the chignecto isthmus and its first settlers-第30章

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away　without　purchasing。　The　next　day　he　decided　to　send　Cyrus　over　to　get　the　oxen；　with　instructions　to　offer　Mr。　Harper　twenty　seven　pounds　for　them；　but　if　he　would　not　take　it；　to　give　him　twenty…eight。　Cyrus　started　away　on　horseback；　in　great　spirits；full　of　the　importance　of　his　mission。　He　rode　as　quickly　as　possible　to　Mr。　Harper's；　and　as　soon　as　he　saw　that　gentleman　delivered　at　once　his　full　instructions；　that　his　father　wanted　the　cattle；　and　if　he　would　not　take　twenty…seven　pounds　for　them　he　would　give　him　twenty…eight。　Cyrus　got　the　cattle；　but　not　for　twenty…seven　pounds。〃

The　Oulton　nameis　largely　represented　inJolicure　at　the　present　time；　and　most　of　those　who　bear　it　are　energetic；　industrious；　and　successful　farmers。　A　few　of　the　name　have　tried　other　professions　and　have　succeeded。　Geo。　J。　Oulton；　Principal　of　the　Moncton　Schools；　and　one　of　the　most　capable　teachers　in　the　Province；　is　a　Jolicure　boy；　and　a　descendant　of　Charles　Oulton。

KEILLOR。

Thomas　Keillor　came　to　Nova　Scotia　from　Skelton；　Yorkshire；　in　1774。　His　wife's　maiden　name　was　Mary　Thompson。　He　settled　near　Fort　Cumberland；　on　the　farm　now　known　as　the　〃Fowler　homestead。〃

Mr。　Keillor　had　five　childrenthree　sons；　John；　Thomas　and　Thompson；　and　two　daughters；　Elizabeth　and　Ann。　John　married　a　Miss　Weldon　and　settled　in　Dorchester；　where　he　and　his　descendants　occupied　a　prominent　place　for　many　years。　The　name　became　extinct　in　that　parish　in　1899　at　the　death　of　Mrs。　Thomas　Keillor。

Thomas　married　a　Miss　Trenholm　and　settled　at　Amherst　Point。　He　had　a　number　of　sons。　Several　of　the　family　moved　to　Ontario。　Robert　married　a　Miss　Dobson　and　remained　on　the　homestead。　His　descendants　still　own　the　farm　at　Amherst　Point。　Coates　married　a　Miss　Jones　and　settled　at　Upper　Miramichi。　One　of　Coates's　sons　moved　to　Upper　Canada；　and　the　name　is　still　found　there。　Some　of　the　descendants；　but　none　of　the　name；　now　live　in　Point　de　Bute。

Thompson　died　when　a　young　man　from　a　severe　cold　caught　while　hauling　wood　from　the　lakes。　Ann　married　Amos　Fowler；　and　Elizabeth　married　William　Trueman；　as　stated　in　another　place。

The　Keillors　were　men　of　integrity；　with　a　good　deal　of　combativeness　in　their　make　up；　and　not　noted　for　polished　address。　The　following　story　is　told　of　one　of　the　Keillor　boys：　One　morning　when　taking　a　load　of　port　to　the　fort；　at　the　time　the　Eddy　rebels　were　at　Camp　Hill；　he　was　met　by　a　young　man　on　horseback。　The　young　man；　after　eliciting　from　Mr。　Keillor　where　he　was　taking　the　pork；　ordered　him　to　turn　about　and　take　it　to　the　rebel　camp。　This　Mr。　Keillor　refused　to　do　point　blank。　In　the　parley　and　skirmish　that　followed　Mr。　Keillor　managed　to　dehorse　his　man；　bind　him　on　the　sled；　and　forthwith　delivered　him　safely　at　the　fort　with　his　carcasses　of　pork。　The　young　man　proved　to　be　Richard　John　Uniacke；　who　afterwards　became　one　of　the　most　celebrated　of　Nova　Scotia's　public　men。　In　after　years；　when　Mr。　Uniacke　had　become　Attorney…General　of　Nova　Scotia；　and　able　lawyer；　and　a　good　loyal　subject；　he　was　conducting　a　case　in　the　Amherst　Court…house。　This　same　Mr。　Keillor　was　called　forward　as　a　witness；　and　during　the　cross…examination；　when　things　were　probably　getting　a　little　uncomfortable　for　the　witness；　he　ventured　to　say　to　Mr。　Uniacke：

〃I　think　we　have　met　before；　sir。〃

Mr。　Uniacke　replied　rather　haughtily；　〃You　have　the　advantage　of　me；　I　believe。〃

〃And　it　is　not　the　first　time　I　have　had　the　advantage　of　you；〃　replied　Mr。　Keillor。

〃When　was　this？〃　asked　Mr。　Uniacke；　in　a　tone　that　showed　how　fully　he　considered　himself　the　master　of　the　situation。

