New Brunswick Historical Tidbits
by Mitch Biggar#1 A New ProvinceBy the end of 1783 the total population of the settlements at the mouth of the St. John River was five thousand. The west side of the harbor the settlers named Carleton after Sir Guy Carleton. The town on the east side they named Parrtown after the governor. These new settlers soon found it was very inconvenient to be so far from the seat of government at Halifax. Pleas were made to the King to divide the province of Nova Scotia into two parts. Soon the King declared that on the 24 th of June, 1784 the Province of New Brunswick would exist. New Brunswick was named after the ruling house at the time which was Brunswick.
The first governor of the province of New Brunswick was Colonel Thomas Carleton the brother of Sir Guy Carleton. On November 22 ND Carleton took the oath of office and administered the oath to the members of His Majesty's Council for New Brunswick.
The first Council included George Duncan Ludlow, Gabriel Ludlow, Issac Allen, William Hazen, Jonathan Odell, Beverley Robinson, Edward Winslow, Daniel Bliss, Joshua, and Major Gilfred Studholme.
On May 18 th, 1785 the City of Saint John received the Royal Charter and became the first incorporated city in British America. The first House of Assembly was elected by the people in November of 1785. The first session of the House was held in Saint John at the Mallard House on King Street on January 3 rd, 1786.
background by Cleadie / man with quill graphic by J. O'Donovan
Page mounted: 11 Sep 1999
Updated:Sunday, 01-Apr-2007 09:57:37 MDT
