Table of Contents, Rev. May 22, 2013

This blog will continue to grow, but following is a table of contents so far - from the top:

1. An 1841 Trek up the Oromocto River – May 22, 2013
2. Fredericton’s Exhibition Palace, and Bears in N.B. – May 15, 2013
3. Murder on Diamond Square Road – May 8, 2013
4. Acadian Historic Sites in New Brunswick – May 1, 2013
5. John C. Tracy’s Book, Part 5 of 5 – Apr. 24, 2013
6. John C. Tracy’s Book, Part 4 of 5 – Apr. 17, 2013
7. John C. Tracy’s Book, Part 3 of 5 – Apr. 10, 2013
8. John C. Tracy’s Book, Part 2 of 5 – Apr. 3, 2013
9. John C. Tracy’s Book, Part 1 of 5 – Mar. 27, 2013
10. A Retrospective Look at Saint John – Mar. 20, 2013
11. The Wreck of the England – Mar. 13, 2013
12. The First Decade of the 1800′s in St. John, N.B. – Mar. 6, 2013
13. St. John’s Poorhouse and Workhouse – Feb. 27, 2013
14. New Brunswick Scenes From an Old Book – Feb. 20, 2013
15. Nice Pictures From Another Old Book – Feb. 13, 2013
16. Life in the Backwoods of New Brunswick, Part 2/2 – Feb. 6, 2013
17. Life in the Backwoods of New Brunswick, 1845 – Jan. 30, 2013
18. The Works of W.O. Raymond – Jan. 23, 2013
19. The Year of the Fever – Jan. 16, 2013
20. Hanged for the Theft of 25 Cents – Jan. 9, 2013
21. Reversing Falls – Pictures – Jan. 2, 2013
22. Christmas as it was in 1808 – Dec. 25, 2012
23. Nice Pictures From an Old Book – Dec. 19, 2012
24. The Saint John Bridge Collapse of 1837 – Dec. 12, 2012
25. The First Road Bridge Across the Reversing Falls – Dec. 5, 2012
26. The Mystery of the First Lizzie Morrow – Nov. 28, 2012
27. The First Murder Trial on the River St. John – Nov. 21, 2012
28. The March of the 104th Regiment in 1812 – Nov. 14, 2012
29. Partridge Island – Nov. 7, 2012
30. Fredericton’s First Bridge Across the Saint John River – Oct. 31, 2012
31. 1816, The Year Without a Summer – Oct. 31, 2012
32. Winslow to Wentworth, 1781 – Oct. 31, 2012
33. Oops! An explanation – Oct. 31, 2012
34. The Saxby Gale of 1869 – Oct. 31, 2012
35. New Brunswick’s Third Town in 1838: Saint Andrews – Oct. 31, 2012
36. Fredericton and York County in 1838 – Oct. 31, 2012
37. The City and County of Saint John in 1838 – Sept. 26, 2012
38. The St. Andrews and Quebec Railroad – Sept. 19, 2012
39. The Studholm Report of Saint John River Pre-Loyalists in 1783 – Sept. 12, 2012
40. Caleb Jones. Further RE: Ann, otherwise known as Nancy – Sept. 5, 2012
41. The Wreck of the Martha – Aug. 29, 2012
42. The Early Settlement of Maugerville and the Sheffield Parsonage Dispute – Aug. 22, 2012
43. Lieutenant Governors of New Brunswick to Confederation, Part 2 of 2 – Aug. 15, 2012
44. Lieutenant Governors of New Brunswick to Confederation, Part 1 of 2 – Aug. 8, 2012
45. The Morrow House at French Lake, N.B. – New Information – Aug. 1, 2012
46. Sound by Glen Glenn, Revision 1 – July 25, 2012
47. Ann, otherwise known as Nancy – July 18, 2012
48. The Fire of October 7, 1825 – Beyond the Miramichi – July 11, 2012
49. Lemuel Allan Wilmot – July 4, 2012
50. The Great Fire at Miramichi, October 7, 1825 – June 27, 2012
51. Robert Rankin in New Brunswick – June 20, 2012
52. Who Owned the Mill at Tracy, New Brunswick? – June 13, 2012
53. Signatures of Sunbury County Ancestors – June 6, 2012
54. Daniel Wood’s Log Cabin, and Little Field Barn at French Lake, New Brunswick – May 30, 2012
55. Rusagonis and George Garraty – May 23, 2012
56. Epitaph Transcriptions from a Collection – May 16, 2012
57. Central New Brunswick Gravestones from a Genealogy – May 9, 2012
58. Nashwaak River Pictures with Stewart Family Connections – May 2, 2012
59. More Sunbury County Photographs from a Collection – Apr. 25, 2012
60. An Indian Burial Ground at Oromocto; and Coal Mining on the Oromocto River – Apr. 22, 2012
61. “Days of Old” by Katherine DeWitt and Norma Alexander – Apr. 18, 2012
62. The Wood Cemetery at French Lake, New Brunswick – Apr. 11, 2012
63. James Glenie in New Brunswick – Apr. 4, 2012
64. Four Generations of the Stewart Family on the Nashwaak River – Mar. 28, 2012
65. Three Generations of the Mersereau Family in New Brunswick – Mar. 21, 2012
66. Three Generations of the Smith Family of Sunbury County, New Brunswick – Mar. 14, 2012
67. Three Generations of the Wood Family of French Lake, New Brunswick – Mar. 7, 2012
68. New Brunswick Education in 1883 – Feb. 29, 2012
69. Riots and Demonstrations in Saint John – Feb. 20, 2012
70. Making Better Butter – Feb. 18, 2012
71. York County Place Names, 1896/1905 – Feb. 8, 2012
72. Sunbury County Place Names, 1896/1905 – Feb. 1, 2012
73. Stereoscopic slides from Fred Stewart, Part 3 of 3 – Jan. 25, 2012
74. Stereoscopic slides from Fred Stewart, Part 2 of 3 – Jan. 18, 2012
75. Stereoscopic slides from Fred Stewart, Part 1 of 3 – Jan. 11, 2012
76. The Hon. Thomas Baillie: Gone, but not soon forgotten! – Jan. 5, 2012
77. The Fort at Oromocto, 1780 – 1783 – Dec. 29, 2011
78. The Great Fire in Fredericton, 1850 – Early Accounts – Dec. 15, 2011
79. The Morrow House at French Lake, and More – Dec. 8, 2011
80. The Old Woman House at French Lake, New Brunswick – Dec. 1, 2011
81. Smith Family Photographs from a Collection, Sunbury County, N.B. – Nov. 25, 2011
82. French Lake from Before we Remember – Nov. 20, 2011
83. How Geary became known as Geary – Nov. 9, 2011
84. Elizabeth (Smith) Secord; N.B.’s First Woman Registered Doctor – Nov. 4, 2011
85. Phillips Family Photographs from a Collection, Rusagonis, N.B. – Nov. 2, 2011
86. Mersereau Family Photographs from a Collection, Sunbury County, N.B. – Oct. 30, 2011
87. Wood Family Photographs from a Collection, French Lake, N.B. – Oct. 25, 2011
88. Jeremiah Tracy: Pioneer of the Village of Tracy, New Brunswick – Oct. 20, 2011
89. Two Old Railroad-Inspired Songs – Oct. 16, 2011
90. Ode to the Oromocto River – Oct. 10, 2011
91. John Mersereau, Loyalist 2 – Oct. 4, 2011
92. The Earliest American Railroads and Locomotives – Sept. 14, 2011
93. The Mersereau Manufacturing Company of Brooklyn, New York, Notes – Sept. 3, 2011
94. George Morrow of French Lake, New Brunswick – 1801-1868 – Aug. 26, 2011
95. The Wood Family of French Lake, New Brunswick – Legends – Aug. 9, 2011
96. The Baptist Church on the Oromocto River in New Brunswick – Aug. 7, 2011
97. John Wood of French Lake, New Brunswick – 1788-1868 – Aug. 2, 2011
98. Daniel Wood of French Lake, New Brunswick – 1764-1847 – Aug. 1, 2011
99. Three Stewarts on the Nashwaak – July 24, 2011
100. Bunker Genealogy – Five Bunkers – July 20, 2011
101. Statistics From the 1851 and 1871 Sunbury County New Brunswick Census Reports – July 19, 2011
102. Historical Development of the Beam Bending Equation M=fS – July 18, 2011
103. Seth Noble, Maugerville and the American Revolution – July 16, 2011
104. Columns, the Long and the Short of it – 1729-1900 – July 15, 2011
105. The Great Saint John Steel Cantilever Bridge – July 13, 2011
106. The Upper Oromocto River in 1847 – July 11, 2011
107. Early Glimpses of the Rusagonis Baptist Church in New Brunswick – July 11, 2011
108. Abraham Gesner’s 1847 Observations of Sport Hunting in New Brunswick – July 11, 2011
109. It Sounds a bit Too Easy – July 10, 2011
110. James Buncker – July 10, 2011
111. Inconsistent Petitions; Changed Self-Interests – July 10, 2011
112. Abner Mersereau and a Letter – July 9, 2011
113. Early Glimpses of the Patterson Settlement Baptist Church in New Brunswick – July 9, 2011
114. The Textile Mill at Geary, New Brunswick – July 8, 2011
115. Letter of Mi’kmaq’ Chief Pemmeenauweet to Queen Victoria – 1841 – July 7, 2011
116. New Brunswick in the 1840s – July 7, 2011

Regards,

JohnWood1946@hotmail.com

An 1841 Trek up the Oromocto River

From JohnWood1946@hotmail.com

An 1841 Trek up the Oromocto River

This description of the Oromocto River is from An Account of the River St. John, With its Tributary Rivers and Lakes, by Edmond Ward, published in Fredericton in 1841.

What can I say? The man obviously did not appreciate where he was. He came within a mile of my favourite ancestor, for example, and did not even drop by for a visit. It seems that he was more interested in fishing. Still, several communities on the river are mentioned and the work is interesting.

Most of the old growth forests in New Brunswick had been ravaged by 1841. The area between Geary and Victoria Settlement had been logged by Smiths, and Woods, and especially by George Morrow’s crews. Poachers also cut logs, and then dared to float them past Morrow’s dam on the Rockwell Stream. In this description, Ward observed that the “land has been neglected, and the farms ruined as elsewhere, owing to the deleterious pursuits of lumbering.”

 

CNR Bridge Over the Oromocto River; About 1915.

This bridge is near the mouth of the river, between the Route 102 crossing and the Trans Canada Highway, Route 7, crossing. The towers, etc., were for lifting the center span for the passage of boats. The bridge is still there, but the lift-span is now fixed in position and the towers are gone.

Edmond Ward’s description of the Oromocto River follows.

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Twelve miles below Fredericton, and fourteen above Swan Creek, the Oromocto River flows into the St. John; the country on the River between those places being well settled on both sides of its banks. The Oromocto is the only river of any size, with the exception of the Kennebeckasis, that falls directly into the St. John below Fredericton. It has its rise in two lakes about twenty miles apart, called north and south Branch Lakes; the streams from which form a junction eighteen or twenty miles from the village at the mouth of the Oromocto. There are several minor streams, some of which fall into these branches and others into the main stream. On the South Branch are Shin and Back Creeks; on the North are Hardwood, Yoho and Lyon Streams; and on the main Oromocto, are the Brockwell stream [should read Rockwell Stream], the Rusagonis and Rinny Creek.

The soil on the banks of the Oromocto below the junction of the Branch streams, generally speaking is totally unfit for settlement, as a great part is low and marshy, and (illegible) overflowed: but there are extensive wild meadows that (illegible) an excellent substitute for English grass, in case of (illegible) of other fodder. On the South Branch there is a considerable quantity of good land, both occupied and unoccupied; which runs through a beautiful and level tract called “The Valley”: which is equal in richness of soil and productiveness to the best part of Sheffield. Back Creek, a tributary stream of the South Branch, also runs through a fine tract of good hard-wood land where is a flourishing settlement, called the Patterson settlement, with places for public worship and parish-schools. On Shin Creek, which also falls into the South Branch, about four miles above Scoullar’s mills, I understand there is land fit for settlement, and which is still in a wilderness state. There is also good land on the streams, falling into the North Branch; but the country in their neighborhood has usually been resorted to for purposes of lumbering; and of course no settlements have been formed where that is the case. Around the North Branch Lake however there is already a good settlement; the land is excellent for tillage; and a road has been opened communicating with Fredericton, This is the new road to St. Andrews, which is nearly completed, and passes within two miles of the Lake, and a little farther from the Magaguadavic. This Lake is about ten miles in length and four in breadth, and runs in a direction nearly north and south, and parallel with the road. It is distant about twenty miles from Hartt’s mills, and is settled for half that distance, probably as far as the land is good; and it is thirty-two miles from Fredericton by the new road.

About seven miles from the mouth of the Oromocto on Brockwell stream [should read Rockwell Stream], there is some good land, that might be cultivated to advantage; a road I believe has been opened through it during the last season, and two or three families have settled there. On the Rusagonis there are some fine farms; the better description of land however has been granted. Of the settlements in that direction I shall have occasion to speak hereafter.

The Oromocto is navigable for sloops and wood-boats a distance of twenty miles, – for canoes upwards of thirty; and except during the droughts of summer, the Creeks already mentioned, may be navigated by canoes, Salmon, shad, bass and gaspereau are found in the Oromocto when in season; and all the smaller streams abound with the finest description of trout. The Nerepis road from Fredericton to St. John passes through the village at the mouth of the Oromocto, over which a substantial bridge has recently been erected. At a distance of about five miles from the mouth of the Oromocto, the road divides; – that to the Nerepis and St. John diverging to the left, and the other continuing on to the South Branch, and other settlements in that direction, the front of which are situated about twenty miles from the Oromocto village. This road passes through the Patterson settlement, and intersects the Nerepis road, five or six miles above Mathers’ tavern. This route, as far as the South Branch settlement I have travelled several times; and as it is in excellent order, and generally speaking level, is a most delightful drive, leading to a well settled and fertile country.

The population in the vicinity of the South Branch of the Oromocto, has been estimated at from four to five hundred persons; and there are probably one hundred and fifty farms, comprising three thousand acres of cleared land, occupied by wealthy and independent communities. Between the South Branch road and the stream of the same name, there is a tract of ungranted land sufficient to form three hundred fine farms. Unfortunately there is no road through it; but it is to be hoped the attention of government may be directed to the subject, and that this fertile portion of country will be laid off for settlement. Between the Oromocto and the South Branch settlements, at the forks of the road already alluded to, five or six miles from the mouth of the Oromocto, commences the Geary settlement, a location well adapted to meet the wants and requirements of those who formed it; but the land has been neglected, and the farms ruined as elsewhere, owing to the deleterious pursuits of lumbering. Between the Oromocto and this settlement, are two or three lots of ungranted land of an excellent quality. From the South Branch settlements to Hartt’s Mills on the North Branch, is a distance of about three miles; and the road continues on through the Rusagonis and Maryland settlements to Fredericton. There are several good farms and a large population on the North Branch; but all the cleared land is occupied. In all the settlements on the Oromocto and its tributary streams, it is pleasing to state, there are places of public worship and a number of schools.

About seven miles from the mouth of the Oromocto, on the South-west Branch, is a delightful sheet of water called French Lake, about a mile and a quarter long and a mile broad, with extensive intervale. There is an interesting settlement here, and the scenery in the vicinity of the Lake is uncommonly fine, Its waters abound with trout of a superior flavor, and large size; a very important item of intelligence to those gentlemen of the garrison at Fredericton, who may be fond of angling: as the distance from that place is only nineteen miles; and by stopping at Mrs. Nevers’ excellent house, just below the mouth of the Oromocto during the night, an early drive over a good road in the morning, will carry them to the scene of piscatory sport.

At the mouth of the Oromocto, on its left branch, there is a fine body of intervale, extending about a mile on the River St. John, and opposite to it is Oromocto Island, formed of alluvial deposit, but which is not inhabited; the lots being owned by persons residing on the main land. There is a church and dissenting meeting-house at the village on the right bank; service being performed in the former by the minister of the establishment who resides at Maugerville, and who officiates at both places and Wesleyan ministers from Fredericton, and other denominations occasionally, in the meeting-house. About two miles lower down, and opposite M’Lean’s, are the county court-house and jail. During the last summer the remains of several Indians were discovered near the bridge at the Oromocto, with various copper utensils, and other relics of bygone days; and it is probable that here was an extensive settlement of the former natives of the country, and here the burying place of a numerous and warlike tribe.

On the right bank of the Oromocto, at a short distance from the mouth of the river, the land rises; and between the village and court-house is a most eligible site for a town. Unfortunately the lots are very large; and the seat of government being established at Fredericton, its natural advantages in this respect have not been improved. Owing to a peculiar warmth in the stream itself, the Oromocto generally remains open longer in autumn, and the St. John is navigable to that point earlier in the spring than at Fredericton. – The principal obstructions to navigation also occur above the Oromocto; and when the fine country in its vicinity is considered, and we see the immense improvement that has taken place at Chatham, within the last twenty years, owing to the introduction of enterprise and capital there; it is not at all improbable, that at no distant period, a town will arise at the mouth of the Oromocto, where an enterprising mercantile house carries on shipbuilding to a considerable extent at present; and that here will ultimately be the first place of deposit and transshipment of the productions of the upper country, and the imported goods of which its inhabitants may stand in need.

Fredericton’s Exhibition Palace and Bears in N.B.

By JohnWood1946@hotmail.com

Two blog postings are combined into one in today’s presentation. First is a description of Fredericton’s Exhibition Palace, built in 1864. This is followed by an article written by W.O. Raymond in 1921 about bears in New Brunswick in the olden times.

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Fredericton’s Exhibition Palace

Once upon a time, a building was constructed on the site of the present Beaverbrook Art Gallery to host the Fredericton Exhibition. That was in 1852 and it was called the Colonial Palace. The building was fitting to its intended use but, in all other respects, was ‘over the top’. Chandeliers in the form of griffins and dragons spewed gas light flames from their mouths, for example. Other adornments included a large statue of Britannia and a display of sixty flags. British strength and ingenuity brought continuous advances in agriculture or, at least, that was the theme.

A Provincial Exhibition would require a larger building, however, and the opportunity to host such an event presented itself in early 1863. A meeting was called and Matthew Stead of Saint John was invited to submit a design for a new building. Stead was an architect and was responsible for many buildings throughout New Brunswick. The resulting ‘Exhibition Palace’ was then designed and built within about a year at the corner of Westmorland and Saunders Streets. It was in the form of a cross with an 80 foot dome in the center. 

 

 Opened in October of 1864, the building is often praised as the most magnificent of its kind in the Province. It was also the largest wooden frame building in New Brunswick. Natural lighting was allowed through an abundance of glass and 650 gas lamps were available at night. It was an exhibition hall, however, and the picture illustrates that subtlety was not one of its defining features.

A fire erupted in a shed alongside the Palace in the middle of the night on October 30, 1877. The Palace was soon in ruins, along with a house owned by William McLaughlin. Three other buildings on Westmorland and Saunders and Charlotte Streets were also destroyed or damaged. The elderly William and Mrs. McLaughlin were saved from the flames, but a Mr. Perkins died, of fright they said.

The Palace had cost $28,000., and there was no insurance. The mayor noted that that money had been lost in the fire in the matter of a couple of hours. A replacement building was erected but it also burned, in 1882.

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Bears in New Brunswick in the Olden Times

The following article was written by W.O. Raymond in 1921 and published in the Collections of the New Brunswick Historical Society, Vol. 4, No. 12, 1928, p 350-355.

W.O. Raymond wrote hundreds or thousands of pages about New Brunswick history, but this article is non-typical. He comes across as a relaxed storyteller with no particular motive except to entertain. His story follows:

In my young days stories about bears were often related by the old settlers. The farm of my grandfather in Lower St. Marys had as its lower line the boundary between the Counties of York and Sunbury. A road called the “County Line Road” here ran back at right angles to the River Saint John. The land that bordered this road was pasture and partly overgrown with bushes. Raspberries grew in abundance and cattle roamed at large. Bears were numerous along the County Line Road but were usually so well fed, owing to the abundance of berries, that they were little dreaded. One of my uncles, when quite a small boy, in going after the cows one evening was running heedlessly along the cow-path when he ran slap into a bear lying asleep in a hollow. He tumbled over him and rolled headlong. It was hard to tell which was the most frightened the boy or the bear. Each fled in a different direction.

The bears were, however, partial to sheep and very destructive to the farmer’s flocks, and the government offered a considerable bounty in cash for the nose of every bear, young or old. This helped to stimulate a crusade and the life of bruin became very hazardous ere long. Bears were shot and caught in traps by the score.

On a Sunday afternoon, sixty-five years ago, one of my uncles and his young wife went for a walk out the County Line Road, having their baby with them in her small carriage. They encountered unexpectedly a she-bear and two cubs. Not having his gun and the mother bear being rather cowardly, my uncle chased the cubs up a tree and ran home for his gun leaving his wife with her baby at the foot of the tree to keep the cubs there until he returned. The old bear growled threateningly, and prowled about in the underbrush. The cubs attempted to descend but the plucky young wife stoned them up the tree again and held her ground until the return of her husband with his gun. He shot the cubs and in due time received the bounty from the government, but could not manage to get a shot at the old bear, which kept out of reach of his musket. This plucky young woman was a girl born in our City of Saint John. This story I had from my mother.

In Woodstock, N.B., the home of my childhood, our nearest neighbors were my father’s uncles of the Beardsley family. Most of the men were tall powerful fellows (there were six brothers). Perhaps the most so of all was “Uncle Ralph,” who was tall, well-proportioned, and weighed about 250 pounds. His strength was great, as the following story will show:

The brothers, John and Ralph, one day found the remains of a fine steer that had been killed and partly devoured by a bear. The creature they judged by his tracks to be a very large one. They decided to watch for the bear the next night, presuming that he would return to continue his banquet.

Armed with the old-fashioned flint-lock muskets, they lay in wait beside the remains of the steer. A thunder-storm came on and one of the brothers said, “the bear will come with the storm.” This proved true. A flash of lightning revealed the bear beside the steer and taking aim as best they could in the uncertain light the brothers fired. The priming of Ralph’s gun had been wet by the rain and the gun missed fire, but the ball from Uncle John’s musket passed directly through the bear’s head and he rolled on the ground. John ran forward eager to administer the coup de grace but tripped over a root and fell on his face, the bear rolling directly upon him.

Uncle Ralph seized his musket by the muzzle and swung the heavy brass-bound butt with all his strength upon the head of the bear. The butt was splintered by the might blow, but the bear was not rendered unconscious. Seizing the iron gun-barrel Ralph proceeded to pound the life out of the bear, and did not desist until he had smashed the barrel of the musket into three pieces. He said afterwards that blows on the creature’s head seemed of no use, but that when he pounded him on the nose he soon got the better of him. To his great relief he succeeded in saving his brother uninjured. The bear was a very large one and Ralph Beardsley’s feat was often spoken of in the neighbourhood in my young days. I have something more to say about bears, but would like to interpolate another reminiscence first.

When the Prince of Wales, afterwards King Edward VII, visited Fredericton in 1860, the people of the surrounding country flocked to the capital to do honour to the heir to the throne. There was then no railway and the river road from Woodstock to Fredericton was filled with a constant procession of carriages bearing loyal citizens to the capital to welcome the Prince. The desire to see him was intense. Uncle Ralph was amongst those who drove to Fredericton, and on his return had many stories to relate, and he told them well. One that I recall was that on the day when the Prince opened a park near the Government House, at the upper end of the town, the people had gathered in such crowds that (there being no eminences in the park) only a few could see him. A disconsolate young lady of diminutive size found herself unable either to penetrate the crowd or to see over their heads. She attracted Uncle Ralph’s attention. He saw her difficulty. He had himself a wife who was a little woman and he inquired if he could help her. She told him she had come a long way to see the Prince and that as he was going away on the morrow she would be much mortified to have to go home without even having had a look at him.

