by Paul Almond
And then, out of the thunder and the wind howling around the house, he heard from afar the whisper of his name: “James. James...”
He stopped and waited. After a time he found himself answering, “Here I am.”
He placed both palms on the windowsill, staring with unseeing eyes into the blackness of the great Chaleur Bay.
“James,” the voice came again, not only in the room, but all around, even reaching into his very being.
He opened his mouth to respond, but then the voice seemed to say, “Oh ye of little faith. Have not I told you, not a sparrow falls from the air but your Father in heaven knows. How much more does He care for you?”
James lifted his hands to cover his ears. It was terrifying: words from the Bible he’d read so often, now spoken as if all around him and in him, in tones that seemed made of the light itself, though darkness covered all.
“Lord, I hear you.”
“Peace I give you, my own peace I leave with you.”
James stared, clasped his hands.
“Have faith in God, have faith in me. In my father’s house are many mansions. I have gone to prepare a place for you...”
Prepare a place? In the silent room, he beheld a shifting of light as though a veil were lifting. He seemed, indeed, able to see so much more than ever before. His brain and being were filled with knowing, such a knowing that brought on a gentle, all-embracing peace.
He nodded to himself, and made his way back to his bed. Lifting the sheets, he eased himself under the blankets and lay back with his head on the pillow, looking up at the ceiling in darkness. Sweetness filled his taste buds; sound as of a lovely ringing claimed his ears like the chiming of a million silver bells. And the knowing, ah yes, the knowing, how glorious to know, once and for all, that as he went forward, it would not be into the dark unknown, but into the lighted Known, the Welcoming Known of: “I am what I am.”
The next day, Jim and Margie saw a whole different attitude, a newly transformed parent. For them now, they could see that he had taken on, at last, his raiment of light.
Afterword
Catherine died soon after James, and in January 1864 the Shigawakers bought a half-acre from Will Skene Sr. and began work on St. Paul’s Church. The first recorded service was held in 1865, and the building was finished in 1867.
Jim’s first wife, Margie, and their two children, Catherine and Mary Jane, all passed away before 1870; no record of the reason exists. Soon afterwards, Jim married Mary Ann Macpherson and they produced ten children — the eldest, John, and the youngest, Eric, father of the author.
The graves of James and Catherine, and her mother Eleanor Garrett, are no longer marked in St. Andrew’s churchyard, New Carlisle, save by a memorial bench placed in 2006 next to the church wall by their great-grandson. And thus they lie undisturbed in the native soil of their beloved Gaspé.
Author’s Note
My great grandfather fought in 1805 under Admiral Nelson in the Battle of Trafalgar. When his man o’war, the Bellerophon, came to the New World, he jumped ship and built his new home in the Gaspé. His youngest son, my grandfather James, was born in 1835, and my father, Eric, also a youngest son, was born in 1893.
To commemorate these three ancestors, I write this series of largely fictional accounts of a family that helped found a real English community on the shores of the Gaspé Coast, and lived and farmed there for two centuries.
Acknowledgements
While this series is entirely fictional, I have nevertheless enjoyed using real factual events, people, and documents to underpin the story. And with this book, we have moved ahead to oral stories told to living octa- and nonagenarians by their grandparents. This made the writing fun to research, as well as in some ways more difficult.
For example, all the Alford relatives so described herein are real, and the schoolhouse was definitely built in this decade and at the actual spot. And although the dating of the Old Homestead building is correct, the barn was actually built ten years earlier. I hope readers can live with that. The killing of Thomas McMannus and others by the Dragoons remains to this day the most devastating slaughter of striking workers in Canadian history.
The most important source for the facts and dates in this book was Rev. G. Milne’s diaries. The Rev. Mr. Milne travelled back and forth between New Carlisle and Port Daniel from 1847 to 1878. Although some of the diaries have gone missing, these daily records of his services and weather conditions and whom he visited give the only detailed picture of life in this part of the Coast for those years, especially the last days of Eleanor Garrett and James and Catherine. The diaries survived through the good offices of Eleanor “Tikey” Blois Hall, now deceased, and the British Heritage Village and the Restigouche Historical Society, which copied and transcribed them. The story of the baby in the pig-pen comes directly from these diaries.
