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diff --git a/38666.txt b/38666.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e3d84fc --- /dev/null +++ b/38666.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11937 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of History of Halifax City, by Thomas B. Akins + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: History of Halifax City + +Author: Thomas B. Akins + +Release Date: January 25, 2012 [EBook #38666] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF HALIFAX CITY *** + + + + +Produced by Charlene Taylor and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) + + + + + + + + + + HISTORY OF HALIFAX + CITY. + + by + Dr. Thomas B. Akins + (1809-1891) + + Halifax, Nova Scotia + 1895 + + + + +HISTORY OF HALIFAX CITY. + +CHAPTER I. + + +Halifax, the metropolis of Nova Scotia, and the chief City of the +Acadian or Lower Provinces, was founded in the year 1749, at the expense +of Government, under the direction of the Lords of Trade and +Plantations, and was named in compliment to George Montague, Earl of +Halifax, then at the head of the Board, under whose immediate auspices +the settlement was undertaken. + +From the Treaty of Utrecht, in 1713, when Acadia was ceded to the Crown +of Great Britain, to the year 1749, no progress had been made by the +British in colonizing the country. The inhabitants consisted of a few +thousand Acadian peasants, scattered around the shores of the Basin of +Minas, Chignecto and the Valley of Annapolis. The Governor resided at +Annapolis Royal, a small fortified port, with a garrison of two or three +hundred regular troops, and was, in a great measure, dependent on New +England for his necessary supplies. This was the only British port +within the Province, with the exception of that of Canso, where, during +the fishing season, a number of French, with a few Indians and New +England fishermen, assembled, and where a captain's guard was usually +stationed to preserve order and protect the rights of property. The +French population, though professing to be neutral, had refused to take +the Oath of Allegiance to the Crown of Great Britain, and were +continually in a state of hostility to the British authorities in the +country. Their poverty and ignorance placed them completely under the +control of a few designing emissaries of the French Governor at Quebec, +who incited the people to resent British rule, and frequently put all +law at defiance, by assuming to themselves the sole management of +municipal affairs in the settlements most remote from the seat of +Government. The Governors of Canada had undertaken to claim all the +country from the River St. Lawrence to the Bay of Fundy, as comprehended +within their jurisdiction, confining the territory of Acadia as ceded +under the Treaty of Utrecht, to the Peninsula alone, and had actually +commenced to erect forts on the River St. John and the Isthmus while the +nations were at peace. + +The necessity of a permanent British settlement and Military Station on +the Atlantic Coast of the Peninsula, had long been considered the only +effectual means of preserving British authority, as well as for the +protection of the coast fishing, which, at this time, was deemed of +paramount importance to British interests. But lately the continual +breaches of neutrality on the part of the French, together with the loss +of Louisburg, under the Treaty of Aix-la-Chappelle, in October, 1748, +rendered such an establishment indispensably necessary to the support of +the British Crown in Nova Scotia. + +The scheme for settlement at Chebucto is said to have originated with +the people of Massachusetts,[1] who, in calling the attention of +Government to the claims and encroachments of the French, suggested the +necessity for, as well as the great commercial advantages to be derived +from such an undertaking; and it has also been asserted that a committee +of influential citizens had been formed in Boston for the purpose of +more effectually advocating the design. No authentic information on the +subject, however, has been found beyond the suggestions contained in +Governor Shirley's letters to the Secretary of State, in 1747 and 8, in +which one extensive plan of British colonization throughout Nova Scotia +is proposed and details suggested, many of which, however, did not +receive the approval of Government.[2] + +[Footnote 1: One Thomas Coram, whose name appears frequently in the +history of the state of Maine, is said to have suggested a scheme for +building a town at Chebucto in 1718, and applied to Government for a +grant of land, but was prevented by the agents of the Government of +Massachusetts Bay, who supposed that such project might interfere with +their fishing privileges, and he was compelled to abandon his +enterprise. This, however, has not the weight of much authority.] + +[Footnote 2: Copies of several of Shirley's letters were furnished +Governor Cornwallis on leaving England, as part of his instructions.] + +A plan for carrying into effect this long-cherished design was, however, +matured by the Board of Trade and Plantations, in the year 1748, and +submitted to Government in the autumn of that year, and being warmly +supported by Lord Halifax, the President of the Board, advertisements +soon appeared under the sanction of His Majesty's authority, "holding +out proper encouragement to officers and private men lately discharged +from the Army and Navy, to settle in Nova Scotia." Among other +inducements was the offer to convey the settlers to their destination, +maintain them for twelve months at the public expense, and to supply +them with arms and ammunition for defence, and with materials and +articles for clearing the land, erecting dwellings and prosecuting the +fishery. The encouragements appeared so inviting, that in a short time +1176 settlers, with their families, were found to volunteer, and the sum +of L.40,000 being appropriated by Parliament for the service, the +expedition was placed under the command of Col. the Honble. Edward +Cornwallis, M. P., as Captain General and Governor of Nova Scotia, and +set sail for Chebucto Bay, the place of destination, in May, 1749.[3] + +[Footnote 3: Cornwallis was gazetted 9th May, 1749.] + +The fleet consisted of 13 Transports and a Sloop of War. The following +is a list of the vessels, with the number of settlers.[4] + +[Footnote 4: Smollet's History mentions 1,000 settlers with their +families; this probably was intended to include the Germans and other +settlers who arrived between 1749 and 1753.] + + ======================================+========+============ + Sphinx Sloop of War, with Gov. | | + Cornwallis and Suite. |Tonnage.| Number of + --------------------+-----------------| |Passengers. + TRANSPORTS. | Captains. | | + | | | + --------------------+-----------------+--------+------------ + Charlton Frigate |Richard Ladd | 395 | 213 + Winchelsea |Thomas Cornish | 559 | 303 + Wilmington |Thomas Adams | 631 | 340 + Merry Jacks |---- Granger | 378 | 230 + Alexander |Samuel Harris | 320 | 172 + Beaufort |Elias Brennan | 541 | 287 + Rochampton |Samuel Williamson| 232 | 77 + Cannon Frigate |Andrew Dewar | 342 | 190 + Everly |S. Dutchman | 351 | 186 + London |John Barker | 550 | 315 + Brotherhood |.... | .... | 27 + Baltimore |Edward Cook | 411 | 226 + Snow Fair Lady |Isaac Foster | .... | 10 + | | |------------ + | | | 2576 + ====================+=================+========+============ + +The total number of males, exclusive of children, was 1546; of this +number above 500 were man-of-war sailors.[5] + +[Footnote 5: But one death, a child, occurred during the voyage. This +was attributed to the care of the Board of Trade and Plantations in +providing ventilators and air pipes for the Transports, a new invention +then lately introduced.] + +The names of the principal settlers, with the rank and calling as they +appear in the register, are as follows: + +Leonard Lockman and Ezekiel Gilman, Majors in the Army; John Lemon, +Foot Major and Commissary; Otis Little, Edward Amherst, Thomas Lewis, +Benjamin Ives, Frederick Albert Strasburger, and Francis Bartelo, +Captains in the Army; David Lewis, George Burners, George Colly, Richard +Partridge, Thomas Newton, _John Collier_, _Robert Ewer_, _John +Creighton_, Thomas Voughan, _John Galland_, Richard Reves, William +Joice, Joseph Wakefield, Augustus Graham, _Alexander Callendar_, David +Haldame, Robert Campbell, William Bryan, and T. Vaughan, Lieutenants in +the Army; James Warren, Thos. Reynolds, and Henry Wendell, Ensigns; John +Hamilton, Adam Cockburn, and Wm. Williams, Lieutenants in the Navy; John +Steinfort, Dennis Clarke, William Neil, Gustavus Mugden, and John +Twinehoe, Lieutenants of Privateers; Chas. Mason, Robert Beatie, Charles +Covy, Samuel Budd, John Ferguson, Nicholas Puxley, William Watson, +Joseph Tomwell, Henry Chambers, Nicholas Todd, Roger Lowden, Joseph +Gunn, John Thompson, Robert Young, Thomas Burnside, Timothy Pearce, +Richard Drake, Newbegin Harris, William Vickers, Richard Cooper, Richard +Mannering, Thomas Dumster, and Robert Cockburn, Midshipmen in the Royal +Navy; John Jenkins, Cadet; Rene Gillet, Artificer; John Grant, John +Henderson, Edward Gibson, William Hamilton, and William Smith, +Volunteers; Lewis Hayes, Purser; John Bruce, Engineer; William Grant, +Robert White, Patrick Hay, Mathew Jones, Thomas Wilson, M. Rush, James +Handeside, H. Pitt, George Philip Bruscowitz, Cochran Dickson, Joshua +Sacheveral, Thomas Inman, John Wildman, David Carnegie, and John Willis, +Surgeons; John Steele, Lieutenant and Surgeon; William Lascells, +Augustus Carsar Harbin, Archibald Campbell, John Wallis, John Grant, +Daniel Brown, Timothy Griffith, Henry Martin, Robert Grant, and +Alexander Hay, Surgeon's Mates and Assistants; Robert Thorckmorton, +Surgeon's Pupil; Mr. Anwell, Clergyman; _John Baptiste Moreau, Gentleman +and Schoolmaster_; William Jeffery, Commissary; William Steele, Brewer +and Merchant; Daniel Wood, Attorney; Thomas Cannon, Esquire; John +Duport, and Lewis Piers, Gentlemen; Archibald Hinshelwood, John Kerr, +_William Nisbett_, and Thomas Gray, Governor's Clerks; David Floyd, +Clerk of the Stores.[6] + +[Footnote 6: Governor Cornwallis in his letter to the Lords of Trade, +dated Chebucto, 24th July, 1749, says: "The number of settlers--men, +women and children--is 1,400, but I beg leave to observe to your +Lordships that amongst them the number of industrious, active men proper +to undertake and carry on a new settlement, is very small. Of soldiers +there are only 100, of tradesmen, sailors and others able and willing to +work, not above 200." The rest he reports as idle and worthless, persons +who embraced the opportunity to get provisions for a year without +labour, or sailors who only wanted a passage to New England, and that +many were sick and unfit for settlers, and many without sufficient +clothing. He describes a few Swiss who were among the settlers, as +"regular, honest and industrious men," and observes that there are +"indeed, many come over of the best sort, who, though they do not work +themselves, are useful in managing the rest." "I have," he says, +"appointed two or three of them as overseers of each ship's company."] + +On the 21st June, 1749, old style, the Sloop of War, "Sphinx," arrived +in the Harbor of Chebucto, having on board, the Honourable Edward +Cornwallis, Captain General and Governor-in-Chief of the Province of +Nova Scotia, and his suite. They had a long and boisterous passage, and +did not make the coast of Acadia until 14th. They had no one on board +acquainted with the coast, and did not meet with a pilot until the 20th, +when they fell in with a Sloop from Boston, bound to Louisburg, with two +pilots for the Government of that place. Governor Cornwallis' intention +was first to proceed to Annapolis, but the wind not serving for the Bay +of Fundy, and the officers assuring him that in case of foggy weather +setting in they might be a long time in getting to Annapolis, he +concluded on proceeding at once to Chebucto, rather than risk the +possibility of being separated for any length of time from the fleet. He +also felt, that by so doing, he would save the Governor of Louisburg the +bad and long navigation to Annapolis, and accordingly, he dispatched a +letter to Governor Hopson, by the Sloop, apprising him of his intention +and desiring him to transport his garrison to Chebucto as soon as +possible. The "Sphinx," before making Chebucto, first came to anchor in +Malagash Bay, where they found several French families, comfortably +settled, who professed themselves British subjects, and had grants of +land from Governor Mascarine; they had tolerably good wooden houses +covered with bark, and many cattle, and expressed themselves greatly +pleased on hearing of the proposed new settlement. It happened that the +same day on which Cornwallis arrived in the Harbor of Chebucto, a sloop +came in from Louisburg with a letter from Hopson in expectation of +meeting him. Hopson was in great perplexity, the French having arrived +to take possession under the terms of the treaty, and there were no +vessels to embark his troops. It appeared he was fully under the +expectation that the ships which were to bring out the settlers would +arrive in time to be sent down to him for that purpose, and he had made +no other arrangements. On receiving the letter, Governor Cornwallis +immediately dispatched the Sloop to Boston, with letters to Apthorp & +Handerik, whom Hopson recommended for the purpose, to hire vessels with +all expedition to transport the garrison of Louisburg to Chebucto; also +a letter directed to Governor Mascarine in case they should meet at sea +with a vessel bound to Annapolis. At the same time, a Frenchman, +acquainted with the country, was dispatched overland by Minas to +Annapolis, with orders to Mascarine to come down with a quorum of his +Council as soon as possible, that the new commission might be opened and +another Council appointed in accordance with the Royal Instructions.[7] + +[Footnote 7: This messenger arrived on the fourth day, at Annapolis. "It +is," says the Governor in his letter, "25 leagues over to Minas, (now +Horton), and the French have made a path for driving their cattle +over."] + +Governor Cornwallis' first dispatch to England, after arriving at +Chebucto, was sent via Boston, and bears the date 22nd June, the day +after his arrival. In this letter he says: "The coasts are as rich as +ever they have been represented; we caught fish every day since we came, +within 50 leagues of the coast. The harbour itself is full of fish of +all kinds. All the officers agree the harbour is the finest they have +ever seen. The country is one continued wood; no clear spot is to be +seen or heard of. I have been on shore in several places. The underwood +is only young trees, so that with difficulty one is able to make his way +anywhere." "D'Anville's Fleet have only cut wood for present use; they +cleared no ground, but encamped their men on the beach. I have seen but +few brooks, nor as yet have found the navigable river that has been +talked of. There are a few French families on the east side of the bay, +about three leagues off. Some have been on board." + +Governor Mascarine having received Cornwallis' letter on the 26th, on +the following day, ordered Captain Davis to make ready his galley and go +round to Chebucto with fresh provisions. Mascarine was waiting the +arrival of the new Governor at Annapolis, as appears by his letters to +Governor Hopson on the 14th and 26th June, in which he says: "Get ready +supplies for the new Captain General who will be here, but the fleet +will be at Chebucto." The "Snow Fair Lady" arrived shortly after the +Sphinx, and was dispatched to Annapolis to afford Mr. Mascarine the +means of transporting his council and part of his garrison to Chebucto. +On the 26th, the "Fair Lady" was in the harbour of Annapolis ready to +receive Governor Mascarine and suite. On the 27th, the transport began +to make their appearance off the harbour of Chebucto, and by the 1st +July, they had all arrived. As their passage had been extremely good, +and none of them had in the least suffered, the Governor found himself +in a position to afford vessels to Colonel Hopson the moment the +settlers should be put on shore.[8] Accordingly having countermanded the +order to Boston for transports, he dispatched to Louisburg the ship +"Brotherhood" on the 1st July, and on the 5th, the "London," +"Wilmington," "Winchelsea," and "Merry Jacks." On the 8th he received +from Louisburg, copies of letters from Governor Shirley of Boston, to +Governor Mascarine, giving an account of the French having commenced a +fort at the mouth of the River St. John, and on the following day sent +Captain Rouse in the "Albany" and a small sloop to attend her, with +orders to the commanding officer at Annapolis to furnish him with troops +if required, and to proceed immediately to the River St. John, Governor +Shirley having previously sent the ship "Boston" to Annapolis for the +same service, there to await orders. It appears that the French had +fitted out an expedition, under M. Ramey, for this purpose, a short time +before the arrival of Cornwallis, and the vessel with ammunition, arms +and provisions, bound to St. John River, had passed Malagash Bay a few +days before the arrival of the "Sphinx" there; but having put into Port +Mouton on her way, the information of their designs was communicated to +the authorities of Annapolis. + +[Footnote 8: The settlers who came out in the transport, afterwards sent +to Louisburg, were first landed on George's Island.] + +Governor Mascarine having arrived with several of his Council on the +12th, the following day Governor Cornwallis opened his commission and +took the oaths of office in their presence, and on Friday, the 14th +July, the Civil Government was organized, and Colonel Paul Mascarine, +Captain Edward How, Captain John Gorham, Benjamin Green, John Salsbury +and Hugh Davidson were sworn in Councillors[9] on board the "Beaufort" +Transport, and the Commission and Royal Instructions were then read. +"The formation of the Board was announced to the people by a general +salute from the ships in the harbour and the day was devoted to +festivity and amusement." The four first gentlemen named in the Council +were officers from Annapolis; Mr. Green was from Massachusetts, and had +been with General Hopson at Louisburg, and the two latter were of His +Excellency's suite; Mr. Davidson acted as Secretary. + +[Footnote 9: The table around which this Council assembled is now in the +small Council Chamber in the Province Building.] + +Early in the month of July, a spot for the settlement was pitched upon +near Point Pleasant,[10] then called Sandwich Point, and people were +employed in cutting down the trees; but the want of sufficient depth of +water in front, its great exposure to south-east gales and other +inconveniences being discovered, it was abandoned for a more eligible +situation to the northward, commanding a prospect of the whole harbour +and on an easy ascent with bold anchorage close to the shore. Here Mr. +Bruce the engineer, and Captain Morris the surveyor, were ordered to lay +out the town, which was surveyed, the plan completed and the lots +appropriated to their respective owners by the 14th September. The town +was laid out in squares or blocks of 320 by 120 feet deep, the streets +being 55 feet[11] in width. Each block contained 16 town lots, forty +feet front by sixty deep, and the whole was afterwards divided into five +divisions or wards, called Callendar's, Galland's, Ewer's, Collier's and +Foreman's divisions, after the names of the persons who were appointed +Captains of Militia, each ward being large enough to supply one company. + +[Footnote 10: "From seeing the place only, one would be apt to choose +Sandwich Point as the best situation for a town, being very defensible +and having the advantage of Sandwich River, (now known as the North West +Arm), navigable a great way. This was the general opinion at first, and +they began to clear there, the first day they worked, but upon +examination we found the strongest objections against it."--_Governor +Cornwallis' letter to Board of Trade._] + +[Footnote 11: The streets are supposed to be 60 feet broad, but none of +them are found to exceed 55 feet in width.] + +Buckingham Street was the north and Salter Street the south limit, and +the whole was surrounded by a strong palisade of pickets with block +houses or log forts at convenient distances. Foreman's new division was +afterwards added as far as the present Jacob Street. The north and south +suburbs were surveyed about the same time, but the German lots in the +north were not laid off till the year following. + +Great difficulty was at first experienced in the erection of dwellings; +the European settlers being totally unacquainted with the method of +constructing wooden buildings. Frames and other materials for building +were, however, soon brought from Massachusetts, and before the cold +weather set in a number of comfortable dwellings were erected. +Provisions and other necessary supplies were regularly served out in the +camp, and every exertion on the part of the Governor made to render the +settlers comfortable before the approach of winter. Several transports +were detained and housed over to accommodate those settlers whose houses +were not complete, and the canvas tent and log hut were soon abandoned +for more convenient and comfortable accommodations. + +I have, says Governor Cornwallis, in his letter of the 20th August, +contracted for frames and materials for barracks and officers' lodgings +from Boston. Boards are very high owing to the drought. I have got none +under L.4 per thousand, and shall be obliged to furnish a vast number to +help the people to get under cover, and have sent an officer on purpose +to Boston to obtain them at a fair price. Many houses are begun and huts +and log houses already up for more than half a mile on each side the +town. + +Tradition says that on clearing the ground for settlement a number of +dead bodies were discovered among the trees, partly covered by the +underwood, supposed to have been soldiers of the Duke D'Anville's +expedition which put into Chebucto Harbor in 1746,[12] but the Governor +in his letter does not mention the facts. + +[Footnote 12: The remnant of this formidable fleet which was destined +for the destruction of the British settlements of Acadia and New +England, put into Chebucto Harbor in distress in September, 1746. The +troops it is said were encamped on the western side of the Basin, near +the small Cove about 4 miles from town, which still bears the name of +the French Landing. The Duke died of grief at the failure of the +expedition, and the Vice Admiral Destourville, ran himself through the +body, and was buried on George's Island. His remains, or what was +supposed to be have been, were afterwards removed to France by his +family. Several of the ships of war were sunk on the eastern side of the +Basin. The hulls of these vessels were visible in calm weather about 50 +years ago, but they have long since disappeared. M. Jonquiare, +afterwards Governor of Canada, was also in this expedition.] + +During the winter months the people were kept actively employed in +cutting pickets for fences and wood for fuel, and for erecting new +buildings. Mechanics were placed at the head of working parties to +direct their labours, and by a judicious division of the people into +small parties the more laborious portion of the work was executed with +uncommon dispatch. Mills were also erected at the expense of Government +for sawing lumber, and a mill master appointed with a salary, and every +facility held out to enable those settlers, who had not yet been +accommodated, to complete their dwellings on the approach of spring. The +Governor in his letter of 27th July, describes the site of the Town as +very advantageous. He says: "It has all the conveniences I could wish +except a fresh water river.[13] Nothing is easier than to build wharves; +one is already finished for ships of 200 tons. I have constantly +employed all the carpenters I could get from Annapolis and the ships +here to build log houses for stores. I have likewise offered the French +at Minas considerable wages to work, and they have promised to send +fifty men to remain until October. As there was not one yard of clear +ground you will imagine our difficulty and what we have here to do; +however, they have already cleared about 12 acres, and I hope to begin +my house in two days; I have a small frame and pickets ready." + +[Footnote 13: At this period when the settlement was confined to such +narrow limits the brook known to us as Fresh Water River, in the south +suburbs, was considered to be at a distance too far from the pickets to +be of much value as a means of supply to the settlers.] + +The following extracts from a letter dated 25th July, 1749, written by a +settler,[14] affords several interesting facts relative to the state of +the settlement at this time:--"On our arrival we found the Sphinx, of 20 +guns, which had come into harbor a few days before us; as I write the +transports are entering the harbor with the two regiments of Hopson and +Warberton on board from Louisburg. The assistance, as well as the +security we shall receive from them, will greatly forward our +settlement; the officers have brought all their furniture, a great +number of milch cows, and other stock, besides military stores. We have +already cleared about 20 acres, and every one has a hut by his tent. Our +work goes briskly, and the method of employing the people in ships' +companies has a good effect, and as the Governor is preparing to lay out +the lots of land, we shall soon have a very convenient and pleasant town +built, which is to be called Halifax. There are already several wharves +built, and one gentleman is erecting a saw mill; public store houses are +also building, and grain of various sorts have been sown. We have +received constant supplies of plank and timber for building, and fresh +stock and rum in great quantities, 20 schooners frequently coming in in +one day. We have also a hundred cows and some sheep, brought down to us +by land, by the French at Minas, which is about 30 miles distant from +the bottom of the bay, and to which we purpose to cut a road. The French +Deputies who came to make submission have promised to send us 50 men +for this purpose, and to assist us as far as they are able; we have +received the like promise, and friendship and assistance from the +Indians, the chief having been with the Governor for that purpose. In +short, every thing is in a very prosperous way. But I should be equally +unjust and ungrateful, were I to conclude without paying the tribute +which is due to our Governor. He seems to have nothing in view but the +interest and happiness of all; his zeal and prudent conduct in the +difficult task assigned him cannot be too much admired." + +[Footnote 14: This letter appeared in one of the British periodicals for +October, 1749.] + +The plan of the town having been completed and the building lots marked +out, in order to prevent dispute and discontent among the settlers, it +was deemed best that they should draw for the lots. Accordingly, at a +Council held on the 1st of August, it was resolved that on Tuesday +following, the 8th of August, all heads of families who were settlers, +should assemble at seven o'clock with the overseers, and single men +should form themselves into families, four to each family, and each +family choose one to draw for them. Mr. Bruce the engineer, being +present on the occasion, assisted in distributing the lots according to +the arrangement, and the whole were entered in a book of registry which +was to be kept for the purpose and to constitute evidence of title and +possession.[15] + +[Footnote 15: This allotment book still remains entire in the office of +the Provincial Secretary, in Halifax. It was repaired in 1869 by the +Record Commission, and a fac-simile copy made for use and the original +placed out of the reach of injury.] + +The next object of importance was the erection of proper defences for +the protection of the settlement. After they had taken possession of the +lots, and commenced to build, the Governor endeavoured to induce the +people to work for a few days in throwing up a line of defence around +their new abode; "but," says he, "there was no persuading them to do +it." It was not until the 13th August when the Council voted 1s. 6d. per +day to each man employed, that this necessary work was commenced by the +settlers. The harbour being broad and easy of access, the difficulty of +selecting proper positions for fortifications, which would command the +entrance, was at first seriously felt. This had been the great objection +on the part of the French to making any settlement at Chebucto, La Have +having been chosen by them for the principal post on the Atlantic Coast, +being, from its narrow entrance, more easy of defence. In Admiral +Darell's plan of Chebucto, the two points that flanked the entrance to +Bedford Basin were marked as the places proper to fortify. Mr. +Cornwallis says, their view must have been to have the settlement within +that Bay (the Basin); this would have been subject to great +inconvenience. In the first place, it would have been too far up for the +fishermen, it being about five leagues from the entrance of the Harbour +to those points, and the beach all along as well adapted for curing +their fish as can possibly be imagined; no fisherman would ever have +thought of going within these forts. Indeed no ship would choose to go +so far, as no finer harbour can be than that of Chebucto, which reaches +from these points to Sandwich River; so that notwithstanding any forts +upon these points, an enemy's fleet might be secure and indeed block up +all ships within the bay. He accordingly fixed upon Sandwich Point and +the high lands opposite, (now called York Redoubt), and George's Island +as the most proper positions for the erection of the necessary defences. +On the latter he immediately placed a guard, landed his stores and +planned and proposed to build thereon his magazine for powder. + +The first act of Government, after the organization of the Council on +the 14th, was an audience of the three French Deputies, who had come +down to meet the New Governor. They were Jean Melanson, from Canard +River; Claude le Blance, from Grand Pre, and Philip Melanson from +Pisiquid. Colonel Mascarine read to the Council the oath which the +French inhabitants had before taken. Being asked if they had anything to +offer from their several departments, they answered that they were sent +only to pay their respects to His Excellency and to know what was to be +their condition henceforth, and whether they would be allowed their +priests. They were assured that their religion should be protected, but +that, as heretofore, no priest should be permitted to officiate within +the Province, without having first obtained a license from the Governor. +They were furnished with copies of the Royal Declaration, a proclamation +issued by Governor Cornwallis, and the oath which had been customary, +with directions to return within a fortnight, to report to the Council +the views of the inhabitants of the respective districts, and also to +notify the other settlements to send deputies as soon as possible. The +second meeting of the Council took place on the 17th, when Mr. Wm. +Steele was sworn in a member of the Board, and on the following day the +Governor's proclamation was read in the camp, prohibiting all persons +from leaving the Province without permission, and against the retail of +spirituous liquors without license. + +On the 18th, Mr. Bruce the Engineer, Lieutenants Ewer, Collier and Mr. +John Duport were appointed Justices of the peace, and all the settlers +having assembled in separate companies with their respective overseers, +each company chose its constables. + +The Governor designed opening more perfect means of communication with +Minas by constructing a road, which he described as being 30 miles only, +in a direct line, and to build a Block House half way, but having only +two companies of soldiers with him, one of Hopson's and one of +Warberton's regiment, together with about 60 of Goreham's Indian +Rangers, and the 50 French, who promised to assist in the work, having +disappointed him, he was compelled to postpone the object until after +the arrival of the army from Louisburg. Proper access to the interior, +by the construction of a good road to Minas, was deemed of paramount +importance to the settlement of the country. The inhabitants of the +rural districts were so insulated as to be in a great measure +independent of all authority. Colonel Mascarine, on returning to +Annapolis, received directions to send a Captain, 3 Subalterns and 100 +men to Minas, and to erect a Block-house and Battery there, the troops +to be first quartered at Grand Pre, where the Block-house was to be +built, and the French people were to be hired at fair wages to assist in +the work. + +Capt. How, who had been sent to St. John River in the Albany with Capt. +Rouse, having returned overland with thirteen Indians, three deputies +from the tribes at St. John, the Chief of the Chinecto Indians, and nine +others of their tribes. They received an audience on the 14th; they +consisted of Francis de Salle, Chief from Octfragli; the Chief +Noellobig, from Medochig; the Chief Neptune Albodonallilla from the +Chignecto tribe, for himself and tribe. The negotiation was carried on +through Martin, the Indian, and Andre, the interpreter from Minas. They +stated to the Council that they had come to confirm the treaty of 1726, +and that several of them had been present at that treaty. Terms were +drawn up by Mr. Secretary Davidson, and signed by the Chiefs on the 15th +August,[16] 1749, and Capt. How was ordered to carry it to St. John to +be ratified, and to take with him presents to the Chiefs. It was +accordingly ratified on the 4th day of September following, and signed +by all the Chiefs and Captains at the River St. John, six in number, in +the presence of Mr. How and seven other witnesses; Madame De Bellisle +acting as interpreter by request of the Indians. This document is still +in existence; also a copy of that of 1726, sent to Governor Cornwallis +by the Governor of Massachusetts Bay. This treaty appears to have been +little regarded, for in the beginning of October following, news arrived +from Annapolis and Canso of further incursions on the part of the +Indians, and Government was compelled to raise two new independent +companies of Volunteers for that service, which were placed under the +command of Major Gilman and Capt. Clapham, on the same footing with the +Rangers under Gorham. + +[Footnote 16: NOTE.--These Indians are described in a letter from one of +the Settlers, to England, dated 19th August, as quite different from the +Indians of the peninsula, their faces all rubbed over with vermillion +and across their nose and forehead are regularly drawn black lines. +Their ears are bored full of holes and adorned with tobacco pipes and +ribbons of different colours; their clothes are of the light homespun +grey but intolerably ragged. The French supply them with those articles. +Their squaws or women dress equally as gay as the men. They are entire +drunkards, and never cease drinking spirituous liquors as long as they +can get it. They came on board to the Governor in great form. After the +treaty was ratified they received presents and went on board the +man-of-war, where they solaced themselves with singing and dancing. As +to the songs it is one continued bellowing and noise. Upon their coming +off, the man-of-war gave them a salute of 17 guns, as likewise they did +on going aboard. They expressed a great deal of satisfaction at the +honors done them; so they were discharged and sent in one of Colonel +Goreham's sloops to St. John River with presents to the rest of their +tribe.] + +After the evacuation of Louisburg the population received a considerable +accession; a number of the English inhabitants came with Governor Hobson +and became settlers, and many from New England were daily arriving, and +upwards of 1000 more from the old provinces had expressed themselves +desirous of joining the Settlement before winter. The Governor therefore +gave orders to all vessels in the Government service to give them a free +passage. The New England people soon formed the basis of the resident +population, and are the ancestors of many of the present inhabitants. +They were better settlers than the old discharged soldiers and sailors +who came on the fleet; most of whom died or left the country during the +first three or four years, leaving, however, the most industrious and +respectable among them as permanent settlers. Many settlers and traders +came out for the purpose of making money; these people infested the +Settlement in great numbers, and gave Mr. Cornwallis and his successors +much trouble and annoyance, in demoralizing the people by the illicit +sale of bad liquors, and in other ways retarding the progress of the +country. + +A proposition was made about this time by a French merchant from the +West Indies to Governor Cornwallis to bring to Halifax some Protestant +families from Martinique with their effects, if he would give them +protection and grant them lands, and the Governor was furnished with a +list of their names, with what each of them was worth, which approached +in all nearly L.50,000. This gentleman proceeded to Louisburg to obtain +for them a passport, and proposed to have his people on before winter; +but it does not appear as far as any information on the subject can be +gathered from the public records that any of these French Protestants +ever arrived. + +The Government found it necessary to check the indiscriminate sale of +spirituous liquors by a license duty. On the 28th August an ordinance +passed for that purpose, and all such licensed houses were to be closed +at 9 p. m. under penalty. On the 31st August the Governor and Council +for the first time sat as a Court of Law. This was named the General +Court, all authority--legislative, executive and judicial--being vested +in the Board. They met on this day for the trial of Abram Goodside, the +Boatswain's mate of the Beaufort, who stabbed and wounded two men. A +grand jury was summoned who found a bill of indictment; he was tried and +found guilty by a petit jury, and hanged under the Governor's warrant on +2nd September, 1749. On 31st August, another Court was held for the +trial of one Peter Cartal, for murder. The Acadian Deputies having +returned from the country, they were called before the Governor and +Council on September 6th, when they presented a letter signed by 1000 +inhabitants claiming to take only a qualified Oath of Allegiance. + +On the 30th August, a sloop from Liverpool, Great Britain, with 116 +settlers, arrived after a passage of nine weeks. They were, however, all +quite healthy, not one person being sick on board at the time of their +arrival. Two streets were then added to the Town and lots assigned to +these people. This was Forman's new division. We have no names of these +settlers or the name of the sloop. + +Information having reached the Government that the Indians of Acadia and +St. John's Island, designed to molest the settlement at Halifax on the +approach of winter,[17] it was deemed advisable to erect outworks for +its defence; accordingly the troops and inhabitants were immediately +employed to construct a line of palisades around the town in connection +with square log forts which were to be placed at convenient distances. A +space of thirty feet was cleared without the lines, and the trees thrown +up by way of a barricade, which constituted a complete defence against +any attempt on the part of the Indians. Those settlers who had built +their houses without the town had arms given them, and their dwellings +being built of logs were musket proof; also the Ordnance Artificers, +those from New England and such of the settlers as had been in the army, +and such others as could be trusted with arms within the town, also +received them, and an order was sent to Boston for a supply of lamps to +light the streets during the winter nights. Col. Goreham was sent to the +head of the Basin with his company of Rangers for the winter, with an +armed sloop to assist him, and every preparation possible was made for +the protection of the people during the ensuing winter. + +[Footnote 17: Governor Cornwallis' letter to Secretary of State.] + +The Indians had appeared in the neighbourhood of the town for several +weeks, but intelligence had been received that they had commenced +hostilities, by the capture of twenty persons at Canso under frivolous +pretences, and of two vessels having been attacked by them at Chignecto, +when three English and seven Indians were killed. In consequence of this +information it was resolved in Council to send a letter to M. +Desherbiers, Governor of Louisburg, to recall LeLoutre. On the last day +of September they made an attack on the sawmill at Dartmouth, then under +the charge of Major Gilman. Six of his men had been sent out to cut wood +without arms. The Indians laid in ambush, killed four and carried off +one, and the other escaped and gave the alarm, and a detachment of +rangers was sent after the savages, who having overtaken them, cut off +the heads of two Indians and scalped one.[18] + +[Footnote 18: This affair is mentioned in a letter from a gentleman in +Halifax to Boston, dated October 2nd, as follows: "About seven o'clock +on Saturday morning before, as several of Major Gilman's workmen with +one soldier, unarmed, were hewing sticks of timber about 200 yards from +his house and mills on the east side of the harbour, they were surprised +by about 40 Indians, who first fired two shots and then a volley upon +them which filled four, two of whom they scalped, and cut off the heads +of the others, the fifth is missing and is supposed to have been carried +off."] + +These proceedings compelled the government to take more active measures, +and orders were given to the commanding officers at the out stations, to +destroy the Indians wherever they met them, and a premium of ten guineas +was offered for every Indian killed or taken prisoner, this offer was +in consequence of the large rewards offered by the French to the Indians +for English scalps. Orders were given for raising two independent +companies of rangers, one of one hundred men by Major Gilman, who was +sent to Piscataqua for that purpose,[19] the other a company of +volunteers by Captain Wm. Clapham, who with Goreham's Indian Rangers, +now returned from their stations at the head of the Basin with a company +of Philips' Regiment, were to scour the whole country around the Bay. +The St. John Indians having kept the treaty, received from Governor +Cornwallis a present of 1000 bushels of corn, and an order was also +given to purchase at Minas 500 bushels of wheat, to be baked into +biscuit for the same purpose. Captain How was intrusted with these and +other presents, and was directed to bring back with him, if possible, +some of the tribe to go against the Mic-Macs. The preparation necessary +to the protection of the town against French-Indian hostilities tended +to expedite the progress of the settlement; before the middle of +October, about three hundred and fifty houses had been completed, two of +the square forts finished and the barricade carried all around. A number +of store houses and barrack buildings for the accommodation of the +troops had been also erected and the Governor's residence completed. The +Council met there on the 14th October. About 30 of the French +inhabitants were employed on the Public Works, and in cutting a road +from the town to the Basin of Minas. A number of influential and +industrious families from New England and other places had already +become settlers, and Halifax Harbor was the resort of a large number of +fishing vessels. + +[Footnote 19: These men were supplied with hatchets and snow shoes for +winter warfare.] + +About this time a destructive epidemic made its appearance in the town, +and it is said nearly 1000 persons fell victims during the autumn and +the following winter. On the 14th day of October, the Government found +it necessary to publish an ordinance, commanding all Justices of the +Peace, upon the death of the settlers, to name so many of the +neighbourhood or quarter (not exceeding 12) to which the deceased +belonged, to attend at the burial and carry the corpse to the grave, and +whoever refused to attend without sufficient reason should have his name +struck off the Mess Book and Register of Settlers as unworthy of His +Majesty's bounty; again in December, another order was made commanding +all householders to report their dead to a clergyman within twenty-four +hours. + +Owing to the frequent alarms of invasion from the Indians and French +stragglers during the winter, it was resolved in Council to organize a +militia force for the protection of the settlement, and on the Sunday +following the 6th day of December, after divine service, all the male +settlers, between the age of sixteen and sixty, were assembled on the +parade, and drawn up in the following order:--"Those of Mr. Ewer's and +Mr. Collier's divisions to face the harbor, those of the quarters of Mr. +Galland and Mr. Foreman to face the Citadel, and those of Mr. +Callendar's division at one end of the parade." The proclamation bears +date the 7th day of December, 1749. On the 16th, information arrived +that a French force had been dispatched overland from Canada, to attack +Halifax, and that the Indians were to co-operate with them, also, that +two vessels with six hundred men were in the Bay Verte under LeCorne, +and with ammunition and stores of all kinds for a winter expedition. The +people having been again assembled on the parade after divine service, +the proclamation was read and the settlers commanded to fell all the +trees around the town without the forts and barricades. No attempt was, +however, made upon the town, either by the Indians or French during the +winter. These hostilities were being carried on by the Government of +Canada, while the two Crowns were nominally at peace, under pretence +that the Treaty of Utrecht only ceded to the Crown of Great Britain the +peninsula of Nova Scotia proper. + +The Governor deeming it expedient that some permanent system of judicial +proceedings to answer the immediate exigencies of the Colony should be +established, a committee of Council was accordingly appointed to examine +the various systems in force in the old Colonies. On 13th December, Mr. +Green reported that after a careful investigation, the laws of Virginia +were found to be most applicable to the present situation of the +province. The report was adopted. It referred principally to the +judicial proceedings in the General Courts, the County Courts, and other +tribunals. + +Before concluding this chapter, which comprehends all that can be +collected relative to the affairs of the settlement during the first +year of its existence, it will be proper to observe that in founding +the City, the spiritual wants of the settlers were not lost sight of by +the British Government. Preparatory to the embarkation of the settlers, +a letter was addressed by the Lords of Trade and Plantations to the +Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, dated +Whitehall, April 6th, 1749, recommending to the Society to appoint +ministers and school-masters for the new settlement at Chebucto, and for +such other townships or settlements as should from time to time be +formed in Nova Scotia, and requesting the Society to make some +provisions for them until arrangements should be made for their +sufficient support, by grants of land, etc.[20] The Society resolved +immediately to act on this recommendation, and undertook to send six +clergymen and six school-masters, when the settlements should be formed. +The first missionaries appointed under this arrangement, were the Rev. +William Tutty, of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and the Rev. Mr. Anwell, +who both came out with the settlers in June, 1749. Mr. Tutty officiated +in the open air until the necessary church accommodation could be +obtained. On laying out the town, a spot was assigned by Government for +the church. The site was first selected at the north end of the Grand +Parade, where Dalhousie College now stands, but it was changed +immediately after for the present site of St. Paul's Church, which was +erected at the expense of Government and ready for the reception of the +missionary, who preached his first sermon there on the 2nd day of +September, 1750. The pews and inside finish were not completed for +several years after. The name of Mr. Tutty does not appear among those +of the settlers who came with Cornwallis. He probably, however, +accompanied him. Mr. Anwell came with the expedition, but his name does +not again appear; he died shortly after his arrival. Mr. Tutty spoke +German and administered the Lord's Supper to the German settlers in +their own language. The other missionary, J. Baptiste Moreau, who came +out as school-master, and afterwards went to England for ordination, +returned to the settlement and went down to Maligash with the Germans, +1752. Mr. Halstead was the school-master in charge of the Society's +schools at Halifax during the first two or three years. + +[Footnote 20: A copy of this letter will be found in the appendix.] + +Governor Cornwallis in 1749, assigned the lot at the south-west corner +of Prince and Hollis streets for a Protestant Dissenting Meeting house. +The old building known as Mather's, or as it was afterwards called St. +Matthew's Church (destroyed by fire in 1859,) was soon after erected on +this site. It was appropriated originally to the Congregationalists, +many of whom came from New England to settle in Halifax. It was called +Mather's Church after the celebrated Cotton Mather, one of the leading +divines of that denomination at Boston, in early days. The Presbyterians, +and all who did not belong to the Established Church, attended divine +service in this building. The Rev. Mr. Cleveland, who came from one of +the old colonies, was the first minister who officiated in this +building. It afterwards fell into the hands of the Presbyterians and +became the property of the Church of Scotland, and the name of Mather's +was changed to that of St. Matthew. This old Church was destroyed by +fire, which consumed a large portion of the buildings in Hollis Street, +in 1859. The lot of ground on which it stood was afterwards sold to Mr. +Doull, who erected the fine stone store thereon, now known as Doull and +Miller's building. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +The winter of 1749-50, as has been before mentioned, was spent in +continual apprehension of Indian and French invasion, and in +preparations to receive the enemy. On the 7th January, 1750, a number of +the inhabitants petitioned that Martial Law should be declared, but the +Governor and Council did not consider the danger so great or imminent as +to make it necessary. However, stringent regulations with regard to the +militia were enacted, and an ordinance was issued compelling all +settlers able to bear arms between 16 and 60, to be formed into 10 +companies of 70 men each,[21] and a guard of -- officers and 30 men to +assemble every evening near the parade to keep guard until sunrise, and +all militia men called upon to labour at the fortifications, were to be +allowed 1s. per day. Labourers were constantly employed in raising a +barricade and continuing it to the water side, and block houses were +erected between the forts. + +[Footnote 21: The Artificers formed one company by themselves, and the +whole militia amounted to about 840 men. The Officers behaved well, but, +says the Governor in his dispatch, "I cannot say so of the men."] + +During the winter intelligence frequently arrived from Minas, Pisiquid, +and the eastern shore, of attacks being made by the Indians upon +stragglers, and several young Acadians were brought from Minas to +Halifax for trial, having been found in arms with the Indians. A large +reward was offered for the apprehension of LeLoutre, the Indian +missionary, and also L.10 sterling for every Indian scalp or Indian +prisoner. Capt. Sylvanus Cobb, an active and bold sea captain from +Massachusetts, was taken into Government employ, and sent to Chignecto +with his armed sloop for the purpose of surprising LeLoutre and his +gang, and afterwards to search the harbors along the coast for Indians, +and bring with him all he captured as prisoners to Halifax. Troops under +Capt. Bartilo and others were sent into the interior and other active +proceedings taken by the Governor and Council during the months of +January and February for the peace of the province. A courier having +been stopped at Cobequid, Priest Gourard and the French Deputies, were +all brought to Halifax, by Capt. Bartilo, for examination before the +Governor and Council; Gourard was detained at Government House until the +courier returned, but the deputies were dismissed. He disclosed the +fact to the Council that the Mic-Mac Indians of Nova Scotia went every +year to Quebec, to receive clothing from the French Government, and that +LeCorn had made the French of Acadia take the Oath of Allegiance to the +French King. Gourard on this occasion took the Oath of Allegiance to the +Crown of Great Britain, and thereupon received a licence to officiate as +Priest to the Acadians, and promised not to leave the province without +special leave from the Governor. + +Among the municipal regulations this winter, was an ordinance that all +persons found breaking the liquor license law, should be put one hour in +the public stocks, and for the second offence receive twenty lashes. +These severe regulations were found to be absolutely necessary, in +consequence of the demoralized state of the settlement from settlers and +others who infested the town and who were not settlers. + +On the 2nd February, 1750, an ordinance was passed in Council, +prohibiting the recovery of any debt contracted in England or elsewhere +prior to the establishment of the settlement or to the debtor's arrival +in Halifax, in any Court of Law within the province, except for goods +imported into the Colonies. There appears to have been some difference +of opinion at the Board on the subject; the Council divided, and the +ordinance was carried by a small majority. + +It was proposed in Council about this time, to build a quay along the +shore in front of the town, but several merchants--Mr. Saul, Mr. Joshua +Mauger and others, having applied for water lots, and liberty to build +wharves on the beach, the subject was referred to Mr. Morris the +surveyor, and Mr. Bruce the engineer. They thought the quay was a work +of time and required means from England. Licences to build wharves were +therefore granted, with a reservation of the right of the Crown in case +the quay should be resolved on or the frontage required for government +purposes. This scheme was afterwards abandoned by Government, and the +licences remained unrepealed. At this period the line of the shore was +so irregular, as in some places to afford only a footpath between the +base line of the lots, which now form the upper side of Water Street and +high water mark;[22] at the Market the tide flowed up nearly to where +the [old] City Court House stood, forming a cove, the outlet of a brook +which came down north of George Street. Near the Ordnance Yard another +cove made in, and this part of the shore was low and swampy many years +after the batteries were built.[23] + +[Footnote 22: According to the original plan of the Town published in +October, 1749, a space appears to have been reserved between the line of +the lots and the shore, but no Water Street was laid out--the upper side +of the present Bedford Row being the western limit. There were five +forts, having each four quadrangular blockhouses, with a barrack in the +centre; these were connected by wooden palisades or pickets.] + +[Footnote 23: A number of licences to erect wharves and buildings along +the beach had been granted by Government to individuals engaged in trade +and the fishery, before the idea of a general Government breastwork had +been abandoned. These titles continued to be held good; a number of +wharf proprietors, however, obtained conformation grants from time to +time as they required water extension. Mr. Charles Morris, the +Surveyor-General, who had the sole management of the land office, in his +reports to the Government, advised small spaces to be reserved on both +sides in making these conformation grants as well as in subsequent water +grants in fee, which have been found of much inconvenience to trade, and +a drawback on the progress of the City. No reservation of water was +originally made at the foot of the cross streets or hills. At the close +of the last and the commencement of the present century, when +conformation or extension water grants were asked for, he marked on his +plans narrow strips or reservations on the sides of many of these water +grants, which for there being in many instances inaccessible, have since +proved of no value to the public and a great injury to the proprietors +of water property.] + +The winter passed without any attack on the settlement, and the people +were all quite healthy. The number of settlers was daily augmented by +almost every vessel which arrived from New England and elsewhere; every +thing required was provided for them, that they should be tolerably +comfortable before the cold weather set in. The winter was very fine, +very few extreme bad days, no heavy snow storms, the navigation never +stopped in the slightest degree. More fine days and fewer bad ones (says +the Governor) than I ever saw in winter. Spring opened early with fine +warm days and thaw, and the fishing schooners began early in March to go +upon the Bank.[24] The snow lay all the winter, from the middle of +January; it was, however, only three feet deep in the woods. The healthy +condition of the settlers may be inferred from there never being more +than 25 in the hospital ship at any one time. + +[Footnote 24: Cornwallis' letter of 19th March.] + +By the 19th March, a place had been erected for a public Hospital, and a +school building commenced for the orphan children. The French from the +interior engaged freely for money to square timber for the erection of +the blockhouses, and preparations were in progress for the completion of +the Church. + +A meeting of the Governor and Council took place on 19th April, when the +French Deputies again appeared with a petition to be permitted to sell +their lands and leave the country. The names of these deputies were +Jaques Teriot from Grand Pre, Francois Granger from River de Canard, +Battiste Galerne and Jean Andre. + +Mr. Cornwallis was continually embarrassed by letters from the Board of +Trade, finding fault with the expenses incurred in planting the +settlement. L.40,000 had been voted by Parliament, and L.36,000 of excess +had been demanded as a further vote; this could not be considered so +great an expenditure under all the circumstances, as it included the pay +and equipment of two regiments of infantry. In his replies, he says, +"Not a pound shall be expended by me unnecessarily, but without money +you could have had no town, no settlement, and indeed no settlers. 'Tis +very certain that the public money cleared the ground, built the town, +secured it, kept both soldiers and settlers from starving with cold, and +has brought down above 1000 settlers from the other Colonies. Lots in +Halifax are now worth 50 guineas. If there was no public money +circulating, lots would be given for a gallon of rum. The money is laid +out in building forts, barracks, store houses, hospitals, churches, +wharves, etc., public works all that seem absolutely necessary. +According to your Lordship's directions, I have discharged the two +Government Apothecaries and shall discharge some of the Surgeons' Mates +that may be spared. As for the saw mill, we never had one board from +it--it has been a constant plague from the beginning. Thirty men have +been constantly kept there ever since the affair of the Indians. Gilman +has behaved so ill I shall have to discharge him from all service. I +have laid in a quantity of lumber in the King's yard this spring at a +reasonable price. For want of stock I have been sometimes obliged to pay +L.5 per M. The settlers have paid L.6. I have got them lately at L.3 10s., +L.3 and L.2 15s. No new boards are given to settlers." + +The salaries to the public officers of Cornwallis' Government appear +exceedingly small in comparison with the arduous duties which devolved +upon them in organizing the settlement. His Aides-de-Camp, Capt. Bulkely +and Mr. Gates,[25] had no allowance except some trifling commission on +the issue of molasses and spirits. + +[Footnote 25: This was the well-known Horatio Gates, afterwards a +Revolutionary General.] + +In June, 1750, the Governor and Council assigned as a site the spot on +which the [old] City Court House stands, for a market for black cattle, +sheep, etc., and made market regulations. In July, the settlers were +ordered to clear the streets in front of their respective lots to the +centre. They had begun to clear George's Island and to erect +block-houses. Seven 32-pounders had been mounted upon it, and a palisade +carried all around the works. The frame of the Church, which had been +brought from Boston, was erected and was being covered in, the estimated +cost of finishing the edifice being L.1000 sterling. The temporary +barricades were removed, and the palisades carried completely round the +town. 30,000 bricks had been manufactured in the neighbourhood and found +very good. The meeting house for Dissenters had not yet been commenced. +The town was increasing every day in settlers and the number of its +houses, but no improvement of the lands in the neighbourhood had been +made beyond a few small gardens. The fishery was prosperous and produced +25,000 quintals the first year. + +In the month of August, 1750, three hundred and fifty-three settlers +arrived in the ship Alderney; and in September following, three hundred +German Protestants, from the Palatinate, in the ship Ann. The Governor +and Council were embarrassed in providing for their support, and found +it necessary to enter into pecuniary arrangements with the merchants of +the town, who at this early period had formed themselves into an +association for the benefit of trade. Those who came in the ship +Alderney, were sent to the opposite side of the harbour, and commenced +the town of Dartmouth, which was laid out in the autumn of that year. In +December following, the first ferry was established, and John Connor +appointed ferryman by order in Council. + +In the spring of the following year the Indians surprised Dartmouth at +night, scalped a number of settlers and carried off several prisoners. +The inhabitants, fearing an attack, had cut down the spruce trees around +their settlement, which, instead of a protection, as was intended, +served as a cover for the enemy. Captain Clapham and his company of +Rangers were stationed on Block-house hill, and it is said remained +within his block-house firing from the loop-holes, during the whole +affair. The Indians were said to have destroyed several dwellings, +sparing neither women nor children. The light of the torches and the +discharge of musketry alarmed the inhabitants of Halifax, some of whom +put off to their assistance, but did not arrive in any force till after +the Indians had retired. The night was calm, and the cries of the +settlers, and whoop of the Indians were distinctly heard on the western +side of the harbour. On the following morning, several bodies were +brought over--the Indians having carried off the scalps.[26] Mr. Pyke, +father of the late John George Pyke, Esq., many years police magistrate +of Halifax, lost his life on this occasion. Those who fled to the woods +were all taken prisoners but one. A court martial was called on the 14th +May, to inquire into the conduct of the different commanding officers, +both commissioned and non-commissioned, in permitting the village to be +plundered when there were about 60 men posted there for its protection. + +[Footnote 26: The Governor in his letter to England mentions 4 men +killed, 6 soldiers prisoners who were not upon guard, and our people +killed 3 Indians, and had they done their duty well, might have killed +many more.] + +There was a guard house and small military post at Dartmouth from the +first settlement, and a gun mounted on the point near the saw mill (in +the cove) in 1749. One or two transports, which had been housed over +during winter and store ships were anchored in the cove, under the cover +of this gun, and the ice kept broke around them to prevent the approach +of the Indians. The attempt to plant a settlement at Dartmouth, does not +appear to have been at first very successful. Governor Hobson in his +letter to the Board of Trade, dated 1st October, 1753, says, "At +Dartmouth there is a small town well picketed in, and a detachment of +troops to protect it, but there are not above five families residing in +it, as there is no trade or fishing to maintain any inhabitants, and +they apprehend danger from the Indians in cultivating any land on the +outer side of the pickets." + +There is no record of any concerted attack having been made by the +Indians or French on the town of Halifax. Many stragglers were cut off +during the first years of the settlement, particularly along the western +side of the Basin, where the best firewood was to be obtained. It was at +length found necessary to send out an armed body when fuel or lumber was +required. The enemy usually retired before a regular organized force. +The Ranger companies under Goreham and Bartelo, were most efficient for +this purpose; they were usually recruited in New England, where men for +that service were more readily found. + +The German settlers who came in the ship Ann, were employed in the +public works at 2s. per day, besides a supply of beer and other liquors +to each. It was decided that all settlers who came in the previous year, +should cease to draw provisions after the 15th September, 1750. This +order was afterwards repealed on 29th, and it was determined that all +settlers already in the town or who should come before 1st December, +should be entitled to one year's provisions from the time of their names +being entered on the victualling book.[27] + +[Footnote 27: See victualling list in the appendix.] + +It was the intention of Government that the Germans should be sent into +the interior of the province; but they having arrived so late in the +season, and the want of a sufficient supply of provisions then in store +to sustain them through the winter rendered it impossible, and they were +retained in the town. They were very sickly, many of them old and unfit +for settlers, and their passages not being paid, and there being no +person to purchase them, they were employed on the public works to work +out their passage money. + +About this period a gloom was cast over the settlement by the news of +the murder of the Hon. Edward How, one of the Council at Chignecto. +"Captain How was employed on the expedition to Chignecto as knowing the +country well and being acquainted both with the Indians and the +inhabitants, and furthermore he knew personally their leaders, LeCorne +and LeLoutre. His whole aim and study was to obtain a peace with the +Indians, and get the English prisoners out of their hands, for which +purpose he often had conferences with the French officers under a flag +of truce. LeCorne one day sent a flag of truce by a French officer to +the water side, a small river which parts his people from the British +troops. Capt. How and the officers held a parley for some time across +the river. How had no sooner taken leave of the officers than a party +that lay in ambush fired a volley at him and shot him through the heart, +an instance of treacherous brutality not to be paralleled in history, +and a violation of a flag of truce, which had ever been held sacred, and +without which all faith is at an end, and all transactions with an +enemy."--[Cornwallis' letter 27th November.] + +The spring of 1751 the five acre lots on the Peninsula were laid out; +the people engaged in clearing the land. The uncertainty from surprise +by Indians, however, much retarded the work; a large space, however, was +cleared around the town before winter set in. + +Another vessel having arrived on the 10th June, with German Palatine +settlers, they were directed to be employed at Dartmouth in picketing in +the back of the town. In July, the arrival of 200 more was reported, and +they were ordered to be placed at the head of the N. W. Arm and mouth of +the Basin; and those who owed work for their passage, were directed to +picket in their stations. Monsieur Dupacquir, who had engaged to bring +out 300 Swiss, brought but twenty this year, but more were expected in +the following spring. + +Ninth July, a proclamation issued to forfeit all lots of the town +settlers who only put up slight frames of houses, unless they +immediately proceeded to board them in and finish them as dwellings. + +On the 18th June, Jas. Stephens and Wm. Harris were hanged for +house-breaking; this was the second public execution which took place in +the town. + +William Piggot had a license granted him to open a coffee house on the +8th April the same year. + +In January of this year the Council passed a series of regulations for +the General Court and County Courts, and ordered them to be published by +the Provost Marshal by reading the same after the beat of drum through +the settlement, and on the first day of the next sitting of the General +Court and County Courts. + +The only matters further recorded worthy of notice during the year 1751, +was the dismissal of Mr. Otis Little, the Commissary of Stores, for +remissness in his office, and the resolution of the Governor and Council +to pay a draft for L.882, sent from Quebec, for the ransom of English +prisoners taken by the Indians and carried to Canada. It appeared that +Lt. Hamilton and upwards of sixty officers, soldiers and settlers had +fallen into the hands of the savages, and Priest LeLoutre had agreed to +ransom them for the sum above mentioned. + +It may here be mentioned that several batteries have already been +erected on George's Island,[28] and expensive earth works had been +thrown up. + +[Footnote 28: This Island is called in the old French maps Isle Racket +or the Snow Shoe Island, being in the shape of a snow shoe.] + +Towards the close of the year Mr. Joshua Mauger, a gentleman from +England, who came out at the commencement of the settlement to trade and +distil rum for the soldiers, was charged by government with having +attempted to make Halifax the repository for Louisburg merchandize, +brought up secretly and to be carrying on an illicit traffic, he being +at the time agent victualler to Government. Governor Cornwallis, upon +information, caused Mr. Mauger's stores to be searched for contraband +articles brought from Louisburg. Much discussion ensued, and the +settlement was for some time thrown into commotion, by what Mr. Mauger +called in his letter to England, the high-handed proceedings of the +Governor. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +In January, 1752, Mr. Collier, who had been acting as Chief Justice, and +Captain Frotheringham, were called to the Council in place of Mr. +Salisbury and Col. Horseman, who had returned to England. On 3rd +February, a public ferry was established between Halifax and Dartmouth +and John Connors appointed ferryman for three years, with the exclusive +privilege, and ferry regulations were also established. At the same +sitting of the Council, an order was passed for the recording of deeds +and mortgages, making all papers unrecorded void against those which had +been registered. Col. Horseman's stone building was purchased for a +prison in place of that before used. + +April 29th, Charles Morris, James Monk, John Duport, Robert Ewer, Joseph +Scott, John Wm. Hoffeman and Leonard Christopher Redolf were appointed +Justices of the Peace. It was resolved in Council at their sitting on +12th June, that a lottery should be held for building a Light House near +Cape Sambro, to raise L.450. One thousand tickets at L.3 each. Prizes from +one of L.500 to L.7 the lowest. Two hundred prizes, in all amounting to +L.3000, 15 per cent. to be deducted from the prizes, to be drawn publicly +in the Town House at Halifax, under the direction of managers to be +appointed by Government. + +The winter of 1751-2 had been severe, but the harbour had not been +frozen or at all impeded by ice, and the spring opened early, and +preparations for prosecuting the fishery were soon in active operation. + +The Government mills at Dartmouth, under charge of Captain Clapham, were +sold at auction in June. They were purchased by Major Gilman for L.310. + +16th July--An order passed to strike off the victualling lists all the +German and Swiss settlers, who had arrived in the Speedwell. + +In the spring of 1752, a number of settlers arrived in the Nancy, under +the charge of Lt. Young. About the same time the Marquis DeConte, a +Sicilian nobleman, and a number of other foreign settlers, came to +Halifax from the island of Tercera, one of the Azores, and settled in +the town. + +Governor Cornwallis having obtained permission to resign the +Government, the Hon. Peregrine T. Hopson, was appointed his successor, +and was sworn into office before the Council on Monday, 3rd August. Mr. +Cornwallis, however, did not leave the province until after the 10th of +October, as he appears to have attended the Council held on that +day.[29] + +[Footnote 29: On September 29th, 1752, the first fire regulations were +published at Halifax, among which are found the following: Two or three +Magistrates may order a house to be pulled down or blown up to stop a +fire, the owner to be indemnified by the house owners of the Town. The +fire wards to be appointed by the Justices of the Peace, each to carry a +red staff 6 feet long, with a bright brass spear 6 inches long on it; +and other regulations. This custom is still kept up in the City, or was +until very lately.] + +In September, 1752, John Baptist Cope, commonly called Major Cope, a +Mic-Mac chief, head of the Shubenacadie Indians, came in with terms of +peace, which were agreed to. This bears date the 15th September, in that +year. Immediately after this document was signed, Cope left town in a +vessel, having requested Capt. W. Piggot should be sent to Indian +Harbour, to meet the Indians there, to ratify the Treaty. Mr. Piggot was +accordingly dispatched, and brought up with him two or three Indians, +who appeared before the Council, after which they were sent back to +Beaver Harbour, under the conduct of Mr. Piggot, with blankets, +provisions, etc. The terms of the Treaty were agreed to and confirmed in +Council, and the whole was engrossed on parchment and ratified on 22nd +November, 1752. The names of the Indian delegates on this occasion were, +Andrew Hodley Martin, Gabriel Martin and Francis Jeremiah. Mr. Saul +received directions to issue provisions, according to the allowance of +the troops for six months, for 90 Indians, that being the number of the +tribe under Cope, occupying the eastern part of the province. + +This treaty does not appear to have been respected by the Indian Chief, +who we find, not more that eight months after its ratification, refusing +to respect the pass of Governor Hopson to one Anthony Cartel, who had +been captured by the Indians, in one of the harbours eastward of +Halifax, and carried through the country to Shubenacadie, the +head-quarters of Major Cope, from whom he was ransomed by a French +inhabitant. It would appear that the terms of amity, entered into by +Cope and his men with the Government at Halifax, had been in some manner +without the sanction of Abbe LeLoutre, who, when Anthony Cartel was +brought before Count Raymond at Louisburg, was present, and as Cartel +expresses it, inveighed bitterly against Governor Cornwallis, and said +if he wanted peace he ought to have written to him, and not to have +treated with the tribe of Indians. That he, Cartel, might depart, having +been ransomed, but that the first Englishman he caught should be +retained until he, LeLoutre, had full satisfaction for himself and his +Indians. + +In April following, two men named John Connor and James Grace, arrived +at Halifax in an Indian canoe, bringing with them six Indian scalps. +They informed the Council that they and two others, having put into a +place between Tor Bay and Country Harbour, in a schooner, were captured +by the Indians, and carried ten miles into the country, where their two +companions were murdered; that they had surprised the Indians at night, +killed several, whose scalps they secured, and having escaped to the +seaside, seized a canoe, and made their way to Halifax. Along the coast, +both east and west from Halifax, Indian massacres had been frequent. +Those persons engaged in the fishery, who were compelled to land for +wood and water, were chiefly the sufferers. + +Much had been said and written in Europe at the time, relative to the +aggressions of the French, during the suspension of hostilities between +the two nations. The Indians, from their religion and trading +intercourse, more favourable to the French in Canada and Acadia, were +made use of to harass the British settlers, who (though the two nations +were then at peace) were looked upon with a jealous eye by the resident +French population. A French writer, (I refer to a little work, now a +scarce book, published during the second siege of Louisburg), states +that the English neglected to cultivate an acquaintance with the manners +and customs of the Indians, and it was therefore not surprising at the +time, that they should show less affection towards them than towards the +French, who had great regard to their humours and inclinations. + +"So strong is their aversion to despotic power," says the author, "that +force will never do; they will yield to nothing but persuasion. Though +they know nothing of precepts or subordination, yet they enjoy almost +every advantage derived from well-regulated authority. Their laws and +customs appear impressed on their hearts. In order to gain an ascendancy +over them, you must gain their esteem, for they never confide in a +person whom they do not value, and this esteem is very difficult to +obtain." + +The savages were exasperated against the English by a speech delivered +by Count Raymond, at a meeting of the chiefs, in which, to suit his own +purposes, he depicted the most frightful cruelties perpetrated by the +English. + +During the Indian hostilities, opposition on the part of the Colonists +was altogether of a defensive nature. The regular troops, as well as the +undisciplined militia, proving unfit for such warfare, it was found +necessary to employ the New England Rangers. These were volunteers from +the New England provinces, accustomed to Indian warfare, many of them +Indians and half-bloods. They ascended the rivers, penetrated into the +heart of the province, and attacked the enemy in their strongholds. The +Indians finding they were opposed by men equally accustomed to the +forest with themselves, soon found it their interest to make peace with +the British.