“Come with me,” said Uncle Ralph, and he led the way to a tree not far from where the Prince was standing. “Can you climb?” he said. She answered “I can try.” Taking her foot in his big palm and steadying her with the other hand he lifted her in the old time fashion in which ladies were lifted into the saddle by their cavaliers, up to the lowest branch of the tree. “Now climb,” he said. She soon made herself a comfortable seat, and said excitedly, “Oh, I can see him splendidly here; he is only a little way from me.”

“Take plenty of time,” he said, “I will stand guard.” In due course he assisted her down, received her grateful thanks and she went on her way rejoicing.

Soon afterwards he found a man, of the stature of Zaccheus, who had tried in vain to see the Prince. He confided his trouble to Uncle Ralph. “Today is the third day he has been here,” he said, “and I haven’t seen him yet, I shall have to go home without seeing him.”

Constables were now busy keeping the people from climbing trees, but Uncle Ralph again led the way to his tree. He said to the constable “Here is a man who has come a long way to see the Prince, and I want to help him,” and seizing the little man he chucked him high up among the branches, at which the crowd laughed. The constable looked rather apprehensively at the gigantic man, whose smile had in it something of the ‘Nemo me impune lacessit’’

He laughed and suffered Zaccheus to remain, with the big man as his guardian. “Take plenty of time,” said Uncle Ralph, “you may never again have a chance to see the future King of the Empire.”

Through the kindness of our corresponding member, Dr. W.F. Ganong, of Northampton, Mass., 1 have had the privilege of studying his photo-stat copy of P. Campbell’s “Travels in the Interior parts of North America in 1791, 1792,” printed in Edinburg 1793. The photo-stat copy is from the volume in the library of Congress. The books are now very scarce and a copy was sold at auction some little time ago for $350.00.

The description of his trip through New Brunswick – up the river to Fredericton, then up the Nashwaak to the Highland Settlement made there by the old 42nd Regiment, then up the Kennebecasis to Sussex, and then west to Passamaquoddy and Grand Manan, is all full of interest.

I shall only venture to give some extracts relating Bears in New Brunswick: These extracts 1 give verbatim without note or comment. He writes on September 2, 1791: “After we had passed Major Coffy’s (Coffin’s) beautiful seat, pleasantly situated on a point (Woodman’s Point) on the west side of the river, we landed. * * * Here I was informed that two men, in coming down the river, had attacked an old bear and two young ones, swimming across the river, which they killed.

Another man, in his boat alone, met a bear swimming across, and struck him with his axe and wounded him; but by the force of the stroke the axe fell overboard. The wound exasperated the bear to such a degree that it was with the utmost difficulty the man could keep him from boarding him and in the struggle he bit one of his fingers; but at last he shoved off his boat and got quit of him.

* * * “On an island, called Spoon Island, there were seven bears killed in one day. A gentleman and his son, near the house in which I then lodged, had been out working at the hay, having pitch-forks and rakes. Seeing a monstrous bear, quite close to the river, they pressed so hard upon him as to drive him into the water. They then thought they had him secure, as there was a boat near them, to which they immediately ran; and having pursued and come up with him, they struck and pelted him with the pitch-forks and shafts till they broke them to pieces. The exasperated monster now, as they had no weapon to annoy him, turned the chase on his adversaries; and fixing his forepaws upon the gunnel of the boat attempted to get in.

“They did all they could to keep him out, but their efforts were in vain, – he got in. So that at last they had nothing else for it, but either to jump out into the water or stay in the boat and be torn to pieces. They chose the former and swam ashore. The bear, now master of the boat whence the enemy had battered him, was so severely galled with the strokes and wounds he had received that he made no attempt to follow, but continued in the boat, otherwise he might have soon overtaken them, and have had ample revenge as he could swim three times faster than they.

“They immediately ran to the house for guns, and when they came back saw him sitting in the boat, and dipping one of his paws now and then in the water, and washing his wounds; on which, levelling their pieces, they shot him dead.

“The landlord of the house I put up at, when this story was told, showed me one of the paws of this bear, which, on account of its great size, he kept as a show, and added that it was as big as a yearling calf. So that one may easily conceive the havoc and destruction committed in a country so much infested with such monstrous and ravenous animals, especially on sheep, the simplest and silliest of all creatures, which fall an easy prey to beasts of far less strength and size. Many of these harmless, yet useful animals, were destroyed by bears in this very neighbourhood, where one man sustained the loss of thirty of his sheep within a short space; and even young cattle often were devoured, and carried off by them; yet they prefer swine, when they can get them, to any other meat.

* * * “After satisfying myself with everything necessary for me to see in this part of the River Saint John, I left my coat in the boat, the day being warm and sultry, and proceeded in my waistcoat and trousers twelve miles on foot. * * *

“I proceeded on the road, which had hitherto continued along the river side, but now struck off from it and led into a thick wood. * * * No sooner had I entered this dreary wilderness than the many stories I had heard of the bears recurred to my mind, which made me so apprehensive as to be at a stand whether to return back or push forward. I chose the latter. My dog, who was along with me and to whom I trusted much in case of being attacked, kept ranging about for game and was but rarely in my sight; so that I had constantly to call on him to keep him in, lest a bear should spring out of the wood on me in his absence; for it being Sunday (as before said) I had left my gun, along with my servant, in the boat, and I began to cut a stout stick with my pocket knife. While bent down at this work, such was my apprehension, that I kept constantly looking around me, lest a bear should seize me by the posteriors.

“After being fortified with this stick I proceeded on without any further concern. Had I been so well informed as I afterwards was, I would have been under no such apprehension, as it is very rare that a bear; no way molested by man, will attack him unless she happens to have young cubs. In that case it is dangerous to go near her den, but no bear would keep her young so near a place so much frequented by her mortal enemies, the human species, as that road was.”

So much for bears in New Brunswick.

Murder on Diamond Square Road

By JohnWood1946@hotmail.com

Murder on Diamond Square Road

I have found only two sources for this story and this rendition relies entirely upon them. However, old stories fade with time and retelling it here may delay that process.

In the 1860s, there was an old peddler who, on one occasion, herded cattle from the Saint Andrews area all of the way to Newcastle for sale. Later on in the story he is said to have been very rugged, so that we do not know why he was described as “old”. He was also herding cattle which is not a usual occupation for a “peddler”. Altogether, the story appears to have been embellished over the years.

The old peddler made it to Newcastle and commenced his return toward Saint Andrews with the proceeds of the cattle sale. The Diamond Square Road out of Fredericton Junction is part of the old Great Road from Fredericton to Saint Andrews, so that the old peddler’s route passed through Hartt’s Mills, as it was known. There, he stopped off at Thomas Hartt’s stage coach inn and may have spent the night drinking and gambling with two Irishmen and a Scot who became aware that he was carrying a large amount of money. These three men had been working at a nearby farm owned by a Miller.

 

 From Days of Old, page 37

The next day the old peddler left the inn, later known as the Bee Hive, and went on his way down the Diamond Square Road. The story is that he was accosted by the two Irishmen and the Scot and that a fight broke out over his money. No one witnessed what actually happened, but oral histories include details of the fight and that the old peddler resisted the attack over the course of a mile. He was eventually stabbed in the back and pulled off into the bush.

Some people say that, some time later, Thomas Nason and William McCarrick were looking for lost oxen along the road at a place known as mile hill. Others say that it was just one man, a Nason from Upper Farm, looking for lost cattle. In any case, the smell of the dead man drew attention and the old peddler was discovered without his money or other possessions. He was buried on the spot. The grave was unmarked until a railway engineer named Robert Donaldson placed a foot stone. Later, an iron cross was erected but that is probably now gone also. Thirty years ago there were people who knew where the grave was, but now we cannot be sure.

No one knew the old peddler. There was no identification on the body and no missing persons report was ever linked to him. Capt. Jeremiah Tracy was named a coroner, and the inquest determined only that he had been murdered for his money. No arrests were ever made.

Years later, one of the attackers was tried for murder in Montreal and was condemned to be hanged. He then confessed to the murder on the Diamond Square Road and provided some of the details which would otherwise not be known. Another telling of the story is that this man was named Smith and that the confession was in New York, not in Montreal.

John C. Tracy told a story about a man who stole two horses and who kept them tied up in the woods without care or feed. At least one of the horses starved to death and John C. Tracy concluded that a man of such cruelty must have been involved in the murder also. Nobody knows if this is true or not.

Sources:

1. Nason, Lottie an account in The Rural Edition, June, 1980. Reprinted in, Days of Old, a History of Fredericton Junction, by Katherine DeWitt and Norma Alexander, Sunbury West Historical Society, 1987, p 43, 44.
2. John C. Tracy’s Book, an unpublished manuscript at the New Brunswick Provincial Archives, Fredericton, N.B., ca. 1930, p 103-106.

Acadian Historic Sites in New Brunswick

Presented by JohnWood1946@hotmail.com

Acadian Historic Sites in New Brunswick

The following paper entitled ‘The Acadian Period’ is from A Monograph of Historic Sites in the Province of New Brunswick, published by William F. Ganong in the 1899 edition of the Transactions of the Royal Society of Canada. Portions of the paper describing settlements and forts are included here, while sections concerning seigniorial grants have been excluded.

William F. Ganong was born in West Saint John in 1864. He studied at the University of New Brunswick, at Harvard, and finally at the University of Munich where he received a PhD. Ganong defies categorization. He was first and foremost a botanist but was also passionate about geography, archeology, and New Brunswick history. Most of his works are databases of information, like the one found here. His work was meticulously thorough and precise, but remains a pleasure to read. This example shines light on a large number of Acadian historic sites in New Brunswick.

William F. Ganong at Big Bald Mountain, Northumberland Co., 1903.

Ganong’s figures (maps) are included at the end of this blog posting.

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THE ACADIAN PERIOD

This clearly marked and interesting period of our history began with the settlement of DeMonts and Champlain at St. Croix Island in 1604, and closed with the coming of the New England settlers after 1760. It has been treated fully by Mr. Hannay in his History of Acadia, though not with much attention to it from our present point of view. Striking events in the history of the Forts of La Tour at St. John, of Cumberland and Gaspereau, together with others in Nova Scotia, are sketched by Bourinot in his “Some Old Forts by the Sea,” in these Transactions, Vol. 1. The many forts built in this period, and the widely scattered settlements, and the interesting and little known seigniorial grants make it rich in historic sites.

1. Settlements and Forts

1. The Passamaquoddy District

A — DeMonts and Champlain on St. Croix Island, 1604-1605. The history of this part of America begins with the settlement by Champlain and DeMonts on St. Croix, now Dochet Island, in the winter of 1604-1605. A very full account of this settlement, illustrated by a map (No. 13) and a bird’s-eye view, has been left us by Champlain; and following him, it has often been described by local historians. Politically Dochet Island is now a part of Maine, but historically it belongs to ancient Acadia, whose heir was Nova Scotia and later, in this part, New Brunswick. The situation of St. Croix Island is perfectly well known, and there is not the slightest question as to its identity; Champlain’s map alone, if all other evidence failed, would locate it with absolute certainty. Late in the last century remains of the buildings were found in explorations made to settle the identity of the island in connection with the question of the identity of the St. Croix of the boundary disputes, but every trace of these ruins has long since disappeared. But as to the exact site of the settlement on the island, and the changes that have occurred in the island itself since DeMont’s settlement, there is some error prevalent. The place is of such great historic interest that some examination of these questions will be of value.

Dochet Island, the Isle Sainte Croix of Champlain, lies in the St. Croix river opposite the village of Red Beach, Maine. It is a small island of less than 400 yards long and a little over 100 yards wide, with an area of about six acres (see Map No. l.j). It is highest along the western shore, which is precipitous, rocky, wooded with small trees, and some forty feet high, the highest point on the island, at X on map No. 15, not exceeding 50 feet. It slopes down to sea level towards the west. At the lower end is a high terrace of sand and clay ending in steep bluffs, beyond which are two densely wooded isolated knolls. Near its highest part are the several buildings of a United States Light Station, where lives the light-keeper and his family, the only residents of the island. Most of the island is an open pasture with small bushes here and there, though to the northward of the buildings is a good fenced garden. The central part of the island is now a series of bare rocky ledges, with some soil between, whose limits are shown on the accompanying map No. 15. No doubt in earlier times these ledges were, in part at least, covered with soil and trees.

In addition to Champlain’s map of the island (Map No. 13), there is extant one made by Wright in 1797 (Map No. 14). In June, 1898, I made a survey of the island with compass and tape, and prepared the map given herewith (Map No. 15). A comparison of the three of 1604, 1797, 1898, shows the following facts: The island has washed away very little if any at its upper end, but a good deal at the lower end. The knoll on which DeMonts’ cannon were mounted, now a densely wooded mound, was then continuous with the sand bluff of the main island; it had become separated in 1797, and now is cut off by a considerable interval of low beach. The cove near the chapel on Champlain (curiously less pronounced on Champlain than on Wright) has, since 1797, deepened until it has cut through the bluff, thus separating another knoll, which now stands out by itself connected with the sand bluff only by a low narrow ridge of sand, hardly higher than the beach. This very considerable removal of sand is said, however, not to be entirely the result of the action of the waves, but partly to the removal of many scow-loads to the mainland for building purposes. The site of the chapel has undoubtedly been washed away, and at least a part of the burial ground. Indeed the land in this part of the island has washed away much within the memory of the present light-keeper, to such an extent that a well formerly of some use is now on the rocky exposed beach. It is possible that it was the exposal of the skeletons of many of the victims of the dreadful winter of 1604-1605 that gave the island its name, Bone Island, by which it was known at the close of the last century.

At the south-west end of the island, and elsewhere as well, are old cellars which are often mistaken for those of the DeMonts’ settlement. Old residents, however, state that these are cellars of small houses which stood there within the present century, and their position by no means allows of their belonging to Champlain’s buildings. Probably not all of these seeming cellars are so in reality, for some of them may be holes left by money-diggers, for whom this island has naturally been a favourite resort.

A comparison of my map with that of Champlain shows that the settlement must have stood on the north side of the central band of rocks, on the highest part of the island, (where there is a plateau of good soil, sloping slightly to the westward,) but somewhat overlapping the rocky ledges, while the gardens must have been to the southward of the rocks. It was on the north end of the island the ruins were found by Robert Pagan in 1797. No doubt the rocky ledge marked on my map by 11, the highest point of the island, was between the settlement and the gardens, which is fully confirmed by the testimony of Robert Pagan in 1797 (Kilby, 125), who found the rock in exactly this position relatively to the ruins. The approximate position of the settlement is shown on Map No. 15 by the dotted lines inclosing the letters SSSS, and of the gardens by the lines inclosing GGGG. The old French well [W] pointed out to visitors in is probably not, though possibly it May be the well shown on the plan of the settlement. It is not far from the correct position, but on the other hand it is extremely shallow, though it may have been deeper when the island was wooded.

B — The Acadian Settlements. As to the sites of these we have six lines of evidence, the narrative of Church, place-names, tradition, a published map of 1733 by Sontback, the Morris Report of 1765, and a Ms. map of 1796 by David Owen (No. 16), which marks French settlements about Passamaquoddy Bay.

There are no records of any settlers in this region until 1684, when a Seigniory was granted at Passamaquoddy to Sieur St. Aubin, and later others were granted, all of which will presently be mentioned. The census of 1686 gave two settlers with their families at St. Croix; that of 1689 gave four men, four women and thirteen children, while another in 1700 gave sixteen persons. When Church made his raid in 1704, the settlers appear to have been more numerous, but after that raid they seem to have disappeared from the region, for they are heard of no more.

In Church’s narrative of his expedition to this region in 1704, he tells of coming up the west passage of Passamaquoddy and to an island where he found a French house, and captured one Lotriel and his family. This was plainly enough on Indian Island, which on early plans and in early records is called Latrelle and other forms of what is known to be properly La Treille, and Owen’s map places a settlement at the southern end of the Island. Later Church proceeded up the bay to a place, apparently the present Pleasant Point, (or possibly St. Andrews) where other houses, or rather, huts, were found, in one of which lived a Monsieur Gourdan, probably the Sieur St. Aubin. Again, at the head of the river near the falls, probably at the cove, St. Stephen, lived one Sharkee, properly Chartier. These are the only French houses of which we have record in documents. Since, however, Jean Meusnier had a grant on the Magaguadavic he probably lived there, though we have no hint as to exactly where. Turning next to the Sontback map of 1733, reproduced and discussed in the preceding memoir of this series, (p. 367), in which Passamaquoddy River represents the passage between Deer Island and Elaine, and St. Croix River represents Letite passage; “French Inhabitants” are placed apparently on the lower end of DeerIsland, and on the mainland opposite. The upper of the latter settlements is no doubt the same as that on Chebaiaok (i.e. Pleasant Point), of Owen’s map, and the lower that on Moose Id. on Owen’s map, but I know nothing of those on Deer Island. Sontback also places French houses on Campobello near what is plainly Harbor Delute, as also does Owen on his map. Tradition points to certain cellars on the peninsula between Curry’s Cove and Otter Cove as French, and it was probably here the French houses really stood, a view sustained by Owen’s map. Church in his expedition sent a party to this island to search for the French. On the peninsula at the entrance to Harbor Delute, westward of Curry’s Cove, DesBarres picture of Campobello, of 1777, shows a sort of arch ruin, which must have belonged to a building of some importance, and possibly here was another French house. Rameau states that St. Aubin’s residence at Passamaquoddy was a palisaded dwelling or sort of fort, and possibly this ruin is the remnant of his dwelling. Owen also places French settlements near Lubec and on Moose Island at Eastport and about Cobscook Bay, but these I have not attempted to to locate exactly. Morris, in his MS report of his survey of Passamaquoddy in 1765 has this statement:— “There is not the least Vestiges of the French Settlements in any other part of the Bay, but upon Moose Island, Fish [i.e. Indian] Island, and Island St. Croix, and the point on the West side Sc—lick River called point Pleasant, where the French had a Fort, and part of the ditches and Ramparts still appear.” This fort was no doubt that which was being built in 1704 by Gourdan (St. Aubin?) and Sharkee (Chartier) as prisoners taken near Penobscot told Church; but it must have been unfinished for Church makes no further mention of it Very probably, as mentioned above, the dwelling of St. Aubin was here. This, of course, would be the French settlement marked at Pleasant Point on the Sontback and the Owen maps. The location of all these settlements on a modern map is shown on Map No. 40. Morris’ Island St. Croix was not the present Dochet Island, but the present Treat Island near Eastport, as his map and report show (see also Map No. 16). I know of no other reference to a French settlement on this island.

Tradition points to some old cellars at Hill’s Point between Oak Bay and the Waweig, as French, and to graves and a well at Letite said to be French, and there is a shadowy tradition of an ancient breastwork on the bluff at Sandy Point, found by the earliest settlers.

We may say, in summary, that in this region there was a large settlement on Dochet Island, and small ones at Indian Island, Campobello, St. Andrews, Pleasant Point, St. Stephen, and perhaps others at other points. But it must be remembered that the censuses show that the French population of this region was always extremely small. The settlers at Passamaquoddy were less farmers than fishermen and traders.

2. The St. John District

A — Settlements

The earliest French .settlement on the St. John of which we have record was the temporary fishing village at Emenenic, mentioned in Biard’s letter of 1612 and elsewhere in the Relations of that time. This island was one of those near the head of the Long Reach, which are this day called by the Maliseets Ah-men-hen-nik.

The next settlement was that of the Recollet Mission [illegible] tells us that the Recollets had their principal establishment on the St. John in 1619, but we have no further clue as to the site of this settlement. He tells us also that about 1624 the Recollet missionaries came to Quebec and that “They had left the mission which they had on St. John’s River a month before in consequence of orders they had received from their provincial in France.”

The next settlement is that of LaTour, about his fort at St. John, a subject to be referred to below. Next after this comes the trading station at Jemseg of 1659, which originated the Jemseg Fort later to he described. Then comes the Settlement of the Sieur de Marsdu and his family and retinue at the mouth of the river, mentioned in the Census of 1676. This settlement was undoubtedly at Carleton, and no doubt on the site of Old Fort.

The later censuses show very slow increase, most of the settlers being seigniors and their families, not Acadian habitants. Thus, the census of 1685 gives eight settlers; that of 1693 gives twenty, that of l695 gives forty-nine, that of 1698 gives forty-one. It was evidently not until well after 1700 that any number of Acadians came to settle on the river. There was no other census until that of 1733, which gives one hundred and eleven settlers, and most of these probably had been there but a short time, for a document of 1732, cited below, implies that a colony had only recently settled on the river. The reason for so small a population in so fertile a region is doubtless to be found in the preference of the Acadians for the rich marsh lands of the head of the Bay of Fundy, which were more abundant than they wore able to settle. After the expulsion, however, in 1755, the population received great additions from those who escaped from Beausejour and from some of those who found their way back from the southern provinces to which they were transported, so that Monckton in 1758 found them on the river in considerable numbers, and one document of 1759 estimates them at six hundred. (Broadhead, X, 973) Probably by the Acadians the St. John River was thought undoubted French territory, for the French always claimed that the Acadia ceded to England in 1713 included only the peninsula, the present Nova Scotia, while England maintained that it included all of ancient Acadia on the mainland, a contention which she supported first by logic, and later, and more effectually, by force of arms.

The sites of the residences of the seigniors of the St. John will be discussed later. We shall consider first the sites of the Acadian settlements. For these we have seven lines of evidence, the Morris Maps of 1758 and of 1765, the Report of Monckton’s Expedition to the St. John in 1758 a MS Report of 1762 by Bruce, and one of 1765 by Morris, place names, and tradition.

A — French Village, Kingsclear. The origin of this village is uncertain, but as there is no early mention of it, it probably was established after Monckton’s expedition in 1758. Neither Bruce’s Report of 1762, nor Morris’ of 1765, make mention of it, though both refer to the settlements at St. Annes. Probably it was founded by Louis Merenre, a French courier in the employ of the English, who settled here with some of his countrymen, and with most of them removed in 1788 to Madawaska. A full list of these settlers, together with others in the vicinity, is given in Collections, N.B. Historical Soc. I, 110. Tradition places its exact original site on the great intervale a short distance below the present Indian Village, and Munro in 1783 speaks of it as a “French Village on a semicircular point of good intervale.” It is probably to this settlement that Abbe Bailly refers, in his letter of 1768 from Aucpac, in speaking of eleven Acadian families living near Aucpac who had been confirmed at Sainte Annes (Casgrain). It is said locally that some of these settlers founded the Masrol, or Myshrall, settlement between Kingsclear and Hanwell.

Apparently there were other French settlers between the Keswick and Nashwaaksis, for when those lands were laid out and granted in 1786 several lots were granted to Acadians, and the records of the time speak of a “French location” there.

St. Valier, in 1688, tells us the region about the present Springhill was named Sainte Marie, and he thought it a good place for settlers.

B — St. Annes Point.

This is without doubt the “colony below the village of Ecoupay (Aucpac)” of the census of 1733 with 82 inhabitants, and the settlement of 20 families 30 leagues up the river of a document of 1749 (Murdoch, II, 135). In 1756 there was here a French officer with 20 men (Murdoch, II, 304), and there are several other references in documents of the time to this important village of St. Annes. Bruce, 1762, says there were 600 or 700 acres of land cleared here, and Morris, 1765, states that the French had settlements all the way from St. Annes to Aucpac. It was perhaps settled just before 1732, for a document of that year (Murdoch, I, 479) speaks of a small colony of French having settled on the River St. John. It stood on the present site of Fredericton, scattered along the river as the Morris map of 1765 (Map No. 17) states, from opposite the mouth of the Nashwaak upwards. It is here too that tradition places it, and the remains of an old French road were discovered here by the first settlers. Munro in 1783 speaks of land here cleared by the French, about two miles in extent. This settlement was destroyed by expeditions from the mouth of the river made in the winter of l758-59. Yet the Acadians evidently returned to it, for in 1761 some forty of them were there, and a them were there in 1783 (Murdoch II, 402, 403). It was the second most important Acadian settlement on the river. The exact site of the church is not known, but a hater grant implies it was near Government House.

