Glimpses of the Past Part 28

[78] Mispeck Point on the east and Negro Head on the west.

Capt. Glasier's description of the interval lands in their virgin state, untouched by the white man's axe, is particularly interesting.

It serves to explain why these lands were not over-run by forest fires and were considered so desirable by the early settlers.

"The trees," he says, "are all extremely large and in general very tall and chiefly hard wood;[79] no Spruce, Pine, Firr, &c. Neither is there underwood of brush, you may drive a Cart and Oxen thro'

the trees. In short it looks like a Park as far as ever your eye can carry you. The pine trees fit for large masts are farther back and bordering on the small Rivers as I am told by the Indians.

These fellows are the most intelligent people I ever saw; near 400 live about 60 miles up the River, and seem to be well pleased at our coming here, I saw all their Chiefs at the Fort. The land on the N. E. side the River has been overflowed sometimes, but it goes off immediately and leaves such a manure as you may imagine--tho' it has not for several years past; the other side is higher, the lands not so good in general. When I said not so Good I would not be understood to mean that they are not good, for even those are as good as any I ever saw in America, with the same kind and quality of wood, but does not run back so far.

[79] A few giant elms of the primeval forest are yet to be found on the bank of the St. John. The author not long since examined the stump of a large elm that grew a few miles below the town of Woodstock. It was four feet in diameter and the number of concentric rings 325, so that it must have been a sapling in the days of Queen Elizabeth.

"I suppose we shall have the Proprietor's Town on the west side, tho' the New England People are all settled on the other side. The whole Country abounds with Game; there is likewise plenty of Moose weighing from 1000 to 1500 lbs. each, fatt and finer than beef, which you may kill every day. Wild fowl of all kinds, c.o.c.ks, snipes, and partridges are so plenty that the Gentlemen who was with me swore that it was no sport, as we could shoot 3 or 4 at a shot. An Indian made me a present of a pair of horns of a small Moose as he called them, for he a.s.sured me that some was twice as heavey. These measured 5 feet and 2 inches and weighed 33-1/2 lb., judge you the biggness of the owner.

"Upon the Interval land you have a long kind of Gra.s.s[80] which the Cattle in that country fatten themselves upon. I never in my life saw fatter beef than one I saw killed there, & the New England People vowed that the heiffers of the same breed that had a calf in Boston at 3 years old came in at 2 years at St. Johns, so much they improved in growth and Wantonness as they called it.

[80] This gra.s.s still grows naturally on the St. John River intervals, and is known to the farmers as "blue-joint."

"Their Hoggs and Sheep they keep on the Islands, which are overflowed generally when the River brakes up which is commonly about the middle of April. This overflowing leaves these Islands so rich that the Hoggs grow fatt by eating Ground nuts without any other food in summer (in our Grant we have some of these Islands) nor do they put up their Horses in the Winter, except those that work, tho' you may cut any quant.i.ty of Gra.s.s. Can I say more of the Soil, Trees, situation, &c.? Be a.s.sured it is all True."

"The fish is the next thing. This River abounds with all sorts of small fry, Trout, Salmon, Ba.s.s, Whitefish & Sturgeon. The Ba.s.s is ketcht in Wiers just under the Point below the Fort, so that good voyages may be made in that branch; all the expence is in making the Wiers, and as to Sturgeon they are more remarkably plenty than any place upon the Continent, and if there was persons that understood pickling them it would be a very profitable undertaking and fetches ready money in London."

The Glasier letters (which have just been printed in the Collections of the N. B. Hist. Society) show that before Beamsley Glasier left Montreal, as the accredited agent of the St. John's River Society, there had been a good deal of discussion about the location of the townships it was desired to procure and settle. It was ultimately decided that this matter should be left to the discretion of Captain Glasier after he had made a personal examination of certain localities and obtained reliable information respecting the ungranted lands in Nova Scotia. Glasier wrote from Halifax on the 15th December, 1764, to Captain Thos. Falconer and the Society's committee at Montreal, informing them of his selection of the valley of the River St. John as by all odds the most desirable situation. He says:

