Privately published history of the St. Croix Branch No. 9 from founding to 1997.

This book includes letters relating to the New Brunswick and Canada Railroad and other connecting lines with scheduling concerns that affected the efficiency plus the mail service was being impacted. Stevenson continued to be very involved in local politics offering Federal Ministers advice on problems with employees and recommending suitable candidates for federal local jobs. His regular law work involved court cases, probate, debt collection, land issues, fisheries, with boats and their problems that were associated with the Federal Customs Dept. The issues with fisheries, particularly regarding weirs around Grand Manan, are expressed in many letters written to a Mr. Venning at the federal Department of Fisheries.

The Provincial election was scheduled for April 26, 1886, and is discussed in several letters. Establishing lighthouses and fog whistles in the area continued to be an ongoing discussion and frustrating problem with the Fisheries Minister. Stevenson writes that transportation between the Islands and mainland, particularly Grand Manan, made it difficult for people to do business with private money and suggested the consideration for a Post Office Savings Bank be established in South Head.

The Grand Southern Railway was developed connecting St. Stephen and Saint John through the coastal towns. January 1888 the GS Railway had financial problems and the sale of the road was ordered to pay off the bond holders.

In July 1886 Stevenson recommended Marguerite Curry be appointed as postmistress at Bay Side after the death of her husband who had been the postmaster.

In 1886 Stevenson was looking for a buyer for the Argyll Hotel. He had an offer of $7000. Sept. 14, 1887 Mr. William Herbert and his wife of Richmond Maine purchased the Argyle Hotel for $7000.

In a letter referring to a newspaper article regarding the Fenians Raid at Campobello Island in 1866, Stevenson writes he has a Roll of the volunteers who served under him.

There is extensive correspondence with Hugh Stevenson in St. Stephen NB , concerning his dire financial situation and the possibility of losing his business.

Letters copied by Stevenson into this letter book include topics such as:

Involvement in purchasing stocks for clients. (One client Dr. N, Parker, England)

Continued discussions about the Algonquin Hotel. The land leasing issues with the St. Andrews Land Company and the written deed for the property. He also mentioned it was nearing completion with the furniture and crockery in place.

Discussion of interstate commerce papers. Connecting the railway to Vanceboro Maine. Continued to work with the NB Railway and purchased material for them.

Stocks in the railway were being purchased on behalf of two gentlemen in England a Dr. Parker and Mr. Henry Osbourne.
Work on the possibility of incorporating St. Andrews as a town April 1889, this was delayed because of illness and a petition against it. Later a bill was introduced again for discussion concerning the incorporation.

Serious concerns with leased land, the ensuing controversy with the St. Andrews Water Company and the selling of it.
The school situation and finding quality teachers was discussed. There were further problems with land for the new school which had been leased to settlers.

Continued client work including court cases, partnership papers, deeds and debt repayment.

Stevenson appears to still be involved with the militia and noted he had procured meat provisions through O’Neil’s for the Brigade Camp at St. Andrews.

Topics covered in the letters Stevenson copied into this letter book include:

Stevenson’s confirmation as Judge of Probate September 1882.

Continuation of his railroad work. He requested information from the Nova Scotia government on the progress of their railway. He obtain stocks and bonds in the railroad for clients.

Correspondence with Mutual Life Insurance requiring information on affairs of the Federal Government.

Consultation on a will being contested involving a gentleman who lived for a while in both Canada and the United States. He is requesting information from Maine on Probate on these matters and the credibility issues with the number of witnesses necessary when sighing the will. There were on going contested matters with the will including his children stating their father was insane at the time of writing it.

Consultation with a Mr. Hill Esq. in the United States, telling him it would not be possible to probate an estate in Washington. This would not be regarded as executed in New Brunswick for land issues.

He had ongoing issues with the Federal Government including Marine & Fisheries and the problem with postmasters resigning. Consideration was being given to add postal cars to the railway.

He wrote to the Minister of Fisheries outlining the districts in which Harbour Masters needed to be appointed.

A letter (pg.212) to the Ordnance Office, Halifax, NS Dept. of Military and Defence requesting detailed information of property leasing involving Fort Tipperary. B.R.S. was given permission the Deputy Minister to use the name Department of Justice.

He noted in a letter to a political friend that The Civil Service Act has made quite a difference in the administration of patronage since Civil Service examinations are now required.

There were still issues with the land leases where Fort Tipperary sits for the Algonquin Hotel. He continued to communicate with Sir L. Tilley on this issue.

Regular client work continued to be estate work, executor of wills, land sales, inquiring about land grants, settling land issues. Insurance work for clients. Requested old land grant information for a Francis Morang and court cases.

The estate of Eber H. Stinson (1883) was very involved and took an extensive amount of time as there were many creditors which had to be negotiated with before the settlement could take place.

Mr. McGaw bought property on (so Called Matthews Island) from Mr. Matthews who has been unwilling to leave said property. BRS has again, in December 1883, written to Mr. Matthews advising him to vacate. He advised Mr. McGaw to speak to Mr. Matthews and write down the conversation and to gather all documents related to the buying of the property.

Mr. Dick head of the Mascrene Mining Co. wrote Stevenson asking about the stock certificate values in the company. Mr. Dick is looking to use the certificates as collateral.

A client, Mr. Lorimer who was a customs agent died. The Federal Government owed him money on behalf of Mrs. Lorimer he requested payment for this gentleman’s work.

