1. A series of letters from Harris Publicover to Wallace F. Gray.

This letter started out the correspondence from Harris Publicover. Wallace F. Gray had written to Alma Lantz (#38) who answered and then referred my letter to Helena Publicover (#34), mother of Harris.

September 1, 1949

Dear Wallace,

I sure was surprised to hear from one of my sisters grandsons. You are Firmans son. I took care of him when he was a child and he was a handful I wish I could give you more information about the family I was here when my father and mother [James Publicover #28 and Louise Elizabeth Dore #29] and I do not know the date they both died at Blandford. My two brothers died at Blandford. I am going to write to a sister in Nova Scotia I may get some information there. I remember a brother-in-law that was a Justice of Peace that had some papers that told about the old Publicovers. They owned all of Blandford one time. My mothers name was Dores but her mother married again, a Cleveland, and the Clevelands in Blandford were related a way back to Grover Cleveland one time President. The Publicovers were all a big class of men. They say we are part German and Dutch. I will give you our births & hope I can get more for you later. We are all so far apart my children are quite a ways from us. I am glad to hear your mother is still able to get around [probably referring to my grandmother, Ada, #12]. We are all getting old.

Alma Lantz
5 Woodward Ave.
Gloucester Mass.

Births of the family of
James & Louisa Publicover

Eli died at Blandford. [birth] Oct 1855

George died at Mahone Bay. [birth] Dec 1856

Norman died at Blandford. [birth] May 1858

Alice, Sept 1859

Ada, May 1861

Lena, Jun 1863

Freeman, July 1866

Lucy, Aug 1871

Maud, Nov. 1874

Alma, Jan 1877

These are all living so you

see how old we all are

Blandford, October 8th, 1949.

Dear Mr. Gray

Your great aunt Mrs A Lantz passed your letter to her sister Helena here at Blandford, and she asked me to try to give you some of the information you want.

I am Harris Publicover oldest son of Helena another of your great aunts, your uncles Owen and Clem will probably remember me. I do not think your father Firman was born here. Regarding information concerning the family of James Publicover I cannot give you the marriage dates, or death dates of members and their spouses, but I can give you this.

Eli the oldest, his death date you have [#30]

Alfred the second boy died in his youth [#31]

Norman the third boy is dead over twenty years [#32]

Freeman the fourth boy is still living but not very well. [#35]

Alice the oldest girl [#33] is a widow over thirty years she was married to Isaac Boutilier [#353] and had three children two boys, one girl who is now living in U.S.A.

Ada the second girl [#12], of course you know

Helena the next [#34]. My mother was first married to Augustine Publicover [#354] my father. She had four children two boys and two girls, one girl died in 1901. The rest of us live at Blandford. My father died in 1903 and my mother later marred [sic] William West [#355] of Halifax. They moved to Tacoma out your way and lived there over twenty years. They now live at Blandford with Blanche [#540] my sister. She is 87 and he is 90.

Lucy the next girl [#36]. Married a Bonn [#356] from Porters Lake, Halifax Co. They lived in the vicinity of Boston till her husband died probably fifteen years ago, she is now living at Porters Lake, she did not have any children.

Maud the fifth girl [#37] married a Rev. Frank Bacon [#357] an Episcopal clergyman. They are living or were the last I know in New Brunswick. Alma would know more about her than I do.

Alma the youngest girl [#38]. You of course know her family as well as I do.

Incidentally I would say this family of girls hold rather a record, six girls ranging in age from 72 to 90 years in age, all living and as far as I know in fairly good health. My mother is 87 and can read the daily paper without glasses.

I may as well tell you something about myself in case Owen or Clem or Aunt Ada would like to know. I married in 1904 a Blandford girl. Eva Meisner [#542] The both of us are in fairly good health I am 68 and she is 66. We had 9 children 6 boys and 3 girls. One girl died 10 years ago. The other two girls are married. 3 of the boys are married the other 3 are bachelors We also brought up; a grandchild who is 17 years old. Now as to the history of the Publicovers since they came to Blandford I can tell you what I know,

The first Publicover George Michael [John Michael Bubeckhoffer, #49] came to Blandford in 1809, he had 6 sons and one daughter the oldest son was 17 years old when he came here. [He married Christina Elizabeth Vogler, #50].