"When I compare this place to any other we ever thought of I am surprised it had not been fixed on before I came away. The island of St. Johns (or Prince Edward Island) is not good land, besides being so far to the northward it is too exposed if a war should happen, as is all up the Gut of Canso, Bay Challeurs, etc. Besides the whole of that part of the country, as well as all the coast to the head Cape Sable and up the Bay of Fundy, is bound with fog almost three months in the year. In this River you have none above the falls, nor have you Musquitos here in any sort of comparison to any other part of this country. Besides you are so near the settled parts of New England that you may sail with a good wind to Boston in 30 hours, or if you have a mind to coast along sh.o.r.e you may harbour every 4 or 5 Leagues all the way to Boston and that all winter. I think we are very happy not to settle on the Lake where we proposed, for if we had anything to send to market it would take more time and be a greater risk to get it out of the River St. Lawrence than to go from here to Europe."

On the 1st March following Capt. Glasier addressed a letter to John Fenton of Boston informing the members of the Society in that quarter of the success of his subsequent proceedings. He apologizes for the tardiness of his communication by saying, "I have put off writing, as the world puts off Repentence till the last moment." Glasier is very enthusiastic as to the outlook.

"The interval lands on the St. John," he says, "are wonderful, not a stone and black mold 6 feet deep, no underwood, large tall Trees all hardwood; you may drive a Coach through the Trees, we can cut what Gra.s.s we please and we may improve the land immediately; in short I can't describe it to you. * * * * I hope we shall be able to begin something this summer, there is the D--l and all of people applying for lands in this province. There is now settled 50 families just above us, all Yankys[81]; they are not very good Farmers you know but they raised fine grain last year."

[81] The reference is to the settlement made at Maugerville two or three years before, which at this time seems to have been called the Township of Peabody, in honor of Captain Francis Peabody.

In the choice of the St. John river valley as the best situation for the townships that were to be laid out and settled, Beamsley Glasier seems to have been guided very largely by the advice of Charles Morris, the surveyor general of Nova Scotia, and his son Charles Morris, junior. The younger Morris had a personal interest in the Society and Capt. Glasier writes of him:

"Mr. Morris's son is one of our Proprietors and is to go with me in April to survey the whole tract I have asked for. He is Deputy to his Father and very clever, as you'll have occasion to know hereafter. We propose setting out from Halifax about the beginning of April and take a survey of Port O'Bear[82] on our way to St.

Johns. I imagine the whole will take us a great deal of time as we shall go up all the small rivers. I have engaged a little schooner for the purpose. As places for our Mills and good Timber, oak as well as pine, is a great object, and as Mr. Morris is a Conesieur in the Goodness of Lands, if we don't fix upon convenient spots to answer all our purposes it will be our faults."

[82] Probably Port Le Bear (or Hebert) near Shelburne on the southern coast of Nova Scotia.

The task of surveying and exploring proved of greater magnitude than Glasier had antic.i.p.ated, and at the end of the summer the Surveyor General of Nova Scotia and his son had only been able to make a general sketch of the river and townships, not an accurate survey, and Glasier expressed the opinion that it would be a work of two years at least before the River would be thoroughly known. Just how much time was spent in the work of exploration and survey we do not know, but the younger Morris spent three months in the summer of 1766 surveying the townships of Gage and Sunbury, and in addition to this he says: "The Surveyor General and myself expended more than a Hundred Pounds Sterling of our own Money in surveying the River last year."

Captain Glasier was very desirous of obtaining the best lands on the river and he states frankly, in one of his letters, "what we want is the good lands only, or as small a quant.i.ty of the bad as is possible." He was not ready to make definite application for lands, therefore, until he had ascertained the whereabouts of all lakes, ponds, sunken and bad lands, etc., in order to avoid paying quit rents to the crown for that which was not improvable.

Meanwhile trouble was brewing at Halifax, and it was only by the good offices of Governor Wilmot, Charles Morris, sr., and other members of the Council that the St. John River Society was saved from disaster.

