More Memories of the Dorchester traveller Alexander Black

Some time ago the career of Alexander Black (1833-1903), a native of Upper Dorchester, was featured in a series of Flashbacks.
In addition to his fascinating international travels, Black was a man of many parts. He usually described himself modestly as a "farmer;" however, that was merely one aspect of his many-sided career. Black was also a skilled carpenter and craftsman. The Dorchester United (formerly Methodist) Church provides examples of his ability in this direction.
But beyond these achievements Black would be characterized, were he alive today, as an entrepreneur extraordinare. It was his good luck to live during the 'Golden Age of Sail.' From his early years onward, he literally "haunted" the Dorchester shipyards and seemingly never missed a launching. In addition, from 1870 until 1894, he kept a diary which is an important primary source in helping unravel the history of this region.
As a young man, Black started his business career by buying shares in Dorchester ships, then sailing the 'Seven Seas.' The money thus made was shrewdly reinvested. Eventually Black amassed sufficient capital to permit owning at least two brigantines. Once he reached this stage, Alexander Black would often hire someone to look after the farm and "take off" to wherever one of his ships - the Bessie May or the Arabella might be destined. It also helped that he was a bachelor with few immediate family ties.
To place his career in context, today's column picks up Alexander Black's story just over a century ago, on Jan. 1, 1887. As a farmer and seasoned sailor, he was always preoccupied with the weather. Thus we know that this New Year on the Tantramar was ushered in with 'a heavy rain' and that it was not until a week later that there was sufficient snow for 'good sleighing.'
Although keenly interested in politics, his diary entries on this topic in the winter of 1887 are tantalizingly brief. This is surprising since this period witnessed a hard-fought federal election. A life-long Liberal, Black simply noted that his party's nominating convention for the Westmorland constituency was held on Jan. 19, 1887 at Robb's Hall in Dorchester.
Henry R. Emmerson (1853-1914) was nominated as the Liberal candidate. His Conservative opponent was the sitting member Josiah Wood (1843-1927), later to be named a Senator and elected as the first mayor of Sackville.
Black's only additional reference to the election was to record that Wood was the winner on "polling day" Feb. 22, and that March 1 was "Declaration day for the Dominion election." Since the Conservative party under the leadership of Sir John A. Macdonald swept to re-election over the Liberals led by Edward Blake, this imminent possibility may have had some bearing on Black's lack of comment on the campaign.
It is worthy of note that Henry R. Emmerson's defeat in 1887 did not signal the end of this Dorchester lawyer's political career. He was later to be elected to the provincial legislature for Albert County and served briefly as Premier from 1897 to 1900. He then entered federal politics and was Minister of Railways and Canals from 1904 to 1907 under the administration of Sir Wilfrid Laurier.
Alexander Black kept "busy as usual" during the winter and spring of 1887. He reports laying a new floor in the carriage house, repairing horse stalls, tending cattle and constructing the frame for a grindstone. Beyond this, there was the daily routine of farm duties, always described by Black as "choring."
Interspersed were trips to Moncton, Sackville and Westmorland (now Aulac). On the social side, Black mentions attending "box socials." These were events in which decorated boxes filled with food were offered at auction to male bidders. The successful bidder had the privilege of eating and dancing with the woman who prepared the box. During the summer months, events such as the Methodist Strawberry Festival helped fill Black's social calendar.
Throughout 1887, Black never lost interest in his role as "a man of business." In the technological age that is the 21st century, immediate communication with other parts of the world is taken for granted. How then, did Black know on March 28, 1887 that the Bessie May had arrived safely in Le Havre, France, on a voyage from Jamaica?
The answer was a matter of seafaring courtesy. To illustrate: The captain of a ship ready to leave Le Havre for Boston would carry a message destined for Black. On arrival in Boston, another ship bound from the latter port for Dorchester Island would take the message directly to its destination. Despite the time lag involved, this was often faster than regular post, and many sea captains of the day cooperated in this unique form of communication.