[30] + +[Footnote 30: Governor Cornwallis reduced the Rangers. He thought +Goreham very incompetent to command them.] + +In 1758, it was found necessary to procure the services of 250 of these +Rangers from New England, by promises of high pay and other advantages. +Long accustomed to the border war with the Indians and French of Canada, +they had become well disciplined, and accustomed to hardships and +fatigue, and were perhaps at this time superior to all other provincial +troops in America. The Provincials were troops raised in the Colonies at +the expense of the Provincial Government, and were distinct from the +Rangers, who were independent companies paid by the British Government. +They served at Havannah, at Louisburg in the first siege under +Pepperell, and with Wolfe at Louisburg and Quebec, and afterwards served +to form the groundwork of Washington's army in 1775. + +After the fall of Fort William Henry in 1758, it was said that the +Marquis de Montcalm sent a number of prisoners taken at that place, in a +vessel to Halifax. They were Provincial soldiers, chiefly from the New +England provinces. This was said to have been an attempt to introduce +the small pox into Halifax, many of the men being ill of the disorder on +their embarkation. Providence, however, frustrated this benevolent +design. The prisoners being kept on low diet, half starved, and exposed +to the cold, soon recovered, while the French in charge of the vessel, +having indulged in the use of wine and strong fare, were thrown down +with the disease, and nearly all perished. The vessel was brought into +port by the prisoners.[31] + +[Footnote 31: This story was related by the late Titus Smith, who +received it from his father.] + +In the spring of 1751, nine hundred and fifty-eight Protestant German +settlers arrived, and in the following year 1000 more.[32] The latter +were from Montbeliard, of the Confession of Augsburgh, and were placed +under the spiritual charge of the Rev. J. B. Moreau. They had been +induced to emigrate by promises from King George II, which it is said +were never realized. Considerable difficulty appears to have been +experienced by the Government in providing a suitable situation for +settling so large a number of persons. The original design with regard +to the foreign Protestants was to place them in the interior of the +country, on the lands unoccupied by the French Acadians, it being +supposed that their proximity to and intercourse with the French, would +be the means of lessening the bad feeling which had been fostered by +emissaries from Canada. The project was unfavorably received by the +Acadians. There were, however, other difficulties in the way of its +accomplishment, of a particular nature, which compelled the Government +to abandon the object. The want of sufficient provisions to maintain so +many settlers through the winter, the lateness of the season, and the +helplessness of a large portion of the Germans, who were unfit for +labour, induced the Government to place them in the neighbourhood of +Halifax. It was at first proposed in Council to send them to the +opposite side of the harbour over against George's Island, and Captain +Morris was sent to survey the grounds. The mouth of Musquodoboit River +was also suggested, and a survey of that part of the country ordered, +but the distance from Halifax and the danger of the Indians, rendered +the scheme impracticable. "All I could do," says the Governor, "was to +build boarded barracks for them. They must be sustained by Government +until they are capable of raising something of their own; most of them +are poor and wretched, and have scarce a farthing of money among them." + +[Footnote 32: The names of the settlers who arrived after June and July, +1749, are not to be found among the records of the country.] + +These people had been collected together by a Mr. Dick, the Government +agent for that purpose. He had persuaded these who came out this year +to sell everything they possessed even to their bedding, before going on +board; and they stated that owing to the want of bedding and other +conveniences, many of them died on the passage and since their arrival. +Many of these people are represented as very old, and as objects fitter +to be kept in almshouses, several of them above 80 years of age. The +Governor in his letter to the Board of Trade, says, "On the 26th +September last, when the last of these settlers were landed, there were +30 of them who could not stir off the beach, and among the children +there were 8 orphans, who in twelve days increased to 14 by the death of +their parents. These had to be removed to the public orphan house, and +had the best care taken of them." Many of these settlers became +discontented with their condition, and went off to the Island of St. +John, where they endeavoured to settle themselves. The difficulty of +procuring provisions was very great. The Government appears to have been +altogether dependent on the contracts of Althorp and Hancock of Boston, +and Delaney and Watts of New York, for the necessary supplies for the +settlement. + +In June, 1753, about 1500 of these German settlers embarked for Malagash +Harbour, west of Mahone Bay, where they afterwards built the town of +Lunenburg. They were accompanied by a company of Rangers under Major +Goreham. The expedition was placed under the command of Col. Charles +Lawrence. There were also some regular troops, under Major Patrick +Sutherland, who took a very active part in planting the settlement. +Lieutenant John Creighton, of Warburton's Regiment, also accompanied the +German settlers, and also the Rev. J. H. Moreau, who officiated as their +minister. + +The Lunenburg settlers were placed under similar regulations with those +at Halifax, and received Government allowance for several years after +their arrival at Malagash. + +After the removal of the Germans from Halifax to Lunenburg, there were +but 15 German families left in the north suburbs. Not knowing any +English, they formed themselves into a separate congregation for +religious worship, and built themselves a small house upon the German +burial ground on Brunswick street, in which they had prayers every +Sunday. In 1760, a steeple was built on this house, and the next year +the Rev. Dr. Breynton, Rector of St. Paul's, preached there for the +first time, and it was on that occasion dedicated by the name of St. +George's Church. The congregation followed the English Church rules of +doctrine and appointed their Elders and Vestry. This old building still +remains in its primitive state, the only monument now remaining of the +old German settlement, called Dutchtown. + +In October, 1752, Mr. Cotterall was appointed to the Council, and John +Duport sworn in Clerk of the Council. An order in Council and +proclamation appeared on the 14th of November, forbidding persons from +assembling or carrying about effigies on the anniversary of the holiday, +called Gunpowder Treason, being the 16th of November, according to the +alteration of the style. + +At the Council held on the 22nd December, 1752, the Justices were +ordered to look out for a proper place for a bridewell or workhouse, and +to form a plan for the building of a block-house for that purpose, and +to obtain an estimate of the probable expense, and to report rules and +regulations for the government of the same. The Constables were to go +about the streets on Sundays to prevent disorders, and to make a report +to the Justices in the evening after divine service, and to apprehend +disorderly persons during the night. Proprietors of land were obliged to +fence their quota; on failure, to be liable to an action for the +recovery of the charges for fencing the same. + +All proprietors of land upon the peninsula of Halifax were directed to +clear half their lots by 1st May, 1753, to clear the remainder and fence +the whole by 1st May, 1754, otherwise the lots would be forfeited and be +disposed of to others who would improve them. And an order was made for +permission to John Connors, to assign the Dartmouth Ferry to Henry Wynne +and William Manthorne. + +Among the local events recorded this year, was a robbery in one of the +King's storehouses, which was broken open on the night of the 26th +October. There was also a cartel published by Governor Hopson, for the +exchange of prisoners with the French Government in Canada. + +The most important circumstance of the year, however, was a charge +against the Justices of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas, sent in to +the Council by a number of the most influential inhabitants, charging +them with partiality, and praying for a public hearing. This document +was presented to the Council in December, and was signed by Joshua +Mauger, Joseph Rundel, Isaac Knott, John Grant, Francis Martin, Edward +Crawley, Richard Catherwood, Robert Campbell, William Nesbitt, John +Webb, William McGee, Sebastian Zouberbuhler, Samuel Sellon and Isaac +Deschamps. These charges came on for hearing before the Council on 3rd +January following; they consisted of ten distinct charges against +Charles Morris, James Monk, John Duport, Robert Ewer and William Bourn, +Esquires, Justices of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas, for the Town +and County of Halifax, and were signed by the following inhabitants: + + Joshua Mauger, + S. Zouberbuhler, + Samuel Sellon, + Edward Buckleton, + James Porter, + Daniel Wood, + Jonathan Gifford, + William Schwartz, + Edward Crawley, + William Jeffray, + Vere Rous, + Francis Martin, + John Brooks, + Henry Wilkinson, + William Nesbitt, + John Woodin, + James Ford, + George Featherstone, + Thos. Mattison, + Joseph Antony, + Alex. Kedy, + James Fullon, + William Murray, + Louis Triquet, + William Clapham, + John Webb, + Robert Catherwood, + John Walker, + Geo. Peter DeBreg, + Richard Hollis, + Henry Sibley, + Edward O'Brien, + Henry O'Brien, + Thos. Wynne, + John Grant, + William Vanselson, + Cheyne Brownjohn, + Richard Tritton, + Edward Lukey, + Cyrus Jannin, + John Willis, + Roger Hill, + Js. Deschamps, + Robert Grant, + William McGee, + Joseph Rundel. + +This affair arose from a dispute which occurred between the Government +and Captain Ephraim Cook, who had been discharged from the Commission +of the Peace by Governor Cornwallis for bad behaviour, and appears to +have been the result of party feeling. + +It resulted in additional numbers being added to the bench of +Magistrates, and the Governor and Council availed themselves of this +affair to urge upon the Government the necessity of having a Chief +Justice. + +The necessity of a properly organized Militia force being kept up, had +become apparent, in consequence of the continual threats of hostility on +the part of the Indians and native French; it was therefore resolved on +22 March, 1753, that a Militia should be raised and established for the +security of the Province, and a proclamation was accordingly issued, +compelling all persons (except foreigners, who were to be placed +elsewhere) between the ages of 16 and 60, to serve in the Militia. + +On the first day of June, another proclamation was issued for a muster +of the Militia. Those of the south suburbs to assemble within the +pickets opposite the end of Barrington Street, near Horseman's Fort. +Those of the north suburbs, between the Grenadier Fort and Lutteral's +Fort, and those of the town on the esplanade, near the Citadel Hill. + +On the 12th of April, 1753, Glaude Gisigash, an Indian who styled +himself Governor of LaHave, appeared before the Council, and having +declared his intention of making peace, terms of amity were drawn up and +signed by the Governor and the Indian Chief, on the part of himself and +his people. The terms were the same as those made with Major Cope, and +it was arranged that some of his tribe should come up and ratify the +treaty. + +Governor Hopson went home on leave in the autumn of 1753, and the +government was administered by Col. Lawrence. In one of his last letters +to the Board of Trade, in reference to the disturbed state of the +country, Governor Hopson says, "Your Lordships may imagine how +disagreeable it is to me to see His Majesty's rights encroached upon, +and those encroachments openly avowed and supported by the Governors of +Canada and Louisburg, when it is not in my power to prevent it. I have +barely a sufficient force to protect the settlers from the insults of an +Indian war, under pretence of which the French take all opportunity to +commit hostilities upon His Majesty's subjects. I am informed that the +French have often been mixed among them in the expeditions, and am +convinced past doubt that they are fed and protected from our pursuit, +and are encouraged to disturb us as openly and in as great a degree as +in time of war." + +There were three still houses in Halifax in 1753. Mr. Best the master +mason, and Mr. Clewley the master carpenter, having been ordered to +inspect them. The return was as follows: + + Mr. Richard Bowers, 2 stills in Granville Street. + Wm. Murray, 1 still in Grafton Street, reported not safe. + Jonathan Gifford, 1 still in Barrington Street. + +October 16th, Mr. John Greenwood presented a petition to the Council, +stating that he had paid passage for 12 men, 1 woman and 2 children, +foreign settlers, with the Governor's leave. They engaged to serve him +for a year, but having been removed to Lunenburg by the Governor's +orders, he lost their services; he was allowed L.79 5s., the labour of 12 +men for 96 days. + +Governor Hopson took leave of the Council on 26th October, and received +an address on his departure. He sailed for England on the 2nd November +following. + +On the 16th November, two Indians appeared before the Council, who had +been sent from Lunenburg by Col. Sutherland. They stated they were of +the tribe of Cape Sable Indians, which consisted of about 60 people with +two chiefs; that Baptiste Thomas, one of their priests, was one of their +chiefs, and the other Francis Jean de Perisse was not a chief, but +deputed by the other chief. They stated that they had never joined with +the other Indians to molest the English; that on the contrary they had +always exhibited a friendly spirit, in consequence of which they had +never received any assistance from the French. The Council gave them +2000 pounds of bread, 3 barrels of pork, 20 blankets, 30 pounds powder, +some shot, tobacco and other articles, also two gold-laced hats for +their chiefs, and one silver-laced for the deputy. + +The close of this year was occupied by the Governor and Council, in +investigation of the riots which occurred at Lunenburg, known as the +Hoffman Rebellion. It was found necessary to send Col. Monkton with a +body of regular troops to suppress the riots. Mr. Hoffman, the supposed +ringleader, was brought to Halifax and imprisoned on George's Island. +He was afterwards tried and sentenced to a fine of L.100 or two years +imprisonment. + +It may be proper to advert to the religious condition of the settlement +at this period. The greater portion of the inhabitants were at this time +of the Church of England. The Protestant Germans had nearly all united +themselves to that Church, and sought missionaries from the S. P. G. +Society. + +The Rev. John Breynton succeeded Mr. Tutty in St. Paul's. In 1752, he +reported that half of the population had professed themselves members of +the Church, and that the actual communicants were between 500 and 600. + +Mr. Breynton established an Orphan House, and the Orphan School was +under his superintendence. In 1753, fifty poor children were diligently +instructed. Ralph Sharrock was the school-master. In 1753, the Rev. +Thomas Wood from the Province of New Jersey, was appointed to assist Mr. +Breynton, and he remained jointly in charge with Mr. Breynton until +1763, when he was removed to Annapolis. + +It may here be observed, that on the establishment of Representative +Government at Halifax, in 1758, among the first acts of the Assembly, +was that for the support of Religious Worship, which contained a clause +for the free toleration of all Protestant dissenters, whether Lutherans, +Calvinists, etc., completely exempting them from all charges for the +support of the Established Church. By this act, the right of the +parishioners of St. Paul's and all future parishes, to present their own +minister to the ordinary for induction was declared, and immediately +after its publication, the parishioners of the parish of St. Paul's, in +the Town of Halifax, presented the Reverend John Breynton and the +Reverend Thomas Wood as joint Rectors, or "Rector and Vicar," as they +were called, to the Governor, who immediately went through the form of +induction, a ceremony thought necessary in order to entitle them to +privileges of incumbents. The record of this fact will be found in the +correspondence of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel at that +period. + +During the winter of 1753-4, there had been no disturbance from the +Indians, and the Government availed themselves of the opportunity of +sending out proper persons to make a survey of the country around. The +winter was mild and the frost not so severe as usual or of so long +continuance. The valley of the Shubenacadie had been examined, but it +was not found available for settlement, being the principal resort of +the Indians under Cope. The Township of Lawrencetown including +Chezzetcook, had also been undertaken, and further grants of land in +that quarter of the country were sought for in the following spring. + +The desertion of many of the lower orders of the German settlers at +Lunenburg is mentioned; they appear to have gone over to the French. +Governor Lawrence in his letter to the Board of Trade, August 1st, 1754, +speaking of the French, says, "They have not for a long time brought +anything to our markets, but on the other hand have carried everything +to the French and Indians." + +At this time the land was being cleared for the Battery at the east side +of the harbour, the site probably of the present eastern battery. A fort +was also in progress of erection at Lawrencetown when the settlement was +progressing, not having been disturbed by the Indians. This settlement +had been formed by Governor Lawrence in consequence of the good meadow +lands at the head of the harbour, and he granted the township to 20 +proprietors and built a blockhouse for their protection. But the +undertaking was not prosperous, and finally failed to answer the object +intended, owing to its exposed situation and the distance from Halifax. + +The arrival of the Vulture, sloop-of-war, Capt. Kenzey, from the Bay of +Fundy, produced much excitement in the Town; she brought several +prisoners charged with murder, who were lodged in jail to take their +trial before the General Court.[33] + +[Footnote 33: Mr. Nisbett was Attorney General at the time. He had been +acting in that office since the Spring of 1752.] + +Benjamin Street, Samuel Thornton and John Pastree, were placed on their +trial for the murder of one of the midshipmen and a sailor of the +Vulcan. It appeared on the trial that a schooner, of which the parties +charged were part of the crew, commanded by one Hovey, belonging to +Boston or some part of New England, was found trading in the Bay of +Fundy and supplying the French with provisions, etc. Capt. Kenzey sent a +boat aboard Hovey's shallop, under the idea that he had contraband goods +on board. The crew refused to allow the man-of-war boat to come +alongside, and fired into her, killing Mr. Jolly and wounding several +others. Hovey, the master, appears to have gone below and hid himself +during the whole affair. He was discovered in his berth by the officer +in command of the man-of-war boat, after the sloop had been captured. +This affair occurred in July, 1754, and the trial took place before the +Chief Justice in Michaelmas Term of that year. This was the first +sitting at which Chief Justice Belcher presided. The three prisoners +were acquitted of the murder, but it would appear they were found guilty +of the minor offence, as they were sentenced to six months imprisonment, +and afterwards placed on board a man-of-war (1755). Joseph Hovey, the +master, was discharged, the grand jury refusing to find a bill of +indictment against him. + +The following appointments were made by the grand jury in Michaelmas +Term, 1754: Gaugers of Casks, Paul Pritchard and Lewis Piers; Surveyors +of Pickled Fish, Henry Ferguson and Daniel Hills; Cullers of Dry Fish, +Charles King and E. Gerrott; Cullers of Hoops and Staves, Dennis +Heffernan and Benoni Bartlett; Surveyors of Lumber, etc., Joseph Scott +and Joseph Marshall; Surveyors of Cordwood, Samuel McClure, Josiah +Milliken and Joseph Wakefield. + +On Monday 14th October, 1754, Jonathan Belcher, Esq., was sworn in Chief +Justice. The Court then adjourned to the Court House, where His +Majesty's Commission was read, appointing Lt. Governor Lawrence, +Governor General of the province. Mr. Belcher's appointment bears date +in July. At the commencement of Michaelmas Term, the following +ceremonies and procession were observed, the first of the kind ever seen +in Nova Scotia. On the first day of Michaelmas Term, the Chief Justice +walked from the Governor's house honoured by the presence of His +Excellency Charles Lawrence, Esq., Lieutenant Governor, and accompanied +by the Honourable the Members of H. M. Council, proceeded by the Provost +Marshal, the Judge's tipstaff, and other civil officers, the gentlemen +of the Bar attending in their gowns, and walking in procession to the +long room at Pontach's, where an elegant breakfast was provided, where +the Chief Justice in his scarlet robes, was received and complimented in +the politest manner, by a great number of gentlemen and ladies, and +officers of the Army. Breakfast being over, they proceeded with the +commission before them, to church, where an excellent sermon was +preached by the Rev. Mr. Breynton, from these words: "I am one of them +that are peaceable and faithful in Israel." A suitable anthem was sung, +after which they proceeded to the Court House, which upon this occasion +was very handsomely fitted up, where the Chief Justice being seated with +his Excellency the Lieutenant Governor on his right hand under a canopy, +the clerk of the Crown presented His Majesty's commission to the Chief +Justice, appointing him to be Chief Justice within the province, which +being returned, and proclamation for silence being made, the same was +read, and directions were given by the Chief Justice for the conduct of +the practitioners, and the Grand Jury appearing in Court upon the return +of the precept, were sworn and charged by the Chief Justice, and the +business of the day being finished, the Court adjourned. His Honor the +Chief Justice, accompanied and attended as before, returned to the +Governor's house. A few days after Mr. Chief Justice Belcher, the +Provost Marshal, the gentlemen of the Bar, and other officers of H. M. +Supreme Court, and the gentlemen of the grand jury, waited on his +Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, when the Chief Justice, in his robes +of office, addressed his Excellency in the name of the whole, as +follows: + +"SIR,--We esteem it our indispensable duty to testify our zeal, as Chief +Justice, provost marshal, grand jurors, practitioners and officers of H. +M. Supreme Court of judicature, for the interest of this province, and +the protection of its laws, our attachment to your person, and our +respect and gratitude for your eminent services, by expressing our joy +in His Majesty appointing you to the chief command of this his dominion +of Nova Scotia. We shall ever consider it as essential to our fidelity +in the execution of the laws, to exert our most vigilant endeavors for +the ease and success of your administrations, and not only to suppress +any measures subversive of your consultations for the public good, but +at all times affectuate the means prescribed by you for the prosperity +of the province. Our solicitude for the advancement of justice under the +laws, cannot be more fervently expressed, than by the tender of our +ardent wishes for your being and happy continuance in the chief chair of +this Government." + +To which his Excellency the Lieutenant Governor was pleased to make the +following answer: + +"Mr. Chief Justice and gentlemen of the Supreme Court and grand jury: + +"I have the highest sense of this testimony of your zeal for the public +welfare and your esteem for me. I should be much wanting in my duty if I +did not embrace this opportunity of returning my thanks for the late +pious, learned and eloquent charge from the Bench, and I doubt not, +gentlemen, but your vigilance and fidelity in the service of your +country will have its desired effect. + +"While I have the power to sit in the chair, be assured the authority of +Government shall be ready to support the law, for the law, gentlemen, is +the firm and solid basis of civil society, the guardian of liberty, the +protection of the innocent, the terror of the guilty, and the scourge of +the wicked. + + "CHARLES LAWRENCE." + +Governor Lawrence in his letter of 12th January, 1755, says, "I am now +preparing to build three batteries of 10 guns each in front of the town, +and contemplate finishing them in good time. These batteries were +erected along the line of the shore. The middle or King's battery stood +where the Queen's wharf now is, there was another at the present +Ordnance Yard, another near the site of Fairbanks wharf, and a fourth at +the present Lumber Yard, which latter still remains." + +The batteries along the front of the town were completed during the +summer of 1755, and a plan of them sent to England in June of that year. +They were twelve feet in height above high water mark, two hundred and +forty feet in length, and sixty-five in breadth. The parapet raised on +these was seven feet high, and the materials consisted of logs and +timber framed and filled up with gravel, stones, earth and sand. The +material consisted of 9500 logs of 25 feet, 1280 tons of square timber +and 25,000 tons weight of gravel and earth, the whole expense about +L.5,300. The work was commenced in January, 1755, and completed late in +the summer. 20 guns were mounted on these three batteries in July of +that year--the other batteries were afterwards added. + +An attempt was made this year to involve the Government in a dispute +with the Indian tribes. Paul Laurant, an Indian Chief of the Mic-Mac +tribe, appeared before the Council on 12th February, 1755, and informed +them that he and another Indian Chief named Algamud, had set out from +Beausejour for Halifax in order to treat of peace, but that the Chief +had fallen sick at Cobequid and had intrusted him with the proposals. +They demanded the whole eastern section of the Province, from Cobequid +to Canso, to be set apart for them as feeding and hunting grounds. Being +asked what security he could give that the Indians would keep the peace, +he said he could say nothing to that, being only desired to bring in the +terms. The Council dismissed him with a promise of an answer in writing. +An answer in writing was drawn up and signed by the Governor on 13th +February, 1755, which expressed a willingness on the part of the +Governor and Council to allow them such lands as would be sufficient for +their purposes. It mentioned the perfidious breaches of all former +treaties on the part of the Indians, and where their conduct was +complained of that the Tribes themselves had disallowed all authority on +the part of their Chiefs to make such treaties, and that the Governor +and Council demanded a full attendance of Chiefs before them, with full +power to treat, before any further proceedings could be taken. + +On the 3rd and 4th July, the Council was engaged with the French +Deputies, again on 14th, 15th and 28th same month. + +The defence of the settlement was the next subject of deliberation and +the protection from the incursions of the French along the Bay of Fundy +and from Louisburg, both nations being at the time arrayed against each +other in open warfare. + +On the 18th February, 1755, Mrs. Green, wife of Hon. Benj. Green, and +her family, Captain Horatio Gates and Mrs. Gates, with Captain Hale and +their servants and baggage, were received on board Captain Rogers' sloop +for Boston. Captain Gates had been one of the Aides-de-Camp of Governor +Cornwallis, he was afterwards a General in the American Revolutionary +Army.[34] + +[Footnote 34: See Biographical note in the last Chapter.] + +The loss of the Mars, a 70 gun ship, occurred off the harbour in May, +1755. It was in an easterly gale and supposed to be the fault of the +pilot. Guns and crew were all saved. The Mars rock at the western +entrance of the bay marks the spot. The guns and stores were brought to +Halifax. Admiral Holborn's letter announcing the loss of the ship bears +date the 28th May, off Halifax Harbour. + +30th December, 1755, Montague Wilmot and Charles Morris, having been +appointed to the Council, were sworn in. The other members were John +Collier, Mr. Cotterell, Robert Monkton and Captain Rous. + +A number of French prizes, taken by the fleet under Admiral Boscawen, +were this summer brought into Halifax. There were in these 19,998 +gallons of rum and brandy. + +A Mr. Ellis had for several years held the office of Governor of Nova +Scotia, and received the emoluments, but never came out. Lt. Governor +Lawrence received the appointment of Governor-in-Chief on the +resignation of Mr. Ellis, and Colonel Monkton became Lt. Governor; their +commissions were read and they sworn into office on 23rd July, this +year. + +The following census of the town appears to have been taken about 1755 +or 1756:-- + + Masters of families paying poor tax 256 + Male children between 12 and 21 years of age 182 + Male children under 12 291 + Transient persons who pay no taxes 108 + --- + 837 + + Married women 241 + Girls unmarried above 12 years old 261 + Girls under 12 years of age 345 + Women servants 71 + --- + 918 + ---- + 1755 + +The only other event of this year worthy of notice was the following +melancholy affair detailed in Col. Sutherland's letter from Lunenburg, +dated 12th September. "Yesterday," he says, "I received the melancholy +account of Mr. Payzant's house being burned in Mahone Bay, and that he +himself and other people who were with him, were killed by the Indians. +I immediately sent out an officer and party, which returned this +morning, by whom I am informed that on Payzant's Island the house is +burned, he with another young man killed and scalped, a woman servant +and child also killed and scalped near the water side. His wife and four +children missing. The young man was son to a family which lived on +Captain Rous's Island. As his hands were tied the gentlemen immediately +conjectured some further mischief was done there, and on their arrival +they found the man thereto belonging, likewise scalped. It appears that +Captain Rous's is the most advanced settlement, that they first came +there and took the boy to conduct them to Payzant's." Mr. Payzant came +to this country with a strong recommendation from Mr. Pownall, secretary +to the Board of Trade. The death of James Payzant, Esquire, a clerk in +the office of the Secretary of State, of the age of 100 years is +announced in the London Gazette for 1757. This was probably the father +of the gentleman who came out to Halifax, to whom Mr. Secretary +Pownall's recommendation referred. + +1756. January 26th, the term of Henry Wynne and William Manthorn's +licences of the Dartmouth and Halifax ferry having expired, John Rock +petitioned and obtained the same on the terms of his predecessors. + +On the 30th June, 1757, Lord Loudon arrived at Halifax with the troops +from New York, destined for the invasion of Cape Breton. + +Saturday, 16th July, 1757, His Excellency acquainted the Council that +the Earl of Loudon had this day represented to him that a fever had +broken out among the troops, under His Lordship's command, occasioned by +the great quantities of rum that were sold to the soldiers by unlicensed +retailers, and if continued must prove of fatal consequences to the +service; and unless steps were immediately taken to effectually stop the +same, he would feel himself justified in ordering all liquors found in +the possession of such unlicensed retailers to be destroyed. The Council +empowered the Provost Marshal and his deputies to enter such houses, +seize the liquors and place them in the King's store until the army and +navy departed. + +On the 1st November, 1757, the grand jury of the County of Halifax +petitioned the Governor and Council on behalf of the inhabitants of the +town, that the town should be put into some state of defence "for the +preservation of the place, the inhabitants, their families and effects." +They stated that the property, etc., was insecure from the want of +proper defences; that the people were willing to assist in the work, and +intimated that if their prayer could not be heard, humbly beg that they +"may immediately know it in order to take the first opportunity of +convoying themselves, their families and effects, to a place of safety +in some of the neighbouring Colonies." A previous petition had been +presented to the Governor, to which no answer had been returned. The +names attached to the petition were, Robert Saunderson, Joseph Rundell, +John Anderson, Paul Pritchard, Hugh McCoy, Joseph Fairbanks, William +Schwartz, Robert Campbell, William Pantree, John Killick, John Brooks, +Henry Wilkinson, Walter Manning, John Slayter, Richard Catherwood, +Joseph Pierce, Alexander Cunningham, Richard Tritson, Jonathan Gifford +and Benjamin Leigh. + +The boundaries of the Township of Halifax were settled by order in +Council 20th May, 1758, as follows: That until said township can be more +particularly described, the limit thereof shall be deemed to be as +follows: + +To comprehend all the lands lying southerly of a line extending from the +westernmost head of Bedford Basin, across the northerly head of St. +Margaret's Bay, with all the Islands near to said land, together with +the Islands called Cornwallis Island,[35] Webb's and Rous' Island.[36] + +[Footnote 35: Now McNab's.] + +[Footnote 36: Now known as Lawlor's and Devil's Islands.] + +Minutes of Council 21st June, 1758: Mr. Josiah Marshall proposed to +build a workhouse, 50 feet long, 20 feet wide and 8 feet high, in the +town. The timber to be laid close, with a roof double boarded and +shingled; to have 4 windows on each side, each window to have nine panes +of glass and three iron grates; to have a staircase in the entry and a +whipping post. The building to be placed on a good dry wall. Mr. +Marshall's tender for L.200 sterling, finding materials and labour, was +accepted. + +To Charles Morris, Joshua Mauger and Charles Proctor, Esquires. +"Whereas, it has been thought proper to convert to the use of the +public, a piece of land called Goreham's Point and the lands next +ajacent, lying in the north suburbs of Halifax, formerly allotted to +sundry persons, who have cleared and improved the same and erected some +buildings upon them; they were directed to value the lands and +proportion each owner's extent therein, and report to His Excellency. +Dec. 9th, 1758." + +This is the site of the Commissioners' House in the present Dockyard. + +December 9th, 1758. Peter Marquis de Conte and Gravina, convicted for +intent to commit rape on a child under the age of ten years, was +sentenced by the Court to walk between the hours of 11 and 12 this day +from the north to the south side of the Parade, and from thence to the +jail with a paper placed on his breast with his crime inscribed thereon, +and to be confined for three months and fined thirty pounds; to remain +in jail till the same be paid. Governor Lawrence remitted the first part +of this sentence. The Marquis de Conte was a Sicilian nobleman; he had +been an officer in Goreham's Rangers. + +December 29th, 1758. It appears by an advertisement of this date, that +Governor Lawrence had wells sunk and pumps erected as reservoirs against +fires, and that they had been damaged by some unknown person. His +Excellency caused them to be put in repair. + +Governor Lawrence, in his letter to the Board of Trade, 3rd November, +1759, mentions that the masonry of Sambro Light House had been some time +finished, and that the lantern was then in progress of erection. That a +chart of the harbour was also in progress, as also proper directions for +piloting in ships with safety. Copies of these directions were enclosed +in his letter. + +It appears that in the year 1758, the Governor appropriated out of the +old crown duty money for the Light House L.1,000, for the Work House +L.500, for the Church L.400, and for the Meeting House L.100. + + Again in 1760, for the Light House L.987 5s. 5d. + " 452 10 10 + " 635 6 8 + ---- -- -- + L.2075 2s. 11d. + +For the Work House L.5,456, for the Church L.350 18s. 6d., Meeting House +L.174 0s. 4d., Jail L.208 11s. 9d. + +Captain Rous was placed in charge of the Light House, a post which he +occupied for many years. This was not Captain John Rous, the member of +Council, but a relative of his from New England. + +21st December, 1758. The Governor and Council appropriated the sum of +L.400, raised by duties on liquors, towards the church in Halifax, under +the direction of Benjamin Green, John Collier, Charles Morris, Robert +Saunderson and Henry Newton, commissioners for that purpose. + +[Extract of letter from Louisburg, June 9th.] + +"Admiral Saunders, with the squadron under his command, arrived in good +condition on the 21st April off Louisburg, but on account of ice +blockading the harbour, was obliged to bear away on the 26th for +Halifax, whence he arrived on the first of May." + +June 16th, 1759. Peter Marquis de Conte and Gravini, was released from +his imprisonment, he having paid his fine. This gentleman died at +Halifax. His will is recorded in the probate office. + +Thursday 16th August, 1759, William Cotteral, Robert Grant and Montague +Wilmot, Esquires, Councillors, being absent from the Province, the +Governor appointed Richard Bulkeley, Thomas Saul and Joseph Gerrish, who +were this day sworn in and took their seats. + +February, 1760, two Indian Chiefs attended the Council, and were +presented with laced blankets, laced hats, etc. They were informed that +the same would be sent to the Chief of the St. John's Indians, and that +the treaty of peace would be ready to be signed to-morrow, and if the +wind was favourable they should embark on Sunday. + +In Council 11th March, 1760, the Governor appointed the Hon. Jonathan +Belcher, Benjamin Green, John Collier, Charles Morris, Richard Bulkeley, +Thomas Saul and Joseph Gerrish, Esquires, and William Nesbitt, John +Duport, Joseph Scott, John Creighton, Sebastian Zouberbuhler, Edward +Crawley, Charles Proctor and Benjamin Gerrish, Esquires, to be justices +of the peace for the town and county of Halifax. Charles Morris, John +Duport, Joseph Scott, Joseph Gerrish and Edward Crawley, Esquires, to be +justices of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas for the county of +Halifax, to the several of whom His Excellency then administered the +oath requisite. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +Notwithstanding the advantages held out by Government to the settlers at +Halifax, and the repeated large grants of money by Parliament, the +people were rapidly removing to the old Colonies. Little progress had +been made in clearing the country. The fishery, one of the main +inducements of the settlement, was almost altogether neglected, and the +population was reduced to much less than half its original number. They +subsisted chiefly on the money expended by the Army and Navy, and were +dependent on Boston for their provisions and many other necessary +supplies. + +In 1755, Dr. Breynton, the minister at St. Paul's, estimated the +inhabitants of Halifax at 1,300, eight hundred of whom professed +themselves members of the Church of England; and again in 1763, eight +years later, according to the Doctor's returns to the Propagation +Society, the number was still found not to exceed one thousand and three +hundred souls; nine hundred and fifty of them being of the Church of +England, and three hundred and fifty Protestant Dissenters and Roman +Catholics. + +Up to the year 1757, the enormous sum of L.560,000 sterling had been +expended on the settlements, and though in some respects the Colony had +been considered a failure, yet in a military point of view it was of +incalculable importance to Great Britain, and to its position as a naval +and military depot may be ascribed in a great measure the downfall of +the French power in America. + +On 30th June, 1757, Lord Loudon with his transports and 12,000 regulars +and provincials arrived at Halifax, and on July following, Admiral +Holborn arrived with his fleet. This armament, which was destined for an +attack on Louisburg, left Halifax early in August, but having proved a +failure the fleet returned to England in September, but Loudon returned +with his army to New York; they both left Halifax on the same day, 16th +August. Holborn arrived at Louisburg on 20th, where finding the French +fleet superior to his own, he continued to cruise off Louisburg harbour +until 24th September, when he encountered a severe gale of wind which +scattered his fleet, several ships were lost, eight sail got safe to +Portsmouth, and the rest got to New York. This powerful armament +consisted of 13 sail of the line--the Newark 80 guns, Invincible 74, +Grafton 68, Terrible 74, Northumberland 68, Captain 68, Bedford 64, +Orford 68, Nassau 64, Sunderland 64, Defiance 64, Tilbury 64, Kingston +60, Windsor 54, and the Sutherland 50, with several others which +afterwards joined them, and 16 smaller vessels of war. The naval forces +amounted 10,000 men, and the land forces to 12,000, six thousand of whom +were provincial troops. Loudon left three regiments at Halifax, and +several of the vessels remained to winter here. + +In May of this year the Governor and Council offered a bounty for sowing +land with grass on the peninsula of Halifax, also for the erection of +stone fences around the lots, and for raising grain and potatoes. + +Loudon was succeeded in the supreme command by Abercrombie, another +incompetent--a debilitated old man who remained in command for a short +time. He was succeeded by Sir Jeffrey Amherst. + +In the following spring about 12,000 troops arrived at Halifax, under +the command of General Amherst. They were soon followed by Admiral +Boscawen from England with a large fleet consisting of 23 ships of the +line and 18 frigates. This great fleet arrived in Halifax harbour in +May, 1758, accompanied by 120 transports. The land forces amounted to +12,260 men. On Sunday, 28th May, they set sail from Halifax, 157 vessels +in all. They were met by General Amherst, with part of the force, as +they went out of the harbour. Governor Lawrence accompanied the army and +took command of one of the Brigades, Colonel Monkton being left in +command during his absence. + +After the siege, which was protracted for two months, part of the fleet +and army returned to Halifax, and some of the vessels remained to refit. +The colony was sacked for provisions and the town turned into a camp for +the troops. A number of the provincial soldiers and others, having +enriched themselves with the spoils at Louisburg, became settlers in the +town. All the ammunition and stores, with a quantity of private +property, were removed to Halifax, and the town once again began to +assume a prosperous appearance. + +This year was also memorable as the one in which Representative +Government was established in Nova Scotia. The subject of calling a +Legislative Assembly had undergone much discussion. It had been +represented by the Governor and Council, to the authorities in England, +that such a step at that particular time would be fraught with much +danger to the peace of the colony. Chief Justice Belcher, however, +having given his opinion that the Governor and Council possessed no +authority to levy taxes, and their opinion being confirmed in England, +it was resolved in Council on 3rd January, 1757, that a representative +system should be established and that twelve members should be elected +by the province at large, until it could be conveniently divided into +counties, and that the township of Halifax should send four members, +Lunenburg two, Dartmouth one, Lawrencetown one, Annapolis Royal one, and +Cumberland one, making in all twenty two members, and the necessary +regulations were also made for carrying into effect the object intended. + +Much discontent prevailed in the town, and also in other parts of the +province, in consequence of the opposition of Governor Lawrence to the +calling of a Representative Assembly. Hitherto the Government had been +carried on solely by the Governor and Council, who possessed both +Legislative and Executive authority. Under the Royal instructions the +Governor was directed to call a Representative Assembly as soon as the +circumstances of the country would permit, but the Governor was of +opinion that it would be injudicious to proceed to a popular election +until the country was better prepared for it. After repeated +remonstrances from the people of Halifax and some pressure from his +Council, it was on the 7th January resolved in Council that an assembly +should be called, and a plan was drawn up and submitted to the Board of +Trade for the sanction of the home government. We find, however, that in +February following it was resolved by the inhabitants of Halifax to +petition the Crown against the conduct of Governor Lawrence, not only as +regards his unwillingness to establish a representative government, but +his oppressive and overbearing conduct in other respects to many of the +leading inhabitants. This petition was entrusted to one Ferdinando +Paris, a gentleman in London, accompanied by affidavits and a power of +attorney, conferring on him authority to represent the subscribers +before the Privy Council and the Board of Trade and Plantations. A +subscription was set on foot, and about L.120 sterling subscribed, to +meet the expenses of the application to Government. These documents were +certified by Chief Justice Belcher as authentic, on 14th March. As these +proceedings bear date in February, 1757, it is probable that the +resolution of the Council of the 7th January had not been made known. +The petition and power were signed by the following residents of the +town who reputed themselves as a committee appointed by the people for +the purpose of forwarding their views: Robert Saunderson, William +Pantree, Malachi Salter, Jonathan Binney, Otto Wm. Schwartz, Robert +Campbell, Henry Ferguson and John Grant. These papers were also +accompanied by a copy of an address from the people of Halifax to Lt. +Governor Robert Monkton, praying that certain sums of money, collected +as rum duties, etc., might be expended on the fortifications of the town +as a protection to the inhabitants, and offering to contribute both +labour and money for the purpose. It also complains of the "miserable +management of those who have had the direction of the defences." This +petition bears date 19th October, in the same year. The language of one +of the letters addressed to Mr. Paris, the request on the subject of the +Halifax grievances and the overbearing military rule of Governor +Lawrence, bespeak much excitement to have existed in the town on the +subject. The feeling appears to have prevailed principally among the +leading inhabitants. We find that the list above referred to was signed +by Mr. Binney, Mr. Salter, Mr. Pantree, Mr. Schwartz, Dr. Grant, Mr. +Saunderson, Mr. Fairbanks, Mr. Robt. Campbell, Mr. Butler, Mr. Suckling, +Mr. Vanput, Mr. G. Gerrish, Mr. Gibbon, Mr. Wiswell, Mr. Mason, and many +others. + +On the first of November following, the Grand Jury of Halifax petitioned +Governor Lawrence that some immediate steps may be taken to fortify the +town so that the inhabitants might be placed in a more secure position +in case of invasion. They refer to a petition presented to Lt. Governor +Monkton on the same subject, to which no reply had been made, and +concluded by asking that they might know without further delay what they +were to expect; that if no further security is to be provided for the +settlement they may have an opportunity of conveying themselves, their +families and effects to a place of greater safety in some of the +neighbouring Colonies. The names of the Grand Jury were Robert +Saunderson, Joseph Rundell, John Anderson, Paul Pritchard, Hugh McKay, +Joseph Fairbanks, William Schwartz, Robert Campbell, William Pantree, +John Killick, John Brooks, Henry Wilkinson, Walter Manning, John +Slayter, Richard Catherwood, Joseph Pierce, Alexander Cunningham, +Richard Tritton, Jonathan Gifford and Benjamin Leigh. + +On Monday, the 2nd of October, 1758, the newly elected members met in +the Court House in Halifax, pursuant to summons from the Provost +Marshall; their names were as follows: + + Joseph Gerrish, } + Robert Saunderson,} + Henry Newton, } Esquires. + William Foy, } + William Nesbitt, } + Joseph Rundell. } + + William Best, } + Alexr. Kedie, } + Jonathan Binney, } + Henry Ferguson, } + George Suckling, } + Robert Campbell, } Gentlemen. + Willm. Pantree, } + Joseph Fairbanks, } + Philip Hammond, } + John Fillis, } + Lambert Folkers, } + Philip Knout. } + +They sent Messrs. Nesbitt, Newton and Rundell, to wait on the Governor, +who sent Messrs. Morris and Green from the Council to swear them in. +They then chose Robert Saunderson their speaker, which was confirmed by +the Governor, who addressed them as follows: "Gentlemen of the Council +and House of Representatives: His Majesty having been most graciously +pleased by his royal instructions to his Governors of this Province to +direct the calling an assembly of the freeholders to act in conjunction +with his Governor and Council as the Legislative Authority, when such a +measure should be found essential to his service; I am to assure you +that it is with particular pleasure I now meet you convened in that +capacity, in consequence of a plan some time since formed here for that +purpose, with the advice and assistance of His Majesty's Council, and +by me transmitted to the Lord Commissioner for Trade and Plantations to +be laid before His Majesty for his approbation. + +"Gentlemen of the House of Representatives: + +"I entertain the most sanguine hopes that you are come together +unanimously disposed to promote the service of the Crown, or in other +words, the real welfare and prosperity of the people whom you have the +honour to represent, in every point to the utmost of your authority and +capacity. + +"This, I presume, you will conceive is justly to be expected, not only +from the immediate regard due to the Civil Rights and Interests of your +constituents, but likewise from the unspeakable obligations you are +under to demonstrate in their behalf your dutiful sense of His Majesty's +paternal concern for the prosperity and security of those his subjects +in those distinguishing marks of his royal favour and protection which +we have from time to time so happily experienced in the fleets and +armies sent out for our immediate preservation when we were under the +most imminent danger of being swallowed up by a merciless enemy; also in +the ample supplies of money for so many years annually granted for the +support and encouragement of this infant colony; and moreover still, in +the continuance of His Majesty's royal bounty for that purpose, when +from the seeming inclination of the inhabitants to have an assembly +convened some time ago, it might have been presumed, and indeed by an +article of His Majesty's Instructions, which I shall order to be laid +before you, it has been judged that the Colony has become capable of +providing for the necessary support of government here, as has been +usual in all His Majesty's other American Dominions. + +"Gentlemen of both Houses: + +"As my Military occupation requires my attendance as early as possible +upon the Commander-in-Chief of the Forces to the Westward, and as the +Lieutenant Governor is now necessarily employed, and will be for some +time to come, upon an enterprise of importance in a distant part of the +province, there is not at present an opportunity of entering upon such +particulars as might otherwise call for your attention; I am therefore +earnestly to recommend to your serious consideration the expediency, or +rather the necessity of unanimity and dispatch in the confirmation of +such Acts or resolutions of a legislative nature, as the Governor and +Council under His Majesty's Royal Instructions have found expedient, +before the forming of an assembly and indispensably necessary for +promoting the welfare and peaceable Government of this people. + +"You may depend upon it, Gentlemen, on my return to the Government you +will find me perfectly disposed to concur with you in enacting such +further laws, making such amendments to the present ones, and +establishing such other regulations as shall appear upon more mature +deliberations to be consistent with the honour and dignity of the Crown +and conducive to the lasting happiness of His Majesty's subjects where I +have the honour to preside. + + "CHARLES LAWRENCE." + +The House then resolved that the members should all serve without pay +for the session. The calling of the Legislature had been delayed till +the autumn in consequence of both the Governor and Lt. Governor being +absent with the Army at Louisburg. Governor Lawrence came up to Halifax +from Louisburg specially to meet the Legislature. + +The Governor in his letter to the Board of Trade about this time noticed +particularly the serious effects on the settlement of the enormous +importation and retail of spirituous liquors, and expressed a hope that +the Legislature would check it. + +On 2nd July, 1761 (second session) the House voted L.50 for a public +clock in the Town. + +The following year (1759) Halifax was again the rendezvous for part of +the fleet and army both before and after the siege of Quebec; not a few +of the more enterprising settlers followed the camp and enriched +themselves during the war, Admiral Darell with 4 ships of the line +arrived in Halifax Harbor in April and left for the St. Lawrence on 5th +May. + +At the news of the victory, the town was illuminated, and fire works, +bonfires and other public entertainments lasted several days. + +Between the years 1759 and 1763 the harbor had been the constant resort +of the squadrons under Lord Colville and others; the place was +enlivened by the presence of a large army and navy, and at the close of +the war several gentlemen of condition were induced to become settlers. + +Peace having been proclaimed in 1763, the 28th day of December of that +year was solemnized at Halifax as a day of thanksgiving on account of +the termination of the war. Though the town possessed all the advantages +to be derived from the presence of the naval and military forces, the +resident population did not increase. From the notitia parochialis of +the Rev. Dr. Breynton, the Rector of St. Paul's, the number of +inhabitants in the town did not exceed 1300 souls. However, in 1769, six +years after, the Doctor makes the following return: Inhabitants in and +about Halifax including Garrison, Acadian French and fishermen, by the +late public survey 5000 souls, of which 200 are Acadians and 55 +protestant dissenters. The number of births that year was 200 and the +deaths 190. + +Among the local occurrences of the year 1759, was the trial of Thomas +Lathum, baker, for the murder of Lieutenant Collins of the Royal Navy. +It appeared that Mr. Collins, Captain Sweeney, Doctor Johns, Mr. Fulton +and others of the Navy, had been sipping at the house of one John Field, +and late in the evening proposed to go out in search of some women with +whom one of them had made an engagement. They knocked at the door of one +Hewitt, and inquired for Polly. On being refused admission, it appeared +that Thomas Lathum, the brother-in-law of Hewitt, who lived in the +neighbourhood, hearing the noise, came to his own door and demanded of +the gentlemen in the street whether they intended to rob Mr. Hewitt. +They replied that they were gentlemen and not robbers. Some further +words provoked a scuffle, in which Fulton was dragged by Lathum into his +house. The affair terminated in Lathum discharging a gun after the +party, and mortally wounding Collins. Captain Sweeny had previously +called the guard, who shortly after the affair arrived and took Lathum +into custody. Lathum was tried on the 24th April, 1759. + +The names of the grand jury, who found the bill of indictment, were +Michael Francklin, foreman, Charles Proctor, Abraham Bowyer, Walter +Manning, James Quinn, Nathan Nathans, J. Pernette, John Craig, Terrence +Fitzpatrick, John Kerby, Jonathan Pierce, James Porter, Henry Sibley, +J. Flanagan, Michael Moloney, Robert Cowie, Charles Terlaven, Jonathan +Gifford and James Browne. + +On the 11th March, 1760, the following gentlemen were appointed Justices +of the Peace for the county of Halifax, viz.: The Hon. Jonathan Belcher, +Hon. Benjamin Green, Hon. John Collier, Hon. Charles Morris, Hon. +Richard Bulkeley, Hon. Thomas Saul, Hon. Joseph Gerrish, William +Nesbitt, John Duport, Joseph Scott, John Creighton, Sebastine +Zouberbuhler, Edward Crawley, Charles Proctor and Benjamin Gerrish, and +on 30th December following, Malachi Salter, Alexander Grant, Johnathan +Binney and John Burbidge were added to the number. Messrs. Morris, +Duport, Scott, Gerrish and Crawley were appointed Justices of the +Inferior Court of Common Pleas. + +Governor Lawrence, who had been for 7 days ill, died of inflammation of +the lungs on the morning of the 19th October, 1760. The Council were +immediately summoned, and Chief Justice Belcher sworn in to administer +the Government. A question had arisen on a previous occasion, between +Mr. Belcher and Mr. Green, as to the eligibility of the Chief Justice to +the office of administrator of the Government, which was decided in +favour of the Chief Justice, but some years after, the question was +determined by the British Government declaring that the two offices of +administrator of the Government and Chief Justice, should never be held +by the same person. + +It was resolved in Council, that the funeral of the late Governor should +be at the public expense, and a monument to his memory was afterwards +voted by the Assembly to be placed in St. Paul's Church.[37] + +[Footnote 37: The inscription to be placed on this monument is given at +full length in the Gazette of that day, but it was not to be found among +those which cover the walls of old St. Paul's. There is, however, an +escutcheon with the arms of Lawrence on the east gallery.] + +The funeral of Governor Lawrence took place on the Thursday following, +24th October, at 4 p. m. The procession began from Government House as +follows:-- + +The Troops in Garrison, the Military Officers, two field pieces 6 +pounders, the Physicians, the ministers, the corpse in a coffin covered +with black velvet, and the pall, to which were affixed escutcheons of +His Excellency's arms, supported by the President and the rest of His +Majesty's Council. + +The Mourners, the Provost Marshall, the House of Assembly, the +Magistrates, the Civil Officers, the Freemasons and a number of the +inhabitants. The Bearers, Clergy, Physicians and all Officers, Civil and +Military had linen and cambric hat-bands. + +The corpse was preceded near the church by the orphans singing an +anthem. The pulpit, reading desk and the Governor's pew, were covered +with black and escutcheons, and a most pathetic Funeral Sermon was +preached by the Reverend Mr. Breynton, Rector of the Parish, after which +the corpse was interred on the right side of the Communion Table. + +Minute guns were fired from one of the batteries, from the time the +procession began, until the interment, when the whole was concluded with +three volleys from the troops under arms. + +The Supreme Court, which began on Tuesday following, was hung in +mourning and escutcheons. + +The following fulsome eulogium, to the late lamented Governor, appeared +in the newspapers of the day: "The Lieutenant Governor was possessed of +every natural endowment and acquired, accomplishment necessary to adorn +the most exalted station, and every amiable quality that could promote +the sweets of friendship and social intercourse of human life. + +"As Governor, he exerted his uncommon abilities with unwearied +application, and the most disinterested zeal in projecting and executing +every useful design that might render this Province and its rising +settlements flourishing and happy. He encouraged the industrious, +rewarded the deserving, excited the indolent, protected the oppressed +and relieved the needy. His affability and masterly address endeared him +to all ranks of people, and a peculiar greatness of soul made him +superior to vanity, envy, avarice or revenge. + +"In him we have lost the guide and guardian of our interests, the +reflection on the good he has done, the anticipation of great things +still expected from such merits, and circumstances which, while they +redound to his honour, aggravate the sense of our irreparable +misfortune." + +About the end of October, Commodore Lord Colville arrived in the harbor +with the Northumberland and three other ships of the line and several +frigates from Quebec. The Sloop-of-War England also arrived from England +with dispatches and next day sailed for Louisburg and Quebec. Several +transports also came in about the same time with Col. Montgomery's +Highlanders to relieve the two battalions of the 60th Royal Americans. + +Among the advertisements in the Halifax Gazette of 1st November, 1760, +is the following: + +"To be sold at public auction, on Monday the 3rd of November, at the +house of Mr. John Rider, two Slaves, viz.: a boy and girl, about eleven +years old; likewise, a puncheon of choice old cherry brandy, with sundry +other articles." + +1759. Among the town officers nominated by the Grand Jury this year +were, John Fillis, Richd. Wenman, Richd. Gibbon and Wm. Schwartz as +Commissioners of the poor for the town. + +Surveyors of Highways, Chas. Morris, Esq., Chas. Proctor, Esq., Mr. Wm. +Prescott and Mr. John Rider. + +This year an Act of the Legislature was passed to regulate the Sambro +Light House at the entrance of Halifax Harbor, which had been erected +the previous year at the expense of L.1000. The Work House was also +erected this year. Firing guns within the town and peninsula was +forbidden in 1758 under a penalty. + +The accession of King George the Third was proclaimed at Halifax on the +11th February, 1761, with great ceremony. The proclamation was first +read at the Court House door,[38] then at the north gate of the +town,[39] at Government House, at the south gate,[40] and lastly on the +Parade, where the troops were drawn up and a salute fired by the +artillery. Lord Colville's fleet being in the harbour at the time, "each +ship fired a Royal Salute, beginning with his Lordship's flagship the +Northumberland." + +[Footnote 38: Now Northup's corner, Buckingham and Argyle Streets.] + +[Footnote 39: At this period there was a fence on the north side of what +is now called Jacob St. and a gate near the opening of Brunswick St., in +front of the North Barrack old parade, some say further north.] + +[Footnote 40: The situation of the south gate is uncertain: there were +several south gates. It was along Salter Street, probably in a line with +the old forts known as Luttrell's and Horseman's Forts.] + +The order of the procession on this occasion was as follows:--1st, A +Company of Grenadiers; 2nd, Constables of the Town; 3rd, Magistrates; +4th, Civil Officers of Government; 5th, Constables; 6th, The Provost +Marshall with two deputies on horseback; 7th, a Band of Music; 8th, +Constables; 9th, The Commander-in-Chief of the Province, the Honorable +Jonathan Belcher, with Admiral Lord Colville and Colonel Foster, +commandant of the Garrison, and the members of His Majesty's Council; +10th, the Speaker and the members of the House of Assembly, followed by +the principal inhabitants. At three o'clock the company waited on the +Commander-in-Chief at Governor Lawrence's head tavern, where a very +elegant entertainment was provided for them, and after dinner His +Majesty's health was drunk under Royal Salute from the Batteries, also +other toasts, and the evening concluded with great rejoicings and +illuminations, bon-fires and artificial fire works, played off by the +Royal Artillery. A sermon was afterwards ordered to be preached (13th +February, 1761) in St. Paul's Church, on account of the decease of the +late King, and all public amusements were ordered to cease for one month +from that day. The 17th was accordingly set apart and the sermon +preached by the Rev. T. Wood, the Curate. Part of St. Paul's church was +hung in black, and minute guns were fired for an hour and a half, and +the flags on the Citadel and George's Island were half-mast during the +day. + +On the 11th day of February, 1760, two Indian Chiefs of the +Passamaquoddy and St. John River tribes, came to Halifax with Colonel +Arbuthnot and appeared before the Council, and by their interpreter, +settled with the Governor terms of peace, renewing the Treaty of 1725 +and giving hostages for their good behaviour. At their request truck +houses were established at Fort Frederick. Benjamin Gerrish, John +Collier and Thomas Saul were appointed a Committee to prepare the Treaty +in French and English, which was to be taken back with them to be +ratified by their tribes. It was arranged that Colonel Arbuthnot should +accompany them, and that they should be sent back at the public expense, +after which His Majesty's health was drunk and the Chiefs returned to +the quarters assigned them by the Governor. On the 13th the Treaty was +ratified in Council and the Indians and the Governor and Council settled +the table of the prices to be established at the truck houses. The +Indians stated that the number of their tribes, men, women and children, +was about 500. During the sitting of the Council on the 13th, Roger +Morris, one of the Mic-Mac Indians, appeared and brought with him three +Frenchmen who were lately arrived from Pictou, and another Indian called +Claude Renie, who said he was Chief of the Tribe of Cheboudie Indians. +He stated that he had left 70 of his people at Jeddore; the men were out +killing moose and their families were in want of provisions. It was +arranged that provisions should be sent to them and that the men should +forthwith come up and conclude a peace. + +Treaties of peace were afterwards concluded on 10th March following with +three Mic-Mac Chiefs, viz., Paul Laurent, chief of the Tribe of LaHave, +Michael Augustine, chief of the Tribe of Richibucto, and the +before-mentioned Claude Renie, chief of the Cheboudie and Musquodoboit +Indians; the treaty was signed in Council on that day and they received +their annual presents. Another treaty of peace was signed in Council on +15th October, 1761, with Jannesvil Peitougawash, Chief of the Indians of +the Tribe of Pictock and Malogomish, and the merchants and traders were +notified that the Indian trade to the eastward would be thrown open +under regulations in the following spring. The following summer Joseph +Argunault, Chief of the Mongwash Indians, with a number of followers, +appeared before the Council and executed a final Treaty of peace. The +members of Council and Legislature, with the Magistrates and public +officers, attended on the occasion. + +The Abbe Mallaird being introduced, interpreted the treaty to the Chief, +who was then addressed by the Hon. Mr. Belcher, the Commander-in-Chief. +The treaty was respectively signed by the Commander-in-Chief and the +Indian Chief, and witnessed by the members of the Council present, the +Speaker of the Assembly and Mr. Mallaird.[41] The Chief then addressed +Mr. Belcher in the following manner: That he had formerly paid obedience +to another King, but that he now acknowledged King George 3rd for his +only lawful Sovereign, and vowed eternal fidelity and submission to him; +that his submission was not by compulsion, but that it was free and +voluntary with his whole heart, and that he should always esteem King +George 3rd as his good father and protector. That he now buried the +hatchet in behalf of himself and his whole tribe, in token of their +submission, and of their having made a peace which should never be +broken upon any consideration whatever. The Chief then laid the hatchet +on the earth, and the same being buried the Indians went through the +ceremony of washing the paint from their bodies, in token of hostilities +being ended, and then partook of a repast set out for them on the +ground, and the whole ceremony was concluded by all present drinking the +King's health and their Haggas. This ceremony is said to have been +performed in the Governor's garden, westward of the old English burial +ground, where the Court House now stands. Benjamin Gerrish, Esquire, was +appointed Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and additional truck houses +were built and other arrangements made throughout the Province for more +effectually carrying on the Indian trade. + +[Footnote 41: NOTE.--This document is not to be found among the papers +preserved in the Secretary's office at Halifax.] + +On the 30th December, 1760, Malachi Salter, Alexander Grant, Jonathan +Binney and John Burbidge were appointed Justices of the Peace for the +Town of Halifax. Mr. Burbidge was a member of Assembly; he afterwards +removed to the country and settled in Cornwallis township, where his +descendants now remain. + +The French having invaded the British settlements in Newfoundland, and +captured the fort of St. John, a council-of-war was called at Halifax, +for the purpose of consulting on means of the defence of the town in +case of an attack. This Council was composed of Lt. Governor Belcher, +Col. Richard Bulkely, Halifax Militia, Major General Bastead of the +Engineers, Col. William Foster, Lt. Col. Hamilton, Lt. Col. Job Winslow, +and the Right Honorable Lord Colville, commander-in-chief of the +squadron. They met on the 10th July, 1762, and continued their sittings +until 17th August. They recommended to Government the embodying a +portion of the militia force, and that the Batteries on George's Island, +Fort George, Point Pleasant and East Battery should be put in repair and +guns mounted, and the erection of such works around the town and at the +Dockyard as might be considered necessary for the protection of the +place. The whole to be placed under the superintendence of General +Bastead of the Engineers. Some of the old works were put in repair and +others added on this occasion, but the cause of alarm having subsided, +further expense was deemed unnecessary. + +At the first settlement it had been found necessary to occupy not only +every elevated position in the vicinity, but also large spaces around +the town as at first laid out, for the purposes of defence and other +military objects. After the necessity for those defences had ceased, it +frequently occurred that the military commanders would lay claim to the +grounds as military property, and in this way obstacles had continually +arisen to the extension of the town, a grievance which has continued to +be felt until the present time. Those whose duty it was to plan and lay +out the town appear to have been guided more with a view to the +construction of a military encampment than that of a town for the +accommodation of an increasing population. The narrow blocks and small +dimensions of the building lots have been found to be a continual +drawback on the comfort, the health and the convenience of the +inhabitants, and of late years these inconveniences have been severely +felt in the business parts of the city. This, however, was not the case +in laying out the north and south suburbs; here the lots were of ample +dimensions, and though the streets were not of the width frequently met +with in modern cities, yet of sufficient dimensions to ensure comfort. +It is to be regretted that the town and city authorities, during the +last 35 years, have not, as in other places, exerted their authority in +the arrangement and laying off of building lots, and by wholesome +regulations, prevented the crowding of buildings on pieces of land not +sufficiently deep to admit of proper ventilation. It is also a matter of +the utmost importance to the future welfare of the city that those lands +now in the hands of the military and naval boards in various directions +around the city which are not immediately required for military works +should be handed over to the Civil Government for public promenades and +other useful purposes. + +July 18th, 1768. The Chiefs of the tribes of Indians of St. John's +River, named Pierre Thomas and Ambroise St. Aubon, appeared before the +Council with the following requests: They said the use of rum and +spirituous liquors was too common among them, and requested that a +remedy might be thought of to prevent it. They also required lands for +cultivation, and that they should not be required to bear arms in case +of war with any of the European powers. That some further regulations of +prices in their traffic should be made, and several other matters, all +of which appear to have been granted them. They desired to return home +as soon as possible, that their people might not be debauched with +liquor in the town. + +This year (1768) Mr. Joshua Mauger retired from the office of Agent of +the Province in London. Mr. Mauger came up from Louisburg with the army +and resided in the town as a distiller of rum, and followed the camp for +several years. He received grants of land from the government in various +parts of the province. The bench at the south-west extremity of +Cornwallis Island, now known as McNab's Island, was named after him. Mr. +Mauger was afterwards elected a member of the British Parliament. + +In the month of May of this year was presented to the Legislature the +celebrated revolutionary document known as the Massachusetts or Boston +Letter. This was a letter addressed by Speaker Cushin of the House of +Representatives at Boston, to the Speaker of the Assembly in Nova +Scotia. It bears the date February 11, 1768, and was on the subject of +the differences existing between the British Government and the American +Colonies, then on the eve of revolt. This letter is couched in very +moderate but firm language; it appears to have been received, however, +with great indignation by the House, who declined to have it read. A +memorial was presented to the Governor and Council in March, 1767, by +Colonel Dalrymple, then commander of His Majesty's troops at Halifax, +complaining of the undue occupation of grounds about the town, on which +there had been palisaded forts and lines of defence. It appeared that +Governor Lawrence had granted certain small tracts of land on which a +palisaded line of defence had formerly been, and that such tracts of +land could not be supposed to come into use on any future occasion for +fortifications. That Colonel McKellan of the Engineers had advised the +situation of the Work House with an enclosure, in the front of said +line, and that a whole bastion of two curtains of Lutterell's fort were +covered by it, and that Governor Lawrence had further laid out more of +such grounds on which part of the palisading of Horseman's Fort formerly +stood, all of which it appeared he did by an undoubted right of the +power given him by the King's Commission, to erect and demolish +fortifications, and therefore to convert the ground to other uses, it +being no more serviceable for the former purposes. But it also appeared +that none of the Barracks were ever granted or admitted into private +occupation. That Governor Lawrence had admitted the occupation of some +of the ground reserved for fortification, on condition it should be +surrendered when the King's service should again require it, by which it +was evident that the King's rights in their lands had been sufficiently +secured. Horseman's fort occupied the ground in the vicinity of the +present Roman Catholic Cathedral. Lutterell's fort stood where the old +Poor House and County Jail formerly stood. In June, 1763, the Council +recommended the Governor to make a grant of the Common for the Town of +Halifax to trustees for the benefit of the inhabitants. The Trustees +were John Collier, Charles Morris, Richard Bulkeley, William Nesbitt, +Charles Proctor and Richard Best. Some question having arisen as to the +limits of the common, the Council were unanimously of the opinion that +the lands which had been granted without the town were not within the +limits of the Common as appeared by the plan thereof laid before the +Lords of Trade, and which had not been disapproved of by their +Lordships. No copy of this plan is now to be found. + +The number of families residing in and around the town in 1763 was +estimated at 500, which would make the population about 2500 souls. +There was also supposed to be, at this time, about one thousand Acadian +French in and about the town. + +In June, 1763, the Hon. Montague Wilmot was sworn in Lieut. Governor in +place of Mr. Belcher. In the following year he received the appointment +of Governor-in-Chief. + +On the 29th day of September, 1766, the Germans, who had been located to +the west of the peninsula, the settlement now known as the Dutch +Village, petitioned the Government that a convenient road should be laid +out for them to their settlement. The Surveyor was ordered to report on +the petition. He reported that he found the road from the north German +lots to the southward of George Bayers' stone wall, now laid out, in the +most convenient place, and that the road should be at least four rods +wide. That from George Bayers' stone wall the road should be on the +south side of said wall and thence to run until it meets the public road +leading to the town. + +About this time, at the request of the Magistrates, the Hospital was +granted for an alms house. This hospital was established very early for +the use of the settlers, and stood on part of the land now occupied by +the Government House, to the north of that building. + +The church of St. Paul's had now been for some years finished, and the +Town and vicinity had been, by an Act of Legislature, constituted into +a parish with corporate powers in the church wardens and vestry. After +the death of Mr. Tutty, the Reverend Thomas Wood, from the Province of +New Jersey, was appointed to assist Dr. Breynton, and he and the doctor +were jointly inducted into the parish in 1758; Dr. Breynton as rector, +and Mr. Wood as vicar or curate, to assist. Mr. W. continued at St. +Paul's until 1763, when he was removed to Annapolis Royal with the +consent of the Governor and the church wardens and vestry, when the +whole duties of the Mission at Halifax devolved upon Mr. Breynton. Mr. +B. was in the habit of officiating to the Germans in their own language. +In 1761, he preached in German and English to the small congregation in +the old Dutch church in Brunswick Street, on occasion of its being +dedicated as the church of St. George. In 1770, at the solicitation of +the Governor and Council, the Chief Justice and the congregation of St. +Paul's, he received from the University of Cambridge the degree of D. +D., to which he was entitled from his standing in the University. Early +in his ministry the Doctor established in the Town an orphan school, and +provided for the tuition of 50 poor children, through the assistance +afforded him by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. Mr. Ralph +Sharrock, a discharged soldier, was his first schoolmaster. In 1776, Dr. +Breynton mentions in his report to the Society, having administered the +Lord's Supper to 500 men of the Baron de Seiltz's German regiment in +their own language "whose exemplary and regular behaviour" he says, "did +them great honour." The following extract from a document, in reference +to Dr. Breynton, said to have been written by a Dissenter, is given by +Mr. Hawkins, from the records of the Propagation Society: "As a person +who, during a residence of upwards of twenty years in this Province, has +deservedly gained the good will and esteem of men of all ranks and +persuasions. He preaches the Gospel of peace and purity, with an +eloquence of language and delivery, far beyond anything I ever heard in +America." He lived to a good old age, preserving the esteem of his +fellow townsmen to the last. He appears to have lived on terms of +Christian fellowship with the clergy of other denominations, as we find +that at the annual meeting of the Church Society, which took place in +St. Paul's in 1770, the dissenting ministers all attended at the Church +to hear the doctor preach his Visitation Sermon. One of the last acts +of his ministry was the establishment of a Sunday School in the city. +This was about 1783, perhaps a little later, and was the first Sunday +School instituted in Nova Scotia. + +In the month of July, 1769, a large number of Indians, many of whom at +this time appear to have been Protestants, attended divine service in +St. Paul's Church, when prayers were read by the Reverend Thomas Wood, +in the Mic-Mac language, the Governor and many of the principal +inhabitants being present. The Indians sang an anthem both before and +after the service. Before the service began a Chief came forward, and +kneeling down, prayed for the prosperity of the Province and the +blessing of Almighty God on King George, the Royal family and the +Governor of the Province. He then rose up, and Mr. Wood, who understood +the language, at his desire explained the prayer in English to the whole +congregation. When service was ended the Indians returned thanksgivings +for the opportunity they had of hearing prayers in their own language. +In the following year Mr. Wood again performed divine service at Halifax +in the Mic-Mac language at the residence of Colonel Joseph Gorham, where +a number of Indians were assembled. He had obtained great influence with +the Indians through his friendship with the Abbe Maillard, and +particularly from his behaviour to him a little before his death. He was +in consequence frequently called on both by the Indians and French to +baptize their children and visit the sick in the absence of a priest of +their own church. In one of his letters to the Society for the +Propagation of the Gospel, in 1762, he mentions having attended the Abbe +Maillard during his illness of several weeks, and at his request, the +day before his death read to him the office of visitation of the sick in +presence of many of the French, and having performed the funeral service +of the Church of England, in French, on his remains in the presence of +the principal inhabitants of Halifax and a number of French and Indians. +The Governor and all the public functionaries attended the funeral of M. +Maillard, who was highly esteemed and beloved in the community, and the +members of His Majesty's Council were the pall bearers.