Second Immigrant Generation
Descendents of Andrew Grey (ca 1785-94 – after 1861)
and 1. Mary Watson (unknown– aboard D'arcy summer, 1836)
and 2. Sarah Burgess ( ca 1810 – 11 Nov 1896)
First immigrant Generation
From The Scrapbook
BY REV. DR. WILLIAM "BILL" RANDALL
Preface to the Online Scrapbook
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Local history has always been fascinating for me. Coming to Harvey in 1954 offered the challenge of archiving the history of a community which was settled in 1837 by people who had migrated from the same part of eastern Borders between England and Scotland.
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Attempts to form a local history club never succeeded until 1989 when we unofficially formed the "Harvey Historical Association".
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My focus was to find families who had made, and kept up-to-date, scrapbooks. We borrowed them, photocopies them and preserved them in a filing system. From these and other sources (personal visitation) I began writing articles of an historical nature for a local newspaper published by Fred Baxter. Later the Harvey Lion Newsletter asked me to write similar articles for them. The local public response to these articles was very positive and inspired publication of 12 more Harvey-area family genealogies.
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This outcome pleases me greatly for I have always been a firm supporter of the following concept "what we shall some day become will grow inexorably out of what today we are, and what we are now, in its turn, comes out of what our early ancestors were; out of what they did and thought and dreamed and hoped for" (spoken at the Roanoke Island Historical Commission 1958 -- author unknown).
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I hope that you enjoy these articles reprinted here as much as I enjoyed researching and writing them.
Rev. Dr. William "Bill" Randall,
Fredericton, New Brunswick,
August, 200
CLICKING ON A TITLE BELOW WILL TAKE YOU TO THE ARTICLE. PDF VERSIONS OF EACH ARTICLE ARE ALSO AVAILABLE BY CLICKING ON THE APPROPRIATE ICONS.
FROM THE SCRAPBOOK by Dr. William Randall
Reprinted from The Harvey Lionews, February, 1993
A Painful Happy Corners School Incident, Cecil MacLean, Early 1900's
FROM THE SCRAPBOOK by Dr. William Randall
Reprinted from The Harvey Lionews, April, 1993
Descendants of Nicholas Lister (1796-1869) & Margaret Heughan (1801-1846)
FROM THE SCRAPBOOK by Dr. William Randall
Reprinted from The Harvey Lionews, June, 1993
Descendants of John Carmichael (1799-1879) & Margaret Hume (1805-1870)
FROM THE SCRAPBOOK by Dr. William Randall
Reprinted from The Harvey Lionews, July, 1993
You Can Lead a Horse to Water..., Moulton Libbey, Brockway, 1904
FROM THE SCRAPBOOK by Dr. William Randall
Guest Contributor - Helen C. Craig
Reprinted from The Harvey Lionews, April, 1995
How the Manzer's Came to Harvey, 1911
FROM THE SCRAPBOOK by Dr. William Randall
Reprinted from The Harvey Lionews, February, 1999
An Upstanding Citizen and Businessman: John Taylor of Tweedside, 1852
FROM THE AUDIO SCRAPBOOK
A Conversation with Harry Cleghorn, 1973
BY REV. DR. WILLIAM RANDALL
EXCERPTS FROM AN INFORMAL INTERVIEW
The following audio excerpts are from a 1973 interview of Henry "Harry" Robert Cleghorn (16 Jan 1899 - 19 Jan 1981) carried out by Rev. Dr. Bill Randall. Harry was a bachelor who was well known for his expertise as a blacksmith. Harry only had a rudimentary education and went to work in the woods as a young age where he worked on many river drives. In the following tape Harry covers a lot of topics ranging from what he did when he went to work in the woods, to being a seasonal laborer, to fishing and hunting, and of course his career as a blacksmith. Perhaps one of the most interesting stories is his light hearted account of his brush with the law following the discovery that he had been illegally shooting moose one season. Harry was the grandson of George Cleghorn, who settled in South Tweedside in 1853. Hazen has an interesting lilting accent that was once typical of those living in Tweedside and is often referred to as the "Tweedside Twang". This accent has now largely disappeared.
Track 1. Harry describes how he began working in the woods at age 14 and subsequent river drives (Quality of tape is poor for a few seconds near beginning of track).
Track 2. Harry talks about Indians and a baby's grave at Duck Point on the St. Croix River while on a river drive.
Track 3. Harry describes maintaining a trapline around Oromocto Lake.
Track 4. Harry describes the difficulties of getting by with only seasonal work.
Track 5. Harry talks about his parents and siblings and home life as well as about the Cleghorn migration from Scotland.
Track 6. Harry talks about the fishing in the old days on Oromocto Lake.
Track 7. Harry talks about hunting and then goes on to describe shooting 28 moose one fall and how that resulted in him spending 60 days in jail.
Track 8. Harry describes how bad weather resulted in him getting stuck on the back side of Oromocto Lake while moose hunting.
Track 9. Harry talks about getting older.
Track 10. Harry talks about his mother and family genealogy.
Track 11. Harry talks about Ben Morrow and how he came to Harvey after serving as a soldier in the Brockway garrison which guarded the Brockway Bridge.
Track 12. Harry talks about where the Cleghorns came from in Scotland.
Track 13. Harry describes fishing on the Magaguadavic River.
Track 14. Harry talks about a good fishing hole in the Kedron Lake.
Track 15. Harry talks about how much easier it is to trap using a snow mobile.
Track 16. Harry describes how he became a black smith and making tempered bear traps, horse shoes, and truck parts.
Track 17. Harry discusses his short school career.
Track 18. Harry talks about his nice $200 1966 car, which although rusted out has a good working engine.
FROM THE AUDIO SCRAPBOOK
A Conversation with Hazen Patterson, 1989
BY REV. DR. WILLIAM RANDALL
EXCERPTS FROM AN INFORMAL INTERVIEW
The following audio excerpts are from a 1989 interview of George 'Hazen' Patterson (2 Aug 1894 - 15 Apr 1992) carried out by Rev. Dr. Bill Randall. Hazen, who was very active right up to the time of his death, was 94 at the time of the interview carried out in his kitchen in Tweedside. Although Hazen spent most of his life as a farmer and lumberer he always enjoyed talking about the relatively short time that he spent working as a fireman on the railway for Canadian Pacific Railway from 1913-1919. Hazen was the grandson of William Patterson, who came out with the original Cornelius party to found Harvey Settlement in 1837. Although Hazen's accent is primarily flattened North American in character his speech still contains elements of Northumbrian pronounciation in some words.
Track 1. Hazen as a boy at home in Tweedside.
Track 2. Hazen comments on his father constructing the Presbyterian church in Harvey and on the death of his brother Sterling of appendicitis.
Track 3. Hazen goes to work for the railroad in 1913.
Track 4. Life as a fireman on the railroad.
Track 5. An anecdotal story from Hazen's railroading days 1913-1919.
Track 6. Hazen recounts on being in a train wreck in 1913.
Track 7. Hazen recalls the big Brownville, Me. wreck of 1919.
Track 8. Working for the railroad in Montreal and a story about John Pollock.
Track 9. Returning home to farm and log when his father dies in 1918.
Track 10. More stories about farming, trucking and logging.
Track 11. Price of land in Harvey area in early days.
Track 12. The old trail from Tweedside to Frog Lake.
Track 13. Stories about various families including the Passes, Pollock's, Hay's & Johnson's.
Track 14. Stories about various families including Johnston's & Brown's.
Track 15. George Brown's car accident.
Track 16. Commuting to work stories and comment on son Coburn.
Track 17. Reflections on health and health care in Harvey.
Track 18. Logging discussion.
Track 19. Patterson logging operations in 1989 - 1.
Track 20. Patterson logging operations in 1989 - 2.
Track 21. Patterson logging operations in 1989 - 3.
Track 22. Logging across Oromocto Lake.
Track 23. Final thoughts on lumbering.
FROM THE SCRAPBOOK
Dr. Jamieson (1920-1986) - A Man Who Cares
BY DR. WILLIAM RANDALL
REPRINTED FROM THE HARVEY LIONEWS JANUARY, 1993
PDF FILE
Writer's Note: The Harvey Lions Club has been the principal financial supporter of the Harvey Historical Association. It is my hope that they and their readers will enjoy some of the interesting bits of information gathered from the stories I am constantly trying to collect, edit and store in the Association's file.
Here is another Lion heard from - the story was written in the Fenlon Falls Gazette, Ontario in 1986. Robert Ernest Jamieson was born March 21, 1920, the first child born to Ross and Dorothy Jamieson of Magaguadavic. He was an outstanding student both in High School and University and is one of Prince William station's outstanding people. Dr. Jamieson died on November 23, 1986.
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DR. JAMIESON - A MAN WHO CARES
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Dr. R.E. Jamieson of Coboconk is a doctor who-really cares. Now retired, Dr. Jamieson practiced in Coboconk since 1946. He is well-liked and he showed he cared about medicine and his patients. In his honor, the people of Coboconk and area have set up a bursary in his name. The Bursary win be awarded by Fenelon Falls Secondary School, as an award in Science or Medicine to be presented annually to a student living in the area served by Dr. Jamieson.
Due to Dr. Jamieson's recent illness, we (the Gazette) were unable to interview him in person. A dear friend of his, Bill Shields of Coboconk, was kind enough to write his story on Dr. Jamieson. He writes as follows:
Mrs. Millyard was responsible for getting Dr. Jamieson to come to practice in Coboconk in the fall of 1946. At that time he and his wife, Sheila had two small children. Mary and Margaret, and shared the United Church Parsonage with Gordon Pepper who was a Lay Preacher in the United Church.
Dr. Jamieson took over the office area of the late Dr. Millyard in what is now Souter's Variety Store on the east side of the river. This building was always known as the drug store. The doctor in those days mixed his own prescriptions.
Coming from a rural area in New Brunswick. Dr. Jamieson understood the hardships of a rural practice. He served the community, which stretched to the north to Miners Bay, west to Kirkfield, east to Kinmount and south to Rosedale.
In those days during the winter months, Dr. Jamieson would drive as far as he could and then be picked up with a horse and cutter or buggy, to tend the sick, deliver babies and perform minor surgeries. He was completely competent in almost every area of medicine. He never refused to make a house call, regardless of the difficulties, to assist people in need of his expertise.
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In 1947, he purchased a home on Albert St. in Coboconk where he and Sheila raised most of their children. Twenty years ago they built a beautiful home on Lightning Point, Balsam Lake, where they continue to enjoy all fourteen of their children.
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Even though he was possibly one of the busiest rural doctors in Ontario, 'Doc', as he was fondly known, found time to practice Lionism. He was the charter President of the Coboconk Lions Club in 1954. Then Dr. Jamieson became a zone chairman, Deputy District Governor and then Governor of the whole district. He was possibly the most instrumental person in getting the Coboconk Lions Community Hall built, which has served as the social centre for Coboconk and surrounding area for many years. It also houses the Bexley Township Council Chambers and a Library. A great credit to Coboconk under 'Doc's' leadership.
Dr. Jamieson was also extremely instrumental in the building of the Community Medical Centre, where he practiced for the past 12 years and shared that modem office complex with Dr. Fred Weir, D.D.S. and later, Dr. Wm. McNaull, M.D.
For 40 years he dedicated his time and services to the community. No one could have been more loyal. He was, and is, a great humanitarian
FROM THE SCRAPBOOK
A Painful Happy Corners School Incident,
Cecil MacLean, Early 1900's
BY DR. WILLIAM RANDALL
REPRINTED FROM THE HARVEY LIONEWS FEBRUARY, 1993
PDF FILE
Cecil MacLean has some interesting stories about his earlier days. He tells me that he was born in Happy Corners on June 17, 1899. I had never heard of Happy Corners. Cecil took me out to Lake George and showed me where the old road used to be. It swings northwestward from the main road just a bit west of the Lake George United Church and Cemetery. Cecil says that at that time Happy Corners was quite a settlement. There were Moodys, Calhouns, MacLeans, Sargeants, Millers, and Donnellys. The children from Happy Corners took a short cut to school about a mile over the Donnelly Hill to the location of the school near the present Lake George United Church. Cecil tells of an incident from those school days which I find amusing. I will try to tell it as Cecil told it to me.
"One time there was a teacher of a very kind sort. She always cared that the children were well dressed to withstand the cold winds of winter before they left school for home in the afternoon. One day she was very careful that Lloyd (Cecil's brother) had his muffler well wrapped about his face before he left the schoolroom. She was very careful to make sure the safety pin held the muffler secure. Lloyd came home with the other children, but never spoke all the way home (a bit unusual for Lloyd). When he got home his sisters wanted to help undress him. (These sisters could have been Effie, Mabel, Edith or Ida.) They had trouble getting the muffler from around Lloyd's throat. "What's the matter, what's the matter?" said the girls "We can't get this muffler off." They found that the safety pin, which had been intended to secure the muffler, had actually been attached to Lloyd's ear. They removed the safety pin and the muffler came off with ease." Talk about caring teachers! They had them in those days!
FROM THE SCRAPBOOK
Descendants of Nicholas Lister (1796-1869)
& Margaret Heughan (1801-1846)
BY DR. WILLIAM RANDALL
REPRINTED FROM THE HARVEY LIONEWS APRIL 1993
PDF FILE
Having access as I do to the photocopies we have made of many family scrapbooks I get an appreciation of what the lives of the early settlers must have been like. Here is an early newspaper account of Harvey. Undated excerpt from newspaper account of Settlement of Harvey:
'For 16 years the Harvey Settlers were without a kirk or meeting house and without a clergyman excepting a rare visit from the Rev. Daniel McCurdy of Keswick. The children were taken to Fredericton for baptism. The Rev. John Brooke kindly granted the ordinance to all who sought, without hindrance at his own manse. During all these years, however, public worship amongst themselves on the Lord's day was regularly observed. This was conducted in the schoolhouse by the elders and others. There were four of them, John Thompson, Thomas Herbert, Thomas Piercy and James Nesbitt. In this connection the name of Nicholas Lister should be mentioned. He took regular turns at the desk with the elders giving out the psalm or paraphrase, leading in prayer and reading the sermons. There was no great force in the reading of the sermon but to hear some of these men pray, pleading at the throne, offering up their gifts at the alter was something grand. The very simplicity of the language lent power and solemnity to their soul stirring devotions. Nor was the service of praise led by Matthew Piercy less earnest and striking. At the end of sixteen years in 1852 a substantial meeting house was erected..........'
Lets isolate the name of Nicholas Lister and look a little more closely at such biography as we have available. We connect his coming to Harvey with the coming of the Little family for we believe Nicholas was married to Margaret Heughan, the sister of Mrs. John Little.
NICHOLAS LISTER
b. 1796
d. 25 Jan 1869-73 yr. (CR)
Native of Annan,Dumfrieshire, Scotland. Emigrated to America with his wife and children in1843, and settled in Harvey Settlement.
m. MARGARET HEUGHAN
b. 1801
d. 25 Mar 1846-45 yr (C)
Believed to be the daughter of William Heughan and Agnes. (Agnes is buried in Harvey Cemetery, died at the age of 87 yr. on 19 Dec 1849). Other siblings were:
Janet Heughan 1786-1870 m. John Little;
John Heughan 1793-1857 m. Jane Scott;
Christina A. Heughan 1803-1875, m. Mr. Johnston and Luke Craigs;
Ellen (Nellie) Heughan 1808-1898, m. Matthew Chambers.
There are several spellings of the surname Heughann--Hughan, and Hughuan, not sure which is correct.
It is believed that Nicholas and Margaret had nine children, as listed below:
GEORGE LISTER
b. circa 1824
d.
m. Mary Ann Johnston
JANET (JENNIE) LISTER
b. 1825/26
d. 1902
m. WILLIAM LITTLE 12 Mar 1844, St. Paul's,
s/o John Little and Janet Heughan, Fredericton.
