Abbreviated History of the Point:
William Davidson was the first permanent English speaking settler on the Miramichi River. He obtained a large land grant from the Province of NS(NB was not a separate province at the time) in 1765. In the 25 years between 1765 and 1790, the Miramichi Valley changed from a forest wilderness to an organized community with scattered settlements along both sides of the river, much of it due to the persistence and ability of William Davidson, a Scotsman. He was a pioneer in the fish, lumber, and shipbuilding industries no only in Miramichi and was successful in establishing overseas markets for Miramichi products. Davidson ( nee John Godsman) from Banffshire, Scotland was accompanied to this area by his business partner, John Cort from Aberdeenshire. They were responsible for establishing many settlers from Scotland in the Miramichi. Following their expulsion from NS, the Acadians took refuge in this area during the 1756-1759 period. A cairn commemorating their history was erected nearby in August 2006. Many of the earliest settlers along the Miramichi are buried at Wilsons Point but there were only 17 identifiable tombstones here when Lord Beaverbrook began a restoration on the site in 1947. At that time the original stones were clean but over the years the writing on them has become almost unreadable, so new markers were purchased by the Scottish Heritage Association. Each marker contains the original inscription where possible. Many of the original graves were enclosed by fences as indicated on the cemetery entrance sign. Lord Beaverbrook was referring to these when he called the park "The Enclosure" in the late 1940s. The first Protestant church in Miramichi area was built at Wilsons Point. James Anderson was the designer and builder of Saint James Church in 1791. He was a Scotsman, brought to the Miramichi by William Davidson. This is the actual site of that church, the cornerstones having been located by archaeologists in 2003. It was similar in size and design to the new interpretive center but we have been unable to locate a picture of the original building. There were a number of traveling clergymen to the Miramichi area in the late 1700s but it was not until 1802 that a Presbyterian minister took up residence in Miramichi. He preached at both Wilsons Point and Moorfields from 1802 until 1814, and is buried in Moorfields cemetery in Millbank. The Point had been know by various names but after 1820 it was know as Wilsons Point. It was named for a Scotsman from Stromness, Orkney, Scotland, John Wilson. He and his wife, Euphemia Clouston arrive in the Miramichi about 1817 and settled at the Point. John Wilson was known as the ferryman from the Point. He operated his ferry from Wilsons Point to both sides of the river and to Beaubear's Island. In 1856 the North West Bridge was opened. The services of the ferryman were less frequently required, so John Wilson retired from his ferryman business to become a farmer. The Point is still know as Wilsons Point.
