Chapter IX (1)
The following short sketch of some of the persons who took a lead in establishing the Colony, has been compiled chiefly from public records:
The Honorable Edward Cornwallis, the first Governor and Commander-in-Chief, was a younger son of Charles, third Baron Cornwallis by Lady Charlotte Butler, daughter of Richard, Earl of Arran and uncle to the celebrated Duke of Ormonde. He was born in 1713, was member of Parliament for the borough of Eye in 1749, and was elected member for the city of Westminster in 1753, shortly after he returned from Halifax. He married the same year, a daughter of the late Lord Townshend, but left no children. He was afterwards raised to the rank of Major General and appointed Governor of Gibraltar. General Cornwallis was twin brother of Dr. Frederick Cornwallis, Archbishop of Canterbury.
The gentlemen who composed the first Council were Paul Mascarene, Edward How, John Gorham, Benjamin Green, John Salisbury and Hugh Davidson.
Col. Mascarene was a native of Castras in the south of France, was born in the year 1684. His parents were Huguenots and were compelled to fly from their native country on the revocation of the Edict of Nantes when all Protestants were driven from France. He made his way to Geneva at the age of 12, where he received his education. He afterwards went to England, where he received a commission in the British army in 1708. He was appointed Captain in 1710 and ordered to America, where he joined the regiment raised in New England for the taking of Port Royal. He was at the capture of Annapolis Royal that year, and was for some time commander of the garrison as senior major of the regiment. On the death of Colonel Armstrong he became Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment under General Phillips, and was third on the list of councillors in 1720, when the first Council was organized in Nova Scotia. In 1740 he was appointed Lieut.-Governor of the fort, and administrated the government of the Province until the arrival of Cornwallis in 1749. He remained in command at Annapolis after the settlement at Halifax, and was subsequently engaged as agent of the British Government in arranging treaties with the Indians of New England and Acadia in 1751. He retired from active duties and died a Major General in the British army at Boston, on 20th January 1760. He left a son and daughter. His son was said to be living in New England in 1835, at a very advanced age. The late Judge Foster Hutchinson, of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia and the late Deputy Commissary General William Handfield Snelling, were his grandsons. His great-grandson, Mr. W. Snelling Stirling, has his portrait, painted by Smybert of Boston about 1725.
Benjamin Green was a native of the province of Massachusetts, born in 1713, youngest son of the Rev. Joseph Green, minister of Salem, Mass., and graduate of Harvard College. He was brought up as a merchant under his elder brother Joseph in Boston. In 1737 he married a daughter of the Honorable Joseph Pierce of Portsmouth. He accompanied General Pepperal to Louisburg in 1745, as Secretary to the expedition. After the capture of that place by the Provincial army, he remained there as Government Secretary and manager of the finances until Cape Breton was restored to the French, when he removed with his family to Halifax, and was appointed to the Council by Governor Cornwallis in July 1749. After the removal of Mr. Davidson he acted as Secretary of the province. He held several other important public offices, among which were those of Treasurer and Judge of the Court of Vice-Admiralty. On the death of Governor Wilmot in 1766, Mr. Green being then senior councillor, was appointed Administrator of the Government. He died at Halifax in 1772, in the 59th year of his age. His eldest son Benjamin succeeded him as Treasurer of the province. Benjamin Green, Junior, was father of Lieutenant William Green of the Navy, and Joseph Green and Henry Green of Lawrencetown, the latter left descendants at Lawrencetown. The second son of Governor Green was many years sheriff of Halifax, and having married a Boston lady, afterwards removed to that place. His daughter was married to Mr. Stephen H. Binney, son of Jonathan Binney of Halifax, whose descendants are numerous.
John Salisbury was brother to Dr. Thomas Salisbury, the eminent civil lawyer in London. Lord Halifax was his friend and patron, and sent him out with Governor Cornwallis as one of his suite. He does not appear to have taken any active part in the settlement. He married a Miss Cotton, who brought him a fortune of L.10,000, which he spent in extravagance and dissipation. He returned to England in 1753, and died at Offley, the county seat of his relative Sir Thomas Salisbury in 1762. His only daughter was the celebrated Mrs. Thrale, the friend of Dr. Johnson, afterwards married to a Mr. Piozzi.
Hugh Davidson also came out with Governor Cornwallis. He was the first Provincial Secretary; he returned to England in 1750 under charges of trading in the supplies and stores for the settlers. Governor Cornwallis in his letters to the Board of Trade, thought him innocent of the main charges made against him.
Captain Edward How was a member of His Majesty's Council at Annapolis in 1744. He was with Col. Noble at the affair at Minas and Grand Pre in 1747, where he was severely wounded and taken prisoner by the French under DeCorne. He came down from Annapolis with Governor Mascarene in June 1749, and was sworn in a member of Cornwallis' first Council. He was well acquainted with the language of the Indians and their manners, and was sent on a negotiation to the French and Indians at Beaubasin in 1751, where he was treacherously murdered by the enemy, though acting under a flag of truce, having been shot through the back from the bush. The French officers denied having anything to do with this disgraceful affair, and charged it on Mr. LeLutre, the Indian missionary, who it was said was jealous of Mr. How's influence with the Micmacs. His widow afterwards petitioned the government for pecuniary aid, in consequence of her husband's services, and for money advanced by him for public service. The late Richard W. How, captain in the 81st regiment, formerly of Halifax, was his grandson.
