HOULTON, Maine — Since the settlement of Houlton, the United States and Canada have shared an amicable border.
Major W.E. (Gary) Campbell of New Maryland, N.B. has written a book “The Road to Canada,” which depicts the importance of the communication route between what are now the Maritime Provinces and the St. Lawrence River and its timeframe in history.
Major Campbell will help commemorate the bicentennial of the Battle of Houlton on Monday, Jan. 12 at 3 p.m. at Cary Library and he will also speak at a joint meeting of the Houlton and Woodstock Rotary clubs — members and their guests — at the Church of the Good Shepherd at 6 p.m.
Major Campbell is one of the foremost authentic military experts in the area. He has served for over 40 years in the Canadian Army (Militia), the Canadian Army (Regular), and the Canadian Forces. He is a PhD candidate at the University of New Brunswick and has obtained a bachelor of arts (history) from the University of Western Ontario and a master of arts (war studies) from the Royal Military College of Canada.
Campbell’s passion for military history, especially logistics, and his many tours of duty as a transportation officer in the Logistics Branch of the Canadian Armed Forces led to his interest in the Grand Communications Route.
Aboriginal people used this route as a major highway in all seasons and the great imperial powers followed their lead. The Grand Communications Route, as it was then called, was the only conduit for people, information and goods passing back and forth between the interior settlements and the wider world and became the backbone of the empire for both England and France in their centuries of warfare over this territory.
The route also played a key role in the American Revolution as well as the Aroostook War of 1839 that saw bodies of troops lining each side of the border extending from St. Andrews (N.B.) and Calais (ME) to Madawaska.
In 1842, the Grand Communications Route and the Webster-Ashburton Treaty determined the location of the Canada-U.S. border. It is still in use today: the Trans-Canada Highway and Route 7 follow its path.
With war declared in 1812 between the United States and Britain, Houlton and New Brunswick were able to keep their peaceful interactions ongoing because of an agreement that bound the Houlton residents to their Canadian neighbors.
“The year of 1812 was one of the greatest concern to the colonist at Houlton,” wrote Cora Putnam in “The Story of Houlton.” “The small, defenseless colony at Houlton was dumbfounded and frightened.”
Samual Haskell of New Salem, Mass., who was on a visit in Houlton, was sent to Woodstock to seek protection for the little settlement. Haskell met three Provincials heading to Houlton on his journey, who had been instructed by officials, to inform the colonists that as long as the settlers remained neutral they had nothing to fear.”
Firearms had been taken from the Indians and no one was able to sell them weapons or ammunition, as written by Putnam.
“This agreement was binding as long as Houlton colonists would not secure firearms, bear arms, nor assist in any operation against Canadian subjects in case of proposed hostilities by Indians or American troops,” she stated.
Thus, the security and relatively peaceful relationship was continued as both sides adhered to the promises.
What makes Campbell’s book so interesting is that he obtained documents relating to the events from the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick and will provide details concerning the oath required of Houlton residents on Jan. 9, 1815.
“I immediately proceeded with a party of His Majesty’s troops to the settlement of Houlton, on my arrival I collected all the male inhabitants upwards of 16 years of age — made known to them the purpose of the Proclamation by Sir John C. Sherbrooke and tendered to them the Oath sent to me for that purpose which they have all taken and suspended their names separately thereto, the list I enclose to you,” wrote Ensign George Morehouse to Lieut. Col. Hailes, commandant, Garrison, Fredericton.
Morehouse continued, “by the best information I could obtain, I found the population of the settlement of Houlton to be 70 persons — the aforementioned list will shew the number of males upwards of 16 years of age, there is about 200 acres of land cleared and improved and the timber of about as much more felled in order to be cleared next summer, upon inquiring for arms I found no muskets in possessions of any of the inhabitants and indeed very few pieces of any kind.”
The signed Oath reads: “We the undersigned do swear that as long as we shall continue within the Territory East of the Penobscot River which has been taken possession by His Britannic Majesty, we will behave peaceably and quietly, and will not carry arms, or in any respect, act in a hostile manner toward His Majesty, or any of His Subjects, so help me God.”
Those who signed the Oath were: Ebenezer Warner, Joshua Putnam, Putman Shaw, Samuel Cook, William Williams, Joseph Houlton, Samuel Houlton, James Houlton, William H., Samuel Rice, Samuel Kendall, Joseph Thorndall, Aaron Putnam, Gibbs Tilton, Bergie Prost, Edwin Townsend, Samuel Cary, Samuel Wormwood and Evens Carll.
These documents will be on display during Campbell’s public presentations at the library and Rotary meeting. Copies of his book will be available for purchase.
“Cary Library would like to thank the Houlton Rotary Club for providing the opportunity for our library patrons to hear Dr. Gary Campbell help us commemorate the bicentennial of the ‘Battle of Houlton,’” said Linda Faucher, librarian.
As well as telling the story of the Grand Communications Route from the earliest human habitation of the area, “The Road to Canada” describes the historic sites, forts, blockhouses and other historic remains that can still be visited today.
