(Editor's note from November 7, 1974 edition of the Saint Croix Courier) Rev. Charles M. Smith concludes his interesting and informative history of Piskahegan and Its Roads with a letter by a Mr. Robert Pagan, dated Feb. 25, 1791. In addition there is a list of miscellaneous expenditures reported to the House of Assembly in 1828.
Next week we will begin Chapter Two of the History of Piskahegan with the first of a two-part series on Piskahegan and Its Original Land Grants.

Item 1: Letter by Robert Pagan, 25th February, 1791.
On receiving a letter from the Honorable Jonathan O'Dell, Esquire dated 16 July 1790. communicating directives from His Excellency the governor for my proceeding to open the Road from St. Andrews to Fredericton I immediately advertised that I would receive proposals for that purpose.
The advertisement I distributed in the different townships of the County, copy of which accompanys this Report.
It was the beginning of September before I could get men set to work and towards the middle of November before it was put through.
The County having been previously explored at a considerable expense for the purpose of obtaining as nearly as possible the most direct course consistent with the main objects of an eligible country for settlements and good ground for a road. All these objects are now accomplished so completely that excepting about two miles of a swamp the rest of the Road is remarkably good considering its extent, runs in a pretty straight direction, and this a country, about thirty-five miles of which one hardwood ridge succeeds another with very little spruce, pine, or hemlock growth interspersed.
As I agreed for the road to be cut chiefly by the mills, I found it necessary to employ a Surveyor and chain-man to measure the distance, and thought it best to have the distance marked in miles and half-miles on trees, this was attended with no expense and has a very pleasing effect on the travelor, whose mind requires some amusement in passing through the woods.
The Surveyor began by measuring the first half mile from a James Thompson's house where the road began in Charlotte and ended when it came to where this road meets that from St. John to Fredericton about three miles beyond the Oromocto Falls toward St. John. The distance is 44 and 3/4 miles and 16 rods.
An account of the expense incurred in extending this byeway accompanys this report. It amounts to One hundred and Fifty Seven Pounds, 14 shillings and 2 pence, when the surveyor first set out in November to measure and mark the road. I directed him to proceed 'til he came to the Saint John Road above mentioned. But when he measured to the Magaguadavic River 22 1/2 miles, the freshet was so high as to render it impassable, which obliged him to return.
I have had the measurement completed by bringing the Surveyor and Chain-man with me when I came here.
The road is no place narrower than 8 ft., is very well cleared and so plain that no Traveler can by night or day mistake his way.
As allready mentioned, I found the country far above thirty five miles from our leaving the Settlements on Charlotte towards Sunbury almost a continued range of hardwood ridges, which I may venture to say is as good and suitable a tract for settlers as any in this Province.
This discovery I hope will induce the Legislature to make the road so complete as to encourage the settlement of that valuable range of country.
In contracting with the Road Cutters, I made no agreement for bridges or other conveniences to be thrown across the Creeks and runs of water which we meet within the course of this road, and the season being so far advanced before it was cut through, I thought it not in my power to employ men to make such bridges as will enable travellers on foot or horseback to get over these creeks and runs of water.
I thought it necessary to have a log house built nearly mid-way for the accomodation of such travellers as would not have time to encamp or should from the severity of the weather require better shelter than can be made by a covering of bushes only.
This house is erected on the bank of the River Magaguadavic, 20 and 1/2 miles from the inhabitants in Charlotte and about 26 miles (from) the inhabitants in Sunbury . . . . The River Magaguadavic being by much the most considerable we met on this road, I thought it best to purchase a canoe of the Road Cutters which they had made for the purpose of crossing that river, it will carry four or five passengers, and will be very servicable when the freshets are so high as to prevent the river from being forded.
The Road crosses the Digdeguash River about 8 miles from the settlement's in Charlotte; which is an excellent tract of country. A number of persons in that neighborhood intend making application for grants of land there, and I have not a doubt but some of them will begin to make improvements in the course of the Spring and Summer; if His Excellency should be pleased to comply with their requests.
I am informed by the Surveyor General, that a considerable part of this tract (which as I have already mentioned is chiefly hardwood land,) is reserved by the Surveyor General of the woods, and joins the lines of the front grants, running back some miles towards that river. This will be a great impediment to the settlement of this tract.