We get an idea of the threatened danger in a letter of Hon. Michael Francklin to Captain Glasier of July 22, 1765, in which great concern is expressed that Glasier had not yet made his choice of the lands he desired. "You cannot conceive how the Government is embarra.s.sed,"

writes Francklin, "by the daily applications that are made. We have no less than three agents from Pennsylvania who are put off on your account. * * * My dear Sir be thoroughly persuaded that no set of people will have the preference to your Gentlemen in anything that can be done for them, but pray do reflect and consider the Government here and our situation, how disagreeable it is to lock up a whole River, sufficient for fifty Townships, and people applying every day that we are obliged to put off until you are served. Consider what a risque the Government runs of losing a number of valuable settlers. I beg of you, on my own account and as one who has the welfare and prosperity of the Province at heart, that you will by some means or other make your choice as soon as possible and transmit it to the Governor."

Captain Glasier comments on this in a letter to Nathaniel Rogers of Boston. "Some of the Council are wanting to establish those companies belonging to Philadelphia who are waiting at Halifax, as you'll see by the inclosed letter from one of them to me. I see through the whole, the Governor[83] keeps them off till I return."

[83] Captain Glasier seems to have been on excellent terms with Gov'r Wilmot. On 1st March, 1755, he wrote to Capt. Fenton of Boston, "I have received great civility from all sorts of people here in Halifax. I have made your compliments to the Gov'r and he has desired his to you; poor D----l has had the Gout all winter, which seems to be the General Distemper in this place amongst people of Rank."

By the advice of Governor Wilmot the society filled up the number of their Proprietors to sixty and at once began to make preparations for the settlement of the lands promised, and which were granted in the month of October, 1765. Glasier advised the establishment of a magazine of stores at Fort Frederick, also the sending of horses, cattle, sheep, and swine, with any settlers they could procure, as soon as possible. He adds, "As young strong Fellows might be hired in Canada for 120 livres a year, 20 of them might be hired and sent here next spring; the Canada horses are much the best for this country * *

* The men you hire will be able to hew or cut timber for your houses, clear the land where you have the Town, provide a covering for the cattle, and cut hay, raise potatoes for your hogs--there is a Spanish potatoe in this country that yields so much that a boy of 12 years old will raise as many as will keep 20 hogs, they are made use of for that purpose throughout all New England. * * The Iron for Saw Mills I think should be bought in Canada as that Iron is so good. Any French that have taken the oath of allegiance may become your settlers."

An a.s.sessment of 30 was now ordered to be made on each member of the Society to meet necessary expenses. The Rev. Dr. Ogilvie of New York was chosen as Treasurer. Richard Barlow, late a sergeant in the 44th regiment, was appointed store keeper at St. John. Capt. Falconer, who sent him from Montreal, described him as "a steady man used to business of that nature, who proposes to be a settler, has a family and some money to enable him to begin tolerably well." Barlow was to receive 12 shillings N. Y. currency pr. week and "oneration of provisions," also 200 acres of land and a town lot. He was directed to proceed from Montreal to Boston and there take upon him the care of the tools, utensils, materials and stores of all kinds and embark with them for the River St. Johns in Nova Scotia.

A large a.s.sortment of materials, stores, tools and other articles were purchased by Nathaniel Rogers in Boston, including mill geer, carpenter's tools, farming implements, also three yoke of oxen and tackling necessary for drawing logs, etc. These were shipped to St.

John in the schooner "Lucy," James d.i.c.key, master, "consigned to Richard Barlow storekeeper at St. John's and pa.s.senger on board for the use of the St. John's society."

Capt. Glasier's expectation was that a majority of the settlers of the township might be expected from New England. He says, "There is a number of Families from N. England come this summer (1765) on a presumption that there was sufficient land to be had, as one Peabody and his a.s.sociates had settled themselves the same way about four years ago and had a great struggle to get their Grant this year after all their improvements. These people want to become our settlers, but it is not possible for me to settle them for I can't tell them, 'fix your selves on such a spott and it shall be yours;' no, the lands must be lay'd out in proper form, lots No. 1, 2, 3, &c., and drawn for. The people are waiting for my answer, as I have told them there will be lands for them when we can come into a proper method. They have all got stock and all materials to carry on farming and will want no help from us."

