Description

The Falmouth was one of the first
ships—perhaps only the second—to
bring substantial numbers of Scotch settlers
to what is now Prince Edward
Island. It was sent out by James Montgomery
, Lord Advocate of Scotland,
under the leadership of David Lawson,
to take settlers to Montgomery's land in
Lot 34 (the place later known as
Stanhope or Covehead) where "there
had been a French settlement and some
land cleared." Lot 34, Montgomery
later wrote, uis generally of a tolerable
good soil and has a considerable marsh
producing hay."
Lawson had been recommended to
Montgomery as one "acquainted with
the culture and dressing of flax." An
agreement between the two men was
signed at Killearn, Stirlingshire, on 30
October 1769, with Lawson being
described as "Tenent at Miln of Calendar
near Crief." Lawson obliged himself
to go to the Island of St. John the next
spring, there to take charge of Montgomery's
Lot 34 farm as "Grieve or
Overseer," and to serve as such for
seven years after his arrival. His
recompense was to be one-half of the
"free profites" of the farm.