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A HISTORY

COUNTY OF PICTOU

NOVA SCOTIA.

By the Rev. GEORGE ^ATTERSON, D.D.
Author <w " Memoir op Jambs M'Gregor, D.D.," " Memoirs op Johnstob
and Matheson," " The Doctrine cs1 the Trinity, underlyins
thb Eevelation of Redemption," &o.

MONTREAL: DAWSON BROTHERS.
PICTOU, N. S. : JAMES M'LEAN & Co.
Halifax, N. S. : A. & W. McKINLAY. St. John, N. B. : J. & A. McMILLANl
TORONTO : JAMES CAMPBELL & SON.
1877.

Printed at thb " Gazette " Printing LTousb, Montreal.

'-'Btereotyv A h\ Morrison & Sen, Montreal.

PREFACE

By those for whom this work is intended, no apology
Tor the undertaking will be deemed necessary. As to the
manner in which it has been accomplished, however, the
author deems some explanations due to himself and his
Teaders. First, he feels it but right to mention the diffi-
cnlties in the way of obtaining correct information, par
ticularly regarding the early settlement of the county.
"With the exception of copies of grants and similar papers,
preserved in the public records, there is scarcely a docu
ment of that period in existence, and these serve very
imperfectly to give, us an insight into the life of the early
settlers. We are thus indebted for all our knowledge of that
era, almost entirely to unwritten sources, and the difficulty
of obtaining exact information in this way, can only be
understood by those, who have made an attempt of the
same kind.
The author must, however, here acknowledge valuable
.aid from a writer, whose name is unknown to him, who
under the signature of " Philo-antiquarius," published in
the first volume of the Colonial Patriot, a series of letters
on the early history of Pictou. These letters he has
quoted fully, but they do not enter largely into details,
and when they do, they are not always accurate.
It is but due to himself to say, that he has spared no
effort to gain information. He has ransacked the County
and Provincial records, and teased officials with his
enquiries ; he has plodded his weary way through news
paper files, and works of Colonial history ; ho has inter
rogated Micmacs, and, as the Scotch would say, " expis-
cated " every old man and woman he has met with in the
county for years ; he has also conducted a large corres
pondence, and visited various sections of the country in
search of facts. To arrive at the exact truth, he has
labored as conscientiously, as if he were writing the history
of Europe ; and though he can scarcely hope, that his

IV.
work will be found free from all errors, yet he believer
that these will not be material.
Farther, as to the execution of the work, he desires ta
say that the plan adopted has been, to present as full an
account of the early settlers of the county and the pio
neers in each section of it, with as vivid a picture of their
toils, as in his power, even to the exclusion of informa
tion that might be desired, regarding more recent events.
This course has been followed, partly on the general
ground, that these things being longer past, are now more
properly the subjects of history, partly because he con
siders that portion of our annals as most worthy of notice,
but especially, because the information regarding it,
depends on oral tradition, which in another generation
would be lost altogether.
In this course he has also had a special object in view.
Of those who have hitherto professed to write the History
of Nova Scotia, none have yet attempted fully to delineate
the period of British colonization ; and yet the author-
regards this as the most important era in the past of the
Province. He has, therefore, attempted to depict the life
of the early settlers in Pictou, — to give, as far as he can,.
the very form and pressure of the age ; and as what
occurred in one county, was, in a large measure, a repeti
tion of what took place in another, he hopes that his work.
will thus serve, as a contribution to the illustration of that
era in our colonial history.
It is too well known that the history of the county has
been disfigured by painful controversies. These could
scarcely be ignored in a history like this, but the treat
ment of them, it will be readily seen, must be a work of
difficulty and exceeding delicacy. The course which he
has adopted, has been to pass over all contentions of a
personal character, but where there seemed questions of
importance at issue, to point them out clearly and can
didly. And though he could not help, to some extent,
viewing these from his own standpoint, yet it has been
his aim to look at them from all sides, to endeavour to
arrive at the exact truth regarding them, and to judo-e
charitably, where his convictions would lead him to con
demn. There only remains the duty, which the author has.
great pleasure in discharging, of acknowledging the aid

^received from various parties in his undertaking. Of tne
public officials, who were always ready to facilitate his
¦enquiries, he desires to mention, — in Halifax, Messrs. W.
A. Hendry, late of the Crown Land Department, Thomas
Robertson, Provincial Secretary's office, Venables, of the
Legislative Library ; and in Pictou, Messrs. David Mathe
son, Clerk of the Peace and Prothonotary, and John Fer
guson, Registrar of Deeds. He must also record his obli
gations to Rev. S. T. Rand, for much of the information
hi the second chapter regarding the Micmacs, to T. B-
Akins, Esq., of Halifax, for access to works of the early
French voyagers, to Dr. J. W. Dawson, and Ed. G-ilpin,
jr., Esq., for information as to the geology and mineralogy
of the county, to Thomas Millar, Esq., of Truro, for aid
in enquiries in Colchester, to the officers of the different
¦coal companies, especially Thomas Blenkinsop, Jesse
Hoyt, Roderick McDougall, Greorge Hattie and J. P. Law-
son, Esqs., for information regarding the different collie
ries ; and, for various personal reminiscences, to Messrs.
Robert Pattersonj George Glennie, W. H. Harris and Jas.
Hepburn of Pictou, John McKay, Esq., of New Glasgow,
and among the departed, Mr. John Douglass of Middle
River, James McGregor, Esq., of New Glasgow, and his
late father. To the following he is specially indebted, for
the information regarding the settlements under-men
tioned: to Rev. H. B. McKay, for River John, Toney
River and Cape John Shore ; Rev. William Grant for
Earltown and West Branch River John ; Rev. J. Watson,
for New Annan ; Rev. D. B. Blair, for Blue Mountain,
Barneys River and Garden of Eden ; Rev. Robert Cum-
jning, for St. Marys ; and Mr. William Fraser, for Pictou
Island.. He has largely adopted their words and inter
woven them with his own narrative. Many others have
Tendered him aid, of which he is fully sensible, who, he.
.trusts, will accept this general acknowledgment.
GEORGE PATTERSON.
JSfew Glasgoux,'N. 8., Feby., 1877.

CONTE NTS

CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY.
Boundaries — Divisions — Coast and Harbours — Interior — Geological
Structure — Natural History— Name  9-
CHAPTER II.
PICTOU IN THE PREHISTORIC PERIOD.
Early visitors — Micmac occupation — Remains — Names — Their wars.. . .. 24^
CHAPTER III.
THE FRENCH IN PICTOU.
French Settlements — Remains found — Removal of French — Peace with
Indians — Vessel stranded at Carriboo  37
CHAPTER IV.
FIRST ENGLISH SETTLEMENT OP PICTOU — 1767-1773.
Schemes for settling Nova Scotia — Philadelphia Company and their
grant — Arrival of first settlers — Their labours — Social condition ... 4fr :
CHAPTER V.
ARRIVAL OF HECTOR AND SETTLEMENT OF HER PASSENGERS — 1773-1776.
Hector's voyago and arrival — Difficulties of settlers — Progress — Settlers
from Dumfries, on Prince Edward Island and removal to Pictou. . 7*'
CHAPTER VI.
PICTOU DURING THE AMEKICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR  1776-178o.
American Revolutionary War — Effects on Trade — Vessels captured 
Indian gathering — " Malignant " — Slavery — First settlement at
Merigomish  gg.
CHAPTER VII.
PROM THE CLOSE OP THE WAR TILL THE ARRIVAL OP DR. M'GREGOR  1783-1786-.
Eighty-second Regiment — Eighty-fourth — Upper settlement, East River —
Other arrivals — First settlers of Tatamagouche and River John 
Dr. McGregor's arrival  114.

vn.
CHAPTER VIII.
DR. m'ghegor's EARLY LABOURS — 1786-1789.
State of Society — First churches— Pastoral labours — Redemption of slaves
— Missionary journeys  136;
CHAPTER IX.
FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OP THE TOWN TILL THE FRENCH WAR — 1789  1793.
Governor Patterson's grant — Commencement of town — First ship-building
— Immigration — Pictou made a separate district  151
CHAPTER X.
FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF THB FRENCH WAR TILL THE WALLACE ELECTION—
1793-1799.
French Revolutionary War and trade — Rev. Duncan Ross — Population —
Social condition — Hunting — Micmacs — First contested election —
Discovery of coal  168:
CHAPTER XI.
COUNTY AND COURT BUSINESS
Building jail — Stocks — Collecting taxes — Sessions regulations — Inferior
Court — Supreme Court — First trial for murder  199
CHAPTER XII.
IMMIGRATION AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CENTURY.
Large immigration — Dunoon's passengers — New settlements — Mount
Thom, McLennans Mount, New Lairg, &c  222-.
CHAPTER XIII.
FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE CENTURY TILL THE PEACE — 1800-1815.
Timber trade — Drinking — Edward Mortimer and others — War times —
Travelling — Dr. McCulloeh — First Bible Sooiety — Rev. John
Mitchell — Rev. Wm. Patrick — New Glasgow commenced. ..„.. ,. 244
CHAPTER XIV.
IMMIGRATION AND NEW SETTLEMENTS AT THB CLOSE OF THB WAR.
New settlements — Dalhousie Mountain, Earltown, Blue Mountain, St.
Marys, &c  '•  275-
CHAPTER XV.
FROM THE PEACE TILL THE FINANCIAL CRISIS OF 1825-6 — 1815-1826.
Effects of peace — Vear of the mice— Tear of frost — Agricultural improve
ment — Murders — Business men — Financial crisis — Religious
societies — Religious divisions  292j

Vill.
CHAPTER XVI.
DR. M'CULLOCH AND THE PICTOU ACADEMY.
Higher seminary projected — Commenced — Opposition — Dr. McCulloch's
labours — Native preachers — Institution remodelled — Decay and
fall  321
CHAPTER XVII.
ffROM THE FINANCIAL CRISIS OF 1825-6 TO THB DIVISION OP THE COUNTY — 1826-36.
Trade — Jotham Blanchard and Pictou Patriot — First Temperance Society
— Improved roads and travelling — Dr. McGregor's death — Election
of 1830 — First steam navigation — L. and S. Society  363
CHAPTER XVIII.
MINES AND MINING INDUSTRIES OP THE COUDTY.
First coal mining — Coal field — General Mining Association — Acadia
Company — Intercolonial — Nova Scotia Company — Vale — Iron
ores  398
CHAPTER XIX.
FROM THE DIVISION OP THB COUNTY TO THB PRESENT TIME — 1836-1876.
Fictcm as a separate county — Shipbuilding and Capt. McKenzie — Trade,
agriculture and manufactures — Religious denominations —
Conclusion  428
Appendix. 449

HISTOEY

THE COUNTY OF PICTOU.

CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY.
The County of Pictou lies on the Southern Shore of
the Straits of Northumberland, along m hich, it presents a
length of about fifty miles. It extends into the interior to
a distance of over twenty miles, being bounded on the
South, by the County of Guysborough, on the East by the
County of Antigonish, and on the West by the County of
Colchester. When originally set offin the year 1792, from
Colchester as a separate district, its boundaries were thus
described : " Beginning four miles eastward of David
Archibald's house, at Salmon River, between Truro and
Pictou, as the road now runs, from thence to run north,
four degrees west, (by the Magnet,) to the shore of Tat-
amagouche harbour, thence from said place of beginning,
to run south twenty-seven degrees east, to the southern
line of the District of Colchester ; thence east by the said
line to the western line of the County of Sydney, includ
ing all the lands to the eastward and northward of said
lines, within the (then) District of Colchester." More
exactly its limits are thus described, " commencing at the
boundary of the County of Colchester, at the G-uif of
St. Lawrence, thence south four degrees east 19 miles,

10
thence south twenty degrees east 26 miles, thence east 25
miles, thence north 26 miles to the shore."
The following are the Latitudes and Longitudes of
leading points, determined by a series of observations by
oflicers of H. M. Navy, in the year 1828.
Lat. Long.
Pictou Island South Side 45 47 52 62 37 33 •
Pictou Harbour  45 41 56 62 42 ....
Pictou Academy  45 40 20 62 44 28
It is divided into three townships, Pictou, Egerton
and Maxwelton. The first of these embraces the western
part of the county, from the Colchester County line to the
harbour of Pictou. It is separated from the Township of
Egerton, by a line commencing at Boat Harbour and run
ning thence south 54 ° west, till it reaches East River, at
what is called the Big Gut, and by another line commenc
ing at Doctor's Island, at the point between the Middle
and West Rivers, and thence south 30 degrees west 19
miles, to the Colchester County line. The Township of
Egerton embraces all the central portions of the county,
and is bounded on the west by the Township of Pictou,
as just mentioned, and on the east is separated from the
Township of Maxwelton, by a line commencing at the
bridge at Sutherlands River, and thence running south to
the Guysborough County line. The Township of Max
welton includes the remaining part of the county.
Its estimated area is as follows : —
Pictou Township  215,360 Acres
Egerton "  239,600
Maxwelton "  222,400 "
Its coast is indented by several harbours, of which
the most important is Pictou, about the centre of its sea
board, and which is the largest, and by far, the best har-
bouron the Northern shore of Nova, Scotia. It has a bar

11
at its mouth with, twenty feet of water on it at low tide.
The entrance is narrow, but within it expands into a very
large and capacious basin, having from five to nine fa
thoms of water, whore a large navy might ride in perfect
safety, and with muddy bottom, affording superior hold
ing ground. Its main disadvantage is that it is frozen
over from the middle or end of December to the beginning
or end of April. Three fine streams, after winding through
a fertile district, fall into it, known as the East, Middle
and West Rivers, the first navigable for small vessels for
five miles from its mouth.
A short distance to the westward is the small har
bour of Carriboo, * formed between the main land and two
islands, named respectively Big and Little Carriboo.
This name is said to have arisen, from some of the first ex
plorers, having seen a herd of caribou on the east point of
what is now the Big Island, but which was then a head
land connected with the shore, and which they thence
called Caribou Point. This harbour has two principal en
trances, one between the two islands, the other much nar
rower but deeper, between the smaller and the mainland. .
When the first settlers arrived this was the only entrance,
what is now the wide entrance being then a sandbeach,
over which the sea was beginning to make its way. It
has, however, continued its encroachments, till it has en
tirely separated between the two islands, making a pass
age half a mile wide with four feet of water on it at low
tide. Within the memory of the first settlers the sea has
also- cut across the beach, which connected what is now the
Big Island with the land, and thus formed a third entrance,
which, however, is still shallow, f And further changes are

* Such is the spelling now commonly adopted, though thc name of the an
imal is generally spelled Caribou.
f The late James Harris used to say that when he first visited the island, he
could cross between them by wading to the knee, and he remembered the first,
stoun which eat across the beach connecting the Big Island with the land.

12
going on. At two if not three places on the Big Island, which
were once meadows, cutting considerable quantites of hay,
are now only narrow sand beaches, which the sea is wear
ing away, and which it will soon cut through, and thus
convert it into three or four islands. In the days of the
Pictou timber trade, vessels of considerable size loaded in
this harbour, but it is now but little used. Two small
streams dignified as Big and Little Carriboo Rivers, unite
their waters about three quarters of a mile from the har
bor into which they flow in a deep channel. About 15 miles
farther to the westward, is the only other harbour on that
side of the county, viz : — River John, being the estuary
•of the river so named. This harbour is not large and not
well sheltered, being exposed to northerly winds, but it
has for many years been the seat of a large shipbuilding
trade. The River John, (in Micmac Cajje-Boogwek, i. e.,
flowing through a wilderness, *) flowing into it, drains a
large tract of country. Between these two harbours a
small stream known as Toney River, with several brooks
empty into the Strait.
Proceeding from Pictou Harbotir eastward, along the
coast, we pass some small harbours, known as Chance, Boat
and Little Harbours, and then meet Merigomish, formed by
what is called the Big Island of Merigomish, wliich, how
ever, is connected at its eastern end with the mainland by a
«and-beach about three miles long. Here seems originally
to have been the entrance to the harbour. The early French
explorers in the 17th century speak ofthis as the entrance,
but represent it as becoming choked with sand, so that
only small vessels could enter, and that only at high-tide.
When the first English settlers arrived, the old Indians
could recollect when there was sufficient water to afford
passage for their canoes. Now, however, it is a sand beach
from an eighth to a quarter of a mile wide, and for some
• From Cajjah, to be alone.

13
distance along the centre, judging by the eye, about 30 feet
high, covered with a coarse grass and a few plants, such
as will grow in that situation. The entrance is now at
the west end of the Island, and my opinion is that originally
this was connected with the land, but that the sea here
cut a new entrance, that in consequence the tidal and
river waters flowing in this course, the stream at the east
end became too sluggish to keep the passage there clear of
the sand accumulating at its mouth, and thus led ultim
ately to its being closed up. Even yet a very heavy storm
will make a passage across it.
The present entrance has a bar with 14 feet at low wa
ter, formed by rocky shoals running out from the points
on each side. Within, however, it is a large and safe har
bour. Once inside, the mariner finds himself well shel
tered, but it has this disadvantage, that from the bend in
the channel, turning round the end of the Island, the same
wind by which sailing vessels can enter, will not bring
them up to the upper parts of the harbour. It contains a
number of islands, varying in size from a few acres to a
square mile in extent. Into it flow as we proceed easterly, .
Sutherlands, French and Barneys Rivers.
Beside the islands already mentioned and some smaller
ones, there lies off the coast at a distance of about eight
miles from the entrance of Pictou Harbour, Pictou Island,
about five miles long from east to west, with an average
breadth of about a_mile and three quarters. From each end
reefs run out to a considerable distance.
The coast has few dangers for navigation, and these are
largely obviated by light houses. Approaching from the
east, the mariner first sights Pictou Island light, which is-
situated on the south-east point of the Island, showing a
white fixed light, 52 feet above sea level, and visible 11
miles, from a square white building. Then comes Pictou
Harbour light on the south side of the entrance. It is a
white fixed light, with a small red light below, 65 feet

14
above sea level, visible 12 miles. The building is octago
nal, painted in red and white vertical stripes. Farther to
the northward and westward is Big Carriboo Island light,
situated on the north-east end of the Island, a white re
volving light, showing its greatest brilliancy every min
ute, 35 feet above high water, and visible 10 miles from a
square white building.
The coast is generally low, scarcely in any place form
ing cliffs, " the Roaring Bull," a point four miles to the
eastward of Pictou Harbour, making the nearest approach
to one." Both inside and outside the harbours, it is being
gradually worn away, the sandstone, which forms the
underlying rock, readily yielding to the influence of the
waves. At Middle River Point, those who can remember
-a, period of about fifty years, estimate that in that time
about 200 feet of the shore has been carried away. The
Island there is not now half the size it was within their
recollection, and a small island on the Middle River has
in the same time been entirely carried away, except a few
stones visible at low water. At Abercromby Point, resi
dents calculate that about sixty feet of the bank has been
carried away.
This wasting goes on with greatest rapidity under the
influence of north-east winds, which cause our highest
tides, and drive the water with great force, particularly
against the shores on the south side of the Harbour. In
this way the banks are undermined, and the frost and
rain bring down the superincumbent soil, which is
washed away by the waves and tides.
In Merigomish the same thing is observed. Mr. Wm.
Dunn, an intelligent resident, estimates that during
a period of about fifty years, from sixty to a hundred feet
of shore has been carried away on the point formerly
occupied by Mr. James Crerar, and in the cove on the
front of his own farm. The old ship yard is now almost
entirely covered with water, so that where the bow of the

15
vessel rested'on the "ways," is now about high water
mark. On the open coast the wasting must be greater. We
have already referred to the changes going on at Carriboo
Island. But Pictou Island is wearing away with perhaps
greater rapidity, though at one [point toward the south
east side, a sand beach is making. The old Indians spoke
of a time, when the passage between it and Carriboo
Island, now five and three quarter miles wide, was com
paratively narrow. At Cole's Point, near the entrance of
the harbour, about thirty yards of a bank twenty or thirty
feet high has been carried away within a short time, and
its foundation is now a shingly beach. Since the light
house was built in 1834, about 200 yards of the eastern
side of the beach on which it stands, then yielding a
coarse hay, is now under water, and had not a break
water been erected, protecting that building on three
sides, it would have been swept away some time ago.
At the same time, however, the beach has been making
toward the west.
The beach on the north side has also been diminishing,
though not with the same rapidity. It is calculated that
during the same period it has narrowed to the extent of
fifty yards' One great storm carried away about a quarter
of an acre in one place. On examination of the ground
laid bare, there were found roots of ash trees as they had
grown, and with them the skeleton of a bear. The sand,
however, after a time again covered the spot.
On the other hand, the land covered by the estuaries
of the rivers, and the shallower parts of the harbour are
gradually rising. On the West River, by the calculation
of those who can remember fifty years, the flats have
risen over eighteen inches. At Middle River Point, be
tween the island and the shore, it has filled up to the
extent of about eighteen inches, and where it was once
too soft to walk on, it is now so hard, that a horse and cart

16
may be driven over it. On the Middle River, similar
changes have been noted as in progress. Not only are
the marshes rising, but a channel formerly largely used
by boats, for which the regular landing place was at
Lochead's, is now filled up. In like manner what the
residents knew as " the long pool " is now filled with
gravel, and generally the creeks on both rivers are
estimated as having risen to about the same extent as
the surrounding flats.
In the harbour the flats from Middle River point to the
channel, are estimated to have risen about a foot hi the
last fifty years, while residents at Abercromby Point esti
mate that those off' that point have risen at least two feet.
The East River, from its greater size carrying down a
greater amount of soil, will naturally account for this.
Thirty years ago it was considered, that vessels drawing
nineteen feet of water might safely load at the loading
ground at the mouth of the East River, but since that time
a ford has arisen further down, over which, previous to
the late dredging operations, it was difficult to take
vessels drawing over fifteen. Indeed it is maintained that
every part of the harbour, even the channel itself, is
becoming shallower. In former years vessels drawing
twenty-four feet of water passed over the bar outside the
harbour, but this cannot be done now.
In Merigomish the same thing is noticed, particularly
in the eastern portion of the harbour, between French
and Barneys Rivers. Residents have observed that the
flats are widening and the water upon them becoming
more shallow. The bottom, too, consists of a rich, soft,
fine mud, extending up to the beach itself, evidently
brought down by the rivers. On Barneys River from
the bridge downward, where people forty or fifty years
ago went freely in their canoes, is now in grass.
Along the shore the land is level and not elevated, but
in the interior ranges of hills extend in every direction

17
which, with the various river valleys, by which it is
traversed, present scenery of the most beautiful, though
not of the grandest description. Some of these hills, such
as Erasers Mountain, Green Hill, Mount Thom or Fitz-
patricks Mountain, exhibit prospects which in richness and
variety, of sea and land, hill and dale, river and shore,
field and forest, will compare with any in America. On
the western boundary the hills rise to greater elevation,
being a continuation of the Cobequid Mountains, while a
similar range, not so high, but more rugged in outline, and
regarded as a continuation of the South Mountains of
Kings and Annapolis Counties, traverses the southern por
tion of it, and is continued in the Antigonish Mountains.
It has few lakes, compared with some of the other
counties of the Province, and these are all small. The
principal are Eden, Brora, Sutherlands, and McDonalds
Lakes, in the southern portion of Maxwelton township.
The others, though small, add in some places a pleasing
variety to the landscape.
In the descent of the streams are some pretty cascades,
the largest of which and the only one which may be called
grand, is on Sutherlands River, about two and a half
miles from its mouth. The stream is here about 100 feet
wide. In the centre a large rock, on which is a Httle soil,
bearing a few scrubby trees, divides it into two, and each
portion descends by three stages to a pool at the bottom.
But just below, a perpendicular precipice, which on the
left bank rises high over the fall, projects nearly half-way
across, so that the parted streams as they reunite are forced
through a narrow gorge.
It has but little marsh land, and none to compare in
fertility with the dyked marshes of the Bay of Fundy,
but along its rivers and brooks is much intervale, and
meadow land of excellent quality, while much of the
upland, even to the summits of the hills, is fertile.
Indeed with the exception of a tract extending from the

18
head of the West River to the County of Guysborough,
and some smaller portions elsewhere, the whole is capable
of cultivation. Forest fires have, however, in some
instances rendered considerable tracts for a time com
paratively barren. Perhaps the largest extent of land
of this kind lies between the Albion Mines and Middle
River. Its geological structure may be described in general
terms as follows : Across the whole southern side of the
county extends a range of hills of Upper Silurian forma
tion, composed principally of beds of quartzite and slates,
the latter varying much in colour and texture with
masses and dykes of syenite and greenstone. This band
which commences on the east at Cape Porcupine and
Cape George, is about fifteen miles broad from the east
side of the County, till it approaches the East River, when
it suddenly bends to the south, allowing the carboniferous
strata to extend far up into the valley of the river. Far
ther west it again widens and so continues beyond the
boundaries pf the county. Rocks of the same formation
are also found further north on its western border, where
the Eastern Cobequid hills enter the county at Mount
Thom and adjacent hills. In an economical point of
view, these rocks derive their chief importance from their
valuable iron ores, but a large part of them are covered
with a fertile soil.
At the base of these hills are lower carboniferous rocks,
chiefly sandstones and conglomerates, over and associated
with which, is a series of reddish and grey sandstones and
shales, with thick beds of limestones and gypsum, the
latter not of the economic importance, of those of Hants
County. These can be traced from the upper part of the
West River, eastward to the East River, along the valley
of which, they enter in the form of narrow bay into the
Metamorphic District to the Southward. Eastward of
this they continue to skirt the older hills, until they reach

19
the Gulf of St. Lawrence, at Arisaig, beyond the bounds of
the county.
To the northward of these older members of the system,
there is in some places, especially on the East River, a
large development of the productive or middle coal mea
sures, which we shall have occasion to notice more parti
cularly hereafter. The remaining portion of the county,
stretching along the straits of Northumberland, consists of
newer carboniferous rocks, supposed by Dr. Dawson, to
belong to the upper coal measures, or permo-carboniferous
series. These formations afford in a great number of
places grey freestones, much esteemed for architectural
purposes, and also suited for the manufacture of grind
stones. Copper ores are found at various localities, the
principal being Carriboo river, the West River a little
below Durham, the East River a few miles above the
Albion Mines, and River John near the village, but none
yet in quantities to be of economic value.
Its Natural History need not further be particularly
described, as its flora and fauna are the same with the
other portions [of the Province. The Beaver has become
extinct, though the effects of his labours may yet be seen
in various places. Most other wild animals have become
scarcer, and some, as the Fisher and Marten, are nearly if
not quite extinct. We may mention, however, that the
Skunk and the Raccoon are recent arrivals. The first ap
pearance ofthe former was a noted event about fifty years
ago. A young man from the Middle River was on his
way to the East, to attend a sacramental service ; crossing
the wilderness land lying between the rivers, he saw an
unknown animal, which he attacked vigorously, and with
results Aat may be imagined. He proceeded on his
journey, but as he approached the groups surrounding the
church, met the averted faces even of friends, and was
obliged to return home and bury his clothes. Other scenes
of a similar kind took place in other quarters.

20
The waters along our shores exhibit similar changes in
their inhabitants within the historic period. When
European voyagers first visited our coast, the Walrus was
still found in this latitude ; and within the memory of
persons still living, the Seal was in such abundance as to
be each spring a regular object of pursuit. The first
visitors to Pictou describe in glowing terms the size and
abundance of the oysters, to be found in our harbour, and
the shell heaps on the site of old Indian encampments,
corroborate their statements, but now scarcely any are to
be found, and these are but small. I am also informed
that the clams, which are but little used, are not only
becoming fewer in number, but smaller in size.
As to its vegetable productions, occasionally a rare
specimen may be found. A short distance from the road
up Sutherlands River, toward Antigonish, stands a solitary
specimen of a species of spruce, which is not found any
where in this part of the Province at least. And I have
heard of other instances of trees being found, belonging
to species not known to exist anywhere near. Many
plants have been introduced by colonists, which have
spread and become wild. The introduction of one pre
sents some circumstances of interest. A vessel landing
ballast at Mortimer's wharf, a few stalks of a species of
ragweed, known in Scotland among the common people
as Stinking Willie, were thrown out with it. They had
been pulled by some cultivator in the old country and
thrown among stones, and with them conveyed to the
hold of the vessel, and thus transported across the Atlantic.
Some of the seeds took root on the shore, and some fifty
years ago the late John Taylor pointed out the plants and
warned some bystanders of their character. They laughed
at him, and he took no trouble in the matter, but he after
ward often expressed his regret that he had not himself
set to work and rooted them out, which he might readily
have done. About forty years ago, a Highland servant

21
of my father's, pointed out to me a large bunch of it on
"the shore of the side of the point toward the town. At
that time, farmers being interested in getting rid of the
oxeyed daisy and other weeds, he remarked that he was
mistaken if they did not find ere long that that would be
more troublesome than any with which they were con
tending. Since that time, it has not only occupied all the
highways round the town and proved troublesome in the
fields of the farmers there, but it has spread to the
extremities of the county, and beyond it. I have seen it
at Carriboo Island on the north shore, at Tatamagouche to
the west, well up the East and Middle Rivers to the
southward, and I have pulled a stalk of it on the road by
Lochaber Lake to the east.
Its meteorology exhibits little of interest as distinct
from the other portions of the Province. Like the rest of
the north coast it present a remarkable contrast to the
southern, in its almost entire freedom from fog. The
mean and extreme temperatures are, however, higher there
than here, owing specially to the influence ofthe Gulf
stream. The ice which comes down from the north in
spring lingers long off our coast, cooling the air, so as to
retard vegetation and impart a rawness to the east winds
at that season, which is trying to the health, particularly
of persons under any pulmonary weakness. The autumn,
however, is much finer than on the south coast, there being
much less wet weather, and the southerly gales of that
-season being felt less severely.
• The name Pictou was supposed by many to have been
a corruption of Poictou, the name of an old Province of
France, and to have originated with the French. In
many documents of the early part of this century, even
Government plans, it is so spelled, and. the old Highland
-settlers pronounced it in this way. I have heard of
educated persons in Pictou, who maintained that this was
the proper name, and spelled it so in their correspondence^

22
But this is a mistake. The name appears spelled as we-
spell it in the writings of the earliest French voyagers,.
and there can be little doubt that it is formed from the-
Indian name, which, according to Mr. Rand, is Pictook-
The k at the end of Micmac names, he says, marks what
grammarians call the locative case, expressing at or in.
The French generally dropped the k. Thus we have
Chebooktoo for Chebooktook, and so Pictou for Pictouck,
the ou being originally sounded as in French.
As most of the Indian names are descriptive, attempts-
have been made to discover the meaning of this, but as
yet we do not think that certainty has been reached. Some
have supposed that the word is analogous to Buctou, pro
perly Booktook, which means a harbour, or more properly
a bay or arm of the sea ; but this is used only with a
prefix, as in Chebooktou, Richibookiou, Chedabooktou, &c.
Mr. Rand explains the word differently. He says that
the word Piet means an explosion of gas, and he sup
poses the name to have originated from the escape of gas
at the East River from the coal lying below. Whenever
the noun ends in the sound of kt, the regular form of the
case locative is the addition of ook. Thus nebookt means
woods, nebooktook " in the woods," and thus Piet becomes
Pictook, and the k being dropped, as just mentioned, we
have the name Pictou. lt may appear presumptuous to
express any doubt regarding a point of Micmac philology,
on which Mr. Rand is satisfied. Yet it appears to us a
serious objection to his view, that the phenomenon to
which he refers was only seen at the East River, to which
the Indians gave another name (ApcJiechkumooch—waakade,.
or duckland) while it seems certain that the name Pic
touck was applied specially to the harbour, where no such
phenomenon exists.
Others again have supposed, that it is a corruption of
the Micmac word, Bucto, which signifies fire. That this
was the derivation of the name, was a common opinion.

23
among the early settlers, and I hnd it asserted by Peter
Toney, now about the oldest of the Micmacs in Pictou, and
by others of the tribe. Their story or tradition is, that at one
time there had been a large encampment up the West River.
On one occasion they all left in their canoes on a cruise
down the harbour. During their short absence, the whole
encampment was burned up, and also the woods for a con
siderable distance around. No person could tell how the
fire originated. They always spoke of the event as the
" Miskeak Bucto," or big fire, which naturally became asso
ciated with the place. When the whites came, hearing the
Micmacs speak of it in this way, they corrupted the name
and called the whole north side of the harbour, Pictou,
because according to this learned Micmac, they could not
pronounce it aright. Others adopting the same derivation,
have supposed the name to have been given in conse
quence of a large, fire, at what is now the East River
mines. When coal was first discovered there, it was
covered with from four to six feet of burnt clay and ashes,
over which large hemlock trees were growing, and I am
informed that the Indians had traditionary accounts of a fire,
which continued burning there for some length of time.
This view I regard as entirely a supposition, and would
consider Mr. Toney's much more probable, on this ground
if on no other, that the name was originally given not to
the Mines but to the north side of the harbour. But Mr.
Rand asserts, that the difference between the words is too
decided, to admit of this being the correct derivation.
Another meaning was given by Philo Antiquarius, and
also by the late Mr. Howe, as derived from a Micmac. It
is that it means anything like ajar or bottle, which has a
narrow mouth and widens afterward. We have never
received this from Micmacs, but when we have suggested
it to them in the form of a leading question, they have
assented to it, whether to please us or because it was correct,
may not be quite certain. This would well represent the

24
shape of the harbour, and could it be shown to be in
accordance with the Micmac language, we would deem it
preferable to the others. But when such difference of
opinion exists among the learned, we are obliged to leave
the matter unsettled.

CHAPTER II.
PICTOU IN THE PREHISTORIC PERIOD.
It is now known that these coasts were visited by the
Breton and Basque fishermen during the sixteenth century,
and that they traded with the aborigines, supplying
them with various implements in exchange for their furs.
It is probable that Pictou harbour was then well known
to these hardy mariners. The only fact, however, known
to us which seem to afford evidence of their presence, was
the discovery by Henry Poole, Esq., on the 17th March,
1860, of a piece of wood three and a half feet below the
surface of the ground, while the men were engaged in
cutting a drain, on what is now the Acadia Company's
area at the Albion Mines. This piece of wood, three feet
long, showed marks of having been cut by an axe, while
the trees growing above the spot were two feet in diame
ter, and he counted 230 rings of annual growth in the
hemlock tree cut down just over it.
The first recorded notices of Pictou, however, are to be
found in the voyages of the early French visitors, in the
early part of the 17th century. We may here give a
description of its shores from an account published in the
year 1672, by Monsieur Denys, appointed Governor of the
Gulf of St. Lawrence in the year 1654.
"Starting from Cape St. Louis (now Cape George), ten

25
leagues thence we come to a small river, whose entrance
has a bar, which sometimes closes it, when the weather is
stormy and the sea piles up the sand at its mouth, but
when the river swells it passes over and makes an open
ing. Only small sloops can enter this river, and it does
not run deep into the country, which is tolerably fine and
covered with trees." This we take to be the eastern end
of the Big Island of Merigomish. " Proceeding westward
for about a dozen leagues the coast is nothing but a rugged
mass, with the exception of several openings of different
¦dimensions. The land round about is low, it appears
fertile, and is covered with fine trees, among which I
noticed quantities of oak."
The following is his description of Pictou harbour, or,
as he calls it, the river of Pictou : — " Passing these you
find a large opening, where there are several cliffs by the
side of low headlands or meadows, in which are numer
ous ponds, where there is so great an abundance of all
kinds of game that it is surprising, and if the game there
is abundant, the earth is not less beneficent. All the
trees there are very fine and large. There are oaks,
maples, cedars, pines, firs and every kind of wood. The
large river is right at the entrance, and the sloops go from
seven to eight leagues within, after which you meet with
a small island covered with the same wood, farther than
which you cannot proceed without canoes. The country
on both sides of the river, for the space of a league toward
its source, is covered with pines, large and small, and
they are fine trees, as they were down below. There are
also along its sides, creeks and " cui de sacs," with mea
dows, where the chase is capital."
" A league and a half up the river there is a large har
bour (we suppose at South Pictou) where you may find
large quantities of excellent oysters ; some, in one place,
are nearly all round, and deeper in the harbour they are
monstrous. Among them are some larger than a shoe and

26
nearly the same shape, and they are all very fat and of
good taste. And at the entrance of this river, toward the
right, half a league from its mouth, there is also a large
bay, which runs nearly three leagues into the land, and
contains a number of islands, and on both sides you find
meadows and game in abundance." For some of these
details Mr. Denys seems to have drawn on his imagination.
When first visited by Europeans this, like the rest of
*he Province, was inhabited by the Micmac (properly
Miggumac) tribe of Indians, a branch of the great Algon
quin race, wdiich included all the tribes along the
Atlantic coast from Virginia to Labrador. Of these the
Micmacs wrere one of the most powerful, occupying not
only Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, but the
whole eastern and northern coasts of New Brunswick and
the south side of the St. Lawrence for some distance from
its mouth. This extensive territory, known to the abo
rigines as Miggumahgee,1* Micmacland, or country of the
Micmacs, was, and indeed is yet, divided into districts,
inhabited by tribes, or subdivisions of the race, each under
its separate chief, who acknowledged the chief of Oona-
mahgee, or Cape Breton as their head, his superiority,
however, consisting in little more than his being umpire
in case of any dispute between the other chiefs, and pre
siding at any general council. Of these divisions, Pictou
was the centre of the district extending along the north
shore of Nova Scotia, those belonging to it being known
as Pectougawak, or Pictonians. f Merigomish, however,
seems to have been their head quarters.
This was a favorable position for them. It was near
the fishery in the Gulf; the islands abounded in wild

• The classical reader may'observe in the termination of this and other
names the Greek word ge, land or country.
t The others were, besides Cape Breton, Memramcook, and Restigouche to
the north, and Eskegawaage, from Canso to Halifax, Sigunikt or Cape Negro
and Kespoogwit or Cape Chignecto, seven in all.

27
fowl, the rivers swarmed with fish, and the woods in the
rear were plentifully stocked with game. Their principal
place of encampment was at the foot of Barneys River, on
the east side, where they had, when the English settlers
arrived, some clearings on which they raised a little
Indian corn and a few beans. Other places around, such
as the Big Island, some of the smaller islands in the har
bour, and some of the points on the shore, were also sites of
their encampments, as may yet be seen by the quantities
of shells of oysters and other shellfish found on the
land, and the stone hatchets and arrow heads still occa
sionally picked up. Their burying ground, wThen the
English settled, and for how long previous we know not,
was near the west end of the Big Island on the south side,
a short distance east of Savage Points This they used
till about forty years ago, and here stood a number of
crosses till a recent period. But all the Indians of the
county now bury on Chapel Island or Indian Island, an
island in the harbour donated to them by Governor
Wentworth. In the map accompanying Charlevoix's work, the mouth
of the East River is marked as the site of an Indian village.
This must have been situated on the east side, nearly
opposite the loading ground, on the farm of the late Jas.
McKay, now in possession of J.^McGregor and McKenzie,
There, close by the river, is a beautiful flat, like a piece of
intervale, but higher and very slightly rounded, bounded
in the rear by a bank, by which the land rises abruptly to
a higher level. Here the land was clear when the English
settlers arrived, and for some time after, when it watf
ploughed, various articles were turned up, such as broken
pieces of crockery, a gun barrel, and on one occasion a

* This was so called from a Captain Savage, of Truro, who had died while-
his vessel was lying there, and was buried in the sand on the shore. Either
his vessel or another, named the Betty, drifted ashore on the point of th*
island opposite, which has since been called Point Betty Island.

28
pewter basin, about eight inches in diameter, with a narrow
rim, also five or six table spoons, while around have
been found quite a number of stone hatchets, and oyster
shells are abundant. Tbesy facts show that this place
was occupied by them, both before and after the arrival of
Europeans.* The opposite side of the river gives evidence of similar
occupancy, in particular a field on the farm of William
Dunbar, on being ploughed, has been found covered with
oyster shells.
On a point a little lower down the river was another
burying place. Here stood at the arrival of the Enghsh
settlers, and until a recent period, a large iron cross, about
ten feet high. Hence the place is still known as Indian.
Cross Point, though the locality is known among the
Micmacs, as Soogunagade, or rotting place.
Here the Indians buried till a few years ago. Many of
the graves can still be traced by the rows of flat stones, by
which they were originally covered, which have now
sunk to the level of the ground or perhaps were always
in that position, and are partly overgrown with grass.
The water is wasting away the bank, so that human bones
.may be found exposed on the shore.
Frasers Point, particularly on the farm of Mr. Hugh
Fraser, and ^Middle River Point, especially at McKay's
farm, by the shells which the plough turns up, and the
stone implements formerly found in abundance, and still
occasionally obtained, are shown to have been also places
of frequent resort.
The decaying remnant of the Micmac tribe look back
* An impression has prevailed that this was a French settlement, and it
has even been supposed that some embankments at the Big Gut a little fur
ther up were their work. One hut was found by the English settlers at the
latter point, but all the other facts indicate the occupancy of the place by
Micmacs, while the slightest examination of the embankments referred to,
show that they were not raised by the hand of man, but by the tide assisted
probably by ice along the shores of the creek.

29
on the period referred to as the golden age of their race.
Then they held undisputed possession of all these regions,
and were a terror to surrounding tribes. They could muster
by thousands. They were at peace among themselves,
drunkenness was unknown, and the various European
diseases, by which they have since been swept away, were
unheard of. The land abounded with game and the
waters teemed with fish. The forest sheltered them from
the storm, and skins of animals afforded the warmest
covering by night and by day. " My father," said an old
Indian, " have coat outside beaver, inside otter." Thus
speaks tradition, and in some respects truly, though it
would not be difficult from what we know of savage life,
to find another side to the picture.
Though divided into small tribes they could combine
to prosecute wars, in which they were frequently engag
ed with the natives of Maine and New Hampshire, and
with the Iroquois and the Mohawks of the St. Lawrence.
The wars with the latter occupied a prominent place in
the traditions of the Micmacs of Pictou, and they preserve
the memory of fierce battles, fought in the neighborhood
of Merigomish.
I have lately had evidence that these traditions are not
without foundation. Mr. Donald McGregor of the Big
Island, in ploughing a spot in his field, where the vegeta
tion was ranker than usual, turned up a human skull.
On examination there was found a mass of human bones
much decayed, among them a skull, transfixed by a flint
arrow head, which yet remained in its place. Along with
these remains were a large number of ancient implements,
stone axes, flint arrow heads, etc., but none of them
giving evidence of intercourse with Europeans. The
transfixed skull, and the whole appearance of the place,.
plainly showed that here the bodies of those who had
fallen in some battle, have been heaped together, "in
one red burial blent."

30
I visited the place in 1874. The spot is small, not more
than eight or ten feet in diameter, and as soon as the
ground is turned, it will at once be distinguished from
the surrounding soil, being a loose black mould, contain
ing fragments of bone, so decayed that they can be crushed
between the fingers, all, no doubt, once the flesh and
blood of brave warriors. This pit, if it can be called
such, is very shallow, being not more than fifteen to
twenty inches deep. At the bottom I found decayed
fragments of the birch bark, in which, according to the
custom of the ancient Micmacs, the dead were laid.
Below this was a hard subsoil, which plainly had never
been disturbed. The shallowness ofthe pit also indicates
that this burial took place previous to the coming of
Europeans, when sharpened sticks of wood were their
only instruments of digging.
The ground had been so thoroughly dug over before my
visit, that it was impossible to ascertain anything as to
the arrangements of the bodies, and nearly all the imple
ments had been carried away ; but I found a stone axe,
which bore the evidence of having been ground to a sharp
edge, probably immediately before the encounter in which
its owner fell, some fragments of very rude pottery, and a
broken tobacco pipe, made of a piece of very finely grained
granite rock, the shaping and polishing as well as the
drilling of the bowl and stem of which, must have
involved much labour.
On examining the ground around, we found that it
was the site of an ancient cemetery, in which we found,
in addition to such implements as already mentioned,
bone spearheads and small copper knives. The burying
ground used by the Micmacs till about forty years ago was
about half a mile further to the west, but the place we
refer to is evidently much older. Indeed, some of the
remains seemed to indicate that they belonged to another
race, a people of small size, like the Esquimaux. That

31
the Algonquin race came from the south-west is now
the received opinion of American Antiquarians, and there
are also strong reasons to believe, that the Esquimaux
occupied the shores of North America, to a point much
farther south than they now do. Charlevoix describes the
Micmacs in his day, as maintaining a constant warfare
with them, and the probability is that the former on first
occupying this region, drove the latter before them, and
these remains may be the relics of their conflicts.
One curious fact was* manifest in this cemetery, which
has not hitherto been noticed in connection with Micmac
customs, viz., the use of fire in some way in connection
with the dead. Some of the graves give no indication of
this, and in one I was able to trace the position in which
the body had lain, viz., on its side in a crouching posture.
But in other cases the remains were mixed with ashes,
small pieces of charcoal and burnt earth, showing the use
of fire for some unexplained purpose. In another I
found just a quantity of ashes with small fragments of
burnt bones, none of them an inch long. The whole had
been carefully buried, and were probably the remains of
some captive whom they had burned.
We may add that here, as elsewhere, every prominent
object, whether hill or river, streamlet or lake, headland
or island, had its appropriate designation in their lan
guage, which is still in use among them. A few of these
names, with the meanings, so far as we have been
furnished, we subjoin : —

English Names.
Pictou Island 
Moody's Point 
Merigomish 
Carriboo Harbour . . .
Green Hill 

Micmac Names.
x.
Cunsunk 
Poogunipkechk .
Mallegomichk . .
Comagun 
Espakumegek . .

A hardwood grove.
A decoy place, where they
set duck decoys.
High land.

32

English Names.

Mount Thom.
Middle Biver .
West River . . .
East Eiver 

Saw Mill Brook .
Fisher's Grant. .

Roger's Hill 
Narrow entrance of Cariboo
harbour 

Toney Biver 
Shore between Carriboo and
Lazaretto 
Little Harbour 
Sutherland's Island 
Morrison's (?) Island 
Point Betty Island 

Micmac Names.

Pamdunook* 
Nemcheboogwek, .
Wakumutkook 
Apchechkumooch-wa- akade 
Nawegunichk 
Soogunugade 

Nimnokunaagnnikt. Tedootkesit 

Bucto taagun. .
Nemtookawaak

Munbegweck 
Coondawaakade ....
Tumakunawaakade . .
Mkobeel 

A mountain chain.
Straight flowing.
Clear water.
Duckland. Saw mill brook.
Rotting place, so called
from the old Indian
burying ground.
Black birch grove.
Running into the bushes
place, from Tedootkin-
desink, "he rushes into
the bushes."
Spark of fire.
Running straight up.
Little Harbour.
A stone quarry.
Pipe stone place,
Beaver place.
Mr. Rand tells us that the Micmacs regard themselves
as the bravest and best of the Indian nations, and boast of
success even over the Mohawks. But we know that till
very recently the name of a Mohawk, was sufficient to
excite the most abject terror in the mind of a Micmac. Tell
him that there was a Mohawk at any place, and he would
rather than pass it, go miles round even to reach his
home. So late as our boyhood, it was an amusement even
for children to frighten the Indians by some tale of Mo
hawks, and they never seemed to get over the feehng of
alarm, which their name inspired, and we beHeve they
are not yet free from it. f
One incident of these wars seems well established, viz.,
the loss by drowning of a large number of warriors of the
* Pamdun is a mountain chain, and Camdun a mountain peak. It is inter
esting to note here the word dun, » hill, which both i n Gaelic and Anglo-
Saxon and cognate languages denotes a hill, which appears in so many Scot
tish names, Dunheld, Dunblane, Dunvegan, &c, also in Dumbarton, Dumfries
&c, and another form of which we have in the English Downs.
t Mr. H. B. Lowden who has so long kept the lighthouse, informs me that
if a strange canoe is seen passing the entrance of the harbour, the Indians
will still come enquiring anxiously about it, and showing fears of an invasion
of their old foes.

33
Mohawk tribe at the little entrance of Carriboo harbour.
As we have been able to gather the facts of the story, the
Micmacs had concealed themselves in the woods on Little
Carriboo Island. Between this and the main land the
passage is very narrow, not 200 yards wide. The Mo
hawks had detected the hiding place of the Micmacs, and
supposing that they might readily, by wading or swim
ming, pass that distance, resolved to cross by night and
attack their enemies while they were asleep. But the
tide is too powerful for any man to swim across it. The
Mohawks, not knowing this, plunged in, and the tide
ebbing at the time, they were swept away. In the morn
ing the returning tide brought back their dead bodies, each
with tomahawk tied on his head. The Micmacs coming
out of their place of concealment, were filled with joy at the
sight of their dead foes, and danced in triumph for their
deliverance. At the time of the arrival of the English
settlers the affair was still fresh in the memory of the
Micmacs, and was represented as having taken place only
a short time before, during the wars between the English
and the French. The late James Harris mentioned that he
found two or three iron tomahawks in the sand on the
shore of Little Carriboo Island, which at the time were
regarded as having belonged to the Mohawks. The place
is still named by the Micmacs Tedootkesit, meaning the
place of running to the bushes, from the Micmacs taking
Tefuge in the woods.*

* An old resident in the neighborhood informed us that as near as he could
-guess, about fifty-six years ago, or in the year 1820, an old squaw, one of the
most reliable he had known, told him the story, adding that she was the first
to discover what had happened. She was at the time a little girl. In the
morning, as soon as she had awakened, she had gone to the shore, and there
saw the dead bodies. The wind, she said, had been easterly, which would
have helped to bring them back to land. She immediately ran back to teU
ler father, and soon the whole band were at the shore, rejoicing over their
fallen foes. Supposing she were seventy years of age when she told the story,
and ten when the affair occurred, this would make the date of it 17C0, about
the time we had supposed. 3

34
As illustrative of these times, we shall give a tradition
ary account of the conclusion of the last war with the
Canibas, as the Micmacs call them, the tribe of Indians
inhabiting Maine, and extending up to the St. Lawrence,
now usually known as the Abenakis. This was related
by Peter Toney and taken down by Mr. Rand, and we
have reason to believe that the main facts are correct : —
" There had existed for sometime a state of hostility
between the Canibas and the Micmacs. Two parties of
the former, led by two brothers, had come down to Pictou
and had fortified themselves in two block houses, at Little
Harbour. These block houses were constructed of logs,
raised up around a vault first dug in the ground. The
buildings were covered over, had each a heavy door, and
were quite a safe fortification in Indian warfare. At the
mouth of Barneys River, near the site of the burying
ground, the Micmacs were entrenched in a similar fort.*
" There was no fighting for some weeks. The parties
kept a careful eye upon each other ; there was no friendly
intercourse between them, but there was no actual conflict.
" One night a party of the Micmacs went out " torching "
(catching fish by torchlight). They were watched by the
Canibas, who ascertained that they did not return to their
fort after they returned to the shore, but lay down on the
bank, about midway between the fortifications of the
hostile parties. This was too powerful a temptation to be
resisted. Two canoes came upon them, filled with armed
men. They were surprised and butchered, except two,
who effected their escape.
" These had rushed to the water and swam for life, and
* The old Indian fortifications were a. sort of palisaded enclosures, formed
of trees and stakes driven into the ground between them, with branches of
trees interlaced. In times of war the women and children were always kept
in such fortifications. After obtaining axes from Europeans they may have
constructed one like a block house, as here mentioned. There is a sort of dim
tradition of a French fort at Merigomish. We are satisfied that this is a mis
take, but probably the idea rose from a Micmac fortification of this kind.

35
were hotly pursued. But passing a place where a tree
had fallen over into the water from the bank, and lay
there with a quantity of eelgrass piled and lodged upon
it, they took refuge under the eelgrass and under the tree,
and their pursuers missed them in the darkness. After
the search was abandoned and the canoes had returned,
the two men came forth from their hiding place and
hastened home to spread the alarm.
" Their dead companions had been scalped and their
bodies consumed by fire. This news roused all the war
riors, and they resolved immediately to attack the party
that had committed the outrage and avenge it. They had
a small vessel lying inside the long bar that makes out at
Merigomish. This was immediately emptied of its ballast,
drawn across the Big Island beach, filled with men,
arms and ammunition (for it was since the advent of the
French), and immediately moved up to the forts of the
Canibas, where it was run ashore. The party was led by
a "keenap," a "brave," named Thunder, or Caktoogow,
or, as this name first rendered into French and then
transferred back into Indian, has come down, Toonale
(Tonnerre). They ran the vessel ashore, and, in his
eagerness for the encounter, the chief jumped into the sea,
swam ashore and rushed upon the fort without waiting
for his men.
"Being a mighty Powwow, as well as a warrior, he
could render himself invisible and invulnerable, and they
fell before him, as we would say, like the Philistines
before Samson and his jaw bone of an ass.
" Having despatched them all he piled their bodies into
the building and set fire to it, serving them as they had
served his friends. When all was accomplished, his
wrath was appeased.
" He then, at the head of his men, walked up towards
the other fort without any hostile display, and the Abenaki
chief directed his men to open the door for them and

36
admit them in a peaceful manner. This chief had taken
no part in the fray. He had disapproved of the attack
upon the torching party, and had endeavored to dissuade
the other from it. So when Toonale entered his fort there
was no display of hostility. After their mutual saluta
tion, Toonale dryly remarked, 'Our boys have been at
-play over yonder.'* 'Serve them right,' answers the
chief, ' I told them not to do as they did. I told them it
would be the death of us all.'
" It is now proposed that they shall make peace and
live in amity for the future. A feast is made accordingly
and they celebrate it together. After the eating comes the
games. They toss the alkestakun — the Indian dice. They
run, they play ball. A pole is raised at the edge of a
void space, some three hundred yards across. The par
ties arrange themselves four or five on each side. The
ball is thrown into the air, and all hands dart toward it
to catch it. He who succeeds in catching it before it
strikes the ground darts away to the pole, all on the oppo
site side pursuing him, and if they can catch him before
he reaches the pole, his party loses, and the one who
seizes him throws up the ball and another plunge is made
after it; it is seized and the fortunate party dashes off
again for the pole, and the excitement is kept up amid
shouts and bursts of laughter, until the game is finished.
" This kind of game at ball is called ' tooadijik.'
Another kind is called Wolchamaadijik, the ball being
knocked along on the ground. ' Did they not wrestle ? '
I enquired of my friend Peter. ' Oh, no,' was the reply.
' Wrestling is apt to lead to a quarrel, and they would not,
under the circumstances, run any risk on that score.'
" In all the games the Micmacs get the victory. And,
if they are impartial historians, they usually beat in their
wars with the other tribes and with the whites. TJnfor-

• Compare 2 Sam. 3, 14.

37
tunately we have not the records of the opposite parties of
Mohawks and Abenakis, but if we may judge from what
takes place among other nations, their accounts would
present a very different view.
" But, to return to the fort at Little Harbour. After the
games were ended, the Caniba chief gives the word
Novgooelnumook, ' Now pay the stakes.' A large blanket
is spread out to receive them, and the Canibas strip them
selves of their ornaments and cast them in. The follow
ing articles were enumerated by the historian : Meehoowale,
epauletts, Pugalak, breastplates, Neskumunul, brooches,
Nasaboodakun, noserings, Nasogwadakunul, finger-rings,
Nasunegunul, a sort of large collar loaded with ornaments,
more like a jacket than a collar ; Epelakunul, hair binders,
Egatepesoon, garters, sometimes, as in the present case,
made of silver ; Ahgwesunabel, hat-bands. These arti
cles were piled in and the blanket filled so full that they
could scarcely tie it. Then another was put down and
filled as full. After this the Canibas returned to their
own country. A lasting peace had been concluded, which
has never yet been violated, and it is not likely it ever
will be."

CHAPTER III.

THE FRENCH IN PICTOU.

The period of Micmac ascendancy in Nova Scotia, was
followed by the time of its colonization by the French,
and of contention between them and the English for its
possession. But at this time Pictou is scarcely ever men
tioned. When we consider the resources of the county,
and the skill of the French in availing themselves of all

38
the advantages of the country, it seems quite surprising
that they had done so little here. But the .coal and other
mineral resources were in the interior and unknown.
Cape Breton was more convenient for the fisheries, and,
for agriculture, they had been led by their experience of
the richness of the marshes of the Bay of Fundy, to seek
that kind of land, of which there is little in Pictou, and
that of inferior quality. Besides they had made consider
able settlement at Tatamagouche, which, being nearer
than Pictou to Truro, was the point of communication by
water, between their settlements on the Basin of Minas,
and those in Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton.
At all events there is not a county in the Province, in
which they have left fewer traces of their presence than
in Pictou.
Halyburton says, " The French had made a few incon
siderable settlements here previous to the peace of 1763,
but upon the reduction of Canada they deserted them,
and in a few years they were again covered with wood."
All we know of their presence here is by what the first
English settlers found on their arrival. We thus learn
that their largest settlement was on the big island of
Merigomish. A small channel which makes off from the
main one there, is still known as tiie French Channel.
It has good water and is well sheltered, and is said to
have been used by them for running into with their small
shallops, in which they prosecuted the fisheries or traded
with the other French settlements. At the head of this
were found the remains of several dwellings. Within
the memory of persons still living, the foundations of
seven or eight could still be traced. There was but little
land cleared ; but there were gardens or orchards, the
bushes in which continued to bear for many years. A
variety of articles were picked up here, shovels, knives,
spoons, crockery and a few coins. Towards the west of
the island the remains were seen of a similar settlement,

39
and among other articles found was the debris of a forge,
with axes unfinished and one in the tongs.
They had also a small settlement at the mouth of the
French River, from which it derives its name. Here also
various articles have been picked up.
A few also had settled at the upper part of Little Har
bour, where they also seem to have been employed in
fishing. The first Enghsh settlers found there the remains
of their old dwelling houses. An old man, in 1873,
informed me that in his boyhood he had picked up beads
and other articles among the ruins, and that some of the
first settlers had told him that they had found a brass
kettle under almost every chimney. A well was found
on what was afterward Lauder's farm, which was long
afterward known as the French well. Some traces of
them were also found at the harbour of Pictou. A log
shanty stood at the mouth of the Middle River, and
another on the East River. Some pine had been cut down
at the Town Gut and along the stream upward, and the
spot where Barrie's (late Dickson's) mill now stands,
selected as the site of a mill. The remains of a cellar,
which had been well constructed with logs was, for a
length of time, to be seen about half way between the
Town Gut Bridge and Browns Point.
At what has long been known as the Burying Ground
Point, inside the entrance of the harbour, on the north
side, now known as Seaview Cemetery, was found a saw-
pit fallen in, with a log upon it in which the whip saw,
much rusted, still remained. It is believed by many, on
the assertion of some Micmacs, that this was used as a
burying ground by the French, and in the faith of this
several Roman Catholics have been buried there, and with
their Protestant neighbors sleep their last sleep in peace.
The remains of two or three huts were also found near
ihis point toward the entrance of the harbour.
Evidence of their presence was also found at Carriboo.

40
The remains of three houses were found on the island^.
and of three or four on the mainland ; one at Rod. McLeod's
and another at Three Brooks, now Weir's place. Here
they had fenced the marsh and used it for pasturing and.
feeding a few cattle, but they had very little land cleared.
They are generally spoken of as having been principally
engaged in fishing, but the tradition is that the shores of
this harbour then abounded with large oak, which they
cut and shipped to Louisburg, where it was largely used
in the construction of the city, and probably also in ship
building. Various remains have been found at different places in
the county, wrhich tell the tale of the presence of visitors
at this period, but which afford us scarcely any further
information regarding them. The hilt of a sword, with
only a small portion of the blade remaining, and supposed
from its appearance, to have been French, was picked up
on Carriboo Island, and some soldiers' buttons on the
mainland, near the entrance of Carriboo Harbour. Two
muskets, with bayonets attached, were dug up at Fraserst-
Point, and the remains of some guns, so decayed that both
wood and iron fell to pieces when handled, were turned.
up by the plough near the Beaches.
, Tho late Mr. Hugh- Fraser, some time after he had.
settled at Middle River Point, turned up with the plough
parts of a human skeleton, alongside of which he found
a sword, still of such excellent temper that the point
could be bent to touch the hilt. Alas for military glory !
It was taken to a blacksmith's shop and there made into
knives for splitting mackerel. When digging the bank
at the east side of the West River for the erection of the
bridge at Durham, the workmen came upon the bones of
a very large man, covered with a flat stone. In digging
a well at Dunbar's, near South Pictou, a skeleton was
found about eighteen inches below the surface ; the bones-
were of small size, and were supposed to have belonged

41
to a young person or a female. Other remains of the
same kind have been found at other places, all telling of
visitors previous to the English settlement. " Only this
and nothing more."
Such are all the facts we have been able, after diligent
enquiry, to collect regarding the French settlement of
Pictou. We had despaired of ever being able to know
anything of those of whom these remains speak. Unex
pectedly, however, we have become able to give the name
of at least one settler. A number of years ago Charles
McGee, of Merigomish, coming from the Strait of Canso,.
as he passed Big Tracadie, lodged at the house of a Mr.
Petitpas ; during the evening, finding that he was from
Merigomish, the conversation turned on the original
French settlement, when he learned that Mr. P's father
had been one of the settlers there, and his mother, who-
was then very old and infirm, said, that if able to go to
the place, she could yet show them where she had buried
a large brass kettle, containing a number of household
articles. Of this era, tradition has preserved some faint reminis
cence of a fight between an English and a French man-
of-war in the harbor. But the details are given in such
different and even contradictory ways, that while I have
little doubt of some such affair having taken place, I am
unable to give the particulars. The first settlers found.
in one tree back of the town a piece of chain-shot, and in
another a cannon-ball lodged, which they considered as
evidence of such an encounter. According to tradition,.
the French had some guns landed and mounted on the
battery hill.
There is also a tradition of the capture, off Pictou island,.
of a valuable French vessel on the way down from
Quebec. Word had been received of the sailing of such a
vessel, and accordingly one or two English vessels laid in
wait under the island till she made her appearance, whea

42
they put out and captured her, but the whole is involved
in obscurity.
At what time they left Pictou, cannot be determined
exactly. At the time of the expulsion of the Aeadians
from the district around Truro, then known as Cobequid,
Colonel Monckton was ordered to send a detachment to
' Tatamagouche, to demolish all the houses they found
there, together with all the shallops, boats, canoes, or ves
sels of any kind, etc. ; and to give " particular orders for
entirely destroying and demolishing the villages of
Jediacke (Shediac), Ramsack (now Wallace), etc." How
far these injunctions w ere carried out, we have no infor
mation. It is not likely that those employed came as far
east as Pictou, but certain it is that all the French settle
ments along the North Shore of Nova Scotia were aban
doned shortly after, and the circumstances in which
articles were found leave little doubt that their departure
was hurried. It is said that those driven out moved
eastward, and formed the settlements of Tracadie and
Harbour Bushie, in the County of Antigonish.
As there were no English inhabitants in Pictou during
the period referred to, this county was the scene of none
of the atrocities inflicted by the Indians on the early Eng
lish settlements, though there is little doubt that the
Micmacs in this quarter had their share with their
brethren in the war carried on under the instigation oi
the French against the English in other parts of the Pro
vince. But in the year 1761, on the 15th October, as
stated by Mr. Murdoch, a treaty of peace was signed in
council with Janneoville Pectougawack (meaning Pictou-
man), chief of the Indians of Pictouck and Malagoniche
(Merigomish), and the way was thus opened for the
peaceable occupation of the place by English settlers.
We have not been able to find the record of this treaty,
and Mr. Murdoch could not direct us to the source of his
information. The name is not Micmac, and we believe

43
it is either a misprint or that the Micmacs have corrupted
the French name. At all events, we believe that the
party was the same person afterward known as Capt.
Toney. He is said to have been a Frenchman, who had
adopted the mode of life of the Aborigines, and had
acquired such influence over them that he was regarded
as a high chief, — that he spoke French well and English
tolerably, besides Micmac, — that he has dined at the
Governor's table and was able to conduct himself with
the politeness of a Parisian. He was the ancestor of the
present Toney family among the Micmacs, and they
assert that the treaty was made by him in the name of
the tribe — that on the part of the English, gun and bay
onet, and on the-part of the Micmacs, tomahawk, bow and
arrow, were solemnly buried in one grave on the Citadel
Hill, at Halifax, the latter weapons underneath. Perhaps
the name as given by Murdoch may have been a mis
reading for Toneyville. We may add, that from him
Toney River derives its name, but how it came to be
connected with him we have not been able to ascertain.
One incident, however, we shall give as connected with
this period, which we believe to be well established.
Among the first English settlers it was received as a well-
known fact, that a French war vessel had escaped from
Louisburg during the siege, containing treasure, and that
she had been chased into Carriboo Harbor. The entrance
being narrow, and the English probably not acquainted
with the navigation, did not venture to pursue. As she
did not come out, and could not be seen, it was supposed
that she had gone ashore in some creek. Accordingly,
soon after the arrival of the first English settlers, Dr. Har
ris and his brother Matthew resolved on a search for her.
They set out in a log canoe and paddled down the har
bor and round the coast to Carriboo Harbor, thence along
the south shore of the harbor till they reached Carriboo
River, then up that stream to where it forks. Here they

44
resolved to separate, each following a branch of the river,
agreeing that if either should succeed, he should sound a
horn to call his brother. Matthew took the Little River,
which joins the main stream at a course nearly at right
angles with it. On going round the point formed by
their juncture, he had proceeded but a short distanoe
when, in a little cove, at what is now George Morrison's
place, he suddenly came upon the object of their search,
snugly beached. The channel of the river is deep, but
somewhat crooked, and tho^e on board must have been
thoroughly acquainted with it to have brought her here,
and to have selected this spot to run her ashore. So
completely concealed was she by the bend in the shore
and intervening woods, that Harris was within ten yards
of her before she was seen.
He immediately blew his horn, when his brother came,
and they gave a cursory examination of their prize. She
was a sloop, a neat and trim vessel. She had been
armed, but the cannon were out of her, it was supposed,
having been thrown overboard. All her rigging still
remained on her.
From the position in which she lay, they supposed
that there would be no difficulty in getting her off,
and they left, intending to return speedily with pro
per appliances for the purpose. On arrival home, they
freely made known their discovery, but before they could
return, the Indians had set fire to her. When spoken to
about their conduct, they explained that she had been
left in their charge by the French owners, with instruct
tions not to touch her unless the English discovered
her, but if they did, to burn her at once, which they did.*
* About fifty years ago James A. Harris, of Carriboo Island, a son of
Matthew, and who frequently told this story as he received it from his father,
pointed out to his son James the keel and some of the timbers still standing.
One who was present tried them with his axe, and pronounced them to be of
American white oak. Probably some remains of her might yet be found in
the mud.

45
It is certain that vessels escaped from Louisburg with
treasure during the siege, and there is strong reason to
believe that this had contained valuables, which those on
board, when they abandoned her, could not carry away
and concealed. About the year 1802 a vessel one evening
came to anchor off the mouth of the harbour, and a boat
with a strong crew put off from her, and was seen going
up the river. It was not seen to return, but early
the next morning the vessel got under weigh and.
departed. Shortly after, some of the people going up
the river found, at the head of the tide, a place bearing
all the marks of their having been at work. There was
a hole from four to six feet square, and not very deep,
perhaps four feet, with hand-spokes, whose position
showed that they had been used in prying something
like a chest out of the bottom of the hole.
It is said that on examination the trees around were
found to have upon them marks pointing in the direction
of where the hole was. This place is at some distance
from the place where the vessel was ashore, and on the
other branch of the river, but we can easily understand
the wisdom of seeking such a place of concealment.
A settler who lived near, is reputed to have found a
large sum of money. There have been various stories
of the French burying money, which have led parties
foolishly to dig in various places. That in the hurry of
leaving and in the expectation of returning, they some
times buried some of their possessions, we have reason toj
believe, but it was little money they had to bury, and'
what they had they carried away. We are generally
incredulous regarding all stories of money found, but the
information we have received, leads us to give some credit
to this case. A son of the settler referred to, told a gentle
man who reported the case to me, that it was true — that he
and his sister, both then children, first found the money
under a stump, that it consisted entirely of old coins,

46
strange to him, but whether French or not he did not
know ; that they told their father of it, who gathered
them, but gave them none of it. The story commonly
received is that he took it to his merchant who shipped it
to England, both agreeing to say nothing about the mat
ter lest government should claim the amount. The
merchant in the meantime supplied the settler abundantly
with articles for his fumily, but afterward failed, so that
they received little more for their find. Other facts that
we have, give probability to the story.

CHAPTER IV.

FIRST ENGLISH SETTLEMENT OF PICTOU — 1765-1773.
During the war on this continent between the English
and French, which resulted in the taking of Louisburg
and Quebec, and was terminated by the peace of 1763,
the settlement of Nova Scotia engaged considerable atten
tion in the old colonies. About the years 1760 and 1761
a considerable number of persons removed from different
parts of New England and settled several townships in
the western parts of the Province. So little, however, was
known of Pictou at this time, that in a description of," the
several towns in the Province, with the lands compre
hended in and bordering on said towns," drawn up by
the Surveyor General in the year 1762, by order of
Lieutenant-Governor Belcher, for the information of the
Home Government, it is stated that " from Tatamasrouchfi
to the Gut of Canso there is no harbour, but a good road
under the Isle Poitee (Pictou Island). No inhabitant ever
settled in this part of the country, and consequently no
kind of improvement."

47
At the conclusion of the war, a large number of influen
tial persons, not only in the New England States, but in
other of the Old Colonies, took up the subject of the
colonization of the Province, and it is in this way that
Pictou first comes into notice in the early settlement of
Nova Scotia. Their views are thus stated in a letter from
the Lieutenant-Governor of the Province to the Lords
Commissioners of Trade and Plantations, dated 30th
April, 1765 :—
" By the late arrival of several persons from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and
some of the neighbouring colonies, we have the prospect of having this
Province soon peopled by the accession of many settlers from these parts.
" These persons have come on behalf of several associations of commercial
people and others in good circumstances, to view the country and examine
what advantages the settlement and cultivation of it may produce. By their
accounts the considerable numbers of Germans annually imported in the
Colonies from whence they come, has so overstocked the good lands, and
those situated within any convenient distance of -navigation, that not only
many of them have lately been obliged to move into Carolina and Virginia,
but that there are also now numbers of useless persons among them. And
this is not the only motive they have for making settlements in this country
for the merchants in those parts are much at a loss to provide an export in
return for the British commodities, and, therefore, have turned their thoughts
to this Province for fish and hemp, to produce which, of the best kind and
greatest abundance, nothing but a sufficiency of labouring people is wanting,,
and thus those people being employed, they will be sufficiently prevented
from any attention to manufactures.
•' And indeed, my Lords, what seems to promise the certain acquisition of
these great advantages from the present applications, is that these settlements
are to be undertaken by people of very sufficient and able circumstances, who
propose the establishment of many German families, by which means the
annual current of Germans to America will very suddenly he diverted into
this Province, from whence it must receive a very considerable degree of
strength, for these frugal, laborious and industrious people will not only improve
and enrich their property, but pertinaciously defend it.
" Among the several persons who have arrived here with a view to these
undertakings is Mr. Alexander McNutt, who has frequently attended at your
Lordships' Board. His applications are of a very considerable degree and
extent, and he produces many letters from the associations I have before men
tioned, soliciting him, in the most pressing manner, to use his utmost
endeavours to procure for them the tracts of land for which they apply, and on
such conditions as he had obtained at your Lordships' Board the 27th
February, 1761, for all such settlers as he would introduce into this Province."'

48
When we remember that at this time the whole of
what is now the Western States was still open for settle
ment, it seems curious to find parties in the Middle States
a century ago representing the good soil there as already
overstocked, and in consequence seeking land in Nova
Scotia. Accompanying this representation was a list of
firms or companies, to the number of fifteen, among
whom we notice James Lyon, of Trenton, and " Dr.
Franklin & Co.," who sought grants of land, some of
100,000 acres and some of 200,000, making altogether
2,000,000 acres. The Dr. Franklin mentioned here is we
believe the great Benjamin, who was at that time influen
tial in England and interested in the settlement of this
Province. In a petition on their behalf, McNutt says,
*' that he did engage with several persons in Ireland,
Pennsylvania, Virginia, and other parts of His Majesty's
dominions, to provide lands in this Province on the terms
contained in his proposals, for the settlement of as many
families as they would furnish ; that the several persons
so engaging with him had been at considerable expense
and trouble to fulfil their engagement by procuring
many families for that purpose, who are now waiting
with much anxiety and impatience to transport them
selves to this Province."
Among the speculators at that time engaged in taking
up land and bringing settlers to the Province, none was
more active than Mr. McNutt, who is styled by Halybur
ton "an enthusiastic adventurer from the North of
Ireland," who had already been the means of settling
Truro, Onslow, and Londonderry.*
The result of these applications was, that in June of
that year it was agreed in Council to reserve 200,000
acres for a company consisting of the Rev. James Lyon,
* He was also engaged afterward in settling portions of the County of
Shelburne. At the close of his life he resided on an island there, still
called McNutts Island, and was drowned crossing to thc shore.

49
McNutt, and thirteen others, principally residing in the
city of Philadelphia, of land " between Onslow, Truro,
and the lands granted to Colonel DesBarres at Tatama-
;gouche." In July, on their representing that they had
at considerable expense and fatigue viewed the 200,000
acres reserved for them, and found that there was not the
.quantity applied for there, it was resolved that they
should have " liberty to chooso the aforesaid quantity
between Tatamagouche and Picto."
At the same time 1,600,000 was reserved for McNutt
and his associates at various places, among which is a
block of 100,000 acres at Pictou.
At this period land was being granted by order of the
British Government to various individuals, principally
officers of the army and navy, for services during the
war. It was in this way that two years later the whole
of Prince Edward Island was granted in one day.
Accordingly, on the 15th of October, five grants passed
nominally for 20,000 acres each, though in reality
containing much more, embracing the whole eastern half
of the county.
In accordance with the resolutions above mentioned,
there was a lot of 100,000 acres granted on the same day
to McNutt and some of his friends, and on the 31st
another nominally for 200,000 acres to the Philadelphia
Company, commonly known as the Philadelphia Grant,
to which we shall have occasion more particularly to
refer presently. Thus in one month, and principally in
one day, a district not exactly coinciding with the county
of Pictou, but embracing the larger portion of it, and also
a large part of the county of Colchester, was granted to
individuals, the most of it to speculators.
The names of the grantees of the first five mentioned
lots are John Major, John Henerker, John Haygens
(afterward corrected Godhard Huygens), John Fisher,
and John Wentworth. Major's grant fronted on Merigo-

50
mish Harbor, at its eastern end. To the west of this lay
Henerker's lot. In the rear of these and extending still.
further westward, was Huygens'. Of these parties w&
know nothing. The only mention of their names we
have seen is in a memorial from Sir John Wentworth, in
which he petitions against the escheating of these grants,
" on behalf of the most noble Duchess Dowager of
Chandois and Sir John Henerker, Bart., and member of
the British Parliament, heirs and proprietors of certain
lands at Pictou and Merigomish, formerly granted to
John Henerker and Godhard Huygens."
Fisher, we have heard, was a major in the army.
Wentworth, in a memorial at the close of the American
war, says, " That your memorialist and said John Fisher
were in His Majesty's service in America, and in conse
quence of their fidehty, and zeal in their duty, were
proscribed and exiled from the United States of America,.
their extensive property in New England confiscated,
and their means of improving their estate at Pictou
considerably diminished." By letters at that date, it
appears that he wTas then residing in London. His grant
is now only interesting as having given its name to that
part of the south side of the harbor immediately fronting
upon the town ; but to show how lands were granted at
that time, we may give the description of the grant. It
is as follows :
" Beginning at the north-east corner of McNutt's land, at a cove on the east
side of Pictou Harbor, and running south 47° east 456 chains on said McNutt's
land, thence south 808 chains on the same, thence east 74 chains on lot No.
' 1 (Huygens grant), thence north 600 chains on lot No. 3 (Wentworth grant),
thence east till it meets Merigomish Harbor, thence along the sea-coast and
harbor of Pictou to the first mentioned boundary, including the islands in the
harbor of Merigomish."
We may mention that the portions of these grants on
the shore nearly coincide with what was afterward called
the 82nd grant. Westward of Henerker's lot, and fronting
on the western part of Merigomish harbor, was what is-

51
still known as the Wentworth grant. Of ali the grants
given in that October, this is the only one which was not
escheated. As it is thus the oldest grant in the county,
we may give its boundaries as originally described :
" Beginning at a cove in Merigomish harbor, bounded on lot No. 2 (Fisher's
grant), and to run west 56 chains, thence south 600 chains (or 7 \ miles) on
said lot, thence east 352 chains on lot No. 1 (Huygens), thence north 648
chains (over 10 miles) on lot No. 4 (Henerker's lot) to Merigomish harbor,
thence to be bounded by said harbor to the first mentioned boundary."
Wentworth, afterward Sir John, was a native of N ew
Hampshire, afterward Governor of that Province, and at
a later period of Nova Scotia (1792—1808). He was at
that time Surveyor of His Majesty's woods in North
America, an office which he continued to hold till the
American Revolution, after which he held the same
position in the remaining Provinces.
The conditions of these grants were the same, viz.: that
the grantees should pay a quit rent of one farthing per
acre for the one-half within five years, and the whole to
be payable within ten years ; and secondly, to settle Pro
testant settlers upon it in the proportion of one person to
every 200 acres within ten years from the date of their
grant. These conditions were never fulfilled, and, so far
as we know, no effort was made for that purpose by any
of the parties except Wentworth, at a period, however,
after the time fixed ; and, as already mentioned, all the
grants except his were escheated.
We may mention here that the only mines reserved on
these lands were gold, silver and coal, so that the present
owners of the Wentworth grant are proprietors of all
other minerals they can find on their land and already
portions of it have been found to be rich in iron ore.
On the same day with the date of these grants another
passed to Mr. Alexander McNutt, William Caldwell,
Arthur Vance and Richard Caldwell, of a tract of land :
" Beginning at a cove on the east side of Pictou Harbour (this must have
been near the mouth of the East River) and running south 47°, east 550 chains.

52
thence south 1,040 chains (13 miles), thence west 872 (nearly 11 miles), thence
north till it meets the innermost river of Pictou, tbence bounded by said
river and harbour of Pictou to first mentioned boundary. Also one other
piece beginning at a point bearing north 33 east, from the little island in the
harbour of Pictou (this was at Brown's Point), and running north to the sea
shore (near Roddicks, Carriboo), thence to be bounded by the seashore and
harbour of Pictou to the first mentioned boundary, including Pictou Island."
This was afterward known as the Irish grant. Of the
parties to it, except McNutt, all we know is that they are
said to belong to Londonderry, in Ireland. It will be seen
that it embraced all the southern and western shores of
the harbour from Fishers Grant round to the West River,
and the land into the interior to the southward to a dis
tance of about 20 miles, embracing both banks of the
East and Middle Rivers and the west side of the West, to
the distance of about a mile above Durham. It also
embraced the block on which the town now stands, com
mencing at Browns Point and extended round the coast
to Carriboo. •
It will also be seen that it covered nearly all the most
desirable portions of the harbour, and had the first settle
ment been upon it, the effort might have been more
successful, and much of the suffering afterward experi
enced might have been avoided.
But the grant, which is of special interest, as connected
with the early history of Pictou, was the last one men
tioned as having passed at that time, usually known as
the Philadelphia grant. It is dated the 31st October, and
it is to Edmund Crawley, Esq., (for 20,000 acres) the Rev.
James Lyon, John Rhea, Richard Stockton, George Bryan,
William Symonds, John Wykoff, Isaac Wykoff, Jonathan
Smith, Andrew Hodge, John Bayard, Thomas Harris,
Robert Harris, and David Rhea for 180,000 acres.
Of these grantees Lyon and the Harrises will come
under our notice again. Of the others, we know nothing
except that they resided in Philadelphia, from which

53
circumstance the company and the grant derived their
name. The following is the description of their land :
" Beginning at the southwest bounds of lands granted to Joseph Frederick
Wallet Des Barres, and running thence west 550 chains on ungranted lands,
thence south 580 chains on ungranted lands, and on the township of London
derry, thence east 800 chains on the township of Onslow, thence south 900
chains on said township and on ungranted lands, thence 1,000 chains on
ungranted lands, thence north 932 chains, more or less, till it meets the west
ernmost river of Pictou, thence the course of the said river on the north side,
till it meets the westernmost boundary of land granted to Alexander McNutt
and associates, thence running north on said lands till it meets the seashore,
thence the course of the seashore till it meets the northeast boundary of lands
granted to J. F. W. Des Barres aforesaid, thence on his eastern boundary 480
chains, on said lands to the first mentioned boundary ; together with the
islands adjacent, containing^on the whole 200,000 acres, more or less.
"In manner and form following, viz.: one equal undivided tenth part to
Edmund Crawley, Esq., and the remaining nine-tenths to and among the
others mentioned."
The line of the Des Barres grant referred to, commenced
at Point Brule, between two and three miles to the west
of the present county line, so that the Philadelphia grant
included not only the greater portion of the township of
Pictou, but a large portion of the county of Colchester,
including part of the River John road settlement to Point
Brule, a large part of New Annan, the whole of Earltown
and Kemptown, with a considerable portion of Stewiacke.
In fact, it would have made a county of itself.
But it will also be seen that on Pictou Harbour it had a
very small frontage on the water, including only that part
of the shore from Browns Point to the head of the harbour.
All the shore from Browns Point eastward round to
Carriboo had been obtained by McNutt. This naturally
belonged to the Philadelphia Company's grant, and it
plainly appears that, while acting for his friends in Phil
adelphia, he had also been acting for himself and some
others, and had managed very unfairly to get this into his
own hands. This we know was afterwards the subject
of bitter complaint against him, we have no doubt, justly,
and, as we shall presently see, it was a great obstacle in
the way of the settlement of the place.

54
The conditions of these two grants are somewhat
curious. They were, first, that the grantees should pay a
quit rent the same as on the other grants. Secondly, that
they plant, cultivate, improve or enclose one-third part
within ten years ; one other-third part within twenty
years, and the other one-third within thirty years ; other
wise, such portions as are not improved to be forfeited.
These terms we think simply impossible to be fulfilled.
Thirdly, they were to plant, within ten years from the
date of the grant, one rood of every 1,000 acres with hemp,
and to keep a like quantity of land planted during the
successive years. This condition is in a good many grants
of the time. It probably originated in the desire of the
British Government to be independent of foreign nations,'
in providing cordage for her marine. But though this is
the condition on which so much land in the Province is
held, yet, as the late L. Doyle remarked in the Legislature,
there is now not sufficient raised in the Province for crim
inal purposes. The last condition was, that they wrere to
settle one-fourth ofthe land within one year after the 31st
day of November next, in the proportion of one Protestant
person to every 200 acres ; one other fourth within two
years ; one other fourth within three years, and the
remaining fourth within four years, or the land so unset-,
tied should revert to the Crown. The last condition was
an excellent one, and had it been carried out to any extent,1
it would have tended to the rapid settlement of the
country. But the time allowed was too short. Altogether,'
the terms were unreasonably severe. For five months the;
agents had remained seeking better terms, and then, as
the Governor says, " it was with great difficulty they sub
mitted to these terms, which they thought severe, and it
was with reluctance they were granted, because they were
not strictly conformable to the King's intentions," and
they only accepted them on condition that they should
be at liberty to avail themselves of such better terms as

55
could be obtained by representations to the Home Govt
ernment. It does not appear that McNutt made any attempt to
settle his land, and the grant was consequently escheated
in the year 1770, but not until the first settlement had
been made by the Philadelphia Company, and till his
•grant had proved an obstacle to their progress. The
Philadelphia Company, however, seemed determined
honestly to carry out their engagement as far as practicable.
In a memorial to the Governor, dated 21st August, 1766,
they represent that " they have received many disappoint
ments, in their intentions of settling the lands granted to
them between Pictou and the townships of Onslow and
Truro, by the misrepresentations of one Mr. Anthill, who
had represented the country as rocky, barren and unfit
for improvement, and likewise made very injurious repre
sentations of the Government of this Province, all which
very much prejudiced the persons who had engaged to
settle the lands. That they had likewise met with a very
great disappointment, on finding that a considerable part
of the harbour of Pictou, by some mistake in the survey,
was not granted to them, as they expected, all which,
•with many obstructions from the scarcity of money and
the stagnation of trade, occasioned by the Stamp Act
taking place at that time, rendered them incapable of
making any settlements this year, as intended." In con
sequence of this, they were allowed to the 1st of June
following to settle the first portion of settlers.
On the 5th of May, 1767, seven ofthe Company, George
Bryan, William Symonds, Andrew Hodge, Robert Harris,
John Bayard, and John Smith, all of Philadelphia, and
Thomas Harris, of Baltimore County, in the Province of
Maryland, executed a power of attorney to John Wykoff, of
Philadelphia, merchant, and Dr. John Harris, of Baltimore
County, empowering them to grant and sell, in the name
•of the Company, their land, on such terms as they should

56
see fit. The Rev. James Lyon, who was already in the
Province, afterward executed a similar paper to Harris.
They also despatched a small brig, called the Hope,.
Captain Hull, of Rhode Island, with six families of settlers.
and supplies of provisions for their use. These families
consisted of Dr. Harris, the agent and wife, Robert
Patterson, who came as a surveyor for the Company,.
his wife and five children, the eldest nine years oldr
and the youngest only three months ; James McCabe,
wife and six children; John Rogers, wife and four
children; Henry Cumminger, wife and four or five
children, and a sixth family whose name is uncer
tain. Besides these, Patterson had with him a convict
servant. It was customary at that time in the old
colonies to sell criminals sentenced to penal servitude, to
serve out their sentence in a position similar to that of
slaves, to any who might be willing to buy them. Pat
terson had bought this man for a term of seven years,
which, we may here observe, he fully served. Thus the
company consisted of twelve heads of families, about
twenty children, and one convict servant, and possibly
one or two colored slaves.
The Hope sailed from Philadelphia toward the end of
May, and called at Halifax to obtain information regarding
the coast round to Pictou. Harris's power of attorney is
attested there on the 3rd June. Leaving Halifax after
a few days' stay, they reached the harbor of Pictou
on the 10th of June. The people of Truro had heard of
their coming, and five or six young men set out through
the woods to meet them and aid in commencing opera
tions. Of these we have heard the names of Samuel
Archibald, father of the late S. G. W. Archibald, John
Otterson, Thomas Troop, and Ephraim Howard. The
two latter we notice from the circumstance that, in
passing the mountains on the western border of the
county, they named the one Mount Thom and the other

57
Mount Ephraim, after themselves, names which they
have retained to this day.* They reached the harbor
the same afternoon that the vessel arrived, and made
large fires on the shore about Beck's place to attract her
up. Those on board saw the fires and supposed that.
they were made by savages, of whom they naturally
stood in terror. The vessel accordingly stood off and on
till next morning, and the company deliberated whether
to resist or ' submit to their mercy. Like true English
men, they chose the bolder alternative.
During the night their number was increased by Mrs.
Harris giving birth to a son, afterward known as Clerk
Tommy, having filled the situation of Clerk of the Peace
and Prothonotary for some years. He died in 1809, and
was buried in Pictou graveyard, where a monument stood
till recently to his memory, on which he was described as
" the first descendant of an Englishman born in Pictou.""
The next morning they saw the Truro party coming
along the shore, and by their spy-glasses, discovered, to
their joy, that they were whites, and as the vessel stood
in toward the shore, they heard the cheerful hail of friends.
That day they landed at the point just above the Town
Gut, which had been selected as the site of a town, as the
part of the Company's grant nearest to the entrance of th%.
harbour. The prospect was indeed dreary enough. One
unbroken forest covered the whole surface of the country
to the water's edge. What is now the lower part of the
town was then an alder swamp. All around stood the •
mighty monarchs of the wood in all their primeval
grandeur, the evergreens spreading a sombre covering'
over the plains and up the hills, relieved by the lighter
shade of the deciduous trees, with here and there some
tall spruce rising like a black minaret or spire above its.
fellows. But chiefly conspicuous to the eye of the obser-
* Some think that Mt. Thom derived its name from Thomas Archibald,.
but the tradition we have followed we think well founded.

58
ver were the tasselled heads of the white pines, for which
Pictou was afterwards so long distinguished — their
straight stems towering to the height of 150 or 200 feet,
" like masts of some huge admiral." * Some of the early
grants reserved all pine trees over two feet in diameter,
" suitable for His Majesty's navy," but here within sight
might be seen probably enough to have masted all the
ships, not only of His Britannic Majesty, but of all the
navies in Christendom. The scene was one on which tho
eye of the lover of nature might have gazed with delight,
but it is needless to say that these settlers looked upon
the matter with more practical eyes. The interminable
forest only presented itself to them as an insuperable
obstacle to their labours, and their hearts sank as they
contemplated the idea of wresting a subsistence from the
soil so encumbered.
Knowing the hostility which the Indians had main
tained to the English almost up to that period, and the
cruelties which they practised upon the infant settlements ;
familiar, too, with the tale of their atrocities in the colonies
which they had left, their minds were filled with fear of
the savages. Nor was this without reason. The French
were not yet without hope of regaining their ancient
power over this land by the expulsion of the English,
and with this view were still intriguing with the Indians.
During the two years previous the latter held meetings in
a hostile spirit, and on the last of these occasions had
declared their intention not to allow any settlement at
Pictou, on the north shore of the Province, f
* In the days of the pine timber trade, a tree that would not square a foot
to the length of sixty feet would be considered a small tree, not worth taking
while sometimes they stood so close together that the lumberers could not
take them all, lest in felling them they would break by falling across one
anothor. t " The last year they showed how capable the French are of drawing them
¦together whenever they think proper, which they actually did by some means
unknown to the Government, for the whole body of Indians were collected

59
When we add that there was not one English settler on
the north shore of the Province, from the Strait of Canso
to Bay Verte, or perhaps, even to Miramichi, we may pic
ture the loneliness of the little band, and need not wonder
that their hearts sunk within them at the prospect of the
toils and dangers before them.
What rendered this disappointment greater was, that
highly coloured representations had been made to them of
the country to which they were coming ; such as, that
they could get sugar off the trees, in fact, they had come
with such ideas of the place as are now entertained by
the emigrant to California. The advantages of those who,
in the years immediately previous, had removed from the
old colonies and taken possession of the clearances of the
French, and who had exchanged the rocky and barren
shores of New England for the rich marshes of the Bay
of Fundy, had excited high expectations regarding Nova
Scotia. The more bitter, therefore, was their disappoint
ment at the dreary prospect before them. After they
landed, Mrs. Patterson used to tell, that she leaned her
head against a tree, which stood for many a year after,
and thought that if there was a broken-hearted creature
on the face of the earth, she was the one. As she looked

from every part of the Province, and assembled on an island called Madame,
to the north East of Canso, and 'not far from the head of La Brador, and as
they passed through the different townships to their rendezvous they declared
they were to meet French forces and threatened to destroy the settlements
when they should return. This alarmed the inhabitants to so great a degree
that for several weeks together they were kept in continual apprehension, and
some part of the time even in arms ; and with difficulty this body of Indians
were dispersed, partly by the influence of some gentlemen, and partly upon
finding themselves deceived in their expected support from the French.
" This year they have assembled in like manner, although not in so great a
body, but with the same disposition, and some of them have, in addition,
declared they will not allow any settlements to be made at Pictou, and that part of
the coast of this continent which lies nearest St. Peters ; but they dispersed
upon the Government sending for a Canadian priest who officiates in the Bay
of Chaleurs." — Letter of Lieutenant-Governor, dated 3rd September, 1766.

60
upon her little ones left shelterless in the cruel wilderness,
among savages deemed still more cruel, she could only
cling to her husband with the cry, " Oh, Robert, take me
back." So discouraged were the whole band with the
state of matters, that the most of them were determined
to return in the vessel which brought them; but the
captain, after landing his passengers and supplies, slipped
out of the harbour in the night and left them to their fate,
probably with the concurrence of the agent.
We have no particular account of the subsequent
proceedings, but thc few facts we have gleaned we shall
put together as connectedly as in our power. The first
night on shore they spent under the trees, without even
a camp to shelter them, but the weather was warm and
they did not suffer from the exposure. Their first care,
Of course, was to provide some shelter, which they did by
the erection of rude huts. The agents of the company
proceeded to lay out a town where they had landed. A
half acre was assigned to each family, No. 1 being
McCabe's. At that point the trees were not large. He
immediately set to work and cleared his half acre, and his
descendants boast that he cut down the first tree in Pictou.
He had brought with him what they called a mattock, a
heavy instrument, on one side an axe and on the other a
grubbing hoe. Instead of chopping down the tree, his
practice was to take away the earth from the main roots and
cut off all the smaller ones, and then either leave it to fall
by the wind or drag it down and out of root. In this
way he cleared his lot, and instead of burning the trees, he
hauled them out to the tide. He was so prompt that
to reward him he was assigned another half acre. He
planted his lot with potatoes without ploughing, just
placing the seed under the moss, which had not been
burned, and which he supposed would serve for manure.
The land at this point was inferior, and not having been
prepared, only a few weakly sprouts appeared, and in the

61
fall the tubers were not larger than potatoe balls. Whether
the others planted more or fared better that season, we
have not ascertained, but not likely they did.
Around this point a plot was reserved for a town, and
hence the creek close by has over since been known as
the Town Gut. Farm lots were assigned to each settler.
Patterson, afterward the Squire, had his where his eldest
son, John, afterward resided, and where his great grand
son, Eenry, and the Fullartons now live, about two miles
from town. The remains of his orchard are still standing.
McCabe got his where W. Evans now lives, about five
miles from town, and another where the late George
Murray lived below Durham. But he was a Roman
Catholic, and. the company's grant bound them to settle
their land with Protestants, and hence the deed of his
lots is in his wife's name. He had been partly educated
for a priest, and managed to gain in this way an influence
over the Indians, who pointed out to him the place where
he took up his land as rich, which it proved to be.
John Rogers took up his land on Rogers Hill, which
derived its name from him, where his grandson recently
lived. The situation is a beautiful one, being nearly at
tbe summit ofthe hill. But it seems singular that, with
all the shore unoccupied, he should have gone so far back ;
but the land there was rich, with a fine lay, and it was
on the blazed path to Truro, which he supposed would
be the road to Halifax. Some of the apple trees raised
from seed which he brought with him from Maryland
are still standing.
Among the first efforts of the settlers was the opening
of a road, or rather blazing a path, to Truro. It is
claimed that this was done by Thomas Archibald, John
Otterson, of Truro, and John Rogers, the compass their
only guide. The road left the shore at the head of Pictou
harbor, above Evans, place, and went over Rogers hill,
following nearly the course of the present road through

62
Rogers settlement, beyond the Six and Eight Mile brooks.
I have been informed that the first course was by the
North Mountain and down the North River to Truro,
which is regarded by many as the shortest line between
the two places. But there were difficulties by that route,
and a line was opened over Mount Thom, for which
Thomas Archibald has always got the credit, which
continued to be the regular line of communication
between the two places till about the year 1831. After
reaching the summit, it descended till it struck the
Salmon River, which it crossed at Kemptown, thence
proceeding along the north side of the river, along the
upland, till within about four miles of Truro, and the
remaining part of the distance along the intervale.
It seems even at this early period to have been regu
larly laid out and duly measured. We find in the deeds
given shortly after such descriptions as the following : —
" At the south-west corner of land laid out on the Coby-
quid Road, between the three and four mile trees."
" Another lying on Cobyquid Road, beginning at a stake
and stones near the eight mile camp, thence westwardly
on said road a mile and a quarter." At what time this
road was laid out we are uncertain, but think it was the
summer they arrived. It may be mentioned that the
various streams on the west side of the West River derived
their names from the distance on this road from the point
of departure. Thus Forbes Brook was long known as
the Half-mile Brook, and so we have the Four, Six and
Eight-mile Brooks. It may be added that the farthest-up
settler on the Truro side for a long time was Thomas
Archibald, generally known as Uncle Tom, whose house
was long the home of the traveller.
" In addition," says Philo Antiquarius, "to the difficul
ties already mentioned, they were constrained to submit
to many indignities from the aborigines, who viewed
their operations with no friendly eye. These considered

63
the settlers as usurpers of their natural rights, who had
encroached on their undoubted property ; and it required
not a moderate portion of blull on the part of the civilized
to gain the good-will of the savage, nor inconsiderable
prudence to establish this amicableness when formed."'
We have heard, for example, of a white man taking a fish
from the river, and an Indian taking it from him, saying
it was not his. They would enter the houses of the
settlers, and help themselves to the cakes that the women
might be baking on the hearth, or other provisions, with
threatening gestures. The settlers cultivated their friend
ship by such means as playing draughts, wrestling or by
what was perhaps more effective, drinking fire water with
them. And though the Indians were fond of working on
their fears, when they could do so, they do not seem to;
have intended to do them any serious injury. In fact,
through kindness, they became attached to some of the
settlers, and showed them great kindness. Still incidents
sometimes occurred which showed that they were not to
be trifled with, and that their old savage nature might be
revived. A young man, wrestling with an Indian, by a
dextrous movement, which his opponent thought unfair,
tripped him. The Indian was very cross, and sometime
after, the young man going to the Middle River, where
the former had his camp, his squaw came out and earnestly
warned him away, saying that her husband would kill
him if he found him there.
" During the summer months the settlers experienced
little inconvenience from the weather, but they found the
winter much more severe and of longer continuance than
in their native clime. They were consequently ill prepared
to meet its blasts, and suffered intensely from its inclem
ency. "As their provisions diminished, they directed their
enquiries to the internal resources of the country, and this
investigation was amply recompensed by discovering the

64
forest to be plentifully inhabited by different species of
wild animals. In hunting these, the settler usually had
the Indian for an associate, and his faithful dog for a
follower. Among the several kinds of animals, none were
more valuable or abundant than the moose. The hunter,
in endeavoring to procure these, was subjected to much
fatigue, having frequently to pursue one of them a whole
day, with the probability of not overtaking it at the end.*
If, however, he were fortunate enough to catch it, the
quantity of excellent venison it produced might have been
deemed an equivalent for the labor of the chase, but,
besides, its skin, when properly prepared, was valued at
ten shillings, and was advantageously bartered for neces
saries to traders, who were accustomed to run into the
liarbour with small crafts.
" Necessity is truly the mother of art. Congregated as
the early inhabitants ofthis district were, in a place which
was devoid of every conveniency, where the most common
and indisponsible commodities were wanting, their creative
powers were laid under heavy contribution, in order to
provide for the deficiency, and their inventive genius was
called into ceaseless operation in constructing articles for
household use, in forming implements of husbandry, and
making instruments for hunting. They thus became more
ingenious and more fertile in resources — what, in America,
is called more ' handy ' — than if living in older inhabited
places." In the following spring they found it necessary to pro
ceed to Truro for seed ; the journey required three days
to go and as many to return. They returned, bearing
each a bag of seed potatoes on his back. The labour of
such a journey through trackless and intricate forests,
carrying a burden, we can scarcely estimate. That year
they planted the seed thus brought, and succeeded in
* The late James Patterson told the writer of starting one back ofthe town,
¦and killing it in descending the southern side of Green Hill.

