by John Baker Schurman Introduced by David ("Cummyfoe") and Deborah Stewart This memoir presents a unique and rooms, one room having been built first vivid picture of life by the Dunk River and and the other added after. There was no Bedeque Bay in the 19th century. With way of going from one room to the other telling detail, John Baker Schurman but by going out door and entering the (1805-1891) describes changes he wit- other outside door. From that place I nessed over many years. Time's prog- went to School either 1809 or 1810. The ress is marked not by sequential dates, teacher was Jonathan Stowe (I think but by new techniques and styles - log now he was a good teacher but too fond cabins become frame houses, trails be- of strong drink). The school was kept in come roads, calico replaces homespun, an old house which Mr. Wells had left to oxen yield to horses, frolics give way to move into a new one. It was on the shore village concerts and temperance meet- just East of Lemuel Hoopers farm. ings. Almost as if sensing a social histo- At that time though no more than 5 or rian's interest, Schurman relates details 6 years old I knew all the heads of fami- of everyday life in a chronicle of many lies in Bedeque, I can name them all decades. now. They were Mr. McFarlane, Mr. The original manuscript, now in the McCallum, Mr. Anderson, Mr. Price, Mr. possession of Dr. T.W. Stewart of Otta- Cole, Mr. Wetheral, Mr. Montgomery, wa, gives no author's name; however, Mr. John Craig, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Elisha internal details have enabled him to be Hooper, Mr. Thomas Hooper, Mr. traced in the extensive genealogy Wil- Joseph Sileker, Mr. Major Hooper, Mr. liam Schurman Loyalist of Bedeque, Nathaniel Wright, Mr. Bradshaw, Mr. Prince Edward Island and his descen- John Baker (my grandfather), Mr. Lewis dants (Summerside, 1973) by Ross Baker, Mr. Peter Schurman, Isaac Courtesy of M F. Schurman Co. Ltd. Schurman, John Crossman, .David Graves. This work provides many details John Baker Schurman of the author's life and explains (p. 109) Crossman, Joshua Morrell, Ebenezer that Schurman, a schoolteacher, "was Crossman, Samuel Crossman, Mr. Wm. called 'Cummyfoe' from his frequent use Tayler, William Crossman. The above of the expression 'comme il fauf [ = as it was on the South side of the River. On should be, proper, correct], probably in the North side were Alex McDonald, response to pupils' recitations." Ronald McDonald, John Baker, Samuel Schurman's manuscript is presented Rex, Stephen Wright, Jesse Strang, Wil- with very little alteration. Because of its M was born in August 1805. My mother liam Murray, David Murray, Mr. Burns, range and sustained interest, no cuts or died Dec. 1808. I then went to live with & Mr. Thomson. Each of those farms re-arrangements have been made, ex- my grandmother (Baker) they lived on had about 10 acres of land cleared but cept that some of the sentence and para- Nelson Inman's farm near the shore full of stumps some a little more and graph breaks have been added. nearly south from Mr. Bradshaw's. They some less. If a person sowed 20 bushel of lived in a small log house containing 2 grain (of all kinds) he was thought a 18 wonder. most people thought him inocent) but when he got over his fright he forgot it As an example of our Legislature - My they inquired what would become of his again. That widow married again and grandfather Schurman was once sent to wife and small family if he were taken raised a respectable family. parliament and during his vacant hours from her. One of the Jury said "We must Mr. Bradshaw was our only preacher he was framing a barn for the Governor. maintain them and I will give her a cow & then. He used to preach in his own house One day he said to the Governor, What calf." The man was condemned. He was or barn. All denominations came to hear is the use of me being here? the Gov- imprisoned in an upper room in a public him. He was a Baptist but his singers ernor said Why? he answered you and house. A number of people gathered in were Methodist. A Mr. Bulpit (Methodist) the Atorney General write out all the Acts the same house below to petition for his used to preach sometimes generally at and we have just to pass them for we are life but while they were consulting he Mr. Bradshaws or Nathaniel Wright's. I not able to amend them. The Governor was trying to break jail and that stopped heard the old men tell that Nathaniel said It will be better soon. Well said my the proceedings and he was detected Wright, Stephen Wright, and Jesse grandfather as soon as the barn is done I and finally hanged but the juryman for- Strang were very fond of dancing and will go home and wait till it is better and got to give the cow & calf to the