Colonel John Goreham was a native of Massachusetts; he was with General Pepperal at the siege of Louisburg in 1745, as Lieutenant-Colonel of his father's regiment raised in Massachusetts. He afterwards had command of a company of Rangers at Annapolis and came down to Chebucto with his rangers to meet Governor Cornwallis in 1749. He took precedence next to Governor Mascarene at the council board. He is styled Captain Goreham by Mascarene and by Cornwallis in his commissions and correspondence. That of Lieutenant-Colonel was probably militia rank only. It is probable he returned to Boston soon after the settlement was formed as his name does not appear on the Council books after 1752. He had a brother, Joseph Goreham, who was also a member of Council in 1766; he afterwards attained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the British army. He was engaged in the border skirmishes on the isthmus from 1754 to about 1758, and was afterwards appointed Commandant at Newfoundland.
Lieutenant-Colonels Horseman, Ellison and Merser, who were afterwards appointed to the Council, were the officers in command of the regiments which came from Louisburg. They all retired soon after to England.
Charles Lawrence was a Major in Warburton's Regiment of Infantry. He came up with the army and was engaged during 1749 and '50 in the French wars at Cobequid. He acted as Brigadier General under Amherst at Louisburg; he was a member of the Council and sworn in Governor of the Province on the death of Governor Hobson; the first assembly was convened during his administration, (2nd October, 1758); he died unmarried on 11th October, 1759, it is said of an inflammation, caused by overheating himself at a ball at Government House; he was deeply respected by the whole community, and the Legislative Assembly caused a monument to be erected to his memory in St. Paul's church "from a grateful sense of the many important services which the Province had received from him during a continued course of zealous and indefatigable endeavors for the public good, and a wise, upright, and disinterested administration." This monument has now disappeared from St. Paul's Church. His escutcheon remains in the East Gallery. Lawrence, though an active and zealous governor, by his desire to favor the officers of Government with a partiality for his military friends, brought on himself an organized opposition from the leading inhabitants of the town, who petitioned the Home Government for redress of their grievances, which they in a great measure attributed to the Governor and his Lieutenant Colonel Monckton. His resistance to the desire to call a Legislative Assembly was among the chief charges against him. His death shortly after the petition put an end to the difficulties. He was succeeded by Judge Belcher as Administrator of the Government.
Charles Morris was a native of England; he was Captain of Provincials under General Pepperal at the siege of Louisburg in 1745. He had been engaged by Governor Shirley of Boston in a survey of the interior parts of Nova Scotia with a view to British colonization, in 1745. He also commanded one of the Provincial Companies sent to Minas under Colonel Noble in 1747. He was in Halifax in 1749, and in company with Mr. Bruce the Military Engineer laid out the town and peninsula. He was appointed to the Council in 1755. Though Surveyor General of the Province he acted for some time as Judge of the Supreme Court during the time of Chief Justice Belcher, which offices were both afterwards filled by his eldest son Charles. Captain Morris died in 1781, and was succeeded in the office of Surveyor General by his son Charles, whose son, the Hon. Charles Morris, also filled the same office and was a Member of Council in 1808. He was the father of John Spry Morris, Esq., afterwards Surveyor General, who was the fourth in succession who had charge of the Surveying Department in Nova Scotia. There are numerous descendants of Captain Morris in Halifax.
Jonathan Belcher, the first Chief Justice, was a native of Massachusetts, son of the Governor of that province, of an eminent colonial family; he was appointed Chief Justice of Nova Scotia in 1754, when a young man, and administered the government on the death of Governor Lawrence; Chief Justice Belcher arranged and revised the laws as they appear on our first Statute Book, and rendered good assistance to Governor Lawrence in founding the settlements at Horton, Cornwallis, Falmouth, &c., in 1758, '9, and 1760. Judge Belcher died poor; the Legislature voted a provision to his only daughter. His son, the Honorable Andrew Belcher, was for many years a resident in Halifax and member of Council.
Captain Wm. Cotterell was the first Provost Marshal or Sheriff, (there being no county divisions at this time). He was succeeded in that office in 1750 by Captain Foy, who held that situation many years, and received a small pension on his retirement. Mr. Cotterel afterwards acted as assistant Provincial Secretary.
William Nisbett came out with Cornwallis in 1749 as one of the Governor's clerks. He practised as an attorney and solicitor. He was appointed Attorney General on the resignation of Mr. Little, which office he held for 25 years. He was one of the first representatives in the General Assembly of 1758, and was elected speaker on 4th December 1759. He continued in the Chair of the House (with the intermission of one session when sick) until 1783, when he retired on a small pension and died the following year aged 83. In 1763 he declined a seat in the Council. During the period of his being Speaker, the House sat for 11 years without being dissolved. The old house in which Mr. Nisbett resided situated in Grafton Street, Block letter E, Collins' division, mentioned in a former chapter, still remains, though much changed by the cutting down of the street many years ago. He left no male descendants. His daughter, Mrs. Swann, died in the old Grafton street house about 60 years ago.
Archibald Hinshelwood was one of Governor Cornwallis' clerks, and performed the duties of Deputy Secretary with Mr. Cotterell and others for many years. Most of the drafts of the letters sent to England by the first three Governors are in his handwriting. He was elected a member of Assembly for Lunenburg in 1759 and again in 1765. Lord William Campbell the Governor appointed him to the Council in 1773, but he died before taking his seat. His property on Argyle Street after occupied by the City Water office fell to his nephew, (he having no children), who left two sons in the navy, both of whom died young. The old property was sold about 60 years since and purchased by Mr. W. A. Black, who resided there many years.
