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By Charles Wesley Hamilton CD, September 2002
The view from the old homestead was more magnificent than ever, the
Saint John River and the extremely steep green fields leading away from
the barn where a dozen or so sheep grazed, was as peaceful and down home
as could ever be. This was roots, this was home. When Elsie answered my
query about the future of the old house, with "It will probably be torn
down and rebuilt, but not while Eldon is alive", I subconsciously recognized
this as the first event of many that would destine me to this keyboard.
It was mid morning Monday 6th July 1998.
My sister Rae from San Francisco who had once lived in this house and
attended school here was with me. She was just beside herself when Elsie
offered a visit inside the now vacant old homestead. This 200 acre farm
at Browns Flat had originally been purchased by my Aunt Gracie (Hamilton)
Johnson in 1921 after her husband Elmer died prematurely at age 29. She
was the Granddaughter of Andrew Hamilton, (founder of Hamilton Mountain)
daughter of Erwin, and all round "good Samaritan" of the Clan. It had always
been a central point for "people and things", especially from "the Mountain".
In January 1932 when my 83 year old Grandfather Erwin was stricken, he
was brought here from the Mountain to convalesce, and would eventually
die here.
Aunt Gracie's daughter Doris Johnson had lived here off and on after
retirement from a lifetime of nursing in Boston. In retirement she dabbled
in genealogy, and so had collected together much material. After her death
a few years ago, ownership passed on to Elsie's daughter Joanne. Eldon
Johnson (Elsie's husband) is aunt Grace's youngest son, a brother to Doris,
a lifetime next-door neighbour (35 meters), and overseer of the homestead.
It was probably he who had laid claim to much of the remaining artefacts
from the mountain after the military expropriations of the 1950's.
The major item in the collection of "things" was the grand bible of
Erwin Hamilton and his wife Annie (Perry) Hamilton. What a beautiful possession,
large leather bound, gold lettering, huge, old tin pictures, family record
of births and baptisms. Hundreds of pictures, many very old, and the precursor
of the telephone…..the postcard… a few hundred. In addition to the many
old receipts for a variety of items, Rae's old school books and records
were there, all in tact and well preserved. For the remainder of that day
and late into the evening, Rae and I were to deal with a lifetime of events,
in discussion, explanation, tears and laughter. And that was that.
In September of that year I returned to Browns Flat presumably to visit,
see the "Horse pull" at Donny Johnson's Queens County Fair, attend the
Cemetery at the Mountain, and talk over a visit to Ireland. In fact my
main reason was to once again look over the collection at the homestead.
The second evening, with Eldon's explanation, identification of most people
in photographs, and discussion on family genealogy, we were now genuinely
interested in our origins.
The second event of interest was David McKinney's newly formed Base
Gagetown Community Historical Association (BGCHA). The questions asked
in the preamble of this organisation were the very same questions I had
already considered. Whom, when and where did they come from? What did they
do while here? Where are they (descendants) now?. A difficult task considering
180 years had elapsed.
The third event was the miraculous recovery and resurrection of Andrew's
"Trough", a solid granite animal watering trough which had been long ago
removed from Andrew's homestead at Hamilton Mountain by the military. The
trough was found in 1998, abandoned near the Base HQ Officers mess, and
then relocated on the river road highway (102) by Eldon near his Son Donny
Johnson's farm. It was carved from Spoon Island granite by Andrew Hamilton
during the 1840's and is approximately 5 feet in diameter by two feet deep.
The significance of this trough is really a statement for the men and women
who during the 1800's had pioneered and established life and community
here.
Apart from the trough, old photographs, a few family mementos and the
Cemetery at the Mountain, little tangible evidence remains that life existed
or ever did exist there. We are however, fortunate that our forefathers
were prudent in recording vital statistics, land transactions, and census
of the day. Along with church records, newspaper items and hearsay stories,
life really did exist, in fact for most of the period from1818 to about
1914 life excelled.
Within our family, Hamilton Mountain was always referred to as the "Mountain",
and probably by most. The Mountain is an actual mountain. It is marked
on military maps as 875 feet above mean sea level which is approximately
400 feet above the surrounding land mass and extends approx one and a half
kilometres in a general NE/SW direction. The North and West sides have
quite gentle slopes, whereas the East and Southeast slopes are "rock faced"
in places. Other similar mountain features in the area are Break Neck Hill,
Blue Mountain, Flaglor Mountain, Round Hill, and Fanning Mountain. The
distance from the St John River at Central Greenwich to the Cemetery at
the Mountain is about six and a half miles, and from Oak Point wharf using
the Paisley Road about seven plus a bit.
