Introduction

The following chapters tell the story of five small com- munities in the eastern part of Prince County, Prince Edward Island; they are: Kinkora, Maple Plains, Mid- dleton, Newton and Shamrock. The first people to settle in this area were Loyalists, in the late 1820s; Middleton became their neighbourhood. They were followed by Irish immigrants in the 18305, who settled around Kinkora; and as more arrived spread out into the three remaining places. Five communities formed, mainly because five separate

school districts were legislated by governments in the 18405 and 18505.

Throughout these chapters the terms community, neighbourhood and school district are used as approx- imately synonymous in meaning. As a result of recent social changes in P.E.I., especially the elimination of small school districts, four of these neighbourhoods have lost much of the organizational basis for community activity. Kinkora, on the other hand, has enlarged its community structures; so that today Kinkora may be considered the community in the sociological meaning of that term; i.e., it represents a territorial collection of residents who act collectively for their mutual interests through organizations and institu— tions in their territory]

The major part of the research for this historical sketch was completed during the past ten years (1980—1990), mostly during summer visits to P.E.I. However, the results of previous research in Kinkora by the author were also used here.2 The main sources of information were the following: several P.E.I. newspapers which provided continuous coverage from the 18305 to 1990; archival material from the time during which the residents of these communities were

tenants; population and agriculture statistics from govern— ment records; baptismal, marriage and death records for residents of St. Malachy’s Parish, Kinkora; additional genealogical records from individual families; school records and reports of school activities; unpublished essays on various aspects of these communities written by univer— sity students and members of the Kinkora and Area History Club; ten formal interviews with former and present residents; one formal survey made in 1988; and many informal conversations and observations.

The story unfolds chronologically, with each chapter dealing with one or two decades, from 1830 to 1990. In selected areas of every day living —- work, economy, educa- tion, religion, politics and entertainment — events and per- sons are described; explanations and consequences are ex- plored. The aim of this book is both to describe life in these communities, insofar as the data permits, and to reveal their culture, i.e., the shared ideas, beliefs and rules which peo- ple use to guide their behavior.

Of course, these communities do not exist in isolation from the wider society. Indeed, much of what has happened in them over the past 160 years resulted directly or indirectly from decisions made in other parts of P.E.I., Canada, the United States and Europe. Therefore, throughout the chapters the impact of the greater social world on these five communities is considered.

As a result of much cooperation from many people, and the generous financial support of the senior citizens around Kinkora area, friends of these five communities can now enjoy a written history of these communities.