KING'S COUNTY.
Lies likewise on both sides of the river Saint John, and is bounded on
the North by a line running South West and North East, from the South
point of Spoon Island in the river Saint John. On the East by
Northumberland and Westmorland. On the West by Charlotte, and on the
South by the County of Saint John. It contains seven thousand nine
hundred and thirty inhabitants.
It comprehends the Long Reach, the Kennebeckasis and Belisle, and is
divided into the following Parishes--Westfield, Greenwich, Kingston,
Springfield, Norton, Sussex, and Hampton. Kingston has a Township
regularly laid out, which bears the name of the Parish. It has a neat
Church, with a resident Minister, and a number of neat buildings, which
make a fine appearance. The Court-House, however, is a considerable
distance from the Town. The settlers in most parts of this Parish have
the appearance of comfort and affluence, although the land is inferior
in fertility to most of the other Parishes. The Parish of Sussex has a
Church with a resident Minister, and an Academy for the instruction of
the Indians, but little good has accrued to these wanderers from that
Institution. A beautiful strip of land lies in this Parish called the
Vale of Sussex, which is highly cultivated and covered with excellent
houses and barns.--Agriculture is in general well attended to, and its
effects are evident in independent farmers, good stocks of cattle and
an air of comfort and cheerfulness, the sure returns of industry and
husbandry. The roads and bridges are in good order and well attended
to. The great road of communication passes through this Vale to
Westmorland.
The river Kennebeckasis intersects this county, and falls into the
Saint John, near the Boar's Head. This is a considerable stream, and
has several Islands scattered through its course. It is navigable
upwards of twenty miles for vessels of any burthen, and sixty miles
farther for small vessels and boats. It is well adapted for
Ship-building, having abundance of excellent timber in its
neighborhood, and several vessels are annually built here for the
merchants of Saint John.
The Nerepis another considerable stream, falls into the Saint John at
the foot of the Long Reach. This river runs a considerable distance
into the country and has a settlement along its banks.
There are two quarries of excellent Plaster of Paris on the river
Kennebeckasis. There is likewise a salt spring in this part of the
country, from which small quantities of salt have been made by the
Indians and Inhabitants settled near the place, which has proved of an
excellent quality for the table, and there can be no doubt of its
possessing valuable medicinal qualities; but no attention has yet been
paid to analyse it. Great quantities of sugar are extracted from the
sugar maple in this county, upwards of ten thousand pounds have been
made in a year, of that valuable article in one Parish.
Several of the Parishes in this county have Churches, some of which
have stated Pastors, and others are supplied occasionally.