[Notes from Editor: As page numbers in electronic editions do not correspond to those in original printed versions, they are omitted from any Tables of Contents or Illustration Lists in works that we transcribe. Spellings are left as they were in the original work. Sentence & punctuation anomalies are also (mostly) left intact. Footnotes follow the paragraph in which they are referenced, enclosed by square brackets. Pound sterling is written as "pound", as the symbol does not translate on all computers. Richard MacNeil]

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HISTORY OF PICTOU COUNTY, NOVA SCOTIA

PICTOU, the name of this county, is supposed to be a corruption of Poictou, the name of an old province of France. The county is divided into three townships named Pictou, Edgerton, and Maxwelton. The former is situated in the western part of the county, and contains 215,360 acres; Edgerton comprises the central portion, and contains 239,600 acres; Maxwelton covers the remaining part, which measures some 222,400 acres, making a total acreage of 677,360.

The coast has the advantage of many excellent harbors, the most important and commodious of which is Pictou, and is considered the best harbor on the northern shore of the province. At its entrance there is a bar with twenty feet of water on it at low tide. Its basin is very capacious, having from five to nine fathoms of water, where the largest ships might ride in safety. In winter it is frozen over from December to April, which by nautical men, no doubt, is considered its chief drawback. Middle, East, and West Rivers, three magnificent streams, empty themselves into this justly celebrated natural harbor.

 On the westward is the harbor of Cariboo, formed between the mainland and two islands Big and Little Cariboo. It has two chief entrances, one between the two islands, the other, which is narrower and deeper, between the smaller and the mainland. The Rev. Dr. Patterson, in his admirable history of the county, says, "When the first settlers arrived this was the only entrance, what is now the entrance being then a sand beach, over which the sea was beginning to make its way. It has, however, continued its encroachments till it has entirely separated between the two islands, making a passage half a mile wide, with four feet of water on it at low tide. Within the memory of the first settlers the sea has also cut across the beach which connected what is now the Big Island with the land, and thus formed a third entrance, which however is still shallow and further changes are going on. At two if not three places on the Big Island, which were once meadows cutting considerable quantities of hay, are now only narrow sand beaches, which the sea is wearing away, and which it will soon cut through, and thus convert it into three or four islands. In the days of the Pictou timber trade vessels of considerable size loaded in this harbor, but it is now but little used. Two small streams, signified as Big and Little Cariboo Rivers, unite their waters about three-quarters of a mile from the harbor, into which they flow in a deep channel. About fifteen miles further to the westward is the only other harbor on that side of the county, viz., River John, being the estuary of the river so named."

 At some distance from Pictou Harbor eastward there are several small harbors, named Chance, Boal, and Little Harbors. Merigomish is formed by what is called the Big Island of that name, and is connected at the eastern end with the mainland by a sand beach of considerable length. It is conjectured that originally this was the entrance to the harbor, hence French explorers nearly two hundred years ago speak of it as such. They represent it, however, as becoming filled up with sand, so that only vessels of light tonnage could enter, and that only at high tide. It is said when the first English settlers arrived the old Indians could recollect when there was ample water to afford passage for their canoes; whereas now it is a sand beach of considerable extent. The present entrance is now at the west end of the island, and it is supposed that originally this was connected with the land, but that the seas here cut a new entrance, that in consequence the tidal and river waters flowing to this corner the stream at the east end became too slow and listless to clear away the passage so that the sand ultimately accumulated to such an extent at its mouth, and thus led to its being closed up.

 There is a bar at the present entrance, with about fourteen feet at low water, inside of which there is a commodious harbor, well sheltered. It contains several small islands, and as we proceed easterly, French, Sutherlands, and Barneys Rivers flow into it.

 In addition to the islands already named, and some smaller ones, there lies off the coast at a distance of about eight miles from the entrance of Pictou Harbor, Pictou Island, some five miles in length from east to west, with, an average breadth of nearly two miles. Happily the coast is comparatively free from dangers for navigation and its dangers are still further decreased by lighthouses. Approaching from the east the mariner first sights Pictou Island light, which appears on the southeast point of the island, showing a white fixed light, fifty-two feet above sea level, and visible eleven miles from a square white building. Pictou Harbor light then appears on the south side of the entrance - this is a white fixed light, with a small red light below, sixty-five feet above sea level, visible twelve miles. Then comes Big Cariboo Island light, which is further northward and westward, situated on the northeast end of the island, a white revolving light, showing its great brilliancy every minute, thirty-five feet above high water, and visible from the light-house about ten miles.

 The land along the shore is not elevated, but in the interior ranges of hills extend on every hand, which with picturesque valleys by which the country is traversed, present scenery of no ordinary beauty. Many of these hills, including Fitzpatrick's Mountain, Green Hill, Fraser's Mountain, and Mount Thom, present prospects which in variety, rich-ness, and grandeur compare favorably with any in the Dominion. Here you have the beautiful bubbling river, the water, of which is brewed in the mountains; here are hill and dale, field and forest, sea and land, all of which cannot fail to arrest the attention of the thoughtful. On the western boundary the hills rise to greater elevation, being a continuation of the Cobequid Mountains, while a similar range, not so high, but more rugged in outline, and regarded as a continuation of the South Mountains of King's and Annapolis Counties, traverse the southern portion of it and is continued in the mountains of Antigomish.

 Pictou has few lakes compared with some of the other counties of the Province, and these are not large. The principal are Eden, Brora, Sutherland, and McDonald's Lakes in the southern portion of Maxwelton township - the others though small add materially to the beauty and variety of the landscape. There are some pretty cascades in the descent of the murmuring streams, the largest of which is on Sutherlands River, and is admired for its grandeur. The width of the stream is about one hundred feet. In the centre there is a large rock, on which there is a light covering of soil bearing a limited number of trees, which divides into two, and each portion descends by three stages to a pool at the bottom. Just below there is a perpendicular precipice which on the left bank rises high over the fall, projects nearly half way across, so that the parted streams as they reunite are forced through a narrow passage.

