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THE NEW BRUNSWICK MAGAZINE.

was built. They also built a house about a mile above the dyke with hovels for cattle, put up fences, built bridges and made other preparations necessary to settle a family and keep a stock of cattle. This house must have been nearly as far out the marsh as Coldbrook railway station, but Mr. Simonds says that at the time of its erection it was supposed and believed to be within the limits of the second grant which had never been surveyed.[1]

Soon after the aboideau was built in 1774 the company built two more houses with out-buildings, cleared and fenced the lands adjoining and settled two more families, making three families on the marsh, each with a small stock of cattle. The three settlers were most probably Moses Kimball, Lemuel Cleveland and William Godsoe. The company continued to improve their lands and to stock them with cattle.

After the commencement of the Revolutionary war the situation of the settlers on the marsh began to be decidedly uncomfortable in consequence of the depredations of American privateers that were not deterred even by the presence of the garrison at Fort Howe from designs upon the marsh cattle. In proof of this we may quote from a letter of warning Hazen and White received from John Curry, of Campobello, in the month of March, 1782.

"Gentlemen:—In my last I referred you to Major Studholme for some intelligence which was this: there is a small privateer at Machias that I expect will sail every day. She is owned and manned by a parcle of Cumberland Refugees who is determined to supply themselves with Beef for use of ye. Crue at your expence by privately going to ye. Marsh and killing your Cattle. You may look for them every day after you receive this: they are bound up ye. Bay a plundering—Take care of yourselves and pray keep this a profound secret."

Many were the trials and tribulations of the first

  1. ↑ This statement is made under oath by James Simonds in the Chancery Suit and corroborated by similar testimony on the part of William Hazen and James White.
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