Territorial Division Act, 1786
Statutes of New Brunswick. 26 George III, Chapter 1
(Assented to March 15, 1786)
 

Table of Contents

  1. Counties confirmed; Parishes created.

  2.  
  3. Saint John County
    1. Portland
    2. Saint Martin's
    3. Lancaster

    4.  
  4. Westmorland County
    1. Westmorland
    2. Sackville
    3. Hopewell
    4. Hillsborough
    5. Moncton

    6.  
  5. Charlotte County
    1. Saint Stephen
    2. Saint David
    3. Saint Andrews
    4. Saint Patrick
    5. Saint George
    6. Pennfield
    7. West-Isles

    8.  
  6. King's County
    1. Westfield
    2. Sussex
    3. Springfield
    4. Kingston

    5.  
  7. Queen's County
    1. Wickham
    2. Waterborough
    3. Hampstead
    4. Gage-Town

    5.  
  8. Sunbury County
    1. Burton
    2. Lincoln
    3. Sheffield
    4. Magerville

    5.  
  9. York County
    1. Fredericton
    2. Kingsclear
    3. Prince William
    4. Woodstock
    5. Saint Mary's
    6. Queensbury
    7. Northampton

    8.  
  10. Northumberland County
    1. New-Castle
    2. Alnwick

    3.  
  11. Shiretowns
    1. Westmorland, Westmorland
    2. Saint Andrews, Charlotte
    3. Kingston, King's
    4. Gage-Town, Queen's
    5. Burton, Sunbury
    6. Fredericton, York
    7. New-Castle, Northumberland


Anno Regni GEORGII III. Regis Vicesimo Sexto.

AT the General Assembly of the Province of New Brunswick, begun and
holden at the City of Saint John, on the third day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand seven hundred and eighty-six, and in the twenty-sixth
year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third, by the grace of
God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, and
so forth ; being the first Session of the first Assembly convened in the said Pro-
vince.

CAP. I.

An Act for the better ascertaining and confirming the Boundaries of the several
    Counties within this Province, and for subdividing them into Towns or
    Parishes.
 

Saint John County Boundaries
Preamble de-
scribing the
several  Coun-
ties in the Pro-
vince, viz.

Saint John.

WHEREAS His most gracious Majesty, by his Royal Letters Patent
under the Great Seal of this Province, bearing date the Eighteenth 
day of May, One thousand seven hundred and eighty-five, was pleased to erect
and constitute into one distinct and separate County, all that tract or district of
Land situate in this Province, bounded southerly on the Bay of Fundy, easterly
by Hopewell Township, and a line running from the north-west corner of said
Township, due north into the Country, northerly by a line running east-north-
east, and west-south-west, from the southern-most point of the Kennebeckacis
Island, lying at the mouth of the river Kennebeckacis, where it joins the river
Saint John, and westerly by a due north line from point Le Proe, in the Bay
of Fundy aforesaid. And did thereby ordain, establish and declare that all and
singular the Lands and Waters comprised within the limits aforesaid, should
forever thereafter be, continue and remain a distinct and separate County, and
including the City of Saint John, should be called, known and distinguished
by the name of The City and County of Saint John.
 
Westmorland County Boundaries
 
a Westmorland.     And whereas by like Letters Patent since passed, His Majesty was further
pleased to erect and constitute into one distinct and separate County, all that
tract or district of Land situate in this Province, bounded easterly by the Prov-
ince of Nova-Scotia, and the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, northerly by a due west
line running into the Country from the northern-most point of the large Island
in the mouth or entrance of Chediac bay or harbour, westerly by a line begin-
ning at a point in the north boundary line of Saint John's [sic] County, due north
from Quaco Head in the Bay of Fundy, and running north into the Country
until it meets said west line, and southerly by the County of Saint John aforesaid,
and the Bay of Chignecto, and did thereby ordain, establish and declare, that
all and singular the Lands and Waters comprised within the limits aforesaid,
should forever thereafter be, continue and remain a distinct and separate Coun-
ty, to be called, known and distinguished by the name of The County of West-
morland.
 