William Little
b. 1815
d. 1 Nov. 1909
Jennie and William are buried in Brockway Cemetery. For details of their family refer to the book, "The Little Family of Harvey Settlement" by Janet Watson, Brenda Swan and Jocelean Hall, printed 1993.
WILLIAM LISTER
b. 1829
d. 1848 - 19 yr. Buried in Harvey Cemetery.
DAVID LISTER
b. 1831
d. Feb 1919 in 90th year
m. 1) Janet Gass; 2) Jessie Torrance
JAMES M. LISTER
b. 22 Dee 1832
d. 25 Feb 1912 - 79 yr. 6 m. (CR)
m. Eleanor (Ellen) Piercy
EDWARD IRVING LISTER
b. 14, Sept 1834
d. 1 Apr 1898 - 63 yr. 6 m. 16 d. (C)
m. Mary Ann Piercy
JANE LISTER
b. 1836
d.
m. Ralph Briggs
AGNES LISTER
b. 1838
d. 7 Sept 1896 - 58 yr. (CR)
m. Bernard McCann
MARY LISTER
b. 1842
d. 6 June 1861 (CR)
m. James Embleton, 15 Apr 1861 (CR)
James Embleton
b. 5 Apr 1836
d. 23 Oct 1901 (CR)
s/o William Embleton and Jane Runchman
After Mary's death, Jim married Isabell Little.
GEORGE LISTER m.
b. 1824
d.
m. Mary Ann Johnston, 24 Feb 1851 St. Paul's, Fredericton d/o Mr. Johnston and. Christina A. Heughan s/o Nicholas Lister and Margaret Heughan.
Mary Ann Johnston
b. 1833 Scotland
d.
CHRISTINA LISTER*
b. 29 Mar 1859 (CR)
d.
CHARLES FISHER LISTER*
*Children of George Lister and Mary
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ANN JOHNSTON
b. 6 Feb 1861 (CR)
d. 22 Jun 1863 - 2 yr. 4 mos. (CR)
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Jocelan Hall checks on early census records and provides us with additional information about early properties. From "Statistical Return of the Harvey Settlement for the year 1847", Nicholas settled in Harvey in 1843, had a family of 9, and besides farming he was a weaver. In the four years between 1843 and 1847, he had built a house and barn, had cleared 18 acres of his 100 acre lot and had paid off half the cost of his land. He had 3 cows, 2 oxen, 10 sheep, 3 swine and 3 young cattle. His crop consisted of 10 tons hay and straw, 150 bu. oats. 10 bu. barley and buckwheat, 100 bu. potatoes and 10 bu. wheat. Estimated total value of crops, stocks, land and improvements was 166 pounds. (As his wife died in 1846. it would appear that he had 8 children living with him in 1847.)
The 1851 Census lists Nicholas as widower. 54 years of age. Scotch, farmer/proprietor, who entered this colony in 1843. The following children were living at home: (All were born in Scotland) David, 20; James, 16; Edward I., 14; Jane, 12; Agnes, 11 and Mary. 9. Ten years later. 1861 Census, only his son Edward Irvin, 24, was at home with Nicholas. Also a servant, Elizabeth Dundas. age 26. lived in the household. The Lister family was Presbyterian. By 1861. Nicholas owned or occupied 60 acres improved and 90 acres unimproved land. Cash value of farm was 250 pounds, value of implements and machinery, 15 pounds. He had 2 horses, 3 milch cows. 4 other neat cattle. 14 sheep. 3 swine and slaughtered 400 lb. pork. Produced 150 lb. butter, 36 lb. wool, 10 tons hay, 300 bu. oats, 87 bu. buckwheat, 20 bu. Timothy and 100 bu. potatoes.
"About the year 1857. George Lister built the first woollen mill in York Mills. He also built a sawmill and a gristmill. The woolen business was established as a cloth mill. He later sold the business to John Taylor."
The Daily Gleaner. 14 July 1937:
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"Business Firms have grown up with Harvey."
"George built the sawmill first, and in it lumber for the other structures were processed. The machinery for the original mill came up the St. John River by boat, was landed at Long Creek, and hauled on wagons to the mill site."
Excerpt from Rural Musings:
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"Woolen Hill Thrives: Began 105 Years Ago, By Rolf Munroe"
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undated, but possibly in newspaper in December 1962. There seems to be some questions as to the exact year the woolen mill was built. From the Saint Croix Courier: Journey Through Time", The Early Years: 1865-1885, on 13 Hay 1869:
"New Woollen Mill -- Geo Lister, Esq.. is erecting a woolen factory in the Harvey Settlement on the N.E. Magaguadavic within a short distance of Western Extension.--Journal."
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The 1861 Census lists George as 37 years old, Farmer/Merchant, and his wife Mary Ann, 28 years old, daughter Christina, 2 years, and son Charles Fisher. 7 mos. Also in their household were James Carmichael. 26 yr., farm servant; Mary Embleton, 18 yr., domestic servant; James Kenna. 30 yr., woodturner, and his wife Isabella Kenna. 24 yr.
According to 1861 Census, George employed 2 males, owned or occupied 50 acres improved land and 700 acres unimproved land. Cash value of farm was 500 pounds, and value of implements and machinery was 100 pounds. He had 5 horses, 4 milch cows, 1 other neat cattle. 5 sheep, 2 swine and slaughtered 500 lb. pork. Produced 200 lb. butter, 4 lb. wool, 18 tons hay. 100 bu. oats, 30 bu, buckwheat and 80 bu. potatoes.
Children of George and Mary Ann, as baptised in the church. No record of George and Mary Ann being buried in Harvey Cemetery. Perhaps they moved away from Harvey after selling the woolen mill.
FROM THE SCRAPBOOK
A Fire at the Davis Store, Harvey, 1931
BY DR. WILLIAM RANDALL
REPRINTED FROM THE HARVEY LIONEWS MAY, 1993
PDF FILE
Property fires have always been a major concern in any small community, and in earlier times there was very little mechanical fire fighting equipment, so, when the Davis store was threatened in the early morning of 1931, the Village of Harvey reacted heroically. The Davis Store, now Black's Grocery & Cafe was very much in the center of the Village and unless fire could be contained could destroy a number of buildings. I have an eyewitness report of some of the excitement. I'll try to write it as Austin Pollock told me about it...
"John Henry was staying in the old McCann house, that one out back of Walter Jewett's (Acton) and he got up in the night to see how his two boys were doing and he saw the flames in the sky. He went over to Gerald Holland's and woke him up and then came over to our place and woke up my father Fred and me. Gerald had a driving horse of Charlie Robisons called skip and we run the horse in the kwagon up to where Howard Robison lived (where Richard Phillips now lives). We went down to the fire and there was some oil barrels sitting near the store and the heat had caused them to swell up just like ice cream cones and there was a gasoline barrel that was in Frank Coburn's barn and that blew up and scattered lumber and shingles through the air and they blew down in back of what would be Frank Halford's Dance Hall. Jane Davis pushed the car out of the garage, she couldn't find the keys. It was quite a heavy Dodge car in those days, before the 30's. She got burnt on the arms with hot tar from the roof. They carried water from the C.P.R. tank house on them baggage wagons at the train station, and they pumped water from the well at Davis' store. I pumped quite awhile and the wood pile caught fire between the store and where the feed shed burnt and the horse barn. (It seems as though the fire must have started in the feed shed) Herb Swan and Travis Dougan were up on the roof of the Davis Store. They used mats and blankets to absorb some of the water over the projection. There was a crew of linemen that were stringing wires for the Telegraph Company and they climbed up and helped too."
Lloyd and Laura Wood were living in the Johnny Taylor house which was close enough to be severely threatened by the fire, and Laura took the children up to Lizzie Coffey's. Lloyd has a little hen house out back but they got Frank Halford's team and hauled it out of the way. In this operation Willis Swan almost got caught between two buildings but it just knocked his glasses off.
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Lloyd and Laura lost a baby sleigh and a few other minor household articles - plus when they tried to remove Lloyd's barber chair it over-turned and spilled the hydraulic fluid, but generally speaking the property loss was not great, except for the barn and feed shed.
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Dr. Dougan lived just across the road in the big white house now owned by Earl Grieve, and it is said that with an amazingly loud voice he was able to assist in the direction of the activities of the volunteer fighters.
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According to what information I can gather, John Pagan was the first person to build on that property, buying it from Tom Robison. It is not certain what structures Pagan built on the property but he sold the property to Samuel Black Hunter in 1886. A house and a store, which had been two separate buildings were joined together and Samuel Hunter operated the Store as S.B. Hunter for 26 years. Jocelean Hall provides this newspaper clipping.
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"The Undersigned has this 5th day of April 1916., sold and transferred his stock of General Merchandise to his successor, Richard Davis, at Harvey Station, York County, N.S. He takes this opportunity to thank his many customers for their very liberal patronage extended to him during the twenty-six years he was in the General Store business at Harvey Station, and trusts that his successor will receive the same good will of the people that was extended to him. He also wishes to notify all who have outstanding accounts with him, that they must be settled either by cash or approved notes within two months from this date.
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SAMUEL HUNTER
Dated at Harvey Station, York Co., N.B., April 5th, 1916"
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The business was operated under the name R.Davis and Son. The store was operated by son Willard, his sisters Inez and Mary Jane until they closed the business in 1967. The property and contents were bought by Vernon Fraser and Danny Cameron in 1977, though they did not operate it as a business, but sold it to Gerry Piercy in 1980. Gerry opened the store for business and added a wing for a Hardware Store. In 1990 Gerry sold his business to Rodney Black and Rodney converted the Hardware Store into a Cafe. When you are in the Cafe take a look at some of the historic pictures we've helped procure.
FROM THE SCRAPBOOK
DESCENDANTS OF JOHN CARMICHAEL (1799-1879)
& MARGARET HUME (1805-1870)
BY DR. WILLIAM RANDALL
REPRINTED FROM THE HARVEY LIONEWS JUNE, 1993
PDF FILE
I was greatly impressed upon my first visit to Katie Carmichael. She was the last survivor of the Carmichael name and the grand daughter of one of the original settlers. Her gentle; humble manner was reflected in the simple, unadorned surroundings of her household-the homemade furniture, the silvery grey of the floorboards grooved by the many scrubbings with homemade lye soap. From a large chest she showed me household and personal items, which her grandparents had brought with them on the Cornelius. (the ship that brought Harvey settlers to N.S.).
Many years later when Greg MacLean moved her house to Tweedside the exposed sturdiness of the timbers reminded me of the sturdiness of Katie's person. The Carmichael name is gone from Harvey, but following are some of the genealogical details in the Historical Association's files.
JOHN CARMICHAEL
b. 1799 (C) England
d. 21 June 1879 (CR) Harvey
m. MARGARET HUME
b. 1805 (C) England
d 22 Oct 1870 (CR) 65 yr. Harvey
John Carmichael and Margaret Hume were married in England, their first son, Samuel died in England.
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John and Margaret with two small sons, James and Robert came to New Brunswick in 1837 with the first settlers to Harvey. It is probable that Margaret's sister, Mary Hume and infant daughter Jane, may have come with them. (Mary Hume married James Craig on 14 Dec. 1841.)
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The Carmichaels settled on Lot 20W and 19E, 100 acres of land. The lot is an unusual shape with the highway going through it, so part of the lot is on each side of the highway. The house and bam were built on lot 20W. (Land Grant 1851/12/19 Vol. KL, No. 4949)
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According to the Return of the Harvey Settlement statistical report dated 7 Nov 1840, John had 5 acres in crops in 1840 with 9 acres chopped and ready for crops next year; he produced 30 bu. oats, 7 bu. wheat, 12 bu. barley and other grain, 250 bu. potatoes; had 2 swine; and had built a dwelling house.
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Return of Harvey Settlement for the year 1843 shows 6 acres in crops that year, 3 acres in meadow, 1 acre in pasture and 2 acres new land for crops next year. They produced 11/2 tons bay, 2 tons straw, 200 bu. potatoes, 7 bu. wheat, 50 bu. oats, 25 bu. barley and buckwheat, 1 bu. turnips; had 1 cow, 2 sheep, 2 swine, 1 young cattle; had a dwelling house, barn and one other out building; and there were seven in the family.
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Statistical Return of the Harvey Settlement for the year 1847 indicated that John was a "turner" (trade independent of the occupation of land); there were 8 in the family; they had 1 cow, 2 oxen, 6 sheep, 3 swine, 2 young cattle, and produced 8 tons hay and straw, 150 bu. potatoes and 6 bu. wheat. Cleared 19 acres of arable land and 2 acres pasture. Estimated value of land 45 pounds; value of buildings 9 pounds; value of stock 21 pounds and value of crops 33 pounds, for a total estimated value of 108 pounds.
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According to the 1860 Census, they employed 3 males and 1 female. Owned or occupied 60 acres of improved land and 76 acres unimproved. Cash value of farm was 130 pounds, value of implements and machinery, 6 pounds. They had 2 horses, 3 milch cows, 2 working oxen, 2 other neat cattle, 12 sheep, 3 swine and slaughtered 550 Ibs. of pork. Produced 160 lb. butter, 30 lb. wool, 9 tons hay off 18 acres, 150 bu. oats off 8 acres, 40 buy. buckwheat off 3 acres, 20 bu. timothy, 100 bu. turnips, and 60 bu. potatoes.
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John and Margaret had seven children:
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SAMUEL CARMICHAEL
b. & d. prior to 1837, in England.
JAMES CARMICHAEL
b. 1834 Eng. (C)
d. 20 Oct. 1904-70 yr. (C)
m. MARGARET WATT d/o Michael Watt and Mary Ann Morecraft.
19 July 1871 St. Pauls, F'ton
b. 1850 (C)
d. 21 Nov. 1929 - 79 yr (C)
They had six children.
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ROBERT CARMICHAEL Not married.
b. 1837 Eng.
d. 18 Nov 1912 - 751/1 yr. (CR)
JANE CARMICHAEL
b. 4 July 1838 Harvey (FS)
d. 16 Dec 1894 Thomaston (FS)
m. THOMAS DAVIDSON
b. 29 Mar 1827 Eng. (FS)
d. 10 July 1903 Thomaston (FS)
They had seven children. See Davidson family.
JOHN (JACK) CARMICHAEL Not married.
b. 1841
d. 24 Mar 1866 (CR)
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ISABELLA CARMICHAEL
b. 1842
d. June 1916
m. JOHN T. THOMPSON
12 Apr 1865 (CR) s/o John Stuart Thompson & Isabel Swan.
b. 1833 Eng.
d. 11 May 1910 . 78 yr.
They had eight children. For this family see the book, "The Swan Family early 1800s-1980" by Jocetean Swan Hall and Margaret Swan Crozier, pages 6,7 and 8.
MARY CARMICHAEL
b. 1845
d. 13 Aug 1928 (FS)
m. JAMES NESBITT
b. 1827
d. 30 Oct 1882 - 55 yr. (FS)
​
They had eight children. s/o John Nesbitt and Ann ....
For this family see the Nesbitt family.
Copied from newspaper clipping appearing in newspaper in June 1927:
An interesting document in the hands of one of the resident descendants of a pioneer family is a certificate of character given the latter when he left Scotland. the certificate reads as follows:
"That John Carmichael and Margaret, his wife, leave this country for America, with a good moral and religious character, and in fun communion with the Relief Church is attested by James Muirhead, Minister Wooler, 18 May 1837"
Copied from notes written by Katie Carmichael:
"Emigrated to Canada landing May 1836 James Carmichael and his wife Margaret (Hume) with two of their sons, James and Robert. His first son Samuel having died before leaving the motherland. Son Jack, daughters Jane, Isabell and Mary born in Harvey, N.B. Canada. James married Margaret Watt Robert unmarried, Jane married Thomas Davidson. Isabell married John Thompson. Mary married James Nesbitt. Jack unmarried having died at the age of 19 year."
