Fredericton's Old Burial Ground - Seann Chladh

James Taylor senior was a Loyalist who arrived at Pointe Sainte-Anne in 1783. Born in Port Glasgow Scotland, he had emigrated to New York when young and served as a Sergeant with the 3rd New Jersey Volunteers during the American Revolution. In Fredericton he was known as "James The Elder" (as differentiation from his son James), and is credited with establishing “one of the largest and most respectable firms” in the colony—with business interests in the mercantile trade, as well as timber, shipbuilding, and general construction operations. His place of business was located just below Regent on Queen Street, across from the (present-day) former York County Court House.  James’ three sons, James, William, and John F., formally entered into a partnership with their father in 1821, forming “James Taylor Senior and Company”. In addition to their store, the Taylors operated a mill and shipyard on the western end of Fredericton. They also owned a mill on the Nashwaak (present-day Ma...

One of the oldest stones in the Old Burial Ground is a slab of red sandstone, lying flat on the ground, close to the eastern fence. This marks the burial site of Dr Charles Earle, one of Fredericton's first doctors.  Born in Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland in 1751, Charles John Earle was a Loyalist who first settled in Princess Ann County, Virginia. There, prior to the American Revolution, he enjoyed a growing medical practise, but because he refused to take the Patriots' Oath was made prisoner at Kemps Landing and later released on the condition that he leave Virginia. He eventually joined the 2nd New Jersey Battalion of Skinner's Brigade as its surgeon in 1778, when he was 26 years old.  Skinner's Brigade fought at the Battle of Cowpens (January 1781), the Battle of Guilford (March 1781), the siege of Charleston (May 1780), and at the Battle of Eutaw Springs (September 1781). Dr. Earle's interventions would have made the difference between life and death for many...

Francis Beverly was born in Aberdeen Scotland on March 8, 1801. After working as a bank clerk in Scotland, he immigrated to the Miramichi, where he was teaching school at the time of the Great Fire of 1825. As his daughter Miss Jane later recalled: “vivid recollections of that fire were often related by him, who modestly forbore to parade the beautiful gold watch which was presented to him for heroic work during that trying time. ” All his long life he cherished that gold watch.  By 1827 Francis had made his way to Fredericton, where he opened a “Book and Fancy Stationary” store on the lower end of Queen (near St John Street). He later expanded his operations to include a book lending library, as well as binding and printing services. It was Francis Beverly who first printed the famous lithograph entitled “New Brunswick Fashionables!!!.” This illustration, attributed to the artist John Campbell (son of Sir Archibald Campbell, Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswickat the time), gaily ...

Robert Fulton was born in Ayreshire Scotland in 1801, and arrived in Fredericton as a young man in 1821. The following year he entered into government service as a clerk in the office of the Provincial Secretary, and continued to serve in that capacity for another 44 years—first as Clerk, then Chief Clerk, and eventually, in 1861, as Assistant Secretary to another Society member—John Gregory. At the age of 24, he was a founding member of the Fredericton Society of Saint Andrew. He was also one of the founding members of St Paul’s Church as well as the Fredericton Curling Club. Robert Fulton’s esteem within the Government of New Brunswick is attested to by the quality of the marble stone that stands in the Old Burial Ground on Brunswick Street. The inscription reads:  In memory of Robert Fulton Esq., born in Ayre,  Scotland, in 1801,  died in Fredericton  February 26th 1867.  He came to this Province in 1821  and entered the Office of the Provincial...

Yesterday, John NEILL passed away at his home in Gibson (York Co.). He had been inflicted for some time with enlargement of the heart and this culminated in his death. He came to this country about the year 1842 from Whitborn in Scotland and for a time after coming out he taught school. He then engaged in the hardware business in the firm of Stewart & Neil. He was always a most enterprising man and is said to have introduced from the Scotland the first bone crushing mill ever brought to this country. He was connected through his mother with the Stewarts of the largest hardware house in Edinburgh.  He leaves two sons and five daughters living: Jas. S. NEILL, hardware merchant, Albert NEILL, Mrs. J.F. McMURRAY, Mrs. W.R. LOGAN, Mrs. Wm McKAY, Mrs. Arthur SEWELL and Miss Alice NEILL. His widow survives him.  He was a prominent member of the St. Andrew's Society of which he was secretary from 1847 to 1852. He also occupied the offices of 1st and 2nd vice-presidents. Through hi...

