THE FIRST SETTLERS OF CUMBERLAND.
IN the early part of the last century several emigrants from the Old
Country found their way to Prospect Farm, with whom family friendships
were formed and remained unbroken for many years. The Davis family is
one of these.
Daniel Davis came from a small town near Bristol, England. He was a
weaver by trade, but owing to the introduction of the power loom in
Great Britain, which ruined the hand-loom industry, Mr. Davis came to
America in the hope of finding some other means of gaining a
livelihood. He with his wife and one child came to Prince Edward Island
in 1812. They were greatly disappointed with the appearance of things
on the island, and Mrs. Davis says she cried nearly all the time they
stayed there. After a year on the island Mr. Davis moved to Point de
Bute. Although he was a small man and not accustomed to farm work, he
remained in Point de Bute for ten years and made a good living for his
increasing family. At the end of that time he got a grant of good land
in Little Shemogue, on what is now called the Davis Road. On this land
Mr. Davis put up a log house and moved his family there. After
undergoing most of the privations incidental to such an experience,
success came, and with is a comfortable and happy old age. In his later
years Mr. Davis made a trip to his old home in England, and received a
substantial legacy that awaited him there. He had a family of ten
children, five sons and five daughters. Henry, the second son, was a
member of the family at Prospect for fourteen years, and came to be
looked upon almost as a son. John settled in Leicester, N.S., and was a
successful farmer, with a large family. One son is a Methodist minister
in the Nova Scotia Conference, and another is stipendiary magistrate
for the town of Amherst.
Henry Davis was a miller, and settled first in Amherst. One of his
sons, T. T. Davis, is a professor in a western College. The other sons
of Daniel Davis were farmers, two of whom remained at the old home in
Shemogue, where some of their descendants still live.
John Woods was another of the early emigrants who found his way to
Prospect. He was a Manxman. After a time he bought a farm at Tidnish,
N.S., and subsequently moved to the Gulf Shore, Wallace. Mr. Woods
visited Prospect Farm in the seventies, and was greatly delighted to
see the old place again.
Samson Clark was also a member of the family for a time. He was a
brother of the late Alexander Clark, D.D. When he left Prospect he
located on a farm on what he called the "Roadside," back of Amherst,
N.S., now Salem. Samson, although a strong man physically, and with
plenty of brains, did not make life a success. He became blind in his
later years, and never prospered financially. Politically Mr. Clark
would stand for a countryman of his who, when asked soon after landing
in America what his politics were, answered, "Is there a government
here?" He was told that there was. "Then," said he, "I'm ag'in the
government."
Isaac Vandegrift came from Halifax to Point de Bute. His mother was a
widow. He married Miriam Smith, from Sackville, and the ceremony took
place at the "Brick House," Prospect. Isaac settled at Hall's Hill, but
afterward moved back to Point de Bute. He was an excellent ploughman,
and was one of the drovers north when the Richibucto and Miramichi
markets were supplied with beef from the Westmoreland marshes. He
contracted consumption and died comparatively young. Mrs. Edward Jones,
of Point de Bute, is the only one of his five children now living.
A family named Ireland came to Prospect early in the centry, and Mr.
Trueman took some trouble in assisting Mr. Ireland to locate. These
entries are found in the journal: "May, 1811--Robert goes to Amherst
for Mr. Ireland's goods," and, later, Mr. Trueman "goes with Mr.
Ireland and Amos Fowler to Westcock for advice." Mr. Ireland moved to
King's County, where he farmed for a time. Later he went to Ontario.
The late Hon. George Ryan, when at Ottawa, met some members of the
Ireland family and renewed old acquaintanceship after a separation of
forty years.
COLPITTS.
Extracts from the historical paper read at the re-union of the Colpitts
family in Coverdale, Albert County, Sept. 6th, 1900:
"In the spring of 1783, immediately after the close of the
Revolutionary War, there came to Halifax, from Newcastle-on-Tyne,
England, a tall, stalwart Englishman with his wife and family of seven
children. The name of the man was Robert Colpitts, as far as we know
the only one of the name to come out from the Mother Country, and the
progenitor of all on this side of the Atlantic who bear the name. What
his occupation or position in society was before his emigration we can
only conjecture. Strange to say, there does not exist a scrap of
writing which throws any light on these questions, and tradition is
almost equally at fault. Later in life Robert Colpitts was a captain of
militia, and it is thought he had some connection with the army before
his emigration. Whatever his occupation was he must have been possessed
of some means, as among the articles brought from England were things
which would be counted as luxuries rather than necessities for a new
settler among the wilds of New Brunswick. For instance, among these
articles were three large clocks.
"Tradition says that this was not his first visit to Canada. Before the
outbreak of the American Revolution he had been over, it is believed,
in connection with a survey of the Bay of Fundy. At this time he had
made a small clearing on what is now the Charles Trites' farm, in
Coverdale, and put up a small cabin on the place. He then returned to
Newcastle-on-Tyne, and closed up his business with the expectation of
returning with his family. In the meantime the war between England and
her American colonies had broken out, and he could not reach Nova
Scotia until the trouble was settled, which was not for seven years.
For a part of this time the family had charge of a toll bridge near
Newcastle. The following incident is declared to have actually occurred
while they were keeping the toll bridge. A large man, riding a very
small donkey, one day came up to the bridge and asked the amount of the
toll. The charge was more than he felt inclined to pay, so he asked
what would it be for a man with a load. Finding that it was
considerably less he at once laid down the smaller sum, picked up the
donkey in his arms, and walked over the bridge. From Halifax Mr.
Colpitts and the two oldest boys made their way overland, walking the
most of the way from there to Moncton, while the others came in a
vessel soon afterwards. When they reached Coverdale the land he had
improved had been pre-empted, and Mr. Colpitts had to push on. He
settled at Little River, five miles from its mouth."
The writer, after giving a fuller account of the family, says: "It is,
we freely confess, the history of a race of humble farmers, and such,
for the most part, have been their descendants; no one of the name has
yet occupied a prominent place in the public life of our country. But
the name has always been an honorable one, and those who have borne it
have been, with few exceptions, honest, God-fearing, God-honoring men
and women."
Mr. James Colpitts, of Point de Bute, is a great-grandson of Mr. Robert
Colpitts.
MONRO.
Alexander Monro was born in Banff, Scotland. His father, John Monro,
and family came from Aberdeen to Miramichi, New Brunswick, in 1815. He
remained in Miramichi three years and then moved to Bay Verte. The next
move was to Mount Whatley, and, after a few years stay there, Mr. Monro
purchased a wilderness lot on Bay Verte Road, to which they removed,
and after years of strenuous labor made for themselves a comfortable
home.
It was from Mr. Robert King, school master--referred to in another part
of this book--that the son, Alexander Monro, received the inspiration
and training that started him on the road to success in life. His
biographer says: "When he was twenty-one years of age a Mr. Robert King
came into the district to take charge of the school, and under his care
young Monro studied in the winter evenings geometry, algebra and land
surveying. Mr. King possessed a surveying compass, and gave him
practical instruction in land surveying, leading him to decide to
follow that business.
Mr. Monro obtained a recommendation from Dr. Smith, of Fort Cumberland,
and others, and in the year 1837 went to Fredericton to obtain an
appointment from the Hon. Thomas Baillie, then Surveyor-General of the
Province. Mr. Baillie complimented him on his attainments, but refused
to appoint him to the office. When Mr. Monro got back to St. John he
had but two shillings in his pocket, and with this meagre sum he
started on foot for home. Before he had gone far he found a job of
masonry work and earned fifteen shillings. With this money he returned
to St. John, and purchased Gibson's "Land Surveying" and some cakes for
lunch, and set out again for Westmoreland. On the way he worked a day
at digging potatoes, for which he received two shillings, and later on
built a chimney and was paid two pounds.
The next year Mr. Monro received the appointment of Deputy Crown Land
Surveyor. In 1848 he was made a Justice of the Peace, and was the
surveyor to run the boundary line between Nova Scotia and New
Brunswick. He was the author of a number of works, one on Land
Surveying, also one on the "History, Geography and Productions of New
Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island." For a number of years
he edited an educational monthly magazine called the PARISH SCHOOL
ADVOCATE. His biographer adds: "Such is the life and labors of one of
our foremost and most useful citizens, and if there is a moral to be
read from it, it is this, that to make a man of cultured tastes, a
student, a scholar and a publicist of acknowledged rank and value in
the country, universities with their libraries and endowments are not
absolutely necessary; social position, influential connection and
wealth are not necessary. Without such adventitious aids, what is
wanted is a native taste for research and inquiry, and a determination
of character superior to environment."
