%, V. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) A ^/j 1.0 I.I If I" IM 122 M 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 ^ 6" — ► ^ <^ sm,„ ^^ ^> ^ ■% y >!^ Hiotographic Sciences Corporation 33 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY 14580 (716) 872-4SC3 ^^ '\ V <> <^ % O^ CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut canadien de microreproductions historiques ^ Technicdl and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques The institute has attempted to obtain the best originai copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checited below. I n Coloured covers/ LxJ Couverture de couleur I I Covers damaged/ D D Couverture endommagie Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaurie et/ou peliiculAe Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque Coloured maps/ Cartes g6ographiques en couleur Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or biaclt)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material/ Reli6 avec d'autres documents D Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin/ La reliure serrde peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distortion le long de la marge intdrieure Blanit leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajout^es lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais, lorsque cela 6tait possible, ces pages n'ont pas dt6 film^es. Additional comments:/ Commentaires suppl6mentaires; L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a iti possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-Atre uniques du point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite. ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la m^thode normale de filmage sont indiqu6s ci-dessous. I I Coloured pages/ Pages de couleur Pages damaged/ Pages endommag^es Pages restored and/oi Pages restauries et/ou pelliculdes Pages discoloured, stained or foxe< Pages dicolor^es, tachet^es ou piqu^es Pages detached/ Pages ddtachdes Showthrough/ Transparence Quality of prir Qualitd indgale de I'impression Includes supplementary materi{ Comprend du materiel suppldmentaire Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponible I I Pages damaged/ r~^ Pages restored and/or laminated/ I I Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ I I Pages detached/ I I Showthrough/ I I Quality of print varies/ I I Includes supplementary material/ I I Only edition available/ □ Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensure the best possible image/ Les pages totalement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuiliet d'errata, une pelure, etc., ont dti filmdes d nouveau de fapon d obtenir la meilleure image possible. This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checlted below/ Ce document est film6 au taux de reduction indiqui ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X 12X J 16X 20X 26X 30X 24X 28X n 32X The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks to the generosity of: Library of the Public Archives of Canada The images appearing here are the best quality possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in keeping with the filming contract specifications. Originai copies in printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shaM contain the symbol — »- (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: L'exemplaire filmA fut ;eproduit grAce i la g6n6rosit6 de: La bibliothdque des Archives publiques du Canada Les images suivantes ont 6t6 reproduites avec le plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et de la nettet* de l'exemplaire film«, et en conformity avec les conditions du contrat de filmage. Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en papier est imprimie sont fiim6s en commenpant par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la derniire page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second plat, salon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont fiim^s en commen^ant par la premiere page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la dernidre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboies suivants apparaftra sur la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symboie "^ signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbols V signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc.. peuvent dtre fiimis A des taux de reduction diffdrents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul cliche, il est film6 A partir de I'angle supdrieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 •^. : "A JK P THE EIRLY HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK. Bt MOBXS H, PBBIjBY. A poifUon of a leqttkre deUvered befofe ine Mechanics' Institute, St. John, Vj - * UUi 1841;, iiQW tor the #r»i tfimep^^ >1(^}^«9^ jMiR **!rito miu<»tAal Revfeio," M»». i^% mi. I : ■■■■■...> ! - ..:# #r. JofiH. N. B,: I" I I t I I .1 I I '»;^: 'V:-^' m;?^ f '3> r ■ ^. Vs. ■- J;- A •^.^•,■" i (Reprinted from the EdtiCAitioaal R( vii-ir, St. John, N. B.) ON THE EARLY HISTORY OV NEW BRUNSWICK. BY M0SR8 If. TEULKY. A portion uf a !• 'tnro delivereil IxMort' the Mechanics' Institiit<', St. JdIiu. ill ISJI; now fur the tirsf tiine i)Ubnsh('d. hifrodiicfori^ Xotf. The indifTcrencc of the iniijority of our jn'ophi towards our loosil hiHtor}'^ w:!! inevitably lie re]>l;uHHl in tiiri'- by the dt-tjp and wide-tiprc'id interest to >viii(.'liils rich nnd \firied clmrjicter entitles it In the meuntitne, however, mjiteriul <•! t)ie hiirhest historic value is l)eiug lost, and it shouhl he a plea>unt duty for us to preserve such parts of it a.- may achl to the glory of our j)eoj)le, or the knowjeds^e of our race. The manuscript which is to be printed in this and a few following numbers of the Uhvikw, is one most worthy of preservation. Its writer was (»ne of tb'- truest sons that NeW Brunswick has yet produced; and ho lived with iier interests always near his heart, lie was excepticmaily well sitiuited for ' the inves. igation of the period which the Ms covers, both because of his nt-ar lelation.