You will find Campbellton at the very top of the province,
Click here to see a MAP OF NEW BRUNSWICK
Campbellton sits with the banks of the Restigouche River to one side and Sugarloaf Mountain to back it up on the other.
Campbellton seen from the West. Cradled on the left, by the Van Horne bridge which lies across the Restigouche River and on the right, by Sugarloaf Mountain
Across the river from Campbellton is Cross Point (now called Pointe a la Croix) and Restigouche, a Micmac Indian reservation.
Point Pleasant, later Cross Point and now Pointe a la Croix..
In 1760 this same piece of waters on the Restigouche river was the site of the "Battle of the Restigouche". It was the last battle fought for surpremacy in British North America between the English and the French. British occupation of the land began in 1773, thirteen years later, when two young Aberdeen Scotchmen, John Duncan and Robert Adams, started the salmon fishing industry and planted the first trading-post, 3 miles west of Campbellton, at Old Church Point.
In 1769, Hugh Baillie, a Scotsman, and
a partner of George Walker, built a large trade in fish and fur hides and
salted salmon. Baillie sold his property to John Shoolbred, a merchant
from London. In 1773 Shoolbred established the first permanent settlement
on the Restigouche. His agent, William Smith, brought 8 Aberdeen fisherman
(two of which were John Duncan and Robert Adams) and their families and
the above salmon fishing industry was set in place..
From 1785 to 1787, Shoolbred leased the property at Old Mission Point to
Samuel Lee..then in 1788, Shoolbred lost his title to the land and Samuel
Lee obtained a direct grant to it.
Shortly after, Lee set aside some land for the Old Athol House Cemetery
about 1790..which is still still there behind the Atholville Pulp Mill.
The oldest stone reads 1791.
The Caledonian Society of Restigouche put the history of the Cemetary
together for the Memorial Service, held in 1972.. They have done a remarkable
amount of work in and around this cemetery in restoring stones to as close
as their original state as possible..
Athol House Cemetery
CHURCH OF STE ANNE OF RESTIGOUCHE
Where my father, Maurice Doyle Jr., is buried, next to the river
In 1794, Alexander Ferguson, a Scotsman from Perth, Scotland, settled in
Restigouche and his brother Robert joined him there two years later.
Alexander died in 1803 and Robert carried on. He bought land from Samuel
Lee's widow which included, Old Mission Point, Ferguson Point this is all
pretty well known today as Atholville, NB. In 1812, Robert built a residence
and store which was known as Athol House. It was a landmark for little over
80 years..In 1895 or 1896 it was completely destroyed by fire. Athol House
was within walking distance from the
Athol House
Cemetery.
The Athol House church was used until the Presbyterian Church was built in
Campbellton in 1834.
It is beleived, Rev John Young, came to this Athol House community around
1808. He was a man of 6 foot 6 inches, known to have the "eye of a hawk"
and he passed away at age 66.
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This page was designed by Irene Doyle