the chignecto isthmus and its first settlers-第28节
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Wells； daughter of William Wells； of Point de Bute。 They had a family of seven sons and four daughters； four of whom are still living…John； William and Charles； of Shemogue； N。B。； and Mrs。 McQueen； of Point de Bute。 William married Eliza Trueman。
Joseph Avard； jun。； was man of strong character； and when he set his will to do a piece of work he was generally successful。 He settled first in Jolicure； where he conducted a farming and mercantile business。 He subsequently bought a large tract of land in Shemogue； N。B。； and for many years he was farmer； ship…builder and merchant in that locality； where he spent the last thirty years of his life。
In 1838； while on a business trip to River Philip； Mr。 Avard was greatly shocked； as were the public in general； with the report that an entire family had been murdered in the vicinity； and that the man； Maurice Doyle； who was suspected of the crime； had escaped and was on his way to the United States； his aim being to get to St。 John and take shipping there。 As Doyle was known to be a desperate character； no one seemed willing 〃to run him down。〃 As soon as Mr。 Avard knew the state of affairs he at once volunteered to undertake the work。 In the meantime Doyle had got a good start。 At Amherst Head he hired a farmer； George Glendenning； to take him to the Four Corners； Sackville。 Mrs。 Glendenning was suspicious of the man； and advised her husband to have nothing to do with him； but Mr。 Glendenning laughed at her fears。 The dog； however； seemed to share his mistress's suspicions； and what was very unusual； determined to see his master through with the business。 In spite of every effort the dog could not be turned back from following the chaise。 Afterward； when Mr。 Glendenning learned the character of the man； he believed the dog had saved his life； for in crossing the Sackville marsh； several miles from any house； Doyle asked him if the dog would protect him if he were attacked。
Mr。 Avard always drove a good horse； and by changing horses and driving night and day he overtook and captured the fugitive at Sussex。 At one place in the chase he prevented the man from getting on board the stage； but could not arrest him。 When he finally apprehended the fugitive； he brought him back in his chaise and delivered him to the authorities in Amherst； where he subsequently paid the penalty of his crime on the scaffold。 The documents following； as will be seen； refer to this piece of early history：
〃PROVINCIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE； 〃HALIFAX； 10TH JULY； 1838。
〃SIR；It appearing by the report of the Local Authorities at Amherst that the prompt arrest of the supposed perpetrator of the atrocious murders recently committed in the County of Cumberland is mainly attributable to your zealous exertions； I have it in command to request you to believe that His Excellency the Lieut。…Governor and H。 M。 Council highly appreciate the important services which； at much personal risk； you rendered in pursuing； for upwards of 100 miles； and apprehending the Prisoner； and it is my pleasing duty to request you to accept of the best thanks of His Excellency and the Council for your admirable conduct on that occasion。 I have the honor to be
〃Sir； 〃Your most obedient 〃Humble Servant； 〃RUPERT D。 GEORGE。
〃JOSEPH AVARD； Esq。； J。P。； 〃Westmoreland。〃
Mr。 Avard's reply。
〃WESTMORELAND CO。； WESTMORELAND； 〃N。B。； July 18th； 1838。
〃SIR；I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 10th instant conveying to me in a most gratifying manner the approbation of His Excellency the Lieutenant…Governor and Her Majesty's Council of my conduct in pursuing and apprehending Doyle； the supposed perpetrator of the murder in the County of Cumberland； and beg leave through you to acquaint His Excellency and Her Majesty's Council that were it possible for me to possess any stronger sense of my duty （as a magistrate） to Her Majesty and the Government than I formerly felt； I must do so from the very handsome manner in which they have been pleased to appreciate and acknowledge my services on that occasion。
〃I have the honor to be 〃Your obedient 〃Humble Servant； 〃JOSEPH AVARD。
〃THE HONORABLE 〃RUPERT D。 GEORGE； 〃Provincial Secretary； Halifax； N。S。〃
DIXON。
