Charles N. Skinner Records

MC300-MS9 York-Sunbury Historical Society Collection
Description (page 124)

If you are interested in any of these files then please contact the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick.

“Charles N. Skinner was born March 12, 1833, at Saint John–the son of Samuel Skinner and Phoebe Sherwood Golding. He was educated in Saint John public schools, studied law, and was admitted to the New Brunswick Bar in 1858. He settled and practiced law in Saint John. In 1865, he married Eliza Jane McLaughlin.

Skinner was elected to the House of Assembly as a Liberal member for Saint John in the General Election of June, 1861. He was defeated in the election of 1865; reelected in 1866 and at a by-election in 1867. He resigned his seat in March, 1868, after being made a Judge of Probate for Saint John. In August, 1867, he was sworn in as a member of the Executive Council and made Solicitor General for the province. He retained this position until he resigned in March, 1868. Skinner was elected to the House of Commons in the General Election of 1887, and was re-elected in March 1891.

In 1892, he was again appointed Judge of Probate for Saint John, and resigned upon becoming Recorder for the City of Saint John in 1894.  Skinner died September 22, 1919, at Saint John, and was survived by his wife and seven children.  The Skinner records date from 1875 to 1891, and are composed of correspondence that relate to both business and official matters. This series measures 1 centimeter.”

1 Correspondence, 1875.

2 Correspondence, 1876.

3 Correspondence, 1877.

4 Correspondence, 1878.

5 Correspondence, 1879, 1882, 1891.

6 Correspondence, undated.

Stephen Glasier Papers

MC300-MS8 York-Sunbury Historical Society Collection
Description (page 123)

If you are interested in any of these files then please contact the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick.

“Stephen Glasier was the son of Lieutenant Benjamin Glasier and Mary (nee Baskey), Loyalists who came to New Brunswick in 1782 and settled at Lincoln in Sunbury County.  Stephen and his brothers, John and Duncan, were instrumental in establishing the lumbering business on the St. John River.  Stephen Glasier died on May 2, 1861, and is buried in the family cemetery in Sunbury County.

Additional Glasier documents are in MC30 and MC38.  This series contains only four items but they all refer to the development of the lumber trade on the River.”

1 Certificate for the erection of a boom at the Shore Ferry signed by Stephen Glasier as agent for the Fredericton Boom Company; 1844.

2 Accounts of Stephen Glasier, Commissioner for improving River Navigation, for the Bear Island Bar Improvement; 1861.

3 Documents relating to the construction of the Grand Falls Bridge; 1855, 1860.

4 Benjamin Glasier, early settler of Central New Brunswick; by Lillian M. Maxwell, LL. D.

W.H. Street and J.A.S. Street Records

MC300-MS7 York-Sunbury Historical Society Collection
Description (page 121)

If you are interested in any of these files then please contact the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick.

“The documents in this series were kept by two brothers, William Henry Street and John Ambrose Sherman Street, who were born in Burton, Sunbury County, the sons of Hon. Samuel Deny Street and Abigail Freeman.  They were educated at public schools in Burton and Fredericton.

William Henry Street was born April 11, 1793.  After completing his education, he engaged in the mercantile business in Saint John.  He was twice mayor of Saint John (1835-1836 and 1848-1849) and served in the militia.  In the General Election of 1842, he ran for Saint John City and, after protest, was awarded the seat.  He sat until the dissolution of the House in 1846 when he retired from politics.  W.H. Street was married twice: in 1824 to Mary Bruce, and in 1847 to Sarah Boyd Orr.  He died in Saint John on April 4, 1875.

John Ambrose Sherman Street was born September 22, 1795.  He studied in his father’s law office and was admitted to the New Brunswick Bar on February 22, 1817.  He practiced law at Chatham, Northumberland County, and in 1823 married Jane Isabella Hubbard.  He was elected to the Assembly as a Conservative member for Northumberland County at a by-election in 1833.  He sat in the House almost continuously until his defeat in 1856.  He then moved to Fredericton and unsuccessfully ran for York County in 1861 and 1865.  He was made a member of the Executive Council in 1851, and served as Attorney-General until 1854.  He died in 1865.

The Street Records pertain to the legal and business affairs of the brothers.  The material is catalogued alphabetically according to client’s name.  The types of documents found here include: indentures, deeds, declarations, bonds, assignments, correspondence, and leases.  The material dates from 1812 to 1863.  This series measures 9 centimeters.”

1 Bedell, George A.; Woodstock, 1855-1862.

2 Betts, David and Levi; Newcastle, 1831.

3 Bowman, William, and Daniel Campbell; Liverpool England, 1845.

4 Chisholm, Patrick; Northesk, 1828.

5 Clarke, Alexander; Nelson Parish, 1828-1831.

6 Clarke, Richard Samuel, High Sheriff, for land of William Matchett to Oliver Stringer; James Vye to John, Alexander and James Fraser; Charles McDonald and Ronald Davidson to James McDonald and William Ravinscroft.  Dennis Cochran, Samuel Porter to James D. Berton; William and Elizabeth Murray; and Thomas and Alexandra Wilson; Northumberland County, 1825-1832.

7 Crookshank, Robert W.; Saint John, 1826-1852.

8 Cunard, Henry; Newcastle, 1836.

9 Davidson, Allan, William, John and Phineas; Newcastle Parish, 1824-1847.

10 Hooper, Nehemiah Story; St. Mary’s Parish, 1851-1857.

11 Jardine, Alexander, Robert Jardine and Barnabas Tilton; Saint John City, 1849.

12 Johnson, John M, High Sheriff, for lands of Patrick Flannigan, and Alexander Clarke; Northumberland County, 1841.

13 Kerr, George, of Newcastle, for lands of John Kerr, John Mayes, and Jane Matthew to John Walker; Jeremiah Newman; Alexander Fraser Jr., George McGuigor, and Joseph Saunders; Andrew and James Grant; William Henry Moore; Northumberland County, 1828-1843.

