the chignecto isthmus and its first settlers-第15节
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of the farm。 A dam was thrown across the stream at the head of the ravine； and the water carried in a flume some distance farther down the brook； the great fall of water enabling them to use a large over…shot water…wheel。 It is only quite recently that the main shaft of the wheel has disappeared。
A long dam was built across the stream that leads to what is now called the Upper Mill； for the purpose of turning the water to the new mill； and also forming a reserve pond。 This dam can be plainly seen at the present time； although covered with quite a growth of timber。 The mill in the ravine did not stand long either； and the next move was to dam the water on the main brook； now called the Trueman Mill Stream； and put up a large and substantial grist…mill； that proved a great convenience to the whole country for many years。
Beside this large expenditure in mills； most of which was made in the lifetime of the senior William； there was a large outlay made for dyking and aboideau building。 Piece by piece the marsh was being reclaimed from the tide and made to yield its wealth of hay and pasture for the support of flocks and herds。
I find a record showing there were seventeen cows on the farm in 1790； and for the benefit of some of the members of the younger generation who live on farms； here are their names： Cerloo； Red…heifer； Spotty； Debro； Beauty； Madge； Lucy； Daisy； White…face； Mousie； Dun； Rose； Lady Cherry； Black…eye； Spunk and Roan。
The following letter； received at Prospect in 1789； tells of a more cheerful spirit in business in England； but shows that they had floods and troubles of that kind then as now：
〃HELM HOUSE BILSDALE； Augt。 ye 15th； 1789。 〃DEAR COUSINS； 〃I received two letters from you in the course of the last year； and am exceeding glad to hear from you and that you do well and are well； and tho I have long delayed writing yet it is not want of respect； but it was long before I could have any certain inteligence from Mr。 Swinburn； So I now take the oppertunity to let you know how I and my Sisters are situate。 I married Helling the daughter of Richard Barr； by whom I have had 3 boys and 2 girls all liveing and healthfull。 Aylsy is married to John the son of James Boyes and lives at Woolhousecroft； has no children。 Sally is married to John Cossins and lives at Hawnby where Robt。 Barker lived。 She has 3 children the two last were twins they were born about Candlemas last and one of them is a very weakly child； my mother is married to old Rich'd Barr my wife's father and lives at Huntington nigh York。 I think we most of us live pretty well。 Mr。 … has advanced his land a great deal but since the peace the times are pretty good we have this summer a very plentiful crop and we have a fine season for Reaping the same； but in the beginning of haytime we had an excessive flood as almost ever was known so that much hay was swept away and much more sanded。 Many bridges were washed down and in some places much chattle drowned。 My cousin John Garbut is married to James Boyes' widow and lives at Helm house。 So I shall conclude with my and my wife's duty to my unkle and aunt and our kind love to you and your wife and children and subscribe ourselves your very affectionate cousins； 〃JOHN AND HELLING TRUEMAN。〃
There was no break in the family by death until 1797。 That year William Trueman； sen。； died； aged seventy…seven years； twenty…two of which he had spent in America。 The Mauger farm； his first purchase； was left to Harmon； his eldest grandson。 The family of his son William had grown by this time to six sons and two daughters； and success financially； in some measure at least； had been achieved。
With milling； dyking and general farming； there was work at Prospect to keep all the members of the family busy； besides a large force of hired help。
It was decided this year （1797） to build a new house and barn； and the site fixed upon was about one hundred yards south of the Scurr house； where they had lived since the place came into their possession。 The barn was put up the next year； and measured eighty feet long by thirty… three wide； with thirteen foot posts。 A part of this barn is still used for a stable。 In 1799 the house was built； the main portion being made of brick burned on the marsh near by。 It fronted due south； and was twenty…seven feet by thirty…seven feet； and two stories high； with a stone kitchen on the west side。 The cost of building was eight hundred pounds。 This was before the days of stoves； there being six fire…places in the main house and large one in the kitchen。
