CHAPTER XXIX.
At the Close of the Revolution—Affairs Civil and Religious.
After the establishment of Major Studholme’s garrison at Fort Howe, in the fall of 1777, the settlers on the river found adequate protection. The Indians occasionally assumed a hostile attitude it is true, especially when they were stirred up by Allan’s emissaries from Machias, but they were rather overawed by the proximity of the fort and were for the most part peacefully disposed. The privateers continued their depredations on the coast, but kept clear of Fort Howe. The condition of the settlers on the river had gradually improved and they were now able to live within themselves. Money too began to circulate more freely, owing to the development of the masting industry. In several of the townships primitive grist and saw mills were to be found, and there was even a small tannery, owned and operated by one Nathaniel Churchill of Gagetown. Among the artificers of Maugerville were Sylvanus Plummer, joiner and housewright; James Woodman, Shipwright; John Crabtree, weaver; Israel Kenny, blacksmith; Jonathan Whipple, cooper; Benjamin Bailey, housewright; Abel English, blacksmith.
Among the glimpses of Portland Point, during the closing year of the Revolution, a rather interesting one is to be found in the diary of Benjamin Marston, a loyalist of Marblehead, who visited the place in his vessel the “Britannia” in the autumn of 1781. An extract from his diary here follows:—
“Friday, Sept. 7—About 10 a. m. arrived safely into St. John’s river, went ashore and dined with Mr. Hazen whom I find to be every way the man I have ever heard him characterized.
“Saturday, Sept. 8—Dined with Mr. Hazen. Sold him and Mr. White some tobacco, wine and chocolate. Mending sails today. Wind blowing very hard at N. W.
“Sunday, Sept. 9—Am in hopes of having a convoy to Annapolis, shall know more of it tomorrow; if one, shall wait for it. Dined ashore at Mr. Hazen’s.
“Monday, Sept. 10—Still waiting in hopes of a convoy and have some prospect of carrying garrison stores to Annapolis, in that case shall have a party sufficient to keep off pirate boats. Spent the day rambling about the country which hereabouts is very broken, barren and but little cultivated, but abounding in vast quantities of excellent limestone. Fort Howe is built on a single limestone—’tis a pretty large one. Delivered Mr. Hazen his two hogsheads of tobacco, which I couldn’t do before, we have had such blowing weather the two days past.
“Tuesday, Sept. 11—Dirty, rainy, wind at noon S. and S. S. W.
“Wednesday, Sept. 12—Waited till 12 o’clock at noon to sail with the men of war and the mast ships.”
Benjamin Marston sold a portion of his cargo to Hazen & White; but he found his stay at St. John very monotonous during the fortnight he was detained by contrary winds. He tried to break the monotony by the composition of the following rhyme, for which, under the circumstances, we are disposed to excuse him; 336 it was St. John’s first attempt in the poetical line and is as good as some that has been attempted since:
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“I’m almost sick and tired to death With staying in this lonesome place, Where every day presents itself With just the same dull-looking face. Oh! had I but some kind fair friend With whom to chat the hours away, I ne’er would care how blew the wind Nor tedious should I think my stay. Ah! that was once my happy lot When I with house and home was blest, I’d then a fair companion got With many female charms possesst. Nor scantily did Heaven shower down Those gifts which render life a blessing, But did our cup with plenty crown, Nor let us feel what was distressing. Yes, dearest Sally, thou wert fair, Not only fair, but kind and good; Sweetly together did we share The blessings Heaven on us bestowed. Till base Rebellion did display Her banners fair with false pretence, Then kindly Heaven took you away From evils which have happened since. And careless me, when I had lost Of all my blessings far the best, Did teach, and justly, to my cost, The worth of what I once possessed. ’Tis often so—we do not prize The present good at its just rate, But gone, we see with other eyes What was its worth when ’tis too late. Now one more verse, fair Ladies nine, And there’ll be one apiece for you; ’Tis the way I sometimes spend my time When I have nothing else to do.” |
The war of the Revolution was practically ended on the 19th October, 1781, when Lord Cornwallis surrendered his army to Washington at Yorktown, Virginia, in the presence of the united French and American forces. From this date until the peace, the military operations were few and unimportant. Major Studholme continued quietly to maintain his post at Fort Howe. In addition to a strong detachment of his own corps, the Royal Fencible American Regiment, he had a detachment of the 84th regiment, or Young Royal Highland Emigrants. Among Studholme’s subordinate officers were lieutenants Peter Clinch, Samuel Denny Street, 337 Ambrose Sharman and Constant Connor, all of the Royal Fencible Americans, and lieutenants Laughlan Maclane and Hugh Frazier of the Young Royal Highland Emigrants.