The old Medoctec fort was on the west bank of the River St. John about eight miles below the town of Woodstock. The spring is readily identified; an apparently inexhaustible supply of pure cold water flows from it even in the driest season.
Dr. Ganong is probably correct in identifying the “River de Maquo” with Maquapit and the “mines” with the coal mines at Newcastle in Queens county. In this case the sieur de Martignon owned the lands on the north side of Grand Lake including the site of the old Indian village at Indian point where so any relics have been discovered. It is quite possible that the sieur de Martignon and his wife, Jeanne de la Tour, may have lived there for a time.
“Nous vimes l’endroit qu’on appelle le grand Sault Saint Jean-Baptiste, ou la riviere de Saint Jean faisant du haut d’un rocher fort eleve une terrible cascade dans un abime, forme un brouillard qui derobe l’eau a la veue, et fait un bruit qui avertit de loin les navigateurs de descendre de leurs canots.”
This war broke out in 1675 and was confined chiefly to the tribes of Massachusetts. It was of short duration; the Indian Sagamore Philip was slain.
The route was up the St. John to the Medoctec village, thence by Eel river and the chain of lakes to the Mattawamkeag and down that river to the Penobscot.
The author is indebted to Dr. W. F. Ganong for his kindness in furnishing the sketch from which the accompanying plan of illustration has been made. It is not, of course, a copy of the original, but gives an idea of the general character of the fortification.
This gentleman married in 1652 Marie, the eldest daughter of Nicolas Marselot of Quebec; she was a very youthful bride, being only 14 years old at the time of her marriage; she was the mother of 15 children.
The grants of Louis d’Amours at Richibucto, and of Mathieu and Rene on the St. John river are of the same date, September 20, 1684; that of Bernard on the Kennebeccasis is dated June 20, 1695.
A copy of the original lease of the Seigniory of Freneuse, with translation, and remarks by Dr. Ganong, will be found in Vol. I., p. 121, of Acadiensis, printed at St. John by D. R. Jack, to whose kindness and that of Dr. Ganong I am indebted for the signature given above.—W. O. R.
Louis d’Amours married Marguerite Guyon in 1686, about the time he settled on the St. John river. They had three children.
The mortification of the Bostonians at the failure of this expedition was extreme. So confident of success were they that preparations were made for a public rejoicing on the anticipated capture of Port Royal. The young baron St. Castin was wounded in the defence of Port Royal. His conduct in leading the defenders on several critical occasions was characterized by such dash and intrepidity that Governor Subercase in describing the siege wrote to the French minister at Versailles that if it had not been for the presence of the Baron St. Castin he knew not what would have been the result. See Murdoch’s Hist. Nova Scotia, vol. I., p. 289.
The Grand Falls of the St. John river, which the Indians still call Chik-seen-eag-i-beg, meaning “a destroying giant.”
Jean Pierre Danielou died at Quebec, May 23, 1744. His successor, Father Charles Germain, came to Canada in 1738 and a few years later, probably in 1740, was sent to the St. John River.
In his journal Pote terms him “Bonus Castine from Pernobsquett;” there can be little doubt that he was a descendant of Baron de St. Castin, already mentioned in these pages.
Marie la Tour, widow of Alexander le Borgne was living at Annapolis Royal in 1733 at the age of 79 years.
The name “Alexander” descended through at least two more generations, as I am informed by Placide P. Gaudet, who is by all odds the best living authority in such matters. Alexander le Borgne de Belleisle, mentioned above, left at his death a widow and seven children, of whom six were transported with their mother to Maryland at the time of the Acadian expulsion. The remaining child Alexander Belleisle (the fourth) went to L’Islet in Quebec, where he married Genevieve Cloutier in 1773 and their first son, Anthony Alexander, was baptized the year following.—W. O. R.
See Ganong’s Historic Sites in New Brunswick: Transactions of the Royal Society of Canada for 1899, p. 271.
A child of Pierre Robichaud and Francoise Belleisle his wife was interred at l’Islet, December 10, 1759.
In a letter to the French minister, written in 1698, Villebon observes “J’ai recu par mons’r de Bonaventure qui est arrive ici le 20 Juillet la lettre de votre Grandeur et le traite de Paix fait avec l’Angleterre [the treaty of Ryswick]. * * Comme vous me marquez, Monseigneur, que les bornes de l’Acadie sont a la Riviere de Quenebequi.” [Kennebec]. etc.
