Parrtown

Year
1892
Month
6
Day
2
Article Title
Parrtown
Author
-----
Page Number
1
Article Type
Language
Article Contents
PARRTOWN. At the meeting of the New Brunswick Historical Society, Tuesday evening, Rev. Mr. Raymond complained that in the histories of New Brunswick too much was made of fact that St. John was at one time called Parr-town, the truth being that this name was applied to it only for 15 or 16 months, and then only to a part of what is now St. John, the name St. John having been given to the river in 1604, and the name having survived to this day. There is much truth in Mr. Raymond’s remarks on this point. Prior to the landing of the Loyalist in 1783 the site of this city received the general name of St. John or mouth of the river St. John. When the Loyalists came that part of the present city of St. John which lies south of Union street was laid out in blocks and lots under the name of Parr Town, the name being given to it out of compliment to Governor Parr of Nova Scotia under whose auspices the Loyalists were settled in this province. Governor Parr also gave his name to the western township of Cumberland county, N. S., and it is called Parrsboro' to this day. The land on the west side of the harbor was similarly laid out by Paul Bedell and named Carleton, after Sir Guy Carleton, the commander-in-chief of the British forces in America. On the 18th May, 1785, Parr Town, Carleton and the territory between the south line of Union Street and the City Road were incorporated by royal charter under the name of the city of St. John. The old plan of Parr Town, as made by Paul Bedell, under the direction of Major Gilford Studholm, is still preserved in the common clerk’s office. The names of the most of the streets are the same as those of the present city of St. John. Water Street did not then exist, the line of the beach running close to the west side of Prince William Street. The line of beach was then at the west side of Dock Street and curved inward so that in the center of Market Square it was not more than 80 feet from the west line of Prince William street. Charlotte Street was then called Studholm street out of compliment to the commander of the garrison on Fort Howe. Princess Street was Tying street west of Sidney and St. George east of it. Duke Street was Bulkley street west of Sidney and Morris street east of it. Brittain street was then St. Andrews street, and Broad street, better known as Main, was then Fanning street. All the streets west of Sidney bad different names from their present ones. King Street east was Great