^bip lo ^hv leader of the first Knglish settlement in New lirunswick, and hi.s con«"quent knowledge of all ihe facts relating thereto, and also because he lived and was interested in these matters while many of the original Loyalists w^ere yet living in St. ,loi:n. No other man ever possessed s;u-h opportunities for the study of the early English i\i)d Loyalist Period in New Knaiswick, and we can- not but feel that the manti-'^cript below, embodies but a very small part of t)ie knowledge which,. could he have written it all, would have been so precious to us. The raanuscript iuoludos two lecturrs; the first iin(i about half of the second, treiit of tho period from 1492 to 1758. and having necessarily been lar/i:c'ly compiled fr(;m printed works, contains little not to he found elsewhere. The portion printed below, and to follow, contains, we believe, material never"] before publish(.'d; or at all events, not in an accessible form, j The jNIs. belongs to the author's son, Mr. Henry V. Perky, of Ottawa, and represents almost the only ])ortion of his father's ^aluable papers baved from the St. John lire. Moses llenr}' Perley was born at AhiULierville, Dec. 81st, 1S04. lie was, thrv)Ugh his motlier, a graiuison of Israel Perley, the leader of the Maugerville C'olony as described below; and through Ills fatlier. als«) named Closes, a grand- son of Oliver, brother of Israel Perley. His early boyhood wae passed at Maugervilie, bu school education in St. John. He studied law and was called to the Bar in 1830. From his vouth he was very tond of tiie woods, and spent all the time he could spare from his profession with his gun and :od and I.idian friends, lie was a true lover of theforest, us the Indians knew when they made him llieir chief. He licid several most responsible oltiies under both Imperial and Local Governments, and performed all duties in a manner most acceptable to the authorities and to 'he great advantage of his native country. He was a ready writer and mosi popular lecturer, his happiest theme l)eing rdwaya " >«ew Brunswick." He died in A ugust, 18()2, upon H. M. 8. Ihttperafe while engaged in otli<'ial work off the coast of liabrador, and was buried with naval honors in the Episcopal burial grounds at Forteau, on the coast of Labrador, north of tiie Strait of Belleisle. He had married in 1829, Jane, daughter of Isaac Ketchum, a Loyalisl. and of their eiglit children, only one, Mr. Henry F. Perley, of Ottawa is now living.* And now Ladies & Gentlemen, we have arrived at the period, when tlie settlement of this Province, commenced in right earnest, and the foundation of * For peniiission to publish this Ms. as M«llas for these particulars as to his fat)ier\s liff>, our re(i<1t'r.-' must join the present wiiter in ttiank- ing Mr. Perley. A uiore tonipleU' and more vv.)rthy .sketch of Mitses I'erley's life \\il! in due time appear. IV. F. Gatwnu. \ this orlorious Britisli colonv, which is daily anitiirbed.* In 1758, at the same time the last expedition pro- ceeded against Ijouisbnrg, a British force wa.s sent to take possession of this Harbour ( /'. t\, St. John.] This force, consisting of part of a regiment of Pro- vincials k a Com])any of Ivangors took ])ossc8Sion of the ruins of the Fi'ench fort at C'arleton, and secured themselves there, in the best manner they were able, during the winter. After the winter had fairly set in, a party of the rangers under (Japtn. McCurdy, set out upon snow-shoes, to reconoitre the country, and ascertain the state of the French settlements, then very numerous on the Kiver St. John. The first niglit after leaving here, they encamped on the side of a very steep hill near the present town plat of Kingston not far from the Jkdlcisle. That night Captn. McCurdy lost his life, by the falling of a large birch tree, which one of the rangers cut down on the steep hill side — the tree came thundering down the mountain & killed Oaptn. McC'urdy instantly. The party went on by the Belleisle, Washademoak Jemseg, and then along the bank of the St. John to St. Ann's Point (now Fredericton) where they found quite a Town. They set fire to the chapel, but a number of the French settlers gathered together, whereupon the rangers retreated, bat being hotly pursued, they committed several atrocious acts upon people who fell in their way, to prevent their giving information. By re- versing their Snow-shoes and nuiking forced marches they got back safely to St. John. In the Spring of * We lia%t' throughout follow*'! tlic originAl as closely as iiogsil)le, even to ret/iining the punctuation and abbieviationb. W, F. U, > Ik.!**. A . ..4>i^d -•.j-i,2^.j0s>m / 1750 thoy rebuilt t.ho Fort at Curloton which was then named .Fo7'(> Frederick and respectable barracks were put up within it. On the ,'30tii Novr. 1750, Colonel Arbuthnot then commanding at Fort Fredoricl<, wrote to the Governor of Nova Scotia, that ^00 of the French inhabitants with two priests, had presented themselves to him, wishing permission to remain on their lands — their request was not however allowed. In 17G0 a party of rangers was despatched from Quebec under Captn. Rogers, to drive the French Settlers ofi' the St. John. They performed the duty ferociously, ravaging the country k burning and destroying all before them. The French fled in all directions; Some of them making their way up the River toward Canada, were struck with the beauty and fertility of the country above the Grand l^'allsj and conceiving that tliey were not likely to be dis- turbed formed the settlement of Madawaska. From all that 1 have been able to learn of this foray of Captn. Rogers and his rangers, I believe, that the less that is said about it, the better. * In 1761, Foil. Frederick in this Harbour was gar- risoned by a Highland Regiment, In this year, the Harbour of St. John was first regulaily surveyed, by Captain Bruce of the Royal Engineers, and I will now show you a large map which I have had executed from his survey. f At this time the Frovineial Gov- ernments became anxious to secure the possession of the River St. John, and prevent the French from re- * An interesting confirnmtoiy n'f.M'(>nco to this some ev»'nt is to bo found on p. KHof " Noiitia of .New Uruiiswiclf,''' u lare and inleivstiug book iMil.lishod in St. Jolin in i8.'JH. \V. F. G. t A copy of this map, proltablj' thi^ very one shown by Mr Perley, ia now in tiie Crown Lands Ofilce in Fnderictou. \V. F(J. ' surtiinp pogsespion of its fertile biinks. Now