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MISSION OF ST. iALAC KIKCORA

When in 1767. certain favorites of the crown, in England. reueived grants of estates in Prince Edward Island, one Colonel Searle, a retired officer, who

was concerned in a large fishing business in Gaspe, found himself the fortunate possessor of half of Township Twenty Seven, the other half having fallen to

the share of his partner. Mr. Spence.

In the course of time Colonel Searle died, and his daughter and heiress married one Horatio Mann. of Norfolk, England, Esq. who assumed the management of his wife’s estate in Prince Edward Island, which estate comprised the districts of Itncora and Seven Mile Bay . Kincora was in early days known as ”56? West" owing to its being watered by the South West branch of the Dunk River. Here about

1835 came a few settlers from the south of Ireland. In lShO, when the depopulation of Ireland was commenced on a large scale. shiploads of emigrants from the counties of Monaghan 9nd Arenagh were landed in Charlottetown, and from that ~port scattered to settle in different portions of Prince Edward Island. This went on for several years.

The "Rosebenk". the Margaret Pollock and the "Lady Constable" brought out hundredsi many of whom found their way to the estate of Mr. iann, whose agent offered them land on liberal terms. The majority'of these people were tenants

of the notorious Henry Westeura, Lord Rossmore and had been bordering on star- vation at home. where they eked out a miserable existence on farms of from two

to seven acrés. upon which it was barely possible to live, much less to pay

rent. Others again. were from the parish of Tynan. where was the celebrated "Bishop estate" administered by a body of twelve Protestant clergyman. On this estate every worldly advantage and indulgence were offered the tenants. provided they would send their children to the "Church School". Of CJurse this temptation kept up a constant struggle between conscience and interest, and the staunch

Catholics found their best safety in flight. Thus to escape physical starvation