[42] + +[Footnote 42: It must be understood that M. Maillard did not leave the +Roman Catholic Church, but there being no priest of his own persuasion +in Halifax at the time, he availed himself of the pious offices of his +friend, Mr. Wood, whom he no doubt esteemed as a good Christian.] + +Mr. Wood was shortly after removed to Annapolis Royal, where he died in +the year 1778. While there he applied himself to a closer study of the +Mic-Mac language, and by assistance of papers left him by M. Maillard +was enabled to prepare a Mic-Mac grammar and dictionary. He sent the +first volume of his grammar, and a Mic-Mac translation of the Creed and +Lord's Prayer to England in 1776. He continued occasionally to minister +to the Indians in their own language until his death. + +February 26th, 1769. Halifax harbour was so full of ice that vessels +could not come in, which had not been the case for (says the Gazette for +that day) ten years. The cold was intense, snow between four and five +feet deep in the woods and on the peninsula, an instance of which had +not been known for several years. + +May 9th, 1769. Major Leonard Lockman died after a lingering illness in +the 73rd year of his age; he was interred under the old German church in +Brunswick Street, and a monument to his memory, with coat of arms, is +yet to be seen in that church. Major Lockman was one of the leading +settlers among the Germans. The street running between the German lots +and Water Street in the north suburbs bears his name. + +In the fall of this year the town was visited by a severe gale of wind +from the S. W., which caused the destruction of much property and some +loss of life. + +Among the principal merchants in Halifax in 1769, the Hon. John Butler, +uncle to the late Hon. J. Butler Dight, Robert Campbell on the Beach, +John Grant, Alexander Brymer, Gerrish and Gray appear most prominent. +Among the shopkeepers and tradesmen who advertized during the year were, +Robert Fletcher on the Parade, Bookseller and Stationer, Andrew Cunod, +Grocer, Hammond and Brown, Auctioneers, Robert Millwood, Blockmaker, who +advertized best Spanish River Coal at 30s. per chaldron. + +The period between 1770 and 1776 was one of great public excitement, +emissaries from the revolted colonies were numerous, and the Governor +and Council deemed it expedient as early as 1770, to prohibit all public +meetings of a political nature.[43] The same spring the general +election took place, after which the House sat for fourteen years +without being dissolved. + +[Footnote 43: Among the various exhibitions of public feeling at this +period was the erection of a gallows, on the Common, with a boot +suspended from it as a token of disapprobation of Lord Bute's +Government.] + +In 1771, Governor Lord William Campbell issued a proclamation forbidding +horse races as tending to gambling and idleness. + +October 8th, 1773. Governor Legge was sworn into office. + +The subject of fortifying the town came under the consideration of the +Council in the following year. It was considered that the ground being +rocky in many places around the town, it would not admit of +entrenchments being made, and that the only practical fortifications +would be temporary blockhouses and palisades, and it was resolved that +the Engineers under Col. Spry do immediately proceed to fortify the Navy +Yard in that manner, which may be defended by the people of the town, +and afford a retreat for them. Any attempt at fortifying the Citadel +Hill this season was thought to be out of the question, the season being +too late, the scarcity of workmen very great, and there being no troops +for its defence. + +The Governor proposed and it was agreed in Council to collect a force of +1000 men with pay and provisions, and that four companies of light +infantry now forming at Lunenburg be ordered up, and that 100 Acadians +from Clare and Yarmouth, and two light companies from Kings County do +march immediately to Halifax. The public authorities appear to have been +kept in a constant state of apprehension of invasion, while a continued +suspicion of many of the leading inhabitants being favourable to the +revolt, seemed to have taken possession of the mind of Governor Legge, +who, having differences of opinion with some of his officials, +attributed their disagreement with him on subjects of finance, etc., as +marks of disloyalty. He at length became so obnoxious to those in +authority, that it was deemed advisable to remove him from the +Government. His quarrels with Jonathan Binney, Governor Francklin and +other leading men of the town, are disclosed in the official letters and +minutes of Council of that day. + +It was found necessary to remove the Military Stores to George's Island +for safety, and additional batteries were erected there. The officers of +the Town Regiment of Militia were called on to subscribe the Oath of +Allegiance before going on duty. Those who subscribed were Col. Butler, +Major Smith, Captains Vanput, Brown, Finney and Millet, Lieutenants +Pyke, Piers, Solomon, Clarke and Fletcher, Second Lieutenants Tritton, +Jacobs, Schwartz and Kerby, and Adjutant Peters. Among them we recognize +several family names, the grandsires of some of our present citizens. + +Among the magistrates appointed in 1771 were Joseph Gray, John Amiel and +Captain Thompson of His Majesty's Ship Mermaid. + +The bureau of Governor Legge, at the Government House, was broken open +in 1744, and a reward of L.100 was offered for the detection of the +thief. + +The condition of the Orphan House, and the children therein, was +considered bad, and an order was issued for immediate steps to be taken +for its being put on a better footing. + +During the winter of 1774, Sambro Light House was without light for five +successive nights in consequence of Mr. Woodmass, the contractor, not +having sent down a supply of oil, for which he was dismissed by Order of +Council. + +The following year William Nesbitt, speaker of the House of Assembly, +was appointed Custos of Halifax County, and the names of Thomas Bridge +and Thomas Proctor added to the Commission of the Peace. + +Col. Butler, commanding the militia force, reported that the sickness in +the town, together with the daily labour of the inhabitants, rendered it +difficult to make up the number of men ordered for the town guard, which +duty the people considered a hardship. The guard was accordingly ordered +by the Council to be discontinued. + +The scarcity of provisions in the town was at this time so great that +the government found it necessary to dispatch the Snow Elizabeth to +Quebec for flour for the inhabitants. + +The impressment of men for the Navy had been a great grievance; the +trade of the country was not only injured, but the town was becoming +deprived of fish and fuel in consequence of the scarcity of fishermen +and labourers. The merchants petitioned the Governor and Council on the +subject. The memorial was sent to the naval commander of the station; it +does not appear, however, that any further attention was paid to the +remonstrance. + +In September, 1775, it was proposed to throw up some temporary works in +addition to the old works on Citadel Hill, and to entrench about the +naval yard. On consideration, it was thought too late in this season to +do any earth work on Citadel Hill. Col. Spry, however, proposed the +erection of Blockhouses in the neighbourhood of the town. It is probable +the old Blockhouses at Fort Needham and Three Mile House, the remains of +which are within the recollection of many of our citizens, may have been +originally constructed about this time. They were in full repair during +the war of 1812. + +A continual influx of strangers from the old colonies caused Martial Law +to be proclaimed on the 30th of November of this year, and it was deemed +necessary by the Council that a proclamation should be issued requiring +all persons not being settled inhabitants of the town, who had arrived +since September, to give notice of their arrival and names to two +Magistrates, and all inn and tavern keepers were required to report +arrivals at their houses, and vessels were forbidden entering the North +West Arm without license. One thousand militiamen were ordered for the +defence of the town. The constant arrival of loyalist refugees from the +revolted colonies, during this and subsequent years, rendered provisions +scarce, and in addition to these troubles, the small-pox broke out in +the town about the middle of July. The King's troops had all been +removed from Nova Scotia to the revolted provinces, and the Governor was +informed by the home authorities that no troops could be spared, and +that the inhabitants themselves must defend the town. The town guard was +accordingly again composed of militia. + +1775. The fifth General Assembly held this year its seventh session from +12th June to 20th July. Mr. Nesbitt was Speaker. Chief Justice Belcher +presided at the quarter sessions this summer, and gave a very loyal +address to the Magistrates and public functionaries present; all +Magistrates and town officers took the Oath of Allegiance. The general +feeling throughout the town appeared to have been eminently loyal; some +of the leading citizens, however, though firm in their allegiance to the +British Crown, yet thought that self government in the Colonies in +fiscal matters was the correct policy. This threw several under +suspicion; Mr. John Fillis, Mr. Malachi Salter and Mr. Smith, who were +natives of Boston, were among the number. + +Mr. Legge, the Governor, proposed to raise a regiment in Halifax, to be +commanded by himself, but was unsuccessful owing to his unpopularity. + +In the autumn of the previous year, a difficulty had arisen regarding +the importation of some tea, in which Mr. Smith and Mr. Fillis were +concerned; and it having been understood that Fillis had said the +measures of Government were oppressive, these two gentlemen were ordered +to be removed from all offices under Government. The year previous a +quantity of hay belonging to Joseph Fairbanks, intended for the King's +service, had been burned. Some one in Halifax sent to Boston a statement +charging Fillis and Smith as being privy to the act. They complained to +the House of Assembly, then in session, when the following resolution +was passed: That this House do esteem Mr. Fillis and Mr. Smith to be +dutiful and lawful subjects to the King, etc., and that the "House is +unanimously of opinion that the said reports are base, infamous and +false, and that the authors thereof merit punishment." The garrison +having been reinforced by King's troops, the Governor concluded on +bringing no further drafts of militia to the town. + +1776. This was a memorable year for Halifax. The British forces under +General Howe having evacuated Boston, a fleet of three men-of-war and 47 +transports arrived in the harbour on 30th March, with troops and a +number of inhabitants of Boston. These were followed on 1st April by +many more transports, nearly 100 in number, with the remainder of Howe's +army and a number of Loyalist refugees. Howe demanded accommodation for +200 officers and 3000 men, and about 1500 loyalists with their families, +with supplies of fresh provisions, etc. Rents of houses in the town were +consequently doubled and the town soon presented the appearance of a +military camp.[44] Many complaints appear against the soldiers for +pulling down the fences and demolishing the stone walls on the +peninsula. One Christopher Schlegall had been killed in one of the +numerous affrays with the soldiers. Three soldiers were arrested and +tried for murder, but no convictions occurred. Several persons were +called on to give security for their good behaviour in the town. + +[Footnote 44: The engravings of the town published in 1777 show the +Common, west of the Citadel, and Camp Hill covered with tents, where a +large part of the troops appear to have been encamped.] + +Among the events of this year was the appearance in one of the Halifax +newspapers of copies of treasonable articles from the Rhode Island and +Boston papers. The printer was brought before the Council and +reprimanded and cautioned against permitting any such publications again +to appear in his paper. + +The names of the Members of Assembly for Halifax County and Town in 1776 +were Wm. Nesbitt and Henry Smith, and Thomas Bridge and Joseph +Fairbanks. Mr. Fenton was still Provost Marshall with jurisdiction +throughout the province, there being then no County Sheriffs at this +time. Henry Newton was Collector of Customs at Halifax, James Burrows, +Comptroller, Lewis Piers, Gauger of Liquors, etc. + +The Magistrates of the town were John Creighton, John Burbidge, Malachi +Salter, Benjamin Green, John Cunningham, George Cotnam, John Newton, +Winkworth Tonge, Jos. Desbarres, Charles Morris, Junior, George Smith, +J. Gray, Giles Tidmarsh, George Deschamps, Dan. Cunningham, Thomas +Proctor and Thomas Bridge. + +The death of Chief Justice Belcher occurred this year. Mr. Morris, one +of the assistant judges, was appointed to fill the office of Chief +Justice until another should be appointed. + +1777. The jail at Halifax was at this time in a very insecure condition. +Criminals were continually escaping from it, several of whom had been +found guilty of being in arms against the King. The jailor was infirm +and his wife took charge. There were no regulations enforced for +visiting the prisoners at night, and the shackles on the prisoners were +found not to be sufficient. The Provost Marshall was suspended and Mr. +Bridge appointed to act in his place. + +Malcolm McIntyre, Thomas Crow, John Chalk, John Sewlock, Samuel Miller, +Robert McMullen, Tulley McKilley, Cornelius O'Brien, Thomas Whitteny, +John Cribben and John McIntyre, all fishermen of Herring Cove, were this +year rewarded for attacking and taking a shallop and apprehending seven +persons, being part of the crew of an American privateer which had been +driven on shore and destroyed by the armed brig Hope, off Canso, from +which they had made their escape in the shallop. + +1778. The names of John Hosterman, Thomas Stevens and Edmund Phelan +appear as Commissioners of the Poor, John Woodin, Keeper of the Poor +House, and Thomas Brown, Schoolmaster at Halifax. + +On the 13th July, 1779, the Revenge, privateer, Capt. Sheppard of +Halifax, was taken and destroyed by two American armed vessels. In +December following, H. M. Sloop-of-War North and the armed sloop St. +Helena, in coming into the harbour from Spanish River, Cape Breton, the +night being very dark and a south-east storm, were driven on shore about +a league from the light house; both were lost and 170 persons perished. + +1780. This year the following gentlemen were in the Commission of the +Peace at Halifax: William Nesbitt, Winkworth Tonge, John Burbidge, +Benjamin Green, John Cunningham, John Newton, Isaac Deschamps, William +Russell, W. Phipps, J. F. W. Desbarres, Charles Morris, junior, George +Smith, Enoch Rust, Joseph Gray, Giles Tidmarsh, John Fillis, George +Deschamps, Daniel Cunningham, Thomas Proctor, Thomas Bridge, George +Sherlock and John George Pyke. + +A public slaughter house was erected this year in the town and John +Woodin, senior, made keeper. + +March 12, 1780. John O'Brien advertizes as keeper of the tavern known as +the Golden Ball, formerly kept by Edward Phelan. The Golden Ball was +situate at the corner of Hollis and Sackville Streets, opposite the +building now called Variety Hall, occupied by W. Harrington. The hotel +called the Pontac, at the corner of Duke and Water Streets (now Roger +Cunningham's corner) was at this time kept by one Willis. It was here +the Town Assemblies, Public Balls and Entertainments were held. + +The Court House stood at the north-east corner of Buckingham and Argyle +Streets, where the store of Messrs. Northup & Sons now is. Chief Justice +Belcher presided here when first appointed. This building was, some +years after, burned down and the lot on which it stood, sold. + +On the 15th January, this year, the town was illuminated and there were +great rejoicings throughout the day for the success of the British +troops in Georgia. + +The Governor being informed from England that a large armament was +fitting out at Brest, it was resolved in Council that the town militia +should be called out for duty and a portion of the country militia got +ready to march to Halifax if required. General McLean, then in command +of the Garrison, was directed to put the fortifications in working +order. The Halifax militia was employed in the erection of bomb +batteries. Drafts of militia from the country came down and were +employed for three weeks on the works. + +At this period the means of communication between this country and +England had been very uncertain. The intercourse of Halifax with the old +colonies having been cut off, Governor Sir Richard Hughes urged on the +British Government the necessity of a line of packets being established +between Halifax and England. Several privateers, during this and the +following years, were fitted out at Halifax to cruise in American +waters. The Revenge, Capt. James Gandy, and the Liverpool, Capt. Young, +the former mounting 30 and the latter 8 guns, sailed for Halifax early +this spring. They were accompanied by the Halifax, Robert E. Foster, +master, owned and fitted out by Alexander Brymer, one of the principal +merchants of the town. + +The 18th of January being the Queen's birthday the citizens and militia +had a Ball at Willis' rooms in the Pontac. + +In May, the Revenge brought in a richly laden Snow, bound from Cadiz to +Chesapeake Bay, the Blond Frigate and an armed sloop both brought in +American prizes. + +For several years two large ships, the Adamant and St. Lawrence, were +regular traders between Halifax and Great Britain. They were regular in +their trips, spring and fall, and the merchants of Halifax depended +chiefly on them for their supplies of British merchandize. + +A government armed vessel called the Loyal Nova Scotian, and several +other small vessels, were kept to cruise off the mouth of the harbour to +prevent surprise from the pirates and privateer cruisers which infested +the coast. Several were captured and brought into Halifax during this +and the two following years. + +In May, 1779, an election for the County took place in Halifax. John +George Pyke and Francis Boyd were the candidates. Pyke was returned. + +General McLean left Halifax in June with a force for the reduction of +Penobscot. In August, a squadron, consisting of several men-of-war and +some merchant vessels, among which were the Adamant and St. Lawrence, +sailed from Halifax for his relief. The town continued to be infested +with Press Gangs for the ships of war. The inhabitants complained to the +Governor and Council. Several riots on the wharves having occurred in +consequence of the press, proclamation was issued demolishing all +impressments except under the sanction of the Governor and Council. + +October 26th, 1780. The committee of the House of Assembly, at this +date, reported the sum of L.1500 to be granted for the erection of a +"proper and convenient building in the town for a public school, and a +sum not exceeding L.100 per annum for a master, and L.50 for an usher when +the number of scholars shall exceed forty." The trustees were to be five +in number, to be appointed annually by the government, and the L.1500 was +to be raised by lottery. This lottery was carried into effect, but the +building does not appear to have been erected. How the proceeds of the +lottery were disposed of is not mentioned. The Halifax Grammar School +had its origin from this proceeding. It was established in the old +building at the corner of Barrington and Sackville Streets, from which +it has only lately been removed to the private residence of the Rev. +Doctor Gilpin, the Head Master. This building was originally occupied as +a place for the meeting of the Legislature, and was previously at one +time used as a Guard House. It appears to have undergone very little +alteration since 1780, until sold a year or two ago. It is one of, if +not the oldest building in the city, except St. Paul's Church, and the +old Dutch Church on Brunswick Street. The Rev. William Cochran, +afterwards Vice-President of King's College, was the first head master. +He was succeeded by the Rev. George Wright, who was Garrison Chaplain +and minister of St. George's. On his death, in 1819, the Rev. John +Thomas Twining received the appointment. He retired from the school in +1848, when the Rev. Edwin Gilpin, succeeded him. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +At the commencement of the year 1781 many of the Loyalist refugees who +came to Halifax after the evacuation of Boston by the British Army, had +left the town, and the price of provisions was beginning to come down. +The constant influx of strangers, however, from the revolted colonies, +with the prisoners taken in the prizes brought into the port by the +privateers and ships of war, tended again to augment the population. +Captains of men-of-war, when vessels were in port, in order to fill up +their complements of men, undertook to impress in the streets of the +town without authority from the civil magistrate. On the 6th January an +armed party of sailors and marines assisted by soldiers and commanded by +naval officers, seized in the streets of the town, some of the +inhabitants and several coasters belonging to Lunenburg, who had come up +in their vessels to sell their produce; bound their hands behind their +backs, carried them through the streets and lodged them in the guard +houses, from which they were conveyed on board the ships of war in the +harbour. The Grand Jury were in session at the time and presented the +outrage to the Sessions, who requested the Governor, Sir Richard Hughes, +to interfere. The Governor issued his proclamation declaring all such +impressments, without the sanction of the civil authority, to be illegal +and an outrageous breach of the civil law, and calling upon all +magistrates, etc., to resist such proceedings and to bring the offenders +to justice. It does not appear, however, that the proclamation was +sufficient to procure the release of the unfortunate coasters. The names +of the Grand Jury on this occasion were William Meaney, William Graham, +Robert Kitts, Peter McNab, John Boyd, William Mott, William Millett, +junior, John Moore, William Carter, James Creighton, John Cleary, +Richard Jacobs and Charles Hill. + +On the 13th January, this year, died Malachi Salter, Esq., aged 65 +years. He was one of the first members of Assembly for the town. His +colleague in the representation was Joseph Fairbanks. Mr. Salter came +from Boston to Halifax, very soon after the town was commenced, and +carried on business as merchant. He is said to have visited Chebucto +Harbour while engaged in the fishery, several years before the arrival +of Cornwallis in 1749. The old building at the corner of Salter and +Barrington Streets, formerly the residence of the late Hon. William +Lawson, afterwards owned by John Esson, was originally built by Mr. +Salter, and was his residence for many years. This is one of the oldest +houses now remaining in Halifax. It received improvements, and was +enlarged by Mr. Lawson, about 60 years ago. + +The School Lottery, before mentioned, was carried on this year. It was +divided into two classes. The first to consist of 5000 tickets, at 20s. +each, was advertised on the 25th September. The highest prize was L.2000. +The prizes in all came to L.4,250, leaving a balance of L.750 for the +purposes of the school. + +The most exciting occurence of the year was the arrival of the +Charleston Frigate, the sloop Vulture, and the armed ship Vulcan, in +July, after a sharp conflict with a French Squadron. The Charleston had +left the harbour a short time before in convoy of some transports, and +while out had taken several prizes, which had been sent in a few days +previously. On the 10th July, the Charleston discovered near Spanish +River, Cape Breton, two French Frigates, of 40 guns each. Captain +Francis Evans, of the Charleston, having thrown out signals for the +transports to make for a port, bore down upon the enemy. The Little +Jack, convoy to the Quebec fleet, being in company, supported the +Charleston and the Vulture. Some time after the action began, Capt. +Evans being killed by a cannon shot, Lt. McKay, the succeeding officer +of the Charleston, under the direction of Capt. Dennis George,[45] of +the Vulture, continued the action with the greatest coolness and +bravery. Nor was the Vulcan, armed ship, in the least deficient in +giving signal proof of the resolute determination of the troops on +board, under command of Capt. Ewatt, of the 70th Regiment. But +notwithstanding the superiority of the French, after an obstinate +resistance they were enabled to sheer off and bear away, and Capt. +George conducted his much-shattered little squadron into Halifax +Harbour. The Little Jack stuck to one of the French Frigates of 42 +guns, but was afterwards recaptured. On the 31st, the remains of Captain +Evans, were interred with military honors, under St. Paul's Church, +where his monument is still to be seen on the east side of the chancel. +He was a young man of great promise, and his premature death was a loss +to the service, and shed a gloom over the town, in which he had made +many friends. + +[Footnote 45: Afterwards Sir Dennis George, Baronet. He was father of +the late Sir Rupert D. George, Secretary of the Province for many years, +and of Sir Samuel Hood George, who was for a short time member of +Assembly for the County of Halifax. Capt. George married Miss Cochran, +of Halifax.] + +This year (1781), Lord Charles Montague, who had been Governor of one of +the West India Islands, arrived at Halifax, with 200 of his disbanded +corps from Jamaica. This nobleman died at Halifax, from the effects of +fatigue, in travelling over land from Quebec to Halifax, in winter. He +was buried under St. Paul's Church, where a monument to his memory is to +be seen near that of Capt. Evans. He was a younger son of Robert, Duke +of Manchester. + +1782. The continual intercourse at this time carried on with the +revolted colonies, rendered it necessary that a more strict system of +inspection should be adopted with respect to vessels and passengers +entering and leaving the port; accordingly Capt. Thomas Beamish was +appointed Port Warden. His duty was to grant passes to all vessels and +boats leaving, and to visit all those entering the harbour. No vessel or +boat was allowed to pass George's Island, in the night time, or leave +the harbour without sending a boat to the island, and also producing a +pass from the Port Warden; and all vessels coming in were to be hailed +from the island, and ordered to send their boat on shore to the Market +Slip, or public landing, to be examined by the Port Warden before +landing in any other part of the town. The Port Warden's office was in +the old building which formerly stood at the corner now known as +Laidlaw's Corner on Water Street, just above the Steamboat Wharf. At +this time the water came up as far as the spot on the wharf, where Bauld +and Gibson's store or shop now stands. + +The Governor, Sir Andrew Snape Hammond, went to England this year, and +was succeeded by Governor Parr. He received a very flattering address +from the inhabitants of the town. Hammond was esteemed a good Governor, +and had gained the good will of the people by his courteous manners and +desire to meet, as far as possible, the wishes of the inhabitants in all +municipal matters. + +This summer 57 transports with troops, and the Renown, a fifty gun +ship, put into Halifax on their way to New York and Canada. In October +the Renown sent in a prize, laden with a rich cargo of silks, etc. The +naval ships Adamant and St. Lawrence made their trips this season in 35 +days. + +Among the occurences this year was the conviction and sentence of a man +named William McLean, for street robbery, and the murder of a Mrs. Ann +Dunbrack in July, by persons unknown. The grand Jury recommended McLean +to mercy, but the Governor and Council saw no reason to grant a +reprieve, and he was executed. Street robberies were at the time of +frequent occurence in the town. + +Articles of peace between Great Britain and the United States of America +were signed in November of this year, and with France in January +following. + +The principal public amusements in the town during the year were +subscription assemblies, held at the Pontac, and at Mrs. Sutherland's +Coffee House, every fortnight. The latter establishment was in Bedford +Row, opposite the Commissary offices. The national societies dined +together, and levees were held and parties given at Government House on +all public holidays. The Garrison consisted of the 70th, 82nd and 84th +Regiments, with Baron de Seitz's[46] Germans. Night riots were frequent, +and continual complaints appear to have been made before the Sessions, +of signs being removed from shops, and windows broken. + +[Footnote 46: Baron de Seitz died at Halifax in the following year. He +was buried under St. Paul's Church with military honors, with his full +uniform, sword and spurs, according to the ancient custom in Germany +when the last Baron of the race dies. His monument, a quaint old German +performance, may be seen in the east gallery of St. Paul's, with his +armorial bearings, etc. Among his effects advertized for sale was his +diamond ring and coach with 3 horses.] + +The views of the town and suburbs at this time show the fortifications +at Citadel Hill, Fort Needham and Point Pleasant. They were supposed to +have been taken by one Colonel Hicks, and were engraved and published in +London. These views were mere outlines. Copies of them are to be seen at +the Provincial Museum, where there are also a series of views, very +neatly executed in copper plate, of the Government House, St. Paul's +Church and other parts of the town. These latter were published about +1776, some six or seven years before those of Colonel Hicks. + +Governor Parr and family came out in the ship St. Lawrence, and assumed +the government in October. + +Benjamin Green, Esq., son of the Hon. B. Green, one of the first members +of Council, was elected member of Assembly for the town in February, +without opposition. Mr. William Shaw was at the time Sheriff of the +County. + +In December, 1782, a large quantity of heavy ordnance was brought to +Halifax from Charleston, South Carolina; also 500 refugees, men, women +and children, arrived about the same date. + +In August, 1783, a number of Negro refugees arrived from New York. It +was resolved that they should be settled in different parts of the +Province; however, not a few remained in Halifax, and became servants +and labourers. + +The Loyalists continued to come from the old Colonies, many of them in a +destitute and helpless condition, until the population of the town was +increased to three times its former number, and much temporary suffering +in consequence prevailed. Yet many intelligent and enterprising settlers +were at this period added to our population, giving new life and spirit +to the town. Many spacious and commodious buildings began to be erected, +taking the place of the low gamble-roofed and picketed buildings of an +early day. It is very remarkable, however, that in the year 1791, only +seven years after this great influx, the population had again so +decreased as scarcely to exceed 5,000. In 1783, Governor Parr estimated +the population at only 1,200. This was before the Loyalist emigration +from New York. In 1784, one hundred and ninety-four Negro men, women and +children arrived in Halifax from St. Augustin's, in a destitute +condition; they did not remain in the town, but were distributed by the +Government throughout the interior parts of the Province. + +Governor Parr in his letter to England of November 20th, 1783, says, +"upwards of 25,000 Loyalists have already arrived in the Province, most +of whom, with the exception of those who went to Shelburne, came to +Halifax before they became distributed throughout the Province." + +Again in his letter of 15th January, 1784, he says, "In consequence of +the final evacuation of New York,[47] a considerable number of refugee +families have come to Halifax, who must be provided for at the public +expense. They are in a most wretched condition, destitute of almost +everything--chiefly women and children, all still on board the vessels, +and I have not been able to find as yet any place for them, and the cold +is setting in very severe."[48] + +[Footnote 47: New York was finally evacuated by the British Troops on +the 25th November, 1783.] + +[Footnote 48: NOTE.--Tradition says that the town was then so crowded by +refugees and soldiers, that the cabooses from the transports were +removed from the vessels, and ranged along Granville Street in rear of +Government House, for the accommodation of the people.] + +On the 20th October, 1784, an advertizement appeared in a Halifax paper, +for sale, "All that land near the entrance of the harbour and opposite +to Cornwallis' Island, called Mauger's Beach, containing by particular +grant 5 acres according to the plan attached to the grant." This beach +had been formerly occupied for curing fish, and had buildings erected +thereon for that purpose.[49] + +[Footnote 49: The tower now on Mauger's Beach was not built until about +the commencement of the present century.] + +The Penal Statutes had been repealed in 1783. The Roman Catholics in the +town, chiefly emigrants from Ireland, having become numerous, purchased +a piece of ground in Barrington Street, where they built a Chapel, which +was dedicated to St. Peter. The frame was erected on 19th July, 1784, +and many of the inhabitants, both Protestants and Roman Catholics, +attended the ceremony. This building stood in from the street, directly +opposite the head of Salter Street. It was painted red, with a steeple +at the western end. It was removed in or shortly after Bishop Burke's +time, on the completion of the new stone church, now St. Mary's. The +Rev. Mr. Jones was the first officiating priest. The Rev. Edmund Burke, +who came from Canada, officiated at St. Peter's for many years before he +was appointed Bishop. + +A number of emigrants arrived in Halifax this year from England. Three +hundred passengers came in the Sally transport, in a great measure +destitute of clothing and provisions. Fresh provisions became very dear, +and the merchants of Halifax had flour up to L.3 10s. per cwt. The +Governor and Council, in consequence, ordered the admission of +provisions from the United States to afford relief to the inhabitants. + +The House of Assembly was dissolved this year; it had sat fourteen +years without being dissolved, in consequence of the American troubles. +The only alteration in the Halifax representation was the return of +Capt. William Abbott for the County. Mr. Francis Green, second son of +old Councillor Green, was again chosen Sheriff of Halifax in 1784. + +1785. January 3rd, Mr. Sampson Salter Blowers, a barrister from Boston +who came among the Loyalists, was appointed Attorney General in the +place of Mr. Gibbons, who had received the appointment of Chief Justice +for the Island of Cape Breton, then a separate province. + +The Orphan house being no longer in use, was ordered to be let on a +lease for one year.[50] + +[Footnote 50: The locality of this orphan house is uncertain.] + +In September, 1785, a number of whalers from Nantucket came to Halifax; +three brigantines and one schooner, with crews and everything necessary +for prosecuting the whale fishery, which they proposed to do under the +British flag. Their families were to follow. A short time after they +were joined by three brigantines and a sloop from the same place. + +On the twentieth of October following, the Chief Land Surveyor was +directed to make return of such lands as were vacant at Dartmouth to be +granted to Samuel Starbuck, Timothy Folger, and others, from Nantucket, +to make settlement for the whalers. The Town of Dartmouth had been many +years previously laid out in lots which had been granted or appropriated +to individuals, some of whom had built houses, and others though then +vacant, had been held and sold from time to time by their respective +owners. Most of these lots were reported vacant by Mr. Morris, the +surveyor, and seized upon by the Government, as it is said, without any +proceeding of escheat, and re-granted to the Quakers from Nantucket, +which caused much discontent, and questions of title arose and remained +open for many years after. + +At a Court of Admiralty held on Friday, the 27th August, 1785, for the +trial of piracies committed upon the high seas, M. Buckley and Belitham +Taylor were tried, committed and sentenced to death for running away +with the schooner John Miller of Chedabucto and her cargo. Two men were +also hanged this year for robbery committed to the eastward of Halifax. + +The death of the Chief Justice, Bryan Finucane, having occurred this +year, Judge Isaac Deschamps filled the office until the appointment of +Chief Justice Pemberton. Judge Finucane was buried under St. Paul's +Church. His escutcheon is in the gallery. + +A general election occurred in 1785, when Mr. S. S. Blowers, John George +Pyke, Richard John Uniacke and Michael Wallace were returned for the +County, and John Fillis and William Cochran for the town. + +The whale fishery was the chief subject which engaged the attention of +the public during the year. Much advantage was expected to accrue to the +commerce of the place from the Quakers from Nantucket having undertaken +to settle in Dartmouth. They went on prosperously for a short time, +until they found the commercial regulations established in England for +the Colonies were hostile to their interests, and they eventually +removed, some of them, it is said, to Wales and other parts of Great +Britain, where they carried on their fishery to more advantage. + +A petition was presented this autumn to the Governor and Council from a +number of merchants, tradesmen and other inhabitants, praying for a +Charter of Incorporation for the Town. This was the first occasion on +which the subject was brought prominently before the public. It was, +however, not deemed by the government "expedient or necessary" to comply +with the prayer of the petition. The reasons are not given in the Minute +of Council, which bears date 17th November, 1785. The names of the +Councillors present were Richard Bulkeley, Henry Newton, Jonathan +Binney, Arthur Goold, Alexander Brymer, Thomas Cochran and Charles +Morris. The functions of His Majesty's Council at this period of our +history embraced all departments of executive authority in the Colony. +They were equally supreme in the control of town affairs as those of the +province at large. The magistrates, though nominally the executive of +the town, never acted in any matter of moment without consulting the +Governor and Council. The existence of a corporate body having the sole +control of town affairs would in a great measure deprive them of that +supervision which they no doubt deemed, for the interest of the +community, should remain in the Governor and Council. + +1786. It was customary at this period to celebrate the Royal birthdays +and almost all public holidays by a levee at Government House, a review +of the troops in garrison on the Common, and occasionally a public ball, +either by the Governor at Government House or by the inhabitants of the +town at the public assembly room. This custom continued in Halifax until +about the year 1844 or 1845, when it was broken through by Governor +Falkland. On the 18th June, 1786, Queen Charlotte's birthday was +celebrated in the town by a levee and review, and in the evening by a +ball in the old Pontac building. The confectionery on this occasion was +very superb. It was prepared by one Signor Lenzi. The ball commenced at +half-past eight, supper was announced by the elevation of a curtain that +separated the two rooms. In the middle of the table there arose an +artificial fountain, with the temples of Health and Venus at the top and +bottom, all constructed of sugar. The Gazette of the time says, they +"did not go home till morning." + +A regular post communication was opened this summer with Annapolis; a +courier was engaged, who went through once a fortnight with the mail +between Halifax and Annapolis. John Howe, who had lately come to Halifax +from Boston and had established a newspaper, was at this time +postmaster; he succeeded Mr. Stevens. The following spring (1786) the +town was so enveloped in smoke for many days as almost to impede +business, caused by a great fire which raged in the woods in the +neighbourhood. + +On 10th October, 1786, arrived His Majesty's Ship Pegasus, commanded by +His Royal Highness Prince William Henry. He was received at the King's +Slip by Governor Parr and Major General Campbell, then in command of the +Garrison, and conducted to the Government House, which stood in the +square now occupied by the Province Building, where he was waited upon +by the military and the principal inhabitants. The Prince expressed a +desire that all display should be laid aside, but the people illuminated +their dwellings, and by 8 o'clock the whole town was lighted and the +streets crowded with people. + +In the Gazette of the 9th February, 1786, appears a resolution and +engagement entered into by the merchants and others at a public meeting +lately held in Halifax, wherein they pledged themselves neither to buy +nor sell articles imported from the United States, prohibited by the +Governor's proclamation. The document is signed by 75 persons. + +On 28th February, a German Society was formed in Halifax, when John W. +Schwartz was chosen President, Doctor F. Gschwint, (pronounced Swint) +Vice-President, Godfrey Schwartz Treasurer, Henry Uthoff Secretary. In +1790 Adolphus Veith was secretary of this Society. + +On 4th March, the jail was broken open and the prisoners, six in number, +all escaped, of whom five were re-taken. Mr. Green was then Sheriff. +Inquiries were instituted, but no information obtained. The delapidated +and insecure state of the jail at the time was the subject of public +comment. + +The money collected for Liquor Licences in the town, between 31st May, +1784, and 31st May, 1785, amounted to L.531. Mr. Francis Shipton was +Clerk of Licences. + +Three vessels were fitted out during the summer of 1786 for the whale +fishery,--the schooners Parr and Lively, and the ship Romulus. + +This year the merchants and shipowners formed themselves into a society +called the Halifax Marine Association, for the benefit of trade. The +following year Nova Scotia was erected into a Bishop's See. The Right +Reverend Charles Inglis was appointed Bishop. He arrived from England on +16th October, and made Halifax his residence. + +On the 3rd July, 1787, the Pegasus, frigate, commanded by Prince William +Henry, arrived again at Halifax, 15 days from Jamaica. On Friday, at +half-past two o'clock, the troops were drawn up in double line from the +wharf to Government House. The Prince landed at the slip under a salute +from the artillery on the King's Wharf. He was accompanied to Government +House by the Governor and Council, where he received an address from the +inhabitants. There was a dinner and ball at Government House in the +evening, and a brilliant illumination of the town. + +This month two whalers returned bringing 1,060 barrels oil and 72 cwt. +whalebone. It is not mentioned whether these vessels belonged to the +Quakers or to some of the merchants of the town. + +On the 24th June, the Freemasons had a grand procession. They walked to +St. Paul's Church, where they heard a sermon from the Rev. Mr. Weeks. +The Prince reviewed the troops in garrison on 30th July, consisting of +the 57th and 37th Regiments, and the first Battalion of the 60th +Regiment. + +On the 7th July the fleet, consisting of the Leander, Commodore +Sawyer--Pegasus, Prince William Henry--Ariadne, Capt. Osborne, the +Resource, and the Brig Weazel, Commander Hood, fell down to the beach, +intending to proceed to Quebec the first fair wind. They sailed on the +14th. The Pegasus, with the Prince, returned to Halifax early in +November. He received an address on the 6th, from the House of Assembly +then in Session. At two o'clock on that day, the barge of the Pegasus +with the Royal Standard flying, preceded by the Commodore in his barge, +with his pendant, and the Captains of the other ships of war in their +barges, proceeded slowly in procession from their ships to the King's +Wharf, where the party landed under a salute of 21 guns. They were +received at the stairs by the Governor, Council and Assembly, and the +troops, under General Ogilvie, being ordered up, they proceeded to +Government House, where a number of members of the Legislature were +presented to him. They then proceeded through the lines of troops to the +Golden Ball,[51] where a handsome dinner was prepared, and where the +Prince dined with the members of [52]Assembly and the principal officers +of Government. He retired at 6 o'clock, after which a ball was given in +the evening at Marchington's new building in Water Street, adjoining the +Ordnance Yard, called the British Coffee House. The Prince entered the +ball room a little after 8 o'clock, and at 12 the company were conducted +into the supper room. The table was handsomely decorated and contained +places for 200 people. The Prince is said to have displayed great +affability in conversation on the occasion. + +[Footnote 51: S. W. corner of Sackville and Hollis Streets.] + +[Footnote 52: The House afterwards voted L.700 for the cost of the day's +entertainments.] + +An Act was passed this Session authorizing the sale of the Orphan House, +the Court House, the Public Slaughter House, and the Old Jail, and to +erect a Jail, and also to erect on the Lower Parade a Public Hall, a +Province House of Brick or Stone for the setting of the Legislature and +Public Offices. The Commissioners appointed for this purpose were John +Newton, Richard John Uniacke, John George Pyke and Mr. Taylor. Such +parts of this Act as have been executed were afterwards repealed by Act +of 1797. + +1788. An Election for Members for the Town took place this winter, which +was attended with extraordinary excitement. On the 20th February the +poll opened, at the Court House, in Halifax; the candidates were Mr. +Charles Morris and Jonathan Sterns. It closed on the Friday following, +when it stood: Morris, 415; Sterns, 274. Majority for Morris, 141. Mr. +Morris was carried through the Town and then taken home to his father's +house. Hand-bills had been posted up reflecting on the government. +Serious riots at the election occurred and many persons were hurt, some +of whom received fractures of the skull and other severe injuries. Armed +persons paraded the Town assaulting individuals. As this was a very +remarkable election, and resulted in more turbulence and riot than had +ever before occurred in the town on such occasions, we here copy the +following extract from Anthony Henry's _Gazette_ of 25th February:--"The +unwearied and spirited exertions of a number of respectable gentlemen in +a great measure calmed the minds of the people, and prevented their +violence being carried to any very great length; nevertheless it was +utterly impossible, in such confusion, to prevent many persons from +being wounded and hurt, two of whom, we are sorry to inform the public, +remain in a dangerous state; one having his skull fractured by some +persons who rushed out of Laycock's house on the beach, and the other +having been dangerously wounded by a shot from a window in the same +house. We are likewise sorry to inform the public, that Mr. Benjamin +Mulberry Holmes and his son, have been much beaten and abused by the +populace on Friday night, and were it not for the very fortunate and +timely interposition of Mr. Tobin's man and some others, it is probable +they would have fallen a sacrifice to an enraged multitude." + +The excitement had been caused partly by certain proceedings on the part +of the judges of the Supreme Court against Mr. Sterns and Mr. Taylor, +two practising lawyers in the town, whose names had been struck off the +roll by Chief Justice Deschamps. One of the gentlemen, Mr. Sterns, was +the defeated candidate at the election. + +On the 3rd June, Bishop Inglis held his primary visitation of his +Clergy, when he delivered a charge, received an address, and held a +confirmation in the afternoon at St. Paul's, when one hundred and twenty +young persons went through the ceremony of confirmation. + +A heavy rain-storm occurred on Saturday, 5th July, when the streets of +the town were very much injured by the torrents of water which poured +down the hills. It was estimated that the rainfall was upwards of 186 +tons of water to an acre, which, allowing the rain to have fallen +equally on the whole peninsula, would make the fall of water on that +small space equal to 345,000 tons, in four hours. + +July 30. Arrived five sail of whalers, having on board the following +valuable cargoes: + + Sloop "Watson," Danl. Ray, Master, 150 bbls. sperm, 50 do. + headmatter. + + Brigt. "Lucretia," J. Coffin, Master, 250 bbls. sperm, 300 + bbls. black oil, and 3000 cut bone. + + Brigt. "Somerset," S. Gardner, Master, 230 bbls. sperm. + + Brigt. "Sally," P. Worth, Master, 200 bbls. do. + + Brigt. "Industry," W. Chadwick, Master, 84 bbls. do. 26 bbls. + headmatter, and 300 do. black oil, also 3000 cut bone. + +The "Andromeda," frigate, commanded by Prince William Henry, from +England, arrived on 17th August, 1788; he was again received with the +usual honours and the town was illuminated. The Prince attended a +sham-fight on the Common, on 10th September, in which, the 4th, 37th, +and 57th Regiments took part. Three soldiers were wounded by bursting of +their muskets during the performance. + +On 21st October, the new Chief Justice Jeremiah Pemberton, took the +oaths and his seat on the bench, and his patent was then read in open +Court. + +Wednesday, Oct. 22nd, was launched at the south end of the town, a +handsome brig, the property of Messrs. Gouge & Pryor; she was the first +vessel of the size ever built in the town. + +The following gentlemen composed the Magistracy of the town this year, +viz:--Benj. Green, John Cunningham, John Newton, Charles Morris, George +Smith, William Sherlock, John George Pyke, Thos. Cochran, Anthony +Stewart,[53] W. Taylor, Stephen N. Binney, J. M. F. Bulkeley, Revd. +Michael Houseal, James Gautier, William Morris, Charles Morris, junior, +Daniel Wood, junior; Matthew Cahill was High Sheriff. + +[Footnote 53: Anthony Stewart was a gentleman from the province of +Maryland; he was the father of the late Judge James Stewart, who married +a sister of the late Chief Justice Sir B. Haliburton and who died in +1830, and was succeeded on the Supreme Court Bench by R. J. Uniacke, +junior.] + +It appears that the rank of Esquire was not applied to any person, at +this or any previous period, except Magistrates and high public +functionaries, and persons to whom it was accorded in consequence of +their personal wealth and rank in society. Being a member of the House +of Assembly did not confer the title. + +There was then no regular police establishment in the town, the +Magistrates, by turns, attended to police duties with the aid of the +town constables, who were annually appointed. All special matters were +discussed and settled at the special sessions, which was generally a +private meeting of Magistrates in the back office in conjunction with +the Clerk of the Peace. Criminal charges of a delicate nature, or when +private character was likely to be affected, were usually investigated +with closed doors, and no information made public until found to be +necessary for the ends of justice. This system continued until Mr. John +George Pyke received the appointment of Police Magistrate, about 60 +years since. His duties were merely to relieve the Magistrates from the +more onerous duties of attending daily at the Police office. Colonel +Pyke became incapacitated by age about the year 1825 or 6, when Mr. John +Liddell was appointed, who had to his aid three or four Police +Constables, two of whom had attended his predecessor, and the valuable +assistance of David Shaw Clarke, the clerk of the peace. Such was the +arrangement until the Act of Incorporation in 1848. + +The "Royal Gazette" was published by Anthony Henry, until about 1801, +when it fell into the hands of Mr. John Howe, from Boston. + +The "Weekly Chronicle," another paper, was at this time established by +Mr. William Minns, stationer, in Barrington Street, opposite the +north-end of the Grand Parade. It was commenced in 1787, and continued +to exist until about 1828 or 9. + +Among the merchants who advertized in these papers we find the names of +James Vetch, opposite the woodyard; David Hall & Co., in Hollis Street, +opposite Government House, (Crown Prince Building); and George Bell, +Granville St. The shops appear to have contained both groceries and +dry-goods, like the country stores of the present day. A. & R. Leslie +were at the corner of Duke and Water Streets, near the Pontac. Lawrence +Hartshorne, Hardware, corner of Granville and George streets, between +the market house and the parade. This old corner, so many years known as +Hartshorne & Boggs' corner, had a gun at the corner of the platform +which extended down the hill to the lower corner, occupied by one Hart, +a Jew, afterwards known as Martin Gay Black's, and now occupied by the +new building of the Merchant's Bank; this walk was the resort of the +merchants in the morning, and the fashionable and idle in the +afternoons. + +1789. On the night of Friday, the 23rd January, Cochran's buildings, a +range of three-storey buildings in the market square, were totally +consumed by fire. Firewards were John Fillis, J. G. Pyke, R. J. Uniacke, +Michael Wallace, Geo. Bell, Lawrence Hartshorne, William Lawlor, Charles +Hill. + +On 9th February, an advertisement appeared in the "Gazette," as follows: +"I am directed by His Excellency the Governor, to acquaint the several +gentlemen called upon on Friday last to form a Fire Company, that he +desires their attendance at the 'Golden Ball' on Thursday next, at +twelve o'clock, to agree to rules and regulations. (Signed) Jas. +Gautier." + +On 15th August, the jail was broken open, and a prisoner for debt, one +Livesay, who had been imprisoned at the suit of William Stairs, escaped, +for which Sheriff Green was prosecuted; Green stated that he had +repeatedly represented to the Council the insecure state of the jail. +Mr. James Clarke succeeded Mr. Green as Sheriff of Halifax, this year. + +The Dockyard at this period was in full operation. The Commissioner in +charge was the Honorable Henry Duncan, who was also a member of His +Majesty's Council. Doctor John Haliburton, father of the late Chief +Justice Sir Brenton Haliburton, was Surgeon of the Naval Hospital, Mr. +Provo Wallis was Master Superintendent, Elias Marshall, foreman of +shipwrights, William Lee foreman of carpenters, Alexander Anderson and +Provo F. Wallis, Chief Clerks. + +A great scarcity of bread was felt in the town this summer. Vessels sent +to Canada for wheat, returned empty. On the 9th July, the Governor +received a letter from the Governor of Canada, stating the great +scarcity of provisions in the Province of Lower Canada or Quebec, that a +famine was dreaded, and requesting him not to obstruct the exportation +of corn and flour from Halifax to Quebec. But the Justices of the +Quarter Sessions presented a memorial which had been laid before them by +the bakers of Halifax, setting forth that there is not more of flour in +the town than sufficient to provide bread for three or four days, +whereupon it was ordered by the Council that no vessel be permitted to +clear out with bread or flour to Quebec, except the brigantine "Ceres," +until further consideration. + +There were amateur theatrical performances this winter at the Pontac. It +would appear that the old theatre in Argyle Street, in the recollection +possibly of some of the oldest inhabitants, was in operation this year. +We find plays advertized to take place there in February and March. This +building stood on the spot on which the present Acadian School was +afterwards erected. It was the only theatre in the town during the time +of the Duke of Kent. It was afterwards occupied by Walter Bromley as a +public school upon the Lancaster plan, until removed to make way for the +present building, in the year 1816. + +The first Agricultural Society was formed in Halifax in the year 1789; +the Hon. Richard Bulkeley was the first president, and Mr. James +Clarke,[54] (afterwards Sheriff Clarke,) was the first secretary. + +[Footnote 54: Sheriff Clarke was father of the late David Shaw Clarke, +for many years Clerk of the Peace, and one of the police Magistrates of +the town.] + +The old Block House on the Citadel Hill being in a ruinous condition, +was taken down this year, but the flag and signal staffs which were on +it, were preserved. + +June 1, 1789. The old gaol and garden were offered for sale at auction. +This old building was in Hollis Street, nearly opposite the present +Halifax Hotel, and was formerly the property of the late Mr. Robert M. +Brown. + +On the 16th June, in conformity with the Act of the Legislature formerly +passed, the Governor was pleased to nominate Hon. Henry Newton, Hon. +Thos. Cochran, James Brenton, John Newton and R. J. Uniacke, Trustees of +a Grammar School forthwith to be erected in the town. "These gentlemen +chose Mr. William Cochran, of Trinity College, Dublin, and lately +Professor of the Greek and Latin languages in Columbia College, New +York, to be master. Mr. George Glennie, who was regularly educated in +the University of Aberdeen, to be usher, and Mr. Thomas Brown, already +well known in this town, to be teacher of writing, arithmetic and +mathematics. It is thought proper to give this early notification to the +public, but until a suitable building can be provided, the school will +be opened without delay in the room where the Assembly of the Province +meets." + +The Legislature after this met in the building known as Cochran's +building, which was erected at the Market Square after the fire before +mentioned, and the old building appropriated permanently for the Grammar +school, which remained so until lately, when the school was removed to +the private residence of Mr. Gilpin, the head master, and the old +building sold. + +The following advertizement appeared in the "Royal Gazette": +"Information for Masters of Vessels. The Block House on Citadel Hill, +which was a conspicuous object, is removed, having been in a ruinous +condition. The flag and signal staffs remain." "The hulk of the large +ship, sometime since stranded at the back of Thrum Cap, was beaten to +pieces in the last gale." + +On the 15th October, Charles Hill advertized for sale at auction, the +ground where the Court House stood, now known as Northup's Corner; +measuring on Buckingham Street, 94 feet, and on Argyle Street 43 feet. +On the 17th July previous, the old Court House, and the building +adjoining, known as Kirby's soap-house, and other buildings, were +destroyed by fire. + +1790. In the month of July, this year, the whaling fleet arrived, after +a successful voyage. The brig "Prince William Henry," Capt. Pinkham, +with 110 barrels of sperm oil; brig "Hibernian," Capt. Worth, 100 +barrels sperm and 32 black oil; ship "Parr," Capt. Chase, 480 sperm and +100 black oil, and brig "Harvest," Capt. Kelly, with 200 sperm. In +August following arrived the "Romulus," with 170 bbls. sperm oil. + +Among the chief merchants of the town at this time were William Forsyth, +Philip Marchington,[55] Brymer & Belcher, Hardware merchants, +successors to Thomas Robie; Michael Wallace, retail store-keeper; James +Moody, Hollis Street; Sabatier, Stewart & Co., Chas. Geddes, dry goods, +lower side of the Parade; Richard Kidston, general merchandize; George +Deblois, William Millet, Charles Hill, Hugh Kelley, all auctioneers. +John W. Schwartz kept store at the corner of Granville and Buckingham +Streets; Lawrence Hartshorne, at his corner, had a general assortment of +cutlery, etc., D. Hall & Co., in Hollis Street, opposite Government +House; Ann Bremner kept a dry goods shop at the north-west corner of the +parade; Peter Lynch kept a hat store at the sign of the "King's Arms;" +C. C. Hall & Co. was the chief dry goods store in the town; Benjamin +Salter, Ship Chandlery, Water St.; John Fillis & Son and G. & J. +Thirlock were among the wholesale dealers; Linnard & Young were the +fashionable tailors; Richard Courtney had a shop at the lower side of +the parade, William Sellon in Granville Street, King & Story in +Marchington's buildings, John Butler Dight, wholesale store in +Marchington's buildings; C. C. Hall & Co. had this year removed to +Marchington building; Winkworth Allen, general dealer, in Cochran's new +building. Mr. Wm. Millet the auctioneer, on the 9th Sept. advertized for +sale, "a negro man and sundry other articles." In the following year, +James Forman & Co. occupied a store on Copeland's wharf, also Benjamin +Salter. The British Coffee house was kept by John Gallagher at the head +of Marchington's wharf. Mrs. Sutherland's coffee house, was at this +time, one of the chief places of resort for Public Committees and +Societies, as well as for Public entertainments; concerts were held here +throughout the winter, commencing in September. The Halifax Marine +Society, which had been established in Halifax for several years, held +their quarterly meetings at this house. There was a house of +entertainment then kept on McNab's Island by one Mary Roubalet, for tea +parties in the summer. It was called the Mansion House. + +[Footnote 55: Mr. Marchington was a Loyalist from New York. He commenced +business in Halifax soon after his arrival, and accumulated a large +landed property in the town. He owned all the land on the north side of +the lane known by his name, leading from the ordnance into Argyle +Street, since called Bell's Lane, also the wharf adjoining the Ordnance +yard, long known as Marchington's wharf, afterwards the property of Tim +Connors. He died at Halifax; he was the grandfather of Major Welsford, +killed in the Crimean War, whose monument is to be seen in the old +English burial ground.] + +On the 12th day of January, 1790, James Clarke and George Geddes, Church +Wardens of St. Paul's, advertized that in consequence of the inclemency +of the weather on Sunday there was so small an attendance in church, +that the contributions towards the clothing of the children in the +Sunday Schools in the town, were so small, that they desired to invite +contributions from the inhabitants for the relief of the orphans and +others attending the schools. In February following, the church wardens +again advertized the distribution of clothing to the poor children of +the Sunday Schools: 15 great coats, 64 shirts and shifts, 70 pairs +stockings and 35 pairs strong shoes, which cost L.30 7s. 2d. The St. +Paul's school had nineteen boys and sixteen girls in attendance. + +On the same day, there was a visitation of the Halifax Grammar School by +the Governor, the Bishop, the Trustees and others. The attendance during +the winter was usually about 60. The school was addressed on this +occasion, by one of the elder boys, and after the examinations in the +Latin classes, writing and arithmetic, several scholars repeated pieces +and dialogues. Mr. Cochran was the headmaster; he shortly afterwards +accepted the charge of the Academy at Windsor; and the Rev. George +Wright was appointed in his place. His salary was L.150 per annum from +the Legislature, with what he could get from the pupils. The number of +scholars was 68. He states his loss in the shape of discount on his +Treasury warrants amounted to from 15 to 20 per cent., in consequence of +the delay in payment. + +The winter was very severe; The harbour was frozen over, and the +destitute condition of the poor very great. The gentlemen amateurs of +the theatre, sent L.25 to the Rev. Mr. Weeks, of St. Paul's, Dr. Andrew +Brown, of the Presbyterian meeting house, and Mr. Houseal of St. +George's in Dutchtown, for the poor of their respective parishes. The +overseers of the poor, Jonathan Tremain, James Gautier, James Kerby and +Andrew Belcher, met at the "Golden Ball," to assess the inhabitants of +the town for the poor rates. + +The Court House having been destroyed by fire, the Quarter Sessions held +their sittings on the 19th February, in the long room of the "Golden +Ball," for the trial of offenders. The "Golden Ball" was kept by Edward +Phelan this winter, who occupied the north end of the building as a +store for general merchandise. + +An Act of the Legislature had been passed this year, and was published +early in May, reciting that the destruction of the Court House by fire, +and the inconvenient situation of the present Assembly House, made it +necessary that a more suitable place should be provided, and the state +of the Province finances not being such as to admit of the expense of +erecting a proper and suitable building, it was therefore enacted, that +Commissioners be appointed to treat with Thomas James and William +Cochran, for their building opposite Government House, for L.200 per +annum, and to expend L.100 in furniture for the purposes of the meeting +of this Legislature and the Courts of Law. This building lately erected +after the fire, stood on the spot now occupied by the new Dominion +Public building, and continued to be the place of holding the General +Assembly, the Courts of Law, etc., until the Province Building was +completed for their reception in 1820. The building in which the +Legislature formerly held its sittings, and which was now appropriated +for the Grammar School, was this year repaired at the public expense. + +In June, the Grand Jury addressed Chief Justice Strange on his arrival +from England. The names of the Jury were:--Richard Kidston, foreman, +William Millet, Lawrence Hartshorne, Godfrey Schwartz, Winkworth Allen, +John Davis, J. Forbes, James Lewis, Benjamin Salter, James Strachan, +William Lawlor, Martin Shier, John Boyd and Alexander Copeland. + +In the autumn, the Secretary of the Province announced to the people of +the town, that in the event of a war with Spain, and the withdrawal of +the troops from the Province, it would be necessary to call out the +Militia for the defence of the town, and the Colonels of regiments were +called upon to hold themselves in readiness, and to make returns of the +state and condition of their respective regiments. + +About this time, Captain Stack was a regular trader between this port +and Ireland, and sold his cargoes of beef, salt pork, lard, etc., at +auction, at Charles Hill & Co.'s rooms. + +The Halifax Bar addressed Chief Justice Strange, on his leaving for +England on a visit, this autumn. The address was signed by S. S. +Blowers, R. J. Uniacke, James Sterns, E. B. Brenton, James Stewart, +Daniel Wood, Foster Hutchinson, J. Prout and W. H. O. Haliburton. + +At a Court of Quarter Sessions, held at Halifax, in June term of this +year, the Sheriff, pursuant to law and by virtue of a warrant directed +to him by the Justices of the Sessions, to lay out a road in the north +suburbs of the town, reported that he had laid out the road by a jury, +in the manner following, viz:--Beginning at the north-east corner or +angle of Lot No. 2, on the road leading from the Dockyard to the Naval +Hospital; thence to run north 28 west, 40 feet; thence north, 59 east, +238 feet, which leaves a road of 40 feet wide, between Allbright's +ground and the Hospital fence; thence north, 28 west, 660 feet; thence +north 20 west, 664 feet to the road leading to Fort Needham, leaving the +road 50 feet wide between the shore at the Narrows at high-water mark, +and the Lots Nos. 3 and 4. This notice was published, that all persons +who might think themselves aggrieved by the laying out of the road might +have an opportunity of being heard before the sessions, on Tuesday, the +5th September, 1790. It was signed by Thomas Wood, Clerk of the Peace. + +This road was intended as a continuation of Water Street northward, to +meet the road which leads up from the water to Fort Needham, but it does +not appear to have been on the line of the present road, but to have +gone through the northern end of the Hospital grounds, along the water +side, below the site of the old magazines. + +At the session of the House of Assembly in 1790, several articles of +impeachment against the Judges of the Supreme Court, as before +mentioned, passed the House, which were laid before the Executive +Council by the Governor, on 7th April. It was proposed to suspend Chief +Justice Deschamps and Judge James Brenton, in conformity with the +request of the Assembly. + +1791. Governor Parr died on 25th November this year, in the 66th year of +his age, and the ninth of his government. He was buried with military +honours, under St. Paul's Church, on the 29th of the month. The +procession moved from Government House to St. Paul's Church, in the +following order:--All the Lodges of the Freemasons, (His Excellency +having been the Grand Master,) the 20th regiment as the firing party, +the Church Wardens, the Physicians of deceased, the Clergy, the Bishop, +the body covered by a pall adorned by eight escutcheons, Pall-bearers, +Hon. A. Brymer, Major Boyd, the Commissioner of the Dockyard, the +Admiral, the Hon. S. S. Blowers, Hon. Thomas Cochran, Major Rawlinson, +the General, the relatives and servants of deceased, particular friends, +the Sheriff of the county, members of Council, viz., Morris, Bulkeley +and Newton, Judges Brenton and Hutchinson, the treasurer of the +province, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Custos of the county and +Justice Binney, Magistrates of the town, the bar, staff of the army, +officers of the navy and army, officers of militia, gentlemen of the +town, and the whole garrison all under arms, lining the streets. Minute +guns were fired by the men-of-war in the harbor and by the Royal +Artillery, during the procession. The service was performed by the +bishop, Dr. Charles Inglis, and the body was buried under the middle +aisle. + +During the autumn and winter, a number of black people from different +parts of the province were brought to Halifax, to be removed to Sierra +Leone. Michael Wallace was agent, who on 5th December, advertised for +1000 tons of shipping, for the purpose. Ships "Venus," "Parr," +"Eleanor;" Brigs "Betsy," "Beaver," "Mary," "Morning Star," "Catherine," +"P. W. Henry;" Schrs. "Liberty," and "Two Brothers," the whole commanded +by Lieutenant Clarkson, having on board the colored people, all sailed +for Sierra Leone on 15th January, 1792. The hire and damages amounted to +L.3965 8s. 0d. sterling. This expense was borne by the Sierra Leone +Company. These colored people were chiefly those who came from the old +provinces with the Loyalists. They formed a colony in Africa, called the +"Nova Scotia colony,"[56] which still exists, and about 15 years since +several old negroes were living who recollected the removal from +Halifax, when children. The fleet arrived at their destination after a +passage of 40 days. The number embarked was 1139. The day of arrival was +28th March, and the 28th March in every year is still kept up by the +adherents of the Lady Huntingdon Congregation at Sierra Leone, as the +anniversary of the arrival of their fathers in the colony. + +[Footnote 56: Among these negroes was a coloured preacher, the Rev. John +Marrant, who had been ordained in London in 1785, as a minister of Lady +Huntingdon's connection. He laboured among the people of his own colour +while in Nova Scotia, and having accompanied them to Sierra Leone, +officiated among them there for several years. He returned to England, +and died in 1791.] + +Until these Nova Scotian adherents of Lady Huntingdon's connection could +erect a chapel for themselves in their new home, they united with the +other coloured congregations of Methodists and Baptists. Mr. Zachary +Macaulay, who was at one time Governor of this colony, says: "There were +five or six black preachers among the Nova Scotians raised up from +their own body, who are not without a considerable influence." Among +these, was John Ellis, who was Superintendent of the churches; he was +succeeded by Anthony Elliot, a young Nova Scotia negro; he acquired +several of the native dialects and became an active Christian missionary +in Africa. He died in 1854 at the advanced age of 80. Elliot followed +the avocations of a fisherman and pilot as the means of livelihood, and +on the Sundays he preached to the people the word of Life. + +The population of the city and suburbs, in 1791, had fallen to 4,897. + +The returns on the census this year, are as follows;-- + + 1301 males over 16 years of age. + 935 " under " " + 2209 females. + 422 black people. + +The Agricultural Society of Halifax, offered premiums this year, and +published a volume on husbandry. + +A gold medal and 10 guineas was offered for the best essay on the +natural history of the Hessian fly, and the method of stopping its +progress in the wheat crop. A volume of the Society's proceedings, was +this year published at Halifax by John Howe. + +1792. On the 17th April news arrived of the appointment of Mr. John +Wentworth as Governor. He had resided in Halifax for seven or eight +years, having held the office of Ranger of woods and forests, and had +been Governor of New Hampshire. On 12th May, the "Hussar," frigate, +Capt. Rupert Denis George, arrived, having on board Governor Wentworth, +etc. He landed at the King's wharf under a salute fired from the parade +and a guard of honour from 21st regiment. On the 14th he was sworn into +office. In the evening the town was brilliantly illuminated. + +On 17th August a fire broke out in the property of John Welner, +soap-maker in Granville Street. Six tenements and the Ordnance +laboratory were consumed; Welner and his wife, two aged persons, were +burnt to death. The sum of L.140 was raised by subscription for the +sufferers at the fire. The principal sufferers, however, declined to +receive any aid, and a committee was appointed to examine the claims and +distribute the fund. + +Folger and Starbuck, the Quaker whalers, who settled at Dartmouth a +year or two since, left Halifax this year, for Milford Haven, in Great +Britain, where they expected to carry on their whale fishery with +greater facilities than at Dartmouth. + +Died at Halifax, on 27th September, 1792, Mrs. Hester Godfrey, aged 101 +years. + +The Grand Jury at Halifax, for 1792, were as follows, viz:--George +Smith, foreman, Andrew Liddell, John Masters, Philip Marchington, +Benjamin Mulberry Holmes, Rufus Fairbanks, Peter Smith, Michael Wallace, +John Steeling, Richard Jacobs, John Kirby, Thomas Filles, Charles Hill, +J. W. Schwartz, William Cochran, John Butler Dight,[57] Thomas Russell, +Alexander Brymer, George Grant, William Williams and George Deblois. + +[Footnote 57: John Butler Dight was the nephew and heir of the Hon. John +Butler, one of the early councillors. Under the will of his uncle, he +assumed the name of Butler only and was afterwards know as John Butler +Butler. He first was engaged in keeping a shop in the town; having +acquired a fortune by the death of his uncle, he became a member of +council and obtained a situation in the Commissariat department, after +which he was removed to the seat of war with the army under Lord +Wellington and others. Being owner of a large property near Windsor, he +came back to Halifax in about 1833, and died at Windsor. He was the +father of Colonel Edward S. K. Butler of 35th regiment, who afterwards +settled and died at Windsor.] + +Several petitions were presented this year to the Governor and Council, +from the merchants and others of Halifax, on the subject of trade +regulations and the collection of debts. Among the signatures to these +petitions, we find the names of James Forman & Co., James Moody, William +Veitch, George Grant, Winkworth Allen, William Kidston, Samuel Rudolph, +Benjamin M. Holmes, James and Alexander Kidston, Chas. Geddes, Wm. +Forsyth & Co., Thomas Russell, Hall, Bremner & Bottomry, William Taylor, +Burnes, Liddell & Co., P. Smith, Jonathan Masters, Williams & Lyons, +Geo. Deblois, John Moody, and S. Hall & Co. + +Again 1793: Brymer & Belcher, Forman & Grassie, John Steeling, Jonathan +Tremain, P. Marchington, Andrew Liddell, George Sherlocke, Francis +Stevens, Geo. Bell, Geo. Moren, Edward Butler, Nathan Hatfield, Thomas +Watson, Peter McNab, Benjamin Salter, Frederick Major and John Brown. + +The town Assemblies were held this winter in Mrs. Sutherland's rooms in +Bedford Row, opposite the Commissary offices. + +On Thursday evening, Dec. 20th, 1792, Governor and Mrs. Wentworth gave a +grand ball. The decorations in the supper room were very elegant. The +ladies sat down and the gentlemen waited on them. Among the decorations +were the exact representations of Mr. Jonathan Tremain's new flour mill +at Dartmouth, of the windmill on Halifax Common. A model of the red +light house at Shelburne, and the tract of new road from Pictou, was +delineated in the most ingenious and surprising manner, as was also the +representation of our fisheries. + +To all these inimitable ornaments, corresponding mottoes were attached, +so that not only taste and elegance were conspicuous, but encouragement +and genius were displayed. Such was the description of this affair as it +appeared in the newspapers of the day. + +Cochran's buildings were again on fire, 30th January, 1793, but the fire +was extinguished without much damage. + +War with France was announced by letters from the Secretary of State to +the Governor, dated 9th February, 1793. Orders were also received to +raise a provincial regiment. This regiment was to be called the Nova +Scotia Fensibles; they were to be raised in Halifax, but were not to +have half pay, and the Commissions were to be given to half pay +officers. Young Haligonians were thus excluded. It was about the same +time decided on embodying a part of the Militia force for the defence of +the town. 1050 effective men were accordingly marched into the town from +the country, who were to receive pay from the British Government while +on duty. The Governor published his thanks to the militia on 2nd +November, for the alacrity with which they obeyed his orders in marching +to Halifax. By the month of May the number of men enlisted for the Nova +Scotia regiment, amounted to 100, the enlistments were afterwards +increased to 600 men. + +Apprehensions appear to have been entertained of an attack on the town +by the French fleet. Every precaution appears to have been taken by +Governor Wentworth for the protection of the Capital. In his letter to +the Secretary of State of 23rd July, the Governor says, "In twenty +minutes I could put under the command of General Ogilvie, 900 militia +men, and in a few hours a second battalion of 600, who reside in the +neighbourhood of the town." + +The Halifax Militia Artillery, commanded by Capt. J. Tremain was a most +effective body of men. It had been this year formed and consisted of +sixty freeholders of the town. The Town Regiment of Infantry was +commanded by Col. John George Pyke. 550 men of the Town Militia assisted +the Garrison in repairing and mounting the batteries on Citadel Hill +and elsewhere. On the 2nd April, two French Prizes were brought into the +harbour by H. M. Ship Alligator, with cargoes valued at L.40,000. + +Among the events of the War was an expedition fitted out at Halifax to +attack the Island of St. Pierre, in Newfoundland. It consisted of the +Alligator and Hussar, men-of-war, with a body of troops under General +Ogilvie. Before leaving, the two ships of war received permissions from +the Governor and Council to press through the town and complete their +crews. The place surrendered without fighting, and the Governor, M. +Danseville, with several hundred prisoners and stores were brought to +Halifax. They landed on the 20th of June. Governor Danseville was placed +on parole, and resided at Dartmouth for many years in the house known as +Brook House, now or lately the residence of the Hon. Michael Tobin, +junr., about a couple of miles or more from Dartmouth town. The old +gentleman displayed some taste in beautifying the grounds at Brook +House. He built a fish pond and laid out walks among the beech and white +birch groves near the house. The pond still remains, but the walks and +most of the trees have long since disappeared. He remained a prisoner +with an allowance from Government until the peace of 1814, when he +returned to his own country a zealous royalist. Mr. Mizanseau was his +aide-de-camp; he married a farmer's daughter in the South East Passage, +and left a family who bear his name in that neighbourhood. + +Governor Wentworth proposed to place the French prisoners who had been +brought to Halifax from time to time, on an Island in the North West +Arm, afterwards known as Melville Island, but the General preferred the +Cornwallis [58]Barracks. The Island was not the property of the +Government at this time, but hired by Governor Wentworth for this +purpose of a prison. It afterwards became Admiralty property. + +[Footnote 58: NOTE.