Family-histories and genealogies : containing a series of ...

23-2 5
own government, and paid for it; supported their own clergy, defended themselves,
and educated themselves.
" ' The cement of common interests, hopes and duties, compacted the whole
people like a rock of conglomerate.'
" °
" By men of this stamp the townships of Horton and CornwalHs were
settled more than twenty years before the loyalist emigration to Nova
Scotia at the close of the American War.
" A portion of the early settlers, becoming dissatisfied, returned to
New England. A succession of bad seasons discouraged the more ardent
adventurers, while the inroads of the aborigines terrified others. Jehiel
De Wolf had a serious encounter with one of these, and came off victorious.
" Commercial intercourse was kept up with the neighboring States,
the trade being chiefly with Eastport and Boston.
" Intermarriages between the new settlers and those to whom they had
been affianced before the exodus were not unfrequent. Young men
resorted to New England to claim their brides, and brought them to their
new home in Acadia, while the daughters of the emigrants were sought in
marriage by residents of the Eastern States. Even to the present day this
form of reciprocity has not died out.
" The original grant to the inhabitants who settled the township of
Horton was issued 19"' July 1759, having been first submitted to the dele-
gates from Connecticut for their approval. The time of occupation was
however deferred until the following spring, owing to depredations by
French and Indians.' By ii*"" May 1760 forty famiHes had arrived.
" This grant comprised one hundred thousand acres, in two hundred
shares, of which one hundred and thirty were allotted as follows : one and a
half shares each to thirty heads of families, one share each to sixty, and a half
share each to forty-nine settlers. The names of all are stated in the grant.
"On the 29"" May 1761 this was cancelled, on application from the
inhabitants, and a new grant made out affording clearer legal titles to the
individual grantees.
"Among the early settlers of Horton were three of the descendants
of Balthasar De Wolf— Simeon, Nathan and Jehiel—who emigrated to
' " Characteristics of New England Colonists of the Eighteenth Century— Parkman."
' " Government-records at Halifax."
137