Charlotte County Boundaries
 
Charlotte.     And whereas by like Letters Patent since passed, His Majesty was pleased
to erect and constitute into one distinct and separate County, another tract or
district of Land, situate in the western part of this Province, bounded on the
south by the Bay of Fundy, on the west by the river Scudiac or Saint Croix,
and the western shore of the Bay of Passamaquoddy, including the Island of
Grand Manan, on the east by a due north line from point Le Proe in said Bay
of Fundy running into the Country, and on the north by a due west line com-
mencing in the said north line thirty miles distant from point Le Proe aforesaid.
And did thereby ordain, establish and declare that all and singular the Lands
and Waters comprised within the limits aforesaid, should forever thereafter be,
continue and remain a distinct and separate county, to be called, known and
distinguished by the name of The County of Charlotte.
 
Northumberland County Boundaries
 
b Northumber-
land.
    And whereas by like Letters Patent since passed, another tract or district of
Land lying within this Province, bounded southerly by the County of West-
morland, easterly by the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, and the Baie des Chaleurs,
northerly by the said Bay and the southern boundary of the Province of Quebec,
and westerly by a continuation of the western boundary line of the said County
of Westmorland, was also erected into one distinct and separate County, to be
called and known by the name of The County of Northumberland.
 
King's County Boundaries
 
c King's Coun-
ty.
    And whereas by like Letters Patent in like manner since passed, another
tract or district of Land, lying within this province, on both sides the river
Saint John, bounded on the south by the County of Saint John, on the west
by Charlotte County, on the east by the Counties of Westmorland and Nor-
thumberland, and on the north by a line running south-west and north-east from
the south point of Spoon Island, lying in Saint John's [sic] river, was also erected
into one distinct and separate County, to be called and known by the name of
King's County.
 
Queen's County Boundaries
 
c Queen's
County.
    And whereas by like Letters Patent in like manner since passed, another tract
or district of Land, lying within this Province, on both sides the river Saint
John, bounded on the south-east by King's County, on the south-west by Char-
lotte County, on the north-east by the County of Northumberland, and on the
north-west by the south boundary line of Burton Township, and by a continua-
tion of the said line to the north-east and south-west until it meets the Counties
of Northumberland and Charlotte respectively ; was also erected into one dis-
tinct and separate County, to be called and known by the name of Queen's
County.
 
York County Boundaries
 
d York.     And whereas by like Letters Patent, in like manner since passed, another
tract or district of Land, lying within this Province on both sides the river Saint
John, bounded on the south-west by Charlotte County, on the north-east by
the County of Northumberland, on the north-west by the Province of Quebec,
and on the south-east by the north boundary line of the Township of Mager-
ville, and by the said line continued to the north-east till it meets the western
bounds of Northumberland County, and south-west to the eastern bounds of the
County of Charlotte, was also erected into one distinct and separate County, to
be called and known by the name of The County of York.
 
Sunbury County Boundaries
 
Sunbury.     And whereas by like Letters Patent, in like manner since passed, The Coun-
ty of Sunbury was limited and bounded on the north-west by the County of
York, on the north-east by the County of Northumberland, on the south-east by
Queen's County, and on the south-west by the County of Charlotte.
 
Court Houses, Goals, Shiretowns
 
Court Houses
and Gaols to be
erected.
At the City of
Saint John ;
At Westmor-
land ;
At Saint An-
drews ;
At Kingston ;
At Gagetown ;
At Fredericton.
   And whereas His Majesty did further grant and declare in the said Letters
Patent respectively, that his loving subjects then residing and who thereafter
should inhabit within the said Counties respectively, might at their own charge
erect a Court House and Gaol in each of the said Counties, viz. at The City of
Saint John, in The County of Saint John ; at Westmorland, in The County of
Westmorland ; at Saint Andrews, in The County of Charlotte ; at Kingston, in
King's County ;at Gagetown, in Queen's County ; and at Fredericton, in The
County of York ; which said several Towns were thereby declared to be the
County Towns of the said Counties respectively.
 