--Uncertain as to where the Cornwallis Barracks were +situated.] + +A poll tax existed at this time. It had been imposed by Act of the +Legislature in 1791. One shilling per head was imposed on all males +above 21 years of age. The law also contained a tax on cattle, with an +extra tax on certain trades and occupations. It was ostensibly for the +purpose of reducing the provincial debt. It does not appear, however, to +have been regularly collected in the town. + +1794. On the 10th May, His Royal Highness Prince Edward arrived at +Halifax in the Blanche Frigate, twelve days from St. Kitts. He landed +immediately under a salute of 21 guns. + +A levee took place on the 14th and an address was presented to him +couched in the most fulsome and ridiculous language. On the 24th there +was a garrison review under the command of General Ogilvie. + +On the 22nd January, the following year, he set out by land for Quebec. +He was at Boston on 5th February, where he remained 10 days and then +embarked for the West Indies. It appears, however, that he was in +Halifax on 25th February. + +1794. This year a number of merchants of the town agreed to underwrite +policies of insurance on vessels and goods, and appointed Benjamin +Salter the broker, who, on the 10th May, advertised attendance every day +during "change" hours at the "Coffee Rooms." + +The town was again harassed by press gangs from Admiral Murray's ship. +The Admiral had persuaded the Governor and Council to allow him +twenty-four hours power over the inhabitants to man his fleet--though +Capt. Home had been previously refused the privilege in January. + +In December the Marine Society, which had been established by the +merchants of Halifax several years previously, was re-modeled and +extended in its operations. About this time a project had been formed by +Governor Wentworth for uniting the waters of Halifax Harbor with the Bay +of Fundy by a canal from the River Shubenacadie, and rendering the river +navigable. Suggestions on the subject had been made to Governor +Wentworth by persons whom he supposed competent to judge of the +feasibility of the project, and was very sanguine of success in the work +if not interrupted by hostilities. It does not appear, however, that any +attempt was made this year towards effecting the object, but three years +after (1797) the sum of L.250 was voted for a survey of the projected +canal. + +All public lands in the town were this year granted to trustees. A grant +of part of the King's Stores for a fishmarket was made, also the +Province Building ground and the Grand Parade. The old English burial +ground opposite the present Government House on Pleasant Street had been +originally set apart, in 1749, as a general burial place for the +inhabitants of the town. It consisted of two acres and a quarter, but +the title had not passed out of the Crown. It was this year granted to +the Church Wardens and Vestry of St. Paul's Parish. They have been +considered to hold it in trust for the original purpose for which it was +dedicated. The old poor house burial ground was also included in this +grant. + +The French prisoners brought from St. Pierre and Miquelon, who had been +lodged in the town with others who had been taken in prizes, were sent, +in the month of July, to the Island of Guernsey. + +We find Captain George of the Hussar receiving permission from the +Council to fill up the complement of his men by impressment. In July +following a similar application from Capt. Knowles of the ship Daedalus +was refused. Admiral Murray, it appears, obtained another license in +September to press through the town for seven days. + +Commodore George informed the Governor that intelligence of the state of +the defences of the town had been, or was likely to be, communicated by +the French prisoners, through persons from the United States, to the +French ambassador at Washington, and suggested an embargo on all vessels +going to the United States for the present until he should receive +intelligence from Admiral Murray. The Collector of the Customs at +Halifax was accordingly ordered not to clear any vessels to the United +States until further orders. + +The following gentlemen were added to the Magistracy of the town: +Michael Head, M. D., George Sherlock, Francis Green, J. M. F. Bulkeley, +J. B. Dight, John Phillips, M. D., Johnathan Tremaine. James Clarke was +Sheriff. Among the advertisements which appeared in the newspaper this +and the previous year was a notice that sedan chairs would stand for +hire in Barrington Street, also at the Court House, for the convenience +of the public. The principal merchants and ship owners in the town +between 1787 and 1795 were Geo. Bell, Hardware and Glass Store in +Granville Street, near the town guard, then kept in the old house behind +Masons' Hall; Peter Smith, Wines & Groceries; James Veitch, Groceries +and General Store, shop opposite the wood yard; David Hall & Co. Dry +Goods Store in Hollis Street, opposite old Government House; Charles +Handesayde, Boot & Shoe Maker in Granville Street; Alex. and Robert +Leslie, Dry Goods Store at the corner of Duke & Hollis Streets, near the +Pontac; Lawrence Hartshorne, Hardware Store at corner of Granville +Street, between the Market House and the Parade; Wm. Forsyth & Co., +Importing Merchants; Linnard & Young, Tailors, in Marchington's +Buildings, Upper Water Street; George DeBloise, General Dealer; John +Butler Dight, Importing Merchant, and Winkworth Allen and the Messrs. +Cochran. William Minns, Stationer, Benj. Salter, Importing Merchant, +Chas. Geddis, Watch Maker & Jeweller, lower side the Parade; John Hill, +Cutter, Hollis Street; Edmond Phelan, "Golden Ball" tavern, Hollis +Street; Wm. Brindley, Wines, etc., Forman, Grassie & Co., Importing +Merchants, store on the Long Wharf (late Copeland's); Hall, Bremner & +Bottomley, Dry Goods, etc. + +Between '95 and '99. James Romans, Boot & Shoe Maker, corner of Duke & +Granville Streets; Wm. Dickie, Dry Goods, Phebe Moody, Dry Goods, +Matthew Richardson, General Store, Robert Chrisley, Dry Goods, John +McMasters, Dry Goods, Edward King, Livery Stable, John Kidston, General +Dealer. + +In 1798 the firm of L. Hartshorne & Co. was changed to Hartshorne & +Boggs. + +Moody & Tidmarsh, Dry Goods, Thos. Wallace, Dry Goods, etc., opposite +wood yard; J. Hemmington, Grocer, near the Navy Yard; Lyon & Butler, +General Dealers, Saml. Leddiet, Soap Boiler from Liverpool, kept the +London Porter House above the Grand Parade; Philip Garrell, Tailor, +Fraser, Thom & Co., Importing Merchants, Marchington's Wharf; Robert +Scaiff, successor to Wm. & Thos. Williams, Hardware, Jewellery, etc., +Forsyth, Smith & Co., Importing Merchants, James Leaver, Lower Water +Street, Dry Goods, David Seabury, Auctioneer, Joseph Davis, Dry Goods, +Michael Head, Apothecary, Saml. Hart, Dry Goods, D. Marshall and D. +Fraser, both Importing Merchants, Wm. Annand, Groceries, etc., Saml. +Greenwood, Mast Maker, Ed. Bartlett, Dry Goods, Marchington's Wharf; +Jacob Miller & Son and Philis, Boyd & Philis, Importing Merchants, +Tremain & Boggs, opposite the fuel yard, Hardware, etc., Thomas Roby, +Merchant, Granville Street, Brymer & Belcher, John Grant, Wm. Forsyth & +Co., Jonathan Tremain, Merchants, James Moody, Grocery & General Store +keeper, Hollis Street, Michael Wallace, Wines, Groceries, etc. C. C. +Hall & Co. appear to have been the leading dry goods shop keepers; +their store was in Marchington's buildings near the Ordnance. Charles +Hill, Auctioneer, James Forbes, Wine, Groceries, etc., Water Street, +near Fairbanks' Wharf. Andrew Gallagher kept the British Tavern opposite +Marchington's Wharf. Sabatier, Stewart & Co., General Merchants; their +firm was dissolved in 1790. William Millett, Auctioneer, King & Stoe, +Shop-keeper, No. 6 Marchington's buildings, near the British Tavern; +Thomas Russel, shop-keeper, store near the Coffee House; Alex. Morrison, +Bookseller, Thos. Donaldson, Confectioner, Etter & Tidmarsh, corner of +the Parade, British Merchandise, D. Curry & Co., Dry Goods, James Frame, +Cabinet Maker, Jonathan & John Tremain, Hardware, etc., David Rudolph, +near the Golden Ball, Dry Goods & Groceries, Richd. Woodroffe, Furrier, +near the South Barracks. + +1795. At the request of Prince Edward, the men of the Militia were +employed on the fortifications in the neighborhood of the town during +the summer. At this time the French prisoners in the town became very +riotous; they were ordered to be removed to a place of confinement and +none to be permitted at large. Several French prizes were brought in +during the summer by Capts. Cochran and Beresford, of the Hussar and the +Thetis, Sloops-of-War. An armed Snow named the Earl of Moira was kept by +the Provincial Government for the protection of the coast. The most +stirring event of the year was the arrival of the Hussar and Thetis +after a long cruise bringing with them two French ships-of-war which +they had captured; part of the enemy's squadron bound from the West +Indies to Virginia. + +Several Halifax ship masters lost their vessels and were made prisoners +by French privateers in 1795. The names of Capts. Jacobs, Lloyd, Ewing +and John Pryor appear among them. They suffered much hard usage at +Guadaloupe where they were detained. A project for building a bridge +across the Narrows was contemplated about this time. A petition was +presented to the House of Assembly dated 11th March, 1796, from a number +of persons praying for an Act to authorize the building of a bridge +across the Narrows. + +Between January, 1795, and January, 1796, the Halifax markets appear to +have been well supplied. The newspapers of the day mention that 786 head +of fat cattle, 30 cows and calves, besides sheep and swine had been +brought into the town. + +1796. St. George's day was celebrated with much festivity by the +English Society. They had a dinner in the evening at which Governor +Wentworth and Prince Edward were present. Among the decorations were +sixty variegated lamps. Genl. Ogilvie and Chief Justice Strange were +among the guests. The Prince arrived and departed under a royal salute +and, during the dinner, sat under a canopy of white satin and gold lace. + +During the spring of 1796 Halifax suffered from a scarcity of +provisions. The inhabitants were indebted to Messrs. Hartshorne and +Tremain, whose mills at Dartmouth enabled them, through the summer, to +obtain flour at a reduced price and to afford a sufficient supply for +the fishery. + +The 4th June, old King George's birthday, was celebrated this year with +the usual ceremonies. There was a levee and a review of the troops, and +Sir John Wentworth entertained the Prince and a number of the principal +inhabitants at a Ball, when the old Government House was brilliantly +illuminated. There was a dinner the same afternoon among the merchants +at the British Tavern, Marchington's buildings. + +St. Patrick's day, this year, was also celebrated by a levee at the +Government House and a dinner at Gallagher's hotel. The society sat down +to dinner at five o'clock. His Royal Highness Prince Edward, Governor +Sir John Wentworth, several members of Council, the Speaker and a number +of members of the House of Assembly attended. The Prince and the +Governor retired early, but the society kept up their festivities to a +late hour. + +On July 21st, vessels arrived in the harbor with five hundred Maroon +negroes from Jamaica. The Maroons were the descendants of a number of +African slaves, who, when Jamaica was conquered from the Spaniards, took +refuge in the Island. They continued in a state of insubordination, but +occasionally made treaties with the English. At this time they were in +open hostility, but had been conquered, and it was arranged that a +number of them should be sent as settlers to Canada. They put into +Halifax on their way. They were under the superintendence of Colonel +Quarrell of Jamaica, who had letters from the Governor of Jamaica to Sir +John Wentworth. Prince Edward was commander of the garrison at the time, +and on inspecting the people was so much pleased with the athletic +proportions of the young mulatto men that he proposed to detain them to +work on the fortifications of the town, which were then in progress +under his direction. The French squadron under Admiral Richery was then +off the coast, and it was expected that he would visit Halifax. The +fortifications at the mouth of the harbor having fallen into decay were +under repair, but, not sufficiently forward to afford protection in case +of an attack. The proposal was accepted by the Maroons; some were +accordingly accommodated with sheds, and others placed in barns and such +places of shelter as could be found in the town for their temporary +accommodation. A number were sent to work on Citadel Hill, and one of +the bastions there was called the Maroon Battery. The assent of the +Secretary of State having been obtained for their settlement in Nova +Scotia, land was assigned them in the Township of Preston. Col. Quarrell +did not like the treatment they received. Many of the Maroons were +permitted to come to town and seek work among the inhabitants. It was +about this time that Sir John Wentworth proposed, as has been before +mentioned, to open communication between Halifax and the River +Shubenacadie which was to be performed by Maroon labor. This was the +first proposal to be met with in reference to the Shubenacadie Canal +which, in after years caused so much loss and suffering by its failure. +Differences arose between Col. Quarrell and the Governor, the Maroons +refused to work, and discontent increased. Sir John and Prince Edward +had a project of forming them into a corps of militia, and bestowed +militia commissions on several of the young men among the Maroons, and +two of their leading men, Montagu and Johnson, were appointed Colonels. +Jarret, Bailey, Mayers and others were made Majors and Captains, which +gratified their vanity. + +The winter of 1796-7 was very severe, the want of provisions was felt, +and the scarcity of flour threatened a famine in the town. The expenses +of supplying these people had hitherto been borne by the Jamaica +Government. Land had been purchased at Preston and the large building +known as Maroon Hall, afterwards the property of Lieut. Katzmann, was +erected as a residence for the superintendent. Some difficulties arose +with the Jamaica Legislature. Quarrell left Halifax in the spring of +1797, leaving the Maroons discontented and refractory. It was finally +arranged that they should be sent to Sierra Leone. Eight years +previously a number of negroes had been sent there from Halifax. The +Maroons were to be united with them in the hope that the union would be +a check on the turbulent conduct of the Nova Scotia colony, which at +that time had been the source of some trouble to the Sierra Leone +Company. They were accordingly embarked in the autumn of 1800, and +arrived on the coast of Africa in October. + +Sir John Wentworth had received intelligence in September which led him +to apprehend some attempt on Halifax by the French forces now in +Newfoundland. At the close of the year the harbor defences were brought +into good condition, and capable of affording a tolerable defence in +case of invasion. Two press warrants were issued this year by the +Council; one on 31st January to Admiral Murray for twenty-four hours in +the town, and another in October to Admiral Vandiput for two months +through the province. + +On the night of the 21st March a fire broke out in the range of houses +opposite St. Paul's Church, in Barrington Street, which consumed the +property of Dr. Greaves. The trees around the Church escaped uninjured. + +The sudden death of James Michael Freke Bulkeley, the Secretary of the +province, on the 12th November, threw a gloom over the community. He was +a young man of pleasing address and highly esteemed. He had been for +some time member for the county, which he held in conjunction with that +of Provincial Secretary. He had succeeded his father, Richard Bulkeley, +in the office but a short time before his death. + +In November, the fleet, under Vice Admiral Vandiput, sailed from Halifax +on a cruise. It consisted of the Resolution, 74, bearing the Admiral's +flag, Capt. Ledmore; Assistance, 50 guns, Capt. Mowatt; Andromeda, 32 +guns, Capt. Taylor; Ceres, 32, Capt. Otway; Lynx, 18, Capt. Hall, and +the Hunter, 18, Capt. Tucker. + +1797. During this summer the town was enlivened by the presence of four +or five hundred embodied militia who did garrison duty. Several +battalions were enrolled in the country with the intention of their +being removed to Halifax for the protection of the town in the absence +of the regular troops. They were, however, not required, and were +discharged in the latter part of October by order of the Governor. + +At this time Dr. Robert Stanser was rector of St. Paul's, Dr. Archibald +Gray, minister of St. Matthew's, at the corner, Mr. Michael Bernard +Houseal, missionary to the Germans and minister of St. George's, north +suburbs. Chief Justice Strange resigned this year and was succeeded in +the office by Mr. Sampson Salter Blowers, who remained Chief Justice +until 1835, when he was succeeded by Sir Brenton Halliburton. Chief +Justice Blowers died in 1842, at the age of 100 years. His monument is +in the south-east corner of the east aisle of St. Paul's. He built the +house at the corner of Barrington and Blowers Streets, lately occupied +by Mr. Romans as a hotel, and known as the Waverley House, where he +resided for about thirty-five years. + +Mr. Shaw was Sheriff of Halifax this year; he was succeeded by Lewis M. +Wilkins, afterwards a Judge of the Supreme Court, and father of the late +Judge Wilkins of that Court. + +Prince Edward, who was Commandant of the garrison, appears to have +patronized almost all the public entertainments in the town. He dined +with the national societies, and honored the balls given by Governor +Wentworth with his presence. His manners were affable, and he was, in +consequence, quite popular with all classes in the town. He was very +much affected by the sudden death of Lieutenant Charles Thomas of his +own regiment, the 7th Fusiliers, who was accidentally shot by a brother +officer while on a hunting expedition in August of this year. Lieut. +Thomas was the son of Nathaniel Ray Thomas, a magistrate and collector +of the customs of Windsor, and a cousin of Governor Wentworth. He was a +favourite and protege of Prince Edward, who attended his funeral and +erected a monument at his own expense over his grave. + +On the 23rd November, this year, H. M. Ship La Tribune, Capt. Baker, was +lost in coming into the harbor. The following authentic account of this +disaster is from the newspaper of the day: + + "La Tribune was one of the finest frigates in His Majesty's + service, mounted 44 guns and had been lately captured by Captain + Williams in the Unicorn frigate. She was commanded by Captain S. + Barker, and sailed from Torbay the 22nd September, as convoy to + the Quebec and Newfoundland fleets. In Lat. 49 deg. 14' Long. 17 + deg. 29' she fell in with and spoke His Majesty's ship + Experiment from this place, out 12 days. She lost sight of all + her convoy October 19th, in Lat. 46 deg. 16' Long. 32 deg. 11'. + On Thursday morning last, they discovered this Harbour about 8 + o'clock. The wind being E. S. E. they approached it very fast, + when Captain Barker proposed to the master that they should lay + the ship to till they could obtain a pilot; the master replied, + 'he had beat a 44 gun ship into the harbour--that he had been + frequently here and that there was no occasion for a pilot, as + the wind was fair.' Confiding in these assurances Captain Barker + went below and was for a time employed in arranging some papers + he wished to take on shore with him. The master in the meantime + taking upon himself the pilotage of the ship, and placing great + dependence upon the judgment of a negro man by the name of John + Casey, (who had formerly belonged here) whom he had placed + forward to con the ship. About 12 o'clock the ship had + approached so near the Thrum Cap Shoals, that the master became + alarmed and sent for Mr. Galvin the master's mate, who was sick + below. On his coming on deck he heard the man in the chains sing + out 'by the mark five,' the black man forward at the same time + singing out 'steady.' Galvin got on one of the carronades to + observe the situation of the ship, the master in much agitation + at the same time taking the wheel from the man who was steering + with an intent to wear ship, but before this could be effected + or Galvin able to give an opinion, she struck. Captain Barker + instantly came on deck and reproached the master with having + lost the ship. Seeing Galvin also on deck, he addressed him and + said (as he knew he had formerly sailed out of this harbour) + that he was much surprised that he could stand by and see the + master run the ship on shore. Galvin informed the Captain he had + not been on deck long enough to give an opinion. Signals of + distress were instantly made and answered by the military posts + and the ships in the harbour. Boats from all the military posts, + from His Majesty's ships and from the Dockyard, proceeded to the + relief of La Tribune. The military boats and one of the boats + from the Dockyard, with Mr. Rackum, boatswain of the Ordinary, + reached the ship; but the other boats, though making the + greatest exertions, were not able, the wind being so much + against them, to get on board. The ship was immediately + lightened by throwing all her guns, except one retained for + signals, overboard, and every other heavy article, so that at + about half-past eight o'clock in the evening the ship began to + heave and about nine she got off from the shoals. She had before + at about five or six o'clock lost her rudder, and on examination + it was now found that she had seven feet of water in the hold. + The chain pumps were immediately manned and such exertions made + that they seemed to gain on the leaks, and by advice of Mr. + Rackum the Captain ordered to let go the best bower anchor. This + was done but it did not bring her up. The Captain then ordered + them to cut the cable, and the jib and fore topmast stay sail + were hoisted to steer by. All this time the violent gale, which + had come on from the south east, kept increasing and carrying + them to the western shore. In a short time the small bower + anchor was let go, at which time they found themselves in about + thirteen fathoms water. The mizzen mast was then cut away. It + was now about ten o'clock, the water gaining fast on the ship, + little hope remained of saving the ship or their lives. At this + critical period Lieut. Campbell quitted the ship. Lieut. Nooth + was taken into the boat out of one of the ports. Lieut. James of + the Royal Nova Scotia Regiment, not being to be found was so + unfortunate as to remain, and to the great distress of his + worthy parents and friends shared the general fate. From the + period when Lieut. Campbell quitted the ship all hopes of safety + had vanished, the ship was sinking fast, the storm was + increasing with redoubled violence, the rocky shore to which + they were approaching resounding with the tremendous noise of + the billows which rolled toward it, presented nothing to those + who might survive the sinking of the ship, but the expectation + of a more painful death from being dashed against those + tremendous precipices, which even in the calmest day it is + almost impossible to ascend. + + Dunlap, one of the survivors, informs us that at about + half-past ten, as nearly as he could conjecture, one of the + men who had been below came to him on the forecastle and told + him the ship was sinking; in a few minutes after, the ship + took a lurch as a boat will do when nearly filled with water + and going down; immediately on which Dunlap began to ascend + the fore shroud, and at the same moment casting his eyes + towards the quarter deck saw Capt. Barker standing by the + gangway and looking into the water, and directly after heard + him call for the jolly-boat. At the same time he saw the + Lieutenant of Marines running towards the taffrail, he + supposed to look for the jolly-boat, as she had previously + been let down with four men in her--but instantly the ship + took a second lurch and sank to the bottom; after which + neither the captain nor any other of the officers was seen. + The scene, sufficiently distressing before, became now + peculiarly awful--more than 240 men, besides several women and + children were floating on the waves making their last efforts + to preserve their existence. Dunlap, whom we have before + mentioned, gained the fore top. Mr. Galvin, the master's mate, + after incredible difficulty, got into the main top--he was + below when the ship sank, directing the men at the chain pump. + He was washed up the hatchway, thrown into the waist and from + thence into the water, and his feet as he plunged, struck a + rock. On ascending, he swam to gain the main shrouds when he + was suddenly seized hold of by three men--he was now afraid he + was lost. To disengage himself from them he made a dive into + the water which induced them to quit their hold. On rising + again he swam to the shrouds and arrived at the main top and + seated himself on an arm-chest which was lashed to the mast. + + From the observations of Mr. Galvin from the main-top and Mr. + Dunlap in the fore-top, it appears that near one hundred + persons were for a considerable time hanging to the shrouds, + the tops and other parts of the wreck; but from the extreme + length of the night and the ferocity of the storm nature + became exhausted, and they kept at all periods of the night + dropping off and disappearing. The cries and groans of the + unhappy sufferers, from the bruises many of them had received + and as their hopes of deliverance began to fail them, were + continued through the night; though as morning appeared from + the few that then survived they became feeble indeed. The + whole number saved from the wreck amounted to eight persons + and several of them so exhausted as to be indifferent whether + they were taken off or not. Mr. Galvin mentions that about + twelve o'clock the mainmast gave way; at that time he supposes + there were on the main-top and on the shrouds upwards of forty + persons. By the fall of the mast the whole were again plunged + into the water, and of that number only nine besides himself + regained the top. The top rested upon the main yard, and the + whole remained fast to the ship by some of the rigging. Of the + ten persons who regained the main-top four only were alive + when morning appeared. Ten were at that time alive on the + fore-top, but three of them had got so exhausted and had + become so unable to help themselves that before any relief + came they were finally washed away; three others perished, and + four only were also finally left alive in the fore-top. The + place where the ship went down was only about three times her + length to the southward of the entrance into Herring Cove. The + people came down in the night to the point opposite to which + the ship sunk and kept large fires, and were so near as to + converse with the people in the wreck. + + The first exertion that was made for their relief was by a + boy, thirteen years old, from Herring Cove, who ventured off + in a small skiff by himself about eleven o'clock the next day; + and this truly deserving young lad with great exertions and at + extreme risk to himself ventured to approach the wreck and + backed in his little boat so near to the fore-top as to take + off two of the men, for the boat could not with safely hold + any more; and here a trait of generous magnanimity occurred + which deserves to be noticed. Dunlap and Munroe had, + throughout this disastrous night providentially preserved + their strength and spirits beyond their unfortunate + companions, and had endeavoured to cheer and encourage them as + they found their spirits sinking; they were now both of them + able to have stepped into the boat and put an end to their own + sufferings, but their other two companions, though alive, were + unable to help themselves. They lay exhausted on the top, + wished not to be disturbed, and seemed desirous to perish as + they lay. These generous fellows hesitated not a moment to + remain themselves on the wreck and to save, though against + their will, their unfortunate companions. They lifted them up + and by the greatest exertions got them into the little skiff, + and the manly boy rowed them triumphantly to the Cove and + instantly had them conveyed to a comfortable habitation. After + shaming, by his example, older persons who had larger boats, + he put off again in his little skiff, but with all his efforts + he could not then approach the wreck. His example, however, + was soon followed by the men in the Tribune's jolly-boat and + by some of the boats of the Cove, and by their joint exertions + the eight men were preserved, who, with four that escaped in + the jolly-boat make the whole number of survivors of this fine + ship's company. + + Some have been disposed to blame Capt. Barker as exhibiting + too much obstinacy in not abandoning the ship and preserving + his crew, as a violent storm was evidently approaching, but on + examining the men who have survived we find (though other + officers in the same situation might have formed a different + judgment) that the conduct of Capt. Barker was throughout the + trying scene completely cool and collected. Though from the + manner in which the ship had been run ashore, no blame could + attach to him, yet he could not reconcile it to himself to + lose so fine a ship without making every exertion to save her. + Having by the greatest efforts considerably lightened her, he + had reason to suppose she might get off before high water. She + made no water while she lay aground, there was therefore great + hopes, if she could not that night have been got up the + harbour that she might with safety have been brought to anchor + and have rode out the gale. When she finally got off, + universal joy was diffused throughout the ship--every man + thought the object of their joint efforts was attained--but + the rapid manner in which the water poured into her, soon + damped their joy and plunged them into despair. Had the ship + been finally saved by the great exertions which were made to + effect it, every man would have praised Capt. Barker, and, + notwithstanding those exertions failed, we think we may justly + say, in the language of Mr. Addison, + + "'Tis not in mortals to command success + Barker did more; he did deserve it" + + To his memory therefore and that of his brave + fellow-sufferers, the commiseration of their countrymen is + justly due. From every generous heart they will receive that + commiseration; and while the mind runs over the whole trying + scene the tears which must involuntarily flow will embalm + their memory. + + Having closed the general scene, we think it will not be + unacceptable to our readers if we notice the conduct of some + individuals. A quartermaster belonging to the ship, by the + name of McGregor, had his wife on board; they were a + respectable couple and greatly attached to each other. + McGregor from his affectionate solicitations for her safety, + endeavoured to persuade her, while the ship lay on the shoals, + to go ashore in one of the boats which came off from the + Island, as his mind would be more at ease, could he put her in + a place of safety. To his solicitations she replied, 'that she + never would abandon him; if it was his lot to perish, she + wished not to survive him.' Finding it in vain to urge her + further, he desisted from the attempt and she afterwards + shared the common fate. A considerable time after the ship had + foundered a man was discovered swimming towards the wreck. On + his approaching near it was found to be McGregor; he informed + his comrades who were hanging by the wreck, that he had swam + towards the shore; that he had ventured as far as he could + with safety into the surf, and found if he went further he + should be dashed to pieces, and he cautioned them all to avoid + making a like attempt, but if possible to hold by the wreck. + He himself gained the main shrouds and remained there till the + mast gave way, and then met the same fate as his unfortunate + consort, whose death he was continually deploring while on the + shrouds. + + Dunlap relates another instance which occurred, which though + it may appear ludicrous after the distressing scenes we have + noticed, is so descriptive of that cool thoughtlessness of + danger which so often distinguishes our British tars that it + would be inexcusable to omit it. Daniel Munroe, one of the + survivors had as well as Dunlap got into the fore-top. After a + while he disappeared and it was concluded that he had been + washed away with many others; after an absence from the top of + about two hours, he suddenly popped his head up through the + lubber hole to the surprise of Dunlap, who enquired where he + had been; he said he had been cruising about for a better + berth; and it appeared that, after swimming about the wreck + for a considerable time, he had returned to the fore shrouds, + and crawled in on the cat-harpins and had actually been to + sleep there more than an hour, and he said he was and really + appeared to be greatly refreshed. + + Mr. Brennan of the Dockyard, who had gone aboard with Mr. + Rackum, after the sinking of the ship, had got on the maintop + and remained there till the mainmast gave way and was never + after seen. + + While noticing the immediate disasters of the ship, we + forebore to mention the fate of one of the boats which had + gone from George's Island. About nine o'clock as the ship went + off, the boat got under the ship's bow and was upset; by this + circumstance a part of the men, consisting of two sergeants + and four privates of the Royal Nova Scotia Regiment were + unfortunately drowned; the remainder were taken up by the boat + belonging to the Eastern Battery. Too much praise cannot be + given to the men who manned these boats, and particularly to + Sergt. Bourke, and the boat's crew who persevered in following + the ship, and finally brought off Lieuts. Campbell and Nooth + of the Royal Fusiliers. + + Great praise is also due to the dock-yard boat which carried + Mr. Rackum on board. They followed the ship at a short + distance till she foundered, and with extreme difficulty at + length reached Herring Cove. We are sorry to mention that Mr. + Rackum, whose exertions on board La Tribune to preserve the + ship were gratefully acknowledged, perished with the unhappy + ship's company. + + Having mentioned all the disastrous circumstances which have + attended this distressing scene, it is with pleasure we now + notice the attention which has been paid to the widows and + children of the unfortunate sufferers. His Royal Highness + Prince Edward with that uniform generosity which has + distinguished his Royal Highness during his residence in this + province, directed immediate provision to be made for the + bereaved families, and there is reason to hope through his + Royal Highness' representations, that provision will be made + as permanent as their sufferings. Actions like these dignify + even kings and add splendour to the highest rank. + + Besides the attention shown by his Royal Highness a liberal + subscription has been made by the garrison and gentlemen of + the town for the widows of the soldiers who were drowned and + for the men who manned the boats. + + There is another instance of generosity, which the occasion + seems to require, and it seems to be the earnest wish of the + men who were saved from the wreck; it is that some reward may + be bestowed on the boy who first came off to them. They + attribute in a great measure their deliverance to him, and + they mention with the warmest gratitude, not only his + exertions to save them from the wreck, but his kind and + hospitable attention to relieve them after they had reached + the Cove. Surely if a subscription were set on foot there is + not a man in the country who would not give something to + reward and encourage so young an instance of humane and heroic + magnanimity. + + Mr. Club, the master of La Tribune, was master of the Active, + frigate when she was run ashore on the Island of Anticosti. + + Mr. Fennel, first lieutenant, and Mr. Galvin, the master's + mate, were both formerly prisoners at Guadeloupe with Colonel + Wetherall, and were all for a considerable time chained by the + legs together. Lieut. Fennell declared to Lieut. Campbell that + his only motive in coming out in La Tribune was to have the + pleasure of seeing Colonel Wetherall; and such appears to have + been the attachment of Galvin to Lieut. Fennel that, though he + speaks with becoming feeling of the fate of the ship's + company, the loss of Lieut. Fennell seems peculiarly to affect + him. On enquiring of him if he saw Lieut. Fennell after the + ship sunk, he replied, he did not, for if he had, though he + was himself in a place of apparent security, he would again + have risked his life to preserve him, and would have effected + it or perished with him. A similar attachment to each other + appears among the men who have survived the wreck, and these + circumstances unite to prove that the virtues which render + human beings the most pleasing are those they are taught in + the trying school of adversity. + + * * * * * + + List of the officers lost in La Tribune:--Captain, Scory + Barker; First Lieutenant, Thomas Fennel; Second do., Thomas + Clarke; Third do., Thomas Sheirp; Master, James Clubb; + Lieutenant Marines, James Cregg; Surgeon, ---- Jones; Purser, + ---- Stanford; Carpenter, James Jurd; Boatswain, John + Franklin; Master's Mate, William Stacey; Midshipmen, John + Dennington, Charles Belcher, John Clowdsley, William Crofton, + ---- Nops; Captain's Clerk, William Foley; Surgeon's Mate, + James Mulquinney; Gunner, William Thomas. + + List of officers and men saved from La Tribune:--John Galvin, + Master's Mate; Seamen, Abraham Wanhill, James Crawford, Robert + Parker, Daniel Monroe, E. Knowles, Richard Best, James Green, + Henry Husley, Chris. Dowling, Robert Dunlap and John White. + + * * * * * + + We have been favored with the following extract of General + Orders dated Halifax, November 26, 1797: + + Lieutenant General, His Royal Highness Prince Edward thinks it + his duty to return his particular thanks to Lieutenants + Haliburton, Campbell and Nooth of the Royal Fusiliers, also to + the several non-commissioned officers and privates of the + Royal Nova Scotia Regiment, who manned the boats sent to give + assistance on Thursday last to His Majesty's frigate Tribune, + unfortunately wrecked by getting on shore at the mouth of this + harbour. + + His Royal Highness most sincerely laments the loss of Lieut. + James and two non-commissioned officers with four privates of + the Royal N. S. Regiment, who were unfortunately drowned in + executing the first of all duties, that of giving succor to + brother officers and men in distress. + + His Royal Highness directs that the Commissary-General will + serve free rations to the widows of the non-commissioned + officers and privates lost, as follows:-- + + To the wife of Sergt. Baker, and two children, two rations. + + To Sergt. Mullen's wife, one ration. + + To the wife of John Bush and two children, two rations. + + * * * * * + + Tuesday last the body of Lieut. James was found and brought up + to town to his disconsolate parents--and Wednesday was + interred with military honors." + +Michael Wallace was appointed Treasurer of the Province in October of +this year on the resignation of Benning Wentworth. Mr. Wallace remained +treasurer until 1827 or 1828, when he was succeeded by his son. Mr. +Wallace administered the government as senior councillor several times +during the absence of the Governor, Sir James Kempt. + +The old playhouse lot in Argyle Street was granted, about this time, to +James Putnam, from whom it came into possession of the trustees of the +Acadian School. The grant from the Crown of part of the King's Stores +for a fishmarket, before referred to, was, on 29th August, signed by the +Governor and the Prince as commander in chief of the troops. This is +what was called the new fishmarket. The old market had formerly been +private property, and the rents of stalls at this time were received by +Mr. Cochran, but it was subject to town regulations. Commissioners were +about the same time appointed to purchase land and to erect buildings +for the accommodation of the Legislature and Courts of Justice as soon +as peace should occur and the price of labor should be lower. The Act +formerly passed for erecting buildings for this purpose on the "lower +parade" was repealed, and that of 1797 was amended in 1799 and the +Commissioners were directed to purchase land in the south suburbs, and +build a Government House. + +The winter of 1797-8 was again very severe. The heavy falls of snow +rendered the road from Halifax to Windsor impassable. The Prince ordered +the troops to clear the road between the town and his residence on the +Basin. The supply of fat cattle from the country for the troops was +retarded for a long time by the state of the roads. + +It was proposed to raise a fund in the town to be at the disposal of +Government for the purposes of war. The inhabitants subscribed a sum +approaching L.4000 towards this fund; the officers of the Royal Nova +Scotia Fencible Regiment, L.200. The boys of the Grammar School +contributed about L.24, and the regiment in garrison and the officers in +the public departments, including the contributions of the Nova Scotia +Regiment, amounted to L.2097. Much enthusiasm on the subject prevailed, +and great loyalty was displayed by the people. + +A general fast was proclaimed on 21st May, which was kept at Halifax +with much solemnity. + +A commission was issued in July to William Forsyth, Andrew Belcher, +William Cochran, Lawrence Hartshorne, Charles Hill, Richard Kidston, +John Bremner, William Sabatier and Michael Wallace, as directors for the +Shubenacadie Canal. A survey and report was made by this committee which +was printed and published. + +There were several regular traders at this time between Halifax and +Boston. The principal and most regular one was the Schooner Nancy, +Captain Tufton. + +In the month of January, 1798, a boat arrived in the harbor with Capt. +Wyatt and several passengers of the Brig Princess Amelia, bound to +Halifax, which had been wrecked on the south side of Sable Island on 9th +November. The wreck had been reported by an American schooner, who saw +signals of distress on the Island. Sir John Wentworth immediately sent a +vessel to the Island with clothing and provisions for the relief of the +sufferers. Capt. Wyatt equipped his long boat and, having got over to +the north side of the Island, embarked with four of his crew and Lieut. +Cochran of the Fusiliers, one of the passengers, intending to seek +relief. He arrived safe in one of the harbors to the eastward of +Halifax, where he obtained a pilot who brought him to Halifax. Capt. +Parker, who had charge of the vessel sent to the Island, brought off the +remainder of the crew and passengers in safety. + +1798. On the 8th August, this year, Prince Edward received an injury by +a fall from his horse while riding on one of the streets in the town. +The horse broke through a defective wooden bridge over one of the street +gutters. The horse rolled over him hurting one of his legs; it did not, +however, prevent him from attending to his military duties. He was +recommended by the physicians to go to England for further advice. An +address subscribed by about four hundred of the inhabitants was +presented to him on his departure, which took place on the 21st October, +when he embarked in H. M. Ship Topaz, Captain Church. The House of +Assembly had previously voted five hundred guineas to purchase a star of +the order of the Garter to be presented to His Royal Highness. + +Among the events of the year was the arrival in the harbor, in November, +of the United States Squadron, consisting of the Sloop-of-War Herald, +Capt. Stevens, and the Pickering, Capt. Chapman, with the Brig Commerce, +Capt. Childs. Salutes were exchanged, and the captains landed and paid +their respects to the Governor, Admiral and General, and were hospitably +entertained. The United States was at this time at war with France. + +On the 25th November news of Nelson's victory at the Nile arrived in +Halifax. The town was illuminated in the evening. Salutes were fired and +other demonstrations of joy occurred throughout the day. A number of +prizes were brought into the port during this autumn. + +Mr. James Stewart, afterwards Solicitor-General, was this year elected +without opposition for the county. + +On the 25th September a tremendous hurricane visited Halifax and +continued through part of the night. Nearly all the wharves in the town +were swept away, and most of the shipping in the harbor damaged. The +tide rose to an unprecedented height, overflowed Water Street and did +much damage to property. The water came up to the old market house where +the city brick building now stands. The market wharf and King's wharf +were partially destroyed, and the market slip or public landing swept +away. The loss of property in the town, including the shipping, was +estimated at above L.100,000. + +Among the names of persons engaged in business in the town this year we +find, James Kidston, Wholesale and Retail Dealer, Matthew Richardson, at +the foot of Prince Street, James Moody and James Tidmarsh just entered +into co-partnership; Forman & Grassie, Fraser, Thom & Co., Shipping +Merchants, Lyon & Butler, Shopkeepers, near the market house; Thomas +Moody, Dry Goods, etc., corner of Marchington's wharf; James Leaver, +opposite the Dartmouth Mill Flour Store, in Water Street; John +McMasters, Benjamin Etter, Watchmaker and Hardware Store at the corner +of George and Barrington Streets, lower side of Grand Parade +(Crosskill's corner); Phoebe Moody, Dry Goods, opposite the Parade, in +Barrington Street. In the following year the names of Jonathan and John +Tremain, Samuel Hart, Tremain & Boggs and William Annand appear. + +The members of Assembly for the county were: Michael Wallace, Jonathan +Sterns, Lawrence Hartshorne and Charles Morris. Mr. Sterns was replaced +by James Stewart.[59] William Cochran and J. G. Pyke were still members +for the town. Mr. Benning Wentworth was Provincial Secretary. The Hon. +Richard Bulkeley, the senior councillor, was Grand Master of the Masons. + +[Footnote 59: NOTE.--Mr. Stewart was the son of Anthony Stewart, before +mentioned, a Loyalist gentleman from Maryland. He was Solicitor General +and afterwards a Judge of the Supreme Court. He married a sister of the +late Chief Justice, Sir B. Haliburton. Judge Stewart's residence was the +yellow brick house at the corner of Pleasant Street and Morris Street, +afterwards the residence of Mr. Alexander Stewart, Master of the Rolls, +but not related to Judge James Stewart. The late Reverend James Stewart, +of Dartmouth, was his grandson.] + +The papers of the day are filled with long advertisements about the +Government Lottery. + +1799. The chief event which occupied the attention of the good people of +Halifax during the autumn of this year was the arrival and movements of +His Royal Highness Prince Edward, who had now been created Duke of Kent. +Having received the appointment of commander-in-chief of the troops in +British North America on 6th September, he arrived in H. M. Ship +Arethusa, Capt. Wooley, forty-three days from England. The Prince landed +in state. A procession of boats was formed from the frigate to the +King's Wharf under a royal salute from the ships, and on reaching the +wharf, by a salute from the Citadel. A double line of soldiers, +including the militia, lined the street from the King's Wharf to +Government House, through which the procession passed. The Governor and +Council, Admiral Vandiput, General Ogilvie, the officers of the staff +and public departments and a number of the principal citizens, attended. +On his arrival at Government House the bells of St. Paul's and the old +Mather Meeting House rang out a merry peal, and a large number of the +inhabitants crowded around to bid him welcome again to Halifax. In the +evening, bonfires were lit on the Grand Parade in honor of his arrival. +The Duke soon after removed to his villa on the Basin, six miles from +town. This beautiful little retreat had been erected by Prince Edward on +the land of the Governor, Sir John Wentworth. The grounds were laid out +and improved at considerable expense under his direction. The Rotunda, +or music room, on the opposite side of the road, next the water, +surrounded by the rich foliage of the beech groves, and surmounted by a +large gilded ball, flashing in the sunlight, presented a beautiful and +picturesque appearance on the approach to the Lodge. The villa was built +altogether of wood, consisting of a centre of two stories containing the +hall and staircase, with a flat roof. There were two wings containing +the Duke's apartments. In the rear was a narrow wooden building with +pointed gothic windows, resembling a chapel, containing the kitchen and +offices, which extended some distance southward beyond the main +building. The grouping of the beech and birch trees in the lawn and +around the house was well arranged. They were the original forest trees, +selected and permitted to stand in clearing away the space for the +buildings. The rooms were not spacious, and the ceilings low, which +appears to have been the fashion of building in Halifax at the time. The +woods around were very beautiful. They were traversed by walks, and in +several places by a carriage road with vistas and resting places where +little wooden seats and several imitation Chinese temples were erected. +Several of these small summer houses were in existence in 1828, and +probably later, and portions of them could be seen through the openings +in the trees on passing the main road. The Duke erected a range of low +buildings on the edge of the Basin, a little to the north of the +Rotunda, which were occupied by two companies of his regiment, and +contained the guard room and a mess room for the officers. This building +was afterwards known as the Rockingham Inn, a favourite resort in +summer, when tea and ginger beer were to be had under the piazza which +ran along the edge of the water. This hotel acquired the name of the +"Rockingham," having been for a long time after the Prince's departure +the place of meeting of the Rockingham Club. This club was established +either while the Duke was resident here, or very soon after his leaving +for Canada. It was composed of Governor Wentworth, the members of His +Majesty's Council, the Admiral of the station, several of the principal +military officers, and a number of the leading citizens of Halifax. Dr. +Stanser, rector of St. Paul's, was one of its members; also the Hon. +Andrew Belcher, both of whom had villas on the Basin, the former at +Sherwood, afterwards the property of the late Mr. Thos. Kenny, and the +latter at Birch Cove, now in the occupation of the family of the late +Peter Donaldson. + +The Rockingham Club was partly literary and partly social. The members +dined together at the hotel, which was styled the Rockingham House, in +compliment to Sir John Wentworth, the head of whose family, the Marquis +of Rockingham, was about that time in, or at the head of the British +Ministry. The large room which extended along the south wing of the +building, east and west, with the end to the water, was hung with the +portraits of many of the members of the club painted by Field, a +portrait painter of considerable talent who, at that time and for +several years after, resided in Halifax, and from whose brush the +portraits of many of the then principal citizens and their ladies still +remain.[60] + +[Footnote 60: Among Field's portraits remaining in Halifax, are those of +the Hon. Michael Wallace, Hon. Wm. Lawson, Hon. Andrew Belcher and Mrs. +Belcher, Bishop Charles Inglis, Rev. Dr. Archibald Gray and Mrs. Gray, +the late Andrew Wright, of the firm of Belcher & Wright, and his sister +Mary, the Dr. W. J. Almon, and others. That of Sir John Wentworth, a +full half length, the best performance of Field in this country, was +removed from the Rockingham to Government House by Sir John after the +club had been dissolved, and became Government property. It was +afterwards removed to the Province Building, whence it was taken some +years ago, and is said to have fallen into private hands, having been +either lent or given away by order of one of the gentlemen who, some +years ago, occupied the office of Provincial Secretary. It is to be +hoped that ere long it will find its way back to its place in the +Building. + +That of Commissioner Inglefield, also a member of the club, hung for +many years over the mantle piece of the committee room of the +Legislative Council Chamber, but was afterwards presented to the late +Admiral Inglefield, father of Sir Edward Inglefield, lately Admiral on +this station.] + +In 1799 the prices of provisions in Halifax markets were as follows: +Beef, by the quarter, from 4d. to 5d. per pound, pork, 6d., mutton, 7d. +to 8d., veal, 8d. to 9d., fowls, from 3s. to 4s., oats, 2s. 6d. and 3s., +butter, 1s. 3d. and 1s. 6d. + +In 1798 the number of illegitimate children in the Halifax Poor House +was fourteen, in 1799, seventeen, and in 1800, fifteen. The total cost +of the establishment during the three years was L.570 16s. 1d. Fines +received at Halifax, 1798, L.60; 1799 and 1800, L.82 10s. Fresh Water +Bridge was renewed and completed in 1798. + +In 1799 the Legislature made some amendments to the Act for the erection +of public buildings. The Commissioners appointed by the Governor and +Council were authorized to purchase land for the site of a new +Government House. The old House to be appropriated to the House of +Assembly and Courts of Law. The Commissioners were Messrs. Wallace, +Cochran, Hartshorne, and John Beckwith. The House of Assembly voted +L.10,500 for the building, etc. The old Government House having been +found unfit for the accommodation of the Legislature, was sold and the +block of buildings known as Cochran's, before mentioned, was leased this +year for L.300 per annum for the accommodation of the Law Courts, the +Legislature, and the public offices connected with the Provincial +Government. Commissioners were also appointed to build a new market +house for the butchers and for a vegetable market. This was the wooden +building which was removed during the administration of Governor +LeMarchant, to make way for the present brick structure. A clerk of the +market was appointed. There being then no convenient accommodation for +the vegetable market, the country people were permitted to sell in the +streets and the square in front of the market house. + +This has once more become the custom; the portion of the new market +appropriated to the country people having been lately taken for city +offices. The want of sufficient space in the central parts of the town +for the convenience of markets and the erection of public buildings, has +been always an impediment to the improvement and embellishment of the +city. The small dimensions of the lots as originally laid out, being +only forty feet by sixty, and the short space between the streets, the +narrow spaces allowed for the public landings, and the small size of the +water grants for the erection of wharves in the old town, have been a +continual drawback to the convenience of trade and the progress of +improvement in front of the town. And it is a subject of regret that at +the present day so little attention is paid by the public authorities to +the future welfare of the city in respect to laying off building lots +and streets by private owners and speculators. + +The regular packet between Halifax and Boston, the Schooner Nancy, +usually occupied three days in her trips. She was commanded by Capt. J. +Huxford. He was afterwards known in Halifax as Crazy Huxford. He was on +board the Shannon, frigate, in the engagement with the American ship +Chesapeake, and had been wounded in the head, from which he never fully +recovered. He was one of the best pilots on the coast and was, until his +death, a naval branch pilot attached to the Dockyard. When under the +influence of liquor he became frantic and was continually shouting +through the streets of the town without hat or coat. This poor old man +died about twenty-five or thirty years ago at a very advanced age. + +In May the small pox made its appearance in the town and strict +quarantine regulations were enforced. Dr. Gschwint (pronounced Swint) +was appointed health officer. + +The elections took place this autumn. Messrs. William Cochran and John +George Pyke were again returned. The former polled 104 votes and the +latter 346. At this time the electors were confined to freeholders only. +The franchise was not altered till about the year 1836. Mr. Cotnam +Tonge, Edward Mortimer, Messrs. Fulton and Morris were elected for the +county. Only two resident in the town succeeded, Tonge and Morris; +Wallace, Stewart and Hartshorne were rejected by the Pictou votes. + +On Saturday, the 11th August, attempts were made by persons unknown to +set fire to the Dockyard, Government house and the engine house. The +Governor and Council offered a large reward for discovery. A night +patrol of militia and inhabitants was ordered out under the +superintendence of the magistrates. + +The Rev. Bernard Michael Houseal, minister of St. George's, in the north +suburbs, died on the 9th March, this year, in the seventy-second year of +his age. He was a native of the Duchy of Wurtemberg, was educated at one +of the German universities, and was esteemed a good scholar and a pious +minister of religion. He had been chosen by the learned consistory of +Stuttgart for the ministry of the Lutheran Church, and embarked for +America in 1752. After being several years in the ministry he took +charge of a congregation of Germans in New York, and came with the +Loyalists to Halifax in 1783. He was buried in the old German burial +ground attached to his church in Brunswick Street, and his tombstone +remains there. Mr. Houseal was succeeded in the Church of St. George by +the Rev. George Wright, who was also principal of the Halifax Grammar +School and chaplain to the garrison. The Round Church, in Brunswick +Street, was at this time only in process of erection and was not +finished until the year 1811, or thereabouts. + +On the 30th October, H. M. Ship Porcupine, Capt. Evans, arrived from New +Providence, having on board the Duke of Orleans and his two brothers, +the Duke of Montpensier and Count Beaujolie, attended by Count Montjoye. +They had been waiting for a passage to England and had proceeded here in +the Porcupine in hope of meeting with an opportunity of going to Europe. +Finding no immediate opportunity to England, they both took their +passage in a merchant ship for New York. Though considered as prisoners +on parole, they dined with the Governor, and paid a visit to the Duke of +Kent at the Lodge. They also attended a public ball at Government House +on the 17th November. The Duke of Orleans was afterwards elected to the +French throne as Louis Philippe, King of the French, and eventually died +in exile in England. After he became king, on meeting with several +persons from Nova Scotia, he very kindly enquired after several +gentlemen of Halifax by name and spoke with much feeling of the kindness +he experienced while in Halifax. On arrival he was found to be in very +straitened circumstances and the Duke of Kent was believed to have given +him pecuniary assistance to enable the party to proceed on their voyage. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +1800. At the commencement of the century Halifax presented a prosperous +condition. The population now approached 9,000. Trade was brisk, and the +place was enlivened by a large garrison and the presence of a Prince of +the Blood Royal. The harbor was the resort of the fleet and was the +principal station of the naval commander. The war was at its height and +the Prize Court in full operation. Several privateers had been fitted +out by the merchants of the town and captures of French vessels were +frequent, though the trade of the port occasionally suffered from the +French cruisers on the coast. Among the captures from the enemy at the +time, the most remarkable was that of two prizes, one French and one +Danish, brought in by Captain William Pryor, commander of the Privateer +Nymph, of Halifax. + +Several public buildings were commenced this spring. On the 5th June the +Prince laid the corner stone of the Masonic Hall. His Royal Highness was +Grand Master of the Masons of Lower Canada, and acted for the Hon. +Richard Bulkeley, Grand Master of Nova Scotia, when age and infirmities +prevented him from attending. A masonic procession was formed and the +ceremony is said to have been one of the finest which Halifax ever +witnessed. The band of the Prince's own regiment, the 7th Fusiliers, +performed under the direction of Mr. Selby, organist of St. Paul's, one +of the craft. + +On the 10th April, Sir John Wentworth laid the corner stone of the Round +Church (St. George's) in Brunswick Street. The Legislature this session +voted L.500 towards its completion. The land on which the church was +erected had been purchased some time previously by the Committee of +Superintendence. The design is said to have been the work of the late +John Merrick and Mr. J. Fliegar of the Surveyor General's department, +and for some years surveyor to Governor Wentworth while Surveyor General +of Woods and Forests in Nova Scotia. St. George's old church, then known +as the Dutch Church, was at this time occupied by the congregation of +the north suburbs, many of whom were the descendants of the first German +settlers. Though always an independent congregation, it had been +considered part of the parish of St. Paul's, the whole Township of +Halifax having been originally included in that parish, and it continued +so until legally erected into a separate parish by the name of St. +George's parish, under the Act of the Legislature passed for that +purpose in 1827. The Rev. George Wright was at this time minister of St. +George's congregation. He had lately succeeded Mr. Houseal, who was +styled Missionary to the Germans. + +A sum of money, as we have seen, had been voted by the Legislature for +the erection of a Government House. Much discussion had arisen in the +House of Assembly and with the Executive authorities, the funds to be +appropriated for this purpose, and some difference of opinion existed +regarding the site for the building. It was finally arranged that it +should be placed in the field between Hollis and Pleasant Streets, to +include the site of the old hospital. The corner stone of this edifice +was laid by the Duke of Kent on the 11th of September. A procession was +formed which proceeded from the old Government House, accompanied by a +band of music, and the ceremony was concluded by a prayer by the Rev. +Doctor Robert Stanser, Rector of St. Paul's. Isaac Hildrith was the +architect, and John Henderson chief mason. No building since erected in +Halifax exceeds Government House in neatness of design and solidity of +workmanship. Some of the old brick buildings now remaining in the city +were erected by Mr. Henderson. + +The old market house was taken down this year and the new one commenced. +This old market occupied the site of the recent City Court House. The +new one was erected in the open space opposite the King's wharf, where +the new brick market house now stands. It was a flat-roofed wooden +building intended to accommodate the butchers only. A pitched roof was +afterwards put on this building. There was a small green market built at +the same time next the north line of the fuel yard, which was afterwards +removed. These buildings were erected at the expense of Government, the +sum of L.2,252 having been granted by the House of Assembly to be +appropriated to the erection of this new meat market, also to the repair +and extension of the market slip or public landing, and for the +fish-market, and, at the same time, L.250 was voted to the heirs of the +late Joseph Gerrish who claimed some interest in a portion of the old +market house lot. A small piece of ground at the corner of the military +fuel yard, next to the new market house, was about the same time +purchased from Mr. Kidston who then occupied it for weigh scales and +other purposes. The Grand Jury refused to accept the grant from the +Crown of the old market house lot in the way it had been drawn by the +Secretary of the province. The Council declined to make the alterations +in the grant required, and concluded that the old building and the lot +should remain under the control of the Commissioners of Public Markets, +and ordered the old buildings to be taken down and the ground leased. + +In March the House of Assembly was in session. The elections of Mr. +Tonge for the County and Mr. Pyke for the Town were declared void by the +House in consequence of some defect in their qualifications. On the 9th +April following, the new election for the town took place, and on the +14th, Andrew Belcher was returned by a majority of 65 votes. Mr. Michael +Wallace was returned for the County. Mr. Tonge, having been also chosen +by a country constituency, fell back on the double return and retained +his seat. On the 12th March, the House attended at St. Paul's church in +a body, when the Rev. Dr. Stanser, then chaplain, preached before them. + +This summer His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent took his final departure +from Halifax. The usual addresses were presented by the House of +Assembly, His Majesty's Council and the people of the Town. He embarked +in H. M. Ship Assistance on the 3rd August, and sailed on the 4th. His +embarkation was attended with full military ceremony, the troops lining +the streets. His Royal Highness, accompanied by the Governor and Council +and the principal Naval and Military Officers, proceeded on foot through +the avenue formed by the troops to the King's Wharf, whence he reached +the ship under salutes from the batteries, the artillery corps and the +ships of war. Several of the old inhabitants not many years since +recollected the scene, and could describe the feelings evinced by the +townspeople on the occasion. His tall commanding figure in full military +uniform, his hat surmounted by the lofty white plume, then worn by the +fusiliers, could be seen above the heads of the surrounding crowd as he +walked down the line with a smile of recognition for his friends, on +passing them, amidst the plaudits of the crowd.[61] Though the Duke +exhibited on all occasions the most kind temper in civil life, and his +manner and conversation with those he liked almost amounted to +familiarity, yet his sternness in military affairs never forsook him. +Eleven soldiers had been sentenced to death for mutiny and desertion, +and had been left by the Duke for execution, which was carried into +effect under his orders a few days after he left our shores. On the 7th +August, those unfortunates were brought out on the Common, dressed in +white, with their coffins, accompanied by the Revd. George Wright, the +Garrison Chaplain, and Doctor Burke, the Roman Catholic clergyman, in +the presence of the whole garrison. Eight of them were reprieved under +the gallows, and the three who belonged to the Newfoundland Regiment +were hanged. Public feeling was against the Duke in this affair. It was +thought that on the eve of his departure he should have granted a +remission of the death sentence, which, as General Commanding, he had +power to do, until the King's pleasure should be known. Three executions +only a day or two after his departure, produced a disagreeable +impression of His Royal Highness in the minds of the people of Halifax, +who had just taken leave of him with so much kind feeling. + +[Footnote 61: NOTE.--After the Prince's departure Governor Wentworth +occupied the Lodge on the Basin, which had been built on his land. He +resided there for some time after retiring from the Government.] + +The Quarter Sessions having authorized the establishment of a military +exercising ground on the north end of the Common, an act for which they +had no authority, laid the groundwork of much dispute and controversy +with subsequent military commanders, who on several occasions later +undertook to interfere with the City authorities in beautifying and +improving the Common. + +The death of the Hon. Richard Bulkeley, late Secretary of the Province, +occurred this year; he was in his 83rd year. Mr. Bulkeley came to +Halifax as Aide-de-Camp to Governor Cornwallis in 1749, and had twice +administered the Government as Senior Councillor. Also that of Anthony +Henry, the King's printer. He published the Royal Gazette at Halifax for +about 40 years. John Howe was his successor in the office of King's +printer. + +1801. Early this year it was proposed to establish a bank in Halifax by +means of a joint stock company whose capital was to be L.50,000 in shares +of L.100 each. A committee of management was named consisting of Edward +B. Brenton, William Forsyth, Foster Hutchinson, Lawrence Hartshorne, +James Forman, James Fraser and Captain John Beckwith. They required a +monopoly, which was refused them by the House of Assembly, and the +project fell through. + +The winter of 1800-1801 had been very sickly. Smallpox had made its +appearance in town early in the autumn, and 182 persons had died of it +between September, 1800, and the month of February following. + +Several fires occurred during the winter. Sir John Wentworth's stables +at the lodge were burned down. The most disastrous fire which had +occurred in the town for many years took place on the 5th February, when +the block fronting the old Government House on Hollis Street was +partially destroyed. + +On the 13th February this year, the society known as the Sun Fire +Company was established at Halifax. It was, perhaps, the first Fire +Company ever instituted in the town. Those known as the Phoenix Fire +Company, the Hand and Hand and the Heart and Hand were of a subsequent +date. The Sun Fire Company in the year 1810, included most of the +principal inhabitants of the town. Their names will be found in the +Appendix. + +1802. A considerable outlay of money appears to have been made on the +streets of the town about this time. The commissioners appointed for +this purpose were Charles Morris, J. G. Pyke, Lawrence Hartshorne, +Michael Wallace and William Lyons. The expenditure this year on the +streets amounted to L.930, and in the two succeeding years to L.696 and +L.808. The sum of L.500 had been granted in 1801 towards the expense of +paving some of the streets; the remainder probably was raised by +assessment. + +The names of the town magistrates in 1802, were John Newton, Custos, +Jonathan Binney, Geo. W. Sherlock, J. G. Pyke, Dr. Michael Head, W. +Taylor, Stephen H. Binney, Jas. Gautier, Wm. Cochran, Charles Morris, +Junior, Daniel Wood, William Thompson, Michael Wallace, Charles Hill, +Richard Kidston, P. Marchington, Jonathan Tremain, James Clarke, William +Schwartz, Hibbert N. Binney and John Bremner. These are the Magistrates +for the County of Halifax. They all appear to have been residents in +the town. Lewis M. Wilkins was Sheriff; John Newton and H. N. Binney +were joint Collectors of the Customs; Daniel Wood, Inspector; John +Cleveland, Collector of light duties; and John H. Fliegar, Gauger. The +Firewards of the town were Mr. Pyke, Mr. Wallace, Mr. Hill, Mr. +Cleveland, Mr. Clarke, William Millet, Elias Marshall, Thomas Fillis, +Andrew Liddell, John Fillis, Wm. Lyons, Thomas Boggs, John Howe and +Garret Miller. + +The Royal Nova Scotia Regiment on being disbanded this year, presented +an address to Sir John Wentworth, their Colonel, in August. The names of +the officers of this Regiment were Lt. Cols. Francis Kearney and Samuel +V. Bayard,[62] Major Geo. Thesiger, Capts. John Solomon, Jones Fawson, +Alexander Howe,[63] John Allen, William Cox and Joshua W. Weeks, Capt. +Lieutenant John G. Degreben; Lieutenants Thomas Morris, Otto W. +Schwartz, Phillip Kearney, Eric Sutherland, George H. Monk, Michael +Pernette, Charles Rudolf, John C. Ritchie, John Emerson, Timothy +Ruggles, Richard Green, Isaac Glennie, Hebbert Newton, Thomas A. C. +Winslow, Alexander Hamilton, Charles W. Solomon and John Fraser; Ensigns +James Moore, Robert Bayard, Henry Green, Thomas Wright, Richard Gibbons; +Paymaster Benning Wentworth, Surgeon John Fraser. + +[Footnote 62: Col. Bayard retired from active service and settled in +Annapolis County. He was the father of the late Dr. Bayard of St. John, +and grandfather of the present Doctor William Bayard of that city.] + +[Footnote 63: Capt. Howe was a descendant of the Hon. Ed. Howe, one of +Cornwallis' first councillors.] + +Governor Wentworth directed his reply to this address from "the Lodge." + +The population of Halifax had again decreased towards the end of the +year 1802. The returns of the number of inhabitants in the town and on +the peninsula were as follows:-- + + Men. Women. Boys. Girls. Total. + + Whites 1924 2489 1790 1669 7872 + Blacks 96 166 81 108 451 + In Naval Yard 25 36 27 27 115 + Dutch Village 15 16 30 33 94 + ---- + Total 8532 + +There were 1000 dwelling houses in the town and peninsula. In taking +the census, the wards of the town were distinguished as follows: North +Barracks Ward, Pontac Ward, Market House Ward, Governor's Ward, Meeting +House Ward, South Barracks Ward, South Suburbs and North Suburbs. + +The sum of L.8,900 had been expended by the Commissioners on the building +of Government House, and but the first story had been completed. Much +dissatisfaction was expressed in the House of Assembly with the course +pursued by the Commissioners. Belcher, Hutchinson, Cochran and Beckwith +had kept no minutes of their proceedings. Wallace appears to have had +the principal supervision. He was censured by the House for having acted +without the concurrence of those associated with him, and for exceeding +the limits prescribed him by law. But his zeal and ability were +commended and no corrupt motives were attributed to him. In 1804 an +additional sum of L.2,500 was voted to complete the building, a +considerable sum having been voted and expended the previous year.