BILL HAMILTON - TANTRAMAR FLASHBACK
The Sackville Tribune Post

An examination of the place names of the Tantramar region leads to the conclusion that they encompass, in the broadest of outlines, an historical and cultural road map of this area. Today's Flashback continues the survey (begun on Nov., 4) of a selection of these interesting place names.

It will not be a surprise to learn that Chignecto - the Isthmus that links New Brunswick and Nova Scotia - is of Mi'kmaq origin. It was traced by an authority on the language Silas T. Rand (1810-1889) to the Mi'kmaq "Sigunituk" meaning "foot cloth." Rand concluded that it was probably linked to a long lost M'kmaq legend. Chignecto Bay takes its name from the Isthmus.

The Northumberland Strait was first named Baie St. Lunario, by the explorer Jacques Cartier (1491-1557) who assumed it to be a bay rather than a strait. He entered the "bay" on July 1, 1534, the day of St. Lunario.

For a time the strait was known as the "Red Sea" because of the red-brown colour of the water following a storm. Later the name Northumberland was bestowed by Joseph F. W, Desbarres (1722-1824), once lieutenant governor of Prince Edward Island. The name honoured the flagship of Rear Admiral Lord Colville,(1770-1843) who was commander-in-chief-of the British naval forces in British North America.

Cumberland County (Nova Scotia) and Westmorland County (New Brunswick) were named because of their proximity to each other. The two counties are similiarly situated in northern England.

Lower Sackville, Middle Sackville and Upper Sackville are all offshoots from Sackville township and later parish of the same name. It honours George Germain - Lord Sackville (1716-1785). He served as Colonial secretary in the British cabinet from 1775 until 1782.

The parish of Dorchester was established in 1787.The name marks the career of Sir Guy Carleton, Baron Dorchester (1724-1808.) He served as governor general of British North America from 1786-96. Cape Dorchester was inspired by the parish name.

Johnstons Point, which extends into the Northumberland Strait, was named for Richard Johnston who settled there c.1810. Many readers will recognize Johnstons Point as the site of Camp Ta-Wa-Si, operated each summer by the United Church of Canada.

Jolicure and Jolicure Lake were named for a French family who were the first European settlers in this immediate area. Early maps give the spelling as Jollycouer. The present spelling dates from the establishment of a post office in 1838.

Johnsons Mills, located southwest of Sackville, was named for the owner of an early sawmill.

At first glance, it might appear that the communities of Melrose and Malden might be transfer names from towns in Scotland and England, or on this side of the Atlantic, for their counterparts in the state of Massachusetts. The two place names first appear as official names in New Brunswick when each community received its post offfice - Melrose (1892) and Malden (1902). Earlier, the area was known as Emigrant's Road.

The Scottish Melrose has strong literary associations as it is the name of a town and abbey in Scotland, popularized by Sir Walter Scott (1731-1832).

Mount Whatley may be traced to Robert Whatley, who settled in this area c.1794.

Morice Lake is now known as Silver Lake. Its original name, as was the case with so many place names, recognized John Morice, an early land owner in this area.

Murray Corner reveals that there was some migration directly from Scotland to the Tantramar region. David, Joseph, Andrew and John Murray settled in what became known as Murray Corner in the 1820s.

The origin of Midgic located northeast of Sacville is slated for coverage in a forthcoming Tantramar Flashback.

The Missaguash River flows south west into Cumberland Basin and forms part of the boundary between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. It is a local Mi'kmaq term, usually translated as "muskrat." The present spelling has been consistent since1901.

Point de Bute may be traced to a French place name - Pointe à Buot - a point in the Missaguash River. There is also another plausible explanation for its origin. Pierre Buot was the name of one of the first French settlers, thus the location may well have been named for him. Following the Expulsion of the Acadians in 1755, the area was resettled by emigrants from New England and Yorkshire.

Port Elgin, once known as Gaspereau, was renamed in honour of Lord Elgin (1811-1867) who served as governor general of British North America from 1846 to 1854.

Shemogue and Little Shemogue are of Mi'kmaq origin. The name is derived from the word Smooaquik and appears on early maps as Chimougoui. Its meaning has been lost; however, " a good place for geese" has been put forward as one possible meaning. Since the area lies on the migratory path for ducks and geese, there may be some truth in this suggestion.

Tonge's Island is an interesting place name located south of Aulac. In keeping with Coles Island mentioned in the previous Flashback, it is an island surrounded by marsh. In 1676 during the French colonial period, the island was part of a land grant awarded to Michel Leneuf, Sieur de la Vallière. It was renamed in 1760 for Winckworth Tonge (1727-1792). He was a local landowner and political figure in late 18th-century Nova Scotia.

At first glance, Westcock would apperar to be of English origin. There is a village in the West Country of England called Westcot; however, there is no connection with Westcock, N.B. The name may be traced on maps back to the Mi'kmaq Oakshaak of unknown meaning. The word was adapted by the French and has gone through many spellings - Oua Koc, Wascok and eventually Westcock. The latter spelling first appeared in1792 and has been consistent ever since.

It was one of the New Brunswick's outstanding scholars and historians - William Francis Ganong (1864-1941) - who once wrote: "Place Names form a permanent register or index of the course and events of a country's history; they are the fossils exposed in the cross section of that history . . . and so lasting are they that records in stone or brass are not to be compared with them for endurance."

The last two Flashbacks have provided readers with a small sampling of this "permanent register or index."

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 sdoherty@sackvilletribunepost.com. A number of previous Flashbacks may also be found in recent on-line issues of this newspaper.