England had also a particular interest in the matter, ;is num- crons attacks upon their borders, by the Indiana, wore generally })lannod ai\d titted out on this Uiver. The Governovof Massachusetts, in 17(51, dispatched an exploring party, for the purpose of ascertaining the i)0diti(m of ailairs and the state of the country on the St. John. '^rhe leader of that party was Israel Perley, ujy grandfather, wlio was accompanied by 12 men in the pay of Massachusetts. They proceeded to Machias by water, and there shouldering their kna|)sacks, they took a cour^o thro' the woods, and succeeded in reaching the head waters of the Kiver Oromocto, which they descended to the St. John. They found the country a wide waste, and no obstacles, savo what might be offered by the Indians, to its being at once occu])ied and settled, and with this report they returned to Boston. In May 1T02, a party of about twenty, came to this Harbour of St. John, in a small vessel from Newburyport. Mr. Samuel Peabody, Mr. James Simonds, and Mr. James White, were the three principal personsof this party. 'J'hey arrived on the 19th day of May 17(>2 and landed at Portland Point, where there was a small clearing and the traces of an old French Fort. (Mention the skeletons at Portland Point.)* Fort Frederick was then occupied by a company of soldiers from Halifax, the Highhmd liegt having left. Major (filfred Stud holme was the commandant; the second iu conimand was Captain Butler, the grand- father of Pierce Butler, the husband of Fanny * Here and tliere tlirough the Ms. are ivftrcru'es like this— evidently suiijt'cts of side-i'emai'ks by the lecturer. W. F. U. i I mmmm 6 Kemblo. The party of adventurers who had arrived from Nowburyport brought with thorn from that place the frame of a house. They landed and raised it on the 20th May, and on the night of the Slat they occupied it. Mr. Samuel Peabody, to whom the house belonged, lived in it afterwards, and it was subsequently occupied by Mr. White (the father of our excellent sheriff,) for many years. [Our renders Tvill of course have noticed the ftl)l)r(!Viation8 and oilier irregularities of Mr. Perloy's munuscript. It must be remembered that the lecture was not intended for the press, but was really a runninj^ guide to the lecturer, and does not at all represent its author's style either of writing or speech ; in both of which Mr. Perley was both polished and power- ful. The present (iditor in reproducing the manuscript simply follows the only good rule in such cases, and reproduces it verbaiim et liter alivi, W. F, G.] The only cleared spots about the harbour at that time, were at and near Fort Frederick, as you perceive by the map, and the ruins of the French Fort at Portland Point. All the rest of the Harbour, & par- ticularly where the city now stands, wore a most dreary and forbidding aspect. The party found great difficulty in penetrating into the woods in this vicinity, all the trees having been blown down, by a tremendous hurricane which swept over the country, west of the St. John, in 1758. The general opinion of the party was against taking lands bordering on, or near this Harbour, but in this opinion, Mr. Simonds and Mr. White did not concur. The party next proceeded up the river St. John, noticing as they passed, the devastated settle- ments of the French, and the blackened fragments of their buildings, which had been mercilessly burned. They particularly examined the remains of the celebrated old Fort of Gimisik which I have so often had occasion to mention. (I am cnaMcd to state, on good authorlly that this famous Fort, where no imirh fighting was done and bra very displayed, stood ut the hiwer entrance of the Jemse;^', near the re.sidenee of Charles Harrison, Esq., and on property now owned l)y him. Old swords, eopper kettles, hatchets, and a variety of aneieut articles, Iiave been frequently plougheJ up, and relics are found then- tr< the present day / Th et lie sniuips of apple trees, planted by the Fi*en«. ., are } remainintr, and it is well known that those tre.s bore fruit long after the first settlers took up their resid ; ce ci* the Sw John. At the clo^', of the last lecture, Ilon'ble Hugh . ')hnston, whcse propciL^ is ininiednitely opposite the site c^ ffiu oUl fort, stated !() me that his men ploughed up a canon-baU (^f consid- erable size in his meadow last s\immer.) The party pursued their course up tht) river from Jemaeg, and on the Hill where Burton Court House now stands, they found a french settler, the last and only one who remained. On reaching St. Ann's Point (where Fredericton now stands) they found the margin of the River, alona: the whole of what is now the Town plat of Fredericton, cleared for about 10 rods back from the bank, and they saw the ruins of a very considerable settlement. The houses had been burned, and the cultivated land was fast relapsing into a wilderness state. At the month of the Nash- waak the remains of a fortress wore visible. The solitary Frenchman whom they met, told them that this Fortress, was reported to have been built by a party of settlers from Scotland, long prior to the settlement of the French at St. Ann's. This state- ment is very likely correct, as the Earl of Stirling sent settlers to this country from Scotland, under Claude de la Tour, who probably built -this Fort at I ! ( 1. 