The Mountain was not a town, was not a hamlet, was possibly a "Thorp",
it had a Church, a School and two Cemeteries. The Hamilton part was the
Hamilton homestead and Post Office at the junction of the road leading
SW to Whites Corner (3 miles), road NE to George Lake (1.5 miles), and
the Jerusalem road. The Mountain was established by Andrew Hamilton, one
of the first settlers and a large land owner (630 acres). Most settlers
were Irish, but also had a healthy mix of Scots and English. Some family
names during the early settlement of the area were; Coghlan, Clark, Sterritt,
Crabb, Seymour, Serls, Douglas, Patterson, Flewelling, and Paisley. Lot
grants were adjoining and SW of Kembles Manor.
Family lore is that Andrew and brother John arrived in Saint John from
County Tyrone, built a boat in Indiantown, rowed upriver to Central Greenwich
and travelled inland to what eventually became Hamilton Mountain. Kings
County Census of 1851 notes the time of arrival as June 1818.
One early survey shows the Mountain as the dividing line between Kings
and Queens Counties, while in fact the Mountain is at least two kilometres
NW of that line. The first Census of the area in 1851 was included in the
Greenwich Parish of Kings County. As the 1851 Queens County Census were
lost, the mistake has proven of great benefit in my search. Research of
the Mountain for BGCHA was initially begun in the fall of 1998 by my cousin
Eldon Johnson and myself. Eldon had already done some searching of the
NB archives, so along with his knowledge of the Mountain, its residence
over the years, and my knowledge and a perspective from a military point
of view, it seemed a good team.
In the spring of 1999 Eldon and I went to Ireland in search of Andrew
Hamilton's roots. Although enlightening and of interest, it was just that.
An outstanding trip but added little to that we had already known. About
three weeks after we returned home Eldon had a stroke and died a short
time later. Devastating. Eldon knew everybody. Ninety percent of the team
gone, my good friend gone. He had lived his entire life at Browns Flat,
about 9 miles from the Mountain, was 15 years old when Erwin our Grandfather
died. I never met Erwin. Except for Dick Routledge who is married to my
cousin Corah Short's daughter Barbara, I know not one living soul from
the Mountain. What to do? The answer of course, is the best one can! So
I hope and invite the you to bear with me through this journey of not only
four years of research, but through my eyes and memory of what I "know"
of the Mountain.
1930's
As a child living in Saint John during the 1930's, I was often a passenger
with my family when visiting at the Mountain. Actual road conditions do
not register in my memory, but the "ally" or "tunnel" roads of darkish
green overhanging trees and the hum and whines of our 1934/5/6/7 Plymouth
sedan are easily conjured up. I vaguely recall a long afternoon and wheels
stuck someplace at a bridge with horses and a "Sluven wagon".
The watering trough at the side of the house, the roll-top desk and
the Post Office desk with Aunt Mary scurrying around, and always with laughter
or a grin. It seems there was happiness then, no evidence of a deep nation
wide depression. There were horses and sheep, and probably cows but do
not recall any.
As to the "tunnel" roads created by the lush growth of Maple and Beech
trees, many New England back roads to this day are exactly that….and how
beautiful they are! It may have been planned that way, shade for horses
in summer, and during winter dispersing at least a bit of snow, it was
good to let trees grow to over-hang roads. During the two to three hours
of travel to or from the river, it was most likely a good place to rest
the "team".
In April 1936 we were at the Mountain to observe a farewell from a family
member. Harry Hamilton, my older first cousin was leaving for England to
join the Royal Air Force, and as a farewell gesture he was to fly over
the homes of relatives. It was thought he would land his airplane at the
Mountain. I remember this so clearly, and disappointed that he only flew
low a few times and wagged his wings and waved. That night he boarded a
ship in Saint John for England. It was a sad time for me as Harry often
slept in my room when he stayed over during his High School days in the
City. He was like an older brother. (As Harry Hamilton was such a significant
person in my life, please forgive me as I digress.)
By the fall of 1936 Harry was accepted for Pilot training with the RAF,
and earned his wings about one year later. During the years from 1936 to
August 1940, I had received a dozen or so letters in answer to a couple
of dozen of mine. My main awareness of the war by 1940 was that of family
members going away to it, a brother in England with the Army, two sisters
leaving home to work for the war effort, and Harry flying airplanes in
England. Censorship made it almost impossible to know what was going on,
so things like "out on patrol duty" was all that was ever known. In fact
that sounded interesting and risky. My Father talked often of the war and
especially for the safety of my Brother Perry who was in the Army in England,
and who we always believed to be in the greatest danger. So it was shock
and disbelief when my Father told us the Germans had killed Harry. I always
believed that Harry flew yellow airplanes, probably because the trainers
in Canada were yellow. The airplane he died in was a camouflage coloured
Hurricane.
Ralph Keirstead of Saint John had originally qualified as a pilot at
Millidgeville, travelled to England and joined the RAF along with Harry.