14 Kirk, James; Saint John City, 1847.

15 Matthew, George; Saint John City, 1812-1850.

16 Mersereau, Jacob; Blackville Parish, 1831-1837.

17 Miller, Edward, High Sheriff, and William Grigor for lands of George A. Munro; York County, 1843.

18 Mitchell, Peter and Barbara, and William and Isabella Masson; Newcastle, 1828.

19 Moore, William Henry, and Patrick Keho and Alexander Fraser Jr.; Parish of Chatham, 1824-1826.

20 McDermott, John; Blackville Parish, 1842.

21 McKay, Donald and Zilpah; 1825.

22 McLaggan, Alexander; Blackville, 1850-1862.

23 New Brunswick and Nova Scotia Land Company for lands of George Barrett; Stanley, 1847.

24 Rankin, Alexander, (William Bedell, W.H. Shore, Francis Ferguson, George and John Monroe); Miramichi, 1833-1855.

25 Spencer, John; Ludlow, 1841.

26 Spahn, Justin; 1856.

27 Small, Otis; Saint John, 1845.

28 Street, Louisa Isabella; William Woodbridge Street; Rev. Charles Frederic Street; John Ambrose Street; and George D. Street; Newcastle, 1845.

29 Sutter, Byron, John Connelly, Allan Lyons, and Alexander Davidson; Miramichi, 1839.

30 Walker, John, James Robertson and Mary Green; Saint John, 1840.

31 Worrall, George William; Saint John, 1847.

32 Young, James, Alexander McLean, Alexander McLaggan, and Neil McLean; Nashwaak, 1852.

33 Miscellaneous items; 1847-1863. 

A Ship Named “Wanata”

If you think you can help us please leave your comments here.  If you have any research queries that you would like posted here, let me know by filling out the form found on our website.

Question:  “I am writing to seek any assistance you may be able to give me regarding an old ship “Wanata”.

In October 1852 my great great grand parents … sailed from England to Australia on the Wanata.  I would like to get a picture of the Wanata if possible.  There are no images to be found here in Australia.  I wrote to Greenwhich Museum UK but they have no images either.  I found on the internet that the Wanata was constructed in New Brunswick, so, although it is a long shot, I thought I should also try with you, in case you have images or information in your archives. 

It was amazing the way these little ships sailed all around the world.  It says a lot about the design & construction and the skill & knowledge of the sailors.  I thank you for your attention.  Regards.”

Rising from the Ashes: The Fires at St. Mary’s Ferry

Like the Phoenix, St. Mary’s Ferry had several times arisen from the ashes of devastating fires. The threat of fire was common to any 19th-century community, especially ones which were compactly settled and primarily populated by wooden structures. St. Mary’s Ferry, a small but thriving village located west of Gibson (South Devon), provides an ideal setting in which to study the response of a community, both as a collective and as individuals, to disaster. No community is truly an island, and fire fighting efforts often required the cooperation not only of all community members but the assistance of volunteers from neighbouring communities. This exhibit will trace the recovery and renewal process in the wake of the 1882 and 1893 fires, both of which dramatically changed the complexion of St. Mary’s Ferry, in addition to a number of small scale, localized fires. The response to the St. Mary’s Ferry fires reveals the tenacity of individuals, an indomitable community spirit and the strong connection between communities in times of crisis.

St. Mary’s Ferry steadily developed in the decades after the middle of the nineteenth century. Settlement had initially clustered along the two main arteries of the village, Douglas (Union) Street and St. Mary’s Street. Douglas Street, known as the highway road, cut across the village and provided access to neighbouring communities. Small businesses, residential dwellings and major manufacturing plants lined this important thoroughfare. St. Mary’s Street, beginning at the River and extending north across Douglas (Union) Street, funnelled traffic from the Ferry Landing. St. Mary’s Street, alternately known as Main Street, encompassed the commercial district of the village and housed the local post office, drug store, various grocery and dry goods stores, hotels and liquor dealers. These two pivotal streets witnessed terrible devastation in two separate fires in the late nineteenth century.

In 1882, the north side of Douglas Street was consumed by a swift moving blaze, which within two hours had destroyed thirteen buildings. This first significant fire prompted the organization of the St. Mary’s Fire Brigade and witnessed the erection of the first brick constructed building in the village. A decade later, the most devastating fire in St. Mary’s history tore through the heart of the village, levelling nearly every structure on St. Mary’s Street before spreading to Jaffrey Street. In all, more than 25 buildings burned to the ground. While virtually every building had been replaced after the 1882 fire, the recovery process after the 1893 fire was neither as swift nor as complete as that of the earlier conflagration. These two fires present a unique opportunity to explore both the history of fire fighting and the choices available to and made by individuals and business owners in the aftermath of disaster.

Koral LaVorgna graduate student, historical consultant and researcher has volunteered with and worked for the York Sunbury Historical Society on numerous projects. She has been an editor for the Officers’ Quarters, has organized and implemented some of the Museum’s most popular childrens programs, she has assisted the York Sunbury Museum with several research projects and most recently she has put together this excellent exhibit (opening November 24th, 2009)! Thanks Koral!

This exhibit was mades possible by the City of Fredericton 2009 Arts, Culture & Heritage Funding Program.