[64] + +[Footnote 64: The building cost about L.18,000.] + +Several fires occurred in June which were supposed to be the work of +incendiaries. It had been proved beyond all doubt that buildings in +several parts of the town had been set on fire. A patrol of militia +under Colonel Pyke was ordered to patrol the streets from sunset to +sunrise, and all suspected persons who could not give a good account of +themselves at night were ordered to be arrested. A reward of L.100 was +offered for discovery, and several arrests were made. A boy who +confessed to having attempted to set fire to the Dockyard was sent out +of the province. + +On the 2nd September the 97th regiment arrived in the harbor and landed +immediately at the King's Wharf. On the 14th the fleet arrived from +Jamaica under the command of Commodore Baynton, consisting of the +Cumberland, 74, Bellerophon, 74, Ganges, 74, Vanguard, 74, Goliah, 74, +Thesis, 74, Elephant, 74 and the Pelican, Brig. The 7th regiment +embarked shortly after, and the town people presented a farewell address +to Col. Layard and Lieut.-Col. Edwards. In April the Governor and +Council were prevailed on to grant a press warrant to Capt. Bradley of +the Cambrian for ten days in the town to enable him to fill up the +number of his crew, it being 50 short of its complement. + +The Rev. Dr. Burke was at this time Roman Catholic Vicar General of Nova +Scotia under the Bishop of Quebec; he afterwards administered the +Episcopal office in Halifax as Bishop of Zion. Dr. Burke was a gentleman +of education and highly esteemed in the community. + +The death of a very aged inhabitant, John Murphy, occurred this year. He +was 90 years of age, and had been one of the first settlers of the town. +He had acquired a large property in fields in the south suburbs, where +he kept a large number of cows, and for a great many years supplied the +principal inhabitants with milk and butter. The fields extending +northward from Smith's tan yard to the corner house formerly occupied by +the late Sheriff Sawyer, were known formerly as Murphy's fields. + +1803. The following is an account of the butchers' meat sold in the +Halifax market for six months commencing July 1st and ending December +31st, 1802. + + Sheep. Calves. Oxen. Pigs. + July 785 264 157 -- + Aug 964 147 186 -- + Sept 1409 91 273 21 + Oct 1017 85 224 76 + Nov 928 78 465 407 + Dec 883 -- 614 692 + ---- ---- ---- ---- + Total 5986 665 1919 1196 + +The above is exclusive of the meat issued under contract for the Navy, +but it is to be assumed it included the Army contract. + +1804. This spring the House of Assembly recommended that the old market +house should be taken down and a new building erected on the ground for +the purpose of a County Court House and police office. This was the +brick building lately used for city purposes. An Act was passed in 1804 +with that object. + +The trade of the port was much depressed this season by the number of +captures made by the enemy, and from the low prices obtained for fish in +the West India market, where the merchants of Halifax were undersold by +U. S. fishermen. + +Among the events of the year was the arrival of several distinguished +prisoners, among whom was General Brunet and suite, who put into Halifax +on their way to England, having been made prisoners at St. Domingo. +Governor Wentworth assigned them the old Rockingham Inn, near the +Prince's Lodge on the Basin, as a place of abode while here. They were +shortly after removed to England. + +In the autumn General Boyer, commandant of the garrison, undertook to +try the metal of the Haligonians by causing a false alarm of invasion. +The report was spread early in the morning that the French were off the +harbor. Before 10 o'clock, A.M., about 1,000 militia men were embodied +and at their respective posts. Two hundred of them were artillery men. +The dress companies were all in uniform and fully equipped. Among the +first who appeared on the parade ground with their guns were Parson +Wright, head master of the grammar school, and the Solicitor General, +James Stewart, better known as Judge Stewart. + +1805. Press warrants were granted by the Council on the 6th May to Vice +Admiral Sir Andrew Mitchell, then in command of the station, for +fourteen days. He afterwards demanded an extension of his warrant for +six months, which was refused by the Council at their meeting on the +18th. In their reply to the Admiral they mention that the number of +seamen engaged in the West India trade, etc., had been so reduced by +captures, imprisonment and other causes that there were not sufficient +in the port to man the vessels, and that all the seamen to be found in +the town would not now be enough to meet half the demand for one +sloop-of-war in the fleet. Moreover, that there were many at the time in +French prisons whose families were supported by charity in the town. +This, together with the high rate of wages in the United States, had +reduced the commerce of the port to the greatest necessity. Finally, +that the execution of impress warrants on shore were attended with much +disturbance and annoyance to the laboring poor and others not fit for +service, and the Council were of opinion that it should only be resorted +to on the most urgent occasions and when advantage from it was to be +reasonably looked for. + +Mitchell, finding he could not prevail on the Council, undertook, in the +following October, to send press gangs through the town without +warrant. An armed party of sailors and marines from the Cleopatra, +frigate, under the command of one or more officers, were sent out. The +citizens resisted and a riot ensued, which resulted in the death of one +person and the wounding of several others. One of these encounters +occurred in the store of Messrs. Forsyth & Co., where a number of +merchant sailors had secreted themselves. General Wentworth called a +meeting of the Council on 23rd November, and it was ordered that the +Solicitor-General should proceed to prosecute all persons belonging to +the ships war who had been engaged in impressments. The Attorney +General, R. J. Uniacke, Mitchell's father-in-law, was in England at the +time, on leave of absence. The Admiral's gang had broken open the store +of Forsyth & Co. under the pretense of looking for deserters, and Sir +Andrew defended his conduct under the authority of a warrant from the +Admiralty, but he was condemned in heavy damages for his illegal +proceedings. + +The town artillery at this time consisted of three companies commanded +by Captains Charles Morris, Bremner and Fillis, and there was another +under Capt. McIntosh of Spryfield, which did duty at York Redoubt, +composed principally of market fisherman who were regularly trained to +battery exercises. Governor Wentworth appears to have been assiduous in +his efforts to keep up the local defences of the town, and to have +placed much reliance on the volunteer companies for that purpose. + +There was a plentiful harvest this year throughout the whole province. +Provisions of all sorts were plentiful in the town, so much so that the +arrival of the fleet and a large export to Bermuda and Newfoundland did +not augment the prices. The importations of flour from the United +States, both this and the following year, were very extensive. + +In October an unfortunate French prisoner named Pierre Paulin was +executed on the common for the murder of a fellow prisoner. The Governor +and Council refused to reprieve him. + +In December the town was illuminated and other joyful demonstrations +made by the inhabitants on the news of the Battle of Trafalgar. + +1806. In the month of February, Lieut.-General Gardner, the commandant +of the garrison, died at Halifax; his funeral was attended with much +military pomp and ceremony. He was buried under old St. Paul's Church. + +A general election occurred in 1806, when Edward Mortimer of Pictou, +Simon B. Robie, S. G. W. Archibald and William Lawson were returned for +the county, and John George Pyke and Foster Hutchinson for the town. +Cochran, the old member, petitioned against Lawson on the ground of +qualification. + +The Government House remained still unfinished. The sum of L.4,292 had +been expended on the building since the last session, which was L.2,000 +more than had been voted. + +On the 29th April Halifax was thrown into alarm by the appearance of a +number of large vessels in the offing. Signal guns were fired from the +alarm posts in the harbor, and the military and militia were under arms. +There was another alarm of French invasion on or about the 20th May, +when several large vessels were again reported off the harbor. The +militia of the town were again assembled, but the greater part of them +were without arms. Governor Wentworth had previously made several +applications to the Imperial Government for arms for the Halifax +Militia, but it does not appear that much attention was paid to his +solicitations. + +Among the advertisements which appeared in the Gazette this year was +notice of a periodical publication to be called the "Nova Scotia and New +Brunswick Magazine or Historical Library," which was offered for sale at +the book stores of Messrs. Morrison, Bennet, Edmund Ward and William +Minns. Morrison kept his book and stationer's shop at the corner of Duke +and Granville Streets, afterwards known as Joseph Robinson's hat store, +now owned by Mr. Kiezer. He was succeeded in his business by George +Eaton, who was the principal book seller and stationer in the town for +several years. This old building, with others along the upper side of +Granville Street was destroyed by fire about 1827. At this time there +was a law in existence to prevent persons building wooden houses in the +town above a certain height. The present wooden building at the corner +was then erected under this law and did not exceed what by measurement +was deemed one story and a half. Several stone and brick buildings were +erected in consequence of this law. That to the south of Kiezer's corner +occupied by Mr. Simonds and others, another in the same block built by +the late William Macara, druggist, and the large double three story +stone building in Barrington Street, nearly opposite St. Paul's, were +all erected about this time by Mr. Matthew Richardson on the site of the +late Andrew Belcher's garden. Several old gamble roofed houses, the +remnant of the first settlement, were destroyed by the above-mentioned +fire. + +On 22nd December, the American Government laid an embargo on all vessels +within American ports bound to any foreign places, and the officers of +the Customs throughout the States were directed to refuse clearances to +all such vessels. This was a great check to trade, and Halifax felt the +result in the scarcity of provisions and particularly of flour, which +went up immediately to L.5 per bbl., the inhabitants having been in a +great measure dependent on the States for that article. + +A sailor named John Wilson had been taken from the American Frigate +Chesapeake on charges of mutiny and desertion. He was tried in Halifax +by Court Martial on board the Flag Ship Belleisle on 26th August, +condemned and executed 31st. Two other seamen were in October following +executed on board the Jason, Capt. Cochran, for mutiny. + +The following list of town officers appointed by the Grand Jury for the +Town in 1806, will be found interesting: + + Halifax, Nova Scotia, } + March Term. } COURT OF QUARTER SESSIONS. + +The Grand Jury present to the Worshipful Court the following as proper +persons to serve as Town Officers for the ensuing year, in the different +offices to which they are named, viz: + +William Lyon, County Treasurer; Henry Yeomans, Town Clerk; Samuel +Muirhead, Stephen Oxley, Clerks of the Market; Richard Woodin, Michael +Denny, William Hogg, Enoch Wiswell, Surveyors of Lumber and Fence +Viewers; Joseph Hamilton, James Romans, Sealers of Leather; Nicholas +Vass, Thomas Adams, Patrick Ryan, William Ford, John Knowdie, Frederick +Stormy, Surveyors of Pickled Fish; Thomas Adams, William Ford, Cullers +of Dry Fish; Nicholas Vass, William Ford, Frederick Stormy, Gaugers of +Oil; John Fleigher, Gauger: Henry Shiers, Richard Woodin, William +Graham, Measurers of Wood; Francis Le'Guire, Measurer of Wood and Coals +for the Fuel Yard; Richard Woodin, Henry Shiers, William Graham, +Measurers of Grain; Richard Woodin, Henry Shiers, William Graham, +William Hogg, Measurers of Salt and Coal; John Brown, William Ford, +Cullers of Hoops and Staves; James King, Edward King, Weighers of Hay; +John Metchler, Surveyor of Bricks and Lime; W. G. Forsyth, Lawrence +Hartshorne, John Sullivan, John William Morris, Hogreaves; John Phelan, +Pound Keeper; Thomas Stone, John Atkins, John Mansfield, David Fletcher, +William Shea, George Isles, Peter Laffen, Edward Herbert, John Clarke, +Richard Munday, Henry Wright, Hugh Chisholm, Andrew Bowers, Francis +Wade, Alexander Cummings, Patrick Tobin, Constables; Jacob Michael, +Constable for Dutch Town; Peter Shaffro, Constable for Dutch Village; +John Mc'Alpin, Overseer of Highways for Dutch Village and Pen.; Jacob +Bower, George M'Intosh, Overseers for Harriot and Spryfields; William +Adams, Constable for Harriot and Spryfields; Peter Vambolt, John +Duffeney, Constables for Margaret's Bay; Christopher Boutteleer, +Overseer of Highways for Margaret's Bay; Frederick Boutteleer, Measurer +of Cordwood for Margaret's Bay; George Duffeney, Fence Viewer for +Margaret's Bay; George Mc'Intosh, Overseer of Highways from Spryfield to +Catch Harbour; William Keys, Overseer of Highways from Windsor Road to +Gay's River; Robert Fletcher, Terence Canty, Constables for the +Shubenacadie Fisheries; Edmund Bambrick, Jonathan Shelling, George +Hiltz, Overseers of Roads from Sackville Bridge to the extremity of the +County; Jacob Haverstock, Overseer of Roads from Nine Mile River to +Hammond's Plain; George Dunn, George Hiltz, Surveyors of Lumber for Nine +Mile River to Hammond's Plain and Windsor Road; Colin Grant, Christopher +Shultz, Robert Anderson, Fence Viewers; Christopher Haverstock, Joseph +Fielding, Jacob Pentz, Constables for Windsor Road and Hammond Plains; +Henry Bambrick, George Fultz, Hogreaves; John Shultz, George Hershman, +Hugh Bambrick, Assessors of the County Rates; Henry Miller, Pound +Keeper; Edward Foster, Surveyor of Highways from Dartmouth Town Plot to +the Basin; Samuel Hamilton, Constable from Dartmouth Town Plot to the +Basin; Jon. Tremain, Sr., William Penny, Surveyors of Highways, +Dartmouth Town Plot; David Larnard, Constable, Dartmouth Town Plot; +James Munn, Pound Keeper, Dartmouth Town Plot; Henry Wisdom, Surveyor of +Highways from the Ferry up the Preston Road to Tanyard; Mark Jones, +Constable; John Wisdom, Hogreave; Mark Jones, Pound Keeper; George +Simpson, Surveyor of Highways and Fence Viewer from Tanyard to +Simpson's; Hugh Ross, Constable; Thomas Settle, Surveyor of Highways and +Fence Viewer from Simpson's eastward to the new bridge; Philip Molyneux, +Constable; Timothy Crane, Surveyor of Highways for all Preston, and +Fence Viewer; John Richardson, Constable; Thomas Settle, Surveyor of +Lumber and Bark; George Horn, Hogreave; John Stewart, Surveyor of +Highways from Cole Harbour to Turner's; Robert Collins, Surveyor of +Highways from Turner's to Jones'; Robert Turner, Constable; Peter +Mc'Nabb, Surveyor of Highways, Eastern Passage; Benjamin Horn, +Constable; Adam Archibald, Musquodoboit, Surveyor of Roads; William +Gould, Constable; George M'Leod, Robert Nelson, Fence Viewers; Hugh +Archibald, Pound Keeper; Archibald Crawford, Overseer of Roads for +Meagher's Grant; Alex. Grant, Constable for Meagher's Grant; Peter +Ogilvie, Overseer of Roads from Meagher's Grant to George Anderson's; +Peter Gordon, Constable for Meagher's Grant to George Anderson's; Jacob +Bayer, Overseer of Roads from Musquodoboit Harbour; John Turple, +Constable for Musquodoboit Harbour; George Bayer, Overseer of Roads for +Pitpiswick; George Baker, Constable for Pitpiswick. + + March 5, 1806. WILLIAM LYON, _Foreman_. + + * * * * * + +On 11th May, 1807, it having been reported to His Majesty's Council that +the Grand Jury and Sessions had refused to accept a grant of the piece +of land on which the old Market House stood, upon the conditions which +had been inserted in the grant, (probably on it being vested in +Commissioners) the Governor and Council refused to alter the grant, and +if not accepted by the Session it was ordered that the old building be +taken down and the ground cleared and remain under the control of the +Commissioners of Public Markets. This was the site on which the late +City Court House was afterwards erected. + +1808. In the month of April, 1808, the new Governor, Sir George Provost, +arrived to take the place of Sir John Wentworth, who was allowed a +retiring pension of L.500 per annum. He brought with him the 7th, the +8th and the 23rd Regiments, consisting of about 3000 men, with Brigadier +General Houghton. The Governor came in H. M. Ship Penelope. At six +o'clock on the same evening of his arrival, he landed at the King's +Wharf under a salute from the Batteries. Sir John Wentworth was at his +villa on the Basin--the Prince's Lodge as it was called--when his +successor arrived, and did not receive the official letter announcing +his appointment until 18 days after the arrival of Sir George Provost. +On the 13th April, Sir John came to town and the new Governor was sworn +into office. + +It was deemed advisable that some trusty person should be sent to the +United States to obtain information as to warlike preparations then +progressing in that country. Mr. John Howe, the postmaster at Halifax, +was chosen. He proceeded to Boston and afterwards visited other parts of +the Union. Mr. Howe was again dispatched on a second mission late in the +fall, and on his return made a report to the Lieutenant Governor. + +Mr. Samuel Hood George, afterwards Sir Samuel, came out with Sir George +Provost. He was appointed Provincial Secretary, and afterwards +represented the County of Halifax in General Assembly. He was the eldest +son of Commodore Sir Denis George, who married Miss Cochran of Halifax, +and succeeded his father in the Baronetcy. This young man died early of +consumption, and was succeeded both in the Baronetcy and the office of +Secretary by his youngest brother Sir Rupert D. George, who remained in +office until responsible government was established in the province. + +The ships Milan, Observateur and Centurian were stationed at Halifax +during the winter. The Centurian was the ship in which Lord Anson +circumnavigated the globe. She remained in the harbour as a receiving +and store ship for many years, and was broken up at the Dockyard +somewhere between the years 1820 and 1823. + +Among the visitors to Halifax this year was the notorious Aaron Burr, +late Vice President of the United States. He passed under an assumed +name. + +1809. The winter of 1808-9 was remarkably severe. During the month of +February the cold continued so long that the great expenditure of fuel +was felt by all classes of the community. Much distress prevailed among +the poor, and large sums of money were raised by subscription for their +relief. + +An expedition had been fitted out at Halifax, under the command of Sir +George Provost, for the capture of the French Island of Martinique. It +was composed of the 7th, 8th and 23rd Regiments with a Brigade of +Artillery. Having succeeded in this enterprise they returned to Halifax +on the 15th April. The gentlemen of the town gave a ball at Mason Hall +in honor of their return. Three soldiers of the 7th Fusiliers were the +only men killed in the expedition, the place having surrendered +immediately on the attack being made. A tablet to the memory of these +three soldiers may be seen in the gallery of the Round Church in +Brunswick Street. + +The Harbour was again this year the scene of another of those Naval +executions, which were performed with so much severity during the time +of war. A mutiny had occurred, or was supposed to have occurred, on +board the Columbine on the 1st August, off St. Andrews. Four seamen and +two marines were found guilty and executed on the 18th September. They +were afterwards hung in chains on Meagher's Beach. + +One of the most atrocious cases of piracy and murder on record occurred +this autumn on the coast to the eastward of Halifax. The vessel was the +Three Sisters, of Halifax, owned by Jonathan and John Tremain, merchants +of the town, commanded by Captain John Stairs, brother of the late +Honorable William Stairs, formerly president of the Union Bank. She was +on her way from Gaspe Bay to Halifax with a cargo of fish. Edward +Jordan, who had been formerly owner of this vessel or in some way +concerned with her, took passage for himself and wife and four children +with Capt. Stairs for Halifax. The following account is taken from a +Halifax newspaper of 16th October, 1809: + + "MONDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1809.--The following are the particulars + received from Capt. Stairs, of the piracy and murder that took + place on board the schooner Three Sisters, belonging to this + place, some account of which we gave in our last. + + "This most atrocious act of piracy and murder, of which none + could be guilty but the most diabolical incendiaries in human + shape, took place, as has been stated, on the 13th ult. off + Cape Canso, on the coast of this province, on board the + schooner Three Sisters, bound and belonging to this place from + the Bay Cheleaur. Edward Jordan, who has been represented as a + passenger, and who had some interest in the vessel, appears to + have been the exciter of this act of barbarity. Jordan having + corrupted the mate, Kelly, who joined him in effecting his + wicked intention, they secured the arms, and availing + themselves of that moment most likely to assist their horrid + design, which was when Capt. Stairs was below with one of his + men,[65] shot the other man who was on deck, and taking aim at + Capt. Stairs through the sky-light with a pistol, wounded him + in the face and shot the man who was near him in the breast. + Capt. Stairs immediately ran on deck, where he met Jordan with + a pistol in one hand and an ax in the other. Capt. Stairs then + retreated into cabin and searched for his pistols but found + them taken from his chest with a sword; finding himself + destitute of arms he again ascended the deck and saw Jordan + giving the fatal blow to the man who was on the deck, when he + turned from him and presented another pistol at Capt. Stairs, + which flashed when they closed and the pistol in the struggle + was thrown overboard. The man who had received the wound below + having reached the deck, made an effort to assist his captain, + but in his attempt, from weakness, fell on his face, where he + was shortly after dispatched with an ax by Jordan. In the + scuffle Capt. Stairs called upon his mate (Kelly) for + assistance, whom he perceived was in the act of loading + another pistol, but who made him no answer. At which time + Jordan's wife, a fit companion for so base a monster, attacked + him with a boat hook which he parried with his arm, and after + much exertion disengaged himself, and seizing one of the + hatches, jumped into the sea. The wind blowing a strong + breeze, the vessel soon left him to his precarious fate, where + he remained about three hours, when he was taken up by the + schooner Eliza Stoddard, of Hingham, in an almost lifeless + condition from wet and cold." + +[Footnote 65: Thomas Heath, who left a wife and two children in this +town.] + +The vessel was captured and brought into Halifax, and Jordan and his +wife placed on their trial before a special commission for the trial of +piracies on the high seas on 15th November. The Commission of Judges who +sat on this occasion were Lieut.-Gen'l Sir Geo. Provost, Vice Admiral +Sir John Borlase Warren, Chief Justice Blowers; Councillors, Butler, +Wallace, Brenton, Hill, Uniacke and Morris; Capt. Lloyd, R. N., Capt. +Lord James Townshend, R. N. and Capt. Simpson, R. N., Sir Samuel Hood +George, Provincial Secretary, T. N. Jeffery, the Collector of Customs. +Doctor Cooke, the Admiralty Judge, refused to attend because the +Commissioners would not allow him precedence of the Governor with a veto +on the proceedings of the Court. No jury was called under this +commission. Jordan was found guilty and sentenced to be hanged, which +sentence was carried into execution on the beach some distance below +Fresh Water Bridge, and the body was afterwards gibbeted on the shore +some distance further down. The wife was acquitted, and a subscription +was raised in the town to send her to Ireland. Dr. Burke, the Roman +Catholic clergyman, Dr. Archd. Gray, minister of St. Matthew's, and Dr. +Stanser, Rector of St. Paul's, acted as a committee for the purpose. +The court assembled again a short time after, for the trial of the mate, +Kelly, who was convicted, but afterwards pardoned.[66] + +[Footnote 66: A report of these trials was published in 1810 by Mr. +Bagnall at the office of the newspaper called the "Novator," taken from +the notes of two students at law, Charles R. Fairbanks, afterwards +Master of the Rolls, and Andrew W. Cochran, who for many years was +Secretary of the Province of Lower Canada and member of Council.] + +This being the 50th year of the reign of King George III, a jubilee was +celebrated at Halifax on the 23rd October, with great ceremony. + +The market slip, the new fish market and meat market were all repaired +and improved this year at the cost of L.571, L.500 of which had been voted +by the Assembly for the purpose. The taxes gathered in the town for +liquor licenses in 1809 amounted to L.1400. + +The Fire Insurance Association of Halifax was established on 24th April, +1809. The first directors were Andrew Belcher, Charles Hill, Lawrence +Hartshorne, Foster Hutchinson, James Fraser, George Grassie and H. H. +Cogswell. Mr. J. H. Fliegar was secretary and the office was kept in his +house in Hollis Street, where it continued to be kept for a great many +years. He was succeeded by Mr. William Newton, at whose death Mr. +Tremain was appointed. + +Meetings of the Committee on Trade were held during the autumn. The +Halifax Marine Insurance Company first opened their office for business +in Water Street, opposite the fuel yard, this year. The committee of +management were George Grassie, Jesse Woodward, Garret Miller, James +Kerby, Lawrence Doyle, Lewis E. Piers, John Osborne, Thomas Deblois and +John Albro'. + +Among the merchants of Halifax at this time we find, in addition to the +above, the names of Wm. Stairs, Wm. Bremner, Hartshorne & Boggs, at the +old corner of George and Granville Streets, Kidston, Dobson & Co., +Richard Kenefick, who had lately brought out Irish linen goods, Forman & +Grassie, Shipping Merchants; William Bowie, afterwards a partner of +Stephen W. Deblois, and who lost his life in a duel with the late Judge +Richard Uniacke, Alexander Izat, Dry Goods, at corner opposite two +pumps, corner of Hollis and Duke Streets, now occupied by the People's +Bank; Martin Gay Black, Dry Goods; Geo. N. Russell, afterwards Wallace & +Russell, Hardware Merchant, corner of Hollis and Prince Streets, now +occupied by the Union Bank building; Temple and Lewis E. Piers, Ship +Chandlery. This firm several years later purchased the irregular shaped +lot adjoining the City Court House lately occupied by Stairs, Son & +Morrow, removed a range of one story buildings or sheds known as the +Ratstail, and erected a building in which they carried on the ship +chandlery business until the establishment was purchased by Mr. William +Stairs. Henry Austin, afterwards a partner with William Stairs in ship +chandlery, Water Street, south of the fuel yard, and John Owen, shop +keeper and shipping merchant. + +There was a small newspaper, quarto size, called the "Novator" +established or published at Halifax in 1809 by one James Bagnall in +Sackville Street. It was not of long continuance. + +Jones Fawson was Sheriff of Halifax this year. + +From the commencement of the year 1810 until the month of April, 1812, +there was a constant apprehension of a rupture with the United States. +The garrison and navy enlivened the town by their frequent balls and +festivities. The Rockingham Club, before mentioned, continued to have +their weekly dining on Saturday at the old Rockingham Hotel on the +Basin. It was then customary for the merchants and other principal +inhabitants, occasionally to give public dinners to the generals, +admirals and principal officers of both army and navy. These dinners, as +well as those of the National Societies, were held at the old Mason +Hall, that building then containing the most spacious and convenient +room in the city. + +In January, 1811, the merchants of Halifax petitioned the King, through +the Lieutenant-Governor, to permit the coal mines in Nova Scotia to be +opened and worked under regulations. A proposal was made this year for +the formation of a Joint Stock Bank. The books for subscription were +opened at the office of Henry Yeomans, insurance broker, and were first +signed on 13th February by the Committee of Trade, consisting of William +Sabatier, Andrew Belcher, John Black, James Fraser, George Grassie, +Charles R. Prescott and John Pryor. No further proceeding appears to +have been taken towards this object. + +Much suffering as usual among the poor prevailed this winter. A society +for the relief of the poor had been formed, which distributed during the +year ending 9th February, 1811: + + 285 cords wood which cost L.994 + 860 lbs. sugar 49 15 6 + 111 " tea + 702 " rice + 236 " flour + 1560 loaves bread to 255 persons 36 + ---------- + L.1079 15 6 + +Eighty-four persons in distress, with their families, and others, in +Halifax, Preston, Dartmouth, Chezzetcook, Windsor Road and Lawrencetown, +with several families in Digby and Shelburne, were relieved at the time +from the same funds. + + Subscriptions raised for the above purposes L.255 + Donations from individuals, &c. 384 + ---- + L.639 + +The committee in charge of this fund and its distribution were Edwd. B. +Brenton, Revd. Robert Stanser, Revd. Archibald Gray, W. J. Almon, M. D., +Hibbert N. Binney, John Lawson, Treasurer. + +On Wednesday the 19th February, a public fast was proclaimed throughout +the Province, which was observed at Halifax, with due solemnity. + +Two fires occurred this year, one at Commissary Buildings on Hollis +Street, the spot on which the Bank of Nova Scotia stands, on 18th April, +and the other at Bellemont, Mr. John Howe's residence at the North West +Arm, on 6th May. Both buildings were saved. + +The office of the Nova Scotia Marine Insurance Company was kept by Henry +Yeomans, broker, of the Company. A new Marine Insurance Office had been +started in February; George Grassie was Chairman of the Committee of +Management, and John Bonnett was Secretary. + + +THE PROVINCE BUILDING. + +Decisive measures were adopted this session by the Legislature for the +erection of a building for the accommodation of the legislative bodies, +the courts of law and the public offices, on the site of the old +Government House on Hollis Street. Commissioners were appointed and +plans and elevations prepared or procured by Mr. John Merrick. Chief +Justice Blowers, Mr. Speaker Wilkins and Judge Hutchinson has the +planning of the interior arrangements, and George Grassie, Winkworth +Allen and John Merrick were the commissioners to erect the building. Mr. +Richard Scott was the builder employed to conduct the work. The building +was fully completed and finished, ready for the sittings of the Courts +and Legislature, in 1820, at the cost of L.52,000. + +A new steeple and an addition of 16 feet to the northern end was added +to old St. Paul's Church this year, at the cost of L.1000, granted by +Government, L.500 from a fund known as the Militia Arms Fund, and the +remainder from funds arising out of the forfeited estate of one Jonathan +Clarke. Hibbert N. Binney and H. H. Cogswell were the churchwardens. +Their advertizement for tenders for the work appears in the Gazette. The +sum of L.500 from the Arms Fund was at the same time granted to St. +George's Church towards finishing the interior of that building. These +works were commenced this year, but were not finished until late in +1812. But one capital criminal conviction is recorded in 1811, that of +one Sarah Wilson for burglary. She was sentenced to death, but +afterwards reprieved. + +On the 27th May the sloop of war, Little Belt, Capt. Bingham, arrived +from a cruise. She reported having fallen in with the United States +frigate, President, by whom she was fired into, and had sixteen men +killed and twenty-one wounded, and the rigging of the ship much cut up. +The two nations being at peace at the time, the affair caused much +excitement in Halifax. Explanations were offered on the part of the +Captain and Officers of the U. S. frigate, which only tended to show the +bitterness of feeling which shortly afterwards manifested itself in open +hostilities. Early this season non-intercourse was established between +the United States and Great Britain. + +Sir George Provost was now appointed to the chief command in Canada. The +inhabitants of Halifax presented a congratulatory address on his +promotion on the 19th August. He sailed for Quebec on the 25th, and Sir +John Cope Sherbroke, his successor, arrived with his family from England +on 16th October following in the ship Manilla. + +On 26th September a poll was opened by Capt. Jones Fawson, then Sheriff, +for the election of two members for the town and four for the county. +John Pryor, John Geo. Pyke and William H. Taylor were nominated; the +latter retired and the two first were declared elected. The four old +members for the county were returned. Mr. William Sabatier was nominated +but afterwards retired from the contest. + +The merchants of Halifax, on 20th July, petitioned the Governor +respecting the state of trade, etc., stating that they were agreed to +take gold and silver coins at the following values, viz: A Guinea, L.1 3 +4, Halifax currency; a Johannes, at L.4; a Doubloon, at L.3 17 6; an +Eagle, at L.2 10; the old French Guinea, at L.1 2, and all the other +decimal parts of the same coins at a proportional value; English and old +French Crowns, at 5s. 6d; Spanish Dollars, (including those which +heretofore passed current at 4s.) at the rate of 5s. At this time +British silver was unknown at Halifax--Spanish silver was the current +coin. It came up from the West Indies and Spanish America in the course +of trade, and the British Government found it more convenient for +various reasons to pay their troops stationed here in Spanish silver +than to import British coin for that purpose. + +The names attached to this petition were William Bowie, Garret Miller, +Starr & Shannon, Charles Loveland, Moody & Sinclair, Alexander McDonald, +William A. Black, Martin Gay Black, John Albro, Charles Boggs, Henry +Ford & Co., Henry Austin, Michael Forrestall, Jonathan and John +Tremaine, John W. Pyke, Matthew Richardson, Richard Tremain, Samuel +Head, M. D., Kidston, Dobson & Telford, H. Taylor, John Liddell & Co., +Capel Hines, Jas. Ewing, George W. Mitchell, Prescott Lawson & Co., +James Fraser, Winkworth Allen, Smith & Thom, Scaiffe & Baine, R. Lyon, +Sr., Andrew Belcher, Forsyth, Black & Co., Lawrence Hartshorne, Charles +Hill, Forman Grassie & Co., John Lawson, James Leaver, William Minns, +John Osborne and John Owen. + +A proposition concerning some alteration in Water Street, near the +Ordnance Yard, was made by Captain Gustavos Nichols of the Royal +Engineers. It was understood that the town would not agree to the +proposal unless the Military authorities surrendered a road in +continuation of Hollis Street, southward. The subject had been mooted +for a long period previous to this time, but no arrangement could be +agreed on between the military and the town authorities. Captain +Nichols' letter makes an offer according to the plans therein enclosed. +This letter and plans are not now forthcoming among the City or +Provincial Records, and therefore the particulars of the proposition +made by the Engineer Department cannot now be understood. Copies of +these plans may possibly exist at the Lumber Yard and Engineers' office. + +On the 17th March, the Irish Society celebrated the anniversary of St. +Patrick this year by a dinner at Mason Hall, which was attended by the +Governor, General Balfour, Commissioner Inglefield, Judge Croke, the +Captains of the Navy in port and the Staff of the Garrison, etc. The +Hon. Charles Morris was President, and Samuel Hood George, afterwards +Sir Samuel, was Vice. The dinner was at five o'clock, the fashionable +hour in those days. The Governor and principal guests retired at nine. +The rest of the company sat late, but the utmost harmony and good +feeling prevailed. These national festivals were better attended in +those days, when no political animosities existed to disturb the harmony +of the good people of Halifax. + +On the 11th May, there was a public examination of the Halifax Grammar +School under old parson Wright--a ceremony in which the inhabitants at +this period took much interest. On this occasion Mr. Edward Monk, son of +Judge Monk, took the first prize; Lewis M. Wilkins, the late Judge, won +the second, and the third was given to James Bailey, and the fourth to +Edward Fairbanks, a brother of S. P. Fairbanks, Esq., and of the late +Judge Charles R. Fairbanks, Master of the Rolls. + +A Company was formed this year, in Halifax, for prosecuting the +codfishery. The managers were John Lawson, Henry H. Cogswell, William +Pryor, Garret Miller, John Brown, John William Morris and Charles +Loveland. A large capital was raised in shares of L.50 each. + +On the 20th November, the fleet sailed for Bermuda, consisting of the +Flag Ship of Admiral Sawyer, the Spartan and Melampus, Frigates; the +Atalanta, Ratler and Indian, Sloops-of-War. + +At the commencement of the year the following Ships of War, under the +command of Sir John Borlase Warren, were on this station, viz.: +Swiftsure, 74; Guerriere, 40; Melampus, 36; Aeolus, 39; Cleopatra, 32; +Euridice, 24; Little Belt, 22; Halifax, 18[67]; Indian, 18; Emulous, 18; +Atalanta, 18; Colibre, 18; La Fantome, 18; Plumper, 12 and the +schooners Vesta, Juniper, Holly, Barbare, Bream, Cuttle and Chub. The +old Centurian was the receiving ship; she remained for many years off +the dockyard. The Pyramus was afterwards used as a receiving ship for +the fleet lately sold and broken up; she was an old-class 50 taken from +the Danes at the capture of Copenhagen. + +[Footnote 67: This brig was the only vessel of war ever built at the +Halifax Dockyard.] + +The Eighth and Ninety-eighth British regiments, the Nova Scotia Fencible +Infantry, with a battery of Artillery and a company of Engineers +composed the Garrison of Halifax. Captain Philip Van Cortlandt was Town +Major, and Stephen Hall Binney, Barrack-master. The former was succeeded +by Lieutenant John McColla as Town Major, who resided in Halifax for a +number of years, and was Adjutant General of the Provincial Militia. +Major-General Balfour[68] commanded the Garrison. Captain J. N. +Inglefield, R. N.,[69] was Commissioner of the Dockyard, and Mr. P. F. +Wallis, first clerk. Mr. W. was father of Admiral Sir Provo Wallis, who +distinguished himself in the action of the Shannon and Chesapeake. + +[Footnote 68: General Balfour was this year removed to New Brunswick, +where he died Lieutenant Governor of that Province.] + +[Footnote 69: Commissioner Inglefield was grandfather of Vice Admiral +Sir Edward A. Inglefield, lately in command of the Squadron at Halifax.] + +A Marine Humane Society existed at Halifax in 1811. Their drags, for the +recovery of drowned persons, were advertised as being lodged in the +respective stores of Hon. And. Belcher, John Pryor, John Brown, Samuel +Muirhead and John Starr. + +The 30th September was marked by a severe gale of wind from the S. E., +by which many of the wharves in the town were ripped up and much damage +done to the shipping in the harbour and along the coast. + +The year terminated by a proclamation opening the Port of Halifax to +vessels of neutrals. The proclamation bears date the 24th December. + +Among the deaths recorded this year was that of James Gautier, Esq., for +many years clerk of His Majesty's Council and keeper of the public +records in the Secretary's office. He died poor. The Legislature voted +L.30 to defray the expenses of his funeral. He left no family. + +The principal retail merchants in the town at this time were Martin Gay +Black, Smith & Thom, Carret & Alfort at the corner lately occupied by +Messrs. Duffus; John Liddell & Co., H. Ford, McDonald & Co., Robert +Lyon, W. Bremner, John Lawson, Kidston, Dobson & Telford, Scaiffe & +Bain, Thomas Heaviside, James Fraser, Arthur Brymer, all Dry +Goods--Moody & Sinclair, C. & R. Hill & Co., Red store, road leading to +Dockyard, Thomas Leaver and William Remmington, all Auctioneers, William +Minns and Geo. Eaton, Stationers. Mr. Minns occupied the old building in +Barrington Street below the Parade, opposite Dalhousie College, where he +died about 1825. He conducted a paper called the Weekly Chronicle for +above 20 years. Windham Madden and William Conroy kept Livery Stables. + +1812. Orders had been issued early this season to put the Forts in +repair; the works on the Citadel Hill having again fallen into a +dilapidated condition. Captain Nichols, commanding the Royal Engineers, +made an elaborate report, and operations were commenced forthwith under +his superintendence. The United States had now declared war. Commodore +Rogers, in command of an American Squadron, had fallen in with the +British Frigate Belvidere, 36 guns. She sustained the attack for two or +three hours and at length got off with the loss of several of her crew +killed, the Captain and 22 wounded. The Belvidere came into the harbor +on the 27th June, and on the following evening a special dispatch +arrived from the Governor of New Brunswick with intelligence of the +Declaration of War. Sir John immediately made the necessary arrangements +for calling out the militia. All able-bodied men between 18 and 50 were +to be billetted for service and a portion of them to be immediately +embodied. This was arranged by Order in Council dated 28th June. The +Belvidere, after she had escaped from the American Squadron, captured +three American merchant vessels which she brought in with her. Halifax +being the headquarters of the Naval force under Admiral Warren, who had +upwards of 60 pendants under his command, prizes now began to be brought +into port. The Court of Admiralty under Judge Croke was in active +operation, and the newspapers of the day appear filled with +advertizements of sales of prizes and prize goods. Cartels frequently +came and went between Halifax and the American ports for the exchange of +prisoners. With all this bustle of business money became plenty, and the +foundations of small fortunes began to be laid by the Crown lawyers and +the prize agents. The presence of a large army and navy caused much +dissipation in the town. Festivities of all kinds prevailed. +Subscription assemblies at Mason Hall were kept up during the winter +under the management of Mr. Jeffery, Collector of the Customs, Capt. +Brenton, of the navy, and Lieut.-Col. Robertson, of the garrison. Dinner +parties at Government House, and balls and levies on state days, with +the frequent rejoicings on the news from time to time of the success of +the British Armies, both in Europe and America, completed the round of +Halifax festivities. + +The capture of the British ship Guerriere, a first class frigate +commanded by Capt. Dacres, belonging to the Halifax squadron, by the +Americans, in August, caused much talk and excitement throughout the +community. Capt. Dacres, a young and inexperienced officer, it was +thought had surrendered too early to the enemy. He had only left the +harbor a short time when he lost his ship. + +In July, a press warrant was granted to Rear Admiral Sawyer for 48 +hours. Desertions from the navy were frequent and large offers were +reported to have been made by the enemy for such able seamen as would +come over to the American navy. The Commander-in-Chief, in consequence, +found it necessary to publish a proclamation at Halifax offering the +King's pardon to all who had deserted, on their returning to their duty. +Letters of Marque against the Americans were ordered in Council on 31st +July, and all vessels were prohibited from leaving the port without +special license, for the space of one month. + +The old Halifax Artillery Company was at this time a very popular corps, +and included many of the young merchants as well as tradesmen of the +town. It was at one time supposed that the property owned by those whose +names were on its roll comprised no small part of the wealth of our +town. + +An Act of the Legislature was passed this year regarding that part of +the public road or highway which leads from Fort Massey to the +exercising ground on the Commons. His Majesty's service required that +this piece of road should be enclosed for the purpose of enlarging the +Artillery Park. It was therefore enacted that when the officers of His +Majesty's Ordnance should have laid out a new road agreeable to the plan +submitted to His Excellency Sir John Cope Sherbrooke, and filed in the +Surveyor General's office, measuring fifty feet in breadth, through the +field of John George Pyke, and shall have procured a release from Mr. +Pyke, and shall have completed said new road, that the Engineer should +take in 310 feet in length of that part of said road which now leads +from Fort Massey to the exercising ground on the Common, forever for the +Ordnance Department at Halifax. The new road to be substituted therefor. + +1813. The arrival of DeWatteville's regiment of Germans in May on their +way to reinforce the army at Quebec, and of the American ship Volante +with a valuable cargo and mounting 21 guns taken by H. M. Brig Curlew, +Capt. Michael Head,[70] and the accession of the 64th Regiment to the +strength of the garrison were the chief events during the spring of +1813. + +[Footnote 70: Brother of the late Dr. Samuel Head of Halifax.] + +On Sunday morning, the 6th, June, the inhabitants of Halifax were +surprised by the arrival of His Majesty's Ship Shannon, Capt. Broke, +with her prize the United States Frigate Chesapeak, Capt. Lawrence. The +engagement which was said to be the result of a challenge on the part of +Capt. Broke, took place off Boston Harbor a very short time after the +Shannon left Halifax. The enemy surrendered after about 20 minutes +fighting. Capt. Broke ran his ship in upon the Chesapeak, and captured +her with his boarding party who, "rushing upon the enemy's deck, carried +away everything before them with irresistible fury." Capt. Lawrence, and +his First Lieutenant, Ludlow, were killed; the latter died at Halifax on +the 13th June. The engagement was one of the most bloody on record. The +Shannon had 30 men killed and 57 wounded, and the Chesapeak 74 killed +and above 100 wounded, all within the short space of little more than +fifteen minutes. When the ships came up the harbor the decks were being +swabbed and the scuppers ran quite red. Numbers of the inhabitants of +the town put off in boats and visited the ships. Though the bodies of +the slain had been nearly all removed from sight, yet the marks of the +slaughter were terribly conspicuous. Mr. Provo Wallis, a Halifax man, +one of the Lieutenants of the Shannon, brought in the prize. He received +his promotion as Commander soon after, and later became a full Admiral +and Knight Grand Cross of the Bath. On the 8th, the funeral of Capt. +Lawrence took place. The body was landed under minute guns from the +ships and the procession proceeded from the King's Wharf to the old +English Burial Ground attended by an immense concourse of people. The +coffin was covered by the U. S. colours and six British Post Captains +bore the pall. The 34th Regiment formed the firing party. The officers +of the garrison, His Majesty's Council, the principal civil officers and +heads of departments, and all the officers of the navy in port followed +in procession, the American officers walking next the coffin. + +On the 10th August, following, an American Brig with a flag of truce +arrived for the bodies of Capt. Lawrence and Lieutenant Ludlow, which +were taken up and carried to their native country. That of Capt. +Lawrence lies in the yard of Trinity Church, Broadway, New York, where +his tomb is to be seen on the left of the entrance. + +A memorial of the merchants of Halifax, numerously signed, was presented +to the Colonial Secretary through the Governor, complaining of the +permission of American vessels to resort to the British West Indies, and +of the right of fishery conceded to the Americans by the Treaty of 1783, +and praying that the interests of Nova Scotia might be considered in any +future negotiations. Among the principal signers were William Sabatier, +John Black, John Pryor, Geo. Grassie and Enos Collins. At this time the +English Government was very jealous of British Colonial rights, and was +ready to fight in their defence. + +The town and its vicinity had for the last two years abounded with +French prisoners of war. Those taken from American prizes now increased +the throng. A prison had been erected at Melville Island, at the head of +the North West Arm, for their accommodation, and soon became crowded. +Many of the French sailors were ingenious workers in wood and bone, and +made articles of use as well as ornament, which they sold to the +numerous visitors who were freely permitted access to Melville Island. +It was the favorite resort of the young people on Sundays and holidays, +where a pleasant hour could be passed in conversing with the French +prisoners and examining their toys. The French naval officers were on +parole of honor, and resided in Dartmouth and Preston. They spent their +time chiefly in field sports, occasionally visiting Halifax, where they +mixed freely in society. M. Danseville, the Governor of St. Pierre and +Miquelon, resided in the house near Preston lately owned by the Hon. +Michael Tobin, known as the Brook House, where he entertained his +friends with great politeness and hospitality. Many of the French +prisoners were permitted to come to town and work for the inhabitants. A +number of our own Halifax people were at this time languishing in French +prisons. The sum of L.130 sterling was subscribed in Halifax for their +relief, and remitted to England in the month of July of this year. + +Great quantities of prize goods were sold at auction this year, taken +principally from American vessels. The American trade was terribly cut +up by the British cruisers. On one occasion we find advertised for sale +at public auction by order of the Court of Vice-Admiralty, dated 19th +March, twelve full-rigged ships, eight brigs, seven schooners and ten or +twelve small vessels, with their cargoes. + +On 7th September, the merchants of Halifax petitioned the Governor and +Council for permission to export to the States portions of the prize +goods as being particularly adapted to the American market. The +following names, among others, appear attached to this petition: John +Lawson, Temple F. & Lewis E. Piers,[71] Jas. Forman, Samuel Head, M. D., +Hartshorne, Boggs & Co., James and Michael Tobin, James Hamilton, Roy +Leslie & Co., Carrett & Alport, Scaiffe & Bain, G. Grassie, James Ewing, +William Annand, Matthew Richardson, William Phillips, James Russell, +Miles W. White, Smith & Thom, John Brown, W. H. Reynolds & Co., Harding +& Hill, A. McDonald, Henry Ford, Stephen W. DeBlois & Co., Wm. Bremner, +John Moody & Co., Collins & Allison,[72] Henry Austin, William Stairs, +Richard Tremain & Co., G. N. Russell, Jonathan & John Tremain. + +[Footnote 71: Messrs. Piers were the grandsons of Mr. L. Piers, who came +with Cornwallis in 1749. Descendants of Temple F. Piers still reside in +Halifax.] + +[Footnote 72: This firm was Hon. Enos Collins and Joseph Allison, both +of whom became members of His Majesty's Council. They succeeded to the +business of Prescott & Lawson on the wharf afterwards known as Collins' +wharf, where Mr. Collins, in 1823, built the range of stone stores, a +part of which is occupied by the Halifax Banking Company.] + +On the 7th September, Sir Borlase Warren with his fleet arrived in +Halifax Harbor in eight days from the Chesapeake. The fleet consisted of +the St. Domingo, 74 guns, Diadem, 64, Diomede, 50, Junon, 38, Romulus, +36, Success, 32, Fox, 32, Nemesis, 28, Loupcervier, 18, Mariner, 15, +Highflyer, 10, and several transports. + +The following passage from Murdoch's history affords a lively picture +of the condition and aspect of Halifax at this period, drawn no doubt, +in some measure from his personal recollection: + + "The effects of the war upon the people of Halifax were very + marked. Our harbor had become the temporary home of the ships + of war, and the place where their prizes were brought and + disposed of. Our youths were eager to participate in the path + that seemed to lead by a few steps to honor, glory, and + fortune; and indeed when it is borne in mind that several + Halifax lads rose to be admirals, we can hardly wonder at the + school-boys' desire to wear the white stripe on his collar, + and the ivory-handled dirk that indicated his authority to + command men. The little capital, then occupying a restricted + space, became crowded. Trade was active, prices rose. The + fleet increasing, provisions were in great demand, and this + acted as a large bounty in favor of the agriculturist and the + fisherman. Rents of houses and buildings in the town were + doubled and trebled. A constant bustle existed in our chief + streets, cannon were forever noisy; it was a salute of a + man-of-war entering or leaving, practising with guns or + celebrating something or somebody. There is another side to + this picture which must not be omitted. The moral condition of + the town had become dreadful in the extreme. Eight or ten + thousand soldiers, sailors, and prisoners of war let loose in + a little town of less than 10,000 inhabitants can well be + imagined." + +The upper streets were full of brothels; grog shops and dancing houses +were to be seen in almost every part of the town. A portion of Grafton +Street was known under the appellation of Hogg Street from a house of +ill-fame kept by a person of that name. The upper street along the base +of Citadel Hill between the north and south barracks was known as "Knock +him Down" Street in consequence of the number of affrays and even +murders committed there. No person of any character ventured to reside +there, nearly all the buildings being occupied as brothels for the +soldiers and sailors. The streets of this part of the town presented +continually the disgusting sight of abandoned females of the lowest +class in a state of drunkenness, bare headed, without shoes, and in the +most filthy and abominable condition. + +The Acadian School was this year established by Walter Bromley, Esq., on +the Lancaster system. It was intended chiefly for the instruction of the +poor. Mr. Bromley had been paymaster of the 23rd Fusiliers, and having +retired from the army while that regiment was in garrison at Halifax, +devoted all the energy of his philanthropic mind to the amelioration of +the condition of the poor. He first opened his school on 13th January, +1814 in the old building in Argyle Street, then lately used as a theatre +for amateur performers, where he held Sunday school for poor children of +all denominations and had a large class of blacks, both children and +adults, to whom he devoted particular attention. Many colored men and +women who afterwards became valuable servants, and some of whom entered +into business in Halifax, owed their success and subsequent christian +life to the exertions of Mr. Bromley. His labors to improve the +condition of the Mic-mac Indians will be remembered by not a few +individuals now living. His house was open to them at all times, where +those who were not addicted to the habitual use of spirits were +hospitably treated, clothed and furnished with means of following their +hunting and other occupations. This continued until he left the country. +The old play house having fallen into decay, the present stone building +was erected on its site in 1816 and apartments for Mr. Bromley were +therein provided. A printing press which had been established by him at +the Acadian School became the means of disseminating his views regarding +education throughout the province, and his little pamphlets, entitled +Appeals to the People of Great Britain on behalf of the Indians of Nova +Scotia, were very forcible and touching. The first edition of T. C. +Halliburton's history of Nova Scotia was issued from Bromley's press in +1824. When Bromley left Halifax in 1828, the poor lost a true friend and +the Indians their chief patron. + +Halifax was visited by a great gale of wind in the autumn of 1813. The +Gazette of the 19th November says: + + "On Friday evening last, a most tremendous gale, or rather + hurricane from the south-east, rushed up the harbor with such + destructive violence as has not been witnessed since the + tornado which happened in September, 1798. The lapse of little + more than one short hour left but few vessels at their anchors + and of those scarcely one that had not sustained material + injury. Its utmost fury being felt about dead low water, less + damage was sustained by the wharves and stores than might + otherwise have been expected, but several shallops and small + craft were sunk, and many others wrecked and torn by the sea. + H. M. Ships St. Domingo, Hogue, Maidstone, two brigs and a + schooner were driven on shore. Fourteen other men of war, + including small ones, suffered by vessels being driven against + them. The Barossa, Diadem and the old Centurian suffered + least. There were forty-six merchant vessels, transports and + prizes, all large vessels except about seventeen, stranded; + most of them having been got off again. Twenty-four, including + store ships and transports, suffered more or less injury, and + a brig, a transport and one or two sloops sank and were + totally lost. Several schooners were sunk at Prospect, and two + large vessels were reported overset off the harbor. A number + of lives were lost during the gale, and many seamen badly hurt + on board the ships of war." + +Among the deaths recorded this year was that of James Creighton, +Esq.,[73] in his 81st year. He was the son of one of the settlers who +came with Governor Cornwallis in 1749, and had acquired a large property +in the neighborhood of the town which was inherited by his son who was +the ancestor of the family of that name now in the city. The fields in +the north suburbs adjoining the common were for many years known as +Creighton's fields; long since laid off into building lots, including +the streets known as Maynard Street, Creighton Street and Bauer Street, +etc. + +[Footnote 73: Mr. Creighton was not related to Lieutenant Creighton, who +afterwards settled in Lunenburg and was known as Col. Creighton. He came +out, however, in company with him in the same vessel, being friends; +they were both from the same part of England.] + +The death of Sir Samuel Hood George, Provincial Secretary of the +Province, took place this year in England, where he went for the benefit +of his health. He died of consumption in the 24th year of his age. + +In the month of January, 1813, a murder was committed on the Market +Wharf, which caused considerable excitement in the town. About 7 o'clock +on Monday evening, January 25th, five soldiers, having had some dispute +with the shallop men on the wharf, attacked them with their bayonets and +badly wounded four men, Frederick and Henry Publicover, Cornelius Uhlman +and George Teele. The main guard from the King's Wharf being called out, +three of the soldiers were secured. Henry Publicover died of his wounds +and the Coroner's Jury brought in a verdict of wilful murder against +some persons unknown. One of those who had been apprehended, a young +soldier named Oliver Hart, was tried and convicted of the murder at the +Easter term of the Supreme Court, but was afterwards pardoned by the +Governor. Much dissatisfaction existed in the community in consequence +of the termination of this affair. + +In the month of March the crew of a Spanish schooner, the Serifina, was +brought into Halifax. They had killed six of their fellow-sufferers upon +the alleged necessity of saving their own lives by subsisting on the +flesh of those they killed. Investigations were entered into, the result +of which does not appear. + +The Commissioners of Streets for the town were appointed on the 12th +May. They consisted of James Forman, John Albro, Michael Tobin, +Frederick Major, James Fraser and John Allen. The three former remained +in office until about 1829 or 1830, when a new system was inaugurated +under the management of H. H. Cogswell and others. Matthew Forrester was +the Overseer and Superintendent of Streets under the Commissioners for +many years. The old Commissioners, a short time before their retirement, +undertook to remove all obstructions to side paths; many old houses +stood on banks with cellar doors projecting into what was supposed to be +part of the street. Others again were approached by flights of steps, +all of which were removed to the detriment of many buildings in the +suburbs. At this time the town was adorned in many places by ranges of +trees in the sides of the streets. St. Paul's Church was surrounded by +large old willow trees; a range of fine old willows extended from +William Pryor's corner down the eastern side of Hollis Street past the +Lumber Yard Gate. A fine range of willows of less dimensions also ran +along that part of Argyle Street between the late H. H. Cogswell's stone +house and the residence of the late R. J. Uniacke, since sold for a +country market. Again in Poplar Grove, and the old Grenadier fort house +which stood on the site of the present Trinity Chapel in Jacob Street, +on both sides of Brunswick Street, particularly on the east side, there +were several fine clusters of Lombardy poplar trees of gigantic size, +several being in front of the residence of James Kirby. There were also +some fine trees in other parts of the town. These were all cut down +without mercy by Mr. Forrester, under the directions of the +Commissioners before the year 1830, and the lower stairs of a number of +buildings were buried in levelling the streets. Albermarle and Grafton +Streets were at this time in a very rough condition, particularly the +former, where banks of earth and stones were to be seen in the centre of +the street, sufficient in some places to obstruct carriages. These were +removed by the new Commissioners. + +The town was at this time supplied with water by public wells and pumps +in various parts of the town. A pump stood at the north end of the +Province Building Square, in George Street, known as Black's pump; +another at the south end of the square; another, known as the White +pump, stood in the centre of Prince Street, where it is crossed by +Albermarle Street; this was one of the last to be removed. There were +two known as the Sisters at the corner of Duke and Hollis Streets, near +the site of the building occupied by the People's Bank. There were four +or five along the east side of Brunswick Street, one at the foot of +Cornwallis Street, and a number in the south suburbs and other parts of +the town; also two in Barrington Street in front of the Parade. + +1814. During the winter of 1813-14 some distress existed among the poor +in the upper streets. This part of the town was chiefly occupied by +people of the lower order, and in consequence of the war had become a +resort for soldiers and sailors. Barrack Street, before mentioned, was +known as "The Hill" and was as well known through His Majesty's +dominions for its evil reputation as the worst haunts of Plymouth or +Portsmouth in England. + +On the 25th February a public fast was proclaimed by the Governor, after +which we do not find any further proclamations of this kind for many +years. + +A press warrant was granted to Rear Admiral Griffiths on 28th February, +when many of the idle and worthless vagabonds of the town were happily +secured for His Majesty's service, where they would be brought under +wholesome restraint. + +It had been arranged this spring that a residence for the Admiral of the +station should be erected. The British Parliament had granted the sum of +L.3000 for this purpose, which being found insufficient, the House of +Assembly of this province voted L.1500 towards its completion. A site was +selected in the field between the Naval Hospital grounds and Gottingen +Street, and the present building known as Admiralty House was commenced +this year, but not finished until some time after. Why the local funds +of the province should have been devoted to this purpose does not +clearly appear. + +The arrival of the English packet on 21st May furnished news of the fall +of Napoleon Bonaparte and the entry of the allied armies into Paris. It +being Sunday, the event was celebrated all Monday by a military review +with salutes, and the whole town was illuminated in the evening. A +military band performed during the evening on the flat roof of the old +market house, long since removed to make way for the present brick +structure, and the streets were crowded to a very late hour. The +merchants and many of the principal inhabitants met at the Exchange +Coffee House and other places, where hot suppers were consumed in honor +of the occasion. + +Among the captures this year was that of the American privateer, Snap +Dragon, six guns and 70 men, brought in by H. M. Sloop, Martin on 5th +July, taken off Sambro Light, and on the 13th, the United States Sloop +Rattlesnake, 18 guns, by the Leander frigate, taken near Shelburne +Harbor. About the same time 340 British prisoners were brought to +Halifax in Cartels from Salem in Massachusetts. The Rattlesnake was +afterwards sold and fitted out as a privateer by merchants in Liverpool, +Queens County. + +The British forces having captured Washington in August, 1814, a large +number of black slaves, of both sexes, from the plantations along the +Potomac and Chesapeake Rivers, who had deserted their masters, took +refuge on board the British men-of-war while they laid in Chesapeake +Bay. Sir George Cochran, the naval commander, sent them on to Halifax, +where many of them arrived in September, following in a transport ship +and the Brig Jasper. They were afterwards located at Preston and +Hammond's Plains. Many of the domestic slaves remained in the town as +servants, attaching themselves to the inhabitants. Those who went to the +country, being unused to cold and hard labor, were unable even with the +assistance of the Government allowance to make their living; soon became +paupers and a burden to the community, a condition in which their +children and grand-children largely remain. At the close of the war a +quantity of American soldiers' uniforms, taken at Castine, in Maine, +were served out to the Chesapeake negroes. Their grotesque appearance in +the blue and yellow coats, occasionally intermixed with the green and +red facings of the corps called the York Rangers, (at the peace +disbanded in Halifax,) must be within the recollection of many of our +old inhabitants. + +The grand event of this year for Halifax was the fitting out of the +expedition for the invasion of the State of Maine. This expedition +consisted of the 29th, 60th, 62nd and 98th British Regiments, with +artillery and some militia. The two brigades were commanded by Major +Goslin and Colonel Douglas; the whole being under the command of +Lieutenant-General Sir John Cope Sherbrooke. Rear Admiral Griffiths +commanded the squadron, which was composed of 3 seventy-four gun ships, +the Bulwark, Dragon and the Spencer, with two brigs, a schooner and ten +transports. Castine was taken on 1st September, and the town of Michias +by Lieut.-Col. Pilkington, on the 11th. Thus all the State or District +of Maine fell into the hands of the British as far west as the old +bounds of Acadia. This territory was originally part of Nova Scotia, and +at the peace of 1783 had been conceded to the Americans through the +ignorance and imbecility of Lord Gambier, who had been intrusted by the +British Ministry with the settlement of our lines. The British +Government was erroneously induced to relinquish this conquest at the +close of the war, a policy which has deprived this Dominion of the +fairest timber lands of New Brunswick, and caused the loss of the most +direct line of communication between the Canadian provinces through +British territory, a loss which the whole expense incurred by the +British Government during the war could not now repay. Sir John, having +left a garrison to take care of his conquest, soon returned with his +little army to Halifax. Several Halifax merchants availed themselves of +the opening afforded to make money, sent agents with supplies of goods +to establish shops at Castine, etc. The British authorities collected +the Revenue of Maine while in occupation, which amounted to a +considerable sum of money. This fund was placed by the colonial minister +in the hands of the Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia, who appropriated +it in various ways as he thought most for the benefit of the country. It +was from this fund that Dalhousie College was afterwards built and +endowed by the Earl of Dalhousie, who succeeded Sir John Cope Sherbrooke +in the government, the Legislature of the Province having been induced +to vote the sum of L.5,000 currency towards the same object. + +In the autumn the small pox made its appearance in Dartmouth and Preston +and was very fatal among the Chesapeake negroes. + +The old Rockingham Club, which in the days of Prince Edward and Sir John +Wentworth dined periodically at the Rockingham Hotel on the Basin, had +ceased to exist, but it appears to have revived about this time under +the name of the Wellington Club. A dinner at the Rockingham by the +Wellington Club was announced in the papers of 26th August to take place +on the 30th instant at half past four o'clock. Five o'clock was the +fashionable dinner hour. The Governor's dinner cards of this date were +all for that hour. + +The old Rockingham was destroyed by fire nearly half a century ago. It +stood on the shore of the Basin, a short distance north of the Rotunda. +After the departure of the Prince it became a house of entertainment, +kept successively by Graves, Paine and others. It was a favorite resort +being a convenient distance from town. The approach from the post road +was by a carriage drive next to the Rotunda, between two beech trees, +from which hung suspended a sign with the Wentworth Arms. When destroyed +it was the property of the estate of David Muirhead. + +In September the body of General Ross, who had been killed before +Baltimore, was brought to Halifax for interment. He was buried in the +old English burial ground with all military honors. No monument to his +memory appears in St. Paul's Church. + +On the 24th November, the Man-of-War Brig Fantome, 18 guns, went on +shore at Prospect. She soon went to pieces, as also a schooner which +accompanied her. No lives were lost. + +The merchants presented several petitions to the Governor this year +relative to the trade of the port. The following names appear appended +to these petitions, among which we will find those of many of our +principal citizens whose faces were once familiar to many now living: + +James Forman,[74] Belcher & Wright,[75] John Clarke, William Rudolf, +John Stayner, Rufus G. Taylor, William Strachan, William Young, Jr., +Austin & Stairs,[76] Jessie Woodward, Richard Kidston, Lawrence Doyle, +John Carrol, Henry Yeomans, Francis Stevens, Benjamin Etter, John +Merrick, W. C. Wilkie, Charles Boggs, And. Smith, William Duffus, James +Kerby, Charles Tropolet. Again, Thomas Wallace, Bowie & DeBlois,[77] +Hosterman & Etter, John & David Howe,[78] W. A. & S. Black,[79] James +Baine, Martin Gay Black, Duncan McColl, Thomas Cleary, Robert Phelon, +Levi Moses & Co., and John A. Barry.[80] + +[Footnote 74: For many years Custos of the County.] + +[Footnote 75: Hon. Andrew Belcher, son of the first Chief Justice and +member of Council. His partner, William Wright, was son of old Parson +Wright of the Grammar School. Neither left male descendants in Nova +Scotia.] + +[Footnote 76: Hon. Wm. Stairs, Sr., afterwards in Council.] + +[Footnote 77: William Bowie, killed in a duel with R. J. Uniacke.] + +[Footnote 78: Both brothers of the late Hon. Joseph Howe, Provincial +Secretary, etc.] + +[Footnote 79: Hon. William A. Black of the Legislative Council.] + +[Footnote 80: Mr. Barry was afterwards in the House of Assembly for +Shelburne; died at LaHave aged 80 years.] + +The Province Building and the Admiralty House were both slowly +progressing during the summer and autumn. + +Halifax did a brisk trade during the period of the American War. The +following list of exports for the year 1813 is given by Murdoch in one +of his notes: Vessels, 412; Tons, 54,457; men, 2,868; Boards and Plank, +1,881,722 feet; Staves, 232,562; Dry Fish, 82,059 quintals; Pickled Fish +in tierces, 408; Barrels, 29,829; Smoked Herring in barrels, 142; Boxes, +6,425; Fish Oil, 49,668 gallons. + +1815. The winter of 1814-15 was more severe than the previous one. The +small pox had broken out in the town and many persons died of it. A +number of the black refugee negroes had been, about the month of May, +after the removal of the prisoners, placed on Melville Island. They were +all vaccinated to prevent the spread of the disease among them. They +remained here for a short time until they could be located in the +country. + +The treaty of peace between Great Britain and the United States was +ratified in February 1815, and executed at Ghent on the 24th December +following. An immediate exchange of prisoners took place after the +ratification, and many seafaring men belonging to Halifax, who had been +confined in American prisons, were restored to their homes. Peace was +proclaimed at Halifax on 3rd March. This spring an Act of the +Legislature passed for establishing a Bridewell or House of Correction +in Halifax. It was placed under the control of the sessions, and the old +gamble-roofed building formerly used as a poor house, then situated at +the western end of the space known as the old poor house grounds, was +taken for the purpose and fitted up with cells, etc., for the prisoners. +This building was taken down, having ceased to be used after the +erection of Rock Head Prison and the Provincial Penitentiary on the +North West Arm. It was one of the oldest buildings in the town +afterwards, and was in early days the residence of Mr. Wenman, the +keeper of the Asylum. When it was first built is uncertain, but being +situate within the lines of the old forts, was probably a military +residence of some sort during the first five or six years of the +settlement. + +A regular police court was this summer established in the brick Court +House. John George Pyke, John Howe and John Liddell were appointed +police magistrates. Mr. Pyke had long been custos of the county, and he +and subsequently Mr. Liddell gave regular attendance at the office. Mr. +Pyke was allowed eleven shillings and eight pence per day, and had three +police constables at his command, with the additional assistance of +Hawkins, a colored gentleman, who dressed in an old military uniform +with cap and feathers, usually escorted the criminals to and from the +workhouse, and when occasion required inflicted his 39 lashes on +juvenile offenders at the old whipping post, which stood at the +south-west corner of the building opposite Messrs. Stairs' office--a +system of punishment less expensive than paying their board and lodging +for eight or ten weeks from the taxes of the citizens. + +The Spring of 1815 was very backward. The Basin had been frozen up all +winter, and was not free from ice until the month of June. On the first +of June the harbor was full of ice so as for an hour or two to impede +the progress of the ferry boats. It was partially collected from loose +ice which came down the Narrows from the Basin, and some drift ice which +was brought in in the night previously from the sea by the tide and +southerly wind. + +There were two ferries at this time. The upper ferry was conducted by +John Skerry, whose memory is still cherished by many, both in Dartmouth +and Halifax, as one of the most obliging and civil men of his day. +Skerry's wharf in Dartmouth was a short distance south of the steam boat +wharf. The other ferry was the property of Mr. James Creighton, known as +the Lower Ferry, situate to the south of Mott's Factory. It was +conducted for Mr. Creighton by deputy and was afterwards held under +lease by Joseph Findlay, the last man who ran a ferry boat with sails +and oars in Halifax Harbor. These ferry boats were furnished with a lug +sail and two and sometimes four oars. They were large clumsy boats, and +occupied some thirty or forty minutes in making the passage across the +harbor. There were no regular trips at appointed hours. When the boat +arrived at either side the ferryman blew his horn (a conch shell) and +would not start again until he had a full freight of passengers. The +sound of the conch and the cry of "Over! Over!" was the signal to go on +board. The boats for both ferries landed at the Market Slip at Halifax. +An act of the Legislature had been obtained this session to incorporate +a Steamboat Company with an exclusive privilege of the ferry between +Halifax and Dartmouth for 25 years. They could not succeed in getting up +a company, steam navigation being then in its infancy, and in the +following year had the act amended to permit them to run a boat by +horses to be called the Teamboat. This boat consisted of two boats or +hulls united by a platform with a paddle between the boats. The deck was +surmounted by a round house which contained a large cogwheel, arranged +horizontally inside the round house, to which were attached 8 or 9 +horses harnessed to iron stanchions coming down from the wheel. As the +horses moved round, the wheel turned a crank which moved the paddle. It +required about twenty minutes for this boat to reach Dartmouth from +Halifax. It was considered an immense improvement on the old ferry boat +arrangement, and the additional accommodation for cattle, carriages and +horses was a great boon to the country people as well as to the citizens +of Halifax, who heretofore had been compelled to employ Skerry's scow +when it was found necessary to carry cattle or carriages from one side +of the harbor to the other. The first trip of the Teamboat was made on +the 8th November, 1816. The following year an outrage was committed +which caused much excitement and feeling in the town. All the eight +horses in the boat were stabbed by a young man named Hurst. No motive +for this cruel act could be assigned, drunkenness alone appearing to be +the cause. The culprit was tried for the offence and suffered a lengthy +imprisonment. Mr. Skerry kept up a contract with the Company for several +years, until all differences were arranged by his becoming united with +the Company, and after a short time old age and a small fortune, +accumulated by honest industry, removed him from the scene of his +labors. The teamboat after a year or two received an addition to her +speed by the erection of a mast in the centre of the round house, on +which was hoisted a square sail when the wind was fair, and afterwards a +topsail above, which gave her a most picturesque appearance on the +water. This addition considerably facilitated her motion and relieved +the horses from their hard labor. As traffic increased several small +paddle boats were added by the Company, which received the appellation +of Grinders. They had paddles at the sides like a steamboat, which were +moved by a crank turned by two men. In 1818 the proprietors of the old +ferries petitioned the House of Assembly against the Teamboat Company +using these small boats as contrary to the privilege given them by the +Act of Incorporation. It afterwards became a subject of litigation until +the question was put an end to by Mr. Skerry becoming connected with the +Company. Jos. Findlay continued to run his old boats from the south or +lower ferry until about the year 1835. + +On the 3rd August, the Man-of War Brig Vesta arrived from England with +the news of the Battle of Waterloo. The town was illuminated in honor of +the victory, and the inhabitants kept up their rejoicings till a late +hour in the evening. Preparations were made for a public dinner on the +occasion, which took place at Mason Hall on the 15th. The Attorney +General, R. J. Uniacke, took the chair and James Forman was +Vice-President. The committee of management were Doctor William B. +Almon, John Pyke, eldest son of old John Geo. Pyke, the custos. David +Shaw Clarke, G. Lewis and John Howe, junior, John Albro, Thomas +Heaviside, Edward Alport, Joseph Allison and William Bowie were the +Stewards. Subscriptions had been opened throughout Great Britain and the +Colonies for the families of those soldiers who were killed and wounded +in the action. The Town of Halifax including the garrison and public +officers contributed the large sum of L.3,800. + +This year an Act of the Legislature passed for regulating the +appointment of Trustees and Master for the Grammar School of Halifax. +The first Act establishing this school bears date 1780. + +The refugee Negroes brought to Halifax by Admiral Cockburn had been in a +great measure a burden upon the community. A proposition was made this +year by the British Government to remove them to a warmer climate, but +no steps appear to have been taken to effect the object. Had this +suggestion been carried out at the time much suffering would have been +spared to these poor people, and the inhabitants of Halifax relieved +from a burden. + +On 26th February a resolution passed the House of Assembly directing the +commissioners of the poor to cause an account to be taken of the number +of black persons in the Town and the environs, who were brought to this +country from the United States of America. The following return, dated +March 6th, was signed by Richard Tremaine, Chairman of the Committee: + + Men. Women. Children. Total. + In the Town of Halifax 179 56 101 336 + Windsor Road 11 14 26 51 + Dartmouth and Preston ... .. ... 