet 136
hi'
1^
MANCHESTER, INDIANA