MARSHFIELD AS I REMEMBER FROM 1860

by Walter Bannerman Robertson

circa 1936

Disclaimer: The editors of this book take no responsibility for the accuracy of the information contained in this section by Walter Bannerman Robertson. It is an oral history that is based upon his memory at that time.

The writer was born there in 1854 and my memory goes back to 1860, but as time goes on I wish it distinctly understood I don’t vouch for the entire correction of these joddings.

The school district of Marshfield is bounded on the West by the division line between Lots 33 & 34, on the North by the farms fronting on St. Peter’s Road, on the East by Suffolk Road and the George Vickerson Road and on the South by the East River or the farms fronting on the St. Peter’s Road.

At that date Statute Labour was in vogue and as there was some land in the Western section of Marshfield district several of the residents were obliged to perform their labour in this section, viz: McDonald, McBeath and Scott householders, in my day there were no scholars further West than the families of James Miller and Neil Stewart and when in after years scholars from these houses further west preferred attending the East Royalty School.

I will try to give an account of the householders individually who occupied the different homes and as the old adage “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread” may apply in this case I must only make the venture and claim your indulgence and will begin on the West working East taking the boundaries on the North side of St. Peter’s Road.

James Miller J.P. arrived, I am told, in the country in company with Donald McLaughlin, I have no knowledge from whence they came or of the ancestry of Mr. Miller. He was a prosperous -- ? -- farmer and money lender and purchased the

Walter B. Roberston with his daughter Florence (taken 1919)

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land at the Five Mile House from Edward C. Haythome and Robert P. Haythome who soon after exchanged a track of land they owned on Pisquid road, Lot 49 with Malcolm Forbes who then lived on part of the land which made up the “Marshfield Farm”. A man by the name of McIntosh owned a farm adjoining the Malcolm Forbes farm and the Messers Haythome purchased this farm to complete their property.

Mr. Miller J .P. in company with one or two other J .P.’s very often held the magistrates court at his house and if the case was a complicated one he would call in two instead of one Justice of the Peace.

Mr. Miller married a Miss McRae and they had family: George, Alexander, James, John, William, Donald and daughters, Margaret, wife of John Robertson, Marshfield and Annie wife of Alexander Robertson, Bonshaw. Their son John arrived from the USA bachelor and died at the Five Mile House. This James Miller was the grandfather to W. A. Miller of Charlottetown. John MacFarlane lived in a small house on the comer of the James MacFarlane farm. Quite well remember the little house with an old fashioned dug well they built by themselves and after their death the house stood for years unoccupied. Mungo was a -- ?-— in the House of Assembly. They both died there.

Courtesy of Linda Harding

Peter MacFarlane father of James MacFarlane who married Jane Robertson daughter of Robert Robertson (Dunkeld) School Teacher at Marshfield. In my school days Mary MacFarlane later wife of Capt. Crockett of Saw Mill Bridge was the only scholar attending school from this house.