Item
St. Andrews Standard
Sept 10, 1833
Died
On Thursday, the 5th of September, instant in the 21st year of his age, Thomas, second son of David W. Jack, esquire of this place.
Standard
Oct 22, 1845
Fire
The cry of fire resounded through our streets yesterday morning, about 10 o'clock, which was soon discovered to be in the shed and barn adjoining the house of Capt. Clements, and lately occupied by Mrs. Coldwell. Fortunately the fire was got under before any damage was done to the House, but the shed and barn were much injured. The fire was evidently the work of an incendiary, there having been no person residing in the house for three weeks, and the fire must have been some time set before discovered, in consequence of the snow which fell during the night, retarding its progress—bad it had been otherwise, the house adjoining as well as the residence of D. W. Jack, might have been in flames before discovered. It is impossible to conjecture the motives of the abandoned being who could be the perpetrator of so diabolical an act; as private malice, or the hope of plunder could scarcely be supposed to operate under the circumstances; but it warns all, to be on their guard against similar acts. We heard some fault found with our fire wards, for appearing without their bade of office, in this instance, only one appeared according to law—with "staff and trumpet."
Standard
Undated but probably end of 1834
County of Charlotte in Account with D. W. Jack Treasurer
1834
DR
H. Hatch his salary and contingent expenses £28.8.9
W. Gallagher for keeping prisoners in Lock up House. St. George £10.0.0
John Gallagher for services as Constable £0.11.0
Francis McLorinan ditto 1.5.0
Andrews Sutherland ditto 1.13.0
Francis McLorinan ditto 2.4.6
Richardson Haddock ditto 2.8.9
Charles Cogan for overseeing Criminals 14.9.0
Thomas Quain blacksmith work 11.6.2
Alexander Kennedy articles for Criminals 1.5.6
J. McDiarmid Blacksmith work 1.11.6
J. Wren Old Junk 0.17.6
H. Maxwell water pails 0.6.0
John Rodger Glazing Windows 0.8.0
Perez Bradford Mason work 3.15.3
W. H. Knowles Sundries for Gaol 1.0.0
Alexander Bells services as constable 2.13.6
Ditto 2.2.0
David Blakenay for ringing bell, 10s and 15s
Mrs. Holland cleaning hospital 0.6.0
Harris Hatch on account of Lock up House 30.0.0
C. Campbell Sheriff in part of account 7.10.0
D. D. Morrison for stove 10.0.0
G Knight on account of Lock up House 10.0.0
Robert Hanson ditto 5.0.0
A Snow Gaoler balance of account April Sessions 1833 14.16.8
Ditto amount of account Sept. Sessions 97.12.4
Ditto in part of account April Sessions 1834 110.15.7
Thomas Gream, Constable for conveying prisoners to gaol 1.0.0
Commissioners of Lock up House per T. Jones 2.18.0
Davidson Sprague and Leavitt for attending court as Crown Ws. 3.15.0
Church Meigs allowance for witnesses 7.7.6
H. Hatch salary and for sundry prosecutions against parish officers 36.13.2
Ditto fees taxable on account of prosecutions 4.7.0
Peter Stubs amount paid constable for taking lunatic 0.10.9
Thomas Sime sundries for criminals 9.6.10
Mrs. J. Sharples ditto 3.4.5
N. Ames Tin work 2.7.6
Thomas Berry Carpenter work 5.10.0
Ephm. Willard Constables staves 3.8.10
William Babcock sundry cholera expenses 1.10.7
William Ker for Justice business 1.10.7
Richardson Haddock for services as constable 0.7.0
Ditto 1.6.6
Daniel McLaughlan ditto 3.6.0
John Pike ditto 4.8.6
Robert Sutherland ditto 1.0.6
Ditto for services as Crier and Constable 7.6.9
John Pike ditto 4.13.6
James McNall ditto 2.6.3
Roger Sutherland ditto and Crier 4.1.6
Robert Peacock ditto 0.17.1
John Rodger for glazing 0.11.8
J. M. McDiarmid for locks 1.15.8
Juo. Campbell services as constable 2.10.0
I. J. Spinney attending as Crown Witnesses 1.14.6
W. Hawkins services as constable 2.10.0
David Blackeney for ringing bell 25s and 25s 2.10.0
James Moreland services as constable 4.0.0
David Mowat coroner for services 4.1.0
Robert Peacock services as Constable 4.1.0
John Lochary for blankets, etc. 5.12.0
Andrew Sutherland services as constable 8.12.3
Standard
Oct 20, 1847
St. Andrews Juvenile Cold Water Army
In pursuance of public notice previously given, a large number of the youth of both sexes, together with many adults assembled at the Town Hall, on Saturday afternoon, for the purpose of organizing a juvenile total abstinence society, to be known as the "cold water army." Several individuals present addressed the meeting in a manner highly interesting to their youthful auditors; and well calculated to impress upon their minds the necessity and importance of forming habits of temperance, morality and industry in the spring time of life. A large number enrolled their names, and the list now contains upwards of 180 members. The following officers bearers were chosen for the ensuring six months, vis.
Clements Hatheway, president
J. Thompson, J. Sherlock Vice Presidents
Daniel Wetmore, Treasurer
William Aymar, Secretary
Committee: Messrs. R. Stevenson , John Wren, William Knowles, J. Wren, B. Stevenson , Mel Jack. B. Hatheway, H. Stevenson , M. Elliott, W. Coldwell and F. Stevenson .
Standard
May 28, 1851
Attempt to Rob
D. W. Jack, Deputy Treasurer at this Port, informs us that an attempt to rob his office, was made on Thursday night last. The sash of a back window in his building, which was nailed down, was broken, but ht door leading from the room to the office having been securely locked and bolted, thereby frustrated the intention of the thief, as the room which was entered contained no article of value. It may serve as a caution to the people to fasten the windows and doors of their place of business at night.
Standard
Sept 10, 1879
End of Volume Forty-Six
The Standard has reached the ripe old age of forty-six years, the present issue completing the forty-sixth annual volume, and the writer and compositor of the present article, also set up paragraphs in its first number, published on the 10th of Sept. 1833. He has Sept. at his post all those years, through evil report and good report—through man y discouragements, maintaining the people's rights.
How many of those in St. Andrews who welcomed its initial number, are now living? Out of upwards of a hundred subscribers in town at that time, but four are alive, a whole generation has passed away, among the number, its first editor and proprietor, our respected father, the late George N. Smith.
A former representative for this County, the late James brown, in his addresses from the husting, used to inform his constituents that, their grandfathers and fathers nad supported him at every election and he hoped their descendants would follow their example. We can use the same language to our subscribers and assert, that their grandfathers and fathers patronized the Standard, and their descendants are following their example. But alas we miss the old familiar faces of the Raits, Wilsons, Allanshaw and McMaster, the Jacks, Hatheways, Wyers, Whitlocks, Campbells, Babcocks, and other old residents, many of whom have not left even one of the name residing in the town.
[last issue of Standard]
Standard
July 21/1880
A Retrospect
It is rapidly approaching a half century since the Standard was first issued. At that time St. Andrews carried on a large trade with great Britain, and the West Indies, the Port owning upwards of eleven thousand tons of shipping, carrying ton timber to Great Britain, and boards, shingles, house frames and cattle, to the West Indies, and return cargoes dry goods, iron, coal, salt and ships fittings from Britain, and rum sugar, molasses mahogany and tropical fruit from the West Indies.
Her merchants were men of capacity, enterprise and energy—one of them owning forty sail of vessels, among them ships, barques and brigs; only one small vessel, a schooner was registered here, it being the port of registry and entry for this County. There are no such merchants now as Scott, Rait, Wilson, Allanshaw and McMaster, Ker, Douglass and Campbell, Scott and Jack, Wyer, Babcock and Son, and others. At that period the C. C. Bank was doing a large business and was the only money institution in the Province with the exception of the Bank of New Brunswick at St. John. Business was brisk, money abundant, no lack of employment. The trade of St. Andrews was second only to that of St. John, indeed in commercial standing it was almost on a par.
Pilot
Dec 16/1880
St. Andrews—Write It Up
The St. Croix Courier, from time to time has done its share towards placing St. Andrews in a favorable light before the public, and so has the writer as correspondent of the Telegraph, Watchman Courier and other papers, previous to his assumptions of the editorial management of the Bay Pilot, and since then he has lost no opportunity to lay before its readers, glowing and truthful descriptions of the town and its surroundings. but something more is required, a publication in some way that will reach the class of people who are looking for new fields in which to spend their summer holidays. We can think of none more suitable than that suggested by the Courier-an illustrated article in some of the great American Monthly Magazines, or the Canadian Illustrated News—Mr. Taylor, photographic artist, of F'ton, has a number of views of St. Andrews and its surroundings; also Mr. John H. Hall, photographer of St. Andrews from which selections could be made as copy for engraving, and then Edward Jack, esq., of F'ton, who is thoroughly conversant with all the points of interest in and near St. Andrews and has at his command a fund of old traditions and Indian legends, might be induced to supply the late press, which as he is a native of the Shiretown, a descendant of one of the old and most respected families—would to him be a labor of love. To get the cuts required for illustration money must be provided. By whom? That's the question! We think the gentlemen who own and control the Argyll; Hotel, which will, barring accident, be thrown open to the public early next season under the management of the lessee, Capt. Herbert, should at least take the initiative in this matte by signifying their willingness to subscribe; then a meeting of prominent property holders and business men might be called and the matter talked over, which would, we think result in a subscription list being state and thus the necessary fund would be secured.
