The Wharf Series-Are there Beavers in the Harbour?
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(micro)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
Cache is an easy park and grab. Watch out for muggles as this can be a very busy area!! BYOP
I placed this cache while in the area on New Brunswick day. This was the second year for the community celebration with parades, games and so much more. This harbour is a must see place! Take your time to enjoy the beauty of the area.
History of Beaver Harbour and Some of the First Families
Compiled by Mrs. A.W. Hawkins
Presented March, 1967
To get a clear understanding of the history of Beaver Harbour, also called Penn's Field Colony, Pennfield Colony and Bellevu (or Belleview), one should go back to earlier days and find why and how people came to settle there.
During the Monmouth Rebellion in England, there was a group called the Society of Friends of Quakers, who refused to take up arms against Catholic King James II and for this they were branded as rebels and many were thrown into prison and suffered great persecution. This led to many of them leaving England and coming to the colony of Pennsylvania.
Years later, for almost the same reason 'Loyalist' descendents of these same people were leaving Pennsylvania and migrating to Canada because they would not swear allegiance to the United States of America against England. In 1783 one group under the leadership of Joshua Knight made arrangements to go to the colony of Nova Scotia of which New Brunswick was then a part.
Early in 1773 Joshua Knight had sought British protection in New York and he and many of his followers went there. Joshua was a man of prominence from Arlington, Penn. He was descended from Elizabeth Shorter, wife of John Rush, Sr., captain of the horse under Cromwell.
In June 1783 a group of people met at Joshua's New York home and a month later the following advertisement appeared:
NOTICE
Notice is hereby given to those of the people called Quakers who have entered into an agreement to settle together in Nova Scotia that they are requested to meet at the house of Joshua Knight No. 30 Chatham Street a little above the Sea Water Pump on the seventh day next of the 5th of July at four o'clock in the afternoon in order to conclude upon some matters of importance to them and those who mean to join the above mentioned body.
They are requested to call No. 188 Water Street between the Coffee House Bridge and the Fly Market and have their names entered as soon as possible. No slave master admitted.
It is interesting to note that the Quakers were antagonists of slavery 80 years before Lincoln's emancipation proclamation.
Forty‑nine names were signed to this agreement.
The Settlement
The place chosen for settlement through John Parr of Halifax and Governor Carleton was Beaver Harbour or Bellevu. The settlers were brought to Saint John, N.B., by ship under convoy. One ship was the Camel, 293 tons, Capt. William Tinker, and arrived 18 September, 1783. A list of the people she carried includes James Reed, Pilot, wife and two children; 30 children over the age of 10 years found as super numeraries for victuals and victualles at two‑thirds of all provisions (spirits except) by order of Rear Admiral Digby; also Loyalists and refugees, consisting of 104 men, 50 women, 20 servants as well as 47 children who received half rations.
Nearly all the passengers of the Camel belonged to two special companies of Quakers and Anabaptists. They were immediately sent down the shore by ship to Beaver Harbour where they settled what was to have been a large town by the name of Bellevu. They suffered many hardships during the first winter.
One hundred and forty‑nine lots were laid out as first grants, and these were soon followed, by 950 more. There were 15 streets and 800 residents when the town was incorporated June 4th, 1785. Three agents were appointed, Samuel Fairlamb, John Rankin and George Brown.
Original Grantees of Beaver Harbour town plots: John Rankin, Isaac Woodward, Peter Walton, Samuel Fairlamb, Samuel Stilwell, Daniel Registar, John Knight, Nimrod Woodward, Thomas Buckley Sr., Joshua Knight Sr., Caleb Paul, Caleb Paul, Jesse Lawrence, Elias Wright Sr., Moses Foulk, Benjamin Brown, Joshua Knight, John Gill, John Horner, John Horner, John Dennis, John Loufbourron, William Holmes, John Harris, Joseph Harris, Joseph Parker, John Horner, Elias Wright, Joshua Knight.. John Horner, Elias Wright Sr., Elias Wright, Abraham Woodward, Jeremiah Fills, Richard Mead, Anthony Woodward, Jacob Buffington, Freeman Smith, John Strickland, Joseph Tomlinson, George Bennison, Jesse Woodward, Richard Matthews, Amos Strickland, Samuel Woodward.
0nly two families are now living their original grants, J.L. Wright (a direct descendent of Elias Wright, Loyalist) and Alvah Eldridge(a direct descendent of William Eldridge, Loyalist).
Early Records
Among the records of the Pennfield Colony we find the following which is taken from pages of record books found in an old trunk at Pennfield but since believed destroyed.
‘Agreed by the said Company that they do meet on the seventh day of the week and the 16th of the seventh month to build a meetinghouse.'
This house was to be used by Quakers. In 1875 record shows that land was cleared for a burying ground. This land is now the property of the Baptist Church, Beaver Harbour. There are no stones to mark it as a burying ground because the Quakers did not believe in markers. Members of the Knight and Cross families are buried there. The last known burial was of Asa Best, son of John and Ann Best, about 75 years ago. This grave was marked until recent years.
The last entry in the old Records, written by an unknown hand, reads
'At a meeting of Friends at the Meeting‑House, Beaver Harbour, for settling the business of the Society on the 10th day 3 m 1789, Jacob Buffington, John Dennis, Daniel Registar and Richard Mead were appointed a committee to examine the accounts and proceedings of the committee who distributed the provisions which were received from friends from England for this place and to report thereon'
Little by little, it became evident they could not make a living here and in 1789 the Affairs of the Association were closed up.
The Great Fire
In 1790 Bellevu was destroyed by a forest fire. Elias Wright's was the only house saved. The meeting house and all records were lost. Elias Wright, Loyalist from New York, Magistrate and grantee of Saint John‑, married (first name not known) Kline. Elias Wright was also a grantee of Bellevu, and died in 1825, age 76, at Beaver Harbour. His son, Elias Wright, 1784‑1854, married Mary Walton, daughter of Jesse Walton. Both are buried in Pennfield Baptist Churchyard.
In 1794 we have the record of a Quaker wedding at Pennfield. Joshua Knight Jr., married Jane Vernon, daughter of Moses Vernon.
Scattering of Settlement
After the fire many of the settlers moved to Pennfield Ridge, Pocologan, New River and Mace's Bay. In fact, Mace's Bay was first settled by five loyalist families from Beaver Harbour. Joshua Knight's dream of a large colony with Bellevu as its city was now crushed. Only a few struggling settlers remained to rebuild the little village of Beaver Harbour.
The following appears in the Winslow papers, 1803.
'Parish of Pennfield, population 54'.
Rebuilding
Gradually more families began moving into Beaver Harbour. They were excellent farmers and lived quite comfortably. There was plenty of land for all as the first settlers had abandoned their grants. The new-comers settled on small farms and fished and farmed for a living. They were Anabaptists and Anglican and a few Quakers. There were two saw mills which cut about 400,000 feet of lumber annually. Two Vessels were built at Beaver Harbour – About 250 tons.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Thneqvat gur uneobhe