Elder John Stevenson

One might wonder why a man would give up a good living to emigrate, but Barry Norris, who wrote “…and God Giveth The Increase”, attributes their move to war, and the fear that the Stevenson sons would be circumscribed.

There were absolutely no European wars between the years of 1815 and 1914. In 1793 the French government, fearing reprise from other parts of Europe, passed a law requiring military service. Among the new war tactics being developed, Napoleon rose up the ranks with his revolutionary strategies. Napoleon used bold means and the largest army in history to attack every European capital. Because of the force of England, France was never able to secure peace on the continent, and rivals began to use Napoleon’s methods. Napoleon’s Russian defeat began the fall of the French army, which ended with the battle of Waterloo in 1815. The powers in Europe began amassing armies and turning towards France, tired of being afraid of invasion and French looters. It was during this political climate that perhaps John Stevenson feared his oldest sons would be drafted.“

Regardless of reasoning, the large group of families left for the New World. The voyage in 1819 was long and rough, and John lost the deed to the land he had acquired. J Brenton Dickieson, the present writer’s great uncle, wrote the following to Rueben Butchart’, an historian who wrote of the Restoration Movement in Canada:

   “The passage on the account of adverse winds and stormy weather took many more weeks than they anticipated. They passed the hours in many different ways but every morning had worship led by a young man of sterling character, with great intellect and vision, a weaver by trade, his name was John Stevenson, and many times during the voyage he cheered up those who became down hearted and homesick, by his kindly and humorous words until they dropped anchor outside of Rustico Harbour…”

The families migrating from Scotland landed in Rustico in 1820. Some say they traveled up what is now the New Glasgow River and immediately broke bread under a tree, thanking God for their safe journey. Others say the group stayed in Rustico for three years and then moved upriver. However, the story of Margaret Bagnall, the granddaughter of John Stevenson, may very well be correct: John Stevenson stayed in Rustico for the winter, and moved upstream in the spring.

Eventually, however, the large group migrated upriver to a cove, which was later named Stevenson’s Cove. This was likely half way between the present cemetery and the New Glasgow Bridge.’ We know that the families moved further up the river, but there is evidence they built crude homes very near the water in Stevenson’s cove. There is an old well with an air of permanence on the shore. Eventually John Stevenson built a home on what is now Ruth Howatt’s property. The Nisbets settled next to them on the east, and James and Catherine (Stevenson) Dickieson on the adjacent property to the west.

Very soon after this, John began to preach. The barn was used as a sanctuary; with a large barrel as a pulpit, and boards Jaid across small barrels for pews. Even though this setting seems crude, people came to hear this only gospel preacher in Lot 23. The place became known as New Glasgow, and a church was beginning. The following is a beautiful story from Margaret Bagnall, who was John’s granddaughter:

    “Grandfather Stevenson, who was a distant cousin of Robert Louis Stevenson, as soon as possible started services on Sunday in his barn, where the seats were formed by laying across barrels and blocks of wood. Here he used to preach to all who came and as it was the only religious service in the little village, all sects attended. Naturally all did not agree with         his teachings on baptism and one man used to get up and shout – “Tw’’ll no do John!!!”, then sit down so heavily on the plank, that he disturbed those sitting near, but he was the person immersed by Grandfather, and was a most loyal member of the church, there established, which is still vigorous today called the “Church of Christ, New Glasgow.”

Although this man may not be the first person that John baptized, this story illustrates the early setting of the church. According to the statement of Andrew Stevenson (1807-1895) at a meeting of the PEI Christian Association, the first person to be baptized by John Stevenson was his eldest son Charles (1802-1890). John Brown records the dilemma that John Stevenson was faced with because he thought a clergyman should do the baptism:

   “In time a number of persons, among whom were several members of his own family, became anxious to obey the Gospel of Christ. He walked seventeen miles to secure the services of a regular ordained Baptist minister to immerse these candidates. Failing to secure one he returned home. His son, Charles, urged him to attend to it himself, as there was nothing in the New Testament forbidding him to do so, which he did and continued so to do as occasion demanded until the time of his death.”

Stewart Lewis, an expert in Maritime Church history and a professor at Maritime Christian College in Charlottetown, theorizes that the minister John Stevenson was trying to secure was John Scott in the North River area, which is about seventeen miles from New Glasgow. Another possibility, according to Lewis, is John Stewart in Lot 48, also known as Crossroads.

Although John Stevenson was a Scotch Baptist, the church in New Glasgow was not existing as a Baptist Congregation. It is said that different individuals had come to New Glasgow and urged John Stevenson to be ordained. John had been greatly influenced by the Scotch Baptists, but he refused to be bound to a human creed other than the Bible. He became troubled because he did not recognize any other group that was worshiping like them. Margaret Bagnall writes:

    “At this time [allegedly about 1848] John didn’t know if there were any others who were worshiping in the same way as he and his family. But a man from Tryone, PEI came to New Glasgow and hearing John preach, told him there was a Mr. Crawford in their neighborhood who was preaching the doctrine of “No creed but the Bible” and “no name but the Christ’s.” This caused grandfather to start off with the intention of seeing and talking with Mr. Crawford. The distance was great but he walked it and these two godly men had a wonderful time together. Mr. Crawford had been for years in correspondence with Alexander Campbell of the United States, and was subscribing for his monthly paper called “The Millennial Harbinger”. He gave grandfather a bundle of these papers to carry back with him, quite a heavy load, but treasure indeed to a man who trudged back to new Glasgow. The news of large numbers, in the United States and England, who were of like faith with them was encouragement and delight to the little church in New Glasgow and several new names were added to the list of subscribers to “The Millennial Harbinger”.”

 In the “Islander,” May 16, 1862, his death is recorded: “On this 9th inst., of Thyphus fever, at New Glasgow, in his 84th year, Elder John Stevenson, senior Pastor of the Christian Church in that place.”

Nothing better can describe the sentiment of the church, than the inscription on his tombstone, placed as a memorial of his life, given by those in the community who loved him greatly. This monument remains today in the New Glasgow cemetery as a tribute to John Stevenson’s life and work.