Pilot
Aug 18/1881
A New Watering Place, by R. Melville Jack.
There are some little corners yet left in the wide, wide wide world where the rush and turmoil of the restless current of business has not disturbed their natural repose, and where the whirlwind of improvement has not torn off and defaced the coloring laid on by the hand of the master Artist.
It is one of these, and one which is so near and so easy of access that it seems almost incredible. It should have remained in its natural quietude and beauty so long that I wish to tell you. Step with me some worm June or July morning when the sun is shining a promise to burn your brain to a crisp ere noon, into one of the international steamship Company's excellent boats lying at Commercial wharf (Boston) and we will visit it. We leave at eight o'clock, am and 2 o'clock on the day following will be at our place of destination. Or take the train at either the Eastern or Boston and Maine depot and in about the same time you will reach it. But give to us the steamboat, the cool sea air, the ever changing shore lines,( for we never lose sight of the coast), the numerous and different vessels that we meet and pass, the shout of "there she blow" as some great whale rises lazily to the surface and with t blow and a roll disappears only to reappear a little further on, the glassy surface or blue ripple of the sea, the view of Mount Desert towering up on the coat, and the Green Mountains falling far away in the distance, the twinkling of the lights from the lighthouses as night draws her sable veil over the face of the old ocean and as we steam up the Bay of Fundy the rock bound coast of Maine on one side and the rocker bound Island of Band Manan on the other. Old days of summer bliss! No storm to mar our comfort, no scorching heat to lessen our enjoyment, nothing but rest, beauty and pleasure.
Our ship rounds Quoddy Head and steams up the narrow passage, so narrow that we could throw a stone ashore at either side; up past the little town of Lubec, and lo we are at Eastport, the most eastern town in Uncle Sam's domain. Here another steamer comes alongside and taking us and our baggage on board, away we go again, up the pleasant Bay of Passamaquoddy, where during the quiet, dreamy summer months the water is never so rough as to interfere with the yachtsman's pleasure and where fog, shut out by the girdle of island which surrounds it, hardly every enters, onward we steam past Clam Cove, Head and enter the inner bay placed like a magnificent emerald in its setting of various hued mainland and island. Just fronting us on the opposite side of the Bay is the town, but it is yet ten miles distant and lies low, so is rather indistinct, but as we draw nearer what a charming picture reveals itself to our view.
The little town nestling at the foot of a gradually rising eminence, on one side the mouth of the St. Croix River and the purple hills of Maine; in front, the green waters of the bay, with the sunlight glistening and glittering like flakes of molten gold from the tops of the little wavelets; on the other side Chamcook Harbor and Minister's Island rising in graceful proportions from its setting in the sea, while back of the town and four miles distant from it, Chamcook Mountain rises beautiful in its misty robe of blue and wooded nearly to its summit. As our little steamer glides between the light house and the southern end of St. Andrews Island we find ourselves in the harbor and directly opposite the town. And now gentle fellow traveller allow me to heave you at the hotel while I attempt a sketch of the town and its surroundings, together with its scenery and the pleasures in store for those who visit there. St. Andrews is one of, if not the oldest town in the province of New Brunswick. The point on which it is built was named Point St. Andrew after St. Andle [sic] the priest who there first erected the cross. DeMonts and Champlain were the discoverers of the beautiful Bay of Passamaquoddy which nearly surrounds the town, and for a century from that time its history is nearly a blank. About the year 1700 two French officers Gourden and Sharkee (as they were called by the English) were sent to take command of the Passamaquoddy Indians, and build a fort from whence they were to attack Massachusetts. The deeds of cruelty committed by the famous Canadian Herteo de Rouville so excited that on the 4th of July 1701 Joseph Dudley, Esq., then Captain General and Governor-in-Chief of Her Majesty's Province of Massachusetts, issued instructions to Colonel Benjamin Church to proceed to Machias and from thence to Passamaquoddy, and effect what spoils he possibly might upon the enemy in these parts. Church, according to his own account, succeeded in capturing Gourden and his two sons, driving Sharkee and the Indians into the woods and taking all their fish, carrying away as much as they were able, and destroying the remainder.
During the early portion of the present century St. Andrews was a flourishing and wealthy little town, shipping large quantities of pine timber to England and the West Indies, but the opening of the Baltic ports to the English trade and the building of St. Stephen and Calais about twenty miles above on the St. Croix together with other circumstances gradually withdrew the businss, and since that time the little town has lain in its present state of quiet repose, its old wharves and docks rotting away and its warehouses and stores crumbling to pieces, until now they have almost disappeared, their places having been taken by new wharves and stores of less pretensions sufficient for the present business of the place.
But though time has destroyed its signs of former business greatness it has had no effect on the natural beauties of the place and its surrounding. The town is built on a peninsula making out into the bar and rising in a gradual ascent from the water edge to a height of about 150 or 200 feet. This eminence, called the "Barrack Hill" from an old fort called Tipperary built upon it summit, again slopes downward on the other side until it meets the waters of Katy's Cove, a slight indenture of the bay, while toward the landward side the country stretches away with an undulating surface dotted with farms and woods until it reaches the base of Chamcook Mountain, distant about 4 miles. This hill is a great resort for picnic parties and pleasure seekers, it is wooded nearly to its summit with a splendid open growth of birch, beech, maple, etc., and capped with a huge lodge of soft grey rock in which are cut the name so former visitors, thus leaving a lasting record for the inspection of future tourists. From the top of this hill is one of the most beautiful views imaginable, indeed the view from almost any elevation is charming, but from old Chamcook's rocky crown more particularly so. In front, as you stand looking seaward, the bay studded with its numerous islands, twinkling and shimmering in the sunlight and divided from the Bay of Fundy by Pendleton's, McMaster's and Deer Island over the tops of which, forty miles out to sea, the wave lashed shores of Grand Manan are distinctly visible. Turning and facing in the opposite direction, the chain of the here Chamcook lakes lies almost directly beneath the observer, their blue waters glancing like sapphires in the flood of bright sunshine that lights up the charming scene. Away in the distance can be seen many lakes in the State of Maine, conspicuous among which is lake Meddybemps. On the left, the St. Croix River, the boundary line between Maine and New Brunswick creeps up in a silver threat between the dark green woods and darker hills, while on its banks twenty miles distant lies Calais, St. Stephen, and Milltown—the clatter of their mills and the noisy hum of business reaches us not, but all quietly they lie as if only placed there to add to the beauty of the picture—and on the right the indented coast line of Charlotte County backed by dark brow and red volcanic looking hills draws around in a semi-circle until it reaches Latete passage dividing McMaster's Island from the main land.
Here the opportunities for yachting especially for boats of the smaller class are unsurpassed. The Bay hemmed in as it sis with its circlet of islands, is completely protected from storm and gales, in fact there is no weather during he summer season in which a yacht may not lie safely at anchor in the harbour, and seldom does the weather interfere with the sailing of boats in the bay; a familiar acquaintance with the bay and islands and very many boating excursions made both in Passamaquoddy and Fundy Bays fully justifies me in saying, I do not believe that there are more than three or four days during the summer that the winds are sufficiently strong in Passamaquoddy Bay as to interfere in pleasurable boat sailing. The larger class of yachts can increase the length of their cruises by going out either through Latete or clam Cove passage in to the Bay of Fundy and thence to the Atlantic. But for picnic parties which desire to return to their point of departure upon the same day Passamaquoddy cannot be excelled. In the first place independent of the views from the island and their own picturesque appearance, many of them produce in large quantities the smaller fruits of berries, some of which are in season during he whole extent of the summer and far into the autumn. The strawberry, the raspberry, the blackberry, the blueberry, the cranberry, the wild gooseberry and a host of others. But first the wild strawberry. Ah! The wild strawberry not the bruised and bleeding mass of pulp, not the overgrown and tasteless cultivated berry from the market garden, but the deep red, full flavoured wild berry picked fresh from the stalk, and the rich think yellow cream without a drop of milk left in its composition is the treat reserved for the picnicker to Harwood Island in the month of July. So thickly do these berries grow upon this island that I have seen the edges of the ladies white shirts stained red from brushing over the fruit during their strolls over the place. This little spot is about half a mile long and five or six hundred yards in width and distant from the town about eight miles.