8 Nashwaak* at the time ho built the noted Fort of Jemseg, which is fully ..id clearly r-stablished he did under the authority of the Earl of hi'rling. On the arrival of the party at St. / nn's they en- camped and commenced a survey. Wh ile so e^f^uged, a large party of Indian ('liief^ a])poarc'fl, in their war dresses, with their faces painted in a variety of colors. They were attended by about 500 warriors, and with great solemnity informed the party that they were intruders upon their rights. They said that the country belonged to them and tliat unless the party desisted from further operations and withdrew, they would be made to do so. The party promised to comply with the wishes of the Indians, at the same time informing that they had full authority to survey hinds on the river. The Chiefs in reply alleged that by a treaty made between them and Governor Lawrence of Nova Scotia, it was stipulated that no English settlement should be made above Grimross. The party then fell down the river about twelve miles, and then made the suryey of a township which they named Maugerville.f / The next year, 1703, a party of settlers arrived from Massachusetts in four vessels. There were about 200 families, in all about 800 souls, under tlie charge of Israel Perley. They forthwith proceeded to the new Township of Maugerville, where they established *It is now known that this fort was built by the French in 1092. was oaUtMl by them Fort St. Joacph. W. F. G. It t How irrelevant a circumstance often clianges histoiy. Had the settlers l)een allowed to niako iheir survey. th<»y \v< uld doubtless have settled there, and the site of Fredericton niuat have been later fixed else- where. W. F. 0. r themselves, and thus made tlie first permanent British settlement on the river 8t. ohn. * [Here follow several paragraphs on the history of the North Shore, hvt as their subst(fnce is already in. jrrintf {in Oooncy's History of New linmswii'h and Gaspt)^ they can be omitted here.] The settlers on the St. John, at Mangerville, in addition to the many dilTiculties and j)rivations at- tendant on establishing new settlements in a remote part of a wilderness country, were for some time al^o annoyed by threatened attacks from the Indiana. But in 1765 an amicable arrangement was entered " The facts in tliclastthiveparaKraphs are of vHry>;roat valutas (Iviiig the exact dates of the advii.t of the \'W Hiij?laiult'f8 to New Brunswiek; the dat<*s are wroiiirly ^'veii in some jtrinied works. Ainoiifr soule papers loaned the pi'i'sent editor Ity Miss Terley, of Fr»'1 and a nutnher of settlei-s enert into it ; Encouraged b.y the King's Piociamation for settling tlie hind in Nova Sctitia in whieli among otlier things was this clause that l'toi»le emigrating fi'om the New England Pi'ovinces to Nnva Scotia should enjoy the ^anie Religious Privilwlges as in New P^ngland and in the above-mentioned order rds— \iz. I I -»• '-"rmtM 10 into, Mild {I good feeling established between thera and thn white settlers. From that moment the de- ciine of the Indians may be dated, and the swelling tide of civilization, as it rolls its restless course over this favored land, bids fair in a few years to sweep off the last trace of the Red man, leaving only his re- membrance in the land which once belonged to him, and which for unnumbered ages he had roamed over in perfect freedom and independence, and in the enjoyment of sovereign power. On the 00th April. 1705, all the country bordering on the St. John, was erected into a county, called the county of Sunbury in the Province of Nova Scoria. This year, 1705, was an important one to this Pro- vince. Mr. DesBarres surveyed the whole of the "you slmll Rf'servo f(nw T-ots in tlie Township " for Publu.'k use. o\n- as a Ulobf t'nr the V^i. " Church of Punj::lttnd, one for thr Diissentinic "rrotostant; one for the maintemmce " of a School, and for the tirat " setikni ministei- in Phu;e. Tli«se 'irdHrs wen; sfrictly coniplyd. Willi IN THE MAR I'ftjhut ttnchng DiffieuM y in obtaining a Grant of this Township from th^" novf'rnnn'Ht of Nova Sci)(ia on account of an order from heme that thosf^ Lands should be Keservd. for Disband tjil foi'ces, the settlers Did in the year 176.'} Diuw up and forwarde*' a Pt>f ition to the Loi ds of Trade and Plantations settinj; forth tlie s crcices thri/ had Intone for fj^overnjui'nt in the huft war The encouro t.;e ment they received for Reiai.n'ii g to Xovd Scotut at a Kreat expense, the ir efforts for bringing forwd. a siDvey of the land and Prayinjj for a g rant <-/ land winch they 'lad settivd. Here it emls abr iptly. The present «'ditoi- has had r-alled to his notii'i- by his friend, Dr. P. Rand, that tlie fact, of l licse colonists being disbandfd soldiers is important, and servi's to (htTcientiate this colony from others founded in Neva 8 "otia about the same time. A writer in the Mmjazine of American Hi.stori/ for February, 1S5)1, says these colonists can e from Byileld, Ipswich, Rowley IJoxford and Marble Uead, and that Issra '1 Perley was from Boxford, W. F. U. 11 Bay of Fundy for the first time, and an order passed the Council of Nova Scotia directing the llonble. Charles Morris to survey the lands upon tlie St. John- River, and between that river tS:/ the southern boundary of the Province. {St. Andrews hiid out soon after this.) On tlie 20tli May, 1765, a writ was issued to the Inhabitants of the St. John River, in the county of Sunbury, directing them to choose a fit person to represent them in General Assembly. The llonble. Charles Morris was the first representative chosen; he served for several years, and then the late James Simonds, Esq. was*elected, and he served until Sunbury was erected into a separate Province. In consequence of the friendly relations established, with the Indians, Mr. White in this year built a ^trading-house at St. Ann's Point, where for many years he traded with the Indians for furs, and sup- plied them with necessaries. The settlements on the River continued to increase slowly for some years, and a few more persons began to settle about this harbor. Messrs. Jonathan and Daniel Leavitt settled in Car- leton about this time; they owlled and sailed a small schooner, which they employed in trading and fishing, • and that small schooner was then the only vessel" k owned in this harbor and the solitary keel, which cleft its waters. Think of that, ye merchants, who now send mighty ships to sea, in scores, and remem- ber the time whe:i the navigation of this port of St. John consisted of one small schooner! (The Messrs. Leavitt became very tired of being the only navigators, and the loneliness of the place became wearisome to them — they said to Mr. White, that they should remove to some other |)lace, where there was a greater population and more to be douev But Mr. White encouraged them to stay, concluding his observations with : *' Don't be discouraged, boys, keep up a good heart! Why, ships from England will come here yet!") In 1768 all the troops at Annapolis, Cumberland, Amherst and this place were removed to Boston, in consequence of some threatened disturbances there. In 1772 all the country below the Oromocto, on the west side of