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13056 Shore Road |
Prince Edward Island Tourism Region : Points East Coastal Drive
Description From Owner:
- District 13 mi SW of Montague embracing Eldon, Newtown Cross, Iona, Surrey, Pinette, Roseberry and Flat River.
- Named by Capt. James Smith of HMS MERMAID 01770 for Belfast, Ireland (Gentleman's Magazine, March 1771); not from French belle face or for a 'bell' found 'fast' in a swamp.
- Lord Selkirk's note in his diary of August 13, 1803: 'the settlement at the old French village called Belfast' — that mislead people to believe that the name was French.
- Settlement was attempted in 1775 and 1785 but was not successful until Lord Selkirk's arrival in 1803. In Micmac Megwasa, 'red bank'. P.O. from 1832.
- Meacham 1880 shows Belfast school on W side of Eldon. Holland 1765 places Prim Village here. The modern Belfast school is between Pinette and Flat River.
- The centre of Belfast is considered to be St. John's Presbyterian Church 1 mi S of Eldon. This site Meacham 1880 names Pinette Mills. Belfast Cove and Belfast Point were former names in the area that are no longer used.
- St. John's Presbyterian Church dominates the community and the tower is said to have been based on a design by Sir Christopher Wren (1632-1723).
- The Belfast Historical Society and Selkirk Cultural and Heritage Centre is housed in a croft house and has displays of artifacts from the Selkirk Settlement of 1803, genealogical records and is adjacent to the burial grounds of Scots and Acadians.
- It's at 336 Basin Head Road and open June 1-Sept. 20.
- This place was first settled by Acadians and re-settled in 1803 by Scots from Skye, Uist, Inverness and Ross-shire as a colony by Scottish philanthropist Thomas Douglas (1771-1820), 5th Earl of Selkirk.
- THE BELFAST RIOT OF 1847:
- It started in 1846 when the two defeated Conservative candidates in Belfast District complained that rough behaviour at the polls had prevented a number of people from voting.
- The election results showed that Reform candidates John Little and John MacDougall were the winners. The Legislative Assembly invalidated the election results and scheduled a new election for March 1 the following year.
- During that election at Pinette Poll there was a full-scale riot just after noon involving 400 club-wielding men in which Malcolm MacRae was killed.
- Another election was set for March 19. This time the polling station was watched over by a company of infantry, a company of cavalry and 120 special police constables.
- In this vote Reform candidates Little and MacDougall were defeated by Conservatives William Douse and Alexander MacLean.
- With permission from 'Prince Edward Island Place Names' David E. Scott 2011
Address of this page: http://pei.ruralroutes.com/BelfastPEI