He was sombre in discussion of the day in England he learned of Harry's
death. Ralph related how in 1940 Harry as a seasoned RAF pilot had liased
and passed on his expertise of the Spitfire and Hurricane to Canadian Squadrons.
He said it was a dark day indeed. Ralph went on to fly bombers, command
a squadron, survive and return home after the war.
Harry flew Spitfires with 611 Sqn during the withdrawal of British and
Allied Forces from Dunkirk, and in June 1940 was posted to a Fighter Squadron
which had once been commanded by two Victoria Cross winners, one a fellow
Canadian Billy Bishop. This fact must surely have played large on Harry's
pride as a Canadian. Harry had been posted to 85 Squadron as a Flight Commander
under Squadron Leader Peter Townsend. The Squadron had just recently been
decimated as a result of action in the battle for and the fall of France.
It was in desperate need of experienced pilots. A fellow Flight Commander
was Dicky Lee, Godson of Lord Trenchard. (Father of the Royal Air Force)
After the war Peter Townsend went on to write many books, and in "Duel
of Eagles" describes the events of Harry's courage and leadership including
his tragic death on the 29th of August 1940. A day that Harry
killed and was killed.
Since the end of WW2 in England a few organizations have been very active
in keeping the story of the Battle of Britain alive. Fighter pilots that
flew Spitfire and Hurricane aircraft who had their names in Squadron diaries
during the battle are especially honoured. A letter from one such organization
"Severnside Aviation Society" states; "I was interested to read that you
are a cousin of the late F\L "Hammy" Hamilton of 85 Sqn RAF". You may be
pleased to know he is well known in aviation circles over here as one of
the crack shot pilots of the Battle of Britain". (3 Nov 87)
Last month a request from the Museum of the Battle of Britain for personal
information and photographs to be included in a display of the burned out
fuselage of Harry's final flight, Hurricane VY-L (V6623).
Logically, events in any persons life, especially significant events
in a young persons life, will determine life's direction, so it should
have been no surprise that I would want to or not want to fly airplanes.
The issue of Harry's death turned positive and in due course I did get
to fly military airplanes, but certainly nothing as lofty as the Hurricane
or Spitfire. Events of August 1940 must have had some related effects as
I went on to serve a thirty-three year military career.
During the early 50's I followed with interest the acquisition of land
for the new military Camp. There is little question that the need was very
real. The "Cold War" was there, it was upon us, and more critically the
Pacific had erupted into what was hesitantly termed the "Korean Conflict",
but in anybody's language it was War. In 1951 the Canadian Military committed
the 25th Brigade to Korea, and also in 1951 the 27th
Brigade to West Germany. These Brigades were an essential part of the agreement
Canada had signed with the United Nations and NATO.
During the summer of 1955 the military held a large concentration of
troops in the new training area called "Camp Gagetown" (later Canadian
Forces Base Gagetown), and apart from a couple of dissident land owners
still on their lands, military life and activities were excellent. I was
part of that military. The summer was spent getting to know this new large
piece of real estate, exercising troops, establishing tank going country,
laying out useful and related areas that would equate to an possible war
zone, that of Europe.
I saw during the summer concentration of 1955 a beautiful country setting
that in many respects was much like the Brigade training areas in Western
Germany, except there were no civilians. Many of the houses and farm buildings
still had the signature of "living", no real furniture as such, but lots
of "stuff left behind". Stories of boxes of "old coins", of useable and
interesting items left behind, of old Eaton's catalogues, of sessions of
reading packages of old letters, receipts and associated magazines and
documents. For the most part it was purely an impersonal experience for
those encountering such left behinds. I fail to remember a feeling of plunder,
but now have a feeling of regret.
The Hamilton Mountain homestead of the 1828 Andrew Hamilton land grant
was now occupied by my Uncle Fred Hamilton, and would remain so occupied
until 1961 when he reluctantly signed off ownership of the remaining 200
acres. One of Andrew's Grandson's, my Father Charlie Hamilton continued
to urge his Brother Fred to hold out for possible new Camp borders. One
of my last conversations with my Father before his death in 1957 was of
the hope that because the homestead was so close inside the Camp borders,
and with a displayed resistance, the Military might change their mind.
Ha! During my years of fishing George Lake, there was never a time I failed
to stop at the bend in the road just where Andrew, along with his wife
Gracie Beckett and help from her Brother John, would build their first
abode in 1829.
It would be naive to believe that money had little to do with the expropriation
of land in the 1950's, and although I have never heard an exact figure
to determine fairness, I believe the prices were reasonable. Uncle Fred
received twelve thousand dollars for the 200 acre farm, about three times
the national average income in 1955 or $150,000.00 today. Considering marketability
it was ok. Of greatest concern was the upheaval. Forced from the bosom
of the family, of what had always been the paternal solidity of life, a
place of sad and pleasant memories, and no matter what treasures to be
left, it was to be done without choice.
