IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) m 1.0 :?•- II I.I 1.25 2.5 '■•' *— 11112 12.0 'M 1.4 1.6 •"/l WINDSOR, NOVA SCOTIA, J 'x WITH AN APPEAL - \ -FOR- ITS PROTECTION, ORNAMENTATION, AND PRESERVATION, ' V I BY HENRY YOULE HIND, M. A. nATMMAt. uarAiif WINDSOR, N. S. : Prixtkr by Jas. J. Anslow, at thb "Hants Journal" Ofkior. 1889. 1 m -•. ^ aNADA NATIONAL LIBRARY BIBLIOTHEQUE NATIONALE ■:x^~---^ L A THE OLD PARISH BURYING GROUND AT WINDSOR. CONTENTS. Pmjt. INTRODUCTION. Authorities quoted— footnote I Isaac Deschamps 1,7 The Acadian Fkench (1714 to 175.5) 4 " " Their Burying Ground 2 First Settlement of Piaiquid by the French — Population 4, .'» French Mission (1724) 2 Parish of L'Assomption de Pizequit 28 Acadian Villages in the Pisiquid District 29, 4.3 French Prisoners at Fort Edward in 1761, '62, '6.3 and 1764 m Deportation of the Acadians from Pisiquid 4H Apportionment of Acadian Homes 48 Draughting for Acadian Homes .- 4!> Acadians employed as Laborers in 1762 tVi Petition to retain the Acadians in Kings County in 1765 to build the Dykes, &c. , &c 54 Number transported to Halifax in July, 1762 4.5 BnBYiNu Ground, The old — Gift of the Land 4, 10 Belongs now to the Corporation of Windsor. 96 The Burials in the Old Parish Burying Ground 12 Number of Church of England Burials 1.3 Antiquity of the Old Burying Ground 6, 16 Methoilist Burials 26 Presbyterian Burials 39 Baptist Burials 59 Buria:^ under the old Parish Church ,,,.,,,.,.,. IG Condition of the Old Burying Ground 11, 66 Consecration of 63 Secrets of the Old Burying Grourid 96 Estimate of the Cost of PRorfecTiNo, Cleaning and Laying Out 97 The State of the Country from 1784 to 1800 22 Religious Denominations — in Windsor and Hants 13 " in Nova Scotia 86 " in the Dominion 86 The Breaking of the Dykes 14 The Appropriation of the Country about Windsor ^ 22 Maplewood Cemetery 6S A u. Pagt. Kimt's CoLUcnE — 74, 77, 78, 82 Clergymen Trained in ! 87 Work of 83 MiMSTKBS of the Churcli of En<{land in Windsor since 1762 16 " of the Methodist Church since 1816 27 " of the Presbyterian Church since 1772 40 " of the Baptist Church since 1819 60 The Angucan Church 11 The Methodist Church 20 The Pbesbytebiam Church 33 The Baptist Church 06 Baftisus and Burials — Anglican 13 Methodist 20 Presbyterian 38 Baptist 59 Burials, general summary of 64 Township Meetinos— Resolutions concerning the Old Burying Ground from the year 1779 36, 37 The Grand Jury of Hants 66 Temperance in Windsor 100 years years ago 66 Presentments lor being drunk 67 •' for not going to Church 66 " for general Immorality 67 " against Trade with the United States 69 Churches — First Church built, (1771) 9, 11, 73 (Anglican) in the Parish of Windsor 73 Methodist < 20 Presbyterian 33 Baptist 66 The Old Parish Church (1788) 10 The Building of theChuroh 11 The Consecration 63 Sad condition of at the present day 65 Mural Tablets in 74 TheoldBell 63 The University Church 77 The New Christ Church 93 Benefactors 93 The Childrens' Window 94 Haluburton, Chief Justice. 94 Halliburton Family Record 94 Henslet Memorul Chapel. 80 The Indians— The Indian Burying Ground 2 Cape Split at the North extremity of Cheverie Bay 4 Indian Ossuary , 16 Indian Hunt in 1766 ..• •• 28 Tribes of Amquaret and Nocoot 32 Micmaos or Souriquois — numbers in Acadie. 32 Indians and Aoadians.^ 31 Fort Edward. 3, 7, 42 Pagn. CoMMAXDANTS at Fort Rlward from 1750 to 1782 43 Aense8 of the contemplated work, it iH suggested that the attention of the Ministers of different denominations in Windsor be drawn to the matter, and that they be requested to receive subscriptions in aid of the " Old Burying Ground Restoration Fund." Also, that this Committee be empowered to give such public notice of the action of the Town Council as they may deem advisable. With regard to the internal restoration and ornamentation of the said Burying' Ground, your Committee strongly recommend that Mr. Hind be requested to plan and superintend the necessary work in conjunction with this Committee. As the season is already advanced ycur Committee suggest that they be empow ered to take immediate steps to procure subscriptions and proceed with the work aH approved by the Council. , KespectfuUy^submitted. William O'Brien, Chairman. Joshua H. Smith. , Windsor, Oct. 29th, 1889. RtHolved, — That the Mayor and the Chairman of the Cemetery Committee lie added to the names of those who are authorized to receive subscriptions in aid of the Old Burying Ground Restoration Fund. SUBSCRIPTIONS. The following gentlemen have kindly consented to receive subscriptions for the Protection, Ornamentation and Preservation of the Old Burying Ground. William Curry, Esq. , Mayor of the Town of Windsor. William O'Brien, Esq., Chairman of the Committee on Cemeteries. The Rev. Dr. Mockbidue, Rector of Christ Church, Windsor. The Rev. T. A. Nelson, Pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Windsor. The Rev. Wm. Brown, Minister of the Wesleyan Church at Windsor. The Rev. H. Foshay, Pastor of the Baptist Church at Windsor. The Rev. F. W. Vroom, M. A. , Professor of Divinity and Pastoral Theology in King's College, Windsor. vin. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. I have to express ray thanks and indebtedness to the Clergy of Windsor for the assistance they have one and all accorded rae in the historical notices of the different denominations in the town and township. To Mrs. Wiggins for some very valuable original papers of early date ; to Mr. William O'Brien for similar kindness ; also, to Mr. James O'Brien ; Mr. P. Burnham ; Mr George Akins, of Falmouth ; Mr. W. H. Blanchard ; Mr. William Dimock ; Mr. John Blanchard ; Mr. Robert Bacon, of the Forks ; Professor Kennedy, of King's Ivollege ; Mr. W. Rickards, Registrar of Probate ; Mr. Rae Green Huling, of New Bedford, Mass , and others. . .Special acknowledgments are made in the text, and also in a footnote on the first page, ' OMISSIONS. I would beg to remind those who may notice omissions through want of sup- plied information, that should occasion call for another edition of this Sketch of the Old Parish Burying Ground, they would confer a great favour by supplying me with the details, and as far as such are consistent with the scope of the work, they will be iutroduoed when the opportunity occurs. Haububton. — On page 91 Haliburton is mentioned as "Chief Justice Hal; jurtou." That was his designation in 1829, the date of his work on the History of ^ova Scotia. In F. Blake Crofton'.i " Haliburton,"— published in " The Haliburton Series, No 1, King's College, Windsor, 1889," it is stated (page 7) as fcUows : — " Haliburton was appointed Chief Justice of the Inferior Courts of Connnon Pleas for tlie MiDULK Division of Nova Scotia in the year 1829. He was made a Judge of the Supreme Court in 1841." Ail judicial arrangements were changed with the increase of population. ,* In the spelling of the names of individuals I have adhered to the spelling in the documents from which the information is taken. The name " Haliburton " will be found in three different forms, viz. : Hallybuiton, Halliburton and Haliburton. The author would thankfully receive authenticated information respecting errors which may be noted, besides omissions which may have been made. It is very pro- bable that omissions are numerous, and that the Old Burying Ground contains the remains of some who played an important part in the affairs of the Country or of the County, concerning whom there ia no memorial stone to record their burial, or no record to indicate their life work. THE ACADIAN FRENCH. The chapters relating to the History of the Acadian French in the Townships of Windsor, Falmouth, Newport and Kempt are to be regarded as incidental refer- ences to a subject of increasing interest in the History of Nova Scotia. Recent investigations and inquiries have greatly extended our knowledge of the Acadian IX. occupation of Nova Scotia. Some very striking illustrations of tho progress and influence of these unfortunate people have recently heen brought to light. It is proposed to publish what is known, and with a view to make the subject as complete as possible, the writer would earnestly solicit authentic information respecting the remains of Acadian bridges, roads, buildings, graveyards, landing places, drainage works, dykes, chapels, etc., etc., which are known to exist in Windsor, Falmouth, Newport, Kempt and Riiwdon. Due acknowledgment will in all cases be given for authentic information. ERRATA. Page 2,3, 12 lines from top, for "Jonathan Belcher" read "Joseph (ierrish." Page 90, 6 lines from bottom, for "Augustus T. VVelsford" reatl "Augustus F. Welsford. Page 91, 2 lines from top, for " Delany Barclay " read " Delancy Barklay." '>.«*. .. i ■ .". ■II. ,.mMi.i«i;-nw . ) .ii .i . . . i i.«i.i..i.i«i . \ tttitmlimmamiimammitm THE OLD PARISH BURYING GROUND AT WINDSOR. NO. I. INTRODUCTION The following historical notes are the off-shoot of efforts successfully made in 1887 to secure an act to vest the title of the " Old parish Churchyard and Burying Ground" in Windsor, in the town, and to give the town council the control and management thereof. Something of the kind was absolutely necessary in order to prevent further interments in already overcharged ground, and to provide legalized authority in which would rest the powfer to prevent unseemly desecration, and pro- tect from ruthless disregard the resting place of more than three thousand dead. The cause of the want of this authority will appear in the following notes, as well as the reason why the " Old parish Burying Ground" still remains in an unprotected condition, with a ruined retaining wall on the highway, and rotting fences, affording but little protection to upwards of four hundred and fortv memorial stones and TABLETS, which bear the names of many who were closely associated with the early British history of the settlement of Nova Scotia (1). To take for instance the tombstone which records the burial of Isaac Deschamps. This name brings to the recollection of those familiar with the history of this part of Nova Scotia during the 18th century, that, although Isaac Deschamps attained to the (1.) For brevity's sake I may state that the leading authorities for the statements herein made, are : 1. — Report on Canadian arciiives — Douglas Brynmer, archivist, (see note at- tached.) 2.— Nova 8cotia archives— T. B. Akins, D. C. L. 3 — Paris records. 4. — Beamish Murdoch's history of Nova IScotia. 5. — Akins' sketch of the rise and progress of the Church of England in the British North American provinces. 6.— Title deeds. 7. — Annual reports of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in foreign PArts. 8. — Haliburton's history of N. S. 9. — Personal enquiry and tradition, &c., &o. 10.— "The census of 1871, &c. , &c. 11. — Letters in M.S. and plans kindly lent for the purpose. It may be mentioned here that different authorities assign different meanings to the Mic-Mac name of the district now called Windsor. The French spell the word " Pigiguit," the English, " Pisiquid" and " Piziquit." Gesner, quoted by Murdoch, calls it " Peasyquid," and gives as its meaning "Flowing square into the sea." Other authorities say it means, " The meeting of the waters," viz.,— the junction of the Avon and the St. Croix. Note. — The annual reports of the archivist at Ottawa, Mr. Douglas Brymner, are invalu- able. Too much cannot be said of the exact and painstaking character of this work, or of its importance and value from an historical standpoint. Similar acknowledgments are due to the ** Nova Scotia archives*' so ably arranged by Dr. Akins, of the Record Commission. pxalte«l position of chief justice of the province in 1785, he was 32 yeara old when !«o assists J at Fort Edward (Windsor) " in suppressing the turbulent proceeding's of tlio Acadian French," in 1754. He could then coutemplute from the hill on which Fort Edward stood the widely scattered homes of 2,700 Acadians, who, according to the memoir of Abbe de I'lsle Dieu, in 1754, and a prior memoir in the Archives of Paris of 1748, occupied " Pipiquit," or the "Confluence of the rivers," now the banks of the Avon and the St. Croix. The Acadian Fiienxh Burying Ground. Should Isaac Deschamps, after his survey in 1754, of the French Acadian " Pere-Lachaise," have turned round and directed his gaze due south, to a point but one mile distant, his line of sight would have intersected the spot where he himself was destined to be entombed with his wife, in a vault in the old parish burying ground, half a century later, and his eye would have fallen on a French Indian mis- sion church, guarding a burial ground of entirely different typo. Still respectfully permitting and preserving some ancient mortuary customs dating from a far off antiquity, tho wise and kindly French fathers allowed the bodies of the children of the forest to be swathed in long rolls of birch bark, often enclos- ing the tribal totem, the stone or earthen pipe, and the dreaded tomahawk. Many Indian dead were brought here from afar, and there are those now living in Windsor who have heard their fathers describe the solemnities of an Indian's burial in this ancient place of sepulture. Isaac Deschamps would have seen this Mic-Mac cemetery, where for many years past the children of the forest had been interred, and where, during recent years, i But Isaac Deschamps could do more than this. He could stand on Fort Hill and overlook the picturesqiic French Acadian burial ground on " the Island," close to where the St Croix mingles its v, aters with those of the Avon, and now within the limits of the town of Windsor. Few lovelier spots in summer time can be found. But year by year since 1755 the tides have been at their ceaseless work in wearing away and bringing back again, until the encroachments of the waters were arrested by ft strong breastwork erected during recent years. Before the memory of those now living, tne encroaching waters had reached the bold and then unprotncted sea front of the " Island " burying ground, and undermined its cross-crowned summit. Bit by bit it had fallen into the sea, each year revealing coffins and relic-j of the Acadian French, who had been buried there. From 70 to 90 feet inland, it is alleged, have been removed by the tides, and little now remains of this ancient burying ground at Pisiquid, which these early but unfortunate dwellers amidst scenes at limes enchantiiig, had tastefully selected and piously set apart as their Gods-acre, 'i probably about the year 1710. Pere Isidore, a Franciscan friar, selected by Pere Claude Sanquiest, Superior of the Recollects at Louisberg, was appointed, with the approval of the council at Annapolis Hoyal, to be resident priest at Pisiquid in the year 1724 In 1745 the Indians were ordered by the French to join them at Menis (Horton), to attack Annapolis. The Indian Burying Ground. I I ^s i tlio pick, the spade and the plough have again and again turned up bones and akull^" and memorials of love, or bitter, but hoi)eleS3, strife. But in turning from looking north to looking south, should he have paused fur an instant farinf; the east, down at the foot of the slopes of Fort Edward, his eyv would have lie on a military burial ground, near where now still flourish in greeu and giant old age a semicircle of willows, which mark the place where the dead lie. There is little left of Fort Edward now, but one hundred years ago it wasof great local importance, and it is to be fervently hoped that the reason assigned for its res- toration then may never require to be urged again. This is what Col. Robsrrt Morse, IJ. E., reported in 1784 ; " Fort Edward. — This i.s a