Item

Robert Ross, Merchant and Shipbuilder

Standard
April 1/1868
150 ton brig “Florence” from this Port purchased by Robert Ross for West India Trader.

Standard
Sept 28, 1870
New Building. Mr. Robert Ross has recently erected and nearly finished a handsome store and office, with a large shed attached for storage of coal, iron, etc. The finish on the building is highly creditable to our townsman, Mr. Thomas Wren, who we believe was the architect and joiner; and its appearance since it was painted is showy.

Pilot
March 23, 1880
The schooner H.. V. Crandall is loading ice at Chamcook for New York, on owners account. They expect to ship 5,000 tons. The schooner is owned by Mr. Robert Ross and others. The facilities for shipping ice from Chamcook Lake cannot be surpassed. [it seems to be that on the town map for 1878 Ross is shown as owning the Beach Cottage property]

Pilot
April 4, 1880
Chamcook lake presents just now a very busy scene. Mr. Robert Ross having a number of men engaged there on cutting ice for shipment, and besides Mr. Ross, an association of Bangor gents associated under the title of the Chamcook Ice Company has a large number of persons employed getting out ice and storing in houses now being erected on the eastern side of Chamcook harbor. They are carrying on operations night and day, and hope to get out ten thousand tons of the crystallised water. All the latest appliances for the purpose are being used under the superintendency of Mr. Buxton a very energetic and active gentleman. They are getting out from four to five hundred tons a day. Mr. Mitchell another member of the firm is superintending the erection of the ice house and the storing of the ice. Had they not been unduly delayed by the detention of lumber on the N. b. and C. R. R., most of the quantity of ice mentioned would have been stored. The ice on Chamcook Lake is very pure, solid and of unexceptional [sic] quality. In these operations on the lake about 75 men and 35 teams are employed.

Pilot
June 23/1881
Cornerstone of St. Stephen cotton mill to be laid.
Mr. Robert Ross intends to erect a dwelling house on the lot, corner of Water and Ernest Streets. [David Bartlett]

St. Croix Courier
June 29/1911
(From June 30, 1881)
Robert Ross is having the cellar dug for a new residence on the corner of Water and Ernest Streets. It is to be a two-story and a half house, with verandah with glass sides, and bay windows on the side next the street.

St. Croix Courier
Sept 8/1881
Mr. Robert Ross is demolishing the old building on the corner of Water and Ernest Streets, on the site of which he intends erecting his new house.

Pilot
Oct 13/1881
The schooner Mary Ellen, of St. Andrews, bound to Pawtucket, Rhode Island, has been abandoned at sea, 100 miles east of Cape Ann. The crew were rescued by the schooner Zedic and taken to Liverpool, Nova Scotia. The Mary Ellen was 113 tons, built at Saint George in 1865, registered at St. John, with Mr. Robert Ross, of St. Andrews, as managing owner. Mr. Robert Ross received a telegram on Monday stating that he Mary Ellen was taken into Portland, Maine, full of water.

St. Croix Courier
Nov 13/1881
Mr. T.   McCracken has purchased the house on Water Street and Mr. Robert Ross the house on the shore and the water privileges of the Lawrence property next of the Foundry. Mr. McCracken is repairing his house for a residence.

St. Croix Courier
June 8/1882
The frame of Mr. Robert Ross’s new dwelling house, on the corner of Water and Earnest Streets, has been raised and partly closed in. the building is to be two stories high with mansard roof and when completed will be handsome structure.

St. Croix Courier
June 22/1882
Mr. Robert Ross has erected the frame of a building on Water Street. The structure is to be large and commodious, and when completed will be occupied by himself and family as residence.

Pilot
July 26 1883
Robert Ross petitioning Minister of Marine and Fisheries to extend his wharf at Indian Point.

Pilot
March 22/1888
The Boom
The movement in real estate inaugurated by the American syndicate is being followed up by other parties. Since our last issue the following properties have changed hands, viz., the Megantic Hotel and the house known as the Wilson house, both situated on Water Street bought by a syndicate of Calais gentlemen, a trio of whom Messrs. Kalish, Waite and Weston McAllister were in town Friday last. they also endeavoured to secure options of real estate in the suburbs, offering to put up forfeits. the owner of afar at Bayside, Parish of St. Croix, was by them pressed to give them option of six acres, situated on a point running into the mouth of Oak Bay. the day of options has gone past, speculators must be prepared to close bargains instanter and put up the cash, as owners of land do not feel disposed to bind themselves to a sale at a fixed price on a future day, or to the chances of the optionists breaking out. Mr. Patrick B. Donahue has purchased from Mr. Robert Ross, the house situated on Douglas street, opposite Quinn’s blacksmith shop, known as he Halley House.