Copied from Daily Telegraph, Thursday, 27 October 1870:
"Died Harvey, 22 inst., Margaret Carmichael, wife of John Carmichael, age 65. Deceased was a native of Northumberland, England, and emigrated to America in 1837."
Copied from Morning Freeman, 3 November 1870:
Mrs. John Carmichael of Harvey Settlement died Saturday evening. She appeared to be in usual health up to a few moments of her decease. Just after finishing her tea, she complained of a severe pain in the region of the stomach, and so intense did it become, that she told those about her that unless she could have a doctor or get immediate relief she could not live. She had but uttered the words when she leaned forward and fell to the floor. She was immediately raised up and it was found life extinct. Mrs. Carmichael was about 70 years of age and one of the first that made for themselves home in Harvey. ("Farmer")
JAMES CARMICHAEL
b. 1834 Eng. (C)
d. 20 Oct 1904-70 yr. (C)
m. MARGARET WATT d/o Michael Watt and Mary Ann Morecraft.
b. 2 Mar 1849 (FS) (1850-C)
d. 21 Nov 1929.79 yr. (C)
m. 19 July 1871 St. Pauls Church, F'ton
s/o John Carmichael and Margaret Hume, page 1.
James and his wife Margaret lived on the homestead farm on Tweedside Road. They are buried in Harvey Cemetery. They had six children:
JOHN CARMICHAEL Not married.
b. 14 July 1873 (CR)
d. 1914 (C)
JAMES FULTQN CARMICHAEL Not married.
b. 1875 (C)
d. 1952 (C)
MARY ELLEN CARMICHAEL
b. 8 Oct 1877 (CR) (1878-C)
d. 1880 (C) Died young.
MARGARET ETHEL CARMICHAEL
b. 29 May 1880 (CR)
d. Sept 1963
m. 10 June 1903 to JOHN EASTMAN (EASTY) BELL
b. 3 May 1879
d. 29 June 1944
s/o John (Jack) Ben and Jane (Jean) Cleghorn. (See the book, "George Cleghorn Descendants 1819-1982"by Ruth Cleghorn. They lived on a farm on the Lake Road, and had six children (Page 18.):
Melvin.
Margaret May,
Helen Isobel,
Stanley Eastman,
Malcolm Glen
Bessie Eveline.
ANNIE MAY CARMICHAEL
b. 24 Aug 1884 (CR)
d. 14 Aug 1967
m. 7 Oct 1909
m. 7 Oct 1909 to JAMES ROBERT BELL
b. 2 Mar 1881
d.21 Mar 1941
s/o John (Jack) Bell and Jane (Jean) Cleghorn. (See book, "George Cleghorn Descendants 1819-1982" by Ruth Cleghorn, page 26.) The lived on a farm on the Lake Road,
and had two children (Page 26):
James Russell,
Margaret Blanche
KATIE ISABEL CARMICHAEL Not married.
b. 26 Jan 1894 (CR)
d. 11 Nov 1979 - 85 yr.
Lived on the Carmichael homestead all her life,
Copied from newspaper obituary. 1929
MRS. MARGARET CARMICHAEL
Harvey, N.B., Dec 9 - The community of Harvey Station was saddened on November 21 by the passing of Mrs.. Margaret Carmichael, one of its oldest residents at the age of 79 years. Deceased had been in failing health for some years but her death came suddenly at the last. Of a quiet and retiring nature, she was beloved by all who knew her and her death with be keenly felt throughout the whole community, where her sterling character held high esteem.
The funeral services were conducted by Rev. George Knight of the Presbyterian Church, of which the deceased was a member. The pallbearers were James Bell Eastman Bell, Garfield Nesbitt, Charles Nesbitt, Everett Mowatt and Thomas Davidson. the Presbyterian choir sang the favorite hymns, "Rock of Ages,." And "Abide With Me" and "No Night in Heaven."
Mrs. Carmichael leaves to mourn her loss three daughters, Mrs. Eastman Bell and Mrs. James Bell, of Lake Road; miss Kate, at home; one son. Fulton, also at home; three sisters, Mrs. Janet McDonald and Mrs. Ellen Matthews, of Alberta; Mrs. Ronald McDonald, New York, and Mrs. Isobel Mowatt, of Harvey Station, also survive.
________________________________________________________
Information on the Carmichael was compiled from the following sources:
Unpublished manuscript "Genealogy and History of the Harvey Area as recorded by Rev. William Randall.
Census reports 1851, 1861 and 1891.
Presbyterian Church Records 1856-1915, births, marriages and deaths. (CR)
Harvey Cemetery tombstones (C).
Statistical Return of the Harvey Settlement for the year 1840, the year 1843 and the year 1847.
Notes written by the late Katie Carmichae1, and family charts by Marlene Bell. (FS) (FS-family source)
The book, "George Cleghorn and Descendants 1819-1982" compiled by Ruth Cleghorn.
The book, "The Swan Family" by Jocelean Swan Hall and Margaret Swan Crozier.
Newspaper obituaries and other items from scrapbooks, many undated.
Compiled as a guide for future researchers by: Jocelean Swan Hall 26 March 1993
FROM THE SCRAPBOOK
A Magaguadavic Lake Excursion With Allen Hood, July 1993
BY DR. WILLIAM RANDALL
REPRINTED FROM THE HARVEY LIONEWS JULY, 1993
PDF FILE
One of the satisfactions of preparing these items for the Lionews is the enjoyment of the cooperation I get from others.
You might remember in an early winter item I told you that Allen Hood had promised to take me on a tour of Magaguadavic Lake. Well, on the beautiful 13th day of July we had that trip. What a delight! Leaving Allen's charming lakeside home, we cruised down the lake by Wildwood Island, Ross Island, and into Scoodie Cove where we visited Steve Savoie's famous island. Remember? --- the one where all the treasure had been buried? We kicked at the remains of Steve's stove, examined the carefully constructed root cellar, once under the two room 16 X 24 foundation, examined some of the deep pits on the island, where searchers had long ago sought for the English pieces of gold which had been buried by the Indians, and visualized the cabin door through which Steve's squaw shot him in the posterior with bird shot. We cruised by Money Point and carefully explored the mouth of Cranberry Brook where Mr. Henry's daughter had found the body of a drowned man; moved down to the site of the Scott Mill, which had sawed lumber for the Fraser Company in the early 1900's (the site is presently called Magaguadavic Siding, and is home for many summer cottages); went around Hill's Point and had a good look at the dam, then headed north up the Lake. With a brisk north westerly breeze I had the battery shaken out of my hearing aid but could still see to enjoy the Y Campsite; Vernon Finnie's beautiful resort area at Farm Point and then up through the thoroughfare to Little Magaguadavic. Had I not confidence in Allan's boat control that might have been scary, 35 horses pushing a light fibreglass boat through hairpin turns skimming lily pads, barely surfacing rocks and plug-casting fishermen. It was fun. Up into the calmer waters of Little Magaguadavic; up to the Gutta Moose Lodge (where I had married Richard Davis and Wendy Corey, the day of that exciting pontoon-raft ride which might have ended tragically), and then Allen shut off the motor and told me a bit of the history of the Gutta Moose Lodge. In the 1890's an outfitter from the Miramichi by the name of Moore established a hunting camp on a small island on the eastern shore. Another camp was built on a nearby island and subsequently a consortium of 'Sports' established Gutta Moose Lodge. It was later moved to the western shore and is the summer residence of Jim Thorburn's family and friends. We walked on to the island where the first lodge was built and marveled at the masonry of the front steps and the fireplace, which had been built in 1895.
Coming south down the thoroughfare one tiny island was a maze of wild roses whose scent blended with the scent of summer marsh grass in a hot summer sun. The beauty of summer at its' peak!
You know something? We never hit a rock all day! Why? Because Allen knows the lake. Why wouldn't he! His great grandfather George Hood settled in Magaguadavic in the early 1800's; His son, George, born in 1847 built a hunting camp on the lakeshore in 1898. George's son, Albert established an outfitting business right there. I ate my lunch on the very spot. Lumber from that early camp was used by Allen when he built his lovely home. Roxie served us a delightful lunch and then Allen who had been a lake guide for forty years became a cemetery guide. With Roxie and Elaine we went up to Donald Hood's and behind the barn scrambled our way through rose bushes and briars to look at the family cemetery on the original Mood hood homestead. On a moss covered stone we read George E. Hood died December 1846, his wife Frances Amelia died July 14, 1856. There were other stones and names of children, but it was easier to see those inscriptions on Memorial windows in the Anglican Church. Someday we'll write up the Hood genealogy chart.
Now you know what I mean by getting cooperation. Thanks Allen. I hope you and Roxie have many interesting adventures on your trip to Alaska in August.
FROM THE SCRAPBOOK
You Can Lead a Horse to Water..., Moulton Libbey, Brockway, 1904
BY DR. WILLIAM RANDALL
REPRINTED FROM THE HARVEY LIONEWS AUGUST 1993
PDF FILE
You've heard the expression, "you can lead a horse to water but you cannot make him drink." Moulton Libbey knows that. In fact he knew that in 1904 when he regained consciousness after being kicked in the head by a horse he was taking to water. Of course he wasn't exactly leading the horse to water in the normal fashion. As he told the story to me on July 27, 1993 he described his unusual way of taking the horse from the barn to the river - he took the horse by the tail. Seems to me it would be a similar action to sculling a boat. Unfortunately, that day, a dog dashed out and jumped at the horse. The horse kicked violently and got young Moulton squarely in the forehead. Theodore Vail got on his bicycle and rode thirty kilometers to Harvey to get Dr. Keith. Dr. Keith came to Brockway, examined the child, and advised immediate surgery in Fredericton. Moulton's Mother, Annie Laurie, hitched up the horse and buggy and drove her little boy to Fredericton. Six weeks later Moulton was discharged from the Fredericton Hospital, but it was clear that the young man would be unable to begin school that fall and would need special care.
Some months later the scar area appeared inflamed and began to suppurate. After a time that would heal but regularly the condition would recur. The following year Joseph E. (Teddy) Jenckes of Providence, Rhode Island, returned to his Brockway summer cottage called Tamerac Lodge. Mr. Jenckes was a wealthy man and included in his summer entourage was his own family physician. (He also brought the first automobile ever seen in Brockway). Upon seeing the young Libbey boy's pitiful condition, he urged the family to bring him to his own physician. Without the modern day anesthesia, the doctor reopened the wound and with a delicate probe discovered a moveable irritant. He prescribed a poultice for the mother to prepare and place over the wound. Soon a sliver of bone emerged about the size of an adult's fingernail, after which the wound healed permanently but left, 88 years later, a visible concave scar.
Having pursued with outstanding achievements a career in the military it seems as though the near fatal horse kick had little effect upon the brain of Major Moulton Libbey. Moulton Libbey was the son of Annie Laurie Vail and Aaron, son of Aaron Libbey. Annie Laurie Vail was born in 1862, the daughter of Solomon Vail and his second wife Aseneth Nutter of Fredericton. Solomon Vail had been born in Kingsclear, York Co., 1810, the son of Thomas Vail and Hannah Russell. Thomas Vail was born in 1786 at Kingsclear, the son of Jonathan Vail and Lydia ? Jonathan was classified as a Loyalist, the son of Joseph Vail, 1717 and Grace Manning. Joseph was the son of John Vail born 1685 and Martha Fitz Randolph, born 1693. John Vail was a Quaker preacher, the son of Samuel Vail and Elizabeth Hunt. Samuel was the son of Thomas and Sarah Vail who came to Salem, Mass. in 1640.
So, when the Vail's had a family reunion in Brockway on August 15, it is not much wonder that over 200 names were on the guest book.
FROM THE SCRAPBOOK
The Treasure of Indian Lookout, Lower Southhampton, 1934
BY DR. WILLIAM RANDALL
REPRINTED FROM THE HARVEY LIONEWS SEPTEMBER, 1993
PDF FILE
My Smokey is a beautiful solid black cat born March 4, 1993. She has gorgeous yellow eyes and is for us the personification of what a beautiful native cat should be. Of course, I really wanted to know her genealogy! O.K.?
She came to us from the Henry's in Magundy. Her parents were from Donnelly Settlement, Lake George. Her grandparents were from Rosborough Settlement on the upper Pokiok Road and their ancestors came from Lower Southhampton - before it was called Nackawic. Jocelean Hall will surely ask "what is the verification of your sources?" - and Jo, honest, would YOU trust what a tomcat told you? Well here's my verification. George Frederick Clark wrote a book "Six Salmon Rivers and Another" and in his book he relates a story told to him by Joe Perry that I recount again here...
Joe, in 1934 was teaching in the little country schoolhouse at Lower Southampton. He says that after a couple of weeks in the village three young men told him they were going to dig for treasure on the Indian Lookout and they asked him to accompany them. Now the Indian Lookout was a prominent low flat land projection created by the St. John River as it made its sharp oxbow turn just above the Nackawic stream it was known as the Munroe Flats.
Well they told him it had to be after midnight on a full moon and the utmost secrecy was intended. In Joe's words "it was just after midnight when we reached the Look Out. We had shovels and a grub-axe to work with, and a lantern which at first we didn't light because the moon made everything as bright as day. It was a weird sort of night. Between the clumps of small growth trees on the Look Out we could see a low bank of mist, as white as milk, over the St. John River. In the hollow on our left, the Nackawic rippled and gurgled over its rocky bed. Occasionally the plop of a salmon in the pool at its mouth reached our ears. Far back of us, we heard the wolfish howl of a dog, which Jerry O'Neil whispered to us boded ill for some poor body. Now and then we also heard the baa of a sheep from the hillside pasture, while the faint tinkle of a cow bell rose at fell on the night air that was as still as death itself. At long intervals, from across the river, came the hum of a motorcar and we saw the headlights sweeping the highway with a concentrated path of gold.
There were a few rocks and roots where we dug, but for the most part it was easy work, and in a very short time we had dug a hole as big as a molasses puncheon. As it got deeper we took turns getting into it, throwing up the earth to those above, who then removed it to one side.
My companions seldom spoke, and then only in a low voice. I gathered that they were quite nervous, so I began joking with them: told them we might dig through to China and find no treasure. As for being disturbed by spirits, or anything else -- that was all poppy-cock. They begged me to be quiet but I joshed them all the more.
Well it was about half past two when Jerry - who is taking his turn in the hole, shoveling out - whispered that he'd struck rocks and asked for the grub-axe to loosen them. It was passed down to him and he began picking away, pausing every minute or so to throw up the rocks. Finally, we heard a dull, splintering sound then Jerry's excited voice: "I've gone through something that's hollow. This is it, boys!"
The rest of use clustered about the mouth of the hole dropped to our knees and peered down at Jerry. I admit we were all as excited as he was. "Light the lantern" Jerry said "So's I can see what I'm doing."