small, square fort of 85 yards exterior front, with bastions, a ditch and a raised counterscarp, and is composed of sod Here are eight pieces of cannon mounted. This fort, of which there is a plan. No 12, was built early in the settlement of the province, first intended as a place of security against the Indians, and repaired and improved in the beginning of the late war to protect the inhabitiiuts of Windsor from the ravages of the American privateers." When it is taken into consideration that in the year 1784 the numbers of di.s- banded troops and loyalists settling in Windsor amounted, at a muster on the 20th May of that year, to 278 persons, and during the same year 307 of like loyal blooil mustered in Newport and on the Kenticook, and 237 more at Cornwallis and Hortou, it is not too much to ask of the town of Windsor, or of the military authorities, that the grand old willows which partly enfold the old military burial ground, shotild be decently protected with a strong picket fence, and the enclosure kept with due re- gard and care. (For details of this muster see No. V.) In 1784 Fort Edward had accommodation for 168 men and 8 officers. It mounted five iron nine pounders, one iron six pounder, and two iron four pounders. It was supplied with 696 round shot, 10 case and 10 grape. It may be here mentioned that according to Col. Morse the population of Nova Scotia, including part of New Brunswick, in 1784 consisted of: — Old British inhabiUnta 14,000 Old French Acadians 400 Disbanded troops and loyalists, called new inhabitants 28,347 Total 42,747 Of the loyalists no less than 7,923 came to Shelburne. (See No. V ) It is to say the least, singular, that within a horizontal distance of little more than one mile, and with a bearing so near true north and south that it might be not inappropriately described, for the present purpose, as a meridipn line, there should lie at one extremity the wild and savage Mic-Macs, sons of the soil ; at the other ex- tremity the invading Acadian French, who long fought and then fraternized with their forest foes ; while between these rest the military 'conquerors of both, and in the recently closed " Old parish burying ground," filled to excess, repose the dead of succeeding generations of English origin, language and blood. Among these rest many who saw the solemn procession halt and kneel and dis- perse at the Island Acadian cemetery, washed by the ceaseless inflow and outflow of the six fathom tide of the Pisiquid. " And as the voice of the priest repeated the service of sorrow, Lo ! with a mournful sound, like the voice of a vast congregation, Solemnly answered the sea, and mingled its roar with the dirges. 'Twas the returning tide. •••••" (Evangeline.) Among these, too, rest many who heard the Mic-Maca' sad wail in the forest burying ground, but a mile from the river. And there, too, rest many who heard the roll and boom of a muffled drum proclaim a soldier's burial on the green slopes of Fort Edward, at a time when Mic-Mac with Acadian French united, called for ceaseless watchings, or in later years, the dread of a privateer kept hundreds under arms. Having in view this rare disposition of the mortal remains of friend and foe, I have prefaced these brief notes of the " Old parish burying ground " at Windsor with a crude outline of historical memoranda. Such a sketch may add to the inter- est which grows with our knowledge of the part played by many whose bodies have mouldered beneath or near the four hundred and forty tomb-stones still standing erect in the God's-acre given " to the Christian People of the township of Windsor," by the Hokorablb Michael Franoklin in 1776. Henry Youlb ^3ind. NO. II. First Settlement of Pisiquid by the French. In 1686, or about 200 years ago, the population of "Les Mines" now Horton, consisted of ten French families, embracing fifty-seven persons in all In 1693 the numbers had increased to 297 persons. In 1703 the French census of the north of the peninsula of Acadia gives " Les Mines" 427 persons. The settlement now be- gan to throw out off-shoots, for we find in the French census of 1714, that the dis* trict of " Pigiguit," had a population of 337 persons, consisting of 53 families. In 1731 this district contained 15U families, but while the Paris "Archives of the churches in Canada" describe 168 families at Grand Pre and Biviere au Canard as rich, they state that the people at Pisiquid were not so well off. Nevertheless, during this year Governor Armstrong writes to the deputies at Pisiquid, as the dis- trict was called by the English, urging them to send him supplies of grain to Annapolis. In 1732 he directed Mons. Monfils to act as priest at Pisiquid. The dangers attending trading with the French and the Indians in the early part of the last century may be gathered from the fact that in 1737 the vessel be- longing to Stephen Jones, an English trader, was surpribed by Indians in the " Pisiquid " or Avon river, during the night time, while Jones and his men were asleep. The vessel was taken to Cape Split and plundered there. ■5 )utflow of SLINE.) the forest jrho heard aen slopes called for 3ds under and foe, I it Windsor I the inter- lodies have 1 standing Windsor," Hind. iw Horton, n 1693 the le north of nt now be» at the dis* ilies. Lrchives of au Canard )verthele8S, as the dis- )f grain to id. the early vessel be- tns in the men were i i I Kapid Growth of "Pioiguit" or "Pisiquid." In 1748, according to a memoir deposited in the Archives of Paris, the increase of the Acadian French at Pisiquid surpassed that of Grand Pre and Riviere au Canard, the two last named districts having together only 2,400 inhabitants, while the banks of the Avon 'ind the St. Croix were occupied by 2,700 Acadians. These peopio extended to the head of the ddal waters on the Avon ; they had grist mills in vari- ous places, raised large quantities of grain, dyked vast areas of marsh, and the re- mains of their orchards and cellars are to be seen distributed over wide areas. " jeir unhappy fate was sealed in 1765, and to this melancholy incident in the history of Nova Scotia it is unnecessary here further to allude. It is pictured in " Evangeline," but with a skilful painter's touch and a poet's warmth of feeling. Few will care to inquire into the heartburnings and wrenchings of those who were remorselessly driven from home and severed from friends. The order must have been executed with feelings smothered or rendered callous by the exigencies of deplorable necessity. But now, all may read the touching verse of Whittier in that saddest of poems, " Marguerite," and think what the " Alien people " would have felt in similar distress. " What to her was the song of the robin, or warm morning light, As she lay in the trance of the dying, heedless of sound or sight. Done was the work of her hands, she had eaten her bitter bread ; The world of the Alien Peoplb lay behind her dim and dead. But her soul went back to its child time ; she saw the sun o'erflow With gold the Basin of Minas, and set over Gaspereau. The low, bare flats at ebb-tide, the rush of the sea at flood Through inlet and creek and river, from dike to upland wood. The gulls in the red of morning, the flsh hawks rise and fall. The drift of the fog in moonshine over the dark coast wall. 8he saw the face of her mother, she heard the song she sang, And far off, faintly, slowly, the bell for vespers rang. She paused on the threshold of heaven ; love, pity, surprise. Wistful, tender, lit up for an instant the cloud of her eyes. With his heart on his lips he kissed her, but never her cheek grew red, And the words the living long for, he spake in the ear of the dead." In 1755 "Pigiguit" became English in people. Its name was soon trans- formed into that of " Windsor," and the river became the Avon. But some years prior to this change the conquering race had already begun to parcel the country, although scarcely to occupy it. In " Remarks relative to the return of the Forces in Nova Scotia," dated 30th March, 1 755, the following description of " Piziquid " is given. The name is ap- plied to the fort, and the description was written five months before the expatriation movement from Horton Landing and thereabouts was enforced at the point of the bayonet. " Pisiquid or Fort Edward is a fort situated upon an eminence on the south- east side of Mines Bason, between the rivers Pisiquid and St Croix, to which we I » I I I. I 6 have access by land by way of Fort Sackville, and is distant therefrom about 40 miles ; we have also a communication therewith by the I>ay of Fundy. There is a necessity of keeping a strong gnrriaon here, to send out dotachinenta to scour the country for Indians and to keep the di.satlecttd French inhabitants undci- subjection." The Parcelling of the Countby. Few people are aware how often the province of Nova Scotia has been bought and sold during the " good old times " from, say, 1620 to 1730. The following is the barest outline sketch : In 1621 Sir William Alexander obtains a patent to hold Nova Scotia under the crown of Scotland. 1630 Sells his rights to Claude de la Tour. 1631. Lewis 13th of France gave the government to Charles de St. ^Istiua Sieur de la Tour. 1651. Lewis 14th of France confirmed him his rights. 1654. Cromwell took possession, and allowed Charles de la Tour's claim. 1656. Charles de St. Estina sold Nova Scotia and adjoining lands to Sir Thomas | Temple and William Crown. ] 1670. Sir Thomas Temple surrendered the same to the French (treaty of I Breda, 1667), but did not convey his right or receive recompense. m 1674. Sir Thomas Temple dies and devises Nova Scotia, &c., to his nephew ; John Nelson, Esq. 1690. The English, consisting chiefly of Massachusetts troops, re-take Nova Scotia and hold it till 1697 (treaty of Ryswick) when it was restored to the French. 1710. Taken again from the French by Queen Ann's forces from Great Britain, together with a large number of troops from New England under General Nicholson. 1712. By treaty of Utrecht yielded up finally to Great Britain. 1730. John Nelson, Esq , heir of Sir Thomas Temple, sella the whole to Samuel Waldo, of Boston. — (Stirling peerage paper — Canadian archives ) In 1732 the revenue of Nova Scotia was stated by Governor Phillips to amount to £30 sterling, consisting of a quintal of codfish, yearly paid by each proprietor of a fishing room at Canso. In this year an official advertisement was ordered to be published in the New England papers offering fee simple grants of land in Nova Scotia to Protestant settlers. Major Mascarene was referred to for information. The tombstone in the " Old parish churchyard " bearing the legend, " Sacred to the honored memory of Mrs. Deborah Cottnam, wife of S. Cottnam, Esq., long an officer in bis majesty's service," carries reminiscences to the records which describti the insolence of three Indians of "Piziquid" river to Mr. Cottnam in 1732, and to Ensign Samuel Cottnam at Mines (Horton) in 1734. Samuel Cottnam was a mem- ber of council in 1736, and he was one of those to whom a grant of 50,000 acres of land was made on Slst Augast, 1736, on the "Piziquid river," beginning at its mouth. The grant was escheated in 1760. It is unnecessary for the purpose of these notes to enumerate other grants, and connect them with names engraved on •tone in the " Old parish burying ground." ■k I about 40 here is a scour the bjectiou." n bought tia under St. !Q)8liuii [aim. - lir Thomas ^treaty of is nephew take Nova le Frencli. om Great er General to Samuel to amount >prietor of ered to be I in Nova lation. Sacred to J., long an describe 32, and to iras a meni- acres of ling at il» purpose of graved on NO. III. The oviler to erect a block liouso at Pisiijuid wad given by Governor Cornwallia to Capt. John Gorham on March 1 2th, 1749. The first missionaries despatched to Nova Scotia by the Society for the Propa- gation of the (Jospel in foreign parts were sent over this year. In 1754 Isaac Deschaitips, afterwards chief justice, was a clerk in Mr. Joshua Mauger's store at Pisiquid Mr. Joshua Mauger was agent victualler for the navy at Halifax in 1751. In 1761 he was appointed agent for the province in England. In 1762 he became a member of the Imperial parliament, and discontinued 1 Is offi- cial connection with Nova Scotia. The First Protestant Settlers. In 1759 Major Dennison, Jonathan Harris, Joseph Otis and James Fuller from Connecticut, and Mr. John Hicks from Rhode Island, made an agreement with the governor and council to settle two townships of 100,000 acres each, (Horton and (Jornwallis) with 300 families. Mr. John Hicks and Mr. Amos Fuller agreed to settle 50 families at Pisiquid. on the north side of the river (Newport) in 1759, and 50 more in 1760 on the same terms. This )ear Fort Edward was garrisoned by 100 additional troops, numerous Indians and French being in the vicinity, and many piratical robberies and murders taking place in the province and on the coast. Louis- burg having fallen in 1758 and Quebec being stormed and taken on the 18th Sept. of the following year, peace ensued and then comparative quietness prevailed. With a view to show the probable religious tendencies of the iirst settlers of the townships in the vicinity of Windsor, from New England, the following curi- ous quotation is introduced from an official paper bearing date 1674-5, and entitled " Journal and Entries of his Mats. Forraine plantations in general since the estab- lishment of ye committee with a mapp of ye samey "The religion of the Church of England is most practiced in the plantations; but liberty of cou-^cience is in all cases allowed, except in New England, Avhere the government and discipline of Congrejjational churches excludes all others " It will be seen from this narrative how time and place and mutual dependence soften and mould religious ditferences and asperities, converting exclusiveness to a large extent into an anomalj', and enab ing people of dilferent persuasions to join to- gether and build a common place of worship, and, without quarrelling or acrimonious disputations, listen to and accept the ministrations of one minister only, until they become rich enough and strong enough to separate. Then they sometimes begin to drift gradually into a well defined antagonism, which might lead, under favorable conditions, to the shutting out, or " exclusion of all others." The First Appointed Church of England Missionary. Although there can be little doubt that the Rev. Thomas Wood visited the township of Falmouth in 1762, and was the first missionary of the society foi' the propagation of the gospel in foreign parts who made a beginning of organized Pro- testant worship there, yet his visits were necessarily few and far between, for he was soon appointed to Annapolis. His place was supplied in January, 1763, by theBev. ' w. i Joseph Bennett, who was appointed by the S. P. G. resident missionary to Horton CMinas), Cornwallis, Falmouth and Newport. These townships had then a total Protestant population of 1,717 souls. In the month of January, 1763, Mr. Bennett took up his residence at F t Edward, and he writes that on the opposite side of the river in "Newport there were 251 persons, of whom 111 were children." The vicinity of Newport Landing, or Avondale, was early settled after the ex- pulsion of the French Acadians. Between that woeful day, September 5, 1755, and the year 1771, when the chapel-schoolhouse, hereafter described, was built, is a period of 16 years. During this period where did the early settlers bury their dead ? Tradition says that some were buried in the military burying ground at Fort Edward, and some, perhaps the larger number, at Nevncrt Landing or Avondale, where the Kev. Joseph Bennett ministered in 1762. The graveyard at Newport is very inter- esting, in connection with the early history of this part of the country. On Haliburton's map, published in 1829, Newport village is pictured on one side of the 8t. Croix, Windsor on the other, Falmouth being nearly opposite Windsor. The entire population of the three townships, Windsor, Falmouth and New* port, in 1767, four years after Mr. Bennett became a resident at Fort Edward, amount- ed to 814 souls. Of these 627 were Proteetants and 187 Catholics. Windsor town- ship had then been established for three years only. We may contrast this change in population with the record which gives the Acadian French at no less than 2,700 souls on the banks of the Avon and the St. Croix, in 1749, according to a memoir in the archives of Paris. Li 18 years 2,700 Acadian French had in great part disap- peared, and 814 new arrivals of English origin had taken their places. In 1772 Mr. Bennett reported the number of his communicants as subjoined : — Windsor 20 Cornwallis 12 Newport 9 Falmouth 7 Total 48 A poor and weak beginning but we are too apt to despise the day of small things, forgetful of the care and labor these small things require for their nurture and train- ing, until they begin to spread the influence they carry, and are capable of convey- ing to distant areas. In order better to remove the impression that the religious views of those Aca- dians who were left in the province, or who had quietly, and one by one, returned to their homes, were in any way interfered with, it may be well here to quote a para- graph from a letter written by Governor Francklin to Isaac Deschamps and Winck- worth Tonge of Windsor, concerning that matter. It is dated Halifax, June 1st, 1 768. " And you may also give them (the Acadians) from me the fullest assurance that I totally disclaim and disavow intentions to make use of them as forces to be employed out of this pro' rince, etc., etc. • • • • " And to this you may also add that the government has not the least design either to molest or disturb them on account of their religion." Some of the returned Acadian families of Windsor township removed this year to St. Mary's, in the county of Annapolis. 