~58- KELLY‘S CROSS SETTEEMENT

Kelly‘s Cross came into being on the DeSable half lot. The front part was settled by Scottish Protestants Oh Lord Mélville's Estate, Lot 29, the back of this lot was all heavy timber. wm. W. Lord brought out pioneers from Ireland in his vessel; they settled on.the land now called Kelly’s Cross. These young Irish people took up their farms at one shilling per acre, and went into business cut- ting timber for me. Lord who sold it in the Old Country. The timber was out in the winter, hauled out to Sturdy's mill; with spring tides, small rafts of the timber were pulled below the Bridge and then made into one big raft which was then rolled out into the basin. The Irish people had very sweet voices, were good singers, and the best of

neighbours. In spare time they cleared their land, and head in

potatoes and grain in the burnt over places; they could thrash out thirty stocks of grain.per day with a flail. They wanted a church, but there was no money to build one; they had lots of wood; so they hired four or five men from Crapaud to set up the frame from the hand hewn scantlings. Mre Best superintended this work and was killed and many were injured when the scaffolding proved unsafe. This church was used for about fifty-five years though it was never properly finished-~there were no pews; men stood on

the north side of the church, women in the south.

It is believed that Father Duffy was the first Parish Priest, and James Bradley stood at the door with his "coppers" box. This old church may be still standing; it was converted into a public hall and was one of the best halls in Lot 29; a grand brick church now serves the com-

munity.