the chignecto isthmus and its first settlers-第35节
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in life。 His biographer says： 〃When he was twenty…one years of age a Mr。 Robert King came into the district to take charge of the school； and under his care young Monro studied in the winter evenings geometry； algebra and land surveying。 Mr。 King possessed a surveying compass； and gave him practical instruction in land surveying； leading him to decide to follow that business。
Mr。 Monro obtained a recommendation from Dr。 Smith； of Fort Cumberland； and others； and in the year 1837 went to Fredericton to obtain an appointment from the Hon。 Thomas Baillie； then Surveyor…General of the Province。 Mr。 Baillie complimented him on his attainments； but refused to appoint him to the office。 When Mr。 Monro got back to St。 John he had but two shillings in his pocket； and with this meagre sum he started on foot for home。 Before he had gone far he found a job of masonry work and earned fifteen shillings。 With this money he returned to St。 John； and purchased Gibson's 〃Land Surveying〃 and some cakes for lunch； and set out again for Westmoreland。 On the way he worked a day at digging potatoes； for which he received two shillings； and later on built a chimney and was paid two pounds。
The next year Mr。 Monro received the appointment of Deputy Crown Land Surveyor。 In 1848 he was made a Justice of the Peace； and was the surveyor to run the boundary line between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick。 He was the author of a number of works； one on Land Surveying； also one on the 〃History； Geography and Productions of New Brunswick； Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island。〃 For a number of years he edited an educational monthly magazine called the PARISH SCHOOL ADVOCATE。 His biographer adds： 〃Such is the life and labors of one of our foremost and most useful citizens； and if there is a moral to be read from it； it is this； that to make a man of cultured tastes； a student； a scholar and a publicist of acknowledged rank and value in the country； universities with their libraries and endowments are not absolutely necessary； social position； influential connection and wealth are not necessary。 Without such adventitious aids； what is wanted is a native taste for research and inquiry； and a determination of character superior to environment。〃
PALMERKNAPP。
The Palmers and Knapps were Loyalists。 C。 E。 Knapp； a grandson of Loyalist Knapp； writes： 〃The largest part of Staten Island； New York； should have been the possession of the Palmers of Westmoreland。 Their ancestor； John Palmer； who was by profession a lawyer； moved from New York to Staten Island。 He had been appointed one of the first judges of the New York Court of Oyer and Terminer。 He was also a member of the Governor's Council； and afterwards Sheriff。 When the Revolutionary War broke out his son Gideon held the commission of captain in Delancy's Rangers； and when the war terminated he； in common with the other Loyalists； had to leave the country。〃
Together with his brother…in…arms； Titus Knapp； John Palmer found a new home at Old Fort Cumberland； where they commenced business as general traders。 They purchased adjoining farms； and these still go by the name of the 〃Knapp and Palmer farms。〃 Mr。 Palmer afterwards moved to Dorchester Cape； induced to do so because it reminded him of his old home in New York。 Palmer and Knapp must have found their loyalty expensive； as their confiscated property is now worth untold millions。 In Mr。 Knapp's case it was not so bad； as his property went to his half…brother； who； fortunately for him； was a Quaker and did not 〃fight。〃
The Palmers have taken a prominent place in the history of New Brunswick。 Mr。 Gideon Palmer； a son of Gideon （first）； was one of the successful shipbuilders of Dorchester in the fifties； and Philip； another son； was for some years a member of the New Brunswick Legislature。 The late Judge Palmer； of St。 John； was a son of Philip Palmer。
Charles E。 Knapp； barrister； of Dorchester； is clerk of the Probate Courty； and one of the oldest practising lawyers of Westmoreland。 Mr。 Titus Knapp represented the county for some time in the Legislature of New Brunswick； and for many years did a large trading business at Westmoreland Point。
HARPER。
Christopher Harper was born in a small village near Hull； in Yorkshire。 He emigrated to Nova Scotia in 1774； bringing his family and his nephew； Thomas King； with him。 He arrived at Fort Cumberland on a fine day in May； and his surprise was great the next morning to see the ground covered with snow。 Mr。 Harper bought a property to the south… east of the garrison lands； and moved his family into a house said to have been built by the Acadians； but this is very doubtful； as these people chose to burn their dwellings rather than let them fall into the hands of the English。 Tradition says Mr。 Harper brought stock； both horses and cattle； with him from Yorkshire。