Ignace Philippe Aubert, Sieur de Gaspe, was born at St. Antoine de Tilly near Quebec in 1714. He was an ensign in Acadia under de Ramezay in 1745 and was with Colombier de Villiers in the attack on Minas the following winter. He died at St. Jean, Port Joly, in 1787. He was grandfather of the author of the “Anciens Canadiens.”
I am indebted to Placide P. Gaudet for a copy of the original letter of which a translation is given on next page. It is one of the many interesting documents that have never yet been published.—W. O. R.
This refers, I imagine, to the Acadians on the lower St. John and does not include the colony at Ste. Annes.—W. O. R.
The country of the Etchemins, or Maliseets, included eastern Maine, and the western part of New Brunswick.
Cadillac seems to have so termed Villebon’s fort because the Micmacs of eastern New Brunswick and Nova Scotia often made it a rendezvous; perhaps also it was a fanciful distinction by way of comparison with the Maliseet fort at Medoctec.
It would be interesting to know the exact location of the “portage” referred to above. Was it the rocky neck between Marble Cove at Indiantown and the Straight Shore? Or was it the comparatively slight obstruction at Drury’s Cove that prevents the river finding an outlet by way of the Marsh Creek into Courtenay Bay? See on this head Dr. George F. Matthew’s interesting paper on “The Outlets of the St. John River:” Nat. Hist. Society bulletin No. xii., p. 42.
Capt. John Rous in his early career commanded a Boston privateer. Having distinguished himself in several minor expeditions, he commanded the Massachusetts galley “Shirley,” of 24 guns, at the first seige of Louisbourg, and bore the news of the surrender to England, where as a reward for his gallant services he was made a captain in the Royal Navy. He commanded the Sutherland of 50 guns, at the second seige of Louisbourg, and was with Wolfe in 1759 at the seige of Quebec. It was from his ship Wolfe issued his last order before storming the heights. Capt. Rous died at
See under “Nid d’Aigle,” Ganong’s Place-Nomenclature of New Brunswick, p. 257. D’Anville’s map of 1755 shows here “Etabliss’t. Francois,” signifying French Post or Settlement. See observations already made at page 91.
A snow was a vessel similar to a brig; the Marquis de Vaudreull says the one above referred to was a Portuguese vessel.
The incident related above is mentioned by several writers, French and English, but the details were gathered by Placide P. Gaudet about twenty years ago from an old Acadian of remarkable memory and intelligence, whose grandfather was a brother of Charles Belliveau.
The Chevalier Johnson writes, “Boishebert came early in the Spring to Louisbourg with several hundred men, 12 Canadian Officers and 6 others from the garrison of Louisbourg; and he kept his detachment with such prudence so concealed at Miry during the siege, five leagues from Louisbourg, that neither the English nor the garrison had ever any news of them.”
For a copy of this valuable paper I am indebted to Dr. W. F. Ganong. The name of Monckton is preserved in that of the second largest town of the province.
The Royal American Regiment, or 60th Regiment of Foot, was raised in America about 1756 or 1757. It was commanded by Maj. Gen. James Abercrombie, who was succeeded by Gen. Sir Jeffrey Amherst in February, 1758. The corps included four battalions each of 1,000 men. Robert Monckton was appointed colonel in the regiment Sept. 28, 1757. (See Murdoch’s Hist. Nova Scotia, Vol. 2, p. 329.)
Capt. Jeremiah Rogers commanded the armed sloop “Ulysses” in the pay of the Government of Nova Scotia, as early as January, 1751.
The original of this plan, which is in the British Museum, was made by Major Charles Morris, Surveyor General of Nova Scotia. He was with Monckton at the River St. John.
This letter will be found in the Collections of the Nova Scotia Historical Society, Vol. II., pp. 135–145. Many of Mr. Graham’s remarks savor of exaggeration and in reading the extract above this fact should not be lost sight of.
Moses Hazen was an older brother of William Hazen, who settled at St. John. He distinguished himself under Gen. Wolfe on the Plains of Abraham. In the American Revolution he fought against the British, raised a corps known as “Hazen’s Own,” and became a Major General in the American army.
Rev. Jacob Bailey was a prominent loyalist during the American Revolution, and afterwards Rector of Annapolis. N. S.
I am indebted to Placide P. Gaudet for the above extract. Father Germain was the missionary of the Indians, while Coquart seems to have ministered to the Acadians. The latter was a “secular priest,” or one not connected with any religious order.—W. O. R.
This gentleman afterwards received an order from Mr. Bulkeley, the provincial secretary, to take for his own use one of the French boats “forfeited to the Government by the Acadians that were at Annapolis,” as a reward for his services in going up the River St. John and assisting Colonel Arbuthnot in bringing in the French. Winniett had a violent altercation with Captain Sinclair of the Annapolis garrison about this boat. See Murdoch’s Hist. of N. S., Vol. II., p. 409.
