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...

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 ...

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...

Prior to 1927 there had always been a Society Piper. The first was Robert Gowan, who joined the Society in 1826.  He arrived in New Brunswick from Ireland in 1818 as a piper in the 74th (Highlanders) Regiment of Foot, and was garrisoned here from 1818 to 1823. Robert assisted John Baird as a teacher in the Barrack School for children of the regiment, and when his unit departed, stayed in Fredericton and opened a "Painting, Engraving and Writing" shop on the corner of Regent Street. This is where he was hired to engrave the Society's mull horn in 1826. He later became a bookkeeper in the lumbering firm of Robert Rankin & Co. Later, when the Central Bank of New Brunswick was established in 1834, he was appointed bank cashier, and then in 1839 he entered the Crown Land Office. There he kept meticulous accounts of all lands granted in the province (his six-volume leather bound ledgers are preserved in the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick).  Robert Gowan was also a res...