 It has not a considerable quantity of marsh land, but along its rivers and brooks is much intervals and meadow land of first class quality, while much of the upland, even to the summit of the hills, is rich and fertile. With the exception of a tract extending from the head of West River to the County of Guysborough, and some smaller portions elsewhere, the whole is capable of cultivation. Fires in the forest have in some measure rendered large tracts of land comparatively unproductive; the largest extent of land of this kind lies between the Albion Mines and Middle River.

Early Records, Indians, Wars, French Settlers.

 It is an admitted fact that the coasts were visited by the Breton and Basque fishermen during the sixteenth century, supplying the aborigines with implements in exchange for their furs. The first notices of Pictou on record, however, are to be found in the voyages of the early French visitors in the early part of the seventeenth century. The following is from an account published in the year 1672, by Monsieur Denys, appointed governor of the Gulf of St. Lawrence in 1654:- "Starting from Cape St. Louis (now Cape George), ten leagues thence we come to a small river, whose entrance has a bar which some-times closes it, when the weather is stormy and the sea piles up the sand at its mouth, but when the river swells it passes over and makes an opening. Only small sloops can enter this river, and it does not run deep into the country, which is tolerably fine and covered with trees.

 This is supposed to be the eastern end of the Big Island of Merigomish. Proceeding westward for about a dozen leagues the coast is nothing but a rugged mass, with the exception of several openings of different dimensions. The land round about is low, it appears fertile, and is covered with fine trees, among which I noticed quantities of oak."

 Here he gives a description of Pictou harbor: " Passing these you find a large opening, where there are several cliffs, by the side of low headlands or meadows in which are numerous ponds where there is so great an abundance of all kinds of game that it is surprising, and if the game there is abundant, the earth is not less beneficent. All the trees there are very fine and large. There are oaks and maples cedars, pines, firs and every kind of wood. The large river is right at the entrance, and the sloops go from seven to eight leagues within, after which you meet with a small island covered with the same wood, farther than which you cannot pass without canoes. The country on both sides of the river for the space of a league toward its source is covered with pines, large and small, and they are fine trees as they were down below. There are also along its sides, creeks and 'cul de sacs,' with meadows where the chase is capital."

 A league and a half up the river there is a large harbor (supposed to be at South Pictou) where you may find large quantities of excellent oysters; some in one place, are nearly all round, and deeper in the harbor they are monstrous. Among them are some larger than a shoe, and nearly the same shape, and they are all very fat and of good taste. And at the entrance of this river, toward the right, half a league from its mouth, there is also a large bay, which runs nearly three leagues into the land and contains a number of islands, and on both sides you find meadows and game in abundance.

 When Europeans first visited this locality, like the rest of the province it was inhabited by the Micmac (properly according to Dr. Patterson, Miggumac) tribe of Indians, a branch of the great Algonquin race, which included all the tribes along the Atlantic coast, from Virginia to Labrador. Of these the Micmacs were one of the most powerful, occupying not only Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, but the whole eastern and northern coast of New Brunswick and the south side of the St. Lawrence for some distance from its mouth. This extensive territory, known to the aborigines as Miggumahgee Micmac land or country of the Micmacs, was, and indeed is yet, divided into districts inhabited by tribes, or subdivisions of the race, each under its separate chief of Oonamahgee, or Cape Breton, as their head, his superiority however, consisting in little more than his being umpire in case of any dispute between the chiefs and presiding at any general council. Of these divisions Pictou was the centre of the district extending along the north shore of Nova Scotia, those belonging to it being known as Pectongawak or Pictonians. Merigomish, seems to be their headquarters.

 It was near the fishery in the gulf and therefore a favorable position for them. Wild fowl was abundant in the island, the rivers afforded a plentiful supply of fish, while there was no scarcity of game in the woods. Their chief place of encampment was at the foot of Barneys River, on the east side, where they had, when the English settlers arrived, some clearings on which they raised a little Indian corn and beans. Other places around including the Big Island, some of the smaller islands in the harbor, and some of the points on the shore were also sites for their encampments, as may yet be seen by the quantities of shells of oysters and other shellfish found on the land, and the stone hatchets and arrowheads still picked up from time to time. When the English settled their burying ground was near the west end of the Big Island on the south side a short distance east of Savage Point, called that name from a Captain Savage, of Truro, who had died while his vessel was lying there and was buried in the sand on the shore. This ground for interment they used till about forty years ago, and there stood a number of crosses until a recent period. The Indians of the county now bury their dead on Chapel or Indian Island, an island in the harbor donated to them by Governor Wentworth.

 An Indian village is said to have existed at the mouth of the East River. This must have been situated on the east side, nearly opposite the loading ground. Close by the river there is a pretty flat, like a piece of interval, but higher and very slightly rounded, bounded in the rear by a bank, by which the land rises abruptly to a higher level. Here the land was clear when the English settlers arrived, and for some time after. When it was ploughed various articles were turned up, including pieces of crockery, a gun barrel, a pewter basin, and tablespoons; while in the vicinity have been found a number of stone hatchets.

 It is supposed by some that this was a French settlement, but the foregoing facts show that this place was occupied by the Micmacs before and after the arrival of European's in this county.

 On the farm of William Dunbar on the opposite side of the river, there is evidence of similar occupancy, and lower down the river was another graveyard. Here stood at the arrival of the English settlers an iron cross about ten feet high, hence the place is still known as Indian Cross Point. In this place the Indians buried till a few years ago. Many of the graves can still be traced by the rows of flat stones by which they were originally covered, which have now sunk to the level of the ground, and probably were always in that position, and are partially overgrown with grass. Human bones may frequently be found on the shore, caused by the water wasting away the bank.