By 1965 Fred Hamilton would never have recognized what he left behind,
only the broken walls of the cellar remained, barn, outbuildings, apple
and plum trees gone, school and church gone…no trace… fields overgrown
with alder bush…road graded and bedded with shale. The Cemetery…that's
a different story… never looked better, green gates with white posted four
foot cattle fence, grass cut…Andrew and his successor Son Erwin, (my Grandfather)
would feel good about the Cemetery. Andrew would tell Erwin that he had
made a good and reasonable purchase … six hundred dollars…two hundred acres…..in
1879…a good deal from your Father, and for that price you get to look after
me and Gracie for our remaining days, besides its a good place for you
and Annie Perry to raise your children…. a new generation!
Andrew walked slowly up the Mountain with a Base Gagetown training map
tucked under his arm, he half earnestly said to Erwin "see they have us
marked as an impact area", and if that means what I think it means, I'm
darned well put off…thought the Mountain would be put to better use. As
they walked they passed the old original Cemetery…not many know its here…all
grown up….even Cleadie Barnett didn't know. The old road to the top of
the Mountain was almost unrecognizable… old wagon ruts… good. They made
the top in about a half hour.
They sat silently on a large irregular shale outcropping. Looking Northwest
they could easily see what was New Jerusalem…..way up to Headline even
Summer Hill …… straight up the road straight as a razor was Dunn's Corner,
straight due South and about two miles…. Murphy's Lake and Blue Mountain…
could even hear motor traffic at that Correctional place. Must gather my
thoughts… yeh…I remember now… eh!…huh! …Yeh! …Good idea that Grandson of
yours had, and if we put our thoughts together we'll come up with the answers…..did
you say Wesley or Charles Wesley?.
Big Charlie's boy wasn't he… smart lad…couldn't have anyone better than
us to answer his questions….need a break anyway ….some of those older angels
get to ya after a while….nice view….how do they keep all that Headline
Hill place so free of trees and bush….and for what…..he thinks he has questions!
….Now, where did I come from?…. fair question…. been a while…ah yeh…my
young Brother John was the instigator … had heard of Lower Canada and all
that land…. after leaving the "Sperrins' and Newtownstewart lived a while
in Enniskillen…. Sister Nancy and Jimmy Paisley had made plans to take
the Caledonia but decided to wait a while, so John and I left anyway …..just
no fun on those jam-packed boats. Anyway Saint John was a welcome sight….and
things were pretty good for June 1818. During the early summer we built
a boat and rowed our way up to Greenwich….just South of Oak Point.
Turns out that Caleb Flewelling had about 10 acres under cultivation
South of Kembles Manor… maybe it was meant to be….Caleb's Niece Elizabeth
and I seemed to get along well…..as to John, he stayed right there on his
150 Acres….married Jane Bogle lived just across the road. Took a few years
to get things organized ….. lived for a few years at Round Hill…married
Elizabeth Maplet Flewelling……James came along in 22, and John in 27…..Elizabeth
faired poorly after that, and one day she just died….. heartbreak and hard
work seem to go hand in hand, but divine providence is always present,
thanks to Brother John and Jane Bogle. Sister Nancy and Jimmy Paisley finally
made it but moved around a lot….went up to Paisley Ontario where Jimmies
Uncle had founded the town, but came back to the Mountain and later farmed
200 acres on the Paisley road …..they ended at Oak Point. Whew! …. much
to say……so many people. My first boy James married Margaret Howe, had Elizabeth,
Margaret, Mary Ann, Rebecca, Andrew and Phoebe….Elizabeth married John
Smith, Phoebe a Graham lad. My other Son John married Harriet Jones, had
Annie Adline ,John Robert and Alford. Addie (Adline) married Thomas Heffer,
And Alford married Betty Bates.. he was the cook in the poem "News from
the Manor" remember him … lost his right hand to blood poisoning.. …. ran
the store at Central Greenwich.
After Elizabeth's passing it was difficult in looking after the two
lads even with help from family and friends …clearing land, planning and
working for a better place, a better life. It was during this short time
that Gracie Beckett, John's Sister came along…providence…providence ….I
told her and promised for sure that we would marry…would make life so much
better….so am not sure why I dug in my heels the day of our wedding….went
to bed….wanted to stay there…..Brother John Hamilton and Brother John Beckett
were having no part of that…..so what did they do but dress and carry me
to the wedding at Gracie's place. In the end it was the best thing to ever
happen, we went on to have ten and raise a dozen.
Like my Son James, our first little girl was named Elizabeth for Lizzie
Flewelling ….the others were George, William, Margaret, Andrew, Francis,
Charles, Jane, Mary and Erwin ……now lets see….George married Margie Wilson
from across the river, over Kingston way. Billy went to Saint John, married
Martha McFarlane. My namesake Andrew went out near Oak Point…Francis married
Christopher Rose….good lad that Frenchman …good worker too. Young Charlie
married Janie Patterson….moved over on the Olinville road…..wasn't it his
young fella Arnold's boy Joe who was killed there in Sicily?.