Otis Little was Captain of one of the New England Independent Companies. He was probably a native of England. Being in England in 1749, he came out with Governor Cornwallis, who appointed him Commissary of Stores, from which office he was dismissed on suspicion of having traded in the supplies for the settlers. He acted as first Attorney General of the Colony, and was probably a lawyer by profession. He was the author of a well-written pamphlet on the resources of Nova Scotia, written in 1748, with a view to encouraging British emigration to the province. Capt. Little left a daughter, who died unmarried at Halifax early in the present century.
John Baptiste Moreau, designated gentleman and schoolmaster in the book of the settlers, had been originally a Roman Catholic priest, and Prior of the Abbey of St. Matthew at Breste. He joined the expedition under Cornwallis in 1749, and went to Lunenburg with the settlers in 1752. He received ordination as a clergyman of the Church of England in 1750, and officiated to his countrymen and the Germans in the County of Lunenburg, where he died much esteemed and regretted in the year 1770. He left a son, Cornwallis Moreau, who was the first male child born in Halifax, and was called Cornwallis after the Governor. This old man was living at La Have, in Lunenburg County, in the year 1848, being nearly 100 years of age. He received pecuniary assistance from the Nova Scotia Philanthropic Society in that year.
Doctor John Breynton came up from Louisburg with the army, where he had been acting Chaplain to the Forces. He succeeded Mr. Tutty at St. Paul's in 1751 or 1752, in conjunction with Rev. Thomas Wood. Mr. Breynton was inducted Rector in 1758 or '9, under the provisions of the Statutes of the Province, and Mr. Wood acted as Curate or Vicar. After Mr. Wood's removal to Annapolis in 1763, Mr. Joshua Wingate Weeks, from New England, became assistant minister at St. Paul's. Dr. Breynton received his degree of D. D. in 1770. He died in 17--, and was succeeded at St. Paul's, as rector, by the Rev. Doctor Robert Stanser, afterwards Lord Bishop of the Diocese. Dr. Breynton was esteemed an eloquent preacher, and was in the habit of addressing the settlers in English, French and German.
John Creighton was an officer in the army. He served in the Dragoons at the Battle of Fontenoy. Having been discharged at the peace of Aix la Chappelle, he was placed on half pay as Lieutenant of Warburton's Regiment of Infantry, and came out with the expedition in 1749. Mr. Creighton was sent to Maligash with Col. Lawrence in 1752 to assist in forming the settlement at Lunenburg, where he continued to reside until his death, which took place in 1807. He was Colonel of the Militia, Judge of the Common Pleas, and for some time a member of His Majesty's Council, to which he was appointed in 1776. Col. Creighton was a native of the South of England. He left numerous descendants in this country. His youngest son, Col. Joseph Creighton, half pay of 56th Regiment of foot, died at Halifax about 1854. His grandson, the Hon. John Creighton, of Lunenburg, was a member of the Legislative Council. Mr. James Creighton, the ancestor of the family of that name now in Halifax, came out with Col. Creighton. It does not appear there was any relationship between them. Mr. James Creighton became one of the most thriving and influential settlers in the town, and was the ancestor of one of our most numerous and estimable families. Col. Creighton's daughters married, one to the late Judge Wilkins and another to Hon. Hibbert N. Binney, both of whom have left numerous descendants.
Perigrin Thomas Hopson, the second Governor at Halifax, was Commander-in-Chief at Louisburg when that place was delivered up to the French after the Treaty of Aix la Chappelle. He came up with the army and was sworn in a member of Council in August, 1749. He succeeded to the government on the resignation of Governor Cornwallis in August, 1753. He did not remain long at Halifax. In 1757 he was gazetted a Major General, and in the following year was appointed to the command of the forces destined for the West Indies. He died before Guadaloupe a short time before the Island was captured.
John Collier was a Captain in the army and Member of Council in 1752. He was appointed by Governor Cornwallis one of the magistrates of the town, and had command of a section of the militia; one of the divisions of the town being named after him. He died at Halifax in 1769. It is uncertain whether he left any descendants.
Richard Bulkeley accompanied Governor Cornwallis to Nova Scotia as one of his A. D. C. in 1749. He was appointed Secretary of the Province in or about 1759, which office he held until 1793 when, on his retirement, he was succeeded by his son, Michael Freke Bulkeley, who died a few years after his appointment, 1796. Capt. Bulkeley was called to His Majesty's Council in 1759, and as Senior Councillor, he administered the government on the death of Governor Parr, in 1791. He held, at various times, the offices of Judge of Admiralty, Brigadier General of Militia, and Grand Master of the Masons. He died December 7th, 1800, at the age of 83, beloved and respected by all classes throughout the province. He was justly esteemed the father of the settlement, being the only person of consideration then living who came in 1749. He had been twice married. His first wife was a daughter of Capt. Rouse, R. N.; she died in 1775. He had three sons, all of whom died before him. His residence was at the corner of Prince and Argyle Streets, opposite the south-west corner of St. Paul's Church. The old stone house built by him still remains; it was for many years the residence of the late Hon. H. H. Cogswell, and is now known as the Carlton House. Mr. Bulkeley was buried under St. Paul's Church. His escutcheon, with the bull's head crest, hangs in the west gallery. The Hon. Richard Bulkeley was the only person who ever held the rank of General of Militia in this country.
Capt. Horatio Gates was A. D. C. to Governor Cornwallis with Capt. Bulkeley. He had been in command of an independent company of provincials in New York in the year 1737. After his arrival in Halifax he was employed for a short time in the country against the Indians and French. In 1762 he was appointed A. D. C. to General Monckton, with the rank of Major, and accompanied him in the expedition against Martinique. Gates was afterwards better known as a General in the American Revolutionary Army. Sir Robert Walpole, in a letter dated 1778, says Gates was the son of a housekeeper of the Duke of Leeds. Sir Robert was his God-father.