65
raising a quantity of good potatoes, but not sufficienrfor
their subsistence, so that winter had not much more than
begun before their supply was exhausted.
The following year they again went to Truro for a sup
ply, but this time they cut the eyes out with a penknife,
by which they could carry a large supply, and that season
they raised enough for their subsistence during the follow
ing winter.
We subjoin slightly abridged, a return of the population
at the close of the year 1769, which is, probably, the first
census taken in this place, from which it will be seen
that besides the settlers we have mentioned there had
arrived here, in 1767 or 1768, the families of Robert
McFadden, the Rev. James Lyon, and Barnabas McGee,
and that the first of these left in 1769. By this return it
appears also that nine families arrived in that year, but
only five remained. Some of these were from Truro and
some were from Philadelphia. Of those from Truro
William Kennedy deserves special notice. He was one of
the grantees of Truro, but sold out there in 1768, and
obtained a lot in Pictou, at the Saw Mill Brook, extending
in front from the mouth of the brook up the harbour, now
the McKenzies' property. Here he made a clearing long
known as Kennedy's Clearing, or Kennedy's Hill. On
that stream he, in 1769, erected the first saw mill in the
county, which was the first frame building in Pictou. On
the 28th of September, 1774, he deeds " half of saw mill
now built on a stream now known by the name of the Mill
Brook." Two years later he returned to Truro, and in 1780
-settled in Stewiacke, where he was the first settler.
Moses Blaisdell also came from Truro. He settled on the
lot since occupied by the Becks, at the head ofthe harbour,
but afterward removed to the eastern part of the Province.
Of those who came from Pennsylvania we are certain
of the names of only two — Matthew Harris and Barnabas.
McGee. The former was an elder brother of the Doctor,

and settled on the" farm now owned by" George" Davidson*
about five miles from town. The remains of his cellar
may still be seen near the shore, and the apple trees
which he planted are still growing, and, if properly cared
for, might still yield good fruit. We may here mention
that all the American settlers planted fruit trees, and
originally of good quality, especially the apple trees.
The settlers that arrived afterward, being chiefly from
the Highlands of Scotland, paid no attention to the raising
of fruit, and their children after them showed the same
spirit, so that among them even yet but a few have
orchards of any account. McGee was a native of the
North of Ireland, who had emigrated to Pennsylvania or
Maryland, and there married a London woman. He had
his land on Rogers Hill, but being dissatisfied with the
want of frontage on the shore, he gave it up and was
afterward the first settler in Merigomish.
Thus during this year 67 souls had arrived and 4
children had been born, but 36 had removed, and o&e had
died, leaving the net population 84.
The return of produce raised in that year exhibits 64
bushels of wheat, 60 of oats, 7 of rye, 8 of barley, 6 of pease,.
and some flax, potatoes not given. When we consider that
this was the result of the labors of six famiHes at most,
in what we may regard as the second year of their labors
in the forest, the progress made, we think, was creditable.
Their show of cattle under the circumstances is very
good, viz., 6 horses, 16 oxen, 16 cows, 16 young cattle,, •
37 sheep, and 10 swine. We also find thus early the
commencement of our Marine, for Dr. Harris is credited
with owning a fishing-boat and a small vessel, and
Kennedy had a saw-mill.
Of those in the above list, Henry Cumminger, who had
originally come in the Hope, afterward removed, and
Nathan Smith, William Aiken and Thomas Skead seem
scarcely to have made any settlement. Other settlers also-

67

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68
arrived, among them, ft is said, two or three from Cum^
berland. Of these, one was named James Fulton, and
another, we believe, was named Watson. Fulton was born
in Ireland in the year 1726, and with his wife and family
emigrated to Halifax in 1761. He went first to Lahave
and afterward to Cumberland, whence he removed to
Pictou. His name appears in the list of town officers of
the latter place in 1775, but he removed shortly after to
the lower village of Truro. " In removing from Pictou
to Truro," says Miller, " they underwent great hardships ;
they had then to travel through the woods without any
roads, and carry their stuff and their children on their
backs. This journey occupied the whole of the week,
although they had the assistance of several men. While
on their way there came on a snow storm which caused
them much suffering, as they had to stop in the woods
for five nights, and one night in particular, their fire
works being damp, they could get no fire for some time,
and were in danger of perishing." Watson lived on the
west side of West River, and died there, and his farm
was afterward purchased by Robert Stewart. His family
moved away.
Of the settlers who arrived, some took up land of the
Philadelphia company, and occupied the west side of the
West River, nearly up to the ten mile house ; others
had their lots assigned to them in the rear, but discour
aged by their location in the woods, they either moved
away or squatted in other places round the harbour,
without titles. Besides those already mentioned, we find
the name of Jonas Earl, who had his farm to the west
of Watson's, already mentioned ; and Isaiah Horton, who
lived to the east of him, besides others, some of whose
names are given in the following list off town^ officers,;
which maj he inserted as a curiosity :

69 Onslow Sessions, February Term, 1775.
A list of Town Officers for the township of Pictou :
Clerk of the District  John Harris.
Overseers of the Poor  Eobert Mersom, John Harris, James Fulton.
Overseers of the Eoad  Matthew Harris, William Kennedy.
Surveyors of Lumber  Moses Blaisdell, William Aikin.
Constable  William Aikin.
Clerk of the Market.  James Fulton.
Culler of Fish  Abraham Slater.
Approved and established by the Sessijns.
(Signed,) NOAH MILLER, Clerk of the Peace.
One other settler is deserving of notice, viz., James
Davidson. He was a native of Edinburgh, where he
married and the first of his family was born. He
emigrated from Scotland in the same vessel in which the
Rev. Mr. Cock brought out his family. Soon after he came
to Pictou. He took up a considerable quantity of land,
but specially claims attention as being the first school
master in Pictou, the school-house being situated at Lyons
Brook. He also deserves notice as being a pious man,
who first cared for the spiritual interests of the settlers.
He collected the children on the Sabbath day for rehgious
instruction, so that Lyons Brook is known as the site of
the first Sabbath school in the County, and probably in
the Province, established even before Raikes began that
movement, which made these institutions part of the
regular machinery ofthe Christian Church. " Here," says
the editor of the " Colonial Patriot," " this worthy man
taught school seven days of the week, and, to our shame
be it spoken, the Sabbath was more sanctified then, when
there was no place of worship, except the school-house
where James Davidson taught and prayed, than it is now,
when churches are in abundance, even at our doors."
Partly from want of a minister in Pictou, and partly from
friendship for Mr. Cock, he removed to Truro about the
year 1776, and settled at Old Barns, where he died, leaving

70
no sons, but several daughters, whose descendants^'are
still numerous in Colchester.
We must remark here, however, that though these first
settlers had a number of hardships to endure, yet they
never suffered actual want ofthe necessaries of life. This
was owing partly to the arrangements of the Company,
and partly to their own industry and skill. The Company,
had sent a supply of provisions, we believe, for two years.
The settlers were acquainted with American hfe, and
soon learned to avail themselves of the resources of
the forest. The coasts abounded, particularly in spring
and fall, with fowl, so little disturbed by man, that they
were shot or even snared with httle trouble and in great
numbers.* Fish were abundant, the most valuable of
which was the salmon, which came into the rivers in
great numbers, as one said to me, " as thick as the smelts
do now." I have heard old people describe them even
at a later period, coming in such numbers into the West
River, that at a narrow place they would seem almost
jammed together, so that one would think he could walk
upon them. These they not only caught for their own
use, but salted for exportation.
As they cleared the land, they were able to grow crops,
potatoes never failing to yield a bountiful return ; if only
as much of the potatoe as had a sprout were planted.
But perhaps their chief resource was the wood of the
forest. The pine they split into four feet clapboards,
and they manufactured staves from the oak and ash, both
of which found a market in the old colonies.
Squire Patterson had brought a large supply of goods,
with which he traded with both the Indians and the
settlers. The former he supplied with guns, ammunition,
• I have heard James Patterson tell of even some€ime later, going to tfiw
Reaches in the month of March with his gun, and, after being away a day or
Ktwo, sending home for,a horse and sled, which he brought home loaded with
%iid geese,, which they salted down for their summer provision.

71
clothing, &<>., in exchange for furs, or sometimes fbTfood,
and the settlers he supplied with various articles, taking
the produce of their labor in return. Small trading
vessels from the old colonibs, employed principally in
fishing, brought them supplies, receiving in exchange
their fish, fur, and lumber. With all the toil and hardship
connected with their life, there must have been something
fascinating about it. The father of the Harrises having
visited his sons, endeavored to persuade them to return
to Pennsylvania, but they refused.
Of their social life at this period we have httle further
information. The peculiar circumstances ofthe first birth
have preserved the remembrance of it. We may add that
Dr. Harris' daughter, afterward Mrs. Robert Cock, born in
1769, was the first female child born in Pictou of Enghsh
parentage. Of marriages we have no record ; but we find
in the foregoing return mention of one death, in the family
of Oughterson, probably his wife, as he is returned as alone
in his family. Probably there were more, as before the
arrival of the Hector passengers, there was a burying
ground. This, which was the first in the county, was on
the farm owned by John Patterson, Squire's son. It was
situated to the west of his house, the same in wliich his
son Charles lived. The ground has long since been
ploughed over, and the spot cannot now be distinguished.*
We may say here that the people were generally serious
and religiously inclined, most of them being Presbyterians,
and the others, with one exception, New England Puritans.
It is said that there were sixteen families in Pictou on
the arrival of the Hector in 1775, but of these only six
remained, and we shall conclude this chapter with a more

• A woman who came to reside in that neighlborhood, not knowing there
had been a burying ground there, took hold of a stake and, working with it in
the ground, struck something that sounded hollow. She ran home to tell that
¦she had found what must be money. Further information, however, led to
Ahe donclusion that it must have been a coffin.

72
particular notice of these. Especially deserving of attention.
is Robert Patterson, made a magistrate in 1774, and hence
long known as Squire Patterson. He was a native of
Renfrew, in Scotland, but had for some time been in the
Old Colonies, residing, at least part of the time, at a place-
called Cross Roads, in the State of Maryland, about 14 miles
south of the Pennsylvania line, now called Churchville,.
a small place in the midst of a rich agricultural district..
Here also the Harrises resided. He had for some time
been employed as a pedler, and also, I have been informed,.
as a sutler to the army, previous to the peace of 1763.
He was for many years the leading man in Pictou, laid
out all the first lots, surveyed all the early grants, and
was prominent in all the public affairs of the place. " On
account of his steady adhesion to the soil and interests of
Pictou ; on account of his disposition and ability at all
times to relieve the distressed, and on various other
accounts, he fairly earned the title of Father of Pictou.
As such he was loved and esteemed by the inhabitants
during his life." *
His first location was, as we have seen, about two miles
from town ; but he afterwards obtained from McNutt a
claim, afterward confirmed by Governor Patterson, to a
lot a httle above Mortimers Point, where he built the first.
frame house in Pictou. There he continued to live till
his death, which took place on the 20th September, 1808.
His remains were interred in the old burying ground at
Durham. We shall have occasion to refer to him again.
Mrs. Patterson died March 6th, 1812.
Of his children who were with him in the Hope, his
eldest, known afterward as John Patterson, second, lived.
about two miles from town. He was an Elder in the-
Presbyterian Church, and died 8th May, 1820. He left a
* Editor Colonial Patriot. — An eight-day clock, brought with him in the-
Hope, is in the possession of a great grand daughter, Mrs. A. P. Boss, an*:
still marks the hours. -

73
large family, but there are now fewofhiswdescendants
living. The second James will still be remembered in
Pictou. He settled to the west of the town, where the
remains ofhis old orchard still exist. He also was for
many years an Elder in the Church, and died May 14th,
1857, aged 96. The third, David, lived above Mortimers
Point. He and his brother James usually worked together,
and their houses were the next frame houses in Pictou
after their father's. He died September 26th, 1844. The
Squire had two daughters also on board the Hope, Sarah,.
afterward Mrs. Mortimer, and Margaret, afterward Mrs.
Pagan. Of the children born after his arrival, Thomas
settled on Carriboo Island, and George was one of the
early settlers in Merigomish, where, and elsewhere, he
has left numerous descendants.
The Harrises, Matthew and John, were of the Scotch-
Irish race, their ancestors, Edward Harris and Flora
Douglas, having left Ayrshire, in Scotland, in the reign of
Charles IL, or James II. , losing a fine estate for their
attachment to Presbyterian worship. They settled near
Raphoe, in the County of Donegal, Ireland.
Thomas, grandson of Edward and father of Matthew
and John, and an older son, Robert, were members of the
Philadelphia company. He was then described as of the
county of Baltimore, Maryland, and his son as Doctor of
Medicine, Philadelphia. He died in Elizabethtown,
Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, on the 4th December,.
1801, at the age of 106, having seen three centuries.
John was the younger son, but had most to do with
the settlement of Pictou. He was born July 16th, 1739.
He acted as attorney of the Philadelphia company in
disposing of their land, and a host of deeds are recorded
from him, of lots not only along the West River and Rogers
Hill, but at Carriboo, Cape John, River John, and other
places. He was the first magistrate in the district,
having been appointed in 1769. He was first registrar of

74
<Te€dssr*and* held*-other - public - offices. He lived near
Browns Point, on a lot purchased from McNutt, and
confirmed to him by Governor Patterson, the same which
has since been occupied by his son Thomas and his
descendants. He, however, removed to Onslow about
the year 1778, where he was clerk of the peace for some
years, represented Truro in the House of Assembly from
1779 to 1785, celebrated marriages and was otherwise a
public man. He died in Truro April 9th, 1802, through
a fall from his horse. His descendants are numerous, a
considerable number being in Colchester and some in
Pictou, his eldest son Thomas having settled at the Town
Gut, and his youngest, John W., having been long High
Sheriff of the county.
Matthew Harris was born on the 12th January, 1735,
according to a statement received from the United States,
though his age as pubhshed at the time of his death,
would make the date of his birth four years earlier.*
Of his family, the eldest, Thomas, was a surveyor,
and laid out much of the land in this and the neighboring
county of Colchester. He divided the back lands of the
township of Truro under the writ of partition and made
a plan of them, dated August 12th, 1788, which is still
in use, and was for twenty years Sheriff of Pictou.
Another son died unmarried ; a third was lost at sea
coming round from Halifax ; a fourth, Robert, studied
medicine and lived on his father's place, but afterward
removed to Philadelphia, where he died ; a fifth son,
James, settled on Carriboo Island, and has left numerous
descendants, and his youngest son removed to Pennsyl-
* " Died, at Pictou, December 9, Mr. Matthew Harris, aged 88 years, the last
.head of a family of the first settlers from the State (province) of Pennsylva
nia. In the year 1763 (should be 1769) removed to Pictou, which at that
period was a rude, uncultivated wild, inhabited only by a few wandering
Indians and four families who arrived there shortly before from the same
,place. He has left 9 children, 40 grandchildren, and 30 great-grandchildren."
Newspaper, 1829.

75
vania. Of his- daughters, one was married to John
Patterson (deacon), hereafter to be noticed. The others
were also married, but their descendants have nearly all
removed from this county.*
James McCabe was a native of Belfast, who emigrated
to the old colonies. He there married Ann Pettigrew, a
North of Ireland Presbyterian. He was a Roman Cathohc
himself, but not a very strict one. He was too fond of '
the good things of this life to regard Lent or the other
fasts of that Church, and cared little for her holydays.
He attended Dr. McGregor's preaching, but never
became a decided convert. He had with him in the
Hope two sons, John and James, and four daughters.
The sons afterward married, and had, the one thirteen and
the other eleven children, or two dozen between them,
whose descendants are widely scattered. His four
daughters were married, one to a Watson and another to
a Snow, both of whom removed to the United States ; a
third to Robert Gerrard, but died when only 26 years of
age, and the fourth to Owen McKowen, or McEwan.
John Rogers was a native of Scotland, brought up in
Glasgow, where he married, his wife's name being Ritchie.
* We may here remark that the Harris family to which these two brothers
belonged is very widely spread through the United States. A gentleman of
the connection has sent me a genealogical chart containing the names of 425 1
persons, and adds, " leaving hundreds and even thousands of whom I know]
Kttle or nothing." He further remarks, " Taken as a whole they represent
a very respectable body of people, none of them very distinguished either for
wealth or genius, but nearly all of good character and fair respectability. Of
the 425 names given, about 40 are those of professional men, while several
ethers have "General," "Colonel," "Judge," or other title attached, and quite a
number have been liberally educated. One was a member of the Legislature
of Pennsylvania at the time of the Revolution, an active participant in the
affairs of church and state of the day, and one who had particularly distin
guished himself by his efforts to abolish slavery in that State ; and left a name
behind him for patriarchal wisdom and goodness. For many generations
christian faith and life have been manifested among them, several being elders
and pillars in the Presbyterian Church, from attachment to which their ances
tors were driven from Scotland."

76
He thence removed to Maryland. He never ^assumed
much prominence in the settlement of Pictou, but was a
quiet, industrious and inoffensive, and we have reason to
believe, a good man, as have been many of his descend
ants. He left one daughter and four sons, of whom all
but the youngest son were in the Hope. His eldest son,
James, lived on the farm, since owned by Alexander
McKay and Rae, above the Town Gut. His second son,
John, lived' and died on his father's homestead. His third
son, David, went to River John, where his descendants
are numerous. His youngest son died comparatively early.
Barnabas McGee, we have already mentioned. He was
lost, with his eldest son, going down to Newfoundland.
His descendants are still in Merigomish.
The Rev. James Lyon appears as one of the Phila
delphia company. In the petition from the inhabitants of
Pictou, in the year 1784, they say, "The Philadelphia
company made provision for, and sent, a minister, viz.:
the Rev. James Lyon, at its first settlement, yet he did not
continuo among us, which very much discouraged the
people and was exceedingly detrimental to the settling of
the place." It would appear from this that the company
had been mindful of the spiritual wants of the settlers.
In fact we have reason to believe that the zeal manifested
at that time in the old colonies in the settlement of the
Province, was induced partly by motives of religion, par
ticularly a desire that these regions where French Popery
had hitherto prevailed, should now be occupied by sound
} Protestantism. Mr. Lyon was regularly ordained by the
Presbytery of New Brunswick, in New Jersey, and came
to the Province in the fall of 1764 or early in 1765, and
was the first Presbyterian Minister in the Province of
whom we have any account. In the latter year he was in
Halifax. By the return which we have published, he
appears to have been residing here with his family since
1769. He has given his name to Lyons Brook, about

77
three miles from the town of Pictou. At different dates,
from 1767 to 1772, we find his name in deeds as of
Onslow, which was then the place where the public
business of that district was transacted, and after that we
find him described as of Machias, in the State of Maine.
We have been informed that the lot of land about two
miles from town, now occupied by Mr. Daniel McKenzie,
had been set apart as a glebe, and that there was a
burying-ground upon it. After the Philadelphia com
pany's grant was escheated, it was granted by Sir John
C. Sherbrooke to Dr. McCulloeh.
We have thus, with considerable labor, gathered all
the facts within our reach regarding this first attempt at
the settlement of Pictou. The result is by no means
proportionate to the effort. We have been minute in the
details, as being the first attempt of the kind, and amid
difficulties which might have appalled the stoutest heart,
we deemed it proper to preserve everything we can learn
of the early actors in these scenes. None of the settle
ments in Nova Scotia had such obstacles to encounter as
that of Pictou. At Halifax and Lunenburg colonization
began under the superintendence of Government, which
also expended large sums in providing for the wants of
the settlers. Those again who came to settle the town
ships along the Bay of Fundy, in Annapolis, Kings, Hants,
Colchester, and Cumberland counties, entered at once
upon the rich marshes prepared to their hands by the
French Aeadians. But the first settlers in Pictou came
to a country covered with heavy forest, without an acre
cleared, and after a little were thrown on their own
resources. We must admire the heroism with which they
entered upon their work, the energy with which they
so bravely combatted the difficulties in their path, and
the perseverance by which they at length happily sur
mounted them.
The results for the first six years, it will be seen, were

78
very small. The great cause of this was the unfortunate
position of the Philadelphia grant, in having within its
bounds no place in the harbour suitable for a town, and
so little frontage on the shore. This spoiled the efforts
honestly made for the settlement of the place, and frus
trated, as we shall see, the next great effort made toward
that end in 1773. In that year came the ship Hector with
emigrants, mostly from the Highlands of Scotland. From
that the effective settlement of the place may be dated.
The event was important and deserves commemoration.
But the first honor is due to the little company who
arrived here previously, who cut down the first trees,
erected the first huts, run the first lines, cleared the first
land, and planted the first seed — the httle band of pioneers
who, in their little brig, with its well omened name, the
Hope, first planted the standard of British colonization
upon our northern coast ; and the true natal day of Pictou
is the 10th of June, when she first dropped anchor in our
harbour, or the 11th, when her precious cargo first set
fact on our shores.
" What noble courage must their hearts have fired,
How great the ardour which their souls inspired,
Who leaving far beyond their native plain
Have sought a home beyond the western main ;
And braved the perils of the stormy seas
In search of wealth, of freedom, and of ease.
Oh, none ean tell, but they who sadly share,
The bosom's anguish, and its wild despair,
What dire distress awaits the hardy bands,
That venture first on bleak and desert lands ;
bow great the pain, the danger and the toil
Which mark the first rude culture of the soil.
When looking round, the lonely settler sees
His home amid a wilderness of trees ;
How sinks his heart in thoso deep solitudes,
Where not a voice upon his ear intrudes ;
Where solemn silence all the waste pervades,
, Heightening the horror of its gloomy shades ;
Save where the sturdy woodman's strokes resound
i That strew the fallen forest on the ground."
Rising Village, 'By H. Goldsmith.

79

CHAPTER V.

ARRIVAL OF THE SHIP HECTOR AND SETTLEMENT OP
HER PASSENGERS — 1773-1776.
Some of the shares of the Philadelphia company were
transferred, so that the celebrated Dr. Witherspoon
became one of the proprietors,* and John Pagan, a
merchant of Greenock, became the purchaser of three
undivided shares. They seem at that time to have
been combined in promoting the settlement of the old
colonies. We find the ship Hector, which was owned
by Pagan, in the year 1770 arriving in Boston with
Scottish emigrants, and there is a deed on record in th«
Pictou registry office, after the American Revolutionary
war, from Witherspoon, conveying to Pagan all the land
of the former in Pictou, in exchange for the lands of the
latter in the United States, f
To carry out the original obligations of their grant, the
proprietors offered liberal terms for the settlement of it.
They employed an agent named John Ross, with whom
they agreed to give each settler that he might bring from
Scotland, a free passage, a farm lot, and a year's provi
sions. Ross went to the Highlands, and, drawing a
glowing picture of the land and the advantages offered,
many, knowing nothing of the difficulties of settling a
new country, and allured by the prospect of owning a
* Dr. Witherspoon is sometimes represented as the projector of the Phila
delphia company's scheme, but his name does not appear among the first
members of the company.
f In a petition against the escheat of the grant, Pagan's son alleges that
the father and sons sent out altogether about 800 souls ; that they had spent
.£280 sterling in provisions, and altogether.had .^£MeiakSflk££QO_,Ste.diB£
in settling the grant.

80
farm, eagerly embraced his proposals. The Hector was
chartered to convey them to Pictou. She was under the
command of John Spears as master, James Orr being
first mate, and John Anderson second. Three families
and five young men embarked in her at Greenock,
whence she sailed for Loch Broom, in Ross-shire, where
she received the rest of her passengers, amounting in all
to thirty-three families and twenty-fh'e unmarried men,
beside the agent. The number of souls is stated in one
account as 189, in another as 179, while Governor Legge,
on their arrival, speaks of them in round numbers as 200.
In the beginning of July, 1773, they finally bade adieu
to their native land.* As they were leaving, a piper
came on board, who had not engaged his passage. The
captain ordered him ashore, when the passengers inter
ceded, offering to share their rations with him in exchange
for his music. At their request, he was allowed to
Temain. There was not one person on board who had
ever crossed the Atlantic, except one sailor. Though
hearts doubtless were saddened as they parted from
kindred, and as their native hills faded from their vision,
yet hope beat high in every bosom, and for a time all
went cheerily among the pilgrims. Song, music, wrest
ling, dancing, and other amusements relieved the tedium
of a sea voyage. But the passage was destined to be a
long and painful one. The Hector was an old Dutch
ship, and a dull sailor. Passengers said that they could
with their hands pick the rotten wood out of her sides.
When they arrived off the coast of Newfoundland, they
met with a severe gale, which drove them so far back
that they were a fortnight before they were again as far
forward. The accommodations on board were poor and
the provisions of inferior quality, perhaps not worse than
* Philo Antiq. says on the 10th July, but the universal statement among the
¦old settlers is, that they were eleven weeks on the passage, which would
make the date of sailing 1st of July.

81
in emigrant vessels of the time. Small-pox and dysen
tery broke out on board, so that eighteen, most of them
children, died on the passage and were committed to the
•deep. The former disease was brought on board by a
mother and child, both of whom afterward lived to a
great age. And one child was born, afterward the late
Mrs. Page, of Truro. As the voyage was prolonged, their
stock of provisions and water became low. For some
time before arrival, they were put on an allowance of
water, the scarcity of which, with the salt provisions, was
a great privation. During the voyage the oatcake sup
plied to the passengers became mouldy, and the passen
gers often threw away pieces of it or other food. Hugh
McLeod was in the habit of gathering up all these frag
ments and putting them into a large sack, and the last
two days of their voyage, they wTere glad to avail them
selves of this refuse food.
At length all the troubles and dangers of the voyage
were surmounted, and on the 15th of September, this
pioneer band of Scottish emigrants arrived in the harbour
of Pictou, and the Hector dropped anchor opposite where
the town of Pictou now stands. Previous to her arrival,
as we have seen, the Indians had been somewhat trouble
some to the settlers ; if not positively dangerous, they at
least gave annoyance, and the whites, from their small
numbers, were kept in considerable alarm. It was even
reported, that there was a plot among them at that time
ti > cut off the whole settlement, which we have seen was
the only one on the north shore of the Province.. When
the word was received of the coming of the Hector with
Highland emigrants, the whites, in reply to threats of the
Indians, told them that the Highlanders were coming —
the same men they had seen in petticoats at the taking of
Quebec. Sure enough the Hector appeared. Her sides
being painted, according to the old fashion, in imitation
of gunports, helped to induce the impression that she was

82
a man-of-war. The Highland dress was then proscribed,,
but was carefully preserved and fondly cherished by the
Highlanders, and in honour of the occasion the young-
men had arrayed themselves in their kilts, with skein
dhu, and some with broadswords. As she dropped anchor
the piper blew his pipes to their utmost power ; its thrill
ing sounds then first startling the echoes among the silent
solitudes of our forest. All the Micmacs fled in terror
and were not seen for some time, so that trouble with the
Indians was never heard of again.*
We may here remark the importance of the arrival of
the Hector to these Lower Provinces. With her passen
gers may be said to have commenced the really effective
settlement of Pictou. But this was not all : the Hector
was the first emigrant vessel from Scotland to Pictou, or
even these Lower Provinces. That stream of Scottish
immigration which, in after years, flowed, not only over
the county of Pictou, but over much of the eastern part
of the Province, Cape Breton, Prince Edward Island, por
tions of New Brunswick, and even the Upper Provinces,
began with this voyage, and even, in a large measure,
originated with it, for it was by the representations of
those on board to their friends, that others followed, and
so the stream deepened and widened in succeeding years.
We venture to say that there is no one element in the
population of these Lower Provinces, upon wrhich their
[ social, moral and religious condition has depended more
than upon its Scottish immigrants, and of these that band
in the Hector were the pioneers and vanguard. We may
mention here that after returning to Scotland from this
voyage she was condemned, and went to sea no more.
Truly her work was done.
| The first care was to provide for the sick. One woman,
1 * We do not believe that there was really any plot of the kind. It was
good fan for the Indians to frighten the white people, and we believe they
raised the reports for that purpose.

83
wife of Hugh McLeod, afterward of West River, had just
died of smallpox ; the body was sent ashore in a boat and
buried, we believe, at the burying ground already men
tioned. Several were sick; some dying. The resident
settlers did what was in their power to provide for their
wants, and with the supply of fresh provisions most soon
recovered their health, though some, I cannot learn how
many, died on board the vessel.
If the expectations of these people had been excited by
the prospect of an estate in America, their hopes were
lowered by the sight that met their view as they
crowded on the deck of tho vessel to see their future
home. One unbroken forest still covered the whole land,
with the exception of a few patches on the shore between
Browns Point and the head of the harbour.
But if the first view of matters was discouraging, worse
was in store for them. Squire Patterson and Dr, Harris,
the agen,ts of the company, lived near Browns Point,
nearly a mile above the town, and had erected a small
store, in which they kept the supplies of the company,
though even there the woods were scarcely broken. Here
the immigrants were landed without provisions and with
out shelter, except as with the assistance of those here
before them, they erected rude camps for themselves,
their wives and their little ones. However glad to be
relieved from the confinement of shipboard, bitter were
the feelings of disappointment, with which they contrasted
the expectations they had entertained of a free farm and
plenty in America, with the reahty before them. We need
not wonder to hear of some sitting down and giving way *
to bitter weeping. The arrival of such a number swept
the place like a torrent of all the provisions it contained
and left it nearly destitute. The few settlers previously
here could not have provided food for one-third of the
number for any time, and it was too late in the season to
raise any crops that year.

84
In the meantime they began to select their future
homes. The company had the land laid out in regular
blocks, named A, B, &c, which were subdivided into
lots regularly numbered. But here the fact to which we
have already adverted, of the small frontage of their
grant on the harbour, spoiled the whole of this well meant
and not ill contrived effort at settlement. When the Hec
tor arrived, all the shore of their grant was occupied, and
her passengers were taken back one, two or three miles,*
and there, amid the primeval forest they were invited to
settle. Never did there seem to be offered to men such
an utter mockery. The gigantic trees would have seemed
to any person a serious difficulty in their way, but to men
unaccustomed to clearing the wood in America, and
unskilled in the use of the axe, the work seemed hopeless.
Without roads or even paths, and unprovided with com
passes, they were liable to be lost in the forest and they
were afraid of Indians and wild beasts. Even if these
difficulties could have been removed, they saw that they
would be shut out there, from what must hereafter form
a large part of their subsistence, viz.: the fish in the har
bour and rivers. We have heard of McCabe taking some
of them back to where he promised to show them good
land, which they might take up, when, looking round on
the big trees, they only asked, with an air of helplessness,
that he would take them back to the shore.
In consequence of these circumstances they all refused
to settle on the company's land, and when a supply of
provisions arrived the agents refused to give them any. A
jealousy arose between them and the American settlers.
Ross and the company quarrelled. They refused his
demands and soon after he abandoned the passengers he
had brought out. A few wfio had a little money,
* Each division of lots was a mile in length from the shore, and so tho lots
on the north side of the harbour still are, the side lines running north and
tsouth by compass.

85
bought provisions for a time or even exchanged clothes for
food, but the majority had absolutely nothing to buy with ;
and the little that the others had was soon exhausted, so
that they were left without provisions and entirely desti
tute of means to provide for themselves.
Driven to extremity they insisted on having the sup
plies sent by the company. On one occasion Donald
McDonald and Colin Douglas were in the store claiming
a supply ; being rather pressing the agent ordered them
out ; they refused to go, when he threatened to lock them
in. As they still refused he went out and attempted to
lock the door, when Donald drew his dirk, an article
which many of them then wore, and drove it in before
the bolt. Finally they resolved to take the provisions by
force. They seized both Squire Patterson and Dr. Harris,
tied them and took their guns, which they hid at some
distance, told them that they must have the food for their
families, that they were willing to pay for them when
they were able. They then proceeded to weigh and mea
sure the various articles ; they took account of what each
man received, which they left. Roderick McKay, father
of our late custos, a man of great energy and determina
tion, and who in this and all the proceedings of the time,
was recognized by the Highlanders as their leader,
was left to release the prisoners. After a sufficient time
had elapsed to enable the rest to get to a safe distance,
he undid the ropes by which they were tied, and having
informed them where their guns would be found, got out
of the way himself.
Intelligence was despatched to Halifax, that the High
landers were in rebellion, with a request for assistance.
We may suppose that at a time when the scenes of " the
forty-five" were still fresh in memory, this was heard with
dismay. Report says that orders were despatched to one
of the Archibalds of Truro, usually known as Captain
Tom, or Uncle Tom, to march his company of militia to

Pictou to suppress the rebellion. He received the order
with the most unmilitary reply, " I will do no such thing ;
I know the Highlanders, and if they are fairly treated
there will be no trouble with them." Representations of
the true state of the case were sent to Halifax. Lord
William Campbell, whose term of service, as Governor,
had just expired, was still there, and interested himself
on behalf of the immigrants as his countrymen, so that
orders came from the Government to let them have the
provisions. We may add here,tnat Squire Patterson used
to say afterward, that the Highlanders, who had arrived
in poverty, had paid him every farthing that he had
trusted them, but he had lost two hundred pounds by
his good friend the Governor of Prince Edward Island.
Beset with such difficulties and with winter approach
ing, the majority of the immigrants removed to Truro
and places adjacent, to obtain by their labour food for
their families. A few settled at Londonderry, at a place
which has since been known as Highland Village. Some
went to Halifax, and some even to Windsor and Corn
wallis. Not only men, but mothers of families, hired
out, and their children, male and female, they bound
out for service, till they should come of age. Some went
that season, and others not till the spring following. One
man stayed till the musquitoes made their appearance in
the following summer, when, thinking it a judgment,
he left. The majority of them, however, returned in
subsequent years. The number who remained is stated
at seventy, and for a time, particularly during the fol
lowing wintor, they endured almost incredible hardships.
Not having taken up land, they remained at Browns
Point, with only rude huts, covered with branches or
the bark of trees to shelter them from the cold, of the
severity of which they had previously no conception. To
obtain food for their families [they had to proceed to
Truro, through a trackless forest and in deep snow, and

87
there obtaining a bushel or two of potatoes, and perhaps
a little flour, in exchange for .their labour, they had to
return, carrying this little supply .on their backs or
dragging it on a handsled. , .1 .
The labor of this we can scarcely estimate. One
bushel of potatoes was a sufficient load for a man to carry
that distance. One who boasted of his strength under
took to carry two and started off with his load quite
jauntily. The Highlanders have a Gaelic proverb, that
a sheep the first mile will be a cow the second, meaning
that a burden which a man can carry easily a short
distance will be intolerable afterward ; and so this man
found, for before he had reached half way to Pictou he
was glad to get quit of part of his load. Then there was
the climbing of stiff braes or the descending steep banks,
fhe crossing of brooks on a single tree, or the sinking in
wet or boggy ground, or in winter in deep snow ; this
continuing for three days, involving two nights camping
in the woods. Even the potatoes they did get were
inferior, being of a kind known as Spanish potatoes, large
and soft, -like a kind known some years ago as yams, or
like some of the coarse kinds still used for feeding cattle.
Sometimes they froze on their backs, but even so, when
roasted in the ashes or sliced and roasted on the coals,
they were heartily relished. No wonder that some of
those who had gone through these scenes, could not bear
in after life to see even the peeling of a pptatoe thrown
into the fire.
Perhaps, however, a better idea of their privations may
~be gained by giving a few incidents of this period. Two
young men set off for Halifax. They could get so little
provisions wThen they left, and had so little on the way,
that they were scarcely able to travel from weakness, and
when they reached Gays River they were nearly ready
io give up altogether. But there they saw a lot of fine
trout, strung on a rod, hung on a bush. They hesitated

88
whether to take them, or not. They thought they
belonged to the Indians, who they feared would come
after them and kill them. They, therefore, left them and
went on a short distance, when, finding that from their
weakness they would not be able to prosecute their
journey, they returned to where they had left the trout.
Each put it upon the other to take them. At last the
claims of hunger prevailed and they proceeded to make a
meal of them. They afterward discovered that they had.
been caught by two sportsmen from Halifax, who had
disputed who should carry them, and finally left them,
where, in the kind providence of God, they afforded a
meal for the hungry travellers.
The late Alex. Fraser, elder, of Middle River, when
only a lad of about sixteen, carried a younger sister to
Truro on his back, while the only food he had for the
whole journey was the tail of an eel.
One or two incidents of this family, though at a some
what later date, may be given. Hugh, a younger brother
of the last, and who was one of the last survivors of the
Hector, told the writer that on one occasion his father,
having exhausted every other means of obtaining a
supply of food for his family, cut down a birch tree and
boiled the buds, which he gave them to eat. He then
went to a heap where Horton, one of the old settlers, had
buried some potatoes, and took out some. Before he
could inform the owner of what he had done, some of his
neighbors maliciously did so, when Horton merely
replied that he thanked God he had them there for the
poor old man's family.
On one occasion, when the husband and eldest son had
gone to Truro for provisions, everything in the shape of
food for the younger children was exhausted, except one
hen, which the mother finally killed. She boiled it irt
salt water for the benefit of the salt, with a quantity of
weeds or herbs, which she had collected, and of the

89
nature of which she was entirely ignorant, which she
served up for them with the flesh of the hen. But not
long after the children found the hen's nest with ten eggs,.
some of which she cooked for their next meal and the:
rest she retained till her husband's return.
On another occasion, the men of the family had brought
home a supply of potatoes, from Truro, for seed, but
after planting them and enclosing the ground, they were
so much in want before going back, that they had to dig
up some of the splits to use for food. Some time after,
having earned as much money as would buy a cow,.
Alexander was sent to Colchester to make the purchase ;
but having fallen in with his brother Simon, who had
been bound out, and finding him dissatisfied, he applied
the money to the purchase of his time. On arriving
home, on his mother meeting him, her first enquiry was
" Have you got the cow ?" " No, but I have brought
Simon instead," was the reply. " Well, poor as I am,"'
said the mother, " I would rather see Simon than the
cow." The girl whom this same Alexander afterward.
married, was bound out in Truro, and served till she was
eighteen years of age.
These few incidents, most of them in the history of
one family, and that one of the few which had arrived
with some means, will give an idea of what they endured
for the first few years. All were in the same condition,
and none could help another. The remembrance of
those days sunk deep into the minds of that generation,
and long after, the narration, of the scenes through which
they had passed, beguiled many a winter eve, as they sat
by their, now, comfortable firesides.
To return to our narrative. That winter the first death
occurred among the immigrants, a child of Donald
McDonald, who was buried at John Patterson's (second).
place, already mentioned ; and the first birth occurred, a
son of Alexander Fraser, afterward of Middle River,,

90
named David, afterward Captain Fraser, who lived at
what is now Evans' place, about five miles from town.
In the following spring they applied themselves
earnestly to provide for the wants of themselves and their
families. Though unaecustomed to the use of the axe
and the employments peculiar to a new country, yet,
except in this respect, never were immigrants better
adapted to the work of settling in the wilderness. They
were children of the mountain and the flood. They were
accustomed to coarse food, inured to hardship in its
roughest form, and were not easily dismayed by difficulties.
-" They accordingly exerted every energy, and sought out
.suitable spots on which to settle. In their enquiries after
these, they were enabled to judge of the virgin mould
from the growth and species of wood. Where high and
bulky black birch, ash, rock maple, elm or oak was
discovered, the land was accounted to be of a strong and
superior kind. They explored the different rivers, which
abounded with fish ; and finding the soil near their banks
to be the most fertile, and capable of being more easily
improved than that of higher lands, they seated themselves
upon it." *
Difficulties were thrown in the way of their getting
their grant, principally, we presume, through the opposi
tion of the agents of the Philadelphia Company, by whom
they had been brought out. The first grant was to
Donald Cameron, who had been a soldier in the Fraser
Highlanders at the taking of Quebec. His lot was situated
at the Albion Mines, being the same lot afterward purchased
by Dr. McGregor. It is dated 8th February, 1775, and
beside the condition of payment of quit rent, as in the
other grants, contains the following : —
" That the grantee, his heirs or assigns, shall clear and work, within three
years, three acres for every fifty granted, in that part of the land which he
.shall judge most convenient and advantagebus,[or clear and drain three acres
* Philo Antiquarius.

91
of swampy or sunken ground, or drain three acres of; marsh, if any such be
within the bounds ofthisgrarit, or1 put and keep on his lands, within three
years from the date hereof, three neat cattle, to be continued upon the land
until three acres for every fifty be fully cleared and improved.
" But if no part of the said tract be fit for present cultivation, without
manuring and improving the same, then this grantee, his heirs and assigns
shall be obliged, within three years from' the date hereof, to erect on some
part of said land a dwelling house, to contain twenty feet in length by sixteen
feet in breadth, and to put on said land three neat cattle for every fifty acres, ,
or if the said grantee, his heirs or assigns, shall, within three years after the
passing of this grant, begin to employ thereon, and so to continuo to work
for three years then next ensuing, in digging any stone quarry or any other
mine, one good and able hand for every .100 acres of such tract, it shall be
accounted a sufficient seeding, planting, cultivation and improvement , and
every three acres which shall be cleared and worked as aforesaid ; and every
three acres which shall be cleared and drained as afbrBSaid, shall be accounted
a sufficient seeding, planting, cultivation and improvement, to save for ever
from forfeiture fifty acres in every parj; of the traot hereby granted."
The rest of the Hector passengers, who remained in
Pictou, occupied land on the three rivers, especiaUy the
intervales, on what had been McNutt's grant, which
v.- as now escheated. They did not, however, obtain a title
to it for some time. As late as the 22nd January, 1781,
they complained, in a petition to the government, that a
grant had been often promised but never received. At
last it was issued on the 26th of August, 1783. It contains
the names of forty-four persons, some of whom had
arrived from other quarters after the Hector, conveying
the lots on which they had been located, the size of the
lots being regulated by the number of their families. The
conditions were the same as in Cameron's grant, and the
mines reserved are gold, silver, lead, copper and coals.
We append a list of the grantees with the number of acres
received by each and notices of the situation of their
lots. (Appendix A.)
In the meantime they were energetically using the
means in their power to supply the wants of their fami
lies. They learned to hunt moose. Timber of the finest
Jquality abounded, and they soon, could split staves or the.

92
long shingles formerly mentioned, with their neighbours.
Small vessels came from the old colonies, which supplied
them with necessaries in exchange for these articles.
Seeing the majestic trees on every side, and knowing
the value of timber in Great Britain, they formed the
idea of preparing a quantity for exportation. Unskilled
in the use of the axe, they invited a company of hewers
from Truro, and with their aid prepared, during the
summer, a sufficient quantity of squared pine to load a ves
sel, which had been condemned in Prince Edward Island
and purchased by Governor Patterson. This was thefirst
timber ever shipped from Pictou, and the commencement
of that wood trade afterward carried on so extensively
from this port.
It is just to say that the Indians, as soon as the mutual
terror had subsided, treated them with much kindness.
From them they learned to make and use snow-shoes, to
call moose, and other arts of forest life. From them they
often received supplies of provisions. One old man used
to say that the sweetest meal he ever ate was provided
and prepared by them. Hunger, we presume, was the
sauce. The Indians were indeed sometimes disposed to
make use of the terror which they knew their name and
appearance inspired, particularly among the weaker sex,
to secure their object ; but it is due to that unhappy race
to say, that from the time of the arrival of the Hector, they
never gave the settlers any serious molestation, and gene
rally showed them real kindness, which, when the tables
were turned, so that the whites had plenty and they
were needy, has not always been reciprocated.
During that summer they also prepared to occupy the
land which they had selected, but could get little, if any,
ready for crop that season, and in the fall the majority,
even of those who had remained, disheartened at the
prospect of another such winter as the past, left for
Colchester or other places. By a return made on the 1st

93
January following (1775), the following were the families
and unmarried men on the settlement at that date :,
Families. — John Rogers, Robert Patterson, William McKenzie, Alex. . Ross,
Kenneth McClutcheon, Wm. McCracken, Abram Slater, Moses Blaisdell, Wm.
Kennedy, Colin McKenzie, James McC'abe, James Davidson, Bar. McGee.
Unmarried Men. — John Hall, John Patterson, George McConnell, Joseph
Richards, James Hathome, Thomas Troop.
The whole population consisted of 23 men, 14 women,
21 boys, and 20 girls ; total, 78. The produce raised in
that year was 269 oushels wheat, 13 of rye, 56 of peas, 36
of barley, 100 of oats, and 340 lbs. of flax. The farm
stock consisted of 13 oxen, 13 cows, 15 young neat cattle,
25 sheep, and 1 swine. There were manufactured 17,000
feet of boards, and Squire Patterson was the owner of a
sloop or schooner.
Of the above list only five or six were Hector passen
gers. The return seems imperfect. At all events, quite
a number returned the following season (1775). As the
law of the Province then allowed a representative to each
township having 50 families, we find a return in that
year by Dr. Harris, showing that Pictou contained the
required number. (See Appendix B.)
That year their circumstances continued to improve
and some crop was raised, though not sufficient' for their
subsistence ; and still there were the same weary jour
neys to Truro for necessaries. They were, however,
acquiring more skill in availing themselves of the
resources around them. The moose afforded them a
supply of meat for the winter, and the rivers plentifully
supplied them with fish, and they learned to make sugar
from the juice of the maple. One mode of laying up a,
supply of food for winter was, to dig a large quantity of
clams in the autumn, pile them in a heap on the shore,
and then cover them with sand, though they were some
times in winter obliged to cut through ice a foot oi
more in thickness to get at them.

94
We give in the appendix a list ofthe Hector passengers,
with notices of their places of settlement, and history, so
far as known. (See Appendix C.)
Though still poor enough, they were provided with at
least the necessaries of life, when they were again tried
by the arrival of a class poorer than themselves. Induce
ments having been held out by some of the proprietors of
Prince Edward Island (then called St. John) to parties in
Scotland to settle their land, John Smith and Wellwood
Waugh, then resident in Lockerby, in Dumfriesshire, sold
out their property, and chartered a small vessel to carry
thither their families and any others who might join them.
They accordingly arrived at Georgetown, or Three Rivers,
in the year 1774, and were followed by others a few
months later.
They commenced a settlement with fair prospects of
success, when their hopes were blighted by a remarkable
visitation. Diereville, a French writer, in a work published
in 1699, says : — " The Island of St. John is stated to be
visited every seven years by swarms of locusts or field
mice, alternately — never together. After they ravage the
land, they precipitate themselves into the sea." There is
no evidence of any such regularity in this visitation of
mice, but later writers speak of it as recurring on the
Island at longer or shorter intervals, and there was one
of the kind some years later in Nova Scotia, though now
it is unknown. At all events, it came upon the new
settlers, to whom we have referred, in full force. These
animals swarmed everywhere, and consumed everything
eatable, even the potatoes in the ground.*
The new settlers would have had difficulties enough
under any crcumstances, but this filled their cup to the
brim, and during the eighteen months that they remained
there, they endured all the miseries of famine. For three
* In some- houses at West River are still preserved bo.ofcs of which the
leather on the covers has been gpawed by themfe

95
months in summer, they subsisted on lobsters and other
shell fish, which they gathered on the shore. In the
spring they had obtained from Tatamagouche a few pota
toes for seed, but the mice devoured them in the ground,
and everything else in the shape of crop, so that when
winter came, they were on the verge of starvation. An
old woman in my congregation, though a strong child
and with a constitution which carried her to ninety year*
of age, told me that when she was two years of age, she
was not able to walk from weakness, owing to want of
food. One boy died, it is supposed from eating some
herbs which were injurious or poisonous. Waugh had
brought a supply of provisions and other articles, so
that the first summer they did not suffer much, but at the
end of the second season, he had all his goods in the store
of a man named Brine, who traded with the small fishing
vessels from the colonies. A number of these vessel
happened to be in the harbour, and before returning
home the crews came ashore for a carousal. The Ameri
can Revolution was just commencing, and they were leav
ing with the idea of not returning, expecting when they
reached their homes to serve either as soldiers or sailors.
Before going on board they plundered Brine's warehouse
of all it contained, carrying off all Waugh's property.
That winter they would have perished, were it not for
a French settlement some miles distant, from which they
received supplies, principally of potatoes, in exchange for
the clothing they had brought with them from Scotland,
until they scarcely retained sufficient to clothe themselves
decently. From scarcity of food the men became reduced *
to such a state of weakness, and the snow was so deep,
that they became at last scarcely able to carry back pro
visions for their families, and when, with slow steps and
heavy labour, they brought them home, such was the
state of weakness in which they had left their children,
they trembled to enter their dwelling, lest they should

96
find them dead, and sometimes waited at the door, listen
ing for any sound that might indicate that they were
alive.* Having heard that there was food in Pictou, they, in
spring (1776), sent one of their number (the late David
Stewart) to enquire into the state of matters there.
Some of the American settlers had brought slaves, one of
whom had been sold in Truro by his owner, who brought
home part at least of the proceeds in wheat, which he
was consuming in his family when Stewart arrived and
lodged in his house. The latter, amid all his troubles,.
retained some measure of cheerfulness, and on his return'
liis friends gathered round him to hear his report.
*' Well, what sort of a place is Pictou ?" was the enquiry.
¦" Oh, an awful place," was the reply, in a very solemn
tone. " How ?" it was again asked. He replied, " I
stayed with a man who was just eating the last of his
nigger." Such wTas their own condition on the verge of
starvation, that for a minute they actually supposed that
the people of Pictou were reduced to such a state from
hunger as to have devoured the flesh of their colored
servants. Having explained the true state of the case, his report
was on the whole so favorable, that they were glad to
exchange total want in Prince Edward Island for the
partial supply to be found in Pictou. About fifteen
families accordingly moved over, of whom seven settled
on the West River. When they arrived, the only break
in the woods on the west side of the West River was

* One old woman, living in 1831, used to tell that for three months her
children had neither bread nor potatoes. During that time their food was
principally shell-fish and boiled beech leaves. One calamity she described as
having tried them severely. They had brought with them iron pots, but not
knowing the severity of the frost in this country, had left water in them, by
the freezing of which they were cracked. In their circumstances, .believing
that they could not obtain others nearer than Scotland, and seeing no hope of
obtaining them there, she said that the loss was next to the loss of a child.

97
where the Rev. George Roddick now resides. Four
settled on the Middle River and two on the East River.
The John Smith who came with Waugh removed to
Truio. He first visited that place to have his child
baptized and to hear the gospel, camping in the woods
between Pictou and that place. In the fall he brought
over part of his movables, carrying a large two cwt.
anvil to Truro on a horse, which he hired from Squire
Patterson. Wellwood Waugh settled on what has since
been known as Dunoons farm. He used to tell that he
left the Island with only a bucket of clams for the support
of himself and family ; that the day after his arrival in
Pictou he went to the woods to make staves, and was
abl« to make a living for them ever after. His step
brother, William Campbell, then a young man, who came
with him, settled on the farm next above.
Though the Highlanders were ready to extend their
wonted hospitality to the new comers, and did so, to the
best of their ability, yet, having barely sufficient for the
.support of their own families, such an influx pressed
heavily upon them. Though these people arrived here
in such destitution, they were among the most valuable
of the early settlers of this country, and their descendants
to this day are among the most respectable members of
the community.
We give in an appendix a list of these settlers, with
notices of their places of settlement. (Appendix D.)

98

CHAPTER YI
PICTOU DURING AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR..
1776—1783
The breaking out of the American Revolutionary War
at first subjected the settlers to serious inconvenience.
They had hitherto received most of their supplies by
trading vessels from the Old Colonies, which received in
exchange the proceeds of their labour, especially fish, fur
and lumber. This trade, however, was now stopped, and
the want of it was at first severely felt. Even salt could
not be obtained, and in summer the settlers might be seen
for days boiling down sea water to obtain a supply ofthis-
necessary. But the war soon had an enlivening influence
upon the trade of the Province. Halifax was chosen as
the chief depot for the British Navy in this Hemisphere.
Large sums of money were expended on the dockyard ;
vessels of all classes were there annually refitted, and
employment was given to artizans. A large military force
was kept at Halifax, and there was, in consequence, a
larger circulation of money, in the advantage of which
the country districts shared.
The following is given as the price received by the
settlers for their wood : — 1775. 1776.
Squared Pine, per ton  9s. 12s. 6d.
Hardwood, "  18s. 20s.
Barrel staves, per M  25s. ' 50s.
Hhd. « "  35s. 70s.
The settlers in Pictou were for a time, however, still
at a loss for British goods, but in the year 1779, John
Patterson went to . Scotland and brought a supply, and
from that time continued to trade.

99
But the American war had another effect, in the division
which it occasioned between the new and the old settlers.
The Scotch were loyally attached to the British Govern
ment. But, with the exception of Squire Patterson, most
of the American settlers strongly sympathised with the
American cause. Murdoch, in his history of Nova Scotia,
tries to make it appear that those who came to this Province
from the Old Colonies, and settled various townships before
the American Revolutionary War, were at this time loyal.
From the facts that have come to our knowledge regarding
these people in Colchester, and the few settlers in Pictou,
we can assert most positively that they generally sympa
thized with the Americans, and that a number were ready
to manifest their sympathy by taking arms, if there had
appeared a favourable prospect of thereby serving the
cause. And when this seemed hopeless, they manifested
their spirit in more harmless ways, as in the refusal of tea,
of which the good wives could sometimes only secretly
brew a small quantity for private indulgence, and more
permanently in the names, wliich their children have
carried down to our own day — the Adamses, the Burkes,
and the George Washingtons, the latter of which, however,
it was found more convenient to change into John
Washington or George William.
In Pictou, it will surprise many ofthe present generation
to hear, the feeling was quite violent. A circular was
addressed to the magistrates throughout the Province,
requiring them to be " watchful and attentive to the
behaviour of the people in your county, and that you
will apprehend any person or persons who shall be guilty
of any opposition to the King's authority and Government,
and send them properly guarded to Halifax." The
inhabitants were ordered to take the oath of allegiance, and
magistrates were required to furnish lists of those who
complied and those who did not.
Patterson, who had been made a magistrate in 1774, was

100
active and zealous, perhaps more sc than wise, in carrying
out these instructions. He started for Halifax, intending
to get copies of the oath required, for the purpose of
imposing it upon the inhabitants. When he reached Truro,
his purpose becoming known, one of the Archibalds
invited him to his house, and took him to a private room
where, dra-wing out a pistol, by its persuasive influence,
he induced him to return home.
The squire also attempted to arrest some of the old
settlers, who had openly declared their determination to
swear no oath of allegiance, while the others endeav
oured to conceal them. We have heard, for example, of
Horton being obliged to hide under a haystack. On the
other hand, their passions became so excited that they
threatened to murder him. So serious did the danger
become that his older sons were obliged several times to
hide him in the woods, taking him over to Frasers Point
for the purpose.* Matthew Harris, having had some dis
pute with Squire Patterson, regarding some business in
which they had been engaged together in Maryland,
started thither in the heat of the American war. While
in Halifax the circumstance exciting suspicion, or perhaps,
in consequence of his giving too free expression to his
sympathy for the American cause, he was arrested as a
spy, and placed in the care of a guard of soldiers, who
went into an inner room of a tavern to drink, leaving
him to move about on his parole. While he was calmly
walking on the platform, a woman rushed in where they
were, exclaiming, "Your prisoner is escaping." They
rushed out, half intoxicated, and one of them struck him
over the head with a weapon he had in his hands, cutting
him very severely. He was detained in custody till
evidence was obtained from Pictou that he was a peaceful
* We had heard of this, but regarded it as an exaggeration. The family of
James, one of hi3 sons referred to, asserts positively that their father fre
quently mentioned it to them as a fact.

101
resident. The old man was Christian enough to say, in
after life, that he could forgive everybody except that
woman. A few incidents connected with the war, as affecting
the County of Pictou, may here be given. The first was
the capture of a vessel at Merigomish by an American
privateer, which took place near the beginning of the war,
probably in the spring of 1776. She was not a large ves
sel, but was loaded with a valuable cargo of West India
produce. The previous fall she had been on her way to
Quebec, but being too late to get up the St. Lawrence, she
made Merigomish harbour, where she remained in the ice
all winter. The captain and crew landed, and from the
scarcity of provisions, some of the latter went to Truro or
Halifax. One of the settlers, named Earl, went off, it was
supposed to the States, and with the design of giving
information which might lead to her capture. At all
events, early in spring, as soon as the gulf was clear of
ice from the Strait of Canso, a vessel appeared off Meri
gomish. Those in charge of the vessel in the harbour,
suspected her purpose, and commenced conveying to the
shore and hiding in the woods articles of value that could
easily be removed. Soon, however, parties from the
strange vessel came on board and took possession of her.
James and David Patterson had been making oak staves
on the land near where she lay. The captors, to prevent
the word circulating, or any attempt to frustrate their
purpose, sent a boat on shore, with a crew, who seized
them and carried them on board their vessel, where they
were put in irons. The captors then set to work to get
the vessel to sea. When they got her well out into the
gulf they released the two brothers.- There was some
difficulty in unloosing the handcuffs on David's hands,
when one of the men struck it with a mar Iin spike to
break it, and in so doing smashed his thumb, which bore
evidence of the fact till his death. They then put, the

102
two brothers into a small boat with a few biscuits and a
small earthen jar, called a coggie, of sugar, to find their
way back to port as best they might. In the meantime
word had circulated of the capture, and as it was expected
the privateer would come to the harbour, the inhabitants
collected with every old musket and fowling-piece, pre
pared to offer a sturdy resistance to the enemy. They
assembled at the Battery Hill and soon sawea small boat
coming up the harbour, which they eagerly watched, and
as it approached they saw in it two men, whom, as it
drew near, they recognized as the Pattersons, who had
thus made their way to port.
The next incident was the capture of Captain Lowden's
vessel in the harbour in 1777. Haliburton speaks of it as
effected by rebels from Machias, who came from Cumber
land. The information I have gathered attributes the
work to the American settlers in Pictou, and some friends
in Truro. It is certain that they were in the plot. At all
events, the circumstances of the capture are as follows : —
The vessel was loading with timber for the British
market. A time was chosen when the crew were absent
with the boat for part of the cargo. The captain was
invited to the house of W. Waugh, where a number of
them were gathered. Waugh was an old Scotch
Covenanter, and from rigid adherence to the principles of
\hat body, would not swear allegiance to the British
Crown, and though afterward he was in the employment
of the Government, yet, at this time, seemingly from the
common fact of their not taking these oaths, sympathized
with the Americans. The Captain went without suspicion,
leaving the ship in charge of the mate. During his visit,
at a given signal, the company gathered round him,
informed, him that he was a prisoner, and commanded him
to deliver up his arms. " Gentlemen," said he, " I am
very sorry to say I have no arms," was his reply, in atone
of indignation at their treachery. In the meantime, a

103
strong party, fully armed, proceeded to the vessel, and
finding scarcely any person on board, easily took possession
of her, and made the mate a prisoner, confining him in
the cabin. They then placed sentries on deck. Some time
after, the rest of the crew came on board, and as they did so,
they were made prisoners and confined in the forecastle.
Some of the captors then took a boat belonging to the
ship and proceeded up the East River. On their way they
met Roderick McKay and his brother Donald coming
down the river with a boat-load of staves. They gave no
hint of their object, but encouraged the McKays to
proceed to the vessel. They then continued on their way
to Roderick's place. He had erected a blacksmith's forge,
and had it duly stocked. They plundered it of everything
worth taking away, loading their boat with his tools, iron,
.&c. In the meantime, the McKays had proceeded to the
vessel. As Roderick mounted the deck, he saw the sentries
with their muskets on their shoulders, and before he could
take in the situation, one of them tapped him on the
shoulder, saying he was a prisoner. His reply was a tap
on the face with the back of his hand. The sentry
brought down his musket and told him he was serious.
Roderick was obliged to yield, and both he and Donald
were taken to the cabin as prisoners.
After some time the party who had gone up the East
River returned, their boat laden with the plunder of
Roderick's forge. They came on board, leaving the boat
alongside, which afterward sank with its contents, and
remains to this day beneath the waters of the harbor.
They then proceeded to celebrate their success by a night
of carousal. When they became pretty well under the
influence of liquor, Roderick, with his usual determina
tion, wished to take the ship and urged his brother
Donald to join him in the attempt. His plan was that
they should make a sudden rush up the cabin stairs to
ihe deck ; that he should seize the sentry and pitch him

104
overboard, while Donald should with an axe stand over
the companion and not allow any of them to come up.
Donald, however, was a quiet, peaceable man and refused
to join in a scheme involving the danger of bloodshed,
and Roderick could not communicate with the mate.
He was deeply disappointed and used to say that if the
mate had had two words of Gaelic, they would have
retaken the ship that night.
The McKays were soon set at liberty, and the captors,
anxious at once to secure their prize, sailed as soon as-
they could for Bay Verte, where the Americans for a
time had possession, taking Dr. Harris, under a certain
kind of compulsion, with the mate and part of the
crew, to navigate the vessel. Information of these pro
ceedings was immediately sent to Halifax, the late John
Crockett and Colin Douglas being the messengers. They
proceeded on. foot to Shubenacadie, and finding the
rivers very high and difficult to cross, they employed an
Indian to proceed by the lakes and dehver the letter,.
which he did.
After the sailing of the vessel, Capt. Lowden war
released and started for Charlottetown in a canoe. He
found there a man-of-war, under the command of Lieut.
Keppel, which immediately started in pursuit. In the
meantime, the captors had reached Bay Verte, but
finding that the American invaders had retired, they, on
the approach of the man-of-war, abandoned the vessel
and took to the woods, where it is supposed many of
them perished. One reached the settlements in Colchester,.
after having eaten the upper leather of his boots, and died
soon after. The mate took charge of the vessel and
hailed the man-of-war as she was about to fire, when
Capt. Lowden, who was on board the latter, knew his
voice. The vessel was taken charge of by the com
mander, who-came into the harbor of Pictou,, threatening
vengeance on all who had any share in the affair. AD-

105
Waugh's goods were seized and sold,* and such was the
feeling against him amongst the old settlers, that he left
the place and afterward settled at Waugh's River, Tata-
magouche, to which he gave his name. It may be
mentioned here, however, that not only did he afterward
act the part of a loyal subject, but the communication
between Halifax and Prince Edward Island being through
Tatamagouche, he was employed by Government as their
courrier between that place and Truro.
The affair of Capt. Lowden's vessel, I have no doubt,
made the place too hot for the settlers, who sympathized
with the American cause, and was one reason for their
removal. Some whom I have been able to trace, moved
eastward without selling their farms, and we may here
mention an incident which occurred at this time.
Matthew Harris embarked with his family in a vessel
intending to remove to Guysborough. But while on
their passage thither, they fell in with an American
privateer. Those on board were unwilling to lower
the British flag, when the privateer fired a shot ahead
and another astern of her. Upon this, one of the men
hauled down their colors and the vessel was brought to.
The captain of the privateer came on board in great
wrath. An infant child of Harris was sick and laid upon
the deck, wrapt in a blanket. The captain struck the
bundle with his sword, not knowing what was in it.
The mother sprang forward, saying, " You have killed
my child." The captain immediately calmed down,
asking what the child was doing there, and shortly
after left, taking only a few tubs of butter that were
on deck.
During the war American privateers were on the coast,
but had very little effect on Pictou. One of the Hector
passengers, who had moved to Halifax and there earned

* Another tradition says that this was done by the officers and crew of the
Malignant when in Pictou as hereafter mentioned. This may be correct.

106
some money, married and came to Pictou by land, but
pnt all his things into a vessel to come round by water.
She was captured and he lost his little all. One came
into the harbour, and the alarm was given, and the settlers
began to gather to repel the intruder, when one of the
American settlers went out to her and urged that there
' were only in the place a few Scottish settlers commencing
in the woods, not having anything worth taking away,
and that all they could do was to burn Squire Patterson's
house. In consequence of his representations they sailed,
taking only a boat belonging to Waugh.
What excited the greatest alarm, however, during the
war was a large gathering of Indians, it is said, from
Miramichi to Cape Breton, probably a grand council of
the whole Micmac tribe, which took place at Frasers
Point in 1779. In that year some Indians at the former
place, in the American interest, having plundered the
inhabitants, a British man-of-war seized sixteen of them,
of whom twelve were carried to Quebec as hostages
and afterward brought to Halifax. This led to a grand
gathering of the Indians. For several days they were
assembled to the number of several hundreds and the
design of the meeting was believed to be, to consult
on the question of joining in the war against the English.
To this they were probably instigated by French agents.
The settlers were much alarmed, but the Indians dis
persed quietly.
Another incident which x excited some attention in Pic-
"tou at this time was the wreck of the Malignant, which
took place near the close of the war. She was a man-of-
war, bound to Quebec, and was wrecked late in the fall,
at a place ever since known as Malignant Cove. The crew
came to Pictou and were provided for through the winter
by the efforts of Squire Patterson, as far as circumstances
would permit.
To finish what we have to say here regarding the set-

107
tiers in Pictou from the old colonies, we may here advert
to another circumstance in connection with them. Some
of those who came to Pictou, as well as other parts ofthe
Province, had brought slaves with them, and as a curiosity
of the time we shall insert here a copy of a document,
which is on record in the office of the Registrar of Deeds
in Truro :
Be it known to all men, that I, Matthew Harris, of Pictou, in his Majesties'
Province of Nova Scotia, yeoman, have bargained and sold unto Matthew
Archibald, of Truro, within said Province, tanner, and I do by these presents
bargain, sell, alien, and forever make over to him, the said Matthew Archi
bald, his heirs and assigns, all the right, property, title or interest, I now
have, or at any time hereafter can pretend to have, to one Negroe boy, named
Abram, now about twelve years of age, who was born of my Negro slave in
my house in Maryland, for and in consideration of the sum of fifty pounds,
currency, to me in hand paid by the said Matthew Archibald, or secured to be
paid, and I do by these presence, for myself, my heirs, and assigns for ever,
quit claim to my Negroe boy, now in possession of said Matthew Archibald.
In testimony of which I have to this bill of sale set my hand and seal, this
29 day of July, Anno Dom., 1779, in the 19th year of his Majesties' reign.
Truro, County of Halifax. Mattw. Habeis.
Signed, Sealed, and Delivered
in presence of
David Archibald, Js. Peace.
The following, however, which we find in the records
of Pictou, is still more curious :
Know all men by these presents that I, Archibald Allardice, of the Pro
vince of Nova Scotia, mariner, for and in consideration of the sum of forty
pounds currency to me in hand paid by Dr. John Harris, of Truro, have made
over, and sold, and bargained, and by these presents do bargain, make over,
and sell to the aforesaid Dr. John Harris, one negro man named Sambo, aged
twenty-five years or thereabouts, and also one brown mare, and her colt now sucking.
To have and to hold the said negro man and mare with her colt, as his property,
for and in security of the above sum of money until paid with lawful interest.
And at the payment of the above mentioned sum with interest and expenses,
the aforesaid Doctor John Harris is by these presents firmly bound to deliver
up to the aforesaid Archibald Allardice, the said negro man, named Sambo,
•with the mare and colt (casualties excepted). But if the said negro man, mare
or colt, should die before the said money should be paid, then in such propor
tion, I, the said Archibald Allardice, promise to make good the deficiency to
the said Doctor John Harris. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand

108
and seal, this tenth day of August, in the year of our Lord, one thousand
seven hundred and eighty-six, and in the twenty-sixth of our Sovereign Lord,
George the Third's Reign. Archibald Allardice, . l. s.
Signed, sealed, and delivered in presence of
James Phillips,
Robert Dunn.
Truro, August 26th, 1786, Recorded on the oath of James Phillips.
John Harris, D. R.
Along the margin the following words were written : " Assignment to
Thomas Harris, 20th day of April, 1791." per John Harris, D. R.
We have not heard of any cases of those in Pictou
who owned slaves ill-treating them. On the contrary,
a poor woman who had belonged to Matthew Harris,
and obtained her freedom, used to confess that her life
had never been so free from anxiety as when living
with him ; but in other places tradition has preserved
the remembrance of some cruel deeds, showing the
character of the system. We have heard, for example,
of a negro slave in Iruro, who was so treated by his
master, that several times he ran away, usually making
for Pictou. On one occasion his master having caught
him, cut a hole through the lower lobe of his ear through
which he passed the end of a whip lash, and knotting it,
he mounted his horse and rode off, dragging after him in
that way the poor man, who shortly after died, it was
believed, in a large measure through the treatment he had
received. At this time the first settlement was made in Merigo
mish by Barnabas McGee. As we have already men
tioned, he had first taken up land on Rogers Hill, but
dissatisfied with its distance from the shore, he removed
to Barneys River, which took its name from him. Here
he settled in the fall of 1776 or spring of 1777 ; his
daughter Mary, afterward Mrs. Gillies, the first child of
English descent born in Merigomish, being born in May

109
ofthe latter year.* The harbour and coast then- swarmed
with fish, particularly the salmon. The islands were
visited by great flocks of geese and other wild fowl, while
moose were plenty in the woods, so that he had no diffi
culty in providing at least flesh for his family. The
Indians were then numerous, their chief place of encamp
ment being on the west side of his farm, and his child
ren, from want of associates, made playmates of their little
Micmac neighbours.
He was soon after joined by George Morrison, who
settled on the adjoining lot to the west. He had origin
ally come in the Hector. He was a strong and determined
man. On one occasion, being from home, a number of
Indians came to his house, made his wife cook whatever
they saw in the house that they desired, would not
allow his children to the fire, and otherwise frightened the
family. On his return, hearing of their behaviour, he
immediately started in a rage for the Indian encampment,
and meeting some of the offenders, he attacked them, in
detail, with his fists, giving them a hearty drubbing as a
hint for better behaviour in the future. The next day the
whole band had decamped.
They were joined soon after by Walter Murray. He
had been originally a soldier and had served in India, but
had emigrated to Nova Scotia in the Hector. He first
settled on the East River, but now removed to Merigo
mish, where he took up land on the east side of Barneys
River, McGee taking him, with his family and household
goods, in a boat round the coast. In commencing their
labours, Murray and Morrison each carried a bushel of
potatoes on their backs from Truro. They took the eyes
out of them, for seed, with a knife or a quill, retaining
the rest for food, so that, as they used to say, each planted
his bushel and ate it.
* We may add that his son Charles, born the 24th November, 1778, was the
first English male child born there. He died in the autumn of 1876.

,110
[The Rev. Mr. Cock, on one of his visits to Pictou,
extended his journey to Merigomish, and preached the
first sermon in the settlement, in Morrison's house, either
in 1783 or 1784, probably the latter, and at the same time
baptized all the young children.
At the period at which we have now arrived, the
, following may be regarded as a view of Pictou : A few
settlers were thinly scattered along the north side of the
harbor, from below the town to the head of the harbor,
and on both sides of the West River, as far up as the late
Deacon McLean's place. There was one family on Rogers
Hill, three or four on the Middle River, and some others
on the intervale of the East River from Stellarton nearly
up to Fish Pools, and there were three famihes in
Merigomish. Altogether, the population might be from
200 to 250.
We append a return to Government of the men capable
of bearing arms, made at this date. (Appendix E.)
We may here give some account of the social condition
of the inhabitants at this time. " The society of Pictou,"
says Philo Antiquarius, " down to the moment of which
we are now treating, might be viewed as one family, where
the children were all under the immediate superintendence
of a good parent. One venerable settler had heretofore
presided over the others, advising them to discharge their
various duties, and impressing upon them the necessity
of honesty, unanimity and industry, while they, with
confidence, looked to him as their best director, and yielded
in most cases obedience to his counsels. " Squire Patterson,
referred to in this extract, is described as short and thick
set, one of those men sometimes said to be as broad as they
are long, with a free and pleasant manner, and was highly
esteemed. From his skill in business he was very
influential, indeed, a sort of factotum for all the settlers,
even celebrating their marriages, notices of the same being

Ill
posted up for three weeks as a substitute for "the
proclamation of banns.
Along with him we must notice " John Patterson,
commonly known as Deacon Patterson, and, after his
death, as the old Deacon, from the circumstance of his
eldest son of the same name being also an Elder in the
Church. He has been called the Father of the Town of
Pictou, from his having been the means of fixing the '
town on its present site. But the old Deacon merited the
title of Father of Pictou on other accounts. For many
years after he came, there was neither law nor lawyers. In
those happy times men took the Scriptural mode of settling
disputes. They were not afraid to leave the adjustment of
" the things that pertain to this life " to their conscientious
neighbors. These two old patriarchs, .the Squire and the
Deacon, famed as they were for integrity and sound sense,
became the general peace-makers. None dared or wished
to gainsay their decisions. Generally when two men in
any place are upon an equality, the disposition to be first,
so universally distributed , among men, creates feuds
between them-, and the public good is left in the back
ground, and the public peace disturbed. The two good
men of whom we are speaking formed an honorable
exeeption from that common occurrence. They lived
together, not merely on good terms, but a pattern of warm
and inflexible friendship. "*
The most of the Highlanders were very ignorant. Very
few of them could read, and books were unknown among
them. The Dumfries settlers were much more intelligent
in religion and everything else. They had brought with \
them a few religious books from Scotland, some of which
were lost in Prince Edward Island, but the rest were
carefully read. In the year 1779, John Patterson brought
a supply of books from Scotland. Before leaving the old
country, he had built a range of small houses for working
* Editor Colonial Patriot.

112
people, on what was called a thirty -nine year tack, that is,
a lease for that period, the buildings at the end of the
term reverting to the proprietor. When he returned, his
rents had accumulated to about .£80 sterling, a good portion
of which he laid out in books, among which was a plentiful
supply of the New England primer, which was distributed
among the young, and the contents of which they soon
learned. Of teachers, I have not heard the names of any,
after James Davidson left, about the year 1776.
The people, however, were all religiously educated and
desirous of religious ordinances, and some of them
decidedly pious. They met together on the Sabbath day,
Robert Marshall, known afterward as Deacon Marshall,
holding what was called a reading for the Enghsh, and
Colin Douglass doing the same in Gaelic. The exercises
at these meetings consisted of praise and prayer, and
especially, as their name indicated, the reading of the
Scriptures and religious books. Marshall was a man of
strong powers of mind, well informed, especially in
theology, and particularly distinguished by the boldness
with which he rebuked sin. He is said some years later
to have reproved the Governor for travelling on Sabbath.
They also received occasional ministerial service. The
Rev. Daniel Cock, of Truro, and the Rev. David Smith,
of Londonderry, visited them, Mr.. Smith only once or
twice, but Mr. Cock several times. We cannot tell the
date of the first visit of either of them, but know that the
latter visited them each summer for several years, spend
ing a week or two among them preaching in private
houses, or in the open air, and baptizing their children.
The people considered themselves under his ministry, and
•went on foot to Truro to be present at his communions,
and some of them carrying their children through on
their backs to be baptized by him there. This was done
by a people who had so little English that they could
scarcely have understood any sermon in that language.

113
This may be judged from an incident that occurred
some years later. A Highlander, living in Truro, attended
Mr. Cock's preaching. The latter one day took as his
text the words " Fools make a mock of sin." The
former bore the sermon patiently, but said afterward,
*' Mr. Cock needn't have talked so about moccasins ;
Mr. McGregor wore them many a time."
They were also visited by travelling preachers, the
most important of whom was Henry Alline, so noted
in the early religious history of the western part of the
Province. In his journal he says, under date July 25th,
1782 : " Got to a place called Picto, where I had no
thought of making any stay, but finding the Spirit to
attend my preaching, I staid there thirteen days and
preached in all the different parts of the settlement. I
found four Christians in this place, who were greatly
revived and rejoiced that the Gospel was sent among
them." The Rev. James Bennet, itinerant missionary of the
Chureh of England, also visited this place. We have
never heard his name mentioned by the old settlors;
but Mr. Aikin, in his sketch of the rise and progress of
the Church of England in British North America, says
that in 1775 he visited the eastern harbors of the Pro
vince, and at Tatamagouche administered the Lord's
^Supper to 28 communicants; that in 1780 he again
visited Pictou and Tatamagouche, and on his return lost
his way in the woods.
During the war the price of timber rose, and the trade
in it from Pictou increased. During each year three or
four cargoes were shipped to Great Britain. It was at
this time that Capt. Lowden, afterward an active man
in the county, first commenced trading to this port.

114

CHAPTER VII.
PROM THE CLOSE OF THE AMERICAN WAR TILL THF
ARRIVAL OF DR. M'GREGOR. — 1783-1786.
The next accession of settlers to the county, and the
largest it had yet received, was at the peace of 1783.
These, however, were not loyalists from the revolted
colonies, as in some other counties. It might have been
well for them and for the county, had they occupied such
a rich district as Pictou, instead of the rocky shores of
our southern coast. The most who came here were dis
banded soldiers, with a few families who had emigrated
from the old country about that time. The largest body
of them were of the 82nd, or Hamilton Regiment, as it
was called. The main body had been employed in gar
rison duty in Halifax, with the exception of an expedition
to Casco Bay, in the State of Maine, under General
McLean. Another portion were employed in the Southern.
States, at least some of the men saw severe service there.
The most important event, however, which befell the
regiment was, the loss by shipwreck of a transport on
the coast, near New York, when, of three hundred men
on board, only eighteen were saved, who were taken off
the rigging, to which they had clung for some time.
Being disbanded in Halifax at the close of the war, a
large tract of land was set apart for them in Pictou, prin
cipally of the grants of Fisher and others, which had just
been escheated, in spite of the efforts of Wentworth, who
strove to maintain the titles of the old grantees, but only
succeeded in upholding his own. This tract, which has
since been so well known in the county as the 82nd grant,
embraced the shore on the south side of the harbour, at
Frasers Point, and from the upper part of Fishers Grant.

115
around the coast, almost to the eastern extremity of the
county, including Fishers Grant, Chance Harbour, Little
Harbour and Merigomish, with the exception of the Went
worth grant and of some smaller grants previously made
at Barneys River, and extending into the interior to the
depth of three or four miles. It was said to " contain in
the whole 26,030 acres, allowance being made for a town
plot, common, glebe and schools, and for other public
uses." It was divided as follows : to the Colonel, (Robert
son, of Struan, in Perthshire,) the Big Island, hence often
known as Robertsons Island, estimated at 1,500 acres,
though in reality containing considerably more ; to Capt.
Fraser, 700 acres at Frasers Point, which obtained its
name from him ; to four other officers, 500 acres each ; to
another, 300 acres ; to thirty -two non-commissioned
officers, 200 acres each ; to two others, 150 acres each, and
to 120 privates, 100 acres each. The following is the
description of the grant, which is dated 15th February,
1785: " Six certain several lots or tracts of land, containing on the whole 22,600
acres. "One tract beginning at west boundary of land granted to Robert Patterson,
near the head of Merigomish harbour, thence to run south by the magnet 373
chains of 4 rods each, thence west 120 chains, thence south 38 chains, thence
west 109 chains, thence south 26 chains, thence west 187 chains, 50 links, oi
until it comes to Wentworth grant ; thence north 276 chains to the harbour
aforesaid ; thence by the several courses of the said harbour, running east up
to the grant made to Robert Patterson as aforesaid ; thence crossing on that
line to the west side said harbour, and running west down the harbour and
round the sea-coast, running east to the bound first -mentioned, containing
11,388 acres. Also, one other tract beginning at a stake and stones on the
west point of the entrance into the harbour of Merigomish, thence to run
south 48° west 300 chains, thence north 78 ° west 107 chains, thence north
12 chains, thence north 45 ° west 48 chains, to the harbour of Pictou ; thence
bounded by the several courses of the said harbour and sea-shore, running
east to the bounds first mentioned, containing 12,000 acres. Also, one othei
tract beginning at the point between East and Middle Rivers in Pictou har
bour, thence to run south 65 ° west 43 chains, thence south 67 chains, thence
east till it comes to the East River aforesaid, thence bounded by the several
courses of the shore to the bound first mentioned, containing 600 acres,
hereby granted wholly to the said Colin McDonald. Also, one other tract,

116
beginning at the first mentioned bound of the last described tract, thence to
run south 65 ° west 43 chains, thence south 104 chains, thence north 85 °
west till it comes to the harbour of Pictou, thence bounded by the several
courses of the said harbour to the bounds first mentioned, containing 700
acres, hereby granted wholly to the said John Fraser. Also, one other tract,
beginning at the northern bound of lands granted Archibald Allardyce, on
tho aforesaid harbour of Pictou, thence to run south 85 ° east 158 chains, or
until it comes to lands granted to Rod. McKay, thence north 48 chains, thence
west 34 chains, thence south 3 chains 50 links, thence north 85 ° west to the
harbour, and by the several courses of the said harbour to the bound first
mentioned, containing 500 acres, hereby granted to the said Donnet Fenu-
cane. Also, one other tract beginning 28 chains to the east of land granted to
R. Patterson aforesaid, thence to run south 140 chains, thence east 75 chains,
thence north to the sea-shore, tb<mce running westwardly by the several
courses of the sea-shore to the bound first mentioned, containing 950 acres,
and containing in the whole of the aforesaid tract of land, 26,080 acres of
land , allowance being made for a town plot, common, glebe and school, and
for other public uses, excepting always the land marked on the plan as
reserved, and being all wilderness land."
The ground reserved for a town was at Fishers
Grant, which was laid out to contain every public
convenience, and was duly named Walmsley, but as
our readers are aware, it was a town only in name,
and we venture to say that even its name is entirely
unknown to the majority of the young generation of
Pictonians. By the tenure of the grant, " all mines of gold, silver,
copper, lead, and coals" were reserved, and also an " entire
right to all His Majesty's subjects to fish on the coasts
of the tract hereby granted, where it butts upon the
sea-shore." We hope, therefore, none of those resident
on the grant will attempt to hinder any of the lieges of
Queen Victoria from this privilege. It proceeds : " also
saving and reserving to His Majesty, his heirs and
successors, all white or other pine trees of the growth
of twenty-five inches diameter and upwards, at twelve
inches off the earth, and if such trees shall be so cut
or felled without license for so doing, either from the
Surveyor-General of the Woods or his deputy, or from
the Governor of the Province for the time being, the

117
lot or share of land on which said trees shall be so cut,
shall be forfeited and the lands revert to His Majesty,
his heirs and successors." Surely writh such a penalty
nobody on that grant has ever cut down any big pine
trees on his lot, ancl surely Her Majesty, as the lawful
heir of George the Third, must have a large reserve of
masts for her navy. But somehow we don't see them
there nowadays.
The grantees were also required to pay a quit rent
of two shillings sterling for every hundred acres on the
Feast of St. Michael (which we may inform our ignorant
readers is on the 29th September) in every year, the
first payment on the first term after the expiration of
ten years from the date hereof. There were also the
same conditions as to working as in Cameron's grant.
We have given the conditions of the various early
grants, as curious exhibitions of the ideas of the time, but
it is to be observed that those issued at the same period
in the other counties were in the same terms. At this
time, however, a condition was inserted, not in previous
grants, as follows : — " If the land hereby given and
granted shall, at any time or times hereafter, come into
the possession and tenure of any person or persons what
ever, inhabitants of our said Province of Nova Scotia,.
either by virtue of any deed of sale, conveyance,
enfeoffment, or exchange, or by gift, inheritance, descent,
or marriage," (most likely, we think, it would at some
time in some one of these ways), " such person or persons
being inhabitants, as aforesaid, shall, within twelve months-
after his, her, or their entry, take the oaths prescribed by
law, and make and subscribe the following declaration,
that is to say : — 'I,   , do promise and
declare that I will maintain and defend, to the
utmost of my power, the authority of the King in
his Parliament, as the Supreme Legislature of this
Province,'' before some of the magistrates of the said

118
Province, and such declaration and certificate of the
magistrate that such oaths have been taken, being recorded
hi the Secretary's office of the said Province, the person
or persons so taking the oaths aforesaid, and making and
subscribing the said declaration, shall be deemed the
lawful possessor or possessors of the land hereby granted."
r If this were not done within twelve months, the grant
was to be void. We hope all our friends in Merigomish
and the other settlements upon this grant, have carefully
attended to this, otherwise, they see what a certainty
there is of their losing their lands.
The land was surveyed by Squire Patterson and a son
of the Surveyor-General, and divided into lots, whieh
were duly numbered. The men were drawn up on the
Barrack Square in Halifax, and each man drew his lot
by number.
The attempts made in the Colonies to form settlements
by disbanded soldiers have not generally been very
successful. Governor Lawrence, writing sometime
previously to the Lords of Trade and Plantations on this
subject, says : — " According to my ideas of the military,
which I offer with all possible deference and submission,
they are the least qualified, from their occupation as
soldiers, of any men living, to establish a new country,
where they must encounter difficulties with which they
are altogether unacquainted." This was soon realized
in the present attempt. Some came and looked at the
land they had drawn, and without cutting a tree upon it,
returned to Halifax and re-enlisted. Others sold out for
trifling sums. The county records, for 1785 particularly,
contain a number of transfers of their lots, sometimes
"with their right to a town lot and their share of
provisions," for sums of four and five pounds. A number
never sold, and their land has since been unoccupied, or
occupied without title.
Still a good number came to settle their grants, some

119
arriving in the fall of 1783, others in the spring of 1784,
and thus the whole shore of the eastern part of the
county was in some measure occupied. A large proportion
of these settlers were reckless and profligate, but a
number proved steady and industrious, and from them
are descended many of the most prominent and useful
members of society in the county at the present day. The
most of them were Scotch, and of these the majority were
Lowlanders ; but a number were Highlanders, of whom
•a considerable proportion were Catholics, principally
from the Island of Barra, who had enlisted under that
persuasive influence which Highland Lairds were accus
tomed to exercise over their dependants. A number of
; these afterward removed into the neighboring county of
.Antigonish. We give in the appendix a list of grantees,
wdth such notices of them as we have been able to obtain.
¦ (Appendix F.)
We must now notice another band who arrived —
.*ome of them at this time, and others not till a little
.later, who first occupied the upper settlement of the
East River. These belonged to the 84th Regiment,
known at that time as the Royal Highland emigrants.
It consisted of two battalions, originally embodied in
the year 1775, though not numbered as the 84th till
the year 1778, when each battalion was raised to 1,000
men. Their uniform was the full Highland garb, with
purses made of raccoon instead of badgers' skins. The
officers wore the broadsword and dirk, and the men a
lalf basket sword. The first battalion was raised among
the discharged men of the 42nd, Fraser's, and Mont
gomery's Highlanders, who had settled in Canada or
the old colonies at the peace of 1763. It was stationed
at Quebec, under the command of Col. Allan McLean,
where it did good service in defence of that post, and
was thus the principal means of preserving the Pro-
wince to the British crown. The other battalion was

120
raised principally among immigrants arriving in the>
United States or Nova Scotia. At the time the war
broke out, a large number were on their way front
Scotland to settle in various parts of the old colonies.
In some instances the vessels were boarded from a
man-of-war before arrival.* After arrival they were
induced partly by threats and partly by persuasion, to
enhst for the war, which was expected to be of short
duration. They were not only in poverty, but many
were in debt for their passage, and they were now
told that, by enlisting, they would have their debts
paid, have plenty food as well as full pay, and would
receive for each head of a family 200 acres of land and
50 more for each child, " as soon as the present unna
tural rebeUion is suppressed," while, in the event of
refusal, there was presented the alternative of going to-
jail to pay their debts. Under these circumstances,
most of the able-bodied enlisted, in some instances
fathers and sons serving together. Their wives and1
children were brought to Halifax, hearing the cannon
of Bunker Hill on the passage.
This battalion was under the command of Col. Small-
Stewart, in his history of the Highland clans and regi
ments, says : " No chief of former days ever more firmly-
secured the attachment of his clan, and no chief certainly
ever deserved it better. With an enthusiastic and
almost romantic love of his country and countrymen, it.
seemed as if the principal object of his hie had been to
serve them and promote their prosperity. Equally
brave in leading them in the field, and kind, just, and
conciliating in quarters, they would have indeed been:.
ungrateful, if they had regarded him otherwise than.
they did. There was not an instance of desertion in
* The tradition in several families is, that they were captured by a British^
man-of-war. I do not understand how this could be. A number were onj.
their way to Virginia.

121
the battalion. Five companies remained in Nova Scotia
during the war. The other five joined General Clinton
and Lord Cornwallis to the southward. At Eutaw
Springs, the Grenadier company was in the battalion,
which, as Col. Alex. Stewart, of the 3rd Regiment, states
in his despatches, drove all before them."
That portion of the regiment which remained in Nova
Scotia, was stationed at Halifax, Windsor and Cumber
land, and the men were distinguished by their good
behaviour, in which they presented a remarkable-contrast
to the rest of the army at that time.
At the close of the war, both battalions were disbanded.
The first battalion settled in Canada, the second in Nova
Scotia. The transports, with the flank companies, from
the Southern army were ordered to Halifax, where the
men were to be discharged, but owing to the violence of
the weather, and a consequent loss of reckoning, they
made the Islands of St. Nevis and St. Kitts, whieh
delayed their final reduction till 1784. The largest por
tion of the battalion obtained their land in Hants County,
where they formed the township of Douglass, but a num
ber of them settled on the upper settlement of the East
River. The first who came was James Fraser (Big) who,
in company with Donald McKay, the elder, followed the
river up till he reached the intervale, a little below St.
Paul's Church, where his grandson Donald resides, which
he chose as his future home. We may mention that
intervale land was then eagerly sought, and that it was
this that principally attracted the settlers to such a dist
ance from the shore. Accordingly he and fifteen of his
comrades took up a tract of 3,400 acres, extending along
both sides of the river,* on the east side, from Finlay
* The discharges we have seen are dated 10th April, 1784, but the grant is
dated 3rd November, 1785. There was, however, always delay in the issue-
of the old grants. Curiously enough I could find no record of this in the
Crown Land office at Halifax. It was surveyed and the lots laid off by Squire
Patterson.

122
Fraser's, a little below Springville, to a little above Samuel
Cameron, Esq.'s house, and on the west side, from John
Forbes' to James Fraser's (Culloden).- This grant, usually
known on the East River, as " the soldiers' grant," is in
the same terms with that of the 82nd. The settlers also
received a town lot at Fishers Grant and a supply of
r provisions. They made a beginning of settlement here, as near as
we can ascertain, in the summer of 1784. We may
say of these as well as those of the same class who
-settled on the West Branch, that they were very different
from disbanded soldiers in general, being sober and indus
trious, and many of them serious. But they had for some
time great hardships to endure. Till they made a blaze,
there was no path to the neighbouring settlement. All
their seed and supplies for their families, they were obliged
to carry on their backs, or in winter, to drag on handsloda.
And from their seclusion from the rest of the settlement,
they were for a time exposed to peculiar privations. We
append a list of these grantees with notices of them. (Ap
pendix G.)
About the same time with the occupation of the East
Branch, or a little after, the West Branch was occupied,
principally by men of the same regiment. The first to
make their way thither were David McLean afterwards
Esquire, and John Fraser, who made their way along the
bed of the river to the falls, at Gray's Mills, where they
spent the night sleeping in the open air. Their grant
liowever did not come out for some time after. The one
in use is dated 13th December 1797, and includes a num
ber of other parties, who had settled on other parts of the
river. This grant is not on record, but there is one regis
tered for the same quantity of land with nearly the same
names, dated 1st April 1793. We subjoin a list of the
grantees with brief notices of them. (Appendix E.)
The same summer (1784) there arrived at Halifax a

123
-vessel with immigrants, of whom some eight families, all
Highlanders, removed to Pictou, all of whom, so far as we
know, settled on the East River. Perhaps the most no
ticeable of these were Thomas Fraser, who settled nearly
opposite where New Glasgow now stands, and who was
long known as Deacon Thomas, and John Robertson who
was the first settler at Church ville. A list of these settlers so
far as we have been able to obtain, we subjoin. (Appendix I.) *
About the same time a number of others, who had
-served during the war, settled in various parts of the
county. Thus we find Lieutenant Gordon, who lived at
Mortimers Point, hence for some time after known as Gor
dons Point, Henry Burnside, a native of Glasgow, who
had served ten years in the 42nd Regiment, who joined
the settlers on West Branch, taking up the farm since
occupied by Peter Ross, Esq., Robert and Joseph McDo
nald, brothers, who settled on Barneys River ; and William
McKay, Archibald Gray and Dalgliesh, who had served
in one ofthe Highland Regiments, and Donald McGillivray,
who had been a dragoon, all of whom settled on the lower
part of the Eight Mile Brook ; Samuel Cameron, who had
been a light horseman, and who settled at Merigomish,
and Gregor McGregor, a native of Perthshire, who had
also served in the army and now settled at Barneys River.
There came also others of those whom we have mentioned
as having been on their way to the United States when the
war broke out, among whom may be named Alpin Grant,
who, we believe, belonged to the 84th, and who settled
below the town, where Capt. Foote now lives, the McMil- j
Hans, (though one son William served his full time as a
soldier in the Cavalry and did not arrive for some time
after) and James McDonald and John McKenzie, of West
River, who had been employed in Halifax during the war,
the former as a tailor to the troops, and the latter as a
carpenter. To these we may add James Chisholm, a son
of a parish minister in the North of Scotland, who had

124
been on the staff of Gen. Washington, but finding his
Highland countrymen generally taking the other side,
deserted and had a price set on his head.
About the same time, Governor Wentworth made efforts
to settle his grant. In a letter written in the year 1783,
to prevent process of escheat against him, he says, " I had
made an agreement with agents of 120 famihes in Con
necticut, all loyalists, and churchmen, with their mission
aries, to remove upon our lands in the spring next, to give
them alternate lots of 100 acres, and something more to
the missionary and one or two principals among them.
They are dissatisfied with their present Government, are
well recommended, and determined to sell their present
possessions." This scheme was never carried out, but at this time to-
secure his grant from forfeiture, he offered liberal terms
to those who should occupy it. Several embraced his
proposals, the first of whom was Mr. John Sutherland.
He had immigrated a young man in the Hector, and
removed to Windsor, where he married. After this he
returned to Pictou, he and his wife travelling on foot, and
carrying that distance an iron pot, as the beginning of
house furnishing. After being a short time on the East
River, he removed about the year 1785, and settled at the
.mouth of Sutherland's River, which received its name
from him, on the farm still occupied by his descendants.
Among others, who settled on the Wentworth Grant
about this time, we may mention Alex. McDonald, (Garty)
who had been a soldier in one of the Highland Regiments
during the war, and three brothers, George, Charles and
Joseph Roy, who had just emigrated from Scotland.
The most important accession to that settlement at that
time was Nicholas Purdy (properly Purdue, that being
his mother's name), Olding. Both by his father and
mother's side he belonged to families -of some rank in the
County of Kent, England. He was well educated, had

125
studied for the bar, and commenced practising in the
State of New York, where he had married, when the war
broke out. He took the British side, though his father-
in-law took the opposite, and joined one of the loyal
American regiments, and served throughout the war as a
chasseur, or light horseman, with great credit. At the
end ofthe war he removed to Halifax, and commenced
practising law, and might have attained to the highest
honors of his profession. But he had received a wound
in the head, which had been trepanned, and rendered
him unfit for the excitement of the bar and the social
habits of the time. He had drawn his land at Sheet
Harbor, but, not liking the situation, he, at the solicitation
of Governor Wentworth, removed to Point Betty, where
he spent the rest of his life. He was for many years a
magistrate, and on the list of lawyers, though he did not
practise much, and, in his old age, recognized as the father
of the Bar of Nova Scotia.
The large influx of settlers produced important changes
upon the state of the community. Perhaps the most
important was the injury done to its morality, by the large
number of drunken profligates, discharged from the army,
a fact which will come under our notice hereafter.
Another circumstance must here be mentioned. From
the large influx of male settlers, there was such a scarcity of
the gentler sex, as we now hear of at the first settlement of
some ofthe Western States. An old woman in the author's
congregation used to say that she recollected the time
when there was " only one girl in all Pictou " — marriage
able, of course, she meant. Why that one remained in '
the market, wo regret that we omitted to enquire, but
presume that it was because she was " owre young to
marry yet." But extreme youth was not always a
protection. A case is well authenticated of a woman who
was married when she was fourteen years of age, and had
six children before she was twenty. What a contrast to

126
our present degenerate race ! Men then travelled, like
Jacob, long distances for wives, and married them with
as little previous acquaintance as an Oriental. A vessel
having arrived in Halifax with immigrants, three young
men on the East River set off through the woods to the
city. On their arrival, they went among the newly
' arrived, and each selecting the girl whose appearance
' caught his fancy, at once made proposals to her. We
suppose it must have been through the persuasive
influence of the Gaelic language, but, at all events, the
fair ones yielded, went home with men they had never
seen before, and proved faithful and, we have no doubt,
happy wives; One reason given for so many of the 82nd
men leaving was that they could not get wives in Pictou.
We must here notice another class of settlers who,
about this time, commenced in River John, and as their
history is somewhat peculiar and interesting, we shall
give it at some length. They were originally from the
town of Montbeliard (pronounced Mong bilyar) which
formerly formed part of the dominions of the Duke of
Wurtemburg, but which was annexed to France by the
ambition and treachery of Louis XIV, after the treaty of
Nimeguen, in 1679.*
In the third volume of D'Aubigne's History of the Refor
mation will be found an interesting account of the intro
duction of the Reformation into this place, by Farel, in
the year 1524. His labours were successful ; a large
number embraced that system which also spread through

* " The late- treaties had ceded to France several important cities and dis
tricts, 'with the dependencies belonging to them.' This vague expression
opened a wide field to the grasping ambition of Louis. He proceeded to
institute courts called Chambres de reunion, for the purpose of ascertaining
what dependencies had appertained at any former period to the territories now
annexed to France, and by this ingenious device he soon added to his domi
nions no less than twenty towns, wrested from neighbouring princes, includ
ing Saarbruck, Luxemburg, Deux-ponts and Montbeliard."— Smith's History
of France.