In 1839 the stone kitchen was pulled down and one of wood built on the north side。 In 1879 an addition was made； and now （October 2nd； 1900）； it is as comfortable a dwelling as it has ever been。 Five generations have lived in it。 Three generations have been born and grown to manhood and womanhood within its four walls； and they have never known the death of a child； nor； with but one exception； the death of a young person。
On the 29th January； 1800； Mrs。 Trueman； sen。； died in the eighty… eighth year of her age。 Although sixty…two years old when she came to America； she lived to see the birth of nine grandchildren。
In 1801； Thompson； the youngest son； was born。 The family now numbered seven sons and three daughters。 This year William Black； known in Methodist history as Bishop Black； was one of the family at Prospect from November 17th； 1801； to April 13th； 1802。 One week of this time was spent in Dorchester； for which a rebate was made in the board bill。 The bill was made out at the rate of five shillings per week。
In 1802； Mr。 Trueman began to keep what he calls 〃a memorandum of events。〃 The records chiefly refer to home work； the weather and neighborhood happenings。 As a record of the weather； before thermometers and barometers were in general use； it must be as perfect as possible。 As a record of farm work it is quite minute； and gives the reader an almost exact knowledge of what was done on the farm each week of the twenty years。
To those who live in the age of steam and electricity； when it is possible to be informed at night of the doings of the day on the other side of the planet； it is hard to realize how little interest was taken a century ago in anything outside of the community in which one lived。 This accounts in part； no doubt； for the scant references in this journal to public events。 Only very rarely is an election mentioned； even in the writer's own county。 Only once is there reference to war； although the war of 1812 and the battle of Waterloo took place during the years of the record； and must have had a marked effect upon the trade of the Provinces at that time。
Mr。 Trueman made several trips to Halifax each year； and met； while there； many of the leading Methodist men of the city。 The Blacks and the Bells were his friends。 His house was the home of the ministers of his church during all his life； and many of the public men who visited Cumberland were his guests at different times。
The first entry in the journal is dated May 5th； 1802； and reads： 〃wind N。W。； cold stormy day。 Planted some apple trees； frost not out of the ground。
〃May 6thWind N。W。； ground covered with snow two inches thick； disagreeable。
〃May 8thWind N。W。； cold； backward weather。 Mr。 Marsdon preached his farewell sermon at the Stone Church。〃
〃July 5thThis day was appointed by the Government as a day of thanksgiving for the blessings of peace。 Mr。 Bennet preached at Amherst Court House； from Psalm 12； 1st verse； to a crowded and very attentive audience。
〃July 12thStarted for Halifax with thirty oxen。 Returned on the 22nd； had a very good time。〃
（Ten days was the usual time taken on these trips。 The drovers would start some hours； or perhaps a day； in advance of Mr。 Trueman。 He would go on horse…back； in knee breeches； and with the old fashioned saddle… bags。）
〃Sept。 28thStarted to Halifax with twenty…four cattle。
〃Oct。 2ndArrived at Halifax Sunday night。 Wm。〃 （his son） 〃taken sick with measles。 Monday； and Tuesday； very sick。 Wednesday； some better。 Thursday； walked the streets。 Friday； started for home。
〃Oct。 13thHigh winds； very high tides； marshes much flooded。
〃Sept。 14th； 1803Stephen Millage died of shock of palsy。 Mr。 Oliphant； Methodist minister； arrived this month at our house。
〃Nov。 12th； 1803Election at Dorchester。 Mr。 Knapp goes in without opposition。〃
These extracts from the journal will show the character of the record。
In March； 1804； there was a three days' snowstorm〃fell nigh two feet。〃 An attempt was made this year to aboideau the Aulac River； where it runs through the farm now owned by R。 T。 McLeod。
The Aulac at that time was one of the largest of the rivers emptying into the Cumberland Basin。 It was a great undertaking to dam its waters with an aboideau； and to make matters worse； the place chosen proved to have a quicksand bottom； which made it almost impossible to build a firm foundation。 For nearly four years they worked at this aboideau； and finally had to abandon it。 Dated Dec。 27th； 1808； there is this entry in the journal： 〃Working at the aboideau。 Storming in the morning。 Snow six inches deep。
〃Dec。 28thWorking at byto； very fine day。 The hole nigh filled up。〃
On