Jane just wasn't for marriage…..and Mary…..well she was just happy to
hang around the Mountain….which was a pretty good place to hang around,
and lots to do….sold that piece of land for the school back in Dec 56….its
been good for the young ones, and what with the Church land in May 66…..almost
a town….not much in it though….5 shillings for the School …. 40 dollars
for the Church….had to charge something to make it official …. Suppose
it was Brother George and his lady Catherine who made the big difference
when they came here in May 49….the looms and his know-how sure kept a lot
of hands busy….he was only four years old when I left…..done well…..his
young fella Billy …. good on the looms too. Forty nine …..same year you
came along Erwin!
Yeh! It was forty nine….guess it was just being the youngest …..Ended
up with the farm and Post Office….lot to look after…..Annie was the one
to make it go….man couldn't have a better wife than Annie Elizabeth Perry…..We
married and took over the homestead in 79….looked after you and Mother
Gracie for a few years…after you passed on in 81 …and Mother Gracie in
83 ….. raised four girls and three boys.. …seven in all….when Charlie the
youngest was just about a year old Annie died …. makes it hard to bury
a wife with the youngest in your arms….thirty eight years old…. a misfortune….
Fred was a big help, not a big lad but strong and steady….it was good to
have George Magower as a hired hand.
How much do you want to know about my time at the Mountain? …..got lots
of time haven't we….lets walk slow and easy…. we'll go down the old back
road and walk up Jones Creek to the Cemetery….too bad we didn't have time
to get some trout at the lake…. Walter would have been the best for that…..he
was the best fisherman ever from the Mountain….. maybe it's why he ended
up on the river at Oak Point . Now ….let's see …..my family at the Mountain…
.... I'll talk about each and of what I know…..Fred, Minnie, Della Maud,
Gracie, Walter, Mary and Charlie.
Fred came along in 81, was schooled here at the Mountain and like his
younger brother Charlie was a whiz at machines…that International correspondence
school helped them a lot…. traveled west to the harvest every fall…. often
spent winters in Heward Saskatchewan fixen those Massey threshen machines…
remember Massey wanted him and Charlie to move to Toronto. Was probably
all that travel'n round with that big stud horse that made him plant his
feet down and marry Annie Wheatley in 22…. was about time, at age 41 a
man has to make up his mind. Annie and Fred had two sons George and Lloyd.
Fred and his sister Mary were real homebodies… both still here when the
Army bought us out.
Minnie was born in 83, married Roy (Doc) Curry lived in St John, raised
two sons Hedley and Charlie, and two daughters Rae and Eva. The two girls
stayed spinsters, and lived into their 90's. Rae was the Secretary for
the Maritime Baptist Church, a World traveller and a well known figure
in that organization.
Della Maude born in 84, married Melbourne T Appleby, lived and farmed
in Hampstead, raised three daughters Dorothy, Cora, Grace and a son Walter.
Cora married Charlie Short also ran the phone exchange at Hampstead for
many years. Her daughter Barbara married a local lad from the Mountain
area Dick Routledge. Mel Routledge place. Grace married Wesley Slipp from
out there on the river where they have that "Ducks" place. Walter married
Greta Clarkson had three lovely lasses but died young.
As Andrew and Erwin passed through the Cemetery gates they were obviously
pleased at the sight of the headstones and the generally well groomed condition
of the grounds. "Hope they don't impact here, maybe that's what happened
to the church"…too bad… .. big job gettin that church and school goin….
then to impact it…. Mary was the keeper of this place…..here and the church….
happy girl…always happy …laughing …. maybe its why she never married …..
stayed right here till the army took over…. ran the Post Office for over
forty years…. didn't get rich at it…. paid her a hundred and eight dollars
and seventy five cents for all of nineteen forty four …. her Sister Gracie
at Browns Flat asked her to go live with her when the Army moved in…..
it was alright, but for years after she bothered Gracie to go back to the
Mountain .. but her Mountain just disappeared.
Gracie Ethel was born in 88, and when Minnie and Della Maude left, she
was the head house keeper….. guess there were better places than the Mountain….
lived in Saint John for a couple of years…. when she found that boat from
Saint John to Boston, went to live with her Aunt Mary in Everett, and then
worked at the chocolate factory at Upham's Corners for a about a year…
suppose if it weren't for the letters and postcards from home and Elmer
she would have stayed…. missing all the parties, skating on Bacon and Murphy
Lake with the new Long Reach skates made at Whelpley's factory…all those
things people were sending postcards about…. missing too much and too many
friends …and love…. so she came home… married Elmer Johnson from Johnson
Croft, had two Sons and a Daughter, Freddy Eldon and Doris.