 The remnant of the Micmac tribe look back on the period referred to as the golden age of their race. At that time they held undisputed possession of all these regions, and were a terror to surrounding tribes. They numbered thousands, and were at peace among themselves. Drunkenness was unknown, and the various European diseases by which they have since been swept away were unheard of. Game and fish were abundant and only waited their capture by these primitive people; the forest afforded shelter from the storm, while the skins of animals served for covering night and day.

 There can be no doubt, though divided into small tribes, they often combined to prosecute wars with the natives of Maine and New Hampshire and with the Iroquois and the Mohawks of the St. Lawrence. The wars with the latter occupied a prominent place in the traditions of the Micmacs of Pictou, and they preserve the memory of fierce battles fought in the vicinity of Merigomish and perchance other places. The Micmacs, according to Mr. Rand, regard themselves as the bravest and best of the Indian nations, and boast of success even over the Mohawk. Till very recently however, the name of a Mohawk was sufficient to excite the greatest terror in the mind of a Micmac. Tell him that there was a Mohawk at any place, and he would go miles out of his way to shun his adversary us he supposed and reach his home.

 In connection with these wars the following incident appears to be well authenticated and is said to have taken place about the year 1760. "The Micmacs had concealed themselves in the woods on Little Cariboo Island. Between this and the main land the passage is very narrow, not 200 yards wide. The Mohawks had detected the hiding place of the Micmacs, and supposing that they might readily, by wading or swimming, pass that distance, resolved to cross by night and attack their enemies while they were asleep. But the tide is too powerful for any man to swim across it. The Mohawks not knowing this, plunged in, and the tide ebbing at the time they were swept away. In the morning the returning tide brought back their dead bodies, each with tomahawk tied on his head. The Micmacs coming out of their place of concealment were filled with joy at the sight of their dead foes, and danced in triumph fur their deliverance. At the time of the arrival of the English settlers the affair was still fresh in the memory of the Micmacs, and was represented as having taken place only a short time before; during the wars between the English and the French. The late James Harris mentioned that he had found two or three iron tomahawks in the sand on the shore of Little Cariboo lsland, which at the time were regarded as having belonged to the Mohawks. The place is still named by the Micmacs, Tedootkesit, meaning place of running to the bushes, from the Micmacs taking refuge in the woods. "

 The last war with the Carribas, as the Micmacs call them, the tribe of Indians inhabiting Maine and extending up to the St. Lawrence, now known as the Abenakis, may be given as illustrative of these times. Mr. Rand received the information from Peter Toney, and it is supposed to be substantially correct.

 There had existed for some time a state of hostility between the Carribas and the Micmacs. Two parties of the former led by two brothers, had come down to Pictou and had fortified themselves in two blockhouses, at Little Harbor. These block-houses were constructed of logs, raised up around a vault first dug in the ground. The buildings were covered over, had each a heavy door, and were quite a safe fortification in Indian warfare. At the mouth of Barneys River, near the site of the burying-ground the Micmacs were entrenched in a similar fort.

 There was no fighting for some weeks. The parties kept a careful eye upon each other; there was no friendly intercourse between them but there was no actual conflict.

 One night a party of the Micmacs went out torching (catching fish by torchlight). They were watched by the Carribas, who ascertained that they did not return to their fort after they returned to the shore, but lay down on the bank, about midway between the fortifications of the hostile parties. This was too powerful a temptation to be resisted. Two canoes came upon them filled with armed men. They were surprised and butchered, except two who effected their escape.

 These had rushed to the water and swam for life, and were hotly pursued. But passing a place where a tree had fallen over into the water from the bank, and lay there with a quantity of eelgrass piled and lodged upon it, they took refuge under the eelgrass under the tree, and their pursuers missed them in the darkness. After the search was abandoned and the canoes had returned, the two men came forth from their hiding place and hastened home to spread the alarm.

 Their dead companions had been scalped and their bodies consumed by fire. This news roused all the warriors, and they resolved immediately to attack the party that had committed the outrage and avenge it. They had a small vessel lying inside the long bar that makes out at Merigomish. This was immediately emptied of its ballast, drawn across the Big Island beach, filled with men, arms and ammunition (for it was since the advent of the French), and immediately moved up to the forts of the Carribas, where it was run ashore. The party was led by a "Reenap," a " brave" named Thunder or Caktoogow, or, as this name first rendered into French and then transferred back into Indian, has come down Toonale (Tounerree). They ran the vessel ashore, and in his eagerness for the encounter, the chief jumped into the sea, swam ashore, and rushed upon the fort without waiting for his men.

 Being a mighty powwow as well as a warrior, he could render himself invisible and invulnerable, and they fell before him, as we would say, like the Philistines before Samson and his jaw-bone of an ass.

 Having dispatched them all, he piled their bodies into the building and set fire to it, serving them as they had served his friends. When all was accomplished his wrath was appeased.

 He then at the head of his men, walked up towards the other fort without any hostile display, and the Abenaki chief directed his men to open the door for them and admit them in a peaceful manner. This chief had taken no part in the fray. He had disapproved of the attack upon the torching party, and had endeavored to dissuade the other from it. So when Toonale entered his fort there was no display of hostility. After their mutual salutation, Toonale dryly remarked, "Our boys have been at play over yonder." Serve them right, answers the chief. "I told them not to do as they did, I told them it would be the death of us all."

 It is now proposed that they shall make peace and live in amity for the future. A feast is made accordingly, and they celebrate it together. After the eating comes the games. They toss the Alkestaum - the Indian dice. They run, they play ball. A pole is raised at the edge of a void space, some three hundred yards across. The parties arrange themselves four or five on each side. The ball is thrown into the air and all hands dart toward it to catch it. He who succeeds in catching it before it strikes the ground darts away to the pole, all on the opposite side pursuing him, and if they can catch him before he reaches the pole his party loses, and the one who seizes him throws up the ball and another plunge is made after it; it is seized and the fortunate party dashes off again for the pole, and the excitement is kept up amid shouts and bursts of laugbter until the game is finished.