Need for Parishes
 
Counties subdi-
vided into Par-
ishes.
    And whereas the said several lines limiting and bounding the said respective
Counties, cannot in the present condition of the Province be surveyed and final-
ly ascertained, notwithstanding which it is at present necessary that the said
several Counties be subdivided into Towns or Parishes, for the more convenient
and orderly distributions of the respective Inhabitants, to enable them in their
respective districts to fulfil the several duties incumbent on them, and for the
better administration of Justice through the same.
 
Counties Confirmed & Parishes Created

    I. Be it therefore enacted by the Governor, Council and Assembly, That the
said several Counties so bounded and limited as aforesaid, shall be, continue
and for ever remain distinct and separate Counties, to be called, known and
distinguished by their respective names as aforesaid, and that they shall
be, and are hereby respectively subdivided into Towns or Parishes as follows,
viz.-

 
Parishes in Saint John County (3)
 
Parishes in the
County of Saint
John.

Portland.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

e Saint Martins.
 
 

Lancaster.

    II. The said County called The County of Saint John, exclusive of the City
of Saint John, shall be divided into three Towns or Parishes, as follows, viz.
the first Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name of
Portland, bounded on the south by the Bay of Fundy, the eastern shore of the
harbour of Saint John, and the several northern bounds and limits of the said
City of Saint John, on the east by the eastern boundary line of Lot No. 1,
granted to Samuel Hughes, continued to the northern boundary line of the
County, said eastern boundary line running from the shore of the Bay of Fundy
- north fifteen degrees west - on the north by the northern boundary line of
said County, and on the west by the eastern shore of the river Saint John,
to the limits of the said City. - The second Town or Parish to be called, known
and distinguished by the name of Saint Martin's, bounded on the south by the
Bay of Fundy, on the east by the eastern boundary line of the County, on the
north by the northern boundary line of the County, and on the west by the east-
ern boundary line of the said Town or Parish of Portland. - The third Town
or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name of Lancaster,
bounded on the south by the Bay of Fundy, on the east by the western limits of
the said City of Saint John and the western shore of the river Saint John, on
the north by the northern boundary line of the County, and on the west by the
western boundary line of the same.
 
Parishes in Westmorland County (5)
 
Parishes in
Westmorland
viz.-
f Westmorland
Sackville,
Hopewell,
Hillsborough,
Moncton.
    III. The said County called The County of Westmorland, shall be divided
into five Towns or Parishes, to be called, known and distinguished by the fol-
lowing names, viz. The Town or Parish of Westmorland, The Town or Parish
of Sackville, The Town or Parish of Hopewell, The Town or Parish of Hills-
borough, and the Town or Parish of Moncton ; the same Towns or Parishes to
be bounded as in and by the several Letters Patent or Grants of the said Towns,
under the Great Seal of the Province of Nova Scotia, the said Towns are
bounded and described, which bounds and descriptions are hereby ratified and
confirmed as fully and effectually as if the same were in this Act particularly
repeated and expressed.
 
Parishes in Charlotte County (7)
 
Parishes in
Charlotte:-

g St. Stephen.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Saint David.

