The next settler was a man named McGuire.
His land extended from the Fred Davis - (David’s) property (Habitant
Motel & Restaurant & Campground). To what is known as Mooney`s
Bridge.
The first square-rigged vessel built at Richibucto was called the "Ellen
Douglas" and was launched by the Jardines in 1819. The Jardines built
more than one hundred vessels, big and small, from that time until the
decline of shipbuilding in 1882. Other
shipbuilders and wealthy businessmen of the Richibucto area were DesBrisys,
William S. Caie, John McMillan, The McLeod Brothers, William, George
and Henry O`Leary. Caie's, DesBrisys, McLeod and Holderness did a large
business in deals and square timber. As many as 150 vessels would enter
the harbor in one summer. (The record being 254 vessels in 1853), and
it was a common sight, as the old records inform us, to see ten and
twelve ships sailed up and down the river at one time.
Mr. John McMillan launched in 1837,
a barque called the Greenock. She had a tonnage of 1350. The Greenock
delivered the largest cargo of raw cotton to Liverpool England that
had been received at that time. The Greenock was built by Caie.
Captain Rufus Curwin was first mate of
the Dunegan, commanded by Captain had his wife and two daughters on
board. The vessel went ashore on the Irish Coast and it was with great
difficulty that those on board were saved. Night was setting down when
the ship stuck. It was impossible to discern a safe landing place among
the rocks in the darkness and none of the crew would venture ashore
with a line. Both life boats were gone so Rufus Curwin, now a long way
from his native Richibucto, went ashore on a twelve by nine spruce deal,
carrying a line.
Luck was with him and he found a safe
landing place. He fastened his end of the line securely and then returned
to the ship on a rope, hand over hand. The Captains wife and daughter
were fastened on a raft and Curwin, with the aid of two sailors, brought
them safely to shore along the life line. Captain Curwin received great
praise in the Irish papers for his bravery and was presented with a
medal and an address in Belfast.
But now the days of mighty ships were
nearing an end. Lestock P.W. Desbrisay built at least seven ships,ten
barques, two brigs, one brigantine and a vessel of unidentified rig.
George K. McLeod built ten known ships on his own account plus several
more in partnership with J.W. Holderness.
The largest vessel known to have been
built in Richibucto was the "Chinchas" with a registered tonnage
of 1888. Built in May 1858, the following October she carried a cargo
of 1,589,250 superficial feet of deals to Liverpool. This
was a record for the time. In 1884, 36 vessels carried 12,205,700 superficial
feet of deals to European markets.
The bottom fell out in 1887. May 10th
to be exact. The Maritime Bank went under caused by a very great shrinkage
in lumber values. «picture»
The
ships built here went far and their reputation attracted the major companies
of the day. The "Fitz James", a ship of 1206 tons was built at Richibucto
in 1852 for the Australian Packet, White Star Line (this line built
the ill-fated Titanic). The Fitz James was built by John McMillan as
was the "Evening Star". She was the pride of the McMillan`s heart. He
had built her for the same Australian line and after her initial voyage
to Antipodes. She mysteriously disappeared on the return trip during
a small storm as she was returning to Liverpool. No trace of the "Evening
Star" or her crew has ever found - another unexplained loss to the infamous
Bermuda Triangle? And her ability to alter magnetics. Hard times befell
some of the great ships!!