During the American War of 1775, they were joined by a number of other families from New England: the district adjoining Maugerville was settled, and the whole called by the general name of Sunbury, where the Courts of Justice were held till 1783: when the peace with America left the Loyalists who had followed the British standard, to seek an asylum in some part of the British dominions.
Prior to this period a number of families from Yorkshire in England, and others from Massachusetts, had settled in and about Cumberland, where many of their descendants still remain.--These people, actuated by different attachments, lived during the war in a state of hostility with each other;--one part adhering to the British, and the other to the Americans.
In the month of April, 1783, about three thousand persons, men, women, and children, sailed from New-York for the River Saint John; many of them being passengers, but the major part persons who had joined the British army, and were now sent to this Country to be disbanded and settled. In the month of October following, about twelve hundred more arrived from the same place. Those as well as the former had to seek a shelter from the approaching winter, by building log and bark huts; a few indeed were admitted into the houses of the settlers who had resided here before and during the American war. Provisions and clothing were furnished by Government for the first year, with a few implements to commence a settlement. Lord DORCHESTER appointed the Rev. Mr. SAYRE, GEORGE LEONARD, WILLIAM TYNG, and JAMES PETERS, Esquires, as agents to apply for lands and locate them. Major STUDHOLM was soon after added to the number by Governor PARR.--This Officer at that time commanded the Garrison of Fort Howe, at the entrance of Saint John River. These agents appointed the Rev. Mr. ARNOLD for their secretary. The duties that devolved on these gentlemen were of the most arduous nature; they had however the satisfaction of receiving the thanks of the Governor and Council of Nova-Scotia, for their upright conduct in transacting that business.
In the year 1785, the present limits of New-Brunswick were divided from Nova-Scotia, and a separate Charter of a Constitution was granted to the Province, under Governor CARLETON, with a Council composed of the following gentlemen:--BEVERLEY ROBINSON, GABRIEL G. LUDLOW, GEORGE D. LUDLOW, ABIJAH WILLARD, JONATHAN ODELL, JAMES PUTNAM, JOSHUA UPHAM, EDWARD WINSLOW, WILLIAM HAZEN, GILFRED STUDHOLM, AND DANIEL BLISS.--BEVERLEY ROBINSON, ABIJAH WILLARD, and JAMES PUTNAM, died soon after, when BEVERLEY ROBINSON, the son of the former, with GEORGE LEONARD, and JOHN SAUNDERS, were appointed to succeed them. The above Members of the Council transacted the business of the Province for a long while. Governor CARLETON was authorized from the Crown to locate lands to the Loyalists and disbanded Troops in proportion to their ability and rank.