    IV. The said County called Charlotte County, shall be divided into seven
Towns or Parishes, as follows, viz. the first Town or Parish to be called, known
and distinguished by the name of Saint Stephen, beginning at the southerly
bounds of Lot number one hundred and thirteen, on the west side of Oak Point
Bay, thence bounded northerly and easterly by the southerly line of the said
Lot, and of Lot number one in the back location, the easterly lines of the grant
to Nehemiah Marks and others, to the most northerly angle of said grant,
and by the continuation of the northerly line of said grant to the river Saint
Croix, thence westerly and southerly by the bank or shore of said river, and the
westerly shore of Oak Point Bay, to the first bounds - the second Town or Par-
ish to be called, known and distinguished by the name of Saint David, bounded
westerly by the said Town of Saint Stephen, and the westerly lines of a grant
to the Cape Ann Association, northerly and easterly by the lines of said grant,
and the back line of the Lots laid out on the east side of Oak Point Bay, and
the continuation of that line 'till it meets the southerly line of the Cape Ann
Association, southerly by the west side of the Waughweig, from the back line
of Lot number eighty-two, and round Oak Point to the beginning of said Town
of Saint Stephen.
 
h St. Andrews.     The third Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name
of Saint Andrews, bounded westerly by the back line of Lots on the east side
of Oak Point Bay, (from whence its continuation meets the southerly line of the
Cape Ann Association and the Waughweig) and by the shores of Waughweig
and Saint Croix Bay, including Saint Andrews' Island, southerly by the shores
of Passamaquoddy Bay, to the division line between Lot number twenty and
Lands reserved for a Glebe, Minister and School, including Champcook [sic] Island,
easterly by a line running from the rear line of said Lot number twenty, to the
southerly line of the Cape Ann Association, the said line dividing in its extent
two ranges of Lots laid out in the back location, and northerly by a part of the
southerly line of Cape Ann Association.
 
i Saint Patrick.     The fourth Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the
name of Saint Patrick, bounded westerly by the said Town of Saint Andrews,
northerly by the southerly line of the Cape Ann Association, and the continua-
tion thereof until it meets the line bounding the surveys, allotments and grants, on
the western side the Maggaugaudavick, to the rear or westward, easterly by the
continuation of the last described line, following its several courses until it meets
the bay of Passamaquoddy, there forming the western bounds of Land granted
Philip Bailey and others, southerly by the shores of Passamaquoddy Bay, from
the last bounds to the eastern bounds of said Town of Saint Andrews, including
all the Islands within two miles of the shore in this extent.
 
k Saint George.     The fifth Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name
of Saint George, bounded westerly by the said Town of Saint Patrick, north-
erly by the continuation of the northerly line of the same Town of Saint Pat-
rick, crossing the Maggaugaudavick, to the rear or easterly line of the surveys,
allotments and grants on the east side of that river, easterly by the said line and
by the northerly and easterly lines of Captain Clinch's grant to Etang [sic] river,
thence by the easterly shore of that river and the southerly shore of the coast to
the Bay of Passamaquoddy, and by the easterly shore of that Bay crossing the
mouth of the Maggaugaudavick, and running by the said easterly shore to the
eastern limits of the said Town of Saint Patrick, including all Islands within
two miles of the shore.
 
Pennfield.     The sixth Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name
of Pennfield, bounded westerly by the said Town of Saint George, and the eas-
terly shore of Etang river, southerly by the shore of the Bay of Fundy from
Etang river to Point Le Proe, easterly by the County line, northerly by the
continuation of the northerly line of the said Town of Saint George, until it
meets the County line including Wolf Islands, and the Islands in Maise's Bay.
 
l West-Isles.     The seventh Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the
name of West-Isles, to contain Deer Island, Campo-Bello Island, Grand
Manan Island, Moose Island, Frederick Island and Dudley Island, with all
the lesser Islands contiguous to them, not included in the Towns before-men-
tioned.
 
Parishes in King's County (4)
 
Parishes in
King's Coun-
ty,-

m Westfield.

