the chignecto isthmus and its first settlers-第14节
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ts。 〃ELIZABETH SCURR。〃
Dennis Dooley； Justice of the Peace of the commonwealth of Virginia in the year 1789； was a good penman。
James Law owned Prospect Farm before Thomas Scurr。 The deed conveying the property from Law to Scurr is still among the documents at Prospect。 As Law was early in the country after the expulsion； it is probable he was the first to get possession after the removal of the Acadians。
Thomas Scurr； sen。； left the country soon after selling Prospect Farm。 The old chronicles say he was a man very much esteemed for his piety。 He represented Cumberland township； for one session at least； in the Legislature at Halifax。 In 1785； 〃in opposition to the advice of a friend against going from a place where was wanted to a place where he was not wanted；〃 he removed to the South； and purchased an estate near Norfolk； Virginia。 He repented too late； for nearly all the members of his large family fell victims to diseases peculiar to southern climates。
There was another Thomas Scurr in the country at this time； probably a son of Thomas Scurr； sen。； who married Elizabeth Cornforth； of Sackville； in August； 1787。 Mrs。 Scurr lived only a week after giving birth to a son。 The boy was called Benjamin； and was taken care of by his aunt； Mrs。 Jonathan Burnham。 Thomas Scurr； after the death of his wife； left Sackville with the intention of going to the West Indies； and was never heard from after。 It was supposed he was lost at sea。 The Scurrs in Sackville are descendants of the boy Benjamin。
William Trueman； sen。； was above the average height； and rather stout； with head； shoulders and face that indicated strong character。 In personal appearance his grandson Robert much resembled him。 He was fifty…five years of age when he came to Nova Scotia。 His wife was eight years his senior。 She； too； was tall； with a countenance showing a great deal of reserve power。
William； the son； was a small man； with round features and dark hair。 His son John was said to resemble him closely。 He must have retained his youthful appearance well into mature life； for after he had been in this country some years he went to Fort Lawrence to poll his vote and was challenged for age by the opposing candidate。 His youthful appearance had led to the belief that he had not arrived at the age to entitle him to exercise the franchise。 His left arm was partially withered； or had not grown to its full size； from an injury received in childhood through the carelessness of a nurse。 The family brought with them from England some furniture。 There is still the old arm…chair at Prospect； and the old clock keeps good time for the fifth generation。
There is no record of the impression the new country made upon the family； but judging from a letter received by William Trueman； sen。； the year after his arrival； and copied below； it must have been favorable：
〃SNILLSWORTH； February 9th； 1776。 〃DEAR BROTHER AND SISTER； 〃These are with our love to you and to let you know that we are in a tolerable state of health at present。 〃We have many of us been poorly； but are much better。 We received a letter from you last November； which gave a great deal of satisfaction of mind on your account； because we had been informed that you had nowhere to settle in； but as you have given us a particular account concerning your situation and how you were settled and that you liked Nova Scotia and was all in good health of body it was much to our satisfaction； and I hope you will let us hear more particularly from you how your chattle and corn answers thee； and how and what product your ground doth bring forth； and what sort of grains your ground answers best for； and what chattle you keep； and what you can make of your chattle and how much milk your cows give and what is the most profitable things you have。 〃Now； dear brother； let me know the truth and nothing but the truth when you write。 〃I desire that you would let me hear from you at any opportunity whenever it suits your convenience for I think we shall never have the opportunity to see each other's face any more here below； but I desire to hear from thee and I hope thee will do the same by me as long as our lives shall be on this side eternity。 〃Farewell； I conclude with my love。 Sarah Bently and John Bakers are in good health and send love to you all。〃
The following extract from another letter received at Prospect about the same time； will be interesting to some：
〃SNILLSWORTH； Feb。 19th； 1776。 〃DEAR BROTHER AND SISTER AND NEVY； 〃These are salutations of love to you all； expecting they may find you in good health as they leave us at present。 〃We received your letter November last and was glad to hear from you； but more especially that you were all in good health of body and that you like 'Nove' （Nova Scotia） very well because we have had many slight accounts that you were in a very poor situation； but heard nothing to our satisfaction； and that you would have returned back to Old England but had nothing to pay your passage with； which gave us both me and my wife a great deal of distraction of mind。 So we consulted with sister Sarah Bently and more of our friends that we would raise money to pay your passage to Old England； but dear brother and sister； as we have had a few lines from your own hand that you like the country well； so it has put and end to that consultation。〃
It would be difficult to answer at once some of the questions asked in these letters。 They had only arrived in America the previous summer； and unless thy purchased cows on their arrival； they could not at this date have had much experience in dairying； and it would be the same with grain。 There is a tradition that the stock； ten cows and a number of other cattle； were purchased with the Scurr farm； but this farm was not bought until some years after。 The Truemans probably followed the course taken by many of the first settlers at that time； which was to lease a farm for a term of years； in that way gaining experience in the country before finally purchasing land themselves。 After the family had been two years in the country； William Trueman； jun。； married Elizabeth Keillor； a daughter of Thomas Keillor； of Cumberland Point； or No。 1； now called Fowler's Hill。 The Keillors came from Skelton； Yorkshire； to Nova Scotia in 1774； and settled on the farm at present occupied by a great…great…grandson； Charles Fowler。
It was near the date of this marriage that the Eddy rebels were terrorizing the settlers around Fort Cumberland； and shortly after the event Mr。 and Mrs。 Trueman went to Mr。 Keillor's to spend the Sabbath。 During the day the house was surrounded by the rebels； and the inmates kept prisoners until the next day； when the rebels dispersed； and the young couple made their way home as quickly as possible； to relieve the anxiety at Prospect。
The Keillors and Truemans had been friends in England； and were related in some degree。 Elizabeth Keillor was but nineteen when she consented to take charge of a home of her own； and； as subsequent years proved； well did she discharge the duties that devolved upon her in that relationship。 Though below medium size； she had a nervous force and will…power that enabled her to accomplish more than many of stronger build。 It is told of her that on a Sabbath； when the family were all at church； she noticed something wrong with the cattle； and on going to see what caused the trouble； she found a cow so badly injured by some of the larger animals； that to make the carcass of any value it would have to be slaughtered at once。 Mrs。 Trueman went to the house； got the butcher…knife； and bled the cow to death。
Nervous force； like any other force in man or woman； has its limit； and if used too fast it will not be there when wanted in old age。 Mrs。 Trueman did not live to be very old； and her last years were full of suffering。 Overtaxed nature had given way； and the penalty had to be paid。
The family never separated； but all moved into the house on the Scurr farm； and began in earnest to face the battle of life in the New World。
Halifax was at that time the market for butter and beef； so after the wants of the settlers and the commissariat at Fort Cumberland had been supplied； such produce as could be sent by schooners to Halifax was forwarded in that way； and the cattle； for beef； were driven overland a long and tedious journey。
Mills for sawing lumber or making flour were scarce。 The stones are yet to be seen in Sackville with which grain was ground by hand…power。
The Truemans soon began to experiment in mill building。 Their first venture was a mill driven by horse…power。 A windmill followed； and was located on the high ground at the corner where the Point de Bute road turns at right angles； leading to Jolicure。 This must have been an ideal spot for such a structure。 There is no record of how long this mill stood； but it could not have been long。
There was a good stream on the farm for a water…mill； but it was not utilized for this purpose for some years； probably for the want of means。 Their first work in this line was the building of a small mill on the brook that formed the ravine at the south…west side of the farm。 A dam was thrown across the stream at the head of the ravine； and the water carried in