the River, was burnt over, quite down to the Coast. This fire raged with great fury, in consequence of most of the forest trees having been blown down 14 years before in the great hurricane of 1758. The Nerepis Iload still bears marks of this Fire, at! does all the country to the westward of us between this and the Magaguadavic. On the 4th May 1770 Wm. Owen, Plato Denny and Wm. Sher- wood were appointed the first Justices of the Peace in the County of Sunbury and the boundries of the County were then defined. The County began at the St. Croix, thence along the Bay of Fundy to 20 miles above Cape Mi8])ec, and thence extending back due north, the same breadth, to the southern boundry of Canada. All the eastern part of this Province, at that time appears to have been considered part of the County of Cumberland in Nova Scotia. Three years afterwards, in 1773, James White, James Simonds and Samuel Peabody were also appointed Justices of the Peace in the County of Sunbury. At this ti.. e hostilities were going on between Great Britain and her revolted Colonies, now the United States, and the inhabitants in this quarter were much pressed, & solicited to join the confed- -:^:jga g juj^ 'i her i jwmi ' i ■ j i j. u-r j* « aeiJrwTtwcrr! 13 eracy. But they stood tirni in their faith to the British flag, and thereby incurred the dit?plcasure of their western neighbours.* -- In August, 1775, the rebels from Machias landed at this place, burned the fort & Barracks at Fort Frederick; and captured a brig laden with oxen and sheep for the British Army then at Boston, The following year the Vulture, Sloop of war, was stationed in this Bay, between Annapolis and St. John, for the protection of both places; but one Sloop of war was not sufficient, for the rebels, visited and plundered the Inhabitants several times in that year.* In consequence of disturbances in Cumberland 50 men were sent from Halifax to keep order in that district. In Novr. a number of disaffected persons, with a number of rebels from Xew England, appeared before the Fort at Cumberland; they failed in their attempt upon it, and then made their way across to the Gulf Shore. Arriving suddenly at Pictou, they seized a valuable armed merchant ship, which was loading for Scotland, & with her, they made prepara- V ♦It is well known that in !(7ti. a month prior ito the Declaration of Indepenilence, the !MauK<>rville Settlers, at, a public ine«'ting, (ledarfvl themselves in sympathy with the revolt*^(l oloiiists. This has heen made a reproach to these peo[»l(', bur unjustly. It must be remembered that tliehardsliipsand many sore trials ot' their thirteen yeais separation friun their old homes and friends in New Knp^land, Would rather strengthen than wefikiiu their bestsei timeuts fow.tr.ls theone, and their symi)athy for the wront^s of the otlier. We .should ratlier re^i^t than condemn tht>ir ai.-'.ion. Afterwards t iie>' beeaoie !o> al enoutrh to Firilain. This is thenlace to say, thai some of thedescendeuts of l-rat.l Perley, and i>erhaps otners, liavo been told b\' the old iieo|)le and believe, that this action of the settlers in 1776 was not inspired by ho.stility t^i (treat Britain, but was jn-imarily an act of policy, to secure for their defenseless homes security ti-om the attacks of the "Tn!ii)^s Island.* Lieut. Keppel was sent in i»erpuit of t.lienri — he recuptiired the vessed and carried her into Charlotte Town. On the 4th July 1776, the day on which *the Americans declared their indepemtence, Mr. Michael Prank I in, the agent for Indiriu affairs, concluded a treaty of peace with the Indians on this River, and induced them to deliver up to him an agreement they had entered into with an agent of the rebels, to furnish them with GOD fighting men. For some time after, however, the Indians wore kept in a state of ferment, by emmisaries from the rebels, who were sent among them, to endeavor to excite hostilities agt the English. The Settlers were in a state of constant alarm and uneasiness. Mr. White was appointed the Deputy of Mr. Franklin the Indian Agent, in this quarter — and to his exertions, and the great popular- ity he enjoyed among the Indians, may be attributed the preservation of peace with them. They called him familiarly " IVaheet,^' ami he felt such confidence in their good feeling towards him, that he would at any time, venture alone among them; and he invariably sucQeeded in appeasing them, and prevent- ing any outbreak. In 1777 a rebel privateer visited this iiarbor and plundered the Inhabitants of every thing of value. From Mr. White's store alone, thev carried off 21 boat loads of British merchandize. When these pre- datory visits, the inhabitants fled to the woods, where they remained until the plunderers departed. This last visit almost beggared them, and then, upon their urgent representation, a party of soldiers was sent from Halifax, in a transport, l)ec. 1777. They were * [l e. I'riuee Edward Islaud.] 15 couvoyerl by a Sloop of war (wliich remiiined in the Harbour until the following 5;})riiig) and they brought with them a Block House, ready to be put up. This they erected on the top of tlie high hill in Portland, which they named Fort Howe,— & thereafter a gar- rison was always kept there. In 1778, the Ir.dians were incited by a Colonel Alien, who resided among and had great influence over the l^enobscot Indians to make an attack upon the Settlers on this harbour & also upon Fort Howe. A party of the Penobseots came thro' under their chief Au-waii-wes to join the Milicctes under Piekue Th^.kma, in the proposed attack. A very strong force was thus assembled, at Och-pa- haaff, four miles above Fredn. where there was an Indian village* — (Ock-jia-Jiuag signifies " the begin- ning of the swift water" — the early settlers generally pronounced it Oak Park.) This force proceed down the river in ninety canoes. Mr. White hearing of their coming, set otf, in a four oared barge, unarmed, to meet them. He found them halted at the head of the Reach, opposite Wordens, and there held a long conference with the Chiefs. Pierre Thoma, who had the Chief command was inclined to listen to Waheit, but the other Chiefs were not. At length ** the talk " was broken up, liy Thoma saying that before giving a tinai answer he