The census of 1695 gives fourteen settlers at Nashwaak, doubtless living near the fort.

C — Freneuse. This settlement, mentioned in the early censuses as having several settlers (36 in 1698), was of course the residence of , Sieur de Freneuse. It is represented on several early maps as situated on the east bank of the St. John, exactly opposite the mouth of the Oromocto, no doubt at the bend of the river at Upper Maugerville, but no trace is now known of its presence. In 1696 Freneuse had there a house, barns, etc., as a lease of that date shows (mentioned later).

Probably there were also Acadian settlers around the mouth of the Oromocto; Bruce’s report of 1762 mentions three hundred acres of cleared land here.

D — Jemseg. It is possible that settlers lived near the fort at Jemseg, which site will be discussed below. It was somewhere in this vicinity that Sieur de Chauffours resided, with whom John Gyles lived, as he relates in his narrative. Monckton, who burnt some houses there, states in his report of 1758: “This settlement had been abandon’d some Years past, by most of the Inhabitants On account of its being overflow’d in the Spring by the Freshes.” A document of 1756 in the Parkman Ms. [New France, I, 256], speaks of Jemseg, a French village of thirty or forty houses, a little below the mouth of the Jemseg river. Possibly Lower Grimross is here meant.

E — Grimross. This was an important settlement at the time of the expedition of Monckton in 1758. Monckton states that there were here some fifty houses And barns, which he burnt, and the Morris map of that year [published in the preceding monograph, 390] shows numerous buildings exactly on the site of the modern Gagetown. Of this village, Monckton says: “This Village was settled by the Inhabitants of Beausejour, when drove off from thence in 1755.” Some of the Acadians must have returned to Grimross, for in 1761 a few were living there [Murdoch II, 403]. This must have been at one time the principal settlement on the river. Morris, 1765, says: “Grimross is the most considerable settlement that the French had upon St. Johns; but their Houses are now all demolished and their improvements laid waste.” Monckton speaks also of houses above the head of Grimross River.

F — Chofour. A few houses just below Gagetown shown on the Morris map of 1758. Connected no doubt with Sieur de Chanffours.

G — Villeray. A few houses at the present Lower Gagetown, about opposite the middle of Musquash Island; on the Morris map 1758. Monckton says he burnt houses there.

H — Robicheau. A settlement of four houses on the Morris map of 1758 just above Tennants cove. The possible connection of this with an earlier settlement or fort here I have discussed fully in my Place-nomenclature [p. 257]. Monckton speaks of “a few Houses that were some time past Inhabited by the Robicheaus,” which he burnt.

There was perhaps a small settlement at the mouth of Nerepis about the fort (see later), for Bruce, I762, tells us then’ were 12 to 15 acres of clear land here.

I — St. John. At the mouth of the river St. John in the census of 1733 are given eighteen settlers. The site of this settlement is unknown, but it was possibly in Carleton, where there were traditions of French gardens found by the early settlers, which are probably the same as those shown on Bruce’s map of the harbour of 1761 (see Map. No. 37). There is also a tradition of a French burial place at the barracks, St. John.

On the Fort Howe Ridge is an old well, locally called the French well, and mentioned as such in Keleher’s Field-book of 1848. He mentions also, and marks on his maps, the remains of an old French block-house on the ridge, but probably this is an error, as there is no other evidence of a settlement here and the situation is a very improbable one.

J — French Village, Hammond River. The origin of the village is uncertain. The Sieur de Brenil had here a Seigniory in –89l, and it is possible that the village was founded by him; but it is much more probable, since it is not given on early maps, that it was one of those formed by the Acadians after the expulsion. This is confirmed by a statement of Munro in 1783 who says of it: “Sir Andrew [Snape Hamond] has a valuable tract of good Interval and upland which includes a French settlement of fifteen families who have been settled there fifteen years previous to his grant.” As the grant referred to was made in 1782, the settlement would have been formed in 1767. According to Allison [p. 4] the Acadians took out grants about 1787, but soon after sold out and moved away, probably to Madawaska (But see Archives, 1895, N.B. 13). The site of the settlement is marked on all the later maps.

Passing next to tradition, in this case well sustained by the testimony of place-names, there are said to have been settlers about French Lake, north of Maquapit, particularly on the island and on the eastern shore near the passage, and about French Lake on the Oromocto, und the testimony of the place-name, French Lake, leaves little doubt that this is correct. It is possible that these settlements were later than the other Acadian settlements on the river; and since they are retired places not easily reached by the English vessels, the French may have settled on them after they were driven off the main river by Monckton’s expedition of 1758. They are said also to have lived at Swan Creek, and about the outlet of Lilly Lake St. John, where cellars and roads made by them are said to have been recognized by the early settlers.

On Mitchell’s map of 1755 a “Village of Acadians” is placed on the present Salmon River emptying into Grand Lake, but this is probably an error, as there is no other record of its existence.

The modern Acadian settlements on the river are entirely at Madawaska. Licenses of occupation, later followed by grants, were given to them shortly after the coming of the Loyalists, and here this much persecuted people have since lived in peace, unless the transference of half of them to the United States by the Ashburton treaty of 1842, without asking their leave, may be regarded as an exception.

There are traditions that the French also hail dikes at Kipper Harbor, Musquash Harbor, and on Quiddy River at Martins Head. The Frenchmans Creek at Musquash does not mark a settlement, but according to Gesner, a place of retreat of a French ship, probably that mentioned in Quebec Ms. 11, 152.

B. Forts

Fort Meductic was an Indian rather than a French fort, though sometimes spoken of as French. Its site has already been discussed. 

A — Fort Nashwaak (Fort St. Joseph). This fort, prominent in its time was built by Villebon in 1692, withstood a siege by the English in 1696, and was abandoned in 1700. There is no doubt of its site; it stood in the upper angle between the Nashwaak and the St. John, close to the water on high intervale now washed away, so that the site of the fort was over what is now the gravel beach.. Its ground plan is shown very clearly on the accompanying outline of a plan from the Paris archives [Map No. 18], and its situation on the Morris 1765 map [Map No. 17]. Cadillac in 1692 speaks of this as a Micmac fort, and it has been claimed that it was built by early Scotch settlers, both of which are probably errors. Mr. Hannay visited the site in 1867, and saw there remains of ramparts, etc., though the next year he speaks of the fort as entirely washed away. [Stewart's Quarterly, I, 99 and II, 141].

B — Fort Jemseg. This fort was apparently built by Thomas Temple during the English possession of Acadia in 1659. He records having built a trading post fifty miles up the St. John. It was handed over to the French in 1670, at which time a description of it was prepared (published in Memorials of the English and French Commissaries,) from which, and after analogy with plans of other forts of the time, I have compiled the accompanying plan [Map No. 19]. Between 1672 and 1676 it was greatly strengthened by Sieur de Soulanges as related in the grant of the fort to him in that year:

“Il a fait diverses réparations et augmentations à celui de Gemisik, afin de le rendre logeable et de défense, n’y ayant auparavant qu’un petit longement de bois tout ruiné, entonré soulement de quelques palissades à  demitombées par terre; en sort que pour réedefier le tout, il lui auroit couté beaucoup, et se verroit encore contraint d’y faire de grandes dépenses pour le remettre en etat, a cause de la ruine entière qu’en fait les Hollandois en le faisant prisonnier dans le dit fort, il y a deux ans.” (Memorials, 748.)

Unlike must forts of this time it was not square, which no doubt was because of the shape of the knoll on which it stood. Its situation is known locally, and is illustrated by the accompanying sketch map [Map No. 20], compiled partly from sketches of my own, partly from notes supplied by Mr. Victor II Paltsits, and partly from measurements made for us by Mr. D.L. Mitchell of Gagetown. It stood on a small mound near the top of a hill on property owned by Mr. G.F. Nevers, and old residents remember when its outlines were distinct. The site commands a line view both up and down the river. On the knoll is still to be seen an angle of earthwork [at A, Map No. 20], but a foot or less in height of which the position and appearance make it seem probable that it is a remnant of the rampart of the fort; but otherwise no trace of it whatever is to be seen, though numerous relics have been dug up here; and in the hollow just below. Mr. Paltsits has discovered what seems to be the end of an old drain beside the road.

Below Spoon Island on the east bank is the structure known locally as the “Old French Fort.”’ Its origin and age are very obscure. If it really is French it is no doubt connected with the place called Nid d’Aigle on the early French maps, a subject discussed in my Place Nomenclature, page 257, and referred to earlier in this paper. It was perhaps built in the time of Villebon, as a protection to his fort at .Nashwaak, or perhaps later, as a protection to the Acadian settlements above on the river. The battery is however, not French at all, but was built in 1813. It had no connection with the Telegraph station which stood on this hill in the last century. [See later]. It stands on a bluff where the river is very narrow, about two miles above Tennants Cove, and certainly the position is a most commanding one. On the level, fifty feet or more above the river, is still a distinct crescent-shaped earthwork some two or three feet high and fifty feet across its arc. On a level still higher up the hill is a hollow, twenty feet across and five or six deep, locally called the Magazine, while still higher up are the remains of the block house where lived the soldiers in charge of the semaphore telegraph, and some of the timbers of this house can still be seen. (See also New Brunswick Magazine, III, 228)

C —  Fort Nerepis. This was no doubt originally an Indian fort, as already discussed, and is mentioned by Villebon in 1697. In 1753, however, it was occupied by the French under Beauhebert and thus figures in the events of the time and is often called after him, Beau Bear, or Beauhebert Fort. It is no doubt this fort which is referred to in a document of 1753 (Archives, 1894, 191) as a new fort 20 miles up the river armed with 24 guns and 200 men. It is marked on many maps of the time as D’Anville, and Green-Jeffreys of 1755, and also on the Morris maps of 1758 and 1765. It evidently stood very close to the river as shown by the latter (Map No. 21) in the angle between the two rivers. Its site is, however, entirely unknown to the residents and no remains of it can be seen.

There is said to be a tradition of an old fort at Harding’s Point, but I know nothing of it.

D —  Fort LaTour. Despite much discussion and some controversy the site of this fort is not yet with certainty determined. The subject is fully discussed in a paper in these Transactions IX, sect. ii, 61 and also in the New Brunswick Magazine, Vol. 1, 20, 89, 165. In my opinion, all available evidence drawn from the narrative of Denys, and from all known maps, tends to show that it stood on the east bank of the harbour, probably at Portland Point, on the knoll at the head of Rankine’s Wharf. (Map No. 22, also 37. Mr. Hannay claims that it stood at Old Fort in Carleton: but even in his most recent article he adduces no positive evidence of his view, but contents himself with combating minor points in my argument. Since the subject is so fully discussed in the articles above mentioned, which are readily accessible, it is unnecessary again to go over the ground here. I will simply point out this important fact, that if Fort LaTour be assumed to have stood at the Old Fort in Carleton, we not only meet with well nigh insuperable difficulties in explaining the narrative of Denys and all of the maps of the time, but we have no explanation of the origin of the fort which is known to have stood at Portland Point: on the other hand if Fort LaTour is assumed to to have stood at Portland Point, Deny’s narrative is perfectly clear and consistent; the placing of the fort on the east side by nearly all the early maps, and its removal to the east side in later and more accurate editions of those which first placed it on the west side, is perfectly plain: and the origin of’ the fort at Portland Point is explained. While I have never claimed that the evidence is logically conclusive that the fort stood at Portland Point, I do think that the probabilities drawn from the sources mentioned are overwhelmingly in fovour of this position, and that a case for the Carleton site can he made out only neglecting the aggregate evidence and concentrating attention on minutia in which inconsistencies may he found in the imperfect records of the time. It is by no means unlikely that records will yet be discovered that will settle this most interesting point.

It has been maintained by Mr. W.P. Dole that Fort LaTour stood where now Fort Dufferin is, and his argument is published in the St. John Sun, Dec. 5, 1888. It rests, however, chiefly upon traditions, which are most untrustworthy for events long past. It is said that an early battery could also be traced here, and that there was an old well called locally the “old French well.”

E — Charnisay’s Fort. It is recorded by Denys that Charnisay built a fort on a little knoll a short distance beyond the flats and creek where the Mill-pond now is in Carleton, and the topography of that region allows this site to have been in but one place, namely, on the site of the Old Fort in Carleton. It was probably the first fort to occupy that site. (Map. No. 37.)

In 1659 Temple states that he “had repaired the fort of St. John” (Archives, 1894) but we have no hint to whether it was that at Carleton or at Portland Point.

In grants to Sieur de Marson in 1676 he is spoken of as “Proprietor of the Forts of Jemseg and of the River St. John.” As his Seigniorial grant of 1672 was on the east side of the river, the Fort of the River St. John was probably there — in all probability on the site of old Fort LaTour.

F — Fort Martignon. The Sieur de Martignon received a seigniorial grant at the mouth of the river, on the west side in 1672, and he early censuses return him as living there. On a line map dated l708, but belonging much earlier made by Franquelin, and recently published by Marcel, Fort Martignon is marked on the west side of the entrance to the St. John, while on the east is marked Fort LaTour. Martignon’s fort in all probability occupied the site of Charnisay’s, and was the second on that site.

G — Fort St. Jean. In 1700 Villebon built a fort at the mouth of the St. John, whose site in placed beyond question by the plan of it preserved in the French Archives, of which a copy is herewith given. (Map No. 23.) It stood at Old Fort, Carleton, and probably was the third on that site. The higher land that commanded the fort, spoken of in other records also, is the high land on Water street, east of Ludlow, in Carleton. By advice of Brouillan it was abandoned shortly after Villebon’s death in 1700.

H — Fort Menagoueche. In 1749 the French troops came to St. John with the intention to erect a fort, but they were forbidden by the Nova Scotia government; but a document of 1753 states that they had greatly strengthened the old fort at the mouth of the river [Archives, 1894, 198], while another of 1755 [Archives, I894, 206], shows they had partially demolished it. This was also, as shown by Monckton’s Report, at the Old Fort at Carleton, and hence probably the fourth on that site.

I — Fort Frederick. When Monckton landed here in 1758 he found the old fort abandoned, and proceeded immediately to repair it, and his account shows that it was the fort on this site he repaired. It was named Fort Frederick in that year, and was probably the fifth on that site, and the last. It is apparently the Fort called Fort Monckton on Morris’ chart of Nova Scotia of 1761. The place is now occupied by buildings, but some of the ramparts can still \w seen. It is known locally as the “Old Fort,” and is generally believed by the residents to be the site of FortLaTour.

3. The Petitcodiac-Misseguash District.

A. Settlements

By far the largest Acadian settlements in the territory of the present New Brunswick were around the great salt marshes at the head of the Bay of Fundy, particularly about the mouths of the Misseguash, AuLac and Tantramar rivers. Temple built a trading post at the “bottom of the Bay”’ in 1659, which was probably in this region. (Archives, 1894, 3). The first settlers removed from Port Royal to Beaubassin (i.e., in the vicinity of Fort Lawrence in Nova Scotia) shortly after 1671. The whole isthmus was granted in Seigniory to Sieur LaVallière in 1676, after which the settlers rapidly increased in numbers and spread to the Memramcook, Petitcodiac and Shepody, until at the time of the expulsion in 1755, they numbered several hundreds in this region. LaVallière had a Seigniorial manor, mentioned in a document of 1705 (Rameau, 11, 337), but its site is unknown, though probably it was on the present Tonges Island, which was long called Isle LaVallière. After the expulsion the Acadians were permitted, in 1767, by the Nova Scotia Government, to return and settle on the Memramcook, and this settlement and a small one at Fox Creek on the Petitcodiac, as M. Poirier pointed out in his ” Père Lefabvre, are the only ones in all Acadia in which the Acadians now occupy lands on which they were settled before the expulsion.

As to the exact sites of their settlements we have the evidence of maps, of which many were made to illustrate the military operations of 1751-1755, of Franquet’s detailed report of 1752, and traditions. The earlier settlements were no doubt in the immediate vicinity of the present Fort Cumberland and Fort Lawrence, but gradually they spread to other places. The Acadians tended to settle not far from the churches, of which it is known there was one at each of these places. Both settlements and single farm houses were placed (as the numerous cellars still visible show), close to the marshes on the edges of the low ridges in which that region abounds, while their farms were on the marshes themselves, reclaimed by dykes from the sea. The principal settlements in 1752, according to Franquet’s report, were at Baie Verte, Weska, (Westcock), LaCoup, Le Lac, Tintamarre, and also at Memnacouk (Memramcook), Chipoudy (Shepody), and Peccoukac (Petitcodiac).

A — Beausejour. The map of the Isthmus in Mante’s History, belonging really to 1755, shows French houses in several places along the edge of the Fort Cumberland Ridge, and also on the eastern end of Cole’s Island. The church is here clearly shown near the fort, and tradition assigns to it a position near the eastern road along the ridge, west of the trenches, where its position is still pointed out. (Map No. 44.) The church is yet more clearly shown on the map in the “Memoires sur le Canada,” which shows also a village on the same slope and this inscription: “Aboitean du l’Abbé LeLontre.” It is known that this Aboidean, (i.e. a dam across a tidal river containing a sluice-way so arranged with a valve as to allow the fresh water to drain off and not allow the salt water to enter, was built across the Aulac river, a short distance (about two hundred yards) above the present Aboidean, on which the railroad and highway cross the river.

There are some localities of importance near Fort Beausèjour (Cumberland), as shown on Map No. 44. The “Holy Well,” a fine spring, was not far from the church, and is said locally to take its name from the use of its water for holy water. Le Loutre’s house is believed to have stood near. The old French burial-ground is said to have been where the later graveyard (Map No. 44) is.

Old cellars, believed to be French, were visible until recently upon Tonges Island, particularly towards its southern end. It is probable that here was the residence of La Vallière, Seignior of Beaubassin, for the island long bore his name.

B — Westcock. Several houses are shown here on the Mante map, evidently on the margin of the upland near the present site of the village, and towards Sackville. It is marked on most of the maps of the time.

C — Le Lac. As shown by the French plan of 1779 (really 1755) this village stood near the head of the present AuLac river, apparently on Jolicure ridge just below the present Rye’s Corner. Just above it is the road from Beausèjour to Beaubassin crosses the head of AuLac River. [see Map 24.]

D — Tintemarre. Franquet calls this a large village with a missionary, and it is marked on all of the maps of the time-. The Mante map shows this village just above a considerable branch of the Tantramar River towards the west; hence it must have stood above the branch coming from the present Morice’s Millpond, along the margin of the upland between the Millpond and the Jolicure Road, and perhaps somewhat above this. Mr. Milner places it about Four Corners, and slates that the chapel stood on the present site if the Beulah, with which residents agree. This Church stands the north-east of the four corners. Locally there is said to have been here a French burial ground also.

In some records and on some maps a village, Pres des Bourques, is mentioned, Though Franquet does not refer to it, perhaps because it was established after his time. The French map shows its situation very clearly, as on the margin of the upland near Sackville not far north of the present highway road to Amherst. Mr. Milner places it on the farm of the late Philip Palmer. On Morice’s Brook, it is said locally, were formerly remains of a French settlement, comprising ten or twelve families.

E — La Coupe. This village is marked on no map that I have seen and I know of no record that definitely locates its site. It must have been near the La Coup river, which is a branch of the Anlac, striking off to the westward just south of the extremity of Jolicure ridge. Considering the very favourable location of the extremity of the Jolicure ridge for a settlement, it is probable that here was its site.

F — Baie Verte. The old maps show clearly that this village stood precisely on the site of the present village of that name, though there were other houses scattered about in that vicinity, and a few near Fort Gaspereau. Alex. Monro states: “At Baie Verte, near the residence of Capt. Weeks, the French had an establishment of mills; hence the name, Mill Creek, was given to the stream. Around this spot they settled, and here too was their graveyard.”

The other villages mentioned by Franquet and on the maps of the time, including another village at Weschkok, LaButte, Les Planches, Beaubassin, etc., were in Nova Scotia, or as Franquet puts it, in Acadia; but their identification is not within the scope of the present paper.

Montresor’s map of 1768 marks a “Richart” between West Coup and Pintaniat villages, hence in the position of Prés des Bourques. I have no other information upon such a place.

G — Memramcook. I have no data for settling the exact .site of the pre-expulsion settlement. Mante’s map places it on the west side not far from the mouth; which is also the case with the French plan, which, however, also places a few houses on the east bank. M. Placide Gaudet, however, writes me that ancient aboideaux have been found near the College, which possibly belonged to pre-expulsion settlers. It is very likely that these were on the upland near the great marshes, just below the present Rockland Bridge. Local tradition states that some ten families lived in pre-expulsion times on Brownell Brook, two miles above Dorchester, and remains of their houses could formerly be seen; and others lived on the front of the “Chapman Farm.”

H — Petitcodiac. For these settlements also we have few data. Rameau gives an account of its first settlement by Blanchard in 1698, but we have no facts to enable us to locate his settlement. The topography of the river on the maps of 1755 are so distorted as to be of little use in this connection. They represent settlements on both banks below the Bend, but it is quite impossible to locate them further, unless one assumes that they stood near the largest marshes. M. Gaudet, our best authority on matters relating to the history of the Acadians, writes me that an Acadian village stood on the present site of Moncton, but later the settlers moved to Coverdale, where their village was known as Village de Babineau, This is confirmed by a “Carte Réduite du Golfe de St. Laurent” of I754, which marks a “mission” on the east side of this river at about the Bend.

An old plan in the Crown Land office applies the name Village Point the point on the north of the Petitcodiac just above Mill Stream, which is above the mouth of Turtle Creek. Probably this marks the site of a French settlement, especially us there is dyked marsh near.

It is said locally that the burial-ground adjoining the Baptist church at Hillsboro is on the site of an old French burial-ground, and that the first settlers of Hillsboro in 1765 found cleared fields, fruit-trees and broken dykes.

It is said in Cockburn’s Report on Emigration [of 1827] that the French formerly occupied the intervales at the Forks of Turtle Creek, calling the place Fourche à Crapand. It is very likely that they occupied locations on this, Coverdale and Pollet Rivers after the expulsion in order to be above the reach of English ships, as they probably occupied the French Lakes and other places difficult of access on the St. John for a similar reason.

Pote, in his Journal of 1745, mentions that he marched past several French houses by the side of this river, the last of which was that of bon Soliel [Beausoliel]. One of the Parkman MS [New France, I, 265] states that in 1756 there were six or eight houses on the Portage from Shediac to Petitcodiac. The present Acadian settlement of Fox Creek was founded, according to M. Gaudet, in 1767, and occupied the site of an old settlement.

I — Shepody. A full account of the foundation of the settlements on this river in 1698 is given by Rameau de Saint Père (I, 237), but none of the records nor maps of the time give any idea of their precise location. There are, however, in the Crown Land Office in Fredericton several old plans which show the location of the old French dykes at Shepody and thus allow an inference as to the location of the settlements. An “old French Dyke” is given on the north side of the entrance to Shepody River, and an “old dyke,” with an “Abois D’Eau” between Beaver Brook and the next creek to the eastward of it, called on the plans German Creek. These, however, can represent but a small portion of the dyked lands on this river, of which one of the early maps says “Shepody, one of the best French settlements.” Tradition places a large French settlement at Hopewell Hill, and assigns to many old dykes a French origin.

