| Notes |
- [From "The Barters of Avondale"]
James Martin Barter was born in West Saint John and moved with his parents to the Tennant farm on the Saint John River. In 1846 he moved back to West Saint John to work as a "master ship builder". In 1855 he moved his family to a piece of land that he had bought in Avondale, Carleton County. Apart from squatters, he was the first settler in Avondale. He and his family travelled from Saint John in the river steamer Reindeer to Woodstock and then by logging road to Avondale. He and his sons cleard 100 acres of farm land in 11 years.
[Story from Charles Reynolds]
Jim Martin Barter, the young sea captain, was home again [to Tennant's Cove, NB] after a year's voyage and Mary Mills was anxiously watching for him to come over the hill. They had been pals since childhood. They were not engaged, but Mary felt they would be married soon for she was now 25 and he 26 years old.
There was a party at a neighbour's that night and she was sure Jim would call before. But he did not, and as Mary and her brothers went into the party, Jim was busily talking to Lella Karnes, a ravenish beauty with black eyes and dark hair. She was the spoiled -- and only -- child of a middle-aged couple who has just moved into the place six months before and she had turned the heads of nearly all the young men of the place. Now Mary saw that Jim -- her Jim -- had fallen for her spell.
Soon Jim saw Mary and came over, shook hands and talked for a few moments... then went back to his new-found friend. Before the evening was over, the new girl had so displaced the old that he left Mary standing expectant while he went home with Lella. Mary was disappointed, but a level-headed girl, and when she was teased about losing Jim she quietly said: "It's too bad Jim cannot understand better."
The days went by. Jim and Lella were together constantly and became engaged. But Mary and Jim were still the same good friends as before. Mary never let herself show any resentment or sulkiness... and Jim never seemed to know that he had hurt Mary.
Jim's Awakening
After they had been engaged for about two months, Lella's father and mother had to go away on a trip and they were to be gone overnight. Jim thought he would go over in the evening and spend a while with Lella, so somewhat after night drew its sable curtain, he walked over. There was no light in the living room, only the fitful glow of the fire in the hearth and as Jim walked toward the house his heart was warmed by thoughts of how soon he and Lella would have a little house of their own. The young captain had thrown up his commission and had bid farewell to the sea. He was preparing to settle down as a ship builder to be at home as he felt a married man should be.
As he neared the house, the thought came to him that it would be a real true picture of what his new life would be if he just watched quietly in the window to see Lella in the room at her work, doing as she would when they were married. He went up and looked in on a scene both surprising and repugnant to him.
The school teacher, a man of 40 years, was boarding a week to each home in the district (as was the custom of the day). and it was his week at Lella's home -- a fact that had escaped Jim's memory. He gazed wide-eyed at the school master sitting in front of the fire with Lella cuddled closely in his arms -- and enjoying herself very much! First anger, bitter and red, surged through Jim's mind but cool good sense ruled and he quietly stepped away... and went home depressed. Yet the feeling would come: "Thank God I found out in time!"
He went at his work more eager than before and a note from Lella -- asking why he did not come to see her and what was the matter -- got no reply.
A week after, he went over to Mary's home, staying around with the boys some of the time and in the house with Mary like he had done before he had met Lella. He stopped overnight, and next morning, with Mary on the porch as he stood ready to go, he suddenly asked, "Mary, how do you suppose it would do if I got married?" Mary was surprised at his question, but replied, "Why James, I think it would be a good thing."
Jim asked, "Mary, if I get the licence in Saint John while I am down, will you disappoint me?" Mary looked him full in the eyes, scarcely believing her own hearing, and said, "Jim, if you really want me, I will not disappoint you." So they were married, and happiness came down on them like a benediction.
This is a true story of my Great Great Grandfather and Grandmother. FL(B)L
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New Brunswick Families
1809 - 1898 (88 years)
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