widow. began to build a room for a ballroom but he did go home and never went back After a time a mischievous young fellow before it was finished they all were con- again. rigged himself as much like a ghost as he verted and the room was turned into a As an example of our courts a man knew how and met the juryman after preaching room. The next preacher I was tried for a capital offence. The Jury dark and demanded the cow & calf for recollect was a Mr. Fishpool a Methodist thought he must be found guilty (though the widow. He again promised it but and generally preached at Nathaniel Wright's either in his house or barn. He was a good singer and brought several new tunes to the Island. I do not recollect the Methodist preachers in rotation as they came. There was a Mr. Thos Paine a Mr. Busby Mr. Strong Mr. Snowball Mr. Smith and several others. I think it would be sometime between 1810 & 1816. Mr. Kier (Presbyterian) came to Malpeque and he used to preach in Bedeque once in 4 weeks. The Sacrament was held in Malpeque and at those times all the horses were in use. Those that did not go would lend their horses to those that did go. There were no carriages then nor roads for a carriage to go on and I have seen a man on horseback with the baby in his arms and the mother behind him on the horse rid- ing from Bedeque to Malpeque to Sacra- ment. After a time a Mr. Nicol was settled between Lot 16 and Bedeque. He had an old sore on his leg and died in a few months. Mr. McGregor took his place and about 1824 or 1825 Mr. Patterson was settled in Bedeque. The old Pres- byterian Church was built or com- menced about 1810 or 1812. The old Methodist Chappell a few years after and the old Baptist Meeting house about 1825. I have said Mr. Bradshaw was the first Baptist preacher in Bedeque (there was not another Baptist in Bedeque then). Mr. Crawford came to Try o n about 1812 and used to preach in Bedeque some- times. He was a schoolmaster and neith- er he nor Mr. Bradshaw were Ordained. A short time after Mr. Boulter (a carpen- ter) came to Bedeque and he used to ". . . a mischievous young fellow rigged himself as much like a ghost preach sometimes. He was ordained as he knew how and met thejuiyman after dark. when he was old. Mr. Tupper, Mr. Cran- dal & Mr. Harding visited Bedeque as missionaries sometime about 1827 and 19 1828 and Mr. Tupper was settled in Be- a Mr. John Mclntyre succeeded him. He had lost a leg which was cut off above the deque & Tryon 1834. Mr. McDonald, was a clerk from Marimichi who had knee and he could not have a wooden Mr. Freeman, Mr. Dobson, Mr. JB been turned away for intemperance. He leg he used to do nearly all the work for McDonald, Mr. Chipman & Mr. Archi- was something like chips in porridge he all St. Eleanors (which was then called bald have been engaged in the same taught one year and left. A John Wright French Vilage) Tryon, Capetraverse and field since. then tried it but failed though our schol- Seven Mile bay. He used to make axes, The second School I attended I was arship did not remain high he found adzes, hoes, forks, chains and even taught by Doctor Graham. The School- some scholars better than himself. He mounting for their harness none of those house was near where Joseph Rogers was a real broad Scotchman and he things were imported in those days. He (Jonah's son) now lives and all the chil- talked so broad we could hardly under- had taught 2 of his sons to work at the dren in Bedeque attended that school. I stand him. Next came a Wm Gurth. He trade and when they got married they learned very little at that School. He had was an old Man of wars man and was each had a shop and did part of the work no faculty of teaching. I think he taught in turned away for whipping the children and when he gave up they did the whole the years 1814 & 1815. He then went to too severely. Though parents thought it of it. He used to work with a crutch under a schoolhouse which had been built near was a good sign in a teacher to whip well his arm. One of his sons used to shoe the Silekers brook (so it was then called) and in those times they found he came too horses when he had prepared the shoes Wm Dawson succeeded him and then severe on them. I did not go to his school and nails. there were 2 schools in Bedeque. Mr. much and I used to hate him though he Taylors old mill did most of the work Dawson was a seafaring man a pretty never struck me. I was getting too near done by mills in those days Mr. Taylor good Scholar and a beautiful writer. I manhood for that and he liked to pound had a grist & sawmill nearby where the think he was a good teacher but very the small children. There now began to Salmon Hatchery now is. I do not know severe. I liked his school and it did not be more