127
the surrounding districts. Soon after their annexation to
France, came the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in the
year 1685, which let loose the floodgates of suffering upon
the Reformed Church of France. But in that act the dis
tricts referred to, were excepted, and the Protestants for
some time suffered no molestation, owing to the stipula
tions of the Treaty by which they were annexed. But ,
after a time the Lutherans in the annexed Provinces were '
exposed to the same sufferings as their Reformed neigh
bours, and the remembrance of these is still handed down
among their descendants in this country. One incident
connected with their emigration may be mentioned.
Orders had been given that one of their chapels should
be taken away from them and handed over to the Roman
ists. Fifty young men, among whom were George Tattrie
and Peter Millard, assembled at it, armed only with
stones, prepared to resist. A detachment of troops was
sent against them, with a priest at their head. He warned
the party gathered of the uselessness of resistance. They,
however, refused to yield, when a section of the troops
were ordered to fire, which they did, killing two and
wounding others, among whom was George Tattrie, who
received a ball in the fleshy part of the leg. The order to
fire was answered by a volley of stones, by which some
of the soldiers were badly injured, and, it was said, one
killed. The Protestants were again summoned to surren
der, but refused, until the priest called on the whole
detachment to fire, when they submitted, and saw the
house where their fathers had worshipped given to their
enemies. i
As soon as his wound was healed, George Tattrie,*
who we may here mention, had previously been a French
soldier, and fought at the battle of Fontenoy Millard,
and most of the party joined a body of their fellow-coun-
* In 1873 I conversed with a son of his, over ninety years of age, from.
whem I received these particulars, as I had received them, some .years before.

128
trymen, who were preparing to emigrate to Nova Scotia,
in response to the invitations, which had been addressed to
Protestants on the Continent by the British Government,
offering liberal terms to those who should settle in this
Province. They came down the Rhine and took shipping
at Rotterdam for England, in the year 1752. They
landed at Portsmouth, and for a time were left in destitu
tion by those who had brought them there. But their
case was taken up by the British Government, by whom
they were despatched in four vessels, two for South Caro
lina and two for Halifax. Those who came in the latter
reached their destination in the following spring, and
were landed at Georges Island, to the number of 224.
From Halifax they proceeded to Lunenburg, where they
endured the hardships and dangers of the first settlers.
After the peace of 1763, Col. DesBarres, a countryman
of theirs, and a son of one of their old Protestant minis
ters, who had entered the British military service, and
who had served at the taking of Louisburg and Quebec,
being, it is said, one of the officers in whose arms Wolfe
fell, and who was afterward successively Governor of
Cape Breton and Prince Edward Island,* had obtained
a grant of a large tract of land at Tatamagouche,
extending from Point Brule along the shore westwardly,
some distance beyond the present village. By his
persuasion, a number of them were induced to settle
there. Accordingly, eleven removed from Lunenburg
with their families in or about the year 1771. The
names of these were George Tattrie, who settled on the
French River at what is now Donaldsons place ; George
Gratto; David Langill, who settled on what has since
been known as Lombards place, and his son John

* Old Mrs. Mattitall, who lived where the village of Tatamagouche is now
situated, had been his nurse. When he was Governor of Prince Edward
Island she went to see Jiim. He took her to Government House and showed
her every kindness.

129
James Langill, then married, who also settled on the
French River; Matthew Langill, his brother, James
Bigney and George Mattitall, who located themselves
where the village now is, and at the same time, or
perhaps a little later, Peter Millard, who settled at the
point below Mrs. Campbell's, and John Millard, who
•settled next him to the west. There were three other
settlers who did not remain; Ledurney, who settled
where Waugh afterward lived, John Lowe and John
Buckler. When they arrived they found the indications of
what had once been a flourishing French settlement.
A considerable extent of land on the shores of the bay
and harbor, from the church to McCulley's, had been
cleared by them, and their furrows were still visible.
The intervales both on French and Waughs Rivers
had also been cultivated, and on the former they had
been extracting and attempting to smelt the copper ore.
The remains of no less than five mills were found ; one
on Mill Brook, one at Blockhouse Bridge, one at Mur
dochs, one on the main French River, and one at
Goosar. Traces also of a graveyard, with crosses still
-standing at the head of the graves, and of a Romish
chapel, were to be seen between what is now Mr. Wm.
'Campbell's field and the schoolhouse. The first settlers
for a time endured great hardships. A supply of imple
ments and provisions was to have been sent round to
ihem in a vessel, but she never arrived. They had to
carry wheat and potatoes on their backs from Truro,
the former article costing them twelve shillings per
bushel and the price of the latter being proportional.
They frequently resorted to a plant growing on the
marsh, which, when boiled, made a palatable sort of
greens. But they had the benefit of the clearings made
by the Acadian French, those on the intervales being
particularly rich, from which they soon derived a com-
9

130
fortable subsistence, and they were soon joined by other*
of their countrymen from Lunenburg.
But Des Barres was unwilling to sell his land and
wished to keep the settlers as tenants. This, of course,
they did not like, when there was so much land around,
which might be had in full ownership. Accordingly, as
the young men of these families grew up they began to
look elsewhere, and were attracted by the land in River
John, then known as Deception River, and, as near as we
can ascertain, in the year 1785, four young families, viz.:
George Patriquin, John Patriquin, James Gratto and
George Langill, son of John James, above mentioned,
took up their abode there.* Following the plan which
had been adopted at Lunenburg, especially from fear of
the Indians, of living in a town and having their farm
lots outside, they laid out for themselves small lots at
what is called Smiths Point, and where they intended
also building a blockhouse. They took up land for farm
ing purposes, but for several years continued to live
together at Smiths Point, thus strengthening each other's
hands, and overcoming the feeling of loneliness, incident
to the situation of the new settler.
John Patriquin took up and occupied for a number of
years the farm owned afterward by the late Alexander
McKenzie, Esq., and from him the point where the ship
yard is, now occupied by Charles McLennan, Esq., was
known as Johns Point. It is supposed by some that
the river received its present name from him. It was for
a length of time known as "Johns River," and on the
communion cups of the Presbyterian congregation of
River John, it is so named ; but before the English settle-
* The land here belonged to the Philadelphia Company, and the first deed
on record is dated 25th July, 1786, and is to James Gratto, (John) James
Langill, George (Frederick) Langill, John (Frederick) Patriquin, George
Patriquin and George Tattrie, of land described as " lying on a river and bay
known by the name of Deception River, near Cape Jean, beginning about a
mile north from the entrance of said river on west side," &c.

131
ment the cape, at the entrance, was known as Cap Jean,
or Cape John and in Des Barres' chart published in 1770,
the estuary ofthe river is called " Harbour or River John."
This John Patriquin again removed to Tatamagouche,
but several of his family afterward returned to River
John. George Patriquin took up his farm adjoining John's to
the north, where Thomas Mitchell now resides. He had
four sons, James, who settled in New Annan, David and
George, both of whom settled on the road leading to
Earltown, and Frederick, who, when five years of age,
was stolen by the Indians. This was a very severe trial
to the afflicted parents, who mourned over their loss
during their lifetime, between hope and despair, the
feeling still lingering in their minds that, probably by
some event in Providence, their darling might be restored
to them again. Whenever they heard of any white person
among the Indians, they would make enquiry, but no
tidings of the lost were ever received. His daughter
Phebe, universally known as aunt Phebe, wife of Joseph
Langill, Brook, was the first white child born in River
John. James Gratto, a son of George Gratto, one of the
first settlers in Tatamagouche, took up his farm beyond
Smiths Point. He left two sons, George and Matthew,
and his descendants still occupy part of the old property.
The last of the four first settlers of River John was
George Langill. He was a grandson of David, or John
David Langill, already mentioned, as one of the first set
tlers of Tatamagouche, whose widely scattered family we
shall presently notice.
Five years later or about the year 1790, the settlers in
River John were joined by the families of George Joudry,
who settled next above him, by George Bigney, son of
James mentioned as one of the first settlers of Tatama
gouche, who settled where Thomas Bigney now resides,
and Mattitalland George Langill, only son of Matthew

132
Langill, already mentioned, as one of the first settlers of
Tatamagouche. He obtained John Patriquin's place by
exchange. His father Matthew, who had been a light
horseman in the French army, came afterward to River
John, and died there at the age of 76, and was the first
person buried in the old graveyard, his tombstone bearing
the date 1800.
At a later date, Louis Tattrie, son of George already
mentioned, settled on the Tatamagouche road, and others
from Tatamagouche, and two brothers Perrin, Christopher
and George, came direct from Lunenburg.
We must now notice, however, the family of (John) Da
vid Langill. By his first marriage, he had one son, John
James, who, as we have mentioned, settled with him on
the French River. He had five sons, George, David,
James, Joseph and Frederick. This George was, as we
have seen, one of the first settlers of River John, but he
remained only a few years, and then removed to New
Annan, and the Langills, in that quarter, are descended
from him. Frederick removed to the United States, and
the other three settled in River John. David is the ances
tor of the Miller Langills, and James and Joseph settled
on the Mill Brook, where theirdescendants are stilLnume-
rous. (John) David Langill, by his second marriage, had no
children. He was married a third time to a woman, who
had a son previously, who assumed the name of Langill,
and who settled at Point Brule, where he became the
ancestor of the Langills in that quarter.
By this third marriage, David Langill had (1) Nicholas,
who went to the United States and was never heard from,
(2) John David, (3) John George, (4) John Frederick, and
(5) John Louis.* These four all settled on the shore from
* Among the Germans in Lunenburg, it was a practice not uncommon till
recently, and perhaps still existing, to give each son in a family the same first
name and to distinguish them by their second names.

133
River John toward Tatamagouche, about the year 1792.
John George was long an elder in the Presbyterian Church,
and was regarded as a man that feared God with all his
house. His son Ephraim was also an elder for 36 years,
and now his grandson Ephraim is also an elder. One son
of John Louis, David, has also long been an elder in the
Presbyterian Church, and is now the oldest member of
Session. The old people spoke a corrupt dialect of French, but
with a German tone and accent, as the inhabitants of
Alsace and neighboring districts do till the present day.
But they understood pure French ; some of them could
read it fluently, and they could also understand the
patois of the Aeadians. Some of them also had Bibles
and other books in that language. But among the
present generation it has nearly died out. Indeed,
in their general character, they show more of the staid-
ness of the German than the vivacity of the Frenchman.
The large accessions to the population of the district
induced in 1783 and 1784 an effort to obtain the services
of a settled clergyman. A meeting of the inhabitants
was accordingly held in the fall of the latter year
with that view, when it was agreed to apply to Scot
land for the services of a Presbyterian minister. For
his support they agreed to " raise .£80 per annum for
the first and second years, £90 per annum for the third
and fourth years, and thereafter £100 currency, that is,
£90 sterling annually, — one-half thereof in cash and the
other in produce ; and if Providence should smile upon ~
the settlement and their industry, to make additions to
that sum." They also agreed to build a house and barn
for their minister, and that he should have a glebe, and
that they should clear so much of it, from time to time,
for his encouragement. A committee was appointed,
consisting of Robert Patterson (the Squire), John Pat
terson (deacon), of the harbor, as it was then called,

134
William Smith, of West River, Robert Marshall, of
Middle River, and Donald McKay, of the East, to act
for them in obtaining a minister. A petition, drawn up
by Mr. Cock, was accordingly signed by them and
entrusted to John Buchanan, Sen., and John Pagan,
respectable inhabitants of Greenock, with authority to
present it to any Presbyterian Church Court with which
they were likely to be successful.
It was accordingly presented to the General Associate
Synod of Scotland, then usually knownas the Antiburgher
Synod, at their meeting in Spring, 1786, and as the
result, the Rev. James, afterward Dr., McGregor was
appointed to proceed to Pictou. He accordingly, on the
4th June, set sail from Greenock, in the brig Lily, for
Halifax, where he arrived on the 11th July, and the
same week came to Truro, travelling on horseback.
There was something like a road for eleven miles from
Halifax, but beyond that there was only a narrow
avenue through the woods, on which the trees had been
cut down and sometimes cut across and rolled to one
side. The ground was generally so soft that even at
midsummer, as it was then, the horses sank to their
knees in mud and water, and as each horse put his
foot where his predecessor had, the path became a
regular succession of deep holes, such as one may see in
a road recently made in deep snow.
From Truro there was only a blaze, but men were then
employed in opening the road, which, however, consisted
only in cutting down the trees along the line of travel.
On the 21st he left Truro, and arrived at George
McConnell's, now the ten-mile farm, and then the nearest
clearing to Truro. On the following morning he was
taken in a canoe to the harbour. His impression he thus
describes : — " When I looked round the shores of the
harbour I was greatly disappointed and cast down, for
there was scarcely anything to be seen but woods growing

135
d own to the water's edge. Here and there a mean timber
hut was visible in a small clearing, which appeared no
bigger than a garden, compared to the woods. Nowhere
could I see two houses without some wood between
them." On the following day he commenced his labors by
preaching in Squire Patterson's barn. He thus describes
the event : —
" The Squire gave orders to lay slabs and planks in his barn for seats to the
congregation ; and before eleven o'clock next morning I saw the people
gathering to hear the Gospel from the lips of a stranger, and a stranger who
felt few of its consolations, and had but little hope of communicating them"
to his hearers. None came by land except certain families who lived a few ',
rmiles to the right and left of Squire Patterson's. Those who came from the
south side ofthe harbor and from the river, had to come in boats or canoes,!
containing from one to seven or eight persons. The congregation, however, i
was not large ; for numbers could not get ready their craft, the notice was so :
short. I observed that the conduct of some ot them, coming from the shore'
to the barn, was as if they had never heard of a Sabbath. I heard loud
¦talking and laughing, and singing and whistling, even before they reached1
the shore. They behaved, however, with decency so long as I continued to[
speak, and some of them were evidently much affected. I endeavored to,
explain to them in the forenoon in English, ' This is a faithful saying, and '
worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save
: sinners ; ' and in the afternoon, in Gaelic, ' The Son of Man is come to seek
-and to save that which is lost.' The first words which I heard, alter
pronouncing the blessing, were from a gentleman of the army calling to his
^companions, ' Come, coaie, let us go to -the grog shop ; ' but instead of going
-with him, they came toward me to bid me welcome to the settlement, and he
came himself at last."
In the same vessel with Dr. McGregor arrived one who
was afterward well known in the county, viz., William
"Fraser, surveyor. Having traversed the eastern part of
the Province about this time, he says : — " In 1787 there i
were only four or five houses from Salmon River to
Antigonish. To the eastward of the East Eiver there was
not even a blaze on a tree. There was not one inhabitant
on the Cape Breton side of the Gut of Canso, and but one
on the Nova Scotia side. In 1788 there was one house at
JShip Harbour. I may add that from Picton to Cocaigne,

J36
there were but four or five families at River John; a*
few more at Tatamagouche ; some refugees at Wallace,
and but one at Bay Verte. At Miramichi there were but
five families."
We may add here, that by a return to Government,.
signed by John Fraser and Robert Patterson, dated 8th
June, 1786, the following was the amount of farm stock.
in Pictou and Merigomish : —
Oxen. Cows. ,*j*nall Cattle. Sheep.
230 356 450 1500

CHAPTER VIII.
DR. m'gregor's EARLY LABOURS. — 1786-1788
Hitherto we have had great difficulty in getting any
thing like clear information regarding the state of society
among the early settlers, but Dr. McGregor, in his auto
biography, has given a very vivid picture of the con
dition of the country at this period. We have already
pubhshed this in another form, but it is necessary, for
the completeness of our present work, to give, at least,
a condensed view of the state of matters as he found
them, and of his early labours.
" As for our population," he says, " Pictou did not con
tain 500 souls ; if Merigomish be included, I suppose
they would amount to a few more." These were settled
principally along the intervales of the three rivers, and
thinly along the shore from Fishers Grant to Merigo
mish. The site of the town was still covered with
woods. The majority of the settlers, having commenced
within the previous two years, were in extreme poverty..
Squire Patterson's house was the only framed one-

137
Of the rest, but seven or eight had two fire-places.
The most were of round logs, with moss stuffed in
between them, and plastered with clay, while the roof
was formed of the bark of trees cut in pieces of equal
length, disposed in regular tiers, the ends and edges
overlapping, and kept in position by poles, running the
whole length of the building, placed on the ends of each
range of bark, and fastened at the ends to the building
by means of withs. Their furniture was of the rudest
description, a block of wood, or a rude bench, serving
for chair or table. Food was commonly served up in
Woodpn dishes or in wooden plates, except when discard
ing such luxuries, they gathered round tho pot of pota
toes on the middle of the floor. Among the new comersr
at least, straw formed the only bed. Money wTas scarcely
seen, and almost all trade was by barter, wheat and
maple sugar being the principal circulating medium.
" Not a loaf could be afforded of our own wheat.
There was no mill to grind it. We had an imitation flour
by the hand-mill, but of oatmills we had not a semblance."
These hand-mills, or querns, were in almost every house.
They consisted of two stones, about two feet in diameter ;.
the lower was fixed, and the upper surface " picked, "
as millers say, and a pintle of iron inserted in the centre.
The upper stone was heavier, being about ten inches
thick, with a hole in the centre through which the pintle
in the lower stone passed, and by which, also, the grain
to be ground was introduced. The lower end of an
upright pole was fastened to the upper surface of this
stone, near its outer edge, while the upper end wras fixed
in a cross piece of wood between the upper beams of the
house. The operator seizing the upright pole in one
hand, whirled the upper stone by means of it with a
rapidity according to his strength, at the same time, with
the other hand, putting the grain into the hole in the
centre. John Patterson made an improvement upon them.

138
by putting a rim round them and a spout at one side, so
that the flour might come off the stone at one place.
This was afterward sifted and made wholesome bread.
" Grinding on the hand-mill was so laborious that it was
let alone till necessity impelled to it. This was the occa
sion of saving much wheat, for many a meal was made
without bread on account of the trouble of grinding."*
" There was not a merchant in the district, nor any who
commonly kept goods for sale, or made the third of his
living by the sale of goods. Little schooners came round
in the summer with some necessary articles, to which the
people repaired in their canoes, and. got a few things, for
which they exchanged a little produce. Sometimes John
Patterson got a few pounds' worth more than he needed,
and afterward sold them. We had scarcely any trades
men of any kind."
" There was not a foot of road in the district. There
was a path from the West to the Middle River, and from
the Middle River to the East, but no path from any of the
rivers to the harbor. We had not a dozen of horses,f and

* Mention is made of a grist mill of Kennedy's in the census of 1774, but
it must have worked but for a short time, if it ever worked at all, as he
returned to Truro in 1776. Certainly, at this time, there was none in opera
tion, and the tradition is, that the first application of any other power than
the hand-mill to grinding was by the erection of a windmill by John Patter
son, at Norway Point, where he then Uved. The wheat which the settlers
exchanged with the merchants for goods, was shipped to Halifax, and ground
at a mill at Dartmouth.
f William Fraser, surveyor, says that in 1787 there was only four or five
horses between Salmon River and Antigonish. Though there were horses in
the settlement, they were still rare enough to be objects of wonder and dread
to the rising generation in some places. We have heard John McLean, of
West River, tell of the first horse he ever saw. He had heard of a man in the
neighborhood having got such an animal, and not long after, being down on
the intervale, he was struck with terror at the sudden appearance of a huge
beast, which he concluded must be the aforesaid horse. He retained his
faculties sufficiently to consider whether it would be better immediately to
take to flight, but concluded that if he did so it might lead the animal to
pursue him. He, therefore, glided away quietly, till he got some bushes

139
for carriage, neither sleighs nor gigs." These roads, if
they can be called such, served scarcely any other purpose
than to prevent the traveller going astray. Though there
were inconveniences in travelling by them from their
roughness owing to stones or roots, from the branches of
trees which crossed the path, or from wet and boggy
ground, yet old people have assured me, that from the soft
moss, with which the ground was covered, walking on
them was easier and less fatiguing than on an ordinary road.
Over most of the district, however, there was not even this
convenience. The most there was to direct the traveller
between one settlement and another was a " blaze," which
we presume all our readers know means a chip taken off the
sides of the trees along the line of travel. The chief of
the travel on land was along the shore or the banks of the
rivers, which were often incumbered with trees and stones,
and at other places presented bogs, the crossing of which
was most inconvenient, or creeks which required a long
circuit round, or brooks, which it was necessary to ascend
for some distance, to a convenient places of crossing. In
winter, the regular mode of conveyance was the snow
shoe. It is certain, that whether'more snow fell then than
now, it lay more continuously through the, winter, and
as winter advanced, was of greater depth than is now com
monly seen, rendering this at that time the only possible
way of travelling. In summer, canoes were largely used
in crossing harbours and streams on passing along these
shores. These were what are in the west called dugouts,
being constructed of a section of a large pine tree, hol-
between himself and the horse, when he took to his heels and ran with all
his might till he reached home. The late John Douglass, of Middle River,
used to tell, with equal interest, of the first horse he saw. It belonged to a
man from Truro, who called at his father's house. John, returning home
from a short absence, was surprised at seeing such an animal tied to a tree.
While peeping curiously at it from behind another tree, he was still more
surprised to see a strange man, who came out of the house, mount upon his
back and ride away.

140
lowed out and properly shaped. These were large and
capable of carrying four or five persons with perfect safety,
but from the unskilfulness of many of the settlers, who
had not been accustomed to them, accidents frequently
happened.* "It was no little discouragement to me that I saw
, scarcely any books among the people. Those who spoke
'English had indeed a few, which they brought with
them from their former abodes ; but scarcely one of them
had got any addition to his stock since. Almost all of
them had a Bible, and it was to be seen with some of the
Highlanders who could not read. Few of them indeed
could read a word. There was no school in the place.
Squire Patterson had built a small house and hired a
teacher for a few months now and then for his own
children. In three, or perhaps four, other places three
or four of the nearest neighbors had united and hired a
teacher for a few months at different times, and this

* I have been surprised in tracing the history of families of the early inhabi
tants, to find so many cases of drowning by the upsetting of canoes or falling
through the ice. On one occasion at the Middle River three men were
, drowned in attempting to save a woman. She was a Mrs. Cumminger, who-
lived on the east side. She was on her way to town by the ice on foot, when,
for some reason unknown, she took a wrong course and went over to the oppo
site side, where the ice was bad. When opposite what is now Blairs place, it
gave way under her ; her cries attracted the attention of three men, who were
working in the woods, two named Ross and one named McLean, who immedi
ately proceeded to her assistance. They cut poles which they laid upon the ice,
and on which they walked out towards her, but when close to her, stepping
on the outer ends of the poles, on the edge ofthe water, the ice gave way, and
they were plunged in. Their cries in turn attracted the attention of two other
men, the late Samuel Archibald and a Mr. Hingley, who were going to town
on skates. Owing to the state of the ice on that side the river, they had to make
a considerable detour to reach the place, so that when vhey arrived the woman
and two of the men had sunk. The third was supporting himself on his pole
which he held in an upright position, but just as they approached he let go
and disappeared. The next day the whole four bodies were taken out of the
one hole. The three men were all young, had not been long in this country ;
two were brothers, the third a cousin, and one of them had only been about
six weeks married.

141
was a great exertion. What was more discouraging, I
could not see a situation in Pictou where a school
could be maintained for a year, so thin and scattered
was the population. Besides, many of the Highlanders
were perfectly indifferent about education, for neither
themselves nor any of their ancestors had ever tasted its
pleasure or its profit. But afterwards I found that
children made quicker progress in the small and tem
porary schools, with which the people were obliged to
content themselves, than they did at home in large and
stationary schools ; and I found it easier than I had
thought, to rouse the Highlanders to attend to the educa
tion of their children, so far as to read the Bible."
Dr. McGregor, we may here observe, was a native of
Perthshire, born at what is now the village of St. Fillaiis,
at the foot of the romantic Loch Earne, in December, 1759.
His father had been brought to the knowledge of the
Saviour under the celebrated Ebenezer Erskine, when a
young man laboring near Stirling. He returned to his
native parish, to be an earnest friend of the Gospel, and
continued active in promoting its extension during the
rest of his life. His son was early devoted to the ministry,
and, possessing strong natural powers, an earnest spirit
and active habits, he passed through his college curriculum
at Edinburgh with credit, studied theology under William
Moncrieff, at Alloa, then professor in the Antiburgher
branch of the Secession, and was in due course licensed
to preach the Gospel. Believing that duty called him to
preach the Gospel to his Highland countrymen, he gave
himself to the study of their language, and became a most
accomplished Gaelic scholar. He not only spoke it with
ease and fluency, but wrote it with precision and elegance.
so that before leaving Scotland he had been employed in
preparing a corrected version of the Gaelic Scriptures.
We may here observe that he had somewhat of a poetical
genius, and in his later years, with a desire to benefit his

142
countrymen, he prepared a small volume of Gaelic poems,
in whioh he exhibited the doctrines ofthe Gospel, in verse,
adapted to the sweetest melodies of his native land. The
work is still popular in many parts of the Highlands.
Now commenced that course of protracted and ener
getic labors, which endeared him to the hearts of the
people of that generation, which established the moral
and spiritual character of the county and built up the
Presbyterian cause through the eastern parts of the Pro
vince and in the other Maritime colonies. We have in
another work described these labors at some length, but
as his history is for some time the history of Pictou, a
brief account of them is necessary in this place.
On the second Sabbath after his arrival (July 30)
preaching was at the East River, at the head of the
tide, a little below the present Albion Mines, and he
complains that the conduct of those in attendance was
as disorderly as before. " Their singing and whistling,
and laughing and bawling, filled my mind with amaze
ment and perplexity. I took occasion to warn them of
the sin and danger of such conduct." During the
service one man stood up and, in a loud and angry
voice, told him that he was good for nothing and did
not deserve the name of a minister, and that he would
never pay him a shilling, as he had refused to baptize
his child.
The following Sabbath he preached at the lower part
of the Middle River, at wThat was then Alexander Fra-
sers place, near where Samuel Fraser's house stands.
Service was under the shade of a large elm tree. At first
it was contemplated to erect one church here, as being
central for the whole district. This idea, however, was
soon abandoned, and it was resolved to erect two, one on
the East River and the other on the West.
During the summer preaching continued thus alter
nately, with some improvement in the conduct of the

143
people, but not very decided, till the cold weather led
the gentlemen of the army to dispense with their
presence. He remarks that though public worship was
conducted in the open air till they were compelled by
cold to go into houses, they were never disturbed by a
shower. Early in October he first visited the upper settlement
of the East River. The only mode of travelling to this
quarter was by walking along the edge of the river till
they came to a brook, and then ascending it till they
reached a place where it could be crossed. His first
sermon was preached at James McDonald's intervale,
under the shade of a large tree. " On Sabbath," he says,
" they came all to hear me with wonder and joy ; for they
had not indulged the hope of ever seeing a minister in
their settlement. They had very poor accommodations.
I had to sleep on a little straw on the floor."
A little before winter set in he paid his first visit to
Merigomish, preaching and visiting. The people solicited
a share of services, and for about thirty years he continued
to give a portion of his labors to that settlement. To
attend his ministry, a number were in the habit of
travelling to his church at the lower settlement of the
East River, going in canoes to the head of the harbor, and
thence on foot through the woods to the church. It was
not, however, till two years .after, that they were fully
organized as a congregation, by the ordination of Elders,
the first being Walter Murray, John Small, and George
Roy. The winter following was the severest known among
the early settlers for many years. It set in on the 15th
November. There had been snow previous, which had
melted, but what fell on that day remained till the middle
of April, and some of it till the month of May. Before the
end of the month, the harbour was sufficiently frozen for
persons to cross on the ice. " When winter came on," he

144
continues, " preaching was in private houses. People
could not sit in a house without fire, and they could not
travel far. It was therefore agreed, that I should preach
two sabbaths at the East River, two upon the Harbour,
two upon the West River, and two upon the Middle Ri
ver, and then renew the circle till the warm weather
should return. The Upper Settlement of the East River,
being unprovided with snow-shoes, were excluded
through the whole winter from all communication with
the rest of the people, as effectually as if they had bolong-
ed to another world, excepting one visit by two young men,
who made a sort of snow-shoes of small tough withes,
plaited and interwoven in snow-shoe frames. This cir
culating plan of preaching was no httle inconvenience to
me. For six weeks in eight, I was from home almost
totally deprived of my books and all accommodation for
study, often changing my lodging and exposed to frequent
and excessive cold. But it had this advantage, that it
gave me an easier opportunity of visiting and examining
the congregation, than I could otherwise have had, for I
got these duties performed in each portion between the
two Sabbaths on which I was there."
With this winter began his regular course of family
visitation, and catechetical instruction. " I resolved not
to confine my visitations to Presbyterians, but to include
all of every denomination, who would make me welcome ;
for I viewed them as sheep without a shepherd. The
purport of my visitations was to awaken them to a sight
of their sinful and dangerous state, to direct them to
Christ, to exhort them to be diligent to grow in religious
knowledge, and to set up the worship of God in the
family and closet, morning and evening. I did not pass
a house, and although I was not cordially welcomed by
all, my visits were productive of more good than I
expected ; and I trust they were the means of bringing to
Christ several who were not Presbyterians." He also,

145
annually held meetings in each section of the congrega
tion, at which young and old were duly catechised accord
ing to the old Scottish mode.
This course of labour, both in preaching, visiting and
catechising, he regularly fulfilled over the whole district
during the nine years he was sole minister of Pictou.
With the state of traveling as we have described it, it
may be understood that this involved a large amount of
toil. " I had to learn," he says, " to walk on snow-shoes
in winter, and to paddle a canoe in summer, and to cross
brooks and swamps upon trees overturned or broken by
the wind, and to camp in the woods all night — for there
is no travelling the woods at night, where there is no
road." But he possessed an ardent temperament, and an
active, wiry frame. People have said, that they never
saw one brought up in the old country, become so good a
traveller on snow-shoes, and such were his powers of
endurance, that he outdid many who were accustomed to
labour and travelhng in the forest.
He was also subjected to serious privations. For weeks
he was from home, and in the poor huts of the settlers,
he suffered extrame cold and had to partake of the poorest
fare. Often the plank was his only bed, and a potatoe his
fare, but never did he complain. Cheerfully he went in
and out among them, cheering them with the message of
life. The effects of his labors soon began to appear. The
people generally began to awake to the subject of religion,
many were found turning to the Lord, and a great change
in their religious habits passed over the whole population.
Family worship, and family religious instruction became
almost universal, and people flocked from all quarters to
attend on the preaching of the word, young women even
walking in summer from the West to the East River, a
•distance of ten miles or more, for that purpose. When the
settlers thus became in earnest on the subject of religion,
10

146
a most bitter feeling of opposition was raised against hint
by a set of profligates, at the head of whom were the retired
army officers. These men were living in drunkenness
and disregard of the marriage tie. The Dr. as in duty
bound, spoke to them about their conduct, and induced
one to reform, but the rest were hardened.* As the
influence of his labours was felt, the people reprobated
their conduct in the plainest language. Besides they had
hoped to exercise over the soldiers the same authority
as previously, but now as he says, "time, intercourse
with the other settlers and doubtless an increase of know
ledge, induced them to withdraw their subjection." Of
this he had to bear the blame, and their animosity
against him was excited to such a pitch, that before the
end of the first winter they threatened to shoot him, and
burn the house in which he lodged. The following
winter they held a meeting with a view to send him
bound to thc Governor, hoping that their mere word
would be sufficient to procure his banishment. But, as
he says, they went fast to destruction, and on the breaking
out of the French war in 1793, all the drunken among
the old soldiers enlisted, so that he could look upon
Pictou as purged.
He also labored to promote the educational and social
interests of the community. Parents receiving Baptism
for their children were put under pledges, to give them
as good an eduoation as their circumstances would per
mit. He encouraged them in establishing schools, and
when established, frequently visited them. And though
* One of them, who lived on Robertson's Island, had bought a soldier's
wife from her husband (for selling wives was one of the venerated institutions
of the olden time), and was so jealous, that when he left home, he was in the
habit of taking har out in his boat and leaving her on a small island off the
main one. Dr. McGregor urged upon him the duty of separating from her.
" But what will become of the children." " Oh " said the Doctor, " You
should do your duty, and lea-g.e them to the care of.. Providence." " They
would be the better of my help."

147
for a length of time they were poor enough, they were
the means of giving the young at least the elements of
learning. Among the settlers there were three, .who had been
ordained elders before leaving Scotland, Thomas Fraser
and Simon Fraser, in the parish of Kirkhill, and Alex
ander Fraser (Mc Andrew), in the parish of Kilmorack.
These were called to exercise their office here, and soon
after, the foUowing were elected, and on the 6th of May,
of the foUowing year, were ordained, viz. : Donald McKay
and Peter Grant for the East River ; Robert Marshall and
Kenneth Fraser for the Middle River ; John McLean and
Hugh Fraser for the West, and John Patterson for the
Harbor. These first elders, from all we have heard of them,
were men eminent in godliness, and a large propor
tion of their descendants now occupy positions of use
fulness in the community and are active members of the
church. This summer (1787) were built the first two churches
in the country. " During this month" (July), he says,
" the men were chiefly engaged in building the two
meeting houses ; but, instead of employing contractors to
build them, they agreed to divide the work into a number
of lots, and appointed a party of themselves to every lot.
One party cut the logs and hauled them to the site ;
another hewed them and laid them in their place ; a third
provided boards for the roof and floors ; a fourth provided
the shingles ; those who were joiners were appointed to
make the doors and windows, and those who did not
care to work provided the glass and nails. Moss was
stuffed between the logs to keep out the wind and rain ;
but neither was one of them seated otherwise than by logs
laid where seats should be. Pubhc worship was con
ducted in the open air all this summor, and part of har
vest, till the churches were finished, and we had the same
kind Providence preserving us from wind and rain and

148
tempest as we had last year; but no sooner were the
houses built than great rain came on the Sabbath."
" Such were the first two churches of Pictou, and for a
while they had no pulpits, purely because they could
make a shift without them, and when they were made
they were not of mahogany, but of the white pine of
Pictou." These two churches were some thirty-five or
forty feet long, by twenty-five or thirty wide. The only
seats in them at first were logs of wood or slabs sup
ported on blocks ; there was a gallery, or rather, an upper
story, with a floor seated in a similar manner, to which
the young went up by a ladder. The one on the East
River was situated on the west side of the river, a short
distance above New Glasgow, on a rising ground between
the old burying ground and the line of the present rail
road. The one at Loch Broom was situated near the head
of the harbour, on the farm then owned by William
McKenzie, still held by his descendants. It was situated
near the shore, close by the brook that there enters the
harbour. " As soon as the meeting-houses were built, the people
set themselves to make roads to them, that they might be
as accessible as possible by land ; but these roads were
nothing more than very narrow openings through the
woods, by cutting down the bushes and trees that lay in
their line of direction, and laying logs, with the upper
side hewed, along swampy places and over brooks which
could not be passed dry, by way of a bridge. The stumps
and roots, the heights and hollows, were left as they had
been. The chief advantage of this was that it prevented
people from going astray in the woods. During winter
the roads and meeting houses both were totally useless,
for the preaching was in dwelling-houses where there
was a fire."
It wTas in November following that he received the first
payment of stipend. He should have received <£40 in cash

149
and as much more in produce ; but he actually received
only £27 of the former, and about £30 of the latter. And
yet, ofthis £27, about £20 was expended in an act of
charity, which, we venture to say, has .rarely been
surpassed, and which, as connected with the early social
state of the Province, we must here notice. As already
mentioned, some of the settlers from the old colonies had
brought with them slaves, and retained them as such for
a number of years. Among others, the late Matthew
Harris was the owner of a colored girl, afterward known
as Die Mingo, and a mulatto man, named Martin. The
question ofthe slave trade had, just previous to the Doctor's
leaving Scotland, begun to agitate the public mind of
Britain. His feelings had been warmly enlisted on the
subject, and he now interested himself in securing
their freedom. For this purpose, he actually agreed to
pay £50 for the redemption of Die, and of the £27 he
received in money the first year, £20 was paid toward
this object, and for a year or two a portion of his produce
receipts went to pay the balance. He also persuaded
Harris to give Martin his pardon, after a period of good
service. He also relieved a woman, who was in bondage
for a term of years, paying £9 or £10 for her freedom, and,
in addition, aided in supporting and educating her
daughter. Fired with zeal on this subject, he soon after wrote a
severe letter to a clergyman in a neighboring district, who
held a black woman as a slave. This letter, enlarged,
was published in pamphlet form in the following year,
and led to an epistolary controversy.
In the year following (1788,) the Sacrament of the
Lord's Supper was dispensed for the first time in Pictou.
The spot selected was a beautiful piece of intervale on the
Middle River, partially shaded by an overhanging bank.
This was chosen however as central for the whole district,
and as accessible by boats from the harbour and coast.

150
Here the ordinance was observed with all the services
then customary in Scotland. These were all performed
by Dr. McGregor himself, who preached every day from
Thursday till Monday, both in Gaelic and English. The
number of communicants was 130. In this spot the
supper was observed annually and with the same solem
nities, during the whole time, that he was sole minister in
Pictou, and people came from long distances, even from
the County of Hants, to attend them.
The same summer he commenced that series of
missionary labors, which rendered his name so venerated
and beloved among the older settlements throughout
these Lower Provinces. There was not at that time
another minister of any denomination on the north shore
of Nova Scotia or Cape Breton, and not a Presbyterian
minister, and scarcely any other in New Brunswick or
P. E. Island, and from this date, for a period of forty
years, he employed a portion of every summer, and
even of winter, m visiting the settlements throughout
these regions. For this work he possessed the highest
qualifications. From the first loving the gospel, aU
the energies of a very ardent nature were aroused,
as he saw the destitute condition of those who dwelt
solitarily in the woods, and his preaching grew in
impressiveness and power, so that it would be impossible
to convince the old settlers that there ever came to
America one so eloquent. He possessed the special gift
of directing conversation into religious channels, so that
whatever subject was started, he gave it a pious turn.
When he visited a settlement all gathered, and days and
nights were spent for weeks together, in preaching, pray
ing, rehgious conversation, and travelling from place to
place. In this way he traversed the eastern part of Nova
Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton, and New
Brunswick, and was the means of founding or cherishing
in their infancy all the older Presbyterian congregations

151
ihroughout this widely extended territory. In this work
he spared no fatigue, and readily endured hardship, find
ing pleasure in the work, and the richest reward in the
joyful reception of the gospel by the solitary dweller in
the wood.
The Highlanders having now surmounted the first ,
difficulty of settlement and, above all, having the gospel
preached in their native tongue, now invited their rela,-
tions over from Scotland, and they continued to arrive in
greater or less numbers till all those portions of the
county most desirable for settlement were occupied.
Others who had settled in other parts of the Province
were so attracted by his preaching, that they sold their
farms and removed to Pictou to enjoy his ministry.

CHAPTER IX.,
ITtOM THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE TOWN TILL THE
BEGINNING OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTIONARY
WAR, 1789—1793.
We must now, however, give some account of the
origin of the town. We have already mentioned that on
the arrival of the first settlers, a town was laid out above
the Town Gut, and another afterward at Fishers Grant ;
but at neither of these places was one ever built. Its
being located on its present site, was owing to old John
Patterson. We have already mentioned that at the time
of the issue of the first grants, the block on which the
town stands, embracing the shore from Browns Point
round to Carriboo, had been reserved out ofthe Philadelphia
Company's Grant, and given to Col. McNutt and his

152
associates. The grant of the latte?, however, was escheated
in the year 1770, and an order of survey issued in favor of
Richard Williams, described as " late lieutenant in the
80th Regiment," and said to have served at the taking of
Louisburg and Quebec, for this block and another on the
Middle River, extending from Middle River Point up to
Kerrs, a distance of ten miles along its banks, and one
mile back, the rear line to run parallel with the river,.
the first said to contain 5,000 acres, but in reality containing
10,000 ; the second estimated at the same amount, but.
also considerably in excess
The grant is dated 21st January, 1776. The conditions
as to pine trees, fisheries, quit rents, and reserves of
minerals, are the same as in the 82nd Grant, and the
conditions as to working are the same as in Camerons.
But it contains the following additional clause, that the
grantee shall " settle one person upon it for every hundred
acres, and the settlers to be introduced to be Protestants,
from such parts of Europe as are not in His Majesty's
Dominions, or such persons as have resided within His
Majesty's Dominions in America for two years, antecedent
to the date of the grant." This exhibits an idea that was
prevalent at this time, of the danger of the British Isles
being depopulated by emigration, in consequence of which
parties were bound to settle their grants with Protestants
from abroad.
This grant was transferred to Walter Patterson, Esq.,.
who came out in 1770 as Governor of Prince Edward
Island, but who had previously been a judge in the
province of Maryland, and was, we believe, originally
from the North of Ireland. According to tradition, wliich
there is every reason to believe well founded, the title
passed to him in the following manner : Riding one day
he accidentally met Williams, with whom he entered into
conversation, when the latter said, " I have a lot of land
in Pictou ; what wiU you give mefor it ?" " I'll give you:

153
this horse," was the half joking reply. " Will you give
saddle and bridle T was the next enquiry. " Yes."
" Then jump off." He did so, when the other mounted,
and thus the bargain was completed. At all events,
Governor Patterson became the possessor, as it was found
afterward, without any proper conveyance, and at the
date of our history began selling portions of his land.
He also laid out a town, which he called Coleraine, to the
eastward of what is still known as Coleraine street.
According to his plan, it was to contain various public
conveniences, the ground at the foot of that street being
reserved for a pubhc landing, and a lot near set apart for
a market. Hence, the wharf there has been till recently,
and we suppose is by some yet, known as the Market
Slip. This, however, like previous efforts, was for some
time at least a town only on paper.*
On the 10th September, 1787, for the sum of £62 10s.,
he deeds to John Patterson 150 acres, afterward purchased
and occupied by Mortimer, at the Point ; and another lot

• We may here give the subsequent history of this grant : Patterson, while
on the island, sold portions both of the part on the Middle River and at the
tewn, by his agent, Lieutenant Gordon, already referred to ; but his title being
doubtful, persons squatted on various portions of his land, particularly on the-
Middle River, and some who purchased one lot took possession of another.
We have seen deeds running in something like the following strain : "Whereas
I have made improvements on the land of Governor Patterson, at such a place,'
I hereby give all my right, title and interest in the said lot of land," &c.
Patterson became involved in debt to Messrs. Cochrane, then leading merch
ants in Halifax, doing business at what has since been known as Cochrane's
Corner, where the Dominion public offices now stand. In consequence, after
he left the Province, they sold his property under a judgment, and one of them
became the purchaser, and hence this grant has since been usually known as the
Cochrane Grant. But there was, for some time, a difficulty about the title,
partly in consequence of want of proof of a transfer from Williams to Patter
son, but partly also, we believe, from some irregularity in the legal proceed
ings of Cochrane against the latter, and squatters resisted attempts to eject
them. One of Patterson's heirs came some years after, claiming the land,
with whom Cochrane compromised. After this his title -was generally con-
ceded, and he sold the rest of the land, but a good deal having [previously
been occupied, the parties held it by possession.

154
of 100 acres, described as follows : " Beginning at a stake
and stones at the west corner of a town lot, thence run
ning north 320 perches, from thence west 50 perches,
thence south 320 perches, thence east the different courses
of the harbour to the place of beginning." The front of
this lot embraced the central portions of the town, extend
ing from Coleraine street westwardly to the market. A
settler named, we believe, Kennedy, had previously
squatted on a portion of this, having made a small chop
ping, and erected a shanty on the face of the hill, below
Dr. Johnston's house, so that the deacon had to buy out
fiis claim.
By the terms of the deed, the ground along the shore,
to the width of forty feet, was reserved for a highway,
and this became the front or lower street of the town,
from the west end as far as Glennies. This will explain
;its sinuous course. To this point the south side of the
Street was originally water lots, and all the buildings now
upon it are upon made ground. The ground near
Meagher's slip was regular bog, through which logs were
laid to form a pathway. At Glennies the coast took a
turn to the southward, with a somewhat high bank,
"forming a cove, which was long used for the reception of
timber. From this point the deacon run a street in a
;straight line to Coleraine street, although there was a road
round the shore to the Battery Point, within the memory
of many still living.
In the previous winter (1787) the wood had been cut on
part of the ground where the town now stands, and Patter
son removed from Mortimer's Point to where his grandson,
A. J. Patterson, now resides. He next commenced divid
ing the front of his land into small building lots, whieh
lie sold at low rates. These, however, were conveyed
upon the condition that the purchasers should build upon
them, and under a penalty for every year in which
this was not done. Thus, in his ledger we find, in

155
1805, one man charged, "To 7J years' damages for not
buUding one house ;" and in another case we find the
following entry, " To 5 years you did not build on the
lot, at 5s., £1 5s." These lots are described as in the
town of New Paisley,* doubtless, so named after his
native town. Among the first lots, of which the deed is
recorded, is one to James Dunn, of the lot on which the
Royal Oak Hotel lately stood, on which he erected the first
tavern in the town,f just behind where that building
lately stood.
The Deacon having been originally a carpenter,
commenced now the erection of small buildings to sell or
let to tradesmen, and it is in this way that the town
was fixed on its present site. We have been unable to
ascertain where the first house was built, but believe
that it was on the street leading down to Messrs. Yorston's
wharf. At all events, one that still stands there was
among the first. It was originally occupied by him as a
store, afterward by his sons, John and Abraham, in the
same, way ; again, for a length of time as a cooper's shop,
and now as a sailmakers. The timber was cut on the site
of the lower part of the town. This is, without doubt,
the oldest house in town. On repairing it lately, the
carpenters found that the frame was entirely of hard
wood, oak, ash, or beech. The date of erection of the first
house was either 1789 or 1790. Dr. McGregor says in one
place, " There was not a single house for years after I
came here. The town was for some years without a
single inhabitant; then there was a shed with one
• We may here notice the variety of names selected for the town or dis
trict. Besides the deacon, we find in old documents, the township of Alexan
dria, the township of Donegall, Teignmouth, Southampton, Walmsley and
Coleraine. f We read, however, the name of Francis Hogg, tavern keeper, before this
date, and, as we have seen, the grog shop was in full blast, before Dr.
McGregor's arrival. The site, however, of these establishments we do not
know.

156
family ; then another with it, and so on, till it became
what we see it now." In his narrative he says : — " I
think it was in this year (1790) that the first house in
Pictou was built. It was some years without a second."
Philo Antiquarius, speaking of the year 1789, says : —
" Two or three houses were also erected about this period
on the spot which was cleared the preceding year.
Families were soon attracted, buildings were run up, and,
ere the lapse of much time, a respectable hamlet rose into
view." He also built a wharf, the first in the town, on the site
of what, afterward coming into possession of his son, also
an Elder in the Church, long continued to be known as
the Deacons Wharf, now Yorstons. It was described as
consisting at first of three logs, but afterward a more
respectable structure was erected. We may add, that he
always showed an earnest and hopeful interest in the
progress of the place, and a most enterprising spirit in
undertaking measures for this end.
Thus it was to the sagacity and public spirit of John
Patterson that the town rose upon its present site. The
question has been raised, where it ought to have been.
Richard Smith maintained that it should have been on the
south side of the harbor, at Abercrombie or Frasers Point.
With the knowledge we now have of the mineral wealth
of the East River, much may be said in favor of that
looality. But the fact that after attempts to build a town
elsewhere, the deacons site held its own, even though
opposed by Mortimer, shows that something may be said
in its favor. Under any circumstances, its nearness to
the entrance of the harbour would have almost neces
sitated the erection of a town somewhere in that neigh
borhood. One unfortunate mistake he committed, though
a natural one in the circumstances ; that is, in taking the
road originally laid out round the shore as the basis from
which to lay off lots and other streets. The side lines of

157
the original lots run from the harbor on a due north and
south course, and had the cross streets been laid off at
right angles to these, the inconvenience which the subse
quent inhabitants have suffered from the want of square
corners, would have been avoided.
We may add, that the first teacher in town, so far as we
have been able to ascertain, was Peter Grant. When his
father, Alpin Grant, settled in Pictou in 1784, he remained
with a friend in Halifax, where he was educated ; and on
coming to Pictou, about the year 1793, he opened a
school and continued to teach for six years. In the year
1800 he took up land at Scotch Hill and removed thither
the following season, wherehe resided till his death. In
the year 1802 we find. &, L. Newcomb teaching, though
probably for a short time.* Then, for some time, George'
Glennie occupied his place. He was a graduate of Aber
deen College, a superior scholar, and did much to form
the minds of the youth of that generation.
Philo Antiquarius says, " a vessel was launched from
the point above the Gut in the year 1788," he does not
say by whom, but the manner in which he speaks seems
to imply, that it was the first built in the harbour, but
the tradition is that the first in the harbour, was
built by Thomas Copeland, on the site of what is now
Dr. Johnstons wharf — that she was what was caUed
a snow, that is a two-masted vessel, with another small
mast abaft the mainmast, to wliich a trysail was attached,
and that the first built in the county, a schooner called
the Ann, was built previously at Merigomish, for John
Patterson. The date we cannot ascertain, but it must
* Mr. Newcomb married a daughter of Matthew Harris, and had a family,
several of whom were once well known in Pictou and Cumberland. One son,
Simon, after long sailing out of Pictou to the West Indies and elsewhere, as a
captain, served in the Texan war erf independence, and obtained a large grant
of land there. He persuaded his brother Thomas, then a promising lawyer in
Cumberland, to remove thither, where he died, and his son was lately Secre.
tary of that State.

158
have been about this time. In a ledgeT of his in our
possession, which however was not his first, we have
" an account of things sent to the vessel, November 21st,
1789," so that it must have been buUt before that time,
though probably not long. Farther on she is called " the
schooner " and Jerry Palmer appears to have been the
name of her first commander. Small vessels however
were owned previously. In the year 1784, we find
recorded a bill of sale to Hugh Dunoon from Barnabas
McGee, of " the good shallop Nancy," and by the returns
already quoted, Dr. Harris appears as owning a schooner
or sloop in 1769, and Squire Patterson another in 1774.
About the same time arrived a number of persons, who
occupied prominent places in connection with the early
progress of Pictou, the most important of whom was
Edward, Mortimer, who is said to have arrived in 1788,
but to whom we shall have occasion to refer fully in a
subsequent chapter. Captain Lowden also at this time
removed with his family to this country.
At this time also came the Copelands. Alexander and
Thomas were brothers, natives of Castle Douglass, in the
County of Dumfries, and for some time did business in
Halifax. They brought out two cousins, Samuel and
Nathaniel, also cousins of each other, whom they had in
their employment. A story has been commonly told of
their making money by purchasing at the sale of an
American prize some kegs of nails, which, however, were
found to contain dollars in the centre. Their descendants
discredit this, and tell a story of an opposite character,
viz., that during the American war, Halifax being menaced
by some American armed vessels, which had plundered
other places, they had buried their money in their garden,
but afterward could not find it, and circumstances led
them to suspect a neighboring family of having discovered
their secret and stolen their treasure. This, and some
other losses, led them to remove to Pictou, where they

159
obtained the farm lot west of John Patterson's, including
what has since been the western part of Abraham
Patterson's farm and the lot of Matthew Patterson. They
built a wharf at what has since been known as Smiths
Wharf, the second in the town, and commenced business
there. Alexander and Samuel (father of Robert S.) died in
Pictou, the latter being the first buried in the Pictou
cemetery, about the year 1807, the cemetery at Durham
being previously used by all on the north side of the
harbour. Their families removed to Merigomish, as
did also Thomas and Nathaniel. They all settled on
lands, which they had purchased from 82nd men, in
most instances for a mere trifle.
About the same time came Robert Pagan. He was a
son of John Pagan, already mentioned as one of the
proprietors of the Philadelphia grant, and owner of the
Hector. He was in Pictou as early as 1789. In that year
we find a deed to himself and his brother Thomas,
described as merchants, from Walter Patterson, Governor
of P. E. Island, of " Lots 2, 3, 4 and 5 in the town of
Coleraine," described as " beginning at a stake and pile
of stones upon the shore or bank of the harbour of
Pictou aforesaid, at the south-east corner of lot No. 1, in
said town, and 117 feet east from the boundary line
between lands granted to John Patterson, senr. of Pictou
aforesaid, and the said town of Coleraine." This was at
the head of the Mining Companys wharf and extending
westerly to Crichton's wharf, and his house was on the
site oi that recently occupied by Mr. Boggs. He married
a daughter of Squire Patterson and engaged in business,
but was not very successful. He was a man of excellent
education, and filled several offices with credit, the
highest being that of Judge of the Court of Common
Pleas. He died 3rd December, 1812. None of his
descendants are in the county.
Hugh Dunoon, after doing business in Halifax, removed

160
to Pictou about the same time. He was a native of the
parish of Killearnan, in the county of Inverness, of which
parish his father and brother were successively ministers.
He took up land on the East River, as early as 1784, and
we find him soon after living in Merigomish, where he
had bought out the rights of some of the 82nd men. He
built a mill on Hogans brook, the first in that part of the
county, and carried on business there. He afterward
removed to Pictou, where he lived about a mile below
the town, where Mr. Fogo now resides. Subsequently
he occupied a prominent place in the public affairs of the
County, filling a number of offices. He was for many
years a Judge of the Inferior Court, Deputy Registrar of
Deeds, Collector of Customs and Custos of the District.
He died the 24th March, 1836, aged 74.
John Dawson was here as early as 1791, his marriage
having taken place in that year, but he will be more
appropriately noticed elsewhere.
We give a plan of the town at this time, copied from
one in the possession of the late Peter Crerar, Esq., which
will exhibit at a glance its progress to this period.*
In the meantime the rural settlements were receiving
settlers, especially from the Highlands of Scotland, among
whom we may mention Martin McDonald, who arrived
in 1787, and settled at Knoydart, to which he gave the
name from his native place ; and Alex. McKenzie from
near Inverness, who, after serving eight years in the army,
settled with Archibald Cameron, on Irish Mountain, where
they had been preceded by Patrick Finner, an Irishman.
In the year 1788 or 1789 came a number of Lowland
Scotch, principally from Dumfries, who settled in various
parts of the country. Among these may be mentioned
John Cassidy, who settled on McLennan's Brook ; William
«c  * For this plan we are indebted to the kindness of J. S. Arnison, Esq.,
Sandyford House, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The date of it is not given, but it
is before 1794 and after 1790.

^am^(^e/an/

I A'10. Wr£ol,/on *Sc
.--23la

161
Munsie, who was the first settler on Green Hill, on the
farm still occupied by his descendants ; Robert Sturgeon,
who settled on the south side of the hill ; William Porter,
who settled on the Middle River ; John McGill, afterward
of West River, and David McCoull, of Green Hill.
We may here give a notice of a visit to Pictou in the
summer of 1787, of Sir John Wentworth, afterward Gov
ernor of the Province, and at that time Surveyor General
of Woods and Forests in British America, as given in a
letter of his, dated 19th January, 1788 :
"Continued toward Miramichi, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Being over
taken with a hard gale of wind, and my boat, under 13 tons, unable to live in
such cross-combing seas, we attempted Merigomish harbour in the night, and
were soon on the sands ; the tide rising we got off and rode out the night in a
little pool between two reefs. The next day, at high water, we went over all
into the harbour, which is very safe, and, with a pilot, of easy access for a
ship of four or five hundred tons. Contrary winds detained me here and at
Pictou (which is still a deeper harbour) for fourteen days, during which time
I travelled into the woods from ten to twelve miles round, surveyed timber
^or the settlers and that proper to be reserved for His Majesty's service. In
this district is some good pine timber, but the longest and best has been cut
away by the Aeadians and first English settlers, to whom that part of the
country has been granted for some time. On the harbours and rivers of Meri
gomish and Pictou there was, formerly, the best growth of oak and pine ;
some still remains, and I have taken every measure to preserve the best of the
latter, and have no doubt it will come into His Majesty's service, should any
contract be extended to these Provinces.
" We sailed from Pictou the first possible moment, and met a very heavy
^ea, with which we contended until sunset, when the wind arose suddenly at
southeast and obliged us to take shelter in Johns Harbour, to leeward of a
rooky reef. We rode out the night, but at daylight were obliged to slip our
cable, and run up the river, where the tide suddenly neaped on the change of
the wind, and we were five days unloading provisions and ballast, perching
out a channel, near five miles, and recovering the anchor. In this time I
explored the adjacent woods, and found some good pine timber. Those unfit
for the King's service I have granted license for to the settlers, who have
promised to preserve those marked for reservation."
We have given the above for the purpose specially of
noticing the claims, which it had long been attempted
to maintain, of reserving the large timber for the use of
the British Government. Wentworth had been Surveyor
General of Woods for all the British Dominions in Amer-
11

162
ica, and, till the commencement of the American Revolu
tionary War, residing in New Hampshire ; after that he
retained the same office in the remaining British Pro
vinces. The attempts to enforce this claim had produced
great disturbance in the old colonies, and was one of the
causes of the discontent, which led to their separation
from the mother country. In this Province it had been
a hindrance to its settlement, as it had been necessary to
communicate with him in New Hampshire, as Governor
Legge complained, before grants were issued to settlers.
Yet, notwithstanding these things, and the utter absurdity
of expecting settlers to clear their land and leave the big
trees standing, Wentworth came to Nova Scotia, seeming
to regard it almost as the chief end of his creation, to
enforce this and every other arbitrary claim, that had ever
been set up on behalf of the crown. As late as the year
1804, we find timber seized as cut in violation of this
claim, and only released on the parties paying a certain
sum as damages, and instructions issued that " the timber
be surveyed on their lots and such as are fit for masts,.
yards or bowsprits marked 'La W.,' also some of the best
to cut into planks for the King's service. These to be
faithfully preserved, then the rest to be free to the party."
Again, in the year 1806, we find timber seized, which,
however, Wentworth instructed his agents to release on
the party paying the sum of £12, " which sum is to be
applied, under your care and direction, toward building
a bridge at the head of Carriboo River, on the new road
now to be made leading from Pictou to Carriboo Harbor."
We do not know that this claim was ever directly
abandoned. To a very late period surveyors, in making
their return of the survey of Crown lands, were accus
tomed to report that there was no timber upon it fit for
the use of His Majesty's navy. But no such old fossil as
Wentworth ever governed us again, and it died a natural
death.

163
In the summer of 1791 arrived two vessels loaded with
emigrants, mostly Roman Catholics, from the Western
Islands of Scotland. They arrived so late in the season
that few could provide houses for their families before
winter. The old settlers, at the solicitation of their
pastor, received them with the most open-hearted hospi
tality. Hundreds of them received the best shelter that
the inhabitants could afford — such as could pay, at a very
moderate price, and they that could not, for nothing.
For a time they commenced settling in Pictou, and a
number of them went to hear Dr. McGregor preach, but
Priest McEachran came over from Prince Edward Island
and persuaded them to go beyond the reach of Protestant
influence. They accordingly left their settlements in
Pictou, some of them with great reluctance, and took up
land along the Gulf shore, a few in Pictou county, but
the majority in Antigonish county. Some, however, went
to Cape Breton. Among this class there is cherished to
this day a fervent and grateful recollection of the kind
ness of Dr. McGregor and his people. But the Dr.
complained that they proved dangerous guests, by foolish
and profane conversation, and particularly by their tales
of superstition, and that the evil influence of such close
intercourse with them was felt upon his congregation
long after.
A few of these, however, were Protestants, or became
so, and settled permanently in the county. Among these
may be mentioned John McKinnon, Lauchlan McLean,
Angus McQuarrie, and Alexander McMillan, and others,
who settled on the east branch of East River. All was
woods above what is now Samuel Camerons place, except
where Charles Mcintosh, who had settled where David
Mcintosh now lives, and on the west side, where John
Fraser, who had come from Strathspey in 1788, had
commenced. There was only a blaze to the lower settle
ment. The salmon in the river were still exceedingly

164
plentiful, and gaspereaux so abundant that as many as
fifteen barrels were taken, in a single night, which they
often were not able to use for want of salt. Such was
the difficulty of obtaining other conveniences, that they
were obliged in summer to carry their produce on their
backs to New Glasgow, and thence transport it by means
of canoes to Pictou ; or, in winter, drag it on hand sleds
the whole distance. There they sometimes had to give a
bushel of wheat in exchange for a bushel of salt. They
adopted another plan, however, of getting their pork to
market. They drove the animals to Fishers Grant, where
they obtained the use of a slaughter house, and then
butchering them, they disposed of the meat to the
merchants for such goods as they required.
James Grant, who had originaUy settled at what is
now called Grahams Pond, Carriboo, was induced bythe
settlers, who wanted a grist mill, to move up. He erected
the first grist mill in the settlement, a little belowthe site
ofthe mills, since occupied by his sons and grandsons,
near Springville. The first mill above Springville was
erected at Sunny Brae, by Hugh Fraser, about 1805,
where the mill still is.
There was then no church, and preaching was, in
winter time, in houses, particularly Charles Mcintosh's,
and in summer, when the weather was wet, in barns, but
when fine, by the river side. The first church was built
at Grants Lake, to accommodate both branches of the
river, and was of logs.
Such was the progress of settlement that in that year
the population of Pictou was estimated at 1,300 souls.
In the first settlement every man was obliged to act as
artizan for his own family. Now, however, mechanics
were attracted, who attended to their own employments.
The increased population created a demand for various
articles which led to trade. Roads, as they were called,
were opened, though as yet none of them were fit for a

165
wheel carriage, being mere bridle paths. The price of
land increased, and farms partially made brought what
would now be considered fair prices.
In May, 1792, Wentworth became Lieut.-Governor of
the Province, and that summer visited various portions
of the province. His visit to Pictou is thus noticed in
Murdoch's history : " Friday, Sept. 21, Lieut.-Governol"
Wentworth sailed in the armed schooner Diligent, for
Pictou, having gone on board under a salute of thirteen
guns. He arrived at Pictou, on the evening of Wednes
day, the 3rd of October, and landed on the 4th. He
received an address, signed by 30 persons. They stated
that 500 men there had agreed to work on the road to
Halifax. He returned by land by way of Musquodoboit,
and it was stated that the road from Pictou to Musquodo
boit was now open for horses and cattle." William Fraser
(surveyor) says of this visit, that he came to Pictou,
bringing plenty of provisions, axes and hoes, bought
with the proceeds of a Government lottery, and that the
new settlers were called to meet at William McKay's,
for the purpose of receiving them according to their need.
There seems to have been at this time much ado about
this road. After His Excellency's return to Halifax he
and his lady gave a ball and supper, described in the
gazette of the day, as " altogether the most brilliant and
sumptuous entertainment ever given in this country."
The writer adds, "Among other ornaments, which were
altogether superb, there were exact representations of
Messrs. Hartshorne & Tremaine's new Flour-mill and of
the Wind-mill on the common. The model of the new
Light-house, at Shelburne, was incomparable, and the
tract oj the new road from Pictou was delineated in the most
ingenious and surprising manner, as was the representa
tion of our fisheries," &c. Haliburton in. his history also
says, under the year 1792, " Great Pictou road opened,"
and has been followed by others.

166
The idea of a shorter route from Halifax to Pictou than
by Truro has been often entertained. At a later period Sir
James Kempt projected one by Stewiacke, Middle River,
and Loch Broom. It seems that at this time the plan of
a road by Musquodoboit had been so far carried out, that
cattle and horses could pass over it. But, strange to say,
for a length of time we could not find, even among our
oldest inhabitants, any person who knew anything about
this great road. It is, however, noticed in the early
county records as tho Governors Road. The fact is,
that notwithstanding the great flourish of trumpets about
the opening of it, nothing more was done to it, and the
old route by Truro continued to be the one generally
used. Hitherto Pictou formed a part of the district of Col
chester or Cobyquid, as it was commonly called, and all
its municipal business was transacted at Onslow, where
the Court of Sessions met. There also was the place of
holding the poll, for the election of representatives. The
increase of population, and the inconvenience of attending
such a distance, led the inhabitants of Pictou, to petition
to be relieved from attendance there. Accordingly in
this year an act of the Legislature was passed, forming
Pictou into a separate district, defining its boundaries as
we have already given them, and appointing the Court
of General Sessions of the Peace and Inferior Court of
Common Pleas, to be held at Walmsley, on the 3rd
Tuesday of January and 3rd Tuesday of July. It was also
ordered, that a poll should be opened here, on the occasion
of the election of representatives for the County of
Halifax. The changes which this introduced we shall no', ice
hereafter. In the meantime we give a copy of Deacon
Patterson's account of charges and receipts for the poor
of the district at this period :

167
The Poor Dr. to John Patterson, Senr.
1787 — To 1 blanket to a sick man at James Carmichael's  £ 0 10 0
To rum and other things by Mr. Abercromby for
burien ofthe above man at James Carmichael's 10 0
1789. — Nov. 16, — To 8s. payd to James Dun by order of the  .. 0 8 0
To stocks by order of do  0 15 0
To \ gallon rum by order of the Justisses, omit
ted January, 1789  0 4 0
1791— Dec, 19  To 2 yds. blue cloth at 8s. and 2£lbs blister steel,
at is. 2d  0 18 1
To 1 pair blankets by Pagan  10 0
To 1 coverlet by Mr. Mortimer  0 12 6
To 1 cape 2s. and 1 lb  by do Is  0 3 0
To 1 pair shoes by do  0 10 0
1792— To Butting, survayin, colecting and comission on timber
this year  0 10 0
1793— To a weedow woman W R  0 15 10
To Lachlan McDonald, gulf  0 11 8
To Mrs. Patterson Dowry for gaill lot  110 0
£8 19 3
Contra, Credit, July, 1792.
To \ of 1 log by James McKay, Mr. Pagan  0 4 6
To J of log by James Eeid for Mr. Mortimer  ,  0 2 0
To £ of log Frank Carmichael & Campbell for do  0 3 6
To drift timber by Mr. Pagan  0 7 0
To do do delivered to Mr. Copeland, Amount  1 13 7
To 1 log McQuarry for do  0 3 0
Neat proceds of the above  £2 4 7
The spelling of our worthy grandfather is not always
in accordance with Johnston or Webster, but as we like
originality, we have given it in its primitive form. The
logs of timber used in payment of poor tax would seem
rather a cumbrous currency. When the poor asked for
bread, to give them a stick of wood, scarcely seemed
Christian charity. It does not appear that the district
was very prompt in meeting his expenditures, but he has
left a name behind him, especially for kindness to the
poor.

168

CHAPTER- X.
FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE FRENCH REVOLU
TIONARY WAR TO THE FIRST CONTESTED
ELECTION, 1793—1799.
In the year 1793, as we presume all our readers know,.
commenced the French Revolutionary War. One of the
first effects of this upon the County of Pictou was, that
the Governor raising a regiment, a number of the
disbanded soldiers who had settled in Pictou, took the
opportunity of enlisting. As Dr. McGregor describes
them, " All the drunken and profligate," while none of
the sober and industrious, either of the soldiers or the
other settlers, .followed their example.
Before this time the timber trade had been carried on,
and was of some importance to the infant settlement.
The first effect of the war was a slight reduction in the
price of timber ; but this was soon succeeded by its rising
to an unprecedented height, and with this came a rapid.
increase in the trade from Pictou, which was at its height,
as we shall see presently, from about the year 1800 to
the year 1820.
At this time, too, ship buUding was being carried on to
some extent, Captain Lowden's efforts in that respect
being specially worthy of notice. Indeed, he may be
considered the father of the ship building art in Pictou.
He was a native of the south of Scotland, and had.
commenced trading to Pictou during the American
Revolutionary War. Previous to this, he had been fifteen
years in Russia, and also employed in carrying convicts
to Virginia. In the year 1788, he removed with his-
family to Pictou. He first located himself near the
Narrows, at the East River, where he erected a windmills.

169
at what has since been known as Windmill Point, and
commenced ship building there. But soon after he
removed to town, where he occupied a two-storey building
of John Patterson's, on the site of Messrs. Yorston's store,
the lower as a dwelling house, and the upper with goods,
which he exchanged for timber. He also built a wharf,
on the site of what has since been known as the Mining
Companys Wharf, and commenced ship building there.
The whole eastern part of the town, from Ives' store to
the Battery HiU, was covered with a fine growth of hard
wood, and the timber necessary for the work was cut
close by his yard, or, afterward, on the top of the Deacons
Hill, whence it was slid down on the snow to the
shore, and, when once set in .motion, it may be supposed,
went with terrific rapidity. He erected a building on the
east side of Coleraine street, which he used for boarding
his men, but which was commonly known as the Salt
House. Some years later he erected a windmUl on a round
hill near the head of the wharf, long after known as
Windmill Hill, but which has now been carried away in
leveUing the ground near the Custom House. This mUl
was well constructed, had a large amount of machinery
in her, and for some time did a large amount of work,
both in sawing and grinding.
He continued for a number of years the business of
ship building, his vessels being sent to Britain for a
market, and was rather noted in the Province for his
skill. Of one of his vessels we copy from Murdoch's
History the foUowing notice : "Pictou, October 25, 1798.
"Yesterday was launched here, by Messrs. Lowdens, the ship Harriet, burthen
600 tons. • She is pierced for 24 guns, and supposed to be the largest and
finest ship built in .^his Province. Her bottom is composed of oak and black
birch timber, and her upper works, beams, 4c., totally of pitch pine; on
account of which mode of construction, she is said to be little inferior in
.quality to British built ships; and does peculiar credit, not only to this
growing settlement, but to the Province at large.-'

170
This we presume was the vessel known as Capt.
Lowdens "big ship." She was commanded by his son
David. She was mounted with four real guns, the rest
being what were called " quakers." On her first voyage,
she fell in with what was supposed to have been an
enemy's privateer. The captain, backed by a determined
Scotch crew, determined to fight rather than be taken.
The other vessel, however, kept shy of them, and at
night disappeared.
Another of his vessels he called the " Prince Edward "
after the Duke of Kent, then in Halifax, who sent a sum
of £50 to purchase a set of colours for her.
He had four sons engaged in business, first with him
and afterward on their own account, Robert, who
afterward removed to Merigomish, where his descendants
still are, David who afterward lived at the Beaches,
where his sons still reside, Thomas, whose house still
stands near the head of the pubhc wharf, and WiUiam,
usually known as Bishop Lowden, long regarded as one of
the characters of the place. He was a splendid scholar,
knowing the classics and several modern languages, even
acquiring the Gaelic. But owing, it was said to his being
crossed in love in early life, he became partially insane.
For years he never washed", and went about in a greasy
coat, which made him the object of sport to the young. In
his lodgings he pored over his books, and in later years,
gave himself to the composition of an Enghsh grammar,
which he succeeded in getting printed in the United States.
The year 1795 was noted among the early settlers as
the date of the arrival of a second minister to share the
toils of Dr. McGregor, the late Rev. Duncan Ross. The
settlement of a single minister would not now be regarded
as involving very important results to a county ; but at
the time it was regarded as of sufficient interest to call
forth rejoicing, and in many devout thanksgiving — in
fact, to form an erain the history of the settlers.

171
Mr. Ross was a native of the parish of Tarbert, Rossshire,
but at an early period of life, he removed with his parents
to Alyth, in Forfarshire. He received his Latin education
at the parochial school of that town, after which he passed
through the usual curriculum at Edinburgh University.
He studied theology under Prefessor Bruce at Whitburn,
and was, on the 20th January, 1795, ordained by the
Presbytery of Forfar. In June he arrived in Pictou, by
way of New York and Halifax, along with the Rev. John
Brown, afterward of Londonderry. They assisted Mr.
McGregor at the dispensation of the Lord's Supper, and
thereafter these ministers formed the first Presbytery of
Pictou, under the name of " The Associate Presbytery of
Pictou." Their first meeting was held in Robert
Marshall's barn, as central for the whole district. It
stood near the road from New Glasgow to Middle River,
on the ascent of the hill to the west of the bridge across
McCulloch's Brook, and on the left-hand side of the road
as you go westwardly.
Immediately after, Mr. Ross was caUed as assistant to
Dr. McGregor, and until the year 1801 they were jointly
ministers of all Pictou, though Dr. McGregor labored
principally on the East River, and Mr. Ross on the West.
In that year it was agreed to divide the congregation
into three, the East River, with Merigomish, under the
charge of Dr. McGregor ; the West River, with Middle
River and Rogers Hill, under Mr. Ross ; and the Harbour
and Fishers Grant to form a third, to be supplied by the
ministers of the other congregations, till they should
obtain one of their own. This arrangement continued
tUl the arrival of Dr. McCulloeh.
Mr. Ross was a man of a very clear and logical mind
and strong natural powers ; he could scarcely be called a
popular preacher, but by intelligent persons, his pulpit
ministrations were highly relished for their clearness,
variety and solidity of matter, and oftentimes ingenious

172
and striking illustrations, while, among his ministerial
brethren, for soundness of judgment, knowledge of
Church matters, and intellectual capacity, he took rank
among the " first three."
In private pastoral work he wTas laborious and faithful,
visiting and catechising over the whole of his extensive
charge to the end of his life. He also laboured for the
advancement of the general interests of his people,
especially by encouraging education, and promoting
agricultural improvement among them. The influence
of his example and recommendations was, in a variety of
forms, perceptible among them, so that they became dis
tinguished among our rural population for their intelli
gence and public spirit. As we shall see, he was also
the first in the Province to found and support temperance
societies. He did not write much for the press. His principal pub
lications were on the Baptist controversy, in which he
showed himself a vigorous thinker and acute controver
sialist. He also contributed to the newspaper press,
especially the Acadian Recorder and Colonial Patriot. He
was a man 'of much quiet humour, one or two specimens
of which may be given. Mr. Mortimer once meeting
him riding on horseback, with a spur on one foot, said,
" Mr. Ross, is one side of your horse slower than the
other, that you have a spur only on one foot ?" " Oh,
yes," said Mr. Ross, " one side will get along without
spurs as fast as the other will with all the spurring I
i can give it." Meeting the late Jotham Blanchard, the
latter began playfully to tease him about his hat, which
was of rather more than the usual breadth of brim. Mr.
Ross replied, " Oh, Mr. Blanchard, you need not be so
hard, it is only an error of the head, not of the heart."
Some of his sayings of mingled wit and wisdom still float
among the people of that part of the country, of which
the foUowing may serve as examples : Hearing a man des-

173
cribed as "hard and honest," he said "that generally
meant hardly honest." Again, he was accustomed to
say, " that he had tried three ways of living ; the first
was to buy just what he wanted, but he found that
would not answer ; he then tried only buying what he
could not do without, but did not find that to answer
either. He then tried only buying what he could pay
for, and that he found to answer well." These may serve
to illustrate a wit which, if not sparkling, was genuine,
and which, combined with his affability and inteUigence,
rendered him a genial companion.
In bodily stature he was below the middle size, broad
and strongly made, and during the latter years of his life.
inclining to corpulency. His appearance in the pulpit,
especially at that period, was particularly clerical, his
long whitg hair contributing not a little to the effect. He
died on the 25th October, 1834, after a short illness.
As society was now fully organized, and the community
had assumed a settled form, we may here pause to give a
brief view of the social and material condition of the
population at this time.
As to origin, the large majority were from the Highlands
of Scotland. On the East River, when Dr. McGregor
came, there were only two settlers who were not, and
these were Lowland Scotch. In the other settlements
there wTas a larger infusion of other nationalities ; but in
all, with the exception of River John, the majority were
Scotch. The Gaelic language was everywhere heard;
the customs of their fatherland everywhere seen, and its
memories and traditions — in some instances, even its
superstitions — fondly cherished. Some had been old
enough to have been " out " in the Forty-five ; many, at
least, remembered Culloden ; the sympathies of the
majority were with Bonnie Prince Charlie, while all the
older generation had their reminiscences of the scenes of
that day. A few others had served under Wolfe, and had

174
their tales of Louisburg and Quebec, while many more
had been in the service of the British Government during
the American Revolutionary War, and were fuU of hatred
of " the Rebels."
The Highlanders, as settlers, have been pronounced
unsurpassed for encountering the first difficulties of a.
settlement in a new country, but inferior to some other
people in progressiveness. Accustomed to extreme
poverty, they readUy endure hardship ; but it is said that
they are apt to be content with a condition, but little
beyond what they had previously enjoyed, and do not
show the same eagerness for farther progress that others
do. This has, to some extent, been the case where they
have settled by themselves, but where they have been
mixed with others, there is so much of the spirit ot
emulation in them, that they wUl soon compete with
their neighbors in almost anything.
Physically the inhabitants were generally a superior
class. An unusual proportion, both of the Highlanders
and Lowlanders, were remarkably stout, strong men.
This was no doubt in part owing to the fact, that it is the
most adventurous who first emigrate, and they generaUy
possess a good measure of physical vigour. But we
cannot help thinking, that the tremendous drafts on the
able bodied in the Highlands, to supply the British army,
for more than fifty years previous to 1815, so much
greater in proportion than in any other part of the empire,
materially weakened the vigour of the race. Certain it is
that the late immigration from the Highlands would not
compare physically, with the first settlers of this county
from the same quarter.
At this time, the population were scattered principally
along the shores of the harbour, and the coast thence to
the eastern extremity of the county, and along the banks

175
of the rivers, wherever there was intervale, there the
settler being attracted, as the eagle to the carcass. Only
in a few instances, had settlers gone back from the rivers.
William Matheson had settled on Rogers Hill, John
Rogers farther up, William Munsie and John Blaikie
were on Green Hill, and on the East River two or three
settlers were on McLellans brook, Angus Campbell and
perhaps one or two others were on Scotch Hill, but we
know of none others, who at this time lived away from
the shore or the banks ofthe rivers. And so scattered were
they, that distances of from half a mile to three or four,
commonly intervened between their residences.
They had now, however, reached that position in which
they had plenty to eat. The lands chosen were good, and
when the wood was burned, produced plentifully ; but
from the large size of the trees, the clearing involved
much labor, and the stumps were left, so that there
was yet but little ploughing. The most of the crop
was still covered with the hoe, but even with such
husbandry, potatoes, wheat and other crops never failed
to yield an abundant return. Fish in the river were still
abundant. A net set at the end of the Deacons Wharf
has been found in the morning sunk to the bottom with
the multitude offish, and salmon and gaspereaux thronged
the rivers, so that, even without the produce of hunting,
to which we shall presently refer, the inhabitants were
abundantly provided with the means of subsistence. But
in regard to other conveniences, they were stUl deficient.
Their houses were still generally of logs, small, and
containing few elegances. Some British cloths were
imported, but generally people were clothed in what they
manufactured from their own wool or flax. As to their
feet, all ages and sexes carried them a great part of the
year in a state bare enough to appear in before an Eastern
king. When the severity of the weather rendered
necessary some additional covering, it was generaUy a

176
raw-hide moccasin.* Store luxuries were little used. What
would the present generation think, of Mr. Mortimer
bringing home in a small green bag all the tea needed for
a seasons trade in Pictou ! There was consequently an
ignorance of the proper mode of using it, which some
times led to amusing mistakes. A party of men who had
gone from home on some work on which they were
engaged, took about half a pound with them. Delivering
it to the woman with whom they were staying, to prepare
the beverage for them, they were surprised to be treated
to a black and nauseous draught, which they were
unable to drink, and, on enquiry, found that she had
boiled the whole at once. And there is an instance well
estabUshed of a woman just arrived from the Highlands,
who, wishing to show her gratitude to a person who had
kindly entertained her on arrival, boiled a half-pound of
green tea, which she had bought before leaving Scotland,
as a great rarity, and, throwing away the liquor, served
up the leaves, as a special entertainment. Her chagrin
on learning her mistake may be imagined. Much later, a
man said, " We bought a pound of tea ; it cost eight
shillings, but it did us eight years."
Horses were still few, so that the most of the traveUing
was on foot. But those who were becoming more inde
pendent in their circumstances, were beginning to use
them more for travelling to any distance, and " riding
double," or pillion riding, as itis called in some places, for
business of more family interest was becoming an insti
tution. And a cozy way it was, for the good man and his
wife to proceed thus to kirk or market, or the lad with his
* A woman who arrived here in 1795, told me tbat in attending the Sacra
ment, wearing a good pair of shoes, she was told to take good care of them,
as she would never see another pair. John McCabe, coming home from
Halifax in the month of October, staid all night in a hut, which had been
erected at Mount Thom, at what is now McKay's place. On getting up in the
morning, he found the ground covered with snow, while his feet were bare,
and his legs covered only by pants, made from flax spun and woven at home.

177
lass, to rural merrymaking. Years were yet to pass before
there would be a single carriage in the district, and long
after that, this was the common mode of travelling. We
doubt not, many of the older generation still retain some
pleasant associations of " riding double."
We may remark, that with all the cold and even
hardship endured, the people were generally remarkably
healthy and vigorous. In the country, consumption was
almost unknown. Persons have told us of growing up
to twenty years of age, without knowing a case in their
neighbourhood. Infant mortality was rare, compared
with what it is now. In settlements with which we are
familiar, large families were reared on almost every farm,
it being quite common to find cases of ten or twelve
children, all growing up to maturity. Their little houses,
comparatively open, and heated by large open fire places,
Tiad' the benefit of the purest air, and were much more
conducive to health, than more comfortable but ill
ventilated dwellings, heated by close stoves ; while in
summer, women as well as men working much in the
•open air, they were just the class to rear a stalwart race.
Hunting was still largely followed, particularlv by the
young men brought up in the country, some of whom
equalled the Micmacs in skill and endurance. The
moose wTas the chief object of pursuit. Two modes of
hunting were principally followed, the one was in
¦September by calling, that is, imitating the cry of the
female, so as to attract the male within gunshot; the
other, and that chiefly adopted, was by running them
down on snow-shoes in the months of February and
March. Their pace is a trot peculiar to the animal..
It is said that they neither gallop nor leap, but the dispro
portionate length of the forelegs, enables them to step
with the greater eas« over fallen trees or other obstacles.
When the snow is light, they sweep through it without
difficulty, and as their power of endurance is great, it was at
12

178
such times no easy matter to run them down, but when the
snow became deep, and especially, in the month of March,
when, by the sun thawing the surface of it by day, and
this freezing by night, a crust was formed, they were
readily overtaken, and afforded a good supply of coarse
but well flavoured meat. When it was inconvenient to
remove it at the time, the hunters were in the habit of
making a trough, in which they would deposit it, and
putting a cover upon it, to preserve it from bears leave it
till they found it convenient to bring it home.
Among the men of this period, there are two specially
worthy of notice as hunters. The first is John McCabe.
In the chase, particularly in the pursuit of the moose, he
manifested both the skill and the enthusiasm of the chUd
ren of the forest. Catching sight of a recent track, he
became all excitement ; his bundle, and perhaps his coat,
was thrown away, and even with the thermometer near
zero, freely perspiring with his efforts, he pressed on tiU
within gunshot. One or two incidents which befeU him
may here be given.
On one occasion he had shot a moose, which lay appar
ently helpless, though not dead ; his companion urged
him to kill it outright ; he refused, saying that it would
get cold too soon for skinning. They began digging a
hole with their snow-shoes to prepare a place for a fire,
when suddenly the moose sprang to his feet and rushed
at him with the utmost fury. They had not reloaded their
guns, and he had only time to take refuge behind a tree.
The moose pursued him, and for some time he kept run
ning round the tree. He could make a quicker turn
than the animal, and was thus enabled to baffle him, till
his companion got his gun loaded and shot the creature.
On another occasion, having shot a large moose, he, as
night came on, wrapped himself carefully in the skin
and laid down to rest. In the night the fire went out
and he slept the sleep of the wearied hunter. On awaken-

179
ing in the morning he found the skin frozen solid, and so
tightly round him, that he could move neither hand nor
foot. He rolled about for some time, helplessly struggling
to get one hand freed sufficiently to get hold of his knite,
which he managed to do, but only after considerable
effort, and then cut himself free.
On another occasion, returning to his camp, he stood
his gun alongside of it, and stooping down to enter by a
low door, out came a bear, snuffing. The two were
frightened about equally. He ran back, forgetting his
gun, while the bear took to his heels, and before he
recovered his presence of mind, was beyond his reach.
On another occasion, a whole flock of wild cats came
round his camp. They climbed upon it and ran round it,
making a continual howling through the night. There
seemed to him, from their noise, to be as many as twenty
of them. He kept his fire burning, and watched tUl
dawn. Toward morning they all left, and on examina
tion he found the snow round his camp beaten, as it
would have been by a flock of sheep round a barn.
The other was Simon Fraser of Middle River. He
would sometimes spend weeks in the woods, usually
with the Indians, who regarded him as their equal, if not
their superior, in all the arts of forest life. He killed
twenty-seven moose in one year, so that he earned the
title, which he sometimes received, of Nimrod. He was
the first to make his way through the woods from Middle
River to Stewiacke, and blazed the first path between
these places. He moved to Port Hood, where he took
up a large grant of land. Having quarrelled with his
wife, he left in a small vessel, in which he had been trad
ing, professedly for Newfoundland, but privately declar
ing to some of his most intimate friends that he would
never return. He was accompanied by his son, a young
lad, and by a Cape Breton Frenchman. They were
never heard of by the public, but I am assured that the

180
family received communications, which led them to
believe that he was living at the Northwest, and it is
believed that he is the same Simon Fraser who, in the
year 1804, first explored the country from the Saskatche
wan to the Fraser River, to which he gave his name, and
who established, on behalf of the Hudson Bay Company,
the first trading post in British Columbia, a short dist
ance from the great bend of that river.
There was a smaller kind of hunters, of which, almost
every settlement had its specimen, viz.: men who spent
much of their time in hunting or snaring the smaller
kinds of animals, especially for their fur, and to whom
the catching of a black or grey fox was one of the prizes
of life.
The bears were numerous, and gave great trouble, as
the settlers began to keep farm stock, carrying off pigs,
sheep and calves. Some were large enough, however, to
attack cattle. Indeed, the settlers regarded them as of two
kinds, which they distinguished as cow bears and sheep
bears, the only distinction between them, except their
size, being that the smaller had a stripe around the nose
of a grey color, which, in the larger, wTas black ; but we
presume that they were the same species, differing only
in age or size. At all events, the larger were able to
carry off cows. I have heard of one springing across a
brook, carrying a good-sized heifer. When killed, the
meat dressed would sometimes weigh between five and
six hundred pounds. The cattle, however, learned to
resist their attacks. On being alarmed by the sight or
sound of one, they would run together and take position
like the spokes of a wheel, with faces outward, and heads
in the attitude of attack. In some places near the woods
in the interior, where these animals were numerous, by
imitating the noise of a bear, the cattle wouldimmediately
run together and assume this position. McGregor
says that the largest and most spirited bull is soon

181
vanquished and killed by a full-grown bear ; but I have
heard instances of their maintaining successfully a single
combat with bruin. A man on the East River had
brought home from Shubenacadie a very large animal of
this kind. Missing him one day, he went in search of
him, and found that he had maintained a fierce conflict .
with a bear, and finally had killed his foe. Few of the :
old settlers, and, indeed, few of the old men of the present
generation, but could tell of bear hunts, of losing pigs or
sheep, or even cows, by them, or of catching them in traps.
These, at first, were constructed of logs, so placed, that
when the animal pulled at the bait, they fell across his
back. Afterward large spring traps were used, and we
may observe, that the settlers regarded bears as superior
in intelligence to most wild animals.
It was rarely that they attacked a man. The- only
instance we have heard of, was in the case of the, late
Alexander Cameron, Loch Broom. He had gone out to
look after his sheep, among which bruin had been regal
ing himself, wher. h- met a very large bear, which
immediately ran at him. To escape he commenced climb
ing a tree. It was a good sized spruce, straight and clear
of limbs for about forty- feet. The bear followed, and
overtaking him, caught his heel in his mouth and com
menced dragging him down the tree. When about twelve
feet from the bottom of it, the buckle, by which, accord
ing to the fashion of the times, the shoe was fastened,
gave way, and 'Im bear was precipitated to the ground.
Enraged, he tore the shoe to atoms, and again climbed
thc tree in pursuit of Cameron. The latter succeeded in
getting among the branches, and having broken off a
dead limb, struck with it at the bear's eyes as he
came near. Between this and the approach of others at
his call bruin retired. But one was caught in a trap a
day or two after, with: the eye badly torn,, supposed to
have been the same.

182
The most amusing bear story we have heard, however.
was an incident that occurred to the late William Clark,
whose family arrangements were considerably disturbed
one morning by a bear, suddenly and without notice or
invitation, coming down the chimney, as his wife was
preparing breakfast. His house was built against a bank,
with a shed roof. The bear had been attracted by the
smell of the viands cooking, and came upon the roof,
making his way toward the chimney, which according to
the fashion in those days, was very large. Just as he
came to it, David Stewart, who lived close by, and had
been watching him with his gun fired. The ball went
right through his heart, and making one jump, he came
flop down ibe chimney to the no small surprise of the
inmates of the household. " Fac, it gave us a start," said
the old man, as he told the story, which we can readily
believe. Strange »s it may appear, the pigs became so fierce as
in some instance*! to maintain a conflict with a bear
They were allowed to roam the woods during the
summer, feeding as they could. After the nuts began to
fall in the autumn, they became in a short time very fat,
and by that time they were so wild, that it was dangerous
to approach them. They would turn on a man. Even
a good sized dog could do httle or nothing with them.
If he attempted to seize them by the ear, he was in danger
of being ripped up by their tusks, with which they would
inflict very severe wounds, so that the common way of
, slaughtering them was by shooting them. Of their
maintaining a conflict with a bear, the following instances
we believe well authenticated. On one occasion, a bear
came into a pasture of James McCabe, West River, where
there was a very large pig, which gave him battle and
maintained the conflict gallantly for some time. The
contest issued, like many an engagement among wiser
beings, in great loss to both parties. The pig was so

183
"badly injured, that he slowly made his way up to the
front of the house and there laid down and died, while
the bear was either unable or afraid to pursue. On
another occasion, near the same place, a bear came out of
the woods into a field, where were a number of pigs,
who combined their forces to give him battle. They were
literally too many for him. Finding himself unable to
cope with their superior numbers, he sprang on to a large
stump. One of the boldest of his enemies, however,
executing a dexterous flank movement, charged upon
him in that position, and dislodged him, when being
•attacked by the whole pack, he was eventually torn to
pieces. We must, however, notice the Aborigines in their
relations to the settlers. We have already mentioned
that they sometimes gave trouble to the first inhabitants.
That they ever contemplated any serious injury to the
Flnglish is not probable. Their boast is that when they
made a treaty of peace by burying the hatchet, it has
never been broken by them. Knowing the terror wliich
their name and appearance inspired, they took pleasure in
frightening people who showed any fear of them. The
late Deacon McLean, of West River, used to tell that when
a little boy, going down to an encampment of Indians,
near his father's house, one of them came up to him, and
assuming a fierce look, said : — " Supposum me killum you
- — scalpum," and, taking out his knife, he brandished it
over his head, dancing round him, sounding his waTwhoop,
and frightening him generaUy. In the same way, they
would take advantage of the absence of the men, to extort
from the fears of the women what supplies they fancied,
though in this, sometimes the mother wit of our good
foremothers proved a match for their cunning. On one
-occasion, an Indian having entered a house where a
woman was alone, and being rather threatening, she
immediately went to another part of the house, and calling

184
her husband loudly by name, let a roll of leather, which
happened to be on a bench, fall on the floor. Before she
returned, the Indian was off. Mrs. Roderick McKay was
a woman of great firmness and strength of mind. She
never yielded to them, and when they came to her house,
she would order them round, and scold them if they
attempted too much freedom. On one occasion, some of
them coming in, asked her, " What news ? " She rephed,
" Ah, ha, great news ; there is another regiment of soldiers
arrived at Halifax, and Indians must now behave them
selves." They were quiet, and soon went away, and
shortly there came an invitation to the Whites, to attend a
feast provided for them by their red brethren. It was
accepted, and on going to the place appointed, they found
provided every variety of provision, which the sea or the
forest afforded, fish, flesh and fowl, which they requested
the whites to cook in their own way. This was intended.
as a grand peace offering, and as such was accepted.
The Government did what it could to gain their good
wUl by annual supplies, particularly of blankets and a
kind of coarse blue cloth, usuaUy known as Indian «loth ;
but they doubtless retained a lingering attachment to the
old French, and, there is reason to beheve, that had there
been a prospect of the French again having possession of
these regions, they might have been roused to renewed.
hostilities. At times, too, particularly about the years
1804-8, there was considerable agitation among them *
gatherings of different tribes at Quebec, at which Mic
macs were present, and among those returning, hopes were
freely expressed of a French invasion. In 1808, Judge
Monk, Superintendent of Indian affairs, writes on the
report of Mr. Dunoon and others, through the Province :
" That the Indians expect the Province will be invaded, and that it appears-
generally to be their intention, in case of such an event, to remain neutral
until they can form an opinion of tho strength of the enemy, and then (ia
their own words) to join the strongest party.
" That several Indians went last autumn from Pictou to Quebec, as it was-

185
understood, to establish a communication with the Indians of Canada, — that
two Nova Scotia Indians, who had been for some time in Canada, had returned
to this Province last summer, and informed a man employed in the Indian
Department, that there were many Indians from the United States with the
Canada Indians, and much talk of war with them, — that in the district of
Pictou some Indians have declared they will not accept of anything from
Government, as they expect the country will soon be invaded and conquered ;
and one of them was heard to say, that in case of war he and a few others
would scalp all Pictou.in two nights."
The last was, of course, bravado, yet the circumstances
were sufficient to excite apprehensions, and rendered it
prudent for the Government to take precautions against
hostilities. As a general rule, however, they were kind
to the whites ; oftentimes they supplied the first settlers
with food, and frequently I have heard old people speak
gratefully of their kindness. It was their characteristic,
to manifest strong feelings of gratitude to those who
treated them well, but equally strong feelings of animosity
against those who treated them with injustice or harsh
ness, though a sense of the superior power of the white
man kept, them from any violent acts of revenge.*
Indeed, when we consider the manner in which they
were deprived of their lands, and the unfeeling manner
in which they have often been treated, it is wonderful
that they have been so quiet and free from deeds of vio
lence. It is, perhaps, more surprising that they have been so
honest. How easy it would be for them to steal our sheep
or cattle as they wander in the woods, or to purloin articles

* The only instance of this ];ind which we have heard, which threatened
serious consequences, was an affair between Lulan and Eod. McKay. Soon I
after the arrival of the latter, he had in some way seriously offended the former,
who came all the way from Merigomish to the East Eiver to shoot him. It,
was night when he arrived, and McKay was at work in his forge. Lulan looked
in but as he saw the glare of the fire on his face, and the sparks flying from
the anvil, and heard the reverberation of his blows, he became scared, and his
hands could not perform their enterprise. Por long after the two were good
friends, and Lulan used to tell the story, graphically describing hisJeelings,
u Sartin, me taut you debbil."