The following account of the French settlements in this region is taken from a well written and apparently reliable anonymous article in the St. John Sun, April 5th, 1893. “For a long time after the departure of the Acadians and even at the present time, are many evidences and remains of French habitation. One settlement existed near what is now the village of Albert, another on what is called the ‘point’ at Hopewell, while the central village was at what is known as Church brook, just to the eastward of Hopewell Hill. Here was the old French Chapel on the eastern bank of the brook…. The logs of the old chapel remained long after the arrival of the English settler, and the dwelling of one of the residents of the village, erected a few years ago, rests on the corner-stone of the once sacred edifice.  Here also was the burial-ground, and in summertime are still to be seen the moss-covered mounds, now trampled and forsaken, and the broken headstones that mark the resting place of the Acadian dead…. There are also many remains of old French cellars, mill etc. These mills were principally on the marsh creeks. The stones from the mills have been found in many instances, and are still in existence. The French dykes all remain. They were not as far out as those of the present day, but still enclosed a large area of marsh. No aboideaux were used, the creeks being dyked along the sides up to the upland.”

Of importance in connection with the early settlements are the roads, of which the principal one was that from Fort Beauséjoir lo Fort Gaspereau. This is marked on many maps of the time, and especially on the plan made by Captain Lewis in 1755, which states that the map was from a survey. The part from Pont à Buot to Portage Hill must have been made before Franquet’s visit in 1752, for he marks it on his map, though he went by water between these places. Tradition still points out the site of portions of the road, and it is said that the late Alexander Monro, the surveyor, had in early life traced out the entire road from one fort to the other. He states in his “Isthmus of Chignecto” that the road ran via Jolicure and Portage Hill. From the maps, and from traditions gathered on the spot, the course of this road is drawn upon the accompanying map No. 24. From near Beauséjour to near Portage Hill it followed about the top of the ridge between the two highway roads of the present day. In the gathering of data for this map, as in many other matters connected with this region, I have had the very great advantage of the assistance of Mr. W.C. Milner, whose knowledge of the history of this region is thorough and accurate, and also of Mr. Howard Truman, of Point de Bute, who knows so well its later history. This main road was more than a mere track through the woods, for it was passable for horses and to some extent for wagons. An important branch of this road, older than the road itself, ran to Pont à Buot, whose location will be considered presently, and thence to Fort Lawrence. Some maps show also a road along the western margin of the Fort Cumberland Bridge, though faintly, and it was probably an unimportant trail to the houses in that vicinity. Some maps mark a road across the marshes from Beauséjour to near the present Sackville, probably not far from the present highway, and this road continues on to the Memramcook, evidently by way of the present road along Frosty Hollow brook. It then continues from tin Memramcook to the bend of the Petitcodiac, but the maps are too imperfect to allow us to identify its course. Probably this was but a track through the woods and not a road properly cleared.

Franquet in his report mentions two roads from Pont à Bout to Beauséjour. One, the lower and poorer, led to Butte à Roger; the other, shown on the maps, went up the hill through the woods, the two joining on the hill opposite Butte à Roger.

From Baie Verte village a road ran straight across the flats to FortGaspereau. Alexander Monro thus speaks of it: “From Mill Creek, the road, nearly two miles in length, to the fort was in a straight line. About a mile and a quarter of this distance from the creek is marsh, over which the road was made on four rows of piles. The piles were driven into the marsh, and were about eight feet apart, and six feet above ground. On the top of each line of posts, timbers were extended lengthwise, and the whole was covered with plank. Between the marsh and the fort the road, still visible, passes over an upland flat.” In a diary of 1755, given by Mr. Monro, we read: “We Passe over a cassway one & a half mile In Length. Come to ye Fort Gaspereau.” Traces of this causeway are still to be seen and are known locally. Its exact course is shown on old plans in the Crown Land Office. (Map No. 25.)

In connection with the military operations of 1751-1755, and upon the maps of the time, several places are prominently mentioned. The sites of the principal of these are as follows:

Pont à Buot. The maps show this bridge across the Misseguash about two miles above Fort Beausèjour, at Point à Buot. The place is pointed out by tradition, and is made certain by the extremely detailed maps of Franquet. (Maps No. 20, 27.) The Rivière à l’Oars is a small stream crossing the highway road some 400 yards west of Point de Bute corner. There was here a French post later to be mentioned.

Butte à Roger. There is no doubt as to its location. It is shown clearly on the French Plan of 1755 (1779) and elsewhere. Franquet says a guard was kept there. It is the marked, somewhat isolated little hill east of the highway road between Sackville and Amherst, just where it descends Fort Cumberland Ridge, (see Map No. 24). On its top seems to be a cellar, perhaps not ancient.

Some of the other buttes are easy to identify. Butte à  Janot was that from which the Rivière à l’Oars descended, and Janot’s house was there, according to Franquet, and it is shown on his plan [Map 26], Butte à  Charles was but 120 toises from Fort Beauséjour, and parallel. The Butte Amirande was a half league away, and was perhaps the hill where St. Mark’s Church now stands, though it may have been a gravel hill nearer the marsh.

Bloody Bridge. This place took its name from an event thus described by Mr. Milner: “A more tragic affair occurred earlier in the year [1759] when a sergeant and three men of the Provincial Rangers and seven soldiers of the 46^th Regiment then at the fort went out to cut wood. They were ambuscaded at a place called Bloody Bridge, and five of them were scalped and stripped.”

Its site is well known and marked on Map No. 24. The earthen abutments of the old bridge on which the old French road crossed the small stream here flowing into the Aulac are still to be seen.

Another locality of similar interest is known locally, – a place at the southern end of Jolicure, where Lieut. Dickson and several soldiers were ambuscaded by the Indians in 1757, the men slain and Dickson carried off a captive to Quebec.

Portage Hill. This is marked on the Franquet map [Map No. 20], and mentioned by him in his report, as “Butte du Portage.” He states there were two houses there, and a storehouse for the reception of goods in transit by the portage route from Beauséjour to Baie Verte. The position of this hill is well known; it is still called Portage Hill, and the road passes over it just to the eastward of Portage Bridge. [See Map No. 24] On the very top of this hill, just to the northward of the highway road, is an excavation like a large cellar, overgrown with bushes, which is possibly the cellar of the storehouse, and residents state there were other cellars on the south side of the road, a little farther to the east. Here the portage began from the headwaters of the Misseguash to Baie Verte, as already described.

Old French dykes are known in several places, particularly on the Aulac, where they have been rendered useless by the construction of aboideaux at the mouth of that river. A series of dykes is to be seen on Prospect Farm, at Point de Bute, where they have been pointed out to me by Mr. Howard Trueman, the owner of this place.

B. Forts

A — Fort Beausejour. There is not the slightest doubt as to the location of this fort. It was captured by the British in 1755, renamed Fort Cumberland, altered in details, but not in its main features, and the ruins are perfectly distinct today.

A plan of the fort is among the Franquet plans, of which an outline is given herewith [No. 28]. Another outline is on the map in the “Memoires sur le Canada.” After it became Fort Cumberland several plans of it were made. In the British Museum, King’s Library, CXIX, is a series of views of Fort Cumberland of great interest. A plan of the fort accompanies the report of Robert Morse in Canadian Archives, 1884, XXVII, 1881, 30. Another is in the Crown Land Office, Westmorland Book, I, 40, and it is partially on this that Map No. 44 is based.

B — Fort Gaspereau. The site of this fort is likewise perfectly known, for the British, after taking and renaming it Fort Monckton in 1755, altered it only in details, and its ruins are plain to to-day Franquet made a most detailed plan of it, of which an outline is given herewith [map No. 29]. In August, 1897, I made an examination and plan of the present condition of it, which is given herewith [map No. 30] it shown the considerable changes which have occurred in to the coast line since 1752, and points to the time when the ruins of his fort will In entirely washed away. A full account of the fort was given by F.T.P. Schewan about 1892 in a ten-page pamphlet entitled “Notes of Fort Monckton.”  There is also a plan in the British Museum differing somewhat from Franquet’s.

C — The Post at Pont à Buot. The location of this post is made certain by the fine map of Franquet [map. No. 27], and he also gives a full description of it in his report. Not the slightest trace of this post now remains, but the measurements so accurately given enable one to find the approximate site.

The course of the Misseguash has changed somewhat Since Franquet’s map was made, and the river is now much further out from the shore. The Riviére a l’Oars (the small stream west of the present Point de Butt Corner, (Map) No. 24) runs here in a gully a few feet deep, as the hachure lines of the Franquet map imply.

There is said locally to have been a block-house about half a mile north of Fort Beauséjour, on the present “Boomer Place,” about 100 yards from the road on the highest point of the ridge. It is supposed to have commanded the road leading from the present Sackville.

Franquet’s Report mentions also French posts at Weska [Westcock], and Chipoudy [Shepody]. As to the former, I have no idea of the site of the post. As to that at Shepody it is possible it stood on St. Mary’s point, for the Mante map and French plan both belonging in 1755, put a fort or post on this point and call fort de Shepody. There is no trace of it to be seen, or known locally.

Between the Memramcook and the Petitcodiac is a point known locally as Fort Folly Point [Folly Point on the maps] I am told by residents that there was a fort on the point on whose site the present light-house was built and that it was said to have been built by the Acadians during their troubles with the English. Locally it is said it was called Folly because there was really nothing there to defend. It is possible that both here and on St. Mary’s Point there were posts for observation of the approaching English and the giving of alarms to the settlers up the rivers. Thus the “Mémoires sur le Canada,” [p. 44] mentions with reference to the approach of Monckton’s fleet towards Beauséjour in 1755; “Vergor l’ignoroit; des habitans de Chipoudy et de Pékekoudiac, ayant aperçu cette flotte, le lui firent savoir en toute diligence.” Probably they passed by land over the Memramcook portage to Westcock and thence across the marshes to Beauséjour.

4. The Richibucto District.

In this part of the Province, from Cape Tormentine to Cape Escuminac, the Acadian settlements became more numerous than elsewhere in New Brunswick, historically they may be divided into two groups, those formed before the expulsion, and those formed since.

A. Settlements

A — De Chauffours’ Settlement at Richibucto. The Seigniorial grant to the Sieur de Chauffours of 1684, states that on the border of the river Richibucto, on the coast on the southwest, he had two years previously taken up three arpents of land, and had built a fort of stakes and two houses for his residence and to store the grain he had raised the previous year. The site of this settlement we do not know. Tradition places the earliest French settlement at Richibucto Cape. It was possibly on the south side of the harbour not far west of Indian Island. Cooney states that before 1755 the French were pretty thickly settled at Richibucto, (where the town now stands,) where there was a village of about forty houses, and another small one at the month of the Aldonane. Aside from these, however, I know of no reference to pre-expulsion settlements in this region, though there must have been settlers about the different harbours.

The years between 1771 and 1755 were troublous enough for the Acadians about the head of the Hay of Fundy, and many of them retired to Shediac and the other harbours of this coast, and yet many who escaped the expulsion in I755, returned to the same region. Bellin in 1755, speaks of all this coast as inhabited. From 1755 onwards considerable settlements were forming about these harbours, and unlike those at Miramichi, Nepisiguit and Restigouche they appear not to have been again disturbed by the English. Much about the history of these settlements has been published in newspaper articles by M. Placide Gaudet, from whom the following facts are taken: The original settlement at Shediac was at Grandigue on the north of the harbour where a large settlement still is, and the present site of Shediac was not occupied until the present century. In 1767 lands were assigned to twenty-four Acadians at Shediac and Cocagne [Murdoch II, 472]. In 1772 lands were granted to Acadians at Cocagne. The settlement of Buctouche was not founded until 1785, and Richibucto in 1790. In 1791 several Acadians petitioned Governor Carleton for lands on the south bank of Richibucto, and in 1798 they were given a grant of what is now Richibucto village. There were, however, no doubt Acadian settlers much earlier on this river. The large island south of the entrance is on the charts called French Island, but is also known as Indian Island. St. Louis de Kent was established in 1805. On the condition of these settlements in 1811, 1812, the Journal of Bishop Plessis is very valuable.

B — Belair vers Cocagne in Abbé le Guerne’s letter of 1756 was, according to M. Gaudet, six or seven miles up the Cocagne on the north side. At Cocagne Cape, according to M. Gaudet, is a place still called Camp de Boisebért, where Boisebért spent the winters of 1755-56.

B. Forts

The Fort of DeChauffours, already spoken of, was, of course, merely a palisaded dwelling.

A — Shediac. But a single fort of importance in this region is known, that at Shediac, often mentioned in early documents and shown on maps. It was Built by LaCorne in 1742 and is spoken of in one report as “premier établishment du Roi.” Franquet speaks of it in his report as “the first establishment of the King; there is there a grand magazine and storehouse.” Bellin speaks of the “petit fort” here in 1755. It is marked on D’Anville’s map of 1755, Green-Jefferys of the same year and Montresor of 1768, in all cases on the north side of the Shediac river a little above its month. In 1897 I visited Shediac and made an effort to locate the fort. I found that local tradition pointed to Indian Island, (an island in the harbour so small that it is not shown on most maps) and that no site on the mainland seemed to be known to the residents [map No. 31]. I visited Indian Island and found the distinct remains of an earthwork some three feet high with a shallow ditch outside as much of this as can be seen, is shown on the accompanying map No. 32. The island, a flat gravel terrace, 10 to 15 feet above high tide and densely wooded, is rapidly washing away, but it is easy to trace the former extent of the fort from the ruins that remain. It is said by residents of the harbour that this is known as the Indian fort, and that it was called Fort Sauvage by the French, and 1 have been told by an Indian chief that it was built by the Indians for protection against the .Mohawks. It is difficult to believe that this very small fort on a tiny island surrounded by salt water was the French fort referred to in the documents of the time, and it may be really a fort built by the Indians themselves, as were Nerepis, Meductic, Richibucto and other Indian forts while the French fort was perhaps on the mainland. But it is difficult to explain on the latter supposition how all knowledge of it has utterly disappeared.

5. The Miramichi District

A — Settlement of Richard Denys de Fronsac. This was the earliest French settlement on the Miramichi of which we have any authentic record, but its site is uncertain, Richard Denys was son of Nicolas Denys, who had settlements at Miscou and Nepisiguit. LeClereq speaks of having visited it before 1691, and St. Valier in 1688 speaks of it as “a little fort of four bastions formed of stakes, and in this fort a house where M. de Fronsac makes his residence.” [p. 32], As to its site, LeClereq gives us no help; but St. Valier says of it that it was on the River of Manne, at a league from that of St. Croix, and that near it [“pres de la”] is a place called, in the language of the Indians, Skinoubondiche, where were the three leagues of land given to the Recollets for a mission by M. Denys. There is no doubt as to the location of Skinoubondiche. As already explained it was at Burnt Church; hence Denys’ settlement was near it, and perhaps at Burnt Church Point itself, where later was a considerable village. This point can, however, hardly be said to be at a league from the River St. Croix, the old French name of the Miramichi. If the River Manne could be located it would settle the point; but the name seems French, not Indian, and despite much search, I have not been able to identity it. Another hint as to its site is given us by LeClereq [p. 193], who speaks of spending a night at (— ?), four leagues from the fort of M. Richard de Fronsac. The only identification for this name I have been able to make is that it represents Mool-mun-ok-un, which, with The usual substitution of r for l, is not unlike it. Mool-mun-ok-un is the Micmac name of the Northwest Miramichi, and four leagues [about ten miles] from it would bring one to the forks at Beaubears Island. On the northern bank here, just at the junction, the Jumean map of 1685 places a flag, which may imply that the fort stood there, and a further confirmation is given to this site by the Franquelin-DeMuelles map of 1686 which names the little stream southeast of the present Beaubears Island, R. de Mission (Map No. 33). But this would hardly agree with St. Valier’s statement that it was near Skinoubondiche, unless there were two places of that name.

There is a tradition that his fort stood at Bay de Vin, at the point on the eastern side of the harbour [shown on map No. 10], but this would not agree with the statements of St. Valier. One might suppose that Riviere du Cache [River of the hiding place] might be connected with it. The original river of this name seems to have been the Grand Dune, but there is really nothing to connect Denys with it.

B — Bay du Vin. Traditions are given by Cooney as to the foundation of the Bay du Vin settlements in 1672 or 1672 but there is no historical evidence whatever for such statements. But relics dug up, cellars, and traditions all point to the existence of former French settlements at several points, though we have no evidence at all as to the dates of their formation. A very large settlement, with a chapel whose site is known, is said to have existed opposite Bay du Vin Island. Probably most of them were not earlier than 1750, about which time settlers began to leave the peninsula of Nova Scotia in some numbers.

Other remains are found on Bay du Vin Island. Creuxius’ map of 1660 Marks a settlement on the south side of the bay. Another early settlement was near what is still called French River Point (Map No. 10). The local tradition, as given me by a resident, is that this village pursued the dog-fish fishery for the sake ff the skins, which commanded a good price in France where they were used for used for polishing purposes.

C — Beaubears Point and Island. There can he little doubt that here also was an extensive settlement, though we know nothing positively as to its origin. Probably, however, it too, if not. formed about 1750, was at least increased about that time, and doubtless still more after the expulsion of 1755. Cooney places the settlement on Beaubears Point i.e., Wilsons Point (map No. 33), comprising a town of two hundred houses, a chapel and Provision stores; but most of the remains of settlement known locally are on the island. An old road along its centre is considered locally to be French. Cooney states there was a battery on the eastern end of the island. In 1756 there were 3500 French under Boishébert on the Miramichi (Murdoch II, 312). Doubtless this settlement was destroyed by Wolfe’s expedition of 1758. Local tradition states that the passage, called “the Tickle,” is artificial, and was made by Boishébert. This is an error, for Jumeau’s map of 1685 and Franguelin-DeMeulles of 1686 show it with perfect clearness.

D — Canadian Point. The tradition is that here was a settlement of some importance. This is confirmed by a most interesting view made in 1758 by one of Wolfe’s officers, published as a copperplate in London in 1758. It is entitled “A View of Miramichi, a French Settlement in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, destroyed by Brigadier .Murray detached by General Wolfe for that purpose, from the Bay of Gaspe.” This view shows a settlement of four houses and a church on the left bank of the river, at a place which I can only identify as just east of the extremity of Canadian Point (map No. 33). M. Gaudet calls this point la pointe acadienne, from which canadian may be a corruption.

E — French Fort Cove. Tradition places here an early battery, no doubt correctly. The battery must have stood on the western entrance to the cove, which is still called locally “Battery Hill,” for the position is admirably adapted for the purpose (map No. 33). There is here a high bluff, and the channel of the river curves close to the shore, so that the command of the river from the bluff is perfect. In this respect it resembles the Battery Point and Point la Garde on the Restigouche, and no doubt there was a battery here to protect the important settlements above.

F — Burnt Church Point. Here was no doubt a very important village, and this point on the fine survey map of 1754 is called “Pointe de Village.” The Indian settlement and church were close beside it, and it was the burning of this church by the English in 1758 that gave it its name. The local tradition, as given by Cooney is that it was burnt by the captain of a ship bearing the remains of Wolfe to England in reprisal for the murder of some of his men by the Indians, but it is much more likely that it was burnt by the expedition of 1758, above mentioned, which was sent by Wolfe for the express purpose of destroying the French villages on the Miramichi. As I have elsewhere pointed out, the tradition of the six murdered sailors may belong earlier, and explain certain place names in that region (Place Nomenclature 223). This is, of course, the village mentioned by Smethurst in 1761. The village of Neguae, near by, is probably one of the Acadian settlements founded later in the century, though Cooney states that old French remains were visible then.

Tradition also places an early French establishment of Denys at Portage Island, used in hunting sea-cow or walrus.

A branch of the Lower Tabusintac is on the maps named French Cove Brook, probably indicating an early settlement.

6. The Nepisiguit District

In this region there were two principal centres of settlement, Nepisiguit and Miscou. Their early history has been most fully and clearly sketched by Dr. N.E. Dionne in his “Miscou” in Le Canada Français, 1889. Recently Rev. W.O. Raymond has written upon the same subject (in Collections, N.B. Historical Society, II, 81-134). A valuable detailed account of the settlements of Miscou in this century, with some traditions, is to be found in Perley’s Report on the Fisheries of New Brunswick, 1852.

A — The earliest settlement on Miscou must have been that of Raymond de la Ralde in 1623 (Dionne), who had a fishing and trading establishment there. Its site is unknown, but probably it was on Miscou harbour.

B — Mission of St. Charles. In 1634 was founded the Jesuit Mission of Saint Charles at Miscou, which is frequently referred to in the Relations after that date. The site of this important mission is not positively known. The many references to it in the Relations give no hint of its site. Local tradition places it at Grande Plaine, near Mya Point, at the north end of Miscou Island (see map No. 34), but there seems to be little basis for this view, and in all probability it is an error. It was much more probably on Miscou harbour, and there are two reasons for this belief. First, as the mission was for both Indians and the numerous French fishermen, it would have been rear where the French could use it. At Grande Plaine, there is no harbour whatever for vessels, but only the open sea, the most exposed of positions, where vessels could lie only in the calmest weather. On the other hand, Miscou harbour is a good harbour for vessels, and has been used by fishermen in great numbers from the earliest times down to the present day. It was while their vessels were at anchor in safety that the sailors could attend a mission. Second, Father Richard in the Relation of l645, speaks of a sea voyage from Nepisiguit to Miscou, and remarks especially on the danger he met through finding Miscou harbour blocked with ice. Had his destination been the north point of Miscou the blocking of the harbour would not have concerned him so much. If it was on the harbour, however, we do not know its exact site unless it was on the same site as the settlement of Denys, next to be spoken of (map No. 34). This is quite probable, since no other important ancient site is known about this harbour, except, perhaps, I. au tresor or Money Island, on which many coins and other relics have been found. The latter may possibly be the I. a monsieur of Jumeau’s map of 1685. The low shores of this harbour do not offer many favourable sites for settlement, and a good situation is likely to be occupied by many settlements in succession. That this site was on what we now call Shippegan is not the least objection, since, until alter 1700, both islands were called Miscou, one Grande Isle de Miscou, the other Petite Isle de Miscou. The mission had a branch at Nepisiguit and was abandoned about 1662.

C — Denys’ Settlement on Miscou Harbour. Denys, in his work of l672, tells us with the greatest clearness of his settlement on this harbour, on the south side, where he had a “habitation” and garden. In another place he speaks of passing through the harbour of Miscou from the eastern entrance and of coming to a long point of sand which makes a cove of considerable extent, and there it is that vessels anchor. This must have been either Harper’s or Sandy Point (southwest of Harper’s), and the inference is that his settlement was near it. The site of Denys’ settlement is well known locally, and until a few years ago traces of it could he seen, including the remains of an “old fort,” which now are entirely washed away. It was at Pecten Point, in the place marked on map No. 34. This site has been identified for me by Rev. Father, J.R. Doucet, to whom I am indebted for much information upon the history of the island, and it is thus spoken of by Dionne (p. 518):

“On voyait encore sur cette ile, il n’y a pas plus de 5 ou 6 ans, les ruines de habitation et des fortifications anciennes élevés par Denys. Le fortétait situé du côté sud du havre de Miscou, vis-à-vis le principal établissement de l’ile occupé il y a plus de deux siècles par les Français, et habité aujour d’hui par un groupe Ecossias. L’on peut encore voir le vieux cimetière, sur la propriété d’un nommé John Marks. Les protestants ont construit, a proximité, une église de leur secte.”

Passing next to the settlements at Nepisiguit, we fine them in the following order.

D — The RecoIIet Mission at Nepisiguit. LeClerceq says of this place (p. 203): “Les Recollets de la Province d’Aquitaine y ont commence la Mission en 1620 & le Pere Bernardin, un de ces illustres Missionaires mourot de faim & fatigues en traversant les bois pour aller de Miscou et du Nipisguit à la riviere de Saint John, à la Cadie, on ces Reverends Peres avoient leur établisement principal.” As to the site of this mission we have no hint whatever.