PALMER--KNAPP.
The Palmers and Knapps were Loyalists. C. E. Knapp, a grandson of
Loyalist Knapp, writes: "The largest part of Staten Island, New York,
should have been the possession of the Palmers of Westmoreland. Their
ancestor, John Palmer, who was by profession a lawyer, moved from New
York to Staten Island. He had been appointed one of the first judges of
the New York Court of Oyer and Terminer. He was also a member of the
Governor's Council, and afterwards Sheriff. When the Revolutionary War
broke out his son Gideon held the commission of captain in Delancy's
Rangers, and when the war terminated he, in common with the other
Loyalists, had to leave the country."
Together with his brother-in-arms, Titus Knapp, John Palmer found a new
home at Old Fort Cumberland, where they commenced business as general
traders. They purchased adjoining farms, and these still go by the name
of the "Knapp and Palmer farms." Mr. Palmer afterwards moved to
Dorchester Cape, induced to do so because it reminded him of his old
home in New York. Palmer and Knapp must have found their loyalty
expensive, as their confiscated property is now worth untold millions.
In Mr. Knapp's case it was not so bad, as his property went to his
half-brother, who, fortunately for him, was a Quaker and did not
"fight."
The Palmers have taken a prominent place in the history of New
Brunswick. Mr. Gideon Palmer, a son of Gideon (first), was one of the
successful shipbuilders of Dorchester in the fifties, and Philip,
another son, was for some years a member of the New Brunswick
Legislature. The late Judge Palmer, of St. John, was a son of Philip
Palmer.
Charles E. Knapp, barrister, of Dorchester, is clerk of the Probate
Courty, and one of the oldest practising lawyers of Westmoreland. Mr.
Titus Knapp represented the county for some time in the Legislature of
New Brunswick, and for many years did a large trading business at
Westmoreland Point.
HARPER.
Christopher Harper was born in a small village near Hull, in Yorkshire.
He emigrated to Nova Scotia in 1774, bringing his family and his
nephew, Thomas King, with him. He arrived at Fort Cumberland on a fine
day in May, and his surprise was great the next morning to see the
ground covered with snow. Mr. Harper bought a property to the south-
east of the garrison lands, and moved his family into a house said to
have been built by the Acadians; but this is very doubtful, as these
people chose to burn their dwellings rather than let them fall into the
hands of the English. Tradition says Mr. Harper brought stock, both
horses and cattle, with him from Yorkshire.
In 1777 Mr. Harper's house and barn were burned by the Eddy rebels, and
soon after the Loyalists came to Nova Scota he sold his property at the
fort to his son-in-law, Gideon Palmer, and moved to Sackville, having
purchased land near Morris's Mills. It is said he came into possession
of this property through prosecuting one Ayer and others for setting
fire to his buildings at Fort Cumberland. In 1809 he obtained a grant
from the Government at Fredericton of the mill-pond, and some two
hundred or three hundred acres of wilderness land in Sackville,
including about forty acres of marsh on the east side of the Tantramar
River, above Coles's Island.
Mr. Harper had three sons and four daughters. His son Christopher, who
was a captain in the army in early life, left for Quebec, via
Richibucto and Miramichi, and was not heard from after leaving
Miramichi. John married Miss Thornton (whose father was a Loyalist),
and after living at the mill for a time moved to Dorchester. William
married Phoebe Haliday, from Cobequid, and built on the place where
I. C. Harper, of Sackville, now lives; Catherine married Gideon Palmer;
Annie married Major Richard Wilson, a north of Ireland man; Fannie
married Thomas King, and Charlotte married Bedford Boultonhouse.
Christopher Harper owned the first two-wheeled chaise that was run in
Westmoreland County. He was a magistrate and used to solemnize
marriage, and sometimes officiated in the Church of England in the
absence of the rector.
The Harpers of Sackville and Bay Verte are descendants of the two
brothers, William and John.
ETTER--WETHERED.
The Etters and Wethereds were on the Isthmus very shortly after 1755. I
find that Samuel Wethered was married to Dorothy Eager, Nov. 26th,
1761, by license from the Government. Dorothy Eager was a Scotch lass
from Dumfries. Mrs. Atkinson, a grand-daughter, has several pieces of
fancy needlework done by Mrs. Wethered. "Sarah Huston Wethered was born
at Cumberland, in the Province of Nova Scotia, June 10th, 1763, at ten
o'clock in the morning. Joshua Winslow Wethered was born at Cumberland,
Nova Scotia, in September, 1764, at ten o'clock in the evening."
Peter Etter was a jeweller and silversmith, and kept a shop near Fort
Cumberland. He married Letitia Patton, daughter of Mark Patton, and was
brother-in-law to Colonel John Allan. Peter Etter was twice married,
his second wife being Sarah Wethered. He was lost at sea in coming from
Boston to Cumberland. His widow became the second wife of Amos Fowler,
of Fowler's HIll. Peter Etter (second) married Elizabeth Wethered, and
settled at Westmoreland, and had a family of nine children, Bradley,
Peter, Joshua, Letitia, George, Maria, Samuel, James, and Margaret.
The Etters are large marsh owners on the Aulac, and the aboideau across
that river takes its name--the Etter Aboideau--from Peter Etter, who
was one of the principal promoters of that work.
I find Jonathan Eddy's name among the customers of jeweller Etter. Mr.
Eddy's watch must have been like that of Artemus Ward's or he must have
been agent for others, judging from the amount of money he annually
paid for repairs.
The Etters were originally from Switzerland, and were engaged in making
glass before coming to this country.
CAHILL.
John R. Cahill was born in London, England, in the year 1777. His
father was a ship-owner, but decided to educate his son for the Church.
During a college vacation young Cahill was sent as supercargo in one of
his father's ships bound for Halifax. On the return voyage the vessel
was wrecked on the coast of Nova Scotia. All on board, however, were
rescued and brought back to Halifax. For reasons not now known, Mr.
Cahill remained on this side of the Atlantic and engaged for a time in
teaching school. He married Miss Lesdernier, a sister of Mrs. Richard
John Uniacke, and settled in Sackville as a farmer. They had a family
of eleven, and Mr. Cahill received regular remittances from his
father's estate as long as he lived. Because of his superior education
he was often called upon by his neighbors to assist in transacting
business of various kinds. Mr. Cahill died in 1852. The late John E.
Cahill, of Westmoreland Point, was a son, and Walter Cahill,
stipendiary magistrate of Sackville, a grandson, of John R. Cahill.
SMITH.
There were two John Smiths who came from Yorkshire and settled at
Chignecto in the decade between 1770 and 1780.
One settled in Fort Lawrence and married Miss Chapman. The Smiths of
Fort Lawrence and Shinemicas are descendants of this family. William
Smith of Albert County, who married Parmelia Trueman, was of this
family.
The other John Smith settled near Fort Cumberland, but remained only a
short time. He incurred the enmity of some of the outlaws in the
neighborhood, and as a result had his buildings burned, in one of which
a large quantity of goods was stored that he had brought to the
country. This so discouraged him that he left the place and settled at
Newport, N.S. David Smith, of Amherst, belongs to this family.
OULTON.
Charles Oulton, the first of the name to settle on the Isthmus, came to
Nova Scotia with his mother in 1759. At this time Mrs. Oulton was a
widow, but before she had been here long she married Capt. Sennacherib
Martyn. Capt. Martyn had been with Winslow at the capture of
Beausejour.
Young Oulton was seventeen years old when he landed at Halifax. Shortly
after this he came to Cumberland, and his name is on the list of the
first grantees of Cumberland Township, in 1763. He settled in Jolicure
on the farm now in possession of Joseph D. Wells; here, no doubt, his
grant was located.
Charles Oulton married a Miss Fillimore, and they had a family of
twelve children, seven daughters and five sons. The children's names
were: William, Charles, Thomas, George, Jane, Sally, Patience, Mary,
Charity, Abigal, Betsy, and a twelfth, who died young.
