He was required to sign for a period of seven years and sailed immediately. In early years this was a hard, bitter life. Many times young seamen were cruelly treated by the officers. He told one story about being hung by his thumbs and flogged for disobeying an order.

He knew what hard work was while still a youth, as all orders and rules were strictly enforced. He witnessed the Court Martialling of many sailors for deserting their ship. When the period of seven years expired, he visited his aunt and family with whom he had not been in contact through the years. One can imagine the joy of seeing him again. One can readily understand why she did not recognize him. He had left as a young boy and was now an adult. He rejoined the Navy for another seven years but while in the port at St. John’s, he deserted sliip rather than testify against a comrade who was going to be Court Martialled the next day. He hid in the mountains for days and was fed and kept by a couple of older men. They believed that the ship was sailing a certain morning so he came back to the city and was seen by some of the ship’s officers. The officers came in the front door of his aunt’s home, and Thomas went out the back to hide in the hills again. A reward was offered and a search was carried on for weeks. As he now feared for his life, he travelled on foot about five hundred miles until he reached a remote area, Burnt Islands, which is near Port—Aux—Basque.

It was there that he met his future wife, FRANCES JANE CHALK. He remained in that com— munity for some time and before he left for sea again, he told ‘Fanny’s’ mother that he would return to marry his future bride when she was older, as he was fourteen years her senior.

A friend once referred to him as a man who had sailed the Seven Seas and had been in almost every part of the world. Many a thrilling and interesting story he told of his life at sea.

He returned to Burnt Islands in 1878 to claim his bride. From there they moved to Halifax, N.S., where Thomas worked on a mail boat, sailing to the Ports in Spain and other foreign countries.

They were persuaded by Dan Wilkie and Ned MacLure, (Captain of a schooner) to come to Prince Edward Island. After a very rough voyage from Halifax, they sailed into New London Harbour in May. The exact year is not known but it is believed to be approximately 1886. There still was some ice in the bay when Thomas and Frances Hiscott and their two daughters arrived in Stanley Bridge. Sadness, however, accompanied them as one of their daughters developed pneumonia and died a few years later.

For Thomas there was very little here in his line of work but his wife would not consider going to sea again, so they remained in Stanley Bridge. However, the call of the sea life enticed Thomas many times. On his last voyage he became very ill where he lay unconscious for days. When he regained consciousness he asked a nurse, in New York, to write to his wife, who had not heard from him for over four months.

Thomas owned several vessels, the last one being the Carrie 0, a fishing schooner, which he later sold to Gilbert Blacquiere. Besides sailing vessels, he said that he used to arise very early, pull his smelt nets and leave for Charlottetown — a distance of twenty-five miles - pulling a hand sleigh and return the same day.

In the fishing business Thomas was assisted by his wife. Frances placed the fish to dry on flakes and attended to the selling of the dried product. This couple experienced great hardships trying to make a living in their adopted land. The adversities of the time and lack of medical skills also added to their misfortunes as they were predeceased by five young children after coming to this

community.

In later years with the help of his sons, [James and Albert] Thomas Sr. operated a lumber mill on the north-east side of the Anderson's Bridge on the land below the former Pickering house. He knew very little about farming but also undertook the operation of the Pickering farm which

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