E — The Jesuit Mission at Nepisiguit. This was established in 1644 as a branch of the mission of Miscou. It is several times referred to in the Relations, but never in a way to locate it. LeClerceq states there was a Chapel here. Dionne states positively, though without giving any evidence, that this chapel was at Point an Père, and that Denys .settled near it. A slender argument for this might be based upon the fact that old plans mark Ferguson’s  Point, where Denys’ settlement later stood, “Point au Père, so called because a French priest is buried there,” (Map No. 35), and there is a local tradition, given, however, without qualification by Dionne, that some years ago the remains of priests were removed from this point to the cemetery at Bathurst. Rev. Father Varrily, however, writes me there is no mention of any such removal in the Church records, nor does he know of it. He says, however, there is a tradition that the Jesuit Fathers had some kind of an establishment there. He says further, “It is, however, certain that on the south side of the harbour, at the mouth of the Nepisiguit, there was at the first discovery of the country an Indian settlement, and that a French gentleman named Enaud, who married an Indian, owned property and lived there. This place was visited regularly by the Jesuit fathers established at Miscou.” There must be some error in the latter statement, for Enaud, who was living here in 1686, is returned by the Census as 35 years old, and the Miscou Mission was abandoned about 1662. Creuxius’ map of 1660 places the settlement west of the Nepisiguit, hut this probably has little significance.

F — Nicolas Denys’ Habitation at Nepisiguit. Denys, in his work of 1672, thus writes; “Mon habitation de Nepigiguit est sur le bord de ce bassin; à un liene à la droit de son entrèe de basse mer un canot n’en sçauroit approcher: c’est où j’ay esté obligé de me retirer aprés l’incendie de mon Fort de saint Pierre en l’isle du Cap Breton. Ma maison y est flanguée de quatres petite bastions avec une palissade dont les pieux sont de dix-huits pieds de haut, avec six pieces de canon en batteries …. j’y ay un grand jardin.” This description placing his habitation on the border of the basin a league from the entrance on the right, with great shallows in front, would locate it on Ferguson’s point exactly where tradition places it (See Map No. 35). Here many relics of early occupation have been found, cannon balls, gun locks, skeletons (near by), and even quarried stone. The spot where the latter occurred was on the point in a place now washed by the highest tides, and it is probable that here was the habitation and that this site, like so many settlement and fort sites in the province, has been much altered by the action of the tides, allowed by a slow sinking of the Coast, which is now going on. Old willow trees on the point are said by tradition to mark the graves of priests and a French admiral.

G — Enault’s Settlement. A number of traditions of Esnault (Enault or Enaud) are given by Cooney, which are probably fairly trustworthy, except as to dates. The census of 1686 returns Fnaud as living at Nepisiguit. Cooney says that he lived at Abshaboo or Coal Point at the mouth of the Nepisiguit, where Packard’s hotel is, and that he had his principal establishment where Mr. Dubois has his. Coal Point is a corruption of Goold’s Point, by which the high point on the west side of the mouth of the Nepisiguit is known on many early plans. Packard’s Hotel, a stone building, still stands at the corner of Black and St. Patrick streets in Bathurst, while DeBlois’ establishment was near by on Gayton’s wharf, near the foot of St. Patrick street. Certainly this would seem to be the most favourable place around the harbour for a trading establishment; it is on high land at the mouth of a river much used by the Indians as a highway to the hunting grounds of the interior, and as a through route of travel to other rivers. If Enaud, or a predecessor was in possession of this point when Denys arrived, it would explain why Denys chose what seems to us in all ways the much less favourable situation at Ferguson’s Point. Cooney states also that Enaud had a large grist mill on the stream running through the marsh now owned by Mr. Deblois, which stream, as Dr. Duncan tells me, is that now known as Eddy’s stream (Map No. 35), and he adds further that the stones of the mill were found not long ago on the stream. A fact which has an important bearing upon the site of Enaud’s settlement is, however, this, that a point on the harbour is still called, locally, by his name, Point Enaud, though on the chart it is called Daly’s Point. This persistence of his name must indicate very close connection between him and this locality.

Enault is mentioned by LeClercq with much praise. They went together in winter from Nepisiguit to Richard Denys’ settlement at Miramichi, nearly perishing on the road.

It is probable that from the time of Denys onward there were Acadian settlers about this harbour in small numbers, and that in common with other desirable locations on the north shore it received large additions to their numbers after 1750, and still more after the expulsion. In 1761 Captain Mackenzie was sent to remove them, and took prisoners there, no less than 787 (Archives, 1894, 229). The registers at Caraquette, according to Mr. Gaudet, show there was a number of settlers here in 1772, and these settlers no doubt took up lands which were afterwards granted to them. It is thus hardly possible to assign any date to the foundation of St. Peters, as it was called until 1826, when it was named Bathurst by Sir Howard Douglas.

The later history of Acadian settlements in this region was no doubt very similar. Thus, Caraquette was granted in 1784 to 34 Acadians who had doubtless been some time on the lands. Tracadie was first settled, according to M. Gaudet in 1785, and Pokemouche and Petit Rocher both in 1797.

7. Restigouche District.

So far as I have been able to find, there are in this district no records of French settlements, other than the French mission to the Indians, before 1700. The Recollet Mission was at Old Mission Point, as already discussed. After 1750 the settlers came to this region in considerable numbers and founded the town of Petit Rochelle, on the Quebec side, protected by batteries at Point LeGarde and Battery Point. It was in the basin above Mission Point that the battle was fought between an English .squadron, under Captain Byron, and a French squadron, which resulted in the destruction of the latter and of Petit Rochelle and the batteries. A very interesting memorial of this event is on the French chart of Restigouche of 1779, copied from an earlier English one, which gives the names of all Byron’s ships to different points and shoals along the river. Cooney gives the official accounts of this battle, and it has been treated fully in the Educational Review, X, 194. The site of Petit Rochelle is well known locally; it extended from Officers Brook upwards for some three miles, and many relics of French occupation have been found here. (Map No. 36) Cooney states there was a French village at Martins Point, near the site of Campbellton, and he gives many facts and traditions as to French relics found in this region (213-218).

At the mouth of Jacquet River, and doubtless of other rivers on the North Shore, are small pieces of marsh which seem to have been dyked; and these dykes are taken locally to be evidence of early Acadian settlements. Such dykes, however, are known to geologists to be often the result of purely natural causes (Chalmers, Geological Reports, 1895, M, 133), and hence do not prove the existence of former settlements unless certainly artificial.

Ganong’s Map No. 13:

 

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John C. Tracy’s Book, Part 5 of 5

Presented by JohnWood1946@hotmail.com

John C. Tracy’s Book – Part 5 of 5

This is the last of five instalments of John C. Tracy’s Book, a handwritten collection of Oromocto River genealogies and historical stories produced between 1927 and the mid 1930s. The remaining parts may be found in the blog at http://johnwood1946.wordpress.com. 

John C. Tracy, 1855-1937

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Page 156

A Short Account of the Wild Passenger Pidgeon

I wish to give an account of the pretty and wild passenger Pidgeon as I saw them when a boy from Aug. 18, 1855 to the summer of 1882. I have gone out on a barren ridge of blueberries without seeing very few if any, perhaps 2 or 3 into a dead tree. All at once from some cause known only to them they would all rise, acres of them, hundreds, perhaps thousands. In summer 1882 I with 3 other men were on railway track about 200 yards west of Tracy Station, Sunbury Co., N.B. I saw a few, 4 or 6, flying over the mill pond of the Oromocto river going. My great grand, Richardson Webb, was born in Maryland, U.S.A.1758, was disbanded in St. John 1883, lived at Tracy, died 1848. He shot a pidgeon here and found rice in its crop. Had its breakfast in Alabama, perhaps. May, 1883 it so happened I was in Saint John. Also, 50 years later, or last May, I was there. – John C. Tracy

Page 157

Loyalists

Colonel Beverly Robinson, senior went to England and remained there, his wife, the wife of Bishop Inglis, and that of Col. Morris, three daughters of Frederic Philips were banished from the United States under pain of death, and the large Phillips property opposite West Point on the Hudson was confiscated and was the foundation of the Astor fortune. Captain Frederic Phillips received a grant South West Rusiagornis. Copied from Daily Gleaner, Dec. 11, 1933.

Lieut. Garret Clopper was first registrar of deeds for YorkCounty, N.B. Also commissioner of roads with Stair Agnew. Another road commissioner marked out a road (or trail) from Fredericton to Saint Andrews in 1879. – From Daily Gleaner of Dec. 13, 1933

The last passenger pidgeon in North America died in Cincinnati Zoo in summer of 1914. – From Daily Gleaner of Dec. 14, 1933

Page 158

Family Record of Robert Knight and Isabell Kimbal & Mary Hatten

Children

1. John Night [sic]
2. Sophia Night
3. Annie Night; Wm. Johnson
4. Agnus Night
5. Harriet Night
6. Henry Night

About 1821 Judge George Street shot and killed T.A. Rainsford Wetmore in a duel on Segee farm, Maryland. I got some of this history from Mrs. Lillian Maxwell’s in a Gleaner of Dec. 4, 1933. I added date of duel as above. Mrs. Maxwell says duel was on Segee farm, Marysville. I Think the Segee was in Maryland. I at the age of 13 went to Fredericton in winter of 1868 with my father Israel Tracy. He showed me the field in Maryland where duel was first fought. I was told that George Street asked Wetmore to settle the affairs and not use guns. – John C. Tracy

Page 159

Family Record of 98 John DeWitt and 96 Annie Wood

Children

1. Daniel DeWitt; Kattie Boone
2. Henry DeWitt; Seeley & Biggs
3. Methuel DeWitt; Mary Smith
4. George DeWitt; Angeline Hoyt age 91
5. Rev. Thomas DeWitt; Annie Belyea

Family Record of Thomas Smith and Abigal Smith

Children

1. Elizabeth Smith; 71 Charles Bun[?] Mar. 4, 1833
2. George Smith
3. Holland Smith
4. Maria Smith
5. Adline Smith
6. Oran Smith; Sarah Christie
7. Barbara Smith; James Harris
8. Abner Smith

The above John DeWitt was a son of John DeWitt and wife Phoebe DuRose, or Ross, of Georgia, U.S.A.

Page 160

Ice Freshet of Mar. 4, 1871

March 4, 1834: Sixty years ago today in morning it was cloudy after sunrise and wind warm from south east warm and strong. Heavy rain began about 7 AM and rained until about 5 or later. Oscar, Cyrus, Richard and I, John C. Tracy, went home for dinner from the Nason school and dare not return in the afternoon across the river on account of ice might break up. It broke up about 5 PM. I do not remember of ice as thick as at this time, nor as hard as it was. So sudden rocks, gravel and sand came up with the ice. It piled it 2 and 3 cakes high. It left a large hemlock log in under works of the old iron arch railway bridge at F’ton Junction where it stayed for many days. I saw this log myself and this was Richard Tracy’s first day at school. Not much damage was done. All lumber drive from Big Lake was in Tracy mill pond on Mar. 12, 1871.

I believe it was Capt. Jeremiah Tracy who built first dam at Big Oromocto Lake. He had to widen the outlet forty or 50 rods or more so logs when they left the dam to be floated.

Page 161

Family Record of John Nason Jan. 6, 1793, and

86 Martha DeWitt Jan. 20, 1791, married Aug. 8, 1813, died in Aug., 1877

Children

1. Isaiah Nason June 8, 1814 never married
2. John Nason Sept. 4, 1816; Abigal Grass Feb. 17, 1838
3. 36 Mary Nason July 10, 1818; Geo. Tracy Dec. 12, 1836
4. Nancy Nason July 29, 1820 died July 29, 1920
5. Zachariah Nason May 20, 1823; Mary Jane Clark, a widow
6. Lemuel Nason Feb. 9, 1826; Martha Murphy
7. 70 Ephraim Nason Jan. 2, 1828; Elizabeth Gray
8. 66 Annie Nason July 15, 1831; Israel Phillips 66

Family Record of 70 Ephraim Nason Jun. 2, 1825, died Sept. 2, 1898 and

90 Elizabeth Gray married Oct. 12, 1852

Children

1. Francis G. Nason June 20, 1853; Sophia Bunker Dec. 21, 1876
2. Zackariah Nason Nov. 27, 1854; Nettie Fleming
3. Benj. J. Nason Dec. 24, 1857; Ada Nason Jun. 14, 1887
4. Ada N. Nason Jan. 5, 1859 not married
5. Edwin E. Nason Jan. 18, 1861; Mattie Alexander in 1889
6. Merrit T. Nason Nov. 18, 1864; Maria Prescott who died in 1928
7. Ella D. Nason Dec. 17, 1866; James Kelly of Vermont in July, 1933
8. Annie A. Nason Mar. 17, 1868; Alfred Giberson in 1891

March 18, 1934 – This family all living except Dr.[?] Zack.

Page 162

Family Record of Benj. J. Nason Dec. 24, 1857 and

Ada Nason Aug. 17, 1868, Sun. June 3, 65-9-17 days

Children

1. Clyde T. Nason Mar. 28, 1888
2. infant 1889, died
3. Roy A. Nason June 8, 1891; Alma Greer in 1919
4. E. Maud Nason July 26, 1893; Melvin Phillips Oct. 1916
5. Grace E. Nason Sept. 15, 1895; Arthur Rynax
6. Mary G. Nason Feb. 6, 1898, died Mar. 28, 1899
7. Hazel B. Nason Mar. 14, 1900; Murdoc McCleod 1924
8. Cora M. Nason Mar. 14, 1903; Wilbert Rynax
9. infant son Mar. 19, 1905, died Mar. 22, 1905
10. Ina A. Nason Apr. 28, 1906 not married
11. Frank T. Nason July 13, 1908; Ruth Nason July 12, 1930
12. Ruby E. Nason July 13, 1912 died Sept. 14, 1916

Family Record of

Thomas Hartt son of Tom & Phoebe Phillips Hartt and Adline Perley and Lizzie Peabody

Children

1. David W. Hartt; Lottie Adams
2. Alfred Hartt; Jennie Mersereau
3. 70-2-21 Edward Hartt Dec. 17, 1847, died Mar. 18, 1917; Susan Ducheney
4. Dossie Hartt; Burton Lockart

Page 163

Family Record of Frank Bunker Sept. 28, 1871 and Mamie DeWitt Apr. 5, 1878

Children [Excluded from transcript for privacy; too recent]

The mill near Tracy Station went out with an ice freshet on Apr. 5, 1895.

Family Record of 88 Benj. Tracy Nov. 14, 1839 and

68 Listena Phillips June 9, 1856, married Nov. 13, 1873, died Jan. 13, 1925

Children

1. 18 Lizzie Tracy Oct. 14, 1874, died Mar. 26, 1892
2. AdaTracy May 30, 1877
3. 13 Charlotte Tracy Aug. 19, 1879, died Mar. 11, 1892
4. Lydia Tracy May 30, 1881 married Oct. 13, 1897
5. Chester Tracy Sept. 3, 1883 married Oct. 25, 1922
6. 2 Barton Tracy June 28, 1888

Benj. Tracy, the last grandson of Richardson Webb of British Dragoons & wife Bessie Thomas of Blue Ridge of [illegible] Webb of Maryland 30 miles from the sea.

Page 164

Family Record of 68 John Maynard Aug. 7, 1843, died Mar. 17, 1911 and

58 Lavina Bailey Jan. 18, 1845, died June 3, 1904

Children

1. 71 Anie Maynard Aug. 20, 1863
2. 6 John Maynard May 15, 1868; Ada Tracy
3. Lorena Maynard May 24, 1871
4. 24 Charley Maynard Oct. 4, 1873 drowned Dec. 21, 1889
5. 22 Harry Maynard Sept. 28, 1875, died Dec. 21, 189-
6. 13 Lizzie Maynard Sept. 26, 1876, died Jan. 2, 1889
7. 56 Jimmie Maynard Mar. 13, 1878

Family Record of 66 John Maynard May 16, 1868 and 57 Ada Tracy May 30, 1877

Children

1. 39 Gertrude Maynard Sept. 10, 1894; Fred Burnett
2. 37 Curtis Maynard Dec. 25, 1896; Bernice Webb
3. 33 Mary Maynard Feb. 21, 1900; John Heenan
4. 29 Lavina Maynard May 9, 1905; Alfred Nason
5. 27 Harry Maynard Mar. 16, 1909; Anna McCleary
6. Jean Maynard May 27, 1910, died 1911

Page 165

July 7, 1934: Zaro Aga, a Turk, died in Turkey a few days ago aged 164 years old. Never drank any spirituous or perhaps malt as well. Toured U.S.A. to show what strictly temperate may prolong life he had eleven wives.

Family Record of George Webb Mar. 16, 1826 died Oct. 22, 1919 and

Nancy Jones July 14, 1832, married Dec. 15, 1852, died May 1, 1911

Children

1. Albert Webb Oct. 17, 1854, married 1877
2. Benedict Webb 1856
3. Stillman Webb 1857, died Nov. 10, 1890
4. Manzer Webb 1860, died Mar. 24, 1908
5. Jane Webb 1862 , died June, 1898
6. Irilla Webb 1863
7. Melvin Webb 1865
8. Melvina Webb 1868
9. Willard Webb June 28, 1869, married Jan 17, 1895
10. Lottie Webb July, 1871, died Jan., 1888
11. Benjamine Webb Feb. 1873, died May 4, 1896
12. Leonard Webb Oct. 1, 1874
13. Pennel Webb Oct. 5, 1876
14. Dellas Webb Oct. 24, 1879

Page 166

Family Record of Jared Smith and

Maria Hartt about 1824, married by Rev. Abner Mersereau

Children

1. Judson Smith June 4, 1851; married Mary E. Sewell on Feb. 27, 1872
2. Janie M. Smith Dec. 4, 1852; Zopher Nason
3. William B. (twin) Smith
4. Thomas L. (twin) Smith
5. Jared Smith
6. Floretta M. Smith Mar. 30, 1858
7. Charles Smith; Maria Hartt widow of Jared

This Charles Smith, a brother of Jared married Maria Hartt, widow.

Children

1. Charles Smith
2. Phoebe Smith
3. twin
4. Hattie Smith; Wesley Nason & Parker Nason
5. James Smith; Nettie Barlow June 30, 1892
6. Berdine Smith

• [Notes at bottom of page] Judson D. Smith June 4, 1851 killed in factory.
• Mary E. Sewell from U.S.A. south.
• Jared Oscar Smith married Anna Clara Bridges Hartt Apr. 18, 1886.
• Jared Oscar Smith married Bertha May Roberts Jan. 19, 1905.
• James E. Smith married June 30, 1892.
• Nettie Barlow.

[In the margin] Judson and Jared are of first family.

Page 167

May 1, 1885: Snowed all day. Mrs. Wesley Smith Nason died May 2.

Family Record of 59-5-24 Wesley D. Nason Oct. 22, 1843, died April 15, 1902 and

32 Carrie Smith died May 22, 1855

Children

1. Penell Nason July 18, 1896; Hattie Webb
2. David S. Nason Nov. 10, —-, died Feb. 10, 1887
3. Helen Nason Sept. 2, 1878; Thomas B. Hartt
4. Parker Nason Dec. 9, 1881; Grace Mersereau
5. Baby girl Apr. 1885, died 1885

Family Record of Wesley Nason Oct. 22, 1843 and

Hattie M. Smith Jan. 26, 1868, married Oct. 25, 1886 by Rev. Tom. O. DeWitt

Children

1. Marshal Nason Oct. 4, 1887; Maidie Rubertford
2. Earl Nason Dec. 25, 1888; Dorothy May DeWitt
3. Carrie Nason Oct. 14, 1890; Menuel Arthur Goodwin
4. Ruth Nason Sept. 15, 1892; Otty James Redstone
5. Blanche Nason Dec. 29, 1894
6. Bliss Nason Aug. 20, 1896
7. Victor Nason Aug. 3, 1902; Clara Adrana Hartt
8. Dana Nason Nov. 19, 1903; Lottie Avis Tracy
9. Parker Nason
10. Hattie  Smith Nason Jan. 26, 1868
11. [illegible] Urban Nason Sept. 1, 1907; Nellie Evelin Noble
12. Lewis Malcom Nason Oct. 11, 1908; Anie Christine Reed
13. Margret Knigsley Nason Dec. 30, 1912

Page 168

166 Jared Smith and Maria Hartt & Charles Smith.

167 Wesley D. Nason & Carrie Smith Smith & Parker Nason, a brother.

Family Record of

92 Thomas Alexander 1776 in Tyrone Co., Ireland, died 1802 and Jane Little

Children

1. 89 John Alexander 1804; Sarah Jane Lindsay 1893
2. Mary Alexander 1807 died in infancy
3. 56 Charles Alexander 1810; Mary Boone & Chloe Nevers 1866
4. 82 Joseph Alexander 1813; Elizabeth Shirley of Burton, N.B. 1895
5. 75 Guy Alexander 1816; Mary Kimball
6. 88 Thomas Alexander 1819; Francis Louis Shirley [sic.] Mary Matilda Mersereau
7. 32 William Alexander 1822; Elizabeth Hoyt, of cholera 1854
8. 41 Mary Jane Alexander 1827 at F’ton. Junc.; Aron Hartt

• The above family were all born in County Tyrone, Gerlaw Township, Ireland, except Mary Jane in Sun. Co., N.B.
• Colonel Thomas Alexander was a son
• John and Sarah Jane Lindsay
• William Alexander was in St. John looking after his lumber. Was on warf at 10 AM, was taken with cholera and was buried at 4 PM.

Page 169

Family Record of Thomas Stennix and Dorothy Hannah Wood

[Dorothy is scored out, and Hannah is written in in a different hand]

Children

1. Odber Stennix; Rosanna Gillispie
2. George Stennix; Sarah (Sally) Jane Boone
3. James Stennix; Lucy Fannie Gillispie [‘Lucy’ was written in later by someone else]
4. John Stennix not married
5. Annie Stennix; Sam Crawford [later changed by someone else to Sam Hayward]
6. Eliza Stennix; Fred Phillips
7. Phoebe Stennix; —- Trecartin

Family Record of 98 John DeWitt and 96 Annie Wood

Children

1. Daniel DeWitt; Kattie Boone
2. Henry DeWitt; Seely & Briggs
3. Methuel DeWitt; Mary Smith
4. George DeWitt; Angeline Hoyt age 91
5. Rev. Thomas DeWitt; Annie Belyea

Rev. John DeWitt was a son of John DeWitt & wife Phoebe Durose or DuRoss from Georgia, U.S.A. This last John DeWitt was, I believe, a brother to Abram DeWitt who married Caroline Tucker …

Page 170

(… married Caroline Tucker) Also, Jacob DeWitt his wife was Salome Tucker. His children were Martha, born Jan. 20, 1791, and Isaac who married his cousin Phoebe, daughter of Abram and Caroline Tucker, and Jacob DeWitt born in 1800, also a sister Hattie DeWitt pioneer who married Samuel Boone a son of Wm. Boone and wife Ruth Hill of Providence, R.I. Kattie’s family was 9 sons. One of her sons was Abram was with 104^th Regiment of 1,100 who left Fredericton on Feb. 13, 1813 for uper Canada. He was the largest man in 1,100. He died while roasting a piece of meat on his bayonet while in chimney corner.

Family Record of Aron Hartt and

41 Lavina Tracy Oct. 4, 1817 & Mary Jane Alxander born 1827, died 1865

Children

1. Emeline Hartt; David Duplisea
2. Family No. 2
3. Annie Jane Hartt died 1887
4. Phoebe Hartt living Dec., 1934
5. Angelne Hartt died 1873
6. 68 Wm. Dell Hartt died 1823
7. about 73 Thomas Aron Hartt died 1930
8. Samuel Whitfield Hartt died 1913
9. Mary Etta Hartt; —- Greenlaw

Page 171

PS: The dam built by his father was & his saw mill went out with ice freshet on Apr. 5, 1895. – Dec. 19, 1934 John C. Tracy

Jeremiah Tracy born Jan. 26, 1809, the oldest of a family of 8 sons and 2 daughters of Capt. Jeremiah Tracy. He followed his father in cutting & sawing lumber from the age of 21 until his death at the age of 78. When he had men cutting lumber in Jan., 1887 he got up, made on the fires, went to basement to get things ready for camp. His granddaughter called him to breakfast. After that he went out to sled and put a board on sled, then he took hold of one stake. Now his nephew Abner Tracy saw him and said ‘are you hurt’. He said ‘no, I feel very bad’. These were his last words. He was dead. He did business for about 55 or 6 years. Never sued a man or had law suit. Paid all bills. Had a store and gristmill and his 2 daughters living in large house built in 1864. When he was in camp he always went out with men with 2 or 3 cakes in his pocket, cruise all day, came in with the men and always ate his lunch at supper. He never worked at driving lumber until he was 70. Water was low, he got what help he could get. He got in water every day and stayed all day for the last 3 miles. He never said he was cold or hungry. Never was sick a day as far as I know.

