Georgetown Stories : 1786-1844 3

The Rise of Georgetown

The work of cutting trees and clearing the streets and Square and installation of town pumps in Georgetown began in 1832 under the order of Thomas Owen, Commissioner of Roads appointed by the Island government. Owners of lots were required to pay six shillings, eight pence for each holding to pay for this work. The lots of those that did not pay were put up for sale in 1833. A local committee of six was appointed to supervise the work. At a public meeting of residents, Hugh McDonald was thanked for his interventions with the Island Government but more money was requested for the building of a wharf among other things. The Mar. 20. 1833 Royal Gazette, carries a report of a meeting of the Eastern Agricultural Society which took place in Lower Montague, Three Rivers. in the report Johnson Aitken bids visitors “to cast their eyes across the river and behold the rising town (formerly known only on paper-- a scoff and derision,-- now springing into real existence and actual life. Soon shall temples of divine worship proclaim it to be the habitation of a part of the great Christan family, and the busy hum of thronged streets tell the victory of an industrious and successfull population over a part of nature’s fairest works that had heretofore remained neglected and desolate.”

1833 Census

in a census in 1833, Georgetown was listed as having 59 inhabitants, 31 males and 28 females. Twenty-two persons were under 16. There were 24 inhabited houses. Georgetown Royalty had 185 inhabitants, 97 male and 88 female. One hundred and three of these were under 16. Boughton island had 16 males and 23 females. Six males and thirteen females were under 16. Panmure Island listed 18 persons in all. In 1827 at the time of the first census of Georgetown there had been three inhabited houses containing six male and five female residents. (Royal Gazette, Aug. 13, 1833 and Mar.15, 1836)

Law Enforcement

Fined: “At Three Rivers, Richard Clark, for threatening to shoot Peter Morrison, before Hugh Macdonald, Esq., J.P. in the sum of one shilling and bound over to keep the peace, himself in £100, and two sureties £100 each.” (Royal Gazette, Nov.19, 1833)

The Cholera Scare Again

In September 16, 1834 during the cholera scare of that year, a committee advised citizens of Three Rivers of the precautions to be taken re ships coming into port but conflict on interpretation of these broke out again between the Macdonalds and J.L. Lewellin who had been appointed to the same committee. Story in The Royal Gazette, Sept. 16, 1834)

Tax Protested

At an official meeting of citizens of Georgetown at Mrs. Hadley’s Tavern, 13 January 1835, chaired by Henry Gordon, citizens protested the over-taxing of their property and recommended instead that a bounty be placed on codfsh and mackerel coming into the port. (Royal Gazette, Jan.27, 1834)

Tenders for Georgetown Ferry Sought

To carry passengers, their luggage and cattle an required “that there shall be kept one or more flat bottomed boats of not less than 16 feet in length or one or more keel boats of not less that 16 feet in length, for the accomodation of passengers, to be manned by two able and steady men, the same to be at all times ready, when required, between Sunrise and Sunset, during the time that navigation shall be open. J.P. Collins" (Royal Ggette, June 2, 1835)