For the location of each Shigawake farm and its inhabitants, I have to thank Carl and Lois Hayes. Carl would answer my many questions as he threw some of his ten thousand bales of hay from the back of a truck to 130-odd beef cattle. Lois would come in from her garden, having cooked for innumerable relatives that visit, and look up her voluminous notes. They helped in the makeup of the School Commission, and gave me a map of Shigawake as it existed in 1855. I could not have written this without their cheerful and productive help. And especially, I thank them for the story (loosely interpreted herein) of how the Hayes in Shigawake turned Anglican.
The many traditions and practices of early Micmac culture were taught to me by a Native Canadian who became a friend. Roger Pelletier had run the Micmac Museum in Gaspé efficiently, making it a subject of pride for the Micmac nation, and indeed for all Gaspé. But after he had given me more notes and help on this third book, word came from the town of Gaspé that he had shot himself through the heart.
Bill Busteed’s family not only built (in 1801), but have continuously occupied, the house Jim visited, a record for the Coast. He was finally forced to move to the Eastern Townships. He filled me in on details of his ancestors, two sisters, and a “medical practitioner.”
Mario Mimeault, the distinguished Francophone historian living in Gaspé town, pointed me in useful directions and offered information about prices of the day. He also sent me photocopies of important books.
The British Heritage Village, an important repository of English lore on the Gaspé, and its founder and former chairperson, Joan Dow, and her capable daughter Cynthia, have been a great help and support throughout.
The Restigouche Genealogical Society and its president, Pennie Barbour, provided some of Rev. Mr. Milne’s transcripts and gave me helpful advice in several other ways. Pennie also runs the “almondtree” section of the Saga website.
While writing, I was determined to check out facts by other methods. Ted Wright found the foremost “wood dating lab” in Canada, the Mount Allison Dendrochronology Laboratory, located a few hundred miles away. This brilliant team of MAD scientists under their leader, Colin Laroque, descended upon the Old Homestead, took samples, and confirmed my conjectured dates for the buildings.
Paul Piehler, long-time friend and consultant, was helpful in guiding me to sources of Victorian angst reflected in the dilemma of James. Together with Maj-Britt, his wife, they helped me with the more spiritual aspects and especially with the discussions of Bishop Mountain.
My stepson Chris Elkins, now a Montrealer, was a willing and indeed eager helper, racing off with his camera to take pictures of buildings and transcribe plaques for me, some of which, like that of Nelson, have remained in place to this very day.
The great Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, many of whose poems I repeat to illuminate my darkness when the going gets tough, I decided to honour with an homage by burying a couple of his lines in my text: find them who can.
I should mention that Peter Parley’s books were wildfire best sellers in the early 1800s. I thank the departed Mr. Parley for his help, and for my quotation from him herein.
I must mention and thank another more distant cousin, Grant Almond, now deceased, who kept my computers running through thick and thin. Jacquie Czernin, the startlingly attractive but unseen host on CBC’s Quebec Community Network Radio is also a supporter of these books about her constituency; I thank her and her producer Peter Black. And of course, my Cambridge University friend, David Stansfield, who with his wife Denyse designed my website, and read and corrected the final manuscript. And so important, Cynthia Patterson, a whirlwind supporter of the saga.
Finally, I should acknowledge my former housekeeper for providing me with material from which to shape one of the characters herein.
READERS: I have been blessed by some good advice: Orla Brady, a stunning Irish actress of no little talent, helped with Irish accents and edited some scenes. Diana Colman Webster, a textbook author of substance and my friend from Oxford, proved amazing. Again, the Rev. Susan Klein in the midst of a busy schedule running her large church in Westwood gave me advice on the religious ceremonies and provided general insights. Oren Safdie, the playwright, took time from the London opening of his latest play: Private Jokes, Public Places, to read this and give helpful notes. Jennifer Bydwell, a dynamic film executive also had lots of ideas and corrections for me, as did Catherine Evans, now retired but possibly the finest English teacher in all Quebec. My good friend Prof. Danielle Cyr gave a last look over the manuscript, correcting the French as well as the grammar. The lovely Diana Roman, my former assistant, with her sharp eyes and generous spirit helped as a Californian by clarifying some Gaspesian references and modes of speaking. Lynda Robinson Boyd provided help as well as being a welcoming Toronto hostess.