 This kind of game at ball is called "looadijik." Another kind is called wolchamaadijik, the ball being knocked along on the ground. "Did they not wrestle?" I inquired of my friend Peter. " Oh, no," was the reply. "Wrestling is apt to lead to a quarrel and they would not under the circumstances run any risk on that score."

 In all the games the Micmacs got the victory, and if they are impartial historians, they usually beat in their wars with the other tribes and with the whites. Unfortunately, we have not the records of the opposite parties of Mohawks and Abenakis, but if we may judge from what takes place among other nations, their accounts would present a very different view.

 But to return to the fort at Little Harbor. After the games were ended, the Carriba chief gives the word Noogooelnumook-" Now pay the stakes." A large blanket is spread out to receive them, and the Carribas strip themselves of their ornaments and cast them in. The following articles were enumerated by the historian: Meehoowale, epauletts; Pugulak, breastplates; Neskumunul, brooches; Nasaboodakun, nose-rings; Nasogwadakunul, finger-rings: Nasunequnul, a sort of large collar, loaded with ornaments more like a jacket than a collar; Epelakunul, hair-binders; Egatepsoon, garters, sometimes, as in the present case, made of silver: Alagwesunabel, hat bands. These articles were piled in and the blanket filled so full that they could scarcely tie it. Then another was put down and filled as full. After this the Carribas returned to their own country. A lasting peace had been concluded which has never yet been violated, and it is not likely it ever will be."

 The information with regard to the French in Pictou County is very limited. We shall, therefore, content ourselves by quoting Halyburton, who says: " The French had made a few inconsiderable settlements here previous to the peace of 1763, but upon the reduction of Canada they deserted them, and in a few years they were again covered with wood."

 British Settlement of Pictou.

 In the years 1760 and 1761 many persons removed from various parts of New England and settled several townships in the western parts of Nova Scotia. Very little was known at this time of Pictou County, as appears from a description of the several towns in the province drawn up by the Surveyor General in 1762, wherein he says, " the several towns in the province with the lands comprehended in and bordering on said towns from Tatamagouche to the Gut of Canso there is no harbor, but a good road under the Isle Poitee (Pictou Island). No inhabitants ever settled in this part of the county, and consequently no kind of improvement." 'This was drawn up by order of Lieut. Governor Belcher, for the information of the Home Government.

 When the war was concluded, many influential persons in the New England States and some of the old colonies took up the subject of the colonization of the province, and it is in this way that Pictou first comes into notice in the early settlement of Nova Scotia. In a letter from the Lieut. Governor of the province to the Lords Commissioners of Trade and Plantations, dated the 30th April, 1765, their views are thus stated: -

 "By the late arrival of several persons from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and some of the neighboring colonies, we have the prospect of having this province soon peopled by the reception of many settlers from those parts.

 These persons have come on behalf of several associations of commercial people, and others in good circumstances, to view the country and examine what advantages the settlement and cultivation of it may produce. By their accounts the considerable number of Germans annually imported in the colonies from whence they come, has so overstocked the good lands, and those situated within any convenient distance of navigation, that not only many of them have lately been obliged to move into Carolina and Virginia, but that there are also now numbers of useless persons among them. And this is not the only motive they have for making settlements in this country, for the merchants in those part are much at a loss to provide an export in return for the British commodities, and therefore have turned their thoughts to the province for fish and hemp, to produce which, of the best kind and greatest abundance, nothing but a suffciency of laboring people is wanting, and thus people being employed, they will be suffciently prevented from any attention to manufactures.

 And indeed, my lords, what seems to promise the certain acquisition of tbese great advantages from the present applications, is that these settlements are to be undertaken by people of very sufficient and able circumstances, who propose the establishment of many German families, by which means the annual current of Germans to America will very suddenly be diverted into this province, from whence it must receive a very considerable degree of strength, for these frugal, laborious, and industrious people will not only improve and enrich their property, but pertinaciously defend it.

 Among the several persons who have arrived here with a view to these undertakings is Mr. Alexander McNutt, who has frequently attended at your lordship's board. His applications are of a very considerable degree and extent, and he produces many letters from the associations I have before mentioned, soliciting in the most pressing manner to use his utmost endeavors to procure for them the tracts of land for which they apply, and on such conditions as he had obtained at your lordship's board the 27th February, 1761, for all such settlers as he would introduce into this province."

 It appears singular that at this time, when the whole of what is now the Western States was still open for settlement, to find parties in the Middle States a century ago representing the good soil there as already overstocked, and consequently seeking land in Nova Scotia. A list of firms or companies accompanied this representation, among whom we find James Lyon, of Trenton, and Dr. Franklin & Co., who sought grants of land, some of 100,000 acres, and some of 200,000 acres, making altogether 2,000,000. The Dr. Franklin mentioned here is, we believe, the great Benjamin, who was at that time influential in England, and interested in the settlement of this province. In a petition on their behalf McNutt says, "that he did engage with several persons in Ireland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and other parts of His Majesty's dominions, to provide lands in this province on the terms contained in his proposals for the settlement of as many families as they would furnish; that the several persons so engaging with him had been at considerable expense and trouble to fulfil their engagement by procuring many families for that purpose, who are now waiting with much anxiety and impatience to transport themselves to this province."

 McNutt was one of the speculators at that time engaged in taking up land and bringing settlers to this province. Haliburton styles him " an enthusiastic adventurer from the north of Ireland," who had already been the means of settling other parts of the country, including Londonderry, Onslow, and Truro.