Michael George the second son [Johann Michael Bubbikoffer, #39; actually, he was the 5th son] was the father of the James Publicover[#28] you mention about a year ago I tried to decipher his birth and death dates from his grave markers but I could not read it, he was married to a Miss Elizabeth Hawboldt [#40] from Chester in our County of Lunenburg. I could not get her death date either, they had four sons and five daughters.

James [#28] was the second son [actually, the third son] of Michael George and was born in 1829, and I think died in 1911 or near about that time, he was married to a Miss Louis Dorie [#29] from Bayswater a village about 3 miles from us [;] she out lived him about 4 years.

The first George Michael [#49] came here from Dublin in the Lahave River about 50 miles from us, and there are quite a lot of Publicovers living there now, but what part of the Old country they came from we do not know, and those of the Lahave people I have talked too say they do not know, but I am inclined to think, that as they named the place they settled in Dublin they may have come from Ireland. they used the English language, the most of the early settlers of Lunenburg Co. used the Dutch, German or French language.

I might say that Publicover is an English version of the name, the original George Michael [#49] signed his named BUBUOFIEU In 1794 in the Probate books at Lunenburg the name was BUBLICO in 1800 it was Publicover which it remains.

I have had the original lists of the earliest settlers of Lunenburg Co. searched, but could find no one of that name

About the Gray family I cannot tell you practically nothing, of course you know that your grandfather [#11] , was born and lived part of his life at Sambro in Halifax Co. about 10 miles distant from Halifax County. There are Grays living there now and I would suggest that if you want information you write to the Post Master at Sambro who could give you the name of some Gray whom you could correspond with and no doubt get some information.

Well I think this covers the ground of what you wanted to know. I hope you will not be bored, reading this long epistle, but if there is anything you would like to know please write me, and I will satisfy you if I can.

Yours very truly

Harris Publicover.

Letter to Wallace F. Gray from Alma Lantz, undated.

Dear Wallace,

I am sorry I am so late in answering your interesting letter & the pictures. Firman sure donÕt look like when I saw him last. He is no a granmpa the time doese go fast. It must be nice where you live. We have had a dark cloudy but not cold winter now it has been cold. It wonÕt be long now before we hope to have some warm sunshine. I had to wait until I heard from two of my children. My only son is in Washington D.C. he works for the government & he just sent me the date of his marriage I had forgotten it. And on girl in New York I have not had the date of her marriage as they both got married away from home. My daughter in N.Y. New York just wrote she is interested the family tree you may hear from her. I am going to send her your address. You have more information that I have I think.

Your great Aunt

Alma Lantz

Births age of marriages of

Owen & Alma LantzÕs children

Elva Marie born Dec. 19, 1902. Married Aug. 6, 1921

Mildred Mary Louisa, born Oct 8, 1906

Mervin Wesley born Feb. 22, 1912. Married Jan 12 1941

Pauline born 19 Sept 1920. Married 14 February 1946

Elva married name is now McEachern [?]

Mildred LaBelle, married Nov. 7, 1927

Pauline Roberts

Owen Samual Lantz

born April 8 1871

Married July 23, 1900. Will be fifty years soon

Letter to Harris Publicover from Wallace F. Gray, dated July 24, 1954

Dear Mr. Publicover:

I am corresponding with you again in the hope that I may get some more information for my family history. Your last letter came April 22, 1950, and I want to let you know that both that letter and the previous one dated October 1949 that told of the history of the Publicover family have been of inestimable value to me. I want to thank you, too, for the data you gave me on your own family.

Now the questions I would like to ask you are these:

1. Do you know any of the names of the six sons and one daughter of George Michael Publicover? Do you know the name of his wife?

2. Do you know any of the names of the four sons and five daughters of Michael George Publicover?

3. Do you have either the marriage dates or the birth dates for these men?

4. Is there any published book you know of which gives the history of the Publicovers which might help me in finding out more about the family?

