The Keillors were men of integrity, with a good deal of combativeness in their make up, and not noted for polished address.The following story is told of one of the Keillor boys: One morning when taking a load of port to the fort, at the time the Eddy rebels were at Camp Hill, he was met by a young man on horseback.The young man, after eliciting from Mr.Keillor where he was taking the pork, ordered him to turn about and take it to the rebel camp.This Mr.Keillor refused to do point blank.In the parley and skirmish that followed Mr.Keillor managed to dehorse his man, bind him on the sled, and forthwith delivered him safely at the fort with his carcasses of pork.The young man proved to be Richard John Uniacke, who afterwards became one of the most celebrated of Nova Scotia's public men.In after years, when Mr.
Uniacke had become Attorney-General of Nova Scotia, and able lawyer, and a good loyal subject, he was conducting a case in the Amherst Court-house.This same Mr.Keillor was called forward as a witness, and during the cross-examination, when things were probably getting a little uncomfortable for the witness, he ventured to say to Mr.
Uniacke:
"I think we have met before, sir."
Mr.Uniacke replied rather haughtily, "You have the advantage of me, Ibelieve."
"And it is not the first time I have had the advantage of you," replied Mr.Keillor.
"When was this?" asked Mr.Uniacke, in a tone that showed how fully he considered himself the master of the situation.
Mr.Keillor replied, "At the time of the rebellion, when I delivered you, a rebel and a prisoner, to the fort along with my pork."It is said that the Attorney-General left the further conduct of the case to his subordinates.
Thomas, the brother who settled in Amherst, was once warned as a juryman to attend court, to be held in a building little better than a barn.When Mr.Keillor was chosen on a cause, and came forward to the desk to be sworn, he refused absolutely to take the oath.When remonstrated with, he said, "I will never consent to hold the King's Court in a barn." And this juryman, who was so zealous of the King's honor, was allowed to have his own way.The outcome of this was that soon after the county erected at Amherst a suitable building for a court-house.
WARD.
The name Ward was early on the Isthmus.Nehemiah was one of the first grantees of Cumberland.Jonathan Ward, the first to settle in Point de Bute, came from New England in 1760.It is said his coming to this country was occasioned by his falling in love with a young lady whose parents objected to his becoming their son-in-law.The lady, however, was willing to accept her lover without the parents' consent.An elopement was planned and carried out, the young couple coming to Cumberland to set up housekeeping.Mrs.Ward did not live very long after her marriage, and left a young daughter.This daughter was twice married, first to a Mr.Reynolds, and after his death to an Englishman named Merrill.From this union came the Merrills of Sackville, a name quite common in that parish seventy-five years ago, but now extinct.
Jonathan Ward married, as his second wife, Tabitha -----, a young woman who accompanied his first wife when she left her home in New Haven.
They settled in Upper Point de Bute, and lived to a great age, Mr.Ward being ninety-six at his death.Stephen, the only son, inherited the home place and married a Miss Folsom.The Folsoms were from New York, and one of them came to Prince Edward Island to attend to business for the firm.While there he married.Soon after this event Mr.Folsom seems to have been caught by the land craze that few men escaped at that date, and got a large grant of land in Antigonishe County, Nova Scotia.Before they got fairly settled in their new home, Mrs.Folsom died, leaving a daughter.Mr.Folsom soon after left his grant of land and with his little daughter came to Fort Cumberland.Leaving her with friends he went away and was never heard of again.It was supposed he was lost at sea.
The Wards were originally from Wales.Of Stephen Ward's family, Henry and William settled at Point de Bute, and Nathaniel at Wood Point, N.B.
DICKSON.
Major Thomas Dickson, the first of the name on the Isthmus, was one of the New England soldiers present at the taking of Fort Beausejour in 1755.The family were originally from the north of Ireland, and emigrated to the old colonies.
Major Dickson served under General Amherst, and his family had in their possession up to a few years ago a document in which General Amherst commissioned Major Dickson to do certain work that necessitated great risk and skill if it were to be successful.
Thomas Dickson's name is on the list of the first grantees of Cumberland Township, and he received a grant of a large block of land about a mile above Point de Bute Corner, on which he afterward settled.
He married a Miss Wethered, and had a family of ten children--James, Dalton, Thomas, Charles, John, Robert, Nancy, Mary, Sarah, and Catherine.Mary married a Mr.Harper, Nancy a Mr.Gleanie, Sarah a brother of Col.John Allan, and after his death Thomas Roach, Esq., of Fort Lawrence; James married Susanna Dickson, and remained on the homestead.Of the other sons, Thomas Law settled in Amherst and represented the county for some years in the Provincial Legislature;Robert, Charles and John entered the British navy.John was shot in an engagement in the English Channel.Robert was drowned in Shelburne Harbor.His vessel was lying in the stream, and he, while in the town, laid a wager that he could swim to the ship.He attempted it, but lost his life in the effort.Charles left the navy and settled in Machias, where he left a large family.