In 1777 Mr。 Harper's house and barn were burned by the Eddy rebels； and soon after the Loyalists came to Nova Scota he sold his property at the fort to his son…in…law； Gideon Palmer； and moved to Sackville； having purchased land near Morris's Mills。 It is said he came into possession of this property through prosecuting one Ayer and others for setting fire to his buildings at Fort Cumberland。 In 1809 he obtained a grant from the Government at Fredericton of the mill…pond； and some two hundred or three hundred acres of wilderness land in Sackville； including about forty acres of marsh on the east side of the Tantramar River； above Coles's Island。
Mr。 Harper had three sons and four daughters。 His son Christopher； who was a captain in the army in early life； left for Quebec； via Richibucto and Miramichi； and was not heard from after leaving Miramichi。 John married Miss Thornton （whose father was a Loyalist）； and after living at the mill for a time moved to Dorchester。 William married Phoebe Haliday； from Cobequid； and built on the place where I。 C。 Harper； of Sackville； now lives； Catherine married Gideon Palmer； Annie married Major Richard Wilson； a north of Ireland man； Fannie married Thomas King； and Charlotte married Bedford Boultonhouse。
Christopher Harper owned the first two…wheeled chaise that was run in Westmoreland County。 He was a magistrate and used to solemnize marriage； and sometimes officiated in the Church of England in the absence of the rector。
The Harpers of Sackville and Bay Verte are descendants of the two brothers； William and John。
ETTERWETHERED。
The Etters and Wethereds were on the Isthmus very shortly after 1755。 I find that Samuel Wethered was married to Dorothy Eager； Nov。 26th； 1761； by license from the Government。 Dorothy Eager was a Scotch lass from Dumfries。 Mrs。 Atkinson； a grand…daughter； has several pieces of fancy needlework done by Mrs。 Wethered。 〃Sarah Huston Wethered was born at Cumberland； in the Province of Nova Scotia； June 10th； 1763； at ten o'clock in the morning。 Joshua Winslow Wethered was born at Cumberland； Nova Scotia； in September； 1764； at ten o'clock in the evening。〃
Peter Etter was a jeweller and silversmith； and kept a shop near Fort Cumberland。 He married Letitia Patton； daughter of Mark Patton； and was brother…in…law to Colonel John Allan。 Peter Etter was twice married； his second wife being Sarah Wethered。 He was lost at sea in coming from Boston to Cumberland。 His widow became the second wife of Amos Fowler； of Fowler's HIll。 Peter Etter （second） married Elizabeth Wethered； and settled at Westmoreland； and had a family of nine children； Bradley； Peter； Joshua； Letitia； George； Maria； Samuel； James； and Margaret。
The Etters are large marsh owners on the Aulac； and the aboideau across that river takes its namethe Etter Aboideaufrom Peter Etter； who was one of the principal promoters of that work。
I find Jonathan Eddy's name among the customers of jeweller Etter。 Mr。 Eddy's watch must have been like that of Artemus Ward's or he must have been agent for others； judging from the amount of money he annually paid for repairs。
The Etters were originally from Switzerland； and were engaged in making glass before coming to this country。
CAHILL。
John R。 Cahill was born in London； England； in the year 1777。 His father was a ship…owner； but decided to educate his son for the Church。 During a college vacation young Cahill was sent as supercargo in one of his father's ships bound for Halifax。 On the return voyage the vessel was wrecked on the coast of Nova Scotia。 All on board； however； were rescued and brought back to Halifax。 For reasons not now known； Mr。 Cahill remained on this side of the Atlantic and engaged for a time in teaching school。 He married Miss Lesdernier； a sister of Mrs。 Richard John Uniacke； and settled in Sackville as a farmer。 They had a family of eleven； and Mr。 Cahill received regular remittances from his father's estate as long as he lived。 Because of his superior education he was often called upon by his neighbors to assist in transacting business of various kinds。 Mr。 Cahill died in 1852。 The late John E。 Cahill； of Westmoreland Point； was a son； and Walter Cahill； stipendiary magistrate of Sackville； a grandson； of John R。 Cahill。
SMITH。
There were two John Smiths who came from Yorkshire and settled at Chignecto in the decade between 1770 and 1780。
One