would consult his God — He then retired apart from the rest, and threw himself Hat upon his face, on the soft sand beach of the river. He there lay motionless nearly an hour; then rising, he again assembled the chiefs around the Council Fire. Then he informed, that he had consulted his (iod, who had told him, *At Spring Hill. 16 that he had always reed, good treatment from King George's men; that King George had never injured him, but had given him many presents. That he knew nothing of Washington or his men, and he hud determined to keep peace with King George & hs people, and should return with his followers to Ock- pa-haag. This gave great dissatisfaction to the Penobscots, but they were forced to give in & Au- wah-wes & his party accompanied Mr. White to St. John, while Tomah returned to the village. This was a bold stroke of policy, and Mr. White ran a risk which few men would willingly have encountered. His exertions on this occasion were so effectual, that there was never afterwards even a threat of hostilities from the Indians, and all has remained in quiet ever since. In 1779 Mr. White, by order of Govt, erected a building at Indian Town for the accomodation of the Indians when they came to trade. And now Ladies and Gentlemen we come to a point of great interest in our history. On the 16th December 1782, the governor of Nova Scotia received a letter from General Carleton, dated at New York, stating that many families, determined on maintaining their allegiance to the British Crown, would come to Nova Scotia, and settle on the ungranted lands, within its extensive limits. "If the revolted Colonists were proud of their declaration of independence, well may the loyal Refugees exult with honest becoming pride in their Declaration of fidelity, fidelity proved to the utter- most." The praises of their unflinching loyalty & devoted patriotism should sound in their aged ears, whilst yet ^W^^t^^S^M they can hear, from the mouths of their sons & daughters; those praises should be reiterated & })er- petuated at our public festivals & anniversaries as the noblest epitaphs which can hallow the acts ^: princi- ples of the worthy dead, and do honor to the cause for which they endured and suffered — for which they bled and fell — that of their Sovereign and their country. In May 1783 the first fleet, with a large number of these brave spirits, who had abandoned ail to maintain their loyalty, arrived in this Harbour. The point of land on which this City stands had been previously laid out in Town lots, by Paul Bedell (the Father of J. L. Bedell Esq) and had been named Parr Town^ after Gov. Parr of Nova Scotia, The first party of Loyalists that arrived, landed at the present Market Square, cleared away the dense forest then standing upon it, & with ships sails made hurricane houses, under which, with their women & children, they got the best shelter they could. On the day of their arrival, they were all regaled with fresh salmon, which were caught in great numbers in the harbour, and which were furnished the new comers at the standard price of 7id. each. The whole of this City was then in a perfect State of wilderness ; the wood was dreadfully thick and greatly encum- bered with windfalls. Each man as he arrived drew one of owy City liots, which he forthwith proceeded to clear, and the next operation was to put up a log-house. I am indebted to David Hatfield Esq. almost the sole survivor of those who arrived here in May 178.3 for many parti- culars connected with the arrival & settlement of the Loyalists, for which I beg to tender him my thanks. 18 Mr. Hatfield tcJlls me he drew a lot in the Lower Cove, near the present Marine Hospital, and that he out down upon it with h.s own hands, spruce trees 15 Inches in diameter. In June another fleet arrived, and vessels continued coming all the Season, and in the succeeding winter there could not have been less than 5000 Inhabitants on a spot, which a few months previously had reposed in the Silence and Soltitude of the primeval forest. The disbanded soldiers of the 42d. Regt. drew their lots chiefl}^ upon Union Street, and they erected almost a continued line of log HoUvses from York Point to the back Shore. At the east end of Union St, at the back of the Block House, and all around the back Shore, there was a thrifty growth of spruce, very largo and handsome trees. King's Square was then a very thick Cedar Swamp, and I have heard several amusing anecdotes from persons who had been lost in its labyrinths, one in particular of an inhabitant who wandered about in it, one whole day, in search of his lost cow. King Street was partially settled the first winter. The Father of the present Messr. Sears drew the lot on King Street where their hat store now stands, and I well remember the late Mr. Sears telling me in his life-time that the surveyor went with him, to show him his lot in the bushes, and that after some search, they found the right blaze on a spruce tree at the corner of the lot ; that he pulled off his coat, hung it oa the corner tree, and with his own hands proceeded with a heavy heart to cut down the trees, & endeavour to establish for him- self a house in the wilderness. In 1783 Major Studholme was Commandant at Fort Howe, having under him Captain Balfour and a 19 party of troops. Each loyalist on his arrival, was furnished by (lovt. with oOO feet refuse boardB, with which to make a shanty, until thoy could got up a log-house. With the first arrival of Loyalists Colonel Tyng came as Agent, and with him Commissary Hart — the latter occupied tiie House and Stores of Mr. Simonds at L'ortland point, whero rations were furnished the new comers. But notwithstanding these and other arrangements for their comfort, great distress and misery were endured by this noble band of loyal spirits, and their suffering wives & children. Many died the first winter from the small pox, fever & other diseases, induced Si, aggravated by the want of shelter and other privations. When we consider that these truly loyal men, hud to brave, for the first time, the horrors of a ]^^ng & bitter winter, in hovels, barely sufficient to shelter their shivering limbs from '' the pelting of the pitiless storm", in a dreary region, with scarcely a human habitation