Elmer along with his Father Cade and Brother George had a good lumber
and sawmill operation at the Croft and back of Round Hill. Elmer must have
over done it … takin on the job to run the steam boilers for the new railway….
died 2 days short of his thirtieth year…. over worked. Gracie was in real
trouble when the old Johnson homestead burned at the Croft…Elmer's sisters
Flossie and Hazel were a big help for Gracie… she was lucky to meet up
with the Bullock family at Beulah Camp….. worked for them for quite a few
years as the house keeper…. it was Mr Bullock who helped her buy the Crabbe
place at the Flats. The sheep Eldon had just before he died in 1999 were
from the same family Gracie started with in 1925.
Freddy married Ida Thorn from Coles Island and had three Daughters,
Marilyn Carilyn and Evelyn.
Doris a spinster, lived her life Nursing at and died in Massachusetts
General Hospital in Boston.
Eldon married Elsie A Donald from New Jerusalem and had five lads and
one lass, Donald, Elmer, Gary, David, Joseph, and Joanne….see that young
Donny has my trough out on the road with a good amount of water runnin
in it.
Now Erwin, what about those other two lads of yours…..Walter and "Big
Charlie"…. Hmm …. hope the readers know where to get in touch for any questions
on this ….. I'll especially not mention a lot about the next and next generations…..
that part's easy….one part that's not easy is the one's who died young…..
Cora May eighteen, Jennie Rubina three, Flossie nine, Ida Mae seven months
and the infant twins…..never did have Doctors near enough…. Dr Montgomery
over in New Jerusalem….Ministers do more business than Doctors. Had a good
place here at the Mountain…. George Lake just down there…some fair good
flat land to farm…lots a water…run'n right down from the mountain…right
into the trough…good people livin here. Should'a grown.
Walter was born in 87, married Nina Pearl Hamilton lived most of his
life at Oak Point, had a daughter Elva and a boy Harry…. he was the flyer…..
got himself killed over there in England……Harry's mother Nina died young….
too common in our time…..Walter later on married Mary Leyden they had a
son …. Freeman. Walter was an all round good man with a team of horses….
its what he done most of his life…..traveled with his brothers Fred and
Charlie to the west every fall and worked in the woods in the winter…..
took the death of Harry pretty bad…. story is he grew tired and mad at
Mary for show'n off Harry's stuff the Brits sent back home…. took it all
out and buried it someplace….. Air force hat papers and all…..a photo album
was hid by Mary…. so there's something left today.
Big Charlie was born in 96 the youngest….just a year old when his Mother
Annie died. ….Minnie was fifteen then and as the years went by she and
the other girls was as good a mother any lad would want…..still not the
same…..had some thoughts….and chances of taken on another woman….even have
some letters here to prove it …but just didn't happen. Charlie done just
great…loved school….went for twelve years here at the Mountain…..took on
some private school'n by mail….passed his papers for a millwright….had
a couple of those prancer horses which the ladies use to like. Traveled
all over settin up saw mills ….met Mary Lyons when he was workin on the
Doaktown and Blackville mills…they got married in 21 and had two boys and
three daughters… Perry, Grace, Juanita, Wesley and Rae.
Andrew and Erwin sauntered out of the Cemetery, turned left and down
the road a hundred yards and looked to the right where the homestead used
to be…it was only about 30 feet off the road….all that remained were the
walls of the cellar and a deep indentation in the ground where many a winter
had seen the storage of potatoes, carrots and turnips….puncheons of salt
Shad and Gaspereau….Andrew recalls the scared feeling he had when it burned
down in the summer of 1856.
He had first seen this place in the summer of 1818…along with Caleb
Flewelling whose Father Thomas had been granted 200 acres near here….the
Flewellings were a Welsh family living on Long Island during the mid to
late 1700.s…..committed as loyalists they sailed aboard the Cyrus from
NY to Saint John in 1783….Caleb was born in 1774, a generation before Andrew
but….he would become a life friend . A note written on Andrew's behalf
as follows;
Greenwich N.B. July 6th 1822
This is to certify that Andrew Hamilton a native of Ireland has lived
in this Parish for the last two years, His conduct and behiaviour during
the above Period has been unexceptionable as a member of Society and a
British Subject we do Certify that we know him to be of equal ability to
cultivate and improve two Hundred acres of land as he has also done and
has three Acres under crop at this present time James Brittian
Joseph Brittian
Daniel Poutman
Caleb Flewelling
This note along with a petition to Lieutenant Governor Smyth eventually
would result in a land grant of 200 acres, one of three grants totalling
430 acres, additionally he purchased 200 acres from James Paisley, a former
Crown grant to Patrick Couglan.