schools in Bedeque in different who built it but Taylors owned it when I appear to be any trouble to learn. He places and I can follow them no further. first remember and did most of the work. taught in the year 1816 and when his My grandfather (Baker) was the first He did but every person had to have year was out he took to the sea again and blacksmith in Bedeque and though he their own sieve. Joseph Sileker had a small mill on Sileker's brook but I think it did not amount to much. It was gone before my memory. Mr. Taylor had a gristmill in Tryon on the spot where Reid's Factory now stands. I think it did a good deal of work and Mr. Green had a Gristmill near Chas Greens on that brook but the chief grinding was done at Taylor's mill and all the boards were "He was an old Man of Wars man sawed there. My grandfather built a and was turned away for whipping Sawmill on the place where Clarks Mill's the children too severely. now stand about the year 1810 or 1812 and as lumber was plenty and good that mill did a good work although it would be laughed at in these days. Mr. Nathaniel Wright built a small grist mill on the stream where Wrights mill now stand about the time I first began to think. I was able to go to mill perhaps about 1814. That mill did good work and made a good deal of money. We used to carry our grain to mill on the horses back in those times. Sometime between 1816 and 1820 Stephen Wright put up a carding mill and people flocked to that from all parts and in carding season the mill was full of wool all the time and it made a great deal of money. Again I go back as far as I can remem- ber and at that time there were but 3 frame houses in Bedeque. Elisha Hoop- er's (it is standing yet) Joseph Silekers (about 22 ft by 24) and Major Hooper's (standing yet but built over a great deal) Artemar Hooper lives in that and Lemuel Hooper lives in Elisha Hooper's. The other houses were built of logs and the cracks calked with moss or sometimes

20 with morter made of clay some few of the things. To clean the grain the barn doors were log houses were shingled but most of We had wool which our women open at each side of the barn to let the them were covered with slabs. In winter carded, spun wove and died and made wind blow through and a man stood they would cover the slabs with sea- into clothes for themselves and the men there in the wind and held up the grain weed. There were 5 or 6 frame barns and they made their own blankets & Rugs of and let it fall slowly down and the wind there was timber enough in one of these the wool. A man thought himself pretty blew away the chaff. After that it was put bams to build a bam now frame boards well dressed in a blue jacket waistcoat through a riddle still in the wind. One shingles and all. and trousers. The women could go to would shovel it into the riddle and There were no waggons then and no meeting in a homespun dress then too another could shake the riddle and roads for a waggon to go on neither were but we called them gowns at that time. would soon clean a large pile of grain. It there any horse carts. Some few had a Nevertheless nearly all would have a required some skill to know how to place sleigh or cariole as it was called in those good dress the men of Broad cloth and the doors so that the wind would draw days to ride in in winter you would laugh the women of Muslin bombazine or cali- through properly. to see that rig out now. A collar often co and I am inclined to think not a few On threshing I should have said that made of flags the harness had a ring on had silk but those dresses were kept for sometimes we would lay down as much each side and the shaft of the sleigh was particular occasions. The feet were the grain on the floor as we could conve- put through the ring and a wooden pin poorest. Boots were scarce and shoe niently do without making it too thick put through that to keep it in and by that blacking not very plenty and prunella and then bring in as many horses as we the sleigh was drawn. A few straps of boots were seldom seen and it was no could conveniently gather up say 5 or six leather Buckled with buckles which my uncommon sight to see ladies otherwise and drive them around the bamfloor as grandfather used to make to keep the well dressed with leather shoes on her fast as we could make them go stirring sleigh back and a rope for reins made up feet and they well greased. Instead of the grain with a fork all the time. In this the rig-out Some a little grander would blacking we would often use the bottom way we would soon thrash a lot of grain. have a leather covered collar and instead of a pot to black our shoes. I have said When I first remember there was a of drawing by the shafts had iron traces. our farm work was done with