[Lawson, Rev. S. 6.] (1877-1878) The Presbyterian and Evangelical Protestant Union, 
     
     Charlottetown. February 1877 to March 1878. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     The following extracts come from a series of short historical ’sketches’ printed in 787 7 and 1878 in The 
     
     Presbyterian and Evangelical Protestant Union, a newspaper published at Charlottetown between 1875 and 
     
     1885. As well as relating various anecdotes about the settlement history of particular townships and areas of 
     
     the island, the articles contain quite a number of references to the forests and trees occurring at the time of 
     
     settlement, as well as to some of the forest animals. Although no author’s name is attached to any of the 
     
     articles it is evident from comments in the 25 October 1877 article on Covehead that it is the editor and 
     
     proprietor of the paper, the Rev. Stephen G. Lawson (b. 1837, d. 7973). Lawson was a descendant of David 
     
     Lawson, the founder of the Stanhope settlement and had himself been born at Stanhope. It is evident that 
     
     Lawson had visited the areas described and had spoken to persons (some of whom are named as sources), 
     
     who were able to provide him with stories about the past history of the various settlements. The information 
     
     that is presented on the trees and animals appears to be very plausible and is in general agreement with other 
     
     sources for the areas. The articles are representative of a number of such reminiscences on the earlier 
     
     settlement history of the island published by newspapers in the late nineteenth century, when islanders were 
     
     becoming conscious of the great changes that had taken place in the landscape of the island since settlement 
     
     had begun. 
     
    
   
   
    
     REFERENCES: 
     
     Flanagan, D. (1987) Newspapers and the genealogist: a personal odyssey. The island Magazine, 22: 31 —36. 
     
     Shaw, J. & Lawson, A. The Descendants of David Lawson and Helen More. www.islandregister.com 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     Belfast: 
     
     The first article. it is our intention to publish from week to week short sketches of the early 
     
     history of the different settlements in our little "Isle of the Gulf". 
     
    
   
   
    
     About 20 acres altogether, scattered around in little patches had been cleared 
     
    
   
   
    
     Hem/7 Clear/"gs by the French. All the rest of the country was covered by a second growth of 
     
    
   
   
    
     df' . . . - 
     
    

    
     an ”88 white birch and soft wood, after the primeval forest had been burnt by 
     
     extensive fires of French and Indians. The different kinds of wild berries 
     
     were very plentiful. 
     
    

    
     Bears and Bears, wild cats, wild birds and also fish were in great numbers. A Mr. R. 
     
    

    
     W/ldcats- McLeod killed with a pitchfork a lucifee jumping off a tree at Point Prim. A Mr. 
     
    
   
   
    
     C. Stewart chased a six month's old bear on the shore and caught him. An old 
     
    
   
   
    
     one was killed in a cow stable among the cattle. 
     
     [8 Feb. 1877, p. 4, col. 2.] 
     
    
   
   
    
     Belfast ll: 
     
    

    
     At Point Prim, stumps are yet to be seen of the pine trees which the old French 
     
     had cut down previously to the occupation of this Island by the English, and 
     
     pine and oak which had been chopped down by them and was preserved in the 
     
     turf of swamps, are now to be seen in excellent condition in the panel door 
     
     etc., of the old and comfortable homestead belonging to Mr. D. A. Murchison, 
     
     of Point Prim. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Old pine stumps. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Pine and oak 
     
     (in bogs?). 
     
    
   
   
    
     A mouse plague. 
     
    
   
   
    
     About the year 1806, the field mice destroyed nearly all the growing crops. 
     
    
   
   
    
     They were seen in great numbers swimming over creeks and rivers. 
     
     [15 Feb. 1877, p. 4, col. 1.] 
     
    
   
   
    
     Belfast lll: 
     
    

    
     About 50 years ago, Mr. Charles Stewart, who was a powerful man, and as 
     
     smart as powerful, and who as we before noted caught a six months' old bear 
     
     by chasing him on the shore, was rafting lumber from Belle Creek to Orwell. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Rafting lumber. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Abear story. About 70 years when a Mr. D. Mclnnis was one night from home, his wife 
     
     alone in the little cottage in the wild woods, heard a knock at the door. Upon 
     
    
   
   
    
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