GNB
Provincial Archives of New Brunswick

Pioneers, Ploughs, and Politics: New Brunswick Planned Settlements

home Home |  home Introduction | Stanley | Johnville | Kincardine | New Denmark | Allardville

pdf Bibliography

Jump to 
Previous Next
Grievances The English Settlers Take Further Action

The English Settlers' Demands
The English settlers saw this as a further breach of the company's agreement and took action. In late July 1837, they petitioned the company directors, setting out their grievances and demanding that construction on the Campbell Town Road and the road between Stanley and Woodstock recommence. The dispute eventually fell into the hands of Lieutenant-Governor Sir John Harvey, who, in turn, passed it to the Colonial Office, where it met with little sympathy from British officials. The Colonial Office left the problem for the settlers and the company to resolve.
Dissatisfied with this approach, 20 English settlers, led by James Allan, petitioned the New Brunswick House of Assembly, in January 1838, setting out the details of their dispute with the land company and requesting redress of their grievances. In addition to their previously stated complaints, the settlers were concerned that Dr. James B. Toldervy, the physician hired by the land company for their benefit, had left the settlement in August 1837 and no replacement had been appointed.
The settlers' petition was referred to a select committee of the House, which had been appointed 10 days earlier to investigate grievances set out in a petition initiated by the Scottish settlers. Although the Scots, following a protracted and unpleasant dispute, received financial compensation from the government in partial answer to their petition, the English emigrants' concerns initially were left unaddressed.


4.11.1