to be seen, to struggle with difiiculties and privations incalculably severe, & without an object on which the eye could rest, save dismal 8wamj)s, frowning cliffs and dark interminable forests, have we not reason to admire their cheerful submission, their indomitable perseverence, their devoted patriot- ism? In a dispatch dated 'JOtli Sept. 17S3, Gov. Parr stated to the Colonial Minister, that the number of Loyalists who had arrived in Nova Scotia up to that time amounted to 18,000 & three weeks after he reported the arrival of 2000 more. Major Stud- holme's account for furnishing lumber and erecting houses for the Loyalists, between the Ist day of June ftud the 3l8t day of December 1783, amounted to 20 £6,721 6 6 which amount was allowed & paid him by Government. In the summer of 1874 more persons came from the United States, while many of those who had arrived the preceeding year, moved up the River from this place to farms which had been allotted them, & on which they settled. The building of wharves in the harbour was commenced this year (1784). That Spring, a weir was built from Portland Point to York Point, and the quantity of fish taken in it was almost beyond belief. On one occasion, the gaspereaux lay, knee-deep, for three rods back from the weir, all the way across from Point to Point. The weir was scuttled in three places, to let the fish out; yet of the immense quantity which remained, a large portion spoiled, from the impossibility of taking care of them, as well as for the scarcity of salt. Salmon were very abundant this year, yet the price advanced to ninepence each. For two years after this City was settled, the Inhabitants did not follow the exact line of the Streets, but used paths along the most convenient places according to the nature of the ground. The City, at that time was divided into two settlements, the upper Cove and the lower Cove, which f'^r a long period, carried on a violent opposi- tion to each other. The Lower Cove was almost wholly cleared up the first year; the principal busi- ness establishments were placed there & it had much the greatest population. The two settlements of Upper and Lower Cove were divided by forest for some time, and all the carting and carriage between the upper and lower part of this City, was carried on by the beach at low water — along by PettingelFs Yard and Reed's Point. 11 21 This way was very rough & difficult, particularly where Mr. John Walker is now building the splendid new Custom House. There the beach was encum- bered with largo masses of rock. Dock Street was for a long time, only a narrow foot path, along the edge of a rocky cliff, and people passing along it, were obliged (particularly in winter) to hold on to the small 'ftushes and roots which clung to the rocks to prevent them slipping off, and rolling down upon the wild S: ~ooky beach beneath them. At low water, they went ^ver to Portland by crossing on the flats from York Point to the Point where Messrs. liarris & Allan's Foundry now stands. It was three years before a Bridge was got across. There was no road leading out of Town for some time — the only outlet was by a path along the bank of the Marsh Creek. There were 3 or 4 houses on the marsh, one back of Lily Lake, and one at Indian Town in 1783. In the summer of ITS-l, a lire burned all the wood off the lower part of the Town as far up as Princess Street. Some log houses were burneil, and the rest were saved with difficulty. (They had no water- pipes, or fire plugs then). The value of City lot 3 at this time was from 10/ to £5. Mr. Hatfield tells me that the lot at the Coffee House Corner was held at 15 Guineas, but being considered too high did not find a purchaser. Many lots on King St. were sold for a Jug of rum, and Mr. John Clark the baker, also an old loyalist, tells me, that he could have had as many lots as he wished in the Lower Cove, by paying for the deed and standing treat — and that in fact some of the valuable lots he now holds were acquired on those terms. The first vessel built in this harbour of St, John was built exactly where the New Market 28 ! I I I t ! House now stands, and was a brig of 160 Tons. Coasters this year flocked to the St. John in tolerable numbers, and by the kindness of the Sheriff of St. John, I am enabled to show the original Custom House Book from Novr. 1783 to Oct. 1784. On 9th Feby. 1784 Wm. Tyng, James Peters &> George Leonard were appointed Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas for the County of Sunbury. But this vast and variable Country was not destined to remain much longer a county of Nova Scotia, the v/hole of which it so greatly exceeds in extent. On the 16th Aug. 1784 a Commn. issued under the Privy Seal to Thomas Carleton Esquire appoint* ing him Captain General & Govr. in Chief of the Province of New Brunswick, the boundaries of which (the same as at present) were defined and established by Commission. On the 23nd day of Novr, 1784 this commission was received & promulgated at this place, and the first entry in our Council Records is as follows, — '' Parr Town, 22 Nov. 1784." His Majesty's Commission above recited, constitu- ting and appointing Thos. Carleton Esq. Captn. Genl. & Govr. in Chief of this Province, having been duly published, His Excellency repaired to the Council Chamber where he took the Oaths by law required and administered the same to George Duncan Lud- low, James Putnam, Abijah Willard, Gabriel Ludlow, Isaac Allen, Wm. Hazen and Jonothan Odell, Esquires, they being the number nominated in the Kings Instructions to be of His Majesty's Council for this Province; and then the Govr. and the members above named having taken their seats in Council, ^ Proclamation of the Govr. was read notifying the i|i ( ■: 0'> boundaries of the Province as established in the Kings Commn. and commanding ail OHicera civil & military to continue in the execution of theiv respec- tive Offices. Advised that the said Proclamation be this day published. And here, Ladies and Gentlemen, my Lecture ought properly to cease, but I shall take you a stej) further without trespassing much longer on your time. Before this was erected into a separate Province, and while it remained a county of Nova Scotia, a great number of extravagant