Page:New Brunswick Magazine Issue 1.djvu/20

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THE NEW BRUNSWICK MAGAZINE.

On the 12th of October, 1758, the first of the now celebrated proclamations of Governor Lawrence was issued, offering favorable terms to such industrious settlers as might be disposed to remove to Nova Scotia and cultivate the lands vacated by the French or any unsettled parts of the province. This had the effect of directing attention to the St. John river, as well as to other localities. Young and adventurous spirits came to the fore as pioneers of civilization, among them James Simonds, of Haverhill, Massachusetts, to whom undoubtedly belongs the honor of being the founder of the first permanent settlement at the mouth of the St. John. The circumstances that induced Mr. Simonds to come to St. John are thus detailed in one of his letters[1] now in possession of the writer of this article:—

In the years 1759 and 1760 proclamations were published by his Majesty's order through the colonies (some of which I can now produce) which promised all the lands and possessions of the Acadians who had been removed or any otter lands lying within the Province of Nova Scotia to such as would become settle there. In consequence of these proclamations I went through the greatest part of Nova Scotia, in time of war at very great expense and at the risk of my lite in search of the best lands and situations, and having at length determined to settle at the River St. John, obtained a promise from Government of large tracts of lands for myself and Brother Richard who was with me in several of my tours.

Mr. Simonds states in another document, a copy of which is also in the writer's possession, that he obtained from the government of Nova Scotia the promise of a grant of 5000 acres of land in such part of the province as he should choose, and that in the year 1762, in company with his brother, he by virtue of this arrangement took possession of the great marsh to the east of St. John, called by the Indians Seebaskastagan, where they cut a quantity of salt hay and began to make improvements. The letter from which we have just quoted continues:—

The accounts which I gave to my friends in New England of the abundance Fish in the River and the convenience of taking them, of the extensive Fur
  1. ↑ The letter referred to is dated Jan. 28, 1788, and is addressed by James Simonds to his former partners, Messrs. Hazen and White. It was rescued from an old pile of rubbish some months ago.
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