Page:New Brunswick Magazine Issue 1.djvu/302
Ox Island[1] as his share of the undivided islands.
A few words may be said concerning Richard Shorne, who was one of the proprietors of the townships who endeavored to effect their settlement and improvement, and who for that purpose came to the river St. John, in the year 1767. He resided on the river for several years and during his residence was elected a member of the House of Assembly, for Sunbury County. Simonds and White, in their letter of June 20, 1767, to Hazen and Jarvis write:—
"Mr. Shorne[2] the bearer of this is a Proprietor in our Lands and has left Ireland with an intention of settling a number of Rights on this river and for that purpose is invested with power from his friends[3] to draw for any sum that may be necessary on this occasion. I must beg your kind assistance and advice on his behalf as he does not appear to be much acquainted with the settlement of Lands; you may with great safety I think take any Bill from him for a moderate sum."
In the same letter from which the above is taken, Mr. Simonds observes that "Mr. Shorne has arrived with some families from New York to settle his own and some other Rights." Other incidental references to Richard Shorne show that he was a resident on the St. John river for some years and that Simonds and White had business transactions with him up to the year 1775. He seems to have lived at St. Ann's Point where goods and supplies from Newbury port were sent to him, for which he paid freight to Simonds and White.
- ↑ Ox Island is a small island adjoining Mauger's Island in Lower Burton. Mr. Simonds made some improvements in the state of the island and sold it in October, 1782, to Sylvanus Plummer and Jacob Barker, Jr., for £291. It contains about 60 acres of excellent land.
- ↑ The late J. W. Lawrence and others give this gentleman's name as Thome. I have carefully examined the initial letter in a variety of documents and papers: there can be no doubt that it is S, not T. Mr. Shorne, as stated above, came from Ireland.—W. O. R.
- ↑ Among Mr. Shorne s friends were Rev. Curryl Smith of Alminsta, West Meath, Ireland, and his sons John and Robert Smith of the city of Dublin. Mr. Shorne acted as their attorney. Major Studholme says that John Smith came out from Ireland in the summer of 178a to effect the settlement of his lands in the townships.
The committee appointed by Gov. Parr to investigate the condition of the townships in 1783, reported that Philip Wade of St. Anns had "a good house and barn and about 30 acres of improved land chiefly cleared by the French: his claim based on an agreement with Richard Shorne, Esq., one of the original grantees." The committee also reported that one Oliver Tibeaudo had large improvements at St. Ann's and a lease from Richard Shorne, Esq., for 999 years.