1 1 Horton t a total Bennett de of the r the ex- 755, and milt, is a eir dead 1 Edward, here the jry inter- try. On ide of the ad New- , amount- 8or town- is change lan 2,700 aemoir in art disap- oined : — 11 thing.% tnd train- convey- lose Aca- returned »te a para- 1 Winck- Ist, 176». it I totally >f this pro' either to this year ^ i The TowNsuip of Windsor Established. In 1764, the tract of land called Pihiquid, on the south-east side of the Pisiquid (Avon) river, was erected into a township and dosigmiled by the name of Windsor. The township of Windsor as represented on the County map dilFers in some particulars from the description given in the subjoined extract from the minutes of Council holden at Halifax on the 24th December, 17G4. " RtHolvtd, — That purt of the tract of laml formerly nailed Pisiquid, on the South-east of the River commonly known by the name of Pisiciuid River, in the Province of Nova Scotia, shall be erected and incorporated into a township, hereinafter to \w known and called by the name of Windsor, the limits and l>oundary of which township shall be as follows, that is to say : — To )>egin from the South-western limits of lands commonly called the Justices lands, and extending from the South-west limits of said lands to the River Pisiquid, and thence to l>e l>ounded by the River Pisiquid till it meets the River St. Croix, and thence by the River St. Croix till it meets the bridge on the Public Road or Highway, and from the said bridge thence by the Common Highway leading from Pisiquid to Halifax, till it comes to lands granted to William Piggot, and to l>e bounded by the said Piggot farm, and thence South-west till Thirteen miles be completed from the said Common Highway, and from the end of the said Thirteen miles to run North-westerly till it meets the South-west limits of the said land commonly called the Justices land, which limits shall hereafter be represented to be the established boundaries of said township of Windsor." Council Book Letter C, folio 615. A public market was to be held every Tuesday on a part of Fort Hill, where the re- mains of Fort Edward now stand, and two public fairs on Fort Hill on the third Tuesday in May and third Tuesday in October yearly The patent was granted by Governor Francklin to Isaac Doschamps, Winckworth Tonge, Charles Proctor, John Cunningham and John Butler, Esqs , in 1766. The FiBST Chapel for Protestant Wobship at Windsor. In 1771 a chapel was built by subscription at Windsor, and appears to have been harmoniously attended by all denominations Mr. Bennett preached in this chapel. It stood on the north-west corner of the old burying ground, on an en- closed plot sixty feet square. It was used during the week days as a school house, and is mentioned in the deed of trust hereafter cited. There docs not appear to be any accessible record to show where services were held prior to the erection of the chapel in 1771, but from old manuscripts left by Mr. William O'Brien, ancestor of Mr. William O'Brien, now residing in Windsor, and kindly supplied by that gentleman, it is known that regular services were held in the vicinity of Fort Edward in 1769, and that Mr. O'Brien officiated as clerk to Mr. Bennett, besides conducting a school at which the sons of Governor Francklin were educated, and the children of most or all of the notables attended. The in- formation conveyed in these manuscripts is very interesting, and will be specially referred to hereafter, in a brief description of the social status of Windsor during the years 1769 to 1786 inclusive. Reference will also then be made to the Acadian French prisoners at Fort Edward, and the French families to whom rations wei-e supplied by the Government during 1761 to 1764, thus portraying some of the unwritten history of Pisiquid dur- ing that eventful period. 10 lu 1775 Mr. Tionnott was appointed itinerant misflionary on the coast of Nova Scotia. Ho was succoodod at Windsor by tlie Kov. Williuni Ellis. A tombstone in the old burying ground bears the following record : Here lies the Ixxly of the Rev. William Ellis, who ileiuirted this life, the 5th of June, 1795, in the &)th year of his age. He was rector of the church of Windsor 21 years. According to this record the Rev. William Ellis was " Kector of the church of Windsor" in the year 1774, or 18 years before Dr. Charles Inglis, rector of Trinity church, New York, was consecrated first bishop of Nova Scotia in 1787. At the time of the bishop's appointment there wore only eight clergymen of the Church of England in Nova Scotia, and the little chapel school house at the north- west corner of the old burying ground was the only Protestant place of worship in Windsor. But a Methodist congregation, organized by the Rev. William IJlack, assembled in the house of Mrs. Scott on the " Francklin farm '' in the year 1782, and commenced building a church. The Old Parish Church. The old church, still standing efect and sound in the old burying ground, was built during tiie incumbency of the Rev. William Ellis, in the years 1788-1790, but it received its designation a..'^ " the Parish church " at the time of the establishment of the "Parish of Christ church" on the 26th May, 1805, The boundaries of the parish were made conterminous with those of the township of Windsor. Christ church and the burial ground were consecrated on the 5th November, 1826, by the Eight Reverend John Inglis, O. D., third bishop of Nova Scotia. Gift op the Land. The land upon which the old parish church is built has an area of about twu acres. It was given by *' the Honourable Michael Francklin, late of Windsor," " fur the purpose of erecting thereon a Church or place of Public Worship conformable to the Established Church of England, and fur a place of Interment, Burying Ground or Grave Yard, for the use of the Christian People of the said township of Windsor." This land was deeded ps a part of other property on the 15th of August, 1776, to Joshua Mauger, already named, subsequent to the gift ; but Joshua Mauger by deed dated February 6th, 1785, made over the two acres above mentioned to James Boutineau Francklin, of Windsor, the son of the Hon Michael Francklin, in order to carry out the original intentions of the donor. James B. Francklin was clerk of the house of assembly in 1785. On the 2nd June, 1790, James Boutineau Francklin conveyed this land in trust to Jas. B. Francklin, Hon. Isaac Deschamps, of Windsor, Winckworth Tonge and Joseph Gray, of Windsor, and after them to the two senior justices of the peace at Windsor, also to carry out the original intentions of the donor. The land being given by the Hon. Michael Francklin to the " Christiak People " of the township of Windsor, all denominations claimed the right to bury their dead I n of Nova oue io the church of of Trinity men of the tho north- ivorship in am Black, year 1782, ound, was 790, but it Lshmont of ,rie3 of the >r, Christ ^6, by the about two Isor," " fur )nforniable ng Ground wnship of [ust, 1776, M auger by i to Jamea 1, in order as clerk of ind in trust Tonge and le peace at N People " their dead there. The condition that the trunt should lie iu the two senior justices of tho peace, without power to miso nioac^ for ropaim, led, step by step, to tho diflicultioa which resulted in tho recent application to the provincial govornmont to vest the title and nianugomcnt in tho tjwu of Windsor. And it has come to this pass, through no one person's fault in particular, that thiH gift of a former governor of tho province, now occupied by more tliaii ♦.hree thousand dead, if not nearer four thou8i 'jority of subscribers for the purpose of erecting a church in the township of Windsor " bears date August 1788, or one hundred vkars ago. This is the first record of " Pro- ceedings " : "Windsor, 16th August, 1788. " At a meeting of the principal inhabitants of the township of Windsor held this day at the county court house, it is agreed upuu by those present of tho subscribers towards the ex- pense of erecting a church for the established religion, that said church be erected on the ground given by the late the Honorable Michael Francklin, for church ground and burying place in said township ; and they further appoint seven trustees, viz.: John Emmerson, Kf < ll I 12 j "By resolution of council 4th July, 1782, grantotl for the township of Windsor : " 600 acres for a glebe. "400 " for ft school. "500 " for a common. " The place proposed is on the bock of the Und called Counsellors land, and land granted to the late Col. Scot and Col. Tonge. The trustees by resolution of council were to be " Michael Francklin, \ " Winckworth Tonge, J-Esqrs." " and George Deschamps, j All these gifta of the council are lapsed. The record of proceedings describes with singular minuteness the cost of ma- terials for building the church, and supplies to workmen of every description. A? for instance : Fresh beef to 20th Dec. 1788, at 3d. per lb. " 20th Dec. to 4th Jan., at SJd. per lb, " 4th Jan. 1789, to 20th Jan., at S^d. per lb. " 20th Jan. to 4th Feb., at Sjd. per lb. " 4th Feb, to 20th Feb., at 4d. per lb. Every item of material for construction " is to be delivered on the ground," and of " produce " on the ground or within one mile of the place. The chapel school house erected in 1771, during the infancy of the settlement, was removed some time after the church was finished to a place opposite the en- trance gates to King's College grounds, where it now forms part of a dwelling hou.se. Among the Fibst Burials Elizabeth Deschamps 1779 Mother. The stone foundations of the house where Isaac Deschamps, the iTandfather of these children, lived in Windsor, CAn be traced in the garden now belonging to Mr. P. S. Burnham, on the west slope of Fort Hill. The earlier parish records are not to be found. The available parish record of burials commences with the year 1813, or 42 years after the building of the first I j ; chapel-school house at the north-west corner of the old burying gi'ound. There in ( William Cottnam Tonge, as deputy naval officer, was heard in defence of his father's interests by the House of Assembly in 1790. Ho subsequently became noted for his eloquence and popularity. His son, Winckworth Tonge, was buried in the old parish burying ground in 1799 His wife in 1805. A Attached to the above record of proceedings there is the following memoran- dum in the handwriting of Mr. Justice Deschamps of the supreme court : I Nothing can be gathered at present from existing memorial stones respecting the burials which took place prior to the incumbency of the Rev. William Ellis nom 1774 to 1795. Some partially defaced and moss covered records may yet furnish suggestive material when the old burying ground is properly restored to a decent „ condition. H The oldest tombstone yet discovered is dedicated to the memory of the wife and children of George Deschamps, son of Hon. Isaac Deschamps. The dates are a.^ subjoined : J a°i^hX'"::::.v.v.-.v;.!™}«'™- i Elizabeth Deschamps 1779 Mother. m { 13 nee of his tly became vas buried momoran- or : land granted to be ;08t of raa- ption. A9 round," and settlement, jsite the en- siling house, i respecting a Ellis from yet furnish to a decent ,he wife and ates are as jndfather of iging to Mr, i I reason to suppose that about this period, viz, 1771, interments took place on the rising ground at the south-east corner. Further reference to this subject will bo made in succeeding notes. Enumerating in decades, the following list records the numbers of members of the Church of England interred from 1813 to 1886 : 1771 to 1813 (42 years) no record. 1813 to 1820 m 1820 to 18;«) 169 18:iO to 1840 109 1840 to 1850 106 1850 to 1860 104 1860 to 1870 96 1870 to 1880 115 1880 to 1886 96 ♦ Total from 1813 to 1886 852 This aggregate would give an average of about 12 annually. To it must bo added the number buried during the 42 years between 1771 and 1813, which at 6 annually would amount to 252, making the approximation to the total Church of England burials in the old burying ground rise to 1,104. The burials recorded in the parish register presumably refer to Church of England members only. This is so stated by competent authority. Interments by Other Protestant Denominations. All denominations having had the privilege of burying their dead in the "old parish burying ground '" for about 115 years, it is only by reference to denominational statistics that the actual number of interments can be obtained. But these, like the earlier church of England records, are not available, hence it will be necessary to introduce some town and county statistical tables from which conclusions may be drawn. Table of Religious Denominations in the County op Hants. Area, 1,177 square miles. Year. Population. Ch. of England. Presbyterians. Methodists. Baptists. Catholiea. 1767. . . . 814 1817.... 6685 .... .... 1827. . . . 8627 1956 2722 1590 1753 599 1838.... 11421 .... • • • . 1851. . . . 14.330 2731 4123 2982 2173 1005 1861.... 17460 3456 5085 3946 2919 12«l 1871.... 2i;«)l 3894 6916 4546 3824 i:W8 1881.... 23:W9 4250 6708 6397 4326 1348 TOWN OF WINDSOR. Year. Population. Ch. of England. Presbyterians. Methodists. I^ptists. Catholics. 1871. .. 1881.... 