Cousin Ted Wright has been my main partner is this whole endeavour. No mean historian himself, he designs and builds crab traps for La Fine Mouche, often supervising a bevy of tough but luxuriously shaped Francophone women. Each morning around five as the sun rose, he set a fire burning in the big iron stove which heats his wing of the Old Homestead before heading out to work. At that time, and at dinner midday, we would thrash out the details of how lives were lived at the mid-century of the 1800s. Acknowledgements such as mine cannot fully express my immense gratitude to him, but more especially for the fun we engender together!
Appendix: Historical Background
(Note: Differing spellings of present-day Shigawake, and that Catherine could not write.)
Deed of Transfer to Son-in-Law Thomas Byers on September 2nd, 1862
Number 624 Entered and registered at the hour of ten in the forenoon of the first day of September, one thousand eight hundred and sixty two. Province of Canada District of Gaspe. This indenture, made and executed at Chicouac [sic] in the County of Bonaventure, District of Gaspe,
Witnesseth that I James Almond of Shegouac, farmer, have given granted, transferred and made over and by these presents do give grant transfer and make over unto my son in law, Thomas Byers, of Shegouac [sic] aforesaid, Farmer, that certain lot of land situated at Shecouac aforesaid containing thirty superficial acres more or less and bounded on the north by the line of the second concession, south by the Queen’s Highway and on the two other sides by the lands belonging to me James Almond to have and to hold the same for the sole use and benefit of the aforesaid Thomas Byers and his heirs forever hereafter.
Given under my hand and seal at Chigouac [sic] aforesaid this third day of February, one thousand and eight hundred and sixty two.
James Almond, signature.
I Catherine Garrett wife of the above James Almond do hereunto set my hand and seal in token of my consent hereby given to the above donation and do by these presents relinquish all right of dower in the same. Catherine (X) Garrett [her mark]
William Gore Lyster, Clerk, John D. Delaney witness.
Deed of Transfer to Grandson John on September 1st, 1862
Number 625 Entered and registered at the hour of ten in the forenoon of the first day of September, one thousand eight hundred and sixty two. Province of Canada District of Gaspe. This indenture, made and executed at Chicouac [sic] in the County of Bonaventure, District aforesaid,
Witnesseth that for and in consideration I James Almond of Shigawake far mer have given granted transferred and made over and by these presents do give grant transfer and make over unto my grandson John Almond of Shigawake aforesaid Farmer that certain lot of land situated at Chigouack [sic] aforesaid containing thirty three superficial acres more or less and bounded on the north by the line of the second concession on the south by the Bay of Chaleur on the east by lands belonging to me James Almond and in the west by the lands of John Young, to have and to hold the same, for the sole use and benefit of the aforesaid John Almond and his heirs forever hereafter given under my hand and seal at Chedouac [sic] aforesaid, this third day of February One Thousand Eight Hundred & Sixty Two.
James Almond, signed.
And I Catherine Garrett, wife of the above grantor James Almond do hereunto set my hand and seal in token of my consent hereby given to the above donation & do by these presents relinquish all right of dower in the same. Catherine (X) Garrett (signed etc)
James Almond’s Sale of a Brook Site to Harvey Manderson, 1849
This indenture made 30 day of December, 1850, in the county of Bonaventure and the Province of Canada East
Made the twenty seventh day of October, in the year of our Lord, One thousand Eight Hundred and forty nine, Between James Almond, of the Township of Hope, in the county of Bonaventure and District of Gaspe farmer, and Harvey A. Manderson of Bonaventure, in the county and District aforesaid Millwright, of the other part, Witnesseth That, for and in consideration of the sum of Twenty Pounds, current money of the Province of Canada, to the said James Almond, in hand paid by the said Harvey A. Manderson at or before the execution of these presents, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged by the said James Almond, He the said James Almond hath granted, bargained, Sold and confirmed, and by these presents doth grant, bargain, sell, and confirm unto the said Harvey A. Manderson, his heirs and assigns for ever, all that certain piece, parcel or Lot of land, intended for a Millsite or Sites, situated on the West side of the Shedawac [sic] Brook and being a part of lot number forty in the first Range in the Township of Hope in the possession and occupied by the vendor, bounded on the East by the East line of the said lot number forty, on the South and West by a line where fourteen feet perpendicular hight [sic] from the Bed of Brook intersects the highland until it meet the said brook.