    V. The said County called King's County, shall be divided into four Towns
or Parishes, as follows, viz. the first Town or Parish to be called, known and dis-
tinguished by the name of Westfield, bounded by a line running from the mouth
of a Creek which discharges into the Long Reach at Devil's Head, north-west
to the County line, and south-east to the north-west shore of Kennebeckacis
Bay, and thence crossing the said Bay, to the point where the County line
strikes the south-east shore of said Bay.
 
m Sussex.     The second Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the
name of Sussex, beginning at the point where the County line strikes the south-
east shore of Kennebeckacis Bay, and continuing along the same to the lower
boundary line of a grant to Studholme, Baxter, and others, thence north to the
north-west angle of the said grant, and thence north sixty-five degrees east, to
the boundary line of the County.
 
m Springfield.     The third Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name
of Springfield, beginning on the County line six miles north-east from its com-
mencement at the lower point of Spoon Island, and running thence to the rear
of the Lots laid out on the north-east side of Belisle Bay, at the division line
between numbers nineteen and twenty, thence crossing the Bay to a designed
Road between numbers one and eight of the Lots on the south-east side of said
Bay, thence along said Road and the rear of the same Lots to the division line
between numbers sixteen and seventeen in the back Settlements, and along that
line to the rear of the Kingston Lots, and along the rear of the Kingston Lots
to the Town of Sussex.
 
m Kingston.     The fourth Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name
of Kingston, beginning at the point where the first described line of the Town
of Westfield strikes the north-west shore of Kennebeckacis Bay, and bounded
on the south-west by said line, on the north-west by the upper line of the County,
to the commencement of the Town of Springfield, thence along the boundary of
the same Town 'till it strikes the line of the Town of Sussex, at the said grant
to Studholme, Baxter, and others, and thence along the boundary line of the
same Town of Sussex, to the place of beginning, including Darling's Island, and
Long Island.
 
Parishes in Queen's County (4)
 
Parishes in
Queen's
County :-

n Wickham.

    VI. The said County called Queen's County, shall be divided into four
Towns or Parishes, as follows, to wit : the first Town or Parish to be called,
known and distinguished by the name of Wickham, on the east side the river
Saint John, bounded southerly by the lower County line, westerly by the river
Saint John, to the lower bounds of Lieutenant Colonel Spry's Lands, norther-
ly by a line running from the said lower bounds of said Land north fifty-four de-
grees east, thirty miles, easterly by a line running from said extent south, thirty
degrees east, until it strikes the lower County line, including the lower Mus-
quash Island.
 
n Waterbo-
rough.
    The second Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the
name of Waterborough, on the east side the river Saint John, bounded southerly
by the said Town of Wickham, easterly by the continuation of the back line of
the same Town of Wickham, north thirty degrees west, until it strikes the upper
County line, northerly by said County line, and westerly by the river Saint John.
 
Hampstead.     The third Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name
of Hampstead, on the west side the river Saint John, bounded southerly by the
lower County line, easterly by the river Saint John, to the division line between
Nathaniel Jarvis's Lot number thirty-eight, and George Sweet’s Lot number
thirty-seven in the Gage-Town grant, northerly by said division line to the rear
of said Lots, thence by a line running south fifty-two degrees west to the eas-
terly line of Charlotte County, and westerly by Charlotte County, including
Long Island, Upper Musquash Island, and Spoon Island.
 
o Gagetown.     The fourth Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the
name of Gage-Town, on the west side the river Saint John, bounded southerly
by the said Town of Hampstead, easterly by the river Saint John, northerly by
the upper County line, and westerly by Charlotte County, including Grimross
Island.
 
Parishes in Sunbury County (4)
 
Parishes in
Sunbury :-

p Burton.

    VII. The said County called The County of Sunbury, shall be divided into
four Towns or Parishes as follows, to wit : the first Town or Parish to be cal-
led, known and distinguished by the name of Burton, on the west side the river
Saint John, bounded southerly by the lower County line, easterly by the river
Saint John to the Oromocto, northerly by a line running up said River along
the middle of its channel to the point of Land at its forks in Shearman's grant,
thence by a line running south fifty-five degrees west, to the easterly line of
Charlotte County, and westerly by Charlotte County, including Mager's and
Ox Islands.
 
p Lincoln.     The second Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the
name of Lincoln, on the west side the river Saint John, bounded southerly by
the said Town of Burton, easterly by the river Saint John, to the lower line of
York County, northerly by said County line, and westerly by Charlotte County.
 
