This is a rather lengthy story but a true one about my late, great ancestor written by my late, great grandpa. If you like history and have a good sense of humour, you will appreciate this.
"GRANDMA CUTT'S WANDERINGS"
OR
"A LOYALIST PIONEER"
Note: This was a competitive Shelburne County, Nova Scotia story, written for the Montreal Witness in 1889 by my great grandfather, Thomas West Watson and concerns his great grandmother. There were eleven competitors and this one took the first prize----namely 5 volumns of "McCauleys' History of England"----
Our heroine, Margaret Coupar was the daughter of Andrew Coupar of Fowling Hill, near Aberdeen, Scotland. She was born on the 16th of April 1746---on the day of the great battle of Culloden, and was one of eight children.
Her father was born on the 10th of March 1701, and where this account commences was overseer to a Mr. Andrew Kene of Dyce Hill and had charge of a large estate.
When she was 18 years of age, Joseph Fletcher, belonging to an English regiment stationed nearby, fell sick of a fever and she was engaged as his nurse. This intimacy resulted in a love affair, and resolved upon marriage. When her father became aware of this circumstance he immediately expressed his disapproval----and some warm words ensuing----he even forbade her his home if she persisted in her foolish resolution! But her determination was fixed, and when afterward, the bracing air of her Highland Hills had brought health to the once wasted form of her lover, they pledged a new fidelity to each other and awaited their time----the opportunity soon offered------the regiment removed to Banff and thither she went also. A letter with a messenger from her father was dispatched with speed to entreat her to return. He arrived all too late, and her reply to his entrieties was----
"I did na' marry Joe to stay behint his back"!
From Banff the regiment was ordered to London, and she sailed away from the "Land of brown heath and shaggy wood"---never to see the "Land of the Mountain and the flood" again!
She remained in London until 1776. We need not stay to describe the excitement or pleasure produced by meeting new friends in London, in the home of her husband, where we know she was ardently entreated by his sister to stay with them while Joseph went to war. They met with the same reply as her father had done before. So in that year, she, with her two sons born to them there, followed her husband with a vast convoy of British troops to New York. We must pass over with silence the voyage from London to New York for the reason that we possess no knowledge of it, only we know that one was made. It is now that a real exciting experience occured, and one that the writer has often listened with interest to hear his grandfather tell.
After their arrival, in some manner that we cannot now state, Joseph Fletcher and a young medic named Alexander Watson (tho not both at one time) was taken prisoner of war, and they were both lodged in one cell or room in some place of confinement, at or near Albany, now in the State of New York. There was a number of prisoners in war, and it was the practise for squads of them to go out in the wintertime into a cedar swamp nearby, with hand sleds, in order to procure fuel.
These squads were always attended by guards, armed to the teeth! Fletcher and Watson had laid a plan for their escape if possible. They always went out prepared to carry it into execution, and on several occasions attempted their maneuver, but as yet had been unsuccessful.
The time came at last, and they managed to wander quite a distance away from all the rest, there in that place. The guard followed them up; they adroitly decoyed behind a thick clump of low cedar bushes, and watching a favorable moment, like a Bengal tiger, Watson made the attack, and seized the guard from behind, and in an instant Fletcher, like a CATAMOUNT, pounced furiously upon him, and with the ready gag, stopped all outcry or alarm. He was quickly divested of his weapons by these giant sons of Britain and instant death was set before him upon the unconditional alternative that he should proceed in whatever direction they should indicate to him with all speed. With this condition he readily complied, and the captured American guard, and our two British heros, flew as best they could through the tangled forest, away from their pursuers (if any such attempt ever was made) in a direction toward the nearest British Army.
But now their real difficulties had commenced: principally among these were hunger and fatique, also besides these there was a want of knowledge of the country, or proper direction of the shortest route.
In a short time after the flight their hunger became unsupportable, but to run into any farmhouse upon which they did occasionally struggle, or even to be seen by any unsympathetic American who might be hailed, would be sure to result in their recapture and possible death.
However, a few berries of some kind (winter tho' it was) were found in their way and eaten, and once or twice a visit in turn was made in haste to the poultry yard of a farmer, by night, while the other stood guard over their captive!
