424 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



Moïse who died in Rogersville in 1893, aged 96 years. The united 

 ages of these four people, father, mother, son and grandson, reach the 

 extraordinary sum total of 404 years. 1 



At the time of the Revolutionary War the Acadians of the Saint 

 John and those on the River Kennebecasis were ministered to by the 

 Abbé Joseph Mathurin Bourg, the first native born priest in Acadia. 

 The loyalty of the Acadians to England and the peaceful attitude of 

 the Indians was due in no small measure to his efforts. 



After the cessation of hostilities the implacable animosity of the 

 Americans to those of their countrymen who had served on the side 

 of the king caused the commanding officers of fourteen Loyalist 

 regiments to unite in requesting that grants of lands be made to them 

 in some of his Majesty's remaining provinces, and that they should 

 be assisted in making settlements in order that they and their children 

 might continue to live under British Institutions. The regiments 

 were sent by Sir Guy Carleton, late in 1783, to be disbanded on the 

 River Saint John and Governor Parr was instructed to provide for 

 their settlement. 



The circumstances attending their arrival are detailed in the 

 following letter of Major Prévost, the deputy Inspector of Provincial 

 Forces, who was sent to superintend the disbandment. 2 



St. Johns River 29th Sep'r 1783. 



My dear Sir, — -We arrived here the 26th the transports Martha and Esther 

 excepted. Gen'l Fox and Col. Winslow were just set out for their expedition 

 up the River. They are expected back in a few days. I need not tell you how 

 much I wish to see the latter. 



It is impossible to describe to you the confusion we are in at this place for 

 want of crafts sufficient to transport the troops to their destination. I hope 

 Gen'l Fox will exert his authority to relieve them from the distress they labour 

 under otherwise it is impossible to say what will become of one half of them 

 when once they are disbanded. 



I am preparing to set out in a small craft, which I have hired at my risks, 

 with 120 B' Is. of Provisions for the place where the grand Depot is to be made, 

 and where I dare say the whole will winter, called St. Ann in Sunbury Parrish 3 

 90 miles distant; but this I will not do before the General's arrival and that my 

 exertions are no longer wanted at this place — and by the 20th of next month 

 hope to return so as to take my passage on board of the same transport that 

 brought me here 



1 I am indebted to Placide P. Gaudet Ottawa for this interesting bit of informa- 

 tion.— W. O. R. 



2 This letter has never before been printed. 



3 Should be Sunbury township: there were no "parishes" until after the organi- 

 zation of the Province of New Brunswick. 



