FIRST DOCTOR IN EASTERN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND SETTLED IN BEAR RIVER

In the late 1700s, the early pioneer settlers were devastated when family members became ill, or in childbirth, or with other ailments. All they could do was to stand by and watch them deteriorate and

slowly die. Finally, in 1784, Chief Justice Peter Steward of Prince Edward

Island wrote to Lord Sydney requesting that a physician be sent out to Eastern Prince Edward Island to set up a medical practice. He had been sick himself, and he had received treatment from Governor Patterson who had prescribed and administered medicine for him. What he didn’t know was that Governor Patterson took advantage of his illness to spend time with Steward’s wife. So, when Chief Justice Peter Steward recovered, she left with Governor Patterson, taking a young son with

her. In 1834, the first doctor arrived in eastern Prince Edward Island.

He was Doctor William Craig, who came from northern Ireland and settled in Bear River. He was accompanied by his sister, Margaret. This community was chosen, because at that time it was more thickly populated than Souris. Another advantage was that its highway ran north and south, connecting one body of water with another. This was very important at that time since most of the cargo was imported

and exported by boat.

While Dr. Craig was practicing in Bear River, there was an ‘

outbreak of cholera at Black Bush. The disease struck its victims down with little or nor warning, turned their bodies a horrible bluish purple, reduced the voice to a whisper, and tortured the limbs with agonizing cramps. It so happened that a schooner, the “John Wallace,” anchored fourteen miles west of East Point. The ship was en route to Nova

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