Catholic Parishes in PEI (c. 1885) by Rev. Alfred E. Burke
Please see the Contents page for information on this and other historical sketches of PEI Roman Catholic parishes, as compiled by Father Alfred Burke circa 1885.
The Mission of St. James, Georgetown
In the history of the French occupation of St. John's Island, mention is frequently made of Trois Rivieres, or Three Rivers, a settlement on the southern and western shores of the harbour which is formed by the confluences of the Montague, the Brudenell and the Cardigan Rivers. Upon a point of land which divides the Montague from the Brudenell stood the residence of the Sieur de Roma, who was the representative of the governor of Port-la-joie in those parts, a sort of Intendant, also President of a large fishing company which existed there. He appears to have been a man of energy, anxious to further the development of the country over which he had, in a measure, jurisdiction. Especially did he wish to foster agriculture among the Acadian people, and to encourage them, he himself, had a model farm, not very far from his residence. He is said also to have had a glass factory near to this farm.
While the fighting between England and France was being furiously prosecuted on the Mainland, it chanced that the Sieur de Roma had occasion to visit the then populous French town of St. Pierre, standing at the entrance to St. Peter's Harbour. During his absence a New England privateer bore down upon Three Rivers. The enemy destroyed all before them, burning de Roma's buildings to the ground and roasting his cattle in their stalls. Shortly after this deed of arson came the fall of Louisburg, the Acadians and French fled in terror. De Roma retired to France, where he died of a broken heart, and his once flourishing settlement was swept from the face of the earth. For many years after this the mic-mac stalked in indisputed right over the clearings and through the forests that fringe the noble harbour of Three Rivers.
In 1805, a Scottish, Catholic gentleman Andrew MacDonald, esq of Eileen Shona and Arisaig, Invernesshire, having purchased a large area of property in the eastern part of Prince Edward Island, sent his family out to take possession of it, and followed them in 1806. Mr. MacDonald took up residence on Panmure Island at the mouth of the Harbour, where he erected a fine brick dwelling house and many other buildings and where he did an extensive business for many years. Besides his family, he brought with him, a following of fifty persons, who settled in the adjoining district of Gaspereaux and who it is probable, aided much in the erection of the church that shortly after their arrival was built upon Panmure Island. Beside the church was a cemetery where Mr. McDonald and his wife are buried and which was for many years a favorite place of Sepulture the dwellers in Gaspereaux bringing their dead there for internment, long after the church was removed to Georgetown.
Some years before there was a house where Georgetown now stands. Burnt Point and what is called the Royalty, were settled by seven of eight Highland Catholic families from Uist, with a sprinkling of Presbyterians from the Isle of Skye. These people formed part of the band of emigrants who came out with the Earl of Selkirk in 1802, in the good ship "Polly." The majority of Lord Selkirk's following settled in Belfast, but the Catholics of the band, with a few Protestants, hearing that there were free farms to be had at Launching in Township Fifty Five, made their way thither.
They found that the lands which had been escheated by governor Smith were all taken up and they decided to settle on what is now the Royalty of Georgetown and upon land belonging to Lord Selkirk on the Cardigan River. Lord Selkirk gave to each family on his estate, one cow, one axe and a good grubbing hoe, and to every two families he gave a quern or handmill with which to grind their corn.
After many years of successful business life at Panmure Island, the venerable Mr. Andrew MacDonald moved across the harbour to where Georgetown now stands; families of different nationalities came to settle at this point, and everything gave promise of it becoming a busy town.
About the year 1838 the old church at Panmure Island was dismantled and the boards and scantling with the addition of a large supply of fresh material, were used in the construction of a new church in Georgetown. This edifice was at first forty six feet long by thirty three wide, the builder was Mr. Joseph McDonald (Weasel). In the year 1844 a legacy of five hundred pounds was left to the church by a Mr. James McDonald M.P. and it was then enlarged and improved, and is now seventy six feet in length by thirty three in width. The altar is a fine one and very richly gilt. The Antependium which was presented by the then countess of Westmoreland to the late Rev. John MacDonald of Glenaladale, is extremely handsome. It is of crimson velvet, with the sacred monogram richly embroidered, and although in use for half a century bears little evidence of the savages of time. The aisles are carpeted with a matting, most ingeniously woven from rushes, this matting was a present to the late very Rev. D. MacDonald from some of his former parishoners in the mission of St. Columba. The Church of St. James is well supplied, and its altar, vestments, ornaments, linens, laces etc, give evidence of delicate taste and loving care on the part of the ladies of the congregation. The graveyrad is beautifully situated and contains some very handsome monuments. A fine wooden cross commemorates a mission held here by the Redemptorist Fathers in 1884. Georgetown is a parish of mixed nationalities, the Scottish slightly predominating notwithstanding the fact that an Irishman named John Kearney built the first house in its precincts and another, named John Kirwan filled the first grave in its cemetery.
