Maugerville is a small community and is situated along the Saint John River. The history of Maugerville dates back to the late 1700s when it was first settled by Loyalists from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut after the American Revolution.
In 1762, a group of 25 families from Rhode Island arrived in the area and established a settlement known as Maugerville. They were followed by other Loyalist settlers from Massachusetts and Connecticut. The settlers named the community after Colonel John Mauger, who was a prominent landowner in the area and had been granted the land by the British government.
The Maugerville settlers faced many challenges as they tried to establish their new community. They had to clear the land for farming and build homes, roads, and bridges. They also had to deal with frequent flooding from the Saint John River, which often destroyed their crops and homes.
Despite these challenges, the Maugerville settlers persevered and developed a thriving agricultural community. They raised crops such as wheat, oats, and potatoes, as well as livestock such as cattle and sheep. They also established sawmills and gristmills to process their crops and timber.
During the War of 1812, the Maugerville community played an important role in defending the Saint John River from American invasion. The residents formed a local militia and constructed a fort at Gagetown to protect the river and their homes.
In the mid-1800s, Maugerville experienced a period of growth and development as the construction of the railway and the expansion of the lumber industry brought new opportunities to the area. The community continued to thrive throughout the 20th century, and today it is a peaceful and picturesque rural community that is proud of its Loyalist heritage.
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My family, Irish McKeens, settled in that area around 1700. They were displaced by the Loyalists and moved to Keswick Ridge. This information comes from a genealogical publication on the family.