27 » 5 3019 690 668 551 651 560 665 632 679 362 361 h record of The remarkable uniformity in point of numbers between the different Protes- j of the first tant denominations in Windsor who have jointly assisted in filling to excess the old parish burying ground is both interesting and suggestive. The forthcoming census . There is lil ' •*• 14 will show but slight variation, and no particular increase in numbers in any of the four in the town of Windsor. The estimated population now approaches 3500. In consequence of the absence of statistical data it will be necessary to give a strictly impartial outline sketch of the peaceful rivalry which has been carried on for upwards of one hundred years between the several denominations. This cannot fail to be of some interest to those whose memories are linked to the old churchyard by ties which can never be completely severed, although they may be weakened by the lapse of time. Extraordinary Mortality of 1826. An unusual mortality occurred during the year 1826, when over four times the number of burials above the average is recorded. I find on reference to Bouchette's 'British Dominions" published in 1832, the following record : " 1826. — The influenza which prevailed throughout North America is severely felt in this province." Also in Haliburton's Nova Scotia, published in 1829, there is the following record : " 1789. — The influenza prevailed in North America from the 15th to the 45th degree of latitude." And also the following : " 1826. — April. The influenza extends through North America." The number of deaths in Hants county during 1826 from this epidemic must have been very large, for we find in the census of 1827 that with a county popula- tion of 8,627, 362 deaths recorded, whereas in 1851 with a population of 14,330, the number of deaths stated amounts to 110 only. In this census for 1827 it is re- corded that the births in Hants county were 330, the deaths amounting to 362, or 32 more than tLe births. In 1861, with a population of 17,460, the deaths are given as not reaching more than 243 in number. From these figures it is to be inferred that the mortality from influenza during the year 1826 was very great, and the 47 Church of England burials for that year in the old churchyard, so largely exceeding the average of 12, appear to be accounted for. The population of the township of Windsor in 1827, the year after the epidemic, amounted to 2,065 souls. During this year the recorded Church of England burials declined to 9, but at Halifax the total deaths of all denominations rose to the alarm- ing number of 811, or one death among every 14 persons. The population of Halifax at the time was 11,000, and the unprecedented number of deaths was the result of fever and small-pox introduced by emigrants. The Breaking of the Dykes in 1759, 1828 and 1869. " ' In 1828 the recorded parish burials at Windsor increased from 9 in 1827 to 15, in the year first named. This occurred during the season in which the dykes were carried away (July 24th, 1828). The valuable dyke lands were flooded, and the sea came up to within a few yards of the north-east corner of the old burying ground. During the "Saxby storm" of October, 1869, just 110 years after the great inroad of the sea in 1759, a similar incident took place, but in this case the salt water actually reached by means of a ditch the north east corner. It is worthy of note that during the Saxby storm the salt water reached, and to a small extent overflowed, a thin deposit of frei\< , ,11 ' I, i'' I y England in Windsor who have been connected with the parish, or have been mis- '■',; sionaries prior to its establishment. It covers a period of 127 years. ;;,, 1762.— The Rev. Thomas Wood, SPG. missionary. ij, 1763 — The Rev. Joseph Bennett, S. P. G. missionary. iii 1774— The Rev. William Ellis, SPG missionary. t 1795.— The Rev. M. C. Willoughby, rector. I|i! 1814.— The Rev. W. C. King, M. A., Oxon., rector. i 1841.— The Rev Alfred Gilpin, B. A., rector. ; iQPifi i The Rev. Canon Maynard, D. D., rector. ,,; , 1000.— I ^jjg jj^y j^gjjj.y ^ Harley, M. A., Curate (1886.) |; 1888. — The Rev. J. Polehsmpton, M. A., Oxon., (in charge ) The Antiquity of the Old Burying Ground. ', Here it may be mer.aoned that nothing has been yet said about the burials ' within the space upon which the Old Parish Church now stands. It is stated upon ii unquestionable authority that the Old Parish Church, built in 1788-90, i-enta upon % I graves. j :' By creeping under the floor of the church, numbers of old graves can be de- | tected, even in the dim light which invades the century of repose of this primitive | crypt. But the graves were there before the church was built over them to form a crypt. It may be assumed that very many of those who in slow succession through- out one hundred years have sung within its walls " Change and decay in all around I see " 'f knew not, that long before the parish of Christ Church was set apart, the pre-exist- ing Acadian inhabitants of the " Parish of I'Assomption de Pizeguit," had petitioned the bishop of Quebec, complaining that they had no priest to administer to them the sacraments of their religion. This was in 1749. And there is good ground for the belief that the following order of " change and decay " has existed on this old gravel bank, washed in distant ages by the tidal waters of the Pisiquid : First — An ancient Indian ossuary. Then — A part of the French Acadian parish of I'Assomption de Pizeguit. Then — The first civil burying ground of Windsor, in its earliest days. Then — The parish burying ground as it now is, filled to excess. The mist which appears to envelop this subject may soon be in great part dis- pelled. It has hung for 130 years over events which marked those heartless times at Piziquid, of which no one living knows the suffering, and few know the shame. It may now be dispelled gently, but with the contrast ever before us displayed in the first lines of " Maroueritb." " The robins sang in the orchard, the buds into blossoms grew, Little of human sorrow the buds and blossoms knew ! Sick in an alien household, the poor French Neutkal lay, Into her lonesome garret fell the light of the April day." But who came with Henry Alline and his parents in 1760 to Falmouth from I^ewport, R. I. ? Henry Alline left Windsor in 1 783, and the influence of the Newlight preacher was long felt. Fortunately more authentic and precise informa- tion is available concerning Falmouth than concerning Windsor. Moat valuable and 17 been mis- the burials stated upon rents upon can be de- is primitive 1 to iorm a on through- le pre-exist- d petitioned to them the of *' change by the tidal seguit. lat part dis- irtless times r the shame, iisplayed in mouth from uence of the dse informa- valuable and attractive manuscript papers have been kindly placed in my hands, dealing with the history of Falmouth since 1760. With these are associated equally valuable infor- mation regarding Fort Edward and its occupants at this time, all of which will be noticed at some length after a review of the Methodist Church in these early days. Documents in the British museum, hereafter referred to, are also invaluable with regard to the history of this part of Nova Scotia between 1755 and 1765. As contributing in some small degree to our knowledge of the early settlers to whom the Kev. Thos. Wuod and the Eev. Joseph Bennett were sent as missionaries, I introduce here a copy of a MS. letter, addressed to Mr. Isaac Deschamps in 1761 ; also the names contained in another letter written in French and addressed to the same gentleman. These letters are in the library of King's College. Some of the names in the French letter are found on early parchments here at Windsor. The English letter is as subjoined. It was sent from Fort Ellis, at the junction of the river Stewiacke with the Shubenacadie. FoBT Elus, 18th Oct., 1761. Sir, — I received yours of the 3rd Oct. by the boat, and inclose now the returns for pro- visions issued since my last. I have issued the provisions according to your direction. We have finished the Fort and begun the road. I can write nothing new from here, and re- main, sir, Your very humble servant, To Isaac Dkschamps, Esq., at Fort Edward, Per favor Mr. Morris. This letter is endorsed — In the same handwriting is the memo. VV. W. Shipton. Fort Ellis, 18th Oct., 1761. LiEPT. Shipton, Bee. 16th, Anad. 30th. i Jer. Wasco at, Surveyor. Silas Wkavek^ and VChainmen. Jon. Card, J The letter written in French is a long business letter, and relates to supplies furnished the provincial troops. It is addressed " Monsieur Deschamps," without date, and is signed J. Laurent. Its contents refer to dealings with Capt. Fletcher, Mons. Saul and Deschamps, General Amherst, Capt. Morcomb, Major Phillips, the garrison (Fort Edward) of which Capt. Gay is "commandant," Mons. Mauger, Mons. Delesdernier, Mons Morris, with a deputy of New England " come to see la grand Pre,'' and Mons. Francklin. J. Laurent says the new troops have no molasses ■^ to make beer ; also, that Capt. Gay is the brother of Calvin Gay. The date of this I letter is probably the close of 1759 or 1760. I Further Interesting Historical Papers. i There are three papers in the British museum which contain very interesting m local information ; copies have been secured by the Kecord Commission. No. 43.—" State and condition of Nova Scotia, with returns of families settled in Horton, j Cornwallis, Falmouth and Newport, in King's county, giving the numbers in each family and township, and a tabulated statement of the cattle, grains and roots raised in 1763," (12 pages.) '.!''i' :'ii''' i\\',i f k 18 :ji,; No. 44. — "Petition from the inhabitants of King's county and Windsor, with memorial, praying that the Acadians may be allowed to remain, 23rd March, 17G5." {2 pages.) No. 49. — "Sketch of Nova Scotia, drawn up by Judge Deschamps in 17S2." (10 pages. Sess. papers, 1882, p. 35.) (Dr. Akins informs me that the papers in the British Museum :jj|!| i were copied by his instructions some time since, and are now in the Public Archives at Halifax. ) Further reference to other historical documents of a geneml character would extend these notes beyond the limits assigned to thorn. The only names I have met with as taking part in any regular missionary worlc in these townships during the period between 1755 and 1763, are those of the He v. Thos. Wood, the Eev. Joseph Bennett, and the Baptist minister at Newport, the Kev. John Sutton, all of whom appear to have commenced their work about the ! |: > same time. ;' Windsor in 1784. The condition of the country about Windsor and Newport during the ministry .j: I of the Rev. William Ellis and the Rev. William Black (Methodist) in the year 1784 )jh may be gathered from the analysis furnished by Col, Morse, in uls official report during the summer of that year. The aggregate only is given in the introduction to these notes ; some of the details are of a great local interest and may be appropriate- ly introduced in connection with ministerial work among a starving people, strangers P ' in the laud. ' ' It is probable that Col. Morse's description referred more to the settlements on the Atlantic coast rather than to the fertile and already partially settled districts of nil Windsor, Newport and Kenticook. But still the sudden introduction of 822 addi- ^l tional mouths to feed and bodies to shelter would be a great tax upon the thinly 1'! scattered inhabitants. ji The Details of the Muster in 1784. , 1.1 |'||i This muster, as returned by Col. Morse, comprehends men, women and chil- dren. It was completed in the summer of 1783 and spring of 1784. At that date part of the province of New Brunswick was included in Nova Scotia In order to arrive at the numbers of the white population in this province in 1784, the people mustered on the river St. John (N. B.,) 9.260, and Passamaquoddy, 1,787, must be deducted, together with 3,000 negroes, making a total of 14,047. These have to be deducted from " 28,347 New inhabitants," leaving the entire population of Nova Scotia proper in 1784, including old and " New inhabitants," about 28,700 souls, according to the estimate of Col. Morse. The condition of the New inhabitants, or disbanded troops and loyalists, is des- cribed by Col. Morse as lamentable. Indeed, speaking generally, he goes so far as to say that if they nre not fed by government for a considerable time longer they must perish. These disbanded troops and loyalists were not properly supplied with pro- visions, or with means to cultivate the soil and provide themselves with food. It is only necessary to notice here the muster at Windsor, Newport and Kenti- cook, Cornwallis and Horton. These being the districts visited by the Rev. William Ellis (Church of England), the Rev. William Black (Methodist), and the Rev. James Murdoch (Presbyterian). :'vi "I' I "i;' I !j 19 h memorial, [08.) (10 pages, iah Museum iut Halifax.) icter would onary work of the Rev. ewport, the . about the he ministry le year 1784 ficial report reduction to appropriate- »le, 8tranger3 ;tleraent8 on i districts of pf 822 addi- n the thinly ',n and chil- it that date In order to the people 787, must be le have to be ion of Nova 28,700 souls, alists, is des- es so far as to er they must ed with pro- food. t and Kenti- iev. William ind the Rev. 4 Muster of disbanded Tkoops and Loyalists. Windsor, May 20, 1784. — 127 men, 49 women, 23 children above 10 years, 58 children under 10 years, servants 21 ; total, 278. Newport and Kevticook, May 27, 1784 — 150 men, 60 women, 28 children above 10 years, 47 children under 10 years, 22 servants; total, 307. Cornwallis and Horton, Juno 4, 1784 — 91 men, 37 women, 44 children above 10 years, 27 children und«.r 10 years, 38 servants ; total, 237. These 822 persons made a considerable addition to districts which were just beginning to establish themselves. The Hon. Michael Francklin This section began with the name of Susannah Francklin ; it may appropriately close with a brief allusion to the work of her husband, the Hon. Michael Francklin, in Windsor, during 1778 to 1782, in order to exhibit the exigencies of the country at that period, the difficulties attending missionary work, and the necessarily slow progress of settlement until after the 30th November, 1782, when the provisional articles of peace were signed between the United States and Great Britain. We may gather, too, from the following brief notices, something as to the state of the country ten years before the people met at Windsor to arrange for the build- ing of the Old Parish Church. On Aug. 15, 1778, Lieutenant-Governor Arbuthnot at Halifax wrote to General Haldimand at Quebec : " The only way that communication can be kept up be- tween them is by sending despatches to Captain Studholme at Fort Howe, at the mouth of the St. John's river opposite Annapolis. From there the journey would take about a month." On Sept. 28, 1778, General Eyre Massey, writing from Halifax, informs General Haldimand that "Francklin, Indian superintendent, will gain over the Indians " Nov. 29, 1779, Governor Hughes writes to Haldimand informing him of " Discovery of a treaty signed at Paris by France, Spain and (Benjamin) Franklin on the part of congress, that by the 20th June, 1780, the congress engages to deliver the two Floridas to Spain and the provinces of Canada and Nova Scotia to France.'' On April 28, 1780, Lieut.