Sheffield.     The third Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name
of Sheffield, on the east side the river Saint John, bounded southerly by the
lower County line, westerly by the river Saint John to the lower line of Na-
thaniel Underhill’s Lot, northerly by said line of said Lot, and its continuation
twenty-five miles easterly from the river Saint John, easterly by a line running
from the extent of the last line south forty-five degrees east, until it meets the
lower County line, including Middle Island.
 
Magerville.     The fourth Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the
name of Magerville, on the east side the river Saint John, bounded southerly
by said Town of Sheffield, westerly by the river Saint John, to the lower line of
York County, northerly by said County line until it meets the continuation of
the easterly line of the said Town of Sheffield, running north forty-five degrees
west, twenty-five miles from the river Saint John, on the continuation of Na-
thaniel Underhill's Lot, and easterly by the said continuation of the easterly
line of the said Town of Sheffield, including Oromocto Island.
 
Parishes in York County (7)
 
q Parishes in
York County:-

r Fredericton.

    VIII. The said County called York County, shall be divided into seven
Towns or Parishes, as follows, to wit : The first Town or Parish to be called,
known and distinguished by the name of Fredericton, bounded on the south-
east by the lower line of the County of York, on the north-west by the lower
line of the grant to Colonel Isaac Allen and others, to its south angle, on the
south-west by a line running from that angle south-east to the lower line of the
County, on the north east by the shore of the river Saint John.
 
Kingsclear.     The second Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the
name of Kingsclear, bounded on the south-east by the Town of Fredericton
and the lower line of the County, on the north-west by the lower line of the
Town of Prince William, and a continuation thereof, twelve miles into the
Country, on the south-west by a line running from thence south-east to the
lower line of the County, and on the north-east by the shore of the river Saint
John, including the Islands in front.
 
s Prince Wil-
liam.
    The third Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name
of Prince William, bounded on the south-east by the upper boundary line of
the Town of Kingsclear, on the north-west by the lower line of block number
four, on the upper boundary line of a grant to Edward Winslow, Esquire, and
by a continuation of the same south-west into the Country, on the south-west
by a continuation of the south-west boundary line of the Town of Kingsclear,
and on the north-east by the shore of the river Saint John, including the Islands
in front.
 
Woodstock.     The fourth Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name
of Woodstock, bounded on the south-east by the northwest boundary line of the
Town of Prince William, extended twelve miles into the Country, on the north
by the upper boundary line of a grant to the second battalion of Delancey's,
and a continuation thereof west into the Country twelve miles from the River,
westerly and southerly by a line running from thence till it strikes the continua-
tion of the upper boundary line of a grant to John Munroe, twelve miles from
its commencement on the shore of the river Saint John, thence running south-
easterly till it strikes the upper corner of the south-east boundary line, and east-
erly by the shore of the river Saint John, including all the Islands in front.
 
v Saint Mary's.     The fifth Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the name
of Saint Mary’s, bounded on the south-east by the lower line of the County
running thereon thirty miles, westerly and north-westerly by the river Madam
Keswick, to the upper boundary line of Lands laid out for the New York
Volunteers, and by a continuation of the said line north-east into the Country,
on the north-east by a line running from the upper corner of the south-east
boundary line north-west, till it meets the north-west boundary line.
 
v Queensbury.     The sixth Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the
name of Queensbury, bounded by the river Madam Keswick, ‘till it comes op-
posite the upper line of Lands laid out for the New York Volunteers, thence by
a line running west ‘till it meets the continuation of the lower boundary line of
a tract of Land laid out to Captain Cunliffe and others, at the entrance of the
Narcawegack Creek, thence by that line to the shore of the River and by the
shore of the river Saint John to the Madam Keswick.
 