The estate of a Mr. Bolton was a complicated matter.

Personally his work included purchasing land for himself and continue to be involved with the Argyll Hotel. Work for the church (All Saints Anglican Church St. Andrews) involved interest in acquiring land and researching leases for land on the Glebe for the church. These leases could only be changed by an Act of Assembly. His run for the Federal election was defeated. He continue to request clients for payment of debts. Ordered law book catalogue New Book on Probate Law. There was research noted on information of the wreck of the schooner Viola and a request that the Justice of the Peace accept ownership of the schooner and he will be named as Master.

In May 1883 he placed an order for a large supply of building material (pg. 257).

February 1884 he is writing to say his hall is finished. The hall is 50ft. by 30ft. contains a stage with footlights for scenery, ticket office, large vestibule and anteroom with door onto stage. The popular rental price is $25 - $35 this includes lights and fuel. (pg.454)

A client from Grand Manan has been arrested the cause was unknown.

He still continued with the Masonic Lodge and worked with the Masonic Hall Company stockholders. May 1883 his term as president of the Masonic Hall Co. finished.

A letter to Sir L. Tilley requesting his intervention with the Minister of Militia to have the militia camp for May 1883 held in St. Andrews.

There continued to be problems at the school (1883) with the increased number of students and not enough teachers.

Discrete inquiries on a Mr. Charles Beckerton in San Francisco. He had a number of questions that he sought answers for. There seems to be an estate of a Mr. James Beckerton he is trying to settle.

An order of a large amount of building material, though what it was to be used for was not discussed.

In this letter book, Stevenson writes extensively regarding the New Brunswick Railway routes, ports and an international connection with Maine USA.

There were issues with finding teachers and with their qualifications. He requested teachers be replaced. A new school was proposed but land issues had to be settled.

Local election issues were discussed and his concern with the Roman Catholic influence on them. He was active in poll work. (Page 408 County Council list of electors.)
There were personal issues with the failure of the Granite Co. and his loss of money. The Auditor General was to review the situation.

His law work including discussions on the fish way on the Magaguadavic River.

The building of the Argyll Hotel occupied more of his time settling land issues and when near completion he seems to be involved in ordering things for it.

The St. Andrews Land Company was also active in his reports and the proposed building of a new summer Hotel. There were land leasing issues and he conferred with the Premier S. L. Tilly regarding Fort Tipperary. It was noted that in January 1819 the new hotel was 2/3 shingled.

There are also personal letters, one due to his wife’s illness he wrote to merchants regarding provisions for the winter which seemed to be her responsibility.

In a selection of letters copied in this book, Stevenson writes on general client issues with insurance claims, and property transactions court cases, estate and probate work, including correspondence for a client concerning a damaged schooner (Evergreen). He continued his work as Surveyor General in court cases.

As a member of legislature at this time, he writes about Legislature business and his campaign to become Speaker of the House of Assembly, as well as letters of recommendation for appointments to civil courts, for Justice of the Peace and censuses takers. He was seeking an appointment to the University of New Brunswick Senate as a representative for Charlotte County, and resigned as Common Person of the Provincial Lunatic Asylum.

His private interest with the railway lines is covered in many letters. There were issues of liability with livestock being killed because of lack of fencing on the lines. He was involved with the St. George Granite Works and also had clients that were involved in other mining issues.

The building of a large summer hotel (likely the Argyll) is discussed throughout these letters and his involvement in it which seemed to be extensive. He was also interested in communication devices for the hotel.

There were discussions with Fisheries Dept. about salmon and aquaculture, also the effect the Saxby Gale had on some rivers and restocking local rivers.

There were concerns about the safety of the Grand Manan mail boat plus bridges and roads in the county.
He continued his work and involvement with the Masonic Lodge.

A selection of topics represented in the letters copied in this book include Stevenson's development of the Saint Mark’s Masonic Lodge constitution; settling of estate issues, insurance problems for clients and settling outstanding debts of clients, property searches and house sales. One topic of note is discussion of a family court case in which papers had been served on the estate of a Mrs. Billings and a Mr. Daggett of Grand Manan who was accused of impregnating a young lady and refused to marry. Mr. Daggett was threatened with tar and feathering but escaped by boat.

This is a book of correspondence from Mr. Stevenson to and from clients and business also including his militia interest and mention of his running for the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick. As a lawyer his client work involved insurance claims for property damage, debt payment issues, lawsuits, settling accounts for clients, trial preparation notes, a list of fees for various Solicitor services, settling Estate issues.

In August 1867 he commented on the fact he was running for the Legislative Assembly of N.B. After his election to the Legislative Assembly he was appointed to a committee to write the Rules For The House New Brunswick Government 1869.

2 scrapbooks, clippings etc. of general rather than local interest. A book of agricultural reports was used for one scrapbook and the other used an 1874 report of schools in the province. Many of the items were clipped from papers that were published before Mr. Coakley was born. Dan Coakley (1875-1966) lived for a time at 'Lilac Cottage' where he was a neighbour and friend of the Stuart family.

Books consist of a hand written index ; published articles are pasted onto the pages ; poems, stories and letters are written on both of the books pages and inserted written items ; as an example there is a 1588 copy of a speech given by Queen Elizabeth I and 1786 article on the East India Company ; printed pictures have been cut out and pasted in the books. Book has also been used to press several Maple leaves.