 In June of the same year, it was agreed in council to reserve 200,000 acres for a company consisting of the Rev. James Lyon, McNutt, and thirteen others, which no doubt was the result of the foregoing application. The members of the company chiefly resided in the city of Philadelphia, and the lands thus secured were "between Onslow, Truro, and the lands granted to Colonel Des Barres at Tatamagouche." In July, on their representing that they had at considerable expense and fatigue viewed the 200,000 acres reserved for them, and found that there was not the quantity applied for there, it was resolved that they should have " liberty to choose the aforesaid quantity between Talamagonche and Picto." At the same time 1,600,000 was reserved for McNutt and his associates at various places, among which is a block of 100,000 acres at Pictou. The British Government at this time granted land to various parties, principally officers of the army and navy for services during the war. It was in this way that two years later the whole of Prince Edward Island was granted in one day. Accordingly, on the 15th October, five grants passed nominally for 20,000 acres each though in reality containing much more, embracing the whole eastern half of the county.

 Agreeably with the resolutions already referred to, there was a lot of 100,000 acres granted on the same day to McNutt and his friends, and on the 31st another, nominally 200,000 acres, to the Philadelphia company, known as the Philadelphia Grant to which we shall have occasion more particularly to refer presently. Thus in one month, and chiefly in one day, a district not exactly coinciding with the county of Pictou, but embracing a large portion of it, and also part of the county of Colchester, was granted to individuals, the most of it to speculators.

 The grantees of the first five mentioned lots were John Major, John Henerker, John Haygenes (afterward corrected Godhard Huygens), John Fisher, and John Wentworth. Major's Grant fronted on Merigomish at its eastern end. To the west of this lay Henerker's lot. In the rear of these, and extending still further westward, was Huygens'. Of these parties very little is known. The only mention of their names is in a memorial from Sir John Wentworth, in which he petitions against the escheating of these grants "on behalf of the most noble Duchess Dowager of Chandois and Sir John Henerker, Bart., and member of the British Parliament, heirs and proprietors of certain land at Pictou and Merigomish, formerly granted to John Henerker and Godhard Huygens."

 Fisher, it is said, was a major in the army. Wentworth, in a memorial at the close of the American war, says: "'that your memorialist and said John Fisher were in his majesty's service in America, and in consequence of their fidelity and zeal in their duty, were proscribed and exiled from the United States of America, their extensive property in New England confiscated, and their means of improving their estate at Pictou considerably diminished." By letters at that date, it appears that he was then residing in London. His grant is now only interesting as having given its name to that part of the south side of the harbor immediately fronting upon the town; but to show how lands were granted at that time, we may give the description or the grant. It is as follows: "Beginning at the northeast corner of McNutt's land, at a cove on the east side of Pictou harbor, and running south 47 degrees east 456 chains on said McNutt's land; thence south 808 chains on the same; thence east 74 chains on lot number 1 (Huygens' grant); thence north 600 chains on lot number 3 (Wentworth's grant); thence east till it meets Merigomish harbor; thence along the sea-coast and harbor of Pictou to the first-mentioned boundary, including the islands of Merigomish."

 The portions of these grants on the shore nearly coincide with what was afterward called the 82d grant. Westward of Henerker's lot, and fronting on the western part of Merigomish, was what is still known as the Wentworth Grant. Of all the grants given in that October this is the only one which was escheated. As it is thus the oldest grant in the county, we give its boundaries as originally described.

 " Beginning at a cove in Merigomish harbor, bounded on lot No. 2 (Fisher's grant), and thence to run west 50 chains; thence south 600 chains (or 7.5 miles) on said lot; thence east 352 chains on lot No. 1 (Huygens'); thence north 648 chains (over ten miles) on lot No. 4 (Henerker's lot), to Merigomish harbor; thence to be bounded by said harbor to the first-mentioned boundary ."

 Wentworth, afterward Sir John, was a native of New Hampshire, subsequently Governor of that Province, and at a later period of Nova Scotia (1792, 1798), He was at that time Surveyor of His Majesty's Woods in North America, an office which he continued to hold till the American Revolution, after which he held the same position in the remaining provinces.

 The conditions of these grants were the same, viz.: that the grantees should pay a quit of one farthing per acre for the one-half within five years, and the whole to be payable within ten years; and, secondly, to settle Protestant settlers upon it, in the proportion of one person to every 200 acres, within ten years from the date of their grant. These conditions were never fulfilled, so far as is known. No effort was made for that purpose by any of the parties, except Wentworth, at a period, however, after the time fixed; and as already all the grants except his were escheated.

 The only mines reserved on these lands were gold, silver, and coal, so that the present owners of the Wentworth grant are proprietors of all other minerals they can find on their land, and already portions of it have been found to be -rich in iron ore.

 On the same day with the date of these grants, another passed to Mr. Alexander McNutt, William Caldwell, Arthur Vance, and Richard Caldwell of a tract of land: -

 " Beginning at a cove on the east side of Pictou (this must have been near the mouth of the East River), and running south 47 degrees east 550 chains; thence south 1040 chains (13 miles); thence west 872 (nearly 11 miles); thence north till it meets the innermost river of Pictou; thence bounded by said river and harbor of Pictou to first-mentioned boundary. Also one other piece, beginning at a point bearing north 33 degrees east from the little island in the harbor of Pictou (this was at Brown's Point), and running north to the sea-shore near Roddick's Cariboo; thence to be bounded by the sea-shore and harbor of Pictou to the first-mentioned boundary, including Pictou Island."