I donÕt know if you have any of this information or not but I would surely appreciate it if you have. I am enclosing some forms which will show you what information I already have and which will provide a convenient pace for you to fill in any facts you have. Since dates and places are also important in my history, I have placed an ÒxÓ before the blanks provided for these figures. I have similarly marked the other information I would like.

I am listing here some information I thought you might like to have. I noticed that you only have the months and years for the births of the children of James Publicover. I have the days. I found this information on an old piece of notebook paper in a drawer in the home of the Grays in Los Angeles. This paper was in the handwriting of James Publicover and was dated April 7, 1902. It stated that ÒmotherÓ (Louise Dore or Dorie) Òwas 68 the 7th of April, 1902.Ó This would make her birthdate 7 April 1834. Here are the dates it listed:

[dates and names given]

My grandmother, Ada Mary Publicover, passed away 17 April, 1950.

If there is any other information which you might want that I have, donÕt hesitate to call on me. YouÕve given me a lot of time and I would like to do the same for you.

Since 1950 a lot of things have happened. I am in my fourth year of teaching English and Journalism at Escondido Union High School, and we have been in a new home for about a year. We have two children, Larry, five, and Susan, two-and-a-half.

Blandford

August 23 [probably 1954]

Dear Cousin Gray,

In the enclosed notes I have given you about all the information I have at this time, if I get any more of any value I will send it to you.

About three years ago a man from our County started to write a history of the County particularly as to the migration of the German, Swiss, French and other nationalities who came as colonists to this County in the years 1755 to 1758, he has been to different countries of Europe in research work pertaining to it.

He told me that while he uncovered the background of most of the early settlers, he did not find resembling BubbikofferÕs name, he has promised to let me know if he found anything, I do not think his book is on the market yet, He is now Judge W. P. Potter of the Exchequer Court of Ottawa. The 64 dollar question now is to where Bubbikoffer came from, probably it would be better if we did not dig so deep.

Well Cousin I am glad to hear you and your family are well. I have been in the Hospital twice for major operations since I heard from you last and the wife has been hospitalized twice during the last eight years for serious operations, but we are far from dead yet and we get around.

In case you write sometime and I am not here you know anything can happen when you are in your 74th year, you will know that you and your family have my very best wishes for a long and happy life.

Yours very truly

Harris Publicover

PS hoping to hear from you in the not so distant future. HP

I will try to give you the later movements of J. Michael Seniors family as far as we know it.

Maria Chatariwa did not come to Blandford with the family believed to have married A Morash from Dublin or Lunenburg.

Johann Heinrich murdered in Halifax by drunken soldiers about the year 1813

Johann Peter was married to Jane Marin a U.E. Loyalist lived at Blandford Then moved to Canso N.S. had 3 children 1 boy 2 girls. The boy was a ship captain who took gold hunters to California via Cape Horn

and never was heard of after, the girls died unmarried.

Johnann Conrad married to Julia Martin sister of Jane lived in Blandford had 1 son 2 daughters died 1864.

Friederich married Nancy Gates had 3 sons 1 daughter as far as I know died 1862

Elizabeth married William Crooks lived for a time at Blandford later moved to Peggys Cove N.S. where their descendants still live.

Johann Michael married Elizabeth Hawbolt had 4 sons and 4 daughters died about the year 1864 lived at Blandford.

Johannes married Milly Beamish daughter of an England Remittance man who lived at Blandford had 6 sons 3 daughters date of death unknown to me.

Maria Regina very little is known about her among us is believed to have married in Halifax.

Christopher married Sophia Beamish sister to Milly lived on the homestead for a number of years later moved to Dover N.S. where some of his descendents still live, had 5 sons as far as I know, daughter I donÕt know if any, died in Halifax date unknown

[Harris sent also a copy of the Church Records of the family of John Michael Bubblikoffer. This is the same as recorded in PFT. Of Christopher he says, Òdate of birth unknown, must have changed residence since the other children were born. He was reputed to be the youngest of the family.Ó At the bottom of this page he say, ÒI notice that the family were baptised in most cases within a few months of the birth, as the record are from a church in Lunenburg. I think it would be logical to presume J. Michael lived at that time close to that town.]

His letter continues:

Tradition has had it among the Blandford Publicovers that the original settler was George Michael and his son, Michael George, but as no papers could be found bearing their signatures there was no reason to dispute it.