Jonathan Binney was a native of Hull, a small village near Boston. He came to Halifax shortly after the settlement was formed, and was engaged in business. He was elected a Member of Assembly for the town in 1761, and in 1764 was elevated to the Council. In 1768 he was sent to the Island of St. John (now Prince Edward Island) as Second Judge of the Local Court, and afterwards held the offices of Collector of the Revenue at Canso and Collector of Imports and Excise at St. John Island. He was charged with errors in his accounts by Mr. Legge, the Governor of the province, under which he went to England in 1776, where he completely refuted the charges made against him. Mr. Binney married Hannah, daughter of Mr. Henry Newton, a Member of Council, and is the ancestor of the whole Binney family now in Nova Scotia.
Joseph Fairbanks was from Massachusetts. He was one of the representatives in the first House of Assembly, summoned in 1758. Mr. Fairbanks left no children. His nephew, the late Rufus Fairbanks, became heir to all his property in Halifax, which at the time of his death was very considerable. Mr. Rufus Fairbanks was for many years one of the magistrates of Halifax; he married a daughter of Charles Prescott, sister to the Hon. Charles Prescott, of the firm of Fairbanks & McNab; of Hon. Charles R. Fairbanks, many years a Member of Assembly for Halifax and Judge of Admiralty and Master of the Rolls, and of Samuel P. Fairbanks, formerly Member for Queens County, with other children.
Benjamin and Joseph Gerrish were both from New England. The former was a member of His Majesty's Council, appointed in 1768, and Agent for Indian Affairs in 1760. The latter was many years Naval Storekeeper at Halifax. He was also a Member of Council. His appointment to the Board bears date August 16th, 1759, from which he was suspended in 1762 for non-attendance. He died at Halifax in 1774. Mr. Joseph Gerrish built a residence in the north suburbs, south of the Dockyard, between Lockman and Water Streets, and had a fruit garden, the old stone wall of which remained on the east side of Lockman Street until about 1835. One of these gentlemen carried on business for some years in company with Mr. Gray, who was connected with him by marriage. Mr. Gray was father of the late Rev. Dr. Benjamin Gerrish Gray, minister of St. George's, and afterwards Rector of Trinity, St. John, New Brunswick, who was succeeded by his son, the Rev. Dr. William Gray, lately deceased. He was also ancestor of Mr. Charles Gray, British Consul at Virginia. The Hon. John Gray, of St. John, New Brunswick, and Benjamin Gerrish Gray, Esq., barrister at law, of Halifax, are their descendants; one the son of Mr. Charles Gray, the other of Dr. William Gray. A Mr. John Gray came out with Governor Cornwallis in 1749 as a Deputy Secretary; probably Mr. Gray who was in partnership with Gerrish was the same person.
Major Leonard Lochman, (spelt wrongfully Lockman) was a German doctor and practised his profession in early life. He came out with the settlers in 1749 and resided in the north suburbs, where he built a residence for himself and had a large garden. This old house was lately pulled down. It stood on the upper side of Lockman Street and was built with a hipped or gamble roof. He received the rank of Major in the army for services performed to the British Government. He died at Halifax, and was buried under the little old Dutch Church, in Brunswick Street, where his escutcheon and monument with armorial bearings are still to be seen. The street between Brunswick Street and the water, which was laid out between the German lots, was named Lockman Street in compliment to the Major, who was for many years a leading man in Dutchtown. It is not known whether he left any descendants in the province.
The names of Jonathan Prescott, Malachi Salter, Richard Gibbons, Lewis Piers and Otto William Schwartz appear among the principal inhabitants of the town in 1750. Mr. Salter was from New England, had been extensively engaged in the fishery, and had visited Chebucto Harbor in 1744, five years before the settlement, while on a fishing voyage along the coast. Chebucto was the frequent resort of Cape Cod and Marblehead fishermen previous to the settlement. He was a Member of Assembly and Justice of the Peace for the town in 1759. The old house at the corner of Salter and Hollis Streets, afterwards the residence of the Hon. W. Lawson, and later of Mr. Esson, was built by Mr. Salter and was his place of residence for many years. During the American revolt, Mr. Salter, with several other gentlemen of the town, became suspected of treasonable correspondence. He was twice under prosecution, but on a full investigation nothing appeared to have been said or written by him of sufficient moment to warrant the charges. Mr. Salter was the ancestor of the family of that name now remaining in Halifax. He died at Halifax, in January, 1781, aged 65.
Mr. Gibbons was acting Attorney General for several years, and a leading practitioner at the Bar of Halifax. His son, Richard Gibbons, died at Sydney, Cape Breton, at an advanced age, where his descendants are numerous. The old gamble-roofed house at the corner of Buckingham and Grafton Streets, known as Isles' corner, lately pulled down, was the residence of Mr. Gibbons.
John Duport was the English Attorney. He came out with the settlers in June, 1749, and in July following was appointed a Justice of the Peace. In 1752 he was made Judge of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas. He performed the duties of Secretary of Council for many years. He was sent as a Judge to St. John's Island in 1770, and was afterwards Chief Justice of the Island. Mr. Duport left a daughter married to Mr. P. Skey, of Falmouth, and a son who was in the army and was father of Mr. Robert Duport, later an officer in the Purveyor's department of the British Army. Judge Duport was much esteemed, and appears to have been an active public servant during the first twenty years of the settlement.
