418 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



In July, 1784, Colonel Carleton was selected as first Governor 

 of New Brunswick. His commission is dated the 16th of August, 

 1784. He was not apparently very anxious to undertake the duties 

 of governor of the new province and at first declined the office. After- 

 wards he accepted it on the understanding that he was to be transferred 

 to Quebec the next year. 1 



On his arrival at Saint John (then called Parr Town) on November 

 21, 1784, he was very enthusiastically welcomed by the inhabitants. 

 They presented him with an address in which he is referred to as the 

 brother of their illustrious friend and patron Sir Guy Carleton; they 

 also mention his services as colonel of the 29th regiment during the 

 late rebellion. The governor replied in modest terms. 



Carleton at once set to work to organize the province. He was 

 fortunate in having the help of a very able Council, which included 

 such men as George Duncan Ludlow, James Putnam, Gabriel Ludlow, 

 Isaac Allen, Joshua Upham, Edward Winslow, Daniel Bliss, William 

 Hazen, Jonathan Odell and Gilfred Studholme. Equally important 

 were the services of Ward Chipman the Solicitor-general and of 

 George Sproul the Surveyor-general. Sainte Anne's Point was selected 

 as the site of the seat of government and called Fredericton. The 

 province was divided into counties and parishes. Magistrates, sheriffs 

 and other officers were appointed and on May 18, 1785, Saint John 

 was incorporated, with all the civic machinery requisite for the 

 administration of its affairs. It is in consequence, by a good many 

 years, the oldest incorporated city in Canada. 



One of the first things to claim the serious attention of Carleton 

 and his Council was the necessity of getting the Loyalists settled upon 

 their lands. Lands had been, in a general way, allotted them by the 

 Government of Nova Scotia, but in most cases the tracts remained 

 unsurveyed and the grants had not been issued. The matter was now 

 taken in hand with energy and the minutes of the proceedings of the 

 governor in council show that careful consideration was given the vari- 

 ous memorials submitted by those who desired lands. Grants were 

 issued not only to loyalists but to "old inhabitants" and their sons 



1 See Winslow Papers, pp. 214, 221. Lord Sidney on April 19, 1786, announced 

 the appointment of Sir Guy Carleton as Governor-General, with head-quarters 

 at Quebec, and the position of Lieutenant-Governor of Quebec was offered to Thomas 

 Carleton. But Lord Sidney added in his letter that the King believed that he 

 would be of essential service if he were content to remain in New Brunswick, and 

 Carleton at once consented to do so. Three years Liter there was again a vacancy 

 in the Lieutenant-Governorship at Quebec, which the Secretary of State', lord 

 Grenville, slated the King had postponed filling until Carleton's wishes should lie 

 ascertained. Grenville said that the reasons for his remaining in New Brunswick 

 still existed, and Carleton did nol hesitate again to express acquiescence in bis 

 Majesty's desire. 