Charles Dixon was one of the first of the Yorkshire settlers to arrive in Nova Scotia。 He sailed from Liverpool on the 16th March； on board the DUKE OF YORK； and after a voyage of six weeks and four days arrived safely at the port of Halifax。 Mr。 Dixon says of himself： 〃I； Charles Dixon； was born March 8th； old style； in the year 1730； at Kirleavington； near Yarm； in the east riding of Yorkshire； in Old England。 I was brought up to the bricklayer's trade with my father until I was about nineteen years of age； and followed that calling till the twenty…ninth year of my age。 I then engaged in a paper manufactory at Hutton Rudby； and followed that business for the space of about twelve years with success。 At the age of thirty…one I married Susanna Coates； by whom have had one son and four daughters。〃 Three more children were added to Mr。 Dixon's family； and in 1891 his descendants in America numbered 2；807； of whom 2；067 were living and 740 had died。
Charles Dixon settled in Sackville； N。B。； and very soon became one of the leading men in that community。 He was a zealous Methodist； his biographer says： 〃His house was a home for the early Methodist preachers； to whom he always gave a warm and hearty welcome。〃 Mr。 Dixon was one of the members who took an active part in the erection of the first Methodist church in Sackville； while he and his neighbor； William Cornforth； whose land adjoined； jointly set apart about four acres of land for a Methodist parsonage。 One of the latest of his efforts at writing contained instructions to his executors to sell certain articles of his personal property to assist in furnishing the Methodist parsonage。
There are not many of the Dixon name now living in Sackville。 The boys of the families have had a tendency to seek wider fields for the exercise of their energies。 The late James Dixon； of Sackville； the historian of the family； was a man of strong character and more than ordinary ability。
William Coates Dixon married Mary J。 Trueman in 1841； and resided in Sackville until the death of Mrs。 Dixon； which took place in 1844。 Subsequently he married Harriet E。 Arnold and settled on a farm at Maidstone； Essex County； Ontario。 James Dixon； in his 〃History of the Dixons；〃 published in 1892； says of William Dixon： 〃He is still active and vigorous； capable of much physical exertion； and has an excellent memory； is a diligent reader； with a decided preference for poetical works； and employs some of his leisure hours in writing poetic effusions； a talent which only developed itself when its possessor had nearly reached his three score years and ten。〃 We have not heard that Mr。 Dixon has lost any of his vigor since the above was written； and understand he expects to round out the hundred。
PRESCOTT。
The Prescotts were originally from Lancashire； and descended from Sir James Prescott； of Derby； in Lincolnshire。 John and his wife； Mary； came from England to Boston in the year 1640。 Jonathan Prescott； their great…grandson； was a surgeon and captain of engineers at the siege of Louisbourg； in 1745。 After the fall of Louisbourg he retired from the army and settled in Nova Scotia。 He did a mercantile business in Halifax； and owned property in Chester and Lunenburg； where he built mills。 〃The Indians twice burnt his house in Lunenburg County。' Mr。 Prescott died in Chester； in 1806； and his widow in Halifax； in 1810。 His son； Hon。 Charles Ramage Prescott； was a prominent merchant of Halifax； but on account of failing health and to get rid of the fog moved to King's County； N。S。 He lived for years at Town Plot； where his beautiful place； called 〃Acadia Villa；〃 was situated。 He was twice married。 His first wife was Hannah Widden。 The late Charles T。 Prescott； of Bay Verte； was his youngest son by his second wife； Maria Hammill。 Mr。 Charles Prescott married Matilda E。 Madden； April 30。 William； Robert and Joseph； of Bay Verte； are sons of Charles T。 Prescott。 William married Mary Trueman； of Point de Bute。
PRINCE*
＇FOOTNOTE： *Rev。 John Prince was a respected minister of the Methodist Church。 He joined the Church in Point de Bute and commenced his ministry there。 END OF FOOTNOTE＇
〃Moncton； March 9th； 1899。
〃Dear Mr。 Trueman：
〃I have just received your card requesting information respecting my family。 In answer I may say that my late father was a native of North Yarmouth； near the city of Portland； United States。 He emigrated to this country in the year 1813； located in Moncton； and was engaged in mercantile pursuits until the time of his death in 1851； paying one hundred cents on the dollar。 After taking the oath of allegiance he was appointed a magistrate； the duties of which he discharged with great fidelity until the time of his removal from earth。
〃My father was a sincere Christian and a deacon in the Baptist Church； and died much lamented。 His family consisted of twelve children； six sons and six daughters。 May； the eldest； married a Mr。 Gallagher and had several children； most of whom are dead。 Emily； second daughter； marri