186
from our barn yards; and yet an act of theft is rare
among them ; and when such has occurred, the others
have generally surrendered the guilty to justice. Squire
Patterson and others of the first comers gained their
confidence, and as an instance of his tact and their sense
of justice we may give the following incident : On one
occasion Simon Fraser going down the ice met Patlass,
who pointed his gun at him. Fraser immediately went
to him, took the gun out of his hand, and dashed it to
pieces on the ice. Patlass went to the Squire for redress,
who issued a summons, and directed him to bring as
many Indians as he could to the trial. They came, and
the Squire heard the whole case, — Simon defending him
self on the ground, that he thought Patlass was going to
shoot him, and the latter maintaining that what he did
was in fun. The Squire said he had no jury, and must
have one. He, therefore, selected five or six Indians to
whose judgment he committed the case. The result
was, that they gave a verdict against Patlass.
When the English came, the Indians had several places,
where they had clearings and cultivated a few vegetables,
as beans and Indian corn, but the Government, in
granting the land; made no reserve of such rights. We
do find it ordered, on the 18th December, 1783, that " a
license be granted to Paul Chackegonouet, Chief of the
tribe of Pictou Indians, for them to occupy the land they
have settled upon, on the south-east branch of the harbor
or River Merigomish or Port Luttrell, with liberty of
hunting and fishing in the woods, rivers and lakes of
that district." But the land was not reserved in giving
grants to settlers, and the Indians were gradually worked
out of all their claims. Some settlers honestly bought
out all their rights, and had no trouble with them after
ward. Walter Murray, in Merigomish, finding them
coming and planting corn, even where he had planted
his potatoes, finaUy agreed to pay them five pounds to

187
relinquish all claims, which they accepted, and never
troubled him again. Donald Fraser, McLellans Brook,
paid Lulan a bushel of wheat annually, and was accus
tomed to speak of him as his landlord. Thus they were
gradually deprived of all places of this kind. The last
we know of was the front of the farm at Middle River
Point, since owned by William McKay. This had been
one of their places of encampment, from the time of the
arrival of the first English settlers. It was on Cochrane's
grant, the title to which was in dispute. Here they had
some five or six acres cleared, each having his own patch,
on which he raised potatoes and beans, and with fish offal
and the refuse of their camps, it was very rich. Within
the memory of persons living, they even raised a little
wheat. Parties who attempted to settle, they drove off.
On one occasion, a person came and built a house in their
absence. Having left to bring his family, the Indians
returned, and when they saw the intrusive dwelling, they
gathered brush round it, which they set on fire, causing
a great conflagration, around which they danced and
yelled as long as it lasted. Through Mortimer's influence,
McKay was allowed to remain on the land, and graduaUy
obtained possession of their little plots.
The only land in the county, so far as we have been
able to ascertain, reserved for them in Government grants
is a small lot at their burying ground, at the mouth of
the East River, but this they sold to the late James Car
michael, with the exception of the burying ground itself.
The Sessions, however, have purchased a lot for them
inside the beaches, which they now occupy. The only other
land to which they lay claim are two islands in Merigomish
Harbour, one, on which their chapel and burying ground
are, known as Indian Island, and another claimed by
Peter Toney, both of which are said to have been given
them by Governor Wentworth, but attempts have been
made to dispossess them of the latter.

188
Every year, usually in the month of September, they
assembled in large numbers from Prince Edward Island,
Antigonish and other places, their usual place of rendez
vous being either Frasers Point or Middle River Point.
A person brought up at the latter place, has told me that
he has counted one hundred canoes at one time drawn
up on the shore, and it was said that they would some
times number one hundred and fifty. Sometimes two
days would be spent in racing or similar amusements. At
night came feasting. My informant on one occasion, when
a boy, spent an evening at one of these entertainments.
He says they had twelve barrels of porridge prepared,
which the squaws served out to the men, ladling it into
dishes that, he supposed, would hold near a peck each.
Two moose were also served up on the occasion, and also a
quantity of boiled barley. Afterward they had various
plays and games, but the last night they spent in singing
and praying. These gatherings continued yearly till a
vessel with small pox was sent to quarantine at the mouth
of the Middle River, about the year 1838. They have
now a similar gathering annuaUy, in the month of July,
on Indian Island, Merigomish. All assemble in their
best attire, and after mass, and the celebration of any
marriages that may be coming off, the rest of the day is
spent in feasting and dancing. As to the latter we are
informed, that they have adopted the common Scotch
figure of eight reel, in which men and women join.
A common amusement was to get the Indians to dance
the war dance. At weddings or other occasions, where
they might be present in numbers, for a share of the good
things going, they would go through all the scenes of
war, even to the scalping and torturing their prisoners.
They acted the whole so perfectly, and their appearance
in doing so was so frightful, that women and timorous
persons would sometimes get thoroughly scared.
Among the Indians two were particularly noted, and

189
are still remembered by the older generation, viz. : Patlass
and Lulan. The former was particularly distinguished
for his skill in draughts, so that his death was announced
in a Halifax paper, as that of "the celebrated draughts
player." At this game, it is a question whether he was ever
beaten. When he met a stranger, he would allow him to
win the first game, but then he would induce him to play
for a wager, which was all he wanted to show his skill.
He was also noted for that grim humour, characteristic
of the red man. On one occasion a sea captain had
brought a fighting cock ashore, and set it fighting with
one belonging to the town. Patlass came along, where
a number of persons were standing looking on. After
looking at the scene for a few minutes, he seized one of
the combatants, and walked off with it. The captain
called out angrily after him to come back, asking him
what he was about. " Take him to jail, fightin' on the
streets," was Patlass' reply. On another occasion Mortimer
met him on the wharf, smoking one of the long clay pipes
then in use. The former being disposed to cultivate
familiarity with all classes, asked him for a smoke.
Patlass handed him the pipe, when Mr. M., taking a
silk handkerchief from his pocket, wiped the stem carefully,
before putting it into his mouth. When he had finished
smoking, he returned it to Patlass w7ho, holding it up,
immediately broke two or three inches off the stem,
saying, " Dat more better, Missa Mortimer." The follow
ing joke is often told, but we believe that Patlass was the
real author of it. He was coming from Halifax and by
the time he arrived at Shubenacadie, his supply of rum
was exhausted. Applying at a tavern there for a supply,
he was charged at a much higher rate than in Halifax.
He grumbled at the price, when the tavern keeper said,
alluding to the cost of license, it costs me as much to sell
a puncheon of rum as to keep a cow. " No eatum as
much hay, but sartin drinkum more water, " was the

190
Indians rejoinder. He was drowned near Middle River
Point, on the 1st September 1827.
Lulan was of a milder disposition, though reputed to
have been a great warrior in his youth. He used to boast
that he had scalped ninety-nine persons, though there
was probably some bounce in this. He was rather below
the middle height, but straight and broad-shouldered, and
in his later years corpulent for an Indian. He was the
means at one time of saving the life of the writer's grand
father, old John Patterson. The latter was crossing the
ice, when it gave way, and he feU into the water. The
Indians put out to his help, and succeeded in rescuing
him, but he was insensible for a time, and when he
recovered, he found himself in a large tub in Lilian's camp.
Lulan was ever after freely entertained at my grand
father's house, of which he did not fail to take advantage.
As an instance of the attachment induced by kindness,,
we may mention an incident that occurred at my grand
father's funeral. It being customary then to hand liquor
round to all present, some was offered to Lulan, who-
replied : " Me no drinkem long time, but bleev take some
to-day ; me most dead grief my friend." After my
grandfather's death, however, he continued to expect.
from my grandmother the same attention as in his hfe
time. " Me save your husband's life," was the appeal
which he supposed would never lose its efficacy, which
he rendered more impressive by adding particulars :
" Walk out on thin boards ; only head and arms out of
water ; most lose my own life save his." And after her
death, their sons' store was laid under contribution on the
same ground.
He died aboftt the year 1827, when he was said to
have been in his 97th year, so that he must have nearly
reached manhood when Halifax was founded, and been
in full vigor when Louisburg and Quebec surrendered.
i His son is still well remembered as Jim Lulan. He had

191
somewhat of the dry humor of some of the race. Mr.
Carmichael had built a vessel, which, in honor of the old
Chief, he called the Lulan. Some persons, teasing his
son, said to him that he ought to make her a present of a
set of colors. " Ugh ! " said Jim, " me build big canoe,
call it Old Carmichael."
Speaking of the wit of the Indians, we may give an
instance, which was long a standing joke of Pictonians '
against their neighbors in Colchester. Some Indians
being after geese in spring, shot one which fell on the ice.
Seeing that it could not escape, they did not go for it at
once, when some persons coming along in a sleigh picked
it up. The Indians, however, came up and claimed it.
The others refused to give it up, saying that they had
shot it. " Where you from ? " said an Indian. " From
Truro," was the reply. " Sartin bleev so ; Pictou man no
shoot, dead goose."
Another, usually known as Beetle John, is especiaUy
worthy of notice, as having been the owner of a shallop. It
was built on the Big Island of Merigomish, in a small cove
at the head of the French channel, and for some time he
traded in her.
As to their numbers, we have no doubt that the views
entertained by many and expressed by themselves, regard
ing the large numbers of the Aborigines in this and other
parts of North America, are greatly exaggerated. On the
other hand, the assertion made by some who have studied
the subject, that the Indians in these quarters are now as
numerous as ever they were, is not correct, as to this part
of the country. In the year 1775, a return was made by
Dr. Harris, by which they were estimated at 865. This
may not have been an exact census, but could not be far
from the truth. Yet in the report of the Indian branch of
the Department of the Secretary of State for the Provinces,
1872, the number in the County of Pictou. is estimated at
125, and in Antigonish at 93, whUe Colchester has only

192
31. This agrees with the recollection of the old people,
who speak of seeing 40 or 50 of them travelling together,
or of 60 camps in one place. Before the first of these
periods, there is a tradition of a great mortality among them
by small pox. During the war against the English, a
number of them had killed and scalped a family sick with
the disease, by which they caught the infection, which
spread through the tribe. It was their practice, as soon
as one felt himself unwell, to plunge into the water, and
all who did so died.
Since the period referred to, the free use of fire water,
the diminished supply of food to be obtained by fishing
and hunting, and epidemics at different times, have dimi
nished their numbers. But of late there has been an im
provement among them. Their supplies of food from
their old resources having failed, they have been engaged
in industrial employments, such as cooperage, and supply
ing the markets with fresh fish, in which, from their
activity and skill, they can earn a more regular and better
living than formerly. We believe, too, that both from the
laws against selling liquor to them, and their own sense
of the evils which it has brought upon their race, there is
now much less drinking among them than years ago, and
that not only are they better off, but their numbers are
beginning to recruit.
The Government, at various times, have projected mea
sures with the view of inducing them to adopt more
settled habits. With this view a series of queries was
addressed, in the year 1800, by Judge Monk, the Superin
tendent of Indian affairs, to leading men in the different
sections of the Province, seeking information regarding
their willingness to adopt the employments of civilized
life, or to have their children receive education or train
ing in useful arts. Mr. Mortimer replies for Pictou, and
to the enquiry : " Are there any who have shown a dispo
sition to settle, or who have taken up trades ?" He says,

193
*' Joseph Purnall has made several attempts to settle by
planting potatoes, Indian corn, beans, &c. Indeed, the
greater part of the Indians who frequent this quarter have
shown a disposition to settle, by planting a little, as above,
in several parts of this district. An Indian from ' Mathews
Vineyard,' named Samuel Oakum, who has married into
this tribe, is a tolerable mechanic in several branches,
particularly coopering and rigging vessels, and is also a
pretty good sailor." Proposals were also made to teach
the women knitting and spinning.
It is but just to add that the benevolent of this county,
from Dr. McGregor downward, have been interested in.
the improvement of their social and spiritual condition.
On various occasions attempts were made to educate
young Indians, but these failed, partly from their own
repugnance to the restraints of civilized life, and partly
from the opposition of their spiritual guides. In the year
1828, a soeiety was formed in Pictou, called the Indian
-Civilization Society. But all these efforts produced no
permanent result.
The year 1799 is notable in the historyof thecounty as
that in which the first contested election was held within
its bounds. From the first settlement of Halifax, society
embraced churchmen and dissenters, and thus contained
all the material for Whig and Tory parties. The Ameri
can Revolutionary war, and the influx of Loyalists, the
majority of whom were Tories and high churchmen,
tended to strengthen the hands of power, and repress
everything like popular influence. Still there had been a
growing feeling of opposition to the irresponsible power
of the Provincial rulers, and an increasing desire to bring
the Government under the control of public opinion.
This state of feeling, which afterward swelled to a flood,
under the guidance of S. G. W. Archibald and Joseph
Howe, first found expression in this election, and had for
its exponent and apostle, W. Cottnam Tonge, said to have
13

194
been a man of brilliant talents, an eloquent speaker, and
having many qualities fitted to make him a popular leader.
At all events, he was now the tribune of the people and
everything that was bad in the eyes of Sir John Went
worth and his official clique. To their no small annoy
ance, he now offered [for the County of Halifax, (which
then embraced what now forms the Counties of Halifax,
Colchester and Pictou) against the old members, Michael
Wallace, Lawrenee Hartshorne, Charles Morris and James
Stewart (afterward Judge Stewart), who we're friends of
the Government, and who had issued a card jointly, ap
pealing to the electors, though afterward they denied that
there was any combination among them.
Another element, however, had perhaps more influence in
the country. The representation of the county had hitherto
been in the hands of the town of Halifax, and, indeed, of
the Government officials. A feeling, however, was grow
ing up through the rural districts, that their views were
little understood and imperfectly represented at the
Capital ; and through Colchester and Pictou, there was a
strong desire to have local members. Accordingly, the
people of these districts generally combined in favour of
Edward Mortimer of Pictou, and James Fulton of Lon
donderry, and united with the friends of Tonge inHahfax,
to oppose the Government candidates.
The poll opened at Halifax on the 13th November, and
closed on the 23rd. It was then adjourned to Onslow,
where it continued for two days. It was thence adjourned
to the town plot of Walmsley, as it was called, at Fishers
Grant, where it opened on the 5th December, in the barn
of James McPherson. By consent of the candidates, the
last day's polling was at the East River, where it finally
closed on the 13th December. In Halifax, the country
candidates received very little support, and Tonge, though.
receiving more, was still far behind the Government can
didates, but Colchester and Pictou went almost unanim-

195
ously for their local members, and at the same time gaVe
large majorities for Tonge, so that the three were tri
umphantly elected, and with them, the highest on the
poll of the Government candidates. The result of this
election to the Province was a systematic attack upon the
old irresponsible regime, which, however, produced little
fruit. The election however had a special importance for the
County of Pictou, as it was the- origin of those party feuds,
for which it has since been noted. The opposition to
Mortimer formed the nucleus of a party, formed partly on
pohtical and partly on personal grounds. The division
thus formed was fostered in after years by various
circumstances, and unfortunately became mixed with
ecclesiastical, we can scarcely call them religious, differ
ences, whioh gave intensity to the feelings excited.
Mr. Wallace, who was defeated, was at that time
treasurer of the Province, had been for some time a
member of the House and became so again, by the unseat
ing of Tonge, for want of a freehold in the county. He
was afterward a member of Council, and several times
administered the Government in the absence of the
Lieut. Governor. He was a native of Scotland, but had
emigrated to the Southern States, where he had been
doing business as a merchant, but, on the American
Revolutionary war breaking out, he espoused the side of
the British Government, and removed to Halifax, where
he was engaged in business, till he became Provincial
Treasurer. He was thus described in one of the Halifax
papers at a later period. " He is one of those who think
the King can do no wrong, that the British constitution is
the most perfect fabric the world ever saw. He hates a
radical as he hates Satan himself. He would, if he had
the power, shake all the hberals in the world over the
crater of Vesuvius, but his heart would be too kind, to
let them ' fa' in.' When he was a member of the

196
Assembly many years ago, his opponents used to take
advantage of the irritability of his disposition, and gene
rally put him in such a passion, as to deprive him of the
power of speech. He was once sitting on the bench of
the Inferior Court, and was engaged in some calculation
of damages, when one of the counsel for the parties
uttered something, which grated on the old man's ears,
and forgetting for a moment the dignity of his office, he
abruptly asked, ' What's that you say, you  rascal ? ' '
He was distinguished even in those days of irresponsi
ble power, for his adherence to arbitrary principles, and
his hatred of everything like popular rights. On one
occasion the Speaker of the Assembly having presented
an Appropriation Bill, which had passed both branches of
the Legislature, to Dr. Croke administering the Govern
ment, the latter said, " I do not assent to this BiU," and
three days after summoned the House, and addressed
them in a speech in which he told them, that the Govern
ment would appropriate the revenue of the Province more
beneficially and economically, than the Assembly had
provided for by their bill, " after which", as the journals
of the House say, " Mr. Speaker offered to address his
Honour the President, but was prevented in a turbulent
and violent manner, by the Hon. Michael Wallace, acting
President of His Majesty's Council, who declared the
House prorogued." And on the President consulting the
Council whether he should not draw warrants on the
Treasurer, without an Appropriation Bill of the Assembly,
Wallace alone voted in favour of the proposal.* At a
later date, the House of Assembly having made some en
quiries regarding the revenue received from the coal
mines, Wallace replied that the disposal of it was none of
their business.
But we have here to do with him as his influence

•Murdoch's History, III, 288, 293.

197
affected Pictou. He took his defeat with a keenness that
we can now scarcely understand, and Mortimer having
given free expression to feelings of triumph, natural under
the circumstances, he publicly vowed revenge. From
that time his course was one of unrelenting hostility not
only to Mortimer, but to the leading men in Pictou, both /
in church and state. Those being the days of irresponsi
ble Executive power, and from his offices being always
influential, and at times administering the Government,
he had the machinery of Government very much under
his control, and was ever ready to exercise it for their
annoyance, and to nurture the personal and party feelings
that had begun at this election. Years after even the
descendants! of those who opposed him, might be driven
from his office with passionate execrations, while for a
man to quarrel with his minister was sufficient to entitle
him to official favour.
He is said to have kept a book containing black and
white lists, of every man in Pictou at the time of the
election. W hen any application was made to Government
from parties in Pictou, his first care was to examine these
lists, to see what had been the conduct of the parties at
that time, and treat them accordingly. On one occasion,
a road having been laid out in such a way as to do a great
deal of damage to a man's intervale, a petition was for
warded to Government, to have its course altered. On
applying to Mr. Wallace, he asked if the course in which
they proposed taking the road would suit the public as
well. The parties said that they thought it would suit
better. He began making a favourable reply, but on
glancing over the petition, and observing the name ofthe
party interested, he stopped and exclaimed, " John D — ."
Reaching down his black book and finding the name, he
said, " Take it where it was laid out, if it should go
through his house." He, however, afterward relented.
The following incident, which I received from my father,

198
however, will show that he could remember favours as
well as injuries. Among those in Pictou who voted for
Wallace was his father, old John Patterson. Sonie years
after, my father and his brothers applied to Government
for a grant of Crown lands. At that time there was an
unwillingness to grant land in quantities, in consequence
of parties taking it up on speculation. On applying to
Mr. Wallace, he asked who they were. They said they
were the sons of John Patterson, deacon. " Sons of Old
John Patterson ! Oh, yes, you'll get your land," was the
immediate rejoinder. Other parties having applied about
the same time, they were told to " go to Mortimer, and
let him get them land."
An incident may be mentioned in connection with the
close of the poll, as illustrative of the progress of the
country. On the last day of the election, Dr. McGregor
entertained the candidates and some strangers at dinner,
and made for them a fire of coal. This was considered
quite a novelty, and an important event for the Province.
It was only the year previous that coal had been discov
ered on a brook, passing in rear of his and William
McKay's lots. William Fraser (surveyor) in that year
carried a sample to Halifax to the Governor, Sir John
Wentworth, who sent him with it to Admiral Sawyer,
who ordered a small cargo to be sent to Halifax, which
was done, but it did not prove of good quality. Soon
after the Dr. and some of his neighbours took out licenses
from Government to dig coal, but undoubtedly he was
the first to use it as fuel. He first opened a pit on what is
still known as the McGregor seam, discovered on his
own land, and used the coal in his house. This would
be as early as 1801 or '2. From that time he regularly,
in the fall of the year, got out his winter's supply, and
sometimes sold some. Previously the blacksmiths had
used charcoal, but now John McKay, of Pictou, com
menced sending lighters up the river, and took the coal

199
to Pictou for use in his smithy, and the other blacksmiths
.soon followed the same course.

CHAPTER XL

COUNTY AND COURT BUSINESS.
As we have mentioned in a previous chapter, Pictou
was, in the year 1792, set apart from Colchester as a
separate district. One of the first steps taken in conse
quence, was the erection of a jail. It stood on
the lot now occupied by the establishment of James
D. B. Fraser & Sons. The lower part of the
building, forming the cellar storey, was built of
stone, with grated windows. The upper was of logs,
and clap-boarded on the outside. This contained at the
one end rooms for the jailor ; at the other, a lock-up for
prisoners. Below were cells, in which criminals were
confined, the more desperate in irons. It was built by
John Patterson, and the following account at this time,
including this and other items, may be given as a curiosity :
The Magistrates of Pictou Dr. io John Pattersonr Sr.
Brought forward £S 19s. 3d ; To interest 10s. 6d  £9 11 9
1793 — Captain Allardice, broak hinges and other damages  0 10 0
James Carmichael, 30s. for goin with the jury laying out
roads  1 10 0
Thomas Harris, Senr., order for laying out roads  2 0 0
James Dun, for the use of his house some years for M. Mingo 13 10 0
To help to build the town brige  10 0 0
Building the gaill  87 0 0
To Mr. Mortimer for provisions for a sailor  0 17 0
To goods by Mr. Dawson to the poor, by the overseers  1 15 7
To James Dun for stocks, Handcufs, lock, stove, &c, jury
box  1 15 6
To John Patterson, Senr., for three terms store rent  2 0 0

200
ToEobeit Lowden, for Clerk of the Sessions 1793  2 10 0»
To Do Do 1792  6 0 0-
To Taking of and Eeparing and Putting on the Gaill lock,
broke by Mirian  ,  0 3 6-
To 1 Double Paddlock Eeplaced for 1 Destroyed by Mr.
Mirian  0 4 O
To David McCoull, for cutting Cobequit Eoad  15 10 'O
To colecting, Storage, wastage in and out of 94£, in Grain,
Butter & Shouger at Ten per cent  9 0 (>•
To colecting £20 at Five per cent  10 0

£183 11 4
ContraT-Credit.
Brought forward  2 4 7
1794— From James Dun, collector  15 6 8-
From Alexr Eobertson, do  12 9 6
John Brownfield, do  6 12 7
John McKenzie, do  13 17 3
James Briden, do  10 1 10
From clerk, Augt. 20  1 13 6-
From Do Decr. 29  110 0
From Duncan McKenzie  20 7 5
From Eobert Lowden  2 10 0
From Mr. Mortimer, Previous Tax for 1792  5 5 6.
From Mr. Scot, in grain for Eoad  3 16 9
From John McDonald, Eoad Tax in orders.  4 5 3
To Thomas Copland's Noat  1 io O
To William Fraser Noat  2 7 0>
To Joseph Scot's Noat  2 16 6
From James Dun, License  1 15 a
From George Eoy, Colector  4 2 0
Constables Colin McKay £4 5s. 7d., Duncan Cameron £2
14S. l£d  6 19 8f

£121 7 IJ
The stocks stood in front of the jail, and for many years
were used for the punishment of offenders. In our
younger days a pair stood on the east side of George
street, but were not then used.
Dr. McGregor says that on his arrival, " As for lawyers,
there was such good neighborhood, that we never expected
to need a lawyer or a court house." But the above account
shows that these days had passed ; that they had use for

201
a jail, and that on one occasion its occupant had been so
dissatisfied with the accommodation, that he had taken
forcible measures to be relieved from it.
By the act erecting Pictou into a separate district, a
Court of General Sessions of the Peace and Inferior Court
of Common Pleas, was appointed to be held at Walmsley,
on the 3rd Tuesday of January and 3rd Tuesday of July.
The Records of the Sessions for the first few years have
been lost. The first book commences with January term
1797, held before, Hugh Dunoon, Robert Pagan, John
Dawson, Nicholas P. Olding and -Edward Mortimer,
Esquires. These, we may observe, wrere the leading
justices of the county for many years. An account of the
business done, will afford some interesting information
regarding the state of the county.
First comes a large number of regulations, regarding
animals of the male kind going at large, which we need
not particularly specify. But we may remark, that the
estabhshment of pounds in various parts of the district,
and regulations for impounding cattle, occupy a large
space in their proceedings in subsequent years.*
Then we find regulations regarding the preservation of
the salmon fisheries, manifesting a care and wisdom,
which we would not have expected at that early period.
" That no person shall sett a salmon net, seine or wear more than two-
thirds across the channel at low water, in any of the rivers within this dis-
* Thus we find, in 1802, the various pounds located as follows :
" Harbour  Where it now is.
Above the Town Gutt  At a brook above John Patterson, Junr'a.
Fishers Grant  At James McPhersons.
West Eiver. ...••••  At Hugh Fraser's Brook.
Middle Eiver  At Joseph Crocketts.
East Eiver, west side  At Donald McNaughton's Brook.
East Eiver, east side  At Alex. McLeans.
McLellan's Brook  At William Frasers.
East Branch East Eiver  At Alex. Grants.
West Branch "  At James Camerons.
Little Harbour  At Alex. McQuecus."

202
trict, nor nearer to that of his neighbour's than the distance of fifty yards, to
be measured in the direction of the tide or stream.
" And that no person or persons shall fish salmon in any manner of way
whatever within this district after the 19th day of October, on transgression
the net to be forfeited, and a fine of twenty shillings to be levied of the same,
or from the goods and chattels of the offender, tbe same to be disposed of as
in the case of boars (i. c. one-half to the informer, and one-hal f to the over
seers of the poor,) no prosecution to be without the complaint is made within
ten days after the offence is committed, the seine or net to be seized while in
the water, and carried immediately to a Justice of the Peace, who is to judge
of the offence, and if the seine or net is returned by the owner or any persons,
the fine is to be doubled, any proprietor or householder may prosecute said
offence. " Also, that no person or persons within this district shall fish salmon with
a spear or by sweeping with a net or seine, under tho penalty of £5 for every
offence, said fine to be disposed of as in the regulations respecting boars.
" Also presented and ordered that no porson or persons shall fish salmon
with net, spear or otherwise in that part of the Middle Eiver between Archi
bald and Taylor's Mill-dam and Alexander Fraser, Sr.'s., under the penalty of
£10 for each and every offence, one moiety to the prosecutor, and the other
moiety lo the overseers of the poor, for the use of the poor. And that no
person or persons shall catch any salmon fish, in either of the two pools at the
foot ofthe falls, on the West Branch East Eiver, and also in the pool at the
foot of tho falls on the West Eiver of Pictou, about two miles above William
McKenzic's, under a penalty of 40s., to be disposed of as in the last case."
For the killing of a bear a premium of twenty shillings
is allowed on presentation of the muzzle. This was
afterward reduced to ten shillings.
Then comes an order to "tax every poll from 16 upward
three shillings, every horse one year old and oxen and
cows four years old three pence, every sheep one year
old one half-penny each, every 100 acres of land, three
pence per hundred, for the making and repairing high
ways within this District, the respective overseers and
committees to lay out the work as formerly, in the most
needfull places on the publick highways in the different
settlements within this District."
The roads then existing, for which overseers were
appointed are named as follows, viz., " Fishers Grant,
West River, Middle River, West Side East River, East
Side East River, East Branch from Colin McKenzie to

203
Peter Finners, Upper Settlement, West Branch, Little
Harbour, Above the Town Gutt, Merigomish, Gulph."
But at this meeting steps were taken for the opening of
the roads from " John Blaikies on the hill (at what is now
the Cross Roads Green Hill) unto Charles Blaikies on thc
West River," and "from Charles Blaikies to the mouth of
the Middle River," and " from Alex. McLean's upper line
on the East River to the head of the tide," and a Special
Sessions was appointed to " lay out a road from Robert
Marshalls to Hugh Frasers."
In regard to the collecting of taxes, we find the fol
lowing :
" Presented and ordered that John Patterson, senr., be allowed ten per cent.
for being Treasurer, and collecting the tax assessed in the year one thousand
seven hundred and ninety-five, and likewise charge no leakage or weastage on
any oi the produce that he receives, but to be accountable to the District for
the whole as he receives it."
The taxes were generally paid in grain or maple sugar,
and were received by local collectors, who brought it to
him, but we find in July the same year, that it was
« Presented and ordered that John Brownfield be allowed the sum of twelve
shillings and six pence for bringing wheat and oats from Merigomish to Pictou
to satisfy the jail tax."
The foUowing are all the other items of expenditure :
" Also ordered that Mr. Patrick McKay be allowed the sum of five shillings
for the use of his house for a Grand Jury room this present term, by an order
upon the Town Treasurer.
" Also presented and ordered that the sum of twenty shillings be allowed to
Edward Mortimer, Esquire, for the use of his house as a Court House, cuttin
and Hauling fire-wood, putting on fires, &c, &c, by an order on the
Treasurer." Similar biUs were allowed in subsequent years, the
places of meeting being John Patterson's store, William
Lyndsay's tavern, or other places.
The business was concluded by a criminal trial, the
fuU record of which we must present to our readers.

204
" DISTRICT OF PICTOU, SS.,
" General Sessions of the Peace,
Jan'y Term, l79f ,
"The King
vs.
r Peter Tarbett, \
"For petty larceny. ) Sophia Tarbett, f N s_
J And (
v. Hannah, alias Rose. J
"The prisoners having been brought forward and arrainged at the bar,
witnesses sworn and interrogated, The Court having considered the evidence,
and the parties being found guilty, do adjudge the whole of them be stripped
naked from the middle upwards and receive as follows, viz : Peter Tarbett
thirty-nine lashes, Sophia Tarbett, thirty-nine lashes, and Hannah alias Eose,
thirty lashes on the naked Body by the hands of the proper officers, and be
thence committed to Prison, untill the Court think it practicable to banish
them out of this District, it being now an intense season.
"Pictou, January 18th, 1797.
"Jan'y 18th, 1797. Issued a warrant unto James Crocket, William Eobert-
son and William Fraser, constables, to take the three negroes and strip them
from the middle upwards, and whip them as specified in the sentence, &c.
which warrant was returned Executed to-day.
" William Fraser, one of the constables, who being appointed to assist in
whipping the negroes, refused to assist, was fined by the Court in the sum of
forty shillings.
" His Majesty's General Quarter Sessions of the Peace for the District of
Pictou stands adjourned until next term. THOMAS HAEEIS, JUNE.',
D'y Clerk of the Peace."
"Vivant Bex el Regina."
We may mention that the punishment of flogging
continued to be inflicted for years after. The last case
took place in the year 1822. A person, residing near the
Town Gut, having lost his wife, bought a full mourning
suit. A darky stole the same, and having arrayed himself
in the whole, even to hat and crape, started for Truro,
but was arrested in this genteel rig, and was flogged, tied
to a cannon, which still stood in our younger days at
Yorston's corner, though on other occasions parties were
tied to a cart.
At the July term we find the name of Robert Lowden

205
as an additional Justice, and the following added to the
regulations regarding salmon fishing :
" No settler to buy or barter salmon fish, salt or fresh, from any Indian or
Indians within said District, from nineteenth day of October, 1797, to the
nineteenth day of May, under a penalty of ten pounds, one-half to the prose
cutor, the other half to the overseers of the poor."
The jail seems to have engaged attention, for we find
the foUowing order :
' ' That the Lower story of the jail (order to be floored with two inch
plank in the year 1 794 be done away) be now floored with four inch pitch pine
plank, with pitch pine sleepers laid upon stone, the sleepers to be four inches
thick and six inches deep, five in number, the plank to be spiked to the
sleepers, with spikes eight inches long — likewise that the jail be clapboarded
with sawed clapboards, tho first stroke to be l£ inch plank round the founda
tions ; corners, doors and windows to be cased with weather boards on
each end, the whole to bo finished by the 30th October in a workmanlike
manner — that John Patterson, senr., and Wm. Lowden, senr., be inspectors to
see tho work carried on — also that Daniel McKay, Wm. Monsieur and Thomas
Fraser, carpenter, be a committee to see that it be finished in a workmanlike
manner and that the same be vandued to the lowest bidder at Mr. John
Patterson's store, on Tuesday, the 8th day of August next at 12 o'clock,
meridian, and that David Lowden, John Patterson, junr., and Duncan Cameron
be a committeo to vandue the same — also ordered, that the Clerk of the Peace
advertise the above in the most public places on the Harbour of Pictou, West,
Middle and East Eivers, Merigomish and Gulph."
The following additional items of expenditure passed :
»' Also presented and ordered, that Thomas Harris, junr., be allowed the
sum of three pounds currency for his services as Clerk of the Peace for the
year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-seven."
" Likewise presented and ordered that Thomas Harris, senr., be allowed the
sum of two pounds currency by an order on the Treasurer for receiving,
victualling and attending persons in jail in the year 1797."
As to the assessment for the year, it was now ordered
" That £140 currency be raised in the District, the same to be appropriated
to the making and repairing a certain road leading from Mr. George McCon-
nell's unto Truro, as far as the line of the District of Pictou, and £60 for
defraying District charges."
Considering the state of the country at this time, we
regard the above vote for the Truro road as exceedingly
creditable. The raising of the amount, however, was

206
afterwards deferred till the year 1799, at the January term
in which year it was resolved, that
" All the license money now on hand, due or that may become due Ijefcre
the 1st day of July next, and not already appropriated, be added to the £140,
the overseers to straighten the crooks as they may see most beneficial for the
benefit of the public. Also that the £19 9s 6d in the Treasury, being the
sum allowed the District for the express purpose of making roads, out of the
sum raised here as Provincial taxes, be also laid out on such road. And
further provided that in case any part of the £140 to be levied be nst paid
before July the amount be borrowed, so that the work may be don» before
haying." David Archibald was selected as commissioner, to have,,
with John Archibald, of Truro, the whole management.
He was to be paid 7s. 6d. per day, and to give his
obligation to the Court to see the money laid out for
repairing said road in the most advantageous manner. It
was furthermore ordered that it " be made 12 feet wide,.
clear of every incumbrance whatever and to be thrown
up from each side where it may be necessary."
The collecting this tax however was a work of time.
For years we find in John Patterson's ledger, charges to-
the settlers of " Cobyquid Road Tax."
In the year following, the business was so similar that
we need not repeat, but a few items of a different nature
may be given. Thus in regard to salmon fishing we have
the following in the year 1798 :
" That no person or persons within this district shall set or leave a net or
seine in any of the rivers within this district, from Saturday at 12 o'clock,
noon, until Monday following at 12 o'clock noon, and for each and every
offence, upon the oath of one credible witness, shall pay a fine of 40s. And
also that no person or persons shall chase, follow or drive fish into nets, or
seines in any manner of way whatever in any of the rivers -within this District
nor be seen carrying a salmon spear near any of the rivers within this District
during the fishing season, and for every offence on conviction by the oath of
one credible witness, shall pay a fine of £2 currency."
We also find in the year 1805, orders for a fish-gate at
Archibald's mill-dam, Middle River, to be only one foot
high from the bottom of the river in front of the dam
and three and a-half feet on the back, four feet wide in

207
passage — according to the frame given by David Archi
bald so as to allow passage at all seasons.
In the same year we find the following :
" It is ordered that Samuel Copeland, James McPherson, (Fishers Grant)
Hugh Fraser, Sr., East Eiver, and Alexander Chisholm (Gulph) be taken cog
nizance of for not doing their duty as overseers of thistles for the year 1797."
" That no person or persons within this District shall carry any unbroken
flax into his, her or their dwelling house within the District, nor suffer the
same to be done, and on conviction by the cath of one credible witness,
shall pay a fine of £5, the same to be applied as in the case of boars."
" That Act 21 George III. be put in execution, to call out the inhabitants
after deep falls of snow, with their horses, oxen and sleds, in order that tho
road be rendered passable."
" Also that all proprietors, agents or present possessors of lands in this Dis
trict shall cause to be cut down all thistles growing on such lands, on or
before the twenty-eighth day of July instant, and likewise all inspectors neg
lecting their duty, as also every person or persons refusing obedience to said
regulation, shall be dealt with as the law directs."
" Also ordered that this regulation shall be published in the most publiff
places within this District."
Criminals still required attention for the same year we
find: " Ordered that Mr. William Lowden, Senr., be empowered to get a good
and sufficient pair of stocks made for this District in the cheapest manner
possible, on or before the fifteenth day of January, 1799, and to be delivered
to the sheriff or jailor, to be by him deposited in the jail, unless otherwise
directed by the magistrates, the expense to be defrayed by an order on the
Treasurer." These did not seem to last long, for at the July term,
1804, we find an order, that two pairs of stocks be made,
one for Merigomish, and one for the Harbour of Pictou.
Again in 1805, we find it ordered :
" That a board fence be built at the front of the District Jail, sufficient to
prevent any communiation from persons on the outside to them within said
jail the fence to be about eight feet high and twelve feet from the front of
the jail."
Then as to expenditure we find the following
District of Pictou Dr. to John Patterson.
1797  To premiums paid the Indians for the killing 4 bears  £4 0 0
To premiums paid the English for killing 3 bears at 20s. each 3 0 0

208
To setting up and taking down the Justices benches July
terml797  0 5 0
Court House, Benches and Firewood tor the Court and G.
Jury Jany. 1798  10 0
Premium paid Jas Cameron for killing a bear  10 0
£9 5 0
True Bill, - .David McLean, Foreman, G. J.
" Presented and ordered that Edward Mortimer be allowed out of the Trea
sury the sum of 17s. on account of goods delivered a poor sailor, and also the
sum of 3s. and 4d., on account of bread delivered the negroes, while in jail,
amounting in the whole to one pound and fourpence.
"Also 18s. to John McKay for making three pairs handcuffs and repair
ing a lock in the jail."
The tendency of municipal expense is to increase, and
hence we find, that the salary of the Clerk of the Peace,
which was ,£3 in 1797 was in 1800 raised to £4, and his
successor received £5. But there was great delay in
collecting taxes, and salaries were long in arrears. Thus
we find in 1803, the Court ordering " the .£70 which was
voted by the grand jury in 1801, for defraying public
charges be raised immediately, the late emigrants, who have
been only two years in this settlement to be exempted."
And in the same year in July, <£20 10s. was voted to
Thomas Harris, for his services as clerk since 1799.
Of regulations of a general nature we may insert the
following. 1799. " Presented and ordered that cognizance be taken of all persons within
the District, guilty of not clearing away all putrid fish, meat or other nuisance
from about their houses, stores or wharfs, which may be the means of causing
an offensive air, and be prejudicial to the health of the inhabitants of the
District." 1804. " That the law of this Province respecting shipping throwing their
ballast overboard below high water mark, be put In force."
The following however we do not regard as so
commendable. In the year 1801, it was resolved to
" memorialize Government and the Legislature for
authority that there might be three public fairs estab-

209
lished within this District, viz., on the Harbour of Pictou,
the week following the Court (Wednesday) ; the second
on the East River, handy to the public road of the Lower
Settlement on the West Side, the last week of September ;
the third on the large beach at the east end of Merigomish,
•on Wednesday preceding that of East River." These fairs
continued to a late period, the principal being held at
David Marshalls, now Horns, place, Middle River. But
they were little more than scenes of drinking.
The first notice of a ferry is in 1807, when we find
¦"John Foster licensed to keep ferry at Fishers Grant,
that he shall not charge more than 15d. for a single
person, 9d. apiece for four, 6d. apiece over four, and for
swimming across oxen or horses Is. 6d. per head."
Again we have various orders against parties violating
sound morality, such as the following :
1799 — " That Mr. M. betaken cognizance of for selling with a half bushel
said to be small, and neither branded or sealed."
1800 — " Also presented, that inquiry be made into the conduct of Mrs. G.
for keeping a house of bad fame, as reported."
1801 — " Also presented and ordered, that the laws of this Province con
cerning vagrants, be duly put in execution, and that no person of suspicious
character be allowed to come into the District, without producing a proper
certificate, nor any person from places infected with contagious diseases be
allowed to come into this District."
" That A. M. be fined in the sum of two shillings for swearing, the same
being for the use of the poor, and also that J. H. be fined in the sum of two
shillings for most notorious swearing."
1804 — " That G. P. and A. G., young men in this place, who lead immoral
•and scandalous lives, such as getting drunk, cursing, blaspheming the name
of God, fighting and insulting sober people, be bound over to keep the peace,
from July term 1804."
" On the presentment ot the grand jury, it is ordered, that A. C. and D. L
be fined the sum of five shillings each for being intoxicated with liquor and
swearing." Sometimes a jury was empannelled and criminals tried
under a regular indictment. Thus in 1805, we find an
indictment against S. L. N. for assault on Mr. Mortimer
on which the jury found him not guUty.

210
The annual action on the laying out of roads shows
something of the progress of the country. Thus at the
July term 1797, we find an order for "inspecting the
road from West to East Branch passing James Grants mill ;"
at the January term 1798, we find a committee appointed
to lay out a road from the harbour to Scotch Hill, Angus
Campbell, Wm. Fraser, Hector McQuarrie and Duncan
Cameron being then mentioned as residents at the latter
place, one to lay out road up McLellans Brook to Peter Fra-
sers, and another to lay out a road from Fishers Grant te
Little Harbour ; and the road along the West River was
confirmed with the following luminous description.
" Beginning at a gate on the publick highway, at the
foot of Anthony McLellans intervale, from thence crossing
the river and leading up the river, on the road now
occupied, and continuing its course as far as a pair of bars
at Robert Stewarts, from thence to go to the Southward
of the road now occupied, until it strikes the old road on
the bank of the river, at a small piece of Intervale, and
from thence to continue along the old road, until it joins
the road already established." At the same meeting, a
return was made of "the road on the East River from
Donald Frasers to the Governors Road." In the following
January term, we find the road from the West to the
East River confirmed, but it is not till 1805, that we find
a committee " to lay out a road from Hugh Frasers East
River to Fishers Grant."
For the better protection of the roads we find the
foUowing orders :
" 1799. That all gates on the King's highways be removed, and the high
ways be cleared of every incumbrance whatever."
" Also that a committee ba appointed to inspect the road leading from
Archibald's Mills to John Blaikies, as there are many obstructions on said
road, by which the public is much injured."
" 1802. Presented by John McKenzie, overseer of roads for the West Eiver,
that there are a number of windfalls on the road between the Sawmill Brook
and Ed. McLean's. It is ordered, that the said John McKenzie may clear the
windfalls out of said road, or employ who he may think proper, and the said-

211
person or persons be exempted so much of their statute labor for the present
year, as they may be employed in performing the same."
The granting of licenses for the sale of intoxicating
liquors occupied the attention of the Court from the first.
All the merchants received license to sell liquor by retail.
At the very first meeting, we find license granted to " Ed.
Mortimer to retail spirituous liquors for the term of six
months, he yielding obedience unto the laws of the
Province." And there were always one or more " taverns
or places of public entertainment " in town and several in
the country. Thus in 1799 the list is —
Pictou Harbour  Wm. Lyndsay* and Jas. Dun.
West Eiver  George McConnell.
Merigomish  Eobert Smith.
Gulph  Wm. McGregor.
It is evident that all the travelling of those days would
not require so many places of entertainment, and that
they must have drawn largely for their support on the
inhabitants. Still we find them increasing, for in the
year 1801, it was resolved, " That not exceeding two
tavern licenses be granted to innkeepers on the Harbour
of Pictou, and only two within Merigomish, also that one
be granted to some person residing on each of the three
rivers in Pictou, and also one on the Gulph." The year
previous there had been four licences granted at the
Harbour. Troubles however would arise from breaches of the
law. Thus in 1798 we find parties summoned to a special
sessions in John Patterson's store, for retailing spirituous
liquors, and in the year previous, the following present
ment of the Grand Jury : —
" On the presentment of To Grand Jury, it is ordered, that J. D. be sum
moned, to attend the General Sessions of *he Peace, to give an account of his
conduct, for the retailing spirituous liquors, . contrary to the intent and
* He was from Scotland and built the house long known as Mrs. O'Neill's
tavern, where he followed the same employment. His house was frequently
the place of meeting of the Sessions.

212
meaning of the laws of the Province, as appears by the evidence, on the trial
of three negroes on tho 18th January, 1797, for petty larceny, one of said
negroes having carried a pawn or pawns to the house of the said J. D. on the
Lord's Day, and in exchange thereof, received spirituous liquors to a small
amount in proportion to the article lodged."
In the year 1800, the first bridge was built across the
Town Gut, by John Patterson. Our readers may have an
idea of the inconvenience of travelling, if they just reflect
on the fact, that there was not previously a bridge of any
size in the whole county. Arrangements were made for
crossing small streams by felling trees across them. Some
times a single tree was used, on which a traveUer might
cross on foot, but sometimes two or three might be placed
together, which formed a rude bridge, not only more con
venient for the foot traveller, but over which a horse
might pass. But commonly the streams were crossed by
fording where shallow, and often this involved a consi
derable circuit, while the deeper required canoes.
The bridge now constructed was built on wooden
pillars, with stringers from one to another the whole dis
tance from shore to shore, the present embankment not
having been made till the next bridge was buUt, about the
years 1818-20, and the channel in the centre having since
that time been cut out by the waters thus confined. It
was a creditable structure for the time. We give the
Deacon's account, from which it appears that it was built
partly by subscription on the part of those in town, and
partly by the Sessions, without any Government aid.
The Magistrates of Pictou Dr. to John Patterson, Senr.
for Builden a Brige over the Town Gut, July 15, 1800  £60 0 0
1803 — July To 3 years Intrest on Thirty pounds  5 8 0
1805 — To 2 years Intrest on Twenty pounds  2 8 0
1808 — To 3 years Intrest on Ten pounds  1 16 0
£69 12 0
Contra credit July 15
1800— by the Treasurer  £10 10 0
by Eobert Patterson Esq  2 0 0

213
by John Patterson Senr  2 0 0
by Thomas Harris Junr  2 10 0
by Edward Mortimer  2 0 0
,,». by Eobert & Thomas Pagans  2 0 0
by Donald McKenzie  0 10 0
by John Dawsson  , 2 0 0
by David Patterson  10 0
by James Patterson  10 0
by John Patterson Junr  2 10 0
by James McDonald  10 0
by Wm Campbell  6 3
1801 — April 17 by John Clark by Mr Dausson  5 0
1801 — by Edward McLean  10 0
May 1802 James Patterson by Mr Dausson  .*  10 0
1803 — March to one order on the clerk Lichens money  10 0 0
Augt to pay by William Murdock  5 0
1804 — By John McKenzie  10 0
Augt 1805 To one order of Themas Harris Junr for  10 0 0
£50 11 3
It will thus be seen that at the time of the Deacon's
death in 1808, eight years after the work was done, there
was still a considerable part of the amount remaining
unpaid. About the same time other bridges were engaging at
tention. At the July term, 1801, the License money,
amounting to £17 4s., was ordered " to be expended, £10
on the bridge over James McKay's Gut, East River,
£3 to assist building a bridge over the East River of
Merigomish, and £<L 4 for a bridge over French River."
In the year 1803 the first bridge at New Glasgow was
built, about a hundred yards above the site of the present
one, but it was all carried away the following winter.
The next bridge there was built by Robert Grant, miller,
on piers, the portions of which below water have formed
the foundations of all the bridges that have since been
built there.
In the same year we find it ordered that " all the statute
labour for this present year, from Anthony Cultons on the
East River of Pictou on both sides, downwards, including

J 214
Fishers Grant, be laid out in erecting a bridge across
McKays Gut, and also the deficient labour on Fishers
Grant for last year be laid out on the same, and to be begun
on the first of July next."
In July term of that year, £20 of license money was
voted "to assist in erecting a bridge over the Middle
River, but in case the above bridge will be built by Govern
ment money, the above to be expended otherwise."
In the year 1804, wo find it voted " that the bridge on
the Saw-mill Brook, on the road leading fiom the Har
bour to the West River, be railed, the same to be paid out
of the pubhc Treasury." It was also agreed to expend so
much of the public money as may be necessary for re
pairing the bridge on McCulloch's Brook, Middle River.
These votes show that these had been previously erected.
As showing the progress of expenditure, we give the
amounts voted at February term, 1808 , —
Gut Bridge  £ 60 0 0
James McKays Gut Bridge  25 0 0
Public -wharf  10 0 0
Saw Mill Bridge  50 0 0
Purchasing a lot for court house  30 0 0
Extra contingencies  125 0 0
Overseers of poor for the use of the poor  50 0 0
£350 0 0
Altogether, an examination of these records impresses
one very favorably, regarding the business habits and
capacity, of those who first administered our county af
fairs. One who remembers them, says of those we have
named. " They were all men of education and refine
ment, and their gentlemanly deportment and .dignified
manner induced a high respect for the bench, and gave a
tone of order and refinement to society." We may add,
that considering all the circumstances, the records were
kept by the clerk, Thomas Harris, in a very creditable
manner. /

215
The Inferior Court, as it was commonly called, or
Court of Common Pleas, though issuing process to any
part of the Province, trying titles to land, and indeed
doing the same work as the Supreme Court, with the
exception of the higher criminal business, was not
presided over by a legal mind. It was not till the year
1824, that the act was passed, by which a lawyer was to
be appointed the presiding judge and also President of
the Court of Sessions, an act which at the time was very
unpopular. Even then he was to be aided by twTo lay
justices. At this time however all the judges were lay
men. The first book of Records of the Court now
existing commences with the year 1804. The first
Judges of the Court were Hugh Dunoon, Robert Pagan,
and either then or a little later, John Dawson and Edward
Mortimer. One who remembered them on the bench,
says, " They all commanded respect. The former were
in education superior to the last, but from natural gifts he
after all exerted the most influence." *
Besides the Inferior Court, there was established in
each county by an act ofthe Legislature, a court known
as the Commissioners Court, consisting at first of five, and
afterward of three, commissioners, which met monthly
for the trial of cases of debt, up to a certain amount. Of
this court in Pictou, Mortimer was the head and almost
the bpdy. The system did not continue long.
The first meeting of the Supreme Court of which we
find a record, took place on the second Tuesday of June,
1806, George Henry Monk being the presiding judge. It
* The following is a list, so far as we'have been able to make it up, of all
who occupied the office till the abolition of the Court :
Hugh Dunoon, John Dawson, Eobert Pagan, Edward Mortimer, A. McDonald
George Smith, Eobert Lowden, Andrew McCara, James Skinner, William
Mortimer, Abraham Patterson. Under the act of 1824, Jared I. Chipman
was appointed first justice for the eastern part of the Province. He died on
2nd June, 1832, and was succeeded by William Q, Sawers, who filled the
•office till the abolition of the Court.

216
was usual at that time for two judges to attend, but, he
being the only judge of the Supreme Court present, the
judges of the Inferior Court, Hugh Dunoon, John Dawson,
and Robert Pagan sat with him as associates. In the
following years, Judge Monk usually presided, with either
Brenton Halliburton or Foster Hutchinson as his associate.
Thomas Harris (clerk) was the first Deputy Prothonotary,
and his cousin, Thomas Harris, the surveyor, was sheriff
at this time. The court sat once a year, till the year
1816, from which time it met twice a year, in June and
September. There being no court house, the first sittings of the
Supreme Court were held in a building on the west side
of George Street, a little below Church Street, now, we
believe, Dr. Kirkwood's barn, but then a carpenter's shop.
To the lower end, it was said, was sometimes a pig pen,
which even extended under the buUding. The late D.
Fraser used to say, that he was foreman of the first jury.
On his describing the place of meeting, one asked him,.
" Where was your jury room ? " He replied, " When
allowed to retire to make up our verdict, we went to a
grove in McGeorge's pasture," which was near the site
of the Episcopal church. In this or places not much.
better, the Court continued to meet, till the erection of
the court house in the year 1813.
The first movement for the erection of a court house'
was at the January Sessions, in 1801, when it was
resolved, " That a proper piece of ground to build a proper
court house on near to the Blacksmiths shop, on the north:
side of Pictou Harbour, be purchased from the owner.
And as Walmsley is a very inconvenient place to hold a
court at, Government ought be immediately memorialized
to confirm the above spot, where the court house is to be-
built, and Sir John Wentworth to give a name to the
township." At a meeting of Sessions, presided over by judge Monk,,

217
at th^ftrct sitting of the Supreme Court, it was "ordered
that £200 be assessed for erecting court house," but this
was not done that year, and accordingly in the following
year, (1807) the Court resolved, that, "the Grand Jury
not having assessed the amount necessary, the district be
amerced £150, which appears necessary for defraying the
District debts and charges, with £200 formerly for court
house." In the estimates for 1808 appears £30 for
"purchasing a lot for court house." It was -not however
till the year 1813, that the building was erected, being
that now known as the old court house.
The only lawyer resident in town at this time was
John Fraser, a son of Capt. Fraser, already referred to.
He was also the first' collector of customs and was hence
usually known as Collector Fraser. A number of eminent
lawyers began to attend, among whom S. G. W. Archi
bald was especially noticed, but there were also such men
as Chandler, S. B. Robie and W. H. O. Halliburton, who
interested the people by their eloquence or amused them
by their flashes of wit.
We may at this place give the names of the officers
of the Court till the present time. The offices of
clerk of the Peace and Prothonotary have in this county
always been held by the same person. Thomas Harris
died in 1809, but we find George Smith holding these
offices from 1806 till 1809. Walter Patterson succeeded,
and continued to hold both positions till his death in
1821. At his death, his brother Archibald was in office
for a few months, when Dr. James Skinner # was
appointed. He died in 1836, and was succeeded by his
son, James Skinner, Jr., who died in 1861, and was
succeeded by David Matheson.

* Dr. Skinner was a son of the Eev. Donald Skinner, parish minister of
Ardnamurchan, and grandson of Hugh McLean of Kingarlock, Argyleshire.
He was for years active not only as a physician, but in the public business of
the county. ,

218
Thomas Harris, Sr., was deputy sheriff till 1811, when
he was succeeded by the late John W. Harris, who
continued in office till the county was divided in 1836,
when the Government appointed J. J. Sawyer, who had
formerly been High Sheriff of the united county of
Halifax, to be High Sheriff of the three counties of Hahfax,
Colchester and Pictou, and Mr. Harris was appointed his
Deputy. But when the Legislature met, the House of
Assembly set their faces against this plurality system, and
in the following year, he was appointed High Sheriff,
which office he continued to hold till 1857, when his son,
Wm. H. Harris, succeeded him.
In connexion with this, we may here notice the first
trial for murder in this county. The crime was com
mitted on the 26th May, 1811, by a man named Mcintosh.
He had been originally a tradesman, but took up the
Idea of going into business. He went to Halifax and
obtained a supply of goods, which he put on board a
schooner to bring around to Pictou, but was detained all
winter in Guysborough. Giving himself out as a person
of some importance, he succeeded in marrying there a
lady, renowned for her beauty. Arriving in Pictou in
-spring, he commenced merchandizing, and flourished.
while the goods lasted; but when they were done he found
himself in debt. His creditors had him arrested, when a
friend, named Dougald McDonald, obtained his release by
becoming security for his appearance at court. When the
time arrived, however, he failed to appear. The judge
told his bailsman to take him wherever he could find
him. The latter accordingly went with the sheriff to try
to seize him. Mcintosh shut himself in his house, which
stood on the east side of Yorstons wharf, a little below
where Hamilton's bakery now stands. McDonald took a
crowbar and commenced prying open the door. As soon
as he had it partially open, Mcintosh fired a blunderbuss

219
at him, the contents of which lodged in his body, so that
he bled to death in an hour or two.
The magistrates met and immediately issued a warrant
for the arrest of Mcintosh. But he armed himself and
defied any one to arrest him, threatening death to every
person who should touch him. Leaving his house, he
crept under the wharf, and perching upon some of the
logs, it was no easy matter to dislodge him, and almost
every person was afraid to venture near. At length, John
Sylvester, of Middle River, a fearless old man-of-war man,
undertook, with another, to make him prisoner. Taking
a pistol, he went under the wharf, and, immediately pre
senting it, ordered Mcintosh to come down, threatening
to fire if he did not do so at once. Seeing his determina
tion, the latter surrendered.
Mcintosh was arraigned for murder at the Supreme
Court, on the 3rd of August, 1811, and his trial came on
in due course on the 5th, before Judge Monk. There
being then no proper court house, the trial took place in
the old Presbyterian church. As this was the first case
of the kind in Pictou, great interest was excited, and the
house was crowded. Trials were not conducted in so
tedious a manner as they are now, but this was prolonged
well into the night, so that the closing address was
delivered by candlelight. R. J. Uniacke, the Attorney-
General, conducted the case for the Crown, and the
prisoner was defended by Halliburton and Chipman, who
set up as a defence that an Englishman's house was his
castle, and that he had a right to defend it against any
person breaking in. The Attorney-General closed the
case in a manner that excited general admiration. He
had taken no notes either of the evidence or the addresses
of the opposing counsel. But with his marvellous mem
ory, he omitted no fact bearing on the case, and no point
in the-objections of the defense, disposing of all opposition
with consummate ability. Mcintosh was accordingly

220
condemned, and on the 7th sentenced to be executed. But
while he lay in prison, the jubilee of George III. was
proclaimed, and he was pardoned. During his imprison
ment, he seemed affected by his situation, and every
Sabbath sent a request for the prayers of the church.
But on obtaining his freedom all his concern vanished.
He afterward went to St. John, where he was drowned.
His widow married in the United States a very wealthy
man, and was living till recently.
We may add here that in subsequent years, the county
suffered much from litigation, especially regarding
boundary lines, owing in a great measure to the manner
in which the surveys for the early grants were conducted.
Sometimes the surveyors were incompetent, but more
frequently the system was to blame. The one rule
adopted was to give more land than was named. Some
of this was put down, as " allowance for roads, &c,"
while such excuses as slack chainage or hilly land formed
pretexts for farther additions. But besides this, surveyors
exercised a sort of princely liberality, as it was regarded,
in giving as if the land were their own, a considerable
surplus. This was deemed kindness to the settlers, but
from the disputes which these extra quantities produced,
it would have been a real kindness to the county if each
man's quantity had been exactly measured. Then some
times the lines were not run round the whole lot, but
merely corners set, and the courses marked, and thus the
settler was often left to his own conscience how much
he would appropriate. Again grants were given nomin
ally for a certain amount, but to a certain boundary or
some other grant, without the distance being measured,
though it might include an additional quantity, as large
as was originally intended. Then the possessor of the
next grant might consider himself equally entitled to the
land between them, and perhaps would get a surveyor
to run his hnes, so as to interfere with the other's. Or

221
sometimes a second surveyor coming on the same lot,
instead of endeavouring to trace the line made by his
predecessor, would make a new one of his own. Such
proceedings led to endless disputes, with the worst results.
Two neighbours have gone to law about a piece of land
till both lost their farms. We have known a litigious
man ruin himself, and two neighbours in succession,
upon the same adjoining lot. Then family connexions
and friends would take sides in the quarrel, and the strife
thus extend through a whole community.
Trials were not then the tedious affairs they are now.
The judge took brief notes of the evidence, without
delaying the examination, there was little squabbling over
the putting a question, by which so much time is now
spent, and lawyers as well as judges acted as gentlemen.
Hence the trial of a cause, was often considered by many
"as good as a play."
Of all the lawyers who attended the court, Archibald
stood preeminent. At a later date, Johnston was his
equal in knowledge of law, but Archibald was always
unrivalled in his tact and skUl in managing a jury.
When all other means failed, he would laugh them out of
a verdict. In private he was celebrated for a constant
flow of genial humour, but sometimes he had the laugh
turned against him. An old Highlander On the West
River, who had been much at law, but was still in
comfortable circumstances, had frequently invited him to
stay at his house, when travelling that way. Mr. A. at
length accepted the invitation. His horse was fed and
himself welcomed to the house, and soon a savoury dinner
was prepared, the principal part of which was a little pig,
known as a roaster. Hungry from travelling, he relished
it heartily, and when he had eaten, was loud in his
praises of the delicacy, and of his host's hospitality, but
at length made the unfortunate remark, " But you don't
kill all your pigs so young? " " Ah ! " said the old man,
" no kill her at all ; she pe drooned i' the brook ! "

222

CHAPTER XII.

IMMIGRATION AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS CENTUEY —
1801-1805.
The first years of this century brought large accessions
to this country by immigration, principally from the High
lands of Scotland. Every year at least two or three
vessels arrived with passengers, who gradually filled up
the interior of the county, and spread to the neighbour
ing districts. It was at this time that the Highland
proprietors were clearing their estates of the small tenants,
with the view of turning their property into large sheep
farms or deer forests, a pohcy involving suffering and
hardship to many an humble family, but which has given
to these and other colonies, some of their most deserving
population, and ultimately proved to the advantage of the
ejected themselves. The largest accession, which Pictou
received in this way, was in the years from 1801 to 1805,
as many as 1,300 souls landing in a single season, and at
this time several new settlements were formed.
When they arrived in Pictou, they were taken into the
houses of the previous settlers, who were sometimes
relatives or old acquaintances ; but, whether or not, the
new comers found a truly Highland welcome, or, what
was even better, a Christian exemplification of the precept,
" Be not forgetful to entertain strangers," till they could
select their own location. Indeed, the notice of the arrival
of an emigrant vessel brought people from all quarters,
to enquire for relatives on board, whom they took to their
homes, or to find acquaintances or persons from their
native districts, or even strangers, to whom they would
freely extend the same hospitalities.,

223
The new comers received freely, but made the best
return in their power by their labour, till they could
obtain a lot for themselves. Sometimes, indeed, they hired
for some time, before they settled upon their own land, the
young especially often remaining for years in the houses
of their kind entertainers. As soon as they had obtained
an allotment of a piece of Government land, the old
settlers near combined, in helping them to erect an humble
habitation and to make their first clearing. The house
was generally built of round logs, 15 to 20 feet long,
undressed, the seams between which were closed with
moss or clay. When their circumstances improved, larger
houses, perhaps framed, but oftener of squared logs, were
constructed ; but in the meantime they had a home, which
the hand of power had not allowed them in their native
land, and which, though poor enough, was better than
was possessed by the poorer peasantry of many parts of
Britain and Ireland.
The same assistance was readily given in making their
first clearing. An axe and a hoe were considered the
only implements, necessary to commence a farm in the
woods, and even these were often supplied in charity. A
path was blazed or partially cleared from the residence of
the nearest settler, and the goods of the new comer
transported on the backs of men or horses. Neighbours
gathered to cut down a portion of the forest round their
dwelling. The trees were felled, lopped and cut into
lengths, then set fire to, and thus the branches and small
wood was consumed. The logs were then piled in heaps, /
and burnt, or rolled away for fencing, while the stumps •
were left to decay. This was very disagreeable and
fatiguing work, but it was performed in the joy of having
a home for themselves and their children, which no lord-
ling could touch, and in the gladsome anticipation of future
independence. Women and children aided in gathering
and burning rubbish, or other work suited to their strength.

224
When the ground was sufficiently cleared, wheat was
sown and covered with the hoe. Potatoes were planted
in round hollows four or five inches deep, in which from
three to five sets were placed. Thus the first season,
which might be the year after their arrival, or perhaps
the second or third, they might have from two to six
acres under crop. The vegetable mould, formed by the
leaves of successive years, and the ashes left from the
burnt wood, rendered the soil very fruitful, and the new
settler never failed to reap a bountiful return for the
amount sown. Potatoes, it was supposed, would never
fail. Such was the commencement made by hundreds at
this time in this and other places in the Maritime Provinces.
They often felt discouragement enough, particularly as in
many cases they had come out under highly colored
representations of the country.* But many of these, who
thus commenced in the woods in destitution, afterward
became independent, and left their families in comfortable
circumstances, and had reason to bless the selfishness of
Lairds and Dukes, who had turned them out of the little
holdings, possessed by their fathers for generations, and
pulled the roof tree from off their humble homes.
We may mention, that in the same manner, the sons
and daughters of the old settlers in many instances com
menced life. When the youth reached manhood, he
either received a portion of his father's land, or took up
crown land for himself, and erecting his log house, readily
found some rustic maid, not afraid of labor, or of spoiling
her complexion by exposure to the sun, ready to share

* One of the settlers on the Four Mile Brook having been engaged one day
hacking at the big trees, which grew on his lot, with all the awkwardness of
a Scotchman, becoming tired, sat down, and losing heart altogether, began to
cry. nis wife coming out, asked what was the matter. He told her his feel
ings. She immediately returned to the house, put on an old coat of his, and
coming back seized the axe and commenced an attack upon a tree. He burst
out laughing, took heart again, was never so discouraged afterwards, and ulti
mately became independent.

225
his joys and sorrows, his trials and successes. Duly yoked
to bear the burdens of life together, they went to their
humble log house perhaps on foot, or at best "riding
double." Such was the style in which sixty or seventy
years ago, the majority of brides were brought home.
Commencing life however with stout hearts and in the
fear of God, they enjoyed their full share of domestic bliss,
and reared a race, who for vigor and worth, may shame
their degenerate successors.
We must now, however, give some account of the
commencement of the settlements formed at this time,
either by young men brought up in the coun'.ry, or by
these immigrants.
The first clearing on Mill Brook was made by Thomas
and John Fraser, sons of Kenneth Fraser, Middle River,
either in the year 1800 or 1801. They went up the bed
of the brook, from where Kerr's mill now stands, carrying
their supplies and implements, and erected a camp on
what is now Wallace Monroe's farm. They chopped and
cleared on that same place, and having put in some seed,
they left for the summer and returned in the fall to gather
the proceeds. The bears were so numerous, that they did
not venture out of their camp after night, even to the
brook for water. Being in the habit of returning on
Saturday to their father's homestead, on Middle River,
they used on leaving to set a bear trap, baited with the
remains of their week's provisions, and very commonly
found one secured on Monday morning. Hence the place
was long known as Bear Brook. Having got their land
surveyed and divided, Thomas built a small house on his
«ide of the lot, on the lower part of what is now his son
Richard's farm. He had been married, and wThile they
were at work his wife used to come up to cook for them,
and perhaps help otherwise, but remaining most of the
time at Green Hill. But now, probably in the year 1802,
lie came with his family to reside here. They came up
15

226
the brook on foot, carrying their eldest child, between one
and two years of age, and their articles of household gear.
In some parts of the brook there were small patches of
intervale, over which they passed ; but where the banks
were steep and close together, they were obliged to walk
along the rocky bed of the brook, until they came near
their home. Here there is a pretty fall, perhaps forty feet
in height, where the water dashes over a steep declivity into:
a narrow gorge. The banks just below the fall rise some
fifteen or twenty feet higher than the fall, and so steep
that it is impossible to ascend them. They were thus
obliged to climb the face of the fall, which they were able
to do, as the water inclines to one side. Up this they
carried their child and all their utensils.
Soon after a path was blazed to the Middle River, at
what is now William Munroe's place. There was not
a settler above them, nor for a considerable distance on
either side. They were followed shortly after by Alex
ander Ross, who came to Pictou in the year 1802, and
settled where his son Kenneth now resides, Alexander
McDonald, who arrived in the following year, and Robert
Gordon who came about the same time.
Seven or eight years after settling there, Thomas Fraser
put up a mill in the gorge below the fall. He built no
dam, but introduced the water into the mill directly from
the fall, by a short race. He made a sort of road along
the bank on one side, to the mill, but it was still difficult
getting up and down from it, and a few years after a
freshet carried the whole away. After this he built a mill
above the fall, where he had not only stones for grinding
wheat, but had the second oatmill in the county, about
tho year 1817 or 1818.
In the year 1801 came out two vessels, full of pas
sengers, brought out by Hugh Dunoon, Esq. He made
representations similar to those, by which interested
parties have often deluded people across the Atlantic,.

227
such as that the same tree would yield them soap, sugar
and fuel, or that they might get sugar from the tree, and
gather tea at its roots. One vessel, chartered by him,
called the Sarah, brought out 700 souls, though two
chUdren being counted as one, and infants in arms going
free, they were reckoned as 500 passengers. They were
crowded together, and their rations were scanty in quan
tity, as well as inferior in quality. Small -pox and
whooping-cough broke out among them, so that the ship
might be said to have realized the horrors of the Middle
Passage. They were thirteen weeks on the voyage,
having sailed in June, and not having reached Pictou
till September, and in that time forty-seven died. During
the passage they were boarded by a man-of-war, which
pressed 25 of the able bodied passengers, but on Dunoon
going on board, and representing himself as a Government
agent, they were released. When the vessel arrived in
Pictou, sickness still prevailed, so that she was kept in
quarantine at the Beaches for some time.
The other vessel, called the Pigeon, sailed later, but
arrived befor her. She was a small vessel, and had only
a small number of passengers.
Of those on board these vessels a number were Roman
Catholics, most of whom removed to Antigonish or places
further East. The others took up land in various places,
forming new settlements or filling up the older ones.
Some of these formed the first settlement on Mount Thom.
Among these were Alexander Stewart (afterward known
as Post), John McLean, Kenneth McLeod, John Urquhart,
Wm. McDonald, Alex. Chisholm, John Fraser, Hugh
Cameron, Alexander Cameron and James Fraser. The
land had previously been laid out in lots, and each selected
his, but there was no settler further up than Dalgliesh,
at what is now Robertsons place, on the Eight
Mile Brook. Alexander Stewart kindled the first fire
on Mount Thom, on the evening of 31st December

228
(New Year's eve) of that year. His house was
on the old Halifax Road, where he afterward kept a public
house, and where his son Murdoch has since resided. He
had, of course, only a rude hut in the woods. His wife,
as she gazed through the partially open roof at the waving
tree-tops overshadowing them, and within, at her shiver
ing little ones chnging round her, and thought of the
comforts she had left behind in the old land, declared her
wish to be back in Scotland, if it were even to be in a
jail. Soon after he became mail-courier to Halifax. George
McConnell, at the Ten Mile House, owned a horse, and
so did David Archibald, at Salmon River, but between
these two places there was not another, and for years he
made his trips on foot, carrying the mail • on his back,
or sometimes in his vest pocket, and, at the proper season,
carrying a gun to shoot any partridges which might cross
his path. His trips were made regularly, though not so
frequently as, in these days of railroads, would be deemed
satisfactory, being in fact only once a month, his remun
eration being at the rate of ten shillings for each trip.
Some time after he purchased a little black pony, on
which he made his trips fortnightly, and this continued
to be the mode of conveyance for several years.
Of those brought out by Dunoon, another body occupied
McLennans Mountain. This was so named from thp
brook, which runs by it, Which received its name from
the first settler at its mouth. There were upon the brook
at this time the following settlers : Thomas Turnbull,
John Fraser (Squire), William Fraser, Elder, son of Simon
the first Elder, Alexander and Peter Fraser, sons of
Mc Andrew, John Fraser, son of Simon (Basin), who was
suffocated by the fumes of charcoal in his own ceUar, and
John and James Cassidy.
On the banks of this stream, the limestone is cavernous
and contains numerous deep interstices. One of these on

¦229
the farm owned by Peter Fraser, forms an entrance to
what is known as " the cave." It is at the foot of a hill,
and by stooping the visitor may enter this " dark retreat."
There he finds himself in an apartment about one
hundred feet in length, and on an average six feet wide.
A small stream of pure sweet water flows along its floor,
beautiful stalactites hung from the roof, which have now
generally been removed by visitors, and the rude masonry
of the walls is only equalled by the projecting masses,
which seem ready to fall from above. From this chamber
narrow passages lead to other chambers, which have
never been explored. At one time the owner spent his
summers here, having laid a floor at the entrance, and
having fitted it up with a door and window. Here the
visitor was welcome to his scanty accommodation, but he
has long since been removed to a still narrower house.
Orders were now issued by Government to William
Fraser to survey the land on the mountain, and to divide
it into lots for the new comers. This being done, a band
of twenty-three of them occupied the whole block, each
selecting his lot. This would probably be the year after
arrival. Most if not all of them were from Lord Lovats
country, near Inverness. A list of them will be found
below.* With them there settled one person brought up
in the country, viz, Simon Fraser, deacon Thomas' son.
Although the country had improved much since the
first settlers came, and trade was now brisk, yet we may
well suppose that a number of persons from the old
country, who had never handled an axe, settling down in
the midst of an unbroken forest, without roads or_ other

• List of first settlers on McLennan's Mountain : — Don. McDonald (tailor),
Donald McDonald, James Fraser,  Grant, William McLean, Finlay
McDonald (piper), Donald Fraser, Finlay McDonald (carpenter), [James
Cameron, Thomas Cameron, John Fraser (Buie), Alexander Cameron, Finlay
McIntosh, Alexander Fraser (weaver), James Fraser (Bann), Hugh Cameron,
Alexander McDonald, John Fraser, Peter Stewart, James Fraser, John McKae,
Donald McPherson, Angus Fraser (Deacon).

230
conveniences, had before them a task requiring stout
hearts, and for years involving toil and sacrifice. Some
of the tales of their ignorance of the country are rather
amusing. The following is too good to be lost. They
were much afraid of the bear. On one occasion, one of
them being in the woods saw a porcupine on a tree, and
at once concluded that it was the dreaded foe. He there
fore at once gave the alarm to his neighbours. All the men
near and some of the women gathered without delay.
One of them had a gun, which was put in requisition.
Thus armed they advanced boldly, but with due caution
to meet the monster. Nine shots were fired at him, by
which he was at length laid low. Inspired by curiosity,
and in the proud consciousness of their victory, they pro
ceeded to examine their vainquished foe, but found matter
of still greater astonishment, in the manner in which the
quills stuck in their hands.
The stories they had been told about getting sugar off
the trees led to some amusing mistakes, with them and
others of the new comers. On one occasion, after the
landing of a company of emigrants, a number of them
were put to sleep in a barn near town. Early in the
morning, when the children awoke, they were heard
saying to each other, " Come, let us go out and see if we'll
get some sugar on the trees." One woman asked to be
shown the trees from which it was obtained. When this
was done, she picked off some of the bark with her fingers
and commenced chewing it, expecting to enjoy the
saccharine juice. After they had learned how it was
made, one man, as the season for sugar making advanced,
finding the supply of sap beginning to fail, fastened a
strong withe round a tree, under which he drove a wedge
tightly, determined to squeeze out of it the last drop of juice.
Yet these men, in this and other places, surmounted the
difficulties of settlement, and became independent in theii
circumstances.

231
Others of the Dunoon passengers settled in various parts
of the county. Archibald McKay and Donald Cameron,
from near Inverness, settled on Frasers Mountain. Three
other settlors, however, were there before them, Donald
McKay (Squire's son), who was the first, William Fraser
(surveyor) and Charles Brown.
A number of those who came this year, occupied the
upper part of the East Branch East River. Among these
were Donald Kennedy, Robert Mcintosh, James Chis
holm (blacksmith), John McDonald, Duncan McDonald,
Archibald Campbell, John McDonald, John Thomson
Alexander Thomson, and John Grant, the most of them
from Glen Urquhart, and in the years immediately
following, they were joined by others. Some years after,
Duncan McDonald, then an old man, was lost 'in the
woods, with his grandson. The latter followed the county
line, and, after three days travelling without food, came
out upon tho settlement. The old man took a different
course, and after a search by the inhabitants, was found
dead, after five days' absence.
In the year 1802, came William Cummings, from near
Inverness in the following year settled on what is called
the Blanchard Road, and commenced the Blanchard settle
ment. This road was originally cut out by Colonel Blan
chard of Truro, to reach a large grant of his at Lochaber,
in the County of Antigonish.
In the year 1801, and in others about the same period,
Captain Lowden also brought out a number of persons
from the south of Scotland. Some of these came to work at
his vessels, but others as settlers. Among these may be
mentioned Robert Bone, George Reid, afterward of Green
Hill, James Gordon and Samuel Wilson.
James Gordon was a cartwright, who is worthy of
notice as having made the first fanners ever in use
in Pictou. They were built in the year 1803 for
Captain Lowden, who had brought out the irons from

232
Scotland. As they were the only set in the place, they
were carried about over a circuit of ten miles, but they
have continued to do duty to the present day, and may
be seen in the possession of the Captain's grandsons at the
Beaches. We tried them in November, 1876, and found
them likely to do good work for years, if not to wear out
another generation of their degenerate successors.
The year 1802 witnessed the arrival of a large number
of emigrants. In the month of August, 370 landed,.
natives ofthe Island of Barra, and all Roman Catholics.
As they had been accustomed to the fisheries, Governor
Wentworth located them for a time on Pictou Island, and
the shores adjacent, but they all moved away eastward to
Antigonish or Cape Breton. A number of Protestants.
also arrived, wTho settled in various places, but we are not
informed of any settlement formed by them.
One who arrived in this year thus describes the state
of the town at that period. North of Front street and
east of Coleraine street, down to Alpin Grants, was.
covered with good hardwood, and people cut their fire
wood there. The farthest east house in the town was
Mr. Pagan's, already mentioned. There was Lowden's
salt house on the east side of Coleraine street. On the
latter Dunn had his tavern, back of where the Royal Oak
stood. Thomas Fraser, carpenter, had a house where St.
Andrews Church stands, and a ship carpenter named
Young had a small log house opposite. Following Water
street westwardly, Joseph Begg had a log house on the
site of his stone building, lately taken down. Then John
Dawson had his house, store and wharf, in rear of what
is now the Taylor House. On the site of Messrs. Yorston's
store, Captain Lowden had his dwelling and store in one
building. On George Street wras McGeorge's tavern, on
the site of the property lately owned by John Proudfoot.
On Yorston's Wharf was John Patterson's store, still
standing, and John McKay's blacksmith shop. On the-

233
site of the drug store of James D. B. Fraser & Son, was
the jail. William Lyndsay kept a tavern on the site of
what has since been Mrs. Cameron's Inn. In front of
this was the open shore, the tide coming up to the opposite
side of the road, and sometimes over it.^= To the end of
this to the east, J. Connell had a small log house.
Thomas Harris (sheriff) had a small house on the lane
back of the establishment of the late Peter Brown. Then
Helier Houkuard had a red house, near where the late
H. Hatton, Esq., resided. He was a Guernsey man, who
went out fishing in summer in his schooner, which was
then the only vessel owned in Pictou. He had a wharf
near the site of where the post office now is," with a small
fish house upon it. Here sometimes small vessels were
built. Westward Copeland had a barn where the market
house now is, in one end of which S. L. Newcomb was
teaching school. Beyond was a fine hayfield. The only
building to the west was Copeland's house and store on
the same site, and indeed partly the same building as
occupied by John Crerar, Esq. He had a wharf, where
Dr. Johnston's now is, and a small one about where the
property of the late James Dawson was. Farther back
John Patterson had erected his house and made a small
clearing on the top of his hill, near where his grandson,
A. J. Patterson, resides. The hill was then so steep, that
on certain parts of it, he was obliged to make steps. On
the north side of Church Street, then called Queen street,
at the corner of George Street, he had erected what was
usually known as the Old Barracks. It consisted of a
range of small dwellings united. It had three doors
with a tenement on each side, making six in all.
In the year 1803, it was stated that there were 5000
inhabitants in Pictou, and that 1000 more were expected
• As late as the year 1820, there were stones placed along Water street near
Meagher's Slip, to enable passengers to pass dry shod at high water. When
the tide was in, it formed a pond to the north of the street.

234
that season. On the 6th August, the Lieut. Governor
wrote that 845 had arrived. Of the immigration of this
year the voyage of one vessel was long remembered.
She was called the Favourite, of Kirkcaldy, and was
commanded by a Capt. Ballantyne.' She sailed from
Ullapooll, without a clearance, and arrived in Pictou on
the 3rd August, having made the passage in five weeks
and three days, being regarded then and for some time
after as the quickest ever made. She had 500 passengers
on board, and landed one more than she took on board,
one birth and no death having taken place on the
voyage. But almost immediately after the passengers'
goods had been landed, she sank in the harbour. Such a
strange occurrence might well excite enquiry as to its cause>
and as we have received, from a most reliable and worthy
old man, who when young was a passenger on board, a
veritable account of the whole particulars, we shall give
them as we have received them. It appears that shortly
before the vessel left, one man who came in her was out
one evening looking after his cows, when he saw a little
creature like a rabbit going round to them, and sucking
the milk from them. He immediately took his gun, and
tried to shoot it, but found it impossible to do so. Sus
pecting the cause, he put a silver six pence into the gun,
and again fired, when the creature limped of, leaving
traces of blood in its track. The next day he made
enquiries, if there were any person in the parish hurt, and
sure enough found, that one old woman was confined
to the house, by some injury she had received. He called
at her residence, but could not see her. On his engaging
his passage in fhe Favourite, she was heard to declare,
that with him on board the vessel would never reach
America. In consequence of this, the passengers applied
to the authorities to have her confined, until the vessel
should arrive. As we have seen, she had a remarkably
quick passage, and when on the banks of Newfoundland,

235
they spoke a vessel homeward-bound. On the arrival of
the latter, the captain said that they might let her. go, as
the Favourite was doubtless safe in Pictou by that time.
They did so, but my readers may judge, just soon enough.
But this is a sceptical age. The tendency now is to
attribute all such events to natural causes. Hence on
conversing with an elderly lady in my congregation, who
had been a passenger on board, and asking her how the
vessel happened to sink, she said, " Oh, they took the
ballast out of her," as if that would account for such an
event. We wish that every reader who thinks it would,
had seen the indignation, with which our first informant
reproved the incredulity of one, who doubted the posses
sion of such supernatural powers. " What, don't you
believe your Bible ?"#
There was not then a settler on the Four or Six mile
Brook, except James Barrie, a native of Perthshire, who
had settled there only the year before, where the mills are.
The most of that section of the county was now occupied
by these immigrants. In the following year they com
menced operations. In that year Alexander McKenzie
made the first clearing on the Four Mile Brook. There
was then no settler above John Eogers' place, now
Alex. McLellan's. He was joined by Donald McKenzie,
Murdoch Innis and others. On the Six Mile Brook,
McBeath, who afterward removed to New Brunswick,
Murdoch Sutherland, William Gunn, Donald Sutherland
and George Sutherland settled about the same time, and
on the Eight Mile Brook, Hugh Sutherland, Murdoch
Munroe and Alexander Graham, besides others whose
names we have not received. About the same time
arrived William Munroe and Hugh McPherson, who had
served in Lord Reay's Fencibles. f
* He was kind enough to say for our comfort, that there were no witches in
America. This, however, is by no means admitted by others.
f As this regiment yielded so many settlers to Pictou, we may mention,

236
A number of those who arrived this year settled at
Rogers Hill. There was not till that time, a settler
between McCaras place and River John. But we have
failed to obtain any particulars of interest.
Of those who came this year, however, a number were
from the parish of Lairg, in Sutherlandshire, who took
up land farther up the Middle River, and formed a new
settlement which they called New Lairg, after the name
of their native parish. Among these were Angus McLeod
and John McLeod, and perhaps some others, who settled
there soon after arrival. The same year, or about that
time, arrived Donald Murray, Hugh Murray, John Murray,
John McKay and John McKenzie, who had served in
Lord Reay's Fencibles in the suppression of the insurrec
tion in Ireland, who settled around them. In subsequent
years, others took up land till they got so far on the way
to Stewiacke that the soU became poor, and a number of
them abandoned it.
On the 4th of July the same year arrived the brig
Alexander, of StornOway, owned by a Mr. Mclvor of that
place, with passengers mostly from the Lewis. The
captain died on the passage, and the owner, who was on
board, took sick, when the vessel was taken charge of by

that it was raised in that portion of Sutherlandshire, known as Lord Eeay s coun
try, and embodied in the year 1795. They were soon after sent to Ireland, whero
they saw some hard scenes during the rebellion. Stewart, in his History of
the Highland Eegiments, says : " Such was their good conduct, that Lord
Lake had his own guard formed of them, to whom he became so much attached,
that he seldom passed any guard or post, without alighting from his horse,
going among and holding conversation with them. At the defeat of Castle
bar, he frequently exclaimed, ' If I had my brave and honest Eeays here, this
would not have happened.' At Tara Hill on the 26th May, 1798, three com
panies of the Eeays, under a spirited and judicious veteran, Captain Hector
McLean, supported by two troops of yeomanry, drove back and scattered a
body of rebels, who were in great force on this strong and elevated position.
So conciliatory was their conduct, that where they were quartered, tho
inhabitants were quiet and apparently less disaffected than, elsewhere. They
were disbanded in 1802."

237
Mr. David McGregor, father of John McGregor, after
ward M. P. for Glasgow, and Secretary to the Board of
Trade, but then a child. The vessel returned the following
year with another cargo of passengers from the same
place. They were encamped for a time in the woods to
the north of Front St., but the majority of them moved to
the Gulf shore of Wallace, where they commenced a
settlement, but a number settled in different parts of
this county.
The first settlement on the back shore was made about
the year 1803, between Toney River and Cape John, by
George Mclvor and Allan Muntoe, Highlanders from the
Island of Lewis, the former of whom afterward removed
to Cape Breton. About the same year, Norman McLeod
settled on Toney River, where he was the first settler,
who afterward moved further along the shore, and Donald
McLeod, both of them from the same island. About the
same time Roderick McDonald and Alexander McDonald
settled on the shore, the former of whom, however, after
ward removed to Wallace. In the year 1810, John
Stromberg, a Swede, settled farther toward the cape, and
a man named Smith, on what is now Skinner's farm, about
the same time.
This section of the country was distinguished by its
splendid pine. One of the first settlers on Carriboo River
loaded three vessels from his own land with white pine
timber. About the year 1810, James Mills, a gentleman from
England, erected large mills on Toney River, and vessels
loaded at its entrance for Great Britain. But no part of
the county exhibited such an extent of superior pitch <
pine. In some places, nothing could be seen but its
peculiar foUage. Trees rose clear of limbs to a consider
able height, and, though never equalling in size some
other wood, yet were large compared with anything now
to be seen. The writer's father has told of getting into
a grove of this kind, where eveiy tree, squared fourteen

238
inches clear of sap, which, however, in no case exceeded
an inch in thickness.
From Rogers Hill settlement was gradually creeping
westward. James Fitzpatrick, a native of the North of
Ireland, settled on the hill, which has since received the
name of Fitzpatricks Mountain, which presents one of
the finest prospects in the Province, embracing the
whole country between it and the shore, and the coast
from Pictou to River John, with the Straits of Northum
berland and Prince Edward Island. Andrew McCara,
Esq., settled further out on the farm now occupied by
Duncan McLeod, as early as the year 1800. He was a
Lowland Scotchman, who had received a collegiate
education, being a fellow student of Dr. McGregor. He
had emigrated to Philadelphia, whence he was driven out
by one of those terrible visitations of yellow fever, which
then sometimes desolated American cities as far north as
New York. Many persons wondered that a man of his
education, should have contented himself with his situa
tion in the woods at Rogers Hill. On one occasion he
was visited by some old friends from Philadelphia, who
used all their influence to induce him to return. On
their representing the advantages enjoyed there, he
rephed, " Yes, but you've got the yellow fever there."
They went on to state this and the other point of superi
ority of Pennsylvania, and this and the other disadvan
tage of Nova Scotia, but to each argument of the kind,
the old man had but the one reply, " Yes, but you've got
the yellow fever there."
At length land was taken up on the West Branch River
John, the first settler being Rod. McKenzie, who made the
first smoke there in the year 1805. His son Murdoch erect
ed the first mill there. When the Philadelphia Company's
grant was escheated, Dr. Harris having died previously,.
Government agreed to give each of his children a certain
amount of crown land wherever they might select. One

239
daughter, married to John Moore of Truro, received her
portion on the West Branch River John, and settled there
in the year 1812. A year later they wrere joined by
Thomas McKay from Rogart in Sutherlandshire, and two
years later by Donald and William Murray from the same
parish, and Henry Marshall, originally from Germany.
Of this settlement we may say here, that the first school-
house was erected in the year 1825, that the first preach
ing was by the Rev. Hugh McLeod, of Saltsprings, but
the first minister, who supplied them regularly, was the
Rev. William Sutherland of Earltown. The first church
was built in the year 1837, being the same occupied at
present. A number of those who immigrated at this time, settled
in Carriboo, on the Cochrane grant. Previous to this,
John and Thomas Harris, sons of Matthew, had erected a
saw mill on Little Carriboo River, and about this time
James erected another on the Big Branch, but, not having
secured his title to the land, another party came in before
him and obtained a grant of it, so that he abandoned it,
when he was about ready to commence work. A short
time before, Thomas Patterson, son of the Squire, and
one of the Rogers, made the first settlement on Carriboo
Island, the former on the place afterward purchased by
Donald McKenzie, and now occupied by his son Roderick,
and the latter on the place since occupied by Hector and
John McKenzie. Patterson was drowned in the year
1806, under melancholy circumstances, as thus described
by his son, the Rev. R. S. Patterson.
." I remember yet my father's death. I was then
between five and six years old. We had been to Pictou,
and were returning home to Carriboo Island. My mother
had a frightful dream the night before, and refused to go
with my father in the boat. He and a sailor went in her.
They had a couple of cannons for some vessels, of which
there were a number in Carriboo harbour at that time. It

240
was war time, and merchant vessels took some guns to
defend themselves against privateers. My mother and I,
with a servant girl, who assisted to carry my youngest
brother, David, who was then an infant, walked through
the woods over, the peninsula, and crossed to the island in
a flat. On arriving at home, we saw the boat in which
my father and the sailor were, coming up the harbour.
A few moments after we looked, and no boat was to be
seen. Search was made, but she was not found for some
time. The body of the sailor was found about nine
days after, and it was ascertained, that" the boat had upset
and sunk. Her masts were seen at low water."
The new comers occupied the Cochrane Grant, without
title, and after they had surmounted the first difficulties,
Cochrane made an attempt to dispossess them. He
employed several of the ablest lawyers in the Province.
Finding the title defective, he, doubtless under legal advice,
went round among the settlers with a lawyer, kindly
offering them leases, which, through the " Oily Gammon"
powers of persuasion of the latter, some were induced to
accept. The causes came on for trial at the Supreme Court,
when the late Judge Wilkins, who presided, scouted
Governor Patterson's title, ridiculed the horse and saddle
transfer, and denounced the lawyer's conduct, in deceiving
ignorant people into acknowledging Cochrane's title by
taking leases from him. This led to a furious altercation
between the judge and the plaintiffs attorney, the late J.W.
Johnston. So angry did each become, and so violent was
their language, that the audience looked on in amazement,
some almost in terror, and that night it was fully expected,
that the affair would end in a duel between the lawyer
and a friend of the judge on his behalf. The course
of the judge produced somewhat of a sensation, and
excited the indignation of parties in Halifax, who threat
ened to take measures for his dismissal, but the lawyer
was obliged to apologize. The result of the case, however,

241
was that a. number of the settlers compromised by paying
Cochrane a small sum, but others firmly resisted all his
claims, and their heirs or assigns hold the land undisturbed
to this day.
We may mention here that the usual place of burial
for the people of this settlement is at a point inside the
Beaches, known as Burying Ground Point. Some suppose
it to have been a French cemetery, but others connect the
commencement of it with a solitary man, usually known
as Martin Day, who lived there. No person knew whence
he came or anything about him. He had but little inter
course with any person, and few desired intercourse with
him. Indeed, he was generally supposed to have been
an old pirate. Finally he was found dead in his house,
and his body was buried near.
In the year 1805, a vessel arrived with passengers from
Gairloch in Ross-shire. Three of them, Philip McDonald,
Alex. McKenzie and Donald McPherson, took up land on
what they called Gairloch Brook, after their native parish,
and commenced the settlement of Gairloch. About the
same time David Ferguson settled there.
We may mention that among the immigrants of these
years were some then young, who have since occupied a
prominent place in the affairs of the county. Among
these may be named, the Hon. John Holmes, who came, a
lad of thirteen, in 1803, the Hon. James Fraser, who came,
a child, in 1804, and John McKay, Esq., stipendiary magis
trate of New Glasgow, who came, a boy of twelve, in 1805.
For some years later Pictou continued to be the Point
D'appui for vessels with Scottish emigrants to the shores
of the Gulf, but now the most desirable localities in the
county being occupied, and the rich lands of other
counties, particularly of Cape Breton, attracting attention,
a large proportion of those who landed here found their
way thither, or to Prince Edward Island, or even New
Bnunswick. 16

242
We may here observe that the business of cariying
emigrants was at this time often conducted in a very
reprehensible manner. McGregor thus describes it :
" Men of broken fortune or unprincipled adventurers,
were generally the persons who haAre been engaged in
the traffic, long known by the emphatic cognomen of
the " White slave trade," of transporting emigrants to
America. They travelled over the country among the
labouring classes, allured them by flattering, and com
monly false accounts of the N ew World, to decide on emi
grating, and to pay half of the passage money in advance.
A ship of the worst elass, ill found with materials, and
most uncomfortably accommodated, was chartered to
proceed to a certain port, where the passengers embarked.
Crowded closely in the hold, the provisions and water
indifferent, and often unwholesome and scanty, inhaling
the foul air generated by filth and dirt, typhus fever was
almost inevitably produced, and as is too well-known
many ofthe passengers usually became its victims."*
The results was that the British Parliament was obliged
to interfere and passed stringent regulations on the
subject. These, however, were often evaded, and some
years later, one of the worst cases of the kind occurred
in connection with the emigration to Pictou. An indivi
dual engaged in the business, induced a number of persons
in the Highlands to sell off their cattle and other goods,
and give him the money. But when they reached the
port, whence they were to sail, no vessel was provided.
Their condition was described as heart-rending, and the
heartless deceiver was brought before the Sheriff and
was sent for a time to taste the sweets of prison life. But
a case perhaps even worse than this followed almost
immediately after. A number of passengers were shipped
in a small vessel from the North of Scotland. Soon after

• Hist. B. N. America I. 457.

243
sailing, she met with a storm, in consequence of which
she put back to Stromness. By this time they had
partially examined their supply of provisions, and now a
complete examination took place, with results to fill all
honest minds with astonishment and indignation. Casks,
labelled bread, were found to have two layers on top,
while the centre was filled with rotten potatoes, stones,
straw and earth, and casks labelled pork had one layer
on top and rotten fish below. In fact, had the vessel not
put back in time, those on board must have perished.
The result was that the owner of the vessel, who, however,
was innocent in the matter, having only chartered her,
was subjected to a penalty of .£800. When the vessel
arrived in Pictou, some of the passengers revealed these
facts, when the man had the effrontery to prosecute
them before the Supreme Court for libel. The facts were
clearly proved, and the jury did not take a long time to
give a verdict for the defendants. He also prosecuted
Robert Patterson, Esq., for taking their deposition, but
the jury without, leaving the box, threw out the case.

244

CHAPTER XIII.

FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE CENTURY TO THE CLOSE
OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
1800—1815.
The period which we are now to consider is noted, as
that in which the timber trade from Pictou was at its
height, though it had begun some years previously, and
continued on a diminished scale for some years later.
When the first settlers arrived, the whole of the county
was covered with timber of the finest quality. Of. this
the white pine was particularly prominent, but oak and
the various kinds of hardwood, were found of large size
and in great abundance, alike down to the very margin
of the sea, and up to the very summits of the highest hills.
From the first settlement, this had proved one of the
most valuable resources of the inhabitants. From the year
1774, when the first cargo of squared timber was shipped
to Britain, the trade in that article had continued to
increase, and after the closing of the Baltic against British
commerce, the price rose to an unprecedented height, and
the trade from Pictou increased proportionaUy. In the
year 1803, about fifty vessels were loaded here with timber
for Britain, and in the period from 1800 to 1820, it was
calculated that the exports from Pictou, of which timber
was the principal, amounted on an average to £100,000
sterling per annum. It is to be observed, however, that
this included trade from the outports as well, Pictou
being the only port of entry for the North Shore of this
Province. Still it was the centre of the whole trade, and
the larger portion was from the harbour itself.