Probably the name of no place in New Brunswick has appeared in so many varied forms as that of this Indian village. The list that follows does not pretend to be exhaustive, but will suffice for illustration:—
(1.) Ecoupay—Census, 1733. (2.) Ocpaque—Lt.-Gov. Armstrong’s letter, 1735. (3.) Apoge—Capt. Pote’s Journal, 1745. (4.) Octpagh—Treaty proceedings at Halifax, 1749. (5.) Ekauba—Report of Abbe de L’isle-Dieu, 1753. (6.) Ocpaque—Letter of James Simonds, 1765. (7.) Aughpack—Map of Charles Morris, 1765. (8.) Ekouipahag—Register of l’Abbe Bailly, 1767. (9.) Aughpaugh—Letter of James Simonds, 1768. (10.) Ekoupahag—Indian negotiations at Halifax, 1768. (11.) Okpaak—Report of Rev. T. Wood’s, 1769. (12.) Augpeake—Letter Lt. Gov. Franklin, 1777. (13.) Auque Pawhaque—Letter of Indians to Major Studholme, 1778. (14.) Aupaque—Letter of Gen’l Haldimand, 1782. Oak Park—Letter of Sam’l Peabody, 1782, also report of Exploration Committee to Major Studholme, 1783. (16.) Ek-pa-hawk—Modern Indians.
Capt. Alex. Hay is said to have saved the life of the Duke of Cumberland, during the rebellion of 1745.
In Des Barres’ splendid chart of St. John harbor, published according to act of parliament in 1780, the well-known Reed’s Point is called “Point-Debbeig.”
When the affairs of Hazen, Simonds and White were wound up some twenty-five years later the house was valued at £40.
Beamish Murdoch in his History of Nova Scotia, Vol. II, p. 428, refers to the settlement made at this time at Maugerville and observes, “A Mr. Peabody was the principal inhabitant and agent for the English settlers.”
Joshua Mauger was a merchant from England who made his residence at Halifax shortly after its founding by Cornwallis in 1749. He traded extensively in Nova Scotia and had contracts with government. He returned to England in 1761, became agent there for the Province of Nova Scotia and held a seat in Parliament.
Peter Fisher was the father of the late Judge Fisher and of L. Peter Fisher (for many years mayor of Woodstock), and grandfather of W. Shoves Fisher of St. John. His penmanship was superior to that of some of his descendants, judging from the fac-simile of his signature that appears above.
John Quinton says he heard this story many times from his grandmother’s lips. She was a woman of remarkable memory and lived until the year 1835. It would seem very improbable she could be mistaken as to the date of such an event.
Samuel Tilley and Lodewick Fisher were the progenitors respectively of Sir Leonard Tilley and Hon. Charles Fisher, the one came from Long Island, N. Y., the other from New Jersey. It is curious they should have settled on adjoining lots in view of the intimate relations of their distinguished grandsons in the battle for responsible government. The other names given above are those of officers in Lt.-Col. Van Buskirk’s battalion of the New Jersey Volunteers who were of Dutch descent.
John Anderson was one of the first magistrates of the original county of Sunbury, appointed Aug. 17, 1765. He had a trading post, which he called “Moncton,” just above the Nashwaak on the site of the modern village of Gibson. The deed referred to above is one of the earliest on record in the province.
He means that intercourse with the shore was cut off in consequence of floating ice but that his neighbors had seem the misfortune and, realizing the need of prompt action, of their own good will met together and began to prepare the frame and materials for a new dwelling.
The Rev. Seth Noble was grandfather of the Rev. Joseph Noble who at this date (1904), is the oldest Free Baptist minister in the Province. For this information I am indebted to H. G. Noble of Woodstock, N. B.—W.O.R.
The lot here referred to was No. 60 in Upper Maugerville, now owned by Alexander and Walter Smith. Rev. Seth Noble was a warm sympathizer with the revolutionary party in America and in consequence was obliged to leave the River St. John in 1777. His wife remained at Maugerville for more than two years afterwards.
The concluding part of Capt. Peabody’s will is of interest in connection with the above:
“Item, I give to my daughter Elizabeth White thirty dollars to be paid by my two eldest sons in household goods.
“Item, to my daughter Hannah Simonds five dollars to be paid by my two eldest sons.
“Item, to my daughter Hephzibeth I give three hundred dollars to be paid by my two eldest sons in household goods on the day of her marriage.
