Skip to main content

Alexander McKilligan (1818 - 1886)

Alexander McKILLIGAN was laid to rest in the Old Burying Ground, Fredericton on Thursday. He came to Fredericton 47 years ago from Miramichi to which place he had emigrated from the north of Scotland several years previously. Engaging here in the baking business with Mr. CLARK, whose bake house and shop were in Waterloo Row, he soon branched out for himself. About that time he married the housekeeper of Lady COLEBROOK wife of Lt. GOV. COLEBROOK. She died long ago and he was buried in the same grave that held his first love. Subsequently he became City Marshall. Marrying a second time, he left the city about twenty years ago, taking up residence on his farm near the junction of the Tay and Nashwaak. There he lived till Tuesday last, periodically coming to town. He was a member of the old St. Andrews Society. He was one of the fathers of curling in N.B. In 1854, John NEILL founded the Fredericton Curling Club and of the eight original members, he alone is left. The others, who have preceded Alex. McKilligan to the grave, were Robert FULTON, Robert THORBURN, John F. TAYLOR, Harry PHAIR, Wm A. McLEAN and James MOORE. McKilligan's funeral was conducted by Jackson Adams, Undertaker. Rev. A.J. Mowatt performed the ceremonies. McKilligan was 68 years old and leaves a widow and one son. 

(The Fredericton Evening Capital - May 29, 1886)

Popular posts from this blog

Scots in the Old Burial Ground

SCOTS AND THE OLD PUBLIC BURIAL GROUND, FREDERICTON  by Dr. Ellen MacGillivray, c. 1991 When John Ross and I were co-historians of the Fredericton Society of Saint Andrew from 1985-1987 we had not yet started to sort the Society's documents left in John's care by late Dr. D. J. MacLeod. We became interested in finding the burial plots in the Old Public Burial Ground of the Chartered Members of the Society as well as those of others who came later. But first some notes on the place itself.  THE OLD PUBLIC BURIAL GROUND  According to Dr. Lillian Maxwell (1937) on August 2nd, 1785 the Governor-in- Council appointed Trustees to lay out Fredericton. One of these Trustees was Lieutenant Dugald Campbell who made the survey in 1785-1786: "The Town Plat as first laid out extended from Smythe street to Sunbury street and from the river to Charlotte street. The blocks were laid out to cover four and a half acres, the streets one chain wide. A square was laid out in the middle of th...

Introduction

Fredericton's Old Burial Ground is located between Brunswick and George streets, on the traditional territory of Wolastoqey People. This Local Historic Place has been recognised as one of the most important cemeteries in New Brunswick. It serves as the final resting place for many individuals who founded New Brunswick, amongst whom are many individuals of Scottish birth. Since 2025 marks the 200 th anniversary of the founding of our Society, we are pleased to share with you the stories behind the memorials you will discover within these serene grounds.

Peter Fraser (1765 - 1840)

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 ...