Rum running roots
B.J. Grant's story of Prohibition in New Brunswick lists
nearly 400 cases and hundreds of names involved in rum
running
Ruby M. Cusack
Since Gramp had to attend a funeral, it
was necessary for Dad on this Saturday morning to take the cream to Saint
John to the Dairy.
He was up earlier than usual to get the milking done. Cliff and
I had hoped that we might get asked to accompany him but that was not the
case. First he took the cream cans out of our water puncheon and loaded
them into the trunk of the car. It seems the cows had outdone themselves
from eating all the after grass in the meadow and production was up this
week.
In order to get all of Gramp's cans into the car it was necessary to
take out the back seat. He also had several trays of eggs to put in the
front seat. That settled it there would not be room for us to get a trip
to the city.
Once his loading was completed, he came into the house and proceeded
to give himself a quick shave at the kitchen sink. Mum handed him a clean
shirt and her memorandum, then we walked with him to the car.
When Mum saw all the cans in the car she told him that he might be in
trouble with the law as the police would think he was a rum runner.
Adults certainly liked to talk in riddles. What did a load of cream
cans have to do with rum? He wasn't running as he was driving in the
car.
I thought for a few moments and then I had it figured out. Rubbing alcohol
was used for rubbing on a sore leg so maybe running rum was used for aches
and sprains from running. I explained all this to Cliff and he agreed.
When Ken heard my explanation he burst out laughing and ran to share this
hilarious joke with Mum. I couldn't see anything funny about it.
In 1920, the United States voted itself ‘Dry' and officially it stayed
that way for 13 years. The answer to America's drinking problem was simple:
if you cannot keep people away from liquor, keep liquor away from the people.
The good intentions of the Prohibitionists made for a major industry
in New Brunswick - the illegal transportation of alcoholic drink. It was
known as rum-running.
All along the coast, ships came as ghosts in the night and dropped cargoes
of liquor which were shortly transferred to cemeteries, outbuildings,
hay mows and other out of the way places. Subsequently powerful cars, roared
through the back country roads, bearing cans of liquor destined for the
States.
‘When Rum Was King' by B.J. Grant chronicles the days of prohibition
in New Brunswick in all its richness - the characters, the intrigue and
the political pay offs. Names are given of the law enforcement officers,
several owners and madames of the Bawdy Houses, the rum-runners, ship owners
and those who became involved by the need to feed their families. The Appendix
has lists of nearly 400 bootlegging cases taken from New Brunswick newspapers.
Hundreds of names can be found in the index.
Many considered rum-running to be a lucrative
adventure, a way to outwit the authorities and not a genuine crime.
* * * *
Query 98-740
Richards - Hamm - Bostwick: Maria Barbara Hamm was the daughter
of Andrew Hamm, United Empire Loyalist, and was born in 1780 in Westfield
and died in Kingston. She was the second wife of Thomas Richards. He is buried
in Kingston. After her husband's death in 1853, she went to live with her
step-daughter Mary Ann (Richards) Bostwick, the wife of Hiram Bostwick. She
had no children but Thomas Richards had eight children. Was Maria Barbara
Hamm Richards buried with the Bostwick family?
-Sylvia A. Hamm, 52 Needle St., Sussex Corner, N.B., E4E 2Z3. Telephone
(506) 433-5210.
Query 98-741
McQuinn - McCormick - Proctor - Glover: I am searching for information
on James M. McQuin who was born in 1799 in Ireland and emigrated. from Londonderry
in 1818 to Casillis, New Brunswick. He married Mary McCormick and later settled
in Sackville. Their known children are: Rebecca; Emily and William. I would
like information on their other children. What is his connection with John
McQuinn who married Elizabeth Jordan of Jordan Mountain and had a son Richard
C. McQuinn, born Nov. 24, 1863. Who was James McQuin who was born Jan.
16, 1820 in Nova Scotia? I am also looking for information on William
John Proctor (1849 - 1921) and his wife Elizabeth Glover who later wed Chip
Keith. William Proctor lived in Kings County.
-Judy McQuinn, 204 Fairfax Road, Riverview,
N.B., E1B 2N2. E-mail to judymc@nbnet.nb.ca.
Query 98-742
Wright - Ledden: I am looking for information about my Great-great-grandfather
Peter B. Wright who was born in Ireland in 1810 and came to Chatham, New
Brunswick. He married Anna Elizabeth Ledden on Oct.3,1837 and they had a
daughter Mary born in 1841. They left Chatham and went to Wisconsin about
of 1845. I would also like to know about the Ledden family.
Gerald Wright, 14519 NE Stanton Ct., Portland, Oregon, 97230. E-mail to
ggwport@bigplanet.com.
Query 98-743
Rolston - Matthews - McAllister: I'm searching for information
about my great-grandparents, Joshua Duncan Rolston and Alice Maude Matthews.
They were both born in Saint John. Joshua was born in 1870 or 1872 and died
on Jul. 28, 1917. His parents' names were John and Eliza(beth). He had siblings:
Charlotte; Jane; Mary; Martha; Sam; Matt; John and Maggie. For the last few
years of his life, he was employed by a butcher in the City Market in Saint
John. Alice was known as "Dovie" and was born in 1876 or 1878. Her parents
were William C. Matthews and Mary Jane McAllister. She died on Jan. 7, 1962
in Moncton. Joshua and Dovie were married in Waltham, Massachusetts
on Nov. 29, 1898. Any information on these families would be very much
appreciated.
-Liz Brown, P.O. Box 21091, Stratford, Ontario, N5A 7V4. E-mail to
rbrown@perth.net.
Query 98-744
Ouellette - Richards: I am looking for information on Laurent Ouellette,
who was born about 1818 and died on Mar. 7, 1898 at St. Basile. His son's
death certificate states he was from Kamouraska. Laurent was married to Henriette
Richards. I have not found a marriage certificate. Their children where: Laurent
Jr. (1852); Henriette (1854); Angelique (1857); Marie May (1859); Joseph
1861 and Joseph 1864. Henriette and Marie married Jalbert brothers.
-Selma Grant, 8812 Annapolis, Anaheim, CA, 92804. E-mail to selmagrant@earthlink.net.