Archie Hailes, who was beside me, said "alright Jerry", and reaching for the lantern, which was behind him, pushed up the little lever that controlled the glass globe, then struck a match. No sooner had he done so than there was the darndest caterwauling I ever heard, and the hole was suddenly alive with tomcats - black tomcats - hundreds of them and they came in droves up the sides of the Look Out. Jerry gave a yell you could've heard a mile. Then exclaimed "give me a hand up." Archie flung the lantern at a dozen big black tomcats but it smashed against a tree and then went out. The both of us grabbed Jerry's hand and pulled him out of the hole. Then we all ran down the slope of the Look Out and across the field towards the highway. With every footfall we stepped on a howling cat. They sprang at our legs, clawing at us. One reached my shoulder and I grabbed the fiend by the back, tore its claws loose and flung it from me. It struck Jerry and he cried out to St. Peter, St. Paul and St. Anne to persevere him. All of us save Archie Hailes had thrown away our shovels, and half way across the field he laid about him like a veritable Sampson, mowing down the cats in swaths of fifty at a time. The din was terrific. I could see the fiends; they were all black, and their eyes glowed like fireballs. We were almost to the fence that separates the field from the highway when we got another scare that almost turned us inside out. It seems that after the hay cutting Mr. Munroe had turned his cattle out to graze on the after grass. They had been lying down near the fence, and now, hearing us coming, and the yowling of the cats, they jumped to their feet and stampeded in all directions. An ugly old white bull that was the terror of the countryside threw up its tail in horror and with a succession of bellows tried to escape the cats. They landed on his back, as thick as flies on a dead carcass. The bull was in such a frenzy that it jumped into the river and swam up to the Pokiok Falls. It jumped the falls, staying in as deep water as it could, and then headed for the highlands. Finally as it began to run up over Rosborough Ridge daylight began to creep into the sky and the black cats began to fall off him. The old bull laid down, exhausted.
There may be parts of this story, which cannot be easily proven, but I'm sure that's where my Smokey came from.
FROM THE SCRAPBOOK
The Settlement of Cork, 1842
BY DR. WILLIAM RANDALL
REPRINTED FROM THE HARVEY LIONEWS OCTOBER 1993
PDF FILE
I thought this month I would share with you some of the challenges involved in trying to piece together bits of the early history of the Harvey area and district. When I first came to Harvey in 1954 I had access to the memories of second and third generations of descendants of original settlers. Now in 1993, nearly forty years later the sources of early memories have diminished. For instance, I'm trying to get a start on the History of the Cork Settlers, but the memory sources are younger than I am and there is a dearth of written family records. So I am soliciting your help if you are a descendant or have information related to these families.
In 1990 I wrote a story about the burning of the Cork church, telling of the rescue of the Statue of St. Patricks by the McCanns. On Sunday, July 4, '93 I visited Clementine Yeowell in St Davids' Ridge and while there was shown a statue of the Virgin Mary which was also rescued at the fire. The statue remained with Mike Gorman for some years who then gave it to Mrs. Napoleon Thomas who passed it on to Mrs. Yeowell. It's fascinating for me to go back and try to recapture these events of the past.
​
Watching the movement of the Newmarket Roman Catholic Church on to its new foundation also stimulated some research. The Mission of St. Patrick at Newmarket was administered from Fredericton until 1883. The first Church was blown down before its completion (the Saxby Gale?). The second Church was built by Rev. William J. O'Leary. Later it was remodeled and repaired by Rev. David S. O'Keefe. It became part of the St. Ann Parish at Kingsclear. During the summer of 1993 additional land was acquired and with the help of a generous gift from Ethel McDermott.The Church was placed on its new foundation and there will be the added convenience of a parking lot on the same side of the road as the Church. The community congratulates the St. Patrick Congregation for their industry and the generosity of those who supported it financially.
The early history of the Catholic community is somewhat vague and without recorded documents due to the fire which destroyed the St Ann Church at Kingsclear. It is, however, generally accepted that most of the Irish families came to America to escape the Irish famine of the 1840's. They left Ireland on crowded immigrant ships, with very few possessions and no idea of what lay ahead of them - only hope that it would be better than the starvation and depression they were leaving behind. Word of mouth history tells us they arrived in Saint John and traveled up the Saint John River, but earlier settlers had already settled on the more valuable river-frontage properties and they had access only to second and third tier lands, some of which was so inferior that it would be nearly impossible to maintain their large families.
An interesting source of information, which was provided me by Alice Feeney, is the product of a research conducted by Debbie and Jack Feeney for a 1984 Feeney reunion.
​
The community of Cork was also a part of the St. Ann Parish.
​
My understanding of the geographical boundary between Acton and Cork is that it begins where Eddie and Mary Boucher live which is Lot 5 on the East side of the road. According to the census for the year 1847 it was occupied by Thomas Daley. It became the property of Arthur McCann.
​
Lot 6 W was occupied by John Russell and is presently the site of the Cork Roman Catholic Church.
​
Lot 7 W, J. Coholan, variously spelled Coughlan or Couglin.
Lot 8 W, another Thomas Daley.
Lot 9 W. John Kingston.
Lot 10 W, Daniel Sullivan.
Lot 11 W, John McGillicuddy.
Lot 12 W, Edward Connors.
Lot 13 W, John Barry. This lot became the school lot.
Lot 14 W, John Driscoll.
​
The above named persons commenced settlement in 1842.
​
Lot 15 W, John Donahue settled 1847.
Lot 16 W, Daniel Coholan - 1842.
Lot 17 W, James Driscoll - 1842.
Lot 18 W, John Driscoll - 1842.
Lot 19 W, Daniel Hurley - 1843.
Lot 20 W, Micbae1 Maloney - 1842.
Lot 21 W, Miles O'Leary-1847.
Lot 22 W, Pat Ma1oney.
Lot 23 W, Henry Winn or Wynne.
​
From that lot to the corner, Clem Crowley's store, was the property of the Rev. Father J.C. McDevitt, the founder of the Cork Church. If you come back from Crowley's Store to the first corner, the fields on the left were settled by Timothy O'Leary 1847, but soon became the property of Daniel Donovan. That was Lot 24 East. Continuing back now toward Acton:
​
Lot 25 E, George Winn-1842
Lot 26 E, John O'Brien - 1842.
Lot 27 E, Dennis Reardon.
Lot 28 E, John Maloney.
Lot 29 E, Daniel O'Brien.
Lot 30 E, creates some confusion. A Map lists John Wilkinson as the settler but the census lists Owen Smith as a squatter.
Lot 31 E, James Gorman.
Lot 32 E, Jeremiah Crowley.
Lot 33 E, Michael Crowlet - 1843.
Lot 34 E, David Scanlin.
Lot 35 E. Daniel Murphy.
Lot 36 E, Map shows C. Crowley, census indicates Daniel O'Donnel - 1846.
Lot 37 E, Michael O'Brien - 1842.
Lot 38 E, James Cailey or Caley or Kaley.
Lot 39 E, James Crane.
Lot 40 E, Michael Sullivan.
Lot 41 E, Anthony Kennedy - 1846.
The lot across from the Catholic Church.
Lot 42 E, Richard Davis - 1843.
​
The census shows a James McMann. a school master with a family of nine in Cork in 1843, owning fifty acres of land only one of which was cleared. Maps do now show that name. With the help of Clem Crowley, Daniel and Joe Connors, Jerry Chessier, Bernard McCann and Mrs. Kyle I have begun to form a bit of a picture of the history of Cork. If you can help enlarge this history, please phone me.
FROM THE SCRAPBOOK
Dan Dowling's Devil Tree, Brockway, 1770's
BY DR. WILLIAM RANDALL
REPRINTED FROM THE HARVEY LIONEWS NOVEMBER, 1993
PDF FILE
Have you ever looked up at a Devil Tree? There was one in Brockway - I say "was" because I can't find it in 1993. However, it is remembered by some of the senior citizens of Brockway as Dan Dowlings Devil Tree. I have even located its probable site.
Dan Dowling liked to play cards. He also liked to drink spirituous liquors. He also liked to cheat. The Military barracks established at Brockway during the Revolutionary War provided persons with whom Dan might indulge his questionable habits.
One late evening after Dan's extravagantly indulged vices he was walking home. He lived just north of Stone Brook (not Stoned Brook).
Dan walked aggressively, arrogantly, and abruptly into a large pine tree. Moments later, recovering some awareness of his prone position he looked up into the tree and there saw the hand of the Devil holding the two cards which he had adroitly used to achieve his winnings. Dan knows the Devil knows!
Henceforth Dan respectfully paused at the foot of that large pine and conversed with the Devil. But it wasn't over! Who the Devil knows what happened?
​
Dan was trapping bear on the south east side of the Magaguadavic River. He had patiently and expertly dug a "dead Fall" pit. The deadfall log he was using had been imaginatively enhanced in its effectiveness by a huge spike. Since such a contraption required exquisitely tuned precision, before Dan left the trap he stepped down into the pit to check the perfection of his handiwork. Alas! It was not perfect - or maybe devilishly perfect!
Nearly dusk Dan's wife was alarmed that he had not come home. She knew where he had gone. She forded the river. She found the trap. She found Dan. She ran down to Treadwell's.
​
They accompanied her and retrieved from the pit Dan Dowling's dead body.
​
Was there a Dan Dowling's Devil Tree?
FROM THE SCRAPBOOK
Cork Settlement School, 1905
BY DR. WILLIAM RANDALL
REPRINTED FROM THE HARVEY LIONEWS DECEMBER, 1993
PDF FILE
In response to the Scrapbook items relating to Cork families I got a phone call from Carol Gillett telling me that she and her husband Ronald have been renovating the old Cork schoolhouse and have found some old school registers. I visited with her and she graciously loaned me this material and I was amazed to find how much of the past can be reconstructed from these registers. Jocelean Hall undertook the task of matching the fragments of paper together much as one would try to assemble a jigsaw puzzle. With hours and hours of painstaking labour, tape and glue she was able to put together about twenty years of Cork history. These originals are being photocopied by Helen Craig and will eventually be micro-filmed and put in the N.B.Archives. For this month, however, I would like for you to imagine what school there would have been like in 1905.
The building was 22x28 feet and in that year had 32 children on the register. One can still see the marks on the floor where the desks were fastened down. The teacher was Ida Sharkey, but for part of the year her younger sister Lily was a supply teacher. From Roach came the Crowley's. That year there was Edward, age 15, James, age 13, Neil (probably Cornelius age 11, Aggie age 12, Alice age 8. There were other Crowley's in the class, Annie, daughter of Cor nel ius M. and his wife Bridget. Louis, age 9. Willie Kennedy was 14. He played the violin and his mother was a happy little woman who used to go about her kitchen singing. There were Maloney's, Bessie (Elizabeth) youngest daughter of James Maloney and his wife Margaret. Bessie's brother Michael Alfred, and Nellie who may have been Elizabeth. The latest occupants of the Maloney home would have been Edgar Bruce and his mother. There were Connors children. Maggie (Margaret A.) born June 26, 1893. Her father was Timothy and his wife was Margaret J.; Maggie's sister, Ada born Nov. 28, 1896. John Coholan age 11, may have been the adopted son of Jack and Julie Coholan. There were McCanns; James, Dowl, John and Jane (or Jennie). Their father was Arthur and his wife was Nellie. There were Macks or the name Magillacuddy. There was James, and Aggie (Agnes) and Neil (Cor nel ius). They were the children of Cornelius and Mary A. Two Harris boys; Perley O. and Isaac Basil. Their father was Thomas O. and his wife Ada. Other children Helena Donohue age 8, Bessie Gorman age 10, Willie Gorman age 6, James Daley age 11, son of John and his wife Honora. Leo Reardon age 16, the adopted son of widow Mary. Mary came to Canada in 1840 and lived with her sister Bridget. There was Maggie Donohue age 14, Leo Gorman, age 13, Maggie Crowley, age 7, Louis Crowley, age 9, Frank Crowley, age 11. Frank Crowley married Alice McMannus. In his later life he disappeared while hunting in the fall. He was not found until the following spring, and when found his body was in a natural sitting position leaning against the trunk of a tree at Grand Falls, Charlotte County. Frank had been an engineer on the railroad between Saint John and McAdam.
School days in 1905 were from nine to four, a lunch hour and two fifteen minute recesses - just time for wet feet, crying girls, and fist fights. Lunch pails could have held meagre fare as times were hard, incomes were small and families were large. Many of the older children whose names are on the register may have had quite irregular attendance for they would be needed at home or in the woods. One man told me that he was the eldest of a family of twelve and he could not remember a year when his mother wasn't pregnant. He became a great cook, but only achieved three years of schooling.
Teachers were strict but the basic education was solid. Many children from Cork became teachers or priests.
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If you have found this months item interesting remember its because many people have contributed their efforts and have been alert to salvage items of historic interest.
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If you find something in your attic or basement that you think might add colour to our understanding of history, please tell me about it.
FROM THE SCRAPBOOK
A New School and Church: Harvey Station, September 1886
BY DR. WILLIAM RANDALL
REPRINTED FROM THE HARVEY LIONEWS JANUARY 1994
PDF FILE
Let's go back to September 1886 and in our imaginations try to share with the mothers and ladies of the Village some of their concerns.
They felt they and their families were isolated from the educational and spiritual centers of Harvey... and they were living right in Harvey Station! This was because the railroad had only built the first station in 1869. Prior to that there had been no real center to the geographically large community.
In the upstairs room of Taylor's store, the women formed a Ladies Sewing Circle. There were many needs to discuss. There was no school in the Village; their children walked to the Superior School built opposite the Patterson Road, now a building on the property of Beryl Johnston. There was no church handier than the Presbyterian Church at Manners Sutton, now the site of St. Andrews United Church of Canada. They did have a Society known as The Sons of Temperance though. There was also a Christian Endeavor Society, which met in the same room, commonly called Taylor Hall. These ladies were concerned for their families - mostly relatives of the Robisons. The matriarch of the ladies was probably Mary, the wife of Marshall Robison. At that time she would have been 52 with a son William aged 27, Margaret 18, Andrew 16, Alexander 15, Allen 12, Frederic 10, and Kenneth 8. Jane Glendenning, the wife of David, storekeeper and postmaster, was 47. She had a daughter Maud 17, Minnie 15, John 14 and Ida 12. There would be Elizabeth Atcheson. She was the Sister of Marshall Robison and the wife of William. They lived on the property now owned by Mrs. Edwin Henry. Elizabeth was 38 and her children were Ada 12, Andrew 11, Berkley 10, Frederick 8, Dora 6, Edwin 4 and Annie 2. Fannie Elkington Robison, wife of Thomas Robison, the son of Marshall and Mary Robison would have been there. She was 27 and had Camilla, aged 9, James 8, Lizzie 6, Benjamin 4, Mabel 2 and infant Ada. Her mother Susanna Elkington aged 67, lived with Fannie as a widow. As a member of The Church of England it would be uncertain to specu1ate on her involvement. Mary Grieve, aged 55, widow of Patrick would have been there. Isabel Grieve, daughter of Marshall and Mary Herbert and wife of Robert Grieve would have been there. She was 25 and had two children Allen 3 and Oscar 1. Isobel Grieve 28, would have been there, she was the wife of John Grieve and the daughter of Andew Cockburn and Elizabeth Messer. Isobel in 1886 had three children Frederick 6, Mary 4, and Bertha 2. Jane Smith would have been there, age 35 and already the widow of W.W.E. Smith. She had Lewis 15, Maggie 14, Alice 12; Emma 9, David 8, Nellie 6, Annie 4 and Norman 3. Mary McGee age 31 wife of William McGee, her children Melvin 8, Ada 6 and Myrtle 2. Elizabeth Coburn 58 wife of Andew and perhaps her daughter-in-law Hepzibah, wife of William. Jane Beck may have attended their meetings. She was a colored lady aged 60 who had married Lewis Beck and she had a daughter aged 33, Clara. Rounding out the CIRCLE and a strong influence on them all was Jane Robison age 43, wife of Stephen Robison. Her children were Charles 14, Florence 12, Arthur 10, Grace 8 and Emma 6.
With so many children to care for it was planned to build a church. At that time a Sunday evening service was held in Taylor's Hall once every two weeks.