As to my household goods and furniture I leave to the discretion of my loving wife to dispose of, excepting my sword, which I give to my son Samuel. I appoint my dear wife and my son Samuel executors of this my last Will and Testament.
As witness my hand,
FRANCIS PEABODY, Sr.
Delivered this 26th day of October
the year of our Lord 1771,
In presence of usISRAEL KINNEY,
ALEXANDER TAPLEY,
PHINEHAS NEVERS.BENJAMIN ATHERTON, Registrar.
This Will was proved, approved, and registered this 25th day of June, 1773.
JAMES SIMONDS,
Judge of Probate.
Col. John Allan, of Machias, had a conference with the Indians at Aukpaque in June, 1777, and writes in his journal: “The Chiefs made a grand appearance, particularly Ambrose St. Aubin, who was dressed in a blue Persian silk waistcoat four inches deep, and scarlet knee breeches: also gold laced hat with white cockade.”
Flour pr. bbl., £2 2 6; Indian corn pr. bushel, 5 shillings; potatoes do., 2s. 6d.; apples do., 2s. 6d.; butter pr. lb., 9d.; cheese pr. lb., 6d.; chocolate pr. lb., 1s.; tea per lb., 7s.; coffee per lb., 1s. 3d.; pepper pr. lb., 3s.; brown sugar 7d., per lb.; loaf sugar, 1s. 2d. per lb.; raisins, 9s. per lb.; tobacco, 7d. per lb.; salt, 10d. per peck; molasses, 2s. 6d. per gallon; New England rum, 1s. 6d. per quart; West India do., 2s. 6d. per quart; beef, 4d. per lb.; pork, 6d. per lb.; veal, 3½d. per lb.; cider, 12s. to 18s. pr. bbl.
Boots, 20s.; men’s shoes, 6s.; women’s do., 5s.; men’s pumps, 8s.; mittens, 1s. 6d. hose, 4s.; beaver hat, 20s.; black silk handkerchief, 6s. 9d.; check handkerchief, 2s. 6d.;. broadcloth, 10s pr. yd.; red stroud, 8s. per yd.; scarlet German serge, 8s. per yd.; scarlet shalloon, 3s. 9d. per yd.; English duck, 1s. 9d. pr. yd.; white blanket, 13s. 3d.; 1 oz. thread, 6d.; 1 doz. jacket buttons, 7½d.; pins, 1 M., 9d.
Axe, 6s. 3d.; knife, 1s.; board nails. 1s. 2d. per C.; ten penny nails, 50 for 8d.; double tens, 1s. 7d. per C.; shingle nails, 6d. per C.; 1 pane glass (7 by 9), 6d.; pewter porringer, 1s. 8d.; looking glass, 16s.; steel trap, 15s.; powder, 2s. 6d. per lb.; shot, 5d. per lb.; buckshot, 1s. 3d. per lb.; 6 flints, 6d.
The contract was drawn with much care and has been preserved in the Collections of the N. B. Historical Society, Vol. I., p. 187.
“The sloop Bachellor is now ready to sail; the contents of cargo 251 quintles Cod and Pollock of her crew’s catching, 30 do. of Hunt’s. The great sloop arrived ten days ago; has made but an ordinary fare, said to be 300 quintles. Will sail with dry fish in about a fortnight. * * Pollock will sell best in the country, pray sell as many that sort as is possible.” [Letter of James Simonds written from “Passamaquada,” 18th August, 1764.]
“Leavitt in the Polly has just arrived from Annapolis; he says he has lost a fare of fish for want of sufficient length of cable to ride at anchor, and that he must have one by the middle of August or he shall lose one or two fares more at Grand Manan.” [Letter of James Simonds of 22nd June, 1768]
“We have put Lovitt in skipper of the schooner Polly and have given Stickney the schooner Eunice. We have sent down four fishermen for the whale boats. (Mr. Marble and three labourers.) * * Mr. Marble does not chuse to have any connection with the delivery of stores [rum, etc.] to the men at Passamaquada, and indeed we think with you that his discipline is too moderate for such a sett of men as fishermen for the most part are.” [Letter of Hazen & Jarvis of 5th April, 1766.]
The last of the conditions above quoted was a somewhat variable one, and is sometimes found in this form, “The grantees shall settle one-fourth part within one year, in the proportion of one family of Protestants (to consist at least of four persons) to every thousand acres, one-fourth part within two years, another fourth part within three years, and the remaining fourth part within four years, otherwise the lands remaining unsettled to revert to the crown.”
It was perhaps at the suggestion of William Hazen or James Simonds that in the grant of the Township of Burton, of which they were grantees, there was included the “island in Passamaquody bay called Perkins Island,” now known as Indian Island, where the fishing station of Simonds & White had been for several years established.
