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History
 Beaubears Island and Wilsons Point History
Through thousands of years
and many cultures, the island has stood like a sentinel, marking history in cruel and kind ways. Slicing the mighty Miramichi
River into 2 branches it served as a centuries old Mi'kmaq meeting ground for trade and stories of the hunt. The Natives
who knew the island well called it Quoomeneegook (pine island)
The Miramichi was first visited by famous French
explorer, Jacques Cartier who referred to the river as Missamichi. In 1672, Nicholas Denys (Governor of most of Acadia) became
the first Acadien settler in the French colony known as L'Acadie , now called New Brunswick . He gave his son Richard
a trading post which was set up here at Miramichi.
Following Richard's death, in 1691, French activity in and
around the Miramichi slowed a great deal. By 1755, however, the tensions between the French and British Empires brought
about the Seven Year's War. Caught between the warring kingdoms were the Acadians, who felt unable to trust either the
French or British, and wished to remain neutral. The British government in Nova Scotia sought to compel the Acadians to swear
allegiance to King George II. When the Acadians refused, the British laid siege to Fort Beausejour. After the fort fell, the
deportation order was read aloud and ships began to take the Acadians away, with no regard to family or kinship. Marquis Charles
des Champs de Boishébert (from which the island is named) brought thousands of fleeing Acadiens to Beaubears Island
and the surrounding lands. Many of these Acadiens perished through starvation and disease while awaiting rescue. By 1760 the
entire settlement was in ashes under orders from English commodore John Byron.
Fortunately,
many Acadien family names live on in the Miramichi today such as Savoie, Martin, Breau, Robichaud, just to name a few.
Ship Building History
For a century Beaubears Island shipyards bustled
with Irish and Scottish shipwrights and carpenters, stores and homes. The first of these was William Davidson and John Cort
who arrived from Scotland in 1765 to establish a fishery and ship mast business for the British Royal Navy. William
Davidson, built the area's first ship, the 300 ton schooner, "Miramichi" in 1773.
After the death
of Davidson in 1790, friend and fellow Scot, James Fraser, acquired the business interests in fishing, shipbuilding and lumbering.
It became the largest business establishment in New Brunswick. When Fraser died in 1822, his cousin, John, ran the business
until 1837. After 47 years as a family owned business it was put up for sale.
Joseph Russell, who owned the island
from 1837-1850 was a prolific ship builder who built as many as five large ships at once. In total, he built 26 ships on the
island. A deeply religious man he became a Mormon and left his beloved island in 1850. Although he moved to Salt Lake City
his heart belonged to the island. He buried 7 of his children in the "Russell Tomb", which you will visit on your
tour. (most people think it to be a jail because of the bars on the window)
In 1850 it became the property of George Burchill and famed master builder, John Harley.
Peter Mitchell, one
of the most famous "Fathers of Canada Confederation" and first Minister of Marine and Fisheries also owned the island
from 1871-1893. It is interesting to note that because of his portfolio, Mitchell was instrumental in getting the main railway
in Miramichi and Sanford Flemming designed the railway bridge that passes by the west end of the island.
In 1893,
Hubert Sinclair of Sinclair's Mill, (see archival postcard in virtual gift shop) bought the island from Mitchell.
The Island then passed between several owners in a thirty-year period, until it came into the possession of J. Leonard O'Brien
of Nelson in 1920. O'Brien was a politician of some note, the Speaker of the Provincial Legislature from 1925 to 1930,
and Lieutenant Governor from 1958 to 1965. O'Brien owned the island for some fifty-three years, and acted largely as a
caretaker, allowing only a few friends access. After his death in 1973, the island was willed to Parks Canada and opened as
a National Historic Site in 1979.
Beaubears Island is believed to be the only untouched shipbuilding site left
intact in Canada. The remains of slips, wharves and foundations are very visable due to the fact that no one has lived on
the island for over a hundred years.
Visitors will see spectacular old growth pines, lilacs, plum trees and wildlife.
Moose, deer, fox and a pair of nesting Bald Eagles are regularily sited on the island.
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