Marshall and Mary Robison gave the land for a church. The church still stands, known originally as St. James Presbyterian church, then as St. James United Church of Canada, and now as the Harvey United Baptist Church. The community cooperated in its building. The Sons of Temperance held a picnic and raised $125.00 for the purchase of a bell. Michael Donahue, a Roman Catholic blacksmith, made an iron ornament, which topped the steeple.
Undated photograph of crowd of ladies in front of St. James Presbyterian Church, Harvey Station, York Co., NB. Original image owned by Helen Craig. Copy obtained by J. Hall, Feb., 1997. Image courtesy of J. Hall (October, 2004)
Three men involved in the actual building of the church were Thomas Robison, William Embleton and James Patterson. They wrote their names on a small triangular piece of wood Oct. 4, 1893, and left it in the steeple of the church where it remained until the steeple was recently dismantled.
Undated photograph of crowd of ladies in front of St. James Presbyterian Church, Harvey Station, York Co., NB. Original image owned by Helen Craig. Copy obtained by J. Hall, Feb., 1997. Image courtesy of J. Hall (October, 2004)
The church was first lighted with oil lamps, which was followed by an acetylene plant, and later still by electricity. William McGee (who lived next door to the church in what is now Austin Pollock's home) was the first janitor, serving for many years. He did an excellent job and was so punctual that many residents of the village set their clocks when he rang the bell knowing that the time, by Mr. McGee's big railroad watch, would be absolutely correct. Mr. McGee's immediate successors were Wesley Cleghorn, Gardiner Essensa and William Hunter, all good janitors. Since then there have been others whose names I do not have but are doubtless known to this audience. Mr. McGee worked for years without a salary until he was given the magnificent amount of $25.00 yearly. Many organists have throughout the years given of their time and talents and until the late Prof. John Peterson was hired to teach music in Harvey and act as organist, no organist received any pay, and probably not even a thank you. Years ago people did not expect any reward, consequently none was offered. I am told that the salary of Rev. J.A. MacLean was $700.00 per year with preaching stations at Acton, South Tweedside, Tweedside, and sometime York Mills and Coburn as well as the two churches in Harvey. 1 have not a complete list of the various organists but I believe that Maude Glendenning, Later the wife of Dr. Gilbert Chamberlain, may have been the first. Others were Margaret Smith, Annie Smith, Regina Keith (a sister of the Local doctor), Elizabeth Robison, Ada Robison, Annie Robison, Maude Robison, Alice Robison, Ellen Robison, Mary Robison, Jeanette Robison, Ella Hunter and Alice Little, prior to Church Union, followed by Dora Hunter, Mrs. Lorne Coffey, Mrs. Ross Robbins, Mrs. Douglas Delaney, Mrs. Wallace Coburn, Mrs. Linda Little, Mrs. Ford Messer, Helen Ritchie Christie, Mrs. Roy Coburn, Prof. John Peterson and Mrs. W.L. Randall. These names are not in order and I have probably overlooked some, though not intentionally. Mrs, Karl Byers, Miss Blanche Cleghorn, Mrs. Lloyd Wood and Mrs. Hazen Burrell have all played at various times but I do not know if they were officially hired or just helping out.
The first choir was composed of many fine voices, and as all could read music well it was four part singing. Visiting clergymen often commented on the quality of the music, so unusual in a small country church. This choir was composed of Glendennings, Smiths and Robisons and the anthems 1& 2 (two volumes) Excells 1 & 2 and Leslies. No member of that choir is living today. Ministers of St. James Church were Rev. James A MacLean, for whom the church was named, Rev. Malcolm J. Macpherson, Rev. Jamieson F. MacKay, Rev. J. Hugh Mclean (son of he first minister), Rev. Alexander MacKay, Rev. Ross Robbins, Rev. Edward Aitken, Re. John L. Rose and Rev. W.L. Randall. These Ministers were all natives of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, of which it was said years ago that, "the main exports of these two provinces were horses, and ministers", putting the horses in first place for some unknown reason.
The church was finally finished and dedicated on Sunday, June 7th. 1896. The following account is taken from a newspaper clipping in an old scrapbook.
"Harvey Station, N.B. June 9, 1896. Formal Opening of the new Presbyterian Church for worship. "On Sunday June 6th, the new Presbyterian Church at Harvey Station was formally opened for worship. The inception of this church was in the minds of the ladies of the Harvey Station Sewing Circle about six years ago. Since then they have strived towards this object and now they have an enduring monument of their untiring energy."
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"The Church has been erected at a cost of nearly $2000 and there remains on it only about $200 of debt."
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"The main building is about 20 feet by 48 feet with an addend for the choir of 8 feet. To it communicating with it by folding doors is attached a vestry 12 feet by 24 feet. The entrance is at the corner of the Church through the basement of the spires. The building is finished in wood, cherry with walnut trimming. The seats are of ash. The seating capacity of the main building is nearly 300 and of the vestry (figures deleted and worn). In every way the building is a credit to the place and people and compares favorably with any country church in this province and also with many city churches."
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"Thomas Robison was the architect and builder."
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"The services on Sabbath were conducted by Rev. James Ross of Saint John. Rev. William Ross of Prince William and the pastor Rev. J. A. McLean. The sermon in the morning was preached by Rev. James Ross, his text being from Genesis 25 and 17th verse.
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"In the evening Rev. Mr. Ross preached from Matthew Chap.2l, verse 12 The choir, in addition to the regular singing furnished the following anthems: Let Us Bow Before Him; The Lords Prayer; and The Beautiful Golden Gate, and in the evening, Sweet Sabbath Eve, and Be Telling of His Salvation. Very large congregations were present at all service. At the close of the ordinary morning service a communion service was held, conducted by the pastor Rev. J.A. McLean assisted by the visiting clergymen."
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Note: Material for this month's Scrapbook came from notes taken from Mary Coburn's scrapbooks and Census information provided by Jocelean Hall.
FROM THE SCRAPBOOK
Bob Hannington on his Beloved Brockway, 1974
BY DR. WILLIAM RANDALL
REPRINTED FROM THE HARVEY LIONEWS AUGUST, 1994
PDF FILE
Have you ever wondered how you would cope with the reality that you might not have long to live?
While visiting Mrs. Fleetwood Hannington (Glenna) recently she told me a remarkable story, which I would like to share with you.
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Last summer, 1993, Brockway had a Vail family reunion in which I participated. The headquarters for the three day event was at the Hannington's. Mrs. Hannington having been a Vail. I got to meet the Hannington family at the well furnished Sunday luncheon.
Later in the fall Bob Hannington of Ft. Lauderdale Florida discovered that he had a potentially life- threatening illness. Bob had spent his childhood summers at the home of his grandparents in Brockway and being of a very sensitive and artistic temperament he developed a life long love for the place. When he became aware of his illness he requested his parents to purchase for him a burial plot in the beloved soil of Brockway. His attachment to this place is expressed in a letter he wrote in 1974. The grandparental homestead of his childhood was to have an exchange of ownership, which for Bob would alter his relationship to the environs of his childhood. The letter he wrote was simply to express his sentimental attachments.
Here is the letter.
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June 1, 1974
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Dear Lower Brockway:
Please send me 2,760 cubic feet of your pine-scented air sprinkled generously with black flies and mosquitoes. This amount will fill my living room. A little river water and a few wild meadow strawberries would be nice. A bag of your great sand would be appreciated also. A quantity sufficient to "wiggle" bare toes in would be helpful to refresh ones physical self. Several swallows on the power line, to swoop down over the field and return again. A blueberry bush or two. A "stolen" carrot from an Aunt's garden. A spudding iron, used to peal pulp for an Uncle. A frog from the brook. The bell from an Uncle's lead cow. A small child running from "across the way" carrying fresh milk in a lard pail. A hayloft to sleep in. An Aunt with a 1948 Packard who will travel. An orange pineapple ice cream cone from Jack's. A dirt road. An old wooden bridge, with loose planks, over a brook. A raft on the river. A grandmother's biscuits and blueberry johny cake. A piece of homemade bread with real butter and molasses. A fiat rock, with which it might be possible to obtain a "four skipper" across the deep hole in the brook.
A sudden evening thunder-storm which leaves mud puddles to walk in with bare feet. New hay to gather from a meadow with horses and a hay rack. A few cousins. The largest swing ever under cool pine trees. The dark silhouette of a fir tree against the evening sky. Moss and sand to create the finest estates known to small boys. Golden stubble in a mown hay field to test the toughness of my bare feel. A dipper of cool water from the well. A kerosene lamp with a lamp shade needing cleaning with a newspaper.
The list seems endless!
You have molded and installed into the characters of many people something one cannot put into words. It's presence can only be felt. You have given freely many things to many people. The wise ones have taken greedily because by taking, it has multiplied that which was given.
Bob Hannington
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Bob Hannington was laid to rest in the Brockway Cemetery, July 3, 1994.
FROM THE SCRAPBOOK
by Rev. Dr. William Randall
How the Manzers Came to Harvey, 1911
(GUEST CONTRIBUTOR, HELEN C. CRAIG)
REPRINTED FROM THE HARVEY LIONEWS APRIL 1995
PDF FILE
In 1868 Harriet Hay was born at the home of her grandparents, James and Isabelle Cowe in Harvey. Her parents, Annie and Aaron Hay lived in Williamsburg. Harriet married Willoughby Avens Manzer in 1884 and they had 9 children. They lived at Nashwaak and in Marysville. Willoughby died in 1904.
In 1911, their second daughter, Annie married Frank Moffitt and moved to Harvey, living on the Tweedside Road. Annie and Frank were second cousins as their grandmothers were sisters, Annie and Mary Cowe.
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Ella, their third daughter came to Harvey to teach at the Swamp School (1913), met and married John Moffitt. They lived at Frog Lake. Frank and John were both grandsons of Andrew Moffitt and Jane Piercy.
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In 1916, Harriet's son Dan and daughters Emma and Eva moved to a farm on the Tweedside Road. Upon completing their military service, sons Ray and Avens returned to Harvey rather than Marysville and entered into a partnership with a blacksmith shop. By 1924 Avens and his Scottish war bride, Helen, had moved to New Westminister, B.C. where his brother Spurden had been living for about 15 years. In 1920, Ray married Lila Estey from Nashwaaksis and went on to establish his blacksmith shop on the highway at the Swan Road.
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Harriet's youngest daughter, Eva married Allan Tracey, son of Wilmot Tracey and Jane Herbert of Harvey. They lived in Edmundston and Fredericton.
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In1928 Dan married Lila Craig and Emma married T. Kay Craig, daughter and son of John T. Craig and Janet McGowan. Dan and Lila moved to Brownville Jct. ME where Dan worked for the C.P.R. Emma and Kay lived in Harvey where Kay had a garage and was the fire chief.
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Harriet Manzer continued to live in Harvey in the house where Milton MacLean now lives. Children' and grandchildren visited her including her oldest daughter Lola who married Angus Lyons and lived in various places in N.B. and Maine.
This is an example of what is known as chain migration.
For more information about this family an 87-page book "Willoughby and Harriet: Their Manzer and Hay Descendants" has been published by Helen C. Craig, and is available for sale at $16.00 each. Jocelean Hall has a supply at her home in Harvey. Copies are also available from the author at 104 MacFarlane St., Fredericton, E3A IV4 (506) 472-4886. There is an additional charge for postage.
A Fishing Expedition to Kedron Lake, 1939
BY REV. DR. WILLIAM RANDALL
REPRINTED FROM THE HARVEY LIONEWS APRIL, 1996
PDF FILE
In 1934 the Harvey Creamery was built by an enterprising family from Scotsburn, N.S., The McLean family; William McLean, Elwood McLean and Edgar McLean. Elwood had a nephew Dean R. Gordon who came from Nova Scotia in the summer to work for the creamery. Probably 1939 and 1940. Some of his memories of Harvey are contained in a book he wrote, "The Battle of Cape Breton."
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One of his memories is of a fishing trip and I found it so interesting I wanted to share it with you - I contacted Mr. Gordon in Phoenix, Arizona and he graciously gave me permission to use his story - Thanks.
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Elwood McLean and Snipe Swan had planned a fishing trip to the Kedron Lake and each would bring along a nephew to help with the portage from the south end of Oromocto Lake to Kedron Lake. Gordon had heard of Snipe's nephew Kayo, everyone had, and he was not overjoyed at the thought until he discovered that the nephew was actually Kayo's half brother Harold. Everything was packed and ready to hit the lake at the break of dawn.
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Under a shroud of early morning darkness the fishing party waited in vain for the wind to subside. The weather looked hopeless and they knew too well what a south wind on the ten-mile stretch of Oromocto could do. The lake would be whipped into a white-capped fury. By noon the wind had lost some of its force, and encouraging weather reports prompted them to drive out to the lake, just in case. By two o'clock the waves in the cove began to level out and they pushed off. The plan was to follow the western shore where whitecap activity looked less intense. They were not yet out of the cove when the bow began to dip into the waves and it was evident that some of the load must be shifted aft. Snipe had been positioned in the bow in order to spot shoals and rocks, but he was a big man so he traded places with Harold and sat beside Gordon at midship.
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Uncle Elwood sat in the transom seat and operated the outboard, and, as the water roughened was forced to control the bow of the canoe in tow. The short tow line occasionally required his outstretched arm to prevent the canoe from ramming forward, it seemed to work fairly well, or at least for the next half hour. Now abreast of Simms Cove, there had to be a big decision. Continue or abort, into the calm of Simms cove and the last road to civilization. Ahead was the roughest stretch of water and the nearness to the rocky shore held little consolation with the realization that survival from a swamped boat here would be a miracle.
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Dead into the wind and although the boat rode well the waves began breaking over the bow and too much water was being taken aboard. Gordon and Snipe bailed and Harold braces his raincoat clad back against the curve of the bow and the onslaught of water.
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For the next hour the boat wallowed on and on against a heavy sea and to all, the end of the lake appeared almost within their grasp. Then it happened! The bow dipped under a huge wave, catching Harold in the back and drove him hard against Gordon and
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Snipe at mid ship. The shift of the weight helped and pulled the bow higher and as the wave passed the canoe rode high on its crest but only to bang down on the transom with an ear splitting crash and everyone knew for sure that the boat had stuck a rock. One look at Elwood McLean and the bobbing canoe told them otherwise. He filled in the details of the mishap that had so nearly cost him his life. As the great wave rolled aft, the canoe had bobbed high beyond his reach, only to plummet into the depth of the following trough and slam hard onto the transom. A few inches farther to the left and his skull would have been split wide open.
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Fortunately that was the last big wave and its very existence seemed to signal an ebb in the severity of watery turmoil. Before long the whitecaps were gone and Elwood set a direct course diagonally across the end of the lake, the ultimate destination on the extreme south east corner of Oromocto Lake.
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In order to reach Kedron before dark there was no time to dry out and prior to disembarking each man was assigned a specific task. The boat, motor and what precious gasoline was left had to be securely hidden, salvage and repack the soggy supplies, and make ready for the portage through the woods to the Kedron.
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To call the route a trail was an exaggeration, but Snipe knew the general direction and led the way. Harold and Gordon shouldered the canoe. They heaved and dragged it through underbrush and over rocks and fallen logs and stumps and knew for sure that Snipe had lied when saying it was only a mile. It must have been five! The good thing, the exertion dried the clothes. The bad thing, they commenced to perspire and by the time their exhausted carcasses came to a halt at the Kedron, their clothes were wet, soaked with sweat.
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At that point the tow boys were bushed and had only energy enough to watch, watch Elwood McLean assemble his two piece "Jim Vail" fly rod. The hundred-dollar rod that had been given to him, by the Rotarians as recognition for his work in community service. The connection was not by the common metal feral, which interferes with flexibility and balance, but rather by a modified tapered split and held in place by wrapping with a sticky, somewhat like adhesive tape.
