Strangers
From
A Secret Land
The Voyages of the Brig ‘Albion’
and the Founding of the First Welsh Settlement in Canada
Usually bringing the cows from
the
pasture was a simple task but tonight things didn’t go well. One of the
young
heifers refused to follow the bossy cow to the barn. Cliff and I had to
get
a halter and make a second trip to the back pasture. As we led her
home,
she kept stopping and mooing at the top of her lungs.
We were sure some glad to see Dad and Gramp coming up over the hill to
meet
us.
Gramp inquired, “Do you understand the language the heifer is speaking
to
you?”
When we shook our heads, he continued, “You should make a sign that
says
‘Welsh-Not’ and put it on her halter.”
Once again, I didn’t have a clue what that man was talking about. But
if
I had lived in Wales and had been attending school there in 1847 or
before
and had spoken the mother tongue in the classroom or the schoolyard, I
would
have been punished by being made to wear a cow’s halter on my
shoulder
with an attached sign ‘Welsh-Not’. It was the official policy to
suppress
the Welsh language which was the only language known by most of the
children.
The dream of many a Welshman was to make his escape from poverty by
going
to America. For one group, from the area of Cardigan, this became a
reality
in 1819 when they sailed on the Albion to Saint John, New Brunswick
with
Llewelyn Davies as master. But for some, the dream became close to
being
a nightmare.
When the vessel was out to sea for only a few days, death from
whooping-cough
claimed the two-year-old daughter of Iona Morgan, of Llangoedmore.
William
Jenkin of Trelech was next to meet a watery grave, followed by the
little
daughter of William Richard of Clydau.
In the late afternoon of 11 June 1819, sixty days after leaving
Cardigan
Town, the Albion anchored in the harbour of Saint John. Three days
later,
on Sunday evening, the emigrants held a church service, conducted
in
their native Welsh language at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Kirk.
Twenty-six families chose for a settlement, a rich tract of land, 10
miles
eastward of Fredericton, between the Madame Keswick and the Nashwaak.
Fredericton became a temporary home to the families of the men who set
out
to clear this land and build their cabins in Cardigan Settlement.
Not being able to speak the English language, along with being sickly,
destitute
and with the women dressing in the strange costume of high hats and
shawls,
difficulties were created with the townsfolk in understanding and
accepting
this group, as well as helping to provide for their needs. Yet, the
people
of Fredericton along with others throughout New Brunswick,
rallied
to the cause, by forming the Cardigan Society. They collected
subscriptions
to help care for these people while they established themselves. By
November
13, the Society had assisted 18 Welsh families who had a total of 33
boys
and 29 girls. But many of the settlers were still on the verge of
starvation.
By the Fall of 1820, the settlers were on their own with a parting gift
of
a load of potatoes having been made in May by Jarvis Ring.
Fortunately their spiritual needs were met by David James, a Welsh
Baptist
missionary, who discovered them. For the next seven years, he
ministered
to them in their native language.
Over the years the Cardigan settlement grew. The early settlers and
their
descendants prospered. Some stayed while others sought a life in
greener
pastures. Many of the old ways were dropped.
In the cemetery beside the church at Cardigan a reminder of a
wife
keeping her maiden names after marriage is recorded on the tombstone of
Mary
Nickles, a native of Pembrook, who died at age 47 in 1847, the wife of
William
Samson.
On the morning of July 26, 1977, a chance visit to this cemetery by
Peter
Thomas, sent him on a nine-year journey of searching for details of the
lives
of the settlers who founded this first Welsh settlement in Canada.
His 318 page publication, “Strangers From A Secret Land”
- The Voyages of the Brig ‘Albion’ and the Founding of the First
Welsh
Settlement in Canada provides detailed information on not only the
lives
of the group who came to New Brunswick but on the events that
influenced
the years leading up to their departure from the homeland as well as
those,
who for one reason or another, chose to stay in Wales.
A
copy of the book “Strangers From A Secret Land”
is
available for purchasing at http://www.rubycusack.com/Book-STRANGERS-WELSH.html
Query 1193
Clarke: Colin Campbell Clarke, son of Alexander
Keith
Clarke, was born 27 November 1876 and died 13 May 1963. He is
buried
in Fernhill Cemetery in Saint John. He had two sons and seven
grandchildren.
Who was his wife? I am looking for his descendants to whom I am
related.
Bruce Clarke
152 Wedgewood Drive
Williamsville, N. Y.
14221, USA
E-mail clarke@buffnet.net
