First church along the Saint John River
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Early french settlers along the Saint john river from 1650s-1700, Gabriel Bellefontaine, Jean Martel,Pierre Godin, Charles Charet, Antoine Du Vigneaux, and Francois Moyse
The first church built along the Saint John river was at Meductic in 1717 named Saint John Baptist, during Father Loyards time with the Maliseet. The church was gifted many royal items, one being a small bell that was later transported to a chapel in Kingsclear.
Meductic could arguably be the location to one of the oldest forts in New Brunswick. When European explorers adventured along the Saint John river they reported finding a rectangular fort at Meductic built with logs which held a longhouse. This was a prime location for meetings and keeping provisions. This area is now under the river, after construction of the Mactaquac dam in the 1960's, the entire encampment is lost. An ancient cemetery is also under water here. Most artifacts would be scattered along the river from currents and ice jams during the spring.
The first missionary that we can trace records to is Father Simon, who is recalled in John Gyles Memoirs. He died around 1698, no telling how long he served prior to this. Father Simon was a missionary for the Order of the Recollects, founded in the 13th century by St Francis of Assissi. According to archives, they began mission work along the Saint John river as early as the 1620's. Pierre Baird, a jesuit missionary visited the Saint John river in 1611.
John Gyles recalls landing in present day Woodstock, along the Meduxnekaeg river. 1698 “we left this village and went up St. John’s river about ten miles to a branch called Medockscenecasis". Upon meeting this river there was a large wigwam, he mentions picking butternuts and wild grapes, which are still found along the river. Some of this may be above ground, or under water as his description does not give much account on exact locations.
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