About a year ago I went to the old unused Publicover grave yard and after some search I found two slabs of stone set side by side in a thicket of a. I cleaned the moss and licken off them and found them inscribed. One was inscribed to the memory of Elizabeth wife of J. Michael Publicover. The inscription was fairly legible and I was fairly positive that the dates were, died in 1860 aged 68 yrs. The other stone was inscribed to J. Michael Publicover.

The dates I could not dicipher, but I concluded from the age of the wife. It had to be the man we called Michael George. Of course the record shows that the grave marker was correct. Probably they found there were too many Johns in the family so the old man and son switched to Gorge [sic]. Some time ago I asked a grandson of J. Michael Jr. if he knew what became of if there were any old papers saved from J. MichaelÕs house, when it was torn down about 25 years ago. he said he thought his brother had some old papers from the old house, he had them, found in the attic by the man that took the Ôhouse down, The last occupant of the house was J. Michaels youngest son David [#48, born 1836]. We looked the papers over, and while most of them were DavidÕs papers he was a Justice of Peace and storekeeper at one time, we cam up with the following documents.

The Church records of the family of J. Michael Sr. [#49] from Lunenburg a copy of which you will find [mentioned above, copy of the transcript in PFT] and the will of J. Michael Jr. [#39] probated at Lunenburg in the year 1864.

Also a deed given by Johann Henrich Vogler [#198] dated the 7th day of March 1799 to his two sons-in-law Michael Publicover [#49 md Christina Elizabeth Vogler] and John Moreash [#3450; name of wife who is the dau of Johann Henrich Vogler not known.] (Publicover from the township of New Dub lin and Moreash from Lunenburg) 300 acres of land situate at the township of New Dublin, so from this we know that a Publicover was married to a Vogler, and must have been living there at that time, to have his residence so stated in the Deed. he must have disposed of this property before he came to Blandford in 1809 but as he came here from New Dublin he no doubt lived on that property, note in the Deed he has dropped the letter J.

The grandson of J. Michaels I spoke off says his father told him There was a German Bible in the old house in which the records of J. Michael J. family were written, he is trying to trace it, as far he has had no success. I can get the sons ages from grave markers, but the girls married and moved away and died and buried elsewhere.

Not having any luck so far in finding family records or Church I am writing this to give you what information I have obtained from grave markers of the family that lived and died at Blandford. If anything gives I will let you know later.

Family of J. Michael Publicover Jr. [#39]

Michael Publicover moved from Blandford when young details of life unknown [#41, md Elizabeth Darez #359]

John H. Publicover [#44, md Sarah A. Falt #776] Born 1826 died 1905. Married Sarah A. Falt, 7 sons, 2 daughters.

James Publicover [#28 md Elizabeth Hawvbolt #40] Born 1829 died 1911 married Louise Dare. Her father George Dore. Born 1834 died 1915 family you have. LouisaÕs family name now known as Dorie, supposed to be French in origin.

David Publicover [#48, md. Marguerita Fleet #781] Born 1837 died 1887 married first Margaret Fleet second Isobel Gates 3 sons 4 daughters from first, 1 daughter from second.

Margared [#42] married Isaac Zuick details unknown, lived and died in vicinity of Lunenburg town.

Elizabeth [#43] married George Seaboyer [#783] had 2 sons 3 daughters further details unknown

Lucy [#46] married Jacob Meisner [#3331] no family no details, lived and died at Mahone in our County.

Ellen [? Is this Electra, #45?], married Stephen Dauphinee moved from Blandford no details.

Blandford

April 22, 1960

Dear Cousin Gray

I was very much pleased to get your letters and the pictures of you family. And I heartily wish you and your family good health and success in your life, and of course more family. Our family and our relatives have been very well during the past year with the exception of my mother who has some trouble with her heart this last winter, but is slowly getting better. If we can keep her quiet, she claims she never was sick a day in her life and although she is nearly 88 years old, she does not like the idea of too much rest and we may have her with us a while yet.

