~From "The New Brunswick Christian Visitor" Newspaper~
2 June, 1880; transcribed in "Vital Statistics from New Brunswick Newspapers, vol. 50, 1880-1880" by D. F. Johnson, 1992, page 21, #264.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Patriarch of the Drury family in this tragic Canadian episode was Captain Charles Vallancy Drury, born in 1782 in County Cork, Ireland and died October 25, 1836 in St. Johns, New Brunswick, Canada where the tragedy occured. Captain Charles Vallancy Drury served in the Wars of South America and elsewhere in the 29th Reg. of Foot. He was the son of Cap't. John Drury and Mary Elizabeth Preston Vallancey, daughter of General Charles Vallancy.

His son John Drury, the central figure in this story, was born in 1808 in County Cork and died in 1880 in New Brunswick as described below. His brother, Edward O'Brien Drury, was born in 1816 in England and also died in 1880, on the same night.

This line goes back to the early Drurys of Hawstead, England in the 1400's, and later from Robert Drury, of Laughlin, Carlow, Ireland. He came to Ireland with his uncle, Sir William Drury to suppress the Irish rebellion under the Earl of Desmond, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth. This line is documented from the Norman Conquest down to the tragic characters of this story in my Gedcom database file. Here is the story in the words of the newspaper of the day:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2 June, 1880: "A tragedy occured Saturday last, only two miles from the city at a place known as Newland's near Drury's Cove, St. John. The road leading to Drury's was alive with teams and foot passengers, and the long lane leading from the Great Marsh Road into the cove was crowded with vehicles of all descriptions, from every possible direction. It was then nearly 11 o'clock and the Marsh Road and surrounding fields were brilliantly illuminated from the light of the fire, which turned out to be the Drury homestead. It was a sad night to see the flames carry destruction at will, but a sadder sight was to be seen on the hillside on the green sward under the light of the burning buildings. There lay two gray haired old men, brothers, stretched on their back, cold in death. They were the brothers, John Drury and Edward O'Brien Drury who had lived together in the homestead since childhood and who had each seen about 70 winters. John had murdered his brother Edward, attempted the murder of his brother Ward Chipman Drury, had previously set fire to one of the barns and after taking the life of his brother retired to that room, set fire to the bed and curtains in his room and then passing into another room shot himself dead....... The Drury family is one of the oldest in the province. The father of the present family of whom Ward C., LeBaron Drury and George Drury are living (Charles Drury, John and Edward are dead) came to this country in 1805 as an officer in one of H. M. regiments. He was Colonel Drury and married Amelia Hazen, youngest daughter of Hon. William Hazen. On retiring from the regiment, he settled in St. John and was appointed postmaster and registar of deeds and wills of this city. He always resided at Newlands, a property that came to him through his wife, and died there on 20th October 1836, age 53. His wife survived him until the fall of 1861 and also died at Newlands. Of the sons, Charles died, Feb 21st 1880. John was a deaf mute from his birth and Edward for a greater part of his life was hard of hearing. John was a good scholar, and used to assist his brother, Ward C. There were two daughters. One is the wife of Chief Justice Allen; the other daughter is dead. Edward, who was 67 years old, was chiefly interested in the farm. John was 72 years old when his rash act took his life. Since the death of Col. Drury, the homestead has been occupied by W. C. Drury, his wife and four children, besides his two brothers, John and Edward. There were three women attached to the household, Helen Connolly, Violet Kennedy and Mary Ann Connolly and several men who lived on the houses on the farm. John McTravis had been caretaker of the place for 12 years.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Drury Family Photographs
Back to the Drury Webpage