William married a Miss Smith; Thomas a Miss Trenholm; George a Miss
King; Charity a Mr. Williams, of Fredericton; Abigal a Mr. Tingley, of
Albert County, N.B.; Mary a Mr. Frank Siddall; Patience a Mr. Smith;
Jane also married a Mr. Smith; Sarah a Mr. Fields; Betsy a Mr. Bulmer.
A daughter of Mrs. Williams married a Mr. Fisher, also of Fredericton,
and they had five sons: Edwin, Henry, George, Peter, and the late
Judge Fisher.
George, the youngest son, inherited the homestead in Jolicure, and was
for many years one of the leading men in the parish. He married Miss
King, of Westmoreland Point, by whom he had three sons: Thomas E.,
Cyrus, and Rufus. Squire Oulton, as George was usually called, was one
of the most genial of men. In figure he was tall and straight. He had
an open countenance, a quick step, a hearty laugh, and a pleasant "good
morning" for everyone. He was just the kind of man to make friends. He
enjoyed a good honest horse-race, and was always ready to bet a beaver
hat on any test question that gave a chance of settlement in that way.
An incident is told of him in connection with a trip made by his son
Cyrus, which gives one a good idea of the man. It was customary before
the days of railroads for the farmers and traders in Westmoreland to
send teams loaded with produce as far north as Miramichi. These trips
were generally made in the early winter, and butter, cheese, woolen
cloth, socks, mittens, etc., found a ready market. The journey usually
lasted ten days or more. Cyrus was sent by his father, Squire Oulton,
on one of these journeys. A storm delayed the party, and more than the
usual time was consumed before the return. When Cyrus returned he was
not particularly prompt in reporting the success of the transaction to
headquarters. At last his father asked him about the returns, and Cyrus
said: "Well, to tell you the truth, father, I did not bring any money
back with me. I met a number of good fellows and had to stand my share
with the others, and the money is all gone." There was silence for a
minute and then the Squire replied, "That is right, Cyrus, always be a
man among men." That was the last of the affair, but it is porbably
that Mr. Oulton chose some other agent to market the next load of
produce.
In later years Cyrus used to enjoy telling the following story, based
on one of his boyish experiences: "His father had been trying to buy a
pari of cattle from Mr. Harper, in Sackville. They could not agree on
the price, and Mr. Oulton had come away without purchasing. The next
day he decided to send Cyrus over to get the oxen, with instructions to
offer Mr. Harper twenty seven pounds for them, but if he would not take
it, to give him twenty-eight. Cyrus started away on horseback, in great
spirits,full of the importance of his mission. He rode as quickly as
possible to Mr. Harper's, and as soon as he saw that gentleman
delivered at once his full instructions, that his father wanted the
cattle, and if he would not take twenty-seven pounds for them he would
give him twenty-eight. Cyrus got the cattle, but not for twenty-seven
pounds."
The Oulton nameis largely represented inJolicure at the present time,
and most of those who bear it are energetic, industrious, and
successful farmers. A few of the name have tried other professions and
have succeeded. Geo. J. Oulton, Principal of the Moncton Schools, and
one of the most capable teachers in the Province, is a Jolicure boy,
and a descendant of Charles Oulton.
KEILLOR.
Thomas Keillor came to Nova Scotia from Skelton, Yorkshire, in 1774.
His wife's maiden name was Mary Thompson. He settled near Fort
Cumberland, on the farm now known as the "Fowler homestead."
Mr. Keillor had five children--three sons, John, Thomas and Thompson,
and two daughters, Elizabeth and Ann. John married a Miss Weldon and
settled in Dorchester, where he and his descendants occupied a
prominent place for many years. The name became extinct in that parish
in 1899 at the death of Mrs. Thomas Keillor.
Thomas married a Miss Trenholm and settled at Amherst Point. He had a
number of sons. Several of the family moved to Ontario. Robert married
a Miss Dobson and remained on the homestead. His descendants still own
the farm at Amherst Point. Coates married a Miss Jones and settled at
Upper Miramichi. One of Coates's sons moved to Upper Canada, and the
name is still found there. Some of the descendants, but none of the
name, now live in Point de Bute.
Thompson died when a young man from a severe cold caught while hauling
wood from the lakes. Ann married Amos Fowler, and Elizabeth married
William Trueman, as stated in another place.
The Keillors were men of integrity, with a good deal of combativeness
in their make up, and not noted for polished address. The following
story is told of one of the Keillor boys: One morning when taking a
load of port to the fort, at the time the Eddy rebels were at Camp
Hill, he was met by a young man on horseback. The young man, after
eliciting from Mr. Keillor where he was taking the pork, ordered him to
turn about and take it to the rebel camp. This Mr. Keillor refused to
do point blank. In the parley and skirmish that followed Mr. Keillor
managed to dehorse his man, bind him on the sled, and forthwith
delivered him safely at the fort with his carcasses of pork. The young
man proved to be Richard John Uniacke, who afterwards became one of the
most celebrated of Nova Scotia's public men. In after years, when Mr.
Uniacke had become Attorney-General of Nova Scotia, and able lawyer,
and a good loyal subject, he was conducting a case in the Amherst
Court-house. This same Mr. Keillor was called forward as a witness, and
during the cross-examination, when things were probably getting a
little uncomfortable for the witness, he ventured to say to Mr.
Uniacke:
"I think we have met before, sir."
Mr. Uniacke replied rather haughtily, "You have the advantage of me, I
believe."
"And it is not the first time I have had the advantage of you," replied
Mr. Keillor.
"When was this?" asked Mr. Uniacke, in a tone that showed how fully he
considered himself the master of the situation.
Mr. Keillor replied, "At the time of the rebellion, when I delivered
you, a rebel and a prisoner, to the fort along with my pork."
It is said that the Attorney-General left the further conduct of the
case to his subordinates.
Thomas, the brother who settled in Amherst, was once warned as a
juryman to attend court, to be held in a building little better than a
barn. When Mr. Keillor was chosen on a cause, and came forward to the
desk to be sworn, he refused absolutely to take the oath. When
remonstrated with, he said, "I will never consent to hold the King's
Court in a barn." And this juryman, who was so zealous of the King's
honor, was allowed to have his own way. The outcome of this was that
soon after the county erected at Amherst a suitable building for a
court-house.
WARD.
The name Ward was early on the Isthmus. Nehemiah was one of the first
grantees of Cumberland. Jonathan Ward, the first to settle in Point de
Bute, came from New England in 1760. It is said his coming to this
country was occasioned by his falling in love with a young lady whose
parents objected to his becoming their son-in-law. The lady, however,
was willing to accept her lover without the parents' consent. An
elopement was planned and carried out, the young couple coming to
Cumberland to set up housekeeping. Mrs. Ward did not live very long
after her marriage, and left a young daughter. This daughter was twice
married, first to a Mr. Reynolds, and after his death to an Englishman
named Merrill. From this union came the Merrills of Sackville, a name
quite common in that parish seventy-five years ago, but now extinct.
Jonathan Ward married, as his second wife, Tabitha -----, a young woman
who accompanied his first wife when she left her home in New Haven.
They settled in Upper Point de Bute, and lived to a great age, Mr. Ward
being ninety-six at his death. Stephen, the only son, inherited the
home place and married a Miss Folsom. The Folsoms were from New York,
and one of them came to Prince Edward Island to attend to business for
the firm. While there he married. Soon after this event Mr. Folsom
seems to have been caught by the land craze that few men escaped at
that date, and got a large grant of land in Antigonishe County, Nova
Scotia. Before they got fairly settled in their new home, Mrs. Folsom
died, leaving a daughter. Mr. Folsom soon after left his grant of land
and with his little daughter came to Fort Cumberland. Leaving her with
friends he went away and was never heard of again. It was supposed he
was lost at sea.
The Wards were originally from Wales. Of Stephen Ward's family, Henry
and William settled at Point de Bute, and Nathaniel at Wood Point, N.B.
DICKSON.
Major Thomas Dickson, the first of the name on the Isthmus, was one of
the New England soldiers present at the taking of Fort Beausejour in
1755. The family were originally from the north of Ireland, and
emigrated to the old colonies.
Major Dickson served under General Amherst, and his family had in their
possession up to a few years ago a document in which General Amherst
commissioned Major Dickson to do certain work that necessitated great
risk and skill if it were to be successful.
Thomas Dickson's name is on the list of the first grantees of
Cumberland Township, and he received a grant of a large block of land
about a mile above Point de Bute Corner, on which he afterward settled.
