MISSION OF ST. MICHAEL

MONTAGUE WEST

The mission of St. Michael, Montague West. comprises three districts. Newton, Montague, and the Valley. which latter is of recent settlement. it being an outgrowth of Newton and Montague.

The first Catholic settler of Newton built himself a log house there in 1820,

the pioneer of Montague came there in 1826. These two farmers were respectively from the counties of Waterfiord and Wexford. Ireland.

They were shortly followed by others from the same two counties. together with

a few men from Kilkenny. About that period a number of Irishmen left their native land to take work on the Newfoundland fishing grounds. They obtained a free passage by signing a written agreement which bound them to serve for a team of years. the companies who brought them out.

The term stipulated was usually two years. during which time the bondmen received only their food. clothing and lodging. At the expiration of the two years. a number of these men drifted over to Prince Edward Island. and some of them settled in the districts of Newton, and Montague. Others again who came had paid their own way from Ireland and been landed at Mirimachi. Halifax or Charlottetown. but their pockets were in most cases empty and they were obliged to work for several years. in order to earn sufficient money to bring out their wives and families.

In and after the year 1839 and lSNO a number of emigrants from Monaghan, Armagh and Tyrone came out to Prince Edward Island. many of these also found their way to what is now St. Michael‘s Mission.

In old times the settlers in Montague and Newton heard mass in Vernon River Chapel. situate nine miles from their homes. a long distance to travel in stormy

weather and over bad roads.

About thirty six years ago, the late Patrick Stevens Esq. of Orwell. an Irish