studholmhistory

Studholm Parish History
"More than 125 years have pass silently away since this part of the county of Kings was first settled.
Not a single acre of cleared land was then to be seen; nothing but mighty forests of hemlock, spruce,
birch, beech and maple confronted the early settlers save here and there the blue smoke from a birch-bark
Indian camp, coming upward over the tops of the tallest trees. It was not an encouraging scene, but man
was made to conquer, and there primeval forests were soon brought under his control".
As appeared in the Kings County Historical and Archival Society newletter of April 1988.

The Parish of Studholm was formed in 1840. At that time it included the Parish of Havelock which
became a separate parish in 1858. The parish received its name from Major Guilfred Studholme,
who was commander at Fort Howe (West Saint John) in 1783. Guilfred Studholm was granted land
in the southern region of the parish and eventually acquired 5,000 acres of fertile land stretching from
Apohaqui to Millstream. A great number of United Empire Loyalists arrived in 1783 to Saint John,
and settled in this area. They were followed in the early to mid 1800's by a number of European
settlers including the British Isles and Contentinal Europe.

"Here the first settlers wre subjected to the greatest trials and hardships. When they required boards
for building purposes they sawed them with a whip saw. Their grain was carried on their backs; the
roads were little more than paths. All their provisions had to be brought from Saint John. A Durham
boat was used for this purpose unitl the water became too shallow, then the cargo was placed in conoes.
In deep water these were propelled by oars or a stout pole; in shoals the boatmen were forced to get out
and push." As appeared in the Kings County Historical and Archival Society newletter of May 1988.