The date of this document is probably May, 1745. The Island Battery was one of the most formidable defences in Louisburg.
A few giant elms of the primeval forest are yet to be found on the bank of the St. John. The author not long since examined the stump of a large elm that grew a few miles below the town of Woodstock. It was four feet in diameter and the number of concentric rings 325, so that it must have been a sapling in the days of Queen Elizabeth.
This grass still grows naturally on the St. John River intervals, and is known to the farmers as “blue-joint.”
The reference is to the settlement made at Maugerville two or three years before, which at this time seems to have been called the Township of Peabody, in honor of Captain Francis Peabody.
Captain Glasier seems to have been on excellent terms with Gov’r Wilmot. On 1st March, 1755, he wrote to Capt. Fenton of Boston, “I have received great civility from all sorts of people here in Halifax. I have made your compliments to the Gov’r and he has desired his to you; poor D——l has had the Gout all winter, which seems to be the General Distemper in this place amongst people of Rank.”
In another part of his letter Glasier says, “Capt. Falconer, who is on the spot, is desired to petition the Lords of Trade for this Island.” Capt. Falconer intended to have gone to the River St. John to assist in the management of affairs there, but this plan was upset by his being ordered with his regiment to Ireland.
Speaking of the fishery in St. John harbor, Captain Glasier writes, under date December 15, 1764, “The Bass is ketcht in Weirs just under the Point below the Fort,” that is on the Carleton side of the harbor, and in the next sentence he goes on to identify this point or neck of land with that adjoining Fort Frederick. “The Cod Fish,” he says, “strikes in here a month sooner than at Cape Sable shore & goes off a month sooner; you ketch the Fish a league within the mouth of the Harbour and quite up to the Island [Navy Island] near the Point of Land I have asked for.”
The second contract, or Articles of Partnership, entered into by William Hazen, Leonard Jarvis, James Simonds and James White is printed in Collections of the N. B. Hist. Soc., Vol. I. p. 191. It is entered also in the book of records of the old County of Sunbury. The original document bears the following certificate, “Registered by me March 9th, 1782, Ja. Simonds, Dep’y Reg’r.”
The following inscription on the monument of Mrs. Sarah Hazen was written by her grandson, the late Chief Justice Chipman:
Sacred to the Memory of
MRS. SARAH HAZEN,Widow of the Honorable William Hazen, Esquire; who was born in the Province of Massachusetts-Bay on the 22d February, 1749; and died in the City of St. John on the 3rd April, 1823.
Exemplary for Christian piety and benevolence and the exercise of every female virtue. She bears to her Grave the fond recollections of a numerous host of Descendants and the esteem and respect of the community.
This statement is corroborated by Charles Morris, who writes in 1765, “Aughpack is about seven miles above St. Anns, and at this place was the Indian church and the Residence of the French missionary; the church and other buildings about it are all demolished by the Indians themselves.”
This chapel bell was most unfortunately destroyed by fire when the chapel at French Village was burned early in March, 1904. An illustration and some account of the bell will be found in a previous chapters. See pages 75, 76 ante.
The members of the committee were Ebenezer Foster, Fyler Dibblee, James White and Gervas Say. The first two were Loyalists,the others old English settlers. Ebenezer Foster was one of the first members for Kings county in the House of Assembly. Fyler Dibblee was an attorney-at-law and agent for settlement of the Loyalists. James White and Gervas Say were justices of the peace in the old county of Sunbury and have already been frequently mentioned.
One of the Abbe Bailly’s registers is preserved at French Village in York county and another, which seems a continuation of the first, is at Caraquet, Gloucester county.
This document is entitled “Memoire sur les concessions que les sieurs d’Amours freres pretendent dans la Riviere St. Jean et Richibouctou.” A copy is in the Legislative Library at Fredericton.
Major Studholme in 1783 states that John Kendrick was a good subject, an old soldier and very deserving. He lived near Gagetown with his wife and five children. He settled there about the year 1768.
See Hannay’s article on the Maugerville Settlement, Collections of N. B. Hist. Soc., Vol. 1, p. 63.
Hugh Quinton is called Captain Quinton by the rebel Col. John Allan in his diary, printed in Kidder’s “Military Operations in Eastern Maine and Nova Scotia during the Revolution.” The report of Major Studholme’s exploration party in 1783 states that “Quinton was one of the Cumberland party, but since hath taken the Oath of Allegiance to his Majesty and behaved in a loyal manner; turned out sundry times and fought the rebel parties.”