By 1861, in Charlotte County, forty-three per cent of the Irish Catholic
family heads listed their occupation as labourers. Twenty-eight per cent were farmers; nineteen per cent
were skilled craftsmen. Seven per cent were paupers, and three per cent were employed in professional,
managerial, business or civil service positions. English and Scots were predominant in the upper and
middle strata of society. The Irish, Catholics and Protestants, were found in the middle and lower strata.
It is also reported that from 1860 onward the Irish Catholics and Protestants formed the dominant element
in the population of this Loyalist County - Charlotte.
By 1862, the Fenian threat was on the horizon. Confederation was just around the corner. The "demon
rum" was on the rampage and soon to follow was temperance.
In 1868 a new society called the Morning star was organized in Charlotte County, having for its objective
the suppression of drunkenness, profanity and Sabbath breaking. At that time, It was written in the St. Croix
Courier:
"branches were established at Tower Hill, one at Waweig, one at the Ledge, one at Bay Side and one at Levar Settlement. A division was also organized at the Rolling Dam but owing to adverse circumstances, it has gone down."
The trials and tribulations of the temperance campaign would present significant
challenge at the time but of greater concern would be the forces of nature.
The Saxby Gale occurred on Oct, 14, 1869. A Lieutenant Saxby of the British navy had some 10 months
before predicted that because of certain alignments of the moon and earth, conditions that always attended
with "marked atmospheric conditions" would occur. Apparently this was published in the "Telegraph and
Journal" shortly before the storm. The Saxby Gale appears to have been so named at some time shortly
following the event. In reality, it appears to have been a full force hurricane that caused much damage
throughout the whole county. The storm lasted for about four hours between 6 and 10 o'clock on a Monday
evening. The tide rose to a great height and at its hiatus, the fury of the wind was terrible. Many ships were
destroyed. Hundreds of barns and houses were blown down. A number of people were killed as were
numerous domestic animals.
Although information on the Saxby gale is pretty much undisputable, "Name spelling" of the community is
one that stimulates lively discussion from time to time and frequently results in rigorous debate.
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