A special act of the legislature also made Richibucto the Shire town.
This recristening was in the new Court House at the South side of the
town.
There was a good crowd present that day,
and among the spectators there were a lot of Micmacs. The Micmac Chief
who was present must have had a great sense of humor, for ‘tis said
that when it was finally decided to rename the town he arose to speak.
The Micmacs, he believed should have their say in the new name. "First
you change the name from Richibucto to Liverpool, and now not satisfied
you want to change it back to Richibucto" Then pointing to the big flag
pole in front of the building he said, "Why not call the town --- "MAGTAOEGENATGOIGTOG"
(Where there is a big flag pole).
Old Judge Botsford, father of the later
Judge of that name, was the first Judge of the Supreme Court and he
happened to be present when the Chief made the above suggestions. He
laughingly suggested that they take the Chiefs advice. But not one of
the many persons present could get his tongue around that long word,
and after many fruitless attempts to pronounce the strange word they
gave it up and the Chief left the building laughing loudly.
In 1830, Richibucto contained 48 dwelling
houses. There were 7 mercantile establishments, a large court house,
a jail, Post Office, and Treasury.
It had increased rapidly because 15 years before in 1815 it comprised
only 10 houses 2 stores 1 school.
Although in 1830, it contained 48 houses there was a French village
near the harbor entrance with upwards of 50 houses (Richibucto-Village).
A quarter of a mile above this settlement
was the property and merchant establishment of Messers, Pagan, and Powell.
In 1891, there was fear of an outbreak of yellow fever when the Basque,
Mary E. Chapman dropped anchor outside the Richibucto harbor. She was
flying the standard epidemic flag, a yellow jack at half mast. The barque
was disinfected and no harm came to the early pioneers.
The first High Sheriff of Kent was Thomas
Landsdown. Many men, who afterward became prominent, made their first
landing in America at Richibucto.