-Governor Francklin writes from Windsor to General Haldimand that " The Indians are quiet ; hopes, if the presents arrive by the time they meet at the river St. John, to have them distributed, and to secure the adher- ence of the Indians of Nova Scotia " On September 7, 1780, Francklin '-rites from Windsor to General Haldimand at Quebec about " The good effect of th hreats of the Canadian Indians on those in Nova Scotia, but the limited supply of ^tresents, ammunition, etc., prevents the ac- complishment of the service required." On the 12th August, 1782, Francklin wrote from Windsor to General Haldimand, govenior of Canada, at Quebec, sending couriers for his son and the son of Mr. Hazen, who were at school there ; also announcing the arrival of a ship from ''^f 1 .1-. ! ;;?' '5"' 20 England at Halifax, with 400 American prisoners for Boston, an agreement having heen come to with America. On the 4th September, 1782, Francklin writes from Windsor to General Haldimand, stating that he undeistands a fleet of nearly 100 sail of " victuallers," and about 4,000 troops have arrived at Halifax, One of the French fleet has been lost in Boston bay, two are cruising and eleven being repaired at Boston. — {Cana- dian Archives.) The manner in which these and similar despatches were carried to Quebec in those troublous times is interesting, and will give us an idea of the diflicultiea and dangers attending inter-communication. They were sent by trusty couriers from fort to fort, and considerable sums had to be paid for the difficult and arduous service. The messengers were generally Acadian French. Michel Mercure was a noted courier. The route was frequent- ly from Halifax to Windsor; Windsor to Fort Hughes, in Cornwallis j Fort Hughes to Annapolis ; thence to Fort Howe, New Brunswick ; thence to the block house, on the Oromocto, and so on up the valley of the St. John to Quebec. NO. VI. 1 i ..;iiH i : ,1; : .til:. 'I ! ■■ (:■■ I .'i :w ■It; li ,,;tii ' The Methodist Church and Bcrials. For much of the information embodied in this brief sketch, I am indebted to the " History of the Methodist Church within the territories embraced in the late conference of Eastern British America," by the Kev. T, Watson Smith, Also, to documents kindly supplied by the Eev. Mr. Brown, of Windsor, Mr. William O Brien, Mr, P. S. Burnham, and others. One hundred and six years ago the Rev. William Black arrived in Windsor, coming from Amherst by way of Parrsborough. On the evening of June 5th, 1782, he preached the first sermon to a Methodist congregation in Mrs. Scott's house on the " Francklin farm." In 1786 the Methodist Missions at Horton, Windsor and Cornwallis numbered 510 members. The first conference was held this year on the 10th October, at Halifax, and six ministers were appointed to different circuits in Nova Scotia, Windsor being in- cluded in the Halifax circuit, to which Messrs. Garretson and Black were assigned. The Building op the First Methodist Church. A conference was held at Windsor on the 28th and 29th February. 1792. Four hundred and forty dollars were subscribed for a church. Among the trustees were Edward Church, Henry Scott and William Walter Rickards. The frame of the church was in order before the Rev. William Black left the village, but it was never finished where it stood. The conference of 1793 was held at Windsor as I ? 3nt having io General ictuallers," t has been 1. — {Cana- Quebec in cultiea and I sums had 'e generally 18 frequent- 'ort Hughes ock house, I indebted to in the laie Also, to r. William n Windsor, 8 5th, 1782, s house on is numbered fax, and six lor being in- re assigned. uary, 1792. the trustees 'he frame of but it was Windsor as I 21 well as that of 1798. The Rev. Watson Smith states in his work referred to, that Windsor from its central position was frequently selected to be the seat of the early conferences. It is much to be regretted that the full minutes of these early conferences are not accessible ; they would supply much interesting information. But from the fact that the " Old parish burying ground " has been the last resting place from 1782 to 1874, a period of 92 years, for a very large number of the mem- bers of the Methodist body after its organization, who have died at or near Windsor, its interest to this denomination is sufUciently manifest. The Rev. John Mann preached in Windsor in 1784; he died at Newport in 1817, in the 74th year of his age and the 31st of his ministry. The Conference. The conference met at Windsor in 1796, 1797, 1798. In 1799 the Windsor circuit embraced Horton, Cornwallis, Falmouth, Windsor and Newport. The people suffered at this time from the lack of ministerial oversight, and a membership of not more than eighty was reported, a great falling off from 1786. The unfinished church at Windsor was then nearly half a mile from the village, and in the winter services were held in dwellings which could be comfortably heated. When the Rev. John Mann arrived at Newport, on the other side of the river, improvement set in there far more rapidly than at Windsor. In July, 1794, a lot of land had been given for a church at Newport Landing, and a suitable edifice was soon erected, but still the want of ministerial supervision and steady oversight was greatly felt. The Rev. Mr. Twining, Episcopal minister at Newport, was in cordial relation with the Methodists of Newport Landing, and at that period there was no such wide separation between Methodist and Episcopa- lian as now exists This clergyman often preached in the new church at the Land- ing and administered the communion. The Rev, Mr. Twining was appointed by the S. P. G to Cornwallis in 1790 and subsequently to Newport. In 1800 only five Methodist ministers were in the maritime provinces, but four missionaries were appointed this year in England. In 1801 the Newport council returned 75 members, and 874 members formed the total in the lower provinces. The conference of 1803 was held at Windsor, and then a step in advance was taken in respect of provision for the support of the ministry, but owing to various circumstances, progress at this time was not rapid. " All marriage licenses were addressed to the clergy of the Church of England, and could not be used by a Methodist or Baptist minister, unless obtained by transfer, as a matter of favor, or upon some certain consideration, from the Episcopal ministry." — (^Rev. T. Wataon Smith.) Although this may have been one cause of the comparatively slow progress of the Methodist church at the close of the past and beginning of the present century, yet much must be attributed to the state of the country. Hence it will be necessary to describe with some degree of minuteness the prevailing features as regards inter- communication and hindrances to setllementa. 00 1 The State of the Country from 1784 to 1800. Few can reulizo what Nova Scotia was in 1784. Of rpads thoro was only one. Forest paths formed the moans of communication inland to distant points remote from the main artery. Communication was maintained by canoe and boat with settlements approachable by such means. Colonel Morse gives an excellent offlcipl report of the roads in 1784. This is what ho says : ' .1! " It may, without impropriety, be said that in the whole peninsula tliere is only one road, that leading from Halifax to Windsor, through Cornwallis and Horton to Annapolis Royal, a distance of alwut l.'il miles. And this cannot be considered as penetrating into the country further than Horton, which is about 60 miles, as afterwards the road runs parallel to, and very near the coast of the Bay of Fundy. * * * ♦«•»«« " On the rooil leading to Windsor a path has been opened through the wood to the Cobbiquid, communicating with the towns already named in that neighborhood, and from thence through the township of Amherst to Cumberland, by means of which cattle have been driven upon the snow, when frozen, to Halifax. " Such other openings have likewise been made from the head of the Cobbitjuid to Pictou and Tatamagouche harbors. These cannot be called roads, being simply cuts through the wood with trees mai-ked to discover them, which serve, however, to show the country is fit for and would amply repay the labor of cultivation." Colonel Morse states that he has found very few of the inhabitants who have ever traversed the peninsula, " though it is nowhere over 75 miles across." He says H that from Annapolis Royal to Liverpool the country has been traversed the greatest part of the way in a birch canoe. The whole journey was performed in four days. He remarks that the country from Port Roseway" (Shelbourne) to Annapolis has been crossed once in a similar way, the distance being about 100 miles, and that the enterprise took 14 days in accomplishing. :r In Murdoch's ** Nova Scotia " we read that in 17G7 Lord William Campbell employed troops to open the road from Halifax to Windsor, and in order to raise the money to pay the troops for this extra work the government granted Benjamin Gerrish, James Amesbury, Peter Bard and William Lloyd in Halifax, the liberty of taking coals from the cliffs in the island of Cape Breton. ^ But if the roads were in a rudimentary condition this certainly was not the case with the wholesale appropriation of the most accessible and fertile lands by officials, particularly those cultivated areas left by the Acadian French. It cannot be doubted that the undue exercise of the advantages which official position con- ferred, in the selection and apportionment of these lands, was disadvantageous to the progress of the country ; and this is a very mild way of putting a matter, which, if perpetrated nowadays, would generate whirlwinds of vituperation from the unfor- tunates who did not share in the spoils. The Appropriation of the Country About Windsor. I have before me a pirchment plan, without date, of the country about Windsor. I i only one. nts remote 1 boat with t. This ia nly one road, ulis Royal, a the c(nintry rallel to, and * # # wood to the r)d, and from le have been iiid to Pictou through the Kountry is lit 3 who have He say 8 the greatest four days. uapolis has ind that the Campbell dor to raise Benjamin e liberty of as not the ile lands by It cannot asition con- atageous to tter, which, 1 the unfor- t . ; 1 ] it Windsor. 38 This plan allots the whole of the area west of Fort Edward hill and south of the *' Pisiquid river" for a dintanco varying fioni one to two miles south and three miles west to the following gentlemen, whoso names are given as written on the plan : Jona. Belcher, Kh(|. }icnja. (Jreeu, Ksq. Chan. Morris, Ks(i. Kichd. IJulkoly, K8(|. TliDH. Saul, Kmij. JoHeph (Jerrish, Ksq. John Collier, K8(j. The area is divided into twenty-eight lots, of which four lots are assigned to each of the above named gentlemen. Jonathan Belcher, lijq , gets the lot next to Fort Edward, extending as far s juth as the spot now occupied by the Old Parish Church. It is bounded on the east by the path from Fort Edward to Halifax, after the path leaves Fort Edward Hill. On reference to page 373 of vol. II, of Murdoch's Nova Scotia, it will be found that these gentlemen formed the council of Governor Laurence on the 17th August, 1759 This parchment plan is interesting; it covers the whole of the land west of Fort Edward Hill now included in the town of Windsor. The plan is the property of Mr. P. Burnham, of Windsor. In June, 1773, Lord William Campbell declared in council, as governor of the province, " his intention of reserving for himself in property a tract of land con- taining about 21 acres around the hill at Windsor, on which the fort ' formerly ' stood."' — Murdurh, Vol II. JJ 510. This last act disposed of the entire area then available west of the path or road to Halifax. There must have been some French houses near Mr. Joshua Mauger's store at the confluence of the " Pisiquid " and St. Croix, beyond and east of the island burying ground in 1759, which were doubtless appropriated at the time when the land west of Fort Edward hill was annexed by his majesty's council. The houses of incoming " traders " and officials appear to have been chiefly built on the slopes of Fort Edward hill on the west side, and thence towards Clifton. The lots of the first range on the parchment plan vary from one mile deep to half a mile Those of the second range vary from one and a quarter mile to three-quarters of a mile deep. The old path to Halifax is marked on the plan for about three miles, and a mile and a half of old French dykes are also delineated. The area now in part occupied by the town of Windsor, and annexed as described in the pai-chment plan by his majesty's governor and council, amounted to about six square miles, or 3,840 acres. Tradition has it that Lord William Campbell had a race course round Fort Edward hill, and Haliburton alleges in his historical and statistical account of Nova Scotia that " the ground originally reserved for military purposes in the neighbor- hood of the fort, was granted during the administration of Lord William Campbell, in the year 1767, to his lordship's groom, and was afterward purchased for a valu- able consideration by government." — (FoZ. II, p. 108.) In this relation it may be stated that so far back as 1829 Haliburton states that 94 n '-•'J the district ot Pisiquid wm held in high efltoem by the French. " The crops of wlioat which they raised were so superabundant, that for many years previous to the war of 1756 they exported a great quantity to the Hoston market." There need be no surprise that the lands in this district were so soon appropriated after the expul- sion of the French. The First Minister's Tx)T in Newport. Another parchment plan of part of the township of Newport, dated Jan. 15, 1787, also belonging to Mr. Burnham, contains an allotment probably without parallel in granted lands. It is a lot 17 chains wide and 220 chains long, assigned to "the Ist minister." On the same plan are the well known names: Deschamps, Delesdernier, Cottnam, Haliburton, etc., etc. Who was the "1st minister," and of what denomination? are intemsting questions. The situation of the lot is not favorable. A very large portion is still un- occupied The southern extremity of the " 1st minister's " lot reaches the road lead- ing from Windsor to Halifax, about three-quarters of a mile west of Piggott's lake. The lot runs due north and south for three miles. One cannot help contrasting the good fortune of Lord William Campbell's groom with that of the " 1st minister" in Newport ; and it is difficult to drive '* Home to its cloud the lighting of the mind," when a mental picture arises of the Acadian French in 1755 and the wholesale ap- propriation of their lands of surpassing fertility by one or two of those whose names appear on the parchment plan of " Pisiquid." Property in Falmouth. One of the earliest documents I have seen relating to property in Falmouth, apart from the Falmouth Becords hereafter alluded to, is an agreement between Joseph Jess and Benjamin Gerrish. It is dated Nth September, 1761. It relates to an exchange of portions of the properties of the parties named, and concerns the building, garden, orchard and well of Benjamin Gerrish and adjoining land, thus showing that six years after the expatriation of the Acadians the new occupants were in peaceable possession in Falmouth. The document is witnessed by Henry Denny Denson and Hannah Fift. Grandfather Smith. In striking contrast to all this is the brief history of John Smith of Newport, (Avondale), who is recorded to have arrived there in 1773 and purchased about 800 acres of land. John Smith was a member of one of the families at Yarm (on the Tees) who suffered during the floods of 1771. In order to escape from the rising waters he broke through the wall of his house, and passed with his family into the next and stronger building. His own house was soon undermined, and fell, the furniture floating away. From the drifting wreck he secured the family clock in its case, which he brought to Newport. John Smith was one of those who resisted the unseemly and often cruel assaults common in England in his early days against the