Saint Croix Courier, St. Stephen, NB
June 14, 1894
GLIMPSES OF THE PAST
Contributions to the History of Charlotte County and the Border Towns.
CXX – THE CAPE ANN ASSOCIATION-Continued.
The ancestors of the McAllisters came from Argyleshire. They had settled in the north of Ireland about fifty years before the memorable siege of Derry, and one of the family took a prominent part in the defence. Daniel and John McAllister came from Londonderry to New Hampshire, and settled at New Boston. Here were born Daniel, John and William, sons of Daniel McAllister, who came with the Cape Ann Association and settled at Oak Bay. The cellar of their first house is still to be found at the beach near the head of the bay, directly in the rear of the rectory. They also had a farm in St. David. The descendants of John now live near New Boston, N.H.; and have in their possession a painting of the old homestead there, made by an artist member of the family, Miss Etta Quincy, about twenty years ago.
The sons of John McAllister, of St. David, lived in Milltown, as mill owners and lumber merchants; and their father owned the second mill built there. The last of these sons, seven in number, was captain Abner McAllister, who died about three years ago. Alfred, the last of Daniel’s children of the same generation, died last year; and George, the last of William’s sons, died at Portland, Maine, about three years ago.
The descendants of Daniel McAllister and his sons are scattered over the Dominion and the United States, as true loyalists to-day as were they when they left New Boston.
The names occurring in both the Cape Ann and St. Andrews grants are David Arnott, Joseph Baker, Samuel Bailey, Edmund Bailey, John Conner, John Campbell, Hugh Grant, John Gray, Robert Muncur, William Morris, John Maloney, Duncan McIntire, Neil McCurdy, the Norwoods, John Priest, the Stewarts and Stuarts, Joseph Sheppard, Samuel Sheppard, and William Vance. Those of Moses Gerrish, John Gillis, William Moore and others appear in the Penobscot Association grant.
Taken in connection with the fact that over half the Morris
Town grantees were also grantees of town lots in St. Andrews, and
that many who drew lots in St. George’s Town also held St.
Andrews lots, they show to what an extent land speculation may
have entered into the plans of the new settlers. Those of
the St. Andrews Loyalists who had families were entitled to
‘back lands’ for their children; and some of these were
evidently provided for in the Cape Ann Association grant.