JOSEPH CUNARD
One of three brothers who also included Samuel and Henry -- (sons of an
Empire Loyalist who settled in Halifax on November 21, 1797.) They started
their ship business in Chatham when they were all in their twenty's. They
built mills , and established shipyards. (Their Richibucto wharf was directly
to the left of the Cartier Co-op
Hardware) and opened stores. As their business prospered they opened branches
at Bathurst ,Richibucto , and Kouchibouguac. In the 1850`s Joseph Cunard
moved to Richibucto where he already had a home . While Cunard and his
family stayed at Richibucto; The Old Grammar School was fitted out with
up to date desks and black boards . This entire work was done at his expense
. His two sons attended this school (the younger one became prominent
in the political life of Great Britain).
Cunard Street is named after Joseph Cunard.
Cunard, at one time, owned all the property on the North side of Cunard
St. from the McLeod --- (Donat Babin property) to Acadie street (formally
Pagan street). Later the world was to know the company as the Cunard
Steam Ship Lines.
LAWRENCE MACLAREN
A
medical doctor who took a very prominent part in the affaire of the
town about the time of Confederation. One of his sons, Murray McLaren
became Lieut.-governor of New Brunswick. His home is now occupied by
Freddy Hudson.
LESTOCK (L.P.W.) DESBRISAY
Lord of the Village 1830-1860. He had a sawmill here and also built
ships at the sawdust wharf (Leo LeBlanc's private docks). DesBrisay
built and lived in what is known as the Joe Robichaud House (built in
1832- believed to be the oldest home in town). His store was where the
Royal Bank is located. He was defeated in an election for the federal
house by Renaud. In those days, all shipping had to be cleared at Chatham;
and DesBrisay maintained an Indian runner who used to make the rough
trip in daylight hours.
Lieut.-Governor Murray MacLaren
He practiced medicine in Richibucto and later became the leading surgeon
in Saint John. He commanded Military Hospitals in England and France
during the First World War. Prominent in Federal politics, he was Minister
of Health in the Benett Government. He was Lieut.-Governor during the
visit of King George VI in 1939.
JOHN WESLEY WELDON
At the age of 19, he became the new County of Kent`s first member
of the Provincial Legislature ( formerly Kent County was a part of Northumberland
Co. ). He became a Supreme Court Judge. Later he joined with Fords (Fords
Mills) and with David McAlmon and Wark. Wedon and Wark went down to
political defeat at the hands of Cutler and McPhelpin in 1850 . His
son Charles Wesley Weldon, became a prominent attorney in Saint John
N.B. Weldon was buried in our town in 1855. ---- Footnote: Kent County
became a separate County from Northumberland in 1826.