In 1822 Andrew married Caleb's Niece, Elizabeth Maplet Flewelling …..
She died five years later, having produced two Sons James and John…. Andrew's
Nephew William born 1844 married a Niece of Andrew's first Wife….her name
Elizabeth Maplet Flewelling. They lived, farmed and are buried at Oak Point.
Caleb's Brother outlived three wife's and died at 93…..all buried together
at Oak Point. Caleb's wife Mary Brittian was 42 years younger than he.
A neighbour of Andrew's was Stephen Crabb, a name that predates the
Loyalist. Stephen was about a third of a century older than Andrew, and
a great deal more robust. A large hulk of a man with enormous strength.
He once wagered with a Saint John flour merchant that if he could carry
a barrel of flour from the South Wharf to Indiantown without laying it
down, the barrel would be his….he won the wager. His wife Mary died at
age 85, he died six years later at age 98.
Andrew survived about 60 years of the Mountain From the wilderness beginnings
in the early 1820's to a lesser wilderness in the 1880's. The Mountain
encompassed about a dozen families within a reasonable walking distance,
six of the families were Hamilton's. A latecomer in 1849 was his younger
Brother George…with wife Catherine and four children…fresh from and at
the height of the Irish Famine. He had bought with him not only his expert
trade as a weaver but also the looms to set up business. This would then
total four Brothers and one Sister in the community. Sister Nancy was married
to James Paisley, and had lived close by on two occasions. The basic infrastructure
consisted of a School, Post Office, Church and Cemetery.
Land for the School was sold to the Parish of Hampstead in Dec 1856
by Andrew for the price 5 shillings, it is therefore assumed that School
commenced at the Mountain sometime in 1857\8…School records were kept beginning
only 1880. According to records, many children attended school into their
late teens. The early generations of children married and settled relatively
short distances from the Mountain, New Jerusalem, Olinville, Round Hill,
Greenwich, Oak Point.
Surnames of some neighbours were; Crabbe\Mahood\Harrison|Webb|Burgess\Phillips\Parks\McMahon\Kirk\Campbell\Searles\
Douglas\McLeod\Fowler\Braden\Parkes\Sterritt\Beckett\McCutcheon\Patterson\
Moore\Short\Travis\Lathem\Routledge\Dunn\McFadden\Bannister\Gilbert\Vanwart\
McKenzie\Rathburn\Crawford\Darrah\Livingston\Selfridge\Vallis\Day\Inch\Wallace\
Roberts\Paisley\Lafferty\Forbes\Danville\Smith\Clifford\MarlyMurphy\Belyea\Hines\Lynch\
Thealt\Cameron\Taillifer\Cameron\Hetherington\Gilby\Makepeace\Clifford
Quick\Arsenault\Thom.
Even second generation children seemed to blend into Queens and Kings
counties. However, after the turn of the century School records reflect
dwindling numbers of students. My Father, youngest of the second generation,
was one of 29 students in December 1899, his age was listed as 5, although
he had just turned 4 in August of that year. By 1911, his twelfth year
of schooling, he was one of only eight attending that school. Records from
1915-1925 are not available, however those available through to 1935 reflect
a dwindling school attendance, for 1926 only six students.
Some teachers at Hamilton Mountain #6 School;
1880 Charles Webb
1880 Amanda J Crawford
1883 Frank Dykeman
1884 Fletcher Sleep
1885 Charlotte Vanwart
1888 Annie Paisley
1890 William A Machum
1891 Wilford J McKinny
1893 William Nickerson
1893 George Bogle
1894 Ida M Savoy
1896 Herbert Nickerson
1896 Robert Nickerson
1897 Maggie Seeley
1898 Hannah Douglas
1899 Sarah Daley
1899 Wilber Hetherington
1900 " "
1901 " "
1902 " "
1904 Mabel Short
1905 Sarah Fulton
1908 Eddy M Kee
1909 Maude Singley
1909 John Vallis
1910 Gertrude Hamilton
1911 Olive Belyea
1914 Helen Vallis
1926 Elizabeth Whelpley
1927 " "
1927 Janet Paisley
1929 Thomas Dunbar
1929 Catherine O'Leary
1930 Rachel McBay
1932 Dorothy Dobbin
1933 Elva Adamson
1934 Elsie Fulton
1935 Bertha Hamilton
Some records were not available, others available without teachers name.
Maximum attendance was 45 for 1893, minimum 2 for 1927.
A collection of postcards for the period of 1900-1920 reflect a vivacious,
outwardly mobile, fun-loving and hard working second generation, (Andrews's
children being the first generation) New Steam boats and the Railway made
Saint John, New England and all points West an attractive alternative to
summer farming and winter lumbering. In whatever form life had presented
itself, from subsistence to a hedonistic way of life, it all existed during
this time. Few went on to higher learning, or joined the professional ranks
of people. Some became experts in trades by apprenticing to the masters
from the old country, but generally those who remained on the land seemed
to have managed life well. For whatever reason the Mountain farms never
expanded sufficiently to provide a living for subsequent generations, and
so by 1950 only the second generation of the original Hamilton clan remained
here.
