Strickland, the other partner of the Firm. The goods run the gamut of colonists’ needs, from West India Spirits, and Cogniac Brandy, to Loaf Sugar and Molasses, from Mold and Dipt Candles to Blanketts, Rugs and Coverlids; from Gunpowder and Shot of all Numbers, but mostly Goose and Duck, to Tobacco and Snuff; from ships’ Cables, Cordage and Blocks to Knitting Needles. There were Iron Pots, Camp Ovens, and Tea Kettles, all sorts of Earthenware and Hardware, and materials such as Linnens, Flannels, and Embossed Serge; in a fine mix, Spelling Books are listed next to Horse Collars. The ladies were not forgotten: there were Muslins, Gauzes, Dimity, Printed Cottons and Linnens (the Cotton to be lightly striped), and a Small Assortment of Parfume. It must have been quite a store.

James Curtis married Elizabeth (Betsy) Lawson, younger daughter of David and Helen Lawson of Stanhope, probably between 1780 and 1784, and they apparently had one son, aged under 10 in 1784 (from the muster roll of St. John’s Volunteers, 12 June, 1784). They lived at “Poplar Grove”, near the tip of the Stanhope peninsula, having 200 acres held from the Lord Chief Baron Montgomery; this land was situated between those of Cornelius Higgins and William Lawson; in 1829 it was purchased by Donald and Alexander MacLauchlan from Montgomery, described as all that land known as Poplar Grove Farm. In the census of 1798 the Curtis household consisted of three males aged 16 to 60, one of whom was probably James’ son, and one female aged 16 to 60; the other male may have been one John MacNichol (reference Andrew MacEwen). We find no further mention of the son; he is not in James Curtis’ Will of 1792, in which he leaves everything to my Most Dearly beloved wife Elizabeth. Lawson, who was the sole executrix. James died on November 19, 1819 at Cove Head, and Elizabeth on December 19, 1834, also at Cove Head. In Elizabeth’s Will she left everything to Mr. John Douglas, the sole executor, including such special items as three china Dishes, four Flower pots, one coffie mill and mahogniy knife case four silver spoons, three cruets and stand one looking glass and knife box There ends the Curtis family, as far as we know.

DARROCH or DARRACH

Arriving from Colonsay, Scotland, on the ship Spencer in 1806 were several people by the name of DarroCh. This name is quite common in Scotland, meaning “son of oak”, and they belong to the “Clan Donald”. Among them were Catherine, Rachel, Angus, James, Archibald, Duncan and Malcolm Darroch and Donald Shaw, the son-in—law of Angus. Of all these, only Angus and Malcolm settled in Lot 34; the rest went to Lots 31 and 65.

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