James Willox [Wilcox] was a native of Aberdeen, Scotland. He came to Fredericton in about 1817, and two years later married Margaret King. James was a founding member of the Fredericton Society of Saint Andrew, and was one of the organising “stewards” for the Feast of Saint Andrew in 1828. He was also one of the founding members of St Paul’s Church, and served as a founding trustee.  James was a leather merchant and saddler in Fredericton. His business was located on Queen Street, across from the present-day Lord Beaverbrook Hotel, and the Willox family lived next door. He prospered, and in 1839 owned 25 acres on Maryland Hill, 200 acres in Hanwell Settlement, and 100 acres in the Parish of Woodstock in Carleton County. He also owned shares in the “splendid steamer"  New Brunswick , which plied the river St John between Fredericton and Saint John from 1839 to 1848.  By 1845, passengers wishing to travel by stagecoach to Boiestown or Newcastle could book their reservations...

Thomas R. Robertson was the first Treasurer for the Society of Saint Andrew. He served from 1825 to 1828, and was also President in 1846 and 1847. Born in Scotland, Thomas arrived to Fredericton in 1818 – along with his friends Robert Gowan, and John Gregory – all with the 74th (Highlanders) Regiment of Foot.  When his regiment departed Fredericton in 1823, he stayed behind, joining the merchant firm of Thomas L. Langen as a clerk. Thomas soon became a full partner, and their business operated under the name of Langen & Robertson. This continued until 1831, when Mr. Langen retired and the business was then taken over by Thomas.  T. R. Robertson’s store was located on the west end of Queen Street, and continued to operated in the same location. On August 2, 1839 his store was destroyed by a fire – described by the Fredericton Sentinel as the most disastrous of the decade. Nevertheless, T. R. Robertson’s store was rebuilt and continued for another 17 years. Thomas was a hig...

At 19 years of age, John Gregory was the youngest founding member of the Fredericton Society of Saint Andrew. He arrived in Fredericton in 1818 — along with his friends Robert Gowan and Thomas Robertson — as a member of the 74th (Highlanders) Regiment of Foot. Throughout his lifetime John Gregory was an “active and prominent member of the Society,” serving as Secretary (1828-1837), as well as Vice-President (1838-1841; 1858-1861), and President (1861). He is also credited — along with his close friends and fellow Society members Francis Beverly, Robert Fulton, Thomas Robertson, and Robert Gowan — with founding St Paul's Church. Born into a family of law professionals in Edinburgh, Scotland, John attended private schools and commenced Law studies at the age of 15. After interning for two years, it is said that his “pride was hurt” when the senior attorneys criticized his work. He felt the criticisms were unjust, and what made matters even worse, his father agreed with them! John thu...

The Honourable William Pagan was the first President of the Saint John Society of Saint Andrew (the first such Society in Canada). He was inaugurated as President in 1798 and served again in 1799, 1800, 1806 through 1812, and 1815. He owned property in both Saint John and Fredericton.  Born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1744, William Pagan was descended from a long line of commercial wealth stretching back to the 1650s. As David Macmillian and Roger Nason have noted:  The Pagan family had been active in the rising commerce of Glasgow since the 1650s. William Pagan Sr, a prominent sugar refiner there, established a strong commercial reputation through trading activities in the West Indies, in the Mediterranean, and along the Irish coast. In 1754 he and his brother John became burgesses and guild brethren of Glasgow, positions open to them because their father, David, had been admitted to the city as a merchant earlier in the century. Another brother, George, set up as a merchant in G...

Peter Fraser was the first President of the Fredericton Society of Saint Andrew. He served for seven years. In 1923, the then President Mr Justice Oswald S. Crocket wrote extensively about him:  Peter Fraser, the first president of the Fredericton Society of Saint Andrew, was a leading merchant and one of the most prosperous and prominent citizens of Fredericton. Born at Forres, Morayshire, Scotland in 1765, he came to New Brunswick in his eighteenth year about the time it was founded as a separate Province in 1784, and by his native ability and unremitting industry and prudence soon hewed out the path upon which he advanced to business success and public prominence.  As early as 1789, Mr. Fraser purchased from William Garden (original grantee) the block of land bounded today by Queen, Church and King Streets, situated beside Parliament Square. Not long afterwards, he built a residence on the Queen Street side of his property (today known as Farraline Place). Later he built a ...