Joshua Mauger was an English trader, who had been connected with the government contracts at Louisburg, and appears to have resided in Halifax for the purpose of commerce only. In 1751 he held the office of Agent Victualler for the navy at Halifax. In 1754 he had shops established at Pisiquid (Windsor), Minas (Horton), and other places, where he sold goods and spirits to the French and Indians. He had still houses in Halifax where he made rum which he supplied to the troops and the navy. Mr. Mauger had some difficulties with Governor Cornwallis regarding illicit dealing. He went back to England about 1761, and was appointed Agent of the Province in London, which he resigned in the following year, having secured a seat in the British Parliament. He owned much property in and about Halifax. The beach at the entrance of the harbor, extending westerly from Cornwallis, now McNab's Island, was originally granted to Mr. Mauger, and still bears his name.
Michael Franklin was a merchant from England who settled in Halifax about 1752 or 1753. He was elected a Member of Assembly in 1759, and appointed to His Majesty's Council in 1762. In 1766 he received the appointment of Lieut.-Governor of the Province, which he held until 1776, when he again took his seat at the Council Board. Governor Franklin was a most active and esteemed public officer. His name appears connected with almost all the transactions of importance which occurred in the town from 1763 to 1780. During the American Revolt, his exertions in support of British authority while administering the government, were in a great measure instrumental in preserving the tranquility of the province. He married a daughter of Mr. Boteneau, of Boston, whose wife was a daughter of Peter Faneuil of that city. He left several children. The late James Boteneau Franklin, for many years Clerk of the House of Assembly, was his eldest son. Mrs. Fitzgerald Uniacke was his grand-daughter.
Lewis Piers was a grand-son of Sir Henry Piers, 1st Bart. of Tristernagh Abbey, Ireland.
The Hon. Thomas Saul was the wealthiest and most enterprising merchant from 1749 to 1760.
The names of Benjamin Gerrish, Charles King, Henry Ferguson, Joseph Fairbanks, William Piggot, William Fury, James Grant, Jacob Hurd, Daniel Shatford, Samuel Sellon, Charles Mason, Lewis Piers and Robert Campbell appear on the lists of the Grand Jury between 1751 and 1754.
The following names appear on the register of early settlers:--Richard Wenman, Thomas Keys, John Edes, John Gosbee, Ralph Coulston, Edward Orpen, John Christopher Laurilliard, Philip Knaut, Peter Burgman, Otto William Schwartz, John Jacob Preper, John Woodin, Andrew Wellner, Christopher Preper, Simon Thoroughgood.
APPENDICES.
A.
The following is a copy of the advertisement which appeared in the London Gazette, March, 1749:
WHITEHALL, 7th March, 1749.
A proposal having been presented unto His Majesty for the establishing a civil government in the Province of Nova Scotia, in North America, as also for the better peopling and settling the said province, and extending and improving the fishery thereof by granting lands within the same, and giving other encouragement to such of the officers and private men lately dismissed His Majesty's land and sea service, as shall be willing to settle in said province. And His Majesty having signed his royal approbation of the report of the said proposals, the Right Honorable the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations do, by His Majesty's command, give notice that proper encouragement will be given to such of the officers and private men lately dismissed His Majesty's land and sea service as are willing to accept of grants of land, and to settle with or without families, in Nova Scotia. That 50 acres of land will be granted in fee simple to every private soldier or seaman, free from the payment of any quit rents or taxes for the term of ten years; at the expiration whereof no person to pay more than one shilling per annum for every 50 acres so granted.
That a grant of ten acres over and above the 50 will be made to each private soldier or seaman having a family for every person including women and children of which his family shall consist, and from the grants made to them on the like conditions as their families shall increase, or in proportion to their abilities to cultivate the same.
That eighty acres on like conditions will be granted to every officer under the rank of Ensign in the land service, and that of Lieutenant in the sea service, and to such as have families, fifteen acres over and above the said eighty acres, for every person of which their family shall consist.
That two hundred acres on like conditions will be granted to every Ensign, three hundred to every Lieutenant, four hundred to every Captain, and six hundred to every officer above the rank of Captain. And to such of the above mentioned officers as have families, a further grant of thirty acres will be made over and above their respective quotas for every person of which their family shall consist.
That the lands will be parcelled out to the settlers as soon as possible after their arrival, _and a civil government established, whereby they will enjoy all the liberties, privileges and immunities enjoyed by his Majesty's subjects in any other of the Colonies and Plantations in America, under His Majesty's Government, and proper measures will also be taken for their security and protection_.
That all such as are willing to accept of the above proposals shall, with their families, be subsisted during the passage, also for the space of twelve months after their arrival.
That they shall be furnished with arms and ammunition as far as will be judged necessary for their defence, with a proper quantity of materials and utensils for husbandry, clearing and cultivating the lands, erecting habitations, carrying on the fishery, and such other purposes as shall be deemed necessary for their support.
That all such persons as are desirous of engaging in the above settlement do transmit by letter, or personally give in their names signifying in what regiment or company, or on board what ship they last served, and if they have families they intend to carry with them, distinguishing the age and quality of such person to any of the following officers appointed to receive and enter the same in the books opened for that purpose, viz.:--John Pownell, Esq., Solicitor and Clerk of the Repts. of the Lords Comrs. of Trade and Plantations, at their office at Whitehall; John Ressell, Esq., Comr. of His Majesty's Navy at Portsmouth; Philip Vanburgh, Esq., Comr. of His Majesty's Navy at Plymouth.
And the proper notice will be given of the said books being closed as soon as the intended number shall be completed, or at least on the 7th day of April.
It is proposed that the Transports shall be ready to receive such persons on board on the 10th April, and be ready to sail on the 20th, and that timely notice will be given of the place or places to which such persons are to repair in order to embark.
