Woodstock Parish, New Brunswick
Woodstock is a civil parish in Carleton County, New Brunswick, Canada, surrounding the town of the same name on its landward side. Prior to the 2023 governance reform, for governance purposes it was comprised one town, one Indian reserve, part of one village, and parts of three local service districts, all of which except the Indian reserve were members of the Western Valley Regional Service Commission (WVRSC).. The Census subdivision of the same name includes all of the parish except the municipalities and Indian reserve. Origin of name The parish was named in honour of Viscount Woodstock, a junior title of the Duke of Portland, Prime Minister of Great Britain when the Loyalists arrived in New Brunswick. History Woodstock was erected in 1786 as one York County's original parishes. The parish included most of Richmond Parish and parts of Canterbury, Dumfries, McAdam, and North Lake Parishes. Boundaries Woodstock Parish is bounded: on the east by the Saint John River; on the north by the northern line of a grant nearly opposite the mouth of Shaws Creek and its prolongation westerly; on the west by the rear or western line of the second tier of lots west of the Saint John River, prolonged to the Eel River; and on the south and southeast by the Eel River. The parish also includes any islands in front of it in the Saint John River. The Territorial Division Act and cadastral map of the area are both moot on whether the northern boundary runs around or through Pine Island. Evolution of boundaries Woodstock's original boundaries extended along the southern bank of the Saint John River from just west of Pokiok to its modern northern line, which extended inland through what's now Richmond Parish. The parish extended inland from the river along its length, crossing into what's now Maine. In 1798 an international commission settled the boundary with the United States as far north as the boundary monument that marks the start of the southern boundary of Carleton County. In 1832 Carleton County was separated from York, with the county line running through Woodstock Parish. In 1833 the York County portion of Woodstock was included in the newly erected Dumfries Parish. In 1834 the boundary with York County was altered to run along grant lines as it neared the Saint John River. This exchanged several small pieces of territory along the Eel River with Dumfries Parish in York County. In 1838 all of Wakefield Parish south of the Meduxnekeag River along with any territory between Woodstock's western border and the boundary with the United States was annexed to Woodstock, putting part of Maine claimed by New Brunswick in the parish. In 1842 the boundary with the United States was settled by the Webster–Ashburton Treaty. In 1850 the original county line was restored, reversing the 1834 territorial exchange with Dumfries. In 1853 all of Woodstock west of the first two tiers of grants was erected as Richmond Parish. In 1854 the northern boundary was extended through