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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, 


NEW  BRUNSWICK  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY.  121 

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. 


252  NEW    BRUNSWICK    HISTORICAL    SOCIETY 

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. 


NEW    BRUNSWICK   HISTORICAL    SOCIETY  253 

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. 


NEW    HRUNSWICK    HISTORICAL    SOCIETY  255 

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 


NEW    BRUNSWICK   HISTORICAL    SOCIETY  261 

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 


NEW    BRUNSWICK    HISTORICAL    SOCIETY  203 

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 


NEW    BRUNSWICK    HISTORICAL    SOCIETY  265 

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 


268  NEW    BRUNSWICK    HISTORICAL    SOCIETY 

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 


270  NEW    BRUNSWICK    HISTORICAL    SOCIKTY 

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 


NEW    BRUNSWICK    HISTORICAL    SOCIETY  271 

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 


272  NEW    BRUNSWICK    HISTORICAL    SOCIETY 

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 


NEW    BRUNSWICK   HISTORICAL    SOCIETY  273 

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 


274  NEW    BRUNSWICK    HISTORICAL    SOCIETY 

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. 


2«0  NEW    BRUNSWICK    HISTORICAL    SOCIETY 

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. 


NEW    BRUNSWICK    HISTORICAL    SOCIETY  299 

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 


300  NEW    HRUNSWICK    HISTORICAL    SOCIKTV 

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. 


302  NEW    BRUNSWICK    HISTORICAL    SOCIETY 

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. 


NEW    BRUNSWICK   HISTORICAL    SOCIETY  303 

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 


304  NEW    BRUNSWICK    HISTORICAL    SOCIETY 

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 


306  NEW    BRUNSWICK    HISTORICAL    SOCIETY 

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 


NEW    BRUNSWICK    HISTORICAL    SOCIETY  307 

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. 


30S  NEW    BRUNSWICK    HISTORICAL    SOCIETY 

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- 


344  NEW    BRUNSWICK    HISTORICAL    SOCIETY 

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 


346  NEW    BRUNSWICK    HISTORICAL    SOCIETY 

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. 


NEW    URUNSWICK    HISTORICAL    SOCIETY  353 

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