the chignecto isthmus and its first settlers-第29章

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luential　connection　and　wealth　are　not　necessary。　Without　such　adventitious　aids；　what　is　wanted　is　a　native　taste　for　research　and　inquiry；　and　a　determination　of　character　superior　to　environment。〃

PALMERKNAPP。

The　Palmers　and　Knapps　were　Loyalists。　C。　E。　Knapp；　a　grandson　of　Loyalist　Knapp；　writes：　〃The　largest　part　of　Staten　Island；　New　York；　should　have　been　the　possession　of　the　Palmers　of　Westmoreland。　Their　ancestor；　John　Palmer；　who　was　by　profession　a　lawyer；　moved　from　New　York　to　Staten　Island。　He　had　been　appointed　one　of　the　first　judges　of　the　New　York　Court　of　Oyer　and　Terminer。　He　was　also　a　member　of　the　Governor's　Council；　and　afterwards　Sheriff。　When　the　Revolutionary　War　broke　out　his　son　Gideon　held　the　commission　of　captain　in　Delancy's　Rangers；　and　when　the　war　terminated　he；　in　common　with　the　other　Loyalists；　had　to　leave　the　country。〃

Together　with　his　brother…in…arms；　Titus　Knapp；　John　Palmer　found　a　new　home　at　Old　Fort　Cumberland；　where　they　commenced　business　as　general　traders。　They　purchased　adjoining　farms；　and　these　still　go　by　the　name　of　the　〃Knapp　and　Palmer　farms。〃　Mr。　Palmer　afterwards　moved　to　Dorchester　Cape；　induced　to　do　so　because　it　reminded　him　of　his　old　home　in　New　York。　Palmer　and　Knapp　must　have　found　their　loyalty　expensive；　as　their　confiscated　property　is　now　worth　untold　millions。　In　Mr。　Knapp's　case　it　was　not　so　bad；　as　his　property　went　to　his　half…brother；　who；　fortunately　for　him；　was　a　Quaker　and　did　not　〃fight。〃

The　Palmers　have　taken　a　prominent　place　in　the　history　of　New　Brunswick。　Mr。　Gideon　Palmer；　a　son　of　Gideon　（first）；　was　one　of　the　successful　shipbuilders　of　Dorchester　in　the　fifties；　and　Philip；　another　son；　was　for　some　years　a　member　of　the　New　Brunswick　Legislature。　The　late　Judge　Palmer；　of　St。　John；　was　a　son　of　Philip　Palmer。

Charles　E。　Knapp；　barrister；　of　Dorchester；　is　clerk　of　the　Probate　Courty；　and　one　of　the　oldest　practising　lawyers　of　Westmoreland。　Mr。　Titus　Knapp　represented　the　county　for　some　time　in　the　Legislature　of　New　Brunswick；　and　for　many　years　did　a　large　trading　business　at　Westmoreland　Point。

HARPER。

Christopher　Harper　was　born　in　a　small　village　near　Hull；　in　Yorkshire。　He　emigrated　to　Nova　Scotia　in　1774；　bringing　his　family　and　his　nephew；　Thomas　King；　with　him。　He　arrived　at　Fort　Cumberland　on　a　fine　day　in　May；　and　his　surprise　was　great　the　next　morning　to　see　the　ground　covered　with　snow。　Mr。　Harper　bought　a　property　to　the　south…　east　of　the　garrison　lands；　and　moved　his　family　into　a　house　said　to　have　been　built　by　the　Acadians；　but　this　is　very　doubtful；　as　these　people　chose　to　burn　their　dwellings　rather　than　let　them　fall　into　the　hands　of　the　English。　Tradition　says　Mr。　Harper　brought　stock；　both　horses　and　cattle；　with　him　from　Yorkshire。

In　1777　Mr。　Harper's　house　and　barn　were　burned　by　the　Eddy　rebels；　and　soon　after　the　Loyalists　came　to　Nova　Scota　he　sold　his　property　at　the　fort　to　his　son…in…law；　Gideon　Palmer；　and　moved　to　Sackville；　having　purchased　land　near　Morris's　Mills。　It　is　said　he　came　into　possession　of　this　property　through　prosecuting　one　Ayer　and　others　for　setting　fire　to　his　buildings　at　Fort　Cumberland。　In　1809　he　obtained　a　grant　from　the　Government　at　Fredericton　of　the　mill…pond；　and　some　two　hundred　or　three　hundred　acres　of　wilderness　land　in　Sackville；　including　about　forty　acres　of　marsh　on　the　east　side　of　the　Tantramar　River；　above　Coles's　Island。

Mr。　Harper　had　three　sons　and　four　daughters。　His　son　Christopher；　who　was　a　captain　in　the　army　in　early　life；　left　for　Quebec；　via　Richibucto　and　Miramichi；　and　was　not　heard　from　after　leaving　Miramichi。　John　married　Miss　Thornton　（whose　father　was　a　Loyalist）；　and　after　living　at　the　mill　for　a　time　moved　to　Dorchester。　William　married　Phoebe　Haliday；　from　Cobequid；　and　built　on　the　place　where　I。　C。　Harper；　of　Sackville；　now　lives；　Catherine　married　Gideon　Palmer；　Annie　married　Major　Richard　Wilson；　a　north　of　Ireland　man；　Fannie　married　Thomas　King；　and　Charlotte　married　Bedford　Boultonhouse。