The Reverend Mr. Milne’s Diaries, 1848–63 (Excerpts)
(Note again: Different spellings of Shigawake; also that Diaries confirm church services in Port Daniel, and afterwards, in Shigawake school. And finally, see that a new Catherine is born as old Catherine expires.)
31 Dec 48 — Road appeared very bad and snow, drifting much. Left with Mr. Christie about 10 o’clock to try to get to Hopetown for service, as there seemed no chance of getting to Port Daniel. Found the road very heavy and much drifted up, and the wind getting stronger, and snow drifting very much. Saw no likelihood that people would come out. Went a little beyond Assels Bridge, turned back, about an hour from time of leaving till getting home again... day rather worse p.m. and evening.
July 26, 50 — Got to Port Daniel at 2 p.m. At 5 p.m. there was a service in the schoolhouse. I read Prayers and Lessons. More than 50 present.
23 Apr 51 — D. Bisson called requesting me to go down to visit Mr. Almond at Shigawack [sic], but not able to go, having got cold on Sunday and Monday and had rheumatism in my back.
30 Apr 51 — Went to Shiguock [sic] to visit Mr. Almond — found him sitting up and getting better. Spoke with him a considerable time.... Found road through the woods pretty good but very bad through Hopetown and the farther part of Nouvelle and Shigwack [sic], large banks of snow and much water.
Break in Diary (notes lost from 1851–59):
1859 July Visit by Bishop Mountain
12 — The Bishop landed at 5 a.m. at Point St. Peter and is to be at Port Daniel on T
hursday, 14th p.m. for a confirmation. Then we came on and arrived at Paspébiac between 12 and 1. Found all well and in order. Sunday many visitors. Mr. Lyster up. Informed him that he would have to come up tomorrow for examination as the Bishop intended to ordain him on Sunday.
15 — Left Mr. Carter’s at 9 a.m. Called at Mr. Lyster’s and then went on to Shigawake Schoolhouse for service where I read prayers. Mr. Lyster lessons and Bishop confirmed 10 and preached. Lunch at Mr. Thomas Byer’s and went on to Hopetown and had service. After service at Hopetown, we came on here and arrived at 5-1/2 p.m. After tea the Bishop examined Mr. Lyster’s papers which were sustained and then he was examined in Greek and on Evidences etc. etc. Answered to our Satisfaction.
16 — The Bishop expressed his satisfaction with the whole of the arrangements and services.
Continuing Excerpts:
25 June 60 — Called to see Mrs. [Eleanor] Garrett.
15 Oct 62 — Went to Shigouac [sic] for the Meeting in Mr. Lyster’s Mission, which was held in Schoolhouse, all Church Wardens present.
6 Nov 62 — Buried at St. Andrew’s Church, New Carlisle, Eleanor Caldwell, widow of the late William Garrett in lifetime of Cox, Farmer, who died early yesterday morning at Shigouac, over 90 years old. Very rainy.
28 Feb 63 — On way to Port Daniel called at Messrs. McGie’s, A. Smiths and Almonds — old Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Mr. and Mrs. Almond, all very poorly.
4 Apr 63 — Visited Widow Charlson in Jail for Concealment of pregnancy and murder of child by leaving it to be eaten of Pigs, only a Small part of Head and an arm found in the morning. She seems penitent. Shewed her the greatness of her sin and exhorted her to repent and turn to God for Mercy in Xt.