After the strawberry season is over we turn our attention to the next in rotation the raspberry. And for that we go to Minister's Island (so called from its once belonging to the first Protestant clergyman of St. Andrews.) This Island is still nearer the town, at back part of it is the picnicking ground is nearest the berries and present the most romantic appearance. The beach is of red sand with here and there high points and projections of the old red sandstone some of which are perforated by holes and caves produced by the action of the water; in these red sandstone cliffs are found beautiful specimens of a rose colored quartz and up and over their rugged surfaces climbs the wild pea and convolvulus. Winding our way through some narrow ravine upward we soon reach the home of the raspberry which here grows in great luxuriance and to a large size, immense quantities are picked by poor children and offered for sale on the streets of the town.
On other of the almost innumerable islands in this beautiful bay grow quantities of the berried which I mentioned before but each island seems to have its own specialty. The cranberry which is the latest of the season grows in immense quantise on some of the island just outside the inner bay and are gathered and shipped as an article of commerce. It would be impossible to give an adequate idea of the beauty of the scenery by description changing as it does from every point of observation. Here the artist has his choice of the magnificent or the pastoral, the marine or the landscape. Here the sportsman can choose between the land bird or the sea fowl.
And here the fisherman can at his pleasure drop his fly on the calm surface of the lake or dance it on the ripple of the purling brook or more ambitious stream. The Chamcook lakes abound in fish, the trout, the landlocked salmon, and the tuladi or togue, this latter is a fish not inferior the trout either for sport or for the table, six or seven pounds is not an uncommon weight and I have know some caught in the lower Chamcook lake to weigh as high as fourteen pounds each.
Bocabec Lake is another sport dear to the fisher men on account of the white or silver perch with which its waters abound and which weigh from 1 to 2 pounds. Bonaparte, St. Patrick's. North and numerous other lakes offer their inducements to the fishermen in the way of specked and salmon trout.
The Magaguadavic River, from lake Utopia near its mouth to "big Magaguadavic Lake" some sixty miles further up, with its numerous feeders and lakes, is the fisherman's paradise, especially, Lakes Utopia, Red Rock, Sparks and McDougall and MacDougall Lakes Stream.
The Saint John and Maine Railway runs close by Big Magaguadavic, beneath the Dam of which have been caught rout weighing as high as five pounds. No more pleasant excursion cold be offered to the disciple of "Old Isaac" than a camping rip on this river and its lakes, and both rods and guns should be carried along. (to be continued)
Droll piece by the "Jester" of the Argyll piece above on the supposed absence of fog in the Bay area. Only the problem of other towns, it seems.
First notice for Kennedy's Hotel. "The Hotel contains baths and all other conveniences." See earlier description, which lingered on bathroom water closet facilities.
St. Croix Courier
Aug 18/1881
A large party of ladies and gentlemen from Houlton are "roughing it" in Merritt's building on Ross's wharf. American House newly repainted.
St. Croix Courier
Aug 25/1881
A rumour is prevalent in regard to Navy Island. Big hotels, driveways, etc. seem to be the gist of it.
Melville Jack concludes his piece on "A New Watering Place." See previous issue.
The Schooner H. V. Crandall is in town discharging a cargo of Sydney coal, consigned to R. Ross.
St. Croix Courier
Aug 25/1881
Melville Jack concludes his piece on "A New Watering Place." See previous issue.
The Schooner H. V. Crandall is in town discharging a cargo of Sydney coal, consigned to R. Ross.
Pilot
Dec. 16, 1886
Reminiscences of Old St. Andrews
. . . Mr. D. W. Jack, W. Kerr and John Aymar on Montague Street between Sophia and Princess; Capt. George P. McMaster on Parr Street and Mrs. Keltie and Mrs. Chandler on Frederick Street.
Beacon
Aug 13/1891
Reminiscence of a Duck Shooting Trip to Chamcook Narrows
. . . .
This is no fancy sketch, but a simple recital of a shooting trip to the Chamcook narrows in which the names are altered with the exception of Finlay's, who at that time lived in a little shanty on the northern end of Minister's Island. Both the men, though not very young now, would I dare say, give a good deal to have just such another trip.
—-R. Melville Jack.
Beacon
Feb 11, 1892
Scraps of History
Gleaned from the Old Sessions Records of Charlotte
LEASING MARKET WHARF LOTS
On the sixth day of January 1820, Thomas Wyer auctioned off a number of lots adjoining he Market Wharf, to the following persons, at the yearly rent stated:—
Lot 1. Jonathan Currier, 31 pounds
Lot 2. John Staples, 17
Lot 3. Harris Hatch, 19
Lot 5. Joseph Walton, 21
Lot 6. Colin Campbell, 16
Lot 7. Benjamin Stymest, 16
Lot 8. Samuel Frye, 13.
Adjoining lots were leased to Peter Stubs and David W. Jack.
Beacon
Feb 18/1892
Scraps of History
Gleaned from the Old Sessions Records of Charlotte
THE PRESENT COURT HOUSE
In April 1839, the Board of Sessions passed a resolution appointing D. W. Jack, Hon. H. Hatch and Alfred Street a committee to erect a courthouse, giving them authority to expend a sum not exceeding 1200 pounds in its erection. Cornelius Connolly's tender was 150 in excess of this sum, but the tender was accepted, and the work proceeded with. Shortly afterward Alfred Street removed from the County and Hon. James Allenshaw was appointed on the committee in his stead. In 1840, the courthouse was completed and handed over, the Sessions holding their first court in it on the 3rd day of October in that year. The land on which the old courthouse stood was sold at auction in October 1839 and was bought for town purposes by Hon. H. Hatch who paid 200 for it. This the lot on which the present town hall now stands.
Beacon
Dec 19/1895
A little bit of history
Mr. George a. Boardman remembers when he first used to visit it sixty years back. (1836)
Then there were no steamboats on the river and I used to go by way of Robbinston and across the ferry by Joe's Point. A tall man they used to call Long John was ferryman. He was afterwards drowned in crossing. My employer sold lumber to the merchants of St. Andrews, and I used to go down and sell an collect about every month in the busy season and can say that those old merchants of that day very a very superior set of men, such as the McMaster's, Pagans, Raits, Stranges, Scott, Dunns, Wilsons, Hatch, Allenshaws, Campbells, Jacks, Streets, Whitlock, and others. the most of my business was with James Raite, and I used to think him an ideal merchant. He was an Englishman but came from Jamaica. His wife was a Miss Watt and her brother took a farm near the present Watt Junction, it being named after him. Mr. Raite took a hand in the wild speculations of 1836. He bought a large field in Calais on the road to Milltown, paid down a part of the high price and it was abandoned and sold for taxes. I know you cannot spare me space to go into a biographical history of those men as I should like, but I must say a few words of John Wilson, who was a very energetic and enterprising merchant. It was through his perseverance and push that the railroad from St. Andrews to Woodstock was built, about he earliest road in the province. St. Andrews at that time was a busy, thriving, driving, town. the stores and warehouses were large and well filled, there were nice wharves along the shore, and the harbor was full of large vessels loading for foreign ports.
Beacon
Aug 28/1902
Reminiscences of Bye-Gone Days
For the Beacon
. . .
I realize that when a man emigrates from the place of his birth he always in a retrospective view, sees it and every body and thing about as he had been accustomed to see it. It is always the same dear old home to him, regardless of its humbleness. Nature seems to place in the heart of man a love for the humble, old home that no amount of prosperity or riches in another sphere can obliterate, hence so many remember in their last will and testament a fond recollection of their old home. A I read the columns of the home paper it makes me sad to see how few names in it I recognize, I too forget how time passes, forget it is 48 years since I left and that great changes in the population have taken place, to see there is not he name of Wilson, Hatch, or Street in the town,—and so many that moved in the same circle—Col. David and Mrs. Mowatt, David W. And Mrs. Jack. Col. And Mrs. Wyer, Thomas Wyer, Mrs. Wiggin, the Hon. B. R. Stevenson, and his brother, Fletcher, all have passed to their reward. They were a goodly lot of ladies and gentlemen, who would add grace and dignity to any condition of life, and a community should be much the better for there having been of it.
—J. M., Boston, 1902
Beacon
March 26/1903
Mr. D. R. Jack, publisher of Acadiensis, was in town last week for a few days. While here he secured a lot of valuable historical material.