Methodists. On one occasion he and his brother slit open the pipers' bag of a fellow hired by mockers to disturb prea HOVC thu* on t of 1 25 ])ieaclier. Meetings wore said to bo lioUl in John Smith's house in Newport some rtoven or eight yortrs prior to the ftrriviil of the Kov. VVillium Hlack in Windsor, and thus was prepared a largo ])ait of the congregation which assembled across the river on the evening of June 5th, 1782. The Rev. Mr. McColl had charge in New Brunswick during the greater part of 1707. Arriving in that year at Annapolis he accompanied the Rev. Mr. Grandin, "on a good but very wild horse," to Windsor, where the conference was held. No. VII. In April, 1812, William Croscombo landed at Halifax. His influence was soon felt in Windsor. The unfinished church on the " Francklin Farm " erected in 1792, was removed to Gerrish street in the village, and a new order of affairs began rapid- ly to develop. This is only part of the inscription on a tombstone in the old burying ground : In memory of The Rev'd. William Croscombe, Wesleyan miniater, Who in Gibraltiir, Canada and the Lower Provinces, For forty-two years faithfully and diligently discharged his duty as an ambassador of Christ. • ••«•««•*« Aug. 26, 1859, Aged 73 years. From 1816 to 1858 four hundred and sixty-four baptisms are recorded in the first existing volume of the register of the church at Windsor, being at the rate of 11 for each year. The record of the first baptism is signed by James Priestly, the last in this period by Charles Stewart. The Building of the Present Church. In 1854, during the ministry of the Rev. Henry Pope, Mr. Edward O'Brien, of Windsor, sold the site of the present church to duly appointed trustees. The situa- tion is beautiful, and it fronts the street, one hundred feet wide, laid out by Lord William Campbell. This governor of Nova Scotia prohibited horse-racing at Halifax in 1771, but he allowed it round about Fort Edward, at Windsor, much to the chagrin of Mr. Edward Brien's ancestor, Mr. William O'Brien, who in 1769, 1770, and for several years afterwards, had under his charge the sons of the Hon. Michael Francklin, Isaac Deschamps and others, and assisted the Eev. Joseph Bennett in the services of the Anglican Church From 1858 to 1888, a period of 30 years, 482 Methodist baptisms are recorded, making a total of 946 in 72 years, or at the rate of 13 in each year. . :'l 1. 26 The first period — 1816-1858 gives 11 annually. The second period— 1858-1888 gives 16 annually. Showing progress of decided character. Baptism8 and Burials. The relation between baptisms and burials in some old cities is pretty well known, and varies from 50 to 65 burials for every 100 pereons baptized. In coun- try districts and very healthy cities the ratio is greater. The number of baptisms recorded in the register of the parish of Montreal (Anglican) from 1767 to 1787 amounted to 487. The number of burials during the same period, taken from the same register, reached 258, or 53 per cent, of the baptisms. (Sess. papers, 1886.) In communities like those in the township of Windsor this relation cannot be expected to reach a similar approximation to fact. But in the absence of other data it affords a good basis for an estimate. The number of Church of England baptisms recorded in the parish register from 1813 to 1886 amounts to 1,862; the number of burials from 1813 to 1886 to 852, or 46 per cent, nearly, of the baptisms. Applying this percentage to Methodist burials in relation to baptisms, the num- ber of burials would amount to about 430 since 1816, being at the rate of 6 annual- ly. Between the arrival of the Rev. WHliam Black in 1782 and 1816 is 34 years, which, at half the number, or 3 annually, would give 102 burials, making a total in 104 years of 532. At 50 per cent, the number would be 575. Then we have to take into consideration the emigrants, and the years at the close of the last and the beginning of the present century, when there was no resident Methodist minister in Windsor, and only four Wesleyan Methodist ministers in British America in the year 1800. During tlie period between 17G0 and 1811, no proper record of burials or of bapti -.ms in i'lsiquid or Windsor o* the part of ministers of any denomination, or magistrates, is accessible, if any exist, i^ut in Falmouth, just across the river, re- cords of births, burials and marriages are to be found, but by whom the service was conducted there is nothing to show. The first record of birth in Falmouth is as follows : " NatJmniel Rust, son of Jehial Rust, by Lucy his wife, was bom September, 2ttth, A. I)., 1760." The first record of death is this : " Siiva Wood, daughter to William Wood by Amy his wife, died December ye 14th, A. D., 170; ." The first record of marriage is as given below : " Perry Borden was married with Amy Pierce, September the 6th, Anno Domi, 1761." It is probable that all the services were performed by Shubael Dimock, the fiist ** modemtor " of the simple municipal council organized in Falmouth on the 10th June 1T60, whose records will be referred to in a subsequent notice. Shubael Dimock was a native of Mansfield, in Conneticut, and although a 27 retty well In couQ* F Montreal i 3 register, cannot be : ; of other h register to 1886 to , the num- 6 annual- 34 years, a total in • 3 have to at and the iiinister in ica in the ials or of nation, or river, re- ar vice was ith, A. D., ir ye 14th, , 1761." ;, the fiist the 10th Presbyterian by birth, yet he subsequently became a Baptist and settled at Newport. He was "moderator" of the council of Falmouth proprietors in June, 1760, in February, 1764, also in March, 1764, and in 1765. The history of births, baptisms, marriages and burials throughout the district which may be surveyed from Windmill Hill, including the first settled parts of Windsor, Newport and Falmouth, is involved in obscurity for several years after the expulsion of the Acadians The population at times, as will shortly be seen, was numerous, particularly during 1761, 1762, 1763 and 1764. Deaths must have been numerous also, births not uncommon, and marriages occasional, but how performed before 1762, does not yet appear. In 1762, the Hon. Jonathan Belcher, being then lieutenant-governor of Nova Scotia, wrote to the Society for the Propagation oi' the Gospel in Foreign Parts, stating that in most of the new townships formed in Nova Scotia, the people are without ministers of any persuasion whatever. The Hon. Jonathan Belcher was deeply interested in the land proprietorship of Windsor and Falmouth townships, as ancient records amply show. Taking into consideration the number of burials in the new cemetery, to which reference will soon be made, it is reasonable to assume that the Methodist burials in the old burying ground for 110 years, (1770 to 1880) do not fall short of seven hundred, an estimate probably below the real number, the Church of England burials being at the rate of 9^ annually from 1771 to 1886. WE8LEYAN MeTHODIST MINISTERS STATIONED AT WINDSOR FROM 1816 TO 1889. Beverend James Priestly (1816), (( William Bennett (buried at Avondale), it William Burt, ii George Jackson, (( William Bennett, <( Robert Young, i( Stephen Bamford, w being Micmac anguage No. VIII. The Presbyterian Church. " Drowned in the Musquododit" was the melancholy end of the first Presby- terian missionary who occasionally visited Windsor. Although never permanent pastor yet the Rev James Murdoch preached in this locality at intervals, from 1772 to 1783. He was in Windsor during December, 1783, March, April and June, 1784, in December, 1785, -January and February, 1786, .April and May, 1787, per- haps more frequently. His missionary work carried him through the whole of Hants, Colchester and Halifax counties, wherever settlements were formed, and dur- ing a period of unusual excitement and disturbance. (For a good notice of the Kev. James Murdoch, see "Collections of the Nova Scotia Historical Society, Vol. II ") A travelling missionary in those days had much to endure. No roads but one, poor accommodation and frequently poorer fare. The Rev. James Murdoch was a regularly appointed missionary to Nova Scotia, deriving his authority from the General Associates or Anti-Burghers' synod of Scotland in 1765. He was or- dained in Ireland, the country of his birth, in 1766, and subsequently sailing for Nova Scotia, he first took up his residence in Horton. He was succeeded by the Rev. George Gilmore, who, according to information kindly supplied by the Rev. A. T. Mowatt, of Fredericton, appears to have been the founder of the congregations of Windsor and Newport. The history of the Rev. George Gilmore is both interesting and sad. Born at Antrim in 1720. Studied at Edinburgh. Married and had children in Ireland. Sailed for America with his family in 1769, landed at Philadelphia, and thence proceeded to New England. Soon after the commencement of the revolutionary war, he had to flee for his life across the ice of the St. Lawrence, his principles at- taching him to the Loyalist cause In 1785 he came to Halifax to urge his claims for losses arising from the revolutionary war. The government gave him " a farm " on Ardoise Hill. Let any one attempt to conceive the advantages of " a farm " on Ardoise Hill in 1775 ! No wonder his troubles increased for a few years. He and his family lived on potatoes and milk one winter. So dire was his distress at this time that he walked to Halifax to mortgage his farm for a barrel of flour, and failed, the merchants there declining the security. In order to support his family he had to carry hay on his back to feed the cow whose milk supplied the children with food. Notwithstanding all this weight of care and trouble, he preached more or less regularly at Windsor and Newport until 1791, when he moved to Horton, where he died in 1811. This is the proper place to introduce an extract from a letter contained in the " Brown collection," copied from papers in the British museum, and now included in the M. S. Nova Scotia documents o^ the record commission at Halifax. The ex- tract is from an important and interesting communication addressed by the Rev. Hugh Graham, of Cornwallis, to the Rev. Dr. Brown. It is dated Cornwallis, March, 1791. [■■ 34 " As to the religious opinions ivnd professions of tlio iiiliiihitants, I sliiill only observe in pcneral that a few and hut a very few helong to the Kstablished uhnrch (Scotland), a few, lint I believe more tiian the former, are Presbyterian dissenters. Tiie Methodists ) ear the away, most all of them Yorkshire. Those of the original settlers from Ncn- England who remain have chiefly become New Lights ; without jjrejudice it may be said rl both sectaries — that being unenlightened by knowledge and united l)y delusion, animated by pu»'ty spirit anil carried away by a religious like zeal, they seem to vie with each other in the wildness and absurdity of their opinions and practices, and they seem to breathe tire and vengeance asjttinst each other, and against everybody else." (See N. S. His. Col., Vol. II.) This description refers to a period very nearly one liundred years ago. It if* not II pleasant picture, but it may give us an idea of the probable state of religiou.i feeling in and al)Out the district where the New Lights first gained their footing in Kova Scotia, in the vicinity of Windsoi'. Succeeding Mr. Gilmore, we find the names of Revs. Jas. Munro, Wilson and Patterson as missionaries visiting Windsor occasionally, but none had any settled pastoral supervision, and until the date of the arrival of the Rev. John Cassells uo permanent pastor was appointed to Windsor. The Ruilding of the Church. The list of persons whose names were subscribed as contributing towards the First Presbyterian church erected in Windsor in the year 1808, shows that a strong congregation had gradually been formed. No less than 112 persons contributed $1,011 in money toward this object, and a number of others gave materials, labor and produce. As in the building of Christ church, just twenty years before, a care- ful account was kept of the contributors' money, labor and supplies. The building does not appear to have been completed until the year 1810, for there was an addi- tional subscription amounting to ^136 50, paid in up to the 10th March of that year. The record is signed Francis Hutchison, chairman. In this record there is provision made for " one pew to bo allotted to the Rev. Mr. Cassells and his successors, Presbyterian ministers in this place." The Rev. John Cassells was a native of Scotland, and was connected with the academy at Windsor as assistant before he was ordained. On the 8th August, 1812, the subjoined touching declaration and bond wa? made by the congregation for subscriptions towards the stipend of the Rev. Mr Cassells. In a time of profound peace we can scarcely form a proper conception of the feelings of those who attached their names to this document pending a waw, during which any day or any night the tide might bring a privateer in front of the town of Windsor. The Declabation and Bond. Windsor, 8th Auwust, 1812. "Convinced that it is duty of christians at all seasons to meet together for public and so- cial worship, especially in times like the present, when war, with its attendant calamities has approached the shores of our country, to supplicate and adore that Divine being who can turn wars into peace unto all the ends of the earth ; with these views, we, whose names are here- unto subscribed, do promise and engage severally to pay to the Reverend John Cassells, or his I' 35 I'tTtaiii agent or attorney, the sum placed against onr respective names in cash or such articles as he may want for the use of his family, at the current prices of such articles at the time of delivery, on condition that the said Mr. Cassells do preach to us in tlie Presbyterian meeting house at least two-thirds of the Sabbaths for one year, connnencing on tiie 16th of July last." To this document are attached 37 names, many being recognized on tombstoney in the old parish burying ground, and some of them as presiding at the town meet- ings hereafter alluded to, when steps were taken ag.iia and again, to preserve the "Old burying ground " from desecration, and secure efficient and continuous super- vision at the expense of the township for whose benefit it was freely given. The Rev. Mr Ca<5sel!s remained in Windsor until the year 1819, when he re- jiioved to St. Andrews. In the absence of records one would gather from the following resolutions passed at a meeting of the Presbyterian congregation on the 9th October, 1824, that there was danger that the position Mr. Cassells occupied would not be regularly supplied unless decided exertions were made. Xo. 2. "That David Dill, James Simpson and Thomas Chisholms be a com- mittee for the purpose of immediately opening a subscription for raising a salary for the support of a clergyman to officiate in the Presbyterian congi'egation of Windsor for one year." No. 4. " That the meeting house in future be for the use and benefit of the Presbyterian congregation at Windsor, and for it alone." It may be interesting to put on record the names of those who attended this meeting, with a view to show how the day of small things is often, figuratively, the germ of powerful influences, and we may compare this meeting with an assemblage which could now be gathered in Windsor after a lapse of 65 years. " Members of the congregation and subscribers to the building of the meeting house present." John Clarke, Esq., Robert McHefTey, Nathaniel Jenkins, Matthew Allison, Richard McHefiey, James Robertson, Ludovick Hunter, Alexander Dill, John Jack, William