"I have just received your card requesting information respecting my family.In answer I may say that my late father was a native of North Yarmouth, near the city of Portland, United States.He emigrated to this country in the year 1813, located in Moncton, and was engaged in mercantile pursuits until the time of his death in 1851, paying one hundred cents on the dollar.After taking the oath of allegiance he was appointed a magistrate, the duties of which he discharged with great fidelity until the time of his removal from earth.
"My father was a sincere Christian and a deacon in the Baptist Church, and died much lamented.His family consisted of twelve children, six sons and six daughters.May, the eldest, married a Mr.Gallagher and had several children, most of whom are dead.Emily, second daughter, married Mr.John Newcomb, father of the distinguished astronomer, Prof.Newcomb, of world-wide reputation.Joseph married Miss Harris.
Harriet married Mr.Thos.Trueman.William has been an accountant in the railway offices of this city.John's wife was Miss Embree, of Amherst, and his second wife is Mrs.Cynthia, formerly Mrs.Mariner Wood.James resided in St.John; George and Henry, both dead.George never married; Henry resided in Truro at the time of his death and married to Miss Raine, daughter of Capt.Raine, a retired naval officer.Rebecca, Sarah and Ruth never married.
"As a family we were all as well educated as the circumstances would admit.My father's people in the United States were nearly all Congregationalists, and my great-grandfather Prince was a minister of that body.He was pastor of a church in Newburyport, and is buried in a vault under his pulpit.A few years ago I visited that place, partly to see the church, which was built by my great-grandfather.When Sabbath morning came I went to the church; reached it just a little after the minister in charge had commenced the service.Seeing that I was a stranger, with somewhat of a clerical appearance, he came out of the pulpit to the pew where I was sitting, and said, among other things, 'We are going to have the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper to-day, and Iwould be glad to have you stay and assist,' which I did.At the close of the service I remarked to the minister that I was very much interested in being present, as I was informed that the remains of my ancestor were in the vault under the pulpit, and that I was his great-grandson.He seemed much surprised and announced the fact to the congregation, and further said that I would preach in the afternoon, which I did.He then directed the sexton to show me down into the vault.In this vault there were the remains of three ministers in their separate coffins.One was a coffin containing the remains of the immortal Whitfield.In the coffin just opposite was the remains of the Rev.Joseph Prince, and in another the remains of another former pastor of the church, Rev.Mr.Parsons.I certainly was very much impressed by my surroundings, for it was a scene the like of which I never hoped to look upon again.This vault, I was told, had been visited by thousands, who came to look upon George Whitfield's bones, for there was nothing but bones.Whitfield died a very short distance from the church, and the window of the house where he breathed his last was pointed out to me.I remember with what strange feelings I lad my hand on the shade of my ancestor.This man had twelve sons, and there was one thing about them the pastor said he knew, and that was 'that they were all Princes.'