New Brunswick Historical Tidbits

The 1840 Census

By Mitch Biggar

In 1840 the census of New Brunswick showed that the province had a population of 156,162. This was an increase of 1834. The city of Saint John had the greatest increase in population. The city in 1840 now had a population of 26,923.

The census also contained some interesting figures. It showed that in 1840 there were now 270 places of worship in the province. The church of England had 61, the Presbyterian had 32, Methodists had 44, the Baptists 61, Roman Catholics 51, and other denominations made up the remaining 21.

The province at this time also possessed 247 grist mills and 574 saw mills. At the time there were 435,861 acres of land cleared, and the livestock in the province consisted of 18,282 horses, 90,260 horned cattle, 141,053 sheep and 71,915 swine.

By 1840 82,191 tons of shipping had been registered at the Saint John port while 12,803 tons had been registered at Miramichi.

This page was designed by Irene Doyle September 1999