NBMHP | Musquash Settlement Archaeological Site or Skaddle Ridge

Point of Interest

Musquash Settlement Archaeological Site or Skaddle Ridge

Latitude: 45.611186
Longitude: -67.426469

This archaeological site is located about 16 km from McAdam overlooking the southeastern end of Spednic Lake. The site was settled around 1861, just prior to the outbreak of the American Civil War by American draft dodgers from the Union Army. They were locally referred to as "skedaddlers" or "ridge runners". There are at least six other known New Brunswick locations which served as havens for those avoiding service in the Civil War. The Musquash Settlement became relatively self-sufficient and by the 1871 York County Census it had a Presbyterian minister, a schoolteacher, a mason, a carpenter, several labourers and 10 farmers. The settlement existed for about ten years and was then abandoned as the inhabitants either returned to the United States or became integrated into the Canadian community.