Fredericton's Old Burial Ground - Seann Chladh

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...

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 ...

In 1853 the Society erected a memorial in the Old Burial Ground on Brunswick Street for Piper John Richard Allan (1835 – 1853). Robert Gowan was instrumental in this activity. Piper Allan had been a native of Paisley in Renfrewshire Scotland, and was serving with the 72nd Duke of Albany’s Own Highlanders in Fredericton, when he died tragically on January 6th 1853. He was only 18 years of age.  Acting on behalf of the Society, Robert Gowan made arrangements with the Regimental Commander to have Piper Allan’s grave marked with a stone that featured a deer’s head (crest of the Regiment), along with a broken chanter, broad sword, plaid, and a thistle in full flower - as was reported to the Society membership in 1853: The forthwith appointed at the last quarterly meeting to procure a tombstone to be placed at the grave of John Allan a Piper in the 72nd Highlanders, have attended to that duty and beg to report that they have made arrangements with Mr. Peter Cormack of Portland (St John) ...

Jane Brandon Quinn sampler, 1818 Collection of the Fredericton Region Museum, 1969.2800.1 Jane Brandon was born in Scotland and immigrated to New Brunswick in 1846. She married William H Quinn in 1850, and together they operated a grocery store at (present-day) 147 Westmorland Street - corner of Westmorland and Brunswick. Their son William A Quinn became a lawyer in the City. Jane made this needlework sampler in 1818, when she was 7 years old. It mourns the death of her brother: Brother thou art gone before us and thy saintly soul has flown. Where tears are wiped from ever eye and sorrow is unknown. Jane Quinn is buried in the Quinn family plot in the Old Burial Ground on Brunswick Street. Her sampler now rests in the collection of the Fredericton Region Museum.