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St. Croix Island

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St. Croix Island
Pierre dugua, sieur de Mons (with historian and cartographer Samuel de Champlain) led the French exploratory party which wintered here in 1604. It was the first European settlement above the Spanish settlements in Florida and Gulf of Mexico, and led to the foundation of Acadia. The remains of the settlement later helped settle a border dispute with the United States.
                  This first winter in the New World was most unfortunate. The Company was well armed against Indians but not against a mysterious disease now known as scurvy, which took off 35 settlers. Next spring they found a more congenial location at what is now Annapolis Royal in Nova Scotia. The St. Croix habitation was partially destroyed by Samuel Argall as part of a larger raid on French settlements in 1613. The newly formed United States tried to argue that the Magaguadavic River was the ancient St. Croix River and therefore under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles the boundary with British North America, but in the company of an Indian guide, local M. P. Robert Pagan visited the island and discovered French munitions and houseware which effectively quashed all disputation.
                  The original Isle St. Croix of De Monts and Champlain has undergone a number of name changes over the years. In Robert Pagan's time, when human bones began washing out on the beach, it was known as Bone Island. During the War of 1812 it was Neutral Island. After that it was named Dosia's Island by admirers of a young lady named Theodosia Millbury – a name which over the years was variously mangled into Dosh's Islands, Dosey's Island, Doucett's Island and, in an attempt to return something of the original French flavour, perhaps, Dochet's Island.
                  It was in 1949 when St. Croix began its career in the public service. The United States recognized it then as a national monument, and in 1968 the Canadian government followed suit. Each country has a shoreside visitor's center, but none may visit the Island itself. The dead have returned to sleep, having been disinterred in 1969 and reburied with honors in 2004. •

 

St. Andrews Bay Pilot
Aug. 14, 1879
Dosias' Island or Isle de Saint Croix
In the year 1797, Isle de St. Croix, which was then called Bone Island, was surveyed by Thomas Wright, Surveyor General of the Island of Saint John. The plan of survey made by him resembles the sketch given in Champlain's voyages which however does not appear to have been very correctly made. Early in the present century, a party of gentlemen visiting the island named it, in honor of a young lady, Theodosia Millbury, Dosia's Island.

 

St. Andrews Beacon
June 9, 1892
Historic Ground
On the magnificent farm of Mr. James Russell, M. P. P., at Bayside, within an hour's drive of St. Andrews, is one of the most historical spots in America. It is a high a point of land almost directly opposite the famed Dosia's or Doucett's Island, and is known on the map as Sand Point.
                  When De Monts, in 1604, or thereabouts, sailed with his weary little band of voyagers up the St. Croix, and pitched their tents on the island above-mentioned, they were in constant dread of trouble from roving bands of Indians. In order to protect themselves from such invasions, a fort was established on Sand Point, earth-works thrown up and two guns mounted inside. The spot was well chosen for the purpose. On the southern side, it commanded an unbroken view of the St. Croix as far as Clam Cove Head, several miles below St. Andrews, while in the opposite direction, not a canoe could emerge from either Schoodic River (as it was then known) or Oak Bay without being observed by the vigilant guardians of the fort.
                  When the grandfather of the present holder of the land took possession in 1783, the embrasure of the fort remained almost the same as when it was abandoned by the pestilence-stricken remnant of the De Monts party, but the guns had been taken away long before. The earth-works stood untouched for many years, but finally the march of civilization laid them on a level with the rest of the ground around them. There is not a vestige of them now to be seen, but the owner of the land knows where the fort stood, and it is not long since he took a representative of the Beacon over the spot.
                  Between where the fort stood and the shore there are a number of depressions in the soil, some of them quite deep, but all now ove-rown with grass. These depressions, the Beacon was informed by Mr. Russell, have been caused by excavations that were made by curiosity seekers or by seekers after hidden treasure, years ago. Some of the excavators were rewarded by finding various implements of war that had been used by De Monts party, or by Indians, but the great majority of them had their labor for nothing. There is no record of any treasure being found but there are people who believe that somewhere in that neighborhood the redoubtable Captain Kidd dropped some of his ill-gotten wealth, and weird, uncanny tales are still told of treasure-seekers who were driven from their labor at midnight by terrible-looking goblins.

 

St. Croix Courier
Feb. 11, 1943
"Shiretown Items"
Who Owns St. Croix Island?
I have read with much interest an article with the foregoing title written by H. E. Lamb and appearing in the Calais Advertiser of Jan. 27th. Mr. Lamb proves, to his own satisfaction at least, that this island belongs to the United States, that is, lies within her boundaries. He suggests that readers cut out his article for future reference as in effect it settles the matter for all time. May I suggest that the same readers paste the following information in their scrapbook alongside the other to prove that perhaps the matter is unsettled for all time. Mr. Lamb says the middle of the river is the boundary line and that the middle is where the deepest channel lies. Personally, I should call the middle the half-way point between the two shores on any part of the river. That Mr. Lamb in his heart agrees with me is indicated in the last paragraph where he states that St. Croix Island lies out near the middle of the river. I do not wish to start another international boundary dispute but the following "Last Will and Testament" of John Hillicker, copied from the records of Charlotte County, will at least give a different slant to the question. It also gives an idea of the origin of the name Dochet's Island, which evidently was corrupted from the name Dosh's appearing in the will which was apparently the name of a former owner or resident.

 

Last Will and Testament
"In the name of God, Amen. I, John Hillicker of the Island generally known and called by the name of Dosh's Island and supposed and considered to be in the parish of St. Andrews, county of Charlotte, and province of New Brunswick (Note: there was no Parish of St. Croix in Charlotte County at that time), being weak in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory (Blessed be God for the same) do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following. Viz. first I give and bequeath unto my wife Mary Hillicker, all my real and personal estate and property, viz. my interest and titles in the Island above mentioned (called Dosh's) to be held by her and possessed by her during her natural life, and also all my personal goods and chattels of what kind and nature soever they be. I will and give unto her during her life, and at the conclusion of the same I will and demise, make over and convey unto Daniel Post of said Island the above mentioned possessions and property of every kind, real and personal with chattels of every kind, to be held and possessed by him at her death. And I do hereby appoint in this my last will and testament, my wife Mary and Daniel Post, as sole Executrix and Executor, hereby revoking all former wills by me made, in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this eighth day of June in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and twenty four (1824). Signed, sealed, published and declared by the above named John Hilliker to be his last will and testament, in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witness in the presence of the testator.
 - John Hilliker, X his mark

Witnesses,
Henry Coulter, St. David
Elias Barber, Red Beach
Caleb Bartlett, St. Andrews

The proof of this will follows on record, sworn by Henry Coulter before H. H. Hatch, of St. Andrews, Surrogate and Judge of Probates, and dated Oct. 29, 1825. This proof must have been submitted on the death of Mrs. Hillicker, as according to records quoted in Mr. Lamb's article, the Island was sold by Daniel Post to John Brewer on Nov. 25, 1825, for $130.