Benjamin Chapple was born in London, England on March 5, 1740 and was trained by his father Richard Chapple, as a wheelwright and machinist. He was raised in the Church of England by his parents. In the fall of 1774 the Ship, “Snow Elizabeth” landed on the north shore of the Island of St. John in eastern Canada with a load of settlers including Benjamin Chapple and his wife, Elizabeth. They settled in the New London area and built a home near Yankee Hill Cemetery on the west side of the harbour entrance at a village called Elizabethtown (French River area).
Mr. Chapple began keeping a journal of his observations in living his life in this new settlement. His first entry was in January 1775 and excerpts for 1775 which mention something about the weather or natural features are given below. Some data from other sources is also provided and these are shown in italics.
January 19th: Myself in woods with Geddes squaring timber for ye counting-house. Foster, Parratt, and Cooper ordered to go to Great Rustico to fetch our lower cargo. Coming over our own bay, they broke in and two horses drowned. Mens lives saved, bless God.
February 2nd: Owing to the early cold, the vessel by which he intended to send dispatches is frozen in. Is trying to induce men to attempt passage to Nova Scotia in a small canoe. If this succeeds it will open a communication with the Island in winter.
February 11th: Very short of provisions. No rum, no bread, no meat, no beer, no sugar in ye stores. Mr. Allan set out for Lawsons at Stanhope.
February 28th: The first winter mail service to Nova Scotia was successful using a small canoe. This was inaugurated by Governor Patterson. (A.B. Warburton, 1923)
March 3rd: Arrived Mr. Allan from Stanhope with ½ barrel of rum, 3 of flour, 1 of pork, no more. ( This journey would be about 40 km one way and it took Mr. Allan 20 days to complete).
March 16th: Thomas Anvil corked ye great whale boat in order for sea.
March 19th: It is observed that the sea in our bay is open and clear of ice that ships may go out or come with ease and entire safety.
March 22nd: Myself at shop making a compass standard for Mr. Allan and a scuttle for ye horse. Stormy coarse weather. Very little or no work done.
April 5th: Building a boat with Geddes and Jersey but hindered for a day by the great fire which began at Joseph Rooks and covered many hundred acres. (forest fire)
May 9th: Concluded not to remove, but to trust God for food. Setting up ye garden pales and making boxes for cabbages.
May 12th: People are gardening.
May 16th: Being short of provisions we went to Winter’s Cove (Cavendish) for oysters. Ye storm such we could not get back.
May 17th: Brought home boat loaded with oysters. Set to work to make Mrs. MacDonald’s coffin.
May 20th: Went over the bar fishing and took 30 cod fish.
May23rd: Geddes and myself went up a river by Winters for fowl, but found little.
(William Winter was an army officer who was granted lot 23 by Governor Patterson and lived at Cavendish)
August 15th: At Pinette, an intense storm destroyed a ship that was destined to Pictou, Nova Scotia.
Nov. 1st & 2nd: During the night of Nov 1 and 2nd the wind shifted and started blowing hard and drove the vessel out to sea. The gale was coming from the NE and blew hard for 3 days and nights.
Nov. 5th: Ship Elizabeth runs aground during storm. See other post on this website. https://peiclimate.wordpress.com/2022/03/23/brig-elizabeth-wrecked-at-cascumpec-sand-hills-pei-november-5-1775/
Nov.11th: I reach home though weather was bad.
Nov. 16th: A wicked storm and could do little.
Nov. 17th: Collecting firewood, then finishing Mr. Allen’s bed, sharpening my handsaw $ began a Windsor chair for Mrs. Chapple. Charlottetown taken (by American privateers, who kidnapped Phillips Callbeck, acting Governor and Thomas Wright, surveyor-general).
Dec. 2nd: Mr. Douglas’s new schooner ran ashore on the Sand Point at noon day.
Sources: The Oldest Diary of Prince Edward Island, by Ada MacLeod, Dalhousie Review, ; A History of PEI by A.B. Warburton, 1923.
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