Christopher　Harper　owned　the　first　two…wheeled　chaise　that　was　run　in　Westmoreland　County。　He　was　a　magistrate　and　used　to　solemnize　marriage；　and　sometimes　officiated　in　the　Church　of　England　in　the　absence　of　the　rector。

The　Harpers　of　Sackville　and　Bay　Verte　are　descendants　of　the　two　brothers；　William　and　John。

ETTERWETHERED。

The　Etters　and　Wethereds　were　on　the　Isthmus　very　shortly　after　1755。　I　find　that　Samuel　Wethered　was　married　to　Dorothy　Eager；　Nov。　26th；　1761；　by　license　from　the　Government。　Dorothy　Eager　was　a　Scotch　lass　from　Dumfries。　Mrs。　Atkinson；　a　grand…daughter；　has　several　pieces　of　fancy　needlework　done　by　Mrs。　Wethered。　〃Sarah　Huston　Wethered　was　born　at　Cumberland；　in　the　Province　of　Nova　Scotia；　June　10th；　1763；　at　ten　o'clock　in　the　morning。　Joshua　Winslow　Wethered　was　born　at　Cumberland；　Nova　Scotia；　in　September；　1764；　at　ten　o'clock　in　the　evening。〃

Peter　Etter　was　a　jeweller　and　silversmith；　and　kept　a　shop　near　Fort　Cumberland。　He　married　Letitia　Patton；　daughter　of　Mark　Patton；　and　was　brother…in…law　to　Colonel　John　Allan。　Peter　Etter　was　twice　married；　his　second　wife　being　Sarah　Wethered。　He　was　lost　at　sea　in　coming　from　Boston　to　Cumberland。　His　widow　became　the　second　wife　of　Amos　Fowler；　of　Fowler's　HIll。　Peter　Etter　（second）　married　Elizabeth　Wethered；　and　settled　at　Westmoreland；　and　had　a　family　of　nine　children；　Bradley；　Peter；　Joshua；　Letitia；　George；　Maria；　Samuel；　James；　and　Margaret。

The　Etters　are　large　marsh　owners　on　the　Aulac；　and　the　aboideau　across　that　river　takes　its　namethe　Etter　Aboideaufrom　Peter　Etter；　who　was　one　of　the　principal　promoters　of　that　work。

I　find　Jonathan　Eddy's　name　among　the　customers　of　jeweller　Etter。　Mr。　Eddy's　watch　must　have　been　like　that　of　Artemus　Ward's　or　he　must　have　been　agent　for　others；　judging　from　the　amount　of　money　he　annually　paid　for　repairs。

The　Etters　were　originally　from　Switzerland；　and　were　engaged　in　making　glass　before　coming　to　this　country。

CAHILL。

John　R。　Cahill　was　born　in　London；　England；　in　the　year　1777。　His　father　was　a　ship…owner；　but　decided　to　educate　his　son　for　the　Church。　During　a　college　vacation　young　Cahill　was　sent　as　supercargo　in　one　of　his　father's　ships　bound　for　Halifax。　On　the　return　voyage　the　vessel　was　wrecked　on　the　coast　of　Nova　Scotia。　All　on　board；　however；　were　rescued　and　brought　back　to　Halifax。　For　reasons　not　now　known；　Mr。　Cahill　remained　on　this　side　of　the　Atlantic　and　engaged　for　a　time　in　teaching　school。　He　married　Miss　Lesdernier；　a　sister　of　Mrs。　Richard　John　Uniacke；　and　settled　in　Sackville　as　a　farmer。　They　had　a　family　of　eleven；　and　Mr。　Cahill　received　regular　remittances　from　his　father's　estate　as　long　as　he　lived。　Because　of　his　superior　education　he　was　often　called　upon　by　his　neighbors　to　assist　in　transacting　business　of　various　kinds。　Mr。　Cahill　died　in　1852。　The　late　John　E。　Cahill；　of　Westmoreland　Point；　was　a　son；　and　Walter　Cahill；　stipendiary　magistrate　of　Sackville；　a　grandson；　of　John　R。　Cahill。

SMITH。

There　were　two　John　Smiths　who　came　from　Yorkshire　and　settled　at　Chignecto　in　the　decade　between　1770　and　1780。

One　settled　in　Fort　Lawrence　and　married　Miss　Chapman。　The　Smiths　of　Fort　Lawrence　and　Shinemicas　are　descendants　of　this　family。　William　Smith　of　Albert　County；　who　married　Parmelia　Trueman；　was　of　this　family。