 Of the parties to this grant (afterwards known as the Irish grant) except McNutt, all we know is that they are said to belong to Londonderry, in Ireland. It embraced all the southern and western shores of the harbor from Fisher's grant round to the West River, and the land into the interior to the southward to a distance of about 20 miles, em-bracing both banks of the East and Middle Rivers, and the west side of the West, to the distance of about a mile above Durham. It likewise embraced the block on which the town now stands, commencing at Brown's Point, and extended round the coast to Cariboo. It covered nearly all the most desirable portions of the harbor, and had the first settlement been upon it the effort might have been more successful, and much of the suffering afterward experienced might have been avoided. The grant which is of special interest as connected with the early history of Pictou was the last one mentioned as having passed at that time, usually known as the Philadelphia grant. It is dated the 31st October, and it is to Edmund Crawley, Esq., for 20,000 acres, the Rev. James Lyon, John Rhea, Richard Stockton, George Bryan, William Symonds, John Wykoff, Isaac Wykoff, Jonathan Smith, Andrew Hodge, John Bayard, Thomas Harris, Robert Harris, and David Rhea for 180,000 acres. The description of their land is as follows:--

 " Beginning at the southwest bounds of lands granted to Joseph Frederick Wallet Des Barres, and running west 550 chains on ungranted lands; thence south 580 chains on ungranted lands, and on the township of Londonderry; thence east 800 chains on the township of Onslow; thence south 900 chains on said township and on ungranted lands; thence 1000 chains on ungranted lands; thence north 932 chains, more or less, till it meets the westernmost river of Pictou; thence the course of the said river on the north side till it meets the westermost boundary of land granted to Alexander McNutt and associates; thence running north on said lands till it meets the sea-shore; thence the course of the sea-shore till it meets the northeast boundary of lands granted to J. F. W. Des Barres; thence on his eastern boundary 480 chains on said lands, to the first-mentioned boundary; together with the islands adjacent, containing on the whole 200,000 acres, more or less.

 " In manner and form following, viz., one equal undivided tenth part to Edmund Crawley, Esq., and the remaining nine-tenths to and among the others mentioned."

 It will be seen that the Philadelphia grant not only included the greater portion of the township of Pictou, but a large portion of the county of Colchester, with part of the River John settlement to Point Brule, a large part of New Annan, the whole of Earltown and Kemptown, with a considerable portion of Stewiacke. On Pictou harbor it had a small frontage on the water, including only that part of the shore from Brown's Point to the head of the harbor. All the shore from Brown's Point eastward round to Cariboo had been obtained by McNutt. This naturally belonged to the Philadelphia company's grant, and it plainly appears that, while acting for his friends in Philadelphia, he had also been acting for himself and others, and had managed, it is said, very unfairly to get this into his own hands. This was afterwards the subject of bitter complaint against him, and doubtless justly, as it was a formidable obstacle in the way of the settlement of the country.

 The following were the conditions of these grants: First, the grantees were to pay a quit-rent, the same as on the other grants. Secondly, that they plant, cultivate, improve, or inclose one-third part within ten years; one other third part within twenty years; and the other one-third within thirty years; otherwise such portions as are not improved to be forfeited. Thirdly, they were to plant within ten years from the date of the grant one rood of every 1000 acres with hemp, and to keep a like quantity of land planted during the successive years. The last condition was, that they were to settle one-fourth of the land within one year after the 31st day of November next, in the proportion of one Protestant person to every 200 acres; one-fourth within two years; one-fourth within three years; and the remaining fourth within four years, or the land so unsettled should revert to the crown. These terms, as will be seen, were unreasonably severe, and the marvel is how they could in any measure be complied with.

 Alexander McNutt, it appears, made no attempt to settle his land, consequently the grant was escheated in 1770 but not until the first settlement had been made by the Philadelphia company, and till his grant had proved an obstacle to their progress. The Philadelphia company, however, seemed determined honestly to carry out their engagement as far as practicable. In a memorial to the governor, dated 21st August, 1766, they represent that "they have received many disappointments in their intentions of their settling the lands granted to them between Pictou and the townships of Onslow and Truro, by the misrepresentations of one Mr. Anthill, who had represented the country as rocky, barren, and unfit for improvement, and likewise made very injurious representations of the government of this province, all which very much prejudiced the persons who had engaged to settle the lands. That they had likewise met with a very great disappointment, on finding that a considerable part of the harbor of Pictou, by some mistake in the survey, was not granted to them as they expected; all which, with many obstructions from the scarcity of money and the stagnation of trade occasioned by the Stamp Act taking place at that time, rendered them incapable of making any settlements this year, as intended." They were, in consequence of this statement, allowed to the first of June following to settle the first portion of settlers.

 Seven of the company on the 5th of May, 1767, executed a power of attorney to John Wykoff, of Philadelphia, merchant, and Dr. John Harris, of Baltimore County, empowering them to grant and sell, in the name of the company, their land on such terms as they should see fit. The Rev. James Lyon, who was already in the province, afterwards executed a similar paper to Harris.

 The Hope, a small brig commanded by Captain Hull, of Rhode Island, was dispatched with six families of settlers and supplies of provisions for their use. These families consisted of Dr. Harris, the agent, and wife; Robert Patterson, who came as a surveyor to the company, his wife and five children, the eldest nine years old and the youngest only three months; James McCabe, wife, and six children; John Rogers, wife, and four children; Henry Cumminger, wife, and four or five children; and a sixth family, whose name is uncertain. In addition, to these Patterson had with him a convict servant. The company consisted of twelve heads of families, about twenty children, one convict servant, and possibly one or two colored slaves.

 On the 10th of June the Hope arrived at Pictou, having called at Halifax on her way. The people of Truro had heard of their coming, and five or six young men set out through the woods to meet them, and aid in commencing operations. Among these were, it is said, Samuel Archibald, father of the late S. G. W. Archibald, John Otterson, Thos. Troop, and Ephraim Howard. The two latter we notice, from the cir-cumstance that in passing the mountains on the western border of the county they named the one Mount Thom and the other Mount Ephraim, after themselves; names which they have retained up to this day. They reached the harbor the same afternoon that the vessel arrived, and made large fires on the shore to attract her up. Those on board saw the fires, and supposed that they were made by savages, of whom they naturally stood in terror. The vessel accordingly stood off and on till next morning, and the company deliberated whether to resist or submit to their mercy. Like true Englishmen, they chose the bolder alternative. Mrs. Harris, during the night, increased the number by giving birth to a son, afterwards known as Clerk Tommy, having filled the office of Clerk of the Peace and Prothonotary for some years. He died in 1809, and was buried in Pictou graveyard, where a monument stood till re-cently to his memory, on which he was described as "the first descendant of an Englishman born in Pictou."

