Captain Alfred Hicks (22 May 1849 - 4 January 1909)

British Whig (Kingston, ON), Picton, Ont., 4 Jan 1909 : Death of Capt. Hicks - Capt. Alfred Hicks, one of the best known navigators of the Bay of Quinte district, died on Saturday, aged 59 years. For nearly 25 years he was master of the steamer Varuna, of which he was part owner. He was a native of Prince Edward county and of U.E.I. parentage. A widow survives.

British Whig (Kingston, ON), Picton, Ont., 5 Jan 1909 : The Funeral of Capt. Hicks - The funeral takes place this afternoon, with Masonic ritual, of the late Capt. Alfred Hicks, one of the best known navigators of the Bay of Quinte, in command of the steamer Varuna for nearly a quarter of a century, who died at his Queen street home on Saturday, after an illness of two years from cancer. The late Capt. Hicks was born on May 22nd, 1849, the youngest of a family of twelve, son of Joseph Hicks and May Minaker. He was born on the old Hicks homestead in North Marysburg, just across from Waupoos Island where first landed his United Empire Loyalist grandparents, who built their home just near the tree under which they camped the first night they spent in Canada, when they left New York state, and whose stump is still to be seen today. Receiving a liberal education, Alfred Hicks qualified for a teacher and for five years taught the school in his home neighborhood and in Wellington.
His career as a sailor first began in 1881, when he went on the steamer Varuna under the late Capt. Porte. He left the Varuna for a few years to take control of the ferry Mary Ethel, which plied between the Ameliasburg shore and Belleville. With the building of the bay bridge the ferry was discontinued and then he went on the steamer Spartan for a season. Capt. Hicks became master of the Varuna with the death of Capt. Porte, and also bought an interest in the boat. He continued on the Varuna until his health faiiled him, two years ago. Then he retired, also selling his West Lake farm to come to Picton to reside. Capt. Hicks is survived by his widow, but no family, his two sons having died when young. He also leaves one brother, Capt. Calvin Hicks, of Toronto, and one sister, Mrs. Charles Lacey, of Richford, N.Y.