EXTRACTS FROM JOURNAL AND LETTERS.
Some extracts from the journal as a beginning to this chapter will, Ihope, be interesting to some of the descendants:
"Aug.2nd, 1802--Richard Lowerison's barn burned.
"Aug.7th--Mr.Milledge preached at church.Got upland hay all up.
Have 60 tons good hay in barn and in stock.
"Aug.28th--Quarterly meeting at our house.
"Sept.10th--Mr.Albro dined at our house." (Mr.Albro was a Halifax man who traded in cattle.)"Dec.28--John McCormick, apparently in good health, died instantly at night.
"May 10th--Mr.Marsden started to-day for the Conference.
"June 26th--Mr.Bent arrived at our house to-day and went over to Tantramar.
"June 27th--Mr.Bent preached his first sermon in Tantramar.
"May 3rd, 1803--William Bennet started for Conference.
"Dec.--Mrs.McMonagle's house was drawn from the plain to Mount Whatley.
"Jan.9th, 1806--W.Wood Fillmore was married to Nancy Patterson, of Cole's Island.
"April 5th, 1806--Tolar Thompson brought a large birch log across the marsh on the ice, and also a load of grain to the mill and returned the next day.
"June 16th--Harmon had the old shop drawn to his house, had 17 yoke of oxen.
"William Allen was buried at the churchyard at Camp Hill, attended by a large concourse of people.Mr.Mitchell preached the sermon.
"Nov.29th--Mr.Roach lost his vessel; the Capt.and two men were drowned; 515 firkins of butter saved.
"Jan.12th, 1806--This day Wm.McKenzie was found dead, sitting in his chair, supposed to be frozen to death.
"June 3rd, 1808--Wm.Black came to our house and Mrs.Black and son, Martin Gay.Mr.Black preached at Stone Chapel.
In February of same year, "Mr.Foster came to mill in a cart and John Patterson from Cole's Island with a sled.""Jan.19th, 1808--Mr.Bamford moved to our house.
"Jan.25th--A meeting to confer about the Byto*; nothing was done.""Jan.3rd, 1809--Martin Black married to Fanny Smith."[FOOTNOTE: *This, I suppose, was the aboideau that had to be abandoned, to which reference has been made.END OF FOOTNOTE]
On the 8th of that month "William Black preached at Sackville, and on the 11th at Mr.Roach's in Lawrence; on the 16th William Black started for Halifax.""Feb.23rd, 1809--Went to the Supreme Court.
"Feb.29th, 1810--Mrs.Roach, of Fort Lawrence, died to-day after a short sickness.Rev.Mr.Knowlton preached the funeral sermon from Psalms; a very solemn time; about five hundred people present.
"In June, 1811, Robert Bryce purchased a lot of cattle and some butter in Cumberland.
"June 28th--Went to Bay Verte with a drove of cattle and some sheep, put 32 cattle and 116 sheep on board vessel for Newfoundland.
"July 8th--Started ten oxen for Halifax.John Trueman raising his house and barn, July 6th, 1811.
"July 24th--Pulled the old mill down.A son of John Harper's was badly hurt at the mill brook."I notice in the journal that "muster day" was in Sackville this year.
It seems to have been a very prosperous year for the farmers of Cumberland.Shipments of cattle and sheep were made to Newfoundland and the usual supply sent to Halifax.The price paid must have been satisfactory; it would, at any rate, be so considered by our farmers now.
The following letter sent to Messrs.Reed and Albro, dated Sept.6th, 1811, gives one an idea of the condition of the cattle trade at that time:
"WESTMORELAND, Sept.6th, 1811.
"MESS.REED & ALBRO.
"Sir,--Recd.Your letter by Thomas Roach, Esq., respecting cattle; have been looking around for some cattle, cannot buy for less than 6d.
(10c.).Mr.-----, of Westmoreland, has some good cattle unsold at present.If you wish me to purchase you some cattle you may depend on my doing the best in my power for you.Wishing your answer as soon as possible, as the good cattle may be picked up.I wish you would send me the weights of the different lots of Beeves.I cannot settle with the people I purchased from for want of the weights.Have given two drafts on you, one on Saml.Holsted for L200, payable on the 20th July, and one on A.Fowler for L100, payable on the 28th July.
"You will oblige me much by calling on Wm.Allan and take up a mortgage deed belonging to Thomas King, of Westmoreland.
"There is, he thinks, about L50 or a little more due on it.Send it to me and I shall get the money paid me on sight, as I want a letter.And in so doing you will much "Oblige your well wisher, "WM.TRUEMAN.
"P.S.--Thomas Roach, Esq., will furnish you with ten cattle at 6d, delivered in Halifax.If you accept his offer, send a boy to Windsor to meet the cattle.Please to write the first opportunity and inform me what I shall do.Do you want a few firkins of butter this fall? I have given Harmon Trueman an order on you bearing date of 7th Sept.
"I am your humble servant, "WM.TRUEMAN."The following letter, a copy of which is among the papers at Prospect, also adds some information about trade at that time:
"WESTMORELAND, March 7th, 1812.
"MR.JOHN ALBRO:
"Dear Sir,--I hope these lines will find you and Mrs.Albro and family enjoying health and every other blessing.I take this opportunity to inform you that I expect to have 12 or 14 oxen to dispose of this summer.I wish you to have the preference.If you wish to have them shall be glad to have a line from you by Mr.Gore, as also what you think the price will be.
"I want no more than the market price.
"Remain your humble servant, "WM.TRUEMAN.
"N.B.--John Keillor, Esq., hath four good oxen he wishes you to have with mine.They are four fine oxen.They are likely to be good by July 15th."In addition to the buyers from Halifax, Newfoundland was this year sending to Westmoreland for a part of its beef supply.The letter below refers to the trade with that colony:
"WESTMORELAND, 30 Oct., 1811.
"MESSRS.JOHN & ROBERT BRYNE,--
"I sent you a few lines Sept.4th.Thinking it a chance whether you received it or no, I take the liberty to send you a second.I think it will be a great advantage to you to have some hay purchased and drawn to the place in winter.
