SCRAPS Om LOCAL HISTCRY. 35 



Directly across the street from the stationery store, on the bank 

 of the river, stood the spruce tree to which Francis Peabody, the 

 founder of Chatham, tied his vessel on his first arrival. Mention 

 of this is made in our last Bulletin. On the wall of the 'Gleaner"' 

 office can he seen in the plate an old handbill advertising a play by 

 an amateur dramatic company of that time. All the actors, with- 

 out exception, are now on another stage — "Mors nemine parcit. " 

 One entrance to the semi-circular driveway to the Cunard resi- 

 dence, now Bowser Hoase, can ba seen on the plate, just beside the 

 stationery store, while the other is about forty yards further up 

 Water street and comes out between a similarly hip-roofed por- 

 ter's lodge, now used as a sample room, and a magnificent elm 

 tree, nine feet seven inches in circumference four feet from the 

 ground, which was planted by the late Andrew Duncan on ihe 

 day (<^ueen Victoria was crowned, June 28th, 1838. and which is 

 now one of the largest ( nd handsomest shade trees in Chatham. 

 Right opposite to this tree on the bank of the river was built the 

 bark Mollilamo in 1875, by the late Alex. Morrison. She was the 

 last large wooden sailing ship built in Chatliam, except one, the 

 ' Clandeboye," built by Wsi.'^Muirhead in the shipyard behind 

 the Peabody house. The accompanying plate shows the Mollilamo 

 being launched. 



The Miramichi Natural History Association is starting an album 

 of the celebrities of the past, and has at present pictures of : 

 Francis Peabody, founder of Chatham, 18U0 — 41 

 Dr. Alex. Key, Chatham, 1816—51 



Dr. Stafford Benson 1832—70 



Dr. John Thompson 1832—84 



Dr. J. Vondy. who volunteered to attend the 

 ship fever patients on Middle Island, and fell a 

 victim to the disease and died July 2nd, 184rr.^ /^ 

 George Kerr, Cunard's Solicito •, — 1871 



The following are notes written from interviews with some of 

 the oldest inhabitants : 



The Custom House was first in Chatha.m, as described by Wm. 

 Wyse; then at Biishville for the two towns, 



Newcastle and Chatham ; then divided — one in Newcastle and one 

 at ChatLam, but the exact dates of these changes I have not been 

 able to find out. 