t Northampton.     The seventh Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the
name of Northampton, bounded on the south-east by the north-west boundary
line of the Town of Queensbury, extended twelve miles into the Country, on
the north-east by a line running from thence north-westerly to the mouth of a
River which discharges into the river Saint John, at the upper boundary of
block number seven, about two miles and a quarter above the upper end of
Pine Island, on the north-west and south-west by the shore of the river Saint
John.
Parishes in Northumberland County (2)
 
w Parishes in
Northumber-
land :-

Newcastle.

    IX. The said County of Northumberland, shall be divided into two Towns
or Parishes as follows. viz : the first Town or Parish to be called, known and
distinguished by the name of New-Castle, bounded southerly by the north
boundary line of the County of Westmorland, easterly by the sea-coast, in-
cluding the Islands in front to the northernmost point of Waltham Island,
northerly by a due west line from said point extended 'till it meets a north line
drawn from Okean river, a branch of the river Miramichi.
 
Alnwick.
 
 
 
 

Lines of Towns
run by the mag-
net.

    The second Town or Parish to be called, known and distinguished by the
name of Alnwick, bounded southerly by the north line of said Town of New-
Castle, easterly by the sea-shore, including the Islands in front, to the north
side of the mouth of Trachady river, northerly by a due west line from the said
north side of the mouth of said river 'till it meets the continuation of the western
line of the said Town of New-Castle.    All which said lines of the said Towns
in the respective Counties herein before mentioned are intended and to be con-
sidered as lines run by the magnet and not otherwise.
Shiretowns
 
Shire or County
Towns, viz:-
x Westmorland.
St. Andrews.
Kingston.
Gagetown.
Burton.
Fredericton.
New-Castle.
    X. And be it further enacted, That the said Town of Westmorland in the
County of Westmorland, the said Town of Saint Andrews in the County of
Charlotte, the said Town of Kingston in King's County, the said Town of
Gage-Town in Queen's County, the said Town of Burton, in the County of
Sunbury, the said Town of Fredericton in the County of York, and the said
Town of New-Castle in the County of Northumberland, shall be for ever here-
after the Shire or County Towns of the said Counties respectively. Provided,
That in the County of Sunbury the courts may be held in the Town of Ma-
gerville, until such time as a convenient Court House and Gaol shall be erect-
ed in the said Town of Burton.

Endnotes

a See further, 27 G. 3, C. 7, for Western Boundary.

b Boundaries further designated by 43 G. 3, C. 4, S. 1. Divided into three Counties by 7 G. 4, C. 31.

c See 27 G. 3, C. 7, for Eastern Boundary.

d Divided into two Counties. See 1 W. 4, C. 50.

e Persons arrested in Saint Martin's may be conveyed to Gaol at the City of Saint John by the public
    Road which passes through a part of King's County. See 50 G. 3, C. 1.

f See further, 27 G. 3, C. 7, S. 1, erecting Dorchester and Salisbury - 41 G. 3, C, 6, making Dorches-
    ter the Shire Town - 45 G. 3, C. 18, erecting Parish of Botsford - 8 G. 4, C. 13, erecting She-
    diac, and 5 W. 4, C. 15, altering Boundaries of Moncton and Dorchester.

g Enlarged by 53 G. 3. C. 2. See also 4 G. 4, C. 11, erecting a part of the Parish and adjacent Country
    into a separate Parish, called Saint James.

h See post Sec. 10 of this Act making Saint Andrews the Shire Town.

i Enlarged by 54 G. 3, C. 15, S. 1.

k Enlarged by 54 G. 3. C. 15, S. 2.

l See 43 G. 3, C. 4, S. 2, making Campo Bello a separate Parish, and 56 G. 3, C. 10, making  Grand
    Manan a distinct Parish.