He married a Miss Wethered, and had a family of ten children--James,
Dalton, Thomas, Charles, John, Robert, Nancy, Mary, Sarah, and
Catherine. Mary married a Mr. Harper, Nancy a Mr. Gleanie, Sarah a
brother of Col. John Allan, and after his death Thomas Roach, Esq., of
Fort Lawrence; James married Susanna Dickson, and remained on the
homestead. Of the other sons, Thomas Law settled in Amherst and
represented the county for some years in the Provincial Legislature;
Robert, Charles and John entered the British navy. John was shot in an
engagement in the English Channel. Robert was drowned in Shelburne
Harbor. His vessel was lying in the stream, and he, while in the town,
laid a wager that he could swim to the ship. He attempted it, but lost
his life in the effort. Charles left the navy and settled in Machias,
where he left a large family.
Shortly before the capture of Quebec, Major Dickson was sent out from
Fort Cumberland to disperse a band of Acadians who had been reported by
one of their number as camping near the Jolicure Lakes with the object
of raiding the settlers. The Major with his men started out in pursuit,
the Frenchman acting as guide. The camp was found deserted, and the
party started on the return home. When they reached the Le Coup stream,
an affluent of the Aulac, they found the tide had risen so much that
they were unable to proceed farther in that direction, so turning to
the left, they followed the main stream to where there was a crossing.
While preparing to ford the stream they were suddenly fired upon by the
Acadians, who were in hiding behind the dyke. All the party were killed
save Major Dickson and the Acadian guide. Both were made prisoners, and
as soon as the woods was reached the Acadian was scalped and the
Englishman was told that he "must walk alone."
Then starting north they made only necessary stops until they reached
Three Rivers, in Quebec. Here the Major was handed over to the French
officer in charge at that place, and was put under guard, but treated
well, as had been the case on the journey from Nova Scotia. Possibly
roasted muskrat would not be considered an appetizing diet, but the
major found it kept away hunger, and that was no small consideration in
a journey of five hundred miles without a commissariat department.
The prisoner had not been many days at Three Rivers when he received
word that Quebec had been taken by the English, and he was again a free
man. He soon made his way back to Fort Cumberland, and was present at
the defence of the fort during the attack of the Eddy rebels and did
good service on that day.
The Dicksons were men who thought for themselves. James, a son of the
first James, was a teacher for a time, and in his later years did all
the conveyancing in the neighborhood, such as the writing of deeds and
wills. He was an omnivorous reader, and, like Silas Wegg, was inclined
to "drop into poetry." Some of his efforts in this direction on local
happening caught the ear and had the ring that stirred the emotions.
Titus, the only grandson of the major, lives on the old farm, and
though eighty-three years of age, is still vigorous in mind. The writer
is indebted to him for some of the facts given in this sketch.
ATKINSON.
There were two Atkinson families that came to Nova Scotia about the
year 1774, one from Middlesex, the other from Yorkshire.
The Middlesex family settled in Fort Lawrence. Capt. S. B. Atkinson, a
descendant of this family, writes: "My great-grandfather was a man of
considerable substance in the County of Middlesex, England, known as
gentleman farmer, and dubbed "Esquire." The tradition is he married a
Lord's daughter, whose title would be Lady -----, and as her family
would not recognize either her or her husband, they left the country in
disgust."
Mr. Atkinson came to Nova Scotia alone in 1774, and prospected the
province. It was a beautiful summer and autumn, and he was delighted
with the country. After securing a grant of land in Fort Lawrence, in
the old Township of Cumberland, he returned to England and made
arrangements to move his family to his new domain the following spring.
To accomplish this he chartered the good ship ARETHUSA, and put on
board of her his family and farm tenants, all of his belongings,
household goods, and farming utensils, and after his safe arrival in
Nova Scotia, located on what is now known as the Torry Bent farm.
Capt. Atkinson, in his letter, gives some interesting information
relative to the family after settling in this country. He says: "My
grand-father's name was Robert. He was the sailor of the family. He
served his apprenticeship to the sea out of England, and followed his
father to America, sailing as master prior to 1800." His wife was
Sarah, daughter of Obediah Ayer, generally known as Commodore Ayer,
noted Yankee rebel, one of two brothers from Massachusetts.
Mr. Ayer held an officer's commission in Washington's army in 1776 and
was also Commodore of a privateer out of Boston in 1812. In
consideration of his service in the war of 1776, the United States
Government gave him a grant of land in Ohio, at that time one of the
territories. Some years ago his heirs undertook to look up the records,
but found they had been burned in the Capitol during the War of 1812.
"Only for that little incident," Capt. Atkinson says, "I might have
owned the site where Cleveland now stands or otherwise--probably
otherwise."
For services in 1812 Commodore Ayer was granted a pension, but died
before any payments were made to him. His nearest connections, however,
received two hundred dollars a year as long they lived (sic).
Capt. Robert Atkinson sailed his last voyage, from Kingston to Jamaica,
in 1804, and died at that port of yellow fever. His widow returned to
Sackville, leaving her son Edwin, their only child, with his
grandfather in Fort Lawrence, where he remained until he was twenty-one
years of age.
Mr. Atkinson had three sons besides Robert, who lived with him in Fort
Lawrence. Thomas moved to Kent County, where his descendants still
live. William and John remained in Fort Lawrence, and the Atkinsons
there now are descended from these brothers. Capt. Stephen Atkinson,
from whom most of the information about the family has been obtained,
is a master mariner, and has commanded some fine ships in his day. He
has now given up the sea and spends a part of his time in Sackville.
The Atkinson family from Yorkshire settled first at River Hebert,
Cumberland County, N.S. Robert was the founder of the family. He did
not remain in River Hebert for any length of time, but purchased a farm
in Sackville, and moved his family there. This farm was afterwards sold
by his son Christopher, and is now the site of the Mount Allison
educational institutions.
Robert was married and had three children when he came to Nova Scotia.
He was twice married, and was the father of fourteen children. Thomas,
Christopher, Elizabeth, Sallie, Joseph, Robert, William, John and
Stephen were the names of the first family. Several of the sons settled
in Sackville. Christopher, after selling his property in Sackville,
purchased a farm in Point de Bute, and moved to that place. He had a
large family of boys. Robert (second) moved to Shediac. One brother
went to the United States and joined the Latter-Day Saints. Joseph
married Ann Campbell, the daughter of Lieutenant Campbell, a Waterloo
soldier, and settled at Wood Point. They had ten children, six sons and
four daughters. Isaac, Nelson, Hance, William and Joseph all became
master mariners, and were fine navigators. Woe be to the sailor who
fell into their hands and did not know his duty or refused to perform
it!
The family still have in their possession their ancestor Campbell's
sword and some other relics belonging to the old soldier.
The Atkinsons have always been a strong, vigorous and self-reliant
family, and have made a good record in this new country.
LOWERISON.
The following information regarding the Lowerisons was secured chiefly
from Robert Lowerison, of Sackville, a great-grandson of the first
Richard Lowerison.
Richard Lowerison, the first to come to America, was born in Yorkshire,
England, in the year 1741, and married Mary Grey in 1762. Ten years
later Mr. Lowerison sailed from Liverpool, Eng., bound for Halifax,
where he landed on the 1st of May. He settled on the Petitcodiac River,
in Westmoreland County, N.B., but the frequent raids made by the Eddy
rebels in that district caused him to purchase and remove to a farm
adjoining the western bounds of the Garrison lands of Fort Cumberland.
The buildings first erected by him have long since disappeared. The
farm has been occupied by his son Thomas, by his grandson James, and at
present by William Miner.
Six children survived Richard and Mary Grey Lowerison--Elizabeth, who
married William Doncaster, and settled at Amherst Point; Anne, who
married John Carter, and settled east of Fort Cumberland; Thomas, who
married Hannah Carter, and occupied the homestead; Richard, who married
Abigail Merrill, and after spending twelve years between the old home,
Amherst Point, and Mapleton, moved to Frosty Hollow, Sackville, on
September 18th, 1817, on the farm now occupied by his son, Thomas
Lowerison, and his grandson, Bradford Carter; Joseph, the third son of
Richard, married Mary Siddall and settled near Mount Whatley, about two
miles from the homestead. Mary married James Carter, who for a time
kept a public house in Dorchester, but afterwards moved to Amherst,
Nova Scotia.