Beacon
Sept 18/1890
Mr. Ross’s Death
The death of Mr Robert Ross, which occurred on Thursday afternoon last, has removed from the community, one who for many years was closely identified with its business interests. A native of St. Andrews, he spent the whole of his seventy-one years of life here. At one time he owned quite extensively in vessels. He was also engaged in the building of vessels, for a period. Besides his vessel business, he was a large shipper of sleepers, lumber, etc., and carried on at the same time a ship chandlery store, giving employment to large numbers of men. Of late his health has been so poor that he was scarcely able to move about, yet almost up to the hour of his death he never gave up the control of his business. The deceased was a man of strong will, firm in his friendships and equally firm in his dislikes. His charity was unbounded, yet he never let his left hand know what his right hand was doing. He leaves behind him a widow, four sons and three daughters. His funeral took place on Saturday afternoon, and was attended by a large number of people. The body was first taken to All Saints church, where Rev. Canon Ketchum read the service for the dead. It was then conveyed to its last resting place in the cemetery. [this would be our Robert Ross, who owned the beach cottage property]

Beacon
Aug 18, 1892
Mr. John Townsend, of Chamcook, who has been lying at death’s door for two or three weeks past, passed away on Friday. His funeral took place on Sunday and was largely attended. In the old ship-building days at Chamcook, Mr. Townsend followed that business, but of late years he has been engaged in farming. He was over 85 years old. He had always maintained the respect and esteem of those who knew him. One of his sons, Mr. James Townsend, is a successful businessman in New York, having large repairing docks there. Ms. Robert Ross is a sister of the deceased.

Beacon
Sept 7/1893
About one hundred persons gathered in Mrs. Robert Ross’s parlor on Thursday evening last, to witness the blooming of the nigh-blooming cerens. It was a pretty sight as the flower gradually unfolded, disclosing to view a combination of the most beautiful colors imaginable. The flower was as large as a dinner plate and emitted a most delightful fragrance. Usually these flower close at midnight, but this one was not permitted to carry out the customary programme, for as soon as it had disclosed its beauties to the spectators, a member of the household plucked it and placed it on ice. It looked quite fresh the next morning after its frigid bath.

Beacon
Oct 20, 1904
Plunged to His Death at Johnson’s Cove Bridge
Herbert Ross Drives into the Abyss and Death Follows. One Horse Killed—Wagon Destroyed
A painful tragedy occurred at the Johnson Cove bridge, Bayside, on Wednesday night last. Several weeks ago this bridge was carried away by a “freshet,” leaving a yawning chasm twenty five feet wide and from twenty to thirty feet in depth. A fence was built across the roadway on either side and travel was directed through the fields and over the gulley to the east of the bridge.
            On Wednesday night, about 9 o’clock, Herbert Ross, with a double team from W. F. Kennedy and Co.’s stable, was driving home from St. Stephen, when he drove through the flimsy fence in the darkness and plunged into the frightful abyss. The team turned a complete summersault. One horse had his neck broken and died instantly, the other received several injuries, and the carriage was hopelessly wrecked. The driver sustained terrible injuries to his face, his jaw being broken and his chin and nose split. A portion of his jaw with three teeth in it was found in the carriage. His body was badly bruised as well. In this terrible plight he lay until about 12:30 o’clock, when Hiram Greenlaw and his son returning fro fishing heard a noise in the gulley and discovered the wrecked team. Ross was taken to Greenlaw’s house and r. Wade summoned. The dr. did what he could for him and the next day he as taken to the Chipman hospital. St. Stephen. He seemed to be doing well until early Sunday morning, when he collapsed and about 5 o’clock died. His sister, Miss Mary Ross, was at his bedside when he died. His brother, Townsend, and niece, Miss Fannie Ross, drove to St. Stephen early Sunday morning, only to find the injured man dead on arrival.
            Mr. James Cummings, who was driving from St. Stephen Wednesday night, must have passed the bridge within five minutes after the accident occurred. After safely crossing the gully he stopped on the southern side of the bridge to light his cigar. He did not hear the slightest sound coming from the bridge opening. The presumption is that Ross was unconscious for some time after the plunge was made.
            The body was brought to St. Andrews on Sunday afternoon by undertaker Rigby. It was taken to the late home of the deceased, where many friends gathered to sympathize with the family of the deceased. The deceased was 44 years of age and was the youngest son of the late Robert Ross. He was of genial temperament, and had many friends among the young people of the place.

St. Croix Courier
April 8/1943
Shiretown Items
Old Ships
Following is a list of old ship’s authentic records of which are still in existence, most of them having been built at Chamcook and St. Andrews.
. . . Robert Ross, schooner, 128 tons. Built 1873 at St. Andrews by Townshends (their last ship).