 They saw the Truro party next morning coming along the shore, and by their spy-glasses discovered to their joy that they were whites, and as the vessel stood in toward the shore they heard the cheerful hail of friends. They landed at the point just above the town gut which had been settled as the site of a town as the part of the company's grant nearest to the entrance of the harbor. The prospect was indeed dreary enough. One unbroken forest covered the whole surface of the country to the water's edge. What is now the lower part of the town was then an alder swamp. All around stood the mighty monarchs of the wood in all their primeval grandeur, the evergreens spreading a sombre covering over the plains and up the hills, relieved by the lighter shade of the deciduous trees, with here and there some tall spruce rising like a black minaret or spire above its fellows. But chiefly conspicuous to the eye of the observer were the tasselled tops of the white pines for which Pictou was afterwards so long distinguished; their straight stems towering to the height of 150 or 200 feet, "like masts of some huge admiral." Not- withstanding the beauty and grandeur which the scenery of the country presented to the eye of the recently landed band, there were many dif-ficulties and discouragements staring them in the face. It is said Mrs. Patterson used to tell that she leaned her head against a tree which stood for many years after, and thought that if there was a broken-hearted creature on the face of the earth, she was the one. As she looked upon her little ones left shelterless in the cruel wilderness among the savages deemed still more cruel, she could only cling to her husband with the cry, " Oh, Robert, take me back." So discouraged were the whole band with the state of things that the most of them were determined to return in the vessel which brought them; but the captain, after landing his passengers and supplies, slipped out of the harbor in the night and left them to their fate. The first night on shore they spent under the trees without even a camp to shelter them, but the weather was warm, and they did not suffer from the exposure. Their first concern, it may be easily supposed, was to provide some shelter, which they did by building rude huts. The representatives of the company proceeded to lay out a town where they had landed. A half acre was assigned to each family. No. 1 being Mr. McCabe's. At that point the trees were not large. He immediately cleared his half acre, and his descendants say he cut down the first tree in Pictou. He had what is called a mallock, on the one side an axe and on the other a grubbing hoe. His practice was to take away the earth from the main roots and cut off all the smaller ones, and then either leave it to fall by the wind or drag it down and out of root. Instead of burning the trees he hauled them out to the tide, and thus he very soon cleared his lot. Another half acre was assigned to him as a reward for the prompt manner in which he had commenced work. He planted potatoes in his lot, placing the seed under the moss which had not been burned. The first crop however was inferior, the tubers not being larger than potato-balls.

 Farm lots were assigned to each settler. Mr. Patterson, afterward the squire, had his where his eldest son John afterward resided, and where his great-grandson Henry and the Fullertons now live, about two miles from town. McCabe got his where W. Evans now lives, about five miles from town, and another where the late George Murray lived below Durham. He was a Roman Catholic, and the company's grant bound them to settle their land with Protestants, hence the deed of his lots is in his wife's name. It is said he had been partly educated for a priest and contrived in this way to gain influence over the Indians, who pointed out to him the place where he took up his land which turned out to be rich and fertile. Rogers Hill derived its name from John Rogers, who took up his land in that locality, and some of the apple trees which he brought with him from Maryland are still standing.

 Some of the first efforts of the settlers were to blaze a path to Truro, and this was done, it is said, by Thomas Archibald, John Otterson of Truro, and John Rogers, the compass their only guide. The road or blazed path left the shore at the head of Pictou Harbor and went over Rogers Hill, following nearly the course of the present road through Rogers Settlement beyond the six and eight mile brooks. It is said that the first course was by the North Mountain and down the North River to Truro which is regarded as the shortest line between the towns. There were however difficulties by that route, and a line was opened over Mount Thom, for which Thomas Archibald has always got the credit, which continued to be the regular line of communication between the two places till 1831. After reaching the summit it descended till it struck the Salmon River, which is crossed at Kemptown, thence proceeding along the north side of the river, along the upland till within about four miles of Truro, and along the interval the remaining part of the distance.

 At this early period it seems to have been regularly laid out and measured, hence we find in the deeds given afterwards, such descriptions as the following: "At the southwest corner of land on the Colbyquid Road between the three and four mile trees." "Another lying on Colbyquid Road, beginning at a stake and stone near the eight mile camp, thence westwardly on said road a mile and a quarter." This road it is supposed was laid out the summer they arrived. The various streams on the west aide of the West River derived their names from the distance on this road from the point of departure. Thus, Forbes' Brook was long known as the Half Mile Brook, and so we have the Four, Six, and Eight Mile Brooks. Thomas Archibald was the farthest up settler on the Truro side at that early date; he was generally known as "Uncle Tom," whose house was long the traveller's rest.

 Philo Antiquarius says: "In addition to the difficulties already mentioned, they were constrained to submit to many indignities from the aborigines, who viewed their operations with no friendly eye. These considered the settlers as usurpers of their natural rights who bad encroached on their undoubted property; and it required not a moderate portion of skill on the part of the civilized to gain the good-will of the savage, nor inconsiderable prudence to establish this amicableness when formed."

 For example, if a white man took a fish from the river an Indian would take it from him, saying it was not his property. Oftentimes they would enter the houses of the settlers and help themselves to the cakes which the women might be baking, or other provisions with threatening gestures. The settlers cultivated their friendship by playing draughts, wrestling, or what was more effective, drinking fire-water with them. Through kindness they became attached to some of the settlers, still incidents occurred which showed they were not to be trusted; their old savage nature might be revived. A young man wrestling with an Indian, by a dexterous movement which his opponent thought unfair, tripped him. The Indian was very cross and some time after, the young man going to the Middle River where the former had his camp, his squaw came out and earnestly warned him away, saying her husband would kill him if he found him there.