245
And now the cutting, hewing, hauling, rafting, and!
shipping of ton timber, became for some years almost the
one business of the people of Pictou. The farmer not
only spent his time in winter in cutting and preparing it,
but also much of the spring and summer in rafting and
shipping it. As to his fields he thought only of hastily
committing his seed to the ground in spring, and gathering
at harvest time what crop had chosen to grow, and paid
no attention to manuring, rotation or other improvements
in agriculture, in some instances the dung being allowed
to accumulate round the stables, till the sills rotted, and.
it became a question whether it were easier to remove
the mass or the barn, unless where an individual with.
more foresight, had erected his building by a running-
stream, wliich served to carry away the filth.
While however lumbering was the business of Pictou
at this time, yet even the partial attention, which people
gave to their farms, brought plentiful returns. The soil
was so rich, that in many places people took crop after
crop of wheat, it might be to the number of a dozen, and
in one case of which I hare been told, of seventeen, in.
succession. The abundant crops of potatoes enabled the
farmers to feed large numbers of swine, and the high
prices of all kinds of produce, especially of cattle, in
consequence of the war, rendered it a time of unbounded
prosperity to the agricultural population.
The lumbering business proved most injurious to the
social habits and moral condition of the community. It
brought a large influx of population of a very loose
character, and it had its usual demoralizing effects upon
the residents. Most of the farmers had wood on their
farms, so near their dwellings that they could make
timber without removing from their homes, but many
adopted the system of living in the woods in winter, as
still practised in the great lumbering districts of Canada.
In the autumn a number of men uniting would go to the

246
woods with a supply of provisions, erect a rude camp in
which they spent the winter, with the exception of visits
to the settlements for the supply, of necessaries, of which
rum was deemed the most important, and was commonly
the first exhausted. They then proceeded to cut down
timber, to square and haul it to the neighboring streams.
In the spring, when the melting of the snow caused a
large rising of the rivers, the lumber was floated down
to the tide, where it was formed into rafts, and transported
to the place 'of shipment. This mode of living, separated
for a time from the humanizing influence of civilized
society, tends to brutalize men ; while the exposure to
cold and wet, particularly in river driving, forms a strong
temptation to hard drinking, and tends to break down
the strongest constitution.
Another evil soon appeared. The first settlers had had
a hard struggle to obtain the necessaries of life, but now
in the life time of those, who made the first inroads upon
the forests, and endured such hardships as we have
formerly described, money became so plenty, that people
lost all moderation or economy in the use of it, and an era
of extravagance trod closely upon the heels of an era of
privation. " The farmer," says Dr. McGregor, " neglected
his farm and went to square timber. The consequence
was, that he had to go to the merchant to buy provisions,
and the merchant persuaded him that he needed many
other things beside provisions. If the farmer scrupled
to buy more superfluities, he would ask him, ' Why do
you hesitate ? You know that a stick of timber will pay
it.' Thus a taste for vanity and expensive living was
introduced among us." " We have suffered from emigrants
settling among us from different parts of the Highlands,
but more from merchants and traders from England and
the N orth of Scotland. The ignorance and superstition
of the former have not done us so much evil, as the
avarice, the luxury, the show, and the glittering toys of
the latter."

247
But the great evil, we might almost say the g*reat
characteristic of the times, was the great extent to which
rum was consumed. The first settlers used very little, in
fact had not the means of getting it in any quantities.
But the extent to which it was now used seems absolutely
incredible. The habit of drinking was most prevalent among the
lumberers. We have heard for example, of a man being
employed through the winterat five shillings a day, with
an aUowance of two glasses of liquor, but yet being in debt
in spring, although the money had gone for little else but
rum. When a lumbering party went to the woods, it
was customary to initiate their proceedings with a carouse,
which might make such an inroad upon their supply of
Uquor, as to render an early visit to the settlement neces
sary to have it replenished. When they did get to work,
they daily consumed quantities, which, if they had been
using some modern liquors, would have quickly prepared
them for the undertaker, while at intervals their labours
were arrested for the enjoyment of a carouse, which might
last two or three days. Thus in spring they still found
themselves indebt to the merchants, from whom they had
received their supplies in autumn, and theonly course that
seemed open, was to go through the same process the next
eeason, with afresh supply of articles from the merchant,
which he was very ready to afford, with the view of
obtaining their timber. In this way many farms were
mortgaged and never redeemed.
But though drinking was specially ' prevalent among
the lumberers, yet all classes were affected by it. In the
most moral settlements, every third or fourth family would
have a puncheon of rum, for the supply of themselves
and neighbours. In some instances, where there were a
number of sons in a family approaching manhood, the
whole might be consumed with very little assistance
from others. In one large settlement, it was calculated

248;
on one occasion, that there had been introduced in the fall
at the rate of half a puncheon for each family, and before
spring the supply of some was exhausted, I have heard
of a tradesman at his bench taking his glass regularly
every hour. A person who worked in a shipyard told me.
that the allowance to each workman from the employer
was three glasses a day, while he was confident that on
an average each man drank as many more. A member
of my congregation told me, of himself and others working
at a job for ten days or a fortnight in the heat of summer
drinking each their quart bottle of rum a day, and not at.
the time feeling the worse of it, though.atthe close of that
period, they felt unfit for work of any kind for the next
week or two. Men, not content with a glass, would
sometimes drink a half pint at a time, or even a pint, and.
I knew a man who at one time undertook/to drink a whole-
quart at once, and did so, but it nearly cost him his life.
He was in such a state that his friends were summoned to>
him as dying, but he recovered and hved for years,
drinking to the end, though he never attempted such a.
feat as that again.
If these be regarded as extreme cases, yet the habituaL
use of liquor was common among all classes. The minister
took his dram as regularly as parishioners. The elder sold.
Uquor. No respectable person thought of sitting down.
to dinner without the decanter on one corner of the table.
The poorest would have felt hurt, if a friend called and.
he had no liquor to give him. No workman was employed.
without his daily aUowance, and that commonly not less
than two glasses. As likely it was three,, and even that
quantity was often supplemented by an additional allow
ance on private account. No bargain was consummated
without a dram. On all occasions of public concourse,
Uquor flowed freely, and scenes of famUy interest, births,
burials and bridals were consecrated in a similar manner,* :
, • A well-to-do farmer having died, his nephew was seen going homo fro«a»

249
while the visits to the shore of the sailors from the ship
ping in port made the- streets frequently scenes-of drunk
enness and riot. But how the same habits prevailed
among the genteel, may appear from the fact of a lady
boasting, that the Uquor bUl for her house amounted to
£400 per annum.
It must be said that the pure West India rum then
drunk, did not produce such injurious consequences as
the liquor now in use. It had not the same maddening-
effect at the moment, nor did it produce such evil results
afterward. Hence men lived to old age, after the con
sumption of liquors to an amount that now seems
incredible. Still, this drinking was a tremendous evil,
and the period we are describing was such, that those
who can remember it regard it as the worst morally that
Pictou has seen before or since. Well might Dr. McGregor
say, " Once in a day I could not have believed that all
the vices in the world would have done so much damage
in Pictou, as I have seen drunkenness alone do within.
these few years." It may be observed, that a similar state
of things widely prevailed at the time throughout
America. It might have been expected, that the prosperity of thia.
period, would at least have had an important influence
upon the improvement of the country. But it would be
difficult to find in any land, an example of such prosperity ,.
leaving so few permanent results for good even upon its.
material progress. The land was depreciated in value,.
his funeral under the influence of liquor. On being remonstrated with, ho
replied, " Ah, its not every day I have an uncle John buried." It having-
been the regular practice even among the most sober, that at a funeral every-
man should take two glasses, one on his arrival and one on the procession.
starting, Dr. McGregor, on one occasion, addressing those assembled, urged
that henceforth they should be content with only one. Scarcely had he-
finished, when an old elder, whose conservative notions had been hurt by the-
proposal, stepped up to the table, filled » glass, and as he raised it to his
lips said, " Here's to the man that wilLtake his two glasses," and then drank.
it ott

250
hy having the valuable timber removed from it, without
its being cleared or rendered fit for the plough, while a
Tuinous system of farming impoverished the land already
under cultivation. Farms, in which the soil was origin
ally excellent, became thoroughly exhausted, and the
evils of this state of things have to some extent continued
to the present day. Merchants fared no better. Partly
owing to the credit system, and partly to the changes in
the price of timber, most of them were unsuccessful in
the end.
Of the trade carried on in this county at this period,
by far the largest portion was in the hands of Edward
Mortimer, and this is the proper place for a more extended
notice of him. He was a native of Keith, Banffshire,
Scotland. He arrived in this country, as many a Scottish
youth has gone abroad, with only his own energy and
steady habits for his fortune. I have heard of his once
¦speaking in depreciating terms of this country, in presence
of old John Patterson, who immediately replied, " Ye
needna talk when ye came to it, I dinna ken whether ye
liad twa shirts, but I ken ye hadna two jackets." It is of
course all the more creditable, that by his energy and
skill, ho in a short time became the foremost man in Pictou,
or in the eastern part of the Province. He first visited
this place about the year 1788, employed by the firm of
Liddells, in Halifax, in a schooner trading round the
coast. Soon after he commenced business here, at first in
partnership with them, but soon after on his own account.
He first located himself a little above the point, which
has so long gone by his name, on the front of Squire Pat
terson's lot, whose daughter he married. Here he put up
a small building, intended for both house and store, of
which the cellar can still be traced, and also built a
wharf, of which portions of the foundation are still visible.
Afterward he removed to the point, near the stone house,
where he had his dwelling house and stores close by the

251
shore, and where he built two long wharves out to deep
water, the remains of which can still be seen.*
He is said to have been a man of commanding presence,
tall, broad-shouldered and portly — as one from Britain
describedhim, with " the appearance of a great man, and
the address of a great man." Indeed, he was manifestly
n born leader of men, and one that would have exercised
a commanding influence, in any society into which he
might enter. But he must have been a man of first-rate
business capacity, for he now had nearly the whole trade
of the place in his hands, and by his influence the trade
of the Gulf was concentrated at Pictou. Persons still
living can recollect, when the point above the town,
where he did business, presented every season a forest of
masts. He is said to have loaded 80 vessels in one year,
not, however, all in Pictou harbour, but many in sur
rounding ports, his business extending to Bay Verte and
Prince Edward Island. His book-keeper stated, that in
one season, in seven successive weeks, he shipped timber
to the value of £35,000, or at the rate of £5,000 per week.
Though the timber trade was his principal business,
yet he did also a large business in the fisheries. The
Arichat and other fishermen came here for their supplies,
and traded their fish. At that time seals were still taken
in considerable numbers in the Gulf, and the oil was
manufactured in James Patterson's Cove, so that at the
proper season, when the wind blew upon the town, the
inhabitants were regaled with what fishermen would
regard as a savory odour.
To so large an extent was the business of the place in
his hands, that he regarded any person commencing a

* After his removal his old house was regarded as haunted, it was said persons
who attempted to stay in it being frightened out of it by a noise as of the
rolling of barrels, and persons who approached from the water seeing it lighted
up, but when they landed finding all in darkness. The stone house was
erected only a short time before his death.

252
general trade, as an intruder upon his legitimate domain,
and he did not hesitate to use measures to crush him,
which now would not be considered fair between man
and man. For example, after men had agreed to give
their timber or produce to other parties, he would have
no hesitation in persuading them, or concussing them into
giving it to him.
By the system of credit which prevailed, he had almost
every inhabitant of the county in his books, and thus, in
a measure, under his control, and business was then
conducted, so as if possible to keep them in that position.
Not only were goods pressed upon them, but they were
kept iu ignorance of the state of their accounts, as a means
of securing a continuance of their custom. For a debtor
to demand a settlement, seemed to indicate an intention
of dealing with some other party, and to prevent this, the
policy — not of Mortimer alone, however — was to keep
his name in the ledger.
His influence, however, especially with the country
people, was largely owing to his frank manner and real
kindness of heart. He celebrated many of their marriages,
as the dissenting ministers were not allowed to marry by
Ucense, and on such occasions he and Mrs. M. danced
with the common people, and mingled freely with all
ranks, in a manner that gained their good wrill. Besides,
he was a man ever ready to do a favor. The poor and
the friendless were freely helped, and eveT after retained
a grateful recollection of such services. We have con
versed frequently with country people, wrho recollected
that period, and their general testimony wras, that in any
difficulty, they had only to apply to Mortimer to receive
ready help. Though he wished to have people in his
books, and loved the power that this gave him, yet he
was never disposed to deal haTshly with them. On the
contrary, his inclination was rather to act the Lord
Bountiful. And it was only after his death, when his

253
estate came to be settled up, that the people felt the evils
of the credit system, under which they had become so
deeply involved.
From the time of his election in 1799 till his death in
1819, he continued to represent the County of Halifax.
His natural gifts gave him great weight in the Legisla
ture, at a time when personal influence was [more potent '<
than it is now. This power he used earnestly for the
interests of Pictou, and the liberal grants which he
obtained for local improvements, caused him to be regarded
as a public benefactor, people looking to him almost as if
the money came from his own pocket. In other districts,
parties used to apply to him, when wanting Legislative
assistance, and were accustomed to say, that he was better
for them than their own members.
Though opposed by Wallace, he also gained such
influence over successive Governors, that generally all
local patronage was entirely at his disposal. The Earl of
Dalhousie, after his death, said, " I found in the late Mr.
Mortimer a country gentleman, whose liberal mind and
patriotic principles were an honor and a blessing to his
neighborhood. To him I gave my confidence, with
authority to use the power vested in me to the fullest
extent, except as being subject to my confirmation. With
his zealous assistance and influence, I know that astonish
ing progress has been made in opening the forest land."
It is not surprising, under all these circumstances, that
he should be entitled King of Pictou.* It must be said
of him, that he was a sincere and earnest worker for the
good of the county and of the Province. He was liberal
in giving and hearty in promoting measures for the public
weal. His fault was his love of power, but if ambition

* A wag once wrote a humourous production, entitled, " Chronicles of Pic
tou," which began somewhat in the following terms, " There was a King in
the East and his name was Edwardus, and he was the chief of the tribe of the
-Pattersonians, and he ruleth the Fictonians with a rod of iron."

254
be the last weakness of noble minds, we may excuse the
manifestation of it in one naturally so fitted to rule over
men, and who was by circumstances placed in such a
commanding position. And we may be thankful that
such power was in the hands of one who, on the whole,.
used it so well.
The result of his business was that he rapidly accu
mulated a large fortune. In a few years, he counted
himself worth £100,000, we doubt not the largest fortune
acquired in the same time in Nova Scotia. But, alas.T
scarcely could a case occur more strikingly indicating the
instability of earthly greatness. He was cut down in the
prime of his days in the year 1819, after two or three
days illness, when about 50 years of age, and his estate
actually proved insolvent. Legacies for religious and
charitable purposes were never paid, and a portion reserved
of his real estate as dower, afforded a moderate competence
to his widow. We have never fully ascertained the causes
of this, but know that one was the disastrous failure
of the firm of Liddells, and perhaps another was the -want
of his master raind in settling his affairs. He never had.
any children. He died 10th October, 1819, and his tomb
stone has the following inscription :
Sacked- to the Memory
of
EDWAED MOETIMEE, Esq.,
Who departed this life, 10th October, MDCCCXIX,
In the fifty-second year of his age.
1 He was
A native of Eeith, in the shire of Banff,.
North Britain.
In early life he removed to this Province,
where
Occupying himself in mercantile pursuits,
He acquired a reputation honourable to himself,
And
Concentrated in the Port of Pictou,
The greater part ef the trade of the adjacent coasts*

255
For twenty-years-
He represented the County of Halifax
In the General Assembly of the Province,,
And during this long period,
His public conduct
Founded upon enlightened and liberal principles;.
Gained him the confidence
Not only
Of his constituents but of the Province at large.
He was also
A Judge of the Court of Common Pleas,
And for many years
Chief Magistrate of Pictou,
And
In the discharge of the duties of these offices,
As well as in his private capacity,
A strenuous promoter of the good order and peace
of society.
To his public exertions,
The Pictou Academy is deeply indebted.
These and his private munificence
Have rendered him its principal founder.
In Pictou
He is remembered as the poor man's friend,
And
The inhabitants of the Province at large,
Eetain a grateful recollection
of his valuable services.
Of those in the same [line of business with Mortimer-
at this time, the principal were John Dawson and Thomas
Davison. The former was a native of the parish of
Irongray, in the County of Dumfries. He was a man of
education and mind, and filled several public situations
creditably. He bought the lot on Water street, to the east
of the road leading to Yorstons Wharf. There he erected
a large two-storey house, nearly on the site of the Taylor
House, with two wings to the north. In front of this
property he buUt a wharf, which has disappeared. John
Patterson built an extension from the end of his wharf
at right angles to the eastward, leaving a narrow passage
between it and Dawson's wharf. Inside of this, there-

256
was thus formed what was called the dock, in which boats
and even schooners were safely moored. At that time
all the trade along shore was by boats, the settlers bring
ing their produce and carrying away goods from the
merchants in the same way. In this way for some years
a larger portion of the country trade was concentrated at
this point. Dawson's health having failed, he sold out
his business to his son-in-law, William Kidston, afterward
•of Halifax, and removed to a farm two miles out of town
on the West River road, where he died on the 2nd
January, 1815, aged 54.
Thomas Davison was originally from Londonderry,
N. S- He erected the house on the north-west corner of
Geoige and Water street. He was for a time an active
man in church and state.
At this time WiUiam Matheson began business. He at
first started peddling, we have been told, on a loan of £20.
He afterwards sold his farm at Eogers Hill and removed
~to West Eiver, where he did a country trade, exchanging
: goods for timber and country produce, but taking care to
risk nothing in ships, ship-building or shipping timber,
so that he could say that all he had ever lost by sea was
one hat. Cautiously proceeding thus, he accumulated
money, and was the only man of that period who came
¦ out of it with anything like a fortune. In his later years,
-he was distinguished by his gifts for religious purposes,
and at his death he devoted the larger portion of his pro
perty to the British and Foreign Bible Society, and to
the Seminary of the Presbyterian Church.
At this period a number of others were attracted to
Pictou, and did business for a time. Among these may
be mentioned Hector McLean, who had married a
daughter of Captain Fraser, of the 82nd. He was heir to
the estate of Kingarloch, in Scotland, which he sold, and,
investing the proceeds in goods, he commenced on the
Deacons Wharf, in company with his brother-in-law,

257
Simon Fraser. He faUed, however, some time after. He
buUt the house in which John R. Noonan now resides.
As to many others who attempted business, then and
afterward, we cannot do better than give the picture,
drawn by the author of the letters of Mephibosheth
Stepsure, of the career of Solomon Gosling.^
" About thirty years ago, his father David left him very well to do ; and
Solomon, who at that time was a brisk young man, had the prospect, by using
a little industry, of living as comfortably as any in the town. Soon after
the death of old David, he was married and a likelier couple were not often
to be seen. But unluekily for them both, when Solomon went to Halifax in
the winter Polly went along with him to sell her turkeys and see the fashions ;
and from that day the Goslings had never a day to do well. Solomon was
never very fond of hard work. At the same time ha could not be accused of
idleness. Ho was always a very good neighbour ; and at every burial or barn
raising, Solomen was set down as one who would bo sure to be there. By these
•means he gradually contracted the habit of running about ; which left his
own premises in an unpromising plight. Polly, too, by seeing the fashions,
had learnt to be genteel ; and for the sake of a little show, both lessened the
thrift of the family, and added to the outlay ; so that, between one thing and
another, Solomon began to be hampered, and had more calls than comforters.
" Though Goose Hill farm, from want of industry, had not been productive,
it was still a property of considerable value : and it occurred to Solomon, that,
converted into goods, it would yield more prompt and lucrativo returns, than
by any mode of agriculture. Full of the idea, accordingly, my neighbour
went to town ; and, by mortgaging his property to Calibogus, the West India
merchant, he returned with a general assortment, suited to the wants of the
town. When a merchant lays in his goods, he naturally consults the taste of his
customers. Solomon's, accordingly, consisted chiefly of West India produce,
gin, brandy, tobacco, and a few chests of tea. For the youngsters, he had
provided an assortment of superfine broadcloths, and fancy muslins, ready
anade boots, whips, spurs, and a great variety of gum flowers and other articles
which come under tho genoral denomination of notions.
" When all these things were arranged, they had a very pretty appearance.
For a number of weeks, little was talked of, but Mr Gosling's store ; for such
he had now become by becoming a merchant ; little was to be seen, but my

* These letters were from the pen of Dr. Thomas McCulloeh, and were
originally published in the Acadian Recorder for 1821 and '22. As may be
judged from the above specimen, they are light satiric sketches of rural life
at the time, and in regard to its follies, so held the mirror up to nature, that
¦we know.no work from which we can obtain a better idea of the state of
society in Nova Scotia at that period.
17

258
neighbours riding thither to buy, and returning with bargains ; and during the
course of the day, long lines of horses, fastened to every accessible post of
the fences, rendered an entrance to his house almoBt impracticable. By these
means, the general appearance of the town soon underwent a complete revo
lution. Homespun and homely fare were to be found only with a few hard-
fisted old folks, whose ideas could never rise above labor and saving. The
rest appeared so neat and genteel upon Sundays, that even the Eev. Mr.
Drone, though I did not see that his flock had enabled him to exchange his
own habiliments for Mr. Gosling's superfine, expressed his satisfaction by his
oomplacent looks.
" Mr. Gosling, too, had in reality, considerably improved his circumstances.
The greater part of my neighbours being already in debt to old Ledger
and other traders about ; and considering that if they took their money to
these, it would only go to their credit, carried it to Mr. Gosling's store ; so
that by these means he was soon able to clear off a number of his old encum
brances, and to carry to market as much cash as established his credit.
" Among traders punctualityof payment begets confidence in the seller ; and
the credit 'which this affords to the purchaser, is generally followed by an
enlargement of orders. My neighbour returned with a much greater supply ;
and here his reverses commenced. Credit could not be refused to good cus
tomers who had brought their money to the store. Those, also, who formerly
showed their good will by bringing their cash, proved their present cordiality
hy taking large credits. But when the time for returning to the market for
supplies arrived, Mr. Gosling had nothing to take thither but his books.
Theso, it is true, had an imposing appearance. They contained debts to a
large amount ; and my neighbour assured his creditors, that, when they were
collected, he would be able to pay them all honourably, and have a large
reversion to himself. But, when his accounts were made out, many young
men who owed him large sums, had gone to Passamaquoddy ; and of those who
remainedj the greater part had mortgaged their farms to Mr. Ledger and the
other old traders ; and now carried their ready money to Jerry Gawpus, who
had just commenced trader by selling his farm. In short, nothing remained
for Mr. Gosling but the bodies or labours of his debtors ; and these last they
all declared themselves very willing to give.
" About this time it happened that vessels -were giving a great price ; and it
naturally occurred to my neighbour, that, by the labour which he could com-
' mand, he might build a couple. These, accordingly, were put upon the stocks.
But labour in payment of debt, goes on heavily ; and besides, ¦when vessels
¦were giving two prices, nobody would work without double wages ; so that
the vessels, like the ark, saw many summers and winters. In the meantime
peace came, and those who owned vessels were glad to get rid of them at any
price. By dint of perseverance, however, Mr. Gosling's were finished ; but
they had scarcely touched the water, when they were attached by Mr. Hemp,
¦who at tho samo time declared, that, when they were sold, he would lose fifty
per cent upon his account for the rigging. Such was my neighbour's case ;
when, happening, as I have already mentioned, to step into Parson Drone's, I

259
found that Mr. Gosling had been telling his ailments, and was receiving the
reverend old gentleman's ordinary, clerical consolation. < What can't be cured,
must be endured ; let us have patience.'
" ' I'll tell you what it is, parson,' replied my neighbour, ' patience may do
well enough for those who have plenty ; but it won't do for me. Callibogus
has foreclosed the mortgage ; my vessels are attached ; and my books are of no
more value than a rotten pumpkin. After struggling hard to supply the coun
try with goods, and to bring up a family so as to be a credit to the town, the
country has brought us to ruin. I won't submit to it. I won't see my son
Eehoboam, poor fellow, working like a slave upon the roads, with his coat
turned into a jacket, and the elbows clouted with the tails. My girls were not
sent to Mrs. M'Cackle's boarding school to learn to scrub floors. The truth
is, parson, the country does not deserve to be lived in. There is neither
trade nor money in it, and produce gives nothing. — It is only fit for Indians'
and emigrants from Scotland, who were starving at home. It is time for me
to go elsewhere, and carry my family to a place that presents better prospects
to young folks.'
" In reply, the parson was beginning to exhort Mr. Gosling to beware of
the mtirmurings of the wicked ; when Jack Catchpole, the constable, stepped
in to s^y that the sheriff would be glad to speak with Mr. Gosling at the
door, bur sheriff is » very hospitable gentleman ; and when any of his
neighbours are in hardship, he will call upon them, and even insist upon
their making his house their home. Nor did I ever know any shy folks get
ting off with an excuse. As it occurred to me, therefore, that Mr. Gosling
might not come back for the parson's admonition, I returned home ; and soon
learned that my neighbour had really gone elsewhere, and made a settlement
in the very place where Sampson turned miller."
The large number of vessels loading every summer at
this port during this period, rendered it a favorite hunting
ground for the press gang. For several years, scarce a
summer passed without a visit of this kind, and many
exciting scenes were the result. No sooner did a man-of-
war cutter appear in sight, than it proved a signal for the
boats to put off from the ships, carrying their crews to
the land, who hastily betook themselves to the bushes,
which were then close upon the town. "I have wit
nessed," says one, " the desperate race between the pursuer
and pursued, and observed both parties land, the former
somewhat behind ; and it was a thrilling moment, when
the press gang, with their cutlasses flashing in the sun,
and firearms discharging, followed close upon the flying

200
sailors.. The firearms did little harm, and were, perhaps,
not intended to be deadly. The sailors generally escaped
to the woods. On one occasion a large force of seamen
came from their retreat, each armed with a cudgel, and
drove the man-of-war boat from the wharf. The com
mander threatened to bring the armed cutter up to the
town and take revenge. He did not, however, execute
his threat, perhaps considering that discretion was the
better part of valor."
On another occasion, some sailors taking refuge in a
store of Mortimer's, their pursuers fired two shots through
the door after them. Mortimer complained to the Admi
ral, and such was his influence, that the officer in com
mand was reprimanded and ordered to apologize to him.
He however only replied, that he could accept no apology
for the act, as it was not an affront to him, but human
life that had been endangered.
Among the visitors, was a Capt. Elm, a regular old
sea dog, who more than once beat off a press gang, and it
is said on one occasion, knocked a hole in the bottom of a
man-of-war's boat, coming along side his ship.
On one occasion an embargo had been declared, and a
convoy promised to protect the fleet to their destination.
About fifty vessels were assembled, and were delayed a
good part of the summer. One of the Captains died,
and the funeral was a very pretty sight. The boats of
all the ships were formed in line and with colours at half
mast, followed in regular procession the remains to the
shore. They were landed at the Deacons wharf, and the
sailors, all dressed in their best, followed them to the
grave yard, where till recently a painted board marked
the last resting-place of Capt. Sturm ofthe ship Symmetry.
The event however, connected with the press gang,
wrhieh made most noise, was the pressing of two landsmen,
Edward Crae and Matthew Allan, in the year 1808. They
were two stout men, Allan being notorious as a bruiser.

261
They had made themselves obnoxious to persons at
Carriboo, who occupied the Cochrane grant as squatters,
by cutting timber on it ; and hence their capture was not
objected to by some, and it was even believed, that it had
been instigated by these parties. It took place on the
day of a general muster, when the whole adult population
were in town, and produced great excitement. They
were taken on board ship and carried to the West Indies.
When the House of Assembly met, they voted the
proceeding oppressive and illegal, and requested the
Governor to interfere in their behalf, which he promised
to do ; but before the order arrived in the West Indies
for their rehef, they had effected their escape by swim
ming ashore at Antigua.
Except, however, in its effects on trade, little -was seen
or directly felt in Pictou of the war. Annually the
militia were called out, first for company drill in the
different sections of the county, then for general muster
and battalion drill, usuaUy at or near town, and Gommonly
in Mr. Mortimer's field. Many thus attained considerable
knowledge of military exercises, and they were even
exercised in target firing with muskets. These occasions
were to the youth scenes of amusement, and, alas, too
often of drunkenness. In the year 1807, a portion of
them were drafted to HaUfax, and for some time were
employed there, doing garrison duty, cutting fascines and
erecting a palisade around tho town. One who served
with them at this time told me of another purpose, which
their presence in Halifax served. A regiment was
stationed there, composed of men who had been com
promised in the Irish RebeUion, and who had enlisted to
save their lives. Such was the desperate character of
many of them, that until the militia arrived, their own
officers were afraid to trust them in the town.
Besides the ordinary militia, however, there was formed
at this time, in Pictou town, a company of volunteer

262
artillery, which was put through a regular system of
drill, and attained to a respectable measure of efficiency.
This company continued for years after to turn out and
fire salutes on public occasions, even to a period within
our own recollection.
During the later period of the war, particularly
after the Americans had joined the foes of England,
vessels loading were obliged to wait for a man-of-war, as
a convoy, until sometimes there would be as many as
fifty of them in the harbour at one time. So long were
they obliged to wait that in some instances an adventurous
captain stole out of the harbor, went to England, dis
charged cargo and returned before the rest sailed. We
have only heard of one Pictou vessel captured. It was
a schooner or brigantine commanded by Captain David
Fraser, whom we have already mentioned as the first
child born to the Hector passengers, and as an illustration
of war times, we may here give some account of his
adventures. When about twenty years of age he went to Halifax,
and thence to sea. Afterward wo find him sailing out of
the United States, and having risen to be mate of an
ocean-going vessel. While in this position, he was taken
by the Algerines, and the whole crew kept in close con
finement. Fever or plague broke out among them, of
which one after another died. The survivors were obliged
to bury their companions, only a tort of wooden shovel
being allowed them for the purpose, with which they
scooped out a shallow pit in the sand. At last he was
the only survivor. He was then given or sold as a slave
to an old woman, to whom he was compelled to do all
her drudgery. His old clothes became worn to tatters,
and his skin blistered by the sun, but she allowed him
no new supply. In 'this condition he obtained from a
vessel a piece of an old sail, with which he made a sort
of garment, more expressive of the ingenuity of the

263
maker than of fashionable elegance. Suspicions being
allayed, so that he was not watched very closely, he one
night swam out to a British vessel off the coast. He was
taken on board, supplied with clothing and taken away
in her. Falling in with an American vessel, in which the
mate had died, the captain 'engaged him to supply his
place. Thus he arrived back in Virginia, when the
captain refused to pay him his wages. Fraser, however,
having been previously in the American service, suc
ceeded in compelling him to do so.
He next engaged in the secret trade carried on by the
Americans with Europe, and for a time was successful,
but finally his vessel was captured by one of Bonaparte's
cruisers, when she had on board three barrels of dollars,
one of which belonged to himself. He was deprived of
all and made an appeal to the Emperor, pleading that the
Americans and French were not at war, but received the
reply, "When I pay the other bills of the Americans,
"I will pay that too ! "
From France he made his way to Stockholm, and thence
to England, where he married. Soon after he returned
to Pictou, with his wife and one child, after he had been
just twenty years absent. Here he received the command
of the vessel referred to, which was owned by Mr.
Mortimer. But his ill luck seemed to follow him, for she
was captured by Commodore Rogers, of the American
navy. After a few things were taken out of her, she was
by his orders set on fire. The crew were taken prisoners
to Salem, but he made his escape and travelling by land,
reached British territory, and the crew obtained their
liberty the next spring by the return of peace. The
vessel had originally been an American prize, and fitted
up more handsomely than was usual in colonial vessels
at that time. When she was about to sail, one of his
friends expressing sympathy for those who had lost her,
he replied, " Oh, it's just the fortune of war." After his

264
return home, he was describing, in the presence of the
same friend, her capture by Commodore Rogers, and.
expressing his indignation at seeing her burning. " Oh,"
said his friend, "it's just the fortune of war." " 
the fortune of war," was his irreverent reply.
This war brought to the county a number of coloured
people, who had been originally slaves in Yirginia, but
who had escaped to the British fleet in Chesapeake Bay..
John Currie, who only died in 1876, used to tell of swim
ming out to a man-of-war in a shower of bullets. Several
families settled in the neighbourhood of the Town Gut
stream, but nearly all have since moved to other places.
At this period commenced the making of roads fit for
carriages, the first being that towards Halifax over Mount.
Thom. The troubles of travellers previously are thus-
amusingly sketched by a writer in the Acadian Recorder,
in the year 1826 :
" Many a story have I heard from my father, of the-disasters which befell
travellers in his time, when there was only one road in the Province deserv
ing the name, viz.: that from Halifax to Windsor and Annapolis. And with
wonder I have heard him tell, that it cost as much as would pave it all over-
with dollars. The people of the best settlements found their way to this
road or to one another by a blaze ; that is a mark made on a trunk of a tree
here and there, in the proper course, tor the purpose of directing travellers ;
but, in the younger settlements, travellers had to provide pocket compasses,
and guessing their course, find their way through the forest, much in the same
way as sailors do along the sea.
" In going by the compass, the traveller sometimes, widely mistaking his
course, missed entirely the intended settlement, and came in upon another, or
missed all settlements, and travelled on, till he lost all hope of seeing a house,
in which case he often believed the compass itself went wrong, and discredit
ing it, he would wander he knew not whither. Sometimes the traveller would
be confounded desperately, for the compass needle would obstinately refuse to
traverse, and he could not know east from west, north from south.
" Travelling by a blaze was little better. He told us strange things of
losing the blaze, and the impossibility of finding it again, of striking out a
straightforward course, independent of the blaze, and yet, by and by, coming
upon their own track again, — of the snow being so driven against the trees.
as to hide the blaze, and causing frequent stops to rub it off, — of its being so
deep as to cover the blaze, and causing frequent stops to dig away the snow-
in order to discover it, — of travellers being benighted by such stops, and lodg—

265
ing in the forest, where they had to kindle large fires on the top of the snow five
or six feet. deep, and there (dismal to bo told I) one side next the fire was
roasted and the other frozen. I have heard him tell of experienced travellers,
who in such a case would kindle two fires, at a proper distance from one
another, and lie down between them, and thus enjoy themselves luxuriously
between two fires. In those days swamps were avoided as intolerable. The
steep mountain sides were preferable, hence there are still many hills on our
roads, whieh might now be easily avoided.
" I have heard him tell of great dangers and hair-breadth escapes from
drowning, in crossing brooks and livers swollen with unexpected rains ; for
in those days no journey would be uudertaken immediately after a heavy
rain. He had himself went different times for two or three days nearly fast
ing, until the subsiding of the water rendered the road passable. He told of
horses swagging in swamps almost to the ears, and of the great difficulty of
their riders. There were few taverns, but every man who had a hut was hos
pitable." Any roads hitherto made were merely bridle paths»
But now through Mr. Mortimer's influence in the Legis
lature, liberal grants were obtained, and by means of
these, and sums voted from the county funds, the road
over Mount Thom was cleared of roots, and somewhat
cast up. It was stUl rough and soft enough, but carriages
could pass over it. Similar operations had been going
on from the Truro side, and the two parties met at Salmon
River, and celebrated the completion of the work in the
manner usual in those times. This we suppose would be
about the year 1810. In the year previous, Sir George
Prevost, the Governor, visited Pictou accompanied by
Michael Wallace and L. H. Hood, Esqs., and his A. D. C.
Capt. Prevost. Miller, in his " Record of the first settlers
of Colchester," speaks of this as the first occasion of a four
wheeled carriage, passing through Truro. But it did not
come to Pictou, for the Governor and his party all arrived
there on horseback. The first wheeled carriage that ever
came to Pictou, is said to have been brought through, a
year or two later, by Judge Monk, when attending the
Supreme Court. Soon after, Mr. Mortimer imported a
two wheeled carriage, which was the first owned in
Pictou.

266
The late Mr. Matheson, however, used to boast, that he
had taken the first loaded team over the road. It was on
this wise : Mortimer's supply of tobacco had become
exhausted, and the other merchants were supposed to be
in a similar situation. It being winter, no supply could
be got by water. He therefore started by land with a
rude sled, and returned with a puncheon of leaf tobacco,
which was the only kind used then. The runners w ere
not shod with iron, and so rough was the road, that he
wore out three wooden shoeings.
In making roads at first, the circumstances above
described rendered it absolutely necessary that they
should be made on the high grounds. The lower lands
in the driest seasons were troublesome, -and in wet seasons,
impracticable. Hence the first settlers, in choosing a line
of road, simply selected the highest hills they could find,
and made their way from one to another, where they
could find the least low ground to traverse. When
improvements began to be made, it was natural to make
them upon the lines in use, especially as settlers had
located themselves beside them. But now when large
sums were being expended in making roads, it was
certainly short-sighted policy, not to have sought some
thing like level lines. By not doing so, much money was
spent upon roads, which, as far as general travel was
concerned, had to be abandoned, and from the interests
of so many persons involved, it was difficult afterward to
change for a better. Every miller, every blacksmith and
every tavern keeper would fight hard against its removal.
Hence for many years the road to Halifax went over the
summit of Mount Thom in this county, and beyond it
others as steep, such as Half-Moon Hill, Black Rock, &e,
while the other roads were constructed on the same prin
ciple. Thus the road to the east climbed Green Hill at its
steepest part, and went over the whole length of Frasers
Mountain, besides a number of hills not so lofty.

267
Turning now to the ecclesiastical affairs of the period
under review, we notice that in the year 1803, Pictou
received an accession of one who had afterward a more
than Provincial reputation, and one to whom, in some
respects, Pictou is more indebted than to any other
individual. We allude to the Rev. (afterward Dr.) Thomas
McCulloeh. He was a native of the parish of Neilston,
Renfrewshire, Scotland. He received his philosophical
education at the University of Glasgow, studied theology
at Whitburn, under Professor Bruce, and was ordained
as minister of a congregation in Stewarton, Ayrshire, but
did not long remain there. He arrived in Pictou in the
month of November, 1803, with his wife and family, on
his way to Prince Edward Island. Owing to the lateness
of the season, he was unable to obtain a passage thither
that fall, and was engaged for the winter to supply the
congregation of the " Harbour," as it was called. In the
following spring, he was called to be their pastor, and
inducted on the 6th June, the very day that parties came
from Prince Edward Island to take him over.
At that time the town, as it was beginning to be called,
consisted as we have seen of sixteen or eighteen buildings,
ineluding barns, a blacksmith shop and the jail, closely
environed by the woods. There was no church, but a
place was fitted up in a shed of Captain Lowden's, on
Windmill Hill, where service was held in summer, but
in winter time it was in private houses, most frequently
in the "big room" of McGeorge's tavern, which stood
on the west side of George street, on the site of the long
building erected by the late John Proudfoot, and which,
we may here remark, was long one of the institutions of
the place. That fall (1804) the frame of the church was
erected on part of the same lot on which Prince Street
Church now stands, but fronting down Margaret Street.
It had a small belfry and in it a small bell, which has had
rather a curious history. It was originally a ship's bell,

268 '
but was stolen from Mortimers Point and carried to
Miramichi, where it was recognized by a gentleman who
had been in Mr. Mortimer's employment, and restored.
It was presented to the church, and continued to be used
till about the year 1822, when it became cracked, and was
sent to Scotland to be recast. It was at the same time
enlarged, and afterward presented to the college, where
it is still in use, while the congregation ordered a larger
one, for which, in the year 1824, they put a spire upon
their church.
The sphere of Dr. McCulloch's labours, as far as his
congregation was concerned, was but limited. His was
a mind, however, which in any place must have made its
influence felt beyond the single spot where he might be
located. As early as the year 1805, he projected an insti
tution for the higher branches of education, especially for
the benefit of dissenters, and particularly with the view
of training a native ministry; but the scheme was not
carried out, though it was not lost sight of. But of this
we shall speak fully in another chapter.
From as early a period as 1807-8, we find him contribut
ing to the public press ; but circumstances soon brought
him before the public in a discussion, which established
his reputation as having no superior, perhaps no equal, in
the Province, in learning, literary skill and controversial
power. A controversy had arisen between the Church of
England Bishop and tb e Rev. Edmund Burke, afterward
Roman Catholic Bishop, a man of great learning, as well
as an able writer. We have not seen the writings of
either party, but it was generally agreed that the former
was not a match for his antagonist, when Dr. McCulloeh
took up the cudgels, and, after some preliminary
skirmishing, joined battle in a large 12mo. volume, pub
lished in Edinburgh in the year 1808, entitled "Popery
condemned by Scripture and the Fathers ; being a refu
tation of the principal Popish doctrines and assertions,

269
maintained in the remarks on the Rev. Mr. Stanser's
examination of the Rev. Mr. Burke's ' Letter of Instruc
tions to the Catholic Missionaries of M ova Scotia,' and in
the reply to the Rev. Mr. Cochrane's fifth and last letter
to Mr. Burke."
This produced a rejoinder from Dr. Burke, who was in
every way " a foeman worthy of his steel," and to this
Dr. McCulloeh again replied in a volume even larger
than the first, entitled " Popery again Condemned by
Scripture and the Fathers ; being a reply to a part of the
Popish doctrines and assertions contained in the remarks
on the Refutation, and in the Review of Dr. Cochrane's
letter by Edmund Burke, V.G., Que." To this, Dr.
Burke attempted no reply. These two volumes, for
learning and ability, excel anything we know of pro
duced in the colonies. A portion of them has only a
temporary interest, as connected with the controversy
with Bishop Burke. But much the larger part is of
permanent value, as a discussion of the great questions at
issue between Protestants and Romanists.
Of his labors in connection with education we must
reserve an account for another chapter.
The year 1808 witnessed another accession to the
ministry of this county, in the Rev. John Mitchell, who
settled in Riyer John, taking the oversight of the people
in that and the neighboring settlement of Tatamagouche.
Mr. M. was a native of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, born in the
year 1765. He was m early life a rope-maker, and had
not received a classical education, but animated by an
earnest desire to preach the gospel, he entered Hoxton
Academy, when about thirty years of age.
In the year 1808 he was sent out to Quebec by the
London Missionary Society. In the autumn of that year
he removed to New Carlisle, on the Bay Chaleur, where
he had his home for several years. Here he married
Miss Shearer, a member of a Loyalist family, that had

270
been obUged to escape from the United States during the
war, with the loss of all their property, reaching British
territory, under the guidance of two Indians, each of
whom carried a child.
In the summer of 1803, he undertook a long missionary
tour through New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, in the
course of which he visited Pictou and most of the settle
ments along the coast. In autumn he removed to
Amherst, where he continued to labor for some years.
In the year 1808, he removed to River John, where he
labored for a year without connection with any ecclesi
astical body in the Province. But in the following year,
though originally a Congregationalist, he joined the
Presbytery of Pictou.
At the time of Mr. Mitchell's settlement in Pictou,
there were fifty families in River John, only three
English, named West, Hines, and Gammon. Here he
continued to labor with all diligence and faithfulness
among his flock, pursuing the usual routine of a Presby
terian minister's duties. But he also extended his labors
to Tatamagouche, which became part of his regular
charge. There was no road worthy of the name between
the two places, and consequently the travelling between
them involved severe labor. Some time after, when New
Annan was settled, he extended his labors to that settle
ment. In the work of the ministry over this field, much
of which was in a wild, uncultivated state, he underwent
much bodily fatigue, but he did it with the greatest
cheerfulness. *
In the year 1826 Tatamagouche and New Annan were
formed into a distinct congregation, when his labours
became much less severe. He enjoyed excellent health
till near his end. A violent attack of gravel terminated
in his death on the 8th May, 1841, when he was in the
76th year of his age.
" Mr. Mitchell was above the ordinary size, well formed

271
and sinewy, of a fair complexion and cheerful countenance.
Although he made no pretensions to extent of learning,
he was acute and possessed of a respectable share of
general information. He was a good man, and hismemory
is much and justly revered."
In the year 1813, was formed the first Bible Society in
Pictou. It was the second in the Province or in British
America, that in Truro having been the first. But for
several years previous, through the zeal of Dr. McGregor
contributions had been forwarded to the Society. This
had been done as early as the year 1808, so that it is
admitted, that the first contribution to its funds from any
British colony, came from Pictou. We find the Secretary
in a letter of 4th June, 1809, acknowledging a sterling
bill for £80, and referring to one previously sent for £64.
These sums were probably in part for Bibles sold, but in
part also were a free contribution. For the better
promotion of the objects of the Institution, it was deemed
advisable to organize an auxiliary society. A meeting
was accordingly held for the purpose in the old West
River church, on the 16th day of April, of this year.
The Rev. Dr. McGregor preached from I. Tim., iii., 1., and
a society was formed, embracing the wThole county, with
Ed. Mortimer, President, and a committee of directors,
consisting of so many from each congregation. In the
first year, they remitted £75 to the parent society, of
which £50 was a free contribution, and £25 for the
purchase of Bibles and Testaments. In the second year,
£50 was sent as a free contribution, and in the third £75.
In subsequent years the amounts diminished, but stUl
something was done annually, and to this day the Insti
tution has been supported more liberally in the County
of Pictou, than in any other county in the Province.
In the year 1815, Pictou received its fifth minister, the
Rev. William Patrick. He was a native of the parish of
Kilsyth, County of StirUng, Scotland. In his younger

272
years he was brought up in the Reformed Presbyterian
Church, but connecting himself with the Secession
Church, he studied theology under the Rev. Archibald
Bruce, of Whitburn. He was for a number of years
minister of a congregation in Lockerby, Scotland. On
his arrival he was cordially called by the people of Meri
gomish, and inducted as their pastor on the fifth of
November. From that time he diligently performed all the duties
of the pastoral office over that district, until increasing
infirmity obliged him first to diminish his labours, and
finally to relinquish them altogether. On the 7th May,
1844, the Rev. A. P. Miller was ordained as his colleague,
lifter which he performed no public service. His weak
ness gradually increased, till suddenly, on being seized
with a fit of sickness, which his exhausted constitution
could not sustain, he calmly expired on the evening of
25th November, 1844, in the 73rd year ofhis age.
We may here give a few misceUaneous items connected
with this period. The following weather notes from Dr.
McGregor's " Memorabilia," may be of some interest :
" In 1802 the winter was remarkably mild, all along till March 22nd, and
then it grew severer in proportion as it was expected to depart, so that the
beginning of May was more wintry than January. Little snow fell and it
continued short, because of frequent thaws till March. March 22nd was more
stormy than any preceding day. On April 6th, I crossed the river on very
good ice. I could not cross the harbour in a boat April 18th. On April 27th
and 28th, was the greatest storm of snow that had come through the whole
winter. There was also » considerable storm on May 4th and 5th, and the
wind almost constantly from the north till May 31st. There was much snow
in the woods on May 9th. Ploughing was begun on May 6th, 7th and 8th
No wheat was sown till May 11th. Provender was so scarce that some could.
not plough for want of food for the oxen. It was the sickliest season that I
remember. The principal complaint was a kind of pleurisy, owing, I sup
pose to the uncommonly changeable state of the weather.
" In 1807, on the night of February 15th was a dreadful storm of wind and
rain, which broke open the harbour, so that boats could pass and repass next
morning, but on the next morning again, the harbour was frozen over. The
bridge of the Middle Eiver was carried off and the bridge of the East Eiver
injured by the storm. Boats were passing and repassing between. Mortimers

273
¦and Frasers Point the last week of February. On February 24th the river
could not be crossed on the ice."
In the year 1807, the district was divided into three
townships, Pictou, Egerton and Maxwelton, the bounda
ries of which have been already given.
On the 12th November 1813, took place what was long
.remembered as the big storm. Many buildings were f
unroofed, in some instances, the roofs being carried bodily
to some distance. Forests over a large extent of country
were levelled as completely as they would be in a chop
ping frolic. Its severity lasted only a little over two hours,
when there was a complete calm. Of its power in Halifax,
Haliburton says, " It commenced in Halifax at 5 o'clock
P. M., from the south east, and blew with extraordinary
violence till seven. Upwards of 70 vessels wore driven on
shore, sunk or materially injured, and many lives lost."
About this time an attempt was made to manufacture
salt from the saline springs, which rise from the Lower
Carboniferous rocks, at the foot of Mount Thom, and
which give the name of Saltsprings to that settlement.
The projectors were in England, and sent out an agent to
superintend operations. He sank a shaft 200 feet deep,
as if searching for the bed of salt. But from the position
of the pit every body was satisfied, that it was in the
wrong place. One man remonstrated with him, but he
jeplied that he was getting £500 a year to find it, but he
would receive so much, naming a larger sum, if he did
not. A large quantity of iron was sent out to construct
saltpans. It was hauled up at great expense, but the
next spring it was all sold for old iron, the company having
failed or ceased operations. About ten years later, parties
commenced manufacturing salt from the brine of the
spring. It proved of good quaUty, but they soon aban
doned the work.
On the 26th of May, 1814, intelligence having arrived
.of the entry of the Allies into Paris and the abdication of
18

274
Napoleon, a salute of 21 guns was fired from the Bat
tery, and in the evening the town wras illuminated and
bonfires kindled on the surrounding heights.
The close of this period was signalized by the com
mencement of New Glasgow. A lot containing 500
acres, extending in front from R. S. McCurdy's store to
below the new burying ground, had been originally
granted to John McKenzie (the captain's father), but was
by him sold to Alex. McKay, the squire's son, for £20.
He employed Wm. Fraser (surveyor) to lay off the front
in acre and half-aorc lots. He gave a lot at the bank, to
the south of where the bridge is now, to a man named
Chisholm, usuaUy known as Daddy Chisholm, who built
upon it a small log-house on the bank of the brook. Here
he and his wife (he had no chUdren) lived and for a time
were the only inhabitants of New Glasgow. About the
year 1809 the late James Carmichael bought from McKay
the lot adjoining, to the east, and erected a log building
on the site at present occupied by his son's stone building,
and commenced business in partnership with a Scotchman
named Argo. This house was burned down in the year
1811, after which Mr. C. built another on the same site
and resumed business, but by himself. He first traded
with the people for ton timber, but afterward took butter,
pork, and other farm produce. In the next period he was
one of the most active merchants of the county, but here
we may say of him that he was a man distinguished by
his kindness of heart, his public spirit, and his readiness
for every good work
Soon after, Donald McKay bought what is now Bells
corner, and erected a blacksmith shop, where the shop of
James Fraser & Son now stands ; and Hugh Fraser
bought the lot between it and the bridge, on the same
side, and commenced business there. Kenneth McAskill,
a tailor, purchased the corner on the opposite side of
Prevost street. The first inn was kept by Angus Chis-

273
holm, in the corner house now occupied by Henderson,
where for long one of the old swinging signs invited the
traveller to enter and be refreshed. The first two-story
building in New Glasgow was James McGregor's, now
the Sheffield house, but it was not buUt till several years
later.

CHAPTER XIV.
IMMIGRATION AND NEW SETTLEMENTS AT THE
CLOSE OF THE WAR.
The depression of business in Britain at the close of the
¦•var brought a large immigration to this Province ; and
in the years immediately following a large number arrived
at Pictou, of whom a large proportion removed to other
places, but a good number settled in various parts of the
county, filling up the settlements already formed and
forming a few new ones. The latter we shall here notice.
At this period Dalhousie Mountain was settled. A
large grant had been taken up there some years previous
by persons in different parts of the Gountry, under the
idea that the soil was of very superior quality. Two of
them gave each fifty acres gratis to Peter Arthur, a native
of the Orkneys, on condition of his settling there. He
accepted the offer, and located himself in the woods five
or six miles from any settler, the nearest being at what
was recently occupied by Mr. Charles Rogers. There,
for months, he would not see the face of a human being.
He built a log barn without the assistance of a single
individual. At the conclusion of the French war, the prices of farm

276
stock in Britain fell to one-half their former rates, which
led to a large emigration from the Lowlands of Scotland.
A number of these (among whom may be mentioned five
brothers Rae — John, George, William, James, and
Robert — and John Adamson), all from Dumfriesshire,
settled on Dalhousie Mountain about this time (1815-17).
The land was covered with heavy hardwood timber, and
they entertained high hopes, which were strengthened
by the first few crops, wliich were good owing to the
burning of the hardwood upon it. But the land proved
rocky, the soil shaUow and soon exhausted. The snow,
too, in winter was deeper than in other parts of the
county, and lay longer in spring. Their crops, too,
suffered injury from frost. So that while, from their
thorough Scotch industry, some of them did well, and all
earned a subsistence, yet a number found it prudent to
abandon their farms, so that places on which considerable
labour had been expended, and comfortable buildings
erected, are now unoccupied.
About the same time, a number of persons came from
the Lowlands, particularly Dumfriesshire, and settled in
various places. They were distinguished by steady
industry and rigid economy, and they generally not only
made a hving but saved money. As an example of their
sturdy energy, the following may be given. Three
brothers Halliday settled between the Middle River and
the West Branch East River. For five or six years all
their cultivation was by the hoe. But at length one of
Ihem having a piece of land sufficiently cleared, was
desirous of getting it ploughed. For this purpose, he
brought a pair of oxen, plough and necessary gear, from
Kerrs, on the Middle River, through the woods-, over three
miles, in the following fashion : He fastened the yoke to
the horns of one ox and the chain on those of the other,
and getting a boy to drive them, he put the plough on his
own shoulders and carried it all that distance. Of their

277
success we may give an example. The late Thomas Kerr,
of Middle River, and James Roddick, having served theii
time together as millwrights, came out in the same vessel.
Mr. Kerr described their position when they landed as
foUows : "I had just half a sovereign and Roddick had
just aughteen pence, and he bought half a pun' o' tobacco t
wi' it." Yet they died worth some thousands of pounds
in property and money.
It is proper here to give a short notice of the early
settlement of Earltown, which commenced about the same
time, for although it is beyond the bounds of the County,
it is both as to its origin and population closely connected
with this County. We may mention that the settlement
embraces that portion of the County of Colchester lying
between the east line of the township of Onslow .and the
Pictou. County line. It was first surveyed in the year
1817, by Alex. Miller, who gave it its name, in compliment
to the Earl of Dalhousie, then Governor of the Province.
The first settlers were Donald Mcintosh and Angus
Sutherland, who took up their residence in the unbroken
forest in the year 1813. The next to join them was Alex.
McKay (tailor). Others followed soon after, among whom
may be mentioned George Ross, Robert Murray, John
Sutherland (father of the Rev. Alex. Sutherland), who
afterwards moved to Rogers Hill, Paul McDonald, John
McKay, Peter Murray, John McKay (miller, father of
Rev. Neil McKay), William Murray (father of Revs.
WilUam and Robert Murray), R. Murray (tailor), William
McKay, &c.
Of the early sttlers, nearly all came from Sutherland
shire, chiefly from the parishes of Rogart, Lairg and
Clyne. There were families from Inverness, two or
three from Ross, and three or four from Caithness. All
the original settlers spoke the Gaelic language, and it is
still generally used by their descendants. Indeed, it is
more generally spoken in Earltown than in any part of

278
Nova Scotia proper. Still it received some admixture of
others, for while it had old soldiers who, in the Highland
regiments, had gone through the Peninsular War, and at
least one who had fought at Waterloo, it at the same time
had a foreigner, who had been in the same battle under
Napoleon, and the two, instead of being ready to embrace
as brothers, were rather disposed to fight their battles over
again. Like all who take up their abode in the woods, the first
settlers had many difficulties to encounter. They were
for years without a grist mill. Daring that time they got
their grain ground partly by tha handmill, and partly at
a grist mill at the West Branch River John. As there
were no roads to the West Branch, and they had no horses,
they were compelled to carry their grain on their backs to
and from the mill, over a rough track. John McKay, known
as the miller, put up the first grist mUl, at a fall fifty feet
high, resembling the Fall of Foyers in Scotland. The
mill-stones that were used in it were taken from the West
Branch, a distance of fourteen miles, on a drag hauled by
36 sturdy Highlanders. Mr. McKay, we may here
observe, was proverbial for his kindness to the new settlers,
and his hospitality, which was shared by many a stranger.
The early settlers were strong, industrious and econo
mical. They were poor at first, but with great persever
ance, they made themselves comfortable homes. There
are men in Earltown to-day, who settled forty years ago
in the woods without a guinea in their pockets, who have
' fine houses, large barns, excellent farms and considerable
sums at interest. The inhabitants at that time were all
connected with the Church of Scotland, but for several
years they were without a minister. In consequence of
this, persons sometimes carried their children to Pictou, a
distance of twenty-five miles, to be baptized. They were
occasionally visited by a Minister of the Church of Scot
land, and on such occasions it was not uncommon to see

:279
him baptize twenty or thirty children at once. Rev. W.
Sutherland was the first minister who settled at Earl
town. He was never called or inducted into the congre
gation, but remained ministering to a few who adhered
to him till his death. The Rev. Alexander Sutherland,
of the Free Church of Scotland, was the first minister
who was called by the people, and ordained in the place.
He was settled in the year 1845v Though the people
were for years without a minister, they did not forsake
the assembling of themselves together. There were
among them men eminent as Christians, intimately
acquainted with the truths of religion, and able to express
themselves in a manner fitted to edify others. " The
Men," as they were called, held meetings regularly each
Sabbath in the several parts of the settlement, and
were the means -of maintaining vital godhness among
the people.
About the same time, the settlement of New Annan
began. It lies about seven miles to the south of Tatama-
gouehe, in the County of Colchester, and forms an oblong
square about ten miles long by seven wide. The first
settler there was Mr. John Bell, a native of Annandale,
in Dumfriesshire, Scotland. He emigrated to Nova Scotia
in 1806, but did not settle in New Annan till the year
1815. For some years previous to this, he had worked in
Tatamagouche, but attracted by this seemingly fertile,
and withal somewhat romantic district, with its well
wooded hills, he selected as his future home a place on
the banks of the French River, and about the centre of
the present settlement — quite a pleasant, pretty spot, and '
occupied by his descendants to this day. Here he cut the
first tree, and erected the first house, of course a log one,
in New Annan, to which he removed hiss family. For
six long and dreary years he dwelt alone in Ihe wilderness.
During all that time his nearest neighbor was six miles
.distant, but others followed. Speedily William Scott,

280
James McGeorge, Thomas Swan, and Mr. Byers, all from
the same district in Scotland, and Mr. James Munro, took
up positions near him.
Mr. Bell was a pious man, and sowere the others, and
they therefore soon felt the want of public worship. The
nearest place of preaching was Tatamagouche, to which
the Rev. Mr. Mitchell, of River John, gave part of his
services. Many a day the more vigorous of them trod-
their seven miles on a Sabbath morning, over hUls, through
marshes, covered with fallen trees, and across the French
River to hear the Gospel. But all could not travel such
a distance, or surmount such difficulties. Mr. BeU
therefore and a few others formed themselves into a
prayer meeting, and held worship in a school house near
Mr. Bell's, for such as were unable or unwiUing to travel
to Tatamagouche.
After a time Mr. Mitchell extended his labors to New
Annan, giving them occasional supply. But his visits
were valued all the more for their rarity. At that time
there was not the semblance of a road about New
Annan, or even Tatamagouche. He had to travel by
the seashore or blazed paths through the woods. Several
of the young men were in the habit of going to meet
him on his journeys, and now grey-haired sires, tell of
their exploits, as skating down French River and along
Tatamagouche Bay, to attend on sacramental occasions;
at River John.
From their sturdy Scotch industry and frugality,
these settlers soon attained to comparative comfort, and
many of their descendants are in good circumstances.
But though the district has a considerable amount of
good soil, yet portions of the hills, which appeared to
be rich, and wThich, when first cleared, gave good crops,
were found in a few years to lose their fertility. The
population is estimated at between twelve and fifteen
hundred. As in many other places, the majority of the

281
young of both sexes go abroad when they reach the
age of eighteen or twenty.
To the same period belongs the settlement of Pictou
Island. It is about five miles long and ort an average
about a mile and three quarters wide, and contains an
area of 3263 acres. It lies off Pictou Harbour, a little to
the northward, the east end being distant about ten miles
from its entrance, and the west end five and three quar
ters miles from Big Carriboo Island hght house. It has
no harbour even for a boat. Toward the east end, the
land rises to the height of about 150 feet, but in other
parts it is occupied by sw'amps. The soil is fertile, being
generally a sandy loam, and yields good crops of hay,
grain and the vegetables of temperate climates, but there
is ho fruit raised upon it, partly we have no doubt,
because the exposure to sea air is unfavourable to its
culture, but partly, we believe, from want of attention on
the part of the inhabitants. The only wild animals are
the fox, the rabbit and the musk rat. There are no
squirrels, rats or toads, and the frogs are but little larger
than grasshoppers. As to serpents it is as free from them
as old Ireland itself.
One or two incidents connected with the island previous
to its settlement may here be given. On one occasion an
Indian and his squaw in proceeding from Prince Edward
Island to Pictou landed at Rogers Beach, and remained
for the night. In the morning the unfaithful husband
sent her into the woods for something to repair his canoe.
But after she left, he started with it, and landed at Carri
boo, where he asserted that his wife had died on P. E.
Island, and that he had buried her on the beach. This
was in the beginning of winter. The unfortunate woman
erected for herself a rude hut in the woods, where she
subsisted all winter on shellfish and rabbits, clothing
herself and covering her hut with the skins of the latter.
In the following spring, she was rescued by some Indians,

282
who had disbelieved the deserter's story. It is said that
he was burned by the other Indians.
The island containing originally some good wood, the
late John Brown of Browns Point and another man,
spent a winter on the island making staves. Their supply
of provisions became exhausted before the ice broke up,
and they resolved on making the perilous attempt of
crossing on the rotten ice and open water to Carriboo. The
inhabitants of that place seeing their situation came to
their assistance, and they were rescued.
For two successive springs, two men named Campbell,
and Patterson of Pictou were burning lime on the island, for
which they brought coal from a small seam on Carriboo
Island. On one of their trips to Pictou, they were nearly
suffocated, by the sea breaking over their boat and slak
ing the lime.
The island was originally granted to Admiral Sir
Alexander Cochrane. In the year 1814, he sent
William Cumming as his agent to settle the island.
He was accompanied or soon followed by three families,
named Boyd, Hogan and Morris, all four being from
Ireland. In 1819 John McDonald, Donald McDonald and Charles
Campbell arrived. In the following year Kenneth
McKenzie, who had served in the 78th Highlanders, pur
chased the property of Cumming, and acted as agent.
These were all Highlanders, and there soon arose a strife
between them and the Irish, which became so bitter as to
sometimes leave marks of violence on the persons of the
contending parties. Probably in consequence of this, the
Irish soon after left the Island. Just before they did so,
a fire broke out, which consumed the greater part of the
forest, the origin of which was attributed to the wife of
one of them.
Shortly after, John McDonald (2nd) and Hugh McOallum
arrived, and they were soon foUowed by several of their

283
Telatives. The population is now 129, 57 males -and 72
females. We now turn to notice the progress of settlement on
the other side of the county. William McKenzie, a native
of Sutherlandshire, who had emigrated in the year 1803,
and had first settled at Lower Barneys River, removed
to the Upper Settlement in the year 1807, where he was
the first settler. He was the father of the surveyors, and
located himself at Kenzieville, where his sons still live.
Donald Robertson, who had emigrated from Perthshire
in the year 1801, and at first settled at the foot of the
river, removed in 18 19 to the Upper Settlement, and took
tip his abode near McKenzie's, about a mile farther down
the river. About this time (1819-21), Angus McKay,
fhe elder, a native of the parish of Clyne, Sutherlandshire,
and with him Simon Bannerman, Gordon Bannerman,
old John Sutherland, of the kilt, a man who never wore
trousers in his life, with his family, who were numerous,
and several others, all from Sutherlandshire, settled in
the upper woods of Barneys River. There were also a
few Lowlanders, among whom may be mentioned
William Irving, from Dumfriesshire, who settled at Barneys
River in the year 1820, who has left a large number of
descendants there.
It may be mentioned that in the years just previous,
(1810-1816), James Haggart, from the parish of Kenmore,
in Perthshire, with others from Blair Athole, settled in
the valley of Piedmont. This name was given to it
afterward by the Rev. Dugald McKeichan, the first
minister of Barneys River, from its situation at the foot of
a range of hills. James Mappel settled in Marshy Hope,
a valley in the Antigonish Mountains, leading into
Antigonish County, where Angus McDonald now lives.
When his neighbours were in the habit of advising him
to leave that marshy place, because the frost injured all
his crops, his uniform reply was, " I hope it will improve."

284
Hence his neighbours made the remark, that his hope was
a marshy hope, from which circumstance arose the name
ofthe Valley. John McLean (the poet) settled at East
Branch of Barneys River, and after a time removed to
Antigonish County. He was a native of the Island of
Coll. Between the years 1830 and 1840, a number of other
families came from the counties of Sutherland and Perth,
and took up land in the same settlement, among whom
were John McDonald, the weaver, and his brother
Duncan, James Forbes, WUUam Sutherland, Donald
Bruce, James Leadbetter, John Bannerman, Donald
McKay, Robert Ferguson, besides others.
William Urquhart, from Glen Urquhart in Scotland,
settled at Blue Mountains soon after the year 1815, and
was the first settler there. William Ross, the elder, came
out from the same parish and joined him in the year 1818.
He was the first who gave the name " Blue Mountain"
to that district of country. Along with him came Rode
rick McDougald, Senr., John Austen, and others ; and in
the year 1820, came Donald Campbell, John Munroe, and
others, who settled at Moose River. About the same
time also other families, McLarens from Argyleshire, Ken
nedys and McDougalls from the Island of Mull, settled
on the old St. Marys Road.
The people of the Blue Mountain are chiefly from Glen
Urquhart, and the neighborhood of Beauly and Kirkhill,
in Inverness, with a few from Ross-shire and a few from
'the Lowlands, among whom may be mentioned the
Meikle family, descendants of James Meikle, Senr., who
came from the South of Scotland near the English border.
Sometime after 1830, William McDonald from Caithness
came to the Garden of Eden and took up his abode there.
He was called the " Adam " of the garden, because he
was the first settler and the oldest man there. Along
with him came his sons, John, Alexander, and George,

285
also his son-in-law WUliam Miller, and he was followed
by others from Caithness and Ross-shire.
At the beginning of this period, the district of St.
Marys was attracting a good deal of attention, as a
desirable place or settlement, and quite a number of per
sons moved thither from this county. It was specially
noted for its magnificent timber, extensive intervales,
rivers teeming with fish, and the abundance of game in the
forest. The very first settlers were from Truro, who built
the first house in Glenelg in 1801, but the great body of
those who followed were from Pictou. In the yearl810,
William Kirk, one of the old 82nd, removed from Green
HiU and settled at Glenelg, and in the same year, John
McLean and his son James came from West River and
settled at Stillwater. In 1813, Alexander Hattie moved
over and settled on the East River of St. Marys, about
two miles beyond the county line, and in the year follow
ing, McKenzie from Green Hill settled at the head of
Stillwater. At the same period, Caledonia was settled, almost
entirely by Pictonians. In the year 1810, Angus McDonald
moved over and settled in Lower Caledonia. His posterity
are now numerous along the river. About the same time,
Simon Fraser, located himself near him, but he subse
quently moved to Glenelg. In 1812, Donald Cameron
came over from Green Hill and settled in Middle Caledo
nia, and in the same year, John McDonald from West
Branch, East River, took up land in the same vicinity.
In 1814, Angus, John and Neil McQuarrie, took up lands
still farther up. They had come from Scotland in 1810,
but had been living in Churchville. Others from Pictou
followed, but these may be given as the pioneers.
A part of the East River of St. Marys belongs to Pictou
County, and we must now more particularly notice its
early settlement, which began at this period. The land
had been previously granted by Government to David

286
Archibald, previously of Truro, then of Sherbrooke-, and
others, in blocks of 2000 acres each. The grantees however
did not settle or make any improvements upon their lots,.
and the actual settlers had to buy from them.
The first man who crossed the water shed with his
family, to settle on the East River of St. Marys, on the
Pictou side of it, was Mr. Alexander McKay. He came
over from Fish Pools in July, 1815, taking with him his
wife and seven children. From Webster Mills, McLen-
nans Mountain, to St. Marys, a distance of 22 miles, was
an unbroken forest, with a bridle path through it for half
the distance, and only a blaze for the rest. The only
possible modes of travel were on horseback or on foot.
Four horses were secured for the journey. The larger
children were lashed on the backs of the horses, with the
luggage, while the smaller were carried in the arms of
their parents or of the drivers, who trudged along on foot.
One of the horses belonged to Mr. McKay, but soon after
the poor brute, being tired of the lonely life in the forest,
set out to return to the haunts of civilization, but lost
sight of the blaze, or in confidence in its own superior
wisdom, took a straighter course and perished in a swamp.
It was five or six years after before McKay could obtain
another, not altogether however from the objections of
the animal to live in such a solitude.
Later in the same summer (1815), three others followed
in McKay's steps, and settled farther down the river, viz.,
John McBain, John Matheson and Hugh Fraser, and
later still in the season, Angus Cameron arrived, adding
the fifth family to the little community. McBain and
Cameron settled on the west side of the river, the others
on the east. By the last running of the county line,
McBain's land on one side of the river, and Fraser's on the
other, are thrown into Guysborough County. We may
add that at this time there were but three settlers about
Glenelg Lake, and only one farther up the river.

287
The traveller passing through this section of country
at the present day, admires its broad, fertile, and well-
cultivated intervales, hemmed in by ridges of forest-clad
hills, and dotted by feathery elms. But a grander sight.
met the gaze of the early pioneers, from the brow of the
mountain they had to cross in reaching it. On the west
of the river down to the margin of the valley, was a pine
forest, which stretched away without a break to the
Musquodoboit River, while to the north and east a sea of
rolling hills extended in the direction of Barneys River
and Lochaber. Much of this forest remains, the glory of
tho hills, to this day. Tho timber of the valley is said to
have been very large. Elms three and four feet through
ran up without knot or limb, for 50 or 60 feet, and maples,,
oaks, and birches of equal or greater size, with here and
there a giant pine, covered its surface, and seemed to smile
defiance upon the puny efforts of the feeble band, now
attempting to dispossess these monarchs of the forest, that
had occupied the ground undisturbed for centuries.
All these pioneers had visited the locality several times
before taking up their abode there, and had done some
chopping and burning, had erected rude huts, and that
spring had planted a few potatoes. That year, however,
as we shall see presently, was the year of the mice, and
thus their only crop became the prey of these creatures.
The larger tubers they scooped out, eating or carrying
away the contents, and the smaller they dragged, to
their holes in stumps and logs. The following spring,
the settlers carried their seed from McLennans Mountain,
except a little that they brought from Lochaber, nearly k
as far. But this again was fhe year of the frost, so
that they were doomed to reap no harvest, except a
little fodder for their cattle. We may add that for many
years, until the forests were well cleared away, the frost
continued to be very destructive along the valley. In
consequence, for the first five or six years, they had Uttle

288
bread of any kind. Even after their clearings enlarged,
and the frost and mildew became less destructive, they
still had many hardships to endure. For years they had
to dry their oats in pots, and shell them with their feet
in barrels and boxes, and then carry the groats on their
backs, or in winter drag them on handsleds, to Archibald's
mill at Glenelg to be ground.
But otherwise they did not want for food. The river
swarmed with fish, especially trout, salmon and gaspe-
reaux. Eels also were abundant, but they were regarded
rather as an enemy, for unless the nets were watched, they
would eat the salmon in them as soon as they were caught.
They would do this in a way that was always a marvel
to those who were witnesses of the feat. They would eat
the whole fish except the skin and the backbone, turning
the skin inside out without breaking a single joint of the
latter. Moose and Caribou were numerous, and partridges
and rabbits were snared or looped, and often proved an
acceptable addition to their larder. Even the porcupine
sometimes found its way to their table. Bears were very
numerous, but having abundance of food in the forest,
very considerately abstained from disturbing the settlers
for a number of years.
In subsequent years, settlers continued to arrive. In
1817, another Angus Cameron came over from McLennans
Mount, and settled on the East side of the river between
McKay and Fraser. In 1821, he was followed by Alex
ander Sutherland, who located himself farther up the
river. In 1826, James Cameron removed from McLennans
Mount, and occupied the place vacated by John Matheson,
who had left. The same year John Hattie settled on the
West side of thc river. In 1831, three families of Gunns
arrived from Scotland and occupied lands, between McKay
and Sutherland.
Among the hardships to which these people were ex-

289
-posed, particular mention must be made of the want of a
road. When they first settled here, they had above
twenty miles of forest to traverse to reach a neighboring
settlement, and one incident may illustrate the inconven
ience of such a situation. Twenty years after their
settlement, a young man, whose head is now white with
the snows of age, had exchanged his solitary life for the
social, and had erected his humble log home, but, not
many weeks after his marriage, discovered that house
keeping was inconvenient without dishes. So he set out
on his snowshoes for New Glasgow, and there purchased
a set of cooking utensils, consisting of an oven, two pots,
a kettle, two teapots, a half dozen cups and saucers, a
half dozen plates of large size, with as many smaller ones,
and a half dozen knives and forks. He succeeded in
getting these conveyed on a sled, as far as there was any
thing of a road, or to within twelve miles of his home.
He then donned his snowshoes, fastened all the above
mentioned articles about his person, and though heavily
laden, he never came home with lighter heart, to meet
the partner of his life.
Not until Captain McKenzie became member for Pictou
in 1855, and in the year following obtained a grant for a
road from the Garden of Eden to St. Marys, was it pos
sible to ride in a wheeled vehicle, between these two
places. Even in winter it was long before a sleigh road
was opened. The fathers still tell of the way in which
they used to fasten two poles to a horse after the fashion
of shafts, with the lower ends trailing behind, and kept
together by a cross piece, and with long wooden pins
driven into the upper side, on which they laid their pork,
which they dragged in this manner to the Garden.
Even down the river toward Glenelg, there was no pos
sible road to market or mill, for fifteen years after they
settled here. In the winter the hand-sleigh, and in the
summer the canoe, when the river was sufficiently
19

290
swollen, were the only means of conveying burdens,
excepting on shoulder or horseback.
Of the first settlers, Alex. McKay, the pioneer, deserves
special mention, as probably possessing the greatest
amount of strength and activity combined, of any man
that was ever in the County. He was a son of Alex.
McKay, whose name appears among the immigrants of
1784, and was born near Beauly, Inverness. He came
with his father to this Province, when a boy of about 12
years of age. On the passage, he performed a feat which
showed his daring and dexterity. He and another boy
having olimbed up the mast, two sailors followed with
ropes, intending to tie them. One of them caught the
other boy, but McKay seizing the top-mast stay, swung
himself from it by his hands, and then passed hand over
hand to the other mast, by which he descended to the
deck, while the bystanders looked on in terror.
When a young man, he chased and caught a caribou
calf. The Indians have a. saying regarding the young of
the animal, "one day old, Indian catch him, two days
old, dog catch him, three days old Mundous himself no
catch him." However McKay being in the woods with
some others, they started a herd, and this calf became
separated from the rest. He pursued it, endeavouring to
drive it in a direction the opposite from that in which its
companions had gone, at the same time watching lest the
dam should turn upon him. After a short chase it tripped
in crossing a tree, and fell, and in an instant he was upon
it. He took the animal home where it became quite
tame. He afterwards exchanged it for a heifer with Squire
McKay, who sent it as a present to the Governor, Sir
John Wentworth, receiving in return a present of 2000
acres of land in St. Marys. It was afterward sent to the
Tower of London, where it continued for several years^.
being the first animal of the kind in that collection.
Many stories are told of his mingled physical power

291
and dexterity in his mature years. We give a specimen.
A bull had become wild, and was shut up in a barn,
where none dared to approach him. McKay was sent for.
On arrival he gave orders to open the door, whUe he stood
beside it. As the animal rushed out, he seized him by
the horns, threw him on his back and held him as long as
necessary. He was much engaged in lumbering, but
neither river-driving nor the other concomitants of that
mode of life, ever seemed to affect his constitution. When
between 80 and 90 years old, he could mow his swathe
with younger men, and he lived to be 97 years of age.
All the settlers were economical, industrious and
religious. About the year 1826, they hired Hugh Cameron,
subsequently of Wentworth Grant, as their first teacher,
and about the same time, they started a sabbath school ;
and with slight interruptions, both haye been continued
since with the happiest results.
The first minister who preached to them was the Rev.
Dr. McGregor, who about the year 1817, in one of his
missionary excursions to Glenelg and Sherbrooke passed
up the bed of the river on horseback. But with the
exception of McKay, all the settlers adhered to the Church
of Scotland. At the Disruption, the majority joined the
Free church, and obtained a portion of the services of the
Rev. Alex. Campbell of Lochaber. Two small churches
were built, but now the people have all united with the
Presbyterian church in Canada, and have erected a larger
and more comfortable place of worship;

292

CHAPTER XV.

FROM. THE'P'EACE TILL THE FINANCIAL1 CRISIS OF 1825-6
1815 - 1820,
Up to this period the history of the county had
been one of continued and for some time rapid progress.
Population and wealth had increased at a rate, which,
compared with what has since been seen in the Western
States, might even be considered slow, but which at that
time was regarded as quite remarkable. From this time
forward however for some years, its progress was very
slow, and indeed in some respects it seemed for a time to
have been stationary, or even to have retrograded. In
the town of Pictou or its neighbourhood, property sold as
high in 1815, as it did forty years later, and some farms
brought larger sums at the former period, than they would
now, and from that time there has been more or less
emigration from Pictou, many especially of the young
going abroad.
The first interruption to its continued prosperity was
by the peace of 1815. The change largely affected the
whole Province. The author .of Agricola's letters thus
describes it : —
" During the war, money here arising from the expenditure of the British
Government, and from the sale of the rich cargoes and ships, which were daily
brought in by our cruizers, was not only in brisk circulation, but in great
abundance. The ships of war, which lay in the harbours, the various
establishments of dockyard, ordnance and barracks, the strangers who-resorted
hither on commercial speculation, contributed to create an uncommon demand
for all sorts of produce ; and as these were before inadequate to the ordinary
wants of the community, they fell now infinitely short of the extraordinary
consumption, to which the exigency of the times gave rise. During the whole
ofthis period, the prices obtained by the occupier of lands for whatever he
could bring to market, were prodigiously high and far outran the cost -of

293
production. Hay sold atfrom ten to twelve pounds per ton, and was frequently
at fifteen ; beef and mutton varied from 8d. to lOd. per pound ; potatoes,
turnips, and beets were oftener above than below 5s. per bushel, and all
vegetables were exorbitant in like proportion. During this unprecedented
prosperity, no exertion was needed by the farming body to earn a subsistence.
The rewards of the most moderate labour were so ample, that they begat habits
of indolence and luxury ; but excited not to new energy or a more spirited
cultivation. Our landholders, satisfied with the enormous prices they obtained '
for beef and hay, and trusting that the springs of wealth, which flowed so
copiously, would be perennial, discerned not the dark cloud at a distance,
which was gathering round to overcast their horizon. Peace came and at once
dried all the sources of this artificial prosperity. Eeal estate fell almost in an
instant, trade declined, land produce was lowered by the effects of this general
depression, and in about two years after the ratification of the treaty of Paris,
an universal gloom had settled over the Province."
As the County of Pictou was less dependant on the war
expenditure, than some other parts of the Province, and
as the inhabitants had relied more on trade than on
agriculture, the effects of the peace were not so-disastrous
or so immediate, as have been described, but still theeffects
were felt to a considerable extent. The rural population
however were especially discouraged by two calamities
which came upon the county at this period in successive
years (1815-16), which we shall now notice.
The former year was long distinguished in this, as well
as in the neighbouring counties of Colchester and Anti
gonish, as "the year of the mice." This was a most
destructive visitation, from which this portion of the
country suffered from these seemingly insignificant
animals. During the previous season they did not appear
in any unusual numbers. But at the end of Winter,
they were so numerous as to trouble the sugar makers,
by fouling their troughs for gathering sap, and before
planting was over, the woods and fields alike swarmed
with them. They were of the large species of field
mouse, still sometimes seen in the country, but which has
never since been very numerous.
They were very destructive and actuaUy fierce. If
pursued, when hard pressed, they would stand at bay

294
rising upon their hind legs, setting their teeth and
squealing fiercely. A farmer on whom I could rely told
me, that having after planting, spread out some barley to
dry in the sun before his door, in a little while he saw it
covered with them. He let the cat out among them, but
they actually turned upon her and fought her.
The late sown grain and the seed potatoes suffered
from them ;* but it was when the grain began to ripen,
that their destructiveness became especially manifest.
They then attacked it in such numbers, that all means
were unavailing to arrest their ravages. They have been
known to cut down an acre in three days, so that whole
fields were destroyed in a short time. One would nip a
stalk off a little above the ground, and if instead of falling
over, the end sank to the ground, leaving it still upright,
he would bite it oft farther up, until it either fell over, or
the ear came within his reach, when he would devour all
the grain. Over acres on acres, they left not a stalk
standing, nor a grain of wheat, to reward the labours of
the farmer. They burrowed in the ground and consumed
the potatoes. Cats, dogs, and martens gorged themselves
to repletion upon them, but with little seeming diminu
tion of their numbers. Trenches were dug and filled
with water, but they formed but a slight barrier to their
progress. They passed away as rapidly as they came. In the
Autumn, as the weather became colder, they became
languid, scarcely able to crawl. One could trample them
under his feet and finally they died in hundreds, so that
they could be gathered in heaps, and their putrefying
carcases might be found in some places in such numbers
as to taint the air. At Cape George they went to the

* A man in Merigomish had made a clearing out at Piedmont in the woods.
He carried out four bushels of oats to sow. On commencing, they came in
swarms eating the grain as he sowed it. After continuing a while, he threw
the whole to them in disgust, and returned home.

295
water, and there died, forming a ridge like seaweed along
the edge of the sea, and codfish were caught off the
coast with carcases in their maws.
Notwithstanding the unprecedented prosperity, which
the country had enjoyed for about twenty years, such
were the spendthrift habits engendered during that
period, that the people were not prepared to meet such a
calamity, and it was therefore felt very severely. But it
was followed by what was long known as " the year of
the frost," which left a large portion of the inhabitants
in a suffering condition. The year 1816 was known
throughout the northern parts of this Continent, and also
in Europe, as "the year without a Summer." In tho
Northern States, frost, ice, and snow were common in
June. Snow fell to the depth of ten inches in Vermont,
seven in Maine, and three in Central New York. On the
5th July, ice was formed of the thickness of common
window glass throughout New England, New York, and
some parts of Pennsylvania. In August ice was formed
half an inch thick, Indian corn was so frozen that the
greater part was cut down for fodder. Indeed almost
•every green thing was destroyed. A simUar state of
things existed in England. During the whole season,
the sun's rays seemed to be destitute of heat. All nature
seemed to be clad in a sable hue. The average whole
sale price of flour during that year in Philadelphia was
$13 per barrel. The average price of wheat in England
was 97s. per quarter.
Here the frost was hard in the woods in the month of
June, provisions were high and from the destruction of
crops the previous year by the mice, many were suffering,
and nearly all the farmers were put to some inconve
nience, for want of food for their families. Alexander
Grant (miller), of the East River, went to Halifax to obtain
a supply. He there bought 70 barrels flour, for which he
jhad to pay £3 per barrel. On his way back on the 5th

296
June, he stayed all night at a tavern between Halifax
and Truro, and in the morning the ground was frozen
so hard, that it carried his horse. The flour came round
by water, and he went down to town to bring it up the
East River, which he did on a coal lighter. On his way
up on the 16th, he saw a man trying to harrow his
ground, where he had sowed some grain, and wearing a
great coat in consequence of the cold. That night being
Saturday, he put the flour into a barn owned by the late
James Carmichael, Esq., who had shortly before begun to-
do business, where New Glasgow now stands. On.
Monday morning, before he reached the spot, there were
as many assembled, as there were barrels of flour, and
no sooner was the door opened, than a rush was made,
and each man seized a barrel, asking no questions as to
price, and it was with some difficulty that he saved one
for his own family.
In the same year, Mr. Grant and his brother Robert,.
erected the first oatmill in Nova Scotia, probably the first
in B. N. America, on the site still occupied in the same
way, and known as Grant's Mills. Very Uttle oatmeal
had been used previously. Small quantities were some
times brought out in vessels, and sometimes the country
people manufactured a little in a coarse way, by roasting
the grains in a large pot and afterwards separating and
grinding the groats. But now Mr. Grant constructed a
regular oatmill driven by water, of which the gear was
made by a millwright, named Duff. It was still, however,
somewhat rude in structure. Instead of iron over the
kUn, the grain was supported on wooden slats, the edges
of which were bevelled on the lower side, and there were
no fanners. Indeed fanners were not then commonly
used even by the farmers. Hence after the grain had
been dried, they were obliged to carry it to the top of a
hill near, and piously wait till Providence sent a wind.
sufficient to separate the sheUs from the kernels. But

297,
the next year, he constructed fanners driven by the mill.
At this time agriculture seems to have engaged attention,
and accordingly, the first agricultural society in the rural
districts of the Province, was formed on the 1st January,
1817, at West River. This was before the publication of
the letters of John Young, under the signature of Agricola.
A meeting was held some time before, at which the
resolution was adopted, to " form a society for the improve
ment of agriculture, to be called ' The West River
Farming Society.' " Accordingly the Society wTas regu
larly organized at that date, 26 persons joining, and the
following being elected office bearers : — Rev. Duncan Ross,
President ; Robert Stewart, Vice-President ; Donald Fraser,
Treasurer ; John Bonnyman, Secretary ; David McCoull,
John Oliver, Anthony Smith, George McDonald, John
McLean, Jonathan Blanchard, Committee. They seem
to have had a poet among them also, for in the front of
their minute book, the following appears as their motto : —
Let this be held the farmers' creed,
For stock seek out tho choicest breed,
In peace and plenty let them feed.
Vour lands sow with the best of seed,
Let it not dung nor dressing want,
And then provisions won't be scant.
By the rules then adopted, each member was to pay 5s.
entry money and Is. 3d. quarterly ; no persons were
to be admitted but farmers and freeholders of good moral
character. And to insure continued good behaviour, it
was enacted, that " if any member shall curse or swear
or use any indecent language, or introduce any subject
inconsistent with the business of the Soaiety, he shall be
fined by the President and a majority of the members
present, in a sum not exceeding 5s."
The Society was to meet quarterly, and at each meeting
a topic or topics, connected with rural economy, was to
be discussed, " each member to come prepared either with

298
a written essay, or to speak on the subject," the question
selected for the first quarterly meeting in April, being,
" What is the best method of preparing and increasing
manure ? " It served to elicit differences of opinion, for
one man rose and said, that " instead of finding ways of
making more, he wished they would find some way of
getting quit o' it, for it was just a bother about his barn."
The Society continued to hold quarterly meetings, and
to discuss agricultural topics. In the year 1818, they held
a ploughing match in Mr. Mortimer's field, said to have
been the first ever held in the Province. They imported
seed grain, agricultural implements, and Ayrshire cattle.
They also held some cattle shows, at wliich prizes were
given for the best stock. They also gave prizes for the
best acre of wheat and other crops, the greatest amount
under summer fallow, and " to the person who should
stump and plough fit for crop the greatest quantity of
land never ploughed before, not more than three stumps
per acre left on the land, and all stones that materially
obstruct the operation of ploughing and harrowing to be
removed, the quantity to be not less than two acres." In
April, 1824, they offered £7 10s., in addition to the Legis
lative grant, for a flax mill. Anthony Smith, Esq.,
undertook to erect one. It was commenced that year,
and in the following he received a prize for it, being the
first of the kind erected in the Province. It did not
however work long, as it did not receive sufficient
employment to maintain it.
In the year 1819 the name was changed to the Pictou
Agricultural Society, and Ed. Mortimer elected President,
and some time after we find them presenting the Rev.
Duncan Ross with a new plough, " to be one of Wilkies
best, as an expression of their sense of his-services to the
cause of agriculture."
In the year 1820, we find a notice of a similar society
on the East River, of which Dr. McGregor was Secretary.

299
Others were formed in other parts of the country, and
continued for some time, aided by grants from the Central
Board, and had considerable effect in improving the
habits of our farmers.
In the year 1819, the whole community was shocked
by the most dreadful murder probably ever committed in
tho Province, — Ariz., that by Donald Campbell ofhis fathe:
and stepmother. He was a simple ignorant man, but not
previously regarded as violent or cruel. He was an only
son, but his father had taken a second wife, and he w as
afraid, that in consequence he would lose his share of the
paternal estate. This led him to form the design of
destroying them both. Up till the time of committing the
deed, he had given no such indications of hostility to
them, as to excite any alarm. He lived at Eariiown, but
on the day before the commission of the deed, he was in
town, and on his way back, called at his father's house,
wrhich stood on what is now Dinwoodies farm, and there
obtained refreshments. He then started on his way
homeward, calling at houses on his way as far as West
Branch River John, with the design doubtless of producing
the impression, that he had gone home. But when night
came, he retraced his steps towards his father's house,
which was a small one constructed of logs. Arriving
there, he fastened the door by means of withes attached to
the handle of the latch, and then set it on fire, while his
father and stepmother were asleep. They were awakened
by the fire, and succeeded in forcing the door open. They
then commenced removing their things from the house,
uttering at the same time loud cries for assistance. Donald
wTas on the watch, and as his father was coming out with
a large iron pot, he struck him with a heavy stick, and
pushed him back into the house, where his bones were
found next day.
His step mother succeeded in getting out. She was a
stout strong woman and it was thought, that if she had

300
had fair play, she would have mastered him, but he
struck her on the head with his dreadful bludgeon, and
then drew her to the fire to cast her in. She was a heavy
woman and either from her weight, or being alarmed
before he accomplished his purpose, he only succeeded in
putting her partially into the flames ; and in doing so,
was somewhat scorched himself, a fact which afterward
told against him on the trial.
In the meantime, their cries had brought to the scene a
neighbour named McIntosh, who blew his horn to give
notice of his coming. As he approached, Donald ran
away. Mcintosh saw his retreating figure, but did not
suspect who it was, indeed supposed he had seen a ghost.
He found Mrs. Campbell dead, and her body partly
burned. He dragged it out of the fire, but was too late
to save anything out of the house. He also found a little
dog of Donald's at the spot, a circumstance which after
ward excited suspicion.
Mrs. Campbell was buried without an inquest, although
her brother, the late Angus Campbell, elder, Scotch HUl,
at her funeral declared his belief that she had been mur
dered. A number of circumstances excited suspicion,
and Donald was arrested. His stepmother's body was
exhumed, and, on examination by the late Dr. Johnston,
the marks upon it, left no doubt, that her death had been
caused by violence. The stick was found with his
father's blood and grey hairs upon it, and was afterwards
produced in Court. A button was picked up, and on
examination it was found to correspond with those on his
coat, from which there was one missing. A gun flint was
picked up on the spot, and a brother-in-law recognized it
by a private mark, as one he had lent him just before the
murder, and Campbell's gun was found without a flint.
It was supposed that he had intended to shoot his parents,
but that the flint had dropped out, and in the dark he
could not find it, the great avenger having left it to cry

301
from the ground against him. Parties testified to seeing
him at various points on the road or taking to the woods
before and after the fire. S. G. W. Archibald, who con
ducted the prosecution, took a large sheet of foolscap
paper, and marking one point as the site of the house, and
others at proper distances, to indicate the different points at
which he had been seen, held it up before the jury, and
showed how exactly the times of his being seen, coincided
with the view of his going to and from his fathers house,
though he denied having been near it that night. The
whole circumstances left no doubt of his guilt, and
accordingly at the September term of the Supreme Court,
he was found guilty and sentenced to be executed.
The sentence was carried out at the scene of his crime,
the gallows being erected on the site of his father's
house. He was taken from the jail in Pictou in a cart, to
Rogers Hill Church, which was as far as a wheeled
carriage could go, guarded by a body of militia drafted from
the several companies, and attended by several clergymen.
There the fetters being removed from his legs, he walked
the rest of the way under the same escort. Before his
execution, he confessed his crime, but showed little
appearance of contrition, although Dr. McGregor and the
other ministers used all the means in their power, to bring
him to a sense of his conduct and repentance for it. A
large concourse assembled at the execution, and just
before it took place, Dr. McGregor offered a prayer, which,
from its earnestness and tenderness, lingered in the minds
of most who heard it, while memory remained. But he
was obliged to turn away in sadness, with the words " 0
Donald, I believe nothing will ever melt your heart."
The execution was superintended by the High Sheriff
of Halifax, but was clumsily effected. When he gave
the signal, the executioner attempted to draw the bolt,
but it only slowly yielded to his efforts, and when the
trap door fell with the unfortunate man, the knot slipped

302
round to the back of his neck, which remained unbroken,
so that he slowly choked to death. As the rope untwisted,
he swung round with his face to the spectators on one
side, and then as it recoiled, to those on the other, while
his heavy breathing could be heard over the crowd, and,
it was said, the pulsations of his heart, but perhaps rather,
the heaving of his chest, could be seen by those near,
presenting a spectacle, which led many present, never to
see another execution.
We may here mention, that there have since been twe
executions in the county. The first was Neil McFadyan
for the murder of James Kerr. In the fall of 1847, they
had travelled together from Bay Chaleur to Pictou-
Kerr's friends, not hearing from him, became anxious,
and in spring enquiries were set on foot, when he was
traced in company with McFadyan tiU near the house of
the latter at Blue Mountain. The attention of parties in
the neighbourhood was attracted by a stench from a
neighboring wood, and on a search, part of a human body
and clothes were found, which were identified as those
of Kerr. Farther examination brought out a mass of
circumstantial evidence, which left no doubt of
McFadyan's guilt. And on trial before Judge BUss, at the
October term of the Supreme Court, he was condemned
and sentenced to be executed. He was a bold, hardened
villain, with no want of inteUigence. The execution
took place near the Beaches on the lot owned by the
public, and used on occasions as a lazaretto. It was
)rdered to take place between ten and two o'clock. He
' was taken to the ground earlier than the hour intended.
WhUe they were waiting, it being a raw, cold day, late
in the fall of the year, he said to the Sheriff, shrugging
his shoulders, " It's cold here ; you may as well put me
through at once."
The other was the case of John McPhail for the murder
of his wife. He was a poor, simple creature, who kept a

303
low groggery back of the Albion Mines, on the roaa to
the Middle River. His wife and he drank, and while
both were under the influence of liquor, he beat her over
the head and other parts of the body with a pick handle,
even breaking her arm, so that she died. He was
convicted principally on the evidence ofhis own chUd.
A criminal, who gave more trouble than either, and
excited more alarm in the county, was a man named Jack
Hines. He was an Englishman, who had come here and
married in this county. He was a strong man and a
great buUy, so that he became a terror to the neighbour
hood. He was at length arrested, tried and found guilty
of burglary. The penalty at that time was death, but the
jury recommended him to mercy. The judge however
was bound to pronounce the sentence. The recommen
dation to mercy had to be forwarded to London, for the
consideration of the Home Government, and such was the
irregularity of communication, that though forwarded in
February, an answer was not received till October, during
which time he was kept in prison, his elbows kept close
by his side, by means of a chain across the back attached
to each. A pardon having arrived, there was considerable
alarm at the prospeet of his release, particularly among
some of the magistrates, residing out of town. They
therefore told him, that the condition of his pardon was,
that he should leave the district. He was accordingly
escorted to Mount Thom across the Une, and left to pursue
bis way further as he pleased. Three nights after he
robbed a store near Truro. He was arrested and on trial
was sentenced to the workhouse in Halifax, but not long i
after made his escape.
We must now notice the trade of Pictou during the
period we are reviewing. After the conclusion of the war,
the timber trade still continued, though on a diminished
scale, and we may here notice some of those engaged in
it. Next to Mortimer, must be mentioned George Smith.

