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〃They appear to have come to Dorchester； N。B。； by a schooner commanded by one 'Lige Ayre； so called。 Why they should have gone first to Westmoreland's shire town； instead of direct to the Eldorado of their dreams is one of the unknowable things； but presumably the exigencies of travel in those days had something to do with it。 Both passengers and mail matter went by dead reckoning； so to speak； and could seldom get direct conveyance to their destination。
〃In the yellowed leaves of a century old diary； penned by the hand of Senator Wood's grandfather； and also from letters； we find quaint comments and an interesting insight into the lives of the early settlers。
〃The journal was begun in October； 1800； when Josiah Wood was twenty… four years old。 He and his mother； after visiting in Canard； appear to have made their home for the time being in Newport； N。S。； where in the cloth mill of Alexander Lockhart Josiah found employment。 The young man seems to have had all the business acumen and habits of industry that distinguish his posterity。 When work in the mill was slack he taught school； beginning with four scholars。 Evening amusements consisted of husking parties； etc。； where Mr。 Wood contributed to the festivities by flute playing and songs。 His idea of a vacation was taking a load of cabbages to sell in Windsor； where his sole extravagance was buying a bandana handkerchief。
〃Mrs。 Wood filled in her time； though hardly profitably； by having smallpox。 This dread disease did not seem to cause any dismay in those days。 The neighbors came and went with kindly ministrations to the sick woman； and the son pursued his work in the mill； quite unconscious that according to modern science he was weaving the death…producing microbe into every yard of cloth。
〃In February； 1801； Mrs。 Wood and Josiah went to Halifax； where they put up the sign 'The Bunch of Grapes。' The diary speaks of their visiting 'Mr。 Robie； Mr。 Blowers； the Chief Justice and the governor；' with regard to their land； but to no purpose； their claim being considered invalid。
〃In the fall of the same year they returned to Dorchester； where Josiah not long after married Miss Ayre。 He died in his early thirties； leaving two young children； Mariner and Ann。 The widow married Philip Palmer and afterwards went to live in Sackville； N。B。 They had eight children； Martin； who settled in Hopewell Cape； Dr。 Rufus Palmer； of Albert； Stephen Palmer； of Dorchester； Charles Jabez； and the Misses Palmer； of Sackville； and Judge Palmer； of St。 John。
〃Miss Ann Wood went to live with her grandmother at Fort Lawrence； while Mariner continued with his stepfather； commencing business in a small way on his own account at an early age。 He purchased in course of time the property adjoining Mr。 Palmer's； in Sackville； where he built a store and dwelling which is known as 〃The Farm；〃 and continued his ever growing business at the same stand till his death； in 1875。 In 1871 the firm assumed its present name of M。 Wood & Sons。
〃During his genealogical research Senator Wood has found relatives whom his branch of the family had lost sight of for a century。 The Senator's grandfather had a brother； Charles Thompson Wood； born at Lebanon； Conn。； October； 1779。 He married Elizabeth Tracy； and pursued the trade of hatter in Norwich； Conn。 He died in 1807； leaving two children； Charles Joseph and Rachel Tracey； both of whom married and in 1830 moved to Kinsman； Ohio。
〃The children of this Charles J。 Wood are living at Kinsman； and Senator Wood visited his long lost relatives this autumn。 The pleasure was mutual； and while the Senator would tell of many years' patient seeking for his father's kindred； they related the story which had been told them by their father of his uncle； who had gone to the wilds of Canada and never been heard of more。〃MISS COGSWELL IN ST。 JOHN DAILY SUN。
McLEOD。
Alexander McLeod was born on board ship in Dublin harbor； the 11th December； 1773。 His father belonged to the 42nd highlanders； a regiment then on its way to augment the British force in America。 This regiment was on active service during the American Revolutionary war； and at its close was disbanded and grants of land in the Maritime Provinces distributed among its members。 The greater number of these grants were on the Nashwaak River； in New Brunswick。 Alexander McQueen； an officer in the same regiment； grandfather of Alexander McQueen； of Shediac； and great…grandfather of Sheriff McQueen； of Westmoreland； settled in Pictou County； N。S。