The difficulties experienced by Capt. Francis Peabody and his a.s.sociates in securing their lands at Maugerville have been referred to already--see page 154--but further light is thrown upon the matter in the appendix to this Chapter, in which will be found the memorial of the Maugerville people to the Lords of Trade and Plantations, together with a letter addressed to Joshua Mauger by Charles Morris and Henry Newton, who had been sent to the River St.

John by the Governor of Nova Scotia to investigate the situation.

An important meeting of the members of the St. John's River Society and their representatives was held at New York on the 3d of June, 1766, when it was decided that steps should be taken as soon as possible for dividing the lands belonging to the society; that a surveyor should be employed to lay out the town either at Grimross or some other place more convenient or proper for the purpose; that a grist and saw mill should be immediately built on "Nishwack creek"; that Captain Glasier should agree with proper persons to build the mills, lay out the town, survey the lots for division and take possession in due form of all grants (including the island called Perkins Island, in the Bay of Pa.s.samaquoddy) in,the name of the Society. It was further decided that as a sum of money was required for the expenses of surveying and dividing the lands into lots, building the mills, etc., that the second year's subscription money should be paid on or before the 24th of August.

Two sites were regarded with favor for the town, Grimross and St.

Ann's Point. Both places had been originally cleared and settled by the French. Glasier states in one of his letters: "At Grimross there is timber and lime, which the French had prepared to build a church; there is cleared land three miles in length, an old settlement where our Princ.i.p.al Town must be built, if we can't have St. Anns Point, which is the finest spot on the River for our purpose. There are many difficulties to surmount, which you will know hereafter; there is but one good stream on all the River fit to erect Mills upon, which I have got for us, and, between ourselves, have been obliged to pop them between two other grants (by the a.s.sistance of Mr. Morris). There is about 100 Families in the Township of Peabody, they have not one mill of any kind, nor can there be; they have been obliged to bring all from New England. These mills must be our first object; we shall be able to furnish our neighbors with Lumber as well as ourselves. I have arranged for the Timber and all other materials to be prepared and inclose you Mr. Simonds estimate of the cost. * * * Mr. Simonds is perfectly acquainted with the business of Saw-mills and knows every minivar [manoeuvre] belonging to them. I think we are lucky in having him on the spot to manage so material a part of our establishment.

These Mills properly managed will pay for themselves at least four times a year, besides we can't carry on our Settlement without them."

James Simonds' estimate of the cost of the mills will be found in the letter which follows. It was probably considerably under the mark for people are usually optimistic in such things:--

"Pa.s.samaquoddy, August 20th, 1765.

"Sir,--Agreeable to your desire I have made the nearest calculation I could of the cost of two mills and dam on Nashwog River, and am of opinion that two hundred pounds currency will complete them. The first cost is very great, which will be mostly for the dam, yet as the stream is sufficient for an addition of three or four mills on the same dam, it will be cheaper in the end than to build the same number of mills and a dam to each on small brooks that will be almost dry near half the year.

"I must advise you Sir to have your Iron work made of the best Iron, as breaches in any part of mills is of fatal consequence to the profit of them. I have sent the dimensions of the cranks, knowing it to be the practice in New England to make them so small as to r.e.t.a.r.d the business of sawing, besides frequently breaking--the breaking of one may be a greater damage than the cost of two. I have described them something large, but think you had better exceed the size than fall short of it.

"The best workmen will be the cheapest as the whole depends on the effectual laying the foundation of the dam, etc. I make no doubt but when the mills are completed they will saw at least 5 M boards pr. day.

"I am Sir, your most obedient servant,

"JAMES SIMONDS."

It may be noticed, in pa.s.sing, that Mr. Simonds writes from Pa.s.samaquoddy. The headquarters of the trade and fishery there was at Indian Island, or as it was sometimes called, Perkins Island. Mr.

