In the 1860s, many Irishmen living in the United States wanted Britain to grant independence to Ireland. Ireland was under English rule and most of its people lived in severe poverty.
Smuggling has been a problem in the Eastern Townships for a long time. At first, there were no customs offices at all. People could buy whatever they pleased in the U.S.
In the early 19th century, there were no police, courts, or prisons in the Eastern Townships. The region was a distant frontier, far from the cities of Lower Canada.
Donald Morrison is one of the truly legendary figures of Eastern Townships history. Often referred to as "the Outlaw of Megantic," Morrison was the son of Scottish immigrants.