Mr。　Keillor　replied；　〃At　the　time　of　the　rebellion；　when　I　delivered　you；　a　rebel　and　a　prisoner；　to　the　fort　along　with　my　pork。〃

It　is　said　that　the　Attorney…General　left　the　further　conduct　of　the　case　to　his　subordinates。

Thomas；　the　brother　who　settled　in　Amherst；　was　once　warned　as　a　juryman　to　attend　court；　to　be　held　in　a　building　little　better　than　a　barn。　When　Mr。　Keillor　was　chosen　on　a　cause；　and　came　forward　to　the　desk　to　be　sworn；　he　refused　absolutely　to　take　the　oath。　When　remonstrated　with；　he　said；　〃I　will　never　consent　to　hold　the　King's　Court　in　a　barn。〃　And　this　juryman；　who　was　so　zealous　of　the　King's　honor；　was　allowed　to　have　his　own　way。　The　outcome　of　this　was　that　soon　after　the　county　erected　at　Amherst　a　suitable　building　for　a　court…house。

WARD。

The　name　Ward　was　early　on　the　Isthmus。　Nehemiah　was　one　of　the　first　grantees　of　Cumberland。　Jonathan　Ward；　the　first　to　settle　in　Point　de　Bute；　came　from　New　England　in　1760。　It　is　said　his　coming　to　this　country　was　occasioned　by　his　falling　in　love　with　a　young　lady　whose　parents　objected　to　his　becoming　their　son…in…law。　The　lady；　however；　was　willing　to　accept　her　lover　without　the　parents'　consent。　An　elopement　was　planned　and　carried　out；　the　young　couple　coming　to　Cumberland　to　set　up　housekeeping。　Mrs。　Ward　did　not　live　very　long　after　her　marriage；　and　left　a　young　daughter。　This　daughter　was　twice　married；　first　to　a　Mr。　Reynolds；　and　after　his　death　to　an　Englishman　named　Merrill。　From　this　union　came　the　Merrills　of　Sackville；　a　name　quite　common　in　that　parish　seventy…five　years　ago；　but　now　extinct。

Jonathan　Ward　married；　as　his　second　wife；　Tabitha　…；　a　young　woman　who　accompanied　his　first　wife　when　she　left　her　home　in　New　Haven。　They　settled　in　Upper　Point　de　Bute；　and　lived　to　a　great　age；　Mr。　Ward　being　ninety…six　at　his　death。　Stephen；　the　only　son；　inherited　the　home　place　and　married　a　Miss　Folsom。　The　Folsoms　were　from　New　York；　and　one　of　them　came　to　Prince　Edward　Island　to　attend　to　business　for　the　firm。　While　there　he　married。　Soon　after　this　event　Mr。　Folsom　seems　to　have　been　caught　by　the　land　craze　that　few　men　escaped　at　that　date；　and　got　a　large　grant　of　land　in　Antigonishe　County；　Nova　Scotia。　Before　they　got　fairly　settled　in　their　new　home；　Mrs。　Folsom　died；　leaving　a　daughter。　Mr。　Folsom　soon　after　left　his　grant　of　land　and　with　his　little　daughter　came　to　Fort　Cumberland。　Leaving　her　with　friends　he　went　away　and　was　never　heard　of　again。　It　was　supposed　he　was　lost　at　sea。

The　Wards　were　originally　from　Wales。　Of　Stephen　Ward's　family；　Henry　and　William　settled　at　Point　de　Bute；　and　Nathaniel　at　Wood　Point；　N。B。

DICKSON。

Major　Thomas　Dickson；　the　first　of　the　name　on　the　Isthmus；　was　one　of　the　New　England　soldiers　present　at　the　taking　of　Fort　Beausejour　in　1755。　The　family　were　originally　from　the　north　of　Ireland；　and　emigrated　to　the　old　colonies。

Major　Dickson　served　under　General　Amherst；　and　his　family　had　in　their　possession　up　to　a　few　years　ago　a　document　in　which　General　Amherst　commissioned　Major　Dickson　to　do　certain　work　that　necessitated　great　risk　and　skill　if　it　were　to　be　successful。

Thomas　Dickson's　name　is　on　the　list　of　the　first　grantees　of　Cumberland　Township；　and　he　received　a　grant　of　a　large　block　of　land　about　a　mile　above　Point　de　Bute　Corner；　on　which　he　afterward　settled。　He　married　a　Miss　Wethered；　and　had　a　family　of　ten　childrenJames；　Dalton；　Thomas；　Charles；　John；　Robert；　Nancy；　Mary；　Sarah；　and　Catherine。　Mary　married　a　Mr。　Harper；　Nancy　a　Mr。　Gleanie；　Sarah　a　brother　of　Col。　John　Allan；　and　after　his　death　Thomas　Roach；　Esq。；　of　Fort　Lawrence；　James　married　Susanna　Dickson；　and　remained　on　the　homestead。　Of　the　other　sons；　Thomas　Law　settled　in　Amherst　and　represented　the　county　for　some　years　in　the　Provincial　Legislature；　Robert；　Charles　and　John　entered　the　British　navy。　John　was　shot　in　an　engagement　in　the　English　Channel。　Robert　was　drowned　in　Shelburne　Harbor。　His　vessel　was　lying　in　the　stream；　and　he；　while　in　the　town；　laid　a　wager　that　he　could　swim　to　the　ship。　He　attempted　it；　but　lost　his　life　in　the　effort。　Charles　left　the　navy　and　settled　in　Machias；　where　he　left　a　large　family。