m Boundaries altered and Parishes of Norton, Greenwich and Hampton erected by 35 G. 3, C. 3 -
    Hampton divided and Upham erected by 5 W. 4, C. 33.

n Brunswick erected in rear of Wickham and Waterborough by 56 G. 3, C. 27, Waterborough divi-
    ded and Canning erected, 8 G. 4, C. 12. Brunswick and Canning divided and Chipman erected,
    5 W. 4, C. 23.

o Made the Shire Town, See post Sec. 10.

p Burton made the Shire Town, post Section 10. The Parish of Blissville erected from parts of
    Burton and Lincoln by 4 W. 4, C. 42.

q See 43 G. 3, C. 5, and 2 G. 4, C. 22, erecting Parishes of Wakefield and Kent which now form part
    of Carleton.

r Made the Shire Town, post Section 10.

s Divided and part included in Dumfries. See 3 W. 4, C. 38.

t The erection of the County of Carleton by 1 W. 4, C. 50, divided the Parishes of Woodstock and
    Northampton, the parts remaining in York made Dumfries and Southampton by 3 W. 4, C. 38.

v Saint Mary's and Queensbury, divided and parts included in the Parish of Douglas erected by 5 G.
    4, C. 27, S. 1 ; division lines of Douglas and Queensbury altered, 5 W. 4, C. 32.

w See 54 G. 3, C. 17, altering the Boundaries of these Parishes and erecting nine others, and see also
    7 G. 4, C. 31 dividing the County and erecting Kent and Gloucester.

x Dorchester made the Shire Town by 41 G. 3, C. 6.



Transcriber's Remarks

Source: The text of the above act was taken from a compilation of New Brunswick statutes for 1786 - 1836, published as

The Acts of the General Assembly of Her Majesty's Province of New Brunswick from the Twenty Sixth Year of the Reign of King George the Third to the Sixth Year of the Reign of King William the Fourth. Edited by George F. S. Berton. Printed by John Simpson, Printer to the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, Fredericton. 1838.
With the exception of footnotes and repealed clauses, this volume was a reprint of the original acts, rather than a consolidation.

    The book followed several conventions within the main text of the act. First, "Saint" was always spelled out rather than abbreviated. Second, only certain possessive placenames used an apostrophe. Thus we have King's County, not Kings County; but Saint Andrews, not Saint Andrew's. Third, only certain compound placenames used a hyphen. Thus we have West-Isles and Gage-Town, but also Fredericton. However, in the marginal notes, these conventions were sometimes sacrificed, presumably to save space. It is not clear whether these spelling and punctuation conventions were used in 1786 or introduced by Berton in 1838.

Title: The short title, Territorial Division Act, 1786, was not part of the original, but was added by the transcriber (in 2001) as a convenient anachronism. This brings the act in line with its modern day descendant, the Territorial Division Act, Chapter T-3 of the Revised Statutes of New Brunswick, 1973. The modern act is listed on the Government of New Brunswick website.

Royal Assent: The date that Governor Thomas Carleton assented to the act - March 15, 1786 - was not given in Berton, but it was reported in the Royal Gazette and The New Brunswick Advertiser of March 21, 1786.

Transcription: The table of contents and boldface headings within the text were added by the transcriber, but otherwise all of the text from the Latin regnal date, Anno Regni GEORGII III. Regis Vicesimo Sexto, to the end of Section X, is an exact transcription from Berton, including the marginal notes, spelling, capitalization, abbreviations, punctuation, italics, and section numbers.

Endnotes: The endnotes are also an exact transcription from Berton, except that he presented them as footnotes.

Transcribed by Craig Walsh.
May 2001.

Disclaimer: I have provided this transcription for its historical interest. It should not be considered an official or legal copy of the act.


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This page was prepared by Craig Walsh.
Page first posted: May 11,  2001.
Last updated: May 16, 2001.