In 1604 the company of Samuel de Champlain and Sieur de Monts, commissioned by the King of France to establish a settlement, landed on a small island in the St. Croix River between the present towns of St. Andrews and St. Stephen. It might have been a good start--perhaps if the winter had been less harsh.

By this time the religious wars between the Catholics and Protestants of France had barely come to an end. Unfortunately they were still raging for the clergy of the settlement on the Island of St. Croix (Dochet's Island). However, both Roman Catholics and Huguenots held services in the chapel, something that would be looked upon with favor centuries later. Champlain attended Mass, and De Monts, the Calvinist service.

Unfortunately, Father Nicholas Aubrey and the Huguenot pastor had been unable to entertain the idea of two versions of Christian truth living side by side. Their arguments never ceased, and it was said the disputations had done much to enliven the passage from France.

This early conflicting Christian presence in the St. Croix Valley was hardly one to be proud of and the effect of the feuding clergymen was apparently quite devastating. Champlain himself suggests that the frequent quarrels may have contributed to a failure of morale in the settlement and been a factor in its disastrous end.

History says the priest and pastor went to their grave fighting. According to legend they died during that fateful winter on the island and were buried in one grave. The comment of survivors was that now, at last they would be in agreement.

The island was abandoned the next year as a permanent settlement, but was often visited in later years.

In 1611, when it is estimated the Indian people on the St. Croix and Saint John together numbered one thousand, the Passamaquoddies were being visited and 'converted' by Catholic missionaries.

It is reported that the Passamaquoddies had a place of worship in St. Andrews after 1685 and until 1784. The voice of the French priest was eagerly listened to by these people, and when all of Canada was finally ceded to England in 1763, they sent a plea to Governor Bernard of Massachusetts to be allowed to keep their priests.

During this early period only a few French settlers had taken up land grants in the area of the St. Croix and those who had, disappeared with the English takeover.

Land registry records indicate that the first English land grants were made sometime between the takeover and the late 1700's.