Shortly　before　the　capture　of　Quebec；　Major　Dickson　was　sent　out　from　Fort　Cumberland　to　disperse　a　band　of　Acadians　who　had　been　reported　by　one　of　their　number　as　camping　near　the　Jolicure　Lakes　with　the　object　of　raiding　the　settlers。　The　Major　with　his　men　started　out　in　pursuit；　the　Frenchman　acting　as　guide。　The　camp　was　found　deserted；　and　the　party　started　on　the　return　home。　When　they　reached　the　Le　Coup　stream；　an　affluent　of　the　Aulac；　they　found　the　tide　had　risen　so　much　that　they　were　unable　to　proceed　farther　in　that　direction；　so　turning　to　the　left；　they　followed　the　main　stream　to　where　there　was　a　crossing。　While　preparing　to　ford　the　stream　they　were　suddenly　fired　upon　by　the　Acadians；　who　were　in　hiding　behind　the　dyke。　All　the　party　were　killed　save　Major　Dickson　and　the　Acadian　guide。　Both　were　made　prisoners；　and　as　soon　as　the　woods　was　reached　the　Acadian　was　scalped　and　the　Englishman　was　told　that　he　〃must　walk　alone。〃

Then　starting　north　they　made　only　necessary　stops　until　they　reached　Three　Rivers；　in　Quebec。　Here　the　Major　was　handed　over　to　the　French　officer　in　charge　at　that　place；　and　was　put　under　guard；　but　treated　well；　as　had　been　the　case　on　the　journey　from　Nova　Scotia。　Possibly　roasted　muskrat　would　not　be　considered　an　appetizing　diet；　but　the　major　found　it　kept　away　hunger；　and　that　was　no　small　consideration　in　a　journey　of　five　hundred　miles　without　a　commissariat　department。

The　prisoner　had　not　been　many　days　at　Three　Rivers　when　he　received　word　that　Quebec　had　been　taken　by　the　English；　and　he　was　again　a　free　man。　He　soon　made　his　way　back　to　Fort　Cumberland；　and　was　present　at　the　defence　of　the　fort　during　the　attack　of　the　Eddy　rebels　and　did　good　service　on　that　day。

The　Dicksons　were　men　who　thought　for　themselves。　James；　a　son　of　the　first　James；　was　a　teacher　for　a　time；　and　in　his　later　years　did　all　the　conveyancing　in　the　neighborhood；　such　as　the　writing　of　deeds　and　wills。　He　was　an　omnivorous　reader；　and；　like　Silas　Wegg；　was　inclined　to　〃drop　into　poetry。〃　Some　of　his　efforts　in　this　direction　on　local　happening　caught　the　ear　and　had　the　ring　that　stirred　the　emotions。　Titus；　the　only　grandson　of　the　major；　lives　on　the　old　farm；　and　though　eighty…three　years　of　age；　is　still　vigorous　in　mind。　The　writer　is　indebted　to　him　for　some　of　the　facts　given　in　this　sketch。

ATKINSON。

There　were　two　Atkinson　families　that　came　to　Nova　Scotia　about　the　year　1774；　one　from　Middlesex；　the　other　from　Yorkshire。

The　Middlesex　family　settled　in　Fort　Lawrence。　Capt。　S。　B。　Atkinson；　a　descendant　of　this　family；　writes：　〃My　great…grandfather　was　a　man　of　considerable　substance　in　the　County　of　Middlesex；　England；　known　as　gentleman　farmer；　and　dubbed　〃Esquire。〃　The　tradition　is　he　married　a　Lord's　daughter；　whose　title　would　be　Lady　…；　and　as　her　family　would　not　recognize　either　her　or　her　husband；　they　left　the　country　in　disgust。〃

Mr。　Atkinson　came　to　Nova　Scotia　alone　in　1774；　and　prospected　the　province。　It　was　a　beautiful　summer　and　autumn；　and　he　was　delighted　with　the　country。　After　securing　a　grant　of　land　in　Fort　Lawrence；　in　the　old　Township　of　Cumberland；　he　returned　to　England　and　made　arrangements　to　move　his　family　to　his　new　domain　the　following　spring。　To　accomplish　this　he　chartered　the　good　ship　ARETHUSA；　and　put　on　board　of　her　his　family　and　farm　tenants；　all　of　his　belongings；　household