Now I will try to give you some of the information you want, and if you want any loose ends or the branches of the family cleared up, do not be afraid to call on me, and I might be able to help. I will carry the information on another leaf. I do not know if I told you in that letter that my mother Helena is a great, great grandmother through my daughter Della and her son Marshall. If mother keeps well till summer and we can get the five generations in one place for photos I will send you one [None was ever sent, WFG]. It was to have taken place last summer, but the youngest member, a baby less than a year old at that time was too ill to be photographed, she is all right now.

As I said before it there is any further information you want and I know it do not be afraid to write. And hoping to hear from you in the future I am yours sincerely

Harris Publicover

[Harris lists the family of Artemas Augustine and Helena Publicover and the

family of Harris and Eva Publicover]

Early Protestant Settlers Had Terrible Time in N.S.

By Bessie F. Mason

(Newspaper article, date and place unknown)

In 1749 and 1750 to induce protestants from Germany and Switzerland to emigrate to Nova Scotia, the British Government sent agents to those countries, offering grants of land, and transportation to be paid off in labor after arrival in the new home.

Only protestants would be admitted. Life in central Germany and in Switzerland was hard for these people, they were serfs; and misery, hunger, religious strife, and oppression, were hard to endure.

Permits to leave there were necessary, but officials could be bribed, and serfs could buy their freedom from ruling prices. Casper Heckman paid 17 florins for freedom from serfdom, and 15 gulden for permission to take his personal property to America.

A Messner family got a pass to leave, which stated that if they ever came back, they would again be serfs. In their mother-country, these people would be forced into military service, and lured out as Òforeign legions,Ó to fight other nationÕs battles.

John Dick was in charge of emigration, and was paid one guinea for each emigrant he secured. Among the names of those willing to leave their homeland were Robar, Dailay, Vogler, Boutillier, Millard, Uhlman, Lowe, Schlaagentweit (now Slaunmwhite), and many others, French-speaking Germans from Monbeliard, many of them, and recommended as Òfrugal and laborious people, who would not only improve and enrich their property, but pertinaceousy defend it.Ó Dick

assured them that ÒNova Scotia farming offered them all the comforts and conveniences of life.Ó They believed himselfÑperhaps the British government did tool! They little knew what hardships and heartaches lay ahead!

SICK AND DYING

In 1750 came the first ships Ann, Speedwell, Alderny, Nancy, Gale, and Pearl, with the poor seasick men, women and children packed between decks, not more than four to six feet of room to stand upright, and scarcely area in which to move about; the food was putrid, the water was foul and little wonder was it that many died at sea!

Those who had any money, saved it for comforts in the new home, and promised to work for the government, to pay for their passage-fare. Aboard ship, cooking accommodations were so limited, the passengers had to eat their ration of meat raw, the only sanitary measure was the occasional sprinkling of vinegar to kill odorsÑÓwhich carried infection(?). On the Pearl was a Ysendhau and a Bubickhoffer names later to be spelled ÒEisnorÓ and ÒPublicover,Ó believe it or not!

The ships docked at Halifax, and the disembarking passengers were a sorry sight. ignorance of the English language, they suffered much from dishonest men who had been appointed to ration food to them, but instead, held it back. Sickness or death was a fate of many. The parish-records of St. PaulÕs church give the names of 50 deaths among those who cam on the Ann alone. The government paid the well ones to care for the sick among them, and provided extra bedding and suitable food.

In Halifax North, a piece of land was laid out for a little Dutch church, (old St. George's) and a burying-ground, Orphans whose parents had died aboard ship, or later, were boarded out,m at government expense. They were a sickly lot, and many of the younger ones died. The rest were apprenticed at nine or 10 years of age, or were taken as servants. They had a dreary life, but Òno orphan was apprenticed to a publican or such other useless destructive occupation.Ó

Their master promised food and clothing, and to teach them a trade, and how to read and write; and when the orphan was 21 years old, he was to receive a complete outfit of new clothing, and his old ones also. The master gave a 20 pound sterling bond to this effect. A big building, intended for a school and orphanage was built, but it had to be used instead to shelter German emigrants from the cruelty of savages instigated by French treachery. This building was outside the palisade, on the present site of St. MatthewÕs church. Musket-proof log huts were built for many newcomers; there were few chimneys and many of the occupants were sick.

