for the elected assembly and “could not see why such a small colony needed Responsible Government.”2 The feeling was that the people were not educated enough to run their own government and, while the governor of the colony listened to the assembly, he was under no obligation to carry out its wishes. No bill could become law unless approved by the British gov- ernrnent.

Men such as Allan Fraser lobbied to have the cabinet cho- sen from the group with the largest number of members in the assembly. Fraser’s stance was approved by the voters of sec— ond Prince as the newspaper The Constitution issue of August 22, 1846 reports: “Allan Fraser has been elected to represent the people of 2nd Prince in the P.E.I. Assembly.”3

Although Fraser was not considered a big player in the fight for Responsible Government, he played an elTective role in ensuring that P.E.I. was not governed in opposition to the wishes of the people. In 1851, England granted Responsible

Government to the Island.‘ When that first Responsible Government was formed on

On March 12, 1850, Fraser April 23, 1851, Allan Fraser was appointed

presented a petition on behalf collector of customs. 5

of diverse Acadian French The new government turned its atten- Settlers on township of Lot 15 tion to settling the land question on the for “the House to use its influ- Island. The tenant farmers were unable to ence with the Government to prosper in a situation of paying rents to procure an extension of the landlords, many of whom were absent. time limit for the payment of They worked long hours to clear and their first installment of the improve their rented land only to end up, in

price of their lands and which many cases, being put off their small farms. from failure of their crops they Allan Fraser fought for the right of Islanders

are unable to meet.” Fraser to own their own land. However, he retired was then on the committee to from the assembly in 1854 with the issue examine and report to the unsettled.

House.6 Fraser also served as a Justice of the

236

Peace in Prince County; The Hutchinson P.E.I. Directory for 1864 shows he was serving at that time. Allan and his wife Sarah, are believed to be buried in unmarked graves in the Lot 16 United Church Cemetery. The date of death for Allan Fraser is unknown.

LOT 16 UNITED CHURCH AND ITS PEOPLE