and improvident grants had been made. Among others Sir Andrew Snape Hammond, at one period Govr. of Nova Scotia, got 100,000 acres on the Hammond River, which took its name from him. Sir John St. Clair got 100,000 acres between the Kennebeckasis and the Washademoac. Our Govr. & Council forthwith set about escheating these large grants, because tire con- ditions of settlement were not complied with, and they acted with such spirit, determination, and high sense of duty, that nearly the whole of the lands so improvidentiy granted were reverted to the crown, and thus a great barrier to the settlement of the Province was removed, and a field opened to the energy, enterprise & industry of the real settler. On the 14th Jany. 1785, regulations for the orderly and speedy settlement of New Brunswick were estab- lished & published and on the 22nd Feby. following, an order passed for the speedy building and orderly settlement of a Town at St. Ann's point, which it appears Govr. Carleton had visited in person, and I - t 24 selected as the site for a Town and it was ordered to be called Frederick Town after His Rojal Highness the Bishop of Osnabur^. On the 2nd March the ungranted lands en the Miramichi were ordered to be laid out for settlement. In April the following estimate for the civil service of the Province was reed, from Lord Sidney, one of the Principal Secretaries of the State. Governor . £1000 Chief Justice oOO Atty Genl , 150 Secy. Re^r. & clerk of Council, 250 Naval officer 100 Survey. Gen 150 4 missionaries at £75 each. . . 1300 Agent 150 Contigencies 500 Total £3100 29th April, 1785, the Atty. Genl. was ordered to prepare a Chapter for incorporating the Towns of Parr and Carleton into a City to be called St. John; that charter we are all well acquainted with, as we have it constantly before us. On the 23rd Aug. 1785 the first grant under the great seal of New Bruns- wick was passed, and bore the number one. It was a grant to Major Menzies of 500 acres of land at Musquash, and is the same property on which Archibald Menzies Esq. now resides. On the 26th Augt. Col, Allen, Colonel Winslow, Lieut. Dougald Campbell, Lieut. Edw. Steele, and Lieut. Munson Iloyt were appointed Trustees for eilecting the speedy Settlement of Eredericton. 'A 4 25 In May 1775 Letters Patent under the Great Seal were issued for ascertaining and confirming the boundaries of the several Counties within the Pro- vince, & for sub-dividing the same into Towns and Parishes, and in October following writs were issued to the Sheriffs of the Several Counties for a General Election at which every Inhabitant, who had been three months a resident was entitled to vote. The Election proceeded and it appears that there were great riots during its continuance in the City — the Poll was held at Mallards Tavern in King Street, now known as the Bonsall property, and the violent proceedings which took place there were speedily denounced by an order of the Govr. & Council. On the 9th Jan. 1786 the first Genl. Assembly met in St. John in the old yellow wooden building, opposite the residence of the Honbl. Hugh Johnston, which was pulled down by the Hon. John Robertson last season to erect the now brick house adjoining his own residence. His Excy. Govr. Carleton, at the opening of the Assembly, made a most excellent speech, — a part of which I must give you. He said: — " A meeting of the Several Branches of the Legis- ature for the first time in the New Province, is an event of so great importance, and must prove so con- ducive to its stability and prosperity, that I feel the highest satisfaction at seeing His Majesty^s endeavours to procure the Inhabitants every protection of a free government in so fair a way of being fully success- ful. ** The preceding winter was necessarily spent in guarding the people against those numerous wants, incident to their peculiar situation; and the summer r ""S^^ZT^ Hi I ' 26 has been employed, as well in the prosecution of this essential business as in dividing the Province, and establishing the several Offices and Courts of Justice, requisite for the security of the farmer, while engaged in raising a support for his family; and now that the season of the year renders travelling commodious, and allows you leisure to attend to the public business without interuption to your private affairs, I have called you together, in compliance with the Royal Instructions, that you may put the finishing liand to the arduous task of organizing the Province by re- enacting such of the Nova Scotia laws as are applicable to our situation, and passing such bills as you shall judge best calculated to maintain our rapid ad- vance towards a complete establishment of this country." - After directing the attention of the Legislature to various import objects, His Excellency concludes his speech as follows: — ''The liberality of the British Govt, to the un- fortunate Loyalists in general, & the peculiar munifi- cence & parental care of our most Gracious Sovereign to those of them settled in New Brunswick, call loudly for every return that an affectionate and favored t)eople can make, and I am persuaded that you cannot better show you gratitude on this behalf, for the many unexampled instances of National & Royal Bounty, than by promoting Sobriety, Industry, & the practice of Religion — by discouraging all factions and party distinctions amongst us, & incul- cating the utmost harmony between the newly^ arrived Loyalists, and those of His Majesty's Subjects formerly resident in the Province. And, Gentlemen, it is with real pleasure I declare, that our prospects are so 37 favourable., that your exertions for those beneficial purposes can scarcely fail to render this Asylum of Loyalty, the envy of the neighbouring States, & that by exercising the acts of peace, they who have taken refuge here, will not only be abundantly recompensed for their losses, but enabled to enjoy their connection with the parent State, and retain their allegiance to the best of Kings, which their conduct has proved they prize above all other considerations." Ladies & Gentlemen, I intended to have gone some- what further with you but the hour warns me, that I have already gone too far. We have now traced this Province thro' all its changes