The　other　John　Smith　settled　near　Fort　Cumberland；　but　remained　only　a　short　time。　He　incurred　the　enmity　of　some　of　the　outlaws　in　the　neighborhood；　and　as　a　result　had　his　buildings　burned；　in　one　of　which　a　large　quantity　of　goods　was　stored　that　he　had　brought　to　the　country。　This　so　discouraged　him　that　he　left　the　place　and　settled　at　Newport；　N。S。　David　Smith；　of　Amherst；　belongs　to　this　family。

OULTON。

Charles　Oulton；　the　first　of　the　name　to　settle　on　the　Isthmus；　came　to　Nova　Scotia　with　his　mother　in　1759。　At　this　time　Mrs。　Oulton　was　a　widow；　but　before　she　had　been　here　long　she　married　Capt。　Sennacherib　Martyn。　Capt。　Martyn　had　been　with　Winslow　at　the　capture　of　Beausejour。

Young　Oulton　was　seventeen　years　old　when　he　landed　at　Halifax。　Shortly　after　this　he　came　to　Cumberland；　and　his　name　is　on　the　list　of　the　first　grantees　of　Cumberland　Township；　in　1763。　He　settled　in　Jolicure　on　the　farm　now　in　possession　of　Joseph　D。　Wells；　here；　no　doubt；　his　grant　was　located。

Charles　Oulton　married　a　Miss　Fillimore；　and　they　had　a　family　of　twelve　children；　seven　daughters　and　five　sons。　The　children's　names　were：　William；　Charles；　Thomas；　George；　Jane；　Sally；　Patience；　Mary；　Charity；　Abigal；　Betsy；　and　a　twelfth；　who　died　young。

William　married　a　Miss　Smith；　Thomas　a　Miss　Trenholm；　George　a　Miss　King；　Charity　a　Mr。　Williams；　of　Fredericton；　Abigal　a　Mr。　Tingley；　of　Albert　County；　N。B。；　Mary　a　Mr。　Frank　Siddall；　Patience　a　Mr。　Smith；　Jane　also　married　a　Mr。　Smith；　Sarah　a　Mr。　Fields；　Betsy　a　Mr。　Bulmer。　A　daughter　of　Mrs。　Williams　married　a　Mr。　Fisher；　also　of　Fredericton；　and　they　had　five　sons：　Edwin；　Henry；　George；　Peter；　and　the　late　Judge　Fisher。

George；　the　youngest　son；　inherited　the　homestead　in　Jolicure；　and　was　for　many　years　one　of　the　leading　men　in　the　parish。　He　married　Miss　King；　of　Westmoreland　Point；　by　whom　he　had　three　sons：　Thomas　E。；　Cyrus；　and　Rufus。　Squire　Oulton；　as　George　was　usually　called；　was　one　of　the　most　genial　of　men。　In　figure　he　was　tall　and　straight。　He　had　an　open　countenance；　a　quick　step；　a　hearty　laugh；　and　a　pleasant　〃good　morning〃　for　everyone。　He　was　just　the　kind　of　man　to　make　friends。　He　enjoyed　a　good　honest　horse…race；　and　was　always　ready　to　bet　a　beaver　hat　on　any　test　question　that　gave　a　chance　of　settlement　in　that　way。　An　incident　is　told　of　him　in　connection　with　a　trip　made　by　his　son　Cyrus；　which　gives　one　a　good　idea　of　the　man。　It　was　customary　before　the　days　of　railroads　for　the　farmers　and　traders　in　Westmoreland　to　send　teams　loaded　with　produce　as　far　north　as　Miramichi。　These　trips　were　generally　made　in　the　early　winter；　and　butter；　cheese；　woolen　cloth；　socks；　mittens；　etc。；　found　a　ready　market。　The　journey　usually　lasted　ten　days　or　more。　Cyrus　was　sent　by　his　father；　Squire　Oulton；　on　one　of　these　journeys。　A　storm　delayed　the　party；　and　more　than　the　usual　time　was　consumed　before　the　return。　When　Cyrus　returned　he　was　not　particularly　prompt　in　reporting　the　success　of　the　transaction　to　headquarters。　At　last　his　father　asked　him　about　the　returns；　and　Cyrus　said：　〃Well；　to　tell　you　the　truth；　father；　I　did　not　bring　any　money　back　with　me。　I　met　a　number　of　good　fellows　and　had　to　stand　my　share　with　the　others；　and　the　money　is　all　gone。〃　There　was　silence　for　a　minute　and　then　the　Squire　replied；　〃That　is　right；　Cyrus；　always　be　a　man　among　men。〃　That　was　the　last　of　the　affair；　but　it　is　porbably　that　Mr。　Oulton　chose　some　other　agent　to　market　the　next　load　of　produce。

In　later　years　Cyrus　used　to　enjoy　telling　the　following　story；　based　on　one　of　his　boyish　experiences：　〃His　father　had　been　trying　to　buy　a　pari　of　cattle　from　Mr。　Harper；　in　Sackville。　They　could　not　agree　on　the　price；　and　Mr。　Oulton　had　come　away　without　purchasing。　The　next　day　he　decided　to　send　Cyrus　over　to　get　the　oxen；　with　instructio