oxen I do road from Coles warf up to Taylors Mill A good rug or quilt answered first rate for not know how to describe the plough - it and a bridge over Wright's Creek and a buffaloe robe. Our farm work was all had one handle a straight beam a piece another just below Taylor's mill where done with oxen horses being only used about a foot long at the bottom called a the bridge is now and that road went on for driving shoe and a piece about 4 inches wide to Malpeque. There was also a road from At that time there were 2 or 3 ox carts mortised into the shoe and into the St. Eleanors past Traveller's Rest and in Bedeque and they were borrowed to beam. The handle also was mortised into New Annan and on to Malpeque and I draw out manure and were often ferried the shoe and the end of the beam went think to Charlottetown. There was also a across the river in a flat. You must not into the handle. A mouldboard com- road from (what we called Wm Murrays think we were poor or discontented in pleted the woodwork. All the iron about shore - where James Stavert now lives those times more then now. In the first it was the Share and coulter and a small to Clarks Mills and on to New Annan as it place firewood was no object we had bolt through the handle and up through is now called but there was not a house plenty at our doors, we could raise plenty the beam. The share and coulter were there then. There was also a road from of potatoes wheat and meat and make generally locked at the point to keep it the same place to Wilmot Creek Bridge our own butter. The marshes on Dunk from running under the roots. The har- and from the other side of the river to River and Wrights Creek produced plen- rows were of a triangular form and many Travellers rest. There was one house ty of hay for the population. We could go of them had wooden teeth but the wood there then a man called Captain or Wm into the woods and make timber to buy began to give way to iron before my Baker lived there. all our store goods and we could catch time. The same device would do for both There was I think 2 roads opened from our own fish. Herrings were sometimes plough and harrow. When a person died Bedeque to Charlottetown one through caught to manure the land. Fresh trout he or she was laid out in a shroud and Tryon and the other called the Malpeque could be caught almost anytime. Salmon placed in a plain coffin painted black road but what way it went I am not pre- were plenty in their season and smelts without any covering or mounting. At pared to say. I know it passed through were often caught to feed pigs or manure the funeral nearly everybody men New Annan and that is all I can say about the land. Oysters could be had for pick- women and children would be there and it. I have heard the old men tell of walk- ing 2 men could load a good sized boat we would have a table set in some public ing around shore to Charlottetown in at one tide with prime oysters. We had place and everyone could go and help winter on snowshoes and of old Mr plenty of strawberries, raspberries, goos- themselves as much as they wanted to Robins and 2 other men starting on that berries, cramberries and several other eat and rum would be plenty too and way to go to Charlottetown but before kinds of fruit in their season without some would go home quite boosy. they reached Cape traverse Mr Robins going far from the door of any house. We cut our grain with a sickle or reap- being an old man gave out and they And nearly all made maple sugar for ing hook as some called it but that gave turned back and helped him along as themselves. We raised flax and our place to the cradle and before I was able well as they could till they reached women spun and wove it into linen and to use them cradles were quite plenty. Seecow head and nearly done them- made it into shirts, pants or trouser as we Still I have cut many stocks of grain with selves. They were compelled to leave called them. There was also a kind of the sickle. We threshed with 2 sticks tied him and hasten to Bedeque where they . frock as we called them which answered together and called a flail. I never saw a got a horse and some other men and for a coat and vest in summer to work in. Mowing Machine or a Threshing went after him but when they came to They also made the linen into towels Machine till I was over 40 years of age. him he was dead. The roads I have tablecloths sheets and many other The hay was all cut with the scythe. spoken of were only what we might call 21 bridle paths. Sleighs might be driven traveled. Brown. He was thought to be a good along some of them but a wagon or cart But when Hon Joseph Pope got into tradesman but very slow and indolent, could not be got along them at all. the Parliament he also got to be