ied on quite an
extensive trade with the West Indies where, in consequence of the
manufacture of rum and molasses, there was a large demand for
hogshead and barrel staves, these were obtainable in considerable
quantities on the River St. John, and the terms at which they were
purchased may be seen in the following agreement:--

"St. Johns River, Nov'r. 10th, 1772.

"It is agreed between Simonds & White on the one part and Joseph
Garrison & William Saunders on the other, that the said Garrison &
Saunders make and lay at the bank of the said River, at convenient
place to load on board a vessel, five thousand of White Oak barrel
staves and the same number of White Oak hogshead staves, the
hogshead staves to be well shaved and both to be merchantable
according to the laws of Massachusetts Bay, for which the said
Simonds & White are to pay, for Barrel Staves twenty-five
shillings for each thousand and for the Hogshead forty shillings;
the said staves to be ready by the 20th day of April next and at
farthest to be received by the 20th day of June.

"To the performance of the above agreement each of the parties
hereby bind themselves to each other in the sum of Twenty pounds
currency, to be paid in default of fulfilment of either
party. "Witness our hands,

JOSEPH GARRISON,
WM. SAUNDERS,
SIMONDS & WHITE."

Joseph Garrison it may be observed was the grandfather of William
Lloyd Garrison, the celebrated advocate of the abolition of slavery.
He was one of the original grantees of Maugerville, and drew lot No.
4, opposite Middle Island in Upper Sheffield. He was on the River St.
John as early at least as July, 1764, and is said to have been the
first of the English speaking race to work the coal mines at Grand
Lake. Another early miner was Edmund Price of Gagetown, who in the
year 1775 delivered nine chaldrons of coal, to Simonds & White for
which they allowed him 20 shillings per chaldron.

Nearly all the settlers on the river obtained their goods from the old
trading company at Portland Point, and for their accommodation the
little schooner "Polly" made frequent trips to Maugerville and St.
Anns. Inspection of the old accounts shows that on the occasion of a
trip up the river in May, 1773, goods were sold to thirty families at
various points along the way. In November, 1775, goods were sold in
like manner to more than forty families. At that time there were to be
found in the