Beacon
July 16, 1903
St. Andrews Number
The July number of Acadiensis is essentially a St. Andrews number, almost its entire table of contents having some connection with this historic town. The initial article by the editor, Dr. R Jack, treats of St. Andrews by the sea historically, geographically and socially. Then follows a contribution from the pen of Prof. W. F. Ganong on the St. Andrews and Quebec Railroad. A list of the wills registered at St. Andrews from 17y83 to 1849 is given. The Penobscot Loyalists is an interesting historical article contributed by r. Jas. Vroom Mr. D. F Maxwell writes upon "Hon. James Brown" with particular reference to his poem entitled "?the Devil's Reply to Robert Burns." He also gives a sketch of this old time parliamentarian. The poem is reprinted in this number. "The Soudan—in 1886" is a thrilling piece of verse contributed by Charles Campbell, a native of St. Andrews. Rev. A. W. Mahon furnished a swell written sketch of "the Ault Kirk." Several pages are devoted to epitaphs transcribed by the editor from the old buying round here. "Reminiscence of Sa," a paper found among the effects of the late John Campbell, follows. The last editorial in the St. Andrews Standard, edited by the late Adam W. Smith, whose memory is still fragrant, is reproduced. "Anecdotes Relating chiefly to St. Andrews," by the late Isaac Allen Jack, is an entertaining contribution. There is also a readable article on Book Plate. The number is profusely illustrated with St. Andrews scenes, past and present. Very many of the summer cottages are reproduced. The number is one that ought to be greatly prized by all who are interest in the place.
St. Croix Courier
Jan 27/1910
Mr. D. Russell Jack, editor of Acadiensis, to whom I am indebted for information, says that David Howe removed to Halifax, and is buried in the old historic graveyard there.
History of Journalism in St. Andrews
Paper Read Before Canadian Lit. Club by R. E. Armstrong
Feb 10, 1910
THE STANDARD APPEARS
The third paper to enter upon the field of journalism in St. Andrews was the Standard and Frontier Agricultural and Commercial Gazette. The last named high-sounding appellation was dropped in later years and it became known to the public as the Standard. It was established in 1833, Mr. George N. Smith being its first publisher. It has an unbroken and triumphal record of almost half a century. Mr. D. Russell Jack says it was probably one of the best New Brunswick papers of its day. The correctness of this observation I can fully endorse, it having been my privilege to inspect many of the earlier editions of the paper from the files now in possession of Mrs. Charles S. Everett, a grand-daughter of the first publisher. That its inception was not unattended with the tribulations incident to the early life of most papers is shown by the following circular which has fallen into my hands:
St. Andrews, November 23rd, 1833
"Sir—When I undertook to publish the Standard I found the press and materials in a situation, from which it was not thought advisable to remove them. That situation, however, will not suit for carrying on the work during the Winter, therefore a fit place has been selected in which the Establishment will in future be conducted. The removal has interrupted this day's publication, for which your indulgence is most respectfully craved."
"The difficulties attendant on my new occupation are disappearing, and I not ony look confidently forward to regularity of publication, but an promise a series of original articles on the local concerns of this County, as well as the general affairs of the Province, which will be found to embrace those liberal views how so widely entertained."
"I am Sir,
Your most obedt. Servt.
Geo. N. Smith"
THE BEACON
Of the Beacon other hands than mine will have to write its history. Suffice it for me to say that it began publication in the Land Company's building on May 2, 1889, and that up to the present moment it has never lost an issue, never failed to appear at the appointed time. It was the firt paper to introduce a steam power plant in St. Andrews. The Beacon was originally known at the St. Andrews Beacon, but as its horizon widened it adopted on the present title.
In concluding this somewhat imperfect and rambling sketch of St. Andrews newspapers and editors, I would take this opportunity of expressing my thanks to Rev. Dr. W. O. Raymond, of Saint John; Mr. Clarence Ward, President of the New Brunswick Historical Society; Mr. D. R. Jack, Editor of the Acadiensis; Mr. John S. Magee, formerly editor of the Bay Pilot, Mrs. C. S. Everett and others who have assisted me by contributing information upon the matter in hand.
St. Andrews Rural Cemetery
Walter B. 1836 - 1910 / His wife / Maria 1832 - 1911 / Walter E.1870 - 1873 / Lilian Hope 1872 - 1953 / Marian Margaret 1874 - 1962 / Bessie E. JACK 1865 - 1903 / MORRIS
Beacon
Feb 9/1911
Mrs. Walter Morris
The death occurred in Saint John hospital on Tuesday afternoon, of Mrs. Maria Morris, who passed away a few months ago. The deceased, who had been enjoying fairly good health, was taken ill a fortnight ago. As she continued to grow worse, an operation was decided upon. Last Wednesday, in company with Dr. Thomas Walker and her daughter, Miss Lillian Morris, who is a professional nurse, she was taken to the general hospital, St. John, where an operation was performed. She seemed to improve for a day or two after the operation, but on Monday her condition grew critical and on Tuesday afternoon death intervened and her sufferings came to an end. The deceased was 78 years old. She was the daughter of the late David Jack, who was prominent in the life of St. Andrews for many years. The late William and Henry Jack, of St. John, and the late Edward jack, of Fredericton, were brothers. Another brother, R. Melville Jack, C.E., resides in Sydney. He is the only surviving member of the Jack family. Mrs. Morris is survived by two daughters, Misses Lillian and May Morris. Bereft of both parents within a few months, very general sympathy is expressed for them. The body will arrive here on today's train and interment will take place therefrom. The church service will be held in St. John.
Beacon
March 21/1912
"St. Andrews Night"
There were stories of old school-day battles, of the troublous day of 1818, of the Fenian raid, and of the many quaint characters that St. Andrews in its early day possessed.
One amusing narrative was that of Frank Lynn, a mischievous lunatic, who, on his way to the asylum at St. John, possessed himself of the warrant of commitment, and, when he reached the asylum, persuaded the physician that the constable was the real lunatic. The constable was detained for several days while the roistering lunatic drove gaily back to St. Andrews.
Then there was the story of the late Dr. Caleff, who, on a very foggy day in 1818, thought he heard a noise like a Yankee gunboat out in the bay. The Home Fencibles were brought out and remained on duty for two days. Then it was discovered that the mysterious noises had been caused by a stately old turkey gobbler.
The story of a dainty little silver trowel, which had been handed down from the misty past, was among the stories told by Rev. A. W. Mahon.
A most amusing story was that of a youthful British officer, who was hoodwinked into rowing down to Deer Island to fight a duel with the brother of an Eastport young woman he had flirted with. As the "brother" was a myth, there was no duel. The joke was not discovered by the officer until years after, when he was at Constantinople on his way to the Crimea.
Among the Loyalist stories that were told was one relating to the history of the British coat of arms in All Saints' Church, which had been brought from Wallingford, Conn., by the first rectors, Rev. Mr. Andrews.
Many laughable incidents connected with the Fenian raid were narrated.
Mr. John Campbell, during the narration of his reminiscences, declared that St. Andrews had not been so prosperous for 75 years as it is today.
A feature of the evening was the display of "relics" of St. Andrews, among which were a venerable sampler; a wedding message of 1786, written upon birth bark; the family bible of the late Dr. Cassels, the first teacher of the grammar school, and the first Presbyterian clergyman of St. Andrews; the first bible used in Greenock church; a communion token of 1825; a gold signet ring bearing he Bredalbane crest; a medallion brooch; the banner of Hibernia Masonic Lodge, the first Masonic lodge to be established here; a ponderous old watch; an old picture of St. Andrews in its very early days, and a number of other most interesting and historic antiques.
One of the most interesting "exhibits" made at the meeting was an autograph letter recently received by Rev. A. W. Mahon from the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Miss Mowatt read the birch-bark wedding messages, which was a most unique production. During the evening Miss Gwen. Jack sang solos. Dainty refreshments were served by the hostesses, Miss Mowatt and Miss Campbell, and a most delightful evening was concluded by the singing of Auld Lang Syne and the National anthem.
Beacon
Sept 26/1912
Reminiscences of Old St. Andrews
(Written by the late R. Melville Jack and Read Before the Canadian Literature Club, St. Andrews)
These sketches I will have to give you just as scattered reminiscences and you can classify them as you see fit.
One of my first memories is my father telling me that he had seen a hundred vessels loading pine timber here at one time. That was before the duty was taken off the Baltic lumber in England. [1820] My father came from the West Indies, where he had been manager on a plantation and had the management of the slaves. When he landed in St. Andrews, he had only a half dollar (a silver dollar cut in halves). Mr. Rait was then the principal merchant there, and as his office was at the head of the wharf, he carried his trunk there and asked Mr. Rait if he could heave it until he found a job. The answer was that he could, and an officer of the lowest clerkship which was accepted at once was made him. The result was that eventually he became one of the partners in the business.
I heard him tell a pretty good story of his early days. He and an old man, Nathan Niblock, slept in the store. Along the upper shelf of the room in which they slept were some 20 or 30 clocks. One evening my father wound all these clocks up and set the alarms so that commencing at midnight the first one would go off and be followed by the others in rotation. You can imagine the infernal din. Poor old Niblock was almost frightened out of his wits.
