Alternate History

The "handed down" history of Edward states that he and another brother, along with their father Richard, were in the lumber and shipbuilding business in Connecticut. They became unhappy with the quality and size of the local timber, so moved to New Brunswick, Canada. 

p. 569 Edward Alma Bagley

In our family, we have a very pretty story of Edward Bagley immigrating to Canada with his father and brother. It has a romantic certainty.

Here's an alternate story, but a lot more interesting in its own way.

In 1829, Edward Bagley was recruited into the United States second Infantry in Rochester, New York. He was a laborer; his age was 22; he was born in Connecticut. In January 1831, Edward Bagley is listed as a member of company F having deserted on January 25. Hiram Baker also deserted from the same company that day. Other individuals in Company F are listed as being at Hancock Barracks. Hancock Barracks is located at Garrison Hill in Houlton, Maine. Garrison Hill is next to the United States/Canadian border. It is 18 miles from the center of Woodstock, New Brunswick. Edward Bagley married Julia Grant in Woodstock in 1833. Edward Bagley bought land from John and Abisha Grant in July of 1832.

So, we now have Edward Bagley of Connecticut on the frontier in Western New York joining the US Army that stations him in what will become Maine and is across the current international border from Carlton county, New Brunswick. He leaves his post and disappears into the local population, marries a local girl and keeps details about himself to a minimum to avoid trouble with the United States Army.