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Both uncles went fishing... in the canoe. The nephews were now left along with instructions to secure the supplies within the small one room log cabin. "Out of reach of the bears". Actually the cabin was built on a bank overlooking the lake but was screened by such a dense growth of fir and spruce that the water was barely visible. Exploration at the waters edge turned up an old wooden tub of a boat and they decided on their own fishing expedition.
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Alas, it was soggy and waterlogged and both were afraid to venture far into an unknown lake and the fast moving darkness.
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It was nine when the canoe returned with a string of trout including one five-pounder to display in the light of the campfire. Everyone was famished and it took little time to prepare a gourmet meal "fit for a king". Five pounds of bacon and huge can of baked beans and black coffee and a loaf of bread. A mere bedtime snack!
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Dead tired, they all fell into sleeping bags, some to sleep and some to wish they could sleep. Gordon fell into the second category, his stomach rolled and he rolled and tossed and his brain formed mental pictures at each and every strange sound, sounds from the forest, insects and birds and beasts all in the dead of the night and one predominate thought, could it be a bear?
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Intermingled with these sounds of nature, were the atrocities of man. The buzz saw snore, and gasp ... And snore, and gasp. Over and over in continuing frequency with only an occasional lull, or snort. Then at the other end of spectrum, the havoc of the beans. A full orchestration from the wind section, tuba to piccolo with every note a discord to rival as Copeland's "Gun Battle". Then there were the smells of nature. Outside, the sweet fragrance of cedar and a lingering wisp of wood smoke. With in a full range of powerful odors, from putrid, to God-awful.
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Daybreak. The boys were the first to rise. They needed a head start to get anywhere with that old scow of a boat. A beautiful cloudless day and the lake lay shimmering, a jewel of reflection embraced by the greenery of fir and spruce and cedar, right to the water's edge. Clumsily the craft moved and the slap and rasp of the oars echoed back to shatter a tranquil silence. Neither of the boys possessed sophisticated fishing gear and unlike the uncles, they were forced to use worms -- hook, line and sinker and a telescope rod. They sat, and fished and when the sunlight improved they could see that the water was clear, and there were fish down there, but they weren't biting. Eventually they did snag a few small trout but the big ones paid no attention to worms. It was frustrating, twelve feet of the clearest water they had ever seen, and the biggest trout swimming lazily at the bottom. Disgusted, they rowed to the north shore to look for Kedron balls!
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I would love to have a Kedron Ball at the H.H. A - Library! Any contributions? Bill
FROM THE SCRAPBOOK
"The Disruption" and Presbyterians in Harvey, 1840s
BY REV. DR. WILLIAM RANDALL
REPRINTED FROM THE HARVEY LIONEWS DECEMBER, 1996
PDF FILE
I have been watching with interest the stages in the relocation of the Knox Presbyterian Young Peoples Hall. Ed Christie will be providing Cable 10 T.V. viewers with a documentary, and I do not wish to duplicate the historic material, which will be provided therein. However, the early history of the Presbyterian Church in Harvey provides background for me when I take a further interest in the history of the Presbyterian Church in Fredericton. It is also interesting to me that the names of the early supporters of the church in Fredericton are very much similar to the names of the early Harvey settlers. For example, among the names attached to the call for a minister (Rev. Ebenezer Johnston of Kirkcaldy, Scotland) were William Taylor, James Pollock, James Nisbet, John F. Taylor, John Little, Andrew Davidson, James Taylor and William Grieves.
Early in the history of the Presbyterian Church there was a conflict in Church politics known historically as "The Disruption". It was a break from the established United Presbyterian Churches of Scotland to form the Free Church of Scotland. The chief element of contention concerned the system of placing ministers. As an example of this contention, when the Rev. Ebenezer Johnston of Kirkcaldy (mentioned above) came to Fredericton in July 1831, he returned to Scotland only four months later, the reason being that he was not an appropriately ordained minister under the rules prescribed by the Church of Scotland and his settlement did not conform to the act of incorporation of the Fredericton Church.
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''The Disruption" also affected the churches in the Maritime Provinces. In fact, it's effect created a division among the Harvey settlers who came here in 1837. It was because of this division that a second Presbyterian Church was built on the site of the present St. Andrews United Church in addition to the original Presbyterian Church that was across the road from the present Knox Presbyterian Church. The old church, though maintained as a church for a few years became a sort of Community Hall following North American reunification of the Free and United Presbyterian churches in 1861. The original Presbyterian Church eventually became the property of the United Church of Canada following the next split of Harvey Presbyterians in 1925. The structure next was passed to the Harvey Community Cemetery, and the building was sold and dismantled. It was originally thought that the lumber from the Church would be used to build the Knox Young Peoples Hall, but when the hall was built it was decided to use new lumber.
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To go back now to the relationship between the Fredericton Presbyterian Church and the Harvey Presbyterian Church many Harvey families sought the ministry of the Fredericton Church, first. of all because the early settlers had no Church, and even after they did, the dissenting families chose to remain loyal to the Church of Scotland, as did the St Paul's Church of Fredericton. St. Paul's of Fredericton was built in 1830 and the 'day of raising' is described as a "great occasion. Men came from miles around to assist." (excerpted from a Century of Service, the history of St. Paw's Church in Fredericton, compiled by Mr. L.S. Morrison, Mrs. Burton C. Foster and Mr. S.H. McFarlane). The foreword of this history includes this sentence "A special word of thanks is due to Mr. Samuel H. McFarlane the indefatigable secretary of the committee who gathered most of the material for this book."
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Wednesday afternoon, December 4 I visited Mr. McFarlane's daughter, Helen Tozer. She was born the 29th day of February 1896, and has an excellent memory.
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In a book which soon will be published by Mrs. Avens Craig (Helen), "The Craig Family", there will be a story from the early life of Thomas Craig, where he describes walking 25 miles to a place of worship - this would be from Harvey to Fredericton.
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Many baptisms and marriages for families of Harvey people were performed at St. Paul's United Church in Fredericton both before and after Church union. It is interesting for me now to be a part of the Ministry of that Church, and to trace back these Churches' relationships through the years.
FROM THE SCRAPBOOK
Don't Take the Preacher for Granted
BY DR. WILLIAM RANDALL
REPRINTED FROM THE HARVEY LIONEWS MAY, 1997
PDF FILE
I was thinking about an item for the May issue and suggested to Jocelean Hall that I hoped to find an interesting story about some early Harvey wedding. She told me that she and Helen Craig in their research had come across some interesting material that might be of interest to me; of course I gladly accepted it.
So if someone in your family is looking ahead to a June wedding take heed to this item. I am going to title it, "Don't Take the Preacher for Granted."
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The following quotations from early Courier items, and typewritten copies of letters from John Taylor and the Honorable J. A Beckwith tell the story. (We have photocopies of the original letters.)
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From Saint Croix Courier, March 25. 1869:
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"Prosecution of a Magistrate For Illegal Solemnization of Matrimony - An obliging Correspondent from Harvey Settlement sends us a report of a singular case brought before Andrew Ross, Esq. J.P. on Monday, wherein W. G. Hatch, Esq., Councilor for York County Municipality is the accuser, and John Taylor Esq., J.P. is the accused. The complaint sets forth that 'John Taylor did on the 4th day of December last marry John Edmunds and Catherine Hay, be not being lawfully authorized to do so.' Councilor Hatch and J. Adams Walsh Esq., appeared for plaintiff, and J. Taylor Esq., in person, for Defendant. Several important witnesses were not present, and the case was adjourned in consequence until next Monday. Mr. Taylor in the meantime being held to bail upon recognizance in two securities of $400 each. Some startling revelations are expected. It has created some excitement in the locality, and amongst prominent gentlemen present on Monday, our correspondent mentions the names of Messrs. Rutherford, Swan, R. Cockburn E. H. Burnston, C. F. Woodgate, S. Flood and H. Thompson."
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Copied from handwritten letter dated Jan. 12, 1869:
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"Tweedside, N.B., York Co. Jan. 12, 1869
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Dear Sir (Private)
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Some weeks ago I was called upon by John Hay to marry his sister Jane and John Edmonds, which I consented to do rather unwillingly and I would not have done it only for the very awkward and peculiar circumstances in which I found the Parties were situated and which I will explain to you:- The guests I was told had assembled, the cakes and pies and all the other et ceteras had been diligently prepared as it appeared and besides as you would say a little something in the shape of 'Heart-warm' had also been provided. But short-sighted unsuspecting mortals that they were they found that they had been (almost literally) 'reconing without their host'. Our clergyman Mr. Johnston is rarely ever from home and the Parties thought since they had got the License that he would be ready to wait upon them any time but when they went after him to their astonishment they found that he had gone to Prince William and would not be home for some days. So in their dilemma as I was Session Clerk and Chief Justice of the Parish and fearing the consequences it was concluded to try and get me to perform the Ceremony. Accordingly as I have said I consented and did the thing as correct as possible attending to the lawful requirements. I think you will feel inclined to justify me in this and lest I have acted without sufficient authority, I shall be very much obliged if you will be pleased to see that provision is made against a similar occurrence hereafter by having me appointed a Commissioner for the Solemnizing of Marriage according to Chap. 106, Sec. 2 Revised Statutes, with as little din as possible. Write and say you will attend to this, and believe me. With much respect, Your Friend and Humble Servant, John Taylor"
From The Saint Croix Courier, May 27,1869:
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'''Twice Married, - A Prosecution, and What Became of it - A rather romantic story comes to us from Manners Sutton in the County of York, which might form a good basis for a novelist and even in the columns of the COURIER may serve 'to point a moral or adorn a title.' It appears that on the 4th of December last two loving ones, a young man of about 25 summers, and a gushing damsel of thirty-five appeared before a Justice of the Peace to be made one flesh. The gentleman holding Her Majesty's Commission of the Peace did not, unfortunately, possess a commission authorizing him to solemnize matrimony. But was not 'marriage honorable in all,' and were not the fees tempting to a Justice of the Peace unduly exercised in favor of the "root of all evil.' and was he not a good Presbyterian., an elder in the church and all that? And so the ceremony was duly-or rather, we should say, unduly--performed, and the four dollars safely stowed away in the magistrate's pocketbook. One dollar of this, our informant states, was subsequently paid back to the ardent bridegroom by the 1.P. for the privilege of dancing the first "set" with the bride.
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In the meantime it got noised abroad in the settlement that the marriage was illegal, and a prosecution was threatened, whereupon the parties, at the instigation of the magistrate aforesaid, repaired to the minister of the parish who married them a second time "on the same license', on the 22nd of February. Now the question naturally arises, could the ceremony be performed twice by virtue of the same license, and under the circumstances, was the clergyman justified in marrying them at all, nearly three months having elapsed and a birth having occurred between the two ceremonies.
A certificate of the first marriage was filed and registered in Fredericton, but the second is not yet on record; our informant assures us that many other marriages have taken place in the same district which have not been recorded.
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A prosecution of the magistrate was entered before a Justice of the Peace, at which evidence was adduced, and the presiding Justice took eight days to consider, but although nearly two months have elapsed, His Honor has not yet arrived at a decision.
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We fear society is in rather a disorganized state in the parish of Manners-Sutton."
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Note written by Hon. J. A. Beckwith on bottom of John Taylor's letter of Jan 12, 1869:
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"Ans. Jan 16- You must have them married over again by a minister. Appn. for Comm. Will be laid before Council. JAB."
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Note on same letter: "John Taylor for Appn. to Com. to Solemnize Marriages. 13 Feb 1869."
FROM THE SCRAPBOOK
Don Messer Dies at 63 - March 26, 1973
BY DR. WILLIAM RANDALL
REPRINTED FROM THE HARVEY LIONEWS JANUARY, 1998
PDF FILE
Another NEW YEAR!
From a Scrapbook gathered by Edwin Messer, copied and passed on to me by Ruth Cleghorn Ker is the story of Don Messer who died March 26.1973. In many ways Don Messer put Harvey on a map of the world.
DON MESSER DIES AT 63
HALIFAX - Don Messer, popular band leader whose way down east music kept Canadian audiences tapping their toes for more than four decades, died here today. He was 63. A native of Tweedside, N.B., Messer organized his first musical group in 1934. Messer, who lived in the Halifax suburb of Rockingham, was pronounced dead on arrival at the Victoria General Hospital at about 9:45 a.m. Hospital officials said he had apparently suffered a coronary attack.
The shy, retiring fiddler, who preferred to have his vocalists and other members of the band take the spotlight first gained prominence with a group of musicians he organized in 1934. Known as the New Brunswick Lumberjacks, the group performed on radio from Saint John.
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The original group of 19 went on national radio from CHSJ in 1938. The following year Messer accepted an offer to form a group in Charlottetown, using radio station CFCY as their base. The group, renamed Don Messer and His Islanders, was formed around two of the original members, lumberjack-vocalist Charlie Chamberlain from Bathurst, N.B. and bass player Julius (Duke) ) Neilson from Woodstock, N.B.
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Rae Simmons, a clarinetist from Amherst. N.S. joined the trio in 1940. In 1942 drummer Warren MacRae and guitarist Cecil McEachern, both from Charlottetown, became members of the Islanders and four years later female vocalist Marg Osborne from Moncton became the seventh member. Piano player Waldo Munro from Westville, N.S., was the last to join in 1952.
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Chamberlain died in a Bathurst hospital July 16, 1972 at the age of 61. Messer's own career had a period in the classical vein. He studied violin for five years in Boston where he lived with an aunt and uncle. To pay expenses he worked as a busboy in restaurants. Returning to his native New Brunswick in the early depression year of 1930, Messer returned to an old love - old-time music.
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Television beckoned in the 1950's after more than two decades of radio popularity. Don Messer's Jubilee, as the group became known on nation-wide television, became an almost instant hit.
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The CBC production continued as one of Canada's top 10 television programs for 10 years with choreography and guest artists added in a half-hour package produced weekly in the CBC's Halifax studio.
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The CBC dropped the show in April 1969 while it still rated in the top 10. The network was not specific about its reasons for dropping the country music show. There was mention of a "younger look". Audience reaction was a storm of protest, particularly from the Maritimes and from thousands of Maritimes living in other parts of Canada. One was former Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, a stout fan who demanded that the CBC reverse its decision.
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But although the CBC didn't change its mind, the Messer impact on television continued. CHCH-TV in Hamilton made arrangements within a matter of weeks and the Jubilee group began commuting to the Ontario city to tape shows for 21 independent stations in Canada and two in the United States. Funeral services for Mr. Messer will be held here Wednesday at 2 p.m. from Calvin Presbyterian Church.
FROM THE SCRAPBOOK
The Saxby Gale of 1869
BY DR. WILLIAM RANDALL
REPRINTED FROM THE HARVEY LIONEWS AUGUST 1998
PDF FILE
This summer you need not be stranded for a subject of conversation. The weather alone can occupy many hours. If you are an expert in discussing EI Niño or La Niña you can entertain, or bore away, uninvited guests. Ask your guests how fast a moderate breeze travels across the lake. It's 13 to 18 miles an hour. A strong breeze is 25 to 31 miles an hour. A strong gale is 47 to 54 miles per hour and a hurricane is 73 miles per hour or more. One of the most significant weather phenomenon to ever strike Southern New Brunswick was the Saxby Gale of October 4 th and 5th, 1869; a storm so intense that it is still spoken of more than 100 years later, which significantly affected the environment of our ancestors, not only in its own force, but because of the debris it left behind to fuel the Miramichi Fire. The storm was named for Lieutenant Saxby of the Royal Navy whom a year earlier had predicted that a major storm would strike somewhere on the Earth on Oct 4, 1869. He made his prediction based on the moon making its closest approach during its monthly passage on that day in combination with a new moon. His prediction was dead on with a significant part of the damage in coastal areas being caused by tide enhanced storm surges.