There were some rather funny occurrences at the old Grammar School. Of course we of the Grammar school considered ourselves as the autocrats and many fights we had with other schools to uphold our supremacy, and I presume, owing to the "esprit de corps" we used to come out on top. There was a large school opposite ours with which we were continually at war and many pretty bloody battles were fought but the Grammar school kept its supremacy.
One of the characters of the town was a young man usually called "crazy Kelly" who went dancing about the streets and though generally harmless, would when angered by very vicious. Another was Frank Lynn. William Henan, constable, was appointed to take him to the lunatic asylum at St. John. Henan got a horse and wagon and called for Frank and they started on their way. Frank seemed delighted at the idea of the trip and a stop at a grand hotel. On the way Henan showed Frank the warrant telling him that was the order from government for their trip, and as it was not immediately returned Henan forgot it or delayed to regain possession of it. On their arrival at he asylum, while Henan was putting up the horse, Frank proceeded to the building, saw the doctor, showing him the warrant and told him that he man who was looking after the horse was the patient and that he was laboring under the delusion that he was an officer bringing him to the asylum, with the result the Henan in spite of all his protests was detained and Frank returned to St. Andrews. Of course Henan was released afterward and Frank took his place.
Kempt Boyd, a son of the old member, James Boyd, was generally up to some mischief. My brother Edward and Levi Handy having shot a large loon, Kempt suggested that they should make it a present to eh new lighthouse keeper (now the loon is about the toughest bird that swims or flies). So they took the bird to the lighthouse and made he keeper who was not acquainted with aquatic birds, a present of it, telling him that it was a splendid kind of duck and very rare. The man was delighted and invited them to supper when the delicacy would be served. The supper took place, but I doubt if a fork could be inserted into the bird, but they finished the side dishes and the drinkables.
Another character was Mcbeath, an old Highlander who used to turn out in full highland costume and parade the streets on the Queen's birth day playing the bagpipes and followed by the usual crowd of street urchins.
One of the oldest persons I can recollect was Mr. Ker, originally of the firm of Ker, Douglass and Campbell, who did a large business in St. Andrews in the old days. I remember him at 90 years of age with long, thick, black hair and not a gray hair, in his head. Squire Wilson, who lived at Chamcook, is another of the old stock that I can remember well. He had a beautiful brick cottage about where Mr. Grimmer's house now stands and a fine park in which were several deer. He built many ships, both at Chamcook and St. Andrews. There were two brothers, Edward and Joseph Wilson, who lived in the brick cottage now occupied by Mr. Everett. Among others I recall were Dimock and Wilson, who did quite a large business; Mr. Turner, the founder of the Odell business; Mr. Trenholm, who had quite a large orchard where we used to steal apples; old Joe, a negro who lived in an old ship's cabin at the head of the town, and made splendid spruce beer; the Pottery on the brook that crosses the Joe's point road just above the town. Flower pots were their principal product but they made clay marbles and we cold get a lot for a copper (no cents in those days). Then there was a broom factory, where Joe Handy's place is, opposite Kennedy's hotel and aback of that a racquet court. In those days the Market Wharf had shops and stores its entire length, but a great fire carried them off.
Beacon
Aug 17, 1918
Centenary of Charlotte County Grammar School 1818-1918
The celebration of the Centennial of the Charlotte County Grammar School was held in the Assembly room of the Prince Arthur School on Friday evening, and a full report will appear in our next issue. We have been supplied with an advance copy of the "Historical Sketch" by M. N. Cockburn, Esq., K.C., which is as follows:
The Friends present tonight must suffer a disappointment, if they are expecting from me anything that could be at all regarded as a proper history of the Charlotte County Grammar School. It was only ten days ago that I was asked to take part in this very important and most interesting event. It can therefore be readily understood that a great injustice would be done to this institution, whose traditions bear such unmistakable marks of age, distinction, and importance, to speak of the few disconnected facts and incidents to which I shall be able to refer tonight, as "A History of the Charlotte County Grammar School."
To prepare anything that would approach a real history of an institution such as the Charlotte County Grammar School, covering a period of one hundred years, in ten days' time, would be a task far beyond me and would palpably fail to do justice to the school; to its antecedents, to its splendid accomplishments and to the noble army of great men and splendid women, who have for a whole century aught and studied in that school. It is regrettable in the extreme, that a proper history of this School has never been written, and even more regrettable, that all the records and data from which such a work might have been compiled, have not been preserved.
The Acts of the Legislature of the Province of New Brunswick dealing with this School, and some records still to be found in the Office of the Board of Education at Fredericton, give some small degree of information respecting the establishment and working of the Charlotte County Grammar School, but the events and facts that would have been most interesting to records in a properly prepared history of the school, have been allowed to perish and be forever lost, in the passing of the older generations of St. Andrews' people, without in any form leaving behind them a record of the knowledge they had on that subject; which is quite as painfully true of many important events connected with the Torn of St. Andrews, it first settlement, its commercial growth and development, its ups and down as an industrial centre, and its transformation into Canada's greatest summer playground.
At attempt at this date to gather material for a proper historical sketch of the Charlotte County grammar School, convinces one very forcibly of the fatality of delay, and it is surprising how very little information is now at hand from which to complete a connected tale of this ancient establishment. Records that give any information along the required lines are indeed very scarce, and the older people from whom so much valuable information could have been obtained and preserved have passed along to that Country, from whose bourne no traveler ever returns.
From the best information I can obtain every pupil who attended the School, under the teaching of the first school Master, and, with very few exceptions, all who attended under the Master who was Brunswick show that this School was established by an Act of the Legislature, passed March 11th, 1816, entitled, "an act to Establish a Grammar School in the Town of Saint Andrews."
The preamble of the Act reads oddly enough, to those who live in these advanced days of educational advancement and necessity, in these days when education constitutes one of the indispensable necessities in the life of every man and woman. The preamble sets forth—"Whereas education of the youth is of the utmost importance in society, and public attention to that subject has by experience been found to be attended with the most beneficial effects."
The Rector of St. Andrews Church (as it was called in the Act referred to), in the Parish of St. Andrews, for the time being, together with Robert Pagan, John Campbell, John Dunn, Colin Campbell, David W. Jack, Harris Hatch, Thomas Wyer Jr., and John Strang, were named as the first Board of Trustees and Directors of the School, by the name of "the president and directors of the public grammar school in the town of Saint Andrews." It was also provided that the Rector was always to be the President of the Board. And those were substantially the conditions, under which the School was conducted until the coming into force of the Free School Act in 1872, when by the new Legislation, the St. Andrews Grammar School, in common with the Grammar School then existing in all the other Counties in this province, was merged in and became a part of the Free School system of the Province, since which time it has been known and legally designated as the Charlotte county Grammar School.
Until the adoption of the Free School Law, which was passed by the Legislature on May 11th, 1871, and by the terms of the Acts, came into operation on the 1st day of January, 1872, the Grammar School, in St. Andrews seems to have been entirely distinct from the other School system then in vogue so much so indeed that Patrick Clinch, who was the first school Inspector for Charlotte county appointed by the Government, and whose home was in St. George, when making his annual report to the Government in 1854, expressed his appreciation of the great courtesy that had been shown to him by "the president and Governors of the Academy at St. Andrews," in permitting him to pay a visit to the aforesaid Academy.
The Act of incorporation provided that the Government grant of 100 pounds should be made annually, in aid of the Grammar School, towards the support of a Master, and 200 pounds to aid in the erection of a school building. But it was provided that as soon as the annual income of the said Grammar school should in whatever manner the same might arise, amount to 600 pounds, then the annual Grant of 100 should cease.
There is now no available source from which to learn the exact date when the erection of the Grammar School building was commenced but inasmuch as the Act authorizing the erection of such building was passed in 1816 and the School was opened in the year 1818, it would seem to be a fair inference, that the Old Grammar School building was erected about 1817.
The building as originally erected, or the first Grammar School, was a square building in form, with a hip roof; from the centre of the roof arose a bell tower of the same form as the main building, and that was surmounted with a peaked roof, from the apex of which a flag staff with a ball on its top pointed skyward. The door opened into a hall, on either side of which was s class room, and at the end of another door opened into the school room. Just opposite the last mentioned door in the main room, and against the wall, was a sort of pulpit, with a reading board on the front, into which the Master used to ascend when hearing his classes, and especially for the hearing of classes in translation of Greek and Latin.
