Reminisces of Saint John .. In the autumn of 1784, about one year after the landing of the loyalists in the month of October, 1783, the first of a series of great conflagrations with which our city had been from time to time been visited took place .. A gentleman who had obtained a lot some where in the neighbourhood of the ground on which the Wesleyan Centenary Church now stands, had cut the trees, piled them and the brush into heaps in the usual manner for burning.. About an hour of noon, the wind suddenly rose to a smart gale and commenced to spread flames with such a fearful rapidity beyond his premises as to convince him that unless timely aid could be obtained to arrest their progress, the consequences would be most disastrous, and so they eventually proved to be .. His call was met by a hearty response from every man who could handle an axe, pick or shovel. Armed with these implements, a large party was formed, amongst whom I remember the names of David HATFIELD, Stephen KENT, Stephen HUMBERT, Thatcher SEARS, Capt. John FORD, Mr. CARPENTER and Mr. BONSALL and many others belonging to Upper Cove, with John CLARKE and Mr. SMITH and others belonging to Lower Cove. The latter party did not arrive until late in the day and when hopes of staying the progress of the fire had been abandoned.. thence onward for several miles until the flames had lapped the waters of the Kennebecasis and had destroyed in their course almost every vestige of inflammable material, with the exception of one house. That house, or shanty, was owned and occupied by Capt. John FORD and Stephen KENT and stood on the lot in Elliot Row whereon now stands the premises occupied by Mrs. WADDINGTON. It was not saved by water, but by deep trenches which were dug around it. .. For some weeks previous to the fire, a party had been cutting and preparing timber on King Square for the erection of a church on the S.W. corner of the old burial ground. Rev. BEARDSLEY who came here as a chaplain of the forces, was frequently to be seen with his coat off and broad axe in hand, working away on the frame. The fire destroyed the timber and the project was abandoned. Shortly after this event, a large number of loyalists who had drawn lots in the city and on which they had built log houses, now destroyed, moved into the country and took farms, some to Little River, others to the Long Reach, Belleisle Bay and the Kennebecasis. Many of the old 42nd Highlanders who came here with the Loyalists, had drawn lots on the line of Union St. running eastwardly from Golden Ball and had erected houses thereon. The fire destroyed them all. They resolved to stick together and hew out a home for themselves and little ones in some other part of the province. Those homes were eventually established on the Nashwaak (York Co.) (see original)