Richard Lowerison and his wife attended the Methodist church in Point
de Bute, as may be seen in the deed given by William Chapman to John
Wesley. He acted as precentor in the old stone "Meeting House." He died
February 24th, 1825, and was buried in the Point de Bute Cemetery. Mary
Grey Lowerison, born in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, died
September 16th, 1834, and lies beside her husband.
Mr. Lowerison must have had some means when he came to the country, for
while living near Fort Cumberland he did an extensive business in
sending beef cattle to Halifax. His partner for a time was a man named
Rice. He seems first to have deceived Mr. Lowerison, and then robbed
him by running away with the proceeds of three droves of cattle,
leaving Mr. Lowerison accountable for the cattle, with no cash on hand
to meet the bills. The worry from this affected his mind to such an
extent that he never fully recovered. The Lowerison name, until quite
recently, was pronounced as if spelled Lawrence. The family has not
increased greatly in the new country. Although the sons had large
families, there are very few grandchildren. Robert Lowerison, of
Sackville, is the only living member of a large family. Captain Richard
Lowerison, of Amherst, is a descendant. Captain Thomas, Joseph, and
Siddall, grandsons of Richard, represent the name at Westmoreland
Point.
The Lowerisons were always understood to be men of their word.
FILLIMORE.
John Fillimore came from New England to Fort Lawrence, N.S., in 1763
and soon after settled in Jolicure. He had a number of sons, two of
whom, John and Spiller, settled at home--John on the homestead, and
Spiller on an adjoining farm.
At the close of the Revolutionary War, Spiller sold his farm and
returned to the United States. John married Jemima Tingley, of
Sackville, and had a family of twelve children. W. C. Fillimore, of
Westmoreland Point, and Lewis Fillimore, of Amherst, are grandsons of
John.
The Fillimores came originally from Manchester, England, to Long
Island, New York. Captain John, father of John, who came to Nova
Scotia, was once commissioned by the State of Connecticut to clear the
coast of pirates, who were causing a good deal of trouble at the time.
So well did Captain Fillimore perform the duty that the town of Norwich
presented him with a handsome cane as a mark of their appreciation of
his services. This cane is still in possession of the family.
The Fillimores are a long-lived race of men, and have shown themselves
well able to hold their own in the competition of life. The name has
given a president to the United States.
MINER.
Sylvanus Miner, the first of the name on the Isthmus, was of New
England stock. He and Robert King, "Schoolmaster King," as he was
generally called, came from Windsor on foot to Mount Whatley, N.B.,
about 1810. Mr. Miner's father died when he was a boy, and his mother
apprenticed her son to a blacksmith. His mother was a Miss Brownell, of
Jolicure.
When young Miner had completed his apprenticeship he came to Jolicure
by invitation to see his uncle, and afterwards settled at Mount
Whatley. He was twice married. His first wife was a Miss Church, of
Fort Lawrence; his second, Miss Styles, from Truro, N.S. The sons,
James, William and Nathan, now represent the name at Mount Whatley. Mr.
Miner was an upright man, and successful in his business of blacksmith
and farmer.
DOBSON.
The Dobsons were among the first of Yorkshire emigrants to arrive in
Nova Scotia. There were two brothers, George and Richard. George
brought with him a wife and grown-up family. His daughter Margaret was
married to William Wells before the family left England. Richard was a
bachelor, and tradition says he had been a soldier. George purchased a
farm in Upper Point de Bute. Neither of the brothers lived long in
their new home. Richard died in February, 1773, and George in July of
the same year. George's will is dated the 24th July, 1773, and is
recorded the 24th November by John Huston. It is witnessed by Mark
Patten and J. Allen.
George had four sons, George, David, Richard and John, and two
unmarried daughters, Elizabeth and Mary. George and John settled at
Point de Bute. Richard sold his share of the homestead to John in 1795,
and moved to Cape Tormentine, where he secured a large tract of land
and became one of the substantial men of the place. A large number of
his descendants are in that locality at the present time. The Dobsons,
of Cape Breton, N.S., are descendants of Richard. John sold his farm
and moved to Sussex, King's Co., N.B. George Dobson, of Sussex, is a
grandson of John. David went to Halifax. George remained on the
homestead at Point de Bute, and the Dobsons of Jolicure are descendants
of George by his son Abraham.
Mrs. Dobson, the widow of George (first) married a Mr. Falkinther. He
did not live long, and Mrs. Falkinther, who was said to be a very fine
looking woman, had one of her grand-daughters to live with her during
the last years of her life. Her grandchildren called her "Grandmother
Forkey."
"Old Abe," as Abraham was familiarly called, was a character in his
day. He used to make annual and sometimes semi-annual trips to St. John
to dispose of his butter and farm products, and was the kind of man to
get all the enjoyment out of these journeys that was in them. It was
said that he had large feet, and that early in life one of them was run
over by a cart wheel, making it larger than the other. One day, while
sitting in a St. John hotel, with the smaller foot forward, a man,
noticing the size of it, said, "I will make a bet that that is the
largest foot in the city." "Done," said Old Abe. The bet was made, when
Mr. Dobson brought forward the other foot and won the wager.
Abraham was one of the best farmers in the township. He named his
eldest son Isaac, and had Isaac name his eldest son Jacob. Perhaps the
likeness to the old patriarch ended here. He had a large family of
boys, to all of whom he gave farms. His youngest son, Robert, was
drowned in the Missiquash Valley one December morning as he was skating
to his farm on the Bay Verte Road.
The Dobsons were good men for a new country, and did not take life too
seriously. Jacob, Frank, Alder, Alonzo and John Dobson and their
families represent the name now in Jolicure. Dr. Gay Dobson, of
Poughkeepsie, N.Y., U.S., is a descendant. John, a brother of Abraham
Dobson, left no sons.
JONES.
William Jones came from Wales. He was one of the first settlers at
Point de Bute Corner. He married Mary Dobson, a daughter of George
Dobson. They had a large family. Ruth, their youngest daughter, married
Stephen Goodwin and lived on the homestead. Stephen Goodwin came from
St. John to Point de Bute with his mother, who was a widow. She
subsequently became the second wife of Christopher Atkinson. By this
marriage she had three sons, George, Abel and Busby, and one daughter,
Nancy, who became the wife of John Fawcett, Esq., of Upper Sackville.
J. H. Goodwin, of Point de Bute, is a son of Stephen Goodwin.
TINGLEY.
Palmer Tingley emigrated from Kingston-on-the-Thames to Malden, Mass.,
in 1666. Josiah Tingley, a descendant, came to Sackville, N.B., in
1763. William, a grandson of Josiah Tingley, married Elizabeth Horton
and settled in Point de Bute in 1794. He bought land from Josiah B.
Throop. The witnesses to the deed were Joseph and Ichabod Throop. Like
most of the early settlers, Mr. Tingley raised a large family, and all
his sons became farmers. Four of them, John, Harris, Caleb, and
William, settled near their father. Josiah settled in Jolicure, Joshua
at Shemogue, and Isaac at Point Midgie. There were four daughters. Ann
married Joseph Irving, of Tidnish; Mary, Cyrus McCully, Amherst, N.S.;
Helener, William McMorris, of Great Shemogue; and Margaret, Asa Read,
also of Shemogue. There were eleven children in all, and their
longevity will surely bear comparison with that of any family in
Canada, and is well worth recording:
John Tingley, born 1794, died 1874, aged 80.
Harris " " 1794, " 1875, " 80.
Joshua " " 1797, " 1897, " 100.
William " " 1799, " 1868, " 69.
Ann " " 1801, " 1881, " 80.
Mary " " 1803, " 1890, " 87.
Josiah " " 1807, " 1888, " 81.
Helener " " 1809, still living in 1902,
aged 93.
Isaac " " 1812, died 1891, aged 79.
Margaret" " 1816, still living in 1902,
aged 86.
Caleb " " 1805, died 1880, aged 75.
The Tingleys are generally adherents of the Baptist Church. Robert,
Obed, Harvey, William, Alfred and Err are grandsons of William Tingley
and represent the name in Point de Bute and Jolicure.
SIDDALL.
Ralph Siddall came from Yorkshire to Nova Scotia in 1772, and soon
after, in company with Richard Lowerison, settled at "The Bend," now
the town of Moncton, N.B. The Eddy rebels proving too strong in that
locality for the loyal Englishmen, they soon returned to the protection
of Fort Cumberland, and eventually settled near the fort. Mr. Siddall
had a family of five children--two sons, Ralph and Francis, and three
daughters. The daughters married, respectively: Thomas Carter, -----
Cook, and James Deware. The Dewares of Jolicure belong to his family.