270 + Mr. Fairbanks' Estate + at Lake Porter ... .. ... 27 + --- + 684 + +The men and women with families were generally in need; none appear to +have been located at Hammonds Plains at this time. + +James Archibald was tried for the murder of Captain Benjamin Ellenwood +of Liverpool, N. S., before Chief Justice Blowers, in Easter term of the +Supreme Court at Halifax this year. He was convicted and executed soon +after on the Common. + +Another attempt to incorporate Halifax was now made. It will be seen +that in 1785 the merchants of the town suggested the subject for the +consideration of the Governor and Council, but they disapproved of the +measure; again in 1790, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, in +consequence of complaints regarding the settlement of the poor and the +necessity of a police force, etc., drew up the following resolution, +which was passed: "Resolved, that it be recommended to this House to +present a humble address to His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, to +request that he will be pleased to grant a charter to the Town of +Halifax for incorporating the same, and enabling the inhabitants thereof +to make such by-laws as shall be sufficient to regulate the police of +said town." No step, however, was taken by the Governor and Council +relative to this resolution. + +The merchants of the town had a meeting on the subject in 1816, which +resulted in a definite proposition being made, in which all the details +of the proposed charter were fully set out in a pamphlet of some length. + +The following preface or introduction to this pamphlet affords a sketch +of the plan proposed: + + INTRODUCTION. + + The following plan for regulating the municipal affairs of + this town has been drawn up in the form of a charter, as the + clearest and best method to express the extent of the proposed + improvements. The objects have been pointed out by a thorough + investigation into the various modes of conducting the public + business; which was entered into in consequence of a + presentment made by the Grand Jury to the Court of Quarter + Sessions in the December Term of 1812. The Court having + appointed six different investigating committees of the + Magistrates to meet the various objects contemplated by the + grand Jury, their several reports combined clearly prove the + necessity of some reform; but as it would now become an + invidious as well as a useless task, to point out the + _prevailing errors_ of the present practice, which are but too + evident to admit of a doubt, the gentlemen who have undertaken + the task of sketching out the _means of improvement_, have + left it to the Public to compare the one with the other. + + It will be perceived by a perusal of the following sheets, + that the Charter has but two leading objects--to establish + regularity in business, and to define and extend the powers of + the Magistrates and Grand Jury (acting as a Common Council) to + the same limits as (and not a step beyond) the powers granted + to all corporations within the King's Dominions. + + The only novelty introduced is that of preserving a gradual + change of the ruling members of the corporation, without + incurring the unpleasant duty of the electing system. This is + done by the appointment of ten magistrates to act as trustees, + two of whom will go out and two others come in annually, and + the appointment of the Grand Jury of the existing year, (or if + it is preferred that of the last year, or a draft from the + whole list until it is gone through), to act as a Common + Council. + + By these means the whole of the leading members of the + community (likely to take an active part in the affairs of the + town) will, in turn, partake of the duties of a respectable + office, and become intimate, and thereby feel interested in + its affairs. The various articles of consumption and of + commerce will be better inspected than they are at present; + the revenues will be regularly attended to, and every + desirable improvement in possession of other similar + communities in His Majesty's Dominions will in time, no doubt + be adopted. + + The provisions of the Charter have been selected and drawn up + with the utmost care to avoid objections by an attentive + reference to the London, Philadelphia, New York and New + Brunswick Charters, and the East Company's by-laws; and the + whole is arranged and worded agreeably to the most approved + forms, in order to obviate any difficulties on the part of + Government, or from local partialities. + + In debating the merits of the following pages, these three + queries will naturally occur to and guide every reflecting + mind: + + 1st. Whether the present management requires any improvement? + + 2nd. If so--is this an effectual plan? + + 3rd. If not--what is better? + + * * * * * + + N. B. When the terms of the Charter are agreed on and assented + to by His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor, it is proposed + to apply to His Excellency to grant it for a term of three or + five years by way of trial; during which period such + amendments may be made to it as experience shall point out to + be necessary;--after which, if it proves acceptable to the + inhabitants, application may be made to renew it for another + term of a few years, for the purpose of improving it still + further, as its deficiencies may appear; then the Charter may + be made perpetual if the inhabitants approve of it. It will be + necessary to have an Act of the General Assembly to confirm + the Charter when first granted, and on every renewal of it. + +Mr. Sabatier and a few others were principally concerned in endeavoring +to forward the object, but the Governor and Council appear to have been +still influenced the belief that their own supervision of local affairs +was preferable and better suited to the circumstances of the town at +that time. + +It will be seen that in the plan proposed the idea of a popular election +of members of the corporation was not even thought of either by the +Government or the people of the town. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +1816. Soon after the peace the prosperity of Halifax began to wane. The +price of provisions and all the necessaries of life, the value of real +estate and the high rents of houses in the town all became more or less +affected by the scarcity of money arising from the withdrawal of the +troops and navy and the sudden alterations in trade. The reaction was +not fully realized until about two years after peace was proclaimed, +when the rapid fall off in the value of real estate and the sudden check +given to commercial pursuits was found to have reduced many speculators +to poverty. + +Sir John Cope Sherbrooke having been appointed Governor General of +Canada, the principal inhabitants of the town gave him a farewell dinner +on 25th June. It was presided over by Chief Justice Blowers and the vice +chair was occupied by Michael Wallace, the treasurer of the province. An +address, largely signed by the inhabitants, was presented to the +Governor on his departure. Sir John had rendered himself very popular in +Halifax by his affable manners and his prompt and decisive way of +treating all matters brought to his notice by the citizens. He embarked +at the King's wharf on Thursday, 27th June, under a salute from the +batteries and the cheers of the inhabitants. + +The rough condition of the streets of the town at this period rendered +immediate and extensive improvements necessary. Those in the least +frequented parts of the town had been so much neglected that in many +places they were impassable from the accumulation of rubbish and the +broken condition of the wooden platforms or bridges at the gutters and +crossings. In many places the streets were overgrown at each side with +grass except in the centre. Brunswick Street, though one of the +principal highways of the town, was overgrown at each side with grass. +Many of the old Dutch houses then still remaining in this street stood +on banks a few feet above the sidewalk and where there were no buildings +rough stone walls or fences marked the line of the street. Water +Street, from the continual traffic and wear during the period of the +war, had been worn into holes and was in wet weather almost impassable +from the accumulation of mud, particularly between the Ordnance Yard and +the foot of Prince Street. The market square at this time, as also that +portion of Water Street between Collins' Wharf and the King's Wharf, was +much lower than at present. It was found necessary to pave this portion +of Water Street, which was accordingly accomplished during the years +1816 and 1817. The pavement, which was with round stones, extended from +the Ordnance to Black and Forsyth's Wharf, (later Mitchell's) at the +foot of Prince Street. The Provincial Legislature contributed the sum of +L.1,200 towards the work, and the expense of flagging the sidewalks was +charged to the owners of property fronting on the street. About the year +1835 this pavement had so sunk down as to be no protection from the +accumulation of mud. The lower part of the market square bordering on +Water Street and the way leading to the market slip or public landing +were raised about five feet. Between 1820 and 1824 new Street +Commissioners were appointed. The Macadamizing system begun to be +introduced and extensive improvements in the way of levelling the +streets and filling up hollow places were proceeded with. + +The Acadian School, conducted by Walter Bromley, had now been under way +for about three years. It was inspected on 31st July. There were 400 +children in attendance. On this occasion Mr. Bromley stated that since +the opening of the school in 1813, eight hundred and ninety-three +children had received instruction there, and about one hundred +apprentices and colored children in the Sunday schools. The latter were +under the special superintendence of Mr. Bromley himself, who devoted +all his leisure to the instruction of the black children and others who +could not attend school throughout the week. The small sum of L.200 was +voted annually by the Legislature in aid of this school. Subsequently a +grant of money was made by the Assembly to the National School, which +was about this time set on foot on the Madras system, under the auspices +of the Bishop and members of the Church of England in Halifax, who had +lately erected the large three-story building in Argyle Street, opposite +the parade, for the purpose. In 1818 this school had 117 children in +attendance. The daily attendance at these two schools exceeded 500, +which was a large number considering the extent of the population at +this period. + +The appointment of Dr. Robert Stanser, Rector of St. Paul's, to the +Bishopric of Nova Scotia, vacant by the death of Bishop Charles Inglis, +took place in 1817. Interest had been made with Lord Bathurst, the +Colonial Secretary, and the Archbishop of Canterbury to have Dr. John +Inglis, son of the late Bishop, appointed to the See. The appointment +was said to have been arranged in favor of Dr. Inglis, but a +recommendation from both branches of the Legislature then in session in +favor of Dr. Stanser, their Chaplain, prevailed, and Dr. Inglis was +appointed Rector of St. Paul's, vacant by the elevation of Stanser to +the Bishopric. Dr. John Inglis proved a highly popular Rector; his bland +manners and kind disposition rendered him a favorite with all classes +and denominations, and when he afterwards, in 1825, obtained the +Bishopric he carried with him to England addresses in his favor not only +from his own parishioners, but largely signed by his friends among other +denominations. + +The remains of the old Bishop were brought to town from Aylesford, where +he died, and buried under St. Paul's Church on the 29th February. The +funeral was attended by the Governor, Sir J. C. Sherbroke, Sir John +Wentworth, the retired Governor, His Majesty's Council and a large +assemblage of the citizens. A monument to his memory is on the west side +of the chancel of the church. + +On the morning of the 18th April great excitement prevailed throughout +the town in consequence of a murder which had been committed in one of +the streets during the previous night. Capt. Westmacott of the Royal +Engineers who, as officer of the night, was going his rounds on +horseback to visit the guards, met two men in Sackville Street whom he +challenged in consequence of their suspicious appearance. They +immediately attacked him and by a sudden effort threw him from his +horse, having first wounded him fatally with a bayonet. He lingered +until the 4th day of May, when he died. The murderers were soon after +discovered and proved to be two soldiers, deserters from one of the +regiments in garrison. They had been stealing fish through the night +from a store on one of the wharves. They were identified by the Captain +and, being tried and convicted of the murder, were executed on the +Common. + +The Nova Scotia Fensible Regiment, after the close of the war, remained +in Canada for some time. Early in June of this year they embarked at +Quebec for Halifax. The transport in approaching Halifax ran upon a reef +of rocks known as Jeddore ledges, which lies off the harbour of that +name eastward from Halifax. The weather was calm and the troops were +landed in safety, with the exception of four private soldiers, two women +and several children, but with the loss of considerable part of the +baggage. It was found on landing the men that the tide was rising, and +that in all probability the greater part of the ledge would be covered +at high water. It was proposed that the women and children should be +first landed and placed on the higher part of the rock. But on the +soldiers perceiving that Colonel Darling, who commanded the Regiment, +and several of the officers were intending to avail themselves of the +higher parts of the ledge, immediately declared that all officers should +be compelled to remain with their respective companies and share the +fate of their men. One officer, a captain, is said to have shown +symptoms of impatience or something worse on the occasion, and abandoned +his wife and family and his men, seeking shelter for himself on the +rocks amidst the reproaches and jeers of his comrades. The Regiment was, +however, successfully landed on the ledges, chiefly through the heroic +exertions of the Adjutant-Lieutenant Stewart, who volunteered to carry a +cable from the bowsprit of the ship to the rock, when having there made +it fast the sailors were enabled to construct means for landing men in +safety. Part of the Regiment was brought to Halifax in coasting vessels +about the first July, and others found their way by land, having been +brought on shore from the rocks by the fishermen of the neighbourhood. +Col. Darling and some others being displeased at all the credit of the +exploit being attached to Lt. Stewart, who was probably not a favorite +of the Colonel, brought him to a Court-Martial for some trifling offence +supposed to have been a breach of orders, and it is said he was +compelled to leave the Regiment. + +Two very extensive fires occurred at Halifax this year. One on the 8th +October, remembered as the "Haliburton" fire in consequence of the +brick building at the corner of Hollis and Sackville Streets owned by +Mr. George Haliburton, having been the first house consumed. The fire +destroyed nearly the whole block from Haliburton's corner to where Mrs. +Howard's new stone building stands, on the east or lower side of Hollis +street. All the buildings on Sackville Street down to the corner known +as Reynolds' corner, and the whole of the buildings on the upper or +Western side of Bedford Row were consumed. The fire commenced at ten +o'clock in the evening and continued to rage until six o'clock next +morning. It was considered the most disastrous fire that had ever +occurred in Halifax. The old buildings were all of wood except +Haliburton's corner house. The block was soon rebuilt with a better +description of buildings. Mr. W. K. Reynolds erected a fine stone store +at the corner of Sackville Street and Bedford Row, which still remains; +this was far the finest store in Halifax at the time. A range of brick +buildings along Bedford Row were at the same time erected by the late +Nicholas Vass. Haliburton's corner was also rebuilt of brick, and the +buildings on Hollis street, the property of Mr. LeNoir and others, were +built about the same time by the late Judge William Hill and his brother +T. T. Hill, then both at the Halifax Bar. Several old wooden houses were +pulled down during the fire by order of the firewards to prevent the +spread of the fire. The town was assessed to pay the damage. The other +fire was on Water Street at Creighton and Grassie's wharf. It occurred +in the night of 17th December, during very cold weather. All the stores +at and near the head of the wharf were consumed, and the fire extended +to buildings on the opposite side of the street. Mr. Grassie rebuilt +with brick and stone, and afterwards lined the shutters of his new store +with sheet iron. + +The Earl of Dalhousie, a Scotch nobleman, who had distinguished himself +in the Spanish campaign as a general of Division under Lord Wellington, +had been appointed to succeed Sir J. Cope Sherbrooke in the Government. +He arrived in Halifax on 24th October, 1816, in the Frigate Forthe. Lord +and Lady Dalhousie, immediately after their arrival, landed in state and +proceeded to the Council Chamber under a salute from the Citadel +attended by the heads of Departments, civil and military, when the Earl +was sworn into office in presence of His Majesty's Council. The troops +lined the way from the King's wharf to Cochran's building where the +Council Chamber was then situated. + +There had been no theatrical performances worthy of mention in the town +since the Duke of Kent's old theatre in Argyle Street had been +appropriated to the school under Mr. Bromley. In the autumn of this year +a company of players, Messrs. Price, Chamock, Placide, etc., fitted up +an old store on Fairbank's wharf as a theatre. Placide, Price and Mrs. +Young were considered good performers and attracted large audiences. At +the close of their career the manager got into jail for debt, when +Placide, the best comic actor of the company, distinguished himself by +escaping from prison and passing the sentry at the jail gate in the +night, who supposed it was a Newfoundland dog, Mr. Placide being famous +for imitating the bark and whine of the canine species. + +1817. The winter of 1816-17 was much more severe than that of the +preceding year. The south-east passage was closed with ice all winter, +and the ice remained until late in April. Great distress prevailed in +the town as usual among the laboring classes during this winter, which +was also the case throughout the whole Province. The sum of L.600 was +contributed this winter by the inhabitants of Halifax for the support of +destitute emigrants who had been brought up from Newfoundland. + +An attempt was made by the Legislature in their session of 1817 to +relieve the pressing necessities of the county by an Act authorizing the +Governor and Council to procure copper coin to the value of L.2,000 to be +issued from the provincial treasury. The Act was disallowed by the +Colonial Secretary in England. No good reason appears to have been +assigned for its rejection. The circulating medium at this time in the +town and throughout the country was Spanish doubloons, old Spanish +dollars, pistareens and other small Spanish coins, with a mixed +collection of copper coinage, English and Spanish, with all kinds of +half-penny tokens issued by private individuals in the town. No British +coinage ever reached Halifax except the old English Guinea. The troops +were paid in old Spanish money, which was brought from South America and +the West Indies by the merchants in exchange for their cargoes of fish +with occasional importations of Spanish silver by the British +Government for the troops, etc. An issue of paper money was at this time +made under an Act of the province. + +It was in the year 1817 that the project was first broached for the +establishment and erection of a college on the Grand Parade. + +The sum of L.9,750 was then remaining in the hands of the Governor from +the revenues collected at Castine while the State of Maine was in the +hands of the British troops. This sum Lord Dalhousie obtained the +permission of the Colonial Secretary to appropriate towards the erection +of a college in Halifax on the model of the Scotch Universities. The +professors were to receive moderate salaries. The students were not to +reside in the college building, but only to attend courses of lectures +which were to be open to all students and all else who might feel +disposed to purchase tickets for the courses. + +This winter the theatre on Fairbanks' wharf was again in operation and +as attractive as ever. Miss Powell was at this time giving lessons in +dancing. She gave her spring ball at Mason Hall on 21st May. This lady, +who was patronized by the fashionable part of the community, was the +daughter of Mr. Powell who conducted the theatre in Argyle Street when +under the patronage of the Duke of Kent. She lived many years in Halifax +and died at an advanced age, having been dependent on the charity of her +friends for several years before her death. + +The naval force on the station had now been reduced to a few ships under +the command of Rear Admiral Sir David Milne, father of Vice-Admiral Sir +Alexander Milne, who some time since commanded on the North American +Station. Sir David's flagship was the Leopard, Frigate. + +It may here be noticed that the British and Foreign Bible Society had +lately organized a branch in Halifax. The second annual meeting of the +branch society took place on the 5th May. It was attended by the Earl of +Dalhousie, who occupied the chair, and a number of officials. The chief +speakers on the occasion were Judge James Stewart, the Rev. Dr. +Archibald Gray, of St. Matthew's, and Judge Wilkins. Martin Gay Black +was treasurer and Walter Bromley, secretary. Mr. Black continued to act +as treasurer of this society to the year of his death. The Speaker of +the House of Assembly and a number of the members of the House were +also present on this occasion. + +The great destitution of the laboring part of the population during the +winter, as usual, rendered it necessary on behalf of the Commissioners +of the Poor for the town to call on the inhabitants for contributions in +addition to the annual poor rate assessed. The poor house at Halifax was +then, as has been the case frequently since, the receptacle for +transient paupers from the country, and the sum of L.300 was voted this +year by the House of Assembly towards the expenses of the establishment. + +The charitable societies of St. Patrick and St. Andrew dined together on +the respective anniversaries of their patron saints. Richard J. Uniacke, +the Attorney General, occupied the chair at the St. Patrick's dinner, +and Dr. Samuel Head the Vice. The Governor, Mr. Philip Woodhouse, the +Commissioner of the Dockyard, the Bishop of Nova Scotia, the Commanding +Officers of the Garrison and other distinguished guests were present at +both dinners. + +A fire occurred in the southern part of Granville Street this winter, +which destroyed the chocolate manufactory of Mr. John Ferguson and his +dwelling house. The fire companies of Halifax at this time were, +perhaps, the most useful institutions in the community. These companies +consisted of several hundred gentlemen each, who formed themselves into +a company for the purpose of rendering assistance at fires. Each member +provided himself with a leather cap, two or three buckets, canvas bags, +etc., on which were painted the name of the owner and device of the +company. The members were elected by ballot. They held quarterly +meetings and occasionally dined together, and gave annual balls at Mason +Hall. The Heart and Hand and the Hand in Hand Companies were the oldest, +but the Sunfire Company was the most exclusive. The Phoenix Company +was also very efficient, being composed chiefly of young tradesmen of +the town. The Engine Company was a very ancient institution, and +tolerably efficient, considering the kind of machinery they had to work +with. The Axe Company, as now, was composed of carpenters and others +suitable for such work at fires. It was customary for the soldiers in +garrison to turn out at fires and form lines with the inhabitants for +the conveyance of water by buckets, handed through the lines from the +harbor or the wells and tanks of the town. One feature which is now +never seen at fires was the guard which was furnished by the military to +take charge of the property removed to the streets from the burning +houses. Scarcely a pile of furniture or goods could be observed without +a sentry over it with fixed bayonet pacing up and down. The supply of +water was principally drawn from the wells and pumps which were kept in +order by the Magistrates of the town. These pumps have been before +noticed. The inhabitants of the suburbs, however, depended for good +water on their private wells. Almost every house in Brunswick and +Lockman Streets had a good well in the garden or near the house. The +north suburb lots were of very large dimensions; fruit gardens were +numerous; the plum, the Dutch cherry and red and black currants were +raised in abundance. The caterpillar and other vermin which now infest +the fruit gardens had then not been imported. + +Among the names of merchants who were carrying on business this year in +Halifax we notice those of John Pryor, father of the late City Judge, +Henry Pryor, William Strachan, White, Creighton & Co., Ironware +Merchants, Wallace & Russell, Hardware and Wines, at the corner of +Hollis and Prince Streets, now occupied by the Union Bank; Prescott & +Calkin, Fruits, etc., in Granville Street; James Leishman & Co., Woolen +Ware, lately from Glasgow; Hartshorne, Boggs & Co., Hardware, etc., at +the old stand, corner of Granville and George Streets, and S. & W. +DeBlois at the opposite corner. The firm of Hartshorne & Boggs existed +for many years. The head of the firm, the Hon. Lawrence Hartshorne, +retiring from business, the name was altered to Boggs & Hartshorne; the +late Thomas Boggs became head of the business and Lawrence Hartshorne, +Jr., afterwards County Treasurer, was junior partner. The business +continued until the old corner building was taken down, about the year +184-, and replaced by the fine stone edifice erected by Mr. George E. +Morton on the site. + +Scarff & Bain, afterwards James Bain[81] & Co., carried on an extensive +importing business at the corner now occupied by W. & C. Silver. James +Romans, Boots and Shoes, who succeeded Mr. McNab at the old corner of +Granville and Prince Streets, lately owned by Mr. Robert Romans, who +succeeded his father in the business; John Witham and Thomas Donaldson, +the former Groceries and Wines, the latter Confectionery, were +fashionable resorts on the lower side of Granville Street. Mrs. Jane +Donaldson carried on the business after the death of her husband and +finally retired to her residence at Birch Cove on the Basin, which had +been purchased from the late Andrew Belcher on his leaving the province +for England. Sherwood, which was built by Bishop Stanser, was also the +property of Mrs. Donaldson. The late William Donaldson afterwards sold +it to Thomas Kenny, Esq. James Donaldson, the brother of Donaldson of +Granville Street, was also a Confectioner and carried on business at the +corner of George and Barrington Streets, now occupied by Cragg Bros., +opposite the Parade, and was afterwards succeeded by the late Adam +Esson. The principal auctioneers were Bowie & DeBlois, Moody & Boyle, +Fillis & Perkins, and Charles Hill & Co. The latter carried on business +in Bedford Row near the corner of Sackville Street. Among the dry goods +stores were Israel Allison & Co., Carnot & Alport, where Mr. Duffus +afterwards erected his stone building; Thomas Cleary, M. G. Black, +Winkworth Allen & Co., in Cochran's Buildings near the market. Among the +importing and West India merchants, Abram Cunard & Co., Lawrence Doyle, +Collins & Allison, Collins' Wharf; James Forman, Sr., James and Michael +Tobin, Tobin's Wharf; Thom, Salter & Co., Ship Chandlery. + +[Footnote 81: Mr. Bain married a daughter of the late Benjamin Salter +and grand daughter of Malachi Salter, one of the first Members of +Assembly for Halifax, the ancestor of Mr. Benjamin Salter of this city.] + +A court for the summary trial of actions in the town was established +this year. The Commissioners named by the Governor and Council were +James Forman, Richard Tremain, William Minns, Charles Boggs and James +Tobin. The Commission bears date in April of this year. + +In addition to the public schools before mentioned, Mr. Thomas Crosskill +kept a good school for young men in rear of the Acadian School, entrance +from Barrington Street; his classes were more advanced than those of Mr. +Bromley. Mr. Addison kept his classical academy in Marchington's Lane. +There were several schools for young girls. Miss Wenman kept a school +for small children in Granville Street; she was one of those who were +burned out in the great fire before mentioned. Mrs. Henry in Barrington +Street and Mrs. McCage, for young ladies, also in Barrington Street, in +the brick house lately the property of Mrs. Doctor Slayter. + +On the 25th April, 1818, a public meeting was called to petition the +British Government to make Halifax a free port so that foreigners might +have access and take cargoes of the produce of the country or +merchandise imported into it; accordingly, on the 27th May, an order of +the Prince Regent in Council was obtained making Halifax and St. John, +New Brunswick, free ports. Halifax was declared by proclamation of the +Governor bearing date August 13th. + +At the request of the inhabitants of the town an Act of the Legislature +was obtained this year authorizing the leasing of 25 acres of the Common +for a period of 999 years at a small ground rent. The lots were each 60 +feet in front by 330 feet deep. These lots were gradually disposed of +and the broad street known as Spring Garden Road was laid out with the +lots fronting on it. Very few of these lots were built on at first, and +not until many years after was there any appearance of improvement in +this part of the town. The only residence westward of the General's +quarters was the house of old Colonel Pyke, the Police Magistrate, which +stood in the field next his brewery. + +About this time the late John Stayner, of Water Street, commenced to +erect the building known Brookside, afterwards the residence of the late +Hon. Joseph Allison. Many years afterwards John Spry Morris, the +Surveyor General, erected the building, and planted the trees, lately +occupied by D. Cronan. The fields on the west side of Queen Street, +opposite the General's quarters, known as Pedley's Fields, or +Smidtville, were not then built upon and the whole space from the +present line of Queen Street to the Tower Road was occupied as pasture +for cattle. Queen Street led up to Fort Massey military burial ground; +it was covered with grass and seldom used except for military funerals. + +Owing to the frequent alarms of fire and other disturbances in the town +this winter, the Magistrates made application to the Legislature for an +Act to establish a night watch, and accordingly, on the 5th May, a +nightly watch was established by order of the Governor and Council for +three months. + +During the spring of 1818 and the previous autumn, several vessels +arrived in this port with emigrants from Europe, many of whom were found +to be in a most destitute condition. They could not be permitted to +remain a burden on the town and the Governor and Council advanced funds +to assist their removal to the country, and Mr. Samuel Cunard and Mr. +Michael Tobin were intrusted with the funds for the purpose. + +"On the 9th February there remained of these emigrants in town only 20 +families and 30 single men. Their distress and that of the humbler +classes in the town this winter induced the Governor to place L.100 more +in the hands of Messrs. Tobin and Cunard to be used by them to mitigate +the suffering of the poor in general. They, in consequence, established +for a time a public soup house, beginning with 50 gallons of soup a day; +but in three days they were obliged to double the quantity, finding that +50 pounds beef and vegetables, producing 100 gallons a day, did not more +than answer the demand. The fitting up of the place and eight days' +issue cost over L.50, and they supposed the money would be all gone in a +fortnight more. They attended constantly in person at the daily issues +and say that 500 daily partook of the gift. They estimated that L.200 +more would be required to keep up the establishment until the pressure +of want should be alleviated in some other way. The first L.50 was paid +out of the Arms Fund, L.100 from the Treasury, and the House voted L.200 +on 10th February for temporary relief of the poor at +Halifax."--[Murdoch.] + +Eight armed fishing vessels were seized this summer by the ships of war +on the station, and brought into the Harbor of Halifax. Five were +released and three condemned in the Court of Vice-Admiralty. + +A general election occurred this year. The poll for the County and Town +of Halifax was opened at the County Court House on Monday, 15th June, +and continued until Wednesday, when one of the candidates, Mr. Richard +Kidston, having withdrawn, the other two, Mr. John Albro' and Mr. H. H. +Cogswell were returned. Capt. Thomas Maynard, R. N., was Sheriff this +year. He resided in the old house in Jacob Street formerly known as the +Grenadier Fort, which stood on the spot where the Trinity Church has +since been erected. + +Among the events of the year worthy of notice was the appearance of +Anthony H. Holland, proprietor of the Acadian Recorder newspaper, (which +had been established in 1813) at the Bar of the Assembly to answer +charges of having published severe animadversions on public affairs, +particularly from some remarks relative to Edward Mortimer, one of the +County members, for which Mr. Holland suffered a short imprisonment. +This affair, with the letters of Agricola, which now began to appear in +the same paper brought that paper into public notice. + +A Bill was introduced into the House of Assembly this session by Mr. +Shaw, who resided near the Three Mile House, for lighting Water Street, +but it does not appear that the object was effected. + +Paper money, issued from the Provincial Treasury, had been for some time +in circulation and had to some extent taken the place of the Spanish +Silver, which had been, heretofore, the only circulating medium in the +town. + +During the month of February this year, the harbor was blocked up with +float ice as far down as George's Island. Between 13th and 20th, persons +crossed from Dartmouth on the ice at the Narrows. + +In the "good old days when George the Third was king," his birthday, the +4th June, was celebrated with great enthusiasm at Halifax. A levy at +Government House, a review of the troops, and sometimes the militia on +the common, and a royal salute from the Battery and shipping in harbor, +terminating with a ball in the evening. + +This year the officers of the 3rd Halifax militia regiment gave a dinner +at the Exchange Coffee House in the large room lately occupied by the +Corporation as a Council Chamber. The North British Society also dined +together on St. Andrew's day at Mason's hall. Lord Dalhousie, and all +the heads of departments, civil and military, and Bishop Burke attended. +Judge Brenton Halliburton was President, and Geo. Mitchell +Vice-president. + +Dr. Burke had been officiating priest at St. Peter's, the old Roman +Catholic church which stood on the present St. Mary's grounds at the +head of Salter Street. He was this year appointed Bishop for this +province under the title of Bishop of Zion. He was consecrated at +Quebec on the 5th July. Dr. Burke was a very popular clergyman, was +highly thought of in the town and was very remarkable for his +hospitality, great benevolence, and Christian self-denial and care for +the poor. Though on several occasions engaged in theological +controversies with Dr. McCulloch of Pictou and others, he never +permitted those differences of opinion to interfere with that kindly and +gentlemanly intercourse with his friends for which he was so remarkable. + +On the 15th December this year the Agricultural Society of Nova Scotia +was inaugurated at a public meeting held at Masons' Hall. The Earl of +Dalhousie presided, the Hon. S. B. Robie, Judge Brenton Halliburton, +Rev. Dr. Inglis, afterwards Bishop, and S. G. W. Archibald addressed the +meeting. Resolutions were passed for the organization of the society, +Lord Dalhousie appointed President, and John Young, the author of the +letters of Agricola, was appointed Secretary with a good salary. Chief +Justice Blowers was named as Vice-president, and a Committee of twenty +named to manage the business. + +Mr. Placide's theatre at Fairbanks' wharf was again in full operation +this winter; Mrs. Young was the favorite actress, and young Mr. William +Blake, a native of the town who joined the Company, acquired much +popularity. Mr. Blake afterwards visited Halifax as manager of a company +of play actors, about 1830 or '31. + +Mr. John Black[82] and James Fraser, two wealthy Halifax merchants, were +this year appointed to His Majesty's Council. Mr. Black was senior +member of the firm of Black, Forsythe & Co., afterwards known as Fiddis, +May & Robinson. This business was carried on for many years on the wharf +at the foot of Prince Street, lately the property of George Mitchell. +Mr. Fraser[83] carried on business near Commercial wharf. His residence +was on the upper side of Water Street nearly opposite his place of +business. His garden extended into Argyle Street, and occupied the +space on which the Salem Chapel stood. + +[Footnote 82: Mr. Black's daughter was the wife of the late Hon. Jas. B. +Uniacke. Mr. B. built the handsome stone mansion near Government House +in Hollis Street, afterwards the residence of Bishop Binney. The granite +with which this house was built was brought from Aberdeenshire. Mr. +William Black, his son, removed to Scotland.] + +[Footnote 83: The Hon. James Fraser married a daughter of Mr. DeWolf of +Windsor, his eldest son James D. Fraser, was for many years member of +Assembly for Windsor, and his second son was Dr. Benjamin D. Fraser, of +Windsor. His eldest daughter married Hon. Chas. Gore, afterwards Gen. +Sir Chas. Gore. G. C. B., and her daughter married the Earl of Errol, a +Scotch peer. Another daughter became the wife of the Right Rev. Dr. +Suther, Bishop of Aberdeen.] + + CENSUS OF THE TOWN OF HALIFAX, TAKEN 1816-17. + + Men, 3114, males under 16 years of age, 2120, Total males 5234 + Females, total 5177 + ----- + 10411 + Colored population, males 391, females 324 745 + ----- + Total population of the town 11156 + + MEMO:--Population in 1752,--4249. + " " 1791,--4897. + +In the spring of 1819 the excavations at the north end of the Grand +Parade were commenced for the erection of Dalhousie College. A grant +under the great seal of the province, of a part of the parade ground had +been made to Trustees as a site for the college in August 1818. The +Legislature at their sitting in February, voted L.2000 towards the +erection of the building and a sum of L.3000, part of the Castine fund +before mentioned, was also appropriated to the building, the balance +together with an additional vote of L.2000 from the province being +invested for the support of the college. + +The space known as the Grand Parade had been reserved for military and +other necessary purposes on laying out the town in 1749. It had never +been military property or claimed by the military authorities, but was +originally reserved as a place of muster for the militia of the town, +though used also by the King's troops for mounting guard. An old +building originally erected on the upper side of the space next Argyle +Street for an Artillery barrack, was remaining there as late as 1777, +and ranges of cannon appear in front of it in the old pictures of the +town about that date. Prince Edward when General Commanding at Halifax +had the parade ground walled up and a new rail or fence erected. The +surface was levelled and the wall built at the north end bringing the +surface high above Duke and Barrington streets; ice houses were built +under this wall which were occupied by Mrs. Jane Donaldson, Confectioner +of Granville street. This wall was removed to make way for the +foundation of the college building. It had always been asserted as a +right on the part of the inhabitants of the town, that a free, +unobstructed way for foot passengers should be kept open across the +centre of the old parade from one part of George street to the other, +and wooden steps had been provided soon after the wall along the upper +side had been erected and a gate and turn stile at the town side for the +accommodation of the public.[84] There was a high wooden rail around the +parade painted red. + +[Footnote 84: The Grand Parade as it is called, like other spaces +reserved in 1749 for public purpose, such as the old burial ground, +public landing, the common, etc., had been used for the purpose to which +it was originally appropriated but the title had been supposed not to +have passed out of the Crown. Towards the close of the last century it +was thought advisable to vest all the public property in Trustees under +several grants from the Crown for that purpose; accordingly a grant was +made of the parade ground to certain public officials and their +successors in office, to be held by them for the public purposes for +which it had been originally reserved. This grant with all the others +had been constructed under the supervision of old Attorney General +Uniacke and of Chief Justice Blowers, but it having been afterwards +discovered that none of the public officials to whom it was granted +possessed the corporate powers and therefore had no succession in law, +and the original incumbents at the time of the grant being all dead, it +was concluded that the title had lapsed to the Crown. Lord Dalhousie, +Mr. Wallace and a few others in their exuberant zeal for the erection of +a college on the Scotch model, undertook to have another grant from the +Crown passed of the whole or part of the parade ground to the Governors +of the College, reserving, it is understood, certain privileges over a +portion of the ground to the public. + +The Governors of Dalhousie College claimed under this grant. The City +contends that the old grant was not forfeited and that this space among +other public property appertaining to the town was under the Act of +Incorporation turned over to the city. That in order to create a legal +forfeiture there must be process of Escheat gone through, and further, +that though the public functionaries to whom it was granted were not +possessed of corporate rights or had any succession of their offices in +law, yet the fact of their having been by Royal patent constituted +trustees of the property, by inference of law the Crown intended to make +them a corporation for that particular purpose, and that their +successors in the various offices they held, or the successor of any one +of them, would possess the power of supporting the grant. Otherwise the +object of the Crown in making the grant would be defeated, and as Crown +grants are always constituted in law most favorably for the Crown, it +might be inferred that the Crown intended to support its grant by +constituting those public officers and their successors in office a +corporation with succession for that special purpose. Later the dispute +was settled by private arrangement.] + +The Province Building being now finished, the Courts of Justice and the +Public Offices were removed from Cochran's building, and the +Legislature, which met on the 11th February, took possession of the +chambers appropriated to the Council and Assembly with all due ceremony. + +The reduction of the Dockyard establishment this year was a great loss +to the town. A large force of workmen were discharged, many of whom were +thrown out of employ without any provision from government. + +The project for the removal of the Dockyard to Bermuda was found in many +respects not to have realized the advantages contemplated by the change. +It was removed at the time that one of the Admirals on the Station had +taken offence at some occurrences in the town and had used his influence +to effect the change. + +A few years afterwards the Shears, a gigantic apparatus at the Dockyard, +for throwing down vessels, was demolished. The Shears was a very +conspicuous object, and stood so high that it could be seen from most +parts of the town. It is still in the recollection of many of our older +citizens. The Royal Standard floated from the staff which surmounted the +Shears on the King's and Queen's birthdays and other public holidays. +The Dockyard of Halifax, as mentioned in a previous chapter, was first +established in the year 1758. The present wall was first erected in 1769 +and bears the date of 1770 over the gate, but it has been improved and +some portions rebuilt since that time. + +Anthony H. Holland built a paper mill at the head of the Basin this +year, on the stream near the opening of the Hammonds Plains Road. The +paper made here was used for his newspaper, and the various pamphlets +which issued from Holland's press and occasionally by other newspapers. +It was of a very inferior quality. The brown paper, however, used for +shop purposes, was of a tolerably good description. It was the first +paper manufactory set on foot in Nova Scotia. It was kept up for many +years after the death of Holland. + +On the night of the 11th of November a fire broke out in the Naval +Hospital adjoining the Dockyard, which destroyed several buildings. In +consequence of the removal of the Naval Station the space remained +unbuilt on for many years. + +The Magistrates of the town, in session in December, voted a portrait of +Chief Justice Blowers. It was painted by a Mr. Drake in full dress, wig, +and scarlet gown. This picture occupies a place in the Legislative +Chamber, with that of Chief Justice Sir Thomas Strange, by Benjamin +West, late President of the Royal Academy. + +Among the promotions which appeared in the Royal Gazette this year we +find the appointment of Mr. Hibbert N. Binney[85] to His Majesty's +Council. + +[Footnote 85: Mr. Binney was a native of the town. He was the father of +the late Edward Binney and Grandfather of the late Bishop of Nova +Scotia. His residence was at the corner of Hollis and Salter Streets, +opposite that of the late Honorable William Lawson. The old house was +removed some years since to make way for a range of wooden three-story +buildings, erected by Henry G. Hill, along the east side of Hollis +Street. Mr. Binney was many years Collector of Imports and Excise at +Halifax.] + +An event occurred in the month of July which cast a gloom over the whole +community. Mr. Richard J. Uniacke, junior son of the Attorney-General of +that name, a member of the Bar, in his address to the jury at a trial +before the Supreme Court, made some observations offensive to Mr. +William Bowie, of the firm of Bowie and DeBlois; a challenge from Mr. +Bowie was the consequence, and on the morning of Wednesday, following +the 21st July, the community was startled by the announcement that Mr. +Bowie had been mortally wounded. The duel was fought in the grove at the +Governor's north farm, near the Lady Hammond Road. Mr. Bowie was carried +to the house at the corner, then or afterwards occupied by Mrs. McNeil +as a tea house, where he died in a few hours, the bullet having entered +his right side below the rib. Mr. Uniacke and the two seconds, Stephen +W. DeBlois and Edward McSweeny, were indicted for murder and tried the +same term, and were acquitted by the jury of the capital offence. This +was the first criminal trial of importance which took place in the +Province Building. The Court Room at the time, now the Legislative +Library, comprised the three rooms overhead, lately used by the keeper +of the building. A large gallery then surrounded the Court Room on three +sides. This gallery was removed in 1827 or 1828, the height of the Court +Room reduced, and the upper space made into three rooms, which were +appropriated to the Law Library, Admiralty Records, etc. This +unfortunate duel excited much feeling in the town, and some blame was +attached to the seconds who promoted or advised the parties to fire a +second time, when a reconciliation might have been effected. The +combatants were both gentlemen highly esteemed for their amiable +qualities. Bowie was a handsome young man and very popular for his +social qualities. He was buried from his lodgings in town, and his +funeral was said to have been more numerously attended than any within +the recollection of the oldest inhabitants. Mr. Uniacke afterwards +became a Judge of the Supreme Court. The recollection of the sad event +is supposed to have shortened his life. He died at the early age of 45. +Judge Uniacke was one of the handsomest men Halifax ever produced, was +more popular than any other of his family, several of whom were in +public positions. + +1820. On 7th April, King George IV. was proclaimed at Halifax. The +ceremony was performed by the Governor, Council, and such Members of the +House of Assembly as remained in town, together with the Magistrates, +the Grand Jury, and a number of private citizens, proceeding to the +Council Chamber, where the proclamation was signed by the Governor, +Councillors, and others. David Shaw Clarke, the Clerk of the Peace, +acted as Herald, accompanied by the High Sheriff in a carriage, escorted +by a body of troops. The proclamation was read by the Herald in the +Market Square, at St. Paul's Church, and on the Military Parade in +Brunswick Street in front of the officers' old barracks. A royal salute +was fired and the procession then returned to the Province Building, +where the proclamation was again read. The Royal Standard, which had +been flying on the citadel, was then lowered to half-mast and minute +guns fired from George's Island, there being none mounted on the hill at +the time on account of the decease of the late King George III. Sermons +were preached in all the places of worship and the inhabitants of the +town went into mourning. + +The House of Assembly being dissolved by the death of the Sovereign, a +public meeting of the freeholders of the Township was held at the +Exchange[86] Coffee House on the 3rd May for the nomination of the +candidates to represent the town. Richard Tremaine, Esq., was called to +the chair. Mr. Stephen W. DeBlois nominated John Pryor and George +Grassie. Mr. Cogswell, the former member, retired, also Mr. James Forman +and Mr. John Young, both of whom had been suggested. John Albro', one of +the former members, led the poll at the close of the election, Pryor and +Grassie stood even. Captain Maynard, the Sheriff, made a special return +of the facts. It was said that the last vote polled was that of the +Sheriff, who first declared the poll closed and then voted for Mr. +Grassie, which placed the candidates even. On the validity of his vote +rested the question of the majority. The election lasted three days and +closed on Saturday evening. At the close the poll stood, Albro, 453; +Grassie and Pryor, each 395. Freeholders or owners of real estate only +had the privilege of voting at this period. The new House met on 12th +November following, and Mr. Pryor having died in the interim the House +ordered the return of Mr. Grassie. + +[Footnote 86: The building afterwards used as the City Hall was then +called the Exchange.] + +William Lawson, Simon B. Robie, Samuel G. W. Archibald, and George Smith +were returned for the County. Mr. Robie was elected Speaker of the new +House. Mr. Smith resided in Pictou, the other three in Halifax. Pictou +and Colchester then formed part of the County of Halifax. + +The walls of the new College had now been built up even with the +surface of the parade ground, and it was arranged that the corner stone +should be laid with proper ceremony by Lord Dalhousie, the patron and +originator of the scheme. Accordingly, on the 22nd May, 1820, the troops +in the garrison were turned out and formed a double line from the +Province Building to the Grand Parade. The Freemasons, under the Grand +Master, John George Pyke, proceeded from Mason Hall along Barrington +Street and formed a square on the Parade. About 2 o'clock, Governor +Dalhousie, the Admiral, the officers of the Governor's Staff, with the +Members of His Majesty's Council, the Magistrates of the town, and a +number of leading inhabitants, proceeded through the line of troops to +the south-east corner of the building. Dr. J. T. Twining, the Grand +Chaplain, offered a prayer, after which a brass plate containing the +necessary inscriptions and a quantity of coins, were placed under the +stone, after which the Earl addressed the meeting and explained the +objects contemplated in erecting the college. The stone was then laid +with all due Masonic ceremony. A royal salute was fired from the forts +and the whole was concluded by a ball and supper at Government House. + +On the 24th May, the corner stone of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church +was laid with full religious ceremonies by Bishop Burke. The old church +of St. Peter, usually known as "the chapel" was a small wooden building +painted red. It stood opposite the head of Salter Street, inside a rail, +and was approached by a gate and turn stile. This old building was the +first Roman Catholic place of worship in Halifax. It was built some time +between 1785 and 1790. It was removed soon after the new building was +ready for occupation. + +On the 29th November, Bishop Burke died in the 78th year of his age. He +was laid out in state in his Episcopal robes and mitre for several days. +Bishop Burke was succeeded by Dr. Fraser, Bishop of Tanen in partibus. +He resided at Antigonish. Mr. Miniot was parish priest at this time; he +was succeeded by Mr. O'Brien and afterwards by Mr. Lochnan, etc., until +the appointment of Bishop Walsh. The St. Mary's Cathedral crept on +slowly for many years for want of funds, but was finished according to +the original plan about the time of the appointment of Bishop Walsh. + +The Earl of Dalhousie having been appointed Governor General of Canada +on the death of the Duke of Richmond, a farewell ball was given to him +and his Countess by the officers of the garrison on 28th May, and on +31st the inhabitants presented him with an address. On the first of +June, his successor in the Government, Sir James Kempt, arrived at +Halifax in the Phaeton, frigate, Capt. Montague, 42 days from England. He +landed at the King's Wharf, and was driven to Government House. At 3 +o'clock the same day he went to the Council Chamber, where he was sworn +into office. + +On the 5th, Lord Dalhousie embarked for Canada. The flank companies of +the First Halifax Regiment of Militia, under the command of Capts. John +Liddell and John Pyke, attended on the wharf as a guard of honor. Sir +James Kempt brought with him as A. D. C., Major Charles Gore, afterwards +General Sir C. Gore, G. C. B., Lord Frederick Lenox, a younger son of +the Duke of Richmond, who lately died in Canada, and Major Couper, +afterwards Sir George Couper, Comptroller of the Household of the +Duchess of Kent, the Queen's mother. Sir James Kempt was one of Lord +Wellington's Officers in the peninsular war. He commanded a brigade at +the Battle of Waterloo, and after the death of Sir Thomas Picton, the +General of Division, who was killed early in the action, the command of +the division fell to him. + +The only other occurrences worthy of notice during this year were the +dinner given to Governor Dalhousie by the inhabitants of the town, which +took place at Masons' Hall on 17th June, the Hon. Michael Wallace in the +chair, and John George Pyke, Vice. Sir John Wentworth, Baronet, the +former Governor, died this year at his residence, Mrs. Flieger's, Hollis +Street. His death took place on 8th April. He was in his 84th year. He +was succeeded in his Baronetcy by his son, Charles Mary Wentworth, a +native of Halifax, who had retired to England, where he held some +subordinate office under Government. At his death, unmarried, the title +became extinct. By his will, he gave the old villa and grounds on the +Basin, built by the Duke of Kent, to Mrs. Gore, the novelist, who was a +distant relative of his family. + +A Fair and Cattle show was held by the Agricultural Society on 6th +September on Camp Hill. The Governor distributed the prizes. John +Young, John Albro', William Young, John Starr, Peter McNab and Frederick +Major, Esquires, were Judges of the cattle. + +1820-21. This winter was, if anything, more severe than the three +preceding. Early in January the harbor became frozen over, and by the +20th the ice extended to Meagher's Beach and was sufficiently strong to +bear sleighs. By the 27th the ice formed a firm bridge between Halifax +and Dartmouth, over which a continuous line of sleighs, teams and foot +passengers might be seen on market days. Skating and sleighing parties +were numerous. The Governor, Sir James Kempt, drove tandem almost to +McNab's Island, and the double sleigh of Judge Brenton Halliburton, in +passing over a weak spot in the ice, fell through but was rescued +without damage to the horses or the ladies in the sleigh. The navigation +was completely stopped for several weeks. A passage was, however, cut +from Cunard's wharf to the mouth of the harbor with much labor and +expense, to permit the Government Brig Chebucto to proceed on her +cruise. This little brig was owned by A. Cunard & Sons, and was employed +by the Imperial Government in cruising along the shores of the province +to protect the fishery, and at the same time to enable the officers of +Government to visit the outposts, and was occasionally employed on +special service to proceed to Quebec and other places with despatches, +etc. The channel through the ice by which this vessel was taken out, and +which ran along close to the wharves, was afterwards kept open while the +ice remained, and a boat and two rafts were used to convey over +passengers and sleighs. + +On the 17th September, a fire occurred in the town, which destroyed +nearly all the buildings on the eastern side of Barrington Street, +between Sackville Street and Blowers Street and extended back into +Granville Street, where several houses were consumed. Most of the +buildings destroyed were old and delapidated except those at the corner +of Granville and Sackville Streets occupied by Mr. Liswell's Bakery, +etc. There were in all about 24 houses consumed. A large portion of the +burned district remained for many years after unbuilt upon. + +It was customary at this time for the dress companies of the militia to +give balls. On 23rd January the Grenadier and Light Companies of the 1st +Halifax Regiment gave a ball at Mason Hall at which 300 persons were +present. The regiment was commanded by Hon. T. N. Jeffery, the Collector +of the Customs, who had only lately succeeded old Col. J. G. Pyke in the +command. John Liddell commanded the Grenadiers and Brevet Major John +Pyke, the Light Company. Lieut.-Col. Richard Tremain commanded the Town +Artillery. + +The condition of the transient poor of the town was very sad this +winter. An organized system of relief known as the Poor Man's Friend +Society, was instituted. The town was divided into wards, and three or +four gentlemen volunteered in each ward to visit the poor throughout the +winter months. A soup house was established, and other arrangements made +to meet the objects intended. This society continued for about six or +seven years. In 1824 Beamish Murdoch was its secretary. The following +year William Young (the late Chief Justice) was acting secretary. + +A large issue of paper money by the province took place in 1820. Silver +change was almost driven out of circulation by the issue of small notes, +many at one dollar, at 2s. 6d., and even at 1s. 3d. These notes were +issued by private individuals upon their own credit and responsibility. +Those of William Lawson and Adam Esson were the most numerous. The +doubloon was at this time established at L.4 currency, and the Spanish +dollar at five shillings. The price of flour had fallen to twenty-seven +shillings and six pence per barrel. + +An anonymous pamphlet was published from the press of A. H. Holland, +charging the magistrates of the town with malpractices, which caused +much excitement. It was discovered to have been written by Mr. William +Wilkie, of Halifax. He was indicted for libel, tried at the Easter term +of the Supreme Court, found guilty and sentenced to two years +imprisonment with hard labor in the House of Correction. This was +esteemed a most tyrannical and cruel proceeding on the part of the +government. The pamphlet was a very paltry offence, such as at the +present day would be passed over with contempt. Wilkie, though not a +person of much esteem, yet being a member of a respectable family in the +community, should have been spared the indignities thrown upon him by +Chief Justice Blowers and the other Judges of the Supreme Court. After +the sentence was known, the sympathy in his favor was very general +throughout the town. + +The reaction after the peace had reduced the price of agricultural +produce, not only in Halifax but throughout the province. The West India +trade, then the chief branch of commerce, had begun again to be +prosperous, and the merchants were looking forward to profitable +voyages. But the value of real estate had so fallen that sales were made +in the body of the town for much less than half the cost of the +buildings. This state of things continued for several years, and very +few new buildings were erected between 1819 and 1823. The population was +about 15,000, but the number of houses did not exceed 1,600. + +The market square at this period presented a very different appearance +from what it does at present. A low wooden building stood on the site of +the present brick market house. The roof was originally flat and +afterwards a pitched roof was added. The butchers' stalls in this old +building were very convenient, perhaps more so than those in the new +market house. The cellars of this building fronting on Water Street were +let for the benefit of the town, and the south end was, some time after +this, occupied by Mr. Alexander McLeod as a liquor store and grocery for +many years. The ground in front of the market wharf and market slip was +much lower than at present, and also that part of Water Street between +the old City Court House and Stayner's Wharf, all which was filled up +about 1830 or, perhaps, a year or two later. A range of shops under the +Court House before this alteration in the streets afforded a large +revenue to the town, but their value as places of business was destroyed +when the street was raised, and though partially occupied afterwards, +they proved damp and unfit for storage of goods. The truckmen, who were +then very numerous, ranged their trucks and carts in lines in the square +fronting the meat market (there being no other stand allowed) and in +cold weather they might be seen, in the afternoons, when not engaged in +trucking, amusing themselves with the game of football. Two liquor +stores, one at the head of the market, on Beamish's Wharf, and the other +at the opposite corner, now known as Laidlaw's corner, kept by Samuel +and David Muirhead, were the chief places where spirits and beer were +retailed to the truckmen and fishermen. In front of these shops were +ranges of apple and cake stalls kept by old women, where also gull eggs +and lobsters boiled hard could be had by the fishermen and shallop men +from the wharves. The red woollen night cap was generally worn in those +days by the market fishermen and the people from the coasting vessels. + +The sidewalks throughout the town with the exception of part of Water +Street, were all of wood. The old platform on George Street, between +Granville and Hollis Streets, was known as Hartshorne's platform. +Messrs. Hartshorne & Boggs occupied a range of wooden buildings at the +corner of Granville Street, since replaced by the stone building erected +by George E. Morton and now occupied by Knowles' Bookstore. On the lower +corner, known as Martin Gay Black's corner, there stood an old +gamble-roofed house on a high green bank occupied by Mrs. Hart as a dry +goods store, and afterwards by T. & S. Greenwood, watchmakers. This old +building was about this time replaced by another which afterwards made +way for the handsome free stone building erected by the late Martin Gay +Black.[87] This platform was the resort of merchants and others who +congregated there in the mornings for a short walk and to talk over the +news. A large ship gun did duty as a post at Hartshorne & Boggs' corner, +and another at Black's, and formed a nucleus for loungers--not smokers, +for smoking was strictly prohibited in the streets of Halifax at this +time by the Magistrates of the town. Opposite, near the Province +Building rail, was the old town pump mentioned above, known as Black's +pump, remarkable for its good water, where dozens of boys and girls +might be seen towards evening getting water for tea. The old wooden +range known as Cochran's building, which occupied the site of the +present Dominion building, had been only lately evacuated by the +Legislative Assemblies and the Courts of Law, and was now being fitted +up for shops. Among those who first occupied shops in this building were +Winkworth Allen, who afterwards went to England, Mr. David Hare, who +afterwards became the purchaser of the property; W. A. Mackinlay, on the +north side, and Clement H. Belcher, at the north-west corner, both well +known stationers and booksellers, occupied their respective shops a +long time, the latter for more than twenty years. At the opposite +corner, to the south, on Hollis Street, stood a large three story +building erected by the late James Hamilton, who carried on an extensive +dry goods business. It was afterwards sold to Burns & Murray, who +erected the present handsome freestone edifice on the corner. Mr. +William A. Black kept his watchmaker's establishment at the corner +below, now occupied by the P. Walsh Hardware Co. The old Halifax Journal +office occupied a wooden building at the corner of George and Granville +Streets, where the stone store of T. & E. Kenny now is. Mr. Benjamin +Etter had his watchmaker's shop at the corner of George and Barrington +Streets, now known as Crosskill's corner, in the same old wooden +building which has since undergone extensive alterations. Mrs. Donaldson +carried on the confectionery business at the corner opposite and was +succeeded by Adam Esson. There were two Donaldsons, both confectioners, +whose wives carried on the business after the death of their husbands +and accumulated large properties, usually known as upper and lower +Donaldson's; the latter was in Granville Street and was the most +fashionable, being patronized by the military and navy officers during +the war. The parade ground was surrounded by a high wooden rail painted +red and had a gate and two turn stiles opposite George Street; the +latter for foot passengers who claimed the right to pass across the +ground to the steps which led up into Argyle Street, and which still +remain. John Howe kept the Post Office in the old building opposite the +parade later occupied by Mr. Brander, Cabinet Maker. The late Matthew +Richardson a year or two later erected the three story stone building +next to Mrs. Donaldson on the site of the Hon. Andrew Belcher's garden, +which occupied an open space south of Donaldson's or Esson's corner. Mr. +Belcher had, a few years before this, left Halifax to reside in England. +His residence was in Granville Street, the same building formerly owned +and occupied by the late Doctor Hoffman a short distance south of +Kenny's buildings and his garden extended in rear fronting on Barrington +Street. No part of the city has undergone greater changes since this +time than Granville Street. From George Street northward all the old +houses on both sides have been replaced by lofty buildings with some +rare exceptions. Between Romans' corner and the Ordnance Square, the +street at this time was elevated about 20 or 25 feet above the present +level. It was cut down about the year 1830 or 31, (perhaps a little +earlier) and the old shabby buildings on the upper side removed, and +those on the lower side had an additional story added to them below in +consequence of the street being lowered. The whole of this part of +Granville Street has been since twice destroyed by fire and replaced by +the present buildings, at a cost and in a style far beyond the +requirements of the city. Proceeding southward along Hollis Street from +the Province Building, both sides as far as Sackville Street were +occupied by a range of small low buildings. At the corner now occupied +by the Queen stone building, there stood an old gamble roofed house of +one story with a little shop at the corner occupied by a worthy old man, +James Smith, who held the office of Deacon of St. Matthew's Presbyterian +Church, opposite. The other deacon was James Dechman, senior, who was +for many years keeper of the town clock, and resided in the clock +building. These two old worthies have long since gone to their rest. The +latter was father of the late James Dechman, of Halifax, master +carpenter, who died at an advanced age some years ago at his residence +in Bishop Street. The Rev. Dr. Archibald Gray[88] was minister of St. +Matthew's at this time. His place of residence was the old house in +Granville Street, opposite the Province Building, now known as the +Acadian Hotel. Several buildings both in Hollis and Granville Streets, +remnants of the first settlement, stood on high grassy banks with +porches and steps outside and cellar doors on the side of the bank with +plank platforms over the gutters; the porches and steps frequently +projecting out on the side path. + +[Footnote 87: This fine stone building has been since pulled down and a +new building for the accommodation of the Merchants' Bank now occupies +the corner.] + +[Footnote 88: Dr. Gray married a daughter of Dr. Michael Head and was +father of the late James F. Gray, of the Halifax Bar, many years Clerk +of the House of Assembly.] + +The Hon. John Black, a short time previous to the year 1821, built the +fine granite building in Hollis Street north of Government House, +afterwards the property of his son-in-law, Hon. James B. Uniacke, since +the residence of the Bishop of Nova Scotia. The old house within the +railing at the upper corner of Hollis & Salter Streets, lately owned by +Mr. Esson, was then the residence of Hon. William Lawson. It was +originally built by Malachi Salter about 1760, perhaps before. At the +opposite corner stood the residence of the Hon. Hibbert N. Binney, +since removed. At the other corner Mr. Charles R. Fairbanks, some time +Solicitor-General, afterwards Master of the Rolls in Chancery, +son-in-law of Mr. Lawson, had just erected the fine brick building since +occupied as a boarding school for young ladies. The late Samuel Lydiard +Brewer built the iron stone house of three stories south of Mr. Binney's +residence about the same time. The residence of the Hon. Michael +Wallace, Treasurer of the Province, was in Hollis Street immediately +opposite the Government House. It was a wooden building and considered a +first class residence in its time; now altered into two separate +dwelling houses. Trees were common in the streets of Halifax at this +period as has been before mentioned. The stone building in Morris +Street, the residence of Chief Justice Sir Brenton Halliburton, then +Judge Halliburton, had been erected some years before this. Judge +Stewart, his brother-in-law, built the yellow brick building at the +north-west corner of Hollis & Morris Streets, now the residence of a +gentleman of the same name, son of Hon. Alexander Stewart, late Master +of the Rolls and Judge of Admiralty. The Hon. Thos. N. Jeffery, +Collector of the Customs, built and resided in the building later +occupied by Mrs. James Donaldson. The late Bishop Inglis, then Rector of +St. Paul's, owned and occupied the low wooden building nearly opposite +Mr. Jeffery's, since the residence of Mr. Hagarty. At the corner, +opposite Judge Stewart's, was the old gamble roofed house, the residence +of James B. Franklin, son of Governor Franklin. This old fashioned house +still remains as one of the few relics of the early town. The Hon. +Charles Morris built a handsome wooden dwelling house on the south side +of Morris Street, between Hollis and Water Streets, afterwards the +property of Hon. S. G. W. Archibald, Attorney-General and Speaker of the +House of Assembly; since his death occupied as a boarding house. The +late John Trider about the same time built his rough stone house at +Freshwater Bridge. The late John Tremain had a Ropewalk adjoining his +residence on the south side of the road leading up from Freshwater +Bridge, now known as Inglis Street. This property was afterwards +purchased by James Forman, Junior, and the old ropewalk building +removed. The residence of Major Bazelgette at the head of this street +had been originally constructed by John Trider from the materials of the +old Government House which had been removed and the materials sold to +make way for the foundation of the Province Building. It afterwards +became the property of the late John Moody, a merchant in the town, who +sold it to Major Bazelgette about the year 1817 or 1818, who added to +the building and improved the grounds. Mr. Moody purchased the adjoining +grounds and erected a new house; after his failure his residence was +purchased by Hon. Enos Collins, who improved the property and beautified +the surrounding grounds. + +Old Fresh Water Bridge, so well known in former times, crossed the +stream from Smith's Tanyard nearly in the same place as the present +abutment. It was a rickety old wooden structure with a rough curb or +rail. It was a favorite resort of the young of both sexes on Sundays and +summer evenings, and the old wooden rail was covered with names and +initial letters carved with the pen knife by visitors. The walk down +Pleasant Street and up the road now known as Inglis Street and round the +new road, as the Tower Road was then called to Pyke's Bridge, and thence +down Spring Garden Road to Government House, was the fashionable +promenade for all classes on Sundays and holidays. The old English +Burial ground was then surrounded by a high, rough stone wall, built +without mortar, which was removed some years after the new cemetery on +Camp Hill was consecrated. The Governor's garden up Spring Garden Road +adjoining the burial ground extended as far as the General's quarters. A +portion of this field was taken for the site of the new Court House and +County Jail. The new Poor House in the opposite space, then lately +erected, was a rough stone building whitewashed on the outside, but the +Work House or House of Correction was the old gamble roof building +probably originally erected as a soldiers' barracks in the days of the +forts, and afterwards used as a Poor House. All these buildings have +been since removed and the ground sold to private speculators, a step +much to be regretted, as the space was very extensive and the most +eligible situation for a public building in the whole city. + +The Poor House Burial Ground, at the corner opposite the present new +Court House, was at this time a standing nuisance in consequence of the +want of drainage and the careless manner in which bodies of paupers were +interred. After the law for closing all places of burial in the city had +been carried into operation, this open space was planted with trees and +ground carted in to fill up hollow places, and a substantial wall built +around it. The old tan Yard of Andrew and John Smith was then one of the +most picturesque and secluded spots in the neighborhood of the town. The +stream which turned their mill passed down from the south common through +Smith's Fields, where it formed a pond near the town road, known as the +mill dam, for many years the resort of skaters in winter, continuing +south-eastward to Freshwater Bridge and passing through a range of +willow trees, some of which may still be seen above the present bridge. +Southward from old bridge the road was at this time but a footpath +winding along the shore to Steele's Pond, beyond which it was passable +for carriages. At a very early period, however, there had been a broad +carriage road all along the shore to Point Pleasant, but the earth had +fallen in or been washed away by the tide. Black Rock, a point running +out south from Trider's old lime kiln, was then, and for many years +after, the resort of bathers. There was a fine gravel beach outside the +old Freshwater Bridge leaving a large expanse of gravel when the tide +was out. It was customary for gentlemen's servants, truckmen and others +who came morning and evening to water their horses in the stream above +the bridge to ride their horses in the surf at low water. + +That part of the city known as Schmidtville, or Pedley's Fields, west +from Queen Street and the General's quarters, was not laid out into +building lots until many years after the period we are now describing. + +The stone house at the corner of Prince and Argyle Streets, opposite the +south-west angle of St. Paul's Church, was originally the mansion of the +Hon. Richard Bulkeley, and is, perhaps, now the oldest stone building in +Halifax; it was purchased about 1818 by H. H. Cogswell, who improved the +old house and resided there until his death in 1854. The stone house at +the opposite corner was built after the close of the war by Dr. William +J. Almon. It afterwards became the residence of his son, Matthew Byles +Almon, who sold it to Dr. Daniel McN. Parker. Proceeding southward along +Argyle Street at the next corner was the handsome residence of Hon. +Richard John Uniacke, who held the office of Attorney General for a +great number of years. This was a wooden building of three stories +originally with a flat roof and a parapet all around with ornaments in +the shape of urns at the corners and in the centre. A roof was put on +this building about the time of the death of old Mr. Uniacke, and the +parapet removed. At the south termination of Argyle Street stood the +residence of Mr. Alexander Creighton, a small low house, and along +Blowers Street, to the west, was a low range of wooden buildings which +had been a soldiers' barracks or guard house. The late Chief Justice +Blowers, about the commencement of the present century, erected the +large wooden building at the corner of Barrington Street, adjoining the +Roman Catholic property, as a residence. After his death it was sold and +became a hotel under the name of the Waverley House. It has since been +purchased and attached to the Roman Catholic church property. + +In the year 1821 there were no houses in Gottingen Street, north +suburbs, except the stone house at the corner of the lane leading +westward, some years before built by Major McCola, Town Major of +Halifax, since owned by Mr. R. Duport. A wooden house, a short distance +north of it, built by Peter Hay, Mason, and the old hipped roofed +building at the corner of Gerrish Street, known as the North Pole, still +standing. Mr. Lewis Demolitor had then lately built a large house at the +northern extremity of Brunswick Street, which at that time was +considered a very wild speculation. This is the same house lately the +residence of the Hon. Senator Northup. The late Benjamin Etter also, +about this time, built himself a residence at the corner of North +Street, afterwards the mansion of the late Hon. William A. Black. +Captain Michael Head, R. N., occupied the two story house to the +westward of W. A. Black's property, which a few years before had been +built by the late William Rudolf, of Halifax, and was afterwards the +residence of Commissary General, W. H. Snelling, and afterwards by John +Northup; now or lately known as Belle-Air. Lockman Street then could +boast of very few buildings and was so grown up with grass as in some +places only to afford a narrow path in the centre for pedestrians and +occasionally a stray carriage. The original Lockman Street extended only +from North Street to Gerrish Street, in the rear of what was called the +Dutch Lots; it was afterwards continued southward by consent of the +north suburb lots, as far as Cornwallis Street. The old house, formerly +the residence of Major Leonard Lockman, a German officer, one of the +original settlers, for whom the street was called, stood on the western +side near the northern extremity of the street. It became very +delapidated and was removed some years ago. + +In the 1818, or perhaps as late as 1820, that part of the north common +known as Camp Hill, since appropriated as a public cemetery, as also all +the swampy space westward of the drill ground, was in a state of nature, +covered with cradle hills, laurel bushes and ground juniper. The +butchers' boys kept their sheep there, and in autumn the swampy portions +afforded to the sportsmen good ground for snipe, plover and curlew. An +old building, known as the St. Andrew's Cross, stood on the hill at the +corner where Quinpool Road, so-called, now meets the common. On the +opposite side an old two story house called Quinpool, which had been the +residence of a Mr. O'Brien, stood in a field to the north of the road. +This old house became uninhabited and was afterward taken down by Dr. +Cogswell, the proprietor of the property, when he divided the fields +into building lots. There were two main roads leading from town to the +Basin, both meeting at what was called the Three Mile House, a building +erected by Mr. Shaw, a member of Assembly, as a hotel, afterwards known +as Increase Ward's country house. The Wistermont Road was known as the +Blue Bell Road from a very old house with a swinging sign which stood at +the corner before you arrive at the Willow Park property. Mr. John +Young, known as the author of the letters of Agricola, had then lately +purchased this latter place, had improved the house and gardens, and was +commencing to work it as a model farm. Further north were the old Dutch +farms of Philip Bayer and Jacob Shefforth on either side of the road, +surrounded by groups of old willow trees. The Bayer's house has +disappeared, but that of the Shefforth family fell to the late Mr. Henry +Vieth, who repaired the old buildings. The other road, known as the Fort +Needham or Lady Hammond Road, was a prolongation of Gottingen Street. +After passing the farms of the late John and James Merkel, it turned to +the westward down the hill to the shore of the Basin at the Three Mile +House. The Kempt Road had not yet been opened though for some time in +contemplation. Two block houses, the remnant of the old fortifications +of Halifax, overlooked these roads. The first or nearest blockhouse, was +at Fort Needham on the hill south of the Governor's north farm. The +other surmounted the hill just above the cottage of the late John Steel, +called Three Mile Cottage, at the termination of the Blue Bell Road, +near the present Three Mile Church. The old house at the Governor's +north farm known as Lady Hammond's house was then in good repair, since +fallen down. This house was erected by Lieut. Governor Hammond as a +country residence for his family. The north farm, as it was called, +extended eastward to the shores of the narrows and included the beech +grove near the old railway station. This beautiful grove has been lately +cut up by one of the Government Railway Superintendents who caused +building lots to be laid off and sold in the grove. This fine collection +of trees has been carefully preserved for nearly a century, and had been +the scene of many festivities, and was associated with very many +pleasing events in the minds of the older citizens. + +The common was the usual resort of a large portion of the inhabitants on +a Sunday afternoon during the summer months. It had been the custom for +many years, and had continued to be so until discontinued by Governor +Maitland, for the whole garrison, which usually consisted of service +companies of three regiments, a part of artillery, and a company of +sappers and marines, to parade on the common every Sunday afternoon at +three o'clock during the summer season. The Governor and his staff +attended and the whole brigade, with their regimental colors, and the +artillery, with their field pieces, formed a line and were inspected by +the Governor or Commander-in-chief, after which they marched around the +drill ground, passing before him at slow time, saluting him in open +column of companies. No booths, however, were allowed on the common for +the sale of refreshments except on the King's and Queen's birthdays, +when grand reviews came off. + +Sunday presented a gay scene at Halifax in those days. There being then +no garrison chapel for the troops, the regiments in garrison, preceded +by their brass bands playing, marched in full dress to St. Paul's and +St. George's churches amid the ringing of bells and the sound of martial +music. The carriage of the Governor (who was then always a general +officer) in full military costume, with his aides-de-camp, drove up to +the south door of St. Paul's, the whole staff having first assembled +under the portico which then ran along the southern end of the church. +His Excellency, followed by a brilliant display of gold lace and +feathers, the clank of sabres and spurs, and the shaking of plumed hats +of so many officers, many of whom were accompanied by their ladies, on +entering the church, presented a most brilliant spectacle. All this was +followed by the old Chief Justice Blowers in his coach and livery, the +carriage of the Admiral, and those of several members of Council. All +being seated and the body of the church full of fashion and dress, the +peal of the organ began to be heard and the clergy in surplice and hood +(he who was about to preach, however, always in the black gown) +proceeded from the vestry up the east side aisle to the pulpit, preceded +by a beadle in drab and gold lace, carrying a large silver headed mace, +who, after the clergy had taken their seats, deliberately walked down +the aisle again to the vestry with his mace over his shoulder. The +Rector, Dr. John Inglis, usually preached in the morning, and the +Curate, Mr. J. T. Twining, performed the service. They were frequently +accompanied by other church clergymen on a visit to town, and in Lord +Dalhousie's time, his Chaplin, the Rev. Isaac Temple, always took part +in the service, frequently preaching in the afternoon at 3 o'clock. On +the sermon in the morning being concluded, the troops marched back to +barracks and the general and staff returned to Government House, where +they partook of luncheon, and were again in requisition by 3 o'clock for +the grand review of the troops on the common. There were no evening +services in the churches and meeting houses in those days, except with +the Methodists, who were quietly doing their work in the old Argyle +Street meeting house, under the Rev. Wm. Black. + +The police of the town were conducted by one paid magistrate and one +unpaid assistant, together with the clerk of the peace and three police +constables, afterwards increased to four. Old Colonel Pyke presided as +Chief Magistrate for many years, and was usually to be seen sitting in +the little police office in drab knee breeches with gray yarn stockings +and snuff colored coat. Age and infirmity having at last compelled him +to retire, Mr. John Liddell, the second in command, was appointed Chief +Police Magistrate by Sir James Kempt.