Page 172

Family Record of Henry Burnett and 54 Martha Nason married Sept., 1872

Children

1. Wilmot Burnett Jan. 7, 1873
2. Hartley Burnett Oct. 16, 1874; Rena Maynard
3. Uda Burnett Sept. 29, 1876; —- Everett
4. Harry Burnett Apr. 18, 1878; Maria Loyd
5. Elva Burnett Aug. 2, 1880; Alfred DeWitt
6. John Burnett May 27, 1882
7. Eldon Burnett July 3, 1889; a Scotch girl
8. Fred Burnett Aug. 20, 1885; Gertrude Maynard
9. Myrtle Burnett Oct. 6, 1886; Chester Harris
10. Curtis Burnett Jan. 1, 1888
11. Hurd Burnett June 1, 1890 died June 10, 1896
12. Clarence Burnett May 19, 1895; Mabel Nason

Family Record of Manzer Nason Aug. 23, 1864 and

29 Josie Vail Nov., 1875, married July, 1893, died Feb. 20, 1904

Children

1. Elsie May Nason July, 1894; Justus Nason
2. Ernest Edward Nason Aug., 1895
3. Sarah Ann Nason Feb., 1897; Francis Pattulo
4. Mabel Almeda Nason Sept., 1898; Clarence Burnett
5. Lemuel Robert Nason Mar., 1901; Ena Job

Page 173

[Page 173 is missing from my copy of John C. Tracy’s book, and may not exist]

Page 174

Family Record of 54 Lemuel Nason Sept. 22, 1831, July 21, 1885 and

85 Abigal Boone June 23, 1831, Oct. 1917

Children

1. Sarah Ann Nason Oct., 1855; Israel Nason
2. Celista Nason Aug., 1856; Darius Phillips
3. baby girl Aug., 1858
4. Mary Delila Nason Aug., 1860; John Clifford
5. 72 Victoria Nason Sept. 2., 1862; Benedict Pride Aug., 1834
6. Manzer Boone Nason Aug. 21, 1864; Josie Wail
7. Harvey Henry Nason Apr. 13, 1866; Lydia Tracy
8. Everett Blomen Nason Nov. 28, 1868; Ann Cowie
9. Moses Nason
10. Penell Nason Mar. 4, 1875; Ellen Grass

The above Lemuel Nason was a son of Lemuel Nason and Annie Dunlop and a grandson of the first Lemuel Nason and wife Mary Tracy born 1774 second in family of Jeremiah Tracy and Sarah Leighton.

Page 175

Family Record of 91 Elias White Feb. 16, 1840 and Nancy Peterson Oct. 5, 1840

Children

1. Alfred White; Minnie Scott
2. Selena White; Melbourn Ellis
3. Melburn White; Ida Grass & Margaret Moore
4. Sarah White; Wm. Tracy
5. Elizabeth White; Dr. Oscar Couch, Akron, Ohio
6. Alexander White; Ella MacNeill
7. Frank White; May Kelly
8. Mary White; Mary Phelps

Family Record of

7 Zachariah Nason Nov. 27, 1854 and Nettie Maria Fleming Nov. 30, 1864

Children

1. Zelmer Fleming Nason Dec. 5, 1891
2. Robert Harold Nason Nov. 24, 1893

Page 176

Family Record of Rev. Abner Mersereau and Mary Ann Hoyt

Children

1. Elizabeth Mersereau died age 17
2. Mary Mersereau; Henry Tracy
3. Isabel Mersereau; Otis Smith
4. Hester Mersereau; Stephen Smith
5. Phoebe Mersereau Mar. 29, 1828; Fred Tracy
6. 86 Priscilla Mersereau; Richardson Webb
7. Victoria Mersereau; Henry Wallace
8. Abner Mersereau; Phoebe Smith
9. Samuel Mersereau; Eliza Duplisea Carr, widow of Jim Carr
10. Orlo Mersereau; Mary Smith & Lizzie Seely
11. Pennington Mersereau; Hester Smith & Emma Carleton
12. Leonard Mersereau Apr. 22, 1842; Elizabeth McQuestion Jan. 18, 1839, age 86

Family Record of Joshua Tracy and Eunice Webb

Children

1. Alfred Tracy; Alma Stennix
2. T[illegible] Tracy; —- Ells
3. Freeman Tracy, kelled by train with David Golden; Beaty Duplisea

Page 177

[Page 177 is missing from my copy of John C. Tracy’s book, and may not exist]

Page 178

Family Record of 56-6-21 James Tracy June 14, 1826, died Jan. 4, 1883 and

65-4-28 Sophia Jones Sept. 21, 1830, married Sept. 26, 1860, died Feb. 18, 1896

Children

1. Herman Tracy July 11, 1861; Lizzie Mersereau & Teretha Boone Webb
2. Richard Tracy June 1, 1866; Elsie Tracy
3. Alma Tracy May 22, 1869; Rainsford Mersereau

This James Tracy was one of 6 boys & 5 girls of Jonathan Tracy & Rachel Webb, a grandson of pioneer Jeremiah & Sarah Leighton.

Page 179

Page 180

[A commentary regarding Catholics and their role during the American Revolution is not included in this transcript.]

Page 181

Family Record of 70-2-21 Edward P. Hartt Dec. 25, 1847, died Mar. 18, 1917 and

Susan M. Duchesney Jan. 4, 1877, married June 27, 1894

Children

1. C. Harold Hartt Oct. 1, 1895
2. Edith M. Hartt May 3, 1897
3. E. Perley Hartt Oct. 23, 1898; Grace Connagher
4. Mary V. Hartt June 19, 1900; Victor Person
5. Elizabeth B. Hartt Aug. 6, 1902; D.N. Jamison
6. Alice L. Hartt Apr. 22, 1905; Vince C. Segee
7. Clara A. Hartt Sept. 1, 1906; Victor C. Nason
8. Frank L. Hartt July 25, 1908
9. Arthur R. Hartt June 26, 1910
10. [Excluded from transcript for privacy; too recent]
11. [Excluded from transcript for privacy; too recent]

The above Edward P. Hartt was a son of Thomas Hartt and Adline Perley and a grandson of Thomas Hartt and Phoebe Phillips, pioneers. Edward P. Hartt born Jan. 25, 1847.

Page 182

Family Record of

Purdie Lionel Duplisea Dec. 18, 1862 and

Maud Annie Mullen July 15, 1872, married Sept. 4, 1890

Children

1. Onslow H. Duplisea Sept. 16, 1891`; Helen Evans
2. Anson A. Duplisea June 16, 1893; Freda McCleary
3. Jemima Duplisea; Bertie Duplisea
4. Ritchie Duplisea; Clar Merton Brent [?]
5. Grace Duplisea; Clarence Allen

The above was a son of Joshua Duplisea & Amy Webb and a grandson of Charles Duplisea & Betsy Thomas and a great grandson of Joseph Duplisea and wife Jane —-. Their family was 14 boys and one girl. They came from Bay DuVin, Miramichi, by dog train in March on crust perhaps about 1790.

Page 183

Family Record of Joseph Hoyt and Mary Ann Hayard [Hayward]

Children

1. Wm. Hoyt 1791
2. Annie Hoyt; Israel Tracy about 1780
3. Rebecca Hoyt; Joseph Thomas
4. Isabel Hoyt; Lawrence Mersereau
5. Mary Ann Hoyt; Wm. Smith
6. Chloe Hoyt; Azor Smith
7. Elizabeth Hoyt; Walter Patterson
8. John Hoyt Sept. 12, 1800; Ruth Jones Nov. 19, 1806
9. Lydia Hoyt; Andrew Mersereau

Family Record of Wm. E. Hoyt 1823 and Elizabeth Mersereau

Children

1. Margret Hoyt
2. Ann Hoyt
3. Sherman Hoyt
4. Wesley Hoyt
5. Jacob Hoyt
6. Elizabeth Hoyt
7. Chloe Hoyt
8. Phoebe Hoyt
9. Norman Hoyt
10. Benedict Hoyt
11. Nancy Hoyt
12. Edgar Hoyt
13. Tapley Hoyt
14. Haittine Hoyt
15. Larima Hoyt
16. Harvey Hoyt
17. Silas Hoyt

Page 184

Family Record of

Alexander Gibson White Dec. 20, 1879 and Ella Blanche McNeill Jan. 4, 1883

Children

1. Hazel Gertrude White May 29, 1904
2. Edith Mary White May 26, 1904 [sic]
3. Percy White Aug. 30, 1907
4. [Excluded from transcript for privacy; too recent]

Page 185

Family Record of 79-9-14 Linus Tracy Dec. 17, 1841 and

85-5-2 Martha E. Jones Jan. 21, 1847, married Oct. 24, 1867, died May 23, 1932

Children

1. 51-9-3 Lillie E. Tracy Feb. 14, 1869; Burton Boone Nov. 16, 1921
2. 50-10— Elwood G. Tracy July 11, 1870, died May 29, 1921; Ethel Mullen
3. Gertrude Tracy Jan. 7, 1872, died July 4, 1878 of diphtheria
4. Annie B. Tracy Mar. 7, 1874, died June 28, 1878 of diphtheria
5. Harvey A. Tracy Oct. 29, 1875, died July 6, 1878 of diphtheria
6. Earl E. Tracy Aug. 27, 1879; Thaxter Currie
7. Ula V. Tracy Feb. 25, 1888; Wm. Harris & Geo. Hawkes

Family Record of 83-10-2 Hiram Jones Aug. 4, 1849, died June 7, 1933 and

71-4-28 Julia Sheppard Dec. 7, 1849, died May 5, 1920

Children

1. Clarence Jones June 16, 1878
2. Mary S. Jones Aug. 5, 1880; E.C. Morgan
3. Laura E. Jones Dec. 31, 1883; Geo. Foster
4. Grace A. Jones Nov. 17, 1887; Geo. White
5. Alfred H. Jones June 9, 1892

This Hiram Jones and Martha Jones Tracy were children of Samuel Jones and Hannah B0oone and grand children of Richard Jones and Mary Boone, a daughter of William Boone & Ruth Hill, pioneers.

Page 186

Family Record of Samuel Boone Mar. 5, 1855 and Minnie Gray

Children

1. Guy Tracy Boone; Myra Stackpole
2. John Ferris Boone; Florence Shirley
3. Clarence Bedford Boone; Eula Bigelow

Family Record of Guy Tracy Boone and Myra Stackpole

Children – All living in Jan., 1935

1. Merville Boone
2. Helen Boone
3. Alton Boone
4. Roy Boone
5. Fern Boone

Family Record of John Ferris Boone and Florence Shirley

Children – All living in Jan., 1935

1. Audrey Boone
2. Laura Boone

These 7 children are in seventh generation from Wm. Wm. and Ruth Hill Boone who came to Kesewick, York Co., N.B. in 1783.

Page 187

Family Record of Clarence Bedford Boone and Eula Biglow

Children [Excluded from transcript for privacy; too recent]

Samuel K. Boone born Mar. 1, 1855 was a son of John Boone and Sarah Tracy, a grand daughter of Solomon, born Oct. 5, 1772 and Mary Phillips.

Page 188

Family Record of 82 Melekiah Jones May 13, 1822, died July 29, 1904 and

44 Lydia Sisson June 15, 1826, married Sept. 25, 1850, died Oct. 12, 1870

Children

1. Melvin G. Jones Aug. 5, 1851, Nov. 19, 1884 [these look like marriage dates]
2. Wesley H. Jones Jan. 13, 1853
3. Annie Jones June 15, 1854, June 4, 1879
4. Magie A.M. Jones June 13, 1856, Jan. 4, 1882
5. Christiana Jones Aug. 28, 1859, Feb. 9, 1879
6. Bertha E. Jones May 13, 1863, Mar. 22, 1873
7. Emma Jones Sept. 22, 1867; Jas. Finlay McKeen

[Notes at bottom of page:]

• Melekiah the son of James Jones & Sarah Dec. 30, 1903.
• Charles D. Tracy Dec. 24, 1886, 5’ 10” tall, reach 77 inches, 189 lbs., Brother of John C.
• John C. Tracy Aug. 19, 1855, 5’ 10-1/2” tall, reach 76 inches, 183 lbs., Brother of Charles.
• Colby C. Tracy May 24, 1884, 6’ 2” tall, reach 80-5/8 inches, Son of John C.
• Sterling Alexander 6’ tall, reach 79-1/8.

Page 189

Family Record of Smith Mersereau 1851 and Jane McQuestion 1852, died Feb. 28, 1925

Children

1. Mabel Mersereau 1877, died Nov. 21, 1899
2. Ruth A. Mersereau 1881
3. Grace Mersereau 1883; Robert W. Mersereau
4. John W. Mersereau 1885; Dora Kierstead
5. Harold S. Mersereau 18890; Nellie Burke
6. Mary Mersereau 1890; Frank W. Gardner
7. Lorne Mersereau 1895; Jessie Pheeny

Family Record of

Alexander Gibson White Dec. 26, 1879 and

Ella Blanche McNeill Jan. 4, 1883

Children

1. Hazel Gertrude White May 29, 1904; Geotterbert Rodgers
2. Edith Mary White Aug. 26, 1906; Robert Merithew
3. Percy Alex. White
4. Sarah Elizabeth White

Page 190

F’ton Junc. Aug. 19, 1934

I John C. Tracy when at the age of 13 or 14 and perhaps younger, while horsing with Oscar and Cyrus, my younger brothers, all barefooted, I locked my fingers half way. I jumped through between my hands forwards and backwards ten times without stopping and did it many times up to the age of 60 & 70; and I thought I could do it at 70, if I lacked it was courage. Then at 70, 71, 72, 75, 76 and 79th birthday or near it I took a straight stick or wire about 12 or 14 inches long in my hands and jumped through between my hands forward and backwards at least once, sometimes 2 or 3 times. I lacked courage at birthday of 80. There are living witnesses here that saw every trial 70th birth when I was alone.

Page 191

Family Record of Wilmot Tracy Dec. 1, 1871 and

Jane Herbert Dec. 19, 1869, married June 5, 1895

Children

1. Marjorie A. Tracy June, 1897 single 1923, 1936
2. Allen G. Tracy Apr. 19, 1899; Eva Manzer
3. Edgar H. Tracy July 22, 1900; Isabel Fry
4. aged 15, 5 mos. Harold R. Tracy Sept. 15, 1903, Feb. 15, 1919, height 5’ 10-1/2”
5. Annie J. Tracy Oct. 23, 1907

• Marjorie A. Tracy weight 105, height 5 ft. 5 ins.
• Allen G. Tracy weight 145, height 5 ft. 9-1/2 ins.
• Edgar H. Tracy weight 180, height 5 ft. 11-1/2 ins.
• aged 15, 5 mos. weight 148, height 5 ft. 10-1/2 ins.
• Annie J. Tracy weight 112, height 5 ft. 7 ins.
• Mildrid Tracy

Page 192

Oldest son of Capt. Jeremiah Tracy and Mary Webb:

Family Record of 78 Jeremiah Tracy Jan. 21, 1809, died suddenly Jan., 1887 and

83 Annie Thomas 1818, died 1902

Children

1. 62 Jeremiah Tracy May 7, 1840
2. 79 Linas Tracy Dec. 17, 1841; Martha Jones
3. 56 Spafford Tracy May 20, 1845; Jane Alexander [illegible word]
4. 57 Oliver Tracy Feb. 6, 1840; Mary McQuestion
5. Elizabeth Tracy June 29, 1850; Charles Currie
6. 54 Wesley Tracy Nov. 7, 1853 not married
7. Lavina Tracy June 25, 1857 not married
8. Drucilla Tracy June 9, 1864; —- Carr

Family Record of Stephen Alexander June 14, 1860 and Eva Dow

Children

1. Chester Stephen Alexander Mar. 7, 1891; Helen Viddelvee
2. Wm. Percy Alexander June 28, 1892; Vivian Nason
3. Alice Lydia Alexander Dec. 7, 1895; Andrew Lyons
4. Violet Alexander May 19, 1900
5. Hazel Alexander Oct. 28, 1901
6. Jenny Alexander July, 1903, died 1904
7. Lucy Alexander Apr. 14, 1905

End page 192

The remaining pages are unnumbered

[John C. Tracy’s Table of Contents, found at end of book:]

Page
2	Thomas Tracy, Mary Mason Mar., 1641
3	Jonathan Tracy, Mary Griswold July 11, 1672
3	Christopher Tracy, Lydia Parish May 10, 1705
4	Jonathan Tracy, Abigail Riggs 1743
5	Jeremiah Tracy, Sarah Leighton 1771
7	Capt. Jeremiah Tracy, Mary Webb Apr. 14, 1807
8	Solomon Tracy, Mary Phillips married July, 1796
9	Jonathan Tracy, Rachel Webb July 1, —-. Rachel sister of Mary
7	Capt. Jeremiah Tracy, Mary Webb Nov. 14, 1807. Solomon, Jonathan and Capt. Jeremiah brothers
10	Jeremiah Tracy, Annie Thomas
10	Richardson Webb, Eunice Kinney
11	George Tracy, Mary Nason, Annie Boone
11	Joseph Tracy, Mary Webb
12	Israel Tracy, Jemima Jones
12	Mary Tracy, Denison Peterson
13	Henry Tracy, Mary Mersereau
13	Charles Tracy, Olive Kelly
13	Fred Tracy, Phoebe Mersereau
14	Hannah Tracy, Charles Duplisea
14	Mary Tracy, Lemuel Nason
15	Jeremiah Tracy, Linas Tracy
16	Spafford, Oliver & Elizabeth Tracy
17	Mary, Andrew and Richardson Tracy
18	George E., Fred and Basha Tracy
19	Silas, Safrona, Agusta & Evelina Tracy
20	David, Charles & Hannah Tracy
21	Nancy, Edward W., John, Oscar & Cyrus M. Tracy
22	Nancy, Almeda, Alfretta, Wellington & Dora Peterson
23	Henry, Ammie, Jane, Chloe and Orlo Tracy
24	Chloe, Violetta & Jennie Tracy
25	Abner, Otis, Elsie, Ethel & George Tracy
26	Urana, Fred & Lavina Duplisea
27	Joseph Thomas & wife, Pioneers
28	Joshua Thomas & sister Martha. Mrs. Abram Harris
29	Richardson Webb & Bessie Thomas & Sam Bunker & Rebecca Thomas
30	John Nason & Deacon Thomas Nason
31	Jeremiah Nason & Lemuel Nason
32	Israel Nason & his uncle John Nason
33	Lemuel Nason & family
34	Jeremiah Nason & wife
35	Daniel & Asa Nason
36	Andrew Nason & Jonathan Tracy & wife
37	Wm. Boone & Samuel Boone (son of Wm.) Brothers. Pioneers
38	History of Boones
39	Samuel, John & Jonas Boone
40	Richardson, Rachel & Everett Boone
41	Lemuel Nason
42	Hatfield, Currie and David Phillips
43	Moses & Aron Phillips
44	Israel Phillips & Edward Mott
45	Robert, Magee & Geo. Burtt
46	Sam Nason & Ezra Mills
47	Jeremiah Phillips & Joshua Thomas
48	Charles Nevers & Joshua Duplisea
49	Hugh Tumuth & Denison Peterson
50	John Bunker, Emry Morgan & Geo. Harris
51	John Alexander & George Mott
52	Charles Mott & James McQuestion
53	Geo. McKellop, Charles Pheasant & Jonathan Tracy
54	Benj. Grey, John P. Currie & John Segee
55	George Webb & John Webb
56	Emry Webb, Jeremiah & Richardson Webb. Deacon
57	Harry Webb & Geo. Mullen
58	Jonathan Harris, John Reid & Murray Boone
59	Burton & Edward Boone, Charles Mott
60	Jacob DeWitt, Hardy & John L. son of Dea Deacon Tom
61	Geo. H. Smith, John Nason & Ben Peterson
62	John Harris & James Carr
63	Telmage Tracy, John Gallagher & Austin Burtt
64	Gain McCleary, Robert Watters & Tom Buckle
65	George Burtt, Gared & Charles Smith
66	Sam Bunker & Fred Harris
67	Charles Peterson & Lyman Harris
68	Joseph Kingston & John McClosky
69	Wm. Henry Monohan & David A. Duplisea
70	John Mayard & son John Maynard
71	Frances & Zack Nason Dr
72	Ben, Ida & Edwin Nason
73	Ella Merit & Annie Nason
74	Leonard & D.W. Mersereau father & son
75	Henry DeWitt & Luke O. Gallagher
76	Henry McLaughlin & wife Isabel Hamitton
77	Samuel Bunker & wife Rebecca Thomas
78	Lawrence Mersereau & Esther Taylor Pioneers
79	Lawrence Mersereau & Isabel Hoyt
80	John Hoyt & Ruth Jones daughter of Richard Jones
81	Joseph Duplisea the pioneer of the name
82	Charles & John Duplisea sons of Joseph
83	Daniel Smith & Hon. Wm. Ed. Perley their wives were sisters
84	Daniel Wood & wife Annie Morgan
85	Joshua Webb & wife Sophia Jones 81
86	William Boone & wife Ruth Hill
87	Philip Crouse & wife Sarah Burtt
88	Richard Jones & wife Mary Boone
89	James Jones & wife Sarah Crouse 84
90	Richard Jones & wife, Samuel Jones & wife
91	History
92	Richard Jones & Mahala Jones Webb
93	Fred Phillips
94	Jacob & Abram DeWitt Pioneers from U.S.A.
95	Albert Tracy & Willard Webb
96	Albert L. Duplisea
97	Richard Ball & James Tracy May 18, 1783
	This Geo. Webb was grandson of Richardson Webb, Pioneer [note at bottom of page]
98	David Longfellow Kelly & David Hartt
99	Thomas Hartt
100	Herman, Richard & Alma Tracy
101	Israel Phillips
102	School house & home of John McClosky
103	W.H. Monohan, John Sanderson
104, 105	John Sanderson
106	John M. Nason
107	Andrew Smith
108	Geo. & Andrew Nason & John Nason
109	Sam Nason & Isaac DeWitt
110	Jacob DeWitt & John Gallagher
111	Gallagher & Barton
112	A house where station is & Geo. W. Webb home 1830 to 70
113	Jonathan Tracy home & school on east of Webb lot
114	Samuel Boone & wife Katie DeWitt
115	Jacob DeWitt
116	Pollock
117	House on Nason block
118	John Segee & division of Parish law to pasture
119	Family history
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134	Fred Pheasant & Albert Robinson
135	John Alexander & Charles Alexander
136	Col. Thomas L. Alexander & John Mathews
137	Written from Andrew Kinney’s bible
138	John & Luke O. Gallagher family
139
140
141	Willard Thomas, Richard Ball, Ebeneezer Hammet, John Ball
142	Charles Mott & Tom Stennix
143	James Gereau & Linas Tracy
144	David Phillips & son David Phillips
145, 146, 147	South Branch Accident
148	Daniel Wood & Jonathan Tracy
149	Roxie Tracy, Celia, Melbourn & Frank Tracy
150	Francis Nason & John C. Tracy
151, 152	History of Ernest Harris
153	James McCleary
154	Austin & George Burtt
155	Tom Buckle & Hoyt & wife Polly Hayward
156	Wild pidgeons
157	Loyalists, Lucy Garret Clopper & pidgeons
158	Robert Night and duel of Geo Street in 1821
159	John DeWitt & Thomas Smith & Abigal Smith
160	Ice freshet of Mar. 4, 1871
161	John & Ephraim Nason
162	Benj. J. Nason
163	Frank Bunker & Ben Tracy & saw mill at Tracy
165	Zaro, Aga & Geo. Webb
10 to 14	Find a record of 8 sons & 2 daughters of Capt. Jeremiah Tracy with their families
166	Jarad Smith, Maria Hartt & Charles Smith & Maria
167	Wesley D. Parker & Carrie H. Hattie Smith
168	Thomas Alexander & wife Jane Little
169	Tom Stennix
170	and the 4 Pioneer DeWitts Aron Hartt’s
171	A sketch of life and death of Jeremiah Tracy
172	The third of name in N.B. [These 3 lines, 170 to 172, transcribed as found]
173
174
175	Elias White, Dr. Zac Nason
176	Abner Mersereau & Joshua Tracy
177
178	James Tracy
179
180
181	Edward P. Hartt
182	Purdie L. Duplisea
183	Joseph, Wm. & Hezikiah Hoyt, Joseph pioneer
184	Alexander White
185	Linus Tracy & Hiram Jones
186	Sam K. Boone
187	Clarence Bedford Boone, Jas. Jones & Sarah Crouse
188	Melekiah Jones, a son & men with long reach for height
189	Smith Mersereau & Alexander Gibson White
191	Wilmot Tracy
192	Jeremiah Tracy & Stephen Alexander

John C. Tracy’s Book, Part 4 of 5

Presented by JohnWood1946@hotmail.com

John C. Tracy’s Book – Part 4 of 5

This is the fourth of five installments of John C. Tracy’s Book, a handwritten collection of Oromocto River genealogies and historical stories produced between 1927 and the mid 1930s. The remaining parts will be placed on the blog at http://johnwood1946.wordpress.com at the rate of about one per week. 