304
Hewas a native of Scotland, we beheve of Banff, and was
taken into partnership by Mr. Mortimer, their business
being conducted under the name of Edward Mortimer &
Co. After the death of the latter the business was con
ducted by Mr. Smith and WUham Mortimer, a nephew of
Edward's, under the name of Smith, Mortimer & Co.
Afterward, however, they dissolved partnership and each
of them did business separately. For some years they
were the most influential business men in Pictou. Mr.
Smith represented the County of Halifax, from Mr.
Mortimer's death in 1819 tUl the year 1836, when the
County was divided, after which he represented the
County of Pictou till the year 1838, when he was appointed
to the Legislative Council. Mr. Smith was a man of fine
presence and a gentleman of the old school. He was an
able business man, and succeeded, as far as it was possible
for one man in the advanced state of the country to do, to
the place and influence of Mortimer. The misfortunes of
his later years obscured all his former glory, and almost
blotted from memory the services of his early career. It
is therefore due to him to say, that at this period he was
an active merchant, and did much for the business of the
port — that he filled several public offices, judge of Probate,
judge of the Superior Court, and Custos of the County
in a most creditable manner, and that as a member
of the Legislature, he commanded the highest respect,
and was largely influential in promoting the interests of
Pictou. We may also notice John and Abraham Patterson, sons
of old John Patterson. They began business in Pictou
about the year 1815. Mortimer said when he heard of
their commencing, that he was more afraid of those two
young men, than of any persons that had ever begun
business in Pictou. Though during the preceding years
of prosperity, others had engaged in merchandizing, he
still regarded any person attempting general trade, as an

305
intruder upon his legitimate domain, and he employed!
his power to defeat their enterprise.
But in a short time, by their energy, and the confidence
which they had inspired by their honorable dealings,
they were doing a business, in its extent perhaps not
surpassed by any in the eastern part of the Province.
Their trade consisted principally in shipping timber to
Britain, the fisheries, and the West India trade. In
timber the article most in demand was squared pine,
which was still obtained in considerable quantities in
Pictou and the outports. They were not engaged largely
in shipbuilding, their operations being confined princi
pally to the building of small vessels for the fisheries or
the West India trade. In fishing, the mode of doing
business was to send to the various places to which the
finny tribes chiefly resorted, small vessels, loaded with
barrels, salt, and supplies of goods, such as fishermen
required, in charge either of one of the firm or an agent,
who exchanged these articles for fish. In this way they
^prosecuted the fishery the whole season, commencing
with the Gaspereaux in Spring, then following succes
sively the spring mackerel and the spring herring, the
codfish and salmon, the fall herring and fall mackerel.
In this way their business extended as far as Richibucto
on the North, Rustico on the North coast of Prince
Edward Island, Margarie and Cheticamp on the North
coast of Cape Breton, and Canso on the South shore of
Nova Scotia. At that time fish were taken in quantities
which now seem almost incredible, five hundred barrels
of mackerel at a single haul being considered a good,
but not an extraordinary catch. Oftentimes they could
not be cured, and heaps containing hundreds of barrels
were left to rot upon the shore. The fishermen were
generaUy a reckless set, depending on taking by a
single haul enough to keep them for six months, and
were dependant upon traders, for the supply of most

306
of the necessaries of life The fish brought bacfe
in these expeditions, was shipped, along with various-
kinds of lumber to the West Indies, and the vessels
brought back return cargoes of West India produce. In
this trade the brothers continued for a number of years.
Doubtless there are many enterprising men in Pictou at
the present day, but where is all this business now T
For the decline of the timber trade, there is a good reason.
in the exhaustion of the supply, but why should not the
fisheries be carried on from Pictou, as well as from ports,
'more distant from the places frequented by these finny
tribes. In their business dealings the two brothers were much
esteemed. We have met in distant places in Cape Breton,
and along the south shore of the Province, persons who
looked back with the kindliest recollections to the days,
when they traded to these quarters, and spoke with the
warmest feelings of respect for themselves personally.
They retired from business in the year 1832. The
older, so long known as " the deacon," many in Pictou
will still remember. A man of but few words, he was
ready for every good work. In the congregation he was
the deacon and the manager, never putting himself for
ward, but always having work laid upon him, and doing
it as naturaUy as if taking his meals, — a man of such
entire negation of self, that ne never seemed to feel that
he was doing anything, yet the man to whom everybody
looked when anything was to be done. Such was he in
' every society with which he was connected. He filled
also public situations with honor to himself and advan
tage to others. He was a trustee of the Pictou Academy
from its foundation, and for many years its. treasurer.
He was also treasurer to the Synod of the Presbyterian
Church of Nova Scotia, when, however, the keeping of
its accounts, and the disbursement of its funds, was not
a matter of great labor. Guileless in character, lovable

307
in nature and unassuming in all that he did, he passed
away not only without an enemy, but amid universal
expressions of profound respect. He died April, 1847.
Abraham, though in his later years living in a great
measure retired from public life, was at this time for years
one of the most prominent men in Pictou. In the year
1815 or '16, he was appointed a justice of the peace,
whieh at that time involved something, having been
recommended to the position by the unanimous voice of
a public meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Pictou,
and fiUed the office for more than fifty years. He was
also a judge of the Inferior Court, at the time of the
aboUtion of that tribunal, in the public movements of
his time, he for many a day bore an honorable part. He
died June, 1867.
The meeting for the election of magistrates referred to,
took place at Taylor's Tavern, on the east side of the
street leading to Yorstons Wharf, his biggest room being
prepared for the purpose, when besides Mr. P., his brother,
Walter, Robert Patterson, and, we believe, Robert McKay,
were chosen, and in due course were appointed by
Government. The meeting was harmonious, and not
less so, when the nominations being over, one gentleman
arose and said, " Mr. Chairman, I have another motion to
propose." Attention being directed to him, he added, " I
move that we now caU for liquors all round." There is
no record of the result, but we venture to say that the
motion was carried, nem: con., and, unlike many a better
resolution, was immediately carried into execution.
, Robert Patterson here mentioned, was usually known as
Black Bob, to distinguish him from two cousins ofthe same
name, his title being derived from the colour of his hair,
all being grandsons of Squire Patterson. He lived above
Dr. McCulloch's place on the old road, was now in busi
ness, and afterward an active magistrate.
Walter Patterson was the third son of John Patterson.

808
Few now remember him, but these few are always touched
with tenderness, as they speak of him. By those who
knew him, he is described as the ablest and finest of the
first generation, that grew up in the town. He was a
notary public, and filled sueh important offices as Clerk
of the Peace, Prothonotary, and Clerk of the Commis
sioners' Court, besides more private ones, as Secretary of
the Friendly Society. As has been said, wherever
accuracy and good business habits were wanted, Walter
Patterson was the man. He was specially beloved for
his social habits. Though distinguished by a sobriety
unusual for the times, yet a genial humor that never
wounded, rendered him the joy of any circle he entered.
He died in 1821, at Plymouth, England.
Among the other merchants of this period we may
mention James Dawson. He was a native of Banff, and
at first did business as a saddler, but afterward commenced
trading, following the course we have already described
in ship building, shipping timber, the fisheries and the
West India trade. Finding trade prospering, he sent for
his brother Robert, in partnership with whom he carried
on business for some time, both saddling and merchan
dizing. But after a time they separated and each did
business on his own account. The commercial changes
of 1825-26, which we shall more particularly describe
presently, involved him in pecuniary embarrassment.
Being connected by marriage with Mr. Boyd, of the firm
of Oliver & Boyd, Edinburgh, he was through them led
to engage in the bookselling business, the first in the
Province out of Halifax who did so. Encumbered with
the debts of his previous business, which he had under
taken to pay with interest, he continued to prosecute it
though without any very large profit to himself, main
taining a bookstore, which for many years surpassed those
in HaUfax, dealers there giving their attention mainly to
stationery. In this way he was the means of circulating

309
much healthful literature, and thus of promoting the
progress of knowledge in the county and beyond. He
was actively engaged in the religious societies of the day,
and, though not having the knack of gaining popularity,
he in these and other ways served his generation. He
died at the residence of his son, Dr. J. W. Dawson of
Montreal. His brother also was for many years a pro
minent man, especially in the religious movements of the
day. We might also mention Robert McKay, Esqr., who,
after the death of Mortimer, with whom he had been
clerk, commenced business at River John, where he was
successful for a time, but succumbed to the commercial
storm just referred to. He was afterward shipping agent
at South Pictou for the General Mining Association, and
succeeded Mr. Smith as Custos of the county.
At this time commenced Henry Hatton. His father,
Robert Hatton, was a lawyer, who emigrated from Ireland
and settled in Pictou about the year 1813. JHis son first
commenced business in one ofthe wings of John Dawson's
building, but afterward had a large set of buildings, at .
what is now South Market St., but which was then not
built up, and was known as Hattons wharf. He was
afterward one of the largest shipbuilders in the county,
and for several years represented the township of Pictou
in the Assembly.
We may here mention a system of trade not uncommon
at this time. Captains of vessels brought out supplies of
goods, or sometimes solid specie, which they exchanged for
timber. Of these the most deserving of notice is Stephen
Lowrey, of Newcastle, Eng., who, afterward becoming a
shipowner, traded with his vessels to Pictou to a con
siderably later period, and who, entering into partnership
with the late James Purves, under the name of Stephen
Lowrey & Co.. did a large business in ship building at
the head of Purves' wharf.
Trade being now thriving, a number of the merchants

310
combined to build a vessel, to be a regular trader between
Pictou and the old country. She was a brig called the
Enterprise, and was built by Thomas Lowden, who had
a good reputation as a shipbuilder. She was launched in
August, 1820, and the occasion was celebrated by a ball
on board. She was a square box of a thing, carrying a
large cargo for her tonnage, and always proving a safe
and successful vessel, though a dull sailer. She continued
to make her regular trips twice a year, bringing out
British goods and taking back timber, till the crash of
1825-6, when she was sold. Thereafter she was employed
in carrying coals from Newcastle to London, and was so
engaged twenty years later, and may be yet.
The timber trade had declined both from the peace,
and the diminution of the supply, but it was still of
importance ; and with the shipbuilding and other business
stUl carried on, and the improvement in agriculture, still
brought a fair measure of prosperity to the county, when
there came the terrible financial crisis of 1825 and '26 in
the mother country, which resulted in severe losses to aU
engaged in timber and shipping, whether there or here,
and the utter bankruptcy of many. To show its opera
tion, we may mention, that vessels which in the early
part of 1825 brought £13 10s. per ton, in the following
year would not bring £6, and men, who shipped cargoes
of timber to England, were brought in debt for the freight
In St John, N. B., the day the intelligence of these changes
arrived, was long known as Black Monday. Strong men
wept, as in one day they found the work of a Ufe-time
swept away. A firm, that in the previous year, had
shipped a hundred cargoes, now became bankrupt. In
Pictou all the merchants suffered severely. Some had
large stocks of timber on hand, which they had bought at
high rates, but which were now unsaleable at any
price. It lay in the rivers and outports for some time,
till the outer portion was decayed or worm eaten, when

311
It had to be hewn over again. Yet even after this
expense, and with the quantity thus diminished, it sold
for half the price per ton that it originally cost. Some
became bankrupt, others never recovered from the blow,
and for a time the trade of the port was laid prostrate.
This period is marked by the formation of societies of
a religious or benevolent character. The most interesting
of these is the Pictou Sabbath School Society. The first
Sabbath School in the county, on the modern system, was
•commenced in town by the late James and Robert Daw
son, according to the statement of the former, in the year
1814. They were joined soon after by John Geddie, Sr.
But it was now determined to form a society, for the pro
motion of Sabbath Schools generally. Accordingly a
meeting was held for the purpose, on the 25th March,
1822, in the old Court House, and a resolution was
adopted, to form such a society " having for its object the
encouragement, union and increase of Sabbath Schools."
The rules were also agreed to, by which a payment of 2s
and 6d annually, was to constitute membership for a year
and 20s for life. Meetings of the Society were to be held
on the second Tuesdays of May, August, November and
February, the last being the annual meeting. In town
the teachers were to meet monthly, and in the country
they were recommended to meet as often as possible. In
aU cases they were to bestow their labor gratis. In the year
following, it was reported that there were 29 schools, with
1,000 pupils, in connection with the Society. The insti-
stution was for some years in vigorous operation, collect- '
ing funds to import books, sending agents through the1
country districts to establish new schools and to stimulate
old ones, and in circulating religious literature, suited to
the young. In the year 1827 we find reported as in con
nection with the Society, 77 schools, with 2,835 pupils
and 198 teachers; also, that there had been imported
ibooks to the value of £104 6s lOd. sterling, and that the

312
number circulated was 6,950, besides the libraries attached
to many of the schools. Its last report that we have
seen noticed, was in the year 1833, being the eleventh.
In the year 1823, the Bible Society was re-organized..
From its first formation in 1818, it had scarcely ever met.
The plan upon which it had been formed, of one Society
for the county, with so many directors from each congre
gation, had not been found convenient in practice. Still
these directors had coUected money in their several
quarters, which was yearly remitted to the parent insti
tution, by Dr. McGregor, who also ordered and circulated
Bibles, and generally did the business of the Society.
But interest having fallen off, after some solicitation from
him, the Society was now re-organized on its present
basis, as the Pictou Auxiliary of the British & Foreign
Bible Society, with Mr. James Dawson as secretary and.
depositary. About the same time, the first subscription library in
the county was formed in town. A public meeting was
held for the purpose, presided over by Dr. McCulloeh,
who urged the importance of the proposal. The first
importation of books was made in the spring of 1822.
The institution continued for some thirty years, and
during that time its books increased, until they formed a
very respectable collection, the circulation of which did
much for the promotion of intelligence and literary taste ;
but unfortunately interest in it declined, and it was
finaUy dissolved and the books scattered.
Another institution of this period, which however we
cannot commend, must be noticed. We allude to the
Ballast Pier. From the number of vessels arriving in
ballast, the discharge of which in lighters involved much
labor and expense, a number of persons formed the idea>
that it would be a profitable speculation to build a wharf
on the edge of the channel, at which vessels might.
directly discharge. They also expected to fill in from it

313
to the Deacons Wharf, and to make money by the lots
to be reclaimed from the water. At the same time, the
magistrates fearing injury to the harbour, by the manner
in which ballast was being discharged, obtained in the
year 1819 an Act ofthe Legislature, authorizing the Court
of Sessions to make regulations for the good of commerce
and the preservation of the harbour. In this act they
were empowered to " fix such places in the harbour as
shall be most convenient and proper for ships and vessels
to discharge their ballast, and to make such agreement as
may be needful and necessary with persons, for erecting
and building wharves and other conveniences, for such
ships and vessels to discharge their ballast upon," &c.
Accordingly they contracted with this company to build
such a wharf as mentioned, giving them the exclusive
right to receive baUast on it for the next ten years, and
empowering them to levy a remuneration of 3d. per ton
register on every vessel so discharging. The wharf was
accordingly constructed, and till the year 1824 vessels
discharged there. But by this time the folly of the
scheme began to appear. The wharf, from the wood of
which it was built decaying, began to spread, and its
contents to be discharged into the channel. The company,
who had lost money by their speculation, wished to have
their power extended to twenty years, but the magistrates
refused, although they for a time permitted a practice not
really any wiser, of vessels drawing up opposite the
Battery Point and discharging their ballast there. The
result is, that what was to fill the pockets ofthe projectors,.
not only proved a bad business for them, but remains an
unsightly ruin, and an injury to the harbour. Sir James
Kempt on visiting Pictou, when he came in sight of the
harbour, seeing the ballast pier, asked what that was.
On being told, he said, " You have spoiled yourliarbour,"
and to some extent this has been the case.
In an ecclesiastical point of view, the period we are

314
now reviewing, requires special notice, as that of the
commencement of those religious divisions, for whieh the
county has been since somewhat noted. The first
ministers of the county were from what was then known
as the Antiburgher branch of the Secession, but in teach
ing their people, they never introduced the peculiarities
which divided Presbyterians in Scotland. The large
majority of their original hearers were from the Established
Church of Scotland, but they were glad to get the gospel,
and, served as they were by men of superior powers, who
cheerfully endured toil and privation for their spiritual
good, raising no question as to Establishment or Secession,
they not only fell in with their ministry, but became devot
edly attached to them. There was thus entire harmony
throughout the county, except as here and there
opposition might be raised to a minister, by an individual
of a litigious disposition. Afterward when every settle
ment was disturbed by strife, those who could remember
this period, often looked back upon it with fond regret.
At the same time, there was no union among the
Presbyterians throughout the Province. When Dr.
McGregor arrived, like so many Scotchmen since, he
thought that the difference which separated them in the
old country, should be maintained here, and refused to
unite with the Presbytery of Truro. " Taught by
experience," he says, " that the peculiar rules of church
communion observed in Scotland could not apply here,
they offered to me the right hand of fellowship, which I,
destitute of their teaching, did not accept." This wrant of
union at first did little positive harm, as the congregations
were separated, sometimes by wide tracts of wilderness,
and there being little intercourse between them. In no
case were two congregations maintained in the same
place, or a congregation split in two, by any question
which divided Presbyterians in the mother country. But
as intercourse increased, the inconsistency of their position

315
became apparent. The members of their congregations
passed from one to the other, and were received without
question and without scruple, and yet the ministers
remained apart ; and thus too, although the ministers
were personally friendly, there was lost the benefit of
united action.
They had sometimes met to consult on matters of
eommon interest, and to some extent co-operated in
promoting the Redeemer's Kingdom. But now the state
of matters pressed itself upon their attention, so that after
mutual intercourse and consultation, it was resolved to
form a union, on the simple basis of the Westminster
Confession of Faith, leaving all the questions, which
divided Presbyterians in Scotland, as matters of forbear
ance. One measure, which at this time tended to bring
this about was the Collegiate Institution, at this time
projected in Pictou. The greatness of the undertaking in
their circumstances, and yet the pressing call for such an
institution, in consequence of the deficient supply of
ministers from abroad, rendered combined action
necessary, to its successful establishment and maintenance.
The union was accordingly consummated in July 1817,
the name adopted for the united body being, " the
Presbyterian Church of Nova Scotia," and caused great
joy. It embraced all the Presbyterian ministers in the
Province, including two or three originally from the
Church of Scotland, with the exception of Rev. A. Gray
of Halifax, the constitution of whose congregation
prevented his joining, but who remained on friendly
terms with its ministers, and co-operated with thom in
their work as long as he lived.
This was the first of the Presbyterian unions, and was
on a liberal basis. Its immediate results were happy. It
was a leading cause of the union, which was accomplished
in Scotland, between the two branches of the Secession
in 1820, and at home, the Synod addressed itself energeti-

316
cally to its work. But looking upon it with the light,
which time throws upon events, we can now see that the
good men who accomplished it, were simply at least sixty
years before their age, for in this 1877, we cannot enjoy
the general union at which they aimed, and which they
fondly hoped they had achieved. Already a cloud,
seemingly no bigger than a man's hand, appeared on the
horizon, and soon the commencement of strife proved as
the letting out of waters.
We have already mentioned the commencement of party
division in Pictou after the election of 1799. But from an
early period an ecclesiastical element mingled with the
personal and political feelings then excited. Mortimer was
most friendly with the Secession ministers, while Wallace
and the official party regarded a dissenter as a rebel, or
worse, if such could be. Any man therefore who took
offence at his minister became the friend of WaUace, and
any one opposed to Mortimer was apt to quarrel with the
church. Thus the two elements became mixed, and a party
gradually sprang up opposed to the leading men both in
Church and State.
In the years that followed, as we have seen, there was
a large influx of settlers, from the Highlands and Islands
of Scotland, very ignorant, only a minority able to read,
yet Uke most people coming from Jhe old country then
and long after, looking with great contempt on ministers
and. every thing else in America, and this in proportion
to their ignorance, fix the Highlands, the Secession
church was known only by report and that unfavourable ;
and whUe, with few exceptions, the old settlers, who
knew by experience the labours of their first ministers,
and had a grateful recollection of the manner in which
they had shared their privations, Warmly adhered te
them, the new comers began to decry them, as not
preaching the gospel and to clamour for ministers of the
Church of Scotland. The payment of stipend was to them

317
a grievance previously unknown, and they regarded it as
one of the glories of the Establishment to be free from it,
and they expected by getting ministers of that body to
enjoy the same immunities here. Those immigrants had
now filled up the back settlements, so that the ministers
here were unable properly to supply them with minis
terial service. Btrt knowing the natural prejudices of
these people and being anxious to obtain for them minis- ¦
ters to their liking, and at the same time having learned
to disregard the distinctions among the Presbyterians in
Scotland, if they could obtain men of the right stamp,
they applied to the leading ministers of the church of
Scotland in the Highlands, such as Dr. Stewart, of
Dingwall and Mcintosh of Tain, to obtain ministers of
that body to supply the wants of the settlers, still desiring
and hoping to keep the Presbyterians here together as one
body. These men fully approved of the union, and were
anxious to meet the wishes of Dr. McGregor and his
friends, but after a good deal of enquiry, they were
obliged to write, that they could not get men to come,
upon whom they could depend.
Just at this time others arrived, who adopted a different
policy. The first minister of the Church of Scotland who
remained in the county was the Rev. Donald A. Fraser,
who arrived here in the year 1817. He was a native of
the Island of Mull, of which his father was the parish
minister. Being from the Church of Scotland, he was
eagerly laid hold of by those who had been dissatisfied
with the ministers here. Soon after he settled at
McLennans Mountain, where there were at that time <
about forty families. There the next year a frame church,
capable of seating 500 persons, was erected, and alongside
of it, a log house for himself and his wife. This was the
first church in the county, built in connection with the
Church of Scotland, and we may say in the Province, for
although there have been some others older, they were

318
not originally built in that connection. A year later,
another was built on Frasers Mountain, about six miles
distant from that on McLennans Mountain, and two from
New Glasgow, which then could scarcely be said to
exist, and Mr. Fraser preached at these places alternately,
giving also some supply to Blue Mountain, and preaching
occasionally in other places, where parties were forming
in connection with the Church of Scotland. There were
at first only twenty-five families at Frasers Mountain,
but they became the nucleus of the congregation of St.
Andrews, New Glasgow. In the year 1828, the church
was hauled down there, and placed on the lot on which
their present place of worship stands.
But a person who at this time made more disturbance
and excitement was Norman McLeod, who arrived in
Pictou about the year 1818. He was not only not
connected with any religious body, but denounced them
all, even going so far as to say there was not a minister
of Christ in the whole establishment. Those who have
heard him at this time, describe his preaching as consisting
of torrents of abuse against all religious bodies, and even
against individuals, the like of which they had never
heard, and which were perfectly indescribable. He had
never been licensed or ordained, but regarded himself as
under higher influences than the ministers of any church.
" I am so full of the Holy Ghost, that my coat will not
button on me," he said once in a sermon, as he made the-
attempt to bring the two sides together in fronts
But though so wildly fanatical, he was a man of great
power, and gained an influence over a large portion of
the Highlanders, such as no man in the county possessed.
As Dr. McGregor said, " he will get three hearers to Mr.

* He did not seem to be always so favored. A gentleman told me that on
one occasion he went to where he was preaching in a barn. As he passed the
open barn door, McLeod Btopped and said, " as soon as I saw that man, the-
Spirit refused^ mo utterance."

319
Fraser's one, and the people will go much further to hear
him, than any minister in Pictou." He took up his
residence at Middle River, and the people of the upper
part of the river, Lairg and neighborhood, who had
hitherto been under the ministry of Mr. Ross, generally
followed him, so that the latter relinquished to him
his church at Middle River, which we may remark stood
at Mr.. Kerr' intervale. But 4iis influence extended to
many in almost every part of the county, and by his-
followers he was regarded with unbounded devotion.
After a time, however, a number became dissatisfied,
when they found that he would not give them baptism
for their children. Indeed during his lifetime, he found
very few whom he considered qualified to receive the
ordinance, and we are not certain if he found any to
whom he would administer the Lord's Supper. He-
then induced a number of those over whom he retained
his influence, to emigrate, and for this purpose to build a
vessel at Middle River Point, which he called the Ark.
In this they left, and afterwards formed the settlement of
St. Anns, in Cape Breton.^ Many in the county still
remained his attached adherents, and were usually known
as Normanites, and almost as long as he remained in the
Province, when he visited Pictou they attended him
wherever he went. It is but just to say, that these were
regarded as among the most moral and reUgious of our
Highland population.
In the year 1824, the Rev. Kenneth John McKenzie
arrived in Pictou, and commenced his ministry among the

* At St. Anns he labored for many years, maintaining an unbounded sway
over his adherents, which was used in favor of temperance and sound morality,
but also we must say in nurturing a fanatical Pharisaism. He published a
volume of some size, styled Normanism, besides minor publications. When
an old man, he induced a number of his people again to emigrate, and for
this purpose to build a vessel. In this they proceeded to Australia, and
thence to New Zealand, where he died.

adherents of the Kirk in town. He was a native of
Stornoway, and a man of superior talents. He at first
preached in the court-house, but that summer, St. Andrews
church was begun, and as soon as the outside was finish
ed, service was held in it, the audience being seated on
rude benches.
Up till this time, Mr. Fraser had been on friendly terms
with Dr. McGregor, and though the spirit of contention
had been rising, it was still hoped that permanent division
would have been avoided. But from this time he broke
off all association with him, refusing even the hospitalities
of his house, at which he had been a frequent visitor.
Thenceforward he and Mr. McKenzie devoted, their
energies to completing the work of division. As the
people had been hitherto under the pastoral care of
ministers of the Secession, this carried strife into every
part of the county, and often into families. From the
position of parties in the old country, at that time, this
division was probably unavoidable, but from the manner
in which it originated here, and other circumstances,
the feelings excited were very violent, and the results
deplorable. Other ministers of the body followed. The people of
Gairloch and Saltsprings obtained the Rev. Hugh McLeod.
Highlanders can stand a good deal in their minister, if he
be of the true Church of Scotland, but he was more than
they could stand, and after a few years they got rid of
him, at the expense of a lawsuit. He went to Demerara,
where he died, on the 10th May, 1832. In the year 1827,
the Rev. John McRae, became minister of those who
adhered to the Church of Scotland, at the Upper Settle
ment of the East River, where he continued till the
disruption, when he returned to Scotland. The Rev.
Dugald McKeichan, settled in Barneys River the same
year, but only remained there three years. He returned in
1840, but also went to Scotland at the disruption. Rev

821
Mr. McCaulay was the first minister of Rogers Hill. He
Is said to have been a relation of the historian. He removed
to Prince Edward Island, where he relinquished the
ministry, and was for years one of the ablest members of
the Legislature

CHAPTER XVI.

HH, McCUIiLOCfH AND THE PTCTOH ACADEMY.
We must now turn back, to give an account of the
efforts of Dr. McCulloeh on behalf of education, and of
the discussions, political and ecclesiastical, connected
with the subject, which at one time occupied so prominent
a place in the history of the county.
The want of ministers to occupy the numerous destitute
settlements of the Province, had from an early period
engaged the attention of those already in the field, and
they sent urgent appeals to the bodies in Scotland, from
which they had come, for additional laborers. The
supplies thus received, however, were always irregular
and inadequate, and hence was almost forced upon their
attention, the question of the possibility of training young
men for the ministry in this country. Under the influence
of such considerations, Dr. McCulloeh, as we have men
tioned, as early as the year 1805, only two years after his
arrival, projected an institution for the purpose of giving
instruction i& the higher branches of education — which
would thus meet the object of the Presbytery, by giving
young men desirous of entering the Gospel ministry, that
hterary and scientific culture, which the Presbyterian
21

822
Church has sought in its ministers, and at the same time
afford the benefit of Uberal studies to all who chose to
avail themselves of them.
In that year, a society was formed for the estabhsh
ment of such an institution, and subscriptions were taken
throughout the district. The following is a copy of the
heading of the one on the East River, the others, we
presume, being in the same terms : —
" We, the subscribers, hereby declare our approbation of the Society
formed in Pictou, for establishing a college of learning in this district. We
are persuaded that such an institution would have a powerful influence to
promote the interests of society, both by disseminating general knowledge,
correcting the vices of youth, and instilling into their minds the principles of
virtue. That this design may therefore be carried into effect, we bind and
oblige ourselves, our heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, to pay the
sums respectively subscribed by us, one-third part on the first Tuesday of
May, 1806, another third part on the first Tuesday of May, 1807, and the
remaining third part on the first Tuesday of May, 1808, to such person or
persons as the society shall appoint for transacting their business."
This was headed by Dr. McGregor, with a subscription
of £20, " provided the Harbour congregation pay me the
sixteen pounds which they owe me." Others follow
with subscriptions of £10, the whole amount in that
settlement being £125, ($500). Writing at this time, Dr.
McGregor says " The increasing demand for ministers
seems to intimate the necessity of raising them in this
country. The great expense of everything here renders
this undertaking next to hopeless in our circumstances,
et Mr. McCulloeh, who started the idea, has sanguine
opes. Pictou people have subscribed about £1,000, a
more liberal subscription than they are well able to pay.
We expect some money from the Province Treasury if we
give our seminary a little name, as not rivalling the
University, [which Government has established. We
expect great assistance from Britain and Ireland. We
intend to send Mr. McCulloeh home to beg."
The project was not carried into execution at that time.
As far as obtaining Provincial aid, or even the legislation

823
recessary for establishing such an institution, with
Wentworth governor and Wallace at his back, we suspect
'.hat any expectations were found hopeless. Such a
scheme would only appear to them as favoring a nest of
pestilent disloyalty, which ought to be crushed as the
serpent's brood. The country too was not in a state to
support such a measure.
The idea however was not lost sight of, and with a
view to its ultimate realization, the ministers took charge
of promising young men, to whom they gave instruction,
in the way of preparing them for entering such an
institution, and at the same time raised funds to aid in
supporting them. In the year 1814, we find Mr. Ross
teaching five boys Latin and Greek, with a view to the
ministry. Dr. McGregor also did something in the same
way. In the meantime Dr. McCulloeh, partly to improve
his circumstances, for like most of the ministers of that
period, he was imperfectly supported by his congregation,
and partly with the view of raising the standard of
education in the district, about this time opened a school
of a higher class ; and when in 1811, the Government
passed an Act granting £100 per annum for a Grammar
School in each county, and in the districts of Colchester,
Pictou and Yarmouth, he obtained the grant for the one
under his charge, and held it for a number of years. The
building in which he taught, stood nearly opposite his
gate on the old road out of town to the west. We may
observe here that it continued to be used in the same way,
till the winter of 1824, when it was hauled down to the lot,
on which the engine house is now buUt. The ground
was boggy, and it was placed on a foundation built up of
squared logs, a few feet above the ground. After this it
still continued to be used as a Grammar School, eonstantly
till the year 1832, and again some years later.
The number and progress of the young men attending
this institution, and studying in other quarters, revived

824
the idea of a college ; and accordingly under the leader
ship of Dr. McCulloeh, and the cordial approval of the
Governor having been first obtained, a Society was formed
for the establishment of such a seminary on a liberal
basis. As Mortimer was then a power in the Legislature,
and Sir John Coape Sherbrooke, the Governor, the most
independent ruler that was ever at the head pf our affairs,
success was confidently anticipated. Accordingly on the
petition of Dr. McGregor and others, both in Pictou and
elsewhere, an act of incorporation vras. granted to the
trustees in the year 1816.
At this time we should observe, that the only institution
in the Province at that time for the higher education was
the coUege at Windsor. It was established by an Act of
the Legislature of Nova Scotia, about the year 1790,
which at the same time provided £400 sterling a year (as
currency then was — £444, or $1,776,) permanently for its
support. The only restriction in the Act was that the
president should be in holy orders in the Church of
England. Subsequently a royal charter was obtained,
by which the institution was designated " King's College,"
and the governors thereof authorized to pass statutes or
by-laws for its government, which they did- in reahty.
One of them ran thus :
" No member of the University shall frequent the Eomish Mass, or the
meeting-houses of Presbyterians, Baptists or Methodists, or the conventicles
or places of worship of any other dissenters from the Church of England, or
where divine service shall not be performed according to the liturgy of the
Church of England, or shall be present at any seditious or rebellious meetings."
Independent of the bigotry of this, the conjunction of
the first and last clauses is expressive. But another ran
thus: " No degree shall be conferred, till the candidate shall have taken the oaths
of allegiance, supremacy and obedience to the statutes of the University ; and
shall have subscribed the thirty-nine articles of the Church of England, and
the three articles contained in the thirty-ninth canon of the Synod of London,
held in the year of our Lord, 1603."

325
The institution was modelled on the plan of the
University of Oxford. The students were obUged, at a
heavy expense, to reside within its walls, and its whole
management was such, as would have excluded the great
majority of the youth of the Province, even had its
statutes been more liberal.*
It is now said that these statutes never were approved
of by the Archbishop of Canterbury, who on the contrary
expressed his disapproval of thus limiting to a small
portion of the community, the benefits of an institution
estabUshed by Government for the benefit of all, and was
even determined to expunge the obnoxious laws ; but
that part of the trustees prevented the alteration. But
these were the dominant party of the Institution, and
these statements only present in a stronger light the
bigotry of those, who in spite of representations from such
a quarter, retained such regulations. Nothing was said
at this time by the friends of the Institution about there
being anything wrong about these statutes. For years
after the Pictou Academy began, they were maintained
in full force. Charles R. Fairbanks, one of the most
brilliant public men that ever graced the Legislature of
Nova Scotia, stated, in one of the debates on the Pictou
Academy, that he had been educated at Kings College,
but because he could not swallow the tests, he had been
refused a degree. We may add here, that while thus
restricted to about a fifth of the population, it had been
receiving, besides the grant of £444 from the Legislature
of Nova Scotia, £1000 sterling from the British Govern
ment annually since the year 1802.
With these arrangements the people were not satisfied,
but scattered as they were, the majority struggling for
the necessaries of life, and few of them thinking of

* T. C. Halliburton, in one of his speeches on the Pictou Academy, as re
ported, said that it cost a young man £120 per annum to live at Windsor
College, and only £20 at Pictou.

326
collegiate education for their chUdren, Uttle had been
said, and nothing had been done, to effect a change. But
the proposal to estabhsh an institution on a liberal basis,
was generally haUed with satisfaction. The biU for the
incorporation of the trustees, was introduced into the
House by Mr. Chipman, a Baptist, and seconded by Mr.
Wells, and passed unanimously. We think it worth
while giving the names of the original trustees. They
were, Edward Mortimer, Revs. Duncan Ross and Thomas
McCulloeh, Thomas Davidson, George Smith, Robert
Lowden, Revs. William Patrick, James McGregor,
Archibald Gray, and James Robson, S. G. W. Archibald,
and James Foreman.
The intention was to found an institution specially for
Dissenters, not indeed excluding Churchmen, but as
Kings College was entirely under the control of the
latter, it was expected that only the former would take
advantage of the new institution, or combine in its
support StUl they wished it equally free to all, and the
act of incorporation was introduced into the Assembly
and passed there without any tests whatever. ;
But the leaders of the Church of England, who were
then dominant in the Council, took alarm at the idea of
such an institution, which they judged would form a
rallying point for Dissenters against the Church. They
were wilhng, or at least the liberal minded among them
were, to allow Presbyterians to have an institution, in
which they might give their children such education as
they could, but they feared the establishment of a college,
which, combining Dissenters in its support, might
become the successful rival of Kings. In consequence of
this, when the bill was introduced into the Upper House,
they introduced a series of tests of a very offensive and
vexatious character. Every new trustee was to be either
a member ofthe Church of England, or of the Presbyterian
religion (not church, for that title was not conceded to

327
such a body), and on his election, a majority of the
trustees present must sign a formal certificate to that
-effect, and forward it to the Lieutenant Governor. He
must also appear before the Supreme Court, and, if not of
the Church of England, make the following declaration :
" I, A. B., appointed one of the Trustees of the Pictou
Academy, do declare that I do profess the Presbyterian
religion, as the same is declared in the Westminster Con
fession of Faith." Until he did this, he could not legally
act as trustee. Moreover, he was required to do this
every three years, or his office became vacant. The same
tests were to be applied to every person appointed a
teacher, and he also was required to appear before the
Supreme Court, and make a similar declaration. The
trustees were also prevented from holding any property
outside the District of Pictou.
The House of Assembly were obUged either to submit
to these amendments, or lose the bill, and they reluctantly
agreed to them. This act, to which a suspending clause
had been appended, afterwards received the sanction of
the Prince Regent, and become law. By this act the
Trustees were empowered to pass by-laws and fill up
vacancies in the board, subject to the approval of the
Governor for the time being. Sometime afterward a
charter of incorporation, in pursuance ofthe act, and under
the great seal of the Province, passed to the Trustees.
It should have been mentioned, that to avoid exciting
the jealousy of the friends of Kings College, who were
really all powerful in the Government, it was resolved
not to seek the right of conferring degrees or the other
privileges of a college. Hence the name Pictou Academy,
though from the first it was intended to impart the educa
tion usual in colleges.
To estabhsh such an institution under the circumstan
ces, was a task simply herculean. A large portion of the
population in the rural districts were still struggling with

328
the difficulties of a first settlement, and as to education,
few thought of seeking for their children more than the
ordinary training of a common school. Even that in many
places was difficult to obtain, and when obtained very
inferior. A large proportion of the inhabitants, did not
feel the necessity of any thing better, and many did not
value education at all. The population was sparse, and
the several portions had but little communication with one
another or with the capital. The tests introduced by the
council threw the institution into the hands of the Pres
byterians, and as they then consisted only of about twenty
congregations, most of these in thinly settled districts and
the members in humble circumstances, it will be perceived,
that the Dr. had entered upon an undertaking, requiring
a large amount of that faith, which can remove mountains.
Nevertheless the trustees addressed themselves to their
work with great energy. They immediately proceeded
to raise money by subscription, beginning with about
£400 among themselves, for the purchase of land and the
erection of a suitable building. In this way they collected
about £1,000 ($4,000) a large sum under the circum
stances. The following is the heading of the list :
" We, the subscribers, desirous of affording our concurrence and assistance
to the society formed in Pictou, for providing the means of instruction in the
branches of a liberal education, which are not taught in the Provincial
Grammar Schools, hereby bind and oblige ourselves, our heirs and assigns to
pay to the Treasurer of the society for the time being, the sums annexed to
our respective signatures, the same to be paid when the society shall judge,
that a sum has been subscribed sufficient to enter upon the execution of the-
said plan."
This is commenced by Mortimer, with a subscription
of £100, who is foUowed by the three ministers, Messrs.
McGregor, Ross and McCulloeh, for sums of £50 each.
Altogether in the town £628 was subscribed.
Dr. McCulloeh was chosen its first president, and before
the building was erected, teaching began. The first
classes were opened, as near as we can ascertain, in the

329
fall of 1817. A room was fitted up in one end of the
house, in which the late Peter Crerar, Esq., resided, the
other being occupied by the Rev. John McKinlay. Here
plain pine desks were erected, so shaky, that on one
occasion a Highland student, intent on-taking notes, found
it so difficult under the movements of his fellow-students,
that, his patience being exhausted, he exclaimed, " Please
master, they're shaking the dask on me." In this fashion
was begun the first attempt at free liberal education in these
Provinces. We give below a list of the first students.^
Soon after the building was completed, and the classes
were transferred to it. After the practice of some of the
Scottish Universities, students were now required to wear
red gowns. These were made of light merino, and for
the next twenty years these bright scarlet insignia of
learning were one of the features of our town, reminding
the Scotchman of the ancient seats of learning of his
native land.
From this time, Dr. McCulloch's Ufe was devoted to the
interests of the institution. The largest part of the
teaching devolved on him, and that under the most un
favourable circumstances. The late Jotham Blanchard
thus wrote of his efforts, during the infancy of the
institution :
" Of his daily labours and nightly vigils, after taking
charge of the Institution, I am surely a competent witness,
I was one of his first students, and have often seen him,
at 8 o'clock of a winter morning, enter his desk in a state
of exhaustion, which too plainly showed the labours of

« List of first students at Pictou Academy : — E. S. Patterson, John McLean,
John L. Murdoch, Angus McGillivray, Hugh Eoss, Hugh Dunbar, James
McGregor, Michael McCulloeh, Charles Fraser, Benjamin Dickson, William
Dickson, David Fraser, Edward Harris, Jotham Blanchard, Thomas Forman,
 Forman, Charles Arehibald, David Sawers, John J. Sawyer, Duncan
McDonald, John McDonald, Hugh Fraser, Archibald Patterson.
Perhaps these were not all present the first term, but they were, in
attendance with the first class, who passed through tne Institution.

330
the night. To this those who are acquainted with the
subject will give credence, when I state that his share of
the course was, besides Greek and Hebrew, Logic, Moral
Philosophy and Natural Philosophy. In each of these
sciences, he drew out a system for himself, which was of
course the results of much reading and much thought.
When I add to this account of his daily labours, the
repairs and additions which were necessary to a half-
worn apparatus, and which none but himself could make,
I am almost afraid my testimony will be doubted. And
for the first five or six years of the institution, let it be
remembered, he had charge of a congregation, and regu
larly preached twice a day, save when over-exertion
ended in sickness."
His first co-laborer was the Rev. John McKinlay. He
was a native of Stirlingshire, Scotland, who came to this
country in the-summer of 1817. Dr. McCulloeh having
given up the Grammar School, to take charge of the
Academy, Mr. McKinlay succeeded him in the former.
Teaching in it part of the day, and aided there by an
assistant, he also became teacher of classics and mathe
matics in the Academy, a position for which he was well
qualified, by the accuracy as well as the extent of his
scholarship. He-continued to hold this position till the
year 1824, when Dr. McCulloeh having resigned the
charge of the congregation at Pictou, he was ordained as
his successor on the 11th of August, 1824, and was
succeeded in the Academy by Mr. Michael McCulloeh,
who had previously been the second teacher in the
Grammar School.
But during the whole existence of the institution, Dr.
McCulloeh was its life and soul. As long as he continued
in connection with it, he taught logic, moral and natural
phUosophy. Divers as were the branches devolving upon
him, he taught them all efficiently. I have since had an
opportunity of knowing something of the professors in

331
Edinburgh University, but never till I saw them did I
know the greatness of Dr. McCulloeh. We doubt not
eYery professor there would have excelled him in his
own particular field, but I believe there was no man in
that institution, who could have made the same appearance
in all the branches taught that he did. The same view
was expressed to me by Dr. Dawson. He had a multi
farious learning, so that he might be regarded as a whole
senatus academicus. He could have taken any branch
included in the faculties of Arts and Theology, and
taught it in a respectable and efficient manner. I may
add, that his intellect was of that peculiar clearness, that
whatever he knew, he knew accurately and distinctly.
The teaching of the branches named however, was
only a small part of the work which devolved upon him.
Besides the charge of a congregation till the year 1824,
he took an active part in the business of the Synod ofthe
Presbyterian Church of Nova Scotia, and most of the
public documents of the body came from his pen. As
soon as the first class of students was sufficiently advanced,
he was requested by the Synod to take charge of their
studies in theology. To his other labors was added the
instructing of these young men in Hebrew and theology.
We may add here that he was a superior Hebrew scholar,
and as such almost entirely self taught.
But his labours were chiefly increased by the opposition
which the institution met with. This, as forming an
important chapter in the history of Nova Scotia, as well
as of the county, we must now notice. The trustees
finding the amount insufficient to complete the building
and provide other necessaries, in 1818 petitioned Lord
Dalhousie, then Governor, " to recommend a grant of
money from the pubhc funds of the Province to assist
them in erecting a suitable building, or for such other
purposes as might be necessary in establishing said

332
Academy." His Lordship recommended the object to the
Assembly by the following message : —
" The institution of an academy at Pictou, appears to
me to promise advantages of education, highly favorable
to the whole eastern part of this Province, and I there
fore recommend the accompanying petition of the trustees
of that academy to your favorable consideration."
"Dpon this message, the House, with only four dissen
tients, passed a resolution for £500 to the trustees, to be
drawn for, as soon as they had expended £1,000 from
private subscription ; to this resolution the Council refused
concurrence. In 1819 a similar vote passed the House, and was
sanctioned in Council. The trustees continued to make
an annual application for money, and during the next
four years— 1820, 1821, 1822 and 1823— they received in
all from the public funds £1,300.
For several reasons, the trustees about this time began
to fear that the death of friends in the Council, and the
increase of an influence in that body, which had always
been opposed to the institution, might at some period
deprive them of public support, and the possibUity of
this event they found injuriously to affect their arrange
ments. They therefore petitioned for a permanent en
dowment, and the Representative Branch, without a
division, passed one to the extent of £400 a year. This
bill the Council rejected.
In 1824 the Assembly passed another and similar bill,
which was also lost in the Council. A vote of £400 for
that year was then passed in the Lower and agreed to in
the Upper House.
The Academy had now proved itself by its work.
Several young men had completed their studies, and
were coming forward to take their places in various
professions, with good promise of usefulness. In that
year, seven young men. having completed a course of

333
study for the ministry in connection with the Presbyterian
Church, were licensed to preach the gospel. As these
were the first native preachers ever sent forth by that
body, in any of these Provinces, and as they were all
brought up in Pictou, we may give their names. They
were John L. Murdoch, John McLean, R. S. Patterson,
Angus McGillivray, Hugh Ross, Hugh Dunbar and
Duncan McDonald. That autumn, three of these, viz. :
Messrs. McLean, Murdoch and Patterson proceeded to
Scotland, and preached with acceptance in the pulpits of
various Dissenting ministers ; and having undergone an
examination by Professors Walker, Sandford, Jardine,
Miller, Milne and Meikleham, professors in the University
of Glasgow, as to their scholastic attainments, they
received tho degree of A. M. from that institution.
The trustees of the Pictou Academy now felt, that they
were entitled to appeal to the Legislature, on behalf of
the institution, as no longer an experiment, but as having
its character established. They accordingly in 1825,
petitioned the Legislature for the removal of tests, for an
enlargement of their powers and for a permanent grant.
We have not a copy of the petition, but presume the
enlargement of powers, meant the right of conferring
degrees. The petition was referred in the Assembly to a
committee, of which Charles R. Fairbanks, Esq., then
Solicitor General, was chairman, which reported as
follows :
" The Committee are of opinion that the Pictou Academy is a highly useful
Institution, conducted on an excellent system, that of the Scotch Universities,
and peculiarly adapted to meet the wants, and accords with the sentiments of
the majority of the Province in regard to the higher branches of education.
That its establishment and support has been and will continue to be a favorite
object with the greater part of the Dissenters in the Province, on account of
its total exemption from any disqualifications to students, originating iu
religious distinctions, and for the careful attention, which its conductors have
manifested for the morals of those who attend it. That the attainment of a
sound classical education, and of a competent knowledge ofthe other branches
of science, commonly taught in the higher schools, is brought down to thc

334
aieans and ability of those, who, if the Academy did not exist, would be wholly
enable to provide these advantages for their children. And lastly, that the
Institution possesses decided advantages, in many respects to those students
who are destined to the ministry in the Presbyterian and other Dissenting
Churches, and is for this object, indispensably necessary, if these are to be
iupplied by the youth of the Province.
" Eeferring to the exclusive Scotch character of the population of the
Eastern part of the Province, and to their known, and perhaps laudable,
partiality and attachment to the Institutions ofthe country, whence they have
originated, and regarding also the great and rapidly increasing population of
that quarter, the Committee consider, there exists a fair claim on the part of
Pictou, for support to this Academy, for which so decided an interest is there
manifest, out of that General Eevenue, to which they so largely contribute ;
and as from the evidence before them and other considerations, the Com
mittee are obliged to believe, that this Institution will be attended by a class
of persons, who, on various accounts, are, and will be, incapable of prosecuting
their studies at Kings College, Windsor, or in the institution of doubtful and
uncertain stability now forming in Halifax, they have deemed it their duty
under the clearest convictions of the invaluable benefits, which Education con
fers on a country, to recommend the Pictou Academy to the continued support
and fostering care of the General Assembly.
" And believing the honorary Collegiate Distinctions to be highly useful,
as incitements to the emulation and diligence of students, and to be the
means of extending the respectability, and character and influence of the
institution ; while the incapacity to grant them possesses a tendency injurious,,
and perhaps discreditable to it, the Committee cannot perceive any substantial
reason, for refusing to allow these privileges to the Academy.
" The Committee therefore report that in their opinion, it is expedient to
provide, by an act of the General Assembly, for a permanent allowance to the
Trustees of the Pictou Academy, of the sum of £400 from the Treasury, and
for bestowing upon it, with full exemption from all tests now required of its
Trustees, the name, distinctions and privileges of a college as known in
Scotland. These the Committee believe will remove all impediments to the
advancement and prosperity of this Seminary, give it stability and considera
tion, and justify its supporters in bestowing that assistance, which the doubt
of its permanence now renders it prudent to withhold."
Upon this report the House first passed a vote of £400,
which received the assent of the Council. It then
proceeded to pass a permanent bill for a like sum, but,
after two* readings, it was delayed until the next session,
on account of the absence of the Governor, and the
supposed want of power in the President to give his
assent. This supposed want of power was simply

335
pretence. Wallace, the Administrator ofthe Government
never had any scruples about want of power, when it
was a question of rewarding one of his creatures. Then
he could exercise the powers of his position, in a way that
the Governor himself would scarcely have done ; but a
measure of those Pictou Dissenters, why it was simply
flaunting the red flag in his face.
In 1826, the Assembly passed another permanent bill,
to which the Council refused their assent. The Assembly
then appointed a committee to search the Journals ofthe
Council, who reported, that in favor of the bill there were
four, Mr. Morris, Judges Stewart and Halliburton, and
the Master of the Rolls, and against it, five, the Lord
Bishop, and Messrs. Wallace, Jeffrey, Binney, and Prescott
The committee also reported, that the minority had entered
a protest against the dismissal of the bill. This document
we must present entire. But we may mention here, that
during the Session, the Assembly passed the usual vote
of £400, which received the assent of the Council.

EEASONS OF PEOTEST BY MINOEITY OF COUNCIL,
DATED 22ND MAECH, 1826.
' 1. Because we think that the Dissenters in this Province, who compose
more than four-fifths of its population, have entitled themselves to the favor
able consideration of the Legislature, by their orderly, steady and loyal
conduct, and the cheerful support which they have so long given to His
Majesty's Government in Nova Scotia.
" 2. Because we think that when £400 sterling have been annually paid,
for thirty-six years past, out of the revenue of this country, for the support of
a college, which confines its academical honors to members of the Established
Church, who pay but one-fifth of the revenue of this oountry, the Dissenters,
who pay the other four-fifths, are entitled to at least an equal sum to support
an institution in which their children can derive the benefit of a liberal
education. " 3. Because we do not think that the objection, which has been urged to
the permanent establishment of such an institution in a remote part of the
Province, as Pictou has been termed, ought to have any weight when tha

336
general wishes of the Dissenters have been expressed, by their Eepresentatives
in three successive Sessions in the House of Assembly, in favor of that
situation, where the great body of the Dissenters reside, and where, out of a
population of 12,000 persons, not 100 members of the Established Church
could be found.
" 4. Because we think the Bill, which His Majesty's Council have now
determined to reject, is free from the objections to which the other Bills for
endowing the Pictou Academy were liable, as the Institution is by this Bill
placed sufficiently under the control of the Government, by empowering the
Governor to nominate so large a portion of the trustees, and thereby securing
the Province against the future introduction of teachers into that seminary,
whose principles might be inimical to our political institutions.
" 5. Because we are convinced that the public feeling, which has been so
strongly expressed in favor of the Pictou Academy, will still continue to
manifest itself, and defeat all the efforts of its opponents to destroy the
institution ; it will therefore continue to exist, notwithstanding the rejection
of the present Bill, — but Government will not have that salutary influence
over it which it would acquire if this Bill were passed into a law.
" 6. Because, as members of the Established Church, we feel that the best
interests of that Church will be consulted by manifesting a spirit of liberality
to our fellow christians who dissent from us, — that even policy, independent
of higher motives, dictates to us as a minority, the advantages of conciliating
the Dissenters, and showing to them that we feel that the Church of England
has nothing to fear from the diffusion of knowledge.
" 1. Because we value highly that harmony and good understanding, which,
¦without the compromise of principle, has so long prevailed among Christians
of all denominations in this Province ; and we fear, that the rejection of this
Bill, while the annual allowance to the College at Windsor is continued, will
excite a spirit of hostility to the Established Church among the Dissenters,
which will seriously disturb the peace of the country, as upwards of 30 years
experience has convinced all of us, who enter this Protest, that every attempt
to give or retain exclusive privileges to the Church of England, has invariably
operated to its disadvantage. If the clergymen of that church will exert
themselves with tempered zeal, the purity of its precepts, the beauty of its
liturgy, and the liberality of its sentiments, will insure its extension among the
people of this Province, unless their feelings are so roused against it by any
injudicious measures, on the part of the Government or the Legislature, to
give to it advantages, to which so large a portion of the population think that
it is not entitled. CHAELES MOEEIS.i
JAMES STEWAET, '
BEENTON HALLIBUETON,"
S. B. EOBIE.

337
We must now, however, refer to the nature and source
ofthe opposition, which the institution encountered during
these and subsequent years. This will appear, in part,
from the preceding document; but we must explain,
farther, that the Church of England Bishop — the second
Bishop Inglis — not only had a seat in the Council, but
was one of its most active members, not merely in mat
ters which might interest him as a churchman, but in
public affairs generally. Having often the ear of gover
nors, he was a power behind the throne. He was a man
of ability and an astute politician, but specially an able
and persevering worker for the Church of England.
None would have had any right to object to this, had his
efforts been regulated by a due regard to the fights of
others. But he was trained in the most intolerant school ;
and instead of relying for the progress of his church on
the influence of her principles and practice, and the zeal
and piety of her ministers and members, he devoted a large
share of his energies to maintaining her exclusive pri
vileges and political supremacy, as an established church.
The maintenance of Windsor College was essential to
his object. Had he sought this without seeking any
exclusive rights, it would never have met with a word of
objection ; but, notwithstanding that four-fifths of the
population were excluded from its benefits, there was
yet no wTord of removing the tests. As for giving them
any share in the management of an institution established
by Government for the benefit of all, why such a thought
could scarcely ever be supposed to enter his mind ! And
now, when they dared to establish such an institution for
themselves, his jealousy was excited against it, not only
as liKcly to foster the evils of dissent, but as likely to form
a rival to Kings College. His views are at least partially
revealed, in the following extract of a letter published in
thc report of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel,
for the year 1823 :— 22

338
" At Pictou an Academy, or college as it is called, has been built, at which;
there are now about twenty students. Much pains have been taken to make
it attractive by its Philosophical Apparatus and lectures in the sciences, and
the residence is agreeable to the students, as they lodge in private houses, at
moderate expense ancl free from restraints. The Institution owes its rise
partly to the difficulties and embarrassments, which have oppressed Kings
College, Windsor, and partly to the zeal of the Presbyterian ministers, who
have the sole charge of it. It is supported chiefly by an annual grant from
the Provincial Legislature, and is likely to rise or decay as the College at Windsor
is depressed or advanced."
In these days of religious equality, and of good feeling
among religious denominations, it is scarcely possible to
realize the state of matters which existed then, the
inferior position of Dissenters, the prejudices with which
they were regarded even by sensible men, and the diffi
culties therefore which were thrown in the Doctor's way,
at every stage of his efforts on behalf of the Pictou
Academy. Many beheved that a Dissenter must neces
sarily be disloyal. In the year 1809, on the visit of Sir
George Prevost, the Governor, to Pictou, some parties
made representations to him regarding the Doctor's
loyalty, in consequence of which he felt it worth while
to send to Government a lengthy defence, with a certificate
signed by Hugh Dunoon and the other magistrates, that
he regularly prayed for the King. In one of the debates
of the Assembly, R. J. Uniacke, Jr., on some report he
had heard of the principles of the Antiburghers, said that
they ought to be looked after. When Wallace was
administering the Government, representations were
forwarded to him, accusing the trustees of disloyal
principles. When they applied to him for a copy of the
charges, he acknowledged having received such a paper,
but refused to give a copy of it. This state of things as
affecting the Academy, is thus described by T. C. Hali
burton in one of his speeches : —
" There is much to regret, sir, in the state of public affairs in this province,
and there are few colonies which present such a singular spectacle. There
are a few individuals in Halifax, who direct public opinion, and who not only

339
influence but control all pubic measures. Seated in the capital, they govern
the movements of all the different parts ; as they touch the springs the wires
move, and simultaneously arise the puppets in the different counties and
towns, play the part assigned to them, and re-echo the sounds which have
been breathed into them. The smiles of episcopacy, the frowns ofthe treasury,
and the patronage of official interest, have a powerful effect, when brought to
bear upon any one object. There is also a wide difference between the success
of any measure, when called for by the people, and when advocated by this
party. Any project however absurd or extravagant, when required by the
latter, to be carried into effect, has friends without number, but if the people
solicit, it is viewed with ca-ition ; you hear it whispered on all sides, it will
offend such a person, it will not be acceptable in a certain quarter, and you are
advised to be silent, as it may affeet your personal interests, or draw down
upon you a displeasure, -which may retard your own advancement. The war
cry of church and state has been raised against this persecuted institution, and
it is said on all sides, it will militate against the interests of the Established
Church and of Kings College at Windsor.
'' I am a member of the Qhurch of England, and admire and revere it ; I
shall continue so, and though I disapprove of the intemperate zeal of some of
its friends, I shall live and die a member of that church. I have also the
honour of being a graduate pf Kings College, and am a warm friend of that
invaluable establishment. As such, sir, if there were any prejudices among
the members of either, against the Pictou Academy, because it is the resort
of children of dissenters, or if it was viewed by those with distrust, as a
Sectarian institution, I ought to know something of those prejudices. It is
the misfortune of the church, and we all deeply lament it, that one or two
unworthy members of it, have sought promotion through the paths of slander,
and political intrigue, and have constantly represented Dissenters as disloyal
and disaffected people. The value of these gentlemen has unfortunately been
estimated on the other side of the water by their zeal ; and as they have
uniformly reported sectarianism, as they are pleased to call it, synonymous
with revolt and rebellion, the dependence of the colony has been absurdly
thought, to be alone supported by these staunch friends ; and honor and
promotion await their laudable exertions.
" I will never consent that this seminary of education for Dissenters, shall
be crushed to gratify the bigotry of a few individuals in this town, who have
originated, fostered, and supported, all the opposition to Pictou Academy.
I do not mean to say, that they directly influence those gentlemen in this
house, who oppose the bill, but their influence reaches to people who are r/bt
conscious of it themselves. They are in a situation to give a tone to public
opinion ; few men take the trouble of forming just conclusions on any subject
but adopt the sentiments of those, whose judgments they respect. In this
manner they hint, ' ambitious Scotchmen at Pictou,' ' sour sectarians,' ' disloyal
people,' ' opposed to church and state,' their hints circulate from one to
another, men hear it, they know not where, adopt it, they know not how ; and
finally give it as their own opinion ; until you find honest and honourable

340
men, as you have heard to-day, pronouncing a judgment, evidently tinctured
by the breath of poison, which they themselves are wholly unconscious of
having inhaled.
" In one of the reports made to the Society for the Propagation of the
Gospel in foreign parts, we find the following eulogium on Dissenters : ' It can
bo clearly substantiated, that in exact proportion to the influenee of the
established religion, will be the immovable loyalty of the inhabitants of the
province.' — It would be difficult to find in public annals, such another
abominable libel on Dissenters ; it is said the person who made it, was once
your chaplain. Had I been a member of the Assembly at the time, I would
have moved to have him publicly censured at the bar of the house ; he
deserved to have been placed in the custody of the Sergeant-at-Arms, to have
been deprived of his gown, and should have been admonished to ' go and sin
no more.' "
At the starting of the Pictou Academy, the Bishop and
his friends had succeeded in placing such restrictions
upon it, as were likely to render it a small affair. But now
that in spite of this, it was proving successful, his whole
influence in the Legislature was employed against it.
He was sure of Wallace's help to do any thing against the
wishes of those Pictou Dissenters, and with two or three
placemen he was able to command a majority in the Upper
House to defeat its claims. It will be seen that in that
year, (1826) it was only by his casting vote that the bill
was rejected.*
In the course which the Bishop and his party adopted,
he was acting against the opinions of the best, the ablest,
and certainly the most liberal minded members ofhis own
church. This will appear from the foregoing protest, all

* It is curious to note the position of these men to the public treasury. The
Bishops salary was £2000, sterling we believe, largely through the liberality
ofthe British Government, with £l50 for travelling expenses, besides other
perquisites, even it was said to a share of the royalty on coal ; Jeffrey had
£2000 sterling; Binney was Collector of Excise, and Wallace Treasurer, on
what were large salaries for the times. Yet these four men, receiving among
them annually fifteen or twenty times the whole sum asked for advanced
education for four fifths of the population, could, with the aid of one other
councillor, defeat the almost unanimous wishes of the country and their
representatives in this regard. An objection was even made that Dr.
McCulloeh was receiving two hundred pounds a year!

341
the signers to which belonged to that body. The same
spirit was shown in the Assembly, where Episcopalians,
as T. C. Halliburton, were among the most earnest advo
cates of the Pictou Institution. And probably a majority
of that church throughout the country, would have shown
the same spirit. But the Bishop and his clique were
unrelenting. In the meantime the friends of the Institution had put
forth vigorous efforts for its maintenance. The Synod of
the Presbyterian Church had taken up its support in
earnest, and subscriptions, liberal for the times and
circumstances, were made in its congregations, though
always the largest amount came from the members of the
body in Pictou. Though anticipating, we may say here
that up to the year 1830, about £5,000 was thus raised,
of which about £3,000 was expended on building, library
and philosophical apparatus. Much of this was from
Ladies' Penny-a-week Societies, and sometimes from men,
who. not having money, brought their produce to the
stores, to pay their subscriptions. The very opposition
which the Institution encountered, only intensified the
earnestness of its friends.
That year Dr. McCulloeh visited Scotland. He
addressed the Synod of the United Secession Church,
which unanimously recorded it as their opinion " that the
Presbyterian Church of Nova Scotia and the Pictou Insti
tution have strong claims on the sympathy and liberality
of the Presbyterian and other churches in Britain, and of
associations for rehgious purposes, and especially of the
United Secession Church." They also issued a recom
mendation to the congregations under their inspection to
make a collection, without delay, in aid of the funds of
the Pictou Academical Institution, and they appointed a
committee to prepare a short statement of the claims of
the Institution, to be read from the pulpit of each
congregation, when the collection was intimated, and also

342
to consider what further measures might be adopted, for
promoting the interests of our sister church in Nova
Scotia. A society was formed ' in Glasgow, entitled " The
Glasgow Society for promoting the interests of Religion
and liberal Education in the North American Colonies,"
and including in the committee of management, several
influential laymen and ministers of different denominations.
The students attending the Theological Hall of the United
Secession Church, pledged themselves to raise the sum
of £200, and as the result of these efforts, considerable
sums were remitted in subsequent years in aid of the
Institution. By these means a library, deemed respectable at the
time, was collected, and a philosophical apparatus, and
later a chemical apparatus, partly the Doctor's own pro
perty, the first in these Lower Provinces, were added, and
in spite of adverse influences, the institution was gaining
strength. Up to this period, the opposition to the Institution had
come from the leaders of a dominant church, and was so
clearly the expression of narrow-minded exclusiveness —
so opposed even to the sense of justice of the best
members of that body, that if nothing else had interfered,
it must in the progress of events have been swept away
by the rising tide of public sentiment. But now its
friends were to be taken in flank, and the institution to
encounter an opposition more intense, and ultimately
more fatal, from men of the same religious name.
We are far from desirous of reviving old quarrels, but
it is necessary to our history, to give the facts of the con
troversy in its new phase. The founders of the institution
while desirous of establishing it on a liberal basis, and to
give in it such a training as would fit our youth for
usefulness in any sphere, attached special importance to
it, as a means of educating young men for the Gospel

343
ministry. Indeed the difficulty of obtaining ministers to
supply the destitute parts of the Province, was one and
perhaps the leading cause, which led them to found such
an institution. The Presbyterian Synod had taken up its
support on the same ground, and with this view Dr.
McGregor and the other ministers had appealed to their
people, and enlisted their sympathies on its behalf.
When the ministers of the Church of Scotland
commenced the movement, forming an organization in
connection wTith that body, they found the Institution
ready to send out its first company of native preachers.
They came with that contempt, which it was customary
then and long after, for old country people to entertain
for everything colonial. The idea of training some ofthe
natives of the backwoods for ministers, seemed to them
;supremely ridiculous, and when they commenced preach
ing they decried them in the strongest terms. They also
looked upon Seceders with that disdain, with which the
members of the Established Church at that time generally
regarded that body. They could not see that in this
country they hold no more favoured position. But they
were not long in seeing that the Presbyterian Church of
Nova Scotia, composed principally of Seceders, who were
in the Province before them, had a firm footing in the
country, and that such an institution, by providing
ministers in the Province, was giving them a great
advantage, an advantage, it is true, equally open to all,
but of which they had no intention of availing themselves.
Hence they took a position against it, as favouring the
Seceders in opposition to the Kirk of Scotland.
In the year 1826, Messrs. Fraser and McKenzie held an
interview with the Trustees. At this meeting they ob
jected to the teaching of the higher branches in the
Institution, and proposed substantially, that it should be
converted into Grammar School. To this of course the
Trustees could not accede, and Messrs. F. and McK. left,

344
intimating that as the Trustees would not adopt their
views, they would henceforth meet with their most deter
mined opposition.
Accordingly by their exertions, for the next few years
petitions were forwarded to the Legislature, signed by their
adherents asking for a change in the Institution, a change
which amounted to an entire destruction of it, as far as the
objects of its founders were concerned. They alleged
that the teaching of the higher branches was a violation
of its charter, and complained that English grammar,.
elocution, bookkeeping, navigation, geography and the
elements of the classics, were not taught in the Institution^
and they asked for their introduction.
To this it was replied, that the Institution had never
been intended to teach these branches. It was shown that
the original petition, on which the charter was granted, was-
distinctly for the establishment of an institution for teach
ing the branches not taught in the Grammar Schools of
the Province — that the charter was given with this view
— that the subscription list was in the same terms, and
the money raised expressly for this purpose — that its by
laws, which defined the course of instruction, had been
according to law submitted to the Governor, and ap
proved by him — that the Legislature perfectly understood
this, as for seven years after the establishment of the
Institution, they had made a liberal grant to a Grammar
School along side of it, and that a Committee of the As
sembly, after a thorough examination, had expressed the-
highest approval of the system of education adopted.
Therefore to employ the funds ofthe Institution in teach
ing the branches of an ordinary English education, was
destroying the Institution, as far as its original purpose
was concerned, and was entirely unnecessary as there was
a Grammar School, in which these branches were effici
ently taught within a few rods of the building.
It was objected farther that the Institution, in terms of

345
the charter, ought to be under the management of persons
belonging either to the Church of England, or the establish
ed Church of Scotland, but that instead ofthis it had with
a few exceptions, fallen into the hands of Seceders from
the latter, who had adopted the present course of ins
truction, not suited to the circumstances of the Province,
to forward their favourite design of raising ministers for
their own connection, and that a divinity class had been
introduced avowedly for this object, which gave the
Academy a sectarian appearance.
To this it was replied, that according to the charter,
the Trustees must be members of the Church of England
or Presbyterians — that the Trustees had taken the test
once in every three years though it had been forced upon
them, — that the Trustees had always been anxious to
have as full a representation of different religious bodies
at their Board, as in their power — that they had elected
Mr. Fraser a trustee soon after his arrival in this country
— that the Rev. Archibald Gray, minister of the Church
of Scotland, as well as Mr. Foreman, a member of his.
congregation, had been a trustee from the commencement
of the Institution, had signed the first petition for its
establishment, and every one presented by the trustees
during his lifetime, and that they had also invited members
ofthe Council to become Trustees — that as to education,
the Institution was conducted on the principles of the
Glasgow University, that the education given was
restricted to such branches as were required for all the
learned professions — and as to the Divinity class, that it
was quite disconnected with the Institution. The
Trustees had granted the use of a class room for the
purpose, but agreed to extend the same favor to any other
denomination. Dr. McCulloeh further offered to remove
this class to his own house. But his opponents demanded
that he should relinquish it altogether. This he
positively refused.

346
The opposition from these sources involved Dr.
McCulloeh in a vast amount of labour. His pen was
constantly employed, in Ararious ways, in representations
to the Legislature, appeals to the Presbyterian congrega
tions, and carrying on a scarcely interrupted controversy
in the press. Besides these labours, he visited
Halifax and the leading towns in the Lower Provinces,
delivering popular lectures on science, especially
chemistry, with a design of awakening an interest in
education. These lectures were among the first of the
kind in British North America. With the assistance of
his family, he collected a Museum of Natural History,
which wTas the finest in the Province at the time.
Audubon pronounced the collection of native birds to
be the finest, or among the finest he had ever seen. To
the discredit of Nova Scotia, be it said, it was allowed to
be sold abroad. By these controversies the feelings of
parties were excited to a degree, which it is now scarcely
possible to realize. The members of the Presbyterian
Church looked upon the Institution, as that upon which
the progress and prosperity of their church depended,
and all their most sacred feelings were roused in its
support ; while the adherents of the other body, taught to
regard it as an institution against the Church of Scotland,
through the strength of their best feelings toward their
mother church, were roused to the most violent opposition.
And the strife became deeply intensified, by becoming
mixed with the political struggles of the day.
We must now return to the history of the question
in the Legislature. In 1827, the trustees again petitioned
for the abolition of tests, and for a permanent endowment ;
but owing to the absence of Mr. Smith, the Pictou member
for the County of Halifax, and the person who took the
lead in the business of the Academy in the House, no
permanent bill was introduced. But now the majority
of Council were emboldened to go farther than ever in

347
their opposition to the Institution. There can be no doubt
that the opposition in Pictou was fomented, perhaps
instigated, by the official party in Halifax, but now they
took advantage of this division, as an excuse for refusing
all aid to the Academy. They could now turn round
and say, agree among yourselves. Hitherto the opponents
of the Institution, had generally after a fight allowed the
vote to pass each year, though refusing to make it
permanent. This was anything but satisfactory. For
trustees to engage teachers, and teachers to accept
engagements, on the faith of a grant, for which annually
they were at the mercy of the deadly foes of the
Institution, was a position which none would willingly
occupy, and it was unjust, when Windsor had its grant
secured permanently.
But now, when the House passed the usual vote of
£400, the Council negatived it, and in a paper sent to the
Assembly, gravely assigned as their reason, that " measures
have been adopted by a majority of the trustees to excite
a spirit of hostility to the Established Church," and to
render Windsor College unpopular on account of its
restrictions ; and they declared their determination not
to consent to any grant, while the Institution remained
under the management of the present trustees. The
House then voted £300 for the current year's expenses,
and £100 for the partial discharge of the pecuniary
engagements of the trustees ; this also the Council
rejected. A resolution was then passed in the Assembly
placing £400 at the discretionary disposal of the Governor
for the benefit of the Institution ; to this the Council
assented. The Governor issued a commission, Judge
Chipman chairman, to examine into the state and
proceedings of the Institution, and the result after
deliberate enquiry, was a most favourable report, which
caused the Governor instantly to give his warrant for
the money.

348
The history of the legislation of the following years we
give in Mr. Blanchard's words : " In 1828, another per
manent bill passed the Lower House, and was lost in
Council. Next day the House passed another permanent
bill, with some alteration of the provisions. To this, the
Council sent down several amendments, or, more properly
speaking, a very voluminous bill of quite a different
nature. It is sufficient to mention, that Dr. McCulloeh,
the principal, was personally excluded from the trust.
All the trustees were to be removed, and others appointed
in their place by the Governor, and the Institution was to
be reduced to the level of a Grammar School, or something
lower. The House of course refused to concur in the
amendments, and the bill was lost.
" The House then voted £500 to be placed at the dis
cretionary disposal of the Governor, towards discharging
the debts of the institution. This was sent to the Council
and lost. There were only four nays. Next day the
Assembly resolved, that if His Excellency the Governor
should judge it proper to aid the Trustees, to the extent
of £500 towards the payments of their debts, the House
would provide for it at its next session. Next morning,
however, the friends of the Institution, thought it was
going too far thus to overlook the Council altogether, and
upon reading their journals, moved the insertion of the
words, " with the advice of His Majesty's Council." After
the rising of the House, "the Governor called upon the
Council for their advice, and they advised to withhold the
money, and it was accordingly withheld.
" To ascertain the proceedings of the Council with
regard to the permanent bill, a Committee of the House
searched their journals, and reported that sixteen petitions
from various portions of the Province, had been presented
to the Council, praying their assent to a permanent en
dowment of the Academy, and it was also reported that
there were four nays in Council to the rejection of the bill.

349
" In 1829, a permanent endowment passed the House,
but was lost in Council. The usual vote of £400 was
also passed and also lost in Council. In 1830 a similar
bill and a similar vote passed the Assembly, but were both
lost in Council.
" In 1831, a Committee of ten was appointed in the
Assembly, to report a bill respecting the Institution, and
they introduced one which passed the House, and was
sent to the Council. They returned it with several
amendments, but these being connected with money, and
so an infringement of the privileges of the House were
not considered. The House then passed a resolution of
£400 ; while the resolution was under discussion, several
members who were opposed to the bill, expressed their
consent to the vote for that year, and one of them proposed
that the word " unanimous " should be prefixed to the reso
lution, in order that the Council might know the unanimity
of the House, and be perhaps thereby induced to acquiesce
in its wishes. The word " unanimous " was prefixed by
the consent of a full House, but failed to produce the
expected effect. The resolution came back disagreed to.
" In concluding this naked history of the Parliamentary
proceedings relative to the Academy, the following facts
are recurred to as particularly worthy of remark. The
House of Assembly passed eight resolutions granting
money to the Institution, which were negatived, or des
troyed by amendments.
" During the fifteen years since the Academy was found
ed, there have been four General Assemblies, and in each
of these, there was always a very large majority in favor
of the Institution. The bills and votes for annual allow
ances often passed without a division, sometimes against
minorities of four or five, and on the last occasion,
unanimously." These proceedings led to debates in the House,
conducted with great ability. It was in these discussions,

350
and those which arose out of them on the constitutional
powers of the House of Assembly, that S. G. W. Archibald,
then speaker, established his character as one of the finest
orators of the day, while perhaps not less able, and little
less eloquent, were the addresses of T. C. Haliburton and
C. R. Fairbanks on the same side, while Alexander
Stewart on the opposite did what could be done to cover
a bad cause.
But the issue was what those in power little expected.
The Council it is true had manifested their power in
defeating the wishes of the House on a money question,
strongly expressed for a dozen years, and their intolerant
exclusiveness, in refusing an act of the commonest justice
to the whole dissenting population, and the Bishop might
feel as if he could smile defiance upon all foes. Indeed
the Council seemed determined to exercise their power
in very wantonness, for they now negatived a grant
passed in the House for Horton Academy, and even
refused the small sum of £30 to the Pictou Grammar
School. But these things were but the beginning of the end of
the whole system of the irresponsible power of cliques
and compacts. The discussions on the Pictou Academy
raised the whole question of the Council's constitutional
rights, and there were men now to claim for the Assembly
that control of money matters, which, according to the
British Constitution, belongs to the people's represen
tatives. The temper too of both the House and country
was being roused, by the manner in which the Council
had exercised their powers, and men were now found
boldly to cry out to have the whole concern swept away,
or its Constitution radically changed. We will give one
example ofthis. On the 19th March, 1829, Mr. Hartshorne,
one of the minority, moved that the House appoint a
committee to confer with the Council, and instruct them
to concur with the Council's bill of the preceding year..

351
Then Mr. Haliburton, after indignantly repudiating the
idea, that after seven bills had been passed by the
Assembly and rejected by the Council, the views of the
latter should now be thrust upon them, proposed that the
resolution should lie on the table, and that instead, the
members should agree to resolve themselves into a
committee on the general state of the Province, and tor
prepare an address to His Majesty, humbly soliciting him
to remove from his Council those who filled public offices,
or to give them a Legislative Council, and afterward made
the following remarks : —
" Will any man say that this is not necessary ? or that it would not be a
desirable amendment of our local government? Will any man say that we,.
the forty members here assembled from all parts of Nova Scotia, do not bring
together a greater body of local and topographical knowledge than any
similar number of men residing in Halifax ? Or will it be denied that twelve
or fourteen gentlemen appointed by the King, from different counties in Nova
Scotia, to a Legislative Council, could not better subserve the interests of
Nova Scotia than the same number of people in Halifax? It has been said
that this country is a peaceable, quiet country, and is well governed. I admit
that it has been a quiet and exemplary Province, but, sir, it is owing to the
temperance, prudence, good sense and forbearanco of this House, and the
morality of the people for many years past. But as to our local government,
the structure and frame of it is essentially defective. Is it possible that any man
can assert that where the Legislative Council consists of the same persons as
the Privy Council, and the latter is composed of all our public officers,
whereby the servants of the public become its masters, that such a form of
government is perfect, or that men so situated, unless equal to angels, could
in the nature of things give satisfaction ? Is it possible to affirm that a
council separate and apart from the Privy Council, but appointed by the King
from the country, would not be infinitely preferable ? "
And then after a scathing rebuke of the Bishop for his
treatment of Dr. McCulloeh, as well as some other of his
friends, he concluded : —
« I turn from them and him to this House and say, consider of this matter,
and petition the King, either to remove the public officers fed and paid by
the Province, from the Privy Council, or to grant us a Legislative Council.
That there does exist a necessity for this measure, no man can doubt who
understands the state of our affairs."
Though the Assembly was thus coming to learn and
assert its rights, there was still wanting the firmness to

352
take a firm stand in the maintenance of them. Had they
done so on this question, and simply had this grant or
given no supply at all, the contest would perhaps have
come sooner, but the victory would have been more easily
won, and with less loss and trouble to the country than
in the contest which was soon after forced upon them.
But the members had always objects, for which they
wanted money votes, and the House resorted to a system
of manceuvering, to obtain the consent of the Council even
for grants necessary for public improvement, and the
latter could always secure their measures, and in every
collision with the House had hitherto been successful.
And even the author of the above bold words, under the
influence of a judgeship, quietly subsided into the most
compliant of placemen. But freedom's battle was now
begun, and when the next fight came, the Council found
itself engaged in a vain struggle for life, and passed away,
" unwept, unhonoured and unsung ; " and in the new
order of things, the people of Nova Scotia took good care
that no Bishop managed our civil affairs.
It was perhaps unfortunate for the Academy, that it
was mixed up with these political questions, but this
position was forced upon its friends by the course of its
opponents. During the time that the annual grant was withheld,
the friends of the Institution rallied nobly to its support.
In one year friends in HaUfax subscribed £500 towards
it. At one meeting in Pictou a subscription was opened,
which the next day amounted to £181. 5s. ($725). Had
it been a time of prosperity in the country, the zeal of its
friends was such, that it might have been maintained
without Government aid, and sometimes Dr. McCulloeh
proposed, that the Presbyterian Church should take the
matter into their own hands, and leave the Legislature
alone. But it was a time of great depression and scarcity
of money, and subscriptions were insufficient, so that debt

353
was accumulating upon the Trustees. The Council
jemaining obstinate, they resolved to lay their grievances
before the Home Government. This had been threatened
before, but the Bishop and the Council had hitherto had
the ear of the authorities at Downing Street, and the^
smiled contempt on such a proposal. But they had to
deal with men, who knew their rights and had the boldness
to assert them, and who had confidence in the justice of
the British Government. Accordingly in the year 1831,
Jotham Blanchard, Esq., wras sent to Britain as their
agent. He addressed the United Secession Synod, which,
after hearing his statements, resolved to strengthen his
hands, by presenting an address to the King on behalf of
his mission, and otherwise to aid in the promotion of his
views. He then presented to Lord Goderich, then Co
lonial Secretary, a long memorial giving a full history of
the Institution and its claims, which was confirmed by a
variety of documents. Some members of Council were in
London at the time, from whom His Lordship sought
•explanations, but they had to make the excuse, that
they had not with them the documents necessary to
Teply to it.
The result was a despatch from the Colonial Secretary
to the Lieut. Governor, of which the following are extracts :
" The arrival of Mr. Blanchard in this country, with a memorial upon the
subject of the Pictou Academy, has called my particular attention to that
question, which seems to be almost the only topic calculated to interrupt the
harmony and good understanding, which in general prevails between the
¦different branches of the Legislature, and throughout the Province at large.
" Unless, however, some means be found of adjusting the differences, whieh
have arisen upon this subject, I fear it may swell into an affair of some mag
nitude, and threaten injurious consequences, which it might not be easy to
avert. His Majesty's Government, therefore, feel most anxious that this
cause of internal dissension should be removed, and that a bill shpuld be
passed, which might give to the Pictou Academy that permanent pecuniary
assistance from the public revenue, to the grant of which the Assembly
attaches so much importance ; and I have no hesitation in submitting to you
my opinion, that it would be most unfortunate, if the passing of such a bill
should be frustrated, by attempting to annex to it conditions as to the con*
23

354
stitution of the Body of Trustees, to which there is but little reason to expecfc
that the Assembly -would be prepared to agree.
11 It may, I think, well be doubted whether, considering the nature of the
institution and the great variety of religious opinions, which may be enter
tained by those who attend it, any benefit would result from placing the
management of it, in the hands of a Board of Trustees composed of persons
holding official situations under Government, who might thereby become, in
the discharge of their duties, most inconveniently mixed up with questions in
which they could not interfere with advantage. The veto which the Governor
now possesses upon the appointment of new trustees when vacancies occur,
seems to afford a sufficient guarantee against the introduction into the Board
of improper persons ; and although it can hardly be expected, that any board
of management could at all times give unqualified satisfaction to every one,
yet so long as the Assembly, representing all classes of persons in the com
munity, should not deem any fresh Legislative interference necessary, it
might fairly be inferred that the Institution was not improperly conducted ;.
at all events, it is obvious at the present moment that the public at large are
not desirous of any material change in its management.
"Whilst, however, I cannot say that I see reason to participate in the-
grounds upon whioh the Council have rejected a bill for a permanent grant, I
should, of course, deem it to be more satisfactory if the measure were adopted
in such a manner as to meet and conciliate the feelings and wishes of both
parties. Your object will therefore be to endeavor to bring about, by the
exercise of all proper means of persuasion on your part, such a state of feeling
upon the subject as may lead to that result. All will then see that His
Majesty's Government at home, and the individual who represents His Majesty
in the colony, have no other object in view than the good of the Province, .
and the harmony and contentment of all classes of His Majesty's subjects."
This was a pretty severe rap on the knuckles of the
old ladies, and most unexpected from such a quarter.
With such instructions to the Governor, and such a plain
expression of sentiment regarding the conduct of the
Council, had the friends of the Institution now stood firm,
we believe they might have gained all they had sought.
FBut the House was disposed to compromise, and thus
threw away the fruits of victory. Mr. Archibald now
introduced a bill, the principal provisions of which were, .
that the Institution should be under the management of
a board of twelve trustees, seven of the old trustees, to be
elected by themselves, four to be appointed by the
Governor, (these it was intended should be appointed
from the party in Pictou opposed to the Institution), and*

,355'
the Roman Catholic Bishop. The Institution was to
consist of a higher and lower department, the higher to
teach the branches already taught, and the lower to teach
those usually taught in the Grammar schools. The
trustees however might obtain any suitable house in any
part of Pictou, separate from the Academy for the lower
division, wliich was to be commenced, as soon as funds
had been raised by private subscription, tuition fees or
otherwise to provide a salary of £100 a year. There was
to be no Theological class taught in the Academy, but
this was not to prevent any professor teaching any such
class in any other part ofthe town of Pictou. The sum
of £400 a year was granted for ten years, of which £250
was to be paid to Dr. McCulloeh, as principal, while he
continued in office, the rest to be for the benefit of the
Academy, as the trustees might direct.
This bill was an attempt fairly to meet the views of all
parties. The proportion of the trustees allowed to the
old funds of the Institution, was what Mr. McKenzie
professed himself willing to agree to. It preserved the
teaching of the higher branches, which its friends had
been so long endeavoring to build up, and it at the
same time sought to meet the views of its opponents as
to the lower branches. But Mr. McKenzie was no more
reconciled than ever. It still made provision for main
taining the higher branches, and thus the Seceders might
still educate ministers in Nova Scotia, and he accordingly
appealed to the Council against the measure.
" The manifest aim," he complained to them, " and
effect of the Bill, is the appropriation of £400 a year out
of the public revenue, to gratify the ambitious views of a
particular sect, to whom a combination of circumstances,
and the injurious union of the three districts of this
county, has given a temporary ascendancy and a degree
of political influence, to which their relative numbers
and strength in the districts of Halifax and Pictou, by

356
no means entitles them. It is an ascendancy, which
tramples under foot the just rights, and sets at naught
the moderate demands ofthe other classes of His Majesty's
loyal subjects and which in seeking to perpetuate itself,
has led to consequences of which none are more fully
aware than the members of your Hon. Board. The
Academy has been declared by the Rev. Principal, to be
subservient to the propagation of the gospel, that is, as
is apparent from his printed memorial of 1826, containing
this passage, ' to the education of preachers for the body
of Presbyterian Seceders.' The political and religious
influence of this sect is thus to be extended and confirmed
at the public cost, and to the injury and depression of the
Kirk of Scotland, and of all other denominations of
Christians." *
Mr. McKenzie therefore demanded, that £100 or £150
of the grant, should be appropriated expressly to the
teaching of the lower branches, of which proposal Dr.
McCulloeh said :
" He knows what education is. He knows what is taught in the Pictou
Academy. If he thinks that the several branches are not taught, let him
show it to this Honourable Board. If they are taught, I ask him to specify
any seminary upon earth, where so much instruction is given for £400 Nova
Scotia currency. Yet from this sum he would abstract £100 or £150, leaving
at farthest £300 to keep the building in repair, to pay the interest of debt,
amounting to, perhaps, £1200, and to maintain the teachers. The governors
of Kings' expend, I believe, not less than £1,000 sterling on education. In
the Pictou Academy the system of instruction is, at least, as extensive, and I

* To this, Dr. McCulloch's reply was easy, that as the benefits of the
Institution were equally accessible to all, injustice was done to none, and
that its course was restricted to those branches of education, which every
civilized community has accounted necessary alike for all the learned profes
sion. If he supported the Institution as subservient to the Propagation of
the Gospel, because he believed the interests of religion required a native
ministry, lie sought to promoto its efficiency equally in subservience to more
general purposes. If Mr. McKenzie preferred teaching his people to depend on
Scotland, he had no right to complain of others who pursued a different
policy. At all events, instruction in Theology formed no part of the course
of instruction at the Academy.

357
trust, not inferior in quality ; but when it is proposed to grant to the latter
£360, he eagerly solicits to take £90 for the lower branches. The result is
certain destruction."
Mr. McKenzie also persisted in requiring the lower
branches to be in the same building. To this its friends
were strongly opposed. " There are," said Mr. Archibald
in his speech, " but four rooms in the present building,
one devoted to the library, one to the philosophical
apparatus, a third is the class room, and the fourth
contained the museum. To introduce a grammar school
into the College is to destroy it. The higher branches
could not be taught amidst the noise and tumult of a
common school; and if young boys were allowed to
range through the library, museum, and depositary of
philosophical apparatus, these would shortly be destroyed."
All Mr. McKenzie's views were conceded. The clause
allowing the lower branches to be taught in a separate
building was struck out of the bill, and £100 of the
annual grant was expressly appropriated to their support,
and both departments were to be compressed into one
buUding with four rooms. Mr. McKenzie pledged
himself that he and his party would raise "penny for
peny " with the others, to maintain the Institution ; and
he with Revds. D. A. Fraser, and John McRae, and David
Crichton, Esq., were added to the trust.
From this time, the finger of decay may be said to have
been upon it. It did some good work, and some of its
best students were educated after this. The old friends
still came forth from time to time liberally for its support
But there was a blight upon it. External war had been
exchanged for internal strife. Hitherto the trustees were
united, but now what the one party wished to build, the
other laboured to destroy. The lower branches were
taught for a time efficiently by George A. Blanchard, but
afterward were committed to a friend and countryman of
Mr. McKenzie, under whose management the teaching of

358
them was discontinued, simply from want of pupils. In
the meantime, the trustees were becoming embarrassed in
bearing the expense of the upper department. In conse
quence, the second teacher's classes were closed. Friends
became disheartened, and in the uncertainty as to the
future of the Institution, young men were discouraged
from preparing to enter it.
Under these circumstances, in the year 1838, an Act
passed the Legislature, transferring Dr. McCulloeh and
£200 of the grant to Dalhousie College. The ministers
of the Church of Scotland now argued that the founder
of the Institution, in proposing as his model the University
of Edinburgh, meant the institution to be in connection
with the Church of Scotland, and though they could not
exclude Dr. McCulloeh, they succeeded, through their
influence with Sir Colin Campbell, the Governor, in
getting members of their own body appointed to the
other chairs, to the exclusion of better men. Mr.
Crawley, who was one of the rejected, immediately
commenced the agitation, which resulted in the estabhsh
ment of Acadia College.
The Pictou Academy was subsequently remodeUed as
an Academy or High School, and as such has been doing
good work. And the higher education in Nova Scotia
has eVer since been inextricably muddled.
We have thus fully noticed the Pictou Academy and
the discussions connected with it, as these involved
important results to the Province :
In the first place, it was the means-of training a goodly
number of men for stations of usefulness, both in Church
and State, which they have filled in a highly creditable
manner, many of whom could not otherwise have had
more than a common school education. Among those
who gave themselves to the gospel ministry, we need
only mention such men as John McLean, J. L. Murdoch,
B. S. Patterson, John Campbell, Drs. Ross, McCulloeh,

359
McGregor and Geddie. To law and politics, it gave among
others, Sir T. D. Archibald, baron of the English Court
of Exchequer ; Judge Ritchie, now ofthe Supreme Court
of Canada, lately Chief Justice of New Brunswick ; Sir
Hugh Hoyles, Chief Justice of Newfoundland ; A. G.
Archibald, Governor of Nova Scotia ; Judge Young, of
Charlottetown, P. E. I. ; Judge Blanchard, George R.
Toung, &c, &c. Among its students who followed the
heating art, we may mention Dr. W. R. Grant, Professor
of Anatomy in Pennsylvania Medical College, and among
scientific men, Dr. J. W. Dawson, Principal of McGill
College, Montreal.
Secondly. It largely advanced the cause of general
-education and diffused a taste for hterature and science.
The number of men it educated, with their general
influence, the schools that they taught, the numbers of
-others partially taught, the popular scientific lectures of
Dr. McCulloeh, the general air which such an institution
diffuses around it, and even the discussions to which it
gave rise, made it the means of diffusing intelligence and
a desire for knowledge, among all classes of the com
munity, bebond any institution of its time, and we might
almost say since. The illiberality of those who imposed
tests upon it, in some measure limited its influence to
Presbyterians. But persons of all denominations attended
it, and. by the discussions of which it was the subject,
and in other ways, these bodies were excited to an
interest in the same cause.
Thirdly. It was in the contests, of which it was the
subject, that the equal rights of all classes to pubhc
education were secured. What sane man in our day
would advocate the maintenance of only one institution,
from which only one fifth of the population should derive
any benefit ?
Lastly, As we have seen, it was in the same contests,
that the movement began, in which the government of

360
the country by irresponsible cliques was broken, and the
Province secured the true force of representative insti
tutions. If the Institution cdst money, it will be difficult to find
one that gave as much in return for as httle. But its
benefits cannot be reckoned by any money value. One
John McLean wes worth more to a Province a hundred
fold, than all that it ever cost. If there was strife about
it, this was only because it was attacked. All was har
mony when it was founded, and for years after, but it was-
assailed and of course defended.
We may add here, that as Dr. McCulloch's exertions in
connexion with the Institution, directed young men to-
the ministry, the county has ever since given a larger pro
portion of the best of her sons to that sacred employment,.
than any population of the same size in the Dominion, a
circumstance probably in part owing to old Scotch train
ing. We give a list in the Appendix, which contains the
names of about a hundred, of whom seven have received
the degree of Doctor of Divinity, and seven have been
missionaries to the Heathen (Appendix J.) Probably there
are others, whose names we have not ascertained.
We have already mentioned that Dr. McCulloeh from
an early date after his arrival, contributed to the Acadian
Recorder. In that paper first appeared some of his
writings, which have since been published separately.
Among these was a tale or sketch of colonial life, called
" William," which, with another ofthe same kind named
" Melville," was published in Edinburgh in the year
1826, under the title " Colonial Gleanings." In that
journal, several of his waitings on local controversies,
ecclesiastical and educational, first appeared. In it also
in the years 1822-23, as Ave have already mentioned, he-
published a series of light and amusing sketches of the
social habits of the people of Nova Scotia at the time,
particularly in the rural districts. These were thrown off

361
by him hastily as a sort of relaxation from engrossing-
labours, but they are so graphic, that in every part of
the Province, persons were found that were regarded as
the originals of the characters which he had delineated.
Some others of his writings were published in pamphlet
form, among which may be mentioned the following : —
" The prosperity of the Church in troublous times." A sermon preached
in Pictou. Halifax: 1814. pp.24.
" Words of peace ; being an address delivered to the congregation of
Halifax, in connection with the Presbyterian Church of Nova Scotia, in con
sequence of some congregational disputes." Halifax: 1817. pp.16. 18mo.
" The nature and uses of » liberal education." Illustrated. A lecture.
1818. pp. 34. 8vo.
After his death his theological lectures were published
in the year 1849, at Glasgow, in a volume of 270 pages,
12mo., under the title, " Calvinism the doctrine of the
Scriptures, or a Scriptural account of the ruin and recovery
of fallen man, and a review of the principal objections,
which have been advanced against the Calvinistic.
system." Dr. McCulloeh continued to labour in Dalhousie
College, with some measure of success^ but was ill
supported in his work. The toils and anxieties of past
years had broken down his constitution, and rendered
him prematurely old, though his energetic spirit still bore
him through bodily infirmities ; yet all his energy was
not sufficient to establish a new institution, against the
weight of incapable colleagues, insufficient appliances,.
and half-hearted support. He died at Halifax in 1843, in
the 67th year of his age. His remains rest in the old
Pictou cemetery, where some years later his students
erected a monument to his memory.
The Rev. John McKinlay, his associate in his first
efforts to establish the Pictou Academy, continued from
the year 1824 till his death, on the 20th October, 1850, to
minister to the congregation in Pictou, now known as
Prince Street Church. He was a man well read, a diligent

362
¦student, a faithful pastor, and a man of peaceful disposition,
and he passed away amid expressions of universal respect.
The Rev. Donald A. Fraser, in the year 1837, removed to
Lunenburg, from which place, in 1842, he removed to St.
Johns, Newfoundland, where he founded St. Andrew's
Church and congregation there in connection with the
Church of Scotland. There he died much respected, on
the 7th February, 1845. It is but due to him to say, that
removed from the scene of strife in Pictou, he saw matters
in a different light, and acknowledged his mistake, in the
part which he had taken in dividing the Presbyterian
interest. He had not been long in Lunenburg till he
found himself a Dissenter, haughtily treated as such, and
obliged to employ the energies, which he had previously
employed against his fellow Presbyterians and their
Institution, against the arrogant pretensions of Episcopacy.
On one of his first visits to Pictou, after leaving it, he
said to a leading member of the Presbyterian Church,
" You used to tell us that in the course we adopted in
Pictou, we were making ourselves the tools of the Bishop
and his party. I never saw it till I left Pictou, but I see
it now." He spoke and wrote in favour of union, and
strongly condemned the virulence, with which his
late colleagues carried on their controversy against the
Pictou Academy. But the waters of strife had been let
out, and he was powerless to arrest them.
The Rev. Ken. J. McKenzie continued to minister to
the Congregation of St. Andrews Church, Pictou, till the
year 1837. His conduct grieved the hearts of the pious in
liis own congregation, and he then relinquished the mi
nistry altogether. In the winter following, a vacancy
occurred in the representation of the county, by the
elevation of Mr. Smith to the Legislative Council, and he
became a candidate for the position. He was opposed by
Thomas Dickson, Esq.. was defeated, and died a few
months later.

363
We have omitted all reference to the personalities, which
marked the deplorable controversies, in which these men
were engaged, but as to the questions of issue, it would
be foolish and wrong, not to employ the light of experi
ence, to judge ofthe wisdom of the policy ofthe respective
parties. We venture to say, that never did time, which
tests all things, more thoroughly determine any question,
than it has vindicated the wisdom of the course adopted
by the Presbyterian ministers, in endeavouring to establish
a collegiate Institution, with a special view to the training
of a native ministry, and the unwisdom of the opposite.
We need not enter into particulars. The history of the
two churches since tells the tale.,

CHAPTER XVII.