After several weeks of anxiety, exposure, fatique and intense sufferings, they were rewarded by first beholding in the distance, the light of the glimmering watchfires by night of the British Camp, and in the course of the folowing day came upon the out pickets on duty.
Before encountering THEM however, they generously gave their Captive his choice to go forward with them a prisoner of war, or turn back and seek relief in whatever way he deemed best. His love of native land and liberty was greater than his present miseries and Alexander Watson and Joseph Fletcher never looked into his eyes again.
Alexander Watson now made his way tp New york where his abilities, his loyalty, his sufferings and losses, aquired for him the honorable and lucrative position of "Ward Master and Purveyor of His Majesty Military Hospital of Vauxhall."
Joseph Fletcher rejoined his comrades in war and shortly thereafter in an action, fell mortally wounded. He was taken to the rear and his wife saw him breathe his last. It will not require a very lively imagination to picture the trouble and distress of our Canip following Heroine!
A fugitive from a stern, but considerate father---alone----with her sons in a strange land in the throes of a bitter Rebellion----now known as the War of the American Revolution! Indeed her troubles had but commenced.
The sons sickened and died shortly after and burying them out of her sight, she retraced her steps to the Great City where she had first landed.
Upon her arrival in New York she obtained a situation as nurse in the Vauxhall Hospital. Here she remained during the long years of that eventful war---caring for the sick and wounded, and witnessing the pains and recoveries, as well as the dying struggles of her brave countrymen!
After the death of Mr. Fletcher, no doubt the intimacy that had existed between them, and the almost miraculous escape of these two men, brought Fletcher's widow and the Ward master of Vauzhall into contact and sympathy: this ultimately ripened into a warm union of hearts, and in 1779 they were married. He was also a native of Scotland, having been born in Easter Place, Parish of Old Monkland, Lanarkshire, 4th of November 1750.
In 1780 they had born to them a son whom they called Samuel, and in 1782, another son, whom they called Henry. She had also, in her altered circumstances, written her now aged father and received his reply March 18, 1781. Her letter must have been good news to him! In his he replies:---
"Dear Margaret! You was the only child of my regard above the rest of the family, which hath made me spend many hours in bitterness in your absence, but it hath renewed my spirit to once hear of you being in the body, seeing I have received no letter from you these five years."
She had therefore last written her father upon her leaving London for New York. He continues:
"You will remember I wrote after you to Banff to return and would have regarded you as much as ever. I would be more glad to see you now, if it were possible! We was much concerned for the death of your husband, but seeing God hath been pleased to remove him and engage you to another, may the Lord enable you to perform the vows you have taken upon you in such a station."
HAPPY RECONCILATION! Affliction and love had brought " the only child of regard above the rest of the family" and the imperious, but affectionate Parent, in spirit, together, but the foolish resolution of a young and inexperienced daughter had doomed them to separation forever! In October 1781 Lord Cornwallis surrendered to Washington at Yorktown and the weary, unhappy war was really tho' not formally ended.
Two anxious years followed that eventful October. It was soon learned from the negotiations going forward at Paris, that the friend of Britain had little to hope for.
The disregard shown by the newspapers of the articles of Peace, and also by threats from Committees formed in the different towns, were such that showed the victorious Whigs were determined to make it impossible for the United Empire Loyalists to remain in the Country with advantage or safety, and measures were taken by thousands to find a home and protection under the British flag in the loyal Provinces of the present "Dominion of Canada."
On the 28th day of April 1783---18 square rigged ships and several sloops and schooners, containing 5000 souls, all conveyed by two ships of war, sailed form New York with the British Ensign at the Masthead, bound for the ancient French Port Razior known to our loyalist forefathers as Port Roseway on the south west coast of Nova Scotia: and on the 4th day of May cast anchor in the spacious harbour of the Shiretown of this County. In August Governor Parr arrived from Halifax, and amid the booming of cannon and the general rejoicing on ship board and on shore, he gave to the new town the name of "Shelburne"!
Trees were felled, streets laid out and in September the place presented the appearance of a city amid the surroundings of the forest primeval! The same month---September---8,000 Loyalists left New York to settle in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, 5,000 of whom were destined for Shelburne among which latter was our Grandma Cutt, her husband and their sons. They arrived safely after a stormy voyage. History relates that of this last 5,000 to arrive, owing to the lateness of the season as also from the character of some of the emigrants,many were UNWELCOME visitors.