That for the benefit of the settlement, the same conditions which are proposed to private soldiers and seamen shall likewise be granted to Carpenters, Shipwrights, Smiths, Masons, Joiners, Brickmakers, Bricklayers, and all other artificers necessary in building or husbandry, not being private soldiers or seamen.
That the same conditions as are proposed to those who have served in the capacity of Ensign shall extend to all Surgeons, whether they have been in His Majesty's service or not, upon their producing proper certificates of their being duly qualified.
By order of the Right Hon. the Lords Comrs. of Trade and Plantations.
(Signed) THOMAS HILL, _Secretary_.
B.
The following notices appear in the Gazettes and Magazines of the day:
LONDON, Saturday, July 1, 1749.
Three vessels came up the river with about 300 German Protestants, who were ordered to remain at Lambeth and Vauxhall till they can be conveniently shipped to Nova Scotia.
* * * * *
Friday 21st July, 1749.
A great number of German Protestants from the Palatinate attended the Baron Munchausen, Chief Secretary for Hanover, with a petition soliciting a passage to Nova Scotia.
* * * * *
Wednesday, 12th April, 1749.
A great number of disbanded soldiers, discharged sailors, poor artificers, labourers, etc., who have accepted of His Majesty's grant of lands in Nova Scotia, attended at the Plantation Office in Whitehall, and received orders for admission, with their families and effects, on board the transports.
* * * * *
WHITEHALL, April 18, 1749.
Lieut.-Col. Cornwallis made Colonel and Commander of the Forces destined for Nova Scotia, with a salary of L.1000 per annum.
* * * * *
May 9, 1749.
Hon. Edward Cornwallis to be Captain General and Governor-in-Chief in and over the Province of Nova Scotia or Acadia.
C.
Extract from a letter in the Gentleman's Magazine for 1749:
BOSTON, 10th July, 1749.
We have advice that two French men-of-war of 80 guns, and 20 transports, with a Governor and troops for a garrison, have arrived at Louisburg. The French Government offered Governor Hobson to transport his garrison to Chebucto, which was accepted, and orders came to discharge the vessels taken up here for that service. Col. Cornwallis, Governor of Nova Scotia, arrived at Chebucto on 21st June[98] in the Sphinx, and Capt. Rouse in a sloop of war, and fifteen transports with 2000 adventurers on board, whose first settlement will be at or near Chebucto, where the Governor intended to keep the transports till next year for the convenience of the people, especially the women and children, until houses are built. The same encouragement that has been given to the British disbanded soldiers is given to Governor Sherley's and Col. Pepperell's regiments. Rum was sold at Louisburg for 9d. per gallon, and molasses extremely cheap. The French lost a great number of men in their passage to Louisburg by the small pox, yellow fever, etc., but the transports at Chebucto lost only one child.
[Footnote 98: The memorandum on the first page of the register of settlers makes the date of Cornwallis' arrival the 8th June--the writer of this letter may have been misinformed.]
D.
The following account of the expenditure on the settlement for the year 1749, was submitted to Parliament by the Lords Commissioners of Trade and Plantations:
Blankets, Woolens and Shoes for the settlers,
and presents for the Indians L. 1,325 4 8
Lines, Nets and Hooks for Fishery, Stationery,
Surveyors' Instruments, Bricks and Garden
Seeds 2,729 12 9
Lighterage and Shipping of the settlers, package
and charges of Hospital Stores, a Surgeon
with medicines by the Transport from
Liverpool, and the Union Snow 336 0 3
Medicines, Sugar, Live Stock, for the voyage,
and Drugs, Instruments and necessaries for
the Hospital 680 14 8
French Bibles 102 17 10
Cash paid for victualling for settlers 12,068 5 6
Treasurer of the Navy's account for Bedding and
Victualling during voyage 7,354 19 0
Ditto, on account of the Sarah, Transport, from
Liverpool 67 18 8
Treasurer of the Ordnance account for field
pieces, swivel guns, small arms and powder 3,592 4 4
Printing and incidental expenses by directions
of Lords Commissioners of Trade 445 19 10
Ventilators for six Transports 102 11 6
2 Fire Engines 72 16 0
Pay of Surgeons, Apothecaries, Midwife,
exclusive of what they received at Halifax 860 0 0
Silver and Gold carried out by the Governor 3,922 8 0
Bills of Exchange drawn by the Governor, the
account of the expenditure not yet received 11,452 13 4
Bills to Capt. Ives for a boat 40 0 0
The Treasurer for Scales and Weights 21 7 0
Bills drawn by Delancey & Watt, of New York, for
Silver sent to the Province 5,523 5 9
Thomas Handcock, Esq., for Boards, Plank, 2
Schooners, Salt and Money shipped to
purchase materials for mills 1,528 15 0
Bills drawn by S. Martin, from Boston 576 8 6
------------
L.52,804 2 7
To the Transport Service for conveying the
Settlers to Nova Scotia, etc. 23,672 1 3
------------
L.76,476 3 10
To Governor Cornwallis for personal outfit 500 0 0
------------
L.76,976 3 10
(Signed) CHRISTOPHER KILBY.
