42 FRANCIS PEABODY. 



river in Nova Scotia, for which puri)ose they sent one of their 

 number to Halifax who obtained an order for survey for laying 

 out a township, in mile squares on any part of St. John's river. 

 This township, called Maugerville, was laid out in the year 1762," 

 &c. Among the retired officers that became interested in this 

 settlement at Maugerville was one Capt. Francis Peabody who 

 had served with distinction in the then late war and is mentioned 

 in Parkman's "Wolfe and Montcalm." He came first to St. John, 

 and remained there till some difiicnlties were settled about their 

 property at v,'hat is now Maugerville, on the St. John river, near 

 Fredericton, and this settlement was first called the Township of 

 Peabody in his honor, as he seemed to be the leader in the little 

 company that had acquii'ed these lands from the Government at 

 Halifax. He moved from St. John to Maugerville between the 

 years 1763--4. He came w^th his family from Massachusetts. 

 This family consisted of the following : Samuel, Stephen, Fran- 

 cis, Oliver, Elizabeth, Hannah, Heprabeth. This Capt. Peabody 

 continued living at this settlement, which is now called Mauger- 

 ville, for nine or ten years. He made his will in 1771, as follows : 



'In the name of God. Amen. I Francis Peabody, of Mauger- 

 ville, in the County of Sunbury and Province of Nova Scotia, 

 being through the abundant goodness of God, though weak in 

 body, yet of a sound and perfect understanding and memory, do 

 constitute this my last will and testament and desire it may be 

 received by all as such. 



"First, I most humbly bequeath my soul to God my Maker, 

 beseeching his most gracious acceptance of it, through the all- 

 sufficient merits of my Redeemer Jesus Christ. 



"I give my body to the earth, from whence it was taken, in full 

 assurance of its resurrection from thence at the last day. 



"As for my burial I desire it may be decent, at the discretion of 

 my dear wife and executors hereinafter named 



"As to my worldly estate I will, and positively order, that all 

 my just debts be paid first. I give my dear and loving wife one- 

 third part of all my estate in Nova Scotia, real and personal 

 (excepting my wearing apparel), and one-third part of my land 

 in Middleton and Rowley and Canada, the use of two hundred 

 dollars now in New England, during her natural life, and the 

 principal if necessity calls for it. 