Ralph (second) married ----- Ayer and had two sons, Edward and William
and three daughters. William settled on Gray's Road, near Wallace.
Edward remained on the homestead. One of the daughters married Joseph
Lowerison, another Ephraim Rayworth; one remained single. Francis
Siddall settled first on the farm now owned by James Colpitts, near
Point de Bute Corner, and married Mary Oulton, by whom he had a family
of five children, Ralph, Stephen, Charles, Susan and Experience. Susan
was twice married--first to Mariner Teed, of Dorchester, N.B., second,
to Hugh McLeod. The late John Teed, of Dorchester, was a son of Mariner
and Susan Teed. Experience married William Copp, of Bay Verte Road. The
Copps were from New England, and settled first in Jolicure. Hiram,
Harvey and Silas Copp, of Sackville, Albert and George, of Bay Verte,
are sons of William Copp.
Ralph Siddall (third) married Susan Oulton and remained on the
homestead at Westmoreland Point, which he named "The Crow's Nest." Mrs.
Siddall is now living, at the age of eighty-six. Charles married Louisa
Chappell, of Bay Verte, and is still living, at the ripe age of ninety-
two years. Godfrey and Bill, of Bay Verte, N.B., and Charles, of
Sackville, are his sons. Stephen married a Miss Brown and had a large
family. His youngest son, George, is the only one living in the
vicinity of the old home. Stephen had a remarkable memory, and greatly
enjoyed a good sermon. He followed the sea for a number of years. After
settling down at home, near Fort Cumberland, he was appointed to an
office in the Customs, which he held to his death. Few men could tell a
story better than Capt. Stephen Siddall.
BROWNELL.
Rev. J. H. Brownell writes: "The present Brownell family are unable to
tell definitely when their grandfather came to this country, but I find
it recorded in 'A Biographical Sketch of the Loyalists,' by Lorenzo
Sabine, in Vol. I, which I have by me, that in the year 1783 two
brothers came from Vermont to New Brunswick. Joshua Brownell went to
St. John, and Jeremiah came to Westmoreland, and settled in Jolicure.
He married Annie Copp. They were the parents of nine children. Their
names, etc., are as follows: Aaron married first, Vinie Dixon; they had
one girl. His second wife was Margaret Weldon; they had two sons and
five daughters. He settled in Dorchester. John married Eunice Polly;
they had two sons and seven daughters. He settled in Jolicure. Jeremiah
married Rebecca Dixon; they had seven sons and six daughters. He
settled in Northport, N.S. Thomas never married, and lived in Jolicure.
William married Annie Davis; they had five sons and five daughters. He
settled in Northport, N.S. Sarah married Thomas Weldon. They lived in
Jolicure for a time, and then moved away. When Weldon died Sarah came
back and lived with Thomas. She had six children, one son and five
daughters. Edward married Margaret Adams; they had thirteen children.
He settled in Jolicure. Annie married George Church; they lived in Fort
Lawrence, and had four sons and five daughters. Lovinia married Jesse
Church, and lived in Point de Bute for a time, then moved to Amherst.
They had five sons and seven daughters."
My information, up to the receipt of this letter, was very positive
that Jeremiah Brownell came to Nova Scotia in 1763, with the Fillimores
and others, landing at Fort Lawrence. The family were adherents of the
Presbyterian Church, and took an active part in building and sustaining
that church in Jolicure. The name has given two ministers to the
denomination, Rev. J. H. Brownell, of Little Shemogue, N.B., and Rev.
Hiram Brownell, of Northport, N.S.
KING.
Thomas King came from a small village near Hull, Yorkshire, with his
uncle, Christopher Harper, in 1773. Before starting for America Mr.
Harper hired his nephew, who was a blacksmith, to work for him for
three years for forty pounds sterling. When Mr. Harper found wages were
high in this country, he released his nephew from the bargain, and
young King worked several years in the Government Armory at Fort
Cumberland. He married his cousin, Miss Harper, and they were the
parents of six children, one son and five daughters. The son, Thomas,
married a Miss Chandler; Jane married George Oulton; Fanny Thomas
Bowser; one remained single; of the remaining two, one married Otho
Read, and the other Jesse Read. Thomas King (second) owned a large farm
that joined the Garrison land. He had a family of two daughters and
four sons, Jane, -----, Watson, Edward, James and Samuel. None of the
sons, and but one of the daughters married. Edward and Samuel occupy
the old place, and are the only members of the family now living. The
"King boys," as they were called, were well read and good
conversationalists. James was a school-teacher in his early years, and
had a local reputation as a mathematician.
RYAN.
Daniel Ryan came from Ireland to Nova Scotia soon after the Expulsion,
and settled near Point de Bute corner. He married a Miss Henry. They
had a family of eight--Daniel, Henry, James, William, and four
daughters. One daughter married Joseph Black, of Dorchester, N.B.;
another married a Mr. McBride; another, William Trenholm, of Point de
Bute. William settled in Little Shemogue; Henry moved to Hastings,
Cumberland, N.S.; James married Christina Forster, of Fort Lawrence,
and lived for a time on the old place. About 1813 he moved to
Millstream, King's Co., N.B., where the family for many years occupied
a prominent place in public affairs.
OGDEN.
The Ogdens were U. E. Loyalists. John (first) came from Long Island,
New York, in 1790, and settled in Sackville, N.B., on the farm owned by
the late Bloomer Ogden. An uncle of John Ogden spent the latter part of
his life in prison rather than swear allegiance to the United States.
John married Nancy Fawcett, a daughter of Mr. John Fawcett, Sackville,
and had eight children--John, William, Henry, Thomas, Bloomer, Robert,
Ann and Jane.
John (second) settled in Port Elgin. Edward Ogden, of Sackville, is a
son of John. Amos and William of the same place are sons of Henry. The
late Henry Ogden, of Jolicure, was connected with this family.
TOWNSEND.
John Townsend came from Prince Edward Island and settled in Upper
Jolicure early in the last century. His descendants are living there
now. The Townsends are of English descent.
ROBINSON.
The Robinsons were an English family that settled in Cornwallis, N.S.,
about 1780. Edmund Robinson, a son, removed to Parrsboro'. His wife was
Miss Rand, a relative of the Rev. Silas Rand, the Micmac missionary.
John Robinson of Point de Bute is a grandson of Edmund Robinson.
PHALEN.
John Phalen came early to this country. He was educated for Holy
Orders, but never entered the Church as one of its ministers. He was
married in Halifax, and taught school in Point de Bute for a number of
years. His son, John C. Phalen, was a member of the home of Thomas
Trueman, of Point de Bute. John married Priscilla Goodwin, of Bay
Verte, and had a large family. He settled at Bay Verte. John Phalen, of
Amherst, is son of John C. Phalen. The Phalens of Westmoreland and
Cumberland Counties are descendants of John. One of the name is in the
Methodist ministry.
WILLIAM DAVIDSON.
William Davidson came from Dumfries, Scotland, to this country in
company with James Amos, in 1820. Mr. Amos landed at Charlottetown, but
afterwards settled on the Murray Road, Botsford, and Mr. Davidson on
the Bay Verte Road, alongside of John Monro. The Davidsons were a most
intelligent family. The late Hugh Davidson of Tidnish was a member of
this family and the Davidson brothers of Tidnish are sons of Hugh and
William.
TURNER.
William Turner, who settled in Bay Verte Road, came from the United
States about the year 1820 or 1825. The Turners of Bay Verte are among
his lineal descendants. Rev. E. C. Turner, of the New Brunswick and
Prince Edward Island Conference, belongs to this family.
ROACH.
Thomas Roach was born in 1768, in Cork, Ireland, where he spent his
early years. He was educated for the priesthood, and could speak
fluently in several languages. About the year 1790 he accompanied his
father to Nova Scotia and settled in Fort Lawrence. The elder Mr. Roach
did not remain long in Nova Scotia, but pushed on to New York. His son
never heard from him after they parted at Halifax. Thomas Roach was
very successful in business and for many years was one of the leading
men in the Methodist Church on the Isthmus. He was elected a
representative to the Provincial Parliament five times in succession,
and served the people in that capacity from 1799 to 1826.