Edwards, John Murray and Joseph Caldwell. (Signed) Hugh Jenkins, 9lh Oct., 1824. Clerk. It is a noteworthy fast, illustrating the introduction of old time customs into Windsor, that some of the pews in the old Presbyterian church erected in 1808, were sold absolutely, and became heritable property. An indenture bearing date 10th December, 1818, signed by the trustees, sells absolutely and forever pew No. 18 to John Jack and his heirs and assigns Thib indenture calls to mind the condi- tion of certain churches in England, wherein it is now ijn practicable, without an act of parliament, to make any alterations even, because generations ago a certain pew or pews were sold to persons as real estate, to be devised as the pui-chaser might think proper, to his heirs and a-ssigus. Fortunately or unfortunately, as the case may be, in Nova Scotia, the law is not so ironclad. The seats in the Presbyterian church at Windsor and in the Anglican church are now free. The regular successor to Mr. Cassells was the Rev. John Sprott, who was or- i ^^' 30 r dainod at Newport. He married the youn{,'e8t daughter of .Fohu Clarke, Esq , wliosc ^ name is frequently found in local records as a very generous contributor for roligioiis and educational purposes. Mr. Sprott was succeeded by the Rev John Logan Murdoch. This clergyman i continued pastor at \Viud.sor for an unusually lengthened period, extending to uj)- I jij j: ; wards of forty years. A haudsome obelisk in the old burying ground, erected in ■ 'y.] 1873 by the Presbyterian congregation of U indsor, attests the esteem and respect in ; |l ; which he was held. The inscription is given further on. ^t^ 1 J The Building of the Present Church. In January, 1853, Walter Hunter, John Bacon, Matthew Allison, Joseph Cochran and Thos. Hunter were appointed to select the site for a new church The land selected was purchased from the Trecottrick estate on September 2()th, 1854. The building of the new church was commenced in 1855, and was completed for occupation in 1856, but improvements continued to be made for some time be- fore the original design was carried out in detail. The sittings are arranged so as to accommodate with comfort about five hundred worshippers, and all the sittings are free. The first cost of the church was about §8,000, which large sum was increased by subsequent additions Ntany of those who took an active part in the erection of this large and commo- dious church now rest in the old parish burying ground. Promiuent among them is the pastor, to whom is erected a monument bearing the following inscription : In memory of the Rev. John Logan Murdoch, who died July 2.3rd, A. D., 1873, in the 74th year of his age, and the 50th of his MIXISTRY. Erected by the Presbyterian congregation of \Vindsor, of which he was puator for up- wards of 40 years, as a tribute of tlieir afifection. The Town Meetings and the Burying Ground. The records of the town meetings assembled in Windsor for the support of the poor, disclose many curious facts concerning the old burying ground, where the Kev. J. L. Murdoch lies. These town meetings at the close of the past century and for the fir.st half of the present century, took a jealous interest in the affairs of the bury- ing ground, and indeed at the beginning of the century voted money to keep in re- pair the little church which stood at the comer of the church yard. At these meetings the sexton was appointed annually ; a pall was purchased and ordered to be kept for the use of the poor ; a bier W9s provided for common use ; wood was an- nually furnished for the church fires in winter ; the church yard was constantly in- 1. J- i .'^ 87 , Ksq , wliosc for roligioiiH is clergy nmu uling to uj)- fl, erected iu id respect iu son, Joseph liurch 3niber 20th, ! completed ne time be- ivo hundred was about ind commo- moug them liption : ator for up- port of the re the Rev. y and for f the bury- eep in re- At these )rdered to Dd was an- itantly in- spected ; time and again it was " fenced with pickets and a Virginian fence," and kept in repair at public expense. In 1822 it was determined to erect a stone wall on the highway at the co.st of the town, and finish the throe remaining sides with strong pickets. Fifty pounds were voted for this purpose. In 1824, William Frasor being chairman, a committee was appointed, consisting of Joseph Sentell, Esq., Mr. Nath. Jenkins, Mr. James Jenkins and Mr. John Godfrey, " to collect by subscriptions from their several congregations such sums of money as may be sufficient to erect a decent pencf around the burial ground." In 1827 the sexton was instructed to keep out trespassers and to submit his ex- penses for the same to the town meeting. And in 1831, Mr. Henry Goudge being chairman, it was resolved that "The churchwardens are hereby authorized to repair the burial ground stone wall by dashing the same with lin e, and bring in their ac- count next town meeting." Resolutions of the Town Meetings from 1799 to 1805. Some of the resolutions passed at the town meetings are worthy of being pub- lished, as illustrating the then prevailing feeling among members of different deno- minations with regard to the old burying ground, and as giving an insight into the state of society and public sentiment at the time. In 1799, George Henry Monk being in the chair, two cords of wood were voted for the church and two cords to Pinderman Alison, the town sexton, besides four pounds annually, in addition to subscriptions from individuals, towards his salary. In April, 1800, Mr. Loran De Wolfe being in the chair, " As the fence enclosing the burying gi'ound of Windsor is fallen to decay — voted and resolved, that the whole front of said burying ground be enclosed by a fence made of fir pickets, split, l)ainted and set upright, nailed and attached above and below into horizontal rib- bands, supported by 13 strong posts well set in the ground ; the other sides to be repaired with rail fence To be done by contract at the lowest offer To be paid for by the overseers of the monies which may come to their hands." In November, 1800, Rufus Fairbanks being in the chair, John Clarke, Esq., Nathaniel Thomas, Esq., and Mr. John McLatchy were appointed a committee to " examine the state and condition of the churchyard." In 1801, a pall was purchased by the town meeting and the following resolution passed, Mr. Robert McHoffey being in the chair : " ResoliKd, — That the overseers make such necessary repairs as are wanting to the old church to make the same fit for the ensuing winter. " It is probable that this resolution referred to the little church at the comer ot the "old burying ground" built by general subscription in 1771. In 1802 the following general resolution was passed at the town meeting, Rufua Fairbanks being in the chair : ^p 38 " 'I'hat the wood for tl>e ohiitoh Im purohiiseil in the Hpniig or 8Uiniiicr timl (Iclivetotl thi-rc ill Hummer, wiy two oonlx. That the wimmI for thu Huxtoii iiUo he piirchaaed in Huninior wIum^ it can l>e ha*1 uhenp." lu 1803 tho fence uroiinil tin; buryiug groimd took up tho attention of the town l*i|l ; meeting on April 4th, Mr. Lomu J)e Wolfe beitig chairmiui. Thia i» the resolution : 1 " //«Wi";'/,—Findcrinan Alison aH sexton for tho year— four poiuuln and an aliowanm^ of two cords ward fence nailetiNiiiM from July, IsT.S, to Dec, IM71) I»'i Deiith.'i from .Inly, ISTIi, to Dec, 1H7!» fi!» Average nuniher of ImptismH iiiniuiiily (.'ii years) '29..') Average nnm))er of deatlis annually (.TJ yearn) . 12..') Ratio of deaths to liaptiHiuH A'2 per eont. No. 11. IJapiIsms from Aug. 17, 1873, to Dec. 18, 1888 3(Ki Average Muniher of haptiHms annually (14.J years) iJI There are no records^ of deaths from 187'J to 1885, and none prior to 187:^. I'.ut Mr. Nelson informs me that, as is the custom in the Church of England rogi."<- lers, the burials by Presbyterian ministers of those who are not members of the con- gregation are not necessarily entered in the church records. To the number of burials recorded between 1873 and 1871) seven or eight may be added belonging to this category. Eight burials added to the sixty-nine recorded would bring the ratio V)t)tween baptisms and burials to 46 per centum, which is the value of the mtio be- tween recorded Church of England burials and l)iiptisms from 1813 to 1886, a period of 73 years We have, however, a better basis than incomplete statistical returns on which we may found an estimate of the number of Presbyterian burials in the old church yard. The simple fact that the Kcv. James Murdoch j)reached to a Presbyterian coii- giugiitiou in Windsor only 10 yeai-s later than the liev. .Foseph IJennett began liis missionary work, coupled with the record that eighty years ago the strength of the Presbyterian body in Windsor was such that no less than 112 jjersons, most of them heads of families, met together and contributed liberally in money towards building a church, while otliers gave supplies, labor and materials. It has been stated tliat the average number of burials in .5i yeais, namely, from July, 1S73, to hecember, 1x7!), amounted to 12 5. Taking the average burial for loo years, or from 1776, (four years after the liev .lames Murdoch came to V\ indsor,) to 1876, at 60 per cent, of 12..5, the nundier of burials during that period would reach 7.5{». Hut when we take into cuusideraticm that the Presbyterians have always been the strongest body in Hants county since 1827, and far outnumber tlie membeis of the Chureh of England in the county, and are close up to them in the town, it is clear that the estimate, 750, is too low, and should not be put less than from nine hundred to one thousand. Even this estimate, as in the case of all the denominations, makes a large allow- ance for private burials in family plots on the homestead, such as were not uncom- mon in early times at a distance from the village, even though no minister were present. 40 i^liii ^ li; PREdUYTERl. The Revd <( Rovd. (( Revd. (4 Revd 11 Revd 11 Rovd. 11 Revd. (1 Revd. 11 Rovd. 11 Revd. 11 Revd. 11 Revd. t< Revd. \N MiSSlON.XUlES AND PaSTOHS AT Wl.N'PSOR. Mitiniotia/'ies. Janie.s Murdoch, 1772 to 1785. George Gihuore, 1785 to 1791. James Mouro. Wilson. Patterson. John Ca^sells, 1808 to 1819. Pastors. John Sprott, 1820 to 182-t. John Logan Murdoch, 1826 to 1870. Edward Annand, 1864 to 1870. (Colleague with .Mr. Murdoch.) Alex Rae Garvie, 1870 to 1873. Andrew Joseph Mowatt, 1873 to 1879. Archibald Gunn, 1880 to 1885. Thomas Abbott Nelson, 1885. V ; NO. IX. :,■.;;! THE RETROSPECT CONTINUED. li i' The Deportation of the Acadians fro.m Pisiquid The following extract from the instructions of Governor Lawrence, dated Hali- fax, 11th August, 1755, to Lieut. Colonel Wiualow, or in his absence Captain Murray, at Pizitiuid, displays the origin of the events which led to the accumulation of so many French prisoners at Fort Edward, and the concentration of so many French families round about the fort for several successive years : "As Captain Murray is well acquainted with the people and with the country, I would have you consult with him upon all occasions, and particularly with relation to the ineana necessary for collecting the people together, so as to get them on board ; and if you Hnd that fair means will not do with them you must proceed by the most vigorous measures ^Mssible, not only in compelling them to embark, but in depriving those who shall escape of all means of shelter or support, by burning their houses and destroying everything that may atford them the means of subsistence in the country." — Journal of Col. John Window. Colonel John Winslow was in command of the provincial troops while engaged in removing the Acadian French inhabitants of the district of Grand Pre and the district of Pisiquid in the autumn of 1775. Much has been written about the de- portation of the Acadians from Grand Pre, but I am not aware that any connected llii [ 41 3 with Mr. litocl Hali- te Captaiu junmliitioa jf 80 many y, I woulil o the means tu find that •68 possible, f all means afford them le engaged e and tho ut the de- connected accounts have been published of the similar action at Pisifjuid, or of the resulting occurroncos which took place between 1755 and 1765 in the district of Pisicpiid. Little or nothing appears to have been put on record of the contticts which happened in the area included between tho St Croix and the Forks of the Avoa, and very little concerning the daily life of the numerous Acadian prisoners, for so many years controlled and over-awed by the military in ihe forts a:id blockhouses which were erected on tho banks of the Avon. Captain Murray, then commanding at Fort Edward, describes the part ho took in these painful proceedings, in a very business-like manor. His letter is ad- dressed to Colonel John Winslow, and is published with the journal of that officer. (N. S His. Soc collections.) " Dear Sir, — I am this moment embarking the people on board the two sloops, and had I vessels thoy should all go on board to-morrow. The third sloop you said you would send me is not yet arrived. (Jood (iod, what can keep lier. I earnestly entreat you to send her witli all despatch. The season advances and the weather is bad. As for Davis, he has gone away without my knowledge, by which means I can do nothing. I am afraid the gov. will think ns dilatory. My people are all ready, and if you tinnk I may venture to put the in- habitants on board Davis I will do it. Even then, with the three sloops and his schooner tliey will be utowtd in hulk; but if I have no more vessels I will put tliem aboard let the con- sequence be what ii will. Your speedy answer will ■nuch oblige, dear sir, your most obedient liumble servant, A. MuRR/\Y. Fort Edward, 14th Oct., 1755. There are upwards of 920 people here, children included. The vessels here are : Two sloops of 156 tons. Davis, 9() tons That cannot do. Adieu. . 90 " 240 tons. On his majesty's service, to John Winslow, Esq., commanding his majesty's troops at (irand Pre." The tone of this letter does not roijuire comment It is sufficiently expressive, and it might perhaps ju.stly be added, sufficiently appalling, especially when read in connection with tho following. Under date, Oct. 23, 1755, Col John Wirslow writes to Messrs. Apthorp aiid Hancock, (merchant contractors in Boston), as follows: " Since the foregoing Capt. Murray has come from Piziijuid with upwards of 1,000 people in four vessels. « * ♦ • " Capt. Murray has shipt from Piziquid his wliole and are upwards of 1,000." It must suffice for the purpo.se of this brief retrospect to state that large num- bers of the Acadians in the district of Pisiquid escaped to the woods and joined their allies, and in numerous instances family connections, the Indians, taking with them many cattle. Each year their strength was increased by accessions from those who stealthily returned from the New England or southern provinces, or by refugees who had fled to the woods in the devastated region about Grand Pre, tho rivers Canard and Habitant. 42 All attempts at new settlements were thus frustrated for several years, and a considerable force was constantly maintained at Fort Edward. Several skirmishes nud even engagements took place in the Pisiquid district, particularly about tlie Forks, where the refugee Acadians concealed their cattle in tiie hilly and thickly wooded country. I This .insettled state of the Pisiquid district will account for the reason why the first settlers in Falmouth and Newport were protected by forts and soldiers, of which brief notices are given in the " Proprietor's " records hereafter noticed ; and why so little is recorded of the occuptJion of the fertile country about Windsor from 1755 to 1700, a period of four years. 