The early settlers of the country surrounding Georgetown had rivers to bridge and roads to make before they could develop the resources of their farms. A story is told of the coming of the first carriage to these parts. Mr. Angus McDonald, son of Andrew McDonald Esq, of Panmure Island, carried on an extensive ship building business upon the point where de Roma held sway in the last century. One summer having occasion to visit Charlottetown, Mr. McDonald and his wife proceeded there in one of his own vessels. While in the city he purchased a horse and gig and started for home. He got on pretty well, until within a few miles of Georgetown when he came upon a cleared district where the road was only just surveyed and the men beginning work upon it. Thanks to the help rendered by these men, the vehicle was lifted over the rugged track and conveyed to its destination. Mr. MacDonalds gratitude to them was expressed by a donation of two gallons of Jamaica rum; thus was the first carriage brought to Georgetown.
There is an interesting legend told in King's County, which explains how the early priests of Georgetown came to hold stations in the house of one Hugh McPhee of Burnt Point, who is registered as a Presbyterian emigrant from Skye. Many years ago this Hugh McPhee being detained on business in the settlement of old Launching, was obliged to pass the night there, at the residence of Mr. Angus Walker. Being a man of responsible appearance, to him was allotted the bedroom usually occupied by Father McEachern, when he held a station at Launching. Scarcely had Mr. McPhee closed his eyes, when he heard a voice saying: "Eirich a leabedh an Chrisosduidh the anmuclite," rise from the bed of the blessed Christian.
He was much startled, but, being very tired, tried to imagine himself dreaming. Useless, the second time and even the thrid time, the invisible voice hissed the same words into his ear. He arose, dressed and went home, as soon as the day dawned he drove to St. Andrews made his profession of faith and was received into the church by Bishop McEachern. His brother Angus became a Catholic shortly after. From that time Bishop McEachern, Father McDonald, and Father Francis McDonald held stations at Hugh McPhee's house and it became the habitual stopping place of the priests, long before there was a presbytery in Georgetown.
In common with the other Catholic missions of Prince Edward Island, St. James was first under the care of the Rev. Aeneas McEachern, then it was attended by Rev. John McDonald of Glenaladale and afterwards by Rev. Francis McDonald who served it for forty years. In 1873 he was replaced in Georgetown by Rev. Charles McDonald, who in 1884 was succeeded by the very Rev. D. McDonald. On the 3rd January 1886, D. McDonald breathed his last in the presbytery of St. James and was succeeded in the care of the mission by the Rev. William Grant D.D. the present pastor.
Although Georgetown at one time gave promise of commercial activity, that promise has scarcely been fulfilled, yet there are several prosperous establishments doing business there, many of them in the hands of descendants of the early catholic settlers.
On Panmure Island, around which so many historic memories linger, a lobster canning establishment has usurped the place of the seigneurial chapel of the first owner, and in all directions modern industries are cautiously throwing out feelers that will in time, have a firm hold and effectually erase the remains of a picturesque past.
With the beauty of location and easy access to magnificent fishing grounds, Georgetown might, if properly advertized, become a favorite watering place. It may be that this will be brought about, and the rifle of the American tourist will ring over the country where de Roma held sway in the old regime.
First Catholic Settlers of St. James
Mission, Georgetown and Royalty
| Hugh McPhee | Skye |
| Angus McPhee | Skye |
| Angus McLellan | South Uist |
| Roderick McDonald | South Uist |
| Hugh McAulay | South Uist |
| Donald Morrison | South Uist |
| Donald McKinnon | South Uist |
| John McDonald | South Uist |
| Donald McDonald | South Uist |
| Hugh McDonald | Eileen Shona |
| John Kearney | Ireland |
| John Kirwan | Ireland |
| Thomas Burke | Ireland |
| Martin Byrne | Ireland |
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