John C. Tracy, 1855-1937

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Page 102

Local History of Old Homes

The school house in school district west of Tracy about one and three quarter miles was built in 1872 and 3 and the first school under the new school law began 59 years ago today Aug. 18, 1873. My brother Cyrus M. Tracy was and I John C. Tracy was 18 years old the next day. I am 77 Aug. 19, 1932. And yet there may be 10 or 12 now living of that first school. I consider this a good record for a school of about 25 scholars. Our teacher was Wm. D. Perry from Albert Co., N.B. who became medical doctor but has been dead for many years.

For the descendants of these early settlers many of whom were forced from their good homes on account of their loyalty to the British and others who came afterwards I wish to give an account of houses and where stood but do not exist now. The first and most westerly on the North Branch of Oromocto river just west of the mouth of Yoho brook on high ground was the home of John McCloskey and family of seven: John, James and Mary Ann born in north of Ireland; …

Page 103

[… Ireland;] Charles, Catherine, Phoebe and Thomas. This Tom on his twelfth birthday he said ‘four years from today I shall leave home. He never came back but he wrote that he had been in 23 of the U.S. states.

On the next farm east on south side of river back from river on the interval there is the site of home of Wm. Henry Monahan and wife Rosean Malinchy also Mary Malinchy a sister. Their children were James, William and Hugh. James was supposed to have fallen over a cliff and was killed out a few miles from Enniskillen. This got water from a spring near home of Otty DeWitt now 1932[?].

The next old home site was on what is now oned by John Sanderson. This old site can be seen close to river where Jeremiah Tracy born Aug. 9, 1744 and wife Sarah Leighton 1744 died 1834 and his family of 10. House built about 1810. There were 2 others on the same lot. One was just back of the …

Page 104

[… back of the] house that is there now. The seller was about 10 feet north. Another house was west near line and nearer the river where there is a spring just over the line. This last house was, I believe, occupied by James Forbes and wife Mary Crawford about 1840. One of the last mentioned houses was occupied by a man [name not included in this transcript, even after all these years] who I have heard it told was blamed for tieng up one horse just east of his house in the bushes but kept it living with bushes. This was owned by Joseph Tracy. The other was taken across the river north course from the house and [that man] was with those hunting for this one and he tried to lead out of course they took which led to where the horse was found dead after having eaten everything she could reach. I heard my dad say this mare was worth 30 pounds and was owned by Richardson Tracy. This man was also blamed for being one of 4 men who were ambushed a mile and a half south west on Diamond …

Page 105

[Diamond …] Square road to St. Andrews where they waited for a traveler who spent the night in home of Thomas Hartt which is still a good home. They murdered him and dragged the body in the woods but did not bury it. Thomas Nason, William McCarrick while looking for oxen found the body. Capt. Jeremiah was the coroner. They held an inquest and made out it was murder for money. They found tufts of brake leaves which they used to wipe the blood off their hands. As far as I know there were no arrests. But it has always been told that a man that gave his name as Smith hanged in New York confessed that he and three others by name of Whitney, Phillips and a short thick-set Irishman who was the man who stabbed him first and in the back.

Here is what I forgot to write before. When a boy, I heard my father say the horse that was taken across the river, or north of Forbes Brook when the forest was cut away 100 feet wide for a railroad, C.P.R. now…

Page 106

[… C.P.R. now.] my brother and I age 11 & 13 in 1868 we found the skull of a horse quite near Forbes Brook and no doubt but it was the horse that died of thirst and starvation. Such cruelty surely could not have pleased any except a criminal.

Having left the grant, we came to the Nason grant where John M. Nason built a house and with his wife Abigal Grass and children Mary Jane, Adeline, George, Martha and David. This house stood near river on high steep bank with old highway about 150 feet in front with the first school house just in front on opposite side of road. This house was occupied by Arthur Raniz and wife Miss. Nason when lightening struck the house, killed him, and burned the house.

Another house on rear of this lot built by a son-in-law Jeremiah DeWitt. This house has been gone for years. Now there is a fine bungalow owned by —- McCleod…

Page 107

[…by ---- McCleod.] This house was built on old site. This house is first on Hardwood Creek or Little Lake Road. The schoolhouse stands where this road begins and built in 1872 & 3. The first teacher was Wm. D. Perry under the new school law.

On Little Lake Road

A few hundred yards up this road Andrew Smith and his wife Fannie Perley built a home about 1860. His family was Catherine, Charles, Phoebe, Wesley, George, Maria and Andrew. House was owned by David S. Tracy & Maria Smith. This house was burned in the 90’s, never rebuilt.

On Little Lake Road

Across the road and a few hundred feet further on Daniel Nason and wife Nancy Craig built a house and lived a few years. It has been gone 50 years. This family went to Brownvittie, Maine about 1888 from Hardwood Creek. One son, Wm. Nason and his family and fifth generation from pioneer John Nason from Newbury Port, Mass., U.S.A. to St. John, N.B. about 1760.

Page 108

On Little Lake Road

About a half mile further on and on west side Frank F. Nason and wife Eunice Nason and one boy Burton spent a few years here.

On Little Lake Road

And quite near this place Andrew Nason and wife Susan Cogswell spent a few years here when she died and they too went to Maine.

Back on the Nason grant further down on high bank of river John Nason and wife Martha DeWitt built a home out of hewn pine timber seven inches by fifteen dovetailed together size about 25 X 40. Two fireplaces; one in kitchen had an oven in which when I a boy I have seen Mrs. Nason push bread in for baking. On Oct. 7, 1825 about six or seven miles west of this house on the Yoho Stream men of Thomas Hartt were cutting timber. At noon they made a fire to boil tea for dinner and did not put the fire out. A strong northwest renewed the fire which burned …

Page 109

[…which burned] about 8 by 10 miles. This was the only west of Thomas Hartt’s that was saved mostly by the family. Mrs. Martha DeWitt Nason said that she threw water over the ridge pole. The house of Thomas Hartt was built in 1815 and still good 1932. [a note in the margin reads:] 1834, Ben J. Nason, Ephraim Nason, John Nason, house built about 1812 or 13.

Samuel Nason

The next old home one quarter of mile east and a few rods from the high bank was the home of Samuel Nason and wife Miss. Grass. This, I think, was burned Oct. 7, 1825. Another house was built a few rods west near the mouth of a brook that stood until about 1845. When John Harris and wife Rhoda Tracy.

Isaac DeWitt

On this same lot ½ mile west and on the north side of the river there was, as I suppose, a log house. I think it was built man by the name of Clark and was home of Isaac DeWitt and wife Phoebe. This place was known as home of George Tracy and wife Mary Nason who built …

Page 110

[… was built] about northeast about 40 rods. This house was burned after 1900 and may be rebuilt this 1932.

A little further east and quite near little creek, so called, on west side of island. This house was built I believe by Jacob DeWitt and stood on farm of Israel Tracy and was home of George Tracy and Mary Nason his wife from 1838 to 1845 when his new one was ready. My parents Israel and Jemima Tracy spent a few months in this home until their house was finished.

Gallagher

The next home site east and on opposite side of river or south side ¾ mile down river on high bank and close to river between two brooks. The house was burned several years ago and the barn taken away. This house was occupied by John Gallagher …

Page 111

[…by John Gallagher] and wife Annie Conway and family John, James, Elias, Annie, Susan and Luke. My mother heard and saw John in mill pond. She ran a few yards away called Benj. Gray who got him out of water. While in his teens he and Fred McCleary ran away, got as far as Danforth, Maine, U.S.A. and spent his life there. Did not even come home to see his aged mother who lived to be 90. James died in 1851 of diphtheria. This disease was not known here until 1851. John died in Maine, James and Susan at home, Elias in Wisconsin, Annie at Enniskillen, Queens Co., N.B. Luke living 1932 Sept. 19. – John C. Tracy.

Barton

The next home site was 1/3 mile down river at what was called head of pond on north side where river to N.E. There was a house close to river on what was called big flat occupied at one time by a man by name of Barton.

Page 112

May 1, 1885 Snowed all day. I worked all day. – John C. Tracy.

In 1868 when the railroad being built there stood a house where the Tracy station now stands. This house had a kitchen on each end. It was moved out near school on the side of the road east. At the time, the highway ran from in front of Jeremiah Tracy home, continued straight to corner of the front of the C.P.R. station. The road was built back of station. The road was a front of where station is now.

There was house and barn that stood quite close to the river and almost 500 yards below C.P.R. station owned and occupied by George Webb born Oct. 19, 1792, Nancy Jones Webb born Mar. 21, 1802 and family of 6 boys and 4 girls. One died in early childhood, the other 9 lived to be from 71 to 92. This George Webb was the oldest of 4 brothers whose ages average 88.

On opposite side, or south side, and east and near mouth of Morency Stream near main river this house faced south and the long high hill in front. I did not find out who lived there.

Page 113

Jonathan Tracy and old Log Cabin School

Another old house site close to river on south side at lower end of Richardson Webb’s island. Jonathan Tracy and wife Rachael Webb lived here on Oct. 7, 1825 when the great forest fire burned the house. There is here a spring known as the Jonathan Tracy spring and north east and across the river where the main highway is now. There was house on this Webb property. This house was used for school. Ebeneezer Boone was teacher at one time. He was one of nine boys, sons of pioneer Samuel Boone and wife Katie DeWitt. One brother of teacher joined the 104 Regiment in 1812 and on Feb. 13, 1813 left Fredericton with 1,100 men and on show shoes and was in Ontario in 16 days and did not loose a man. He died in chimney corner while roasting a piece of beef on bayonet of his flint lock Queen Ann musket. He was said to be the largest man in 1,100. Capt. Jeremiah Tracy’s family went to school here.

Page 114

Home Site of Samuel Boone

The next home site lies half way between F’ton Junction and Tracy on north side of river between highway and river, and I think was owned and occupied by Samuel Boone a son of William Boone from Rhode Island and his wife Ruth Hill who was in Boston when men disguised as Indians went on board English ships and threw tea cargos into harbor rather than pay duty. Samuel Boone’s wife was Katie DeWitt a pioneer of Dutch origin from New York state, while Samuel Boone was of a family of ten. He and Katy’s family was nine boys who became stalwart men. Two, John and Abram, enlisted in fall of 1812 in regiment 104 in Fredericton. They got leave of absence went home. John broke through ice and was drowned. Abram went to Ontario Feb. 13, 1813 and died while roasting beef on his bayonet in a chimney corner. I have my mother or her sister tell of hearing their great grandmother Ruth Hill Boone tell of her living in Boston tea party in 1775.

Page 115

On opposite side of river and about ¼ mile east on what I think was the John DeWitt block, and on west side there is 30 rod lot once occupied by Daniel DeWitt. Next was Benj. Webb then Charles D. Tracy and now, 1932, by his son Albert Tracy. On this lot half way between highway and river close to a living spring there was a house in which Jacob DeWitt pioneer and his wife Saloma Tucker. They had three children, perhaps four. They were Martha born Jan. 20, 1791, Isaac and Jacob born 1800. Their mother died. These three at one time about 1835 or 40 lived on same block of land of John Nason husband of Martha. On this block of land my father and mother Israel Tracy and Jemima Jones lived together 59 years or 1902. My mother lived here until Aug. 26, 1914, 22 days after England declared war on Germany. This home site has been obliterated except the spring. The spring is on home of Albert Tracy now, 1934. A great grandson of this Jacob DeWitt was here Aug. 15 from Winona, Ontario. His name Howard Smith – Winona, Ontario.

Page 116

Pollock

On east side of this DeWitt land and on south side of highway there is an what was once seller and chimney. I have never known who occupied this house.

Across the road there stood a house and barn. This house by Mr. Pollock and wife. They I believe they were last occupants. They may have passed away as early as 1860. There stood on high bank above river a pine tree which may have been quite small when this house was built. It was cut by Frank Wood’s crew for Fraser Co. Jan. 24; diameter at base inside of bark 40 inches; age 125 years; 13 feet left on ground; 16 logs cut from this tree and it was sound. I examined this tree and counted its rings for age. – John C. Tracy

ps, I passed this house when I was 8 years old on a cold day 1863. It was vacant.

Page 117

Nason Homestead

Another home site quite high ground from the river and the homestead of Lemuel Nason and Mary Tracy is between railroad and river rods few west of house of Geo. W. Smith. And in this house about 1825 or 30 Jacob W. DeWitt and Betsy Nason Creekmore were married.

Just east of Fredericton Junction station there was a house in pine grove. I got this from Asa Nason who was a boy 80 years ago before we had a highway road on this side of the river. An old rout came from church same as now then at John H. McCleary’s. It went down to hand car house then past pine grove and Jeremiah Nason’s home and G.W. Smith and over hill and I think must have kept the high ground to the old Boone home.

Page 118

Family Record of

John Segee born May 15, 1854 and Agness Bell & Eva Chisholm May 11, 1880

Children

1. Joseph Arch Segee March 25, 1900
2. Annie May Segee Nov. 30, 1901
3. Guy Stewart Segee Apr. 2, 1904
4. Jessie Maud Segee Sept. 16, 1907
5. Harry Edward Segee Dec. 11, 1909
6. [Excluded from transcript for privacy; too recent]
7. [Excluded from transcript for privacy; too recent]
8. [Excluded from transcript for privacy; too recent]

A law to pasture all cattle sheep and cattle in Parishes of Blissville and Gladstone brought before County Council June 13, 1915, to become effective Jan. 1, 1915 [sic].

The Parish of Blissville was divided in 1874, Nov. 3. David W. Hartt and David A. Duplisea were first councillors for Parish of Gladstone.

Page 119

Family History

I have for years been thinking and trying to persuade myself to write something about my early boyhood life and home, which was a farm one and one half miles west of Tracy’s Mills. From having been built by Capt. Jeremiah Tracy in 1825. Now, since the railroad was built, it is called Tracy Station, Sunbury Co., N.B. My father Israel Tracy born July 6, 1817 died Feb. 2, 1902 age 84-6-4 days. My mother Jemima Jones born Feb. 7, 1819 died Aug. 26, 1914 age 95-6-18 days. Married Oct. 25, 1843. They lived in the same house 59 years. When my father died my mother spent her life in the same house where her first son was born 70 years and one day before. I called on my mother about four weeks before England declared war on Germany. She said to me, ‘John, it appears to me that we are bordering on the most perlious of times. The family was eight six boys and two girls. Their names are as follows … 

Page 120

[…names are as follows] David, Charles, Hannah, Nancy, Edward, John, Oscar & Cyrus. The first time that diphtheria appeared on this river was in 1851 when it took its toll. And again in 1857 when five of the older had it. Edward, the youngest of them, died age four. The others grew up. When Cyrus the youngest died of appendicitis age 19-1-3 days on Sept. 21, 1879 all physically and mentally sound. With an average height and weight 5 – 10½ and 170 lbs. in their prime. Mother and daughters’ height and weight 5 – 5½ and 145 lbs. We were always well fed, clothed and housed. Our everyday clothes were made by my mother and sisters after having been spun and woven by them. Our high top boots were made at home by a shoemaker who went from house to house. Our boots cost about 1.50 per pair and would last about one year.

And with a mother like we had we had one who gave us very few orders but she asked us to do whatever she wanted done. The asking was so pleasant none ever thought of …

Page 121

[…ever thought of] disobeying her. She never scolded or threatened. I do not know of her having ever flogged any except her second boy Charles. She started on him, hit him once, and he fell at once. She was frightened, he was not hurt, he lived in his 79^th year. Her company was all we wanted. If she was away for a few hours we had no company until she returned. In winter evenings she sat at table with needle and scissors and light from one or two tallow dipped candles. We enjoyed life in her company whistling sweet melodus tunes of old hymns while she made old clothes look almost as well as new. These old Wesleyan tunes, sweeter to us than we ever listened to since. After she lost her youngest boy at age of 19 of appendicitis she crooned the old tunes less but still was good company. My mother was my father’s only nurse when she was 82, when he was sick for a few weeks and passed away at age of 84½.

Page 122

My father’s company was all the company we could expect from. He did not appear to be sociable with us, yet he never scolded as far back as I can go not even for a few minutes in his 59 years of married life. We never heard him to say that he was cold, tired or hungry. Once and only in my father’s presence she said ‘I may feel a little tired tonight’, and he said ‘I have never heard you say the like before’. No doubt she was 70 or 75 at the time. I have never heard him say that he was cold, not even after driving 20 miles on a cold night. On arriving home, come in the house, remove overcoat, but never asked one of us to do it or help him. Nor do I remember his getting off to walk to get warm, and I have ridden forty miles in a day with him. In putting team in the barn in evening our light was a tallow candle in a tin lantern about the same as …

Page 123

[…the same as] gallon can punctured full of holes with a door in the side. This door was kept open by the one carrying it with light turned on work now going on. I know of only once that he used the work don’t or do not by way of advise. He seldom or never called us by name. My mother said that he called her by her first name only once. He had seven brothers and two sisters. All but one of these men was quiet and unassuming. Seven of this ten passed their golden weding with wives and husbands. They were all at their father’s funeral. One of them, Charles, when he was ninety he sent word to his daughter to send his skates to him. He wanted to skate on the river to St. John. Here we all were good skaters but not able to follow him on long distance of 50 or 60 miles. He was physically sound, washed and shaved himself. No barber ever shaved him but once in the woods one man shaved him with a pocket knife. He had dinner, dressed for the street, layed on the lounge, and died age 95 & 2 mos. Height 6 feet, 185 lbs.

Page 124

School Master Skinner’s name Wm. Whickcomb Skinner, born in Eng. Aug. 4, 1791, died about 1874.

I shall now try a short sketch of my uneventful life. We lived on a farm one and one half mile from the school and across the river one half mile from another. My first day at school was to a teacher from England a soldier by the name of Skinner. He was with a Sir John Moore in his famous retreat in battle of Corunna in 1809 and was there when he received his death wound and perhaps saw him buried at dead of night the sods with their bayonets turning by the moonbeams misty light and their lanterns dimly burning [From ‘The Burial of Sir John Moore at Corunna’ by Charles Wolfe].

I loved school. I do not remember any of us having lost even a day for snow or rain from school. This teacher, Skinner, was with the Duke of Wellington in June 1845 and was shot through the calf of his leg at Waterloo. I have heard that his age was 107, he died at home. – Charles Bunker, Rusagonis, Sun. Co., N.B.

Page 125

In 1868 when a railroad was being built between St. John and Bangor, I was thirteen years of age. I thought it strange that our young men, or very few, took up with railroad where they could work every day and get paid every month. I had to wait until Oct., 1876 when Wm. Magee, a friend of mine who had got me to take his place when he was given a permanent position. I worked five weeks at one dollar per day. Then in March, 1877, James McCleary of Welsford sent for me. I started March 25 and was there until Nov. 30. We narrowed the gauge between St. John and Vanceboro Sept. 13, 14 &15, 1877. The gauge was narrowed from 5 feet 6½ to 4 feet 8½.

After Nov. 30, 1877 I worked at home and went to school until Mar. 29. Then I was called to Westfield by roadmaster Albert J. Miles on April 1, 1878. I spent a year. My pay was $1.00 per day except the last month, March, pay was 0.90. Now times were good …

Page 126

[…times were good] in American West. I got my brother to take my place and I went home with intention of going to the pine lumber tributaries of the Mississippi. I found that my parents did not want me to leave home, however, I did not get away. Now on looking back I am fully persuaded that this was Divinely ordered. You know that Paul said I am persuaded that he will keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. I cannot under rate Paul’s faith. Why not I have faith also.

I had not thought about looking for a wife. Now it so happened that I went up the Oromocto river one half mile west of home and on opposite side of river from the home of Samuel Bunker and wife Dorothy Wood the parents of five girls and five boys. While looking across the river at that home I said within myself that I may be married some day, and if so, …

Page 127

[…and if so,] I would really like to mary one of the five girls in Mr. Buncker’s home. Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire unuttered or expressed. The motion of a hidden fire that trembles in the breast [from ‘Prayer is the Soul’s Sincere Desire’, a hymn by James Montgomery].

Another time, it may have been after the above, I happened to be here in Fredericton Junction. I saw that two houses built finished and painted. I walked about them, looked them over. I said to myself some time I may want a house. Either of these two would please me. I do not care which I might have. Ask what you will in my name and that will I do. Seek you first the kingdom of God and his richiousness and all things shall be added there unto.

I now go back to the scenes of seventy nine in April when I failed to go to the American West. I began to think about the eldest of the five girls of the Bunker family. With her in West St. John she afterwards told me …

Page 128

[…afterwards told me] that she was also thinking of me. I came near writing to her but she came home just a few days after I got home. In the winter before I met her at her home one evening next day a number of us drove a few miles to home of her uncle Daniel Wood. We did not seem to notice each other any more than others. We hardly met since at school in 70 &71.

Now in April, 1879 there came a Baptist minister Samuel Bur—-, a cousin of my mother they perhaps had met before. He told us if we would notify the neighbors that he would speak in the schoolhouse, so we met. I did not know that Lizzie Bunker was home. The minister, my father, brother and I went to the meeting. I went in in good time, went to my right and well back and in a few minutes to my blessed surprise Lizzie Bunker walked in also to her right and well back.

Page 129

I could have said then in April 1879 what I say now in 1932 among all of the pretty girls that had been ushered in my presence none ever had really moved me like Lizzie Bunker; the only one I ever loved, the only one that ever moved my stuborn will [attributed to Napoleon, when speaking of Josephine]. I walked home with her from that meeting. Our conversation on the way home would hardly make a song or story but after a little more than a year, in June 30, 1880, we were married. Now I look back upon this event with pride. Since that happy day there has not been an hour in which I would give Lizzie Bunker in her shirt [?] for the best of all I have met, even the rich. The only one I ever loved, the only one that ever moved my stuborn will.

