Saint Croix Courier, St. Stephen, NB
August 24, 1893
GLIMPSES OF THE PAST
Contributions to the History of Charlotte County and the Border Towns.
XXLIX [sic – should be LXXIX] – ST. ANDREWS (Continued.)
There are a number of traditions concerning the landing of the Penobscot Loyalists at St. Andrews; but the only contemporary record extant appears to be the following letter from Col. John Allan to Governor Hancock of Massachusetts, which is practically the beginning of the boundary dispute, and in which Col. Allan claims the Magaguadavic as ‘the ancient river St. Croix.’
May it please your Excellency:-
I do myself the honor to make report to your Excellency of the situation of affairs at Passamaquoddy respecting the encroachments made by the Britons and the steps I have pursued in consequence.On my arrival at Passamaquoddy, the 23d Septr, I found there had been several Surveyors exploring the rivers, and a number of settlers taken possession of Saint Andrews point 20 miles westward of Saint Croix.
I also received information that two public Surveyors were there in the place for the purpose of laying out townships.
I thought it most prudent at this juncture to propose a Conference, as it might have a tendency to prevent trouble and confusion in future; accordingly one of the said Surveyors attended at the Indian Village.
I demanded by what authority he was on such business?
In answer he said it was from Colo. Moss [Morse] Chief Engineer at St. John’s. I then explained the impropriety of such proceedings, and that it would not be permitted until a settlement was made between the two nations.
Finding this man to be a Refugee (Zebedee Terry of Freetown) and one particularly proscribed I cautioned him from appearing on any of the lands of the United States in future, as he certainly would be made a prisoner; at the same time gave orders to the Indians not to suffer any British Subjects to pass on the river Passamaquoddy on such business until further orders.
The Indians soon after made a Prisoner of one Jones of Kennebeck, a Refugee Captain, who was found marking the Trees on the river: The Indians put him to an English house on parole, but he soon made his elopement.
On the 3d October two large transports and several smaller vessels with a number of families arrived at St. Andrews from Bagaduce; my business calling me up the river Passamaquoddy, I passed by the Ships and cautioned them at their peril not to land any inhabitants. But a few days after the whole were landed to the amount of forty families.
Finding all I could, or was empowered to do, would have no effect, and having settled my business with the Indians, I prepared for my return to Boston; but previous to my departure I sent a letter to the inhabitants by an Officer and two Indians setting forth their precarious situation, and recommending in mild terms for them to desist. This letter was secreted by the aforementioned Jones.
On my return to the Islands I perceived by the News papers that in your Excellency’s speech at the opening of the Court, you were pleased to recommend to their notice my letter respecting the encroachments made by the Britons; this caused me to propose my return, expecting that something would be ordered by Government.
On the 17th Octr. I received an invitation from the Refugees to call at Saint Andrews to explain the letter that I sent as they were ignorant of the matter. I accordingly attended. A number assembled, and a debate ensued: they finally appeared convinced of their error.
Having endeavoured to explain to them their precarious situation, and which was the true river St. Croix.
They answered that they were landed from the King’s Transports, that they had no intention of making any encroachments, but were wholly there by order of the British Government, praying that as most of them were poor, and the season so far advanced, that they might not be molested until Spring.
I then acquainted them that the American Government had neither desire or intention to give offence or violate any part of the Treaty. That I appeared there as a servant of the States, and as such, knowing their sentiments, should do nothing else at present but to warn them, and wait the future order of the General Court.
On the 24th of October I had a conference with Mr. Morris one of the Deputy Surveyors of Nova Scotia; several charts were produced, the particular ones which he mostly attended to and what he had orders to act upon were Hollands and Des Barres, where the westerly branch of Passamaquoddy called Cobscook is set down as the river St. Croix. He very generously and politely communicated his business, adding that he was entirely limited: Every particular being pointed out, how he was to proceed. He had laid out several tracts of land, and was pursuing the same when I left Passamaquoddy.
Since the above several more families have been landed, and vessels from different place with supplies daily arriving. A number of houses erected and a large Store for King’s Provisions. Lumber constantly shipping off and a quantity of valuable timber cut down for the same purpose. So that it appears the whole produce of that valuable part of the country is liable to fall to Britain.
On my arrival at Passamaquoddy in Sept: I expected those new Settlers would be soon convinced of their error, and from the terror of the Indians would soon remove, but in this I was disappointed. The Indians though in general great enemies to them, publicly say, without my orders they will not molest. Under these circumstances it was too delicate a point for me as a public officer even to threaten.
Consequently all I could do was to warn them off, waiting until the further pleasure of Government was known.
There appears various conjectures which is meant in the Treaty to be the river St. Croix. The drafts lately from Europe point out the westerly branch; whether this is by authority or not I can’t say; but I am convinced that should any other river in the Bay of Passamaquoddy except that which was agreed upon formerly between the Courts of France and Great Britain, a perpetual scene of confusion and trouble must be the consequence between the subjects of both nations as all the rivers branch off different ways, so as to make it impossible how to ascertain the proper course, when this river from its situation, length and course (without branches) leads to the mountains. “This,” the old Indians assert, “ was the reason why this river was formerly agreed on as the line between Nova Scotia & Massachusetts.”
I wrote your Excellency when at Passamaquoddy most of the particulars before mentioned, but find since my arrival here, they have not come to hand; Shall not trouble your Excellency further on the subject only observe that by what I can learn from good authority, the general plan with the Britons is to claim all the lands which produce lumber in the bay of Passamaquoddy as being under the jurisdiction of Nova Scotia.
A company composed of a number of wealthy persons, among the rest Pagan (formerly of Casco Bay) one of the principal managers, intend to carry on the Business to a great amount at Passamaquoddy.
Their interest with the Government has given them an opportunity of procuring a number of inhabitants, a great part British Soldiers. With these they mean to take possession and once fixed suppose they cannot be removed, whether the land falls eastward or westward of the line. So that if the ancient River St. Croix is intended as the boundary, it will be highly necessary some steps should be immediately taken to remove those settlers from Saint Andrews.
The Indians are in great distress. Their complaint is that between both countries they are deprived of their Hunting Ground. A great number from Saint John’s and the Micmac country has arrived and many more are expected. I have received a large belt of wampum from the several tribes assembled to be presented to Congress as a token of their zeal and attachment to the States; praying to have their Hunting Ground confirmed and secured to them.
I have dismissed every person that was in the service of the Indian department except Lieut. Ally who I left in charge of the Artillery Ordnance & other stores at Machias.
The whole submitted to your Excellency’s consideration.
I have the Honor to be with
profound respect
Your Excellency’s
Most obt Hble Servt
J. Allan
Boston Decr 15th, 1783
His Excellency John Hancock Esqr.
Correction: Article LXXX contains the
following correction to this one: "The article in last
week's issue should have been numbered lxxix."