1

The American Revolution had a profound effect on life on the coast. Not only did it herald the arrival of many Loyalist families but it also created the real possibility of invasion along Chaleur Bay. American Privateers were a frequent sighting and threat in the Bay area during these turbulent years; they raided and pillaged fishing settlements and stations, and captured or destroyed merchant ships. When the French joined the conflict against the British, few English ships were spared to police the waters which became infested with American Privateers or ‘pirates' between 1778 and 1782. Local militias were formed in response to this threat. The militia at Perce was formed in 1777.

2

Cannon Ball
18th Century, Circa 1770's
Plains of Abraham, Quebec, Canada

Credits:
Bay Chaleur Military Museum

3

Cannon Ball
18th Century, Circa 1760
Restigouche, Quebec, Canada

Credits:
Bay Chaleur Military Museum

4

Cannon Ball
18th / 19th Centuries, Circa 1775 - 1850
Duthie's Point, New Richmond, Quebec, Canada

Credits:
Bay Chaleur Military Museum
Gaspesian British Heritage Village

5

The influx of Loyalists in the wake of the American Revolutionary War also played a significant role in the formation of local militias. Many of these new settlers were discharged soldiers from Provincial (loyal) regiments and from British and Hessian regiments who chose to remain in Canada – these men helped form the core of many of the local militia initiatives.

6

Second Battalion - Bonaventure County Militia

Rank Name Date of Rank Residence

Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Meagher Oct. 10, 1854 Carleton
Major Pierre Thibaudeau April 2, 1857 Maria
Pay Master Capt. John Harvey April 2, 1857 New Richmond
Adjutant Ens. W. Montgomery May 5, 1847 New Richmond
Quarter Master James Fallow May 5, 1847 New Richmond
Captain Paul Poirier May 5, 1847 Hamilton
Captain Louis Sire May 5, 1847 Maria
Captain John Doddridge May 5, 1874 New Richmond
Captain Andrew Turner May 5, 1847 New Richmond
Captain George Poirier May 5, 1847 Maria
Captain Ralph W. Dimock April 2, 1857 Maria
Captain Alexis Poirier April 2, 1857 Hamilton
Captain John Campbell April 2, 1857 New Richmond
Captain J. S. Harvey April 2, 1857 New Richmond
Captain Ralph Pritchard July 29, 1858 New Richmond
Lieutenant Aubert Cavanagh May 5, 1847 Hamilton
Lieutenant Charles Forest May 5, 1847 Hamilton
Lieutenant John McCormick May 5, 1847 New Richmond
Lieutenant William Lynd May 5, 1847 New Richmond
Lieutenant Theophile Audette May 5, 1847 Maria
Lieutenant Leonard Sire May 5, 1847 Maria
Lieutenant William Meagher April 2, 1857 New Carlisle
Lieutenant Richard Brash April 2, 1857 New Richmond
Ensign Francois Bourdages May 5, 1847 Hamilton
Ensign Polycarpe Poirier May 5, 1847 New Richmond
Ensign Francois Sire May 5, 1847 New Richmond
Ensign Morris Power May 5, 1847 New Richmond
Ensign William Montgomery May 5, 1847 New Richmond
Ensign Peter Forest June 28, 1849 Hamilton
Ensign Narcisse Boissonneault April 2, 1857 New Richmond
Ensign Napoleon Poirier April 2, 1857 Hamilton
Ensign William Harvey, Jr. April 2, 1857 New Richmond
Ensign Hugh Doddridge April 2, 1857 New Richmond

7

James Stephen Harvey was born to William Harvey and Catherine Duthie (John Duthie's daughter) on March 1st 1844. He served as a Captain in the local militia (2nd Battalion, Bonaventure County). Captain James S. Harvey's militia coat and sword have both survived and are displayed here. James Harvey worked as a clerk for Cuthbert and later for Montgomery's Mill, and also as a school master and teacher. He married Dorothy Doddridge. Captain James S. Harvey died on February 24th 1915.

8

James Harvey and his mother, Catherine Duthie
19th Century, Circa 1870
New Richmond, Quebec, Canada

Credits:
Bay Chaleur Military Museum

9

James Harvey's Sword
19th Century, Circa 1857
New Richmond, Quebec, Canada

Credits:
Bay Chaleur Military Museum

10

James Stephen Harvey
19th Century, Circa 1865-1875
New Richmond, Quebec, Canada

Credits:
Bay Chaleur Military Museum

11

James Harvey's Militia Coat
19th Century, Circa 1803
New Richmond, Quebec, Canada

Credits:
Bay Chaleur Military Museum

12

The Militia coat has an interesting history in and of itself. This coat is over 200 years old and consequently pre-dates the captaincy of James S. Harvey in 1857. The coat originally belonged to the 1st Regiment of Royal Edinburgh Volunteers, a Scottish regiment. This regiment was raised in 1803 to act as a defence in case the country was invaded during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, as at this time virtually the entire regular army was serving overseas. The regiment was disbanded in 1814 when Napoleon was banished to the island of Elba. Exactly how the coat came to be here is not known. It is possible that William Cuthbert (who helped form and lead the local militia, and who hailed from Scotland) bought the uniforms from a disbanded Scottish regiment on one of his visits and brought them back to the coast for use by the local militia.

13

James Stephen Harvey and his Wife Dorothy Doddridge
20th Century, Circa 1910
New Richmond, Quebec, Canada

Credits:
Bay Chaleur Military Museum

14

James Stephen Harvey and his Twin Sister Margaret
20th Century, Circa 1905
New Richmond, Quebec, Canada

Credits:
Bay Chaleur Military Museum