On other occasions Black was able to use the telegraph service to follow the location of his ships.
Aside from his overseas journeys, Black frequently undertook local excursions. On April 18, 1887 he travelled to Harvey Bank on Shepody Bay "to inspect a schooner then being built in the Turner Shipyard." He returned partly by ferry via Hopewell Hill and eventually arrived back home in Upper Dorchester.
While away on this trip he experienced a late Nor-Easter snowstorm which, on the positive side, permitted 'good sleighing.'
From April until June he was mainly confined to home base pruning the orchard, butchering and planting his extensive garden and seed crops. Throughout this period Alexander Black continued to monitor the progress of his ship the Bessie May. By April 12, 1887 she had arrived in New York on a voyage from Fowey located on the English Channel coastline of Cornwall, England. Because of his earlier travels, particularly to Boston and New York, he had made the acquaintance of ship brokers in ports such as these.
Consequently Black was able to arrange through these agents, bookings for the Bessie May. As an example: He recorded on Jun. 23, 1887 that "she was chartered in New York for a voyage to Port Elizabeth [located to the east of Capetown South Africa], for the lump sum of £775." A small fortune in 1887!
June 21, 1887 was an important date in New Brunswick and elsewhere in the then British Empire. It marked the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria's accession to the throne. Alexander Black did not mention the extent of local celebrations for a good reason. He had decided to travel by train, along with his two sisters, to Saint John. There they were able to take advantage of the Jubilee celebrations or, as he expressed it, "to enjoy the entertainment of the day."
During the summer of 1887, Black was completely immersed in farming activities, particularly haying and harvesting crops. However, one may safely conclude that he was already 'dreaming' about his next sea voyage on board the Arabella.
On Aug. 11 he records that he had successfully arranged to ship a cargo of stone from Downing's Cove, on the Nova Scotia side of Chignecto Bay, to Philadelphia. Bitten by the travel bug, Black soon resolved to take a break from the farm and travel south on the Arabella. When making such voyages he normally signed on as the "ship's carpenter" as he was fully qualified to fulfill such duties.
Thus it was that on Sept. 30, 1878 he finished hauling and stacking hay and left for Wood Point where the Arabella was waiting to leave for Philadelphia.
Black was always interested in navigation and when at sea his voyages may be easily tracked on a nautical map.
This particular trip got off to a slow start due to a head wind and heavy rain. This forced the Arabella to anchor off Grindstone Island and later, in another turn of the weather, the brigantine was "becalmed" near Quaco Head - to the east of Saint John Harbour.
Each day Black carefully recorded their location, as they sailed down the eastern seaboard from Grand Manan to Delaware Bay. They anchored in the latter location at 6 p.m. on Oct. 12. The next day the Arabella sailed up the Delaware River, and docked at the mouth of the Schuylkill River and "commenced to unload a cargo of stone."
Since the following day was a Sunday, Black explored the city of Philadelphia. He also took time to see his old Dorchester friend William Hickman, who was then in a local hospital. The return trip was without incident and the Arabella dropped anchor at Dorchester Island at 4 p.m. on Oct. 26. As Black noted in his diary, he was away for a mere 22 days. Not a bad reprieve from "choring" on the farm!
One question may well be asked. "Of what significance is this routine voyage in 2008?" The answer is that for several generations during the 19th century, ships such as the Bessie May, along with hundreds of others, played an important role in international trade and commerce. Even today it should be recognized that this experience has left its imprint not only on the Tantramar, but on other parts of the region.
A Maritime poet Bill Howell once made the point in caustic vein when he wrote: "Those without roots will never forgive . . . those who have them."
Ideas for, or comments about Tantramar Flashbacks, may be addressed to Bill Hamilton in care of the Sackville Tribune Post, 80 Main Street, Sackville, NB, E4L 4A7, or via e-mail at tribune@nbnet,nb.ca