44 FRANCIS PKABODY. 



that was the so-called Founder of (Chatham. He was evidently 

 born in New England and not on the 8t. John River, as Mr. 

 Innis's letter says,as he would be about two years of age when his 

 father. Capt. Peabody, came to St. John in 1762. However, I will 

 give you the letter of Mr Innis as I have it. It was found among 

 the papers of the late Lieut. Governor J. B. Snowball, and was 

 evidently an answer to one asking for information. 



Lower Newcastle, Oct. 1st, 1898 



Dkar Sir : Your favor of the 35th came to hand. In reply to 

 your enquiry concerning the late Francis Peabody . 



He was born on the St. John River at a place called Maugerville. 



His father, Gapt. Francis Peabody, who was a native of the 

 United States, came on the St. John River A. D. 1763. 



When the late Mr. Peabody came to manhood, he went to 

 Halifax, loaded a schooner with wet and dry goods, and came to 

 Miramichi as early as 1800. 



He did business on board of the vessel, supplying the people 

 with everything they required, and took in return salmon, shad 

 and ale wives and disposing of the fish at Halifax and the United 

 States 



This trading business he prosecuted for four years, then settled 

 himself down at the Spruce, so called at that time. This tree 

 grew on the bank where D. & J. Ritchie built their store. 



Mr. Peabody afterwards called the place Chatham in honor of 

 Lord Chatham, who was at that time a member of the British 

 Ministry. 



The only persons who were living here at the time were Peter 

 and George Henderson, Peter Brown and Thomas Lobban ; after 

 came a man named O'Shahansy. 



On account of Mr. Peabody 's honesty and sobriety he had the 

 good- will of the people and was called the Cheap Merchant. He 

 built five vessels, the "Miramichi", "Lydia", "London", "Sir 

 Howard Douglas", the fifth I do not remember the name. He 

 also built a small sawmill on Sables River The "London" was 

 launched on the 26th day of August, 1816. 



Several years before his death in 1841 he gave up doing business. 



I have given you all the particulars about Mr . Peabody with 

 the exception of letting you know, that one Conrad of Halifax 



