“BROOKSIDE FARM”

In or about the year 1836, the farm, now occupied by Ralph Myers, and known as “Brookside Farm,” was surveyed for David Lowther, who was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1811. Mr. Lowther, with his father, Mr. Wm. Lowther came to Crapaud and settled on the farm on which Mr. Wm. Callbeck now resides.

It is not known definitely in what year Mr. George Newsom came to the Myers farm, but he was there in 1863. His brother, Henry N ewsom occupied the farm in 1868.

After the Newsom brothers, Mr. Wm. Dawson owned the farm until 1880, at which time Samuel Newsom purchased the property, and lived there for five years. John Moore bought the farm in 1885, and retained it until 1905. In that year, Mr. Thomas H. Best moved from his old home, where Mr. and Mrs. Frank Harvey now live, and bought what has for many years been known as the “Old Moore Place”. Mr. Best spent the next 37 years of his life improving the property. He rebuilt the build- ings and generally improved the farm. Mr. Best has two sons, Gerald, who lives in Tryon, Kenneth in Fredericton, N. B., and one daughter, Alice, who lives in Western U.S.A. Another son, Norman, passed away some years ago.

In 1943, due to ill health, Mr. Best sold his fine property to Mr. Ralph Myers, who, with his wife, the former Jean MacDonald of Crapaud, and their two children, John Franklin and Katharyn Mildred now reside. Mr. Myers is a son of Mr. John H. Myers whose ancestors also came to P. E. I. on the “Valiant.”

Over the years many changes have been made in the old house and at the time of writing it is approximately 120 years old. The hand-hewn laths and hand-made shingles made so carefully by the men of many years ago, certainly show that they were indeed true pioneers.

Q REV. MATTHEW SMITH

Rev. Matthew Smith was a native of Yorkshire, England, and came to Crapaud at the age of four with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Smith, on the Valiant in 1817.

When he was twenty-two years of age he appeared before the quarterly meeting of the Bedeque circuit, requesting that he be recom— mended to Conference as a Candidate for the Ministry. His request was granted and he‘was sent to Ship Harbor as assistant minister.

His health failed temporarily and he was advised to take a trip to England to recuperate. On his return he embraced the doctrine of baptism by immersion, and became quite a famous Baptist minister.

He had many preaching gifts, including a magnificent voice, and a most endearing presonality. He spent most of his life in New Bruns-

Wick. Q REV. W. A. THOMSON

William Alexander Thomson was born near Crapaud in 1866, the son of Scottish parents, Peter Thomson and Mary MacKenzie. Through their devotion and industry he went through public school here, and Prince of Wales College with a fine scholastic record.

He was Principal of Crapaud School in 1883-84, and later taught in West Kent, Charlottetown, where many of “his boys” became noted

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