Road George Tanton soon came and went I was quite a boy when Dunk River Commissioner & he had a percentage into partnership with him and the log Bridge was commenced (I would say it on all the money he laid out and then we houses began to give place to nice frame was 1813 or 1814 perhaps as late as soon had good roads and the people houses. They had plenty of work but 1816). The work was all done by Statute used to praise him for their roads not Brown soon got in debt and ran away Labour. All the ablebodied men in Bede- thinking that he was drawing water to his and Tanton had all to do. Some young que and Wilmot Creek and I believe own mill. men came from England and Tanton some from Tryon & Seven Mile Bay met In speaking of funerals I should have employed them as journeymen. Ben- there. Some cut logs, some drew them said there were several deaths before we jamin Boulter soon came from England out. Some rafted them to the place and had any stated place to bury them. he was a good workman and did some of some laid them up and the first years Joseph Sileker's Father and mother & 2 the work. Others soon came and some labour made the bridge so that we could or 3 others were buried on the old Sileker learned the trade and we soon had plen- walk over it and I believe lead a horse farm near the Shore. Old Mr Robbins his ty of carpenters. over it but it was a long time before it was son and I think his grandson were buried We had not much need of masons our safe to ride over it. It was some 5 or six in the old Cole farm East of Alex. Hoop- chimnies were built of stone as high as years later when Wilmot Creek Bridge er's. Old Mr. Lefurgey & child in his own the mantle and the mantle was of wood was commenced and it was a long time in field. But after a time the Methodist and above that we built with morter building. Several years we used to walk burying ground was laid out and all de- made of the clay which came out of the across it on Stringers or logs of square nominations buried there. A boy of Old cellar mixed with a little straw and sticks lumber laid from one abutman to the Wm Murray was the first to be laid there. laid on at all four sides to keep it together. other although I think there was Govern- I think about 1812 the old Presby- We used to roll the clay in rolls of about 6 ment money on that from the first. terian Church was begun and a burying or 7 pound weight called cats and they Alex Campbell lived on the farm and ground laid off and Presbyterians buried would be thrown from one to another till in the house now owned by Hon Alex. there a Mr James Burns (killed by a tree they came to the top. The last man would Laird and he was a Member of Parlia- falling on him) was the first. The Baptist lay a row of cats round the chimney and ment and took a great interest in the meeting house was begun about the then lay on a stick all round and then bridge and I think he would get money to year 1824 or 1825 and the Baptist build on again. But when we began to help build it. In Summerside there was buried there. Joseph Baker a boy about build better houses we had to get a man but one house old Mr Greens. George 10 or 11 years old (drowned) was the that understood laying stone and brick. Green lived where John Green lives now first. Mr. Buskirk was the first mason I recol- and Wm Spencer lived on the farms We used to do our own carpenter lect. He lived in Rustico but came to where Jesse Green and Spencer's sons work the little old log houses did not Bedeque to work. (A mason a bricklayer now live but they had no road to get to require much of that work and some- & a plaster was all one trade then.) A Mr their places except climbing fences and times a man a little handier with tools Crossman used to make a few brick in crossing fields or going along shore and than the rest would be employed for a Bedeque at that time - a Mr Alchom in in fact the limbs of trees would meet over few days. The first carpenter (a trades- Westriver made more and not a few ones head on nearly every road we man) I recollect of seeing was George were imported from England. We used to kill our cattle tan the hides and make our own shoes. Some who could make neater shoes than others would come to the houses and make shoes for us and we would go and work

&&€*#*£*. Grtrr^i,* *T /00 *2f* for them again, we called it changing work. I think David Noonan was the first shoemaker I recollect of seeing. He came from Ireland and hired with my Grand- father and when he had no shoemaking to do he would go into the woods and help make timber and in this way he soon made a considerable money bought a farm built a house and got a wife and then quit Shoemaking and turned to farming but several shoe- makers came along and stayed a short time. They went about from house to house and did our work and left the Is- land. In this way we went on till Ephraim Reid started a tannery some time be- tween the years 1832 & 1840. He car- Courtesy of Public Archives of P.E.I. ried on shoemaking & harness making & Map of Lot 26 around Dunk River, circa 1810. we soon had boots in abundance. Ben- jamin Darby started tanning & boot-