Mr. Roach was married four times. His family of four sons and three
daughters was the fruit of his first marriage. Ruth, daughter of
Charles Dixon, Sackville, was his first wife; his second, Mrs. Sarah
Allen; third, Mary Dixon, of Onslow, and his fourth, Charlotte Wells.
Mr. John Roach, of Nappan, and Dr. Roach, of Tatamagouche, are
grandsons of Thomas Roach.
SILLIKER.
William Silliker was a U.E. Loyalist from Connecticut, and came to
Bedeque, P.E. Island, in 1783, where he spent the last years of his
life. His son, William C. Silliker, moved to Bay Verte in the early
part of the last century. This son was a master mariner, and spent most
of his life at sea. He married Amelia Chappell, and had a family of
three children, two sons and one daughter. The Sillikers of Bay Verte
are descended from Captain Silliker. Alderman Silliker of Amherst also
belongs to this family.
HEWSON.
James Hoytte Hewson and his mother came to Nova Scotia in 1783 with a
party of Loyalists, and settled in Wallace. His father, Richard Hewson,
who was an officer in the British army, was killed in a negro
insurrection in the south. Mrs. Hewson and her young son were sent
north to live with friends, which explains how they came to be with the
Loyalists. Mrs. Hewson's maiden name was Hoytte. They soon sold their
property in Wallace and removed to Fort Cumberland, then one of the
centres of trade in the new country. Here Mrs. Hewson opened a little
store and also taught a school, and her son worked as clerk for Titus
Knapp. Mrs. Hewson was successful in her trade venture, and in 1796 she
and her son bought from Spiller Fillimore his farm on Jolicure Point,
which has been known ever since as the Hewson farm. This property is
still in possession of the family, and has been the home of four
generations. James Hewson married Jerusha Freeman, of Amherst, and had
six children--Richard married Seraphina Bent, of Fort Lawrence, and
lived at River Philip, N.S.; James married Phebe Wry, and remained in
Jolicure; William married Elizabeth Chandler, and inherited the
homestead; Olive married George Darby, of Bedeque, P.E. Island; Jerusha
married George Baxter, Land Surveyor, and a Loyalist, and lived in
Amherst; Phebe married John Schurman, of River Philip, the grandfather
of President Schurman of Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. John Hewson,
of Jolicure, Dr. William and Watson, of Point de Bute, and Dr. Charles
Hewson, of Amherst, are sons of William Hewson.
READ.
Several persons answering to the name of Read came to the Isthmus soon
after the Expulsion. Thomas Read, who was one of the Yorkshire
emigrants of 1774, settled on the River Hebert. In 1786 Eliphlet Read
and Joseph Read were residents of Sackville. In 1788 Stephen Read was
one of the Trustees of the Stone Church (Methodist) at Point de Bute.
In 1800 an Eliphlet Read lived in Jolicure. He married a Miss Converse
and had a large family. John Read, of Jolicure, and William Read,* of
Amherst, are grandsons of this Eliphlet.
[FOOTNOTE: *Joseph Read, of Bay Verte, writes: William Read, from New
England, came to Sackville about the year 1760. His sons were Benjamin,
Joshua, Eliphalet, and William, the latter my grandfather. Grandsons:
Eliphalet, William, James, Caleb, Harris, Asa, and John, the last
mentioned being my father. END OF FOOTNOTE]
WRY.
John Wry emigrated from Yorkshire to Nova Scotia about 1780, and
settled in Sackville. He bought from William Maxwell the farm on which
the Brunswick House now stands and made his home there. The Maxwells
were from New England, and had been in the country some years. John Wry
married a Miss Maxwell. The late Christopher Wry of Jolicure was a son
of John Wry. The Wrys of Sackville are descendants of John.
BOWSER.
Thomas Bowser was one of the Yorkshire emigration of 1774, and settled
in Sackville. His son, Thomas, married Fanny King, and lived on Cole's
Island. Arthur and Blair Bowser of Point de Bute and John and Bliss of
Jolicure are grandsons of Thomas (second).
LOWTHER.
Tradition says that the Lowther name was brought to England by one
Colonel Lowther, in 1688. This Colonel Lowther was one of the trusted
soldiers that the Prince of Orange brought with him from Holland, and
was afterwards allotted an estate in Devonshire. From there the family
spread to other parts of England. William Lowther, who settled in
Westmoreland, N.B., came from Yorkshire, in 1817. He was accompanied by
three brothers and one sister. The three brothers and the sister
settled in Cumberland County, N.S. William had a family of nine
children. William (second), married Lucy Chapman and settled in Great
Shemogue. George married Mary Pipes and settled at the Head of Amherst.
Mary married Joseph Carter, of Point de Bute. Hannah married Edward
Smith, of Amherst Head. Sarah Thomasina married Rufus Carter, of Point
de Bute. Rufus first married Sarah Pipes; his second wife was Elizabeth
Lowther. Jane married Richard Pipes, of Nappan. Titus married Phoebe
Carter, and remained in Westmoreland. Catherine married William Kever,
and went to Minnesota.
ALLAN.
Benjamin Allan was a Scotchman who came to Cumberland from the United
States about the time of the Revolutionary War. There is evidence that
he was with Wolfe at the taking of Quebec. If so, he was probably one
of the disbanded British soldiers that found their way to Canada at the
close of (sic) American War. He married a Miss Somers, of Petitcodiac,
at the Bend, and finally settled at Cape Tormentine.
Mrs. Allan was a very large woman, of pure Dutch stock, with, it is
said, a marked tendency to stand upon her rights. Tradition also says
that the pugilistic tendencies of the family were inherited from the
mother, as the father was a very quiet, meek-mannered man. It might be
that domestic felicity was more likely to be attained by such a
demeanor. The Allan family consisted of eight sons and three daughters
--Ephraim, Jonas, James, Matthew, Liff, Dan, George, and Ben were the
names of the boys. It is told of Matthew that once when he was "on a
time," the press gang took him and his boon companion on board a man-
of-war and induced them to enlist. When the young men came to
themselves they were in great trouble, and one night, when the ship was
lying near one of the West India Islands, they jumped overboard with
the hope of reaching the shore by swimming. Allan succeeded, and after
spending some days on the island in hiding, he found a vessel which
brought him back to Halifax, from which place he soon found his way
home, none the worse for his experience. His companion was never heard
from. A great many of the name are now living at the Cape where their
ancestor first settled.
CHAPPELL.
The Chappells were early in the country. There were two brothers,
Eliphet and Jabez. Eliphet settled at Bay Verte, and had a family of
four sons and five daughters. George and Bill, two of his sons, married
sisters, Jane and Polly, daughters of William Wells, of Point de Bute.
George's children were William, George, Joshua, Watson, Susanna, Peggy,
Maria, Ann, Amelia, Almira and Jane. George married Betsy Freeze;
Susanna, ----- Strange; Peggy, John Rawarth; Maria, Rufus Chappell;
Amelia, Nelson Beckworth; Ann, William Fawcett; Almira, Rufus Oulten,
M.D. Jane did not marry. Bill Chappell's sons were Bill, Rufus, James
and Edwin. His daughters, Fanny (Mrs. Capt. Crane), Matilda (Mrs.
Edward Wood), Caroline (Mrs. John Carey), Louisa (Mrs. Charles
Siddall).
The Chappells were a prominent family in Bay Verte for many years, and
have a good record there.
BETTS.
Three brothers by this name emigrated from England to New York shortly
before the Revolutionary War. Two of the brothers fought in that war on
the English side, and in 1783 came to Nova Scotia. Isaac settled at
Wallace, Cumberland, and his brother settled on the Miramichi River, in
New Brunswick, where the name is still found. George Betts of Point de
Bute, is a son of Benjamin and a grandson of the brother who settled at
Wallace.
IRVIN.
Joseph Irvin was another of the North of Ireland men that came to Old
Cumberland early in the last century. He settled first on the north-
west side of the Point de Bute ridge, where the road makes a slight
angle to cross the marsh to Jolicure. Here he and his friend, Isaac
Doherty, kept a store and built a vessel. The locality was called
Irvin's Corner in the early days. Mr. Irvin married Ann Tingley, and
soon after moved to Tidnish, where he spent the remainder of his life
as a farmer. His family consisted of seven sons and three daughters.
Three of his sons, Joseph, Edwin and James, now represent the name in
Tidnish.
HAMILTON.
