Saint Croix Courier, St. Stephen, NB
April 5, 1894
GLIMPSES OF THE PAST
Contributions to the History of Charlotte County and the Border Towns.
CX – JAMES SIMONDS.
[By Rev. W. O. Raymond, M. A.]
The subject of this brief sketch was born in the year 1735, not far from Newburyport in the then province of Massachusetts Bay. Upon the death of his father, and after the settlement of the estate, including the payment of some legacies, the property inherited by James Simonds was inconsiderable. Accordingly, at the age of twenty-four years, in company with his younger brother, Richard, he started out to seek his fortune. The Bay of Fundy seemed to offer special attractions as a field of enterprise, and thither the young New Englanders directed their course. After extensive explorations extending over a period of four years, it was decided to form a company to carry on the business of the cod-fishery, seine fishery, the fur trade, the burning of lime, etc., at Passamaquoddy, St. John, Canso and other places adjacent.
(In a recent article of the Courier series we find James Simonds adopted as a member of the company of associated Loyalists known as the Penobscot Association, doubtless because of his established interest in the trade of Passamaquoddy. He claims our attention for his earlier rather than for his subsequent connection with the place.) Twenty years before the date of the Penobscot grant, he had entered into the following agreement:-
THIS INDENTURE quadrupartite, made this 1st day of March, A. D. 1764, between Samuel Blodget on the one part, and William Hazen on the second part; James Simonds on the third part, and James White, Robert Peaslie and Richard Simonds on the fourth part:
WITNESSETH the following agreements and Covenants, and the said parties do hereby mutually and reciprocally covenant every party with every other in manner following:
Imprimus, the said Samuel, William, James Simonds, and James White, Robert, and Richard, do mutually covenant that they will immediately enter upon and pursue with all speed and faithfulness the business of the Cod fishery, Seine fishery, the Fur trade, burning of Lime and every other trading business that shall be thought advantageous to the parties and Company at Passamaquoddy, Saint John, Canso and elsewhere in or near the province of Nova Scotia and parts adjacent, and it is further agreed that the said Blodget and Hazen or either of them shall find and provide at the expense of the Company a Vessell or Vessells, Crafts, Boats with tackling and furniture proper therefor, and all materials which they or either of them shall judge fit; and also all sorts of Goods and Stock wherewith to carry on the business aforesaid shall be found and provided by the said Blodget and Hazen or one of them agreeable to their directions; and all the Fish, Fur and whatever else the produce of the trade and business aforesaid shall be, shall be sent to the said Blodget and Hazen.
Furthermore: the Fishery Business and the business of Traffick at Saint Johns and elsewhere shall be under the control of the said James Simonds; and the said James White, Richard Simonds, and Robert Peaslie shall be ruled by the said Simonds at all times and in all things which shall relate to the good of the concerned wherein the said James White Richard Simonds and Robert Peaslie or either of them shall differ in judgment from the said James Simonds, tho’ all the parties do hereby covenant in all things to consult and advise and act to the utmost of their power for the best good and advantage of the Company and all those concerned.
Furthermore: it is mutually covenanted and agreed that the deck’d Vessell, or Vessells, from one port to another, whether on their inward or outward bound voyages shall be well insured, when it can be done, at the peril of the party whose proper care it shall be to insure as aforesaid.
Furthermore: it is agreed that James Simonds, James White, Robert Peaslie and Richard Simonds proceed as soon as may be with the Vessells, Crafts, Goods, Fishermen, &c. to Passamaquoddy, Saint John and Canso and there do what business is necessary to be done during the co-partnership, and that Samuel Blodget and William Hazen are to remain at Boston and Newbury to forward supplies and receive what may be sent from St. John or elsewhere by the Company, nor shall any of the parties to these presents be allowed any wages or commissions but all expences which shall necessarily attend the business shall be equally borne by the parties.
Furthermore: no more Vessells shall be purchased without the consent of two of the four parties aforesaid. And the four parties shall equally share all net profits which shall be made in the Traffic and Fishery, Lime-burning and all advantages in the business and they shall also bear an equal share in all charges and losses which shall arise from the business, and neither the said James Simonds, James White, Robert Peaslie and Richard Simonds during the time of the continuance of this Partnership shall buy or sell on his own private account to the prejudice or hurt of the Common advantage of the Company. Also neither of the parties or either of the fourth party shall sell out or part with his or their interest in the Company without the consent of two of the parties aforesaid and the Company to have the refusal of it at a reasonable appraisal. And if at any time there should arise any controversy or disagreement between either of the parties aforesaid they are hereby obliged to submit all matters of difference relative to this Contract to the judgment and final determination of Arbitrators indifferently, equitably and mutually chosen.
Furthermore: the Partnership in trade and business shall continue for the space of one year from this time and for as much longer as all the parties shall hereafter agree.