[89] David Shaw Clarke had been +for some years Clerk of the Peace. He was a member of the Bar and +particularly well qualified for the office he held, the duties of which +he performed with much satisfaction to the public. He was very +remarkable as being the most corpulent man in town. The late Samuel +Muirhead, who kept a liquor shop at the head of the Market Wharf, was +next in size to Mr. Clarke. Muirhead died in 1820, and Clarke, from that +time to the day of his death, had no competitor. No man was better known +or more popular for about thirty years in Halifax than David Shaw +Clarke. He was succeeded in his office by his son James Stewart Clarke. + +[Footnote 89: Governors had a voice in all appointments at this time.] + +Drunken people were frequently to be seen in the streets in those days, +yet the peace of the town was tolerably well preserved by the three or +four police constables. Old Jock Henderson was very corpulent, but his +great knowledge of his profession rendered him an exceedingly useful +officer. Jack Mahar was celebrated as a detective, but king alcohol at +last put an end to his usefulness. The practice of publicly whipping +thieves had almost altogether gone out of fashion by this time, though +occasionally resorted to at the work house. Among the town oddities was +Constable Hawkins. He was a negro, one of those who were brought from +the Chesapeake by Admiral Cockburn. He had been for some years employed +at the work house to do the whipping. He was usually dressed in an old +military green uniform, epaulets, plumed cap, with red sash, and on +state occasions, a sword. With constable's staff in hand, this worthy +might be seen in the morning at the opening of the police office, +escorting prisoners down George Street to the office for examination, +accompanied by a mob of boys. Among the other curiosities of the town +was old Ben Myers, usually known as Major Ben. This old fellow, an +idiot, was dressed in a long tailed red coat of a fashion then long +obsolete, a cocked hat and long white feathers hanging over his +shoulder, and on particular occasions, a star on his breast and a sword +and sash. He was the messenger of the poor house and Bridewell and came +down to the market every morning with his wheelbarrow in which he +brought back supplies for the establishments. + +The troops mounted guard every morning on the Grand Parade and went +through the salute and troop before relieving guard. This formed a great +attraction to strangers and people from the country. The band usually +played for half an hour before the ceremony of inspecting the guards +commenced. At sunset and at gun fire, at eight o'clock in the evening, +the drum and fife proceeded from the town clock, in Barrack Street, to +Government House or the General's quarters, and back again to the +barracks. This had been an ancient custom in the Halifax garrison and +was partly kept up until about the year 1845. Guard mounting on the +parade at 10 o'clock in the morning during summer continued until +Governor Le Marchant left Halifax in 1856. + +One feature of the town which frequently afforded amusement to visitors +must not be omitted. The negro population of Hammonds Plains and +Preston, the latter particularly, had been, after the peace, supplied +with the American uniform coats taken at Castine or somewhere in Maine +in the year 1813. The sky blue coats with red and sometimes yellow +facings, in conjunction with old torn and patched trousers of every +description, presented the most grotesque appearance. A short time +before this a fensible regiment known as the York Rangers, having been +disbanded in the town, their old green uniforms, faced red, and the +sugar loaf shaped caps, were given to the negroes, who presented the +most ridiculous appearance on market days. + +M. Geneni kept dancing school at Mason Hall and gave many pleasant +school balls in the winter season to the great delight of the young +people. M. Perro, a polite old French naval officer, was most popular as +a teacher of French and was much esteemed in the community. M. +Chenalette was the most famous confectioner ever known in Halifax. In +his latter days he kept his establishment in Sackville Street, opposite +Bedford Row, and was celebrated for his French cordials and fancy +confectionery. Such was Halifax in 1821 and thereabouts. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +FORTIFICATIONS AND DEFENCES OF THE TOWN--PUBLIC BUILDINGS, ETC. + + +From the year 1749 to '54 or '5, the defences of the town consisted of +palisades or pickets placed upright, with block houses built of logs at +convenient distances. This fence extended from where the Roman Catholic +Cathedral now stands to the beach south of Fairbanks' wharf, and on the +north along the line of Jacob Street to the harbor. These palisades were +in existence in 1753, but were removed at a very early period, not being +within the recollection of the oldest natives of the town living in the +year 1825. + +A large portion of the front of the present Citadel Hill was originally +private property; a small redoubt stood near the summit with a flag +staff and guard house, but no traces of any regular or permanent +fortification appear until the commencement of the American Revolution. +There were several block houses south of the town--at Point Pleasant, +Fort Massey and other places. A line of block houses was built at a very +early period of the settlement, extending from the head of the North +West Arm to the Basin, as a defence against the Indians. The foundation +of the centre block house was still to be seen in 1848 in the hollow +below Philip Bayers' pasture. During Governor Lawrence's time, the +Indians made an attack upon the saw mills at the head of the North West +Arm, which stood near the site of the present mills, and murdered three +men; their bodies were buried by the soldiers near one of the block +houses, and were three times dug up by the Indians in defiance of the +guard, for the purpose of securing the scalps. These block houses were +built of square timber, with loop-holes for musketry,--they were of +great thickness, and had parapets around the top and a platform at the +base, with a well for the use of the guard. + +In 1755, four batteries were erected along the beach--the centre one, +called the middle or Governor's Battery, stood where the Queen's Wharf +now is, being then directly in front of Government House; another where +the Ordnance Yard was afterwards built, called the Five or Nine-gun +Battery; the third was situated north of the present Fairbanks' wharf; +and the fourth called the South or Grand Battery, still in existence at +the Lumber Yard. They were composed of stone and gravel, supported by +cross logs, covered with earth and planted with grass, having +battlements in front and the two ends, elevated about twenty or +twenty-five feet above the water. These fortifications were removed +about the year 1783, and the grounds appropriated to their present +purposes. The Ordnance Yard, then a swamp around the battery, and the +King's Wharf, were both filled up and levelled by stone and rubbish +removed from the five-acre lots of the peninsula which were beginning to +be cleared about this time. + +There were block houses along the beach, near the Dock Yard wall, built +by Col. Spry about 1775. The drawings of the town, published about the +year 1774 or '6, show a strong fortification on George's Island.[90] It +was not until the commencement of the revolutionary war that regular +works appear to have been constructed for the defence of the town and +harbor. About the year 1778, the Citadel Hill appears to have been, for +the first time, regularly fortified; the summit was then about eighty +feet higher than at present; the works consisted of an octangular tower +of wood of the block-house kind, having a parapet and small tower on top +with port holes for cannon--the whole encompassed by a ditch and +ramparts of earth and wood, with pickets placed close together, slanting +outwards. Below this there were several outworks of the same description +extending down the sides of the hill a considerable distance. + +[Footnote 90: We have seen that Governor Cornwallis, at the very +commencement of the settlement, selected George's Island as the most +eligible position for the fortification. Prisoners were sent here at a +very early period.] + +Fort Massey, George's Island and the East Battery exhibit the same kind +of fortifications in the pictures of the town made about 1780. At the +latter place there was a barrack, afterwards rebuilt by the Duke of Kent +about 1800. + +During the American Revolutionary War, Colonel Spry, the chief +engineer, erected a battery and several small block houses near the old +Dutch Church in Brunswick Street. Several fields on the north and east +sides of the Citadel were then taken by government and equivalents given +to the owners. There was another block house at the extremity of +Brunswick Street, in the field adjoining the present Admiralty grounds; +the first were demolished about 1783, and part of the land granted by +the Crown as a parsonage lot for the minister of the Germans, but the +latter remained many years after till it fell into decay. + +The Lumber Yard, Ordnance Yard and King's Wharf were all commenced about +the same time, (1784 or '5) but the present buildings were put up at a +much later date. The north barracks were built soon after the +settlement. The buildings known as the south barracks were erected under +the directions of the Duke of Kent, as also the north barracks, +destroyed by fire some years ago. + +During the revolutionary war the main guard house stood on the spot now +occupied by the Mason Hall. It was used as a military post at a very +early period, as the French prisoners from Annapolis, etc., were lodged +there. The guard house was removed over ninety years ago, and the +present building afterwards erected. + +A building called the Military Office stood at the south corner of the +market wharf, near where the main guard house now is. It was used as a +military office until 1790, or perhaps later. At this time a guard was +kept at the Prince's old playhouse, where the Acadian School now stands. + +The house lately owned by Capt. Maynard, where the Trinity Chapel now +stands, in Jacob Street, was a barrack as early as 1769. It was the site +of one of the old block-house forts erected at the first settlement. It +continued to bear the name of the Grenadier Fort until removed to make +room for the present brick edifice known as Trinity Church. + +The old wooden fortifications were removed from Citadel Hill about the +time Prince Edward was Commander-in-Chief. + +The hill had been cut down and ramparts of earth constructed mounting +five or six guns at each angle, with a deep ditch. There were also +covered ways and passages leading into the fort; willow trees were +planted round the ramparts, and the whole was surrounded by a picket +fence. The remains of this work were removed at the commencement of the +present fortifications. Much of the old work was performed by the +militia drafts from the country, embodied at Halifax at the close of the +last century, particularly in 1793, during Sir John Wentworth's +administration, and at subsequent periods. The Maroon negroes from +Jamaica were for a short time engaged on these works. + +The towers on George's Island,[91] Point Pleasant, the East Battery, +Meager's Beach and York Redoubt were built at the commencement of the +present century. The Prince established signal stations between Halifax +and Annapolis, the first post being on the hill behind his residence on +Bedford Basin. He levelled the ground called the Grand Parade, and it is +said, built the walls at the north-east and south-west angles. The Chain +Battery at Point Pleasant was first constructed, it is said, by Lord +Colville, in or about 1761. The present ring bolts were put down the war +of 1812-15. The old block house at Fort Needham and that on the hill +above Philip Bayers' farm on the road leading to the Basin, called the +Blue Bell Road, were built during the American Revolution, and +re-constructed during the Prince's time. They were there in 1820, but +soon after fell into decay, being composed of square timber only. All +the other block houses had disappeared many years previous to that date. +The building used as an army hospital, which stood on the north slope of +Citadel Hill, in rear of the north barracks, since destroyed by fire, +was erected as the town residence of Edward, Duke of Kent, when +commander of the forces. The low range of buildings since used as +barrack stores and as a military library, were his stables and offices. +His residence was a very elegant building with a portico supported by +Corinthian pillars in front, all which remained for many years after it +became an hospital. About the same time he built his villa on the Basin, +the ruins of which were to be seen a few years ago. The Rotunda, or band +room, still remains. The lands where the buildings stood were the +property of Sir John Wentworth, the Governor, to whom he left it on his +removal from the garrison. The old Rockingham Inn was his guard house, +since burned down. + +[Footnote 91: Lately removed.] + +In the year 1765 there were two hospitals in the north suburbs, near +the beach at the foot of Cornwallis Street, called the Red and Green +Hospitals. They were there in 1785. One stood on the site of the present +North Country or Keating's Market, the other on property now owned by +the heirs of late H. H. Cogswell. + +Until the year 1780 the streets of the town were in a very rough +condition, and some of them least frequented were impassable for +carriages, from stumps of trees and rocks. As early as 1761, there was a +good road to Point Pleasant;--it was a continuation of Water Street, and +said to have passed through or near the present Lumber Yard grounds, +following the shore of the harbor. + +In 1764 the people of the north suburbs applied to the Governor and +Council to call their settlement Gottingen. The name soon fell into +disuse; the main street obtained the name of Brunswick Street, the rear +street only retaining that of Gottingen. + +The first Government House was erected soon after the town was laid out; +the frame and materials were brought from Boston, and the apartments +prepared for the reception of the Governor early in October. He held a +council there on the 14th of that month. It was a small low building of +one story, surrounded by hogsheads of gravel and sand, on which small +pieces of ordnance were mounted for its defence. It stood in the centre +of the square now occupied by the Province Building. About the year 1757 +or '8, this little cottage was removed to give place to a more spacious +and convenient residence. It was sold and drawn down to the corner of +George Street and Bedford Row, opposite the south-west angle of the City +Court House, and again, about 1775, removed to the beach and placed at +the corner of the street leading to the steam boat landing, where it +remained until 1832, when the present building, occupied lately by +Thomas Laidlaw, was erected on the site. The new Government House was +built during the time of Governor Lawrence. Lord William Campbell built +a ball room at one end, and several other improvements were made to the +building by subsequent governors. It was surrounded by a terrace neatly +sodded and ornamented. The building was of wood, two stories high. The +office of Capt. Bulkeley, the Secretary, stood at the north-east angle +of the square inside the rails. Prince Edward resided in this house with +Governor Wentworth in 1798. This old house was pulled down about the +commencement of the present century and the materials sold to Mr. John +Trider, Sr., who used them in the construction of the building on the +road leading to the tower at the head of Inglis Street, formerly owned +by Colonel Bazelgette, and afterwards the residence of the late Mr. +George Whidden. + +St. Paul's Church is now, perhaps, the oldest building remaining in +Halifax. It was erected at the expense of government in the year 1749, +and was esteemed one of the best constructed wooden buildings in +America. The oak frame and materials were brought from Boston, and the +building was ready for divine service by the autumn of 1750. It received +an addition to the north end with a new steeple somewhat similar to the +old one in the year 1812. The first sermon was preached in this building +by the Rev. Mr. Tutty[92] on 2nd September, 1750. It remained in nearly +all respects as at its first erection until certain late alterations +have changed its appearance, particularly an addition to the south end +from which the fine old altar window, with its Doric pillars and small +panes has been removed to make way for a large Gothic window full of +painted glass, altogether incompatible with the architecture of the +building itself. The old escutcheons in the galleries have been +permitted to remain. The walls below are covered with monuments and +tablets recording the deaths of governors, military commanders, who fell +during the old American and French wars, and not a few of our leading +citizens. The most conspicuous are those of Governors Sir John +Wentworth, Wilmot, Lawrence, and Sir John Harvey, Capt. Evans of the +ship Charleston, who was killed off the coast of Cape Breton in defence +of a convoy against a superior French force, Lord Charles Montague, late +Governor of Georgia, who died of fatigue after a journey in winter from +Quebec to Halifax by land, the Right Rev. Charles Inglis, first Bishop +of Nova Scotia, and his son Dr. John Inglis, third Bishop of the +Diocese, Baron De Seitz, who commanded the Hessian troops in the old +war, General McLean, the Hon. Richard Bulkeley, Attorney General +Uniacke, with a number of others of lesser note. The first organ was +purchased, partly by private subscription, during the incumbency of Dr. +Breynton, about 1765. It was replaced by a new one about 1829, but the +old case of Spanish walnut was preserved.[93] + +[Footnote 92: Mr. Tutty usually officiated on the parade in the open air +until the church was sufficiently advanced to enable him to hold service +in it.] + +[Footnote 93: This organ has been lately removed to Trinity Chapel, in +Jacob Street.] + +The old German church of St. George, in Brunswick Street, bears the date +1760 on its spire. It was originally erected by private subscription +among the German settlers of the north suburbs in or about the year 1752 +or '3. After the removal of the Germans to Lunenburg there were but +fifteen families of Germans remaining in the north suburbs. This small +congregation, not knowing any English, erected the building on the +German burial ground as a school house and chapel. The present steeple +was erected in 1760, and the following year the building was dedicated +as a church by Dr. Breynton of St. Paul's, after which the congregation +followed the forms of the Church of England. Dr. Breynton on that +occasion preached in German and in French, after which he addressed the +congregation in English. In 1783 Rev. Bernard Houzeal, a Lutheran +minister, came to Halifax among the Loyalists from New York and, having +been ordained a minister of the Church of England by the Bishop of +London, became the minister of St. George's, receiving a stipend from +the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign parts. He died +about the close of the last century, a few years after the present round +church, known as St. George's, was erected, and Mr. Gray was appointed +to the charge, after which service in the old church was discontinued. +It was then appropriated as a school house. About the year 1833 or '4 it +underwent a thorough repair which was superintended by several persons +in the parish who were descendants of the original German settlers. + +Old St. Matthew's was coeval with the first settlement of Halifax. +Governor Cornwallis assigned a lot at the south-west corner of Prince +and Hollis Streets for a dissenting meeting house in 1749. It was built +soon after at the expense of government, and was called Mather's Church +in compliment to the memory of Dr. Cotton Mather, the celebrated New +England Congregationalist divine, by the dissenters then in the town, +who were principally from New England and of that denomination. The Rev. +Aaron Cleveland, from New England, was the first minister who officiated +in this building. The Presbyterians from Scotland and the North of +Ireland, having become numerous in the town, soon amalgamated with the +American dissenters, and gradually obtained exclusive possession of the +building, after which it received the appellation of St. Matthew's +Church. The late Rev. Mr. Russell, father of the late George N. Russell, +of Halifax, officiated there for some time after it became Presbyterian. +Dr. Archibald Gray was the officiating minister there for about twenty +years; he was succeeded by Rev. Ebenezer Renny, Rev. Mr. Knox, and +finally by Rev. John Scott, the last minister who preached in the old +building which was burned in the great fire which destroyed a +considerable portion of Hollis Street, on New Year's day, 1859. The lot +of land on which it stood was, some years after, sold to Doull & Miller, +who erected there a large stone warehouse, which is one of the neatest +and most substantial buildings in the city. + +The first market house occupied the site of the brick building lately +used for the City Courts and offices. It was built soon after the +settlement. A balcony ran along the lower side which was used by +merchants, etc., as a public promenade. About the commencement of the +present century the remains of this old building were removed to make +way for the brick edifice. The upper portion of the new building was let +as a public coffee house; the large room now used as a City Council +Chamber was appropriated for public meetings, festivals, etc., and the +south end, above the police office, was occupied for many years as the +Exchange or Merchants' Reading Room. + +The first court house in Halifax, as before mentioned, stood at the +corner of Buckingham and Argyle Streets, where Northup's store and +country market stood later. Chief Justice Belcher held his court there +in 1755, and the first Representative Assembly held their session there +in 1758. It was destroyed by fire about the year 1783. Chief Justice +Belcher resided in the old house in Argyle Street to the north of the +old Methodist meeting house, formerly owned by the Rev. William Black, +Methodist minister. This building, at the time of its removal, was one +of the very few old buildings then remaining in the town. It was taken +down some years ago and a range of shops and a market house now occupy +its site. The old Zoar chapel, the cradle of Methodism in Halifax, has +been lately turned into shops. + +The stone house at the corner of Prince and Argyle Streets, opposite the +south-west angle of St. Paul's Church, was originally built by the Hon. +Richard Bulkeley, the first Provincial Secretary, and was his residence +for many years. It was purchased by the Hon. H. H. Cogswell about 1818, +and since his death has undergone extensive alterations to render it +suitable for a public hotel. It is known as the Carlton House. There is +an old house still standing on the western side of Grafton Street, in +Letter ----, Forman's Division, which was the residence of William +Nesbitt, the Attorney General of Nova Scotia and Speaker of the +Assembly, in 1760. After the death of Mr. Nesbitt, towards the end of +the last century, it fell to his daughter, Mrs. Swann. This old lady +died there nearly 80 years ago and the property was afterwards sold. The +street was cut down about 50 years since and a story or breast work was +erected on the street under this little old cottage which may yet be +seen projecting from the main building, presenting the appearance of a +balcony. The residence of Richard Gibbons, formerly Attorney General, +stood at the corner of Buckingham and Grafton Streets, formerly known as +George Isles' corner; it was lately taken down and replaced by a range +of brick buildings now owned by Mr. Maloney. This was also one of the +remnants of the first settlement of the town. The building at the corner +of Barrington and Sackville Streets, formerly occupied as the Halifax +Grammar School, is also a very old building. The House of Assembly held +its sittings there in 1765, perhaps earlier. After the court house was +burned down the Supreme Court met there for several years. It was also +used at one time for a guard house. It was devoted to the purpose of a +school on the establishment of the Halifax Grammar School in 1785. + +Houses of entertainment were numerous and well kept at an early period. +The Great Pontack was a large three-story building, erected by the Hon. +John Butler, uncle to the late John Butler Dight, previous to 1757, at +the corner of Duke and Water Streets, afterwards known as Michael +Bennett's corner, now Cunningham's corner. It was the principal hotel in +1764. In 1769 it was kept by John Willis. The town assemblies and other +public entertainments were held at the Pontack in 1758.[94] + +[Footnote 94: Among the annual festivals of the old times, now lost +sight of, was the celebration of St. Aspinquid's Day, known as the +Indian Saint. St. Aspinquid appeared in the Nova Scotia almanacks from +1774 to 1786. The festival was celebrated on or immediately after the +last quarter of the moon in the month of May. The tide being low at that +time, many of the principal inhabitants of the town, on these occasions, +assembled on the shore of the North West Arm and partook of a dish of +clam soup, the clams being collected on the spot at low water. There is +a tradition that during the American troubles when agents of the +revolted colonies were active to gain over the good people of Halifax, +in the year 1786, were celebrating St. Aspinquid, the wine having been +circulated freely, the Union Jack was suddenly hauled down and replaced +by the Stars and Stripes. This was soon reversed, but all those persons +who held public offices immediately left the grounds, and St. Aspinquid +was never after celebrated at Halifax.] + +The Crown Coffee House, frequented by country people, was kept by +William Fury in 1769 on the beach near the Dockyard. Jerusalem Coffee +House occupied the northern extremity of the block near the Ordnance +Yard, opposite Collins' wharf, between Hollis Street and Collins' stone +stores. It was built by the Hon. Thomas Saul as a private residence +about 1753 and afterwards occupied by the Hon. Alexander Brymer; some of +the rooms were highly finished and ornamented with carved work, and the +whole establishment was on a scale beyond any other private residence in +the place. It was let out for a coffee house about 1789, or perhaps +earlier. This old building was destroyed by fire in 1837. The present +stone store known as the Jerusalem Warehouse occupies the site of the +old mansion. + +Public Gardens were much in fashion between 1753 and '80. Adlam's garden +was an extensive enclosure south of the Citadel, near the present +Artillery Park and south barracks. It was opened to the public, +contained a pavilion and a great variety of fruit trees and shrubs. The +Artillery Park was then kept on the Grand Parade; the Artillery Barracks +stood in a line with the late engine house; the Parade was not levelled +at that time; a foot path from George Street passed through the centre, +and the descent at the north-east corner was very abrupt.[95] Spring +Garden was another place of public resort in 1768. At this time there +was a Provincial Gardener, who received an allowance of L.32 10s. per +annum.[96] About 1764, Mr. Joseph Gerrish, of His Majesty's Dockyard, +laid out an extensive garden in the north suburbs and imported fruit +trees at great expense. This was a private enclosure, extending from +Lockman Street to the beach, south of the Dockyard; his dwelling house +stood in the centre and faced the harbor. Part of the old wall, a year +or two since, was to be seen in Lockman Street. The old Governor's +gardens, west of the English burying ground, were well kept up for about +30 years. There was a large summer house in the centre. + +[Footnote 95: Whether there was a passage for carriages across the +Parade does not appear; probably not, as it was used for a public parade +ground in 1749.] + +[Footnote 96: Probably employed at the Governor's gardens.] + +Mr. Grant, the victualling agent, had a large fruit garden south of +Government House, where St. Matthew's Manse now stands, extending from +Hollis to Pleasant Streets. It was surrounded by a stone wall. +Ornamental trees were, at an early period, very numerous in the suburbs, +particularly in the south, and tended much to the beauty and comfort of +the town. The poplar trees which stood in front of the residence of the +late James Kerby and others, in Brunswick Street, and the willows on the +eastern side of the street, near the round church, are within the +recollection of many of the old inhabitants. The fine old willow trees +which occupied both sides of Argyle Street near the residence of the +late Attorney General Uniacke, those at the south end of Hollis Street, +near the Lumber Yard, and those around St. Paul's Church, are also still +within the recollection of many. These trees were all cut down by the +Commissioners of Streets in 1829 and 1830, because they grew on the side +paths and were therefore deemed an encroachment on the public highway. +Halifax was thus denuded of its shady walks by the gentlemen of taste +who constituted the Commissioners of Streets at that period. Within the +last few years several attempts have been made to re-produce trees on +the sidewalks, but with partial success, there being no protection +afforded to them by the city authorities. + +Before the year 1760, the houses were generally built of square and +round timber, some with small pickets placed upright between the stubs +of the frame, and the whole covered over with clap boards; they were +usually of one story with a hipped roof, the shops and half doors with +no glass, swinging signs, and wooden shutters opening downwards, on +which goods were exposed for sale. Several of these old houses were in +existence in 1850, windows and doors being altered. + +In 1768 and '77, there were lamp posts at all the principal corners, +the town being then lighted at the public expense. + +The Dutch in the north suburbs usually built with the ends of their +houses to the street; those of the better sort had ornamental windows +and heavy cornices with weathercocks, One or two of these old houses +were to be seen in Brunswick Street about thirty-five years ago. Among +the old houses which have now disappeared was one which stood in the +field opposite the lower wharf, near Point Pleasant; it was built about +1770, and occupied by General Fanning about 1783. + +A year or two after the settlement Mr. Gerrish built several small stone +houses near the tower; the clearance east of the pine woods is still to +be seen; they were occupied for a short time by the settlers from the +north of Ireland who went to Cobequid. + +A large wooden building stood in the centre of the enclosure now +occupied by Government House, built before the American Revolution, and +used as a residence for field officers and other military purposes. The +public hospital stood on part of the land now occupied by Government +House to the north of the present house; it was afterwards sold; +probably the spot on which St. Matthew's church now stands. + +The first jail stood where the late Mr. Robert Brown's house in Hollis +Street stood, opposite the Halifax Hotel; the jail was kept there till +1787, or thereabouts. In 1777, the Provost Marshal was suspended from +his office in consequence of the repeated escape of prisoners from this +building. + +In 1752, government purchased a small stone house built by Col. Horseman +for a prison, probably a military one; this was near where St. Mary's +Cathedral now stands. + +One remnant of the first settlement, now forgotten, was an old hardwood +tree which stood on the beach, just above high water mark, at the corner +of the Market Slip; this tree was used as a public gallows from 1749, +and was there within the recollection of one or two aged persons living +in 1825; it was cut down about 1763, but the stump remained until 1784 +or '5. + +The progress of crime between 1749 and '54, was perhaps less rapid than +might have been expected among a population of 5,000 or 6,000, composed +of such materials. During the first five years there were fifty +criminal trials on record, many convictions for grand larceny, which was +then the subject of capital punishment. After the appointment of Chief +Justice Belcher, convictions were less frequent; most of the executions, +as in the time of the general court, were for stealing or receiving +stolen goods. + +The Dockyard was first established at Halifax in 1758. It was extended +and improved in 1769. The date over the gate is 1770. The walls have +since undergone several renewals. + +The Town Clock was erected early in the present century jointly by the +garrison and the town. The merchants of Halifax raised a subscription +towards the object. It was placed at the head of George Street for the +convenience of the inhabitants. It was managed by the garrison. The late +James Dechman, senior, was keeper, and resided in the clock for many +years; he died about 1829 or 1830. + +According to the plan of the town made by Col. Desbarres in 1779 or '80, +and published in his nautical charts in 1781, there was a nine-gun +battery about where the Ordnance wharf now is, and the five-gun battery +a little to the north, but on an angle with the other. Gerrish's wharf, +since known as Marchington's wharf, was immediately north of the +five-gun battery, and Joshua Mauger's wharf at the foot of Jacob Street. +Proctor's wharf appears to have been situated near where Cunard's old +wharf now is. The old market wharf, known as Fredericks' wharf, and +afterwards as Beamish's wharf, was as at present. Fillis' wharf appears +to have been that now known as Mitchell's, south of the Queen's Wharf. +Terrance Fitzpatrick's wharf was situated about the spot now occupied by +Esson & Boak's wharf. Crawley's was to the south of the latter, and +Collier's about where Pryor's wharf now is. + +There was a battery at the Commissioners' point at the south end of the +Dockyard, and the storekeeper's wharf ran out to the south of the +Commissioners' point somewhere, apparently, in the vacant space between +the Dockyard and West's property. Joshua Mauger's Distillery was +situated between the Dockyard and the present hospital grounds. Guns +were mounted on the careening wharf. Three batteries with ditches and +enclosures were formed by Col. Spry, Chief Engineer, on the lower side +of Brunswick Street; one on the corner of Brunswick and North Streets, +one on the south corner of Dockyard Lane, and the other down Gerrish +Street below the Dutch burial ground. It was generally understood that +these works were on the opposite or western side of Brunswick Street, +but Desbarres' plan places them on the east side. The works on Citadel +Hill appear to consist of a small enclosure, but no regular +fortifications appear. + + +EARLY PRINTING IN HALIFAX. + +In 1751 printing was first introduced into Nova Scotia. The first press +was established at Halifax, and there was not a second in the province +until 1766. Bartholomew Green, Jr., was the grandson of Samuel Green, of +Cambridge, Massachusetts, and was of the firm of Green, Bushell & Allen, +of Boston. He removed to Halifax with a press and type in August, 1751. +He died about six weeks after his arrival, 52 years of age. + +John Bushell, who had been the partner of Green in Boston, immediately +succeeded him in Halifax. He printed for the government, and in March, +1752,[97] published the first newspaper printed in Nova Scotia. The work +for government was inconsiderable, but was the chief support of Bushell. +He was a good workman but had not the art of acquiring property, nor did +he make the most economical use of the little which fell into his hands. +Bushell died in February, 1761. The proclamation published by Governor +Lawrence in 1758 for the settlement of the French lands on the Basin of +Minas was printed by John Bushell. Anthony Henry succeeded Bushell as a +printer at Halifax. He was a German, and had lived some time with a +printer, but had left his master and became a fifer in one of the +provincial regiments. With this regiment he came to Nova Scotia, but +some time after obtained his discharge. There was then no printer in the +province, and his pretensions to skill in this art greatly facilitated +his release from the army. There appears, however, to have been a +printing office at Halifax in March, 1756, conducted by one Isaac Ourry. +Henry began business with the press and type which had been used by +Bushell. He published the Gazette. The government, through necessity, +gave him some work which was badly executed. This paper was edited for +some time by the Hon. Richard Bulkeley, Secretary of the Province. + +[Footnote 97: See Thomas' History of Printing in America.] + +In 1766 a printer with a new and good apparatus came from London and +opened another printing house. He published a newspaper and was employed +by government. Henry, who had been inattentive to his affairs, did not +despond at the prospects of a rival, but, much to his credit, exerted +himself and did better than before. After a few years' trial, his rival, +not finding the business so profitable, nor place agreeable, sold out +his paper, and Henry was again the only printer in the province. He +procured new type and a workman better skilled than himself. His +printing from this time was executed in a more workmanlike manner. He +remained without another rival until the British army evacuated Boston, +in March, 1776, when the printers in that town who adhered to the Royal +cause were obliged to leave that place, and they, with other refugees, +came to Halifax. Henry continued printing until his death. He possessed +a fund of good nature, and was of a very cheerful disposition. He died +December, 1800, aged 66 years. + +Robert Fletcher arrived at Halifax from London in 1760, with new +printing materials and a valuable collection of books and stationery. He +opened a book store and printing house near the parade, published a +newspaper and printed for the government. Until this time there had been +no book store in the province. Fletcher executed his printing with +neatness, and raised the reputation of the art in Nova Scotia. He +remained in Halifax until 1770, then sent his printing materials to +Boston for sale and went into other business. + +Alexander and James Robertson, who had been printers in New York, +Norwich and Albany, went to Shelburne, in Nova Scotia, in 1783, where +they printed a newspaper. John Howe began printing in Halifax in 1776, +and was publisher of the Gazette in 1801. Howe commenced the Halifax +Journal in 1780. In 1790 his office was at the corner of Sackville and +Barrington Streets. This paper was afterwards purchased and carried on +by John Munro; his office was where Mr. Kenny's new stone building now +is, at the corner of George and Granville Streets. The weekly Chronicle +was set on foot by William Minns, a Loyalist settler, in 1786, and was +continued until 1828. Mr. Minns kept a stationer's shop in Barrington +Street, below the parade. This paper had the Star and Garter at its +heading. + +Henry's printing office was in Grafton Street, in rear of the residence +of the late Attorney General Richard John Uniacke, where his descendants +resided for many years. There was another printing office in the same +street, further north, which is represented in the engraving of the town +in 1776 with a steeple surmounted by a hand holding a pen. + +After the peace of 1784, printing found its way into the Province of New +Brunswick. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +The following short sketch of some of the persons who took a lead in +establishing the Colony, has been compiled chiefly from public records: + +The Honorable Edward Cornwallis, the first Governor and +Commander-in-Chief, was a younger son of Charles, third Baron Cornwallis +by Lady Charlotte Butler, daughter of Richard, Earl of Arran and uncle +to the celebrated Duke of Ormonde. He was born in 1713, was member of +Parliament for the borough of Eye in 1749, and was elected member for +the city of Westminster in 1753, shortly after he returned from Halifax. +He married the same year, a daughter of the late Lord Townshend, but +left no children. He was afterwards raised to the rank of Major General +and appointed Governor of Gibraltar. General Cornwallis was twin brother +of Dr. Frederick Cornwallis, Archbishop of Canterbury. + +The gentlemen who composed the first Council were Paul Mascarene, Edward +How, John Gorham, Benjamin Green, John Salisbury and Hugh Davidson. + +Col. Mascarene was a native of Castras in the south of France, was born +in the year 1684. His parents were Huguenots and were compelled to fly +from their native country on the revocation of the Edict of Nantes when +all Protestants were driven from France. He made his way to Geneva at +the age of 12, where he received his education. He afterwards went to +England, where he received a commission in the British army in 1708. He +was appointed Captain in 1710 and ordered to America, where he joined +the regiment raised in New England for the taking of Port Royal. He was +at the capture of Annapolis Royal that year, and was for some time +commander of the garrison as senior major of the regiment. On the death +of Colonel Armstrong he became Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment under +General Phillips, and was third on the list of councillors in 1720, when +the first Council was organized in Nova Scotia. In 1740 he was +appointed Lieut.-Governor of the fort, and administrated the government +of the Province until the arrival of Cornwallis in 1749. He remained in +command at Annapolis after the settlement at Halifax, and was +subsequently engaged as agent of the British Government in arranging +treaties with the Indians of New England and Acadia in 1751. He retired +from active duties and died a Major General in the British army at +Boston, on 20th January 1760. He left a son and daughter. His son was +said to be living in New England in 1835, at a very advanced age. The +late Judge Foster Hutchinson, of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia and +the late Deputy Commissary General William Handfield Snelling, were his +grandsons. His great-grandson, Mr. W. Snelling Stirling, has his +portrait, painted by Smybert of Boston about 1725. + +Benjamin Green was a native of the province of Massachusetts, born in +1713, youngest son of the Rev. Joseph Green, minister of Salem, Mass., +and graduate of Harvard College. He was brought up as a merchant under +his elder brother Joseph in Boston. In 1737 he married a daughter of the +Honorable Joseph Pierce of Portsmouth. He accompanied General Pepperal +to Louisburg in 1745, as Secretary to the expedition. After the capture +of that place by the Provincial army, he remained there as Government +Secretary and manager of the finances until Cape Breton was restored to +the French, when he removed with his family to Halifax, and was +appointed to the Council by Governor Cornwallis in July 1749. After the +removal of Mr. Davidson he acted as Secretary of the province. He held +several other important public offices, among which were those of +Treasurer and Judge of the Court of Vice-Admiralty. On the death of +Governor Wilmot in 1766, Mr. Green being then senior councillor, was +appointed Administrator of the Government. He died at Halifax in 1772, +in the 59th year of his age. His eldest son Benjamin succeeded him as +Treasurer of the province. Benjamin Green, Junior, was father of +Lieutenant William Green of the Navy, and Joseph Green and Henry Green +of Lawrencetown, the latter left descendants at Lawrencetown. The second +son of Governor Green was many years sheriff of Halifax, and having +married a Boston lady, afterwards removed to that place. His daughter +was married to Mr. Stephen H. Binney, son of Jonathan Binney of Halifax, +whose descendants are numerous. + +John Salisbury was brother to Dr. Thomas Salisbury, the eminent civil +lawyer in London. Lord Halifax was his friend and patron, and sent him +out with Governor Cornwallis as one of his suite. He does not appear to +have taken any active part in the settlement. He married a Miss Cotton, +who brought him a fortune of L.10,000, which he spent in extravagance and +dissipation. He returned to England in 1753, and died at Offley, the +county seat of his relative Sir Thomas Salisbury in 1762. His only +daughter was the celebrated Mrs. Thrale, the friend of Dr. Johnson, +afterwards married to a Mr. Piozzi. + +Hugh Davidson also came out with Governor Cornwallis. He was the first +Provincial Secretary; he returned to England in 1750 under charges of +trading in the supplies and stores for the settlers. Governor Cornwallis +in his letters to the Board of Trade, thought him innocent of the main +charges made against him. + +Captain Edward How was a member of His Majesty's Council at Annapolis in +1744. He was with Col. Noble at the affair at Minas and Grand Pre in +1747, where he was severely wounded and taken prisoner by the French +under DeCorne. He came down from Annapolis with Governor Mascarene in +June 1749, and was sworn in a member of Cornwallis' first Council. He +was well acquainted with the language of the Indians and their manners, +and was sent on a negotiation to the French and Indians at Beaubasin in +1751, where he was treacherously murdered by the enemy, though acting +under a flag of truce, having been shot through the back from the bush. +The French officers denied having anything to do with this disgraceful +affair, and charged it on Mr. LeLutre, the Indian missionary, who it was +said was jealous of Mr. How's influence with the Micmacs. His widow +afterwards petitioned the government for pecuniary aid, in consequence +of her husband's services, and for money advanced by him for public +service. The late Richard W. How, captain in the 81st regiment, formerly +of Halifax, was his grandson. + +Colonel John Goreham was a native of Massachusetts; he was with General +Pepperal at the siege of Louisburg in 1745, as Lieutenant-Colonel of his +father's regiment raised in Massachusetts. He afterwards had command of +a company of Rangers at Annapolis and came down to Chebucto with his +rangers to meet Governor Cornwallis in 1749. He took precedence next to +Governor Mascarene at the council board. He is styled Captain Goreham by +Mascarene and by Cornwallis in his commissions and correspondence. That +of Lieutenant-Colonel was probably militia rank only. It is probable he +returned to Boston soon after the settlement was formed as his name does +not appear on the Council books after 1752. He had a brother, Joseph +Goreham, who was also a member of Council in 1766; he afterwards +attained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the British army. He was +engaged in the border skirmishes on the isthmus from 1754 to about 1758, +and was afterwards appointed Commandant at Newfoundland. + +Lieutenant-Colonels Horseman, Ellison and Merser, who were afterwards +appointed to the Council, were the officers in command of the regiments +which came from Louisburg. They all retired soon after to England. + +Charles Lawrence was a Major in Warburton's Regiment of Infantry. He +came up with the army and was engaged during 1749 and '50 in the French +wars at Cobequid. He acted as Brigadier General under Amherst at +Louisburg; he was a member of the Council and sworn in Governor of the +Province on the death of Governor Hobson; the first assembly was +convened during his administration, (2nd October, 1758); he died +unmarried on 11th October, 1759, it is said of an inflammation, caused +by overheating himself at a ball at Government House; he was deeply +respected by the whole community, and the Legislative Assembly caused a +monument to be erected to his memory in St. Paul's church "from a +grateful sense of the many important services which the Province had +received from him during a continued course of zealous and indefatigable +endeavors for the public good, and a wise, upright, and disinterested +administration." This monument has now disappeared from St. Paul's +Church. His escutcheon remains in the East Gallery. Lawrence, though an +active and zealous governor, by his desire to favor the officers of +Government with a partiality for his military friends, brought on +himself an organized opposition from the leading inhabitants of the +town, who petitioned the Home Government for redress of their +grievances, which they in a great measure attributed to the Governor and +his Lieutenant Colonel Monckton. His resistance to the desire to call a +Legislative Assembly was among the chief charges against him. His death +shortly after the petition put an end to the difficulties. He was +succeeded by Judge Belcher as Administrator of the Government. + +Charles Morris was a native of England; he was Captain of Provincials +under General Pepperal at the siege of Louisburg in 1745. He had been +engaged by Governor Shirley of Boston in a survey of the interior parts +of Nova Scotia with a view to British colonization, in 1745. He also +commanded one of the Provincial Companies sent to Minas under Colonel +Noble in 1747. He was in Halifax in 1749, and in company with Mr. Bruce +the Military Engineer laid out the town and peninsula. He was appointed +to the Council in 1755. Though Surveyor General of the Province he acted +for some time as Judge of the Supreme Court during the time of Chief +Justice Belcher, which offices were both afterwards filled by his eldest +son Charles. Captain Morris died in 1781, and was succeeded in the +office of Surveyor General by his son Charles, whose son, the Hon. +Charles Morris, also filled the same office and was a Member of Council +in 1808. He was the father of John Spry Morris, Esq., afterwards +Surveyor General, who was the fourth in succession who had charge of the +Surveying Department in Nova Scotia. There are numerous descendants of +Captain Morris in Halifax. + +Jonathan Belcher, the first Chief Justice, was a native of +Massachusetts, son of the Governor of that province, of an eminent +colonial family; he was appointed Chief Justice of Nova Scotia in 1754, +when a young man, and administered the government on the death of +Governor Lawrence; Chief Justice Belcher arranged and revised the laws +as they appear on our first Statute Book, and rendered good assistance +to Governor Lawrence in founding the settlements at Horton, Cornwallis, +Falmouth, &c., in 1758, '9, and 1760. Judge Belcher died poor; the +Legislature voted a provision to his only daughter. His son, the +Honorable Andrew Belcher, was for many years a resident in Halifax and +member of Council. + +Captain Wm. Cotterell was the first Provost Marshal or Sheriff, (there +being no county divisions at this time). He was succeeded in that office +in 1750 by Captain Foy, who held that situation many years, and received +a small pension on his retirement. Mr. Cotterel afterwards acted as +assistant Provincial Secretary. + +William Nisbett came out with Cornwallis in 1749 as one of the +Governor's clerks. He practised as an attorney and solicitor. He was +appointed Attorney General on the resignation of Mr. Little, which +office he held for 25 years. He was one of the first representatives in +the General Assembly of 1758, and was elected speaker on 4th December +1759. He continued in the Chair of the House (with the intermission of +one session when sick) until 1783, when he retired on a small pension +and died the following year aged 83. In 1763 he declined a seat in the +Council. During the period of his being Speaker, the House sat for 11 +years without being dissolved. The old house in which Mr. Nisbett +resided situated in Grafton Street, Block letter E, Collins' division, +mentioned in a former chapter, still remains, though much changed by the +cutting down of the street many years ago. He left no male descendants. +His daughter, Mrs. Swann, died in the old Grafton street house about 60 +years ago. + +Archibald Hinshelwood was one of Governor Cornwallis' clerks, and +performed the duties of Deputy Secretary with Mr. Cotterell and others +for many years. Most of the drafts of the letters sent to England by the +first three Governors are in his handwriting. He was elected a member of +Assembly for Lunenburg in 1759 and again in 1765. Lord William Campbell +the Governor appointed him to the Council in 1773, but he died before +taking his seat. His property on Argyle Street after occupied by the +City Water office fell to his nephew, (he having no children), who left +two sons in the navy, both of whom died young. The old property was sold +about 60 years since and purchased by Mr. W. A. Black, who resided there +many years. + +Otis Little was Captain of one of the New England Independent Companies. +He was probably a native of England. Being in England in 1749, he came +out with Governor Cornwallis, who appointed him Commissary of Stores, +from which office he was dismissed on suspicion of having traded in the +supplies for the settlers. He acted as first Attorney General of the +Colony, and was probably a lawyer by profession. He was the author of a +well-written pamphlet on the resources of Nova Scotia, written in 1748, +with a view to encouraging British emigration to the province. Capt. +Little left a daughter, who died unmarried at Halifax early in the +present century. + +John Baptiste Moreau, designated gentleman and schoolmaster in the book +of the settlers, had been originally a Roman Catholic priest, and Prior +of the Abbey of St. Matthew at Breste. He joined the expedition under +Cornwallis in 1749, and went to Lunenburg with the settlers in 1752. He +received ordination as a clergyman of the Church of England in 1750, and +officiated to his countrymen and the Germans in the County of Lunenburg, +where he died much esteemed and regretted in the year 1770. He left a +son, Cornwallis Moreau, who was the first male child born in Halifax, +and was called Cornwallis after the Governor. This old man was living at +La Have, in Lunenburg County, in the year 1848, being nearly 100 years +of age. He received pecuniary assistance from the Nova Scotia +Philanthropic Society in that year. + +Doctor John Breynton came up from Louisburg with the army, where he had +been acting Chaplain to the Forces. He succeeded Mr. Tutty at St. Paul's +in 1751 or 1752, in conjunction with Rev. Thomas Wood. Mr. Breynton was +inducted Rector in 1758 or '9, under the provisions of the Statutes of +the Province, and Mr. Wood acted as Curate or Vicar. After Mr. Wood's +removal to Annapolis in 1763, Mr. Joshua Wingate Weeks, from New +England, became assistant minister at St. Paul's. Dr. Breynton received +his degree of D. D. in 1770. He died in 17--, and was succeeded at St. +Paul's, as rector, by the Rev. Doctor Robert Stanser, afterwards Lord +Bishop of the Diocese. Dr. Breynton was esteemed an eloquent preacher, +and was in the habit of addressing the settlers in English, French and +German. + +John Creighton was an officer in the army. He served in the Dragoons at +the Battle of Fontenoy. Having been discharged at the peace of Aix la +Chappelle, he was placed on half pay as Lieutenant of Warburton's +Regiment of Infantry, and came out with the expedition in 1749. Mr. +Creighton was sent to Maligash with Col. Lawrence in 1752 to assist in +forming the settlement at Lunenburg, where he continued to reside until +his death, which took place in 1807. He was Colonel of the Militia, +Judge of the Common Pleas, and for some time a member of His Majesty's +Council, to which he was appointed in 1776. Col. Creighton was a native +of the South of England. He left numerous descendants in this country. +His youngest son, Col. Joseph Creighton, half pay of 56th Regiment of +foot, died at Halifax about 1854. His grandson, the Hon. John Creighton, +of Lunenburg, was a member of the Legislative Council. Mr. James +Creighton, the ancestor of the family of that name now in Halifax, came +out with Col. Creighton. It does not appear there was any relationship +between them. Mr. James Creighton became one of the most thriving and +influential settlers in the town, and was the ancestor of one of our +most numerous and estimable families. Col. Creighton's daughters +married, one to the late Judge Wilkins and another to Hon. Hibbert N. +Binney, both of whom have left numerous descendants. + +Perigrin Thomas Hopson, the second Governor at Halifax, was +Commander-in-Chief at Louisburg when that place was delivered up to the +French after the Treaty of Aix la Chappelle. He came up with the army +and was sworn in a member of Council in August, 1749. He succeeded to +the government on the resignation of Governor Cornwallis in August, +1753. He did not remain long at Halifax. In 1757 he was gazetted a Major +General, and in the following year was appointed to the command of the +forces destined for the West Indies. He died before Guadaloupe a short +time before the Island was captured. + +John Collier was a Captain in the army and Member of Council in 1752. He +was appointed by Governor Cornwallis one of the magistrates of the town, +and had command of a section of the militia; one of the divisions of the +town being named after him. He died at Halifax in 1769. It is uncertain +whether he left any descendants. + +Richard Bulkeley accompanied Governor Cornwallis to Nova Scotia as one +of his A. D. C. in 1749. He was appointed Secretary of the Province in +or about 1759, which office he held until 1793 when, on his retirement, +he was succeeded by his son, Michael Freke Bulkeley, who died a few +years after his appointment, 1796. Capt. Bulkeley was called to His +Majesty's Council in 1759, and as Senior Councillor, he administered the +government on the death of Governor Parr, in 1791. He held, at various +times, the offices of Judge of Admiralty, Brigadier General of Militia, +and Grand Master of the Masons. He died December 7th, 1800, at the age +of 83, beloved and respected by all classes throughout the province. He +was justly esteemed the father of the settlement, being the only person +of consideration then living who came in 1749. He had been twice +married. His first wife was a daughter of Capt. Rouse, R. N.; she died +in 1775. He had three sons, all of whom died before him. His residence +was at the corner of Prince and Argyle Streets, opposite the south-west +corner of St. Paul's Church. The old stone house built by him still +remains; it was for many years the residence of the late Hon. H. H. +Cogswell, and is now known as the Carlton House. Mr. Bulkeley was buried +under St. Paul's Church. His escutcheon, with the bull's head crest, +hangs in the west gallery. The Hon. Richard Bulkeley was the only person +who ever held the rank of General of Militia in this country. + +Capt. Horatio Gates was A. D. C. to Governor Cornwallis with Capt. +Bulkeley. He had been in command of an independent company of +provincials in New York in the year 1737. After his arrival in Halifax +he was employed for a short time in the country against the Indians and +French. In 1762 he was appointed A. D. C. to General Monckton, with the +rank of Major, and accompanied him in the expedition against Martinique. +Gates was afterwards better known as a General in the American +Revolutionary Army. Sir Robert Walpole, in a letter dated 1778, says +Gates was the son of a housekeeper of the Duke of Leeds. Sir Robert was +his God-father. + +Jonathan Binney was a native of Hull, a small village near Boston. He +came to Halifax shortly after the settlement was formed, and was engaged +in business. He was elected a Member of Assembly for the town in 1761, +and in 1764 was elevated to the Council. In 1768 he was sent to the +Island of St. John (now Prince Edward Island) as Second Judge of the +Local Court, and afterwards held the offices of Collector of the Revenue +at Canso and Collector of Imports and Excise at St. John Island. He was +charged with errors in his accounts by Mr. Legge, the Governor of the +province, under which he went to England in 1776, where he completely +refuted the charges made against him. Mr. Binney married Hannah, +daughter of Mr. Henry Newton, a Member of Council, and is the ancestor +of the whole Binney family now in Nova Scotia. + +Joseph Fairbanks was from Massachusetts. He was one of the +representatives in the first House of Assembly, summoned in 1758. Mr. +Fairbanks left no children. His nephew, the late Rufus Fairbanks, became +heir to all his property in Halifax, which at the time of his death was +very considerable. Mr. Rufus Fairbanks was for many years one of the +magistrates of Halifax; he married a daughter of Charles Prescott, +sister to the Hon. Charles Prescott, of the firm of Fairbanks & McNab; +of Hon. Charles R. Fairbanks, many years a Member of Assembly for +Halifax and Judge of Admiralty and Master of the Rolls, and of Samuel P. +Fairbanks, formerly Member for Queens County, with other children. + +Benjamin and Joseph Gerrish were both from New England. The former was a +member of His Majesty's Council, appointed in 1768, and Agent for Indian +Affairs in 1760. The latter was many years Naval Storekeeper at Halifax. +He was also a Member of Council. His appointment to the Board bears date +August 16th, 1759, from which he was suspended in 1762 for +non-attendance. He died at Halifax in 1774. Mr. Joseph Gerrish built a +residence in the north suburbs, south of the Dockyard, between Lockman +and Water Streets, and had a fruit garden, the old stone wall of which +remained on the east side of Lockman Street until about 1835. One of +these gentlemen carried on business for some years in company with Mr. +Gray, who was connected with him by marriage. Mr. Gray was father of the +late Rev. Dr. Benjamin Gerrish Gray, minister of St. George's, and +afterwards Rector of Trinity, St. John, New Brunswick, who was succeeded +by his son, the Rev. Dr. William Gray, lately deceased. He was also +ancestor of Mr. Charles Gray, British Consul at Virginia. The Hon. John +Gray, of St. John, New Brunswick, and Benjamin Gerrish Gray, Esq., +barrister at law, of Halifax, are their descendants; one the son of Mr. +Charles Gray, the other of Dr. William Gray. A Mr. John Gray came out +with Governor Cornwallis in 1749 as a Deputy Secretary; probably Mr. +Gray who was in partnership with Gerrish was the same person. + +Major Leonard Lochman, (spelt wrongfully Lockman) was a German doctor +and practised his profession in early life. He came out with the +settlers in 1749 and resided in the north suburbs, where he built a +residence for himself and had a large garden. This old house was lately +pulled down. It stood on the upper side of Lockman Street and was built +with a hipped or gamble roof. He received the rank of Major in the army +for services performed to the British Government. He died at Halifax, +and was buried under the little old Dutch Church, in Brunswick Street, +where his escutcheon and monument with armorial bearings are still to be +seen. The street between Brunswick Street and the water, which was laid +out between the German lots, was named Lockman Street in compliment to +the Major, who was for many years a leading man in Dutchtown. It is not +known whether he left any descendants in the province. + +The names of Jonathan Prescott, Malachi Salter, Richard Gibbons, Lewis +Piers and Otto William Schwartz appear among the principal inhabitants +of the town in 1750. Mr. Salter was from New England, had been +extensively engaged in the fishery, and had visited Chebucto Harbor in +1744, five years before the settlement, while on a fishing voyage along +the coast. Chebucto was the frequent resort of Cape Cod and Marblehead +fishermen previous to the settlement. He was a Member of Assembly and +Justice of the Peace for the town in 1759. The old house at the corner +of Salter and Hollis Streets, afterwards the residence of the Hon. W. +Lawson, and later of Mr. Esson, was built by Mr. Salter and was his +place of residence for many years. During the American revolt, Mr. +Salter, with several other gentlemen of the town, became suspected of +treasonable correspondence. He was twice under prosecution, but on a +full investigation nothing appeared to have been said or written by him +of sufficient moment to warrant the charges. Mr. Salter was the ancestor +of the family of that name now remaining in Halifax. He died at Halifax, +in January, 1781, aged 65. + +Mr. Gibbons was acting Attorney General for several years, and a leading +practitioner at the Bar of Halifax. His son, Richard Gibbons, died at +Sydney, Cape Breton, at an advanced age, where his descendants are +numerous. The old gamble-roofed house at the corner of Buckingham and +Grafton Streets, known as Isles' corner, lately pulled down, was the +residence of Mr. Gibbons. + +John Duport was the English Attorney. He came out with the settlers in +June, 1749, and in July following was appointed a Justice of the Peace. +In 1752 he was made Judge of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas. He +performed the duties of Secretary of Council for many years. He was sent +as a Judge to St. John's Island in 1770, and was afterwards Chief +Justice of the Island. Mr. Duport left a daughter married to Mr. P. +Skey, of Falmouth, and a son who was in the army and was father of Mr. +Robert Duport, later an officer in the Purveyor's department of the +British Army. Judge Duport was much esteemed, and appears to have been +an active public servant during the first twenty years of the +settlement. + +Joshua Mauger was an English trader, who had been connected with the +government contracts at Louisburg, and appears to have resided in +Halifax for the purpose of commerce only. In 1751 he held the office of +Agent Victualler for the navy at Halifax. In 1754 he had shops +established at Pisiquid (Windsor), Minas (Horton), and other places, +where he sold goods and spirits to the French and Indians. He had still +houses in Halifax where he made rum which he supplied to the troops and +the navy. Mr. Mauger had some difficulties with Governor Cornwallis +regarding illicit dealing. He went back to England about 1761, and was +appointed Agent of the Province in London, which he resigned in the +following year, having secured a seat in the British Parliament. He +owned much property in and about Halifax. The beach at the entrance of +the harbor, extending westerly from Cornwallis, now McNab's Island, was +originally granted to Mr. Mauger, and still bears his name. + +Michael Franklin was a merchant from England who settled in Halifax +about 1752 or 1753. He was elected a Member of Assembly in 1759, and +appointed to His Majesty's Council in 1762. In 1766 he received the +appointment of Lieut.