Respecting this particular family, I have before me an original "Certificate of its Head"---which I copy verbatim---:
"New York 8th September 1783"---
"The Bearer---Alexander Watson, has from my first knowledge of him----about three years ago, behaved himself as a loyal subject, and from his sufferings and losses in the course of the Rebellion, is most justly entitled to every advantage and involvement accruing to His Majestys Suffering Subjects.
(Sgnd.)
---S. Birch, B. Gen"---
Mr. Watson paid 100 guineas for a town lot on King Street and drew as a grant 400 acres of arable and timberland on the east bank of the Clyde River (now owned and occupied by the Gibson family 1889). After obtaining this title, Alexander decided to dispose of the town property and to remove his family to the side of that river that bore the same name as that near by the side of which his youth and earlier manhood had been spent in Scotland----
For this purpose he repaired to the "Clyde" property and was busily engaged in preparing for the reception of his family, who were still in Shelburne. But Providence had otherwise determined---he took suddenly ill of a fever and died there, where he is buried upon what was then his own land. This occured in the fall of 1784. He was aged 34 years. Thus in one short year from her landing, our loyalist Grandma Cutt was again a widow!
It now seems certain that she wrote her sister Elisabeth Coupar--in Scotland and acquainted her of the death of her husband, and also generally of her affairs, and as will appear later on in this account, two separate letters were sent in reply, but if received no trace of any such letters are now to be found.
She now determined to leave Shelburne and so took her two sons and sailed to Halifax to take the Packet to Nassau, New Providence in the Bahamas for the purpose of keeping a boarding house there. Alexander had a brother residing there with his family which doubtless accounted for this decision. In some unaccountable way---tho' probably owing to the skurry and confusion at the pier in parting----little Henry was left behind---his mother not knowing the fact before the ship was on her voyage in the harbour! She, with tears in her eyes entreated the Captain to set her and her son on shore, but without avail, and she was forced to go the length of the voyage not knowing what the fate of her youngest son might be!
When the Packet returned to Halifax, Grandma Cutt and her son Samuel took passage also, and her great joy upon their arrival to find her lost child at the home of a lady friend, who had cared for him in the absence of his mother, can be best imagined than described.
She now made her way with her sons from thence back again to Shelburne, where she set up an Inn on Harriet Street and kept travellers and boarders many years.
On the 1st day of August 1793, Samuel Watson was at school in Shelburne. He was at that time 13 years of age. On that day Joseph Harding, Esq., Tanner and shoemaker, came on horseback from Barrington, where he resided and did business, for an apprentice to his occupation. Having learned of Samuel, he approached the mother concerning the matter----she gave consent, provided "Sammy" was agreed. Mr. Harding called for him at the schoolhouse and together they went to the boy's home. There a conference was held and finally agreements entered into.
Together they returned to Barrington where Samuel faithfully served his Master until he was twenty-one years of age--in 1802.
If we would rightly and honestly understand and appreciate the course of these events, we should bear in mind the one great all absorbing principle that brought these people from New York to settle in this then wild wilderness country---that of attachment to BRITISH INSTITUTIONS and loyalty to KING GEORGE 3RD.
Now previous to the settlement of Shelburne by these Loyalists, Barrington had been settled as early as 1760 by 60 to 70 families from Cape Cod and Nantucket, and so strongly were the sympathies of those people that when the Declaration of Independence in 1776 was made, a great many of those settlers left all, to take up arms on the American side. Mrs. Watson, tho' residing in Shelburne, kept a pretty stricy survellience over her son Samuel in Barrington, lest he should be tainted by the surrounding "half Yankee" population of that place.
As he grew older she had arranged to suit herself who he should marry. She fully intended that as soon as his trade was learned to have him quickly remove to Shelburne with her. This young woman was a Miss McNutt. The shoeshop where Samuel worked was an excellent place to hear politics, and Mr. Harding, tho' not a Republican, was a firm believer in the most advanced Whig doctrines, and a very shrewd and intelligent man. Also Samuel soon began to see right through what a Loyalist Tory was, and from that time wished to get as far away from them as possible.