To the performance of all and singular the Articles of agreement aforesaid, the parties to these presents mutually and reciprocally bind themselves each to the other in the penal sum of a Thousand Pounds.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF the parties to these presents have interchangeably hereto set their names and seals the day and year first above written.
SAM’L BLODGET.
WM. HAZEN.
JAS. SIMONDS.
JAS. WHITE.
ROBT. PEASLIE.
RICH’D SIMONDS.
James Simonds was the active promoter of the business in the first instance ‘having’, as he says, ‘in the course of the years 1759, 1760, 1761 and 1762 been at great expence in viewing different parts of the then Province of Nova Scotia in order to ascertain the nature of the soil and value of the land and advantages attached to them with an intention to make choice of a situation for himself and brother Richard Simonds who accompanied him in several of the journies and contributed to the expence.’
The brothers Simonds were to some extent engaged in trade during these years. Finding a large number of fishermen and traders from New England at work at Passamaquoddy, Simonds decided that the St. John river afforded the best centre for business, and in order to carry this on extensively and with substantial backing, he formed the company under the foregoing charter. This shows that even in those early times business was conducted with proper circumspection by the fishing and trading companies of New England.
Business was carried on at Passamaquoddy for several years under the personal supervision of Simonds and White, and the first business letter extant1 written in the province is the following from Simonds, at Passamaquoddy, to William Hazen, at Newburyport:-
“Passamaquada, 18th August 1764.
“Have Rec’d yr & Mr. Blodget’s Letters & Goods pr Captns March & McCown. Since wrote to each by a piscatawa Vessel. The Sloop Bachellor is now Ready to Sail; the Contents of Cargo is 251 Quintiles Cod & polluck of her Crew’s catching. 30 Do. of Hunt’s; Cox’ part of Oyl in barrels mark’d W. H.
The great Sloop arrived ten days ago, has made but an ordinary fare said to be 300 Quintiles. Will sail with Dry ash in about a fortnight. You’l be looking out for business for her.
With Respect to Indian trade it is absolutely Necessary to get License both for that & Selling Liquors.
I don’t know any way to get to Halifax this fall,2 being so Confined here, yet shall if possible as Vessels goods and fish of all unlicensed traders will perhaps be seized. I have sent to his Excellency an acc. of my settlement in fishing business and my having credited men so as to Make it Difficult leaving that trade, praying that no advantage may be taken by men being able to make formal application. How that will avail is uncertain as we have adversaries to Encounter.
We shall want the old Sloop at St. Johns but do not know how you’l send her there without Extraordinary Cost. If you & Mr. Blodget think it will be best to Carry on business Largely at St. John’s. We must have another house with a Cellar; the latter is now Dug and Stoned & will keep Apples, Potatoes, & other things that will not bear the frost, for a Large trade. The new building will serve as a house & Store the Old Store a Cooper’s Shop.
If the Lime answers well we shall want 150 Hd, it will be best to get the Cheapest sort such as are powderposted (often sold at half price) with hoops & Boards for heads; also boards for a house some glass &c. Bricks for Chimney & hinges for 2 Doors. I think the business at St John’s may be advantageous if not too much entangled with other. Burning Lime, catching fish in a Large Wire we have built for bass up the River at the place where we trade with ye Indians, trade with ye Soldier and Inhabitants &c. Next winter we can employ the Oxen at Sleding wood & Stone; Mr. Middleton at making Casks. Don’t think it best to keep any men at Passamaquada; The Lands are very valuable if they may be had; The Old Sloop can bring the Bricks boards [?] Hds, the Great Sloop the goods for the fall & carry a Load of Lime home; perhaps you’l get some freight.
It may be of some advantage to get a Licence from Governor Bernard. You’l speak to Mr. Blodget about it. Polluck will sell best in the Country, pray sell as many of that sort as possible.
It is best to be careful of Over paying the men who come home. Wiggins took the opportunity when I was sick to go away in Debt.
Hilliard & Berry have lost considerable & have made out poorly. Nason Do. All Stores, if any are left, you’l take care of. You have not said whether the Draught was accepted.
My Compliments to Mrs. Hazen & all Friends.
I am Sr., Yr. Humbe. Servant
JAS. SIMONDS
Mr. Wm. Hazen
N. B. Mr Walker has been in Mr. Boyd’s employ (at Passamaquada); he came after we were fully mann'd. My brother knew nothing of his being indebted to you or of any Charges arising by being out; he was willing to work with Mr. Boyd instead of us. Lately Mr. Boyd has charged his passage (high); he has Recd. an Order on Mr. Morland for his wages. You may stop them if you look out in season.
We shall need 2 or three setts of trus hoops.