Andrew it seems, as taken from land ownership and transfer details,
was instrumental in most land transactions for the family .…a broker. He
bought the half share Patrick Couglan had in a 200 acre land grant and
sold it to James Paisley,…. in 1829 he bought the land back from James
for 200 pounds. Although the word grant is used, grants were paid for,
Andrew at one time or another paid for and owned 630 acres. His name appears
on several transactions in legal documents of Queens, Kings Counties as
well as Provincial. In 1879 his Son Erwin purchased the Homestead of 200
acres for 600 lawful dollars of New Brunswick, in 1932 upon Erwin's death,
and after some family squabbling it was transferred to Uncle Fred's name.
This was the 200 acres the Military purchased as part of an impact area.
The Post Office at the Mountain dates to probably sometime in the 1840's
and existed as such to 1953. Mary Alice Hamilton, spinster and Granddaughter
of Andrew was at that time the official Postmistress. According to details
of the prized collection of postcards, the Post Office must have had great
importance in the everyday life of the community. A date or appointment
could be made for the same day, depending upon the direction and timing
of the mailman. Wagons to be picked up, horses bred, location of Saturday
night parties\dances, road, lake and ice skating conditions, recall of
news from wherever, and in beautiful colour. Humour both written and purchased
with the card reflected the mood of the day as happy times. Oh, it must
have been great to see the mailman coming down the road.
April 2003
Where are they now? Of the first generation, I know of or have made
contact with the descendants of James the first born between Andrew and
Elizabeth Flewelling. His descendants are from the marriage of Elizabeth
and John Smith, daughter of James and Margaret Howe. This person lives
on Vancouver Island.
Andrew's Brother George has some descendents living in Edmonton, Vancouver
and Abbotsford BC.
Descendents of Erwin total about 130. Andrew's descendents about 1200.
The banks of the Saint John river from Public Landing to Gagetown are crawling
with them, if you open your window any summer night, one may come crawling
in….be careful .could be a Johnson.
For the most part the third generation of Erwin turned out to be quite
nice people, and generally with the exception of Big Charlie's family remained
in NB. They occupied and developed space mainly in Saint John and on both
sides of the Saint John River area to Gagetown. Except for Harry Hamilton,
common, pleasant, everyday people none significant in life. Generally salaried
jobs. Three business owners. Four Military.
Turns out Big Charlie's family was different, maybe it was the same
wandering gene that got Andrew going. All three girls moved and remained
on the extreme West Coast, one as extreme as Hawaii, while the two Sons
moved to and remained in Central Canada. There are ten living descendents
of Big Charlie. Of the fifth generation there are four young male potentials.
Luckily two of them are in NB, and without giving away their identity,
one of them, a 16 year old played forward in the loss in the seventh and
final game between the Spartans and ……for the year 2002 NB Provincial High
School Hockey Championship.
Known significant people or events from Andrew Hamilton are few, however,
the following helped the world along.
F\L Harry Raymond Hamilton RAF. Famed Pilot killed in the Battle of
Britain
Dick Hamilton a great Grandson and experienced Engineer working for
Imperial Oil, had assigned to him as a protégé an undergraduate
in Engineering the Son of King Hussein of Jordan.
Dr Carole Hamilton of the University of Vienna Medical Klinikum, Vienna,
Austria well known in the field of Cardiac Perfusion and especially Paediatric
Perfusion. Researched and developed two quite major items in Cardiac Bypass
and Heart and Lung Transplantation. She speaks German.
Two descendent members of the fifth generation from Corah Short's family
living and teaching University in Japan….they speak Japanese.
A great Grandson of Erwin, Commanding Officer of the Seaforth Highlanders.
Brother in Law, Provincial Minister of Agriculture.
I sit here at my computer with the gentle breath of Florida breezes,
having spent a winter of pure Shangri-La, and hesitantly plan our trip
back North to the May days of Ontario and New Brunswick, I feel good to
have descended from such sturdy folk as I have learned about during my
very pleasant time in research. Given a choice Andrew…. prior to turning
right and North up the Bay of Fundy, just point the boat a bit more to
the left and continue for about 3 more days or until you run aground at
the Palm Beaches…they love the Irish here.
As they walked back up the Mountain, the noise from the Artillery seemed
to enhance the question each had, they stopped now and then to look Northwest
through an opening between the trees …a flash here and there, the tremendous
crack and thud's, smoke billowing up..much too far to impact here. At the
top they sat as before…silence.…the guns had stopped….they turned and looked
my way….Hey Wes, Can we stay a few more days! |