I think it is my duty to remark, that a great part of these Reserves made in Charlotte by the Surveyer General of the woods have no reference to the growth of pine trees (the supposed reason for such Reserves). But have taken in the lands nearest adjoining to the grants fronting the Bays and Rivers and are chiefly excellent hardwood ridges. By these Reserves the country is being prevented from being settled only about a mile in the front and Reserves being also made of the land between the different grants. The Settlements are in every direction prevented from spreading to the great hindrance of improvement in that part of the Province.
I beg further to remark, that these Reserves were made after the lands had been surveyed and laid out by order and at the expense of Government, and after they were actually promised by Government to those settlers on hundred acre lots who have wives and children ( in proportion to their families) drawn for by them, and return of such, lodges in the proper office at Halifax. Those settlers have got no other lands to compensate for such disappointment.
The rivers Digdeguash and Magaguadavic are of such width and rapidity as to render the erecting of bridges across them at present impracticable consistent with the demands for money for the general good of the Province. But the want of bridges there will be less felt in places where the road crosses them is favorable at all times, even for travellers on foot, except when the freshets are high.
I would beg leave to recommend confining the further improvement on this road at present, to getting small bridges laid across the different creeks and riverlets met with on this road, amending such parts of it as may not be sufficiently travelled, and altering a part by cutting a new two miles whereby we can avoid the only swamps of consequences along that road. I would also advise erecting another log house towards the Oromocto as above mentioned. And further, the appropriating the sum of Fifty Pounds for the encouragement of two settlers on this road, on the plan and conditions already adopted by the Honorable, the House of Assembly.
I suppose that One Hundred Pounds, besides the balance of Forty Two Pounds Five Shillings and Two Pence, at present in my hands, will complete all these improvements.
This Report I beg leave to submit to the consideration of His Excellency the Governor, and to offer any further information that may be required of me.
Robert Pagan
Item 2: Miscellaneous Expenditures Reported March 29, 1828 (from Journal, House of Assembly).
"25 Pounds in aid of individual subscription toward building a bridge over the Digdeguash River at or near the Rolling Dam" (where McGuire's bridge now stands)
"25 Pounds for the road from Peter Morrison's to the Rolling Dam on the Eastern side of the Digdeguash River" (Lower Rolling Dam road leading eastward from the river toward Clarence Ridge).
"30 Pounds towards opening a road from Chamcook through the Lake Settlement to Leonard Bartlett's at the Waweig".
"25 Pounds to improve the road from Lawrence William's farm to the Rolling Dam at the Digdeguash."
"25 Pounds to improve the road from the head of the tide at Oak Bay to Lawrence William's farm at Tower Hill".
"40 Pounds in aid of individual subscription and statute labour, towards rebuilding the bridge over the Waweig River, near Connick's".
Item 3: (Road Grants (1852,1853) from Journal, House of Assembly")
The following concern the year 1852: William H. Mowatt, Supervisor,
St. Andrews to Magaguadavic-150 Pounds
Roix to St. Stephen-220 Pounds
St. Stephen to St. Andrews-100 Pounds
Daniel Gilmour and Richard M'Ghee, Commissioners
For 6 Bye-Roads in St. George-257 Pounds
For repairing Magaguadavic Bridge-12 Pounds
John Cathcart, Jr.Commissoner
For three Bye-Roads in St. Patrick-35 Pounds
Robert Purvis, Commissioner
"From Carr's to the Gleneig Road-7 Pounds
William Smart, Commissioner
For Bye-Roads in St. Patrick-49 Pounds
Angus McCallum, Commissioner
For Gleneig Road to Pleasant Ridge-25 Pounds
Samuel Cathcart, Commissioner
To improve a hill near S. & J. Cathcart, -10 Pounds
The following concern the year 1853:
George Andrerson, Supervisor
Bridge over Magaguadavic, Road, St.Andrews to St.John-140 Pounds
William Grieve, Supervisor
Fredericton-Magaguadavic-150 Pounds
Written by permission of the Saint Croix Courier. Transcribed by Charlene Beney
Back to St. George History