FALCONER . REV . Robert ALEXANDER Minister at Queen Square Church - Aug 14, 1862-Sep 27, 1869 Born: 1838 Ordained: Aug 14, 1862 Died: Jul 23, 1911, age 73 Robert Alexander Falconer was born in 1838 in Riverton , , Nova Scotia , a community of about 300. His father, James was a mason and farmer and his mother was described as a woman of loyalist stock. His grandfather Alexander, left Scotland in 1784 and settled near Hopewell, among many highlanders and Presbyterians who came over on the Hector. In 1786 Rev. James MacGregor (see Appendix) arrived in Pictou . Alexander was the first of his clan to ascend the pulpit. Little is know of his early years. In the mid 1850's he entered Seminary (the seminary was little more than a dingy and ill-ventilated room above a little country schoolhouse). The seminary moved to better premises in Truro in 1858. Falconer was schooled in the classics and theology. He was described by a fellow student as: "diligent, eager and successful". At Truro he founded a student organization dedicated to promoting Presbyterian missions abroad. He as well took the temperance movement to heart and spent a great amount of time delivering temperance lectures in local barns. After graduating in 1860, he went to New College, Edinburgh, Scotland , then the foremost seat of Presbyterian learning. After a year of graduate study, he returned to his home eager to take up his vocation. Although licensed by the Presbytery of Pictou , he was forced to bide his time, as Presbyterian ministers were never granted a congregation as a matter of right. The newly formed congregation of Mount Stewart and West St. Peters extended a call signed by 49 members and 39 adherents in 1862, but this call was declined July 1st. At this time the new Queen Square Church in Charlottetown (thought few in number they were "spirited and energetic"), extended a call on May 14th to Rev. Falconer . This call as well met with opposition by the Pictou Presbytery . The call was sustained to a gospel call and presented to and accepted by Mr. Falconer . The call was signed by twenty nine members and forty seven adherents and guaranteed a stipend of $600.00 per annum. 73 ■