 "During the summer months the settlers experienced little inconvenience from the weather, but they found the winter much more severe, and of longer continuance than in their native clime. They were consequently ill prepared to meet its blasts, and suffered intensely from the inclemency of the weather. `

 "As their provisions diminished they directed their inquiries to the internal resources of the country, and this investigation was amply recompensed by discovering the forest to be plentifully inhabited by different species of wild animals. In hunting there the settler usually had an Indian for an associate. Among the several kinds of animals none more valuable or abundant than the moose. The hunter in endeavoring to procure these was subjected to much fatigue, having frequently to pursue one of them a whole day with the probability of not overtaking it at the end. If however, he were fortunate enough to capture it the quantity of excellent venison it produced might have been deemed an equivalent for the labor of the chase, but, besides, its skin, when properly prepared, was rated at ten shillings, and wad advantageously exchanged for necessaries to traders who were accustomed to run into the harbor with small crafts.

 "Necessity is truly the mother of art. Congregated as the early inhabitants of this district were, in a place which was devoid of every conveniency where the most common and indispensable commodities were wanting, their creative powers were laid under heavy contribution in order to provide for the deficiency, and their inventive genius was called into ceaseless operation in constructing articles for household use, in forming implements of husbandry and making instruments for hunting. They thus became more ingenious and more fertile in resources - what in America is called more 'handy' -- than if 1iving in older inhabited places."

 In the spring following they found it necessary to proceed to Truro for seed; the journey required six days to go and return. They returned bearing each a bag of seed potatoes on his back. Such a journey through trackless forests carrying a heavy burden was anything but pleasant. They planted the seed and succeeded that year in growing a quantity of good potatoes but not sufficient for their subsistence, so that winter had not much more than begun when their supply was seriously diminished. The following year their crops were much better, and they had an ample supply for the coming winter.

 The population at the close of 1769 was not very great. Sixty-seven souls had arrived, four children had been born, but thirty-six had removed, and one had died; so that the net number, including those who had come by the "Hope," was only eighty-four.

 The produce raised in that year, according to returns, included 64 bushels of wheat, 60 of oats, 7 of rye, 8 of barley, 6 of peas, and some flax; potatoes not given. This was the result of the labors of six families in what we may regard as the second year of their residence in the forest. Their show of cattle is very good, viz., 6 horses, 16 oxen, 16 cows, 16 young cattle, 37 sheep, and 10 swine. The commencement of our marine evidently took place thus early, as Dr. Harris is credited with owning a fishing boat and small vessel, and Kennedy had a sawmill.

 As time rolled other settlers arrived; of these one was named James Fulton, and another Watson. Fulton was born in Ireland in 1726, and with his wife and family emigrated to Halifax in 1761. He went first to Lahare, and afterward to Cumberland, whence he removed to Pictou. His name appears in the list of town officers of the latter place in 1775, but he removed shortly after to the lower village of Truro. "In removing from Pictou to Truro," says Miller, "they underwent great hardships; they had then to travel through the woods -without any roads, and carry their stuff and their children on their backs. This journey occupied the whole of the week, although they had the assistance of several men. While on their way there came on a snow-storm which caused them much suffering, as they had to stop in the woods for five nights; and one night in particular, their fireworks being damp, they could get no fire for some time, and were in danger of perishing. Watson lived on the west side of West River, and died there, and his farm was afterward purchased by Robert Stewart. The following is a list of town officers, which doubtless will be interesting to some parties, especially to any of their descendants who are still living.

 Onslow Sessions, February Term, 1775.

 A list of Town Officers for the township of Pictou:-

 Clerk of the District . . John Harris. Overseers of the Poor . Robert Mersom, John Harris, . James Fulton. Overseers of the Road . Matthew Harris, William Kennedy. Surveyors of Lumber . Moses Blaisdell, William Aikin. Constable . William Aikin. Clerk of the Market . James Fulton. Culler of Fish . . Abraham Slater.

 Approved and established by the Sessions.

 [Signed] Noah Miller, Clerk of the Peace.

 James Davidson is another settler deserving of notice. He was a native of Edinburgh, where he married, and where the first of his family was born. He emigrated from Scotland in the same vessel in which the Rev. Mr. Cock brought out his family. Soon after he came to Pictou. He took up a considerable quantity of land, and he was the first schoolmaster in the county; the school was situated at Lyons Brook. He was regarded as a pious man, and cared for the spiritual interests of the settlers.

 There can be no doubt the first settlers experienced a large amount of suffering and privation. Yet it is worthy of remark they never suffered actual want of the necessaries of life. This was owing to a great measure to the arrangements made by the company, and to their own industry and perseverance. The company had sent a supply of provisions intended to last for two years. The coasts abounded with an ample supply of fowl, so little disturbed by man that they were easily shot or snared, especially in the spring and fall. Fish were abundant, the most valuable of which was the salmon, which came into the rivers in great numbers, and were caught for the double purpose of home use and exportation. Their chief resource, however, was the wood of the forest, the pine they split into four feet clapboards, and they manufactured staves from the oak and ash, both of which found a market in other places.

 Squire Patterson, as he was now called, brought a large supply of goods with which he traded with both the Indians and the settlers. He supplied the former with guns, ammunition, clothing, etc., in exchange for furs or food, and the settlers he supplied with various articles, taking the produce of their labor in return. Trading vessels from the old colonies, employed in fishing, brought them supplies, receiving in exchange their fish, fur, and lumber.

 In 1769 the wife of Dr. Harris presented him with a daughter, who was the first female child born in Pictou County of English parentage. Of marriages there appears to be no record.

 When the "Hector" arrived in 1775, it is said there were sixteen families, but of these only six remained; and in order that the reader may have a full, true, and particular account of these worthy men we strongly advise him to secure a copy of Dr. Patterson's History of Pictou, as it is impossible to do justice to the subject in a necessarily brief sketch of the county.