At some subsequent time, the date of which I have not been able to ascertain from any source, an addition was made to the original building, on the end facing on King Street. All present will know, that the old Grammar School building stood on the same site now occupied by this Prince Arthur School building. The addition referred to comprised the space afterwards occupied and known to the present generations, as the cloak rooms and class room, as the same were at the time the old building was abandoned. In making the addition referred to, the interior of the building was changed in form, and a "V" roof put thereon, with the gable end facing on King Street. A small bell tower was placed on the eastern end of the building, from which for many generations the old Grammar School bell, which is in evidence here tonight, rang out its call to summon the Grammar School pupils to their daily tasks. The old building when enlarged and remodeled increased the size of the main school room, by the removal of what were originally the hall and class rooms referred to in this description. In that enlarged and remodeled condition, the old Grammar School building served as a school building, under whose room many bright minds were trained and developed, and many who afterwards became prominent and distinguished men and women, passed their graduation.
In 1912 the old building was removed from its original site, after ninety-four years of service, to a place on the lot below that on which it sat so many years, and is now crumbling into decay, a standing witness of the work of the iconoclast, and if its inner walls could be made to speak, much that would interest and amuse could be learned, which now, alas, can never be known.
In 1811, the Rev. John Cassills, a Presbyterian Divine, was sent out from Scotland to teach the Academy at King's College, Nova Scotia. That was then a denominational school, under the management of the Anglican Church, and the governing body did not feel altogether comfortable about a Presbyterian clergymen moulding the minds and lives of the youths of their faith, and a knowledge of the existence of that feeling caused the teacher to chafe slightly under the cords that bound him to a school, and to a people who loved and honored the man, but had doubts a to the soundness of his theology. The opening of the Grammar School at St. Andrews, and the need of a teacher to take charge thereof, afforded Mr. Cassills, an opportunity of relieving his mind on a difficult problem, against which he had fought for seven years; and at the sacrifice of income which in after years he must have sorely needed to rear and educate a family of twelve children, with which God blessed him in his married life, he accepted the appointment to the principalship of what was then the St. Andrews Grammar School."
In 1818 Mr. Cassills moved from Windsor, Nova Scotia, to St. Andrews, and took up his residence in what was afterwards known as the "Donaldson House," which occupied a site on the upper part of the block immediately above the Grammar School building, which Block is now the property of Lady Tilley.
The reminder of Mr. Cassills' life was spent in Charlotte County, and during that time he build and occupied a dwelling on Minister's Island, on site that is still spoken of, by some of the older people, as the "Cassills' field." He also built and occupied the dwelling house on the Saint John Road which was lately owned and occupied the late Mr. Robert McLaren and his family. He also owned, occupied, and died in the dwelling house at Vardon's Point, Bocabec, which has lately been remodeled and is now owned by Mr. Angus Holt.
At the opening of the school in 1818, it was exclusively for male pupils in the advanced grades, and Mr. Cassills' pupils, for the first years of his term, were every largely made up of sons of the United Empire Loyalists and their descendants. That splendid class of men who, three quarters of a century ago, were the very life-blood of all St. Andrews' industries, whose enterprise and industry placed St. Andrews, in their day, at the head of the commercial Towns of New Brunswick; lined the water front with wharves and warehouse, and taxed the same to full capacity with shipments to and from; filled the harbor with ships which carried on a very large trade between here and the Old Country and between here and the East Indies; who promoted and built the first lien of railway in new Brunswick; whose ability, integrity and enterprise place them foremost among the men of New Brunswick, and who set a place for the commercial life of St. Andrews, which their descendants failed to maintain, were graduates from Mr. Cassills' school.
How interesting it would be if we tonight could read a list of the names who responded to Mr. Cassills' first roll call, on the opening of the Old Grammar school in 1818. Unfortunately there is no such record extant, and I have been able to ascertain their names of only a few who were his pupils during the twenty years that he was Head Master in that school, from 1818 to 1838. During that period, however, the late Honourable Harris Hatch raised and educated a large family. There were five boys whose names I remember, from information given to me years ago by some of the older people. They were Harris, Wellington, Christopher, Edward, and Charles. Mr. Cassills took delight in telling of an incident that occurred in connection with the Hatch family, while the boys were in his school. Perhaps there is only one person living today who remembers hearing Mr. Cassills relate this tale, and that is Miss Jane Kaven, who now lives in Bocabec, who has seen ninety summers, and whose recollections of Mr. Cassills are still very distinct. The honorable Mr. Hatch, was, of course, solicitous of the welfare and future of his boys, and in discussing their possibilities with Mr. Cassills, said he felt that Harris, Wellington, Christopher, and Edward were boys of strong intellect and would easily make their way in life; Charles, however he thought to be of weaker mental caliber, and he asked Mr. Cassills if he did not think he had better educate Charles for the Ministry. Whether it was because of the views expressed by Mr. Cassills in reply to Mr. Hatch's inquiry or some entirely different cause, Mr. Charles Hatch never attained the scared calling which was then his father's ambition. Another pupil who attended the school under Mr. Cassills, was the late Mr. Thomas Thompkins Wyer, who was a familiar figure on the streets of St. Andrews half a century ago. Mr. Wyer was a godly man, and did much good in the community, in his own way, but like Mr. Charles Hatch the could not be classed as a man of strong mental powers. For the purpose of this narrative, I am assuming that colonel Wyer, the father of Thomas Thompkins Wyer, like his son, Charles, thought it would be his paternal duty to place his son in some occupation where brain power would not play much part. He, therefore, educated his son, Thomas as a lawyer, and Mr. Wyer became a member of the New Brunswick Bar, but his mind and thoughts ran in too saintly a groove to continue long in that profession.
The last two survivors among the men who attended Mr. Cassills school, were the Late Honorable Senator Arthur Hill Gillmor and the late Mr. Charles O'Neill.
In 1836 the Rev. Mr. Cassills resigned his charge of the Grammar School, to resume his work in the ministry, and assumed charge of a Presbyterian circuit in this County, with churches at Bocabec, Whittier's Ridge, and Mascarene, wherein he labored faithfully and well until his death on July 18th, 1850. His remains rest beside those of his wife, under the shadow of the spire of Greenock Presbyterian Church h in St. Andres.
Mr. Cassills bore the reputation of being a man of strong scholarly attainments. His sermons and writings, many of which are still in existence, show the had a profound knowledge of , and took a deep interest in astronomy. While in the Grammar School he successfully taught navigation, and many a sea captain who afterwards sailed on the five oceans, obtained the whole of their theoretical education while in his school. He spoke fluently and wrote freely in seven languages. He certainly was himself a scholar of a very high order, but the opinion did prevail among some of his pupils that he did not possess the ability to impart knowledge to eh same degree as possessed by some of his successors in the school.
In 1838 Mr. Daniel Smith Morrison succeeded Mr. Cassills as Head Master of the Grammar School. As far back as that time we have evidence of the fact that nick-names were common and in sue, as they are at the present day, for history records that this new Head Master was given the name of "Long Morrison," of "Sugar Tongs," from the fact that he was very thin, had long legs and a very short body.
Mr. Morrison continued in charge of the School from 1839 to 1849, when he went to the United States, became a citizen of that Republic, entered the legal profession, and was appointed a Supreme Court Judge in the State of California, which position he held at the time of his death. Some years before his death, and after his elevation to the Supreme Court bench, he was visited in California by our worthy and much esteemed fellow townsmen Mr. Henry O'Neill. Mr. Morrison really taught the Grammar School only ten years, as he spent one year from 1q845 to 1846 in England, on leave of absence, and during that period the school was in charge of Mr. Charles Bli St. Stephen, who afterwards became an Anglican clergymen. During the time that Mr. Bliss was in charge of the school the number of pupils in attendance sensibly decreased, as it is said he lacked the magnetism and personality of Mr. Morrison. Upon Mr. Morrison's return, however, the vacant seats were speedily filled and the attendance became so large that an usher had to be engaged. Many changes were made in the management of eth school and in the system of instruction. Trial by jury was instituted, so that no boy accused of misconduct should be unfairly punished.
I have obtained the names of some of the men who were students under Mr. Morrison, and no doubt many of them will be familiar to some of those present tonight. The list includes: Stannus Jones, Mortin Jones, Vernon Jones, the Hon. B. R. Stevenson , Dr. J. F. Stevenson , Rev. Fletcher Pickles, George Miller, John Miller, Robert Miller, J. Sydney McMaster, J. Ambrose Street, Arthur Streets, George W. Street, W. H. Street, W. D. Aymar, Mathew J Elliot, Andrew Elliot, William Austin, George Buckstaff, John smith, Henry O'Neill, Rev. Francis O'Neill, James O'Neill, Hugh Stoop, James Stoop, Darius Ingraham, Patrick Quinn, Thomas McVay, Daniel McStay, John Dunn, B. O. Hathaway, John B. Balsom, John Boyd, James Maloney, E. S. Polleys, R. Melville Jack, John Lochary, Charles Eaton, Fred Eaton, Donald Berry, Fred A. Morrison, John Campbell, George Mowat, Thomas Berry, Alexander Berry, Robert Stevenson , Capt. Nelson Clarke, Capt. John Wren, Alexander McGill.