Account submitted to Parliament by the Lords Commissioners the following year:
Blankets, Woolens and Shoes for settlers, and
presents for Indians L. 1,325 4 8
Supplies for Fishery, Surveyor's Instruments,
Bricks and Garden Seeds 2,729 12 9
Lighterage and Shipping Settlers, package and
charges of Hospital Stores, etc. 336 0 3
Medicines, Sugar, Live Stock, Drugs,
Instruments, etc., for Hospital 680 14 8
French Bibles 102 17 10
Cash paid for Victualling Settlers 12,068 5 6
Treasurer of the Navy's account for Bedding and
Victualling during voyage 7,354 19 0
Ditto on account of Sarah, Transport, from
Liverpool 67 18 8
Treasurer of the Ordnance account for field
pieces, swivel guns, small arms and powder 3,592 4 4
Printing and incidental expenses by directions
of the Lords of Trade 445 19 10
Ventilators for 6 Transports 102 11 0
Two Fire Engines 72 16 0
Bill to Capt. Ives for a Boat 40 0 0
The Treasurer for Weights and Scales 21 7 0
Thomas Handcock, Esq. 1,528 15 6
Pay of Surgeons, Apothecaries and Midwife,
exclusive of what they received at Halifax 860 0 0
To Transport Service for conveying settlers to
Nova Scotia 23,672 1 3
Fees thereon 147 19 9
Fees on money received from the Exchequer,
exclusive of the sums charged on the
foregoing articles 473 4 6
To Freight, Bed, Bedding and Cabins for 514
passengers on board the Alderney, Nancy,
Fair Lady and Two Friends, Transports, and
incidental expenses attending embarkation,
etc., etc. 3,144 4 4
To expenses repairing and fitting Sloop, New
Casco 833 19 6
Gratuities 322 Foreign Protestants from Holland 338 2 0
Cash paid on account of Victualling settlers 4,500 0 0
Cash to Treasurer of Ordnance for Bills drawn by
Governor 1,000 0 0
To Governor Cornwallis for the purchase of
stores, payment of officers, package of
stores, artificers and laborers, and
contingent expenses, exclusive of L.2,500
paid to his regiment for the four pence
stopped for provisions to 11th Sept., 1750 35,268 0 2
Lieut. Martin's disbursements at Boston, for
materials, vessels and stores 6,503 18 2
To Apthorp & Handcock, disbursements at Boston,
for materials, vessels and stores 6,924 14 6
Thos. Gunter's Bills remitted him at Boston, on
account of Expedition to Chignecto 2,600 0 0
Benj. Green, Treasurer, by his account from
Sept. 20, 1750, to Nov. 30, 1750 3,621 14 0
Richard Bulkley, Paymaster of Works, from 1st
August, 1750, to Nov. 30 4,073 16 3
To hire of Transports retained in the service
and not paid by the Navy 4,002 2 4
To Foreign Settlers employed in public works at
12d. per day, till the money advanced is
thereby reimbursed 1,005 0 0
To Col. Phillips' (now Cornwallis') Regt., to
return deductions for provisions to
Christmas, 1750 3,919 5 8
To provisions supplied Cols. Warberton's and
Lascelles' Regts., Artillery Company,
Independent Companies, seamen in vessels,
laborers and artificers 17,832 3 8
Victual and transporting Lascelles' Regt. from
Ireland 8,581 3 9
To Office of Ordnance for Timber, Materials and
Tools sent from Annapolis, hire of vessels,
magazine of powder and payment of officers
and artificers employed by the Board 10,417 15 3
--------------
L.173,838 2 3
CR.
By account of Money granted by Parliament for
Nova Scotia Colony Regiment, March 23, 1748,
granted upon account towards the charge of
transporting to His Majesty's Colony of Nova
Scotia, and supporting and maintaining there
such reduced officers, etc., etc. L. 40,000 0 0
1749. Granted upon account for defraying the
charges incurred by transporting to H. M.
Colony of Nova Scotia, and supporting and
maintaining settlers not provided for by
Parliament 36,476 3 10
1749. Granted on account for supporting,
maintaining and employing the settlers,
March 19, 1750 39,778 17 2
Exceedings 57,682 19 3
--------------
L.173,938 2 3
--------------
CHRISTOPHER KILBY.
The charge for contingencies, and the last charge of L.10,417 15. 3., probably embrace the expenditure on Government buildings--the two churches of England, St. Paul's and St. Matthew's; also the fortifications and other government works then in progress.
WHITEHALL, February 20, 1750.
Estimate for 1751 L.74,970
1752 96,639
1753 58,559
1754 47,741
1755 55,799
1756 61,657
1757 40,068
1758 15,753
1759 13,081
E.
The following extracts are from the letters of a French officer after the siege of Louisburg:
"The eyes of all Europe are fixed on this formidable armament; they have assembled an army of 22,000 men, 1600 brought from Europe, the remainder provincial militia, with a large train of artillery and munitions of war, 22 line of battle-ships and 200 transports. Yet Admiral Holburn, who appeared off Louisburg with 22 sail of men-of-war, took it into his head that our numbers were equal to his own, and has made his way back to Halifax. They will ask him there, why did you run away? Oh! says he, a superior force venit, vedit, fugit. It is vexatious that the first squadron which France has equipped since 1703 should be shackled with orders only to keep a look out. If ever there was a certainty of firing gunpowder to the renown of the white flag, it was on the 19th August, when Holburn appeared off Louisburg."
In some of his subsequent letters he appears to give a very accurate account of the siege, and some facts relative to the war not to be found in any history of that period. In speaking of the landing of Wolfe at the head of the Highlanders and the American Light Troops--
"It is the interest of the conquered not to diminish the glory of the victor, and besides it is our duty to do justice even to our mortal enemy, for which reason I confess that the English on this occasion behaved with such valor as before the event must have appeased temerity. Yet it must be allowed that at the same time the difficulty of the enterprise does them infinite honor, it saves ours; who would have forseen that they would have ventured to have climbed rocks till then rendered inaccessible, under a heavy fire from our batteries, notwithstanding their boats were every moment knocked to pieces in the surf, which drowned great numbers."