22 making soon after. would have theirs and we would work all woods one of the horses started and the I have already said that our women day and dance all night. old lady fell off and the bear came run- made our clothes of our own wool but But the chief frolick and one we all ning at her but a little dog which chanced when we had a fine coat to make we had liked best was the fulling frolick and as to be following her ran up and bit the some tayloresses that could make a some may not know much about them I bear's hind legs. The bear turned and pretty good job and some took their fine will describe them a little more particular- chased the dog which ran away and as clothes to Charlottetown to be made. ly. First a bench was made about high soon as the bear would turn the dog The first Taylor I recollect of seeing enough to be as high as our hips. On this would bite him again and in this way kept was John Graham. I think he had run bench the cloth was laid carried round till the bear away till the woman again got away from his master and came to Bede- it was about 3 times round the bench on her horse and got out of his way. que and tried to work but spoiled nearly being about 8 or 10 feet long according My father & mother were going all the work he attempted to do. He left to quanity of cloth. The cloth was wrung through a wood carrying a baby and Bedeque and went to Charlottetown out of warm water and laid on the bench being a little uneasy my father picked up and worked journeyman for a while and and then covered with soap and then a a handspike along the road that he might then started a shop and hired a journey- gang of 10 or 12 would get round the be armed if he saw bruin. He had carried man but if he learned his trade better he bench 5 or 6 on a side and push the cloth it but a short distance before they saw a learned to use strong drink too and soon back and forward till it was done. After it large bear coming toward them and failed and came back to Bedeque again was done the bench was cleared away growling. My father faced him and kept and worked from house to house. He and we danced till near daylight and then the stick pointed at him but did not ofer was a good taylor then and I have heard went home with our girls in the morning. to strike. He kept walking around him for him say that he learned more from one of Nearly every family would have a fulling some time and then went and set down his own journeymen name Tamlon than frolick every autumn and we used to by the side of the road. They then started he ever did from any master. look forward to them - we would expect to run and the bear came running after A man named Campbell and another a good tea and about 12 or 1 oclock we them my father turned again and faced Whelan came to Bedeque about the would have a goose supper and as much him as before and the bear again walked same time and they all went about to the as 2 gallons of rum and we generally had round him for a long time till my mother houses and did the people's work at a good time. While we were fulling a who was holding the baby picked up a home. song was always going on. handful of brush and began to strike it on We had no concerts Temperance 2 gangs were always in attendance the ground and say something when the Meetings Tea meetings or anything of and each gang worked half an hour and bear looked at her and walked away the kind; but we had plenty of chopping if there was no timepiece we would mark again and sat down beside the road. My frolics rolling frolics ploughing frolics the candle and each gang work till our father then walked backward keeping his Mowing frolics reaping frolics Raising piece of candle was burned. eyes on the bear till he got out of sight frolics and many others for the men and A few words about wild animals and I and then they hastened on to the house. the women would have Carding frolics am done. He got some more men & guns and spinning frolics sewing frolics quilting I heard the old men tell of 2 old ladies returned but could not find the bear. frolics and others and the women would riding on horses back from Rustico to have a frolic the same day that the men Charlottetown. A bear came out of the The manuscript breaks off here.

. the old lady fell off and the bear came running at her but a little dog which chanced to be following her ran up and bit the bears hind legs."

23