THE SAXBY GALE OF '69
The day before the storm had been like many others in that region, an early morning fog, which later gave way to warm and clear weather with light breezes from the southwest. As the day advanced, however, the breeze grew steadily stronger, and the heat became oppressive, a recognized sign of high wind. To the south the sky was a dull, leaden grey, becoming darker and more threatening momentarily. By five o'clock a veritable hurricane was blowing. At Saint John rain began falling at six, and by nine o'clock the raging, terrifying Saxby Gale was at its height.
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The night was one of horror on land as well as at sea. The extreme darkness, the constant roar and tumult of wind, the lashing rain, the groaning of great trees, the hail of debris, shingles, slates, branches, objects large and small falling everywhere, roofs carried aloft, whole buildings collapsing, all gave a paralyzing sense of insecurity and calamity.
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Where now is restful St. Andrews, the storm that night raged with demon force. There and in the neighborhood - around Calais, Machias and Eastport, Maine, one hundred and twenty-one vessels were driven ashore. From one vessel alone, "The Genii", eleven lives were lost.
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At. St. George the roof of the Volunteer Armories was blown clear and carried a distance of over one hundred yards. The Anglican church at St. Stephen was badly damaged, its large tower being carried away bodily. Here too, a resident had a somewhat breath-taking experience when he was caught up by the gale at the foot of Church street and set down badly scared and shaken, on the far side of Main!
At Milltown a railway bridge was thrown into the falls below. The Universalist Church was leveled to the ground. Horses and cattle were killed, crushed by the weight of timbers from falling barns.
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The group of islands at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy, lying unprotected in the direct path of the storm, suffered from both fierce winds and overwhelming waves. On the Island of Campobello over eighty buildings were swept from their foundations and piled in ruins. Grand Manan and Deer Island fared likewise.
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Furious winds took heavy toll from timberlands, particularly in York County. Areas of full-grown trees were uprooted and flung aside. Even today, after a lapse of nearly seventy-years, the York wood-lands carry scars from that havoc.
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In the harbor of Saint John the sight was spectacular. All along the waterfront the waves were dashing in at tremendous height, leaping over every wharf and tearing countless vessels from their moorings. On shore, buildings were flooded to their upper floors, many were completely demolished, while warehouses were destroyed and bridges carried away. Shipyards and fishing weirs suffered particularly. In the morning coves and beaches all around the harbor were piled high with wreckage.
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At Moncton, too, the effects of the storm were long felt. Houses all along the lower streets were flooded when the water swept up Main Street to the point where the City Hall now stands. In Bore Park today stands a shaft set up to show the extraordinary high water mark reached by the Saxby Tide, more than two meters higher than the previous record.
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In the shipyards at Lewisville a schooner was caught up in the might of wind and waves and left stranded high and dry in the midst of an orchard. At Hopewell Hill and at Shediac good-sized vessels were also thrown far up on land.
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The damage from wind and water, in Albert County alone, was estimated to reach the quarter-million mark. Orchard lands were swept by the gale as by rue. Hay meadows were flooded with great losses in crops. Miles of dyke, some of which had served for generations, were broken away. Roads were buried beneath debris, and in many cases damaged beyond repair.
FROM THE SCRAPBOOK
Inez Davis and the King of Siam, Late 1920's
BY DR. WILLIAM RANDALL
REPRINTED FROM THE HARVEY LIONEWS DECEMBER, 1998
PDF FILE
Among interesting people in the history of Harvey are some ladies, who, as time flies by may be forgotten. As we approach a new year I'd like to remind you of one of these ladies - Inez Davis. I remember her as the person at the Davis Store - (Presently Black's). Inez, her sister Mary Jane Grobe and her brother Willard maintained the Davis Store for many years. Inez was born June 24, 1889, the daughter of Richard and Margaret (Hunter) Davis. She attended Teachers College but became a private tutor. Her story as reported by Charlotte Harper appears here.
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HARVEY WOMAN TUTORED SIAM'S ROYAL CHILDREN - May 1972
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When Miss Inez Davis went to see "The King and I" which played in Fredericton a couple of weeks ago, she was, in a way, re-living a part of her life. Miss Davis, who lives in Harvey Station was a tutor to the royal children of the Kingdom of Siam in the late twenties.
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"It brought back such beautiful memories and all of it was so wonderful!" she said in an interview, seated on a Victorian chair in her rambling two-storey home on Main Street, Harvey Station. Miss Davis first heard that the position to tutor the late Crown Prince Mahidol's three young children was available when she was in the services of Professor F.B. Sayre and his wife, Jessie, a daughter of the late President Woodrow Wilson.
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The Prince was a student of Medicine at Harvard University at that time, where Professor Sayre was a member of the law Faculty.
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Late one summer evening while Miss Davis was in Boston tutoring 12-year-old Eleanor Sayre, Mrs. Sayre asked if she would like to accompany the Crown Prince and his family on a round-the-globe-cruise enroute to Siam. Apprehensive at first, Miss Davis met with Prince Mahidol at the Sayre home and agreed to join them - a decision that led to one of the most fulfilling and exotic experiences of her lifetime, she says.
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Miss Davis set sail from Boston on the ocean liner "Raffles", with Prince and Princess Mahidol, and their three children, Ananda, Kalyani, and Phuniphon. The group called on nine ports and made on extensive European tour including six months in England, and two months in Switzerland.
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For the duration of the voyage Miss Davis shared the finest of royal suites with the members of the household in palatial hotels throughout the continent. "I was treated just like one of the family. The children were so clever!... before the year was up and we had reached Siam, they had learned to speak English quite fluently." This was in addition to German, and French and their native language. "
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"We took almost a full year getting to Siam during which time we traveled half way around the world and I became quite comfortable and familiar with the family". Miss Davis caught her first glimpses of such exotic places as India, Singapore and the Suez Canal before finally arriving in Bangkok several months after setting sail.
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The Royal Palace in Bangkok, which is ornately decorated, and splashed with gold figurines, is reserved for the Reigning Monarch, who was at that time King Prajadhipok, Rama-VI, elder brother of Prince Mahidol.
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Miss Davis shared a more modest palace come distance from the city with the Prince and her young charges. Four hours a day were spent in lessons with the two eldest children, Ananda and Kalyani. Phumiphon, the youngest, who is the ruling king of Siam (Thailand) today, was too young to comprehend anything of the lessons, and was tended by a Siamese nurse within the household. Prince Ananda ascended the throne as Rama VIII at age 11, when Uncle Projadhipok abdicated because of prolonged controversy with his parliament over government reforms. The young boy king had been reigning only a few years when in June 1946, on what was to be a short visit to Siam from his European School, it was announced he had been found mysteriously shot to death in the royal palace. It is reported that the gun found by his head was his own.
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"That child was too full of energy and life - and a real desire to live" replied Miss Davis when asked her evaluation of the situation. "He would never even have considered suicide." Reports from the Palace since 1946 have suggested foul play was involved.
FROM THE SCRAPBOOK
The Glendinning Family of Harvey, 1862
BY DR. WILLIAM RANDALL
REPRINTED FROM THE HARVEY LIONEWS JANUARY, 1999
PDF FILE
The snowy days of early January are great times to read old Scrapbooks. Alberta Murphy (Mrs. Art Murphy) recently loaned me another Scrapbook. There are many families names which no longer exist in the Harvey telephone directory, yet their family stories still evoke memories. This time it's the family name Glendenning.
In 1868 David Glendenning was appointed postmaster in Harvey. He had come to Harvey as its first licensed school teacher in 1862. He came from Galloway, Kent County. In May of 1898 David retired as postmaster and his daughter Mina M. Glendenning became the post mistress, a position she held for 40 years. That post office was located in the building owned by Floyd Thompson and is probably a part of Benny King's apartment.
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The Glendennings built that building and named it The Lakeview Hotel. It catered to overnight travelers or summer vacationists. In the obituary of John Andrew Glendenning a reference is made to "the summer cottage at Harvey Lake". This was a cottage, or camp, which was situated just west of Ernest and Muriel Swan's. It was torn down and a new house was built by Phillip Roberts of Fort Fairfield, Maine who is a descendant of the Atchesons.
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Mina Glendenning died at home alone in the building, which she owned, now owned by Dora and Hugh Boudreau. Neighbors had noticed that she had not been about and they needed a ladder to get into the house. Mina was buried in the Harvey Community Cemetery and a Memorial window is in the Knox Presbyterian Church just above the door that leads from the Sanctuary out to the Sunday School classrooms. Mina was a strong personality and is remembered for the firmness of her discipline with children. Her mother was Jane Robison Atcheson, sister to the earliest Robison settlers. The name Atcheson is no longer here. Mina Glendenning had one brother, John Andrew, and I will include here a bit of his biography essentially because the death and funeral articles appearing in the newspaper of that time mention many fondly remembered family names.
Harvey Station, N.B. March 7 - a period of seventy years of continuous service by two members of the Glendenning family was ended this month when Miss Mina M. Glendenning relinquished the position of Post-mistress here. In 1868 David Glendenning was appointed Postmaster, a position which he held until he resigned in 1898. Mr. Glendenning, who was a graduate of the Provincial Normal School, Saint John, class of 1862, came direct from Galloway, Kent County, by stage and was the first licensed schoolteacher at Harvey. He represented this parish in the Municipal Council for a number of years and was the Warden of the County on different occasions. He was in the official delegation to meet the Marquis of Lorne, Governor-General, on arrival in Fredericton. He was succeeded by his daughter, Miss Mina M. Glendenning, a graduate of Provincial Normal School, class 1892, who has carried on efficiently and has been a faithful official of the postal service until her resignation. Miss Glendenning is widely known as a faithful official of this service and for forty years has carried on this important work. As proof of her close application to her official duties it can be stated that during her entire incumbency Miss Glendenning had but five weeks' vacation.
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In recognition of her services as a public official Miss Glendenning in May, 1935, was presented with His Majesty's Silver Jubilee Medal in recognition of long and faithful service. Due to ill health, in October last Miss Glendenning tendered her resignation to the Department of the Postmaster General, but with some assistance carried on to March 1st, when her successor Coun. Frank Coburn took over the duties as Postmaster. Miss Glendenning, the retired Postmistress plans to take a well earned rest and vacation and will visit friends and relatives in Maine, Massachusetts and California. Good wishes of the people of this community will follow her.
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Railroad Official Retires: May 1938
J.A. Glendenning, who started his railroad career with the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1891 and who since that time saw service with the Bangor and Aroostook and the Boston and Maine Central, was in Fredericton today with David Taylor, of San Antonio, Texas, who is at his summer home at Harvey. Mr. Glendenning was for 37 years with the Boston and Maine Central, the last 17 years being officer in charge of freight traffic at the South Station in Boston. On May 1st he retired and with Mrs. Glendenning will spend the summer at his old home in Harvey, where he built a summer cottage eight years ago. Old friends at Harvey, and in Fredericton, too, are welcoming Mr. and Mrs. Glendenning back for the summer. In the autumn they will return to West Medford, Mass., where they have made their home for agreat many years.
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Harvey, N.B., Oct. 5 - John Andrew Glendenning, only son of the late David and Jane (Atcheson) Glendenning of this place, passed away at his summer home at Harvey Lake, yesterday afternoon following a severe heart attack. The previous evening he and Mrs. Glendenning attended an entertainment held in Taylor Memorial Hall. On their return home he complained of dizziness. Dr. Travis Dougan was hastily summoned but medical aid proved unavailing, and he gradually grew worse, the end coming about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. His sudden passing has caused deep sorrow throughout the community, where he was well known and very highly regarded.
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Mr. Glendenning, who was 66 years of age, started his railroad career with the C.P.R. in 1891, as a telegraph operator, following which he saw service with the Bangor and Aroostook, and the Boston and Maine central, being with the latter railroad company for 37 years. For the past 17 years he was officer in charge of freight traffic at the South Station, Boston, Mass. On May 1st of this year he retired, and with Mrs. Glendenning came to spend the summer at their cottage at Harvey Lake, planning to return to West Medford, Mass. to spend the winter. In July of this year they observed their 40th wedding anniversary. Mr. Glendenning is survived by his wife, formerly Miss Nell McMurray of Lake George, N.B.; one daughter, Mrs. J.R. Dixon Cottingham, of Regina, Saskatchewan; one son, Donald F., of Boston; two sisters, Mrs. Guy Meldrim, of Los Angeles, California, and Miss Mina M. Glendenning at present a patient in Victoria Hospital, Fredericton; two granddaughters and three grandsons. Another sister, Mrs. W.G. Chamberlain, of Fort Fairfield, Me., passed away a few years ago.
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LATE J.A. GLENDENNING
Harvey Station, Oct. 7 - The funeral of the late John. A. Glendenning, who passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 4th, following a brief illness, was held yesterday afternoon with prayers at the home followed by an impressive service in St. James' United Church conducted by the pastor, Rev. Alex. MacKay, assisted by Rev. J.F. MacKay of St. Paul's United Church, McAdam. A mixed quartette, Miss Elda Robison, Miss Gladys Cleghorn, Gilbert G. Robison and G. Wesley Coburn, rendered Lead, Kindly Light, and Abide With Me, while Purdy Cougle sang as a solo Beyond the Dawn. Mrs. Roy Coburn was organist. Mr. MacKay spoke from the verse "boast not thyself of to-morrow." Both clergymen referred to the fine Christian character of the deceased, his cheerful, friendly ways which not only made him many friends but also kept them.
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Ashlar Lodge No. 36 F. & A. M., was represented by sixteen members who marched in a body from the house to the church and formed a guard of honor through which the casket was borne to the grave by six of their number. Dr. B.H. Dougan, James A. Murray, U.V. Caulfield, Leonard J. Gay, Oswald J. Coburn and Purdy M. Cougle, Mr. Glendenning having been a member of Sagamore Lodge, West Medford, Mass. The impressive Masonic ritual was carried out at the grave with Past Master W.J. Gaynor, McAdam, acting as Worshipful Master, and Rev, J.F. MacKay, McAdam, as chaplain. The benediction was pronounced by Rev. Alex. MacKay. Burial was made in the family lot at Manners Sutton where a profusion of beautiful floral tributes covered the grave.
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Those attending from outside points were Donald F. Glendenning, West Medford, Mass., Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Roberts, Dr. W.G. Chamberlain and Miss Dolly Chamberlain, of Fort Fairfield, Me., Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Atcheson, Houlton, Me., J. Harold McMurray, Fredericton, Miss Jessie McMurray, McAdam, Mrs. George Upham Woodstock N.B., Miss Emily McMurray and Mr. and Mrs. Guy McMurray of... (words lost)
FROM THE SCRAPBOOK
An Upstanding Citizen and Businessman,
John Taylor of Tweedside, 1852
BY DR. WILLIAM RANDALL
REPRINTED FROM THE HARVEY LIONEWS FEBRUARY, 1999
PDF FILE
Thursday evening, February 11, I was invited to speak to the Youth Group at St. Andrews United Church. I enjoyed it. I think they did, too. We played a word game, something like Jeopardy. The answers involved a family name in the history of Harvey. They had been requested by their leader, Heidi Little, to fill in a genealogical record and I was pleased to know that they are aware of the uniqueness of the history of the Harvey district.
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Taylor Field was a name known to them. The Taylor names in the Harvey phone book are not related to the Taylor of Taylor Field. Some of us older people remember Taylor Hall - no longer standing; and there are those who would recall hearing of the Taylor store and above it a room used as a meeting place. This building many of us remember as Arthur and Annie Cunningham's store, restaurant and boarding house. That building no longer exists but it's site in part would be covered by Black's Cafe.