J. S.
It was not long before some changes occurred which materially changed the complexion of the company. In the autumn of 1764, William Hazen entered into partnership in business at Newburyport with Leonard Jarvis, and the latter by consent became a sharer in his colleague’s interest in the business at St. John and Passamaquoddy. The following winter, January 20, 1765, Richard Simonds died, and in the next spring Robert Peaslie withdrew from the company. In May, 1776, Samuel Blodget, the Boston partner, also withdrew. Consequently a new contract was entered into April 16th, 1767, in which Hazen and Jarvis were given a half interest, Simonds, one third and White one sixth.3
In the business carried on by the firm, the sinews of war were for the most part supplied by Hazen and Blodget, and, after the retirement of the latter, by Hazen and Jarvis; but the arduous and at times perilous nature of the work done by Simonds was thought sufficient to entitle him to equal consideration. He refers to the hardships incident to his position, in a letter dated Sept. 23, 1764, in these words:
I hope if I sacrifice my Interest, Ease, pleasure of Good Company-and run the risque even of life itself for the benefit of the Company, those of them that live where their circumstances are every way the reverse will in return be so good as to take a little pains to dispose of all effects remitted to the best advantage.
Messrs. Blodget and Hazen doubtless followed the example of other live Massachusetts men in investing their money in the fishery and fur trade, and they had in Simonds a shrewd and pushing business partner. Whether the latter was in business at Passamaquoddy before he went to St. John is uncertain (as I am at present informed), but I think it probable. The date of his arrival at St. John with a party of settlers, is given as Aug. 28th, 1762.4 In all probability he had previously attempted to establish a station but the Indians were hostile.5 The above letter gives some little idea of what was effected at St. John during the next two years. Meanwhile trade at Passamaquoddy was continued quite extensively, but competition seems to have led Simonds to direct greater attention to St. John, as further away and not so well known nor so much frequented by the Massachusetts men. His settlement was the means of securing the good will of the commandant (Capt. Studholme), and his visit to Halifax procured him the necessary license for fishing and trading with the Indians.
I am inclined to think that Simonds was at first quite as actively engaged at Passamaquoddy as at St. John, if not more so. The letter of August 18, 1764, indicates the commencement of a withdrawal of operations from the former and an extension at the latter place.
In 1768 Simonds writes his partners at Newburyport:
The troops are withdrawn from all the outposts and sent to Boston to quell the mob. The charge of Fort Frederick is committed to me, which I accepted to prevent another person being appointed who would be a trader.
The business at Passamaquoddy was continued by Simonds and his partners up to the commencement of the Revolutionary war.
Amongst the stray items gleaned from various sources, I find that in 1770 William Hazen took from Passamaquoddy in the St. Johns packet a quantity of fish and oil belonging to their firm, which articles were lost, as the packet was wrecked. The vessel was probably owned in whole or in part by the firm of Hazen, Jarvis, Simonds and White.
Considering the ceaseless activity of James Simonds and the vicissitudes of his life, his longevity is very remarkable. Not only was he the last survivor of those who came to the province before the landing of the Loyalists; he outlived all the members of the first New Brunswick legislature and all the appointees of the crown at the organization of the province, and quietly departed this life at the old house he had erected at Portland Point, on the 20th day of February, 1831, at the patriarchal age of 96 years.
1The letter was evidently hurriedly written, and is more synoptic in style than the majority of Mr. Simonds’ letters, which are in the main highly creditable, both in chirography and diction.
2That is, to secure a license.
3Among the account books used by the company were a day book begun in March, 1764, and an Indian ledger begun in April, 1764. Hazen and Jarvis state their books of accounts were kept after the Italian manner by way of double entry, and the names of their books were waste book, journal and ledger. The members of the company became interested in certain shares or rights of land in the townships of Conway, Gage, Burton, Sunbury and New Town, the grantees of which were commonly called the Canada Company. One of these shares was originally granted to Simonds and another to William Hazen, and the latter purchased another share originally granted his brother Moses Hazen. In the division made by the proprietors of the above townships, at New York in April, 1768, the rights or shares of William and Moses Hazen were drawn in New Town (near Marysville on the Nashwaak) and that of Simonds in the township of Sunbury (which extended from Mill Creek below St. Anne’s Point to about Springhill). The township of Conway and all the islands belonging to the Canada Company remained at that time undivided.
4Lawrence’s Footprints, p. 4.
5See Gesner’s Hist. New Brunswick, p. 50.
CORRECTION.
Article xxxvii.-Paragraph ten. For ‘Messrs Blodgett and Hazen of Newburyport’ read ‘Samuel Blodget of Boston and William Hazen of Newburyport.’
Article CXII contains the following correction to this one: "Erase the first two sentences of the second paragraph."
Article CXXIV contains the following correction to this one: "In the paragraph following the second letter, the date 'May 1776,' should be 'May, 1767.'"