1'^ i I In order to present as complete an outline of the history of the district of Pisi- quid as is at present convenient it will be necessarry to mention something about the garrison at Fort Edward from 1750 to 1765. I The duties of the troops from the close of 1755 to 1705 were arduous and pain- ful. The Acadians and the Indians ap[)eiir to have been hunted down as a neces- sary, though distre-ssing, precautionary measure. Those of the Acadians who were not killed wore kept as prisoners when taken, many of them voluntarily surrender- ing in order to escape starvr.tion A table of the prisoners from 1761 to 1764 has already been given. It is interesting to inquire how they were employed and why they were held in forced subjection for so many years, and what was done in the district during the four years between the date of the expulsion iu 1755 and the date of the first arrival of settlers from Rhode Island iu 1700. The limits assigned to these notes will only i)ermit of a passing glance being thrown on events of con- siderable local interest, but that glance ought to create a wish to learn something more of transactions which have, in fact, converted the district of Pisiquid into his- i toric ground. Troops at Fort Edward and Outlying Forts axd Blockhouses from 1750 ] TO 1762. I In 1750 Major Lawrence built Fort Edward at Pisiquid On his journey to ' Mines, where a rendezvous of troops took place in that year, he had uud6r his com- mand 105 regulars and about 200 rangers. Fort Edward was built after his return fro'u Chignecto, and there can be little doubt that both the regulars and the rangers assisted in its construction. The following list comprises the names of most of the officers in command at Fort Edward from 1750 to 1702. I Any notice of the skirmishes which took place between the Acadians and the garrison after 1755 would be out of place here, although the accounts handed down of the expedition in boats up the Avon to the Forks, and the siuprise of the refugee Acadians at the Forks, together with the incidents connected with the return of the expedition through Breaux village, would greatly enliven a somewhat dreary and melancholy subject. 43 ^'oars, and a 1 skirmislieti y' about tJie and thickly 3on why the ■1-8, of wliich md why ,su from 1755 rict of Pisti- hing about i and imin- s a neces- who were aurreuder- 1764 has I and why ue in tlie '5 and the I assigned its of con- on)etliiiiopulation of west Falmouth. The thoughts naturally force themselves to the front concerning the doings of these French prisoners, how they were supported, how they spent the time, and what relation they bore, if any, to the " proprietors " in Falmouth. It must not be forgotten that during the year 1759, the year preceding the first settlement of Falmouth, a storm of very unusual character broke down the dykes and submerged the whole of the valuable dyked lands which had contributed to make the district of Pisiquid a populous Acadian colony, with numerous scattered villag' s many years prior to 1 760. The immigrants from Rhode Island, Connecticut, and a few from New Jersey came to Falmouth when the dykes wore broken and many thousand acres overflowed by the high spring tides. Ou the 10th Dec, 1759, Governor I.Awrence wrote to the board of trade that the marah lands on the Bay of Fundy were all overflowed as the result of this great storm on the night of the 3rd and 4th Nov., 1769. The "Falmouth proprietors" migrated to a country, which, about six months before their arrival, had possessed a great extent of available land of unsurpassed fertility, and in one night prior to their coming was rendered comparatively uselc-is until extensive and difficult works had been successfully carried on to completion in order to repair the damages done by the storm. The total population of the township of West Falmouth in 1763 did not amount to more than 73 families, consisting of 356 persons, so that there were actually more Frexch Acadian prlsoners at Fort Edward on the opposite side of the river in 1763 than there were immigrant settlers in West Falmouth Labor, therefore, was difficult to be obtained in repairing the dykes. The number of oxen in Falmouth in 1763 was 233, and of horses only 126, most of these being required for farming 52 purposes. It was very important for the welfare of the new settlotnent that the dykes should be speedily repaired, and the Acadians were accustomed to the work, which had been initiated and carried on by them for more than one generation. It seems reasonable that the Acadian prisoners should be employed and earn a part at least of the cost of their maintenance, if proper grounds existed for their re- tention as prisoners. They were, in fact, employed as Labourers, although receiv- ing rations from the home government and treated as prisoners, their houses and farms being appropriated by others. The municipal council of Falmouth early took advantage of the presence of the Acadian prisoners, which they found incarcerated in and about Fort Edward on their arrival in this province, and gave them employment as '• Labourers" The records of Falmouth contain resolutions relating to the repairing of the dykes and the employment of " labourers " for that purpose, but the records do not say that the Acadian prisoners were treated as '* labourers," in any other sense than implied by the term, or that the Acadians were so employed by the immigrants. This informa- tion is gathered from another document, showing that the Acadians were so em- ployed, not merely in Falmouth, but also in Pisiquid, or rather East Falmouth, or Windsor township, Horton and Cornwallis, and chiefly for the purpose of repairing the dykes. This document is signed by Isaac Deschamps, Moses Delesderniers and many others. The following resolution of the Falmouth " Proprietors" distinctly displays the part they took in the employment of a species of "forced labour." Can any other term be, with propriety, used in this relation] The resolution is given verbatim. The pay for " labor " under the circumstances appears to be reasonable, but small when the high price of provisions is considered. The hire of oxen and carts stand out in marked disproportion to the cost of " labor." The Eesolution Respecting " Labourebs." "At a meeting of the proprietoi-s of the Great Marsh, held in Falmouth, Septem- ber the Oth, 1762, said proprietors legally notified — was voted the following parti- culars : •' Was chosen, Shnbael Dimock, moderator. "It was agreed and voted by said proprietors to mend and repair the dykes round the Great Marsh immediately this fall. " Voted, to mend and repair said dykes in common amongst the proprietors of said Great Marsh. " Voted, to begin to repair and mend said dykes the 27th day of this instant September. "Voted, to choose three men to oversee and direct the labourers in mending and re- pairing said dykes. " Chosen, Shubael Dimock, first overseer. " Chosen, William Shey, second overseer. " Chosen, Abner Hall, third overseer. " Agreed and voted that the price of labor done on the dykes shall be four shillings per day) find their own proTisions. 08 " Voted, that tho price of a yotik of oxon per day in said lal)or shall \>e two shillings. " Voted, tiiat the price of a cart per day lie sixpence. "Abnkr Hall, Clerk." It will be seen on perusal of the foregoing resolution that there is nothing to show that tlie " labourers " were Acadian French prisoners This inference is drawn from other documents quite independent of tho records of the West Falmouth Pro- prietors. It will be gathered from these documents that the Acadian French, while being retained and rationed as prisoners, were actually employed as labourers, and were much sought after for that purpose. In the British museum, among the papers of the " Drown collection," there is a petition of the inhabitants of Kings county, drawn up in the handwriting of Isaac Deschamps, concerning the Acadians. It bears date 1765. Taken in connection with the tabulated list of prisoners at Fort Edward, and the rations given to them by the government, the petition is susceptible of a remarkable interpretation. There is nothing to show that the petition was granted further than a remark in a paper by Moses Delesderniers drawn up for Dr. Brown, and dated 1791. The remark is as follows : " Those who (the Acadians) still remained in these parts continued to draw rations till about the year 1766, (which was about 3 years after the peace took place), to the amount of 1,600, including imposters, &c." Mr. Delesderniers con- tinues : " At length a scrutiny was ordered, and they could produce only 1,200 Acadians on parade, when the commanding officer demanding of their agents an ac- count of the 400 which were wanting, the reply was, 'They died last night.'" This is Moses Delesderniers' account in 1791, but attention is called to the pe- culiar wording of the following petition, signed by Moses Delesderniers, together with Isaac Deschamps, as representatives of the township of Windsor in 1765. The use in this petition of the phrase, " French Acadians stationed in this country," is scarcely applicable to the condition of the people who were treated as " prisoners " and received rations from the government. The word " labourer " under these con- ditions is likewise liable to misinterpretation. The petition, read by itself, conveys a very different idea of the position of the Acadians in the vicinity of Windsor from the conceptions suggested by the records of the meeting of council at Halifax on the 26th July, 1762, and the monthly returns of Isaac Deschamps of rations issued to the prisoners at Fort Edward during 1760 to 1764. The wording of this petition is remarkably cautious, and, if read and considered apart from other evidence, it is liable to be misleading. As a matter of local history, it is interesting to know that the extensive area of dyked land in the township of Windsor was restored to its original value after the storm of November, 1759, by the labor of the French Acadian prisoners held in subjection at Fort Edward during so many years. From the wording of the petition a similar conclusion applies to a large extent to Falmouth, Horton, Cornwallis and Newport townships. The Petition. " To his excellency Montague VVilmot, Esq., captain-general and governor in chief in and 04 ■:*„• over his majesty's province of Nova Scotia and its dependencies, colonel in his majesty's ser- vice and commanding the troops in said province." •' The memorial of the inhabitants of Kings county humbly sheweth : ** That the French Acadians who have hitherto been stationkd in this county have been of great use us labovkkr-s in assisting the carrying on our business in agriculture and improve- ments in general, but particularly in the repairing and making dykes, a work which they are accustomed to and experienced in, and we feel that without their further assistance many of OS cannot continue our improvements, nor plougli nor sow our lands, nor finish the dyking •till required to secure our lands from salt water, and lieing convinced from experience that unless these dyke lands are enclosed we cannot with certainty raise bread for our subsistence. " Your memorialists therefore humbly pray your excellency will l)e pleased to take this matter of so much consequence to us into consideration to permit the Acadians to remain with OS the ensuing summer, as hitherto, whicli enables them to labor at much lower wages than if obligeil to purchase provieions, especially at the high price they now bear in the county, and which will tend greatly to the encouragement and success of these infant settlements. " And your memorialists as in duty bound M'ill ever pray, etc." (Dated in the Nova Scotia Transcript of the " Brown coUertion " 1765.) This extraordinary document is signed on behalf of the inhabitants of Windsor by Is. Deschamps and Moses Delesderniers. Also on behalf of the inhabitants of Cornwallis by five citizens, of Horton by five, of Falmouth by three, of Newport by thiree, and in behalf of King's county by W. Tonge. This petition should not only be read in connection with the record of a meet- ing of the Falmouth proprietors held on 9th Sept., 1762, and the wages granted by the proprietors to " Labourers," but it should be studied in relation to the wording of a despatch from Governor Wilniot to Lord Halifax, dated 22nd March, 1764, iu which the following description of the Acadians is given. (Nova Sotia documents, p. 844.) " The number of these people is very considerable as your lordships will observe from the enclosed return, which shows the different parts of the province in which they are at this time. The chief means of their support is from provisions they receive on the military list in propor- tion to their age and numlMjr in each family ; uiul tliey supply themselves with clothing Ity the wages they get for their work ; but they are far from being an industrious or laborious people. The jirice they detnatid for theif labour is high, and in the work of a day they fall short of the settlers, even when they exert themselves ; so that few persons can afford to em- ploy them." It is difficult to explain the apparent inconsistency between this statement and the urgent reasons assigned in the foregoing petition from the townships in the dis- trict then known by the name of King s county, which included the present HauUs county. One is disposed to ask how people deriving "the chief moans of their support from provisions they receive on the military list " can " demand " high wages ; also that if " few persons can afford to employ them,*' how is it that the scattered people of King's county find the work of these saine Acadians essential to their welfare and progress, according to Isaac Deschamps, Moses Delesderniers, Wiuckworth Tonge and many othei-s. 65 Doings on the Windsor Side of the Avon. In section No. VI., (page 22) under the heading " Appropriation of the country about Windsor " a slight sketch is given of the absorption of about 3,400 acres of the finest land west of the road leading from Fort Edward to Halifax, by seven gen- tlemen whose names are given. The date of the parchment plan on which this divi- sion of the land is recorded is supposed to be 1769. By a mis-print, Jonathan Belcher, Esq., is stated to have secured the lot next to Fort Edward, and west of the road to Halifax. This was not the case ; Joseph Oerrish was the fortunate member of the council. Joseph Gerrish was naval store- keeper at Halifax, and was appointed a councillor in 1759, but he was suspended from his scat in the council in 1762. Jonathan Belcher was second son of Governor Belcher, of Massachusetts. He was appointed chief justice of Nova Scotia in 1754. (See Nova Scotia documents, page 315.) The country east of the road to Halifax fell into other hands. Among these were Moses Delesderniers, who, in November, 1757, received a warrant entitling him to re-occupy premises formerly held by him, and to take possession of certain lauds about Fort Edward. In 1769, (September 1st), an extensive area east of the road to Halifax was divided into six parts and granted to Joshua Mauger, Michael Francklin, Isaac Deschamps, Charles Proctor, William Saul, Moses Delesderniers and Gideon Delesderniers. It was bounded by the St. Croix on the east, the road to Halifax on the west and south, and the Pisiquid on the north, certain reservations about Fort Edward being made for the use of the government. Moses and Gideon Delesderniei'M received one-sixth of this area between them. Other extensive grants outside of thei^e limits were contirme