SETTLERS CAPTURED

Some of these early settlers had reached Halifax in July, 1751. One night in the previous May, a band of Indians and renegade Acadians from Chignecto had raided the English settlement of Dartmouth, killing or carrying off for torture or ransom, men, women, and children. Those left fled in terror.

When the emaciated Swiss and German protestants landed in Halifax, they were given no chance to rest, but were at once sent to Dartmouth to picket the read approaches of the settlement, between the head of Northwest Arm and Bedford Bay, to work out their Òpassage-debt.Ó It was a dangerous task without much protection, as there were only three blockhouses, with a patrol-road between them. Log houses were built,k but no chimneys, although charcoal was provided.

Men were set to work clearing five-acre lots of land in Halifax peninsula, on which to raise crops to feed the population. Rev. Mr. Tutty held religious services for Germans among the houses. It was a bitterly cold winter, but the men worked on. A complete palisade was built across the Isthmus, (a distance of one-and-three-quarter miles) by the foreign protestants. Trees were felled to make lurking by Indians less likely. More shiploads of protestants came, and for two years there were at least 200 men, besides women and children living in Halifax and Dartmouth.

In 1753 many of them moved to Lunenburg. These settlers had been told by government agents to sell most of their belongings before leaving their homelands, as everything needful would be provided them in their new homes.

Now that they were here, the officials complained that it was costing too much to feed them, and Mr. Dick suggested paying them three pence a day, and let them feed themselves! Later, some of those who had gone to Lunenburg returned to Halifax, and settled at what is now called Dutch Village, outside the line of defence, and exposed to Indian and French raids.

They objected to doing Òpublic worksÓ in Halifax and Dartmouth, as was demanded of them, and they wanted to get settled on the land, as had been promised them by Dick. It was publicly said that overseers Clarke and Clapham had forced the protestant settlers to work for them personally; had demanded that they work [?] and had treated them brutily. These overseers had been approached [unintelligible].

They objected to [unintelligible] Halifax and Dartmouth, as was demanded of them, and they wanted to get settled on the land, as had been promised them by Dick. It was publicly said that overseers Clarke and Claphham had forced the protestant settlers to work for them personally; had demanded that they work Sundays; and had treated them brutally. These overseers had been appointed by a bogus justice of the peace, not a citizen; therefore they had no legal authority over the settlers whatsoever.

The letter claimed they had been forced to hard labor, and made wick by lack of nourishment; in some families, everyone had died.

Out of their meagre allowance, the authorities had kept one shilling each month Òfor doctor bills,Ó when neither they nor the doctor knew =anything about it! Medicine had even been refused to the dying. If a protestant German worked for New Englanders, the pay was slow, and had to be taken in goods not wanted, at exorbitant prices, and ÒDamn the Dutch rascalsÓ if they complained.

The starving and oppressed German appealed for justice, and lands as promised them and supplies, assuring the officials of loyalty to BritainÑcitizensÑnot as Òforeigners.Ó Some of them claimed they were obliged to sleep on bare boards, and those who had brought any money from the homeland had spent it to feed their children. What farming they did was among trees and stumps, as they had no oxen with which to work.

But after a while it was made known that many of these complaints were made by those who had not tried to help themselves, not kept their promises to the government, not made any improvements when given a chance. Both Governor Cornwallis, in Halifax, and Mr. Hopson, in Lunenburg, tried in vain to persuade the grumblers to pay their passage money as promised, but this Òredemptioner indebtednessÓ as it was called, was a thorn in the flesh of all concerned, a sore spot and the settlers knew they had the upper hand, because England could not afford to send them back home, and needed colonists.

Cornwallis discharged several officials for irregularities, and without a doubt they covered their tracks by destroying all records they might have kept that could incriminate them. Some of the fled to New York which had been settled in 1710 by protestants from the banks of the Rhine, where their lives had been made unbearable by King Louis XII.

Some who were Roman Catholics but had sneaked into the colony, went to the French, who promptly sent them back again, refusing to feed them. Some Swiss who [?] from Lunenburg were described by Col. Lawrence as Òthe very dregs of the people, and no real loss.Ó