Simonds and Wm. Hazen were members of the St. John's River Society and it would appear from Capt. Glasier's letter to Nathaniel Rogers of 10th Nov'r., 1765, that the Society had ambitious designs with regard to this locality. "Our Fishery at Pa.s.samaquoddy," writes Glasier, "is an object worth our attention; it is the best in the province. A Block-house will be built there next spring and I can get a party from the Fort sand some small cannon which will secure the Fishermen against any insult from the Indians. This spot is more valuable than you can imagine. I was promised by some of the princ.i.p.al Fishermen belonging to New Hampshire if I got a grant of this Island they would came to the number of 100 families with all their crafts, etc., and become our settlers at Saint Johns, and if we get Grand Manan[84] it will give us a chain of Harbours all the way to Mount Desert, which will be all we want."

[84] In another part of his letter Glasier says, "Capt. Falconer, who is on the spot, is desired to pet.i.tion the Lords of Trade for this Island." Capt. Falconer intended to have gone to the River St. John to a.s.sist in the management of affairs there, but this plan was upset by his being ordered with his regiment to Ireland.

The avidity manifested by the agent of the St. John's River Society in seeking favors at the hands of government would seems to countenance the idea, suggested in the preceding chapter of this history,[85] that when he memoralized the government of Nova Scotia for a grant of "the Point or Neck of land bearing three quarters of a mile from Fort Frederick, with 60 acres of land adjoining to it, for the making and curing Fish," he had in view the valuable peninsula on the east side of the harbor of St. John, on which the princ.i.p.al part of the city now stands; but further investigation shows that this is not the case and that the point of land meant was the neck adjoining the fort, on the Carleton side of the harbor.[86]

[85] See page 208, ante.

[86] Speaking of the fishery in St. John harbor, Captain Glasier writes, under date December 15, 1764, "The Ba.s.s is ketcht in Weirs just under the Point below the Fort," that is on the Carleton side of the harbor, and in the next sentence he goes on to identify this point or neck of land with that adjoining Fort Frederick. "The Cod Fish," he says, "strikes in here a month sooner than at Cape Sable sh.o.r.e & goes off a month sooner; you ketch the Fish a league within the mouth of the Harbour and quite up to the Island [Navy Island] near the Point of Land I have asked for."

We have ample testimony as to Beamsley Glasier's zeal and energy as director of the affairs of the St. John's River Society. Charles Morris, junior, says of him, "Capt. Glasier has done everything that was possible for any man to do, and more than any one else in his situation would have done to serve the Society," adding that he had not been properly supported, and if he had retired "there would have ended the Grand Settlement of St. John's River, for as soon as he had left it, in all probability the Indians (who have been made to believe our Dam will destroy their Fishery) would have burnt and destroyed all that has been done this summer at the Mills, and before we could build other mills and get things in so good a way again the lands would be forfeited, for there will be a court of Escheats held and all the lands that have been granted in this province that are not settled and improved agreeable to the express condition of the Grant will absolutely be declared forfeited." "But," he continues, "I can't imagine the Society will suffer theirs to be forfeited, for I am well convinced that less than 30 sterling from each proprietor will build all the mills, divide all the lands and pay every expense that has attended the settlement from first to last; and each proprietor will then have 7,000 acres of good land laid out into lots, mills built and everything ready and convenient to carry on and make a fine settlement of it."

Glasier rarely complained of the difficulties with which he was confronted, but on one occasion be admits "I am in a very disagreeable situation and am heartily tired of it, and was it not for ingaging in the Mills, would curse and quit the whole business. I have not been well treated; to agents for all the Philadelphia and other Companys have been genteely appointed and every expence paid with honor. What I have done by myself has been ten times more than they all together and the expence not the fifth part in proportion."

Whilst engaged in his work on the River St. John, Glasier was obliged to make occasional trips to Boston, taking pa.s.sage usually in the vessels of Hazen, Simonds and White. The excitement produced in New England by the operation of the obnoxious Stamp Act gave him some concern. He writes in November, 1765, "I have some things to settle with the Governor & Council next time they sit, that prevents my going to Boston by this vessel, but I shall go the next time she sails, if you Boston people don't burn her, which I should be very sorry should happen as she carrys no stamps. My heart bleeds for my Country, what will be the end of all this?"