Mr。 McLeod settled on the Nashwaak； and lived there the remainder of his life。 Alexander； his son； went to Sheffield in 1796； and began a mercantile business。 He married Elizabeth Barker； of that place。 In 1806 he removed to the city of St。 John； where for some years he conducted business on a scale large for the times； and was very successful。 He was a Methodist local preacher； and in 1829 started a literary and religious journal； which enjoyed； like most of its successors in that city； but a brief existence。 Mr。 McLeod's family numbered sixRoderick； the youngest； died in infancy； Annie； the eldest； was a teacher and never married； Sarah married James Robertson； Margaret married Rev。 Albert Desbrisay； who was for some years chaplain of the old Sackville Academy； Wesley was twice married； first in 1836； to Amy Trueman； who died； leaving one daughter； and again； in 1840； to Seraphina Trueman。
Wesley McLeod was a persistent reader； a good conversationalist； and a most interesting man to meet。 He was a bank accountant； and the last forty years of his life were spent in the United States。 His home was in Newark； N。J。； where his widow and three daughters still live。 Mr。 McLeod never lost his love for the old flag for which his grandfather fought； and although so many years of his life were spent in the United States； where he always took a great interest in all public questions； he never became a naturalized citizen of the Republic。 He lived to be eighty…five years of age。 Robert Trueman McLeod； of Dunvegan； Point de Bute； is a son of Wesley McLeod。
Alexander first married Sarah Trueman； of Point de Bute； by whom he had five children。 His second wife was Georgina Hultz； of Baltimore； U。S。
Robert； the youngest son of the first family； was in the Confederate Army in 1860； and lost an arm at Fort Sumter。 He afterwards graduated with honors from Harvard and died in Europe while travelling for the benefit of his health。
Alexander McLeod was a Methodist preacher； and a Doctor of Divinity when that title was not so common as it is now。 He was one of the editors of the PROVINCIAL WESLEYAN。 Like his brother Wesley； the last years of his life were spent in the United States； where both he and his wife were engaged in literary work。
The following extract is taken from a letter written by a member of the McLeod family in reply to one asking for information：
〃Your letter was received a couple of days ago and I would gladly send you all the information we have； but the most of it is so vague that it is quite unsatisfactory for your purpose。 Of course we all know very positively that the McLeods sprang from the best and most honorable clan of old Scotland。 We have improved some in manners； for we no longer drive our foes into caves； and smoke them to death。 （We only wish we could。） We no longer brag that we were not beholden to Noah； but had boats of our ownthat would relate us too nearly to Lillith but still we are proud of our ancestors。〃
AVARD。
Joseph Avard was born in the town of St。 Austle； Cornwall； England； in 1761。 At twelve years of age he was apprenticed to a clockmaker； with whom he remained eight years。 He married Frances Ivey； in 1782。 Mr。 Avard was appointed a class…leader； and for seven years never failed to be present at the regular meeting of its members。 He was intimately acquainted with Mr。 Wesley； and attended his funeral； at which there was said to be thirty thousand people present。 He also heard Charles Wesley preach his last sermon。
In 1789 Mr。 Avard was one of nine charter members of the Strangers' Friend Society； organized by Dr。 Adam Clark。 The object of the Society was the relief of distressed families in the town of Bristol where Mr。 Avard lived。 He was made a local preacher in 1790。 For a short time he lived in London； and a daughter was buried in the City Road burying… ground。 In 1806 Mr。 Avard emigrated to Prince Edward Island； landing at Charlottetown on May 15th； where he remained until 1813。 In the fall of that year he left Charlottetown； with the intention of going to Windsor； N。S。； but on reaching Bay Verte he decided to stay the winter in New Brunswick。 A part of the time was spent in Fort Lawrence； and in the spring he removed to Sackville； where he made his home until near the close of life。 He died at his son's home； in Jolicure； in his eighty…seventh year。
Of the three children that came with Joseph Avard to America； Elizabeth married John Boyer； of Charlottetown； Adam Clark entered the ministry； and died in Fredericton； in 1821； Joseph was educated in Bristol； England； and soon after his arrival in America found his way to Chignecto and taught school several years in Point de Bute。 In 1813 he married Margaret Wells； da