Meantime, Henry now 16 years, secured employment as Clerk and Salesman with a merchant in Halifax and immediately entered upon his duties there.
At Shelburne Mrs. Watson had formed the acquaintance of Mr. John Cutt, a Loyalist and native of her own Aberdeenshire and shortly after Henry's departure they were married and continued to reside in Shelburne.
She was however destined not to enjoy his companionship a long time. John Cutt died in 1799 and she was a widow in one year from their marriage.
Now she turned her thoughts to Scotland and wrote to and received a letter from her sister there, from which I give the following Extracts:
"Higg, near Aberdeen 1799---31st August
Dear Sister:--
I received your letter from Shelburne 22nd May 1799 with inexpressable pleasure. You and I are the only children left of our worthy Father, and long have I looked for notice from you. About 15 years ago, after you was the widow of Mr. Watson---I sent you two separate letters, caring for them to ship in Britain as well as I could, but have never 'til now got any letter from you. Blessed be God that at last I know of you! And now, if Providence favour, I hope you will endeavor to make some intercourse, by writing at proper times between us---the only remains of our Fathers own house."
Here follows a lengthy detail of family affairs and I quote only this:
"Our Father died at Fowling Hill nine years ago on 25th September."
He thus lived to be aged 89 years 6 months and 15 days. The closing portion of this letter will I believe interest you, and I quote at length:
"How are you in your worldly state? When you wrote last, at that distant time, you seemed to be in easy circumstances. I hope you are so now. I am glad that your two sons by Mr. Watson are living and respectably following useful employments. Offer my good wishes to them. Your last husband---John Cutt---has lived with you but a short time! Do you design to end your days where you are, or to revisit us and your native land? I would be GLAD to see you! Accept my sincere and warm wishes for your well being. Write me soon and direct to the care of the Rev. Dr. David Cruden, Minister of Higg near Aberdeen----
Yours 'til death
Elisabeth Coupar
Soon after the death of Mr. Cutt she broke up her house at Shelburne and went to her son in Halifax. But her trouble and berevements were not ended yet. Henry soon began to show symptoms of consumption, and at the age of 19 years sickened and died. Samuel had this year 1802 attained his majority, and a few years afterwards married Esther, daughter of Josua Nickerson 2nd (whose father Joshua was the framer of The Old Meeting House in Barrington.)
This marriage was a blow to our Grandma Cutt, chiefly that he had chosen a wife of a New England Whig family. Naturally of an impervious and unyielding nature and pretty obdurate and fixed in her opinions, she let her son feel her displeasure in a variety of ways and she continued to reside in Halifax alone, occasionally lamenting her lonely lot to the sister in Scotland and receiving her condolences and sympathy in reply, all of which letters she carefully preserved and which at this writing are still extant.
In 1812 Samuels wife died leaving three sons and one daughter---Henry---Alex---Margaret and James. (Henry the eldest was but seven years old at the death of his mother.) Mrs. Samuel Watson had not been long dead, when he went to Halifax on purpose to see and persuade his mother to make her home with him.
In her advancing years and better judgement she was quite severe and rigid at times. She kept in stock a goodly number of birchlings, ready for use. it was no part of her policy to "spare the rod and spoil the child"---but when, in her judgement occasion required, she made a free tho' judicious use of it. She would not permit them to SIT at the table, but have them STAND, remarking--"Tae sit wud mak em a 't soft." Neither would she allow them to partake of the heartier food set before "Aulder folk"----asserting that "partitch" was aye suited tae bairns like thal!"
If inadvertantly the boys entered the house without first having removed their caps and carefully hung them on the hooks in the Hallway to the room where they sat, they were no more than fairly inside when they were sure to hear her exclaim---"Eh! Eh! Laddies, ye'll sit in the chimney corner 't the 11th day of June wi yer caups on!" She spoke in "Guid braud Scotts"----
Her wanderings and many of her troubles in life were wholly due to her disobedience in youth to parental authority and should sound a useful lesson to the youthful readers of my humble tale! Grandma Cutt belonged to the Establishment Presbyterian Church of Scotland. She died 25th March 1825, and was buried in the old Puritan Churchyard in Barrington being aged 79 years eleven months and 9 days.
Peace Be To Her Ashes! T. W. Watson
Feb. 15, 1889