Very few indeed on the above list are still living, but we are glad to number among our citizen in St. Andrews three whose names have been given to me in the above list, and who are with us tonight, Mr. Henry O'Neill, Mr. James Stoop, and Mr. E. S. Polleys.
I could give some slight account of those whose names are above given, in their after life, but that would be personal history, not history of the Grammar school, to which I feel I must limit myself in this narrative.
One incident, however, which is directly connected with the school and has been given to me from a reliable source, may be worthy of touching upon as I pass along. It is connected with the late Fred A. Morrison, who as a pupil at the time. He afterwards went into the legal profession, in which he distinguished himself during the short time he lived, and was a law partner with the late Judge King of the Supreme Court of Canada. At the time referred to the late Dr. Jerome Alley was the Rector, and as a trustee of the school, was paying an official visit. Dr. Alley was a short and very fat man, and while examining the school at the closes of the term he asked Fred Morrison to spell the word "Fatally," and Mr. Morrison proceeded to divide the word in syllables and spelled it thus: "Fat, fat; Ally, Ally." Dr. Alley was wise enough to take no notice of the play that had been made on the letters of his name, but the story is worthy of repeating, as evidence of the remarkably swift wit on the part of young Morrison, who as that time was scarcely fourteen years of age. This incident may have occurred n the School of Mr. Smith, rather than the school of Mr. Morrison.
Mr. Morrison was succeeded as Head Master in the School by Mr. Randal E. Smith in 1849. Mr. Smith at that time was a young man, fresh from King's College, his home being on Prince Edward Island. One of his pupils has spoken of him in this manner: He was then abut thirty-five years age, and was what would be truly called a fine looking man. His hair was brown, face full with side whiskers, average height, and a form inclined to fullness. His step was light and sprightly, and tradition told how he had put to flight two big loots who, for a fancied grievance, had treacherously taken him unawares. His learning was of the first order; he was an excellent English scholar, a good French scholar, and was proficient in Latin, Greek and Hebrew; he was a capital arithmetician and mathematician, and taught navigation to many a youth who afterwards was destined to command the ships that sailed the briny deep. While playful and jolly at recess or before session he was a strict disciplinarian, once the bell had announced the hour for work. He was noted or impartiality, and the son of the aristocrat would "catch it" just as quickly as the poor scholar who was getting his classics for making the fires or brooming the floor, if the rules had been infringed and a castigation was required. It was the custom in Mr. Smith's school to begin the morning session by reading a Chapter fro the New Testament, each pupil continuing the text as his name was called, and the Catholic boy was obliged to bring his Douay for that purpose, though it would have been handier and cost a small sum of conscience to use his neighbors King James Version. He disliked anything that smacked of bigotry, and no fault would meet with more severe retribution than the one of sneering at another's religion.
In 1855 Mr. Smith was ordained a Deacon in the Anglican Church, and acted fro some years as assistant to the Rev. Dr. Ketchum, but continued teaching the Grammar School until 1868, when he left St. Andrews and became the Rector of St. Marks Church in the Parish of St. George, in succession to the Rev. Mr. McEwen. He died in July 1899, much regretted not only by his own flock, but by all dominations. A young man just from college he at first had pretty hard work controlling a rather rough and pugnacious lot of pupils, who had been brought up to believe that truth and pluck would always win out, and his hasty punishments without proper investigation, soon precipitated a revolt, which happily resulted in a very much better understanding between scholars and teacher. Mr. Smith had severely punished one of the older boys for a slight offence, the others thought the punishment entirely out of proportion to the offence, and thus the trouble came about. During recess Mr. Smith often went o this lodging, only a block from this school, laving the doors open. On this occasion one of the boys, named Grant, had left his cap in the building, and finding the door fastened on the inside, started to climb in the window; there he was repulsed by a boy named Smith, a brother of the Master, who spat upon his head. However, he managed to get in and looking about for a way to punish his aggressor, bethought him of the cellar under the building. This cellar was entered by heavy trap door in the floor, and being only used a receptacle for fuel during the winter, was consequently filled with cobwebs and black dust; and as there were no windows it was perfectly dark when the trap was closed. Opening this trap door, he caught Smith and thrust him down, then closing the door, left him a prisoner. When the Master returned and had taken his place at his desk, loud cries of "let me up!" were heard coming from the cellar. "Who is down there?" the teacher said. "Me," was the response; "And who is me?" "Smith"; "Who put you down there?" "Grant." "Go and let him up Grant." Grant went to the trap, threw it open, and seizing Smith, whose head reached nearly to the floor, by his long hair dragged him out. His appearance, covered with dust and cobwebs, was too ludicrous, and a roar of laughter greeted his arrival. Smith told his tale, and Grant was ordered to take off his jacket, when he received such a horse-whipping, as would be looked upon with horror at the present day, and which left long white wales across his shoulders and around the arm stretched out to protect his face and body. After school was dismissed Grant proceeded to take it out of Smith for tattling, and for which all the other boys each gave him a box on the ear. They had made up their minds that if the Master undertook to thrash the lot they would take the horsewhip away from him, and upon his attempting to do so the following day they did take away his whip. Of course there was a struggle, and the small boys ran out crying "They are killing the Master!" and the excitement was rather intense. Not a blow was struck, but the whip was simply taken away, as the Sheriff and constables were on their way to the scene of riot. The boys retied to the shades of "McFarlane's Woods" till after dark, when they returned each to their own home. There was s trial for assault afterwards but nothing came of it, and eventually all the boys engaged in the affair returned to school. Here credit must be given to Mr. Smith for acting like the Christian gentleman that he was; there was no difference made in the treatment of the rebels, and everything went on as usual—minus the horsewhip. To the pupil who thus related this incident Mr. Smith shortly afterwards said "I think I made a mistake with you boys, and that I was too severe. I am going to try a new tack and trust to your honor to be a little trouble to me as possible, but rather an assistance." He stuck to his part of the contract, and the boys stuck to their as far as it was possible for boys to do so. The gentlemen from who the above account was obtained, was the late Mr. R. Melville Jack. The late Mr. Charles Campbell once related the same incident, but told it in a more sanguinary way. In Mr. Campbell's account he stated the boys wrenched the wooden frames from the slates and struck the Master with the sharp corners and edges, and much blood was spilt in one way an another. He further related that both sides were so infuriated that some tragedy might have happened, but fortunately one of the younger boys thought of the bell, and rushing to the rope rang out a peal, which echoed over the Town. Immediately the inhabitants rushed up to find out what was the mater, and row was stopped. The larger boys who even then supposed that they had killed the Master, fled to woods, and it was some days before they were all safely returned to their homes.
This, Mr. Campbell stated, was a lesson to both parties, and from that time the school was most successful and efficient—indeed so thoroughly was he grounded in classics and other branches, in that school under Mr. Smith that on his arrival in England, he took an exceptionally high position at College for a boy of his age, to the astonishment of the Masters and ushers who examined him, and who were all under the impression that the had come fro an uncivilized country.
There were many able men graduated from Mr. Smith's school, and afterwards became prominent in the world and industry. I regret I have not a full or more perfect list of those men, but it has not been possible for me to get a list that would be at all complete. I have however, been furnished with the following list of names of men, who at some time were pupils in Mr. Smith's school: Elbridge Hannah, William E. Polleys, Thomas Munroe Hannah, Eber S. Polleys, William Sydney Smith, John Algar, Owen Jones, Martin law, Harry Gove, Isaac Kennedy, Edward Foster Law, Charles Campbell, Howard Campbell, John Treadwell, Jarvis Stephen Law, James Coldwell, Henry Quinn, Edward Jones, Thomas Miller, James Chandler, Vernon Nicholson, Joseph A. Wade. Arthur Whitlock, Claude M. Lamb, Robert Chandler, William Smith, George Treadwell, Edward S. Waycott, James Brennnan, J. T. Whitlock, William Whitlock, Edward B. Chandler, Guthrie Treadwell, Charles Ketchum, Warwick A. Lamb.
The names that I have thus obtained, are from the best available sources possible but neither myself nor my informant desire to be responsible for the complete accuracy of the list. I think the late Hon. Dr. George J. Clarke also was a student in Mr. Smith's school, for a short time, but the short period at my disposal has made it impossible for me to verity that as a fact.
In 1868 Mr. Francis Partridge succeeded Mr. Smith, and I think it was during his term that the school was opened, for the first time, to female pupils. Mr. Partridge was held in high esteem, not only by his pupils, but by the entire community among whom he moved, and after his term as teacher in the Grammar School he was ordained n the Anglican Church, wherein he labored with great success and ability.