We began keeping house in Nov. 1883 in the second story of station house. Here we spent six happy years, Then had to move. The station was moved about 200 feet east. After this, we could not get a good rent until…

Page 130

[…a good rent until] March 21, 1893 when there lived here medical Dr. Elizabeth Secord, a widow with one son who died here. Then she offered her house to us if we would buy. We bought her cottage and paid cash for it. I worked on Section of railway here. I saw foreman Geo. Scott whom I knew June 17, 1881. I said to him I suppose you need no help here now. He said would you work on track now. I said I would. His answer was come on Monday and stay as long as you like. I went on with him and this was June 17, 1881 and on the last day of November 30^th we moved siding from saw mill to main line west to front of station, Tracy; we with roadmaster David Brown, a Scott, from Kilmarnock, the home of Robert Burns. We finished our job using lanterns. We stepped up on the platform each one for his respective home when R.M. said to me …

Page 131

[…said to me] John Tracy I want you to take charge of this Section tomorrow morning Dec. 1, ’81. I replied all right I shall be on duty if all goes well. In 1883 I removed 5½ miles of iron rails of 56 lbs. and put in 56 lb. of steel. I worked on and in 1886 I was called for Extra Gang foreman which I held for summer and for 34 years. My foremanship was from Dec. 1, 1881 to Oct. 31, 1920; 38 and 11 months. I am given credit for 44 years service.

I removed the iron rails from F’ton Junction west 3½ miles. Four of us laid in new 56 lb. rails the first 3½ miles from June 1 west and piled old rails in piles without any help. The extra cost to company about $125.00.

My wife was taken with eresipilas [erysipelas, a kind of skin infection] in her forehead Sept. 1, 1931, and a few weeks later appeared better. Then on Oct. 15 she was stricken with paralysis, could not move right arm or right leg, nor speak. She passed away Oct. 21, 1931 age 75-7-17 days after 51 years o married life.

Page 132

After having become Sec. Foreman, then Extra Gang Foreman, then acting Roadmaster for 2½ months from July 15 to Oct. 30, 1895 when David Brown, Roadmaster, died. Then, Charles W. Burpee bumped me when D.W. Newcomb offered me Roadmastership from Woodstock to Stephens. This was not a bad move on my part. My wife did not persuade me to accept. It was for her sake and her alone that I refused. She was my council guide and financer. I never knew her to pay less than 100 per cent in every trade.

Just a Verse [from ‘A Cotter’s Saturday Night’, by Robert Burns]

• Oh happy love & where love like this is found
• Oh heartfelt raptures, bliss beyond compare
• I’ve paced much this weary, mortal round
• And sage experience bids me this declare.
• If Heaven a draught of heavenly pleasure spare
• One cordial in this melancholy vale
• ‘Tis when a youthful, loving, modest pair
• In other’s arms breath tender tale
• Beneath the milk white thorn that scents the evening gale.

John C. Tracy [The bullets are to overcome a peculiarity in WordPress]

I was Extra Gang Foreman from May 27, 1886 to Oct. 31, 1920, or 34 years and 7 months during summer, or 38 years 11 mos.

Page 133

I was brought up in what I thought and now know was a good home, not house, just home, yet comfortable. My parents were mentaly and morally sound. Their prayers to me was goodness combined with eloquence. This was something I never could get away from and all business was done on the 100 percent square. And I from the cradle watched for any variation from the truth in our family. On one occasion when three of the younger boys from school and when at supper one had his shirt torn from a scrap with another boy. He was asked what had torn his shirt. He said it was torn on the desk. Then he laid head on the table and cried. He never heard this mentioned again. His age would be about seven. He died aged nineteen. He told the older brother that he had always told the truth.

Page 134

Family Record of

Frederick Pheasant born Jan. 22, 1866 and Elizabeth Duplisea Feb.14, 1867

Children

1. Ena M. Pheasant June 11, 1890; Adam Noble
2. Clara Pheasant Mar. 11, 1892; Albert Robinson
3. Nellie Pheasant Sept. 28, 1893; Everett Brown
4. Harry Pheasant Dec. 18, 1897
5. Wm. F. Pheasant Nov. 30, 1900; Dorothy Pride

Family Record of

Albert Robinson born Jan. 10, 1891 and Clara Pheasant Born May 11, 1892

Children [Excluded from transcript for privacy; too recent]

Page 135

Family Record of 89 John Alexander born 1804, married 1839, died 1893 and

69 Sarah J. Lindsay born 1819, died 1922

Children

1. 82 Thomas L. Alexander 1840, married 1874 Lorena Robinson, died 1922
2. Charles L. Alexander died in infancy 1841
3. 29 Andrew Alexander 1842, died 1871
4. Joseph W. Alexander 1845, married 1886
5. 73 Wm. E. Alexander 1846, married 1888, died 1919
6. Sarah J. Alexander 1849, married 1884 Spafford Tracy
7. Caroline Alexander 1852, married Mar. 4, 1880 Moses Burpee
8. 18 Evangeline Alexander 1854, died 1872
9. Margret L. Alexander 1856, married 1890 S.L. Currie Apr. 12, 1856

Family Record of Charles Alexander born 18–, married 1839, died Apr. 12, 1856 and

Mary Boone & Chloe Nevers died 1885

Children

1. 64 Thomas William Alexander 1840, died 1904
2. 2^nd wife John L. Alexander died 1925
3. Guy W. Alexander died 1932
4. Mary J. Alexander died 1930
5. Charles S. Alexander died 1932
6. Charlotte M. Alexander died 1932
7. Samuel D. Alexander 1854, died 1934
8. Joseph F. Alexander died 1888
9. Annie H. Alexander

Page 136

Family Record of Thomas L. Alexander born 1840, married 1874, died 1922 and

Lorena O. Robinson 1853, 1874

Children

1. Arthur R. Alexander 1875, married 1915
2. Ernest C. Alexander 1876, married 1901
3. Frederick W. Alexander 1878, married 1905
4. Florence C. Alexander 1882
5. J. Hally Alexander 1884, died 1885
6. Myra E. Alexander 1886, married 1908
7. John B. Alexander 1888, married 1916
8. George B. Alexander 1891, married 1919
9. Harry H.G. Alexander 1893, married 1923

Family Record of John Mathews and wife from Ireland

Children

1. Andrew Mathews; Sarah McFawn
2. Areh Mathews
3. Alex Mathews; —- Brittain
4. Wm Mathews born about 1844; Amy Hoyt
5. John Mathews; —- Hoyt
6. Ruth Mathews; George Sproul
7. Eliza Mathews; Wm. Cracken

Page 137

Oromocto Mar. 12, 1819

Mrs. Tapley, aged 73 years had 14 children, eleven now living; 102 grand and 63 great grand children, total 180, of whom 161 now living. Mrs. Tapley and 156 of those now living in Province of N.B., and the other at Lubec and Grandmanan.

Mrs. Hanson aged 95 years had 13 children, 12 now living; 110 grand and 46 great grand children 170 of whom 156 now Charlotte County, N.B., Feb. 7, 1818. [all as found]

• Mary and Phoebe Phillips born Apr. 16, 1797
• Hepzelah Phillips born Aug. 21, 1799
• Stephen Phillips born Oct. 28, 1801
• Hannah Phillips born Jan. 9, 1804
• Elizabeth Phillips born Aug. 4, 1806

From Madrew Kennie’s Bible Nov. 22, 1792. Married Emeline Haddassy Feb. 23, 1815. The above mentioned Bible was at Clarendon press by Jackson & Dawson to the University of Oxford Warehouse Paternoster now London in 1794. – Written Dec. 24, 1932 by John C. Tracy.

Page 138

Family Record of 73 John Gallagher born 1810, married 1834, died 1883 and

86 Annie Conway born 1815, died 1900

Children

1. 16 James Gallagher Dec. 22, 1835, 1851 died of diphtheria
2. 14 Mary Ann Gallagher Feb. 26, 1837, died of diphtheria
3. John Gallagher Jan. 26, 1839, was in Libby Prison
4. 9 Wm. Henry Gallagher Nov. 11, 1842, 1851 diphtheria
5. Jane Gallagher June 14, 1844
6. 63 Elias Gallagher Apr. 19, 1845, 1908
7. Mary Gallagher Aug. 5, 1848
8. 61 Annie Gallagher Dec. 3, 1850, 1911 TB
9. 14 Susan Gallagher Jan. 31, 18521868 TB
10. Luke O. Gallagher Mar. 30, 1857, living 1933

Family Record of Luke O. Gallagher born Mar. 30, 1856, married Dec. 12, 1891 and

61 Maggie Hurley 1863, 1914

Children

1. Anita Gallagher Jan. 21, 1892
2. John L. Gallagher Apr. 30, 1894
3. Rowena Gallagher Apr. 10, 1896; Andrew Munro
4. Philo E. Gallagher Nov. 27, 1898; —- Wise

Page 139

John Gallagher at ErvensTown, FermanahCounty, Province of Ulster, Ireland was born there in 1833, landing in New Ireland, AlbertCounty, N.B. in …. His father, Bernard Gallagher, died there. A half brother John came also, and married twice raising a large family. He moved to Manchester, N.H. Here we lose all trace of them since.

John Gallagher met and married Annie Conway in 1834 in New Ireland, Albert Co., N.B. Annie Conway was also born in Ireland Town of Castle Bar, County Meyo, Cavanaugh in 1815. She landed in Albert Co. about the same time as John Gallagher. She, Annie Conway, was brought here by her aunt, Mrs. Mahoney, and her sister Mary Mahoney. This Mary Mahoney came to Hartt’s Mills then, now Fredericton Junction, and was in the employ of Thomas Hartt & wife Sarah Phillips. This Mary Mahoney went to Philadelphia and married …

Page 140

[…and married] one Daniel Green who made some wealth as a wool broker during the war. Mr. and Mrs. Green had one daughter who was a nun, Elenar.

History in connection with family of Luke O. Gallagher who says that he met and married Maggie Hurley on December 12, 1891. She was the daughter of John and Ellen Magee Hurley of —-. Both parents came from Ireland, he from Cork and she from Omah Co., Province of Ulster. My wife had five sisters and one brother. They are all dead except one sister, Miss. Gray of St. Stephens who is sister in law of Sam the Mason who used to work for the C.P.Ry. My wife was born in 1863 and died in 1914. Her brother Joseph in Vancouver, B.C. My daughter Rowena saw his grave, also his watch and ring which the town clerk holds waiting a claimant. Rowena married a Scotchman, Andrew Munro, and lives Glendon, Alberta. Philo married an American of German decent & lives in Los Angeles, California. Her name was Mise.

Page 141

Family Record of

Willard Thomas born May 25, 1870, married Dec. 21, 1904, and Fannie Tracy Apr. 9, 1884

Children

1. Roscoe Thomas Nov. 27, 1905; Thelma Phillips
2. Bliss Thomas Aug. 21, 1908; Eunice Nason
3. Lillian Thomas Feb. 7, 1910; married May 6, 1936 Alton Harris
4. [Excluded from transcript for privacy; too recent]
5. [Excluded from transcript for privacy; too recent]

Record of parents of Richard Ball and Lizzie Hammet on page 97

52 Ebeneezer Hammet born at Old Town 1818, Jan. 1, 1870 and Mary Boone Hammet born 1823, died Oct. 16, 1875. These two are parents of Mrs. Richard Ball.

John Ball was from Farmannah, Ireland, Caroline Burns Ball. These two are parents of Richard Ball. This Caroline Burns lived with Sam Boone and wife Kattie DeWitt.

John Howard Paine author of Home Sweet Home was born June 9, 1791 in England, I believe.

Page 142

Family Record of

69 Charles Mott Born Aug. 22, 1815 and wife 92 Ester Amelia Mersereau July 30, 1815

Children

1. 79 Edward Mott July 10, 1840; Basha Ann Tracy
2. 87 John Mott Aug. 25, 1842; —- Prince
3. 89-11-22 Daniel Mott Nov. 4, 1844, not married. Living 1933
4. 72 Emeline Mott Apr. 7, 1847; Jonas Boone Burden
5. 79 Abner Mott Nov. 11, 1849; Prince & Jones
6. 74 Izetta Mott Nov. 21, 1851; Israel Tracy John –?–
7. 80 Willie Mott June 17, 1853; Hannah
8. 64 Whitfield Mott Feb. 8, 1857, not married
9. 70 Nettie Mott Nov. 6, 1862; James Gereau

Family Record of Thomas Stennix and wife Hannah Wood born Mar. 21, 1802

Children

1. Thomas Odbur Stennix; Rosana Gillispie
2. George Stennix; Sally Boone
3. James Stennix; Fannie Gillispie
4. John Stennix not married
5. Annie Stennix; Sam Hayward
6. Eliza Stennix; Fred Phillips
7. Phoebe Stennix; —- Trecarten

Page 143

Family Record of James Gereau born May 20, 1874 and Genetta Mott born Nov. 6, 1862

Children

1. Roxie Gereau June 16, 1898
2. Orie Gereau Feb. 10, 1901; Marion E. How
3. Roland Gereau Jan 14, 1904; —-ville
4. May Gereau Feb. 11, 1907; Stanley & Mel

Family Record of

79 Linas Tracy born 1841, died 1920, married 1867 and Martha Jones 1847

Children

1. 51 Elwood Tracy 1870; Mullen & Jones 1921
2. 52 Lillie Tracy 1869; Burton Boone 1921
3. 6 Gertrude Tracy 1872
4. 4 Annie Tracy 1874
5. 3 Harvey Tracy 1875
6. 51 Earl Tracy 1879
7. 43 Uba Tracy 1888

The above James Gereau, a son of Louis, spent 4 years on American Navy under President Lincoln. He was catholic French. He married a protestant. His life was strictly protestant.

Page 144

Family Record of

David Phillips born Mar. 7, 1797 and Sarah Tracy, daughter of Solomon Tracy

Children

1. David Phillips; Sarah Nason
2. Moses Phillips; Hannah Nason
3. Israel Phillips Nov. 7, 1833; married July 15, 1834 Annie Nason 65
4. Aron Phillips; Annie Nason

Family Record of David Phillips born about 1821 and Sarah Nason 1819

Children

1. Phoebe Ann Phillips; John Morgan
2. Eunice Phillips; John Nason
3. Lemuel Phillips 1855; —- Johnson
4. Hannah Phillips; Sam Golding, brother of Fred
5. Emley Phillips; Fred Golding, brother of Sam

A forest fire swept from south of Clarendon to Lepreau burning some of the best lumber ground in the south of N.B. It came in quite near C.P.Ry. and one half mile east of Westfield station. It burned house of Raymond Finlay on St. John river bank.

Page 145

Stevie Shaw & Ry. Happenings

A short account of the railroad record of Stevie Shaw, who entered the services of the railway in 1885. On Dec. 8^th he left St. John for Vanceboro. Left there the evening of Dec. 9 for St. John with eight freight cars and a van in charge of Conductor W. Shorten and Andrew Campbell, whose six sons followed the same occupation, Engineer. The fireman on this trip was Richard Smith, a brother of pensioner Wm. Smith. They received orders to look for damaged track on account of freshet and to stop at North and South Oromocto bridges, both on piling, and examine them. The Junction bridge was OK. They kept on their way to the South Branch bridge and examined it and thought it was all right. I think any man or men after examination would have pronounced it OK. I know at the time some may have said perhaps they did not stop and examine the bridge. They must have stopped, because Stevie Shaw tells after 47 years that he was on the third car …

Page 146

{… on the third car] from the engine and, had they not stopped the engine, nine cars and van and five men, instead of only one, Richard Smith, whose body was supposed to be under a tender full of coal where it laid for 2 years and 14 days or Mar. 22, two years later. When a freshet broke up the ice and rising fast I was at Tracy about 7:30 AM and saw John Alcorn and son and another young man named Estabrooks from lumber camp on their way to their home at Oromocto. They drove with their team to Bailey. When arriving at Luke Bailey’s whose house is quite near the dangerous approach to a covered bridge. The water was now flowing over the road. Mr. Bailey advised him not to dare to try to reach the bridge. He heeded not, kept on, and into the water which swung his sled off the road. Now, they faced the road and tried to regain it but could not. Major Dell Hartt got word, he came in time with canoe, and rescued Estabrooks only.  – Written by John C. Tracy, July 11, 1833, 47 years after accident.

Page 147

Continued. On Dec. 10, 1886, I was living up stairs in station here F’ton Junc. As soon as railway office got word engine had gone down through South Branch bridge I was called to station where I saw Engineer Andrew Campbell after coming out of engine in 24 feet of water and ice to safety. I was ordered to Rusagornis Bridge if possible before time of next train. I took Oliver Bunker and Wilber Webb and with a crank hand car we made the 8 miles to Rusagornis in 26 minutes. From there John Anderson had gone to bridge. It was all right. After 47 years Oliver Bunker and I still living. – John C. Tracy

Page 148

Family Record of 71 Daniel Wood 1822 and 82 Betsy Christie 1825

Children

1. Annie Wood not married
2. Henrietta Wood died young
3. Lizzie Wood; John Adams
4. Amanda Wood Mar. 1, 1857
5. John Wood not married
6. Charles Wood; Lucy Adams
7. James Wood died at hot springs, not married

Family Record of 90 Jonathan Tracy Aug. 3, 1831, married 1854, died 1921 and

93 Mary Phillips June 2, 1828, died 1921

Children

1. 78 Roxie Tracy Nov. 27, 1855; John Underhill
2. Celia Tracy 1857; Dr.
3. Mebourn Tracy 1862
4. Frank Tracy1865; Jennie Smith

Jonathan Tracy, a son of Jonathan & Rachel Webb. Mary Phillips, daughter of Tom Phillips & Annie Nason.

Page 149

Family Record of Roxie Tracy Nov. 27, 1855 and John Underhill

Children

1. Jennie Underhill
2. Grace Underhill
3. Harry Underhill 1855

Family Record of Celia Tracy 1857 and Dr. [?]

Children

1. Grace Celia
2. Arthur
3. Joseph

Melbourn Tracy & wife died in Oklahoma or Wyoming. Frank Tracy and wife Jennie Smith of East Candia, New Hampshire.

The 4 above are children of Jonathan Tracy & Mary Phillips.

Page 150

A son of Ephraim Nason and Betsy Gray.

Family Record of

Francis G. Nason June 20, 1853, married Dec. 21, 1876 and Sophia Bunker July 5, 1857

Children

1. Lizzie M. Nason Apr. 14, 1878
2. Chester Nason Sept. 5, 1880; Ida Golding Feb, 1906
3. Carrie V. Nason Apr. 8, 1887; Franklin Jenkins Aug. 30, 1910
4. 4 Zaidie Nason May 21, 1890 died Jun. 10, 1894
5. Millie Nason June 16, 1893; Hugh Thomas Sept 27, 1911
6. Amy J. Nason Dec. 18, 1896, Jan. 6, 1920
7. Ann M. Nason June 13, 1899; Emerson Budd Dec. 23, 1926 in Boston

Family Record of John C. Tracy Aug. 19, 1855, married June 30, 1880 and

Lizzie Bunker Mar. 5, 1856, died Oct 21, 1931

Children

1. John Tracy Apr. 2, 1881
2. Colby Tracy May 24, 1884
3. Lizzie Tracy
4. Amy Tracy
5. Dollie Tracy June 2, 1891
6. Lola Tracy Dec. 15, 1894

Page 151

In 1832 there came from the north of Ireland a family. John McCloskey and wife, his eldest son John who was very sick now in his seventh year [sic, and some other words not included in this transcription]. He got well and lived to be 90 years old and raised a large family. He married here and raised a number of children. He got in debt. Then he went away to Illinois, U.S.A. As soon as he got money enough he sent for his family and they went to him and he prospered well. And when he had money to pay his way home to N.B. he and wife came back to the home of their early days, paid all his debts, and returned to Illinois where he lost his wife when he was in his seventies. Then he came back to his boyhood home and married Izetta Mott Nason, a widow. When he was here I was a listener to his stories of the past history. I heard him describe …

Page 152

[…heard him describe] a Norway pine that he cut in the winter of 1844 when he was 18 years old. This class of pine were always called Old Norway, the bark very thin, the sap 3/8 of an inch. He cut 8 feet off the butt and then went up 41 feet and topped it off 42 inches, then counted each year’s growth and found 680 grains of years. He also said it floated light. Hauled to river with one team. This was on south side of north branch of Oromocto within a few miles of Otter brook not far from river.

Family Record of Ernest Harris Dec. 31, 1881 and Lizzie Phillips, married May, 1906

Children

1. Harland Harris June 21, 1907; Bessie McCleary born Sept. 10, 1909
2. Ralph Harris July 23, 1912
3. [Excluded from transcript for privacy; too recent]

Page 153

Family Record of 85 James McCleary Oct. 18, 1843, died July 7, 1928 and

73 Rebecca Harris Apr. 20, 1845, died Feb. 19, 1918

Children

1. Sarah McCleary June 25, 1865; Mrs. Day
2. Aurila McCleary Apr. 6, 1867
3. Lina McCleary May 23, 1869
4. Mary Alma McCleary June 26, 1871; —- Dow
5. Eliza McCleary June 17, 1783
6. Eva May McCleary June 23, 1876
7. Ella McCleary July 14, 1878; —- Saunders
8. Fannie McCleary Oct. 12, 1880; —- Hovey
9. Gertrude McCleary Apr. 2, 1882; Saunders
10. Lillian McCleary June 15, 1884

Page 154

Family Record of

Austin Burtt May 16, 1877 and Burletta Boone Mar. 28, 1867, married June 12, 1892

Children

1. Florence Burtt Mar. 26, 1893; Elvert Sprague Jan. 12, 1912
2. Daisy Burtt Jan. 9, 1895; Harold McKay Dec. 24, 1918
3. 21 Virginia Burtt Jan. 24, 1897, died Jan. 23, 1918
4. 22 Nellie Burtt Feb. 19, 1899, died Dec. 9, 1934
5. 34 Grace Burtt Nov. 4, 1900; Austin Mersereau June 23, 1926
6. Allen Burtt Dec. 2, 1903
7. Archie Burtt Nov. 7, 1907
8. 18 Jessie Burtt Sept. 17, 1910, died Feb. 4, 1929

Family Record of 85 George Burtt Dec. 16, 1812, died Jan. 29, 1897 and

80 Elizabeth Phillips Feb. 1, 1824, married July 12, 1843, died Nov. 20, 1904

Children

1. 52 John W. Burtt Apr. 21, 1844; Letitia Phillips Jan. 18, 1873
2. 34 Saphrona Burtt Sept. 12, 1846; Geo. Gillespie July 12, 1880
3. 2 Thomas O. Burtt Apr. 1, 1849, died Aug. 5, 1851
4. 74 Chesley H. Burtt Dec. 3, 1851; married Jan. 28, 1878 Augusta Thomas June 5, 1925
5. 22 Armina A. Burtt June 10, 1855; married Mar. 17, 1875 Ammon Webb Nov. 26, 1877
6. Almarine Burtt May 20, 1858; Burton Mersereau
7. George P. Burtt June 19, 1861; Cora Mills Mar. 28, 1889
8. Austin Burtt May 16, 1866; Burletta Boone

Page 155

Family Record of Thomas Buckle and Henrietta Maria White

Children

1. George Buckle; Jane Tumuth
2. John Buckle; Maggie Magee

This man Buckle left England with his first wife. She died at sea and buried there. His second wife was on the same ship and they married later.

Family Record of William Hoyt, about 1865 and

Polly Hayward in England, christened in St. Paul’s Church

Children

1. William Hoyt about [1886?] or 7
2. Annie Hoyt; Israel Tracy went to Ontario
3. Rebecca Hoyt; Joseph Thomas went to Ontario
4. Chloe Hoyt; John Smith
5. Betsy Hoyt; —- Patterson
6. Mary Hoyt; Azer Smith
7. Isabel Hoyt; Lawrence
8. Lydia Hoyt; Andrew Mersereau
9. 88 John Hoyt; Ruth Jones Nov. 19, 1806