In speaking of the capitulation he says:
"Though reduced to the last extremity we demanded far more advantageous terms than we had reason to expect. After a consultation between Admiral Boscawen and General Amherst, an unconditional surrender was demanded. Dracourt, the Governor, extremely exasperated at those terms, resolved to hold out, but was compelled to give in on receiving a most peremptory petition on the part of the inhabitants, presented by M. Prevost. The capitulation was signed on 15th July, 1758, after a bloody siege of two months. On the day following, our troops were drawn up, and the colors and arms surrendered to General Whitmore, who took command of the town. The evening before the English took possession of the town, we suffered our soldiers to plunder the magazines, and the priests spent the whole night in marrying all the girls of the city to the first who would have them. No one here can perceive, at least by any personal inconvenience, that we are in a conquered town. The garrison has embarked with as much tranquility as if it had been going on a voyage of pleasure. Every soldier has taken away whatever belongs to him without suffering the least injustice. M. De Dracourt has received all the honors which a person of his rank deserved; Admiral Boscawen has shown all the respect to Madam De Dracourt as were due to her merits. This lady has performed such exploits during the siege as must entitle her to rank among the most illustrious of her sex, for she fired three cannon every day in order to animate the gunners. After the surrender she interested herself in behalf of all the unfortunates; in this number M. Maillet de Grandville was a striking instance of the instability of fortune. He left France at the age of 17, arrived at Quebec in indifferent circumstances; by his industry and application to business, he accumulated a vast fortune which enabled him to purchase the Lordship of St. Louis, which cost him 80,000 livres; but now, by the taking of Louisburg, he is left quite destitute with a numerous family."
F.
HALIFAX, July, 1752.
A list of the families of English, Swiss, etc., which have been settled in Nova Scotia since the year 1749, and who now are settlers in the places hereafter mentioned.
NORTH SUBURBS OF HALIFAX.
========================+=========+=========+=========+=========+=======
HEADS OF FAMILIES. | Males | Females | Males | Females |
|above 16.|above 16.|under 16.|under 16.| Total.
------------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+-------
John Scutt | 2 | 1 | .... | .... | 3
Edmund Dwight | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6
Benjamin Brown | 5 | .... | .... | .... | 5
William Gindler | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6
Samuel Shipton | 3 | 3 | 3 | .... | 9
Charles Procter | 2 | 2 | 5 | .... | 9
Jonathan Hoar | 2 | .... | .... | .... | 2
Gerchon Tuffs | 1 | 2 | .... | 2 | 5
Preserved Cunnable | 2 | 2 | .... | 2 | 6
William Bourn | 9 | 1 | .... | .... | 10
Matthew Barnard | 2 | 3 | .... | .... | 5
William Rundal | 1 | .... | .... | .... | 1
Anthony Caverly | 1 | .... | .... | .... | 1
Charles Hay | 2 | 2 | .... | .... | 4
Nathaniel Henderson | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2
Henry Chadwick | 2 | 1 | .... | 1 | 4
Samuel Lyne | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6
Thomas Fitzpatrick | 1 | 1 | 3 | .... | 5
Judah Riger | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2
Ezekiel Gilman | 6 | 1 | .... | .... | 7
John Kinselagh | 3 | 2 | .... | .... | 5
Benjamin Ives | 5 | .... | .... | .... | 5
Mrs. Decorot | .... | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5
Josiah Crossby | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5
William Harris | 3 | 1 | .... | 2 | 6
Benjamin Phippeny | 1 | 1 | .... | 2 | 4
George Gerrish | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 10
Robert Norman | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2
John Cox | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2
Edward Bowden | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4
John Tongue | 2 | 1 | 1 | .... | 4
Samuel Tanner | 1 | 1 | .... | 2 | 4
Samuel Chandler | 1 | 1 | 1 | .... | 3
George Sanders | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6
John Christian Mulhlhe | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8
Ernst Preper | 2 | 1 | 1 | .... | 4
Christopher Harness | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6
Charles Robins | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4
Ezekiel Wildman | 3 | 1 | .... | 1 | 5
Walter Motley | 2 | 1 | .... | 1 | 4
Charles Christ | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7
Peter Schahlan | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2
Peter Mozar | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 10
John Hoffens | 1 | 1 | .... | 3 | 5
Peter Wayte | 1 | 1 | 1 | .... | 3
Thomas Hay | 3 | .... | .... | .... | 3
Jacob Cheney | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6
John Jones | 2 | 1 | .... | .... | 3
Mary Birin | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5
Charles King | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5
John Porter | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7
Joseph Pratt | 1 | .... | 1 | 1 | 3
Daniel Brewer | 2 | 1 | .... | .... | 3
William Hunstable | 6 | 1 | 1 | .... | 8
Benjamin Storer | 3 | 1 | .... | 3 | 7
Jasper Battel | 1 | 1 | .... | 2 | 4
Ulrich Dithoe | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2
Hans. Geo. Kohl | 2 | 2 | .... | .... | 4
Joseph Chadwick | 2 | 1 | .... | .... | 3
Christopher Warner | 1 | 1 | 1 | .... | 3
John Christopher Rodolph| 1 | .... | .... | .... | 1
John Burger Erad | 6 | .... | .... | 1 | 7
John A. Le Mand | 3 | 1 | .... | 4 | 8
Ludovick Schnerr | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6
+---------+---------+---------+---------+-------
| 139 | 75 | 42 | 63 | 309
========================+=========+=========+=========+=========+=======
SWISS AND GERMANS IN THE NORTH SUBURBS.
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History of Halifax CityChapter IX (1)
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