Mr. Partridge was succeeded as Head Master in the Grammar School by Mr. Charles M. Sills, now the Rev. Dr. Sills, who began his work in the Grammar School in 1872, and from then until the present time ahs maintained a strong and friendly interest in St. Andrews, in its people, and in all its institutions. For many years he has been a regular visitor to St. Andrews during the summer season, and none who come among us are more beloved or more welcome than the distinguished gentleman who has spoken to us tonight, as the oldest surviving teacher to the Charlotte County grammar School. It is fitting, too, that Dr. Sills should retain a kindly feeling and recollection for this old town of Saint Andrews, as it was by his association with e Charlotte county Grammar School that he became bound by sacred ties in the family of the late Reverend Dr. Ketchum, who for so many years filled the sacred post of Rector of All Saints Church, and who during all those years, endeared himself to the hearts of the people, in a way and to a degree that few men in any walk of life have ever succeeded in doing. To very many of us his memory is a bright spot in our lives; the good that he did in his sacred calling and the deep interest that he ever took in the public schools, and especially in the Charlotte county Grammar School, will cause his memory to linger lovingly in our thoughts, so long as there remain any of the people who were privileged to know him.
Dr. Sills' term and work in the Charlotte County Grammar School can be discussed with so much more correctness and so much more interest by him, than it could by any other person, and as we enjoy the great privilege of having him here tonight, I simply pass on, without further referring to his tenure of office in this venerable institution.
I am not able to give the dates, lack of time has made that impossible but the names of the teachers who followed Dr. Sills in succession are: Dr. J. A. Wade, Dr. James F. Covey, Mr. Arthur W. Wilkinson, Mr. Horsman, Mr. William Brodie, Mr. Colpitts, Mr. Fred L. Day, Mr. J. A. Allen, Mr. George J. Trueman, Mr. George, E. F. Sherwood, Mr. S. A Worrell, Mr. William Woods, Mr. William H. Morrow, Mr. George B. Carpenter, Miss Edna L. Giberson, and Miss Salome Townsend.
Dr. Wills was the first teacher to take charge of the Charlotte County Grammar School after the New Brunswick Free School Law came into force, and many changes were put into effect in the administration of than school.
I might be permitted in closing to say, that in my investigation I am lead to believe that, previous to 1833, Parish Schools existed only by the grace and at the option of the inhabitants, and the same were under no restrictions by, and received no sanction from the legislature or from any governing body. A teacher's qualification for the position consisted solely in his willingness to assume the duties of the position, and as a result Mr. Lorimer, who succeeded Patrick Clinch as the second School Inspector, for the County, should have found it necessary to say in his report to the government as late as 1862, that he found the Parish Schools in a most deplorable condition; that the teachers were for the most part, a lot of illiterate and ignorant females, having no qualification for the work outside of being of fairly good character.
Many years have passed since the New Brunswick Free School Act came into operation. The Charlotte county Grammar School has remained perpetually under the best obtainable teachers, but looking back over the past decade or two decades, one must sometimes wonder if the system is at fault, or if the material is deteriorating, or it, as a matter of fact, the graduates from that institution during the past twenty years have measured up in point of ability with the graduates who passed through the school, during the first three quarters of a century of its existence.
St. Croix Courier
April 9, 1942
Shiretown Items
Cherry Hill
I have learned what constitutes to true "Cherry Hill" in St. Andrews and how it got its name. About 1825 Dr. McStay purchased the entire block on which the house he built, though later remodelled, still stands and which is known to the present generation as the Wallace Property. Indians were camping on a little cleared spot at the time and were asked to vacate. The remainder of the block as well as all the rest of that part of the town, though surveyed for streets, consisted of thick woods. While the house was being built a bear used to come out and feed on scraps the men threw to him. A Mr. Jack built the house now owned by the Misses Morris (occupied in summer by Marshall Hodgeman) [is this the Morris girls in the 1923 silent movie featuring a visit to St. Andrews, etc., and now in the Provincial Archives—the one by Colonel Heasley; the map of 1878 shows Beth's parent's house as being owned by W. H. Morris] and the McStay boys cut a path through the woods so that the families could visit back and forth. When Dr. McStay cleared the remainder of the block he found a row of cherry trees running straight through the centre which he thought must have been planted by the Indians as there were none found elsewhere in the neighborhood. He named his home" Cherry Hill," which name it still bears. About fifty years ago that whole neighborhood was called Cherry Hill and the boys who lived there were known as the Cherry Hill Gang.
St. Andrews Rural Cemetery
Walter B. 1836 - 1910 / His wife / Maria 1832 - 1911 / Walter E.1870 - 1873 / Lilian Hope 1872 - 1953 / Marian Margaret 1874 - 1962 / Bessie E. JACK 1865 - 1903 / MORRIS
Sacred / To the Memory of / Rebecca R. JACK late / Consort of David W. JACK / Who died Jan. 20, 1828 / Aged 59 yrs / R.J. [footstone]
In Memory of / Charles St. Stephen / Son of David & Rebecca JACK / Who died / 4th September 1819 aged 7 months / [epitaph]
JACK: David William Jack b. 25 Feb 1785 at Cooper Fife, Scotland: came to NB in 1802 and settled in St. Andrews, Charlotte County:
1. m. (1st) 10 Dec 1810 Rebecca Russell Wyer b. 22 Jul 1788, died 30 Jan 1828, d/o Thomas Wyer, a Loyalist of Charlestown, MA and St. Andrews, NB;
2. and his second wife Mary Hunt [Wyer - named after mother Mary Hunt Wyer, buried in Loyalist cemetery] : m. (2nd) 21 Sep 1829 Mary Wyer born c1802 in NB, sister of Rebecca:
Children of first wife:
1) William Jack born 27 Sep 1811, died 1 Oct 1886, married Emma Carleton
Kenah d/o Joseph Kenah and Mary Allen: they had eleven children:
2) Thomas Jack born 19 May 1813, died 5 Sep 1833:
3) Margaret Jack born 20 Apr 1815, died 2 Jan 1869:
4) Alexander Jack born 29 Apr 1817, d. 28 Jan 1833:
5) Charles St. Stephen Jack b. 31 Jan 1819, d. 9 Sep 1819:
6) Mary Jack born 17 Aug 1820, died 7 Sep 1820:
7) Elizabeth Jack born 13 Oct 1821, m. J.T. Nevill:
8) Henry Jack b. 11 May 1824, died 28 Oct 1884, m. Jun 1862 at Gagetown, NB, Annie Carmichael Johnston b. 17 Dec 1840, d. 20 Nov 1882, youngest d/o Hugh Johnston settled in Saint John: had six children:
9) Edward Jack b. 8 Apr 1826, d. unmarried 31 Dec 1895:
Children of second wife:
10) Mary Rebecca Jack born 21 Nov 1830, d. 9 Dec 1830:
11) Maria Jack (twin) b. 15 Mar 1832: (this woman was the wife of Walter Morris)
12) Jane Jack (twin) b. 15 Mar 1832, d. 25 Mar 1832:
13) Laura Jack b. 7 Feb 1834, d 1 Sep 1895:
14) George Cecil Jack b. 15 Sep 1835, d. 30 Dec 1835:
15) Robert Melville Jack b. 5 May 1837:
16) David Jack b. 5 Mar 1840, died 9 Mar 1840.
Sources: MC80/338 I. Allen Jack's Biographical Review, pages 9-10, 428-431: Mary Allen was a daughter of Isaac Allen, a Loyalist from New Jersey: see also MC80/360 Acadiensis: Vol III, No. 4, Oct 1903, Old Burial Ground, St. Andrews, pages 285-286: see also MC80/467 David R. Jack's History of Saint Andrew's Church, SaintJohn, NB, pages 333 to 335: see RS184 New Brunswick Museum Vertical files, Jack family: William Jack and Emma Carleton, microfilm F11085, 6 pages: see also New Brunswick Museum: Markham scrapbooks: The Jack family on microfilm F10048, pages 109-112.
Rural Cemetery:
In Memory of / David W. JACK / Born at Cupar Fife / 25, February 1785 / Died 24, November 1863 / And of / Rebecca Russel WYER / His wife / Born 22 July 1789 / Died 20 January 1828
[children of second wife]
[side] Mary Rebecca / Born 21 Nov 1830 / Died 9 1830 / Jane / Born 15 March 1832 / Died 25 March 1832 / George Cecil / Born 15 September 1835 / Died 30th Nov 1835 / David / Born 5 March 1840 / Died 9 March 1840
[side] [epitaph]
[children of first wife]
[side] In Memory / Also of his children / Thomas born 19 May 1813 / Died 5 September 1833 / Margaret 20 April 1815 / Died 2 Jany 1869 / Alexander born 29 April 1817 / Died 28 January 1833 / Charles St.Stephen / Born 31 January 1819 / Died 4th Septr 1819 / Mary born 14 August 1820 / Died 7 Sept 1820 / [legion cross]
N.B. Curiously, Mary Hunt Wyer, Jack's second wife, is not listed on the gravestone, even though Rebecca, his first wife, is, even though she is buried in the Loyalist cemetery.