FROM THE FINANCIAL CRISIS OE 1825-26 TO THE
DIVISION OP THE COUNTY, 1826-1836.
The financial crisis of 1825-6, described in a formre
chapter, left the county in a very depressed condition.
Still the various branches of business, which had
previously occupied our public men, continued, though
on a diminished scale, — and to those formerly mentioned
as engaged in them, we may add the names of John
Taylor and David Crichton, first in partnership, and
afterward separately. Soon however these began to fail.
Owing to the destructive manner in which the fisheries
had been conducted, the fish visited our shores in greatly
diminished numbers, and sometimes did not return to
their old haunts at all,1 so that the trade fell off. About
the year 1833, the fishing trade from Pictou ceased, and

364
though there have been attempts made since to revive it,
these have not proved successful. The West India trade
was carried on under some disadvantages from Pictou,
from the harbour being closed in winter, and from the
fact of its not being a free port. As the fisheries failed
and the supply of good lumber diminished, this trade
came to an end about the same time.
Public attention was now directed to the obtaining for
Pictou the privileges of a Free Port. Some explanation
may be necessary on this subject for readers of the present
day. In the colonization of America, all the European
powers acted upon the idea, of making the colonies yield
the utmost possible advantage to the mother country, and
that often with little regard to the rights of the colonists.
Great Britain, though distinguished for justice and
magnaminity, as compared with other nations, long
maintained a commercial system, narrow and selfish,
alike unjust to the colonies and injurious to both. Up
till the year 1825, her policy aimed at preventing her
colonial dependencies having any trade, except with the
mother country or with one another. But in that year,
Mr. Huskisson, then President of the Board of Trade,
passed his memorable act, by which the colonies were
allowed to trade with foreign countries, which reciprocated
the favour — an act which may be regarded as the eman
cipation of the colonies, and from which a new era in their
history may be dated. Still the privilege was limited to
some ports, known as Free Ports, of which Halifax was
the only one in this Province. Under this system, if
Pictou wished to export a cargo of any article, except
fish, to a foreign country, it had to be sent to Halifax,
unloaded there, reshipped and then cleared from that port.
So all return cargoes of any description from foreign
countries, had to be landed at Halifax, reloaded there, and
thence cleared for Pictou, involving not only expense,
but sometimes such a loss of time, as might prevent

365
arrival for a whole winter. Thus the merchants here
were virtually excluded from the trade with the Foreign
West India Islands, South America, or the Mediterranean,
which were the best markets for fish ; and as to the
United States, a cargo of flour could only be imported by
landing it at Halifax, and a few hundred chaldrons of
coal that were sent thither, had to be trans-shipped in the
same manner. Foreign vessels were also prevented from
coming to Pictou,
We may suppose that the Halifax merchants had enough
of human nature in them, to wish to retain for their port
the monopoly which this afforded, and hence their
opposition was long given to the extension of the Free
Port system to the outports. The first movement to
obtain this privilege for Pictou was now made, by the
calling of a public meeting, which was held in the Court
House, on the 8th January, 1828, when it was resolved
unanimously, " That it is the opinion of this meeting, that
it will be a great advantage to the trade, commerce,
fisheries and agriculture of the Port and District of Pictou
and the neighbouring harbours and places situate in the
Gulf of St. Lawrence, that the Port of Pictou be placed
on the footing of a Free Port, under the provisions of the
Act ofthe Imperial Parliament, 6 George IV., chap. 1 14."
It was also resolved to petition the King to that effect.
The petition was accordingly forwarded, with another to
the Lieutenant Governor, asking him to recommend its
prayer. Before the petition reached Britain, however,
Pictou and Sydney were declared Free Ports, through
the influence of the General Mining Association. But
the petition of the inhabitants, which prayed that Pictou
should be made a free warehousing port, was refused, on
the ground that it had already been made a Free Port.
Even this, however, excited in the minds of people here
the most glowing visions, as to the future prosperity of
the place. " Stranger things have happened," said one,

366
" than that the horses of the Governor General of India
should yet travel on Pictou iron, paid for by direct
importation of East India goods into Pictou Harbour,"
and the first arrival under the new system was thus
hailed in the Colonial Patriot, of 21st May, 1828 : —
" With much pleasuro we record the arrival of the schooner Lovely Hope,
from Boston, with a cargo of flour, corn, &c. This is the first arrival under
the free port order, and it is creditable to the enterprise of Messrs. G. L. De
Blois & Co., the merchants who so quickly availed themselves of the new
system. * * We sincerely hope the cargo of this vessel will yield a liberal
return to the consignees. We think the present an important era in the
history of Pictou, and doubt not the Lovely Hope is the harbinger of much
good to come."
The timber trade had now sunk to a low position.
The finer qualities of wood were exhausted. All the pine
fit for shipment was gone, and what little was left, was
to be found only in the more remote parts of the county,
was generally small in size and needed for home con
sumption. Pitch pine of value was not to be found-
Instead of the splendid oak, which yielded abundant.
supplies of hogshead staves or timber for shipment, were
to be found only a few small trees of second growth,
scarcely sufficient to supply our own population with
those articles, for which it was specially desired. There
only remained the spruce and birch. For some years-
considerable was done in manufacturing the former into'
deals and battens, and in shipping them to Britain, but
since about the year 1840 even that has come to an end,
owing to the exhaustion of the supply. Birch timber
continued to be drawn from the interior, and still forms
an article of export.
The financial crisis of 1825-6 for a time nearly
destroyed the ship-building business, but it soon began to
revive and in subsequent years was carried on with much
energy. But at that time, most if not all the vessels built
were built to sell. After the close of the West India
trade, there was scarcely a vessel of any size owned in

367
the county and kept in regular employment. Even the
building of them was carried on under disadvantages.
The leading merchants had been left in debt by the
events of those years, and others who began had but little
capital. Hence the work was carried on by means of
advances from parties in the old country. This involved
expenses for commission, interest, &c. Then the vessels-
were sent to Britain for sale. Even if sold immediately,
and at good prices, such were the charges, that very often
the builder was as deeply in debt as when he began.
But frequently they remained for a time unsold, with
expenses eating up their value, and then they might be
thrown upon the market at a time when prices were low,
in which case they might not realize first cost. This
business proved fatal to nearly all who were concerned
in it, as we shall notice more particularly in our next
chapter. A number of those however, who at this time
began business with little or no capital and on the
smallest scale, have since become the wealthy men of the
county. Owing to these circumstances, the closing years of the
period we are now reviewing, were about the poorest the
country has experienced since its first settlement. Farmers,
owing to the credit system, and their giving so much of
their attention to timber, were in the merchants books.
Now that resource was gone. Their farms had been
neglected, and from constant cropping did not yield as
formerly. Crops too failed from other causes. The
Hessian fly injured the wheat, and a disease affected the
potatoes, so that they did not grow as formerly, sometimes ••
the seed not coming up at all. There was little demand
for farm produce, and no cash market. Merchants
received it in exchange for goods at low prices. The
pork, butter, etc., thus received was shipped principally to
Halifax, Miramichi, or Newfoundland, and cattle were
sometimes driven across Mount Thom to Halifax, fre-

368
quently realizing but a small return. The ship timber,
or other produce of the forest, which they traded with the
merchant, were paid for in goods dear in price and often
trashy in quality, so that the farmers were so destitute of
cash, that it used to be said they could only look for as
much as would pay their taxes and stipends, though too
commonly they sought to pay the latter, either in some
other way or not at all.
We now turn from business matters to notice some
other matters connected with this period. In the year
1827, the first newspaper published in the Province out of
Halifax, was started in Pictou. It was called the Colonial
Patriot, and was published by William Milne, in partner
ship with J. S. Cunnabell of Halifax, but its estabUshment
was mainly owing to Jotham Blanchard, Esq., who for
several years edited it anonymously. The important part
which the paper played in our Provincial history, as well
as the character and services of its editor, entitle them to
special notice in this work. Mr. Blanchard was born at
Peterboro, N. H, on the 13th March, 1800. His grand
father, Jotham, usually known as Col. Blanchard, had left
the United States at the close of the Revolutionary war,
from loyalty to the British crown, and settled at Truro.
His son, Jonathan, remained behind and married there,
and Jotham was his eldest child. When he was fifteen
months old, his parents removed with him to Truro,
where the old people with their family were still residing.
Here from accident or sickness he incurred permanent
lameness, and probably from the same cause his constitu
tion was feeble and ill fitted for the labour, to which he
was impelled by his active mind. After he was able to
go about, his father provided a pony for him to attend
school, or go where called. Some years later, the family
removed to the West River, where the father purchased
George McConnell's farm and put up the large house, so
long known as the Ten Mile House, where he for several

369
years kept an inn. Afterward they removed to Pictou
town, where Jotham completed his education at the
Pictou Academy, being one of the first class of students
at that institution. He studied law under Thomas
Dickson, Esq., and was admitted to the bar on the 18th
October, 1821. In his profession, he soon established his
character as an able lawyer and an eloquent pleader, but
At the same time was noted as always discouraging
litigation, at a time when there was so much disposition
to it.*
The first number of the Patriot was issued on the 7th
December, 1827, and had for its motto, " Pro rege, pro
patria." In exposition of this, the editor said :—
" In politics we shall side with the most liberal system. Our motto, if
rightly understood, conveys our sentiments. We reverence the British Con
stitution, and honor the king as its head, but feel assured that the best way
of showing true regard for the king is by advancing the interests of his
subjects. All governments are designed for the general good of the people,
and that government deserves most praise, which most effectually succeeds in
this object ; and we boldly assert, that he who pretends to support tho dignity
-of the government and the honor of the crown, at the expense of the general
happiness, alike commits treason against the king and his subjects ; — he betrays
the people and dishonors their sovereign.
" Eespecting our Provincial politics, we can only say that we shall advocate
what we consider sound and just principles ; and if we find the government
or any branch of it deviating from these, we shall not fail to proclaim it.
This determination, we are well aware, would be ridiculed by the members of
Government, were it to travel so far as to meet their eyes, but neither their
-scorn nor our own weakness shall deter us from this course of conduct, being
convinced that it forms no excuse for permitting obnoxious measures to pass

* An instance of this was given by a gentleman then holding a humble
position in the printing office. He was one day waiting upon Mr. B. for
" copy." While the latter was driving his pen with great vigor, a country
man came into the office. Scarcely lifting his head, Mr. B. asked his errand.
The man replied that a certain person had sued him for debt. " And do you
owe him?" said Mr. B., while the pen went with undiminished rapidity.
The man mumbled an uncertain reply. "Do you owe him?" said Mr. B.,
more sternly. " Well, perhaps I do," the man drawled out. " Then go and
pay him," was the reply, while the pen never stopped in its career. The man
slowly retired, glancing back with a mixture of wonder and curiosity, at this
new specimen of legal advice. 24

370
in silence, that observation upon them is attended with no immediate results..
It is an important point, to keep the eyes of the people open to their own
interests, and thus convince the Government that they know when their
rights are overlooked. This is the safest and surest mode of preventing and
rectifying mal-administration, though we must confess that in thc latter case
the process is tedious. It has, however, proved successful in Britain, where
ancient prejudices and their abettors have been forced to yield to the increase
of knowledge, and the consequent march of Uberal principles.
" With our cotemporary editors, we shall carefully cultivate the most
friendly feelings, but our public duty is paramount to private inclination, and
if we find them betraying the people's rights, or inculcating excessive servility,
we must not be backward in exposing their errors, and reminding them of
their duty as sentinels of the public interests.
" The peculiarities of our religious tenets we do not think proper at present
to divulge. (. . While men do not cherish religious views subversive of
the order of society, or inimical to the great and leading principles of our
glorious constitution, we think it the very acme of injustice that there should
be civil distinctions on aocount of religious opinions. Influenced by these
sentiments, we shall never hesitate to strike in our feeble lance against any
man — be he friend or foe, for us or against us — whom we shall find prostrating
the landmarks of his neighbor's rights*
" Having witnessed the beneficial effects resulting from an unshackled press
in Britain, we shall always advocate the same system here.
" We will discuss the interests of Pictou. We shall at all times, however,
when opportunity permits, be happy to raise our voice in behalf of the whole
Province of Nova Scotia, without reference to east or west, north or south ;
and even beyond the limits of our own Province, our humble efforts shall
always be at the command of our sister colonies, when we think their just
rights attacked or disregarded, or in danger of being compromised by the
negligence or inertness of the great body of the people, or the adroitness or
power of the few.
" Our infant establishment is the first of the kind in the country, and we do
hope that the friends of general improvement in all parts of it will, by the
kindness of their smiles, brighten us into a vigorous existence. The town
has advocates in abundance, and papers in abundance, — we shall endeavor to
advocate the peculiar interests of the country."
These sentiments seem innocent enough, and in the
present day would alarm no person, but they covered
principles, which at that time were considered by those
in power as dangerous, if not altogether subversive of
* In explanation of this paragraph, it is only necessary to remind our
readers, that Catholic emancipation was at that time still one of the great
questions of the day.

371
society. Referring to this in the second number, the
editor says : —
" Before setting out with so open an avowal of our principles, we perfectly
knew that the voice of slander would follow our track, and that wo should be
charged with disloyalty and radicalism. This has been the refuge of all the
supporters of existing abuses and new oppressions, since the world began.
Pharaoh, no doubt, considered Moses a great radical. William Tell was a
radical ; the sturdy barons who forced Magna Charta from King John were
villainous radicals ; so were Luther and John Knox ; and they were a radical
crew, to be sure, who drove the last of the Stuarts from England's throne.
In later times Chatham, and Burke, and Fox, and Brougham have all been
charged with disloyalty and radicalism by the advocates of gray-haired abuses.
If we, then, of the Colonial Patriot, suffer from the same species of slander,
we shall suffer in good company, and we prefer suffering in a good cause to
prosperity in a bad one."
These were the days when the Council of XII., com
bining executive and legislative functions, sitting in
secret, all, with scarcely an exception, Churchmen and
residents of Halifax, and nearly all placemen,* most, if
not all of them, decent men in their way, but trained in
the narrowest school of political sentiment, full of the
highest notions of arbitrary power, ruled the country
with undisputed authority. Successive Governors had
been but tools in their hands, and the House of Assembly,
in any attempt hitherto made to assert its independence,
had been obliged, whenever it came into collision with
their high mightinesses at the other end of the building, to
succumb by a threat of the latter of refusing to do busi
ness with that branch of the Legislature. The Council
too seemed to feel under no obligation, to adopt any
measures for the improvement of the Province, so that
for anything of that kind the country was indebted
either to the persistent efforts of the Assembly, or to the
independent judgment and energy of such a Governor, as
Sir J. C. Sherbrooke or Sir James Kempt, yet were jealous
of anything that seemed in the remotest degree to affect

* In subsequent collisions with the Council, it was stated that ten out of
the twelve were paid officials of Government.

372
their own dignity, and resented it as subversive of the
British Constitution or treason to the Sovereign. Only
the winter previous, they had rejected a measure of the
House for increased aid to common schools, and when
such an unpatriotic, if not unconstitutional, exercise of
power, provoked the author of the measure, T. C. Hali
burton, to describe them as twelve old women, one in
lawn sleeves (alluding to the Bishop), the House was
called to account, and from fear of consequences, and
contrary to their own judgment, meekly bowed to
reprimand the author of the speech. Moreover, the
majority of the Council having scarcely been outside the
town of Halifax,* the country was to them of so little
account, that any attempt on the part of the- inhabitants
to discuss their proceedings, they would have regarded
almost as we might suppose a farmer, to regard a criticism
on his style of farming, from the sheep in his back
pasture. Indeed, the Attorney-General described the
members of the House, particularly referring to those
from the country, as the Caribous.
Such were the circumstances in which the Colonial
Patriot was issued, as the advocate of liberal poUtics. The
newspapers of Halifax were devoted to the news of the
day, containing only some common-place remarks on
public events, and discreetly silent regarding official
doings. But Mr. B. had entered keenly into the political
discussions of the mother country, on the subject of
popular rights, on which at that time feehng there was
running high. Impressed with the much greater subser-
viance of the people in general to the few in power, which
existed here, he threw his whole soul into the work of
securing for the popular will, that control over public
affairs, for which the Reformers in Britain in another
shape were contending. Those measures of reform in
* It was asserted afterward in one of the newspapers of the day, that some
of them hod never crossed Sackville Bridge, ten miles out of Halifax.

'373
colonial administration, which the popular party" in
Canada and Nova Scotia afterward succeeded in carrying,
the " Colonial Patriot " was the first paper in the Lower
Provinces to advocate.
Mr. B. wielded the pen of a ready writer. He wrote
rapidly, but his writings were marked by great vigour
and independence. He had the assistance, however, of
other pens, lay and clerical, and the paper soon began to
excite public attention. The political questions of the
day were then mixed up with the Pictou Academy
dispute, which was in fact the battle ground of party,
and the Patriot was ever the fearless advocate of the
institution. The principles of the paper and the free spirit in which
it assailed Government abuses, soon brought it into
notice. Its radical, or as they were then deemed,
revolutionary views, were received in some places with
horror. We recollect of hearing of an old Scotch
minister, a Seceder too, who, hearing Mr. B. advocate in
his earnest way his political views, lifted up his hands
in holy amazement, and exclaimed, "daring innovator."
In Halifax particularly, the Patriot created no small stir,
especially in official circles. The style of writing in it
would not appear very violent, as compared with the
political writing to which we are now accustomed, nor
its sentiments very extreme, but at the time they were so
unusual, and such was the general sycophancy to men in
power, that they produced quite a sensation. It was read
nevertheless. But the paper was to receive attention from higher
quarters. A few weeks after its commencement, an
article, whieh appeared in it from the pen of a correspon
dent, was regarded as rank treason by the powers that be.
It is said that the matter was seriously debated in the
Council of XII., and that the feeling was general, if not
unanimous, in favour of bringing the author to condign

374
punishment. Milne received notice of an intended
prosecution for libel, and the Attorney-General's son, R.
J. Uniacke, Jun., entering the House with the paper in
his hand, and, as Blanchard described him, " with all the
greatness of a full-blown bladder," declared those con
nected with it to be dangerous persons — that they had
violated parliamentary privileges, and that he would
never move another resolution in the House, unless it
would avenge the insult by calling them to account. It
was proposed not only to prosecute the proprietor for
libel, but to bring him in custody to the bar of the House.
The writer of the article had submitted it to Mr. B. as a
lawyer, instructing him not to publish it, if it were
libellous, and the latter was satisfied that there was no
danger on that point, but for some time Milne expected
that the House might take the last step proposed. But the
majority of the House stood firm against Uniacke's denun
ciations, which were no doubt inspired by Government.
There was much anxiety on the part of the authorities,
to find out the authorship of the obnoxious article, which
they were disposed to attribute to Dr. McCulloeh. But
as the real author afterward freely acknowledged his
work, and when liberal principles had triumphed, rather
took credit for it, we violate no confidence in saying, that
it was written by the late Rev. Thomas Trotter, of
Antigonish. We may add, that instead of containing
anything violent, it would now be considered calm and
logical. Its offence was, that it questioned the constitu
tional right of the Council, to act as they were doing
regarding money questions.
But a circumstance, which gave Mr. Blanchard and the
paper special notoriety, was the publication of what was
called " the Canadian letter." There being at that time
much political agitation in the Upper Provinces, their con
dition and affairs occupied a prominent place in the
Patriots discussions. The very first number strongly

375
condemned as unconstitutional, the course taken by Lord
Dalhousie, in rejecting Mr. Papineau as speaker, when
elected by the Assembly, and Mr. B. continued warmly
to support the course taken by that body in adhering to
their choice ; and maintained that if the people were true
to themselves, they must triumph in the end. He was
for a time a warm admirer of Mr. Papineau, though, like
the rest of the Nova Scotia Reformers, he would had he
lived, have condemned the course taken by him and his
compatriots in the outbreak of 1837.
Not long after the report of the proceedings of the
Canadian Parliament, in which Mr. P. was a second time
rejected, reached this Province, an extract from a private
letter from a gentleman in Nova Scotia, was published in
the " Canadian Spectator," in which the spirit of the popular
party was applauded, assurance was given that whatever
the enslaved press of the Province might say upon the
subject, the great majority of the people, who knew the
merits ofthe conflict, thought well of the objects they had
in view, and in general of the means thoy took to accom
plish them. It was stated, that while in the Legislature
of this Province, there was a growing spirit of indepen
dence, there was still far too much servility to those
in power, and though the existing state of things in Canada
was much to be deprecated, it was desirable that some of
the same spirit should come our way. "A moderate
quantity of it now might supercede the necessity of more
hereafter. As prevention is preferable to remedy, I am
in hopes a little of it will creep our way, before a greater
share of it will be required." And what was no doubt
considered more dreadful, in reply to the accusation of
the popular party being the disturbers of the peace, he
maintained that "Lord Dalhousie, by stretching doubtful
prerogatives to their utmost limits, and unnecessarily
irritating the people, has made himself the public dis
turber."

376
The extract was copied into the Halifax papers and the
writer of it was denounced as a political libeller, not fit to-
crawl on free soil, and his opinions characterized as dis
loyal and dangerous. As " the writer of the Canadian
letter, " which had been addressed to Mr. Leslie, member
for Montreal, Mr. Blanchard defended the extract, but:
denied the legitimacy of the inferences drawn from it.
Such was the feeling excited in high circles, that Mr. B.
did not trust the office with the knowledge of the author
ship of what he wrote, but employed a friend as scribe,.
in whose handwriting the manuscript went to the
printer. Mr. Joseph Howe, at that time editor and publisher of
the Nova Scotian, was prominent among the assailants of
the principles, which " the writer of the Canadian letter "
advocated, and a somewhat fierce controversy was main
tained for a time, which did more for the elucidation of
the principles of liberal government, and their introduction
into this Province, than any thing that had hitherto trans
pired. Mr. Howe was then a young man, just beginning"
his career as a journalist. His early writings gave indi
cations of the talents he possessed, although he had not
reflected deeply on political questions. He was naturally
connected with the official party, his father having been
both Queens Printer and Postmaster General, and his
elder brother succeeding to both offices ; and indeed was
regarded as the chosen champion of the party. But the
result of his controversy with Mr. B. and the other
writers, who came to the aid of the latter, was that he
become a convert to the views, which at that time he de
nounced, but in the advocacy of which he afterward
became so prominent and so celebrated. He has been
known to say, that he received his first impressions of
liberal politics from Jotham Blanchard. He did not
approve of them at first, but the more he thought upon

377
them, the better he liked them, till he embraced them
fully, and devoted his life to their establishment.*
The maintaining of a country paper at that period was
no easy matter. Even for many years after, it was with
difficulty that a publisher could make ends meet, but of
course at that time the difficulties were much greater.
The population likely to support it was but small, the
country was not in a very prosperous condition, the habits
of payment were very irregular, the publisher in Pictou
was not a practical printer, and patriotism was not then
the paying business it has since become. At all events a
long time had not elapsed, till the publisher found himself
in jail for debt, In an editorial the situation was thus
humourously described :
" We do not know what our readers may think of it, but for our own.
part, we can honestly declare, that it has affected us more than if we had
heard ofthe incarceration of every other expounder of news in the Province.
For subscribers to be in our debt is bad enough, but for patriots like us, who
have been grumbling for them immeasurably, to be shut up in the prison;
house, because they have not paid us, while they are going at large, is almost
beyond the endurement of flesh and blood. Anybody but ourselves would
have long ago delivered them to the judge ; and sure are we, that had they
fallen into the hands of such a prompt and righteous dispenser of justice as
our old Treasurer, he would have made them down with their dollars on the
spot, and given them a good pounding to boot.
" If our subscribers cannot pay us, we give them this notice, that they must.
find us an equivalent. Let them only recommend us to His Majesty's Council,
and get us into some moderate office, which will help us out of our scrapes.
We are not ambitious men, we assure them. With such a salary as Mr.
Jeffrey's we will be perfectly contented to be publicans and crave nobody.
Though we may now and then take a race after the smugglers for fun, not one
of our subscribers need lengthen his steps.
" Some of our subscribers seem to think that if, like our old Treasurer, they
say that they have no money in their chest, we are very well off. But we do-
assure them that we are not very well off. Such a thing was never known of
patriots since the world began. Had we twelve thousand pounds lying past
us to the good, our subscribers would have something like reason upon their
* Entering the Patriot office when on a visit to Pictou at the time of the
election of 1830, he laughingly remarked, " The Pictou scribblers (so he used
to call the writers in the Patriot) have converted me from the error of my
ways."

378
•side; but upon the word of honest patriots, we positively declare that we
have not half that sum in our possession, and to the best of our knowledge
and belief, are not likely to have it before next meeting of Assembly*
" When we were dragged to jail, we had no doubt of a speedy deliverance.
We were perfectly confident that as soon as our confinement was known, there
would be a rushing to see us, which would far outdo anything of the kind
that had ever oecurred in the Province. We said to ourselves, that if the large
, bullock and Mr. Barry had each a thousand visitors, patriots, such as we, must
have ten thousand at least. But except a few of our creditors, who called to
enquire when we would pay them, not a creature came near us.
" It is very little to thc credit of our subscribers, that we are in the hands of
the Sheriff. We will not therefore allow them any longer to affront
themselves. And we give them this notice, that there are only two ways :
either they must send us their money, or come and live with us. In the last
case we shall have them under our own eye, and if, between the treadmill
and breaking stones for the streets by way of relaxation, we do not work it
out of th3ro, we shall have ourselves to blame. By these means we will
collect as much as will pay all our considerate creditors ; and when we find
that there is nothing more to be got, we will send for the individual who for
the pure purpose of annoyance, has been persuaded to put us in jail, and like
honest gentlemen that we are, surrendering to him all that we have, that is to
say, all our debts which have become bad through his placing us in confine
ment, we will walk out, and prosecute the patriot trade with redoubled vigor.
If he expects the favor of councillors and their creatures by crushing us, he
is likely to find that he has caught a Tartar. We were not born So far north
for nothing, and we assure our friends that after coming all the way from
Aberdeen f for their benefit, they will not find us so easily put down."
But the darkest cloud we are told has a silver lining.
Above all, no circumstances can be so desperate as to be
beyond woman's sympathy, and the darkest scenes of lUe
will be bright with the light which shines not on sea or
shore, if cheered by her smile. So did the poor printer
find it. The Sheriff had a fair daughter, whose pity was
moved by his hapless condition. Our prosaic history
cannot adequately tell how pity passed into deeper
feelings, but at all events so well was the enforced leisure
of the prison employed, that when he again went forth to

* The allusion in this paragraph is to the accounts of the Treasurer, which
showed a balance of twelve thousand pounds in favor of the Province, while
applicants sometimes were roughly turned away with the declaration that
there was m money.
f Mr. Milne's native place.

379
liberty, it was under bonds which, we suppose now after
nearly fifty years of wedded bliss he has no desire
to see dissolved.
To relieve him from his embarrassment, and to continue
the publication of the paper, which had now become
popular among the friends of liberal politics, a number of
gentlemen combined, and subscribing the requisite funds,
took the concern under their own management. Foi
four or five years longer, the paper continued the same
political course, Mr. Blanchard acting as editor the greater
part of the time.
The course which Mr. Blanchard pursued excited
against him much personal hostility. In the press he was
accused of assailing all that is respectable, and subverting
the very foundations of society, and his private character
was attacked in ways that would outdo even our present
political newspapers. To this however was added burn
ing in effigy, a proceeding which Mr. Blanchard noticed in
the following manner, duly honouring the more prominent
actors in the scene, by giving their names :
" A number of the merchants and other respectable inhabitants did us the
honour on Thursday night, to burn us in effigy in the middle of the town.
Mr.  , merchant and all his clerks, and (naming some others,) and about
100 other most respectable gentlemen, all assembled and performed in a most
gentlemanly style the noble feat of burning our effigy. The blaze was so good,
that many persons thought a house was on fire, particularly as these gentle
men were so careful of the property of the town, that they bawled fire most
vociferously, to warn all, that gentlemen were employing that element for
gentlemanly purposes.
" We cannot adequately express our gratitude to these numerous merchants
and other gentlemen for this signal hononr. To be ranked with Popes, and
Kings, and Dukes and Governors is an honour, which does not come the way
every day to editors.
" We must regret one or two mishaps that occurred. Mr.  , whose
clerk had the honour of carrying the effigy (and it was an' honour even to be
the jackass or packhorse of us, the Editors of the Patriot) mistook  for
an intruder, and belaboured him very severely, and occasioned the loss of his
hat. However, iu so laudable a work as honouring us, a few wounds and the
loss of a hat were trivial misfortunes. If  will call upon us, we shall
jeympathize with his sufferings, and contribute to the purchase of a hat. We
do not wish to be honoured free of expense."

380
This was followed by a gentleman publicly spitting in
his face. Mr. Blanchard being feeble, and his assailant
being attended by others, supposed ready to proceed te
personal violence, wTas unable to resent the result, though
a friend did so the next day.
Considering the hostility, of which Mr. Blanchard was
the object, we are naturally led to enquire, whether there
was any cause for this in his personal character. After
careful enquiry we must say, that, as far as we can learn,
the opposition arose entirely from his political course.
His life was pure, he was a genial companion and a firm
friend. But the fact is, that at that time the very idea of
criticising the proceedings of those in power, was not
only so new, but was so contrary to the arbitrary
principles then prevalent, that it was held as sedition and
rebellion. " It has long been a crime," he says in one
article, " to stand up in the Assembly and advocate the
rights of the people, or to say that they have rights. It
is a crime to establish a paper under the hated name of
Patriot. It is a crime to subscribe for such a paper. It is
a crime to treat of public men and measures according to
their deserts. It is a crime to call public functionaries to
account, and to hint that tax gatherers and smuggler
seizers may not be immaculate in official duties, and
infallible in legislative conduct." And this was all the
more intolerable, when it came from one " from such a
remote part of the Province as Pictou." In fact, his real
offence was the political position which he assumed.
When Mr. Howe advocated the same views afterward,
he was assailed with equal bitterness, and with similar
accusations. In the year 1830, came the great conflict between the
Council and the Assembly. The history of this does not
belong to our present work. But the state of the question
may be given. In the year 1826, the Assembly had passed
a revenue bill, by which the duty on foreign brandy was

381
raised from Is. to Is. and 4d. This duty was at first col
lected, but the officials having discovered a flaw in the
wording of the act, had not collected the extra duty for
several years. So Uttle control had the Assembly over
the financial affairs of the Province, that this was not
discovered till now. They immediately determined to
have the error rectified, and sent a bill to the Council
imposing the extra 4d. This was sent back rejected, at
four o'clock on the day on which the revenue bills expired ;
and next morning Honourable Councillors, in the midst
of a blinding snow storm, were busy taking out of ware
house large quantities of spirits, which they had there in
bond. The House of Assembly immediately passed an
other bill, which was also rejected by thc Council, who
now assumed an attitude on the subject, to which the
Assembly felt they could not submit, without sacrificing
the time honoured rights, which belonged to them as the
Representatives of the people. The result was that no
revenue was collected that year. The Assembly was dis
solved, and a new election took place that fall amid much
excitement. In Halifax city, the Council carried things
their own way, but the county was the subject of a keen
contest. Mr. Blanchard became a candidate along with
Messrs. William Lawson, S. G. W. Archibald, and George
Smith, as the friends of the Assembly, while the Govern
ment candidates were, Messrs. Hugh Hartshorne, J. A.
Barry, J. L. Starr and Henry Blackadar.
There was not the same party discipline as now, when
men, even Christian men, vote for the candidate of their
party, whatever his capacity or even whatever his charac
ter. Every candidate had to depend largely on his personal
influence and popularity. The Government too were
nearly all powerful in the city of Halifax. For a young
man from the country, like Mr. B., without wealth or
influence in the capital, personally almost unknown there,
to seek election as representative of the Metropolitan

382
county, was a bold undertaking, and almost enough to
give the old ladies fits. But as a candidate, he made a
good impression upon independent men. His note books
still in existence shew him to have cultivated his mind,
by diligent study of the writings of the best poets and
orators of Britain and Ireland. He had also been interested
in the modern political diseussions of the mother coun
try, and now his speeches attracted attention. But such
was the hostility of the Government party to him, that
in Halifax he was insulted, which however only rendered
his friends in the country more determined in their efforts
on his behalf. Even in Pictou they would not allow him
to be heard on the hustings, while the gentleman who
proposed him, Adams Archibald, Esq., of Musquodoboit,
one of the greatest natural geniuses the Province ever
produced, was soon after dismissed from the commission
of the peace.
The election for the County of Halifax caused much
excitement throughout the Province. In Pictou the
political question was mixed with the religious division
that had been growing up, and with the feelings that had
been excited regarding the Pictou Academy, so that party
feeling reached an unprecedented height ; and this
election, ever since known as the big election, witnessed
deplorable scenes of violence, pitched battles being fought,
sticks freely used and one man killed.
Mr. Blanchard was returned with the other popular
candidates, and for five years proved an energetic member
of the House. It is generally said, that he disappointed
expectation. This may be true in part, but it is easily ac
counted for. Perhaps the expectations of his friends were
too high. We may add that the House proved rather a
subservient one. True there were only eight returned as
Government supporters ; but when the Council swallowed
the revenue bill, which they had rejected the year before,
members of the House seemed inclined to rest and be

383
thankful. The loss to the Province by the late collision
with the Council, seemed to make them tremble at the
thought of another. And then and more especially his
health failed.
Still while his strength remained, his voice was ever
raised on behalf of any measure, which promised to
advance the public interests. The subject which engaged
his most energetic efforts, was the Pictou Academy.
The Government still continuing hostile, he was as we
have seen, in the year 1831 sent by its friends to Britain to
lay its claims before the Home Government.
He also succeeded in carrying some important measures,
among which was an act for the relief of honest insolvent
debtors. Up to this date, any one creditor could retain
a debtor in gaol after the surrender of all his property,
by supplying eight pounds of bread a week for his main
tenance ; and persons were found ready to use this power,
in the hope of leading the friends of the unfortunate to-
pay the claim, in order to obtain his release. This power
was now taken away, and two magistrates had power to
order the discharge of an insolvent, where without fraud
he gave up all his property. He also advocated the
abolition of imprisonment for debt altogether, but the
country was not prepared for ' such a measure. He had
studied the works of Brougham and others of the school
of English law reformers, and advocated some of their
measures here, among others the conferring of equity
jurisdiction upon the Supreme Court. But it required
twenty years to prepare for the introduction of this grand
improvement in legal procedure. Out ofthe House he
still supported measures for public improvement. Among
these may be mentioned the establishment of circulating
libraries. After his return from Britain, where he had
seen the system in operation, he spent a good deal of
effort in endeavoring to have it introduced into our
rural districts, but not with much permanent result.

384
His labours were too great for his bodily strength. In
the session of 1836, the last of that House, he travelled to
Halifax in a covered sleigh, in which a small stove was
fitted up for his accommodation, and was able to attend
to local county business at his rooms, but was unable to
occupy his place in the House. In the year 1838, his
mind also gave way, and he sunk into a state of mental
imbecility, from which he never recovered. He died 13th
July, 1840.
We may mention here that Alexander Lawson was an
apprentice in the Patriot office, and afterward established
and still conducts the Yarmouth Herald, the first!
successful venture in newspaper printing, in the Western I
part of Nova Scotia, and long the only supporter of the I
popular party in that section of the country.
We may here give the subsequent history of the
newspaper press in Pictou. On the 31st August, 1832,
Mr. Milne commenced publishing from the Patriot office,
a small weekly paper for the young, called The Juvenile
Entertainer, at the rate of 5s. per annum. It continued
for a year or two to give selections of interesting reading
for the young, and was a creditable effort for the time,
being the first of the kind in the Province.
The Government party in the year 1831 established a
paper in opposition to the Patriot, called the Pictou
Observer, of which the Rev. Kenneth John McKenzie was
the editor, or in which he was at least the ablest writer.
The Patriot expired about the year 1838, and the Observer
foUowed it to the same bourne.
In the year 1836, Mr. James Dawson purchased the
press and types of the old Patriot, and eommenced a
paper sailed the Bee, and soon after the 'Observer was
resuscitated by Mr. Roderick McDonald, a native of
£>tornoway, who had taught the lower branches in the
Pictou Academy. He removed to Ontario, and the paper
became defunct. In the year 1840, the Bee was bought

385
out by Mr. John Stiles who established in its place the
Mechanic and Farmer. In 1842 the Presbyterian Banner
was established under the editorship of the Rev. James,
now Dr. Ross. But in 1843 both these papers were
merged in the Eastern Chronicle, which has continued to
the present day. In this office was trained E. M.
McDonald, who became its editor and proprietor, and
afterward Queen's Printer, and with Hon. William
Garvie, established the Halifax Citizen and became
member of the Dominion Legislature, and died Collector
of Customs for Halifax. The Observer, after a short
suspension, was revived by Mr. A. McCoubray, of St.
Johns, Newfoundland, Martin I. Wilkins, Esq., being its
editor or chief contributor, but again became defunct.
In its place was established the Colonial Standard, which
still continues.
We have already described the rum drinking of former
times, but have now to notice the commencement of a
movement for the suppression of its evils. The necessity
of some measure of the kind may be inferred from the
following facts : In the year 1825, there were imported
into the Province 753,786 gallons of rum, besides 30,000
gallons of wine, and several thousand gallons of gin and
brandy, to which the quantities smuggled, and what
was made in the Province required to be added. When
we consider that the population of the Province was
estimated at 120,000, it will be seen, that even allowing
for what was exported, the consumption might well be
regarded as truly alarming. Again, in the year 1830,
there were entered at the Pictou custom house 73,994
gallons of ardent spirits, and it was calculated that what
of this was exported, would be equalled by the product
of domestic distillation. The population of the county,
by the census of 1827, was scarcely 14,000. Allowing for
increase, the consumption would still be about five gallons
for every man, woman, and chUd, the cost of which could
25

386
not be less than $60,000, or $20 for every family, and $4
for every individual.
The evUs of this had been long felt. But hitherto good
men believed, that the use of ardent spirits in moderation
was beneficial and even neoessary, but now was started
the idea of total abstinence from them as a beverage, and
to the West River belongs the honor of having formed
the first society on this basis in Nova Scotia, the second
in British America, one in Ontario having been organized
a few months earlier. The Boston Recorder had been
circulated for some time in the settlement, and had
rendered the people there familiar with the subject. The
first movement however for the formation of a society,.
took place at one of the quarterly meetings of the Agri
cultural Society. These meetings had lost their interest
and the attendance at them was small. When therefore
the members met in October, 1827, there being httle
doing, Mr. George McDonald moved that they form a
Temperance Society. The Rev. Duncan Ross immedi
ately seconded the proposal. The only other supporter
at the meeting was Mr. Donald McLeod, and from these
three the movement originated. The next to join them
was Mr. David McLeod. These four held several private
meetings, and at length arrangements were made for the
public organization of the Society, which took place at
the next meeting of the Agricultural Society, in January,
1828, when 12 persons signed a temperance pledge.* The
following is a copy of it : —

* We have given the above dates, as we received them from the late George
McDonald. The claim of the West Eiver Society to be the first in the
Province was for a time disputed, on behalf of the Beaver Eiver Society, in
the County of Yarmouth. The matter was discussed forty years ago, when
the parties were alive and the records in existence, and it was then clearly
proved that the former was the first. We regret, that the Society's book has
disappeared within a short period, so tbat we are indebted to tradition for the
above dates, more particularly as Eev. Mr. Campbell, in his history of Yarmouth
County, in ignorance of these facts, has revived the, claim of the Beaver Eiver-

387
" We whose names are hereunto annexed, believing that the use of ardent
spirits is not only useless but hurtful to the social, civil and religious interests
of men, agree that we will not use them, unless in caso of bodily hurt or
sickness, that we will not, as an article of luxury or living, traffic in them,
nor will we provide them for the entertainment of our friends, or for persons
in our employment, and in all suitable ways we will discountenance the use
of them throughout the country."
The movement excited great opposition, and the mem
bers had to encounter no small amount of ridicule, if not
worse. It was then considered impossible to do any work,
particularly any job requiring a number of men, without
rum, and an opportunity came, to test the principles and
power in this respect of the friends of the new movement.
One of them had the frame of a barn to raise. At that
time it was customary, to make the timber of frames very
heavy, and in raising them, first to lift the whole of one
side, and then of the other, by main strength. For this
of course, in the case of a building of any size, there would
be required a large number of men. On this occasion, all
the neighbours as usual assembled, and all the Temper
ance men for some distance round. The others however
refused all assistance, if there was to be no liquor ; and the
friends of the new movement, having said, that in that
case they would raise it without their aid, were left to try
their strength. But on attempting to raise the side, they
found themselves unable to move it, and after they were
fairly beaten, and endured no end of jibes from the other

Society. There is still however sufficient evidence to show its groundlessness.
Mr. Ebenezer McLeod, who was for some time Secretary of the West River
Society, not only remembers the old discussion, but from his recollection is
able to affirm, that that Society was formed as early as the date given by Mr.
McDonald. The Eev. Dr. Blaikie of Boston testifies, that he was teaching at
West Eiver in 1828, and in that year joined the society, which was already
organized. Again in the Colonial Patriot of date 17th September, 1828,
the editor, urging the formation of such societies, says, "Weare happy to
state that one has been organized at the West Eiver in this district, and would
recommend to the officebearers the propriety of publishing its constitution."
But by Mr. Campbell's own statement, the Beaver Eiver Society was not
formed before April 25th, 1829.

388
party, the latter laid hold, put the whole up at the double
quick, and then had their dram from a supply which they
had privately brought.
On another occasion, at the raising ofthe frame of a mill
at Six Mile Brook, the two parties quarrelled, and as
neither would yield, and neither was strong enough to
do the wrork alone, they separated for that day, without
its being accomplished.
This state of things did not continue, for in the Colonial
Patriot of 17th September 1828, we find the following :
" On Friday last, the frame of a large dwelling house, the property of George
McDonald, was erected without the use of rum. In lieu of it, ale and beer
were used, so that the work was completed in a superior manner, while neither
abusive language nor profane swearing was heard, no black eyes nor drunken
men seen, bat peace and friendship pervading the concourse. That this
change of custom will be followed in future, (at least to a great degree) may
be reasonably expected, since it tends not only to promote the harmony,
health and respectability, of those who assemble on such occasions, but the
interests of the builder. Ten or twelve years ago, he must have used almost
as many gallons of the mighty rum, in erecting a frame of similar dimensions,
and for this not unfrequently have his name stationed on the wrong side of
some ledger, whence it may not be so readily erased, as some purchasers of
spirits allow themselves to believe."
Not content with the promotion of the cause in his
own congregation, Mr. Ross advocated it in the public
press, pled in private with his brethren in the ministry
on its behalf, and preached and lectured on the subject
in their congregations, as he had opportunity. It was not,
however, till the year 1830, that the first movement was
made for the formation of a society in the town. It began
with a sermon on the subject preached by him in the
old Presbyterian Church. The discourse gave consider
able offence, and even as the audience retired, some gave
audible expression to their dissatisfaction, in such sayings
as, " he might have given us something else than the like
of that," &c. This was followed by a private meeting
at the house of Mr. James Dawson, when he, the Rev.
James Robson, James Hepburn, Francis Beattie and

389
three or four others, associated themselves under a
temperance pledge. They held several private meetings,
and after some time agreed to call a pubUc meeting, for
the purpose of more formally organizing their Society.
This took place on the 15th March following, in the old
court house. It was well attended, but largely by people
opposed to the movement, among whom were a number
of rowdyish characters, who occupied the back part of
the room, and who had been put forward by the rum
interest to make disturbance. They had got a well
known negro, named John Peters, well primed with
Uquor, as their chosen instrument to spoil the meeting.
Accordingly, when Mr. Dawson had spoken in advocacy
ofthe proposed Society, they set John forward to have his
say. " Fine man, Missa Dawson, go into West Ingy
trade — bring hun'eds puncheons of rum, make plenty
money," &c. This rejoiced the rabble, who supported
the speech by a volley of eggs at Mr. Dawson. A mer
chant of the place then arose and spoke at considerable
length against the proposal, when the laugh was rather
turned on him and his friends, by their chosen champion,
Peters, exclaiming, " I secken Missa  's motion, dem's
my sentiments." The friends of temperance, however,
succeeded in adopting a constitution for their Society and
opening a book for subscribers, and a few days after it
was announced that it had received forty-four signatures.
We have no list of names, nor of ths first office-bearers,
but we know that from this time it received the support
of some of the most respectable members of the com
munity, among whom Jotham Blanchard deserves special
mention. The following from the Patriot of June 26, 1830, how
ever, shows that the cause had been making progress : —
" We barely noticed, several weeks ago, a launch of a vessel from the yard
pf John Gordon, Jun., another native Nova Scotian. We were well pleased
with the name (Patriot), of course, but we were better pleased to learn, that

390
she was built and launched without the use of ardent spirits. We have since
learned that she was sailed to Newfoundland and sold, and still no spirits
used." About a year elapsed before another public meeting
was attempted, when a lecture was announced to take
place in the old Grammar School house, by Jotham
Blanchard. But he had not above two dozen of hearers,
as he expressed it, not as many as the pages he had
written. No further attempt was made at any public
demonstration, till October of the following year (1833),
when the Rev. John McLean delivered a lecture in the
old court house. The attendance was large, the audience
respectable and orderly, and from tho eloquence of the
speaker and the strength of his facts and arguments, the
lecture made a profound impression. A vote was passed
requesting its pubhcation, which took place a few months
after. From that time temperance has had a firm hold
in the town, though we can recoUect a time after this,
when there was still scarcely a shop in town which had
not over its door the words "spirituous liquors by
license." We may add that for the purpose of combined effort
on behalf of the object, a Central Society, composed of
representatives from the various Temperance Societies in
the County, was formed on the 7th March, 1832, and
called the Pictou Temperance Union.
We must now refer to the mail arrangements and im
provements in travel made at this period. Ezra Witter,
who had removed from the western part of the Province,
and settled at Bible HiU, Truro, where he engaged in
carriage building, commenced about the year 1815 carry
ing the mail from Halifax to Truro ; and in conjunction
with him, Jacob Lynds, carried it from Truro to Pictou.
For some years they used a chaise drawn by a single
horse, but afterward drove a double seated waggon, carry
ing three or four passengers, drawn by two horses, making

391
one trip each way every week, the journey being per
formed in two -days or two and a half. They continued
in this way till 1828. The following is their advertisement
in that year : EASTEEN STAGE.
To run once a week between Halifax and Pictou,
By E. Wittek and J. Lynds.
fiPHE public are respectfully informed that until the middle of November,
JL the subscribers intends to run a weekly Stage, which will accommodate
four passengers between Halifax and Pictou. It will start from Mr. Boyle's
in Halifax, every Tuesday morning, at seven o'clock, reach Truro on Wednes
day at 7 a. m. and arrive in Pictou at 8 in the evening. It will leave Pictou
-one hour after the arrival of the packet from Prince Edward Island, and arrive
in town on Saturday afternoon. The fare to or from Pictou will be £2, and
every exertion will be used to insure comfort and security to passengers, and
•their baggage, of which each will be entitled to carry 20 lbs. — Apply in Pic
tou to Mr. Eobert Dawson — in Halifax to Mr. A. Boyle, where any other
information will be given.
June 18.
In that year a company was formed of persons in
Pictou and Truro, with one or two in HaUfax, called the
Eastern Stage Coach Company, to run a line of coaches
between Halifax and Pictou. In the following year (1829)
they began with a heavy double seated waggon, drawn
by two horses, which.made the journey in two days and
then, with the same horses and driver, returned on the
two following. They then erected a frame over this,
which was covered with canvas on top and. had curtains
at the sides. The next year the company Was enlarged,
and their carriages were drawn by three or sometimes
four horses, though often in changing, it was only trans
ferring them from the pole to the lead. They also put on
double sets of horses, and they now left Halifax and
Pictou, on the same day, making three trips a week each
way. Proper coaches were put on, though not we
believe till a year or two later.
This arrangement continued under various proprietors,
and sometimes with opposition lines, till the year 1842,

892
when Hiram Hyde purchased the establishment, then
owned by .Arnison and Trenaman, and commenced
daily coaches, leaving Pictou at 4 o'clock each week day
morning, and Halifax at 6 o'clock, and making the journey
in fourteen to eighteen hours, according to the roads and
other circumstances. This arrangement continued till
the building of the railroad.
When the stage began to run, the road went over the
highest hills, but about this time commenced the system
of making level lines of road. The credit of inaugurating
the new era of road making, is due to Sir James Kempt,.
then Lieutenant-Governor. He was not long in Nova
Scotia, till he began to use his influence to change the
whole system of road expenditure. He employed Mr.
George Whitman, as surveyor on the eastern road, and
when he reported that he had found a line with a rise of
not more than one foot in thirty, people laughed at him.
The commencement of level roads was made along the
Grand Lake in 1828. Previously the road had gone
round the basin, but now the road was taken to Dartmouth,-
shortening the distance some miles. About the same
time the work of leveUing began in Pictou. Sir James
passing over Mount Thom, his eye at once saw the valley
below, where a leArel line might be easily obtained.
Soon after the work of alteration began, and about the
year 1832, the present line, by which it was said the
Governor " circumvented Mount Thom," was completed.
It still, however, crossed the Six Mile Brook at Gass's
place on what was called the Kempt Bridge, in honour of
him, and came out at the West River at Mrs. Brown's
place. The work of alteration continued, till in the year
1840 the whole line was completed.
We may add here that it was still some time before the
process was completed, in regard to the road toward the
east. About the year 1847, the road from New Glasgow
round Frasers Mountain was made ; in the year 1850 the

393
road at the foot of Green Hill was completed, and in 1851
the road to Antigonish by the Marshy Hope Yalley was
opened. Previously the travellers in that direction had
only the choice of a long round by the Gulf Shore, or a
road ten miles shorter, but scarcely fit for carriages, over
the Antigonish Mountains.
On the 3rd March, 1830, died Dr. J. McGregor, and we
may say, that no man was ever more warmly loved while
he lived, nor more deeply mourned when he died.
Hundreds of homes were filled with weeping at the
intelligence of his departure, and far beyond the bounds
ofthe county, multitudes mourned him as a father and
friend. On the Saturday following, devout men carried
him to his burial and made great lamentation over him.
His funeral was the largest that had ever been in the county,
and with all the increase of population, probably larger
than any since, it being estimated that there were 2,000'
present. A monument was erected to his memory, with
the following inscription, a copy of which was kept
framed in many houses throughout the county. But it
has been replaced by another :
" AS A TEIBUTE
OF AFFECTIONATE KBQAHD FOE THB MEHOR7 OF THE LATE
JAMES MACGEEGOE, D.D.,
The first Presbyterian minister of this district, who departed this life, March
3, 1830, in the 71st year of his age, and the 46th of his ministry, this tombstone
was erected by a number of those, who cherish a grateful remembrance of hi»
apostolic zeal and labours of love.
When the early settlers of Pictou could afford to a minister of the gospel
little else than a participation of their hardships, he cast in his lot with the
destitute, became to them a pattern of patient endurance, and cheered them
with the tidings of salvation. Like Him whom he served, he -went about
doing good. Neither toil nor privation deterred him from his Master's work,
and the pleasure of the Lord prospered in his hand. He lived to witness the
success of his labours in the erection of numerous churches, and in the
establishment of a Seminary, from which these churches could be provided
¦with religious instructors. Though so highly honoured of the Lord, few have

' 394 ¦
-exceeded him in Christian humility ; save in the cross of our Lord Jesus
Christ, he gloried in nothing ; and as a public teacher, combining instruction
with example, he approved himself to be a follower of them who through
faith and patience now inherit the promises."
The year 1831 was marked by the commencement of
steam navigation from the port of Pictou, and, indeed, on
, the coast of British America. The pioneer boat in this
trade was built at Three Rivers, on the Lower St.
Lawrence, for a company formed in Quebec the pre
vious year and was called the Royal William. She was
of 1,000 tons burden, and had engines of 180 horse
power. This was considered enormous is. those days,
and in all the ports she visited she was regarded as a
wonder. She was intended to ply between Quebec and
various ports in the Lower Provinces, in fact to do the
work that the Gulf Ports and other Unes of steamers are
now doing, and was aided by the Canadian Government.
She made her first trip in August, arriving in Halifax on
the 31st, in seven days from Quebec, having been de
tained in Miramichi two days. Crowds assembled on
the wharves, with almost the feelings that the appearance
of the Great Eastern would now excite. She arrived in
Pictou on the 3rd September, and we still remember
the excitement which her presence created. She made
several trips that season, ending her voyage in Halifax,
as required by the act giving her a subsidy. Her first
summer's work showed the folly of her builders. Not
only was she far larger than was needed, but she was
fitted up in a style of elegance, that would compare with
the floating palaces of the Hudson or the Sound. On
her first arrival, the editor of the Patriot pointed out the
mistake that had been committed, and while advocating
the enterprise, urged that the company should get a boat
one quarter of the size, and fitted upin a substantial but
plain style.
The next year it was arranged" that .she should run
i-egularly to Pictou, the Legislature having agreed to give

395
the subsidy on voyages terminating here. But on her
first trip she left wThile cholera was raging in Quebec,
and when she arrived in Miramichi, she had the disease
on board, and was sent to quarantine, where the engineer
died. Afterward she only made one or two trips that
.seanson. The next spring she was sold. Her original cost was
,£17,000, but now she did not bring one-third of the
amount. Her new owners sent her one or two trips on
the old route, but finally determined to send her to Britain.
She arrived here on the 13th August, on her way thither
and cleared again on the 17th for London,* where she
safely arrived, being the first steamship to make the entire
passage across the Atlantic under steam. Previously
several vessels had crossed partially by the aid of steam,
but these made their way principally by sails, steam being
used only when a wind was wanting, and even then only
at a low rate of speed. But now a Canadian built ship,
sailing from Pictou, first proved the practicability of ocean
steam navigation, and introduced a new era in the trade
of the world.
In the year 1832, the General Mining Association pur
chased the steamer " Pocahontas," which commenced to
ply between Pictou and Charlotte Town, sometimes going
as far as Miramichi. She was commanded by David
Davidson and made her first trip on the 11th May. In the
year following, they sent a large steamer called the " Cape
Breton," which commenced to ply between Pictou and
Miramichi, on which route she was employed for some
years. Another institution formed near the close of this period
deserves notice here. We refer to the Pictou Literary

* "Cleared, lTth. Ship Eoyal William, McDougall, London, Coal, Natural
curiosities and spars, by W. Mortimer."— Patriot, August 20th, 1833.

396
and Scientific Society. It originated with the following
paper :
" We, the undersigned, agree to meet at Mr. Blanchard's class room, in tho
Pictou Academy, on Monday evening, December 8th, 1834, at seven o'clock, to
make arrangements respecting the formation of a literary society, such as may
be considered most beneficial to the interests of all concerned.
" W. J. Anderson, G. A. Blanchard, W. B. Chandler, Daniel IDickson, David
Matheson, Joseph Chipman, James Fogo, Jas. W. McCulloeh, Wm. Burton,
Edward Eoach, Jas. Purves, George S. Harris, Wm. Gordon, John B. Davison,
James Primrose, David Crichton, C. Martin, James Johnston, Eobert Corbet,
Michael McCulloeh, G. M. Johnston, A. P. Eoss, Charles Elliott."
Accordingly a meeting was held at the time appointed,
James Primrose, Esq., in the chair, and George S. Harris,
Secretary, when it was resolved that " the meeting form
themselves into a society, to be called the Pictou Literary
and Scientific Society." The object was stated to be
" the mutual improvement of its members in the sciences
and general literature," and it was agreed that this object
may be best attained by the delivery of lectures or essays
on literary and scientific subjects, which afterward may
form topics of discussion.
The first lecture was delivered on the 16th of the same
month, by Dr. W. J. Anderson, on phrenology. There
were some present who had read the discussions in the
Edinburgh Review on the subject, and the lecture was
followed by an animated debate, which was continued at
the next meeting, when Dr. Martin gave an a^ dress on
the brain. That winter lectures were delivered fort
nightly, ten in all.
The Society continued in existence for twenty-one
years. During this time, it had every winter a course of
lectures, sometimes fortnightly and sometimes weekly.
From the Pictou Academy there had been diffused a taste
for literature and science, and many of the lectures were
of a high character. Several clergymen, such as Dr.
McCulloeh, Mr. Trotter, Mr. McKinlay, and Mr. EUiott
lectured with more or less frequency. Conspicuous

397
among-the lay lecturers were J. D. B. Fraser and J. W.
Dawson. The former generally lectured on chemistry or
some kindred subjects, and he showed a skill in
experiments, which rendered his lectures highly interest
ing and popular. Mr. (now Dr.) Dawson delivered his
first lecture in April, 1836, the subject being geology.
Though then a young man, he already gave evidence of
that attention to natural science, in which he has since
attained so much distinction. Afterward he frequently
lectured on that and other branches of natural science.
The medical men, such as Drs. Anderson, Chipman, and
Martin, lectured on scientific subjects kindred to their
profession ; members of the legal fraternity, such as
Daniel Dickson, James Fogo, George A. Blanchard, John
McKinlay, and Hiram Blanchard, discoursed on a variety
of general subjects, while mercantile men, such as T. G.
Taylor and Charles Robson, and others, contributed their
share to the usefulness of the Institution. Altogether,
the lectures were in a style superior to anything in the
Province. By those who had an opportunity of judging,
they were pronounced in general of a higher character,
even than those delivered in the Halifax Mechanics'
Institute. They were frequently followed by discussions,
often animated, sometimes even exciting, giving rise to
displays of wit or oratory, or eliciting valuable informa
tion. The society afforded many an evening's instructive
entertainment. But from various causes, interest in it
decUned, and it finally expired, its last meeting having
been held on the 12th April, 1855.
To this account of a creditable, effort for the diffusion
of the light of knowledge, we may add as a close to this
chapter, that the lighthouse at the Beaches was finished
in the year 1833, that the lantern was raised to its place
in August of that year, and it was first Ughted on the 1st
of March. 1834.

398

CHAPTER XYTIL

MINES AND MINING INDUSTRIES OF THE COUNTY.
Since the failure of the timber trade, perhaps nothing-
has been so important to the progress of the county, as
the Coal Mining, carried on first by the General Mining
Association, and later by other companies, which have
made Pictou up till this time the greatest coal producer in
British America, it having been only during a few years
surpassed by Cape Breton. We have already mentioned
the discovery of coal in 1798, Dr. McGregor's exhibiting a
fire of it to the candidates at the election of 1799, and the
first efforts at coal mining. We shall now proceed to give
the history and present condition of this industry in the
county. In the year 1807, John McKay, son of the Squire,
usually known as Collier, obtained a license to dig for
the inhabitants, and at a later date, to export. He and his
father commenced working a small three feet seam on the
farm of the latter, but it soon became exhausted. They
then searched further and found what has since been known
as the " Big Seam," though they did not know its value.
John continued to work at this for some time, selling it
at the pit's mouth and sending it down the river in lighters.
A demand sprang up for it during the war, to supply the
garrison, navy and inhabitants of Halifax. In the year
1815, we find 650 chaldrons exported. After the peace,
the price fell to half its former rate. Owing to this and
perhaps other causes, McKay failed, and was imprisoned,
and his property seized by Hartshorne of Halifax, who had
been supplying him. The workmen being unpaid, the
latter tried to compromise with them, but they persisted
in claiming full payment of what was due. Mr. Adam

399
Carr, who was one of them, joined with Mortimer, and by
his influence, the Government were induced to let the
mines to the highest bidder, and in that way they obtained
the lease in the year 1818. They worked together till
Mortimer's death in the following year, when on the 3rd
November, the lease was transferred to George Smith
and William Liddell, on the following terms, the Mine
on the west side the river for a rent of .£260 and 3s. per
chaldron for all raised over 400, and that on the East side
the river, for .£110. We may mention, that this last has
never been found productive of good coal. It is the same
that a few years ago was opened by the German Company.
Smith and Carr worked in partnership, but after a time
separated, when the latter got the whole into his possession,
and continued to mine, raising the coal by horse power,
selling it at the pit mouth, and carting it to the river,
where it was sent away in lighters.
Of these years, we may give a statement of the amount
of coal raised, as reported to Government.
1818  2820 chaldrons.
1820  2609 "
1821  13*70 "
1»22  ..-  2004 "
1823  1^25 "
1824  ~~  2261 '.
1825  2801 «
182V  2523 »
In the year 1825, the home Government leased all the'
reserved mines of Nova Scotia for sixty years to the Duke
of York, excepting, of course, those which had been \
already leased to other parties. Sir James Kempt, in
laying" before the Council correspondence on the subject,
intimated that he was authorized to state, that the reserved
profits ofthe mines would be applied to the benefit of the
country. This was a transaction which no person in the
present day will defend, and which subsequent British

400
ministers have acknowledged themselves unable to justify.
It had this compensating effect, however, that it introduced
into the country a wealthy company, at a time when the
same capital could not have been easily obtained. The
Duke's lease wras transferred to Messrs. Rundell, Bridge
and Rundell, the celebrated London Jewellers, in pay
ment of his debts, and from them to the General Mining
Association, in which, I believe, they were large
shareholders. Thc company had been formed, as the
name imports, for mining purposes generally, and, I have
been informed, did attempt the working of mines in
South America. But for a length of time, their attention
has been confined to tho coal mines of Sydney and Pictou.
On obtaining their lease, they sent an agent to the
Province to explore for mines, and, on his report, resolved
to commence operations at the East River. They purchased
Mr. Carr's lease, and having about the same time become
possessors of the rights ofthe lessees of the Sydney Mines,
they thus came into possession of all the mines and
minerals in the Province, with the exception of what
might be found on a few old grants, on which there had
been no reserve. Early in the summer of 1827, they sent
out Mr. Richard Smith, intending to commenee operations
both in coal and iron mining. In June a vessel arrived
in Pictou, bringing machinery and implements, with
colliers, engineers and mechanics.
On the 11th June, the Lieutenant-Governor issued a
proclamation, calling on the officers of Government,
magistrates and proprietors of land, to give every facility
to Mr. Smith in carrying on his operations. He accord
ingly made all necessary arrangements for working on a
large scale. He purchased the farms of Dr. McGregor,
William McKay, and Colin McKay, commenced sinking
new shafts, 212 feet, and erecting the proper machinery
for working on a large scale and in a more scientific
manner than hitherto. On the 6th September, their first

401
•coal was raised, and in the month of December, he had a
steam engine in operation, the first ever erected in the
Province. The event was thus noticed in the local paper
of the day : —
" The same day on which our first number appeared (December 7th, 1827)
-another event happened which we may with great propriety, hail as the
harbinger of illimitable prosperity to Pictou, of great utility to the whole
Province, and we might fairly add to the British North American colonies.
1 On Friday last, for the first time in Nova Scotja, the immense power of steam
was brought into successful requisition at the Albion Mines on the East
Eiver. Let us rejoice that this district is the favoured scene of its first
operation. The engine is of 20 horse power, and the perfection of its first
¦operations evidence the skill ofthe engineer. The Company's works will now
proceed with redoubled celerity and vigour. Their progress, though retarded
by the selfishness and overreaching disposition of individuals, has surpassed
the imagination of individuals."
Before describing the Company's operations farther, we
must give a brief account of the position and structure of
the coal fields of this county. As formerly mentioned,
the southern portion of the county is occupied by rocks of
Silurian or other formations of the older geologic eras.
At their northern base are found Lower Carboniferous
rocks, with limestone and gypsum. Then come the
Newer Carboniferous, or coal measures, occupying the
whole front of the county. These, however,, are divided
by a remarkable formation, known as the Great Conglo
merate, which extends in an east and west direction,
crossing the East River below New Glasgow, the Middle
River at the bridge near Alma, and the West River near
Durham, and forming the eminences of Frasers Mountain
and Green Hill. To the north of this range some small
seams of coal have been found, at Carriboo, Merigomish
and the south side of Pictou Harbour, but none large
enough for profitable working, and it is yet a question
whether any may be expected. Dr. Dawson regards the
rocks as of the upper coal measures, or Permo-carboni-
ferous, and therefore not productive, though he expresses
a hope that good workable beds may yet be found at
greater depth. 26

402
At present, however, all the valuable coal seams known,,
are found on the south side ofthe Conglomerate, and near
its base in the great coal basin of the East River, and its
extensions eastward and westward. Of these, the most
important is that commonly known as the big seam or
the main seam, the enormous size of which is one of the
most remarkable phenomena of the field, in which.
respect we do not know that it is paralleled in the world.
It is from this that most of the coal yet mined has been
taken. The whole thickness of the seam vertically is 40
feet, or a little over, but in a line perpendicular to the
dip 38 or 39. This, however, is not all good coal, there
being several bands of ironstone through it, and some
portions of the coal are inferior. Dr. Dawson, who is
moderate in his calculations, says that at least 24 feet of
good coal may be taken out of it.
A cubic foot of this coal, according to the same authority,.
weighs about 82 lbs., rather less than 28 feet being equal
to a ton of coal. Hence, a square mile of this seam
would yield in round numbers 23,000,000 tons. — This
coal is a highly bituminous baking coal, and is shown by
Professor Johnston's trials to possess high qualities as a
steam producer, one pound being capable of converting
7.45 to 7.48 pounds of water into steam. — The greatest
objection to it is, that it contains a considerable quantity
of light, bulky ashes. Hence, it is not so much esteemed
for domestic use, as the better qualities of Sydney coal.
But otherwise it possesses very high qualities. It burns
long, gives a large amount of heat, is free from .sulphur,
and remains alight much longer than most other coal.
Next in importance to the main seam, is what is com
monly called the deep seam, about 150 feet below the
first. It is altogether about 25 feet in vertical thickness,
but it also is divided by ironstone and impure coal into
three layers of good coal, making together, according to
Dr. Dawson, about twelve feet in thickness. The quality

403
of some portions of this seam, is superior even to that of
the main seam, but these layers prevent its being mined
so economically, but only its nearness to so large a seam
prevents its being worked extensively.
Next in value, though not next in order, is what is
known as the McGregor seam, which lies at a depth of
about 280 feet below the deep seam. It is about twelve
feet thick. The two upper veins, amounting together to
nearly six feet, have been worked, and found to be of
good quality, though requiring care in removing the
shaly band which separates them.
About five feet above this, there is a small seam, between
three and four feet thick, of good quality. Between this
and the deep seam are two other small seams, each about
four feet in thickness. These would be valuable else
where, but in the presence of such large seams, we need
not expect them to be worked for a length of time.
About 240 feet below the McGregor seam, is a peculiar
bed known as the " Stellar " * or oil coal, so called from
its peculiar scintillations in burning, which some time
ago attracted attention for its yield of oil. The following
is its arrangement and composition : — ft. in.
Inferior bituminous coal  ,„. 1 2
Oil coal  ¦  1 8
Bituminous shale  2 0
The central portions of this have been found to yield
120 gallons of oil to the ton ; it and the shale together, 75
gallons. These seams all lie conformably. At the southern
outcrop on which working commenced, they dip to the
northeast at an angle of about 20 degrees, and the strike
is about north-west.
Lately another seam has been discovered overlying the
* Hence the name Stellarton has been given to the village adjacent.

404
main seam. It is found on the northern part of the coal
field, probably to the base of the Conglomerate. It is
said to be five feet nine inches thick, of pure coal of good
quality, but so far as we are aware, the seam has not been
explored, nor the coal analysed.
Having thus described the position and characteristics
of the different seams, we return to the operations of the
General Mining Association,
To get their coal to market, they constructed a railroad
from their works to a point a little below New Glasgow,
on which they hauled the coal by horses. Here shoots
were erected, and vessels drawing not more than six feet
of water were loaded. To load larger vessels, they
constructed lighters, in which the coal was conveyed to
the Loading Ground, as it is called, at the mouth of the
River. In the Patriot of January 28, 1829, the progress of these
works is thus noted : —
" The progress of the Mining Company appears to be daily becoming more
important. The foundry is in successful operation, and railways (rails) are
now casting, and will be ready for laying down in the spring, for the purpose
of facilitating the conveyance ofthe coals to the navigable part of the river.
A considerable addition to the number of lighters to be employed on the river,
will be made in the course of the winter, and a wharf or place of deposit at
this town, which will contain several thousand chaldrons of coal for exporta
tion, is contracted for. It is also gratifying to learn, that orders have been
received by the late packet to build two steamboats (the machinery for which
will arrive in spring), one of thirty horse-power, for the river navigation, and
one of 100 horse-power for the purpose of coasting and carrying the coals to
market." The foundry was under the charge of a man named
Onions, but did not do much till the arrival of W. H.
Davies, Esq., in 1830, to take charge of it, and who may
be regarded as the father of the iron foundry business in
Nova Scotia. The boilers for the foundry and pit engines
were put together, at John McKay's blacksmith shop,
near where Russell's now stands, the plates and rivets
- having been brought out from England. They were then

405
pushed over the wharf, to the amazement of most people,
who expected such immense articles to go to the bottom.
But they floated lightly, and were towed up the East
River, as far as the water would bear them, when they
were landed on the intervale and dragged on rollers to
their place.
A wharf was built at Pictou, long known as the miners
wharf, and for a time coal kept there, but a depot there
was found unnecessary and unprofitable. As mentioned
above, the hull of a small steamer, intended to be used
for towing lighters and vessels, was launched from the
shipyard of Mr. George Foster, Fishers Grant, on the 19th
August following. She was called the " Richard Smith."
She was towed up the river, where she remained all
winter receiving her machinery, and did not commence
her work till the following summer. The Patriot of July
17th, 1830, contains the following announcement : " We
stop the press to announce that the Steamboat ' Richard
Smith ' has just appeared in the harbour for the first time."
It being the first time a steamer was seen on these waters,
the whole town turned out to see the marvellous specta
cle. She was at first commanded by Capt. McKenzie
and continued for some time to ply on the harbour.
This plan of loading being slow and tedious, they next
resolved on deepening the river. For this purpose they
obtained an act of the Legislature, giving them full
authorjity over the river, so that no vessel drawing over
six feet of water was to enter without their permission,
and only by paying toll to them. But, in passing the
act, the Assembly, which had resented the act of the
British Government, in transferring our mines and mi
nerals, added a clause to the effect, that the bill was not
to be construed, as admitting the right of the home au
thorities, to dispose of our mines in the way they had done.
In consequence of this, the act was disallowed at Downing
Street, and, at the same time, a feeling of opposition rising

406
in the country against such a monopoly, the company did
not renew their application for similar power. They
continued, therefore, to ship their coal in the manner
described for several years, but the demand was greater
than they could supply, and the long delay of vessels in
receiving their cargoes, was a great discouragement to the
trade. In the meantime, the use of locomotives on rail
roads had been tried successfully in England. According
ly it was resolved to build a railroad from the East River
to the Loading Ground, for the conveyance of their coal
in that way. The road was laid out and operations com
menced in the year 1836.
The surveys and plans were made by Peter Crerar, Esq.
When they were sent to Britain, it was proposed to send
out an engineer to superintend the construction of it.
But on his plans being submitted to a competent engineer,
the latter said that they needed no better superintendent
than the man who prepared them. In consequence, the
supervision of the work was entrusted to him, although
he had never seen a railroad, and he accomplished it
satisfactorUy. It was opened in the year 1839, when the
first locomotives in British America ran upon it. There
were three of them, built by Timothy Hackworth, who
competed with Stevenson at the first trial of locomotive
engines in England. They were of great power, but
slow. They continued doing their duty regularly till
lately, when one of them was taken down, but the other
two are still at work.
The opening of the railroad was made the occasion of
general rejoicing. The two steamers, Pocahontas and
Albion, with lighters attached, each carried from Pictou
about 1,000 persons to New Glasgow, whence they were
taken by train to the mines. Crowds of people on
horseback and on foot were here assembled from all
parts of the county. Here a procession was formed of
the various trades, the Masonic lodges, the Pictou Volun-

407
teer Artillery Company, and visitors mounted, with bands
of music and pipers at intervals, and various banners,
marched to New Glasgow and back again, when the
Artillery Company fired a salute. A train of waggons,
fitted up to receive passengers, had been attached to
each engine, and, being filled with the crowd, now made
the first trip to New Glasgow and back again, giving a
new sensation to multitudes.
On their return, a feast was given to the employees of
the Company, for which 1,100 lbs. of beef and mutton,
with corresponding quantities of other articles, were
provided ; a dinner was given to invited guests, and the
night was spent in general festivity.
This railroad, we may mention, was six miles long,
and so nearly straight that the least radius of any of its
curves was 1300 feet. Its width was 18 feet. The
estimated quantity of excavation was 400,000 cubic yards.
At the terminus was a wharf 1500 feet long by 24 feet
broad, commanding a fall of 17 feet above high water
level at the shoots. The rails were of malleable iron, and
the estimated cost $160,000.
The first operations of the General Mining Association
were on the low ground, close by the East River, where
an engine pit was sunk to the depth of 400 feet, and
about 250 yards from the outcrop. Here they mined for
some time 12 feet of the upper part of the main seam, the
lower being regarded as inferior, over a tract of about
800 yards to the west and 250 yards to the east, and
covering an area of about 40 acres. In working to the
eastward, however, the coal was found to deteriorate in
quality. On the 29th December, 1832, at an early hour
in the morning, the works were discovered to be on fire.
On the day preceding, nearly 100 miners and 14 valuable
horses had been at work in their several places in the
pits. The men retired from their work between 5 and 6
p. m., leaving the horses as usual in the places provided

408
for their accommodation under ground. On the following-
morning, when the men assembled for work, to their
consternation they found several of the shafts emitting-
dense volumes of smoke. Immediately the Mines' bailiff,
with two other persons, descended one of the ventilating
shafts, when the works were discovered to be on fire in
several places, and all the horses dead from suffocation.
The intensity of the fire obhged them to make a hasty
retreat to the surface, and immediately on their reporting
the state of things, the manager instantly set all hands to
work to cover the mouths of the pits, hoping by prevent
ing the circulation of air, to stifle the flames. The pits
were thus left covered for several weeks. When they
were again opened, it was found that the fire had done
extensive injury, and was stUl slowly burning. Having
originated in the lower rooms, it was fortunately confined
to that part of the works, and to the prompt closing of
the pits must be attributed the saving of the upper. But
as this had proved ineffectual for the total suppression of
the fire, the managers were reluctantly compelled,
toward the end of April following, to introduce the waters
of the East River. This proved successful, but it required
the power of their steam machinery for pumping, working
night and day till the 14th December, to clear the pits of
water. An examination ofthe works led to the belief that the
fire was the work of malice and design. An investigation
took place under the direction of the Solicitor-General,
William Hill, Esq., when a mass of testimony was taken,
which left no doubt of the fact. Large rewards were
offered for the discovery of the guilty, but they were
never detected.
Several other fires occurred, but one in October, 1839,
exceeded all the rest in severity. The heat was so intense
that it melted the iron chains which were used for hoisting
the coal out of the pits. These workings were in.

409
consequence abandoned, and have since been known as
the Burnt Mines.
Farther to the dip, other shafts were sunk, now known
as the Old Bye Pits, and others 960 yards to the west,
known as the Dalhouse Pits ; and also one nearer the
outcrop, known as the " Cage Pit," was sunk to the Deep
Seam, which it reached at a depth of about 300 feet.
From the first of these, the workings were considerably
extended east and west, the upper part of the main seam
only being mined. In some workings to the dip of these,
an accident occurred in May, 1861, which rendered it
necessary to let in the water to extinguish the fire. An
attempt was made to get into these workings in 1862.
But such was their condition, and another fire having
occurred in 1863, they were abandoned, and this district
has received the name of the " Crushed Mines."
From the Dalhousie pits the main seam continued to
be worked in its entire thickness, the lower portion being
much improved in quality, and from the Cage Pit the
deep seam still continues to be mined in its entire height.
During the year 1866, a new shaft was sunk to the face
of the west workings. A steam engine for hoisting was
erected, and a railway between the pit and the main line
constructed. But from some unexplained cause, this pit,
known as the Foster Pit, was found to be on fire in May,
1869. The place in which it was first seen was not
being worked, but was near those in operation. Imme
diate steps were taken to extinguish the fire, but the
rapid accumulation of smoke so overpowered the work
men, that they were obliged to resort to the plan of
excluding the air, by closing the top of the shafts, and all
other places by which it could enter the mine. The coal
at this part of the seam had been found to deteriorate, and
from the state of the mine in consequence of the accident,
it has since been abandoned. This so affected the
Dalhousie Pit, that it too was abandoned shortly after.

410
The last pit sunk by the Association is known as the
Foord pit, which, in the costliness and efficiency of its
equipments, is said to be unequalled in America. We
may therefore give a particular description of it. The
hoisting shaft strikes the main seam at a depth of 960
feet, but to the bottom of the seam it is 1,000 feet. Its
size is 12 feet by 9 feet 6 inches, inside the lining ; and it
is divided into two eompartments, with cross stays and
slides, passing perpendicular to the sides of the shaft, and
bolted to the cross stays, where the cages work in. The
cages are double decked, each cage holding four boxes,
and each box containing 12 cwt. coal. The winding
engine is a double horizontal one, with cylinders of 36
inches in diameter and 5 feet stroke, and nominally of 160
horse-power, though capable of working considerably
above this. The winding drum is 18 feet diameter, with
two six inch iron wire ropes, which pass from the drum
over two large pulley wheels 14 feet in diameter, whioh is
elevated on a strong wooden frame, 30 feet above the top
of the shaft. The ropes pass over the pulleys and connect
to the cages. When the engine is put in motion, one of
the cages goes down with empty boxes, and the other
comes up with full ones. On reaching the surface, the
boxes are passed to the screens, where the slack is
separated, and the ooal passes into the cars ready for
shipment. The pumping pit is 40 feet deeper. It is provided
with an engine, known as the Cornish pumping engine,
with a cylinder 52 inches in diameter, and a stroke of
9 feet, and nominally 260 horse-power. There are three
sets of pumps, 18 inches in diameter, two what are called
bucket pumps, the third known as a ram or forcing
pump. At each stroke 100 gallons of water are brought
to the surface, and the engine works 7 strokes a minute
and 10 hours each day.
The winding and pumping engines are supplied with

411
•steam from 10 large boilers, each 35 feet long and 5 feet
6 inches in diameter. When the mine is in full working
order, it will produce 1,000 tons of coal per day.
The ventilation is produced by a Guibal fan, 30 feet in
diameter and 2 feet wide, an instrument closely resembling
a steamer's paddle wheel. It is placed at the mouth of
what is known as the fan pit, wThich is 600 feet deep, and
is driven by an engine of 70-horse power. The engine is
supplied with steam from two boilers, each 25 feet long
and 5 feet 6 inches in diameter. The air goes down by
the winding and pumping shafts, circulates through all
the works, making a course, it has been calculated, of 7
miles in length, and is expelled by this fan, which produces
a current of air equal to 60,000 cubic feet in a minute.
This is tested in the pits every day.
The Foord pit coal is noted for its excellent quality, for
generating steam, for making gas and for making coke.
There are at present 42 coke ovens, each 11 feet in
diameter, making coke night and day from the slack coal,
and a large addition to their number is contemplated.
The coke is of superior quality for smelting iron ore, and
is now used for that purpose at the Londonderry Mines.
From the Foord pit a drift level, 600 yards long, has
been run to the deep seam, and by it and the Cage pit
that seam is now mined.
The system of working pursued from the commence
ment of the colliery has been continued, with some
modifications in the size of the pillars, which from the
thickness of the seam, and its declination, often proved
inadequate, and led to crushing of the workings. The
bords are driven eighteen wide, and parallel to the levels.
They are turned out of balance ways or headings, which
are put up to the full rise at intervals of 150 yards, the
width of the pillars between being eight or ten yards.
These balance wrays are used to bring the coal down to
the horse road, on the principle of a self-acting incline ;

412
the only difference being that the loaded bogie raises the
empty tub to the respective bord ends, and it is in its
turn taken back by a tub of coal, which exceeds it in
weight. The bords are driven in opposite directions
from these inclines, to shorten the putting.
The Company's works gathered around them a large
population. They own about four hundred houses,
which are occupied by their employees. These, with
the residences and places of business of others who have
been attracted hither, form a large village, which now
contains five churches : two Presbyterian, one Episcopal,
one Wesleyan Methodist and one Roman Catholic. The
population around these works necessarily made a demand
for farm produce, and afforded a ready cash market for
it, and this has been a great convenience to the rural
districts around.
In the year 1872, the General Mining Association sold
aU their rights in the mines at Pictou to a new company,
known as the Halifax Company, of which Sir George
EUiott is chairman.
In the year 1856, the monopoly of the General Mining
Association was abolished, they retaining in Pictou four
square miles where they might select. The area, as
chosen by themselves, extends from the Albion Mines to
the upper part of New Glasgow, a distance of about two
miles, embracing the ground on both sides of the river,
but extending a greater distance to the west than to the
east of it. Exploration for coal immediately became
active, and in this work the late James D. B. Fraser, Esq.,
of Pictou, deserves special notice. He took out rights
of search in the neighborhood of the General Mining
Association's area, to the west and south. From the
strike of the large seams toward the west, it was to be
expected that they would appear to the westward toward
the Middle River, but for a time even scientific men were
baffled in tracing their course, and some came to the

413
conclusion that they became exhausted in that direction.
Mr. Fraser spent a good deal of time and money in his
explorations, but failed to find the Big Seam.
Finding, however, the Stellar coal, he ran two slopes
into it, one 2 15 feet, the other 204, and commenced shipping
it, along with its accompanying oil shale, to Boston,
where there was manufactured from it oil of good illumi
nating quality. But the discovery of the oil wells of
Canada and the United States, so lowered the price, that
it was found impossible to compete with them. The work
was therefore abandoned, and until either the supply
from the bU wells diminishes, or other uses are discovered
for oil, this vein is not likely to be again worked. He also
formed a company, of which the principal shareholders are
in New York, called the Acadia Company, which com
menced working the McGregor seam, at the place origi
nally worked by the Doctor. They spent a considerable
sum in erecting buildings, and providing the plant neces
sary for carrying on extensive operations, when a fine
seam of coal, since known as the Acadia Seam, was
discovered about two miles to the south west of the Albion
Seam, where the Nova Scotia company's works now are,
which geologists regard as the equivalent of the main
seam. We believe the credit is due to Mr. James Fraser,
Mount William, of being the real discoverer, though a
Connecticut yankee, named Trumaa French, reaped the
fruits. Mr. John Campbell, by careful exploration, con
ducted in a scientific manner, traced it farther to the
south. It was now found that about a mile and a half to
the westward of the East River, the seams suddenly
turned to the southward, and the line of outcrop continued
for more than a mile in that direction, forming a sort of
bay, which now forms the area of the Intercolonial Com
pany. It was then found again to strike to the north-west
towards the Middle River; then turning again toward
New Glasgow, it has been again found with high dips to

414
the southward nearly opposite the town. "The East
River coal area," says Dr. Dawson, " between that river
and the Middle River, would thus appear to constitute
an irregular trough, with a deep bay to the southward."
The seams in this direction, though regarded by geolo
gists as the continuation of the seams on the East River,
are considerably changed. Thus the Acadia seam has a
thickness of about twenty feet, of which from sixteen to
eighteen is good coal.
It will thus be seen, that as compared with the main
seam at the Albion, it is diminished in thickness, but
improved in quality. On the Intercolonial area, the " deep
seam" has also been discovered with a thickness at right
angles to the bed of eleven feet, and other beds, supposed
to be the equivalents of the other beds on the East River.
The discovery of the continuation of the coal seams
towards the Middle River formed a new era in coal
mining in this county. The Acadia Company, abandoning
nearly, if not quite entirely, all operations on the McGregor
seam, on the area south of the General Mining Associa
tion's, commenced operations on the main seam on their
area to the west, and for some years exceeded even the
old company in the amount of coal raised. They bruit a
railroad connecting their works with the Government
line, and have sent their ooal for shipment over it to Fishers
Grant, a distance of about 13 miles.
Their slopes are now 1,575 feet deep, on an incline of 22
degrees. Levels have been driven to the boundary lines
on either side of their area, and the seam is found to be
remarkably regular, not a single dislocation or disturb
ance having been encountered in any direction. At
present, the Acadia colliery employs 180 men and 20 boys,
and produces 400 tons of coal per day, which is greatly
below its actual working capaoity.
The quality of their coal is excellent, having been tested
for a great variety of purposes, and with the most

415
satisfactory results. The mine is admirably equipped
with all the best and most approved appliances for
securing the safety of life and property in mines, and the
works have been remarkably free from accidents.
Mr. John Campbell, who had first traced the coal
seams to the southward, and obtained a lease of an area
in that direction, sold his rights to a company in Montreal,
of which G. A. Drummond, Esq., was president, called
the Intercolonial Company. They immediately com
menced developing their property. In the year 1868,
two slopes were sunk to the dip of the large seam,
usually known as the Acadia seam, and a pair of winding
engines erected at their mouth. About 14,000 tons were
mined the same year, and a large amount of preparatory
work done. A railway about six miles long was con
structed to the Middle River, where they had built
wharves, and provided all the conveniences necessary
for shipping coal in quantities. The railway was
opened on the 1st of October. The ballasting, however,
was not then completed, and from the lateness of the
season, only between two and three thousand tons could
be shipped. They have since erected a short line from
their works to the Government road, by which they are
enabled to send coal to Halifax and places along the line
of the Intercolonial Railroad.
In the year 1869, the colliery, under the management of
fhe late James Dunn, Esq., was fully equipped with
everything necessary for the production, transportation
and shipment of coal, and under the improved markets of
the following years, the company's business rapidly
increased, so that in 1872 their sales amounted to 105,545
tons, their shipments ranking second in the Province, the
Acadia Company alone exceeding them.
In 1873, the markets still further improved, and
elaborate preparations were made in the mines for a
heavy production. A large stock of coal was banked on

416
the surface and about 7,000 tons stowed in the upper
workings of the mine. In all a greater quantity was on
hand than that possessed by any other company, when
the spring trade opened, with every prospect of a suc
cessful year's business. But just as the shipping season
opened, the terrible explosion took place, by which many
lives were lost, the pit set on fire, much of their plant
destroyed and their operations suspended. The foUow
ing account of it is taken from the report of the Inspector
of Mines : —
" Early in May the shipping had already become vigor
ous, when a strike of the colliers for certain privileges
and higher rates of wages closed the workings. After a
week's intermission, an agreement was made with the
men and they resumed work on the 18th. About noon on
that day, a shot fired in one of the low levels on the south
side of the pit ignited the coal. Every exertion was made,
to put out the fire, but the peculiarly broken condition of
the face of the level prevented the men from attacking
the flame, where the burning gas directly issued in great
volume from the solid coal. The fire spread rapidly, and
as it was soon evident that the chances of subduing it
were small, an order was issued that all the hands, who
were disinclined to assist at the fire, should leave the pit.
Many had previously left, having been driven out of their
bords, by the smoke. The boys, all except one, had gone
up, and of the rest, all but about a dozen men who
remained with Richardson, the overman, at the fire, left
the lowest landing to walk up the slope. Richardson and
his men, who so heroically remained to battle with the
fire, so long as there was the slightest hope of success,
must soon have foUowed to endeavor to check as speedily
as possible the progress of the flames, and save the pit by
closing all openings. No attempt to do this was, however,
made, for before many of the men who were in the slope
had time to escape, an explosion of gas, unexampled on

417,'
this continent for violence, occurred, dealing on all sides
death and destruction. The force of the explosion was so
great, that the wooden rope rollers were torn from the
track and hurled out of the slope, as from the meath of a
cannon, falling in the woods some two hundred yards back
of the bankhead. Great baulks of timber 14 feet long, by
9 inches through, were cast up out of the Campbell pit to
so great a height that on falling, they struck the ground
with such force as to fracture them, and the rush of air
swept away as would a hurricane the exposed roof of the
bankhead. Many explosions took place during the after
noon, and the second occurring about two hours after the
first, killed four .volunteers, who were nobly endeavoring
to rescue some men then known to be alive at the bottom
of the pumping pit. By the second explosion, the ven
tilation was thoroughly destroyed, and as hopes could no
longer be entertained that any life still existed in the mine,
all the preparations to explore the workings were then
abandoned, and attention alone directed to saving pro
perty. The violence and frequency of the explosions,
stru ck terror into the hearts of all who rushed to the scene,
and paralyzed the efforts of those who sought to close the
openings. All the available water was turned in to cut
off the lower workings, and effectually seal the bottom of
the pumping pit. Still the fire raged, despite of every
exertion, for 36 hours, and the flames shot up with a fierce
roar to the height of from thirty to forty feet from the
many openings along the crop. Two days passed before
the men engaged in filling the openings had effectually
sealed this fiery grave of fifty-five of their comrades.
" The workings remained closed until the end of Octo
ber, when one of the slopes was opened, and air allowed
to circulate between it and an opening made by a fall near
the rise. At >vhe end of a fortnight, and just when appear
ances seemed to warrant preparations being made to
Te-open the workings in a regular manner, the return air
27

418
showed unquestionable signs, that the fresh air was find
ing its way into places, where the heat was still sufficiently
intense to cause combustion ofthe coal or the bituminous
shales of the roof. In consequence the pit was again.
closed." The total number of lives lost was sixty, among whom.
was Mr. Dunn, the manager, of whom 31 were married
men, 28 single men and 1 boy, leaving 29 widows, 80
orphan children, besides parents dependant on the lost.
Contributions to the amount of about $23,000 were made
in various parts of the Dominion and the United States
for their relief.
To keep a small business going, a pit some 70 feet deep
was sunk to the south of No. 2 slope. In the faU of 1873,
a new manager, Mr. Robert Simpson, M. E., arrived from
Glasgow and under his supervision a new slope was
driven to the south ofthe old workings, and winding ma
chinery there erected. Subsequently he conducted the
re-opening of the two original slopes— an operation in
volving great skill and expense, but one successfully
consummated, the most of the exploded workings being
recovered" in 1875 and safety in restoring the remainder
assured. The most of 1he water has now (1876) been
pumped out, the workings cleared of debris, and recon
structed thoroughly, so that the colliery now, with its three
working inclines, is in a better position for a large out-put
than ever it was before. A fan 20 feet diameter, 6 feet
wide, on the Guibal principle, for the ventilation of the
underground workings, was erected in 1875 and has
proved a complete success.
Mr. French, who had obtained the lease of an area of
three-and-half square miles, where the extension of the
seams in this direction was first discovered, worked for
a time spending money uselessly, but his rights were
transferred to a company, composed of persons principally
resident in New Haven, Connecticut. In 1869, they

419
commenced building a railway from their mine to the
Middle River, a distance of six miles ; and in July, 1871,
they had it completed, with shipping wharf, and com
menced shipping coal. On this railroad the most
noticeable feature is the high bridge across McCulloch's
Brook. It is a trestle work, built of Southern pine,
imported for the purpose. It is 400 feet long, consisting
of four spans of 100 feet each. The middle span is 78
feet above the bed of the brook.
The works of these three collieries being in immediate
proximity, a village has sprung up named WestvUle, of
wThich the growth has been more rapid, than that of any
place known to me in these provinces. The land here,
owing principally to heavy fires, was so barren that one
man, who owned fifty acres, after clearing some of it,
offered the whole for the cow ; and a lot of 100 acres, on
part of which is now situated the Acadia Company's
works, was willed to the Pictou Academy, in payment-of
a subscription of five pounds. In 1866, 1 visited the spot.
Part was covered with wood, but part seemed too barren
even for that. Having been severely burnt over, it
produced only small bushes. Some men were then
engaged in erecting a hut, of round poles cut almost on
its site. In 1875, a census was taken, when the village
was found to contain a population of 2,500, with three
churches — two Presbyterian, of large size, and a small
Methodist ; and a Roman Catholic chapel is now building.
But a great mistake was made at the outset, in the
ground not having been properly laid out. The conse
quence is that the buildings have been placed in most
admired disorder.
These four companies are all that are in successful
operation on the west side of the East River. Another
company, known as the Montreal Company, established
by Mr. Robert G. Haliburton, sank a shaft just opposite
New Glasgow, on an area owned by them, which thus

420
lies at the north side of the coal field, and near the base
of the Conglomerate. Here they found the coal of good
quality, but lying at a very steep angle, and abounding
in inflammable gas. But nothing has since been done to
developo the property.
Before the commencement of the General Mining As
sociation's operations, a seam was opened on the east side
of the river, and after the abolition of the Mining Com-
panys operations, it was again opened by the Pictou
Mining Company. The coal was found to be inferior in
quality, and a continuance of the deterioration having
been ascertained by a shaft sunk farther to the east, all
operations were abandoned, though Mr. Rutherford ex
presses his opinion, that it may not continue far into the
dip. Considerable labor and means have been expended in
endeavors to trace the course of the seams further east.
The result has been the discovery of several beds of coal ;
but the field, on examination, has been found so intricate,
the measures so disturbed and broken, that their extent
and position, as well as their relation to the other seams,
are as yet involved in some uncertainty. We shall,
however, give a brief summary of the facts ascertained.
Immediately behind New Glasgow two seams have
been opened, the lower known as the Stewart seam, up
wards of three feet in thickness, and the upper as the
Richardson, 2 feet 9 inches, both of which are regarded
geologically as overlaying the main seam. The last of
them has been partially mined by a company, known as
the " Crown Brick Coal and Pottery Company," which
was formed for the purpose of working an extensive de
posit of fire clay found here. Though the seam was small,
the coal was found to be of excellent quality. The com
pany, however, has been for some time in a "state of
suspended animation.
About a mile further east, two seams have been dis-

421
covered about 3 1-2 and 4 1-2 feet thick, and another
larger. But here a large fault is found to cross the field,
and the whole measures are so broken, that very little has
been done in the way of mining upon them.
Farther east, at what was known as the Marsh, four
young men named McBeans, two of them brothers, and
cousins of the other two, also brothers, took out rights of
search. They wTere at the time possessed of but limited
means, but they spent time and labour and what means
they had, in exploring their area, and in opening some
veins found on it. Their enterprise in due time met with
its reward. The examination of the field by Sir William
Logan, proved that their lease covered valuable seams of
considerable extent. It was accordingly purchased by a
Company in Montreal, known as the " Vale Coal Iron and
Manufacturing Company," of which Sir Hugh Allan is
president. Since 1872, under the able management of J.
B. Moore, Esq., the vice-president, and J. P. Lawson,
engineer, they have provided and erected everything ne
cessary for mining and shipping coal on an extensive
scale. This colliery is situate about six miles to the eastward
of New Glasgow, on a seam formerly known as the
McBean area. It contains three square miles, or 1,920
acres. There are five known workable seams of coal on
it, which are found in descending order, as follows : The
uppermost of the series is the " Captains seam," a good
coal well liked for domestic purposes. It measures three
feet six inches in vertical thickness. Seventy-five feet
below is the " Mill Race seam," so named from being
first discovered in the mUl race below Jas. McDonald's
saw mill. It is not quite so good coal. It is three feet
thick, with impurities. Over sixty feet below is the
" Geo. McKay seam." This is a good seam of coal, well
liked both for steam and domestic purposes. It measured
in three openings, 3 feet 9 inches, 4 feet, and 4 feet 10

422
inches in vertical thickness. A small seam of oil shale of
uncertain size and value, about eight inches in the centre
of the seam, is very rich, but it gets poor as you go from
the centre. Next is " The Six Feet seam." It is not
quite so good coal, but is purer to the dip.
About 1,450 feet across the measures behind the above
seam, is the " McBean seam." It is a good coal, both for
steam and domestic purposes. It measures seven feet of
vertical thickness. Two small seams are found, about
200 feet across the measures from the McBean seam.
They are too small to work. The vale colliery is placed
on the McBean seam, into which two slopes, one sixteen
feet wide (the main slope), the other eight feet wide
^a travelhng and pumping slope), are driven on the
•dip of the seam, from which the levels are driven in
the coal. A pair of winding engines, 12 inch cylinder
and 18 inch stroke, built at the Aoadia foundry, New
Glasgow, have been erected in front of the Main Slope,
and a double acting steam plunger plump, also made at
the Acadia foundry, is placed at the foot of the pumping
slope, which throws the water to the surface and drains
the mine.
A railroad six miles long, leading-from the colliery and
joining the Intercolonial Railroad at New Glasgow, with
all the necessary sidings, has been constructed by the
Company. From New Glasgow the coal is conveyed
over the Intercolonial Railway to the Pictou Landing,
where it is shipped.
The works of the Vale Colliery were started in the
woods, in the fall of 1872. A few trains of coal were run
over the railroad to Halifax in the fall and winter of
1873-4 ; and in 1874, the out-put of merchantable coal
was about 39,000 tons, the dull state of the markets
keeping the mine idle one-half of the months of September
and October, two-thirds of November and all December.
Workshops for carpenters and blacksmiths, and an

423
office and store, have been erected at a convenient distance
from the works. A number of miners' houses have also
been erected by the Company, in all about ninety build
ings. To the north of the Company's property, the land
is regularly laid out in building lots. A good many of
these have been sold, and quite a neat village has sprung
up, with stores, halls and dwellings, and a numbei
are in course of erection. As the situation is picturesque,
the Vale will be one of the prettiest villages in the
eastern part of the Province. During the year 1876, a
Presbyterian church has been built and a pastor ordained.
Messrs. Mitchell & Barton have an acre or two of the
TVfcBean seam, at the north-east corner cf the McBean
lease. There is only coal enough there to supply the
.inhabitants with their winter's fuel for a short time.
Between the Vale Colliery works and New Glasgow,
and extending southwardly for some distance is all good
-coal measures, and doubtless containing valuable seams ;
and it is more than probable that should tho coal trade
revive, other valuable works will be started upon them.
It will thus be seen that we have now five large
¦companies in vigorous operation, in mining and shipping
coal. It only remains to give a few statistics, showing
the amount of their work.
The following is a statement in tons of the sales by
counties for the last four years :
1872. 1873. 1874. 1875.
Cumberland  14,153 26,345 49,599 60,744
Pictou  388,417 334,984 357,920 337,102
Cape Breton  380,273 520,189 337,000 304,702
Other counties... 31,070 588 4,588 4,047
Total  785,914 881,106 749,127 706,795

424

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425
"When the General Mining Association commenced
operations, they designed to work the iron as well as the
coal deposits known to exist on the East River. They
quarried ore from a bed now known as the Blanchard.
bed, and collected a quantity of Limonite about the
banks of the river, near Springville. They also erected
a blast furnace at the Albion mines, for the purpose
of smelting these ores. But those in charge, accustomed
to English ores and English fuel, did not understand how
to manage ores of a different character. They declared
that the ore was too rich, and, the company not having
discovered the bed of Limonite, the work was abandoned.
Some iron, however, was produced, which, in combined
hardness and toughness, excelled anything known.
"When quartz crushing began at the gold mines, and iron
possessing these qualities was specially required for
stampers, parties gathered up the . lumps that had been
thrown away at the old blast furnace at the Albion-
mines, and they found it superior for the purpose to any
iron that could be obtained from any other quarter.
During the last few years, attention has again been
directed to the subject, and careful explorations have
been carried on, under the direction of competent
scientific men. The result has been, to show the existence
in this county of a variety of iron deposits, of great
extent, and superior quality. Geologically, these lie
among the Upper Silurian and Lower Carboniferous
rocks, which we have formerly mentioned, as traversing
the interior and southern portions of the county. "We
shall briefly notice the principal of these. Among the
most important is a great bed of Bed Hematite, which is
most extensively developed at Blanchard, near the East
Branch of the East Eiver of Pictou, and on the upper part
of Sutherlands Eiver. The ore bed is an enormous
deposit, varying in width from fifteen to thirty feet, and
where it has been opened up, affords from ten to twenty

426
feet in thickness of good ore. This bed has been traced
for several miles, and rises into some of the higher
elevations of the country. At Sutherlands Eiver, it is
found at an elevation of 400 feet above its bed, and its
position will allow the extraction of millions of tons above
water level, by the simplest operation of the miner.
Though not one of the richest ores in the district, its great
quantity and accessibility render it of great value. The
analyses made of it, show a percentage of metal varying
from 43 to 54 per cent. The foreign matter is principally
Silica and the proportions of Phosphorus and Sulphur
are very small. The principal exposures of this bed, are
distant only twelve miles from the great collieries of the
East Eiver of Pictou, and less than ten miles from the
Halifax and Pictou Eailway, while the extension of the
latter eastward will pass close by its outcrop at
Sutherlands Eiver.
At Sutherlands Eiver, about three miles from Meri
gomish Harbour, is a valuable deposit of Spathic Iron ore
or Siderite, occurring in Lower Carboniferous sandstones,
and varying in thickness from six feet six inches to ten
feet six inches. It affords from 42 to 43 per cent of iron,
and contains from 2 to 8 per cent of manganese. This bed
is only four miles distant from the " Vale " colliery.
At the junction of the Lower Carboniferous and Upper
Silurian rocks, in the valley of the East Eiver, near
Springville, is a vein of Limonite of exceeding richness and
value. It varies in width from five to twenty-one feet,
and the ore is of the finest quality, affording from 62 to
65 per cent of metallic iron. A similar vein has been
opened near Glengarry station.
Besides these, a large vein of Specular iron ore, similar
to that at Londonderry, occurring in similar conditions,
and supposed to be a continuation of it, has been traced
from New Lairg, near Glengarry, eastward to near the
East Branch of the East Eiver. A bout a mile to the "West

427
•of this stream, it has been examined, and thence explored
for two miles, following the course of a high hill, and its
width was found to vary from five to twenty feet.
The ore is a nearly pure peroxide of iron, containing from
64 to 69 per cent of metal, and great quantities could be
easily taken out from the outcrop of the vein.
There are also other veins of less importance. Clay
Ironstones also occur in many parts of the coal field, but
no attention has hitherto been given to them as sources of
iron ore. It may be anticipated that should the richer
ores be worked, they may be rendered available in con
nection with them.
It will thus be seen, that these explorations have shown
that from Glengarry to Merigomish, a course of over 20
miles, there extends a series of iron ore deposits, of good
quality and more than usual dimensions. The ferriferous
rocks extend westerly into Colchester, and though these
have not been explored, yet small veins of Specular ore
are found on the upper part of the Middle and West
Eivers. It is probable also, that they will be found in
the opposite direction toward Antigonish county.
As the presence of a cheap flux is important for the
manufacture of iron, we may add that limestone is found
in every part of this section of country. Abundance of fire
clay also of superior quality, is found in various places.
Moulding sand also is plentiful on the East Eiver and
its tributaries. The best known deposit is near the
mouth of McLellans Brook, which has for years supplied
our local foundries.
It will thus be seen, that in its rich iron ore, in the im
mediate vicinity of eoal, Pictou possesses the elements of
national prosperity. The course hitherto pursued of
raising coal to export, is simply a waste of our natural
resources. Let it be employed in developing the treasures
of the rocks, and the county, we may say, the Province,
will enter upon a boundless career of progress.

