legislation of 1801 called the "Act of Union" repealed. By this Act the Irish had lost their right to have their own parliament. Instead, they were to elect a number of M.P .'s to represent their views in the British Parliament. This movement spread to the colonics including Prince Edward Island . A complete list of those in attendance at that meeting may be found in Tbe Island Magazine, Spring/Summer 1987. WilliamLaccy, Margaret's brother, wasa laborer who also dabbled in other things. He was appointed a constable for Chark >t tct o wn and Royalty in the year 1839 and he also acted as agent for a Mr. John Carmichacl , who sold gravestones. It is quite possible that the gravestone for his father Piery , and brother Lawrence—still standing in 1992—was placed there during his tenure in this business. The following ad appeared in the Colonial Herald a local newspaper on July 29,1843. Headstones The subscriber offers for sale a lew good headstones, which will be sold and lettered cheap for prompt payment For further particulars, apply to the subscriber, at Mr. W. Laccy 's, King St . or to Mr. K. MacKenzie , Chariottetown, by whom all orders will be promptly attended to. John Carmichacl . In December of that year, William Laccy , died. The local news pa per of the time reported it this way. Died. On Thursday morning last, Mr. William Laccy , of this town aged 27 years. Deservedly regretted. His funeral will take place on Sunday next at 2 o'clock p.m. where friends and aquaintences are requested to attend. <Tbe Islander Dec. 15,1843) This would have necessitated another trip to town, a tough trip in more ways than one with the river probably not yet sufficiendy frozen for travel. William was only twenty-seven when he died, just before Christmas, on December 19, 1843. He had lived on the south side of on the easternmost block. The wake was probably held in his home. At that time, the body would have been washed and laid out by the older women in the family, his mother Catherine, and probably his sister Margaret. To some this may seem a gruesome task, but it can also be thought of as a final, very caring, gesture performed for a loved one. "Most of the coffins were made right at home. They were made of pine boards covered with black cloth (or white cloth if it were a young person)." (MacDonald 25) A wake at that time was a great social occasion, with lots of food and drink. There would perhaps be clay pipes passed around to the men after the meal, an Irish tradition. Mrs. Rita Walsh told me of wakes on P.LI , where such customs were carried on, the pipes costing a penny a piece. It was a custom to have homemade liquor called poteen, available during a wake in Ireland; but imported liquor, readily available on P.E.I , at that time, probably filled the local need. Young people were known to sneak pepper into the tobacco and snuff. They would then hide and wait for the results. 26