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The first French habitation reached was that of Francis Boys, who lived somewhere on the French River. Willard describes him as a man who lived exceedingly well on a fine farm. But the description is probably exaggerated. Just where on the River was this farm we do not know. As Boyes was the first Frenchman Willard met, one would suppose it was near the mouth on the Mill Brook, but Lewis’ plan shows no settlements of the French River till at about what is now Donaldson’s. Even Willard’s remark that there the River ran East does not help, as East is the general course of both the Mill Brook and of the Main River from tide water down. Boyes was an old man of over eighty, but exceedingly active for his years. He spoke good English and he and Willard had no difficulty in conversing. And to him Willard gave his orders: Boyes was to be at Tatamagouche on the morrow with eight good, fat sheep for the troops. The kindly, but gullible old man readily replied that Willard could have twenty, if he wanted them. Here as elsewhere in his diary, Willard tells of the kindness with which he was always received by the French. At four in the afternoon, Willard had reached the so called French village of Tatamagouche, which it is evident was at or near the shore. As he came by the West side of the French River his destination, it would seem, was near Campbell’s. There he camped for the night with his one hundred or more men. At least, that this was his camping place seems consistent with his previous and subsequent movements as told in his diary. Back |
