Piskahegan and Josiah True PISKAHEGAN AND JOSIAH TRUE-PART 2-written by Rev. Charles M. Smith

Found in the December 19, 1974 issue of the Saint Croix Courier

'This concludes Part 2 of the chapter on Josiah True. Next week Rev. Smith's prolific typewriter takes us on a trip through time as we rumble and lurch our way over stagecoach roads in Chapter V., Piskahegan and The Stagecoach.' [Editor]

In addition to his initial governmental grants, Josiah True began to buy up some 1300 more acres of many original soldier-grants or other lots in this area.

Josiah True, in addition to his relatively rewarding efforts at home with his farm, mill and Tavern enterprises, he also engaged, -- in 1819 -- briefly in road construction between the Magaguadavic River and Shin Creek; in fact, according to an "Account of Payments" recorded by Christopher Hatch and John Campbell, True was thus employed quite extensively in 1818 and 1819. Around 1827 True proposed to authorities a more direct route from (where the road crossed) the Magaguadavic River to St. Andrews and passing through the Chamcook Lake area rather than the old road over Pleasant, Sorrel, and Whittier Ridges, through Waweig to the river road on the St. Croix. However, the old route was by this date in the heyday of its transit service and was calling for repair and further development.

How long Josiah True remained at Piskahegan is not as yet exactly known to this writer but he may well have lived there at least until the 1840s as he was still purchasing soldier-grants as late as 1833 and enjoying his promising enterprises. One old map marks his location on the old road as "True's Tavern" which in itself might well feed the imagination as one envisages a lumbering, tottering great "Coach" might pull up before the door of "True's Inn" and unload weary passengers and their baggage for the night's lodging. The late Mr. Aldon Kinney of Second Falls, Charlotte County, who was born at Piskahegan in 1881, recounted to this author several stories his grandmother (Mrs. Nancy Patterson Corning, wife of David Corning) had shared of Josiah True in whose home she had worked as a maid, -- at the first, -- but, following the death of Mrs. True, she became housekeeper for Mr. True. Some of these tale were fraught with mystery to say the least. Mr. Kinney said that, as far as he knew Josiah True left no children, but that he (Mr. Kinney) was quite certain that True had one son, a cripple, who at about 14 years of age met some untimely death.

According to local tradition Josiah True is believed to have been entered in a convalescent home in St. George where he spent his final years in declining health and failing memory. Old friends often called upon him and according to hearsay, the old founder of Piskahegan and its most illustrious way upon his 'hidden' wealth. Such a bit of gossip would need very little cultivation to feed the avid minds of his erstwhile friends in the after years. In contrast to this hardly anything is ever mentioned of his energetic labours in the lumbering and milling industries; or of his expansive farm and his popular 'Inn' wherein many a weary wayfarer found shelter and rest along the 75 mile Stagecoach journey between Fredericton and St. Andrews and other points in between.

Josiah True is believed to have been buried in the 'Paupers' section of the St. George cemetery,-- but no gravestone identifies his final resting place. Also unknown are the burial places of his wife and son.

As to tales of piracy, theft, and highway murder so horrendous as to stagger the imagination, -- that seemed to swirl around the name of Josiah True,-- I have found no evidence to support such criminal behavior. From my own childhood I have heard stories (passed down the years) of how True had amassed such ill-gained wealth by such baneful means that even the eerie ghosts of his hapless victims were restless and frightful. Their ghastly specters would spring from the midnight forests or swamps to torment horse and rider. Then a lone footman would chance by and a painful emotion of dread would fall upon him as he stood frozen in fright; a headless rider would speed by, his black cape shrouding his misty figure as the cold wind seemed to bear him onward into the night. (A veritable Hallowe'en visitation.) Of course one recognizes the above as mere idle gossip, --fictious but entertaining for the very immature in mind and indolent in labour. If it is a fact that Josiah True died a pauper's death, this one fact alone helps to answer, at least in part, the question surrounding his supposed wealth at the time of his passing. If it is true that a military post, well-manned, was not far from his home, -- and if it was the case that True had favored political friends who used to visit his home and place of business then his general social demeanor would tend to be under the attentive eyes of authorities most of the time. As to his presumed hidden wealth stacked away, but alas forgotten, we leave this dark pursuit to others. In any case Josiah True was an intriguing figure in early Charlotte County history, and his life deserves further research and study

Written by permission of the Saint Croix Courier. Transcribed by Charlene Beney

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