Robert Hamilton was born in Tyrone County, Ireland, and emigrated to
New Brunswick in the year 1824, settling at Tidnish. He had a family of
four children, Gustavus, Mary, Eliza and Eleanor. His son, Gustavus,
married Eleanor Goodwin, and remained on the home farm, which is now
owned by his son, Isaac G. Hamilton. Rev. C. W. Hamilton, of St. John,
and Dr. Hamilton, of Montreal, are grandsons of Robert Hamilton. Robert
Hamilton had a brother, Gustavus, who was a Methodist local preacher,
and for many years was a valuable assistant to the regular minister at
Point de Bute when that circuit included the present Bay Verte circuit.
FORMER RESIDENTS OF OLD CUMBERLAND, NONE OF WHOSE DESCENDANTS OF THE
NAME LIVE THERE NOW.
BURNS.--John Burns was from Ireland. He came to New Brunswick in the
early part of the last century, and settled at Mount Whatley. He
married a Miss Harrison, and had a family of six children. He carried
on a large and profitable mercantile business for a number of years.
There are none of the name here at present.
PAGE.--William Page lived at Mount Whatley for some years in the early
part of the last century, and carried on quite an extensive business in
wood-work and dry goods.
SMITH.--Dr. Rufus Smith lived near Fort Cumberland and had a large
medical practice on the Isthmus. He belonged to one of the Loyalist
families, and represented the County of Westmoreland in the Assembly at
Fredericton for a period of fifteen years, from 1816. His remains lie
in the cemetery at Point de Bute.
CHANDLER.--Col. Joshua Chandler, of New Haven, graduated at Yale
College in 1747. He was a member of the Connecticut Legislature. Being
loyal, he left when Gen. Tryon, was obliged to evacuate that place. His
property was valued at L30,000 sterling, and was confiscated. He
settled with his family at Annapolis, N.S. He and two daughters and a
son were ship-wrecked going from Digby to St. John, in March, 1787. The
son was drowned in his efforts to swim to the land, while the father
and the two daughters perished from cold and exposure after they had
reached the shore. The British Government allowed the surviving
children, Sarah, Mary, Thomas, Samuel and Charles, each L1,000
sterling. Sarah married Wm. Botsford, father of the late Judge Wm.
Botsford, and grandfather of Senator Botsford; Mary married Col. Joshua
Upham, afterwards Chief Justice of New Brunswick. Thomas Chandler,
M.P.P., a lawyer of eminence, died at Pictou. His wife, Elizabeth
Grant, was an aunt of Sam. Slick, whose name was Thomas Chandler
Haliburton. Samuel Chandler was also in the Legislature of Nova Scotia
for many years, representing Colchester County. He married Susan
Watson. His eldest son was the late Judge James W. Chandler, of
Westmoreland, Charles H. Chandler was Sheriff of Cumberland for thirty-
eight years. Among his children were Sheriff Joshua Chandler, of
Amherst, and the late Lieutenant-Governor E. B. Chandler, of
Dorchester. The three sons of Col. Joshua Chandler in the early part of
the last century, lived in the township of Cumberland for a time and
conducted a general trading business. Their brother-in-law, William
Botsford, was also a resident of the township at the same time.
McMONAGLES.--The McMonagles lived for a time in Cumberland and
afterwards moved to Sussex, where the name is still found.
FORSTER.--George Forster was from Yorkshire and settled in Amherst,
N.S. One of his sons settled in Fort Lawrence, and another, Ralph, in
Point de Bute. Ralph subsequently went to Upper Canada. The Forsters
were Methodists, and it is doubtful if any of that Yorkshire band of
Bible loving men and women equalled the Forsters in their veneration
for the Word of God and its teachings as they understood it.
CAREY.--The Careys belonged to the Scotch-Irish immigration that came
to Eastern Canada between 1815 and 1830. The family landed here about
the year 1822. Robert settled near Halifax; John came to New Brunswick
and bought a property at Port Elgin, near the village of Bay Verte,
where he built a grist and carding mill, and successfully conducted a
large business for many years. He married Caroline Chappell and had a
family of seven children. There are some of the descendants, but none
of the name living in Bay Verte at this date. Leslie Carey, of
Sackville, and Everett Carey, of California, are grandsons of John
Carey.
DOHERTY.
REXTON, KENT, July 4th, 1902.
DEAR SIR,--Yours to hand yesterday, and in reply I have to state that
the widow Doherty (my grandmother) left the Parish of Rag, County
Donegal, Ireland, about the year 1820, and landed with her family in
Magudavic, walked to St. John, N.B., and eventually got by schooner up
to Great Village, N.S., except my father, William, who remained for
some time longer in St. John, but also got to Great Village, N.S., and
gradually worked his way to Richibucto, where he had an aunt (Mrs. John
McGregor, and sister to Mrs. Joseph Irvin, of Point de Bute or
Tidnish). My grandmother likely found her way for a time with part of
her large family to Point de Bute, where one of her daughters (Jane)
married Richard Jones, of that place. One of her daughters (Mary)
remained in Nova Scotia and married George Spencer, and after a number
of years moved to Mill Branch, Kent, N.B. Grisilda, the eldest
daughter, married John Reid, but I do not know when married, but they
resided in Mill Branch, Kent County, from my earliest recollection. My
father, William, in time settled on a farm on the main Richibucto
River, and married Nancy McLeland, of Great Village, N.S., a sister of
G. W. McLelland, who for many years represented Colchester County in
the House of Assembly at Halifax. My father afterwards moved to the
south branch of the St. Nicholas River, Kent County, and built an
extensive establishment of mills, including saw, grist and carding
mills. Joseph Doherty, the youngest of the family, located in
Buctouche, where he also established a mill property, now in possession
of John McKee, but subsequently removed to Campbellton. Isaac Doherty,
the eldest of the family, came to Canada some five years before his
mother and the rest of the family, and he and Joseph Irvin conducted
some trade with Newfoundland, and, I think, built a ship somewhere
about Tidnish or Bay Verte. Isaac and Joseph married sisters, the
former Cynthia, and the latter Polly Wells.
After my father, William, got settled on the main Richibucto River, his
mother and youngest brother, Joseph, resided with him; so I don't think
that the family, except Isaac and Jane, remained very long in Point de
Bute. My grandfather's name was William, but he never came to America.
My grandmother's maiden name was Marjorie Fetters. You can see that the
Doherty family, with the exception of Isaac and Jane, were not actually
settlers or permanent residents of Point de Bute. Both Isaac and Jane
(Mrs. Jones) are buried there. Perhaps the Irvin family can add other
facts to what I have written. With kind remembrance to self and family,
I remain.
Yours very truly,
J. W. DOHERTY, M.D.
HOWARD TRUEMAN, Esq.
Prospect Farm,
Point de Bute.
LATER RESIDENTS OF WHAT WAS THE OLD TOWNSHIP OF CUMBERLAND.
McCREADY.--HIGGINS.--C. F. McCready's and David Higgin's ancestors were
Loyalists. The McCreadys settled in King's County, N.B., and Higgins,
in Colchester, N.S.
SNOWDON.--The Snowdons were originally from Wales, England. Pickering
Snowdon was a resident of Sackville in 1786.
SUTHERLAND.--James Sutherland is of Scotch blood. Donald Sutherland,
his grandfather, came from Sutherlandshire, Scotland, in 1818, and
settled in Pictou County, N.S.
BULMER.--George Bulmer is a descendant of George Bulmer, who came from
Yorkshire in the ship DUKE OF YORK in the spring of 1772. He came with
his brother-in-law, William Freeze. The Bulmers are said to be of
Norman descent.
FULLERTON.--Douglas Fullerton's grandfather was a Scotchman, coming to
Halifax about the year 1790. He taught school for a number of years. He
married a Miss Peck and soon after settled down as a farmer in
Parrsboro', Cumberland County, N.S., where many of his descendants
live.
DOYLE.--James Doyle's grandfather came from Ireland and settled at Five
Islands, Colchester County, N.S.
HICKS.--This name was early in Nova Scotia. I find John Hicks in
company with three others, prospected Nova Scotia, in 1759, for
prospective settlers, from Rhodes (sic) Island and Connecticut, and
decided to take up lands at Pisquid or Windsor. Josiah Hicks was a
resident of Sackville in 1786. The late Samuel Hicks of Jolicure came
to that place from Sackville where the name is now in large number.