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This week I tell the story of one of the earliest Taylor's - John Taylor. John Taylor, of Harvey Station. He came to this country from Scotland in 1850; was born at Whigstreet, Parish of Inverarity and County of Forfar, in 1825, and was therefore about the same age as Lieut-Governor Boyd. Mr. Taylor settled on a lot of wilderness land at Tweedside, so-called, on the western shore of Oromocto Lake, in 1852, where the Swans and others had "got planted uncoricht" two years previously.
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Tweedside is merely an extension of Harvey on the south. It was originally termed the Campbell block, having been granted to Captain Sir Colin Campbell. The land was divided into ten lots and sold to these people by Andrew Inches, who was then or some time shortly after dubbed by George L. Hatheway, "the king of the crown land office".
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The road, instead of being a bridle path as has been said, was then at its best; better in fact than it is to-day, and no finer tract of land could then be seen between Fredericton and St. Andrews; and no finer farms can be seen on the same road at the present time. The first frame house was erected by Mr. Taylor.
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He went on with his farming for a number of years, but when the American war broke out he turned his attention to business, and opened a trade between the villages and citizens of St. Stephen and Calais. This proved to be a lucky step for him and was a boon to the settlers as well. Fortune favored him and he began to be favorably known to the merchants of not only these towns, but Fredericton and St. John as well.
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After the completion of the European and North American Railway (now the Atlantic division of the Canadian Pacific Railway) he sold his farm at Tweedside and removed to Harvey Station. Here he continued trading, and seeing that business at that place promised well, he erected a large and substantial building, the upper portion of which was designed for use as a public hall; the lower divided into two commodious stores for his own use. Previous to this he had become a shareholder in the York woolen mill, the largest mill of the kind in the province, and after a time became sole owner. Carrying on this business took him away from home a great deal and he decided to sell, which he did at a good profit. The mill while under his control got the reputation of manufacturing an extra fine quality of goods, which reputation it has satisfactorily sustained.
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Mr. Taylor had been twice married. His first wife, Elizabeth Swan, was a woman of fine attainments and a sister to John and Alex Swan of Tweedside. She died in 1881. Three years after he married Phoebe Amanda, eldest daughter of the late David Hart of Fredericton Junction, a lady esteemed by all who have the pleasure of her acquaintance. At the time it was written of John Taylor in a newspaper account:
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"Mr. Taylor has had no children of his own but has had the care of his brother's children, two boys and two girls, since they became orphans and all who know the young folks will say that he has fulfilled his duty to them in the fullest sense."
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"He is still hale and hearty. He enjoys the friendship of many prominent men throughout the province by whom he is esteemed and respected for his many excellent traits of character."
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"Three times he has been privileged to visit his native land, thus having seven times crossed the Atlantic."
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"In his time he has contributed a good deal to the press, largely for the St. Croix Courier. His productions always show a keen foresight; a fine descriptive faculty, and an accurate estimate of men and matters. It has been said of him that he is a close observer; as glib with the pen as a true Scotchman and a worthy representative of "The land o' cakes." scotch cakes!"
FROM THE SCRAPBOOK
Harvey High School Winter Carnival, 1981
BY DR. WILLIAM RANDALL
REPRINTED FROM THE HARVEY LIONEWS MARCH, 1999
PDF FILE
Our winter is almost over, and we haven't had all the "fun in the snow" we've had other winters - in fact we haven't yet had "Winter Carnival". My source says that there may be a 'SPRING FLING' instead. But since I'm, "old fashioned" I'll report on a "Winter Carnival of 1981".
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WINTER CARNIVAL 1981
by Jane Myles and Beverley Corey
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Happy Winter Carnival from the festive and slightly bizarre hallways of Harvey High. By now you have correctly guessed that during this past week the school's annual celebration of the beautiful winter season has been held. Fortunately for all students, nature has seen fit to co-operate this year and, as you've probably noticed, there's a fair amount of snow out there!
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This year's theme for Harvey's Winter Carnival was "Goodbye to the Old, Hello to the New", as we recently moved into our new school.
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Each year, winter carnival is organized by the grade 11 class and sponsored by the student council. Adding to the normal level of excitement during the carnival week is the fact that this is the first such event in the new school. Special mention should be made of those who worked long hours to make the carnival possible, including Winter Carnival President Crysta Collicott, Vice-President Benny Goudbout, Secretary Kim Essensa, Treasurer Carla Little and the teachers who put up with the problems stemming from the event.
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The carnival began Monday with "Green and Gold Day". For this and all other dressup days, there was a 25 cents fine collected from those who did not comply with the dress code.
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Monday evening had the highlight of the week, the beauty pageant. At 6:30 p.m. the Drama Club presented their production of "The Death and life of Sneaky Fitch". After a short intermission the pageant began. There were two representatives from each grade vying for the titles of queen, senior princess, and Junior Princess. M.C. for the evening was Mr. Herb Swan; a staff member. Judges were Jerry McFarland and Pauline Lewis of the District 26 School Board, and Pat Gallagher, Miss N.B. Potato Queen.
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Crowning of this year's royalty was being performed by those crowned in 1980: Miss Winter Carnival 1980, Angela Cline; senior princess, Susan Swan; junior princess, Tammy Chessie. Representatives for the beauty pageant were as follows: grade 12, Charlotte Piercy and Mabel Moffitt; grade 11, Marlene Hare and Corrine Chessie; grade 10, Cheryl Cole and Sandra Messer; grade 9, Connie Little and Monica McCann' grade 8, Corinne Cleghorn and Krista Greer; grade 7, Helen Phillips and Janice Cammack.
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Of the 12 contestants in the pageant, only three could be winners. These were Monica McCann, junior princess; Charlotte Piercy, first princess; and Mabel Moffitt, Winter Carnival Queen. Congratulations to all.
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Tuesday saw an odd, to say the least, amalgamation of students dressed in fashions of days gone by. As well, the senior basketball teams played versus Nackawic's teams. These games were very important to the advancement of Harvey's teams to the provincial finals. On Wednesday, students sported apparel from the Hippie Generation (far out man!) and later that evening some of the splendour and excitement of Las Vegas was bestowed upon Harvey as the school was transformed into an action-packed gambler's paradise for the famed Casino Night.
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On Thursday, various wild and crazy hats were seen on the heads (usually) of the student body. Winter Carnival seems to lend itself to crazier-than-usual student behaviour and this year was no exception to the trend. Students later suited up to face the freezing temperatures and participated in the torchlight parade and sliding party. Pizza and hot chocolate were used to thaw out the near-frozen students.
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Friday the 13th, Inside Out Day, is by far the busiest day of the week. No classes are being held. In the morning we had a jello-eating contest, panty hose contest, a Miss Piggy and Kermit Look A Like contest, and kangaroo court. At noon there was a box social. Volleyball games, a mini casino. and the favored teachers versus varsity teams basketball game will fill the afternoon. Hopefully Friday the 13th will prove to be a lucky, rather than unlucky day for the senior teams when they play against Boiestown tonight from 6:30-10:30!
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The final scheduled event of the carnival is a Valentine's Dance to be held tomorrow night at the Rec Centre with the band Misty Blue.
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Last Monday, Feb. 2, the senior boys basketball team were hosts to the Grand Manan team. The game proved to be a very exciting one, with no lack of student support since all students were permitted to attend the game, which was held during class time. Despite tremendous effort, the boys were defeated 78 to 65. Tommy Pollock, the game's high scorer, accumulated a total of 24 points. On last Friday, the Harvey senior teams hosted Stanley in games in which the boys were victorious, scoring 102 points to Stanley's 85. The girls, however, were defeated. On Saturday, Carleton North visited Harvey to outscore Harvey's senior boys.
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In junior basketball action, both the girls' and boy teams attended the District Finals during the last weekend of January. On Friday, the boys traveled to Devon where they were defeated by Waasis by four points. On Saturday they defeated George Street and lost to Nashwaaksis in the consolation finals. Tracy Cline who scored 29, 27 and 20 points in the games, received an All Star award. Congratulations, Tracy!
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The junior girls visited Ecole Sainte-Anne Saturday, Jan. 31 where they defeated Keswick Volley. Later that day they were defeated by Keswick Ridge.
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Report cards were passed out to junior high students, along with the results of grade 9s mini-exams. Parent-teacher interviews were also held last Wednesday. The fact was evident from the assortments of gloomy and triumphant looks.
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Last Thursday the prize money for the annual Remembrance Day literature contest held by the McAdam Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion arrived. Prize winners were: in grade 7A, Jennifer Bird and Shari Swan; in grade 7B, Greg Lawson and Denise Rutherford; in grade 8A Beverley Corey and Kathy McCann and in 8B Norma Little and Dale Saunders.
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The familiar brown bag lunches were replaced last week by long line-ups extending across the cafeteria as the cafeteria officially opened. The cafeteria is capably supervised by Kathy Boone who is assisted by Susan Good, Eleanor Rutherford and Diane Lane as well as student volunteers who rinse dishes and put them in the dishwashers. The cafeteria is administered by Beaver Foods and six rotating menus are provided weekly. Students, teachers and staff, as well as senior citizens, may order their noon mean "a la carte" or in the form of a Four Plus meal consisting of a main course, potatoes, vegetables, dessert and milk or juice for $1.40.
FROM THE SCRAPBOOK
Playing the Organ: Country Style
BY DR. WILLIAM RANDALL
REPRINTED FROM THE HARVEY LIONEWS APRIL, 1999
PDF FILE
Emma has a Scrap basket. From it she showed me an item, which I want to share with you. It's about Church Organists. Emma, my wife of nearly 56 years, is my favorite organist. On our first date (A blind one - Emma had never seen me), her father suggested we have a sing and I wondered who would play. It was Em. Through all these years she has played in many, many churches and funeral parlors, so this item sounds its echoes in her memories.
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PLAYING THE ORGAN - COUNTRY STYLE
By Jean Fahlman
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Playing the piano and organ for a quarter of a century in a country church must make me an expert - at knowing all the things which can, and invariably do, go wrong.
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For example, never buy a new hymn book. It will resist all efforts to remain propped open and in the middle of a hymn suddenly you will be confronted with a closed book. My books are in tatters and that is the way I like them because they will stay open better than crisp new pages.
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Losing one's place is something to battle every Sunday. When your eyes roam down to determine the verse the congregation is singing they may return to the wrong place. That leaves the organist playing one stanza and the congregation singing another; one of them is bound to finish first.
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A little blunder like belting out another verse of a hymn when all the verses have been sung is nothing compared to the embarrassment of stopping one verse too soon and hearing one quavering singer bravely start out alone.
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Your must be prepared to be handed an unfamiliar tune now and then. This might not bother an accomplished organist but most volunteer musicians are just trying to serve with whatever talent they can muster. Mostly they possess more courage than training.
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The country church is full of nasty surprises for unsuspecting organists. Sometimes the minister gives the wrong number and the congregation struggles valiantly to fit five words into two beats. It isn't easy. Or the organist may get the numbers mixed up and start playing the wrong tune until she becomes aware of an embarrassed shuffling of feet and stifled giggles, leaving her to wonder if she is the cause of the hilarity or if someone's zipper is open.
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Electronic organs, like organists, are not without fault. Some Sundays they sulk. A familiar tune becomes unfamiliar when several of the notes won't sound. There is no use trying to explain to the congregation that the notes won't work. With my record they would never believe it is the organ which is malfunctioning.
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Sometimes someone has dusted the organ and moved all the stops so when you start the dignified prelude sounds bleat forth that would frighten the most intrepid musician. The local congregation is polite and appears not to notice but visitors look a little startled.
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When I first started playing for church I thought if I played quietly nobody would notice when I hit a sour note. but they couldn't hear me well enough to follow with confidence so I switched tactics. Now it is full steam ahead, Onward Christian Soldiers, loud and clear. Not necessarily note-perfect, you understand.
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Remember, you have to play with your feet as well as your hands. If you relax and let a foot drop onto the bass foot pedal during a quiet time it sounds like God's deep-toned reprimand booming into the silence.
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Even your shoes can get you into trouble. My heel got caught in the volume pedal crack; the sound was thunderous as I struggled grimly to disengage it. As the music rumbled out the steeple the startled congregation, not understanding my heel was caught, must have thought I'd finally gone over the edge. They'd been expecting it.
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If you relax for a moment it is easy to start playing a piece in flats when it is supposed to be sharps. Since anything over two sharps is beyond my limited ability I have to convert all the music to flats to handle it.
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I never entirely trust the uneasy partnership the organ and I share. Once during a World Day of Prayer service, with an ecumenical crowd, the organ gave out completely. It had to happen when we had a full church rather than our usual 10 people, naturally. As the sound faded away I debated what to do. Since no special effects had been planned for the service I mustered what dignity I could and crossed the floor to the piano while the congregation struggled along a capella. I picked up smoothly from where I left off but naturally the congregation was far ahead of me. And they were also singing in a different key by then.
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Real trouble started when I had to get bifocal glasses. That little line blurred out a whole portion of the score so either I had to tip my head high to bring it in focus or move the seat back so far to use the upper portion of the glasses that I couldn't reach the keys. If I used the lower portion I had to be so close my chest covered the ivories.
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One Sunday the lens fell out of my glasses; it doesn't take much imagination to know how bad the music sounded that day. Finally I was fitted with reading glasses, which worked fine as long as I remembered to take them along.
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Every time we had a change of minister the organist had a whole new adjustment because they all have their favorite hymns - mostly hymns the congregation has never heard, let alone sung. Nobody can ever accuse the United Church of having lively Gospel music but once when a minister came who didn't like to choose the hymns (and let me do it) we came close. Then a musical minister arrived and showed us the error of our ways and the singing went back to pathetic.
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We have been introduced to sound church music over the years but nobody but the minister seems to enjoy it. In fact sometimes I glance over my shoulder to be sure the people didn't sneak out because you sure can't hear them singing.
We had one minister who couldn't tell C from G but what he lacked in a musical ear he made up for in enthusiasm. I got the full benefit of his warbling and got so rattled by all the discord that I couldn't tell if I was playing in the wrong key or if he was singing off-key. During that minister's tenure I developed a stiff neck and blinding headaches every Sunday but was miraculously healed when he was called to another congregation.
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One minister had a habit of singing slowly to savor the words. He would fall half a line behind by the end of the eighth verse. One Sunday I decided to follow him at that slower pace and we had dragged to a virtual halt by the time we hit the last verse, but we sure had time to understand what the hymn writer was saying.
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One thing about playing a country church - nobody tries to steal the job. You can't give it away for more than a few Sundays a year . I have managed, over the last quarter century, to cajole people into spelling me off, but the minute it looks like it might become permanent they fade away like a melody.
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Because it is so difficult to find a replacement I have played with cut and sprained fingers, raging fevers and deep depressions. I have played with head colds so bad I had to play one-handed because the other was needed to wipe my nose. I have crawled off my deathbed, fought my way through snowdrifts, had my husband blow out the driveway or break trail to town over impassable roads, to play for church.
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I have missed bonspiels and rodeos, flower and art shows, because our church hour fell at inopportune times. Right at noon, actually, so I also missed lunch.
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I have left my trucking job at harvest, scraped the dirt off or covered it with makeup, to dash in and play for church. Then I dashed back to the field changing my good clothes for work clothes as I drove.
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I have risen after a late Saturday night dance to practice hymns which came late from the minister, knowing that I can never practice enough to avoid all the embarrassing things that happen to a volunteer church organist.
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I played for church the day after I learned my father had terminal cancer because I thought if I stuck to my routine maybe things would somehow get back to normal. They never did.
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Playing for a country church keeps a person humble - but surely nobody needs to be this humble?