428

CHAPTEE XIX.
FEOM THE DIVISION OF THE COUNTY TILL THE PRESENT
TIME, 1836—1876.
In the year 1836, the Act erecting Pictou into a separate
county, came into operation. By that Act, it received
two representatives for the county and one fo rthe town
ship of Pictou. The first election under the new
arrangement took place that season, when by a compromise
between parties, George Smith and John Holmes, Esquires,
were returned for the former, and, after a contest, Henry
Hatton, Esquire, for the latter. On the remodelling of
the Council in 1838, Mr. Smith was elevated to a seat in
that body, and Thomas Dickson was elected in his place.
At this first county election, Mr. Holmes first came into
public life. From that time till incapacitated by old age,
a few months before his death, in 1376, he occupied a
prominent place in our county and provincial politics,
having been for several years member of the House of
Assembly, then a member of the Legislative Council, and,
at the adoption of the Confederation Act, one of the first
senators from Nova Scotia. His public course was that
of an honest, thorough-going true blue Tory. At a very
late period of his life, and, we suppose, to the last, he
declared his admiration of the Government of the old
Council of XII., and his detestation of responsible govern
ment. His father having taken the lead in forming a
body in connection with the Church of Scotland, he
succeeded to his influence, and both in the civil and
ecclesiastical movements of the members of that body,
wielded the influence of a Highland Chief in the days of
clanship.

429
We append a list of members of the different branches
of our Legislature to the present time. (Appendix K.) ,
The present period presents few events calling for
special notice. In the year 1843, the disruption of the
Church of Scotland took place, and was followed the
next year by a similar division in Nova Scotia. Of the
Presbytery of Pictou, in connection with the Church of
Scotland, only one minister, the Eev. John Stewart, then
of St. Andrew's Church, New Glasgow, adhered to the
Free Church. Of the rest, all returned to Scotland to
occupy the vacant parish churches, with the exception
of the Eev. Alex. McGillivray, of McLennan's Mount,
who, it was said, by accident missed a presentation.
Congregations were formed in various parts of the county
in connection with the Free Church. That portion of
St. Andrew's Church, New Glasgow, which adhered to
their minister, formed the congregation of Knox Church,
which has since amalgamated with the congregation 01
Primitive Church in that town. The people of Blue
Mountain and the Garden of Eden generally, and a
majority of tho people of Barney's Eiver, joined the Free
Church, and obtained as their first minister the Eev. D. B.
Blair, in the year 1848. Congregations were also formed
at Pictou, Eogers Hill, "West Branoh Eiver John, Earl
town and Saltsprings. The Eev. Alex. Sutherland, who
had been brought up at Eogers Hill, but had completed
his studies in Edinburgh, returned from Scotland, and
became minister of Earltown and "West Branch Eiver
John in 1846. Shortly after, the Eev. Murdoch Suther
land became • minister of Pictou and Eogers Hill. He
was greatly esteemed, but his career was short.
The large majority of the adherents of the Church of
Scotland remained in their old connexion, and for ten
years received very little ministerial service. The folly
of depending on Scotland for ministers, was now apparent,
and, as the body was not in a position to educate young

430
men in this country, they sent a number of promising
natives to be educated in Scotland, and from their return,
the revival of that body may be dated. The first of these
were the Eevds. Alex. McLean, Alex. McKay, George M.
Grant, 'William McMillan, Simon McGregor and John
Cameron, all natives of Pictou.
In the year 1867, just one hundred years after the arrival
of the first settlers, the railroad from Halifax to Pictou was
completed. It had been for some time open to Truro, and
this had somewhat changed the trade, especially ofthe
rural districts ofthe county, large quantities of agricultural
produce being sent over land to Halifax, thus making im
proved markets for our farmers. The effect of the
completion of it, by the increased facilities which it
affords for communication with the rest of the continent,
it is unnecessary to point out.
"We shall now briefly review the various branches of
business in the county during this period.
At the commencement of the period, ship building was
carried on with considerable activity, and so continued for
a time, so that in one year, forty vessels were registered
as built in Pictou, and its outports, including Tatama
gouche. But these were, with scarce an exception, built
to sell, and under the ruinous system described in our last
chapter. The result was that about the year 1841, the
leading ship-builders, and a number who were engaged
in it on a smaller scale, became bankrupt
Since that time a new system has been pursued. Per
sons build vessels to own and sail them, and the business
has proved highly profitable, and, until the present
depression, was rapidly progressive. Nearly every trader
in Pictou, New Glasgow and the outports, as well as
many tradesmen, have at least shares in ships, and a large
fleet of vessels of superior character, is now owned in this.
county and is found in the carrying trade of the world.

431
The following is a statement of the vessels registered at
Pictou : — 8 Ships measuring  8.428
24 Barques "  14.337
4 Barquentines measuring  1 .040
1 Brig «  236
19 Brigantines «  4.956
31 Schooners "  1 . 573
6 Steamers "  162
Total vessels ... 93 Total tonnage  30 . 732
This however does not represent the whole tonnage of
the Port, several vessels partially or entirely owned here
being registered elsewhere. " The County of Pictou " for
example, one of our largest traders and entirely owned
in the county, being registered at Glasgow.
Another change in the system of shipbuilding must be
noticed. Building vessels for sale was simply building
vessels of inferior quality. So much was this the case,
that our colonial built vessels got a bad reputation, from
which they have scarcely yet recovered, and of all colonial
vessels, those of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island
were the lowest in the scale. There were other evils
connected with the system, not the least of which was
the frauds connected with insurance. To hear of one of
these vessels, perhaps, on her first voyage being wrecked,.
often gave its owner pleasure, which he scarcely affected
to conceal.
With Ihe building of vessels for the use of the owners,
commenced an era of improvement in the quality of the
vessels built, so that now the character of our vessels will
compare with those either of the other Provinces, or of
any portion of the world.
In this good work, Captain George McKenzie, of New
Glasgow, deserves special mention. If Captain Lowden
was the father of the old ship building trade in Pictou,
Captain McKenzie was the father of the modern system,
and though we did not intend particularly to refer to the

432
living, or to those who, though departed, belong to the
present period, yet we think the position he held in
reference to this important part of the business of Pictou,
as well as the character of the man himself, entitles him
to a full notice.
He was born in Halifax, in December, 1798. His
father died in 1802, and his mother removed with her
five children to Fishers Grant in the same year. When
he grew up to youthful manhood, he turned his attention
to shipping and ship building, for which he appeared to
have a natural talent In 1821, he and John Eeid, of
Little Harbor, built a schooner of 45 tons at Boat Harbor,
in which he shortly afterwards took a trip to the West
Indies. She was called the " James William." The two
men hewed the timber, took it from the woods, and did
all the work of building themselves. An event
happened when he was about nineteen years of
age, which had the effeet of bringing him into promi
nence among ship builders. A vessel built at some point
near the Beaches was being launched, when she stuck.
Those engaged about her spent a great deal of labour,
used all the mechanical appliances at their command, and
exhausted their ingenuity in efforts to get her off, and
finally gave up the work in despair, and from her
position, it was feared that she would break up before
spring, when George McKenzie volunteered to get her off
and succeeded in doing so at the next tide. From that
time he was a " marked man." In 1824 he went with
Robert McKay, of Pictou, to superintend work in his yard
and continued with him about three years. In superin
tending the launching of a vessel for Mr. McKay at Eiver
John, he had the misfortune to get one of his thighs
broken. He then sailed for some time as master, both to
the West Indies and to Britain. In the year 1829, we find
him in command of a brig called the " Two Sisters," owned
by his brother-in-law, James Carmichael, Esq., and his

433
brother John, then doing business in partnership. In her
he went up to Glasgow, and she was then noticed as the
largest vessel, that up to that date had gone so far up the
Clyde. On her return, it was noticed in the Pictou
paper, as something good, that she had made the round
trip in twelve weeks. He then settled down in business
in New Glasgow, where he first built a schooner of 100
tons, and then a trader for Almon, of Halifax. The "Sally,"
a barque of 350 tons, one-half being owned by Henry
Hatton, of Pictou, was his next venture. From this he
advanced to building vessels of 600 tons, and then to
others of 800, which were thought wonders for a time,
but not content with this, he soon was building still
larger. In 1850 he launched the " Hamilton Campbell
Kidston" of 1,400 tons. In launching her, the launch
ways spread, and her stern took the mud, when half way
down the launchways. The spectators beheld the
accident with dismay, women wept, but the captain was
as calm as a summer eve. He quietly walked round her
as if nothing had happened, and then told his men to go
home and return at such an hour, as they could do
nothing till the tide changed. At the appointed time he
set them to work, and in a short time had her safely
afloat. Considering the position of the vessel, the
shallowness of the water, and the appliances available,
this was almost as great a feat as the launching of the
¦" Great Eastern." When she arrived in Glasgow, her
appearance there created quite a sensation, she being the
largest vessel that up to that time had sailed up the
Clyde. In 1854 he built the " Sebastopol " and the
" Magna Charta," the latter attracting great attention as
the largest vessel built in the Province. Others of his
vessels were well known, as the " Sesostris," the
"Catherine Glen," the "John McKenzie" and the
¦" George." The " County of Pictou," built in 1865, was
28

434
the last vessel built by him. She is still afloat, and has;
been remarkably successful.
, So well was he known in old Glasgow, that a number of
gentlemen, connected with the trade of that port, presented
him with a service of plate as a token of their esteem.
Captain McKenzie was one of the first to see the evils
ofthe old system of building vessels to sell. And, although
from his character as a ship-builder, he obtained contracts
for building at remunerative rates, he gave particular
attention to running his vessels, some of which as the
" Sesostris " and thc " John McKenzie " were well known,
and thus led the way in the formation of that large carry
ing trade, which forms such an important part of the
industries of the county.
We believe too that it will be universally conceded,.
that Captain Mckenzie took the lead in building vessels
of a superior class, and that largely to him is owing the
vast improvement in the character of our ships, of which
now we have no reason to be ashamed, comparing them
with those either of other Provinces or of any portion of.
the world.
During a period of forty years, Capt. McKenzie went
to sea more or less, and in this he soon developed his
character. As a commander, he was daring, clear headed,
calm even under the most difficult circumstances, prompt
in deciding upon his plans, and energetic in having them
executed. When he commenced going to sea it was the
ordinary practice to carry only a moderate amount of
canvas and to take in sail at night, if the wind was any
wise fresh, so as not to have to rouse the men during the
night to lessen sail, should it blow harder, and if there
was any appearance of a blow, even the upper yards were
lowered. Capt. McKenzie soon pursued a different
course. He availed himself of all the sail his vessel could
carry, and thought not of lowering his yards or taking in
sail, because night was coming on. Doubtless by this-

435
time, others were adopting the same system, but at first
it appeared so strange to safe going old fogies, that some
times they thought him mad. Though commanding
vessels of all sizes from the coasting schooner to the 1400
ton ship, and in all latitudes, and that for the period of
about forty years, he was only wrecked once, and then lost
but one man. What is however perhaps more worthy of
notice was, that in all that time he never lost a man over
board. Once indeed when in Harbour, (at Savannah
Harbor we believe) a man fell overboard. The Captain,
though he could not swim himself, jumped overboard
after him, which induced others to follow his example,
and they were both saved. But at sea, in taking in sail,
or any of the other ways in which this accident occurs,
he never lost a man, and as he heard of such cases, he
could not avoid giving expressions to feelings of mingled
disgust and indignation, as he could only regard them as
resulting from bad management.
Much of his energy he infused into those around him.
Full of patriotism, he was not only anxious to advance the
welfare of the Province, but it was his delight to bring
forward Nova Scotians, and particularly young Pictonians
to command his ships or to fill stations of usefulness. The
sons of the farmer or the widow, in his hands were soon
in command of his big ships, and proved successful com
manders, ever speaking of him with affection.
His manner in command was slightly brusque and im
perative, but no man was ever more distinguished by the
spirit of kindness and readiness to help others. In fact he
was too open handed, too free in buying, too ready in
distributing, to have been a thorough going money making
man. In consequence of this, as well as from heavy losses
experienced at different times, while always having a
competence, he did better for others than for himself, and
many a one has reason to remember his seasonable help.
He died in the winter of 1876.

436
At the commencement of this period, there was still an
export of deals and battens, which continued for a few
years, but now not only is pine imported, but there is not
enough of spruce lumber produced, for the consumption
of the county, and a considerable quantity, especially in
the form of flooring, is annually imported. The saw
mills, of which by the census there are 78, are employed
principally in sawing hemlock into boards and shingles,
with a little spruce and some hardwood plank. The only
article of wood now exported is squared birch timber,
and as a great part of the southern portion of the county
is still covered with forest, on a soil of which a large
amount is unfit for cultivation, this trade may continue
for some time, and at all events there is here a perennial
source of supply of hardwood, to meet the ordinary
purposes of our own population.
The failure of the timber trade, as well as other
circumstances, has led to greater attention to their farms,
on the part of our rural population. The farming is not
any where yet of a high order, but it is very different
from what it was forty years ago. There is every where
attention to improved modes of culture, and the introduc
tion of better stock. Machinery is being generally used.
There was not at the beginning of this period a threshing
machine in the county. My father introduced one about
the year 1840. It was literally a one horse power, on
the tread-mill principle. There was not another at that
time in the county.^ Now these are universally in use,
as well as mowing machines and other improved imple
ments. At the same time the markets have been so
favourable for farm produce, that, notwithstanding the
failure of the potato crop, and the very general destruc
tion of the wheat crop for some years by the wheat
* Mr. Donald McLeod, of West Eiver, erected one some years before on a
small stream on his farm. The power did very well, but the threshing part
did not succeed.

437,
midge, in nothing has the county been more* distinguished
during this period than by the progress, which the
farming population have made in comfort and independ
ence. At the beginning of this period, there were few
farmers, who were not in the merchants' books, generally
for considerable amounts. The credit system was still
almost universal. The farmer was thought to do well,
and was reckoned a good customer, who in the fall
brought a sufficient amount of pork and other produce to
reduce his account to a moderate figure. But now
this mode of trading has largely passed away. Farmers
now generally sell their produce for cash, or exchange it
for necessaries at the store, and can generally do so at
prices, at which they would once have thought themselves
set up altogether.
Their improved circumstances appear in their dress>
their dwellings, and the conveniences by which they are
surrounded. At the beginning of this period milled
cloth was but little used, and while the better class of
farmers had at least a Sunday dress of English cloth, the
large majority were clad in homespun, undressed and
dyed at home. Wo need not describe the change produced
by the general use of fulled cloth. The younger genera
tion will scarcely remember the old blue-dye coats, so
characteristic of many parts of the country, and
occasionally so odoriferous under a summer shower ; and
we can scarcely tell the time when we have seen a.
countryman come to town with his feet encased in raw
hide moccasins.
At the beginning of this period, there were a few old-
fashioned chaises, but these only among the better class
of farmers in the older settlements. In the new they
were almost unknown, and the roads were scarcely fit for
them to traverse. Hence we might see a countryman.
come to town with a conveyance, which we shall not
attempt to describe, his horse garnished with a straw

438
collar, a straw' saddle, all kept in place by hair ropes.
Now it i3 a poor farmer who oannot drive his pair well
harnessed at farm work, or who does not own a comfort
able carriage for riding to church on Sabbath, or for travel
on week days. By the census, it exceeded every other
county in the Province in the number of light carriages
and vehicles for transport, the number of the former
being 4,596, ofthe latter 7,246.
This improvement has been most apparent in the
newer settlements. In these the people then generally
Uved in log houses with few conveniences, but now,
largely through their greater economy, and partly through
their being on good soil, they are as independent in their
circumstances as the people of any part of the country.
Farming is still the leading industry of the county, the
number engaged in it according to the census of 1871,
being more than equal to the number employed in all
other lines of business. Thus we find that 5154 are
classed as agricultural, while the rest are classed as
follows :
Commercial  ,  699
Domestic  452
Industrial  2,611
Professional  346
Not classified  692
4,798
Of these 488 were miners, 369 carpenters, 298 mariners,
257 blacksmiths, 202 shipbuilders, 172 teachers, 105
tailors, 37 foundrymen, 34 clergymen and 5 booksellers,
there being 20 in Halifax, and only 11 in all the rest of
the Province, eight counties having none.
We may here give a statement of its agricultural
products as compared with other counties. By the census
of 1871 there were produced the previous year as follows :
Bush, wheat. Oats. Other grain. Potatoes. Tons hay.
76,426 469,868 64,937 415,524 32,334

439
In wheat and oats, it largely exceeded any other county,
Cumberland coming next to it in the former, with 47,395,
and Inverness in the latter, with 276,330. In other grain,
it was exceeded by Lunenburg, which while only raising
2,661 bushels of wheat, and 22,447 of oats, produced
67,957 of barley and 13,109 of rye, by Cumberland, which
produced 64,023 of buckwheat, and Colchester, which
produced 43,995 of the same grain and 18,294 of barley.
In potatoes and hay, it was exceeded by Kings, Annapolis,
Cumberland and Colchester. In the production of butter,
it exceeded every other county, the amount being
804,661 lbs., Colchester coming next with 625,026. In
cheese it was exceeded by Kings, Annapolis, Antigonish
•and Inverness, though it is probable that the proportions
will have since been altered, as four cheese factories have
been erected in the county, one at West Eiver, one at
Gairloch, one at Eiver John and one at Barney's Eiver.
In cloth, it largely excels every other county, the amount
being 183,008 yards, Inverness coming next with 138,998.
The following is a statement of farm stoqk owned in
the county : Other
Horses. Milch cows. homed cattle. Sheep. Swine.
6,787 14,958 12,560 43,416 4,343
In horses and milch cows it ranks first, Colchester
coming nextjn the former, and Inverness in the latter.
In other horned cattle and sheep, it was slightly exceeded
by Inverness, and in swine by Kings, Inverness and
Antigonish. Altogether we may set down Pictou as the first agricul
tural county in the Province, the only one which can
compete with it being Kings. In fruit growing, however,
it is only seventh, being exceeded by Kings, Annapolis,
Lunenburg, Digby, Hants and Cumberland.
In manufactures, the only one in which as a county
we can take credit for great progress, is tanning leather.

440
We had tanners from an early period, but the business-
has been so developed during this period, that now
Pictou manufactures almost as much leather, as the other
seventeen counties of the Province put together. We
give the figures : —

Pictou 
Eest of the Province.

Value of Raw

Value of Articles

Material.

Produced.

$202,702 210,793

$ 346,974
423,019

Fair progress has been made in woollen manufactures..
The first application of any but hand power to this, was
by the erection of a carding machine at Middle Eiver by
a Mr. Humphrey, of New Brunswick, in a mill owned by
the late Isaac Archibald, about the year 1822. The year
after it was erected, Mr. Archibald bought it and carried
on the business himself. The first fulling mill was
established three "or four years after, by James Farnham,
of Truro, and Edward and Stillman Lippencott, under
the name of Lippencott, Farnham & Co., at what is now
Eoddicks Mills, below Durham, then owned by the Eev.
Duncan Eoss and George McDonald. They carried on
dyeing in connection with it. But they had only the-
privilege of the waste water, and, after . a time, finding-
that insufficient for their purposes, they, in the year 1829,
removed to the Six Mile Brook, and set up a mill, where
F. Miller & Co.'s establishment is now, at wliich place
the business of cloth dressing has ever since been
conducted. The first spinning machine and power loom
were set up by Mr. James Grant, near Springville. There
are now, besides carding machines and fulling mills, four
other establishments, where the whole business of manu
facturing cloth from the wool is carried on, Messrs. George-
Kerr & Sons', Middle Eiver ; Messrs. Frasers', Eocklin,
Middle Eiver ; Messrs. McDonalds', Hopewell, and Messrs.
F. Miller & Co.'s, Six Mile Brook. These are mainly-
driven by water, but some of them have steam as
auxiliary.

441
Manufactures of wooden ware are yet in their infancy.
John Fraser, of Green Hill, has a rake factory, and
Messrs. Nute Bros., and Messrs. Cumming Bros., both of
New Glasgow, have established factories, driven by steam,.
for the production of furniture, and Messrs. Samuel
Archibald & Co. have an establishment for the manufac
ture of rakes and other implements, and also of furniture,
at Watervale, West Eiver. The first successful application
of steam to mills in the county was at the Clarence Mills,
Pictou, established by James Primrose, Esquire. It was
employed in driving a grist mill, a carding machine, and
in sawing, planing, and other work in wood.
In the manufacture of iron, besides the Albion Mines
Foundry, previously established, three others are now in
successful operation, Messrs. Davies', in Pictou, Messrs.
Frasers' and the Acadia Foundry, in New Glasgow ; and
the Nova Scotia Forge Company by the application of
steam power, is. doing. a large business in the production
of wrought iron for various purposes, and Mr. Conolly at
Middle Eiver has a small axe factory, which has produced
implements of the finest quality.
Little is done in developing the beautiful free stone so-
abundant in the county. There was at the time of th&
census only one establishment for the manufacture of
grindstones, Mr. Eobert McNeil's, at Quarry Island, Meri
gomish, the products of which was valued at $4,500.
Some stone is quarried for buildings, and, particularly at
the Eight Mile Brook, some is taken out for monuments
and other work requiring a fine polish.
Though we deem the manufacturing interest in Pictou
small, compared with what it might be, yet it is larger
than that of any county in the Province, except Halifax,
which includes the city. By the census, the value of the
products of all its industrial establishments was 11,273,018,
while that of Hants, which came next, was only |836,503.
The period we have been considering has been marked

442
by a large emigration from the county, the majority of the
young of both sexes in the rural districts, going abroad as
they reach maturity. In the year 1848 or '49, a number
were attracted to Australia, who were generally unsuc
cessful. Since that time, California has been the great
attraction for young men, and service in the New England
towns for young women. But our Pictou boys are to be
found in every part of the world. Some, under the law,
by which not only prophets, but other good men, are not
without honour save in their own country, reaching the
upper rungs of the ladder, the majority by industry
attaining a competence, which they might have done at
home, and many, alas, making shipwreck of earthly
prospects, and even of conscience and a good name.
We add a statement of the population at different
periods : — Census of 1817  6,7Zl
« 1827  13,949
" 1838  21,449
« 1861  28,785
" 1871  32,114
We think, however, that there was manifestly an
imperfection in the first return  , that with the
immigration of previous years, the population must have
been greater, and that with the state of business from
1817 to 1827, there could not have been such an increase
in that period as indicated by the census. Such was the
progress, that at the time of that census, it was only
•exceeded in population by Halifax and Annapolis, which,
however, then included Digby, and ever since it has been
the largest in population of the rural counties.
We have had occasion in the course of our history, to
refer particularly to the Presbyterian Church and
Presbyterian ministers. This has not been from any
denominational prejudice, but simply because they have
been so closely connected with the past progress of the

443
county, that a history of Pictou without reference to
them, would be like the play of Hamlet, with the part of
Hamlet omitted. It is proper, however, to give some
notice of the early history of the other Churches in the
county. Among the 82nd men were several Eoman Catholics,
who settled in Merigomish, and, as we have seen, in the
years 1791 and 1802, a large number of Scotch Catholics
arrived, who settled along the Gulf shore, part of them
in this county, and part of them in Antigonish. They
received their first church service from the Eev. Mr.
Jones, of Halifax, who performed a mission among them,
but the first resident priest was the Eev. James McDonald,
who lived at the Gulf, but ministered on both sides of
the county line. We do not know the date of his arrival,
but he was here as early as 1793. He offended his people
by advising them to attend Dr. McGregor's preaching,
and otherwise showing disrespect for his own Church, so
that he was obliged to take refuge from their wrath in
Walter Murray's house. They then gave out that he was
crazy, and he was sent up to Quebec to a monastery, from
which he never returned.
He was succeeded by the Eev. Alexander McDonald,
who settled at Arisaig about 1800, and officiated among
the same people from that time till his death. Through
the influence of Mortimer, he was made a magistrate. He
died in Halifax on 15th April, 1816, in the 62nd year of
his age, and his people carried his remains through the
woods all the way to Arisaig. In 1810, the first regular
church was erected at Arisaig, though they had a place
cf meeting previously.
He was succeeded by the Eev. Colin Grant. In the
year 1834, the church at Baillies Brook was erected, and
in the year 1869, that settlement was formed into a
separate parish, with the Eev. Simon McGregor, D.D., as
their first priest.

444
The chapel in town was commenced in the year 1823>,
when the frame was erected, without, however, any
rafters. It stood on the west side of Chapel Street. The
next year the rafters were put on, but in a gale soon after
were blown down. The most zealous Catholic in town
at that time was an Irishman, named Thomas Jones, who
kept a grog shop. About forty pounds were now collected,
principally among Protestants, to aid them in finishing
the building. But Jones having got the amount into his
hands, withdrew the light of his countenance from Pictou
altogether, and departed to some more congenial region.
From this, together with the smallness of their numbers,
and their humble circumstances, their church long
remained unfinished.
The first priest stationed in Pictou was the Eev. Mr.
Boland, who arrived in town in the autumn of the year
1828. The present church at Merigomish was built in the
year 1865, but they had a small one for many years
previous. The few Episcopalians among the early settlers in
Pictou generally fell in with the Presbyterian ministers.
Their first organization was owing principally to the late
Dr. Johnston and Eobert Hatton, Senr. The latter was a
lawyer, a native of Dublin, who Game to Pictou with his
family in the year 1813. Through his influence, Col.
Cochrane had presented the Society for the Propagation
of the Gospel, with the lot on which the church now
stands, then valued at ,£150. He himself put up the
frame in the year 1824. About three years after the
church was finished, mainly through the exertions of his
son, Henry, and consecrated on the 16th April, 1829, by
Bishop Inglis. In the year 1847, it was lengthened by
an addition of seventeen feet and a new spire erected. A
transept was added in 1866. In the year 1832, Pictou
District was erected into a parish under the name of St.

445
James by order of the Governor in Council on the
petition of the clergyman, church wardens and vestry.
Among the first clergymen who visited them, was the
Eev. Dr. Gray, then of Sackville, we believe. He was
here in 1814, as we learn from a marriage celebrated by
him in that year. Previous to 1830, they were visited by
the Eev. W. B. King, then a teacher in Windsor College,
during vacations, and by the Eev. Mr. Burnyeat, who
visited them two or three time a year, holding service in
the old court house.
The Eev. Charles Elliott, who came to this Province in
the year 1829, under the appointment of the Society for
.the Propagation of the Gospel, was employed for some
time as a travelling missionary, and Pietou was included
in his district. In the year 1832, however, he finally
settled here. He was a B. A. of St. Edmunds Hall,
Oxford, was admitted a deacon, in the Chapel Eoyal of
St. James Palace, on the 14th June, 1829, by the Bishop
of London. He was ordained a priest in Nova Scotia in
St. Johns Church, Cornwallis, by Bishop Inglis, on the
27th June, 1830. He was admitted Eector of St. James
Church, Pictou, on the 23rd April, 1834, by the same
Bishop, the first churchwardens being Henry Hatton and
Eobert Hockin. The whole county was then his parish,
and he preached regularly once a month at the Albion
Mines, and also at Eiver John, and visited Wallace,
Pugwash and Tatamagouche, and occasionally even Cape
Breton. He was a man of amiable disposition and gentle
manner, and labouring diligently but quietly in his own
calling, he gained the affection of his own church and
the respect of the community.
On the 12th July, 1849, a meeting was held at the
Albion Mines, at which it was decided to erect a church
for public worship, according to the rites and ceremonies
of the Church of England. For this purpose, .£175 were
subscribed by the inhabitants, and .£125 given by the

446
General Mining Association. The building was begun
soon after, and completed about July, 1851. That district
was erected into a separate parish, under the name of
Christ Church, Albion Mines, by a decree of the Eight
Eeverend Hibbert, Lord Bishop of Nova Scotia, bearing
date 24th March, 1852, at or about which time, the Eev.
Joseph Forsythe, missionary of the Society for the
Propagation of the Gospel, took charge, W. H. Davies and
Henry Poole, Esquires, being the first churchwardens.
The Church and burial ground were consecrated in the
latter part of September of that year.
In the year 1865, the Eev. Mr. Kaulback was appointed
first curate of Eiver John, and in October of that year,
Mr. Elliott went to England, where he died at his
residence, Falkland House, Painswick, Gloucestershire,
on the 27th September, 1871.
The first Baptist Society in the county was organized
on the principles of the Scotch Baptists, or Disciples, as
they call themselves, who are distinguished from others
of the name, by rejecting the office of the ministry, all the
members using their gifts for edification, and by the
observance of the ordinance of the Lords Supper every
Lords day. The society was founded by James Murray,
who came to Pictou in 1811, and afterward moved to
Eiver John. Here on the 18th June 1815, the day of the
battle of Waterloo, he baptized two persons, and on the
same day dispensed the communion. Since that day with
the exception of a few very stormy days, they have not
failed to meet on the first day of the week to break bread.
They now number 40 members, and are the only society
of this order on the north coast of the Province.
The first society of the regular Baptists was formed in
Merigomish, in the year 1838. Two years previous, the
Eev. George Eichardson passing through the settlement,
preached at Thomson Carmichaels, Barneys Eiver. Mrs.
Alex. Meldrum was present, and attributed her conversion

447
to the sermon. On his return, a few months later, she
was baptized by him. In the following spring he again
came to Barneys Eiver, when her husband, Mr. Peter
McEwan and Mrs. Fogan were also baptized. These
with Mr. and Mrs. Carmichael, Mr. and Mrs. Crandall,
then resident in the settlement, formed the first Baptist
©hurch, Mr. Peter McEwan being ordained deacon. From
that time to the present, about 40 have been added to the
church, but from deaths and removals, the membership
is now only 14. They have a meeting-house at Barneys
Eiver, commenced in the summer of 1874, but they have
never had a settled minister.
The first Wesleyan Methodist Society in the county
originated with some dissentients in the congregation of
the Eev. Mr. Mitchell, Eiver John. They were organized
into a society by the Eev. Mr. Snowball, then on the
Wallace Circuit, in the year 1822. Previous to that they
had been visited by local preachers, the first of whom
was Mr. Andrew Hurley. They built their first church
in 1824, and since that time, Eiver John has been one of
the regular Methodist circuits.
About the year 1845, a society and congregation was
formed at the Albion Mines, by the Eev. Eichard Weddall,
consisting principally of miners, who had come from
England. Wesleyan ministers had previously preached
to them. A church and parsonage were subsequently
built, and more recently a small church at Westville in
connection with the same circuit.
A society has also been formed in Pictou, principally
composed of parties who had previously been connected
with the Evangelical Union, as they call themselves in
Scotland, but usually known as Morrisonians. They had
previously been under the pastoral care of the Eev. Alex.
McArthur, who adopted the sentiments of Swedenborg.
After several ..changes, they connected themselves with
the Wesleyans.

Wesleyan Methodist  797
Baptist  345
All others  193

448
For many years there was in town a small society of
Friends, consisting, however, almost entirely of the
family of Jas. Kitchin, an Englishman, who kept a watch
maker's shop on Water Street. In the case of each watch
which he repaired, he placed a paper with the following : —
" Behold, oh, mortal man 1
How quick the moments fly ;
Our life is ever on the wing,
Prepare, prepare to die." — Jambs Kitchin.
With this solemn warning of this old worthy, we might
appropriately close our work, but we may add a state
ment of the relative numbers of the different religious
bodies in the county at the date of the last census :
Presbyterian Church of the
Lower Provinces  14,105
Church of Scotland  12,250
Eoman Catholics  2,965
Church of England  1,470 32,125
Our work is done. It has taken time and trouble.
But it has been pleasant, and we trust not unprofitable.
Especially do we feel satisfaction, in being the instrument
of rendering an act of justice to the sturdy pioneers, who
first invaded our forests and prepared homes for us in the
wilderness. The present and future generations, in this
county, and beyond it, have great reason to be profoundly
grateful for the sturdy energy and moral worth of the
mass of those, who first peopled our county, as well as
for the intelligence and public spirit of those, who were
the leaders of society at its formation, and particularly for
the high talents and the devoted Christian zeal of James
McGregor, Duncan Eoss and Thomas McCulloeh, who
first planted the gospel among us, and who moulded the
moral and religious, and we may add, largely the
intellectual character of our population. It only remains
that Pictonians at home and abroad, while thankful to
God for what they were, and profiting even by their
errors, preserve the noble heritage of steady habits, and
sound religious principles, received from them, and
transmit the same to the race that is to come.

.A^PIFIEILsriDISL

A.
XIST OF GRANTEES, BY GRANT OP 26TH AUGUST, 1783,
WITH THE NUMBER OP ACRES RECEIVED, AND
NOTICES OP THE SITUATION OF THEIR LOTS.
ON WEST, EIVER.
David Stewart 300 acres ; John McKenzie, 500 ; Hugh Fraser, 400 ;
William McLellan, — ; James McDonald, 200 ; James McLellan, 100 ;
'Charles Blaikie, 300, and in an after division 250 acres, 550 in all ; Robert
Patterson, 300, and in an after division, 180, 500 in all ; James McCabe, 300 ;
Alex. Cameron, — . All these lots are still occupied by descendants of , the
grantees, with the exception of Charles Blaikie's, which was situated opposite
Durham, and Robert Patterson's, which was farther down the river.
ON MIDDLE EIVER, EAST SIDE.
Alex. Fraser, 100 acres, where Samuel Fraser now resides ; Alex. Ross, jr.,
100 acres, just below ; then above following up the stream, John Smith, 350 ;
Robert Marshall, 350 ; James McCulloeh, 240 ; Alex. Ross, 300, an after
division to Alex. Fraser, sr., 400 (on the rear of which Westville is now
situated) ; Alex. Fraser, jr., 100 ; John Crockett, 500 ; Simon Fraser, 500 ;
Donald McDonald, 350 ; David Urquhart, 250 ; Kenneth Fraser, 450 ; James
McLeod, 150. ON EAST EIVEE, EAST SIDE.
Walter Murray, 280 acres (adjoining Indian burying-ground):;- and 70 acres
in an after division. Then following up stream : James McKay, 70 ; Donald
McKay, jr., 80 ; John Sutherland, 180, and 70 in an' after division ; Rod.
McKay, gr., 300, and an after division, 50 ; James Hays, — ; Hugh McKay,
100 ; Alex. McKay, 100 ; Heirs of Donald McLellan, 260,' (then a blank, where
New Glasgow is now situated) ; Hugh Fraser, 400, and an after division, 100 ;
Wm. McLeod, 80 ; John McLellan, 200 ; Thomas Turnbull, 220, and in an
after division, 180 ; Wm. McLeod, 210, and in an after division, 60 ; Alex.
McLean, — ; Colin McKenzie, 370.
ON EAST EIVEE, WEST SIDE.
Donald Cameron, 100 acres, at Loading Ground ; James Grant, 400, at
Basin ; Colin McKay, 400 ; Wm. McKay, 550 ; Donald. Cameron, 100 ; Donald
McKay, sr., 450 j Donald Cameron, a gore lot ; Anthony Culton, 500. These
¦extended from below the mines to some distance above them.
29

450 B.
LIST OP THE NUMBER OP FAMILIES IN THE DISTRICT -OF
PICTOU, VIZ. '.
" Jonag Earl, Robt. Watson, Robt. Watson, jr., Daniel Earl, Daniel Earl, jr.,
Jas. Watson, Isaiah Horton, Patrick Berry, Wm. Aikin, John Fulton, James
Fulton, John Patterson, George MoOonnell, Mat. Harris, Robt. Harris, John
Rogers, Wm. McKenzie, Wm. McCracken, Abram Slater, Moses Blaisdell,
Wm. Kennedy, Jas. Davidson, John MoCabo, Bar. McGee, John Wall, Colin
McKenzie, Alex. Ross, Donald McDonald, Wm. McLeod, Walter Murray, Thos.
Fraser, Alex. Fraser, Wm. McKay, Hugh Fraser, Alex. Faulkner, Colin McKay,
Colin Douglass, James Campbell, Thomas Troop, James Hawthorn, Joseph
Glen, John McLennan, Ken. McClutcheon, Hugh Fraser, John Ross, George
Morrison, Robt. Jones, Don. Cameron, Rod. McKay, Robt. Sims, Peter
Hawthorn, John MeLellan. — November 8, 1775. (Signed) John Harris." A
number of these, set down as families, however were unmarried men at this
time. Upon this a petition was presented to the Governor to issue a writ for
the election of a representative, but the request was not granted.

c.
LIST OP PASSENGERS IN SHIP " HECTOR," WITH NOTICES
OF THEIR HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT, SO
FAR AS KNOWN.*.
SHIPrED AT GLASGOW.
Mk. Scott and Family. Unknown.
Geoege Moekison and Family. From Banff, obtained grant on west side
of Barneys River, where ho settled. An island there still called Morrisons
Island. Left one daughter, married to David Ballantyne, Cape'George.
John Patteeson. Fully referred to in .the history.
George McConnell. Settled on West River, at Ten Mile House. His
deseendants numerous in this and adjacent counties.
Andrew Main and Family. A native of Dunfermline. Settled at Noel, where
his descendants still reside.
Andrew Wesley. Unknown.

* This list was drawn up about forty years ago by the late- William
McKenzie, Loch Broom.

451
Chaeles Fraser, A Highlander, though shipping at Glasgow. Lived at
Cornwallis; afterward mariied and settled at Fishers Grant, where ho
bought out a soldier of the 82nd. Had one son and two daughters, whose
descendants are on West River and elsewhere.
John Stewaet. Unknown. frKOM INVEENESSHIEE.
William McKay and Family. Afterward Squire McKay ; settled on the East
River, where the Mines now are. Died 2nd March, 1828, aged 97, when his
death was thus noticed in tho Colonial Patriot : — " For a great many years
he was a leading man among his countrymen. His house was always open
and his table welcome to travellers and neighbours. The proverbial hospitality
of Highlanders was never more fully exemplified than by Squire McKay,
and in theso early times his liberality must have prevented or alleviated the
wants of many of his fellow men. He went to bed in his usual health, and
was found dead about half an hour after." Had in the "Hecter" four
children: 1. Donald, who was tho first settler on Frasers Mountain. His
son, William McKay, the surveyor, was the author of a map of Nova Scotia,
published in London, which has supplied information for all the map
makers since. 2. Alexander, who afterward owned the land where New
Glasgow is now situated. 3. James, who settled opposite the Loading Ground
on the East River. 4. A daughter, Sarah, married to William Fraser,
surveyor. He had two sons born in this country, John usually known as
Collier, and William, who inherited his father's property, where the Halifax
Company's works now are, but who afterwards moved to McLennans Brook,
and a daughter married to John McKay.
Roderick McKay and Family. He and three brothers, all of whom came to
Pictou, were natives of Beauly, in Invernesshire. He took up land at the
East River, where his grandson, J. C. McKay, now lives, being one ofthe first
five who settled on the East River, the others being William McKay, Colin
McKay, Donald Cameron, and his brother, Donald McKay. He was a
blacksmith by trade, and through the influence of some of his wife's friends,
afterward obtained a situation as head of the blacksmiths' work in the dock
yard at Halifax. He and his wife travelled thither through the woods on
foot, each carrying a child. Under his direction was made and placed the
chain, which, during the war, was stretched across the north-west arm, to
prevent tho entrance of hostile vessels. He was aman of middle height, but
thick-set and strongly built, distinguished for activity, determination and
fertility in resources. His character may be seen from incidents already given,
but one that took place before leaving Scotland, was deemed by his country
men still more worthy of admiration. The gaugers had seized some whiskey
which did not belong to them. Indignant at such an invasion of the rights
of property, ho interposed, and, perhaps, using some needful violence" to these
myrmidons of Saxon oppression, rescued it from their unworthy hands.
So little, however, was his prowess appreciated by the Sassenach bodies, he
was for this lodged in a jail in Inverness. His free-born spirit chafed under

452
such restraints, particTilarly in a cause so good, and he was soon contriving
schemes to secure his liberation. Having ingratiated himself with the jailer,
he sent him one day to procure a quantity of ale and also of whiskey, in
order duly to cement their friendship. The jailer on his return, advancing into
the cell with both hands full, Roderick stepped behind him and out at the
door. Closing it after him, he locked it and carried off the key, which
some say he brought to America with him. The first of these feats would
have given liim an honorable place in the hearts of his countrymen, but the
latter, added to it, was sufficient to make him their idol for ever. We suppose
that some in this effeminate age will scarcely regard such affairs as creditable.
But similar qualities, exercised for much worse purposes, have rendered Rob
Roy the admiration of all lady readers of Sir Walter Scott, and his grave to be
visited with veneration, even by Royalty.
When in Halifax he gained notoriety by another feat. An officer was
paying some attention to a female inmate of his house, of which he did not
approve. Roderick meeting them together near the Citadel Hill, upbraided
him for his conduct, when the latter drew his sword, and before the former
was aware, struck him a cruel blow on the head, cutting him so severely
that he felt some of tho effects as long as he lived. Telling the officer that
he would meet him in an hour, he got his head dressed, and prepared within
the time, stood before him with a good ash stick. The officer drew his
sword, and a combat ensued, but Roderick was not only an adept in all
Highland games, but like many Highlanders of that time, was acquainted
with the sword exercise, and though his stick bore the marks of the officer's
sword cuts, he soon disarmed him, and repaid him heartily for his former
cowardly attack. He afterwards returned to his farm on the East River, where
he died. One daughter, with him in the " Hector," was afterward married
to Dr. McGregor. The rest of his family were born in this country. One
daughter, mother of the late J. D. B. Fraser, Esq., our late custos, Robert
McKay, Esq., his son.
Colin McKay and Family. Served in the Fraser Highlanders at the taking
of Louisburg and Quebec. Settled on the East River below the Mines. Few
of his descendants there. " McKay brothers," of Liverpool, G. B., his grandsons.
Hugh Fuasek and Family. The following is a copy of a certificate in the
possession of a grandson : " These do certify that the Bearer Hugh Fraser,
Weaver, a married man was born of honest Parents in this Parish of Kiltarlity,
where he has resided from his Infancy and behaved soberly and honestly free
of any public scandal. So that now when he with his Wife and Family are
to remove from our bounds we are at freedom to declare that we knpw no
reason why they may not be received into any Christian Society or Congrega
tion where Providence may order their Lot. Given at Kiltarlity this 29th day
of June, 1773 years and attested in name ofthe Kirk Session by
" Malcom Nicolson, Minister."
Settled on McLellans Brook. Had three children in the " Hector " 
1, Domald, known as Donald Miller ; 2, Mary, married to Cameron, Merigomish

453
and 3, Jane, married to John Fraser, Merigomish. One son, John, long
known as John Squire, having been taken sick with small-pox, did not arrive
for some years after. Rev. Wm. Fraser, Bondhead, Ont., a grandson.
Donald Cameron and Family. The only Roman Catholic among the
passengers, had also served at the taking of Quebec, settled on the East River
where the Mines now are, on tho farm, afterward owned by Dr. McGregor. He
was drowned in the river. His family removed to Antigonish county.
Donald McDonald and Family. Settled on the Middle River, where his
descendants are numerous. Had two children in the " Hector," the eldest,
Marion, aged 10, afterward married to Alex. Fraser Elder (Middle River), tho
second, Nancy, who died tho winter after arrival, and an orphan niece, Mary
Forbes, afterward married to Wm. McLeod, who settled at McLellans Brook.
Colin Douglass and Family. Lost two children on the passage. His
eldest daughter survived, afterward married to Peter Fraser, McLellans Moun
tain. Settled at Middlo River, one son long known as Deacon Douglass.
Hugh Feasee and Family. Settled at West River about twelve miles from
town, afterward an elder. His descendants numerous.
Alexandee Feasee and Family. Settled at Middle River, where and at
various other places his descendants are numerous. Ho is said to have been
connected with Lord Lovat, and the family were largely involved in the
rising of forty-five. Had three brothers fighting for Prince Charlie at
Culloden, of whom two were killed ; was too young to serve himself, but
followed them, and saw at least part of the scenes of that day. Afterward
married Marion Campbell, youngest daughter of the Laird of Skriegh, in
Inverness, who had raised a troop to fight for Prince Charlie, and at Culloden
was wounded. After the battle he was set up against a wall by the English
soldiers to be fired at. Missing him, one of them said, " You poor devil,
you're ordained to live for some mischief," and struck him on the face with
his musket, knocking out his eye. His wife found him among the dead and
wounded, and though with the loss, it is said, of a leg, an arm, and an eye, he
survived for some years.
Fraser was in comfortable circumstances, " when an instance of eaxon
oppression led him to seek for freedom in America. His horses and cart
were seized by guagers, with some whiskey that they were carrying. What
Highlander's soul will not boil, even at the hearing of such an outrage. The
seizers took their plunder to Inverness, where they had it cared for at an inn,
and then proceeded to enjoy themselves drinking. When they were
comfortably disposed of for the night, the stable lad, who was a relation of •
Fraser's, took the horses and cart out, and driving across the country, restored
them to the proper owner, who lost no time in taking them to some other
part of the country, where he disposed of them as vrell as ho could, and,
determined to stay no longer in a country, where he was subjected to such
treatment, -was the first to engage a passage in tile " Hector."
He settled on the Middle River, where Samuel Fraser now resides. He had
five children in the « Hector." 1. Alexander, who occupied his father's farm,

454
and was afterward an Elder. 2. Simon, particularly referred to in the history,
3. Catherine, married "first to Alexander' Ross, afterward to John Fraser
(Squire.) 4. Isabella, married to David McLean, Esq., West Branch, East
River. 6. Hugh, settled at Middle River Point, and the last survivor but one
of the " Hector " passengers.
After arrival he had two sons, David, the first child born to the Highlanders
after arrival, and William, the first child born on the Middle River.
James Geant and Family. Lived for some time in Kings County; first
settled at Grahams Pond, Carriboo ; afterward moved to Upper Settlement,
East River; father of Alexander Grant, miller, and Robert Grant, Elder;
grandfather of Dr. W. R. Grant, Professor of Anatomy in Pennsylvania
Medical College. One daughter married to John Sutherland, Sutherlands
River ; another to McNeil, who removed into Antigonish County, and another
to Fraser. Tho eldest son remained in the old country, and it is believed
afterward emigrated to the United States. The supposition of the family is
that he was the ancestor of President Grant.
Donaxd Muneoe, went to Halifax, where he married, and had one son,
Henry. Afterward settled at West Branch, East River, where he died, and
was the first buried there. His descendants numerous in that neighborhood.
Donald Mc  . Name illegible, and history unknown.
FROM LOCH BROOM.
John Ross, agent. History unknown.
Alex. Cameeon and Family. Was nearly eighteen years of age at the time
of the rising in 1745. There was some badge, which the Highlanders were
allowed to wear on their bonnets, on arriving at that age, as a sign of man
hood. His brothers followed the Prince, but he being only seventeen years of
age, was required to remain at home, where he was employed in herding. But
drawn by the crowd who followed tbe Highland army to Culloden, he left his
charge to accompany them. When he returned, his master being very angry,
" went for him" to chastise him. He ran and his master pursued. The latter
finding him too nimble, stooped down to pick up a stone to throw at him,
and in doing so wounded himself with his dirk in the leg, so that he was
obliged to remain for some time in hiding, lest he should be taken as having
been at Culloden, by the soldiers who were scouring the country, killing any
wounded stragglers from the field. Cameron settled at Loch Broom, to
which he gave the name of his native parish. Ho died on the 15th August,
1831, when he must have been at least 103 years of age. He had two children
in the "Hector"—!, Alexander, long an elder in, the church, aud 2, Christiana,
afterward married to Alex. McKay, Now Glasgow, and several children born
after arrival.
Alex. Ross and Family. Ho and his wife advanced in life at arrival.
Parents of the next.
Alex. Ross and Family. Settled at Middle River, at what has since been
known as Olivers farm. Died when only 35 years of age, the youngest of any

455
•ofthe band. Believe the following his children : 1, Donald, who occupied his
father's farm, but afterward moved to Ohio ; 2, Alexander, who settled at
Middle River Point ; 3, a daughter married to Archibald Chisholm, East
River, and another married to Blair, East River-.
Colin McKenzie and Family. Settled on East River, about a mile above
New Glasgow od the farm immediately above John McLellans. Said to have
lived to 104. Had one child on board, Duncan, who died in 18"71, in his 100th
.year, the last survivor of the band.
John Muneoe and Family. History unknown.
Kenneth MoRitchie and Family. Probably the same whose name appears
In early lists as Kenneth McClutcheon, but know not what became of him.
William McKenzie, an intelligent man, who had enjoyed a better education
than the rest, and who had been engaged as schoolmaster for the party, as
they expected to settle together. He settled at Loch Broom, where some of
his descendants still are.
John MoGeegoe. History unknown.
John McLellan. Settled above New Glasgow, at the mouth of McLellans
Brook, and gave his name to that stream and MsLellans Mount. Properly
the name however was McLennan, the two being quite distinct in Gaelic.
William McLellan. Relative of the last, settled at West River, where some
•of his descendants still are.
Alexandee McLean. Settled at East River, above Irishtown. One son
settled on McLennans Mountain, where his descendants still are.
Alexandee Falconer. Settled near Hopewell.
Donald McKay, afterward the Elder, brother of Roderick. Settled at the
East River, just above the Mines. His house on the same site as that now
occupied by his grandson, Duncan. Another brother, Hugh, came afterward,
but died without a family.
Aechibald Chkholm. Believed to be the same person who settled- at East
River, after having served in the 84th Regiment.
Ghaeles Matheson. History unknown.
Robert Sim. After residing for some time in Pictou, removed to New
Brunswick. Never married.
Alexander McKenzie. History unknown.
Thomas Feaser. History unknown. ,
from sutheelandshiee.
Kenneth Feasee and Family. First settled at Londonderry, but afterward
¦moved to Pictou, where he settled on Middle River, above the bridge at
Squire McLeod's. His descendants numerous on Green Hill, Mill Brook,
Rogers Hill, &-c.
William Feasee and Family. History unknown.

456
James Muebay and Family. Removed to Londonderry, where his descend
ants still arc.
Waiter Mureay and Family. Settled in Merigomish, where a number of
his descendants still are.
David Urquhart and Family. Settled at Londonderry. One daughter,
the late Mrs. Thomas Davidson, afterward resided in Pictou.
James McLeod and Family. Settled at Middle River on the farm which
has descended to his relative, George McLeod, Esq , he having no children or
his own.
Hugh McLeod and Family. His wife died as the vessel arrived. Had
three daughters on board, one of whom married in Cornwallis ; another after
ward Mrs. Donald Ross, and the third afterward Mrs. Shiels. Settled on West
River. Married the widow of Alexander McLeod, by whom he had one son,
David, long a highly esteemed Elder there.
Alexander McLeod and Family. - Was drowned in the Shubenacadie.
Had three sons on board ; one died in the harbour after the vessel's arrival f
another died unmarried ; the third, the late Donald McLeod, settled at West-
River, on a form still occupied by his descendants.
John McKay and Family. Settled at Shubenacadie.
Philip MoLeod and Family. Uncertain.
Donald McKenzie and Family. I believe settled at Shubenacadie. ,
Alex. McKenzie and Family. History unknown.
John Sutherland and Family. History unknown.
William Matheson and Family. First settled at London-terry, but after
Dr. McGregor came to Pictou, removed and settled at Rogers Hill, where John
T. Matheson now resides. The eldest son, John, afterward the elder at
Rogers Hill, was three years of age when they landed. His second, born after
arrival, the late William Matheson, Esq.
Donald Grant. History unknown.
Donald Graham. History unknown.
John McKay, piper. History unknown.
William McKay. Went to work with McCabe, one of the old settlers, and"
thence got the name of McCabe, by which his descendants are still dis
tinguished. Was drowned in the East River by falling from a canoe.
John Sutherland. Removed to Windsor, where he married. Returning
settled at the mouth of Sutherlands river, which derived its name from him.
Angus MoKenzih. Then only sixteen years of age. Removed to Windsor,
where he married. Returning to Pictou some years after, he settled first at
the Beaches on the farm afterward owned by the Lowdens, and afterward oa_
Green Hill, where some of his descendants still are.

457 D.

LIST OP DUMFRIES SETTLERS, WITH PLACES -OF
SETTLEMENT. ON WEST EIVER.
Chaeles Blaieie. Settled on east side of the river, opposite Durham, oa
the farm now belonging to David Matheson.
David Stewart. Settled farther up on same side, where his descendants
still reside.
Anthony McLellan. Settled on -west side of the river, just at Durham.
William Claek. Settled above him on same side of the river, where his
descendants still reside.
Joseph Richard. On same side of the river, below the Ten Mile House
where his descendants still are.
John McLean. Settled where his son, the late John McLean, Elder, lived •
was one of, the first Elders ordained by Dr. McGregor; the Rev. John
McLean, of Richibucto, his grandson, and John S. McLean, of Halifax, his
great grandson.
William Smith. Father of late Anthony. Smith, Esq. ; settled near the Ten.
Mile House. ON MIDDLE EIVER.
Robert Maeshall. Afterward the Elder. His house stood close by the
bridge crossing McCullochs Brook, close by the road leading to Middle;
River. John Crockett. Settled where his grandson, W. P: Crockett, now lives.
Robert Brydone. Settled farther up the river.
John Smith. Had come out to Prince Edward Island as agent for some of
the proprietors, earlier than the other settlers. He settled on the property
since owned by Thomas Horn ; was drowned, it is said, with a daughter, Mrs.
McCulloeh, and her child, which they were taking to Pictou to have baptized,
and another woman. ON EAST EIVER.
Thomas Turnbull. Settled on McLennans Brook.
Anthony Culton. Settled above the Mines.
Besides these, we have already mentioned Wellwood Waugh^ with whom
came a half-brother, William Campbell, then a young man, who settled ©a
the farm above him, a little below the town.
All-these have left numerous descendants in various places.

458 E.
" A ROLL OP THE INHABITANTS OP PICTOU OR TINMOUTH
CAPABLE TO BEAR ARMS.
" James Grant, William Campbell, Robert Jones,* Wm. McCracken, George
McConnell, John Patterson, sen., James Patterson, David Patterson, John
Patterson, jr., John Rogers, sen., James Rogers, John Rogers, jr., IDavid Rogers,
James McCabe, John McCabe, Anthony McLellan, James McLellan, Ed. McLean,
Joseph Ritchie, William Clark, John McLean, Wm. Smith, David Stuart, John
McKenzie, Hugh Fraser, Wm. McLellan, James McDonald, Charles Blaikie,
John Blaikie, James Watson, Alex. Cameron, Colin Douglass, Don. McDonald,
Robt. Breading (Bryden), John Breading, Alex. Ross, sr., Alex. Ross, jr., James
McCulloeh, Robt. Marshall, John Marshall, John Crockett, John Crockett, jr.,
Alex. Fraser, Alex. Fraser, jr., Simon Fraser, Colin McKay, Rod. McKay, jr.,
James McKay, Donald McKay, Donald McKay, jr., Donald Cameron, Anthony
Culton, John Culton, Colin McKenzie, Alex. McLean, John Sutherland, Thos.
Turnbull, John McLellan, Wm. McLeod, Hugh Fraser, sr., James Fraser,
Esaias Horton, StoatlwHorton, Morton (Walter) Murray; George Morrison,
Barnabas McGee. V^W^ SVi-W^
" The above is a true list, given -under my hand at Halifax, 12 February,
1.7Bg^ A SVtf*.WKfr Robt. Patterson, Captain."
^v The above begins at Carriboo, and passes up the harbour, and round the
three rivers to Merigomish.

F.
LIST OP GRANTEES OP THE 82ND REGIMENT.
Col. Alex. Robertson. Obtained the big island of Merigomish as his share,
hence sometimes known as Robertson's Island. Never lived on it himself,
but some relatives of the name settled upon it. Employed an agent, who
built a large house on it, which he called S truan House. At his death, his
property in this county descended to his nephew, Oliphant, of Gask.
Capt. John Frasee. Lived at Frasers Point, appointed a magistrate
October 15th, 1784. His wife and two sons followed him from Scotland, one
of the latter, John, being afterword known as Collector Fraser, the other, Simon,
* This was a Welshman, who had served both at the capture of Fort Beau
Sejour and Quebec, and lived about a mile below the town. He died un
married.

459
called also Major, and sometimes Colonel Fraser, afterward employed in
bringing out passengers.
Alex. McDonald. Unknown.
Colin McDonald. I believe the same that known as Cole McDonald, who
lived on the Big Island, near what is still known as Coles Brook.
Donnet Fenucane. His land located to the west of Frasers Point but his
history unknown.
These three received each 500 acres.
John McNeil. Received 300 acres, but history unknown.
non-commissioned officers eeceiving EACH 200 ACRES.
Chaeles Aebuckles. A native of Falkirk, moved afterward to the Ponds.
Married to a daughter of B. McGee. His descendants numerous.
David Ballantyne. Removed to Cape George, where his descendants are
numerous. George Brown. Settled on Frasers Mountain.
John Brownfield. A native of Derry, in Ireland, and a Presbyterian, died near
French River, where his descendants still are.
James Carmichael. A native of Perthshire. His descendants well known.
Robert Dunn. A native of Glasgow, settled on the property now owned and
occupied by his sons.
John Feasee. A Highlander from Inverness. One of 18 who survived out of
a detachment of 111 men, employed in the Southern States during the war,
the rest having been cut off by fever. He lived at Fishers Grant, where ho
was one of the first elders of Pictou congregation. Afterward removed to
French River, where his descendants still are.
Deffey Gillies. Believe the same as James Gillies, who lived where R. S.
Copeland now resides, afterward removed to Big Island, where his descendants
still are.
James Peacock. Lived near Chance Harbour, but do not know what became
of him.
John Robson. From being able "to bleed, and his skill otherwise, he was
usually known as Dr. Robson. His descendants still there.
Chaeles Robinson, properly Robertson Was a son ofthe proprietor ofthe
estate of Lude, at the foot of the Grampians. Was a student attending
college when he enlisted. One daughter, married to Robert Patterson
(Black.) John Scott. Sold out to John Fraser, 1 785.
Robert Smith. His lot where the Merigomish church now stands. His
descendauts still there.
David Simpson. Had been a student at college, but he and some others
.having indulged in " a spree," some eighteen of them found themselves in

460
the morning with the King's shilling in their pockets. Their professors
endeavored to obtain their discharge, but without success. From his educa
tion, he obtained some office in the regiment. His lot, on which his
descendants still live, the farthest up in Merigomish, in the grant. He was
afterward employed as a schoolmaster in several parts of the county.
Robert Stewaet. Usually known as Smashem, from this being a favorite
expression in describing battle scenes. He acted as agent for Col. Robertson,
and lived on the Big Island, at a point which has since received the name oi
Smashems Head.
Robert Miller, Gerrard Cullen, heirs of John Eves, John Fowler, John Foot,
Thomas Loggan, Archibald Long, John Morton, Alexander McKinnon, John
McNeil, Jun., George Oswald, James Robertson, Alexander Stewart, James
Struthers, William McVie, William West, Archibald Wilson. History
unknown. EEOEIVING 150 ACRES EACH.
John Baillie. A native of Sutherlandshire; afterward took up land at the
mouth of Baillies Brook, which received its name from him.
Aechibald Cameron. History unknown.
privates receiving 100 acees each.
Andeew Andeeson. A native of East Lothian, and the first "settler on
Andersons Mountain. Died 3rd August, 1845.
John Bradaw (properly Brady). Sold out.
David Boggey. Died at Fishers Grant, leaving no family.
Duncan Chisholm. Removed to Baillies Brook, where his descendants Still
are. William Campin or Campden. Sold out and removed to Truro.
John Colly. Suppose the same who afterward settled on Middle River,
where his descendants still are. A native of Elgin.
James Dansey or Dempsey. An Irishman ; settled at French River Bridge.
His descendants still there.
British Freedom. Strange as this name is, there is in the Registrar's office
in Pictou a deed from him of his lot, under this inspiring name. Hence I
presume that he moved away.
Hardin Ferdinand. A very stout, well-made Irishman, who afterward
enlisted in Governor Wentworth's Regiment.
Thomas Flemming or Fleeman. Sold out and removed away.
Robert Ferret, properly Gerrard. An Irishman; afterward removed to
Rogers Hill.
Alexander Gordon. " Died at Fishers Grant on the 18th inst, after an
illness of eight days, which he bore with resignation to the divine will, for
which ho has always been exemplary, Mr. Alexander Gordon, aged 80 years,

461
leaving a circle of relatives and friends to mourn their loss. He was of the
old 82nd Regiment, and one of the earliest settlers in the district of Pictou."—
Dee, August 31st, 1836.
John Ives. A native of Nottingham, England, but marrisd in the North oi
Ireland. Died in Halifax, and his children, the eldest, the late George Ives,
Elder, then 12 years of age, came to take possession of their lot at Fishers
Grant. His descendants well known.
William Kirk. Afterwards removed to St. Marys, where his descendants
are numerous. A grandson in the Dominion Legislature.
Andeew Muirhead.. A Lowland Scotchman ; first settled at the Ponds.
His descendants at Little Harbour and other places.
Hugh McCarthy. A tailor. Sold out and removed to Truro.
John McDougall. Blacksmith in the Regiment. Lived at Fishers Grant.
The ferrymen, Donald and William, his sons.
Angus McQueen. -A native of the Isle of Skye ; settled at Little Harbour ;
a number of his descendants still in that neighbourhood. Donald McDonald
(Lochaber), Donald McDonald (Bann), Angus McDonald. These four the
first settlers in Little Harbour.
Charles McKinnon. From the Isle of Barra. Moved to Baillies Brook
where his descendants still are.
John McNeil, Donald McNeil, Murdoch McNeil, Matthew McNeil, John
McNeil, Jun. Isle of Barra men, most of whom removed to Antigonish
County. John and James McPherson. Settled at Fishers Grant ; John dead in 1785.
James at his death described as a native of Badenoch. Their descendants
still there.
William Robinson. A Scotchman. His descendants settled there.
William Sharp. Died at the Beaches.
William Symptom. Married to Ives' widow, lived at lower part of Fishers
Grant. John Small. Afterward the Elder, belonged to the Grenadier company.
One of the 18 saved from the wreck of the Transport. For some time in
an American prison, but with fifteen others made his escape ; and passing
through the American lines reached a British man-of-war. But afterward
drowned near his own house, at apart of the harbour of which it was said that
he knew every foot as well as his own farm.
James Teuestate, properly Truesdale. Sold out and removed to Truro.
James Arthur, Wm. Adams, William Bilboa, William Branon, Michael
Branon, George Brown, Charles Brown, John Brown, Archibald Cameron,
Robt. Olawson, Finlay Campbell, Donald Campbell, sr., Donald Campbell, jr.,
Alex. Campbell, Matthew Campbell, John Chisholm, Archibald Cochrane,
Thomas Connelly, Robt. Dewar, John Dickson, Alex. Dickson, Dennis Dirk-

462
ham, Lawrence Donnachie, Charts Dunce, Francis Gobbiel, Angus McDonald
2nd, Angus McDonald 3rd, Peter McDonald, John McDonald, Roderick
McDonald, William Gowe, Peter Gowe, Richard Griffin, James Gibes, Robert
Gardner, Patrick Hayne, or Kane, Archibald Henderson, Wm. Hodges, John
Holmes, Patrick Hunt, John Ives, Wm. Jack, Alex. King, Alex. Kennedy, John
Little, John Lunn, Wm. Lamplash, Peter Lamplash, Thomas Matheson, John
Munro, Hugh Miller, John Muir, John Morton, Samuel McBawe, Neil
McCallum, John MoCladcly, Bryan McDermaid, Archibald McGavy, John
McGillivray, Alex. McKenzie, Robert McKenzie, Alexander McLean, Ewan
McLean, Alexander McLean, Samuel McLean, John McLeod, Kenneth
McLeod, John Patterson, William Riddle, Robert Reid, Thomas Ryan, George
Robertson, Alex. Shaw, Charles Stewart, David Skervine, John Sovereign,
Patrick Skey, James Struthers, John Scott, Johu Stevenson, Matthew Talbot,
Thomas Townsend, Robt. Thyne, Wm. Wood, Thomas Wood, John Wright,
Robt. Wan-en. Unknown.
We find also in the County Records, the names of the following as soldiers
ofthe 82nd, whose names are not in the grant, viz. : John Mcllvain, Robert
Irvin, Wm. McKay, John McGarvie, Wm. Hogan, George Osborne, Thomas
Crowe, as selling out their lots. There were others also who occupied theirs,.
such as Owen McEwan, or McKowan, a native of the County of Down, whose
descendants are numerous.

LIST OP GRANTEES OF 84TH REGIMENT ON EAST
BRANCH.
ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE EIVER.
Donald Cameron. 150 acres. With his brothers, Finlay and Samuel, after
ward mentioned, were natives of the parish of Urquhart. Served 8 years and
4 months. His son, Duncan, long the elder, was a drummer boy in the
regiment, having served two years, and being fifteen years of age at his
discharge. Alex. Cameron. 100.
Robt. Clark. 100.
Finlay Cameron. 400. Enlisted in Canada with the view of joining' his
friends in Nova Scotia. Returned thither to bring his family at the peace.
Was drowned shortly after his arrival, along with John Chisholm at the
Narrows. Samuel Cameron, jr. 100 acres.

463
James Fraser (Big). 350 acres. A native of Strathglass. Settled where-
his grandson Donald, lives, a little below St. Pauls.
Peter Geant. The first elder in this settlement.
James McDonald. Long the Elder ; said to have been the strongest maa
in the Regiment. Removed to the London district of Ontario. Hon. James
McDonald his grandson.
Hugh McDonjSlld. 100. ON THE WEST SIDE.
James Feasee, 2nd. Usually known as Culloden ; 100 acres ; farfhest-up
settler on that side. His descendants there still. Rev. James W. Fraser
descended from him.
Duncan McDonald. 100 acres.
John McDonald. 250 acres ; brother of James.
Samuel Cameron. 303 acres ; brother of Donald and Finlay, already-
mentioned. John Chisholm, Sen. 300 . A Roman Catholic from Strathglass ; drowned
with F. Cameron, as mentioned ; father of Mrs. John McKenzie, Sen., West
River. John Chisholm, Jun. 200 acres. Son of the last.
John McDonald, 2nd. 250 acres.

H.
LIST OF GRANTEES AT WEST BRANCH AND OTHER PLACES
ON THE EAST RIVER, 18TH DECEMBER, 1797.
William Fraser. 350 acres. From Inverness, land situate at Big Brook,
now owned by his grandchildren.
John MoKays 300.
John Robertson. 450. At Churchville.
Wm. Robertson. 200. Son of the last, also near Churchville.
John Frasee. 300. From Inverness, Springville, now occupied by Holmea
and others.
Thos. Fraser. 200. From Inverness. An elder and noted for piety. His
lot was at the head of the West Branch.
Thos. McKenzie. 100. Settled near Fish Pools,

464
David McLean. 500. A sergeant in the army, or as some say a petty
officer in the navy. Was captured by the Spaniards, and afterward exchanged
as a prisoner. He was a better scholar than usually found among the settlers,
was a surveyor, a magistrate, an elder in the church, and a leading man in
that section of the county.
Alex. Cameron. 300.
Hector McLean. 400. From Inverness. Land still occupied by his
¦descendants. John Forbes. 400. From Inverness. Land on East Branch River.
Alex. McLean. 500. Brother of Hector. Land opposite Stellarton, part
of it still occupied by his descendants.
Thos. Fraser, jr. 100.
Jas. McLellan. 500. From Inverness. Land above the Fish Pools, on the
opposite side or the river, occupied by his descendants.
Donald Chisholm. 350. From Strathglass, originally a Catholic, but
became a Presbyterian. St. Columbas church built on part of his farm.

Robt. Dunbar. 450
Alex. Dunbar. 200'
Wm. Dunbar. 300

Three brothers from Inverness. All we believe
in the 84th. Their land still occupied by their
descendants.
James Cameron. 300. Of the 84th. Land still occupied by his de
scendants. John McDougall. 250. In the Registrar's book, " J. M. Douglass."
John Chisholm. 300.
Donald Chisholm, jun. 400. From Inverness. Land occupied by his
grandsons. Robert Clark. 150. Of the 84th, but moved "away. Land now occupied
toy Mr. Thomas Fraser.
Donald Shaw. 300. From Inverness. Land occupied by his grandsons.
Alexander McIntosh. 500. From Inverness. His land now partly
occupied by Hopewell Village.
John McLellan. 100. From Inverness. Land occupied by D. H. McLean
and James Fraser.
Tho most of those marked as from Inverness were from the parish of
Urquhart, in that county, and served in the 84th. In the record of the grant,
dated 1st April, 1793, there are the additional names of Colin Robinson,
William Robinson, William McKenzie, William Robertson, heirs of John
-Forbes, Hugh Dunoon, and Thomas Fraser, but Hector McLean's is omitted.

465

LIST OF HIGHLAND EMIGRANTS BY HALrFAX IN 1784.
Thomas Fraser; A native of Kirkhill Parish. Settled nearly opposite
New Glasgow, where he was known as Deacon Thomas, and his descendants
are still so distinguished.
William Fraser (Ogg). -Settled just above him.
 Feasee. Usually known as " basin."
Alexander McKay. A brother of Roderick and Donald, already mentioned
as passengers in tho Hector. Had served in the Fraser Highlanders at the
capture of Louisburg-and Quebec. Near the latter place received a ball , in
his leg, which he carried till his death. Was a very powerful man. Lived
ti be 97 years of age, and almost to the last, a reference to tho campaign at
Quebec would stir up his blood. Settled near Fish Pools, where his son lately
resided. Thomas McKenzie. Settled near Fish Pools, where Thomas Grant now
resides. Alexander Fraser or McAndrew. From the parish of Kilmorack. Settled
at McLellans Brook, but did not live long.
Simon Fraser. Also an Elder. Settled on McLellans Brook, where his
son, William, filled the same office for fifty years.
John Robertson. A brother-in-law of Roderick and Donald McKay.
The first settler at Churchville. His first clearing was made where John
Robertson, miller, now resides.
There was also a family of Frasers, who came, we believe, with this band.
The father died, the widow married William Dunbar, and the only son
moved into Antigonish County.

LIST OF MINISTERS FROM PICTOU COUNTY
presbyterian.

 -. „ ) Murray
Bayne, E. S  $ Harbor, P.E.I,
Blaikie, Alex., D. D... Boston.
Cameron, John  Elmsdale, N. S.
" John  Dunoon. Sootla'd.
" D. W  .Ontario.
J.G  Souris, P. E. I.
30

presbyterian — (continued.)
Cameron, Alex  Riverside, N.S.
" Robert J  Scotland.
" Alex. H  Heckston, Ont.
Campbell, John.- . '.  Sherbrooke, N.S.
" John  Scotland.
" D. K  United States.
Camming, Thomas  Stellarton, N.S,

466

presbyterian. — Continued.
Cumming, Robert  Glenelg, N. S.
Dunbar, Hugh  \ London^.E.I
Falconer, Alex  Trinidad.
Forrest, John  Halifax, N. S.
Fraser, Wm. . . <  Bondhead, Ont.
" Simon  United States.
" J. W  Rogers Hill, N.S.
Geddic, John, D.D  Ui^Ses.
Gordon, D. M  Ottawa.
" John.;  Paisley, Ont.
Grant, George M  Hal'fax, N. S.
" Charles M  Glasgow.
» Tr„„„„ti, t ) Missionary to
Iienneth'J  i Trinidad
'¦ Ed  StewiacKe, N.S.
" Wm  Earltown, N. S.
Gunn, Adam  Kennetcook, N.S,
" S. C  St. Peters, P.E.I.
Livingston, John.'  Dundee, Ont-
Matheson.J.W  j^SSd?..
Melville. Peter  Kincardine N B.
Millar, E. D  Shelburne, N. S.
Morton, John  } SnTdTd.
Murdoch, John L  Windsor, N. S.
Murray, Isaac, D. D  Cavendish, PEP
" James A  London, Ont.
" JamesD  N. South Wales.
" John D  Buctouche, N.B.
" John  Sydney, C.B.
"   British Columbia
MoBean, Alex  Halifax, N. S.
McCulloeh, Wm.,D. D.. Truro, N. S.
McDonald, P. R...  Scotland.
D  Nottawasaga, On.
McGillivray, Angus  Springville, N.S.
J.D  Newport, N.S.
Daniel  Brookville.
McGregor, P. G., D. D. -Halifax, N. S.
,, Simon  British Columbia
McKenzie, Alex  Goderich, Ont.
Kenneth  Baddeck, C. B.
" j. flr j Missionary to
"' i New Hebrides.
McKay, H. B  River John, N.S.
" J. McG  Economy, N. S.
" Alex  Eldon, Ont
" A. W  Streetsville, Ont.
' ' Kenneth  Richmond, N. B.
McLean, John  Richibucto, N.B.
" Alex  Belfast, P.E.I.

presbyterian. — Continued.
' ' James  Londonderry, NS
" John D  Miss'y to Japan.
McLeod, John M  \ Charlottetown,
McMillan, Wm  East River.
" John  Truro.
McQuarrie, Hector  Wingham, Ont.
" A.N  Quebec.
McRae, Donald  St.Join, N.B.
Patterson, R. S  Bedociue, P.E.I."
George, D.D. -Green Hill, N. S.
" Isaac  United States.
Richard, James  Westport, N. S.
Robertson, Hugh A  !/«&
Roddick, George  West River, N.S.
Ross, Hugh  Tatamagouche.
" James, D.D  Halifax.
'¦ Ebenezer  Londonderry, NS
" Walter  Beckwith, Ont.
" Donald  Lancaster, Ont.
" William  | Prince William
Simpson, Isaac  | Musjjuodoboit,
Sutherland, Alex  Longwood, Ont.
Wm  Strathburn, Ont.
George  N. South Wales.
J.A.P  St. Croix, N- S.
'¦ John M  Pugwash.

congregationalists.

Hallid)y,
McLeod, -

baptist .

.United States.
• UnitedStates-

Beattie, Francis  New Brunswick.
Clark, John  United States.
Campbell,   " "
Gunn,   " "
Shaw,   P. E. Island-

WESLEYAN METHODIST.

Burns, J.

Wilkins, L. M.

ROMAN CATHOLIC.

McGregor, D. M  Merigomish.
MoKirmon, Donald  Cape Breton.
Some of theso were not born in Pictou, though brought up here ; but there
might be added others, as Revs. A. G. Forbes and J. D. Forbes, born in this
County, though brought up elsewhere.

467
• K.
£IST OF MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE FROM PICTOU COUNTY.
MEMBERS OF NOVA SCOTIA HOUSE OP ASSEMBLY.
1840 to 1843. County : John Holmes and Henry Blackadar.
Township : Henry Hatton.
1843 to 1847. County: John Holmes and George R. Young.
Township: George Smith, elected in 1843, but unseated in
1844, when Henry Blackadar elected for remainder of
term.
1847 to 1851. County : George R. Young and Andrew Robertson.
Township : Henry Blackadar.
1S51 to 1855.. County: John Holmes and Robert Murray.
Township : Martin I. Wilkins.
1855 to 1859. "" County: George McKenzie and A. C. McDonald.
Township : Martin I. Wilkins.
1859, to 1863. Pastern District: George McKenzie and A. C. McDonald.
Western do : A. C. McDonald and R. P. Grant.
1863 to 1867. Eastern District : James McDonald and James Fraser.
Western do: Alexander McKay and Donald Fraser.
MEMBERS OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
Hons. George Smith, David Crichton, and John Holmes.
UNDER CONFEDERATION.
MEMBERS OP HOUSE OP COMMONS
1867" to 1872. James W. Carmichael.
1872 to 1873. Robert Doull and James McDonald.
1873. James W. Carmichael and John A. Dawson.

¦1767 to 1876. Hon. John Holmes.
1877. Hon. R. P. Grant. HOUSE OP ASSEMBLY.
1867 to 1871. Dr. George Murray, R. S. Copeland, and M. I. Wilkins.
1871. Simon H. Holmes, Alexander McKay, and Hugh J. Cameron.
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
1867. Hon. James Fraser.

I IsT 33 BZ.

PAGE.
Abenakis  34
Academy Pictou  322 et seq.
Acadia Coal Company  413 ei seq.
Agriculture   436
Agricultural, first Society  296
Albion Mines  412
Alline, Rev. H  113
American War, first  98
" Settlers  99
Archibald, S. G. AV  221
Artillery Company  . . . 261
Baillie, John  4C0
Baillies Brook  460
Ballast Pier  312
Baptists  446
Barneys River  108 283
Beaches  15
Bears  80
"Bee"  384
Bennet, Rov. James  113
Bible Society, first,  271
" Reorganized  312
Blanchard Settlement  231
Blanchard, Jotham, . . . 353 368 et seq.
Blue Mountain  284
Boundaries of County  9
Burke, Rev. Ed  268
Cameron, Alexander  454
" Donald  90
Campbell, John  413
" Donald, murder by. . . 299
Cape Jobn  237
Carmichael, James  274
Carriboo  11 239
Carr; Adam  398
Census, first, G7, later  442
Cheese Factories  439

PAGE,
Churches, first  '. 147
Churchville".  123
Clearing Land  223
Coal  198 399 423
Coast  -14
Cochrane Grant  153 240
Cock, Rev. Daniel  110 112
"Colonial Standard"  385
Copelands  158
Council of ill.  332 371
Court, Inferior  215
" Suprpme  216
Court House  216
Crerar, Peter  406
Crichton, David  363
CroWn Brick Coal & Pottery Co. . 420
Dalhousie, Earl of  253 331
Dalhousie Mountain  275
"Davidson, James  69
" Thomas  256
Dawson, John  160 256
" James  309
" Robert  . . . . 309
Denys, M., description by . ;  24
DesBarres, Col. J. F. W  53 128
Dumfries Immigrants. ... 94 160
231 276 457
Dunoon, Hugh  159 225
Earltown  277
East Branch East River  121
163 231 460
" Eastern Chronicle "  385
Eden, Garden of  284
Eighty-second Regiment... 115 456
" Grant  115
Eighty-fourth Regiment... 119 460
Eight Mile Brook  123

469

Elders, fi'-st  133
Election of 1799  193
" 1830  ,  380
Elliott, Rev. Charles  445
England, Church of  444
Emigration, how conducted ... . 241
" Enterprise," brig  309
Fairbanks, C. R  333
Falls  17
Fanners, first  231
'< Favourite," -voyage of the  234
Fisher, John's Grant  50
Fisheries  305
Fitzpatrick, James  238
Flogging  204
Foord pit  410
Four Mile Brook  235
Fraser, Alexander  188 454
" David  262
" Rev. Donald A.. 317 343 362
<¦ James D. B  :.. 412
" John  '. 460
" (Collector)  217
Simon  178
" William (surveyor)  136
Free Stone   441
Free Church disruption  429
Free Port, Pictou made  365
French'.  24 38 42 43
Friends' Society of  449
Frost, year of  295
Gairloch settled  241
General Mining Association  400
Geology of county  18
Goderich, Lord,-despatch from. . 353
Grant, Peter.  157
Grants, first  49
Haliburton, T. C  338 351
Harris family  73 75
" ,Dr. John  , 73
" Matthew  74 100
Harris Thomas, Sr  74
" Thomas, Jr  57 216
Hatton, Henry  309

PAGE.
" Hector"  79 et aeq.
" passengers  81 else q. 450
Hines  303
Holmes, Hon. John  428
" Hope," brig  56 et seq.
Houquard, H  233
Howe, Hon. Joseph  376
Indians (See Micmacs)
Inglis, Bishop  337
Intercolonial Coal Company. . . , 415
Iron ores  425
Iron- Foundries  441
Jail erected  199
Kennedy, Wm  65
Knoydart  160
Lakes  1 7
Langills  132
Legislatures, members of  467
Library, subscription  312
Lighthouses  14 397
L. & S. Society  396
Lowden, Capt  102 168
Lowrey, Capt  309
Lulan  190
Lyon, Rev.James  76
McCabe, James  60 75
" John  178
McCara, A  238
McCulloeh, Dr. Thomas 266 321 et seq,
" Michael  330
McDonald, Rev. James  443
" " Alex.-.  443
"" Dougald murdered... 218
McFadyan, murder by  302
McGee, Bar  65 108
McGregor, Dr. James . . 134 et seq. 392
Mcintosh, murder by  218
McKay, Alex., sen  467
« « jun  286 290
John (Collier)   398
" Robert  309
" Roderick  85,103,451
» William  451

470

McKenzie, Captain George  431
" Rev. Kenneth J.. 319
343 355 362
McKinlay, Rev John  330 361
McLean, Hector  256
McLeod, Rev Norman  318
¦' " Hugh  320
McLennans Brook  228
" Mount  228
McNutt, Col  48
'McPhail, John  302
Mail Carrying  228 397
" Malignant "  106
Manufactures  440
Marshy Hope  284
Matheson, William  256
Merigomish  12 lt 8
Mice, in Prince Edward Island . . 94
" year of  293
Micmacs.. 26 etseq. 42 58 91 106
183 186 188 192
Mill Brook  225
Mills, James  237
Milne, William  , . 368
Militia""  261
Ministers  467
Mitchel], Rev. John  269
Mohawks  32
Montbiliards  126
Moose Hunting  177
Morrison, George  109
Mortimer, Edward  250 et seq-
" William  305
Mountains  17
Mount Thom settled  227
Murray, Walter  109
Name of Pictou  21
Natural History  19
New Annan  279
New Glasgow  274
New Lairg  236
Nova Scotia Coal Company  418
Oat Mill, first  .-.  296
" second  ;..f. 229

" Observer,"- Pictou  384
Olding, N. P  124
Pagan, John  79
" Robert  159
Patlass  189>
Patrick, Rev. William  271
Patterson, Abraham  304
" Governor  153
'' James and David  73
» John (deacon).. Ill 154
" John (second)  72
" John (third)  306
" Robert (squire) 56 70 99
110
" Robert (black)  307
" Walter  307
Peace, effects of  292
Petitpas, M  41
Philadelphia Company  52 et seq.
Pictou Island  13 18 281
Piedmont  283
Point Betty Island  27
Poor, Account for  167
Pounds  201
Presbytery of Pictou, first  171
Press Gangs  259
Privateers, American  105
Prothonotaries  217
Railroad, A Mines  406
« Halifax and Pictou.. 430
River John  12 130
Roads  61 202 205 210 264 392
Robertson, Col. Alex  115 460
Rogers, John  75-
Roman Catholic Immigration. . . 163
» Church  443
Ross, Rev. Duncan  171
" John  79
« Royal William "  394
Rum Drinking  247
Sabbath School, first  69
" Society for  311
Salmon Regulations  201 206
Saltsprings  .x.  27S

471

Captain  27
St. Marys  285
Sawmill, first  65
Seaview Cemetery  39 241
Sessions, Court of  201
Sheriffs  218
Ship Building  169 430
Shipping  431
Simpson, David  461
Six Mile Brook  235
Slavery  107 148
Smith, Hon. George  303
Stage Coach  391
Stellar Coal  413
" Stepsurcs" Letters  257 360
Steam Navigation .  394
Stewart, Alex. (Post)  227
Stocks  200, 207
Sutherland, John  124
Tatamagouche  133
Tattrie, George  127
Temperance Societies  386
Timber  92 98 244 366 436

Toney, Captain  42
Toney River  43 237
Tonge, W.Cottnam  193
Town, first laid off  fei
Town, present, commenced  1.4
Town Gut bridge  212
Township boundaries  10
Union of Presbyterians  315
Vale Colliery  ,  422
Wallace, Hon. M  195
Walmesley  1 ] 6
Waugh, W  94
Wentworth, Sir John. .. 51 124 161165
West Branch East River... 122 461
" River John  238
West India Trade  306
Westville  ¦  419
Williams, Richard  152
Witherspoon, Dr  79
Windsor College  324

POSTSCRIPT.
After the greater part ofthe foregoing work was printed, we received the
following statement, as made by the late James Patterson : —
"When the " Hector" arrived herein 1773, there were but nine huts in
the whole of the present county, viz., one at Howlets (a little above Norway
House), just new, occupied by Robert Patterson ; one at John Brown's farm,
occupied by Dr. Harris ; one at James Rae's, occupied by John Rogers ; one
at Saw Mill, occupied by Kennedy and Blaisdell ; one at Fraser's farm (now
Evans' ), by James McCabe ; one at Dunoon's farm, on the hill, by Mr. Earl ;
one at David Lowden's farm, by Mr. Watson ; one at West River, at Davidson's
farm, by Mr. Aitkin ; ono at West Kiver, at Beck's farm, by Barney McGee."
We are satisfied that this is imperfect, as Matthew Harris was certainly here
in 1773; ako Horton, and probably some others. Watson lived, and soon
after died, at West River, where Robert Stewart now lives, lt would seem
also that the place where we mentioned John Rogers as having located,
himself on Rogers Hill, was not where he first lived. We may have made a
mistake at page 102, in describing the seizure of Captain Lowden as having
taken place in the house of Mr. Waugh. The gentleman who gave us the
history, the late Robert McKay, Esq., and who. received it from Captain
Lowden himself, said that it took place in the house of the man who lived
on Dunoon's farm. Waugh, we knew, lived there, but Earl, who was a keen
American sympathiser, may have been still there, and it may have taken
place in his house.

BY THE SAME AUTHOR.

i.
Price $1.25.
Memoir of the Rev. James McGregor, D.D.,
First Missionary to Pictou, N.S.

II.
Price 75 cents.!
Remains of the Rev. James McGregor, D.D.,
Containing Essays, Letters, &c.

in.
[Price, $1.25.
Memoirs of the Rev. S. F. Johnston, the Rev.
J. IV. Matheson, and Mrs. Mary J.
Matheson,
Missionaries on Tanna, New Hebrides.
With Selections from their Diaries and Correspondence.

IV.
Price $1.
The Doctrine of the Trinity underlying the
Revelation of Redemption.

i

JAMES McLEAN,

¦J •

AND

Special attention paid to keeping on hand a full stock of
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STATIONERY, LEDG-ERS, BLANK BOOKS, &c, &c,
PHOTOGRAPH, )
AUTHOGRAPH, [ ^LLBTJI^S,
AND SCRAP)
POCKET BOOKS, PURSES, &c, &c.

Fairchild's Celebrated GOLD PENS & Pencil Cases.

SCHOOL .BOOKS
and School Material of every description constantly
kept on hand in large quantities.
LAW & SHIPPING- BLANKS, CHARTS, &c &c.
NEW, 'AND STANDAKD PUBLICATIONS
on hand in great variety.
IMPORTED TO ORDER.
Weekly parcels of Books, &c, received from the United
States ; fortnightly one from Britain.
TWO DOORS EAST FROM THE POST OFFICE,
WATER STREET, - - « PICTOU, N.S.

ISAAC Ac GRASfT

IMPORTER AND DEALER IN
:dzR/"st goods,
Opposite the Market,
WATER STREET, - PICTOU, N.S.

Alvays in Stock, the newest Styles in
DEESS GOODS, SHAWLS, MANTLES, GLOVES,
HOSIERY, SMALL WARES, LADIES' MOURNING GOODS,
CARPETS and HOUSE FURNISHING GOODS. *

GENTLEMEN'S OUTFITTINGS.
Also, in connection with the above,
First Class Fashionable Tailoring Department,
Under the superintendence of skilled workmen.
GrZENTILjIEIMIIEItT'S GARMENTS
MADE TO ORDER AT SHORT NOTICE,
From one of the
LARGEST AND BEST SELECTIONS OF CLOTHS
IN THE PROVINCE.

"mil, MAOLHL„«„,
MANUFACTURER AND IMPORTER OF

i oi |l|BBt }mi ani fin tyarsff.

ALWAYS ON HAND,
Or Imported to Order,
JStoyes} Ranges, and J^uhnaces,
OF LATEST IMPROVED
§oohitig, §arhnr, §fiice, §all, nnd ghip
STOVES.

Now Importing or Manufacturing:
DAIEY OUTFITS,
KITCHEN FURNISHINGS, OIL CANS, COAL HODS,
CONFECTIONERS' MOULDS,..
TXJSf-WABE AFB STOVE PIPE,.
Of best Native and Foreign Material.
TOILET WASI2©
In Bath Tubs, Foot Tubs, Pails, ic.

Highest Price paid for Wool and Wool Skins.
PEDDLERS SUPPLIED ON REASONABLE TERMS.

FRED. MACLENNAN,
Sign ofthe Stove, - - PICTOU, N.S.

!®9

1^1

NEW GLASGOW, N.S.

wt mm

IN

FLOUR, TEA, SUGAR,

SALT, OILS, &c, &c.

j9 w» nain

IMPORTER AND DEALER IN

ritieh, ®aaatlism; and J-mewcaw
DRY GOODS,
ALSO, .
FLOUR, &e.
«»• COUNTRY PRODUCE BOUGHT AND SOLD, ^jj
»a©¥#ST 8V&Si
NEW GLASGOW, N.S.

PLAIN AND FANCY

JOB PRINTER

OPPI CE

Ground Flat, Eastern Chronicle " Building,
COR. FORBES AND ARCHIMEDES STREETS,
NEW GLASGOW, N.S.

Particular attention paid to printing Pamphlets, Cards, Pro
grammes, Bill Heads, Cheques, Circulars, Blanks, Hand
Bills, Posters, Letter Heads, Law Forms, Notes op
Hand, Receipts, Visiting Cards, Tags, Dodgers, &c.

8®* Fine Printing' Done in Colors when required. °W&

•Having the best of material, patrons can rely on First Class Work. A stock..
of Magistrates' Summons on hand.
g@"Orders from a distance will receive prompt attention ,
r'11itfSw flilflli III
Has Unrivalled Facilities for Executing every description of
BOOK AND JOB
PEISTIKG.

INSURANCE, BANK, AND LEGAL FORMS.
Railroad, Steamboat and Show Work,
INVOICE, NOTE, AND LETTER HEADINGS.
Every other Description of Job Printing done at short notice, and at reasonable
Prices.

A NOVELTY
ed in Ink that will make
as well as written matter.
T. & R. WHITE, Montreal.

BLANK FORMS printed in Ink that will make a perfect Copy or
Form, as well as written matter.

mum
NEW GLASGOW, N.S.

ISSUED EVERY THURSDAY,
At $.150 Per Annum.
DANIEL LOGAN, Editor and Proprietor.

»@- HAS A LARGE AND GROWING CIRCULATION,
And consequently a First-Class Advertising Medium.
LLLLfil 
f| TERMS, STRICTLY IMADVANCEif
OFFICIs MMKWEZim' BUXUDXM,
CORNER FORBES AND ARCHIMEDES STREETS.
Is Published EVERY EVENING

(Sunday excepted),

1&<

OllSf 1

I1HI1

At 159 and 161 HOLLIS STREET, HALIFAX, N.S,
THB TKI-WEEKLY CITIZEN is published every Tuesday,
Thursday and Saturday.
THE WEEKLY CITIZEN is published every Saturday.

Daily  $5.00 per annum.
Tri-Weekly  2.50 " "
"Weekly  1.25 " "
STRICTLY IN ADVANCE,
As advertising mediums these journals are equal at least to any in Nova
"Scotia, and exeelled by none.
For particulars, address
eobbkt McConnell,
Box 9, Halifax, N.S.

ST. JOHN. N.B.
Is Published EVERY DAY (except Sunday), and delivered by
Carriers in the City, or sent by Mail, at
PIFTY CENTS A MONTH, OE SIX DOLLARS A "SEAR,
PAYABLE IN ADVANCE.

RECENTLY INCREASED IN SIZE,
And now Reduced in Price and Improved in Form — it now
being and eight-paged Paper, is published at
ONE DOLLAR A YEAR.
WILLIAM ELDER,
Editor and Publisher.
PRINCIPAL DAWSON'S WORKS.
THE DA WN OF LIFE : being the History
of the oldest known fossil remains, " Eozoon Canadense." —
Illustrated with Plates and Woodcuts. $2.00.
HANDBOOK OF ZOOLOGY, with exam-
pies from Canadian Species, recent and fossil. — 275 Illustra
tions. $1-25.
ACADIAN GEOLOGY; the Geological
Structure, Organic Remains, and Mineral Resources of Nova
, Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island ; with
Geological Maps and numerous Illustrations. $3.50.
THE ^ AIR BREATHERS OF THE
COAL PERIOD ; a description of the remains of Land Ani
mals found in the Coal Formations of Nova Scotia. $1.00.
REPORT ON THE GEOLOGY AND
MINERAL RESOURCES of Prince Edward Island. 75c.
DAWSON BROTHERS,
Booksellers and Publishers, MONTREAL.