-Governor of the Province, which he held until +1776, when he again took his seat at the Council Board. Governor +Franklin was a most active and esteemed public officer. His name appears +connected with almost all the transactions of importance which occurred +in the town from 1763 to 1780. During the American Revolt, his exertions +in support of British authority while administering the government, were +in a great measure instrumental in preserving the tranquility of the +province. He married a daughter of Mr. Boteneau, of Boston, whose wife +was a daughter of Peter Faneuil of that city. He left several children. +The late James Boteneau Franklin, for many years Clerk of the House of +Assembly, was his eldest son. Mrs. Fitzgerald Uniacke was his +grand-daughter. + +Lewis Piers was a grand-son of Sir Henry Piers, 1st Bart. of Tristernagh +Abbey, Ireland. + +The Hon. Thomas Saul was the wealthiest and most enterprising merchant +from 1749 to 1760. + +The names of Benjamin Gerrish, Charles King, Henry Ferguson, Joseph +Fairbanks, William Piggot, William Fury, James Grant, Jacob Hurd, Daniel +Shatford, Samuel Sellon, Charles Mason, Lewis Piers and Robert Campbell +appear on the lists of the Grand Jury between 1751 and 1754. + +The following names appear on the register of early settlers:--Richard +Wenman, Thomas Keys, John Edes, John Gosbee, Ralph Coulston, Edward +Orpen, John Christopher Laurilliard, Philip Knaut, Peter Burgman, Otto +William Schwartz, John Jacob Preper, John Woodin, Andrew Wellner, +Christopher Preper, Simon Thoroughgood. + + + + +APPENDICES. + + + + +A. + + +The following is a copy of the advertisement which appeared in the +London Gazette, March, 1749: + + WHITEHALL, 7th March, 1749. + +A proposal having been presented unto His Majesty for the establishing a +civil government in the Province of Nova Scotia, in North America, as +also for the better peopling and settling the said province, and +extending and improving the fishery thereof by granting lands within the +same, and giving other encouragement to such of the officers and private +men lately dismissed His Majesty's land and sea service, as shall be +willing to settle in said province. And His Majesty having signed his +royal approbation of the report of the said proposals, the Right +Honorable the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations do, by His +Majesty's command, give notice that proper encouragement will be given +to such of the officers and private men lately dismissed His Majesty's +land and sea service as are willing to accept of grants of land, and to +settle with or without families, in Nova Scotia. That 50 acres of land +will be granted in fee simple to every private soldier or seaman, free +from the payment of any quit rents or taxes for the term of ten years; +at the expiration whereof no person to pay more than one shilling per +annum for every 50 acres so granted. + +That a grant of ten acres over and above the 50 will be made to each +private soldier or seaman having a family for every person including +women and children of which his family shall consist, and from the +grants made to them on the like conditions as their families shall +increase, or in proportion to their abilities to cultivate the same. + +That eighty acres on like conditions will be granted to every officer +under the rank of Ensign in the land service, and that of Lieutenant in +the sea service, and to such as have families, fifteen acres over and +above the said eighty acres, for every person of which their family +shall consist. + +That two hundred acres on like conditions will be granted to every +Ensign, three hundred to every Lieutenant, four hundred to every +Captain, and six hundred to every officer above the rank of Captain. And +to such of the above mentioned officers as have families, a further +grant of thirty acres will be made over and above their respective +quotas for every person of which their family shall consist. + +That the lands will be parcelled out to the settlers as soon as +possible after their arrival, _and a civil government established, +whereby they will enjoy all the liberties, privileges and immunities +enjoyed by his Majesty's subjects in any other of the Colonies and +Plantations in America, under His Majesty's Government, and proper +measures will also be taken for their security and protection_. + +That all such as are willing to accept of the above proposals shall, +with their families, be subsisted during the passage, also for the space +of twelve months after their arrival. + +That they shall be furnished with arms and ammunition as far as will be +judged necessary for their defence, with a proper quantity of materials +and utensils for husbandry, clearing and cultivating the lands, erecting +habitations, carrying on the fishery, and such other purposes as shall +be deemed necessary for their support. + +That all such persons as are desirous of engaging in the above +settlement do transmit by letter, or personally give in their names +signifying in what regiment or company, or on board what ship they last +served, and if they have families they intend to carry with them, +distinguishing the age and quality of such person to any of the +following officers appointed to receive and enter the same in the books +opened for that purpose, viz.:--John Pownell, Esq., Solicitor and Clerk +of the Repts. of the Lords Comrs. of Trade and Plantations, at their +office at Whitehall; John Ressell, Esq., Comr. of His Majesty's Navy at +Portsmouth; Philip Vanburgh, Esq., Comr. of His Majesty's Navy at +Plymouth. + +And the proper notice will be given of the said books being closed as +soon as the intended number shall be completed, or at least on the 7th +day of April. + +It is proposed that the Transports shall be ready to receive such +persons on board on the 10th April, and be ready to sail on the 20th, +and that timely notice will be given of the place or places to which +such persons are to repair in order to embark. + +That for the benefit of the settlement, the same conditions which are +proposed to private soldiers and seamen shall likewise be granted to +Carpenters, Shipwrights, Smiths, Masons, Joiners, Brickmakers, +Bricklayers, and all other artificers necessary in building or +husbandry, not being private soldiers or seamen. + +That the same conditions as are proposed to those who have served in the +capacity of Ensign shall extend to all Surgeons, whether they have been +in His Majesty's service or not, upon their producing proper +certificates of their being duly qualified. + +By order of the Right Hon. the Lords Comrs. of Trade and Plantations. + + (Signed) THOMAS HILL, _Secretary_. + + + + +B. + + +The following notices appear in the Gazettes and Magazines of the day: + + LONDON, Saturday, July 1, 1749. + +Three vessels came up the river with about 300 German Protestants, who +were ordered to remain at Lambeth and Vauxhall till they can be +conveniently shipped to Nova Scotia. + + * * * * * + + Friday 21st July, 1749. + +A great number of German Protestants from the Palatinate attended the +Baron Munchausen, Chief Secretary for Hanover, with a petition +soliciting a passage to Nova Scotia. + + * * * * * + + Wednesday, 12th April, 1749. + +A great number of disbanded soldiers, discharged sailors, poor +artificers, labourers, etc., who have accepted of His Majesty's grant of +lands in Nova Scotia, attended at the Plantation Office in Whitehall, +and received orders for admission, with their families and effects, on +board the transports. + + * * * * * + + WHITEHALL, April 18, 1749. + +Lieut.-Col. Cornwallis made Colonel and Commander of the Forces destined +for Nova Scotia, with a salary of L.1000 per annum. + + * * * * * + + May 9, 1749. + +Hon. Edward Cornwallis to be Captain General and Governor-in-Chief in +and over the Province of Nova Scotia or Acadia. + + + + +C. + + +Extract from a letter in the Gentleman's Magazine for 1749: + + BOSTON, 10th July, 1749. + +We have advice that two French men-of-war of 80 guns, and 20 transports, +with a Governor and troops for a garrison, have arrived at Louisburg. +The French Government offered Governor Hobson to transport his garrison +to Chebucto, which was accepted, and orders came to discharge the +vessels taken up here for that service. Col. Cornwallis, Governor of +Nova Scotia, arrived at Chebucto on 21st June[98] in the Sphinx, and +Capt. Rouse in a sloop of war, and fifteen transports with 2000 +adventurers on board, whose first settlement will be at or near +Chebucto, where the Governor intended to keep the transports till next +year for the convenience of the people, especially the women and +children, until houses are built. The same encouragement that has been +given to the British disbanded soldiers is given to Governor Sherley's +and Col. Pepperell's regiments. Rum was sold at Louisburg for 9d. per +gallon, and molasses extremely cheap. The French lost a great number of +men in their passage to Louisburg by the small pox, yellow fever, etc., +but the transports at Chebucto lost only one child. + +[Footnote 98: The memorandum on the first page of the register of +settlers makes the date of Cornwallis' arrival the 8th June--the writer +of this letter may have been misinformed.] + + + + +D. + + +The following account of the expenditure on the settlement for the year +1749, was submitted to Parliament by the Lords Commissioners of Trade +and Plantations: + + Blankets, Woolens and Shoes for the settlers, + and presents for the Indians L. 1,325 4 8 + + Lines, Nets and Hooks for Fishery, Stationery, + Surveyors' Instruments, Bricks and Garden + Seeds 2,729 12 9 + + Lighterage and Shipping of the settlers, package + and charges of Hospital Stores, a Surgeon + with medicines by the Transport from + Liverpool, and the Union Snow 336 0 3 + + Medicines, Sugar, Live Stock, for the voyage, + and Drugs, Instruments and necessaries for + the Hospital 680 14 8 + + French Bibles 102 17 10 + + Cash paid for victualling for settlers 12,068 5 6 + + Treasurer of the Navy's account for Bedding and + Victualling during voyage 7,354 19 0 + + Ditto, on account of the Sarah, Transport, from + Liverpool 67 18 8 + + Treasurer of the Ordnance account for field + pieces, swivel guns, small arms and powder 3,592 4 4 + + Printing and incidental expenses by directions + of Lords Commissioners of Trade 445 19 10 + + Ventilators for six Transports 102 11 6 + + 2 Fire Engines 72 16 0 + + Pay of Surgeons, Apothecaries, Midwife, + exclusive of what they received at Halifax 860 0 0 + + Silver and Gold carried out by the Governor 3,922 8 0 + + Bills of Exchange drawn by the Governor, the + account of the expenditure not yet received 11,452 13 4 + + Bills to Capt. Ives for a boat 40 0 0 + + The Treasurer for Scales and Weights 21 7 0 + + Bills drawn by Delancey & Watt, of New York, for + Silver sent to the Province 5,523 5 9 + + Thomas Handcock, Esq., for Boards, Plank, 2 + Schooners, Salt and Money shipped to + purchase materials for mills 1,528 15 0 + + Bills drawn by S. Martin, from Boston 576 8 6 + ------------ + L.52,804 2 7 + + To the Transport Service for conveying the + Settlers to Nova Scotia, etc. 23,672 1 3 + ------------ + L.76,476 3 10 + + To Governor Cornwallis for personal outfit 500 0 0 + ------------ + L.76,976 3 10 + + (Signed) CHRISTOPHER KILBY. + +Account submitted to Parliament by the Lords Commissioners the following +year: + + Blankets, Woolens and Shoes for settlers, and + presents for Indians L. 1,325 4 8 + + Supplies for Fishery, Surveyor's Instruments, + Bricks and Garden Seeds 2,729 12 9 + + Lighterage and Shipping Settlers, package and + charges of Hospital Stores, etc. 336 0 3 + + Medicines, Sugar, Live Stock, Drugs, + Instruments, etc., for Hospital 680 14 8 + + French Bibles 102 17 10 + + Cash paid for Victualling Settlers 12,068 5 6 + + Treasurer of the Navy's account for Bedding and + Victualling during voyage 7,354 19 0 + + Ditto on account of Sarah, Transport, from + Liverpool 67 18 8 + + Treasurer of the Ordnance account for field + pieces, swivel guns, small arms and powder 3,592 4 4 + + Printing and incidental expenses by directions + of the Lords of Trade 445 19 10 + + Ventilators for 6 Transports 102 11 0 + + Two Fire Engines 72 16 0 + + Bill to Capt. Ives for a Boat 40 0 0 + + The Treasurer for Weights and Scales 21 7 0 + + Thomas Handcock, Esq. 1,528 15 6 + + Pay of Surgeons, Apothecaries and Midwife, + exclusive of what they received at Halifax 860 0 0 + + To Transport Service for conveying settlers to + Nova Scotia 23,672 1 3 + + Fees thereon 147 19 9 + + Fees on money received from the Exchequer, + exclusive of the sums charged on the + foregoing articles 473 4 6 + + To Freight, Bed, Bedding and Cabins for 514 + passengers on board the Alderney, Nancy, + Fair Lady and Two Friends, Transports, and + incidental expenses attending embarkation, + etc., etc. 3,144 4 4 + + To expenses repairing and fitting Sloop, New + Casco 833 19 6 + + Gratuities 322 Foreign Protestants from Holland 338 2 0 + + Cash paid on account of Victualling settlers 4,500 0 0 + + Cash to Treasurer of Ordnance for Bills drawn by + Governor 1,000 0 0 + + To Governor Cornwallis for the purchase of + stores, payment of officers, package of + stores, artificers and laborers, and + contingent expenses, exclusive of L.2,500 + paid to his regiment for the four pence + stopped for provisions to 11th Sept., 1750 35,268 0 2 + + Lieut. Martin's disbursements at Boston, for + materials, vessels and stores 6,503 18 2 + + To Apthorp & Handcock, disbursements at Boston, + for materials, vessels and stores 6,924 14 6 + + Thos. Gunter's Bills remitted him at Boston, on + account of Expedition to Chignecto 2,600 0 0 + + Benj. Green, Treasurer, by his account from + Sept. 20, 1750, to Nov. 30, 1750 3,621 14 0 + + Richard Bulkley, Paymaster of Works, from 1st + August, 1750, to Nov. 30 4,073 16 3 + + To hire of Transports retained in the service + and not paid by the Navy 4,002 2 4 + + To Foreign Settlers employed in public works at + 12d. per day, till the money advanced is + thereby reimbursed 1,005 0 0 + + To Col. Phillips' (now Cornwallis') Regt., to + return deductions for provisions to + Christmas, 1750 3,919 5 8 + + To provisions supplied Cols. Warberton's and + Lascelles' Regts., Artillery Company, + Independent Companies, seamen in vessels, + laborers and artificers 17,832 3 8 + + Victual and transporting Lascelles' Regt. from + Ireland 8,581 3 9 + + To Office of Ordnance for Timber, Materials and + Tools sent from Annapolis, hire of vessels, + magazine of powder and payment of officers + and artificers employed by the Board 10,417 15 3 + -------------- + L.173,838 2 3 + +CR. + + By account of Money granted by Parliament for + Nova Scotia Colony Regiment, March 23, 1748, + granted upon account towards the charge of + transporting to His Majesty's Colony of Nova + Scotia, and supporting and maintaining there + such reduced officers, etc., etc. L. 40,000 0 0 + + 1749. Granted upon account for defraying the + charges incurred by transporting to H. M. + Colony of Nova Scotia, and supporting and + maintaining settlers not provided for by + Parliament 36,476 3 10 + + 1749. Granted on account for supporting, + maintaining and employing the settlers, + March 19, 1750 39,778 17 2 + + Exceedings 57,682 19 3 + -------------- + L.173,938 2 3 + -------------- + + CHRISTOPHER KILBY. + +The charge for contingencies, and the last charge of L.10,417 15. 3., +probably embrace the expenditure on Government buildings--the two +churches of England, St. Paul's and St. Matthew's; also the +fortifications and other government works then in progress. + + WHITEHALL, February 20, 1750. + + Estimate for 1751 L.74,970 + 1752 96,639 + 1753 58,559 + 1754 47,741 + 1755 55,799 + 1756 61,657 + 1757 40,068 + 1758 15,753 + 1759 13,081 + + + + +E. + + +The following extracts are from the letters of a French officer after +the siege of Louisburg: + +"The eyes of all Europe are fixed on this formidable armament; they have +assembled an army of 22,000 men, 1600 brought from Europe, the remainder +provincial militia, with a large train of artillery and munitions of +war, 22 line of battle-ships and 200 transports. Yet Admiral Holburn, +who appeared off Louisburg with 22 sail of men-of-war, took it into his +head that our numbers were equal to his own, and has made his way back +to Halifax. They will ask him there, why did you run away? Oh! says he, +a superior force venit, vedit, fugit. It is vexatious that the first +squadron which France has equipped since 1703 should be shackled with +orders only to keep a look out. If ever there was a certainty of firing +gunpowder to the renown of the white flag, it was on the 19th August, +when Holburn appeared off Louisburg." + +In some of his subsequent letters he appears to give a very accurate +account of the siege, and some facts relative to the war not to be found +in any history of that period. In speaking of the landing of Wolfe at +the head of the Highlanders and the American Light Troops-- + +"It is the interest of the conquered not to diminish the glory of the +victor, and besides it is our duty to do justice even to our mortal +enemy, for which reason I confess that the English on this occasion +behaved with such valor as before the event must have appeased temerity. +Yet it must be allowed that at the same time the difficulty of the +enterprise does them infinite honor, it saves ours; who would have +forseen that they would have ventured to have climbed rocks till then +rendered inaccessible, under a heavy fire from our batteries, +notwithstanding their boats were every moment knocked to pieces in the +surf, which drowned great numbers." + +In speaking of the capitulation he says: + +"Though reduced to the last extremity we demanded far more advantageous +terms than we had reason to expect. After a consultation between Admiral +Boscawen and General Amherst, an unconditional surrender was demanded. +Dracourt, the Governor, extremely exasperated at those terms, resolved +to hold out, but was compelled to give in on receiving a most peremptory +petition on the part of the inhabitants, presented by M. Prevost. The +capitulation was signed on 15th July, 1758, after a bloody siege of two +months. On the day following, our troops were drawn up, and the colors +and arms surrendered to General Whitmore, who took command of the town. +The evening before the English took possession of the town, we suffered +our soldiers to plunder the magazines, and the priests spent the whole +night in marrying all the girls of the city to the first who would have +them. No one here can perceive, at least by any personal inconvenience, +that we are in a conquered town. The garrison has embarked with as much +tranquility as if it had been going on a voyage of pleasure. Every +soldier has taken away whatever belongs to him without suffering the +least injustice. M. De Dracourt has received all the honors which a +person of his rank deserved; Admiral Boscawen has shown all the respect +to Madam De Dracourt as were due to her merits. This lady has performed +such exploits during the siege as must entitle her to rank among the +most illustrious of her sex, for she fired three cannon every day in +order to animate the gunners. After the surrender she interested herself +in behalf of all the unfortunates; in this number M. Maillet de +Grandville was a striking instance of the instability of fortune. He +left France at the age of 17, arrived at Quebec in indifferent +circumstances; by his industry and application to business, he +accumulated a vast fortune which enabled him to purchase the Lordship of +St. Louis, which cost him 80,000 livres; but now, by the taking of +Louisburg, he is left quite destitute with a numerous family." + + + + +F. + + + HALIFAX, July, 1752. + +A list of the families of English, Swiss, etc., which have been settled +in Nova Scotia since the year 1749, and who now are settlers in the +places hereafter mentioned. + + + NORTH SUBURBS OF HALIFAX. + + ========================+=========+=========+=========+=========+======= + HEADS OF FAMILIES. | Males | Females | Males | Females | + |above 16.|above 16.|under 16.|under 16.| Total. + ------------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+------- + John Scutt | 2 | 1 | .... | .... | 3 + Edmund Dwight | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 + Benjamin Brown | 5 | .... | .... | .... | 5 + William Gindler | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 + Samuel Shipton | 3 | 3 | 3 | .... | 9 + Charles Procter | 2 | 2 | 5 | .... | 9 + Jonathan Hoar | 2 | .... | .... | .... | 2 + Gerchon Tuffs | 1 | 2 | .... | 2 | 5 + Preserved Cunnable | 2 | 2 | .... | 2 | 6 + William Bourn | 9 | 1 | .... | .... | 10 + Matthew Barnard | 2 | 3 | .... | .... | 5 + William Rundal | 1 | .... | .... | .... | 1 + Anthony Caverly | 1 | .... | .... | .... | 1 + Charles Hay | 2 | 2 | .... | .... | 4 + Nathaniel Henderson | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Henry Chadwick | 2 | 1 | .... | 1 | 4 + Samuel Lyne | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 + Thomas Fitzpatrick | 1 | 1 | 3 | .... | 5 + Judah Riger | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Ezekiel Gilman | 6 | 1 | .... | .... | 7 + John Kinselagh | 3 | 2 | .... | .... | 5 + Benjamin Ives | 5 | .... | .... | .... | 5 + Mrs. Decorot | .... | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 + Josiah Crossby | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 + William Harris | 3 | 1 | .... | 2 | 6 + Benjamin Phippeny | 1 | 1 | .... | 2 | 4 + George Gerrish | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 10 + Robert Norman | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + John Cox | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Edward Bowden | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 + John Tongue | 2 | 1 | 1 | .... | 4 + Samuel Tanner | 1 | 1 | .... | 2 | 4 + Samuel Chandler | 1 | 1 | 1 | .... | 3 + George Sanders | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 + John Christian Mulhlhe | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 + Ernst Preper | 2 | 1 | 1 | .... | 4 + Christopher Harness | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 + Charles Robins | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 + Ezekiel Wildman | 3 | 1 | .... | 1 | 5 + Walter Motley | 2 | 1 | .... | 1 | 4 + Charles Christ | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 + Peter Schahlan | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Peter Mozar | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 10 + John Hoffens | 1 | 1 | .... | 3 | 5 + Peter Wayte | 1 | 1 | 1 | .... | 3 + Thomas Hay | 3 | .... | .... | .... | 3 + Jacob Cheney | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 + John Jones | 2 | 1 | .... | .... | 3 + Mary Birin | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 + Charles King | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 + John Porter | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 + Joseph Pratt | 1 | .... | 1 | 1 | 3 + Daniel Brewer | 2 | 1 | .... | .... | 3 + William Hunstable | 6 | 1 | 1 | .... | 8 + Benjamin Storer | 3 | 1 | .... | 3 | 7 + Jasper Battel | 1 | 1 | .... | 2 | 4 + Ulrich Dithoe | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Hans. Geo. Kohl | 2 | 2 | .... | .... | 4 + Joseph Chadwick | 2 | 1 | .... | .... | 3 + Christopher Warner | 1 | 1 | 1 | .... | 3 + John Christopher Rodolph| 1 | .... | .... | .... | 1 + John Burger Erad | 6 | .... | .... | 1 | 7 + John A. Le Mand | 3 | 1 | .... | 4 | 8 + Ludovick Schnerr | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 + +---------+---------+---------+---------+------- + | 139 | 75 | 42 | 63 | 309 + ========================+=========+=========+=========+=========+======= + + + SWISS AND GERMANS IN THE NORTH SUBURBS. + + ========================+=========+=========+=========+=========+======= + HEADS OF FAMILIES. | Males | Females | Males | Females | + |above 16.|above 16.|under 16.|under 16.| Total. + ------------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+------- + Chs. Ludk. Hagelsieb | 2 | .... | 1 | 2 | 5 + John Peter Tahn | 2 | 1 | .... | 1 | 4 + Michael Brier | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 + Laurenz Busgler | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 12 + Leonhard Urich | 1 | 1 | .... | 1 | 3 + Jacob Craft | 1 | 1 | 1 | .... | 3 + Wendal Ramjer | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 + George Storch | 1 | 1 | 1 | .... | 3 + Peter Klattenburger | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 + Michael Clouser | 3 | .... | .... | .... | 3 + Michael Morash | 2 | 2 | .... | 1 | 5 + Jacob Schmidt | 1 | 2 | .... | .... | 3 + Joseph Ley | 2 | 1 | .... | .... | 3 + Barthel Hans | 3 | 3 | 1 | .... | 7 + Jacob Moser | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 8 + Conrad Hall | 1 | 1 | .... | 1 | 3 + Jacob Hall | 2 | 1 | 2 | .... | 5 + Joseph Bley | 3 | 1 | .... | 1 | 5 + Michael Ley | 1 | 1 | 1 | .... | 3 + Elizabeth Werner | .... | 1 | .... | 2 | 3 + Magdalen Orell | .... | 2 | .... | .... | 2 + Benedict Mayhofer | 1 | 2 | .... | .... | 3 + Andreas Kalb | 1 | 1 | 1 | .... | 3 + Adam Rundl | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Ulrich Seeger | 3 | .... | .... | 4 | 7 + Daniel Schumaker | 1 | .... | .... | .... | 1 + John Jacob Schmidt | 1 | 2 | .... | .... | 3 + Adam Luty | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Conrad Mucher | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Godfried Knotz | 3 | 2 | .... | 1 | 6 + Peter Lawner | 2 | 2 | 1 | .... | 5 + Godfried Torpel | 2 | 1 | 1 | .... | 5 + Jacob Tanner | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 + Johannus Buhofer | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + George Nagel | 1 | 1 | 1 | .... | 3 + Rudolph Pense | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 + Adam Wambolt | 2 | 2 | .... | .... | 4 + Peter Wambolt | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Ruchart Schup | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 + Michael Hagg | 2 | .... | .... | .... | 2 + Michael Gimber | 1 | 1 | 1 | .... | 3 + Adam Buhler | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Andreas Young | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + ---- Beringer | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Casper Hickman | 1 | 1 | 1 | .... | 3 + Henrick Oxner | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 + Jean Mange | 1 | 1 | 2 | .... | 4 + Casper Lehry | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Peter Estmann | 1 | 1 | .... | 1 | 3 + Johannus Lonus | 1 | 1 | 4 | .... | 6 + Loui Eouton | 1 | 1 | 1 | .... | 3 + Casper Trillian | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Augustin Wolf | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 + Anton Halton | 1 | 1 | .... | 3 | 5 + Matthias Nagel | 2 | .... | .... | .... | 2 + Franciska Schnider | 1 | .... | .... | 1 | 2 + Ludwig Koenig | 2 | 1 | .... | 3 | 6 + Nicholas Wolf | 1 | 1 | .... | 1 | 3 + Johannes Schroeder | .... | 2 | .... | .... | 2 + Johannes Loesten | .... | 3 | .... | .... | 3 + Utrick Klett | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Maria Schlitter | .... | 2 | 1 | .... | 3 + Johannus Miller | 1 | 1 | .... | 3 | 5 + Johannes Hoaif | 1 | .... | .... | 1 | 2 + George Vogler | 6 | 2 | .... | 4 | 12 + Jacob Paulus | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 + Conrade Werner | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 + Matheus Finer | 1 | 1 | .... | 1 | 3 + Andreas Sronnagel | 1 | 1 | .... | 2 | 4 + Jacob Heish | 2 | 1 | 1 | .... | 4 + George Polleber | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Christian Finis | 1 | 1 | .... | 3 | 5 + Gotleib Schermuller | 5 | 2 | .... | 1 | 8 + Adam Schmidt | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 + Christian Perfek | 1 | 1 | 2 | .... | 4 + Christian Ernst | 2 | 1 | .... | .... | 3 + Frederick Aurenburg | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 + Nicholas Eggly | 6 | 1 | .... | .... | 7 + Henrick Kuhn | 4 | 2 | .... | .... | 6 + Ulrick Schenekill | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 + Jacob Shaffhouser | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Johannes Simon | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 + Asmus Diel | 5 | 2 | .... | .... | 7 + Jacob Sperry | 2 | 2 | .... | .... | 4 + Adam Jung | 4 | 2 | .... | 1 | 7 + Johann Jung | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 + +---------+---------+---------+---------+------- + | 61 | 41 | 13 | 26 | 141 + ========================+=========+=========+=========+=========+======= + + + SOUTH SUBURBS. + + ========================+=========+=========+=========+=========+======= + HEADS OF FAMILIES. | Males | Females | Males | Females | + |above 16.|above 16.|under 16.|under 16.| Total. + ------------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+------- + Mary Rance | .... | 1 | 2 | .... | 3 + Thomas Latham | 3 | 1 | .... | .... | 4 + Jonathan Prescott[99] | 11 | 1 | 1 | .... | 13 + Joseph Kent | 1 | 1 | 1 | .... | 3 + Edmund Crawley[100] | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 + John Winiton | 3 | 1 | .... | 1 | 5 + William Trefoy | 4 | .... | 1 | .... | 5 + Darby Cavanaugh | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 + Edward Lush | 5 | 1 | 1 | .... | 7 + Alice Twyny | .... | 2 | .... | .... | 2 + James Ridder | 4 | .... | .... | .... | 4 + John Crooks | 2 | 1 | 2 | .... | 5 + James Hickens | 1 | 1 | .... | 1 | 3 + James Pierpont | 1 | 2 | .... | 1 | 4 + John Shippey | 2 | 3 | 2 | .... | 7 + Peter, a negro | 1 | 1 | .... | 1 | 3 + John Call | 2 | 2 | .... | 1 | 5 + Ruth Wheeler | 5 | 2 | .... | .... | 7 + Joseph Harris | 8 | .... | .... | .... | 8 + Richard Peirie | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Francis Coburne | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 + Charles Terlaven | 5 | 1 | 2 | .... | 8 + Darby Sullivan | 1 | .... | .... | .... | 1 + John Jackson | 3 | 1 | .... | 2 | 6 + Gregory Ives | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Samuel Sellon | 2 | .... | .... | .... | 2 + Isaac Underdunk | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 + George Featherstone | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 + Maurice Welsh | 1 | 1 | .... | 1 | 3 + Andrew Shepperd | 2 | 1 | .... | 1 | 4 + William Mallus | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 10 + Phillip Hammond | 1 | 1 | .... | 2 | 4 + Solomon Reed | 1 | 1 | 2 | .... | 4 + Joseph Evans | 2 | .... | .... | .... | 2 + John Walker | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 + Thomas Nunan | 3 | 1 | .... | .... | 4 + George Knox | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Joseph Gullison | 1 | 1 | .... | 2 | 4 + Jason Chapman | 3 | 1 | .... | 2 | 6 + Rebecca Baldwin | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 + Richard Manning | 3 | 2 | .... | .... | 5 + James Cane | 1 | .... | .... | .... | 1 + Dennis Hieffernon | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 + William Wickham | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + John Rider | 2 | 1 | 2 | .... | 5 + Josiah Marshall | 2 | 2 | 2 | .... | 6 + Joseph Pierce | 2 | 1 | .... | .... | 3 + John Steel | 4 | 3 | .... | .... | 7 + Malachy Salter | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8 + Charles Kanier | 3 | .... | .... | .... | 3 + Jeremiah Rogers | 3 | 1 | .... | 3 | 7 + [101]Peter, Marquis | | | | | + D'Conti and Gravina | 2 | .... | .... | .... | 2 + Samuel Cleveland | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 9 + Richard Graham | 2 | 2 | .... | .... | 4 + William Nesbitt | 4 | 3 | .... | .... | 7 + Isaac Knott | 12 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 31 + Daniel Tappoon | 3 | .... | 1 | .... | 4 + Hannah Hutchinson | .... | 1 | .... | 1 | 2 + Isaac Basset | .... | 2 | .... | 1 | 2 + Thomas Clarke | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 + Robert Davis | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 + William Lawson | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 + John Eustace | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + John Miller | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 + James Grimes | 2 | 1 | 1 | .... | 4 + John Griffin | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6 + Joseph Mehany | 2 | 2 | .... | 1 | 5 + Josiah Cleveland | 1 | .... | 3 | 1 | 5 + Felix McMehan | 2 | .... | 2 | .... | 4 + Josiah Nottage | 3 | 1 | .... | 2 | 6 + Mathew Mullens | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 + Henry Ferguson | 5 | 2 | 3 | .... | 10 + Jean Campbell | .... | 1 | .... | 3 | 4 + Ezekiah Averil | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 8 + Thomas Hardin | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 + Thomas Maggee | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 7 + Robert Brooks | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + James Jordan | 1 | 2 | 1 | .... | 4 + John Poor | 2 | 2 | .... | 1 | 5 + Thomas Lamb | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 + Thomas Collicut | 2 | 1 | .... | .... | 3 + John Barry | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Maurice Driscoll | 1 | 1 | .... | 1 | 3 + John McCuller | 2 | 1 | .... | .... | 3 + Benjamin Child | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 + William Wallace | 1 | 1 | 1 | .... | 3 + John Murphy | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Henry Rigby | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 + William Peters | 2 | .... | .... | .... | 2 + David Carmer | 2 | 1 | .... | .... | 3 + Patrick Mahoney | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Samuel Fulton | 2 | 1 | .... | .... | 3 + Dennis Sullivan | 1 | 2 | .... | .... | 3 + Stephen Wisdoms | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 8 + Richard ---- | 1 | 1 | 1 | .... | 3 + Bartholomew Calahan | 1 | 1 | .... | 1 | 3 + Cornelius Crowley | 3 | .... | 1 | 2 | 6 + Nathaniel Millett | 1 | 1 | 1 | .... | 3 + Peter Wallace | 1 | .... | .... | .... | 1 + John Slayter | 1 | .... | .... | .... | 1 + Martin Ludovig | 1 | .... | .... | .... | 1 + John Wisdom | 1 | 1 | .... | 1 | 3 + George Cheshire | 3 | 1 | .... | .... | 4 + George Featherstone | 1 | 1 | .... | 1 | 3 + Richard Sparks | 2 | 1 | .... | .... | 3 + Jacob Hurd | 3 | .... | .... | .... | 3 + William Williams | 3 | 1 | 1 | .... | 5 + Jedediah Harris | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 + Abraham Slayter | 3 | 1 | 1 | .... | 5 + Richard Winter | 1 | 2 | .... | .... | 3 + John Arbuckle | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 8 + Perfect Miller | 3 | 1 | .... | .... | 4 + Mary Miller | .... | 1 | .... | 1 | 2 + Samuel Greenfield | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Moses Clarke | 1 | 2 | .... | .... | 3 + ---- Lewis | 1 | .... | .... | .... | 1 + William Matthews | 1 | 1 | .... | 1 | 3 + William Christopher | 1 | 1 | .... | 1 | 3 + Thomas Walker | 1 | 1 | 2 | .... | 4 + Daniel Hills | 4 | .... | 1 | .... | 5 + Richard Williams | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Daniel Farrel | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 + James Fullerton | 1 | 1 | 2 | .... | 4 + Nathaniel Mason | 1 | .... | .... | .... | 1 + Aaron Porter | 4 | .... | .... | .... | 4 + Jacobus Derkindrekin | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + William Seward | 5 | .... | 1 | .... | 6 + Joshua Orne | 6 | .... | .... | .... | 6 + Elias Girott | 3 | 1 | 1 | .... | 5 + Richard Wenman | 3 | .... | .... | .... | 3 + Daniel Shatford | 1 | 1 | 2 | .... | 4 + Charles Henderson | 5 | 1 | .... | .... | 6 + Jonathan Harris | 2 | 1 | .... | .... | 3 + Patrick Cambell | 3 | 2 | .... | .... | 5 + Aaron Cleveland | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 + James Monk | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 + Samuel Crafts | 7 | 1 | .... | .... | 8 + William Russel | 65 | 1 | .... | .... | 66 + Ann Wenmen, in Orphan | | | | | + House | 4 | 4 | 11 | .... | 19 + Joseph Palmer, in | | | | | + Hospital | 21 | 1 | .... | .... | 22 + Michael Naddow | 1 | .... | .... | .... | 1 + Joseph Gerrish | 27 | .... | 1 | .... | 28 + Dennis Mehaney | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + John Conway | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6 + Mrs. Taylor | 1 | .... | .... | .... | 1 + Michael Lawler | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Peter Murpil | 1 | 1 | .... | 1 | 3 + John Gallant | 17 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 21 + Nicholas Nagler | 1 | 1 | 3 | .... | 5 + I Swiss | 1 | 1 | 2 | .... | 4 + Josiah Bracket | 3 | 1 | 1 | .... | 5 + ========================+=========+=========+=========+=========+======= + +[Footnote 99: Father of the late Hon. Charles Prescott.] + +[Footnote 100: Afterwards Member of Council.] + +[Footnote 101: A Sicilian Nobleman, who came with a number of settlers +from the West Indies. He was afterwards a Lieutenant of one of the +companies of Rangers.] + + + WITHIN THE TOWN OF HALIFAX. + + ========================+=========+=========+=========+=========+======= + HEADS OF FAMILIES. | Males | Females | Males | Females | + |above 16.|above 16.|under 16.|under 16.| Total. + ------------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+------- + Thomas Power | 11 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 15 + Joshua Mauger | 14 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 20 + William Steele, Esq. | 2 | 2 | .... | .... | 4 + Benjamin Gerrish | 2 | 2 | .... | .... | 4 + Robert Cowey | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 11 + Abigail Ward | .... | 1 | 1 | .... | 2 + William Austin | 1 | 1 | .... | 1 | 3 + Thomas Matterson | 1 | 1 | .... | 1 | 3 + Frederick Beeker | 1 | 1 | .... | 1 | 3 + William Schwartz | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 + Isaac Deschamps | 1 | .... | 1 | .... | 2 + Madam D'Pacquet | 3 | 5 | .... | 1 | 9 + John Brown | 2 | 2 | .... | 1 | 5 + Thomas Fulford | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Lewis Pierce | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 + Thomas Grenoak | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 + Leonard Lockman[102] | 5 | 4 | .... | .... | 9 + William Ford | 1 | 2 | .... | .... | 3 + John Johnstone | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 + Thomas Luke | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 + Leonard Cotton | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 10 + William and Edward | | | | | + Nichols | 3 | .... | .... | .... | 3 + James Brenock | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 + Thomas Oakes | 2 | 1 | .... | 1 | 4 + Mr. Wheyland | .... | 1 | .... | 2 | 3 + John Wellenon | | | | | + (Wellenor?) | 1 | 1 | 3 | .... | 5 + Thomas Price | 1 | .... | 2 | .... | 3 + Vernon Merefield | 1 | 1 | 3 | .... | 5 + John Brown | 3 | 3 | 1 | .... | 7 + Allen Usher | 1 | .... | 1 | .... | 2 + Jeremiah Fitzsimons | 3 | 1 | 2 | .... | 6 + Daniel McCylster | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 + John Panier | 2 | 1 | .... | .... | 3 + Peter Anchote | 2 | 2 | .... | .... | 4 + John Aubony | 7 | 2 | 1 | .... | 10 + David Loyd | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Thomas Saul | 10 | 1 | .... | .... | 11 + Alexander Keddy | 1 | 2 | .... | .... | 3 + Jane Knight | .... | 1 | 1 | .... | 2 + William Brew | 1 | 2 | .... | .... | 3 + John Marlow | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Jacob Cone | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 + George Twelve's wife | .... | 1 | .... | 2 | 3 + John William Hoffman | 2 | .... | 1 | .... | 3 + Mr. Surget | 2 | .... | .... | 1 | 3 + James Fitzgerald | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + James Stewson | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + ---- Redman | 1 | .... | .... | .... | 1 + James Colbeck | 1 | 2 | 2 | .... | 5 + Alexander Abercrombie | 1 | .... | .... | .... | 1 + John Baxter | 1 | 2 | .... | 1 | 4 + Giles Harris | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 + William Pierce | 1 | 2 | 2 | .... | 5 + Edward Luky | 1 | 1 | 1 | .... | 3 + James Patfield | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Widow Clerk | .... | 1 | .... | .... | 1 + William Davis | 1 | 1 | 1 | .... | 3 + ---- Melony | .... | 1 | .... | .... | 1 + John Steinford | 1 | 1 | .... | 1 | 3 + George Suckling | 1 | 1 | .... | 1 | 3 + Alexander Allen | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Widow Henry | .... | 1 | .... | 1 | 2 + Thomas Frost | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Ephraim Cook | 12 | 4 | .... | .... | 16 + by Mr. Brown | .... | .... | .... | .... | .... + James Colvill | 3 | 2 | .... | 1 | 6 + Thomas Moore | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 + Joseph Maseen | 1 | 1 | 1 | .... | 3 + Edward Potter | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 + China Brownjohn | 1 | 1 | .... | 1 | 3 + Francis Lock | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 + Daniel Stewart | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 8 + Robert Grant | 3 | 1 | 2 | .... | 6 + John Stockley | 1 | 3 | 1 | .... | 5 + Edward Marguin | 3 | 2 | .... | .... | 5 + George Greenwood | 1 | 1 | 1 | .... | 3 + James Smith | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 + John Collier, Esq. | 2 | 2 | .... | .... | 4 + William Piggott | 7 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 15 + William Best | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 11 + William Henderson | 3 | 2 | .... | .... | 5 + Anne Woodside | 2 | 1 | 2 | .... | 5 + John Connor | 3 | 1 | .... | .... | 4 + Richard Barry | 2 | 3 | 1 | .... | 6 + William Heyslup | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 + John Peter De Brace | 3 | 1 | .... | .... | 4 + John Raet | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + John Mundy | 1 | 1 | 4 | .... | 6 + Richard Stritton | 1 | 2 | 1 | .... | 4 + Joseph Churchill | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Laurence Collins | 1 | 1 | .... | 1 | 3 + John Humphreys | 1 | 1 | .... | 1 | 3 + Joseph Coeishton | 6 | 1 | .... | .... | 7 + Ebenezer Petty | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 + Robert Bowden | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Thomas Newman | 7 | 2 | .... | 2 | 11 + William Griffin | 3 | .... | .... | .... | 3 + James Euston | 4 | .... | .... | .... | 4 + Thomas Hagan | 2 | .... | .... | .... | 2 + Thomas Mannen | 1 | 1 | .... | 1 | 3 + Edward Butler | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + John Grant | 3 | 2 | .... | .... | 5 + Edward Orpin | 4 | 1 | .... | .... | 5 + John Vintenon | 2 | .... | .... | .... | 2 + Thomas Branham | 2 | .... | .... | .... | 2 + Henry Wilkinson | 1 | 1 | .... | 2 | 4 + William Wright | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 + Henry Wynn | 4 | 1 | .... | 1 | 6 + Paul Pritchard | 1 | 2 | .... | 1 | 4 + Alexander Forbes | 2 | .... | .... | .... | 2 + William White | 3 | 1 | .... | 2 | 6 + John Hall | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 + Thomas Wilder | 5 | .... | .... | .... | 5 + Thomas Greensword | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + George Nelson | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Robert Parfect | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + William McCarty | 2 | 1 | .... | .... | 3 + John Ewes | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + James Fallon | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 + William Johnson | 2 | 1 | .... | .... | 3 + Thomas Campbell | 1 | 1 | 1 | .... | 3 + James Porter | 3 | 1 | .... | 2 | 6 + William Vanfelson | 1 | 1 | 1 | .... | 3 + James Ford | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 + Robert Freeman | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 7 + John Wooden | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 + William Roacock | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 + Peter Parkman | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Matthew Hopkins | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 + James Douglass | 1 | .... | .... | .... | 1 + John Meeds | 1 | 1 | .... | 1 | 3 + Mary Robertson | 5 | 1 | 3 | .... | 9 + Mary Williams | .... | 3 | .... | .... | 3 + Nathan Nathans | .... | .... | .... | .... | 5 + George Taylor | 3 | .... | 1 | .... | 4 + Patrick Furlong | 2 | 1 | .... | .... | 3 + John Slayter | 1 | 1 | 3 | .... | 5 + John Ker | 2 | .... | .... | .... | 2 + John Clewley | 8 | 2 | .... | .... | 10 + Garret Mead | 2 | 2 | .... | .... | 4 + Charles Mason | 3 | 1 | .... | 1 | 5 + Matthew McNemara | 3 | 2 | .... | .... | 5 + George Frank | 1 | 2 | .... | 1 | 4 + John Webb | 1 | .... | .... | .... | 1 + Robert Ewer | 14 | 1 | .... | .... | 15 + Peter Martin | 1 | 4 | .... | .... | 5 + Michael Mullineaux | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 + Thomas Reeve | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + John Bohanan | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 + ---- Ray | .... | 1 | .... | 2 | 3 + Euste. Butter | 1 | 1 | .... | 1 | 3 + Thomas Golden | 2 | 2 | .... | .... | 4 + William Williams | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Edward Lee | 1 | 1 | 5 | .... | 7 + James Bannerman | 2 | 1 | .... | .... | 3 + Richard Bulksley | 3 | 2 | .... | .... | 5 + John Franks | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 + Christopher Cooke | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 + Robert Dickie | 2 | 2 | 2 | .... | 6 + Joseph Wakefield | 1 | 1 | 2 | .... | 4 + Thomas Bryant | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Edward L'Cras | 3 | 3 | 1 | .... | 7 + Lawrence Ren | 1 | 2 | 2 | .... | 5 + John Fenly | 1 | .... | .... | .... | 1 + William Walker | 1 | 2 | .... | .... | 3 + Mr. Bruce | 2 | .... | .... | .... | 2 + Thomas Rundal | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + ---- Wigel | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 + Mark Cullymore | 1 | 1 | 1 | .... | 3 + Nathaniel Gosford | 2 | 2 | .... | .... | 4 + John Naymers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 8 + Davis Townsend | 1 | 1 | 2 | .... | 4 + John Cleary | 2 | 2 | .... | .... | 4 + John Kent | 4 | 1 | .... | .... | 5 + William Crafts | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 + Rosana Scott | .... | 3 | 2 | .... | 5 + Patrick Britt | 2 | 2 | .... | 1 | 5 + William Bearsto[103] | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6 + Joseph Ford | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 + William Eaton | 1 | 1 | .... | 1 | 3 + James Tate | 1 | 1 | .... | 1 | 3 + Samuel Sprague | 1 | .... | .... | .... | 1 + Stephen McKine | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6 + ========================+=========+=========+=========+=========+======= + +[Footnote 102: Leonard Lockman was a German. In early life he practised +medicine. He afterwards held the rank of Major in the army, which he +received for services rendered to the British Government. He came out +with the settlers in 1749, and eventually settled in the North Suburbs. +He died at Halifax, and was buried beneath the old German Church on +Brunswick Street, where his monument still remains. Lockman Street was +named after him.] + +[Footnote 103: Captain in the army.] + + + WITHIN THE PICKETS[104] OF HALIFAX. + + ========================+=========+=========+=========+=========+======= + HEADS OF FAMILIES. | Males | Females | Males | Females | + |above 16.|above 16.|under 16.|under 16.| Total. + ------------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+------- + James Vickars | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Joel Waterman | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 + Catherine Austin | .... | 1 | .... | .... | 1 + Andrew Maxwell | 4 | 1 | .... | 1 | 6 + John Gaffer | 2 | 2 | .... | .... | 4 + Luke Shippey | 1 | 1 | 1 | .... | 3 + Henry Sweetland | 2 | .... | .... | .... | 2 + Jonathan Markham | 3 | 1 | .... | .... | 4 + Francis Porter | 4 | 3 | .... | .... | 7 + Matthew Corker | 1 | 1 | 1 | .... | 3 + Thomas Landerkin | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Griffin Jenkins | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Mary Hollowell | .... | 2 | .... | .... | 2 + Edward Castle | 6 | 1 | .... | .... | 7 + Mrs. Whitehand | 2 | 2 | 1 | .... | 5 + John Crowley | 1 | 1 | .... | 1 | 3 + Philip Knaut | 1 | 2 | 1 | .... | 4 + Storker Nelson | 3 | 2 | 1 | .... | 6 + John Lowrey | 1 | 1 | .... | 1 | 3 + Joseph Scott | 2 | 1 | 1 | .... | 4 + Israel Abrahams | 2 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 10 + Thomas Ames | 2 | .... | .... | .... | 2 + Thomas Dame | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 + Benjamin Lee | 1 | 2 | 1 | .... | 4 + Mary Cooper | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Michael Sexton | 3 | 2 | .... | .... | 5 + George Popplewell | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + John Beswick | 1 | 1 | 1 | .... | 3 + John South | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Richard Hollis | 1 | 2 | 1 | .... | 4 + Mr. Reynolds | 1 | .... | .... | .... | 1 + James Whellon | 1 | 1 | .... | 3 | 5 + William Giles | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Frederick Barley | 1 | .... | .... | .... | 1 + Ezekiel Budd | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Josiah Hardy | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6 + John Edmundson | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + James Thompson | 1 | 2 | 1 | .... | 4 + Mary Webb | .... | 1 | .... | .... | 1 + Timothy Cane | 1 | 1 | .... | 1 | 3 + James Banfield | 1 | 1 | 1 | .... | 3 + James Babrig | 3 | 2 | .... | .... | 5 + Isaac Solomon | 1 | 1 | .... | 1 | 3 + James Thorp | 1 | 1 | .... | 1 | 3 + Samuel Blockden | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 9 + Elizabeth Gunnel | 1 | .... | .... | 2 | 3 + Eleanor Cannon | 1 | .... | .... | 1 | 2 + Thomas Walker | 3 | 1 | .... | 1 | 5 + Charles Morris | 5 | 2 | .... | 1 | 8 + Josiah Millekin | 2 | 1 | .... | .... | 3 + John Codman | 2 | .... | .... | .... | 2 + Lewis Hays | 2 | 2 | 1 | .... | 5 + William Moore | 4 | 1 | .... | .... | 5 + William Cannon | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Samuel McClure | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 + Henry Fielding | 1 | 1 | .... | 1 | 3 + Patrick Kennedy | 2 | 2 | .... | 1 | 5 + John Walker | 3 | 1 | 1 | .... | 5 + Benjamin Fogg | 2 | 2 | .... | 1 | 5 + William Foye | 2 | 4 | .... | .... | 6 + Otis Little | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 + Hugh Vans | 3 | .... | 1 | .... | 4 + Lewis Frignet | 4 | 1 | .... | .... | 5 + Joseph Antrims | 2 | 2 | .... | 1 | 5 + Benjamin Green, Esq. | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 9 + H. J. O'Brien | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 + Bartholomew Kneeland | 2 | 1 | .... | .... | 3 + Joseph Fairbanks | 9 | 1 | .... | .... | 10 + James Fillis | 1 | .... | 1 | .... | 2 + John Rous | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 9 + Joseph Rous | 4 | 2 | 1 | .... | 7 + John Greensword | 17 | 4 | .... | .... | 21 + William Fury | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 + Debtors in Gaol | 19 | .... | .... | .... | 19 + Criminals | 8 | .... | .... | .... | 8 + William Falkner | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 1 + ========================+=========+=========+=========+=========+======= + +[Footnote 104: Between Buckingham Street and the present Blowers +Street.] + + + ON SEVERAL ISLANDS AND HARBORS, EMPLOYED IN FISHERY. + + =======================+=========+=========+=========+========== + HEADS OF FAMILIES. | Males | Females | Males | Females + |above 16.|above 16.|under 16.| under 16. + -----------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------- + ON CORNWALLIS ISLAND: | | | | + Capt. Joseph Rouse | 4 | .... | .... | .... + " Mauger | 7 | .... | .... | .... + " Cook | 5 | .... | .... | .... + ---- Bradshaw | 16 | 1 | .... | .... + |---------|---------|---------|---------- + | 32 | 1 | .... | .... + AT KETCH HARBOUR: | | | | + John Grace | 10 | 2 | 1 | .... + Capt. Gill | 6 | .... | .... | .... + ---- Brown | 3 | 2 | 1 | .... + |---------|---------|---------|---------- + | 19 | 4 | 2 | .... + AT SAMBRO ISLAND: | | | | + Capt. Matterson | 21 | 1 | .... | .... + Thomas Youngston | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 + |---------|---------|---------|---------- + | 22 | 2 | 1 | 1 + AT ST. MARGARET'S BAY: | | | | + Benjamin Frog | 10 | 1 | 2 | .... + James Ford | 13 | .... | .... | .... + Adam Clown | 1 | 1 | .... | 1 + ---- Allen | 5 | .... | .... | .... + |---------|---------|---------|---------- + | 29 | 2 | 2 | 1 + =======================+=========+=========+=========+========== + + + LABORERS EMPLOYED IN HIS MAJESTY'S WORKS ON GEORGE'S ISLAND. + + ========================+=========+=========+=========+=========+======= + HEADS OF FAMILIES. | Males | Females | Males | Females | + |above 16.|above 16.|under 16.|under 16.| Total. + ------------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+------- + Richard Reeve | 1 | 1 | 1 | .... | 3 + Thomas Leak | 1 | 1 | 1 | .... | 3 + Patrick Hamilton | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Cornelius Larigan | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Laborers | 11 | .... | .... | .... | 11 + ========================+=========+=========+=========+=========+======= + + + AT THE BLOCK HOUSE AND THE ISTHMUS. + + ========================+=========+=========+=========+=========+======= + HEADS OF FAMILIES. | Males | Females | Males | Females | + |above 16.|above 16.|under 16.|under 16.| Total. + ------------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+------- + Adam Schafner | 1 | 2 | .... | .... | 3 + Jacob Soloer | 1 | 1 | 1 | .... | 3 + Johannes Frederick | 1 | .... | 1 | .... | 2 + Peter Moeser | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Richard Voleker | 1 | .... | .... | .... | 1 + Adolph Henokel | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 + Philip Krepof | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 + Casper Meisner | 1 | 3 | 2 | .... | 6 + Johannus Hoars | 1 | .... | .... | .... | 1 + Henrick Hiltz | 2 | 1 | .... | 1 | 4 + Henrick Mertz | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Johanna M. Girtler | .... | 2 | .... | 1 | 3 + Margaretta Hoars | .... | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 + Philip Sponnagel | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 + Michael Westhoefer | 1 | 2 | .... | .... | 3 + Wilhelm Wensell | 1 | 2 | 2 | .... | 5 + Johannes Forrokner | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Ferdinand Schultz | 1 | 1 | 1 | .... | 3 + Christian Schmidt | 1 | 1 | 1 | .... | 3 + Johannus Schnok | 1 | 1 | 1 | .... | 3 + Christopher Schafner | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Lorentz Conrat | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 + Jacob Brande | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Philip Winter | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Johannus Knaut | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Wenel Wust | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 + George Evalt | 1 | .... | .... | .... | 1 + Adam Lehnhart | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 + Conrad Graff | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Jacob Berger | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Philip Sigler | 1 | .... | .... | .... | 1 + Frederick Heison | 2 | 1 | .... | 2 | 5 + Henrick Lehn | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Johannas Barget | 1 | 1 | .... | 2 | 4 + Andrew Walter | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 + Henrick Minok | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 + Wilhelm Kuveller | 1 | 2 | .... | 3 | 6 + Adam Fileoh | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Andrew Sauer | 1 | .... | .... | .... | 1 + Eva Gibhart | 1 | 4 | .... | 2 | 7 + Peter Krauner | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 + Jacob Seely | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 + Adam Boettinger | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Caspar Ditrich | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + Christian Gothart | 1 | .... | .... | .... | 1 + Johannes Schmidt | 1 | 1 | .... | .... | 2 + John Sebastian Nicolas | 2 | .... | .... | .... | 2 + Ditrich Klauter | 1 | .... | .... | .... | 1 + Ludovig Feller | 1 | .... | .... | .... | 1 + Leonard Anton Freher | 1 | 1 | .... | 1 | 3 + Laurenz Lahn | 2 | 1 | 2 | .... | 5 + Andreas Velocker | 1 | 2 | .... | 2 | 5 + Ludovig Schnoer | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 + Philip Hirchman | 1 | 1 | 1 | .... | 3 + Anna Luse | 1 | .... | .... | 1 | 2 + Caspar Qenok | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 + Philip Rotehauser | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 + Conrad Teele | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 + Michael Merokel | 1 | .... | .... | .... | 1 + George Grant | 1 | .... | .... | .... | 1 + Partel Hoarse | 2 | 5 | 1 | .... | 8 + Alon Ostertay | 1 | .... | .... | .... | 1 + ========================+=========+=========+=========+=========+======= + + * * * * * + + =============================+=========+=====+=======+=====+=======+====== + |Families.|Males|Females|Males|Females|Total. + | |above| above |under| under | + | | 16. | 16. | 16. | 16. | + -----------------------------+---------+-----+-------+-----+-------+----- + Within the Pickets of Halifax| 468 | 846 | 622 | 279 | 285 | 2032 + Within the North Suburbs | 169 | 317 | 205 | 105 | 138 | 765 + Within the South Suburbs | 151 | 429 | 169 | 115 | 105 | 818 + Within the Town of Dartmouth | 53 | 81 | 47 | 29 | 38 | 195 + On several Islands and } | | | | | | + Harbors employed in } | | | | | | + Fishery, etc. } | .... | 168 | 13 | 18 | 3 | 202 + On the Isthmus and the } | | | | | | + Peninsula of Halifax } | 65 | 73 | 66 | 38 | 39 | 216 + +---------+-----+-------+-----+-------+------ + | 906 |1914 | 1122 | 584 | 608 | 4248 + =============================+=========+=====+=======+=====+=======+====== + + 906 families. + 1914 males over 16. + 1122 females over 16. + 584 boys under 16. + 608 girls under 16. + + 1914 + 1122 + ---- + 792 excess of males over females (over 16). + +The foregoing is copied from a book in the Crown Land Office, having +been in the Surveyor General's office, apparently, since 17th May, 1779, +as the blank leaves contain memoranda of different warrants of survey +from that date to June, 1781. Copied 4th December, 1862. + + + + +G. + + +_From the Gentlemen's Magazine, Vol. 20, 271._ + + HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, December 7, 1749. + +DEAR SIR,--I have at various times given you the last account I was able +of the state of affairs in this Colony. The summer was beautiful beyond +description and even the conception of those who are always confined +within the liquid walls of Britain. As to the winter, which you know I +always dreaded, I do assure you I have felt severer weather in England. +The people acquainted with this climate say that it began this year +sooner than was ever known in the memory of man, and assure me likewise +that it will not be more severe than it has been already; if so, there +is no danger to be apprehended from it. This you will readily grant when +I tell you, notwithstanding the tenderness of my constitution, to which +you are no stranger, that I have not added a single thing, not so much +as a great coat, to my dress since I have been in this Province. When I +look back upon the 21st June, the day of our arrival, I am astonished to +see the progress made; there are already about 400 habitable houses +within the fortifications and not less than 200 without. So surprising +is the growth of this colony, so great the happiness of being ruled by +one who has no other interest at heart but that of making thousands +happy. + +From my soul I wish that all other governors would copy such an amiable +example of imitation; he does not, like most others gripe and squeeze to +accumulate a fortune; on the contrary, he derives no profit to himself +from anything, but, with the most unexampled generosity, gives all +places and commissions gratis to the most deserving, nor suffers his +officers to take any fees at present. You know what an English rabble is +(and the greatest part of this colony was such.) You know they are +generally tumultuous, refractory, full of discontent and murmuring, +capricious in demanding favors, not long satisfied with present +concessions, and not seldom abusing them by restless importunity for +more. Such generally is the rabble of mankind, and such were many of the +settlers of this province, but by his prudent management and proper +generosity, by his condescension, candor and affability, the Governor +has charmed the tiger's fury and turned a sad tumultuous rabble into a +tractable and quiet people. They now work with ten times the alacrity +they did at first, are patient under disappointments, and when they meet +with a repulse, they conclude their petitions to have been unreasonable, +from a firm persuasion that His Excellency has their true interest at +heart; they cannot ask with reason, but what he grants with pleasure. + + Yours, etc., etc., + * * * * * * + + + + +H. + + +COPY OF MINUTES OF COUNCIL OF 12TH JUNE, 1752, REGARDING THE ERECTION OF +A LIGHT HOUSE AT SAMBRO. + +At a Council holden at the Govrs. House at Halifax, Fryday, June 12th, +1752.[105] + + PRESENT--His Excellency the Govr. + Benj. Green, Wm. Steele, } Esqrs. + John Collier, Geo. Fotheringham, } + +Resolved, That, Whereas a Light house at the Entrance of the Harbor of +Halifax, would be greatly beneficial to the Trade, Navigation, and +Fishery of this Colony, and might be the means of preserving the Lives +and properties of many of his Majesty's Subjects, and whereas altho' +many persons might willingly contribute towards so good a Work without +any Expectation of a Reimbursement, yet probably many may more readily +be concerned therein, when attended with any hopes of promoting their +own Interest at the same time. + +A Lottery, according to the following Scheme, be set on foot for raising +a sum of L.450 towards building a Lighthouse at or near Cape Sambrough, +(whereby, besides the advantages before mentioned,) a considerable +number of Settlers will be usefully employed for some time, and a great +& lasting Benefit to the province be gained, by a voluntary Tax upon +those persons (amongst others) who at present contributed nothing +towards the Expence of the Government whose protection & favour they +enjoy. + +Scheme of a Lottery for raising L.450 towards building a Lighthouse at or +near Cape Samborough:-- + +The number of Tickets to be 1000 at L.3 each, L.3000. + +The number of Benefit Tickets to be 200, vizt.: + + 1 Prize of L.500 L.500 + 1 Ditto of 300 300 + 2 Ditto of 100 each 200 + 5 Ditto of 50 each 250 + 10 Ditto of 30 each 300 + 40 Ditto of 10 each 400 + 140 Ditto of 7 each 980 + 1 The first drawn 70 + --- ----- + 200 prizes. L.3000 + +[Footnote 105: At a previous meeting of the Council held on the 3rd of +February, a public ferry was established between Halifax and Dartmouth, +and John Connor of the latter place appointed ferryman, with the +exclusive privilege for 3 years to keep boats constantly passing and +repassing, between Sunrise and Sunset, every day in the week, except on +Sunday, when the boats should pass only twice--the ferriage to be 3d., +and 6d. after hours, for each Passenger, and a reasonable price to be +paid for goods, other than baggage, etc., carried in the hand, which +passed free.] + +Fifteen per cent. to be deducted from the fortunate Tickets, and the +remainder to be paid, without any other Deduction, to ye possessors of +the sd. Tickets, as soon as the drawing shall be over--To be drawn +publickly in the Town House, at Halifax under the Direction of managers +to be appointed by his Excelly. the Govr. as soon as all the Tickets +shall be disposed of, and in case the said Tickets shall not be all +disposed of, before ye 31st Augt. next, the money recd. for any sold to +be repaid to the possessors thereof on Demand. + + ED. CORNWALLIS. + + + + +I. + + +_Governor Cornwallis[106] to Duke of Bedford._ + +(COPY.) + + CHEBUCTO, 22nd June, 1749. + +MY LORD DUKE,-- + +I arrived here yesterday,--this morning a Sloop arrived from Mr. Hopson, +which I am obliged to send to Boston in case any ship should be going +thence to England. I would not neglect an opportunity of writing to your +Grace. I met the "Fair Lady" storeship at sea the eleventh, after we had +been from England four weeks, who told me the Transports arrived at +Spithead the day before he sailed, and were to sail in three days after +him, we were then off the island of Sable, and except the first eight +days had met with contrary winds all the passage, besides we had steered +our course for Cape Race but was forced off the banks by a gale of wind +from the North West so that I had reason to think the Transports might +be soon at Chebucto--we had nobody on board that knew anything of the +coasts nor of the Bay of Funday, so were to cruize off the coasts till +we met with a pilot, we made the Coast of Acadie the 14th, but met with +no pilot till the 20th, when we met with a sloop from Boston to +Louisburgh with two pilots on board, for the use of the Governor,--the +wind not serving for the Bay of Funday, and the officers assuring me in +case of foggy weather (not unusual upon those coasts) we might be a +fortnight getting to Annapolis. The wind was fair for Chebucto, so I +thought it advisable to go in there rather than risk the being some +weeks, perhaps, after the settlers arrived. I could save the garrison +of Louisburgh the bad and long navigation to Annapolis, so I sent to +Governor Hopson that I was going for Chebucto and desired him to +transport the garrison thither, imagining he had transports ready; by +his sloop that came in this day I find him in great perplexity, the +French arrived, and he no transports.--The Council of War it seems were +of opinion that the orders from the Secretary at War did not empower him +to hire transports, but to wait my arrival and that I was to send the +transports that brought the settlers here. As I cannot know when the +transports will arrive, in what condition, nor how many I can spare, I +think it absolutely necessary for the service to send the sloop to +Boston with orders to Apthorp and Hancock, who Mr. Hopson has +recommended as the persons who have been always employed on the part of +the Government, to hire vessels with all expedition for the +transportation of these troops from Louisburgh to Chebucto. I send a +letter by the same sloop to Colonel Mascarene in case he should meet at +sea any vessel going to Annapolis. I likewise send a Frenchman that +knows the country over land, by Minas to Annapolis. I have ordered +Colonel Mascarene to come here with a quorum of the Council as soon as +possible that I may open my commission, take the oaths and appoint +another Council, according to His Majesty's instructions. + +[Footnote 106: The Honorable Edward Cornwallis was fifth son of Charles, +third Baron Cornwallis, by Lady Charlotte Butler, daughter of Richard, +Earl of Arran, and uncle to the celebrated Duke of Ormonde. He was born +22nd February, 1712-13. He was Member of Parliament for the borough of +Eye in 1749, and in 1753, shortly after his return from Halifax, he was +elected for the city of Westminster. He married, the same year, a +daughter of the late Lord Townshend, but left no family. In 1759 he was +made a Major General, and was afterwards the Governor of Gibraltar. +General Cornwallis was twin brother of Dr. Frederick Cornwallis, +afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury, and uncle of the Lord Cornwallis +who defeated General Gates at Camden, South Carolina, in 1780, and +afterwards surrendered at Yorktown, to the Revolutionary General +Lincoln.--_Collins' and Debrett's Peerages._] + +I can give Your Grace little information as yet as to this country--the +coasts are as rich as ever they have been represented. We caught fish +every day since we came within fifty leagues of the coast, the harbor +itself is full of fish of all kinds; all the officers agree the harbor +is the finest they have ever seen--the country is one continual wood, no +clear spot to be seen or heard of. I have been ashore in several +places--the underwood is only young trees so that with difficulty one +might walk through any of them; D'Anville's fleet have only cut wood for +present use, but cleared no ground, they encamped their men upon the +beach. I have seen but few brooks nor have as yet found the navigable +river that has been talked of--there are a few French families on each +side of the bay about 3 leagues off; some have been on board. As to the +disposition of the French or Indians I can give Your Grace no account +till I see Colonel Mascarene, when I shall write more fully and continue +from time to time to acquaint Your Grace of our proceedings. I wish the +French may not be uneasy at waiting so long on board for the evacuation +of Louisburgh as it may be some time before Mr. Hopson will get +transports--it will, I fear, retard the settlement. + + I am &c., + ED. CORNWALLIS. + + P. S.--I expect the transports daily. + His Grace the Duke of Bedford. + +(From the Duplicate.) + +We came to anchor in Merliguiche Bay, where I was told there was a +French settlement. I sent ashore to see the houses and manner of living +of the inhabitants--there are but a few families with tolerable wooden +houses covered with bark, a good many cattle and clear ground more than +serves themselves--they seem to be very peaceable, say they always +looked upon themselves as English subjects, have their grants from +Colonel Mascarene, the Governor of Annapolis, and showed an unfeigned +joy to hear of the new settlement. They assure us the Indians are quite +peaceable and not at all to be feared--there are none hereabouts. + + I have, &c., + ED. CORNWALLIS. + +(From the Duplicate.) + +This Frenchman will be there in three or four days--'tis 25 leagues from +hence to Minas, and the French have made a path for driving their cattle +over here. + + * * * * * + +_Governor Cornwallis to Duke of Bedford._[107] + + CHEBUCTO, JULY 23rd, 1749. + +MY LORD,-- + +My last to Your Grace was of June 22nd, a duplicate of which is +enclosed,--the 27th, the transports appeared off the harbor and in a few +days most of them got in. As their passage had been extremely good and +none of them had in the least suffered, I found they would be ready to +sail the moment the settlers should be put ashore. I despatched a sloop +to Boston to countermand the order I had given, and sent to Mr. Hopson +to let him know I would send in a few days transports to bring away his +garrison. Mr. Hopson had wrote me that he had agreed with Desherbier, +the French Commissary, to make use of the French transports upon +condition that in case the English ships should arrive before they were +all on board he should be at liberty to disembark them. I sent him one +the 1st of July and four more, the largest of the fleet, the 5th. I own +I was much disappointed in finding Mr. Hopson unprovided with transports +as I never had the least intimation that he was to wait for the ships +that should bring the settlers. I have an account from Boston of July +3rd that my second order got there soon enough to prevent all but one +from sailing, but as they were all hired this will cause some expense; +they write me it will not be much. + +[Footnote 107: John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford, was appointed +Secretary of State in 1747-8 and resigned the office in 1751. He was +afterwards Minister Plenipotentiary to France. He died 1771.--_Collins' +Peerage._] + +July 8, I received from Mr. Hopson copies of letters from Governor +Shirley and Colonel Mascarene giving an account of the French having +begun a settlement and a fort at the mouth of the St. John River. As my +instructions direct me to prevent all such encroachments, and +particularly mention that River as of the greatest consequence, I next +day sent Capt. Rous of the Albany with a small sloop to attend him with +orders to the commanding officers at Annapolis to furnish him with +troops if demanded. Copies of my letter to Capt. Rous and one to the +commander of St. John's, I send You Grace enclosed. I hope what I have +done in this affair will meet with Your Grace's approbation. July 12th I +heard from Governor Shirley, that he had sent the Boston to Annapolis to +receive my instructions about the affair of St. John's. I sent Capt. +Pearse the same directions I had given to Capt. Rous, and a copy of the +declaration asserting His Majesty's rights. As to Port Mouton which is +mentioned in these letters, I believe it was a mistake occasioned by the +French having put in there in their way to St. John's. + +I shall now lay before Your Grace our proceedings at Chebucto. + +Colonel Mascarene arrived here on the 12th with five of the Council; +next day I opened to them His Majesty's commission, and took the oaths; +the day following I nominated the members of a new Council: + + Colonel Mascarene.[108] Mr. Benj. Green. + Capt. How. Mr. Salisbury. + Capt. Gorham. Mr. Davidson. + +[Footnote 108: Col. Mascarene was the Lieut. Governor of Annapolis; +Capts. How and Gorham were two of his councillors. Mr. Green was +secretary to Governor Hopson at Louisburg. Messrs. Salisbury and +Davidson came out with Governor Cornwallis. Mr. Steel, afterwards added +to the Council, was one of the settlers from England.] + +I have added since, Mr. Steel. + +As, perhaps, no copies were taken of the plans sent me of the harbor, I +send along with this a copy of Durel's plan. Your Grace will see that +the place I have fixed for the town is on the west side of the +harbor--'tis upon the side of a hill which commands the whole peninsula +and shelters the town from the north-west winds. From the shore to the +top of the hill is about half a mile, the ascent very gentle, the soil +is good, there is convenient landing for boats all along the beach and +good anchorage within gunshot of the shore for the largest ships. In +Durel's plan the two points that make the entrance to Bedford Bay are +marked as the places proper to fortify, which is likewise taken notice +of by Mr. Knowles. Their view must then have been to have the settlement +within that bay. This would have been subject to great inconveniences. +In the first place, it would be too far up for the fishermen, it being +about five leagues from the entrance of the harbor to these points, and +the beach all along as proper for curing their fish as can possibly be +imagined, so that no fisherman would ever have thought of going within +these forts--indeed no ships would choose to go so far, as no finer +harbor can be than that of Chebucto, which reaches from these points to +Sandwich River,[109] so that notwithstanding of any forts upon these +points an enemy's fleet might lie secure and indeed block up all ships +within the bay. The proper places to fortify for the defence of the +harbor seem to be Sandwich Point and the bank opposite to it. George's +Island lies likewise very convenient for a battery to defend both the +harbor and the town. It contains about ten or twelve acres. It was there +I landed the settlers from on board the ships sent to Louisbourg--I have +now a guard there and stores, and propose to build a magazine upon it +for powder. + +[Footnote 109: North-west Arm.] + +As there was not one yard of clear ground, Your Grace will imagine our +difficulty and what work we have to do. However, they have already +cleared above 12 acres and I hope to begin my own house in two days; I +have a small frame and planks ready. + +The Indians are hitherto very peaceable, many of them have been here +with some Chiefs; I made them small presents, told them I had +instructions from His Majesty to offer them friendship and all +protection and likewise presents which I should deliver as soon as they +should assemble their tribes and return with powers to enter into treaty +and exchange their French commissions for others in His Majesty's name. + +Three of the French Deputies have been here to know what is to be their +condition for the future; I gave them copies of His Majesty's +Declaration and copies of the Oath of Allegiance which I told them they +must take without any condition or reservation, but in the same manner +as His Majesty's English subjects;--they pretend their only difficulty +is from fear of the Indians in case of a French war. I have ordered all +the Deputies to come here and expect them in a few days. I think 'tis +necessary to show them that 'tis in our power to master them or to +protect them, and therefore I design to send as soon as possible two +companies to Minas with orders to build a barrack and stay there the +winter. I shall also send an armed sloop into the Bay of Minas to +prevent all correspondence with the French by sea; another company I +shall send to the head of the bay where the road to Minas begins. I +propose, likewise, a blockhouse half way for the conveniency of +travellers, and then to employ all the men I can get together, soldiers +and inhabitants, to clear the road from hence to Minas; 'tis about 30 +miles in a direct line--whether this can be executed before winter I +cannot say. Had the garrison of Louisbourg been arrived, they would +have been of infinite advantage; at present I have only one company of +Hopson's, one of Warburton's and 60 of Gorham's Rangers.[110] + +[Footnote 110: These Rangers came from Annapolis; they had been enlisted +in New England and were chiefly composed of Indians of half blood.] + +A list of the civil officers I shall be able to send Your Grace by the +next ships that sail, with an account of what further progress we shall +have made. + + I am, &c., + ED. CORNWALLIS. + +To His Grace the Duke of Bedford. + + + + +J. + + +NAMES OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SUN FIRE COMPANY OF HALIFAX IN THE YEAR +1819. + + John W. Pyke. + John Tremain. + Michael Tobin. + Stephen W. DeBlois. + Charles Hill. + John Owen. + Richard Tremain. + Henry Taylor. + J. E. Butler. + David Shaw Clarke. + James Grant. + James Kerby. + William Bowie. + Alexander Creighton. + John Letson. + Alexander Fiddis. + William Lawson. + Adam DeChezeau, Jr. + Andrew Smith. + John Liddell. + Joseph Dolby. + William Milward, Jr. + Azor Stephens. + Joseph Marchington. + Lawrence Hartshorne, Jr. + Robert Lyons, Jr. + John Howe, Jr. + James T. Alport. + Henry Austin. + John Carroll. + Joseph Allison. + Lewis E. Piers. + W. Bremner. + Samuel Story. + George N. Russell. + James Russell. + E. J. Hopson. + Samuel Cunard. + Enos Collins. + James Cogswell. + James Dupuy. + Lewis DeMolitor. + Temple F. Piers. + Edward Alport. + John Salter. + John Moody. + George Mitchell. + S. Morris. + John Ferguson. + W. N. Silver. + James Bain. + William K. Reynolds. + Charles Boggs. + Miles W. White. + A. McDonald. + H. Ford. + D. McColl. + +ABSENT MEMBERS. + + P. Sennerats, London. + Mark Etter, Trinidad. + James Barlow, London. + John Telford, Scotland. + G. W. Anderson, Glasgow. + James Walker, Chester. + +MEMBERS LATELY DECEASED. + + John Henry. + Thomas Leo DeWolf. + James Bell. + Robert Lyon. + Samuel T. Prescott. + Winkworth Allen. + John Buchan. + Thomas Austin, Jr. + Peter Bain. + + + + +K. + + +_From the Gentlemen's Magazine, Vol. 20, 1750. (June.)_ + +The Town of Halifax is entirely built according to the plan given in our +last February number, and many additional buildings are carrying on. The +barracks for the soldiers are completed and the fort at the mouth of the +harbor will soon be in a good posture of defence. + +The story in the papers of the Indians burning a town of 200 houses is +without foundation. + +Major Lawrence, of Warburton's Regiment at Nova Scotia, appointed +Lieut.-Col. of Governor Cornwallis' Regiment and Lieut. Governor of +Annapolis Royal. (July number of the Magazine, 1750.) + +August, 1750. Halifax, Nova Scotia.--The fishery here is extremely good, +one company only having 1400 or 1500 quintals of good dry fish ready to +ship for a foreign market, and others also have been very successful. +Mr. Brown, gardener to Governor Cornwallis, with his son and four +others, going out two or three miles from the town, were beset by the +Indians, who killed him and his son; the latter they buried, but the +other body was found on the ground scalped, and brought hither and +buried; the four others, it is feared, are killed or carried off. The +Indians have also attacked and scalped seven men that were at work on +the other side of the harbor. Parties are gone out to repel them. + + + + +L. + + +RETURN OF THE 1ST COMPANY OF HALIFAX VOLUNTEER ARTILLERY, UNDER THE +COMMAND OF CAPTAIN RICHARD TREMAIN, 6TH JULY, 1812. + + Peter Robb, Sergt. Major. + John Brown, } + Wm. Forsyth, } Sergeants. + Thos. Fenerty,} + John Rogers, } + Charles Dunbrack, } + Thomas Nelson, } Corpls. + John D. Scott, } + William Rudolf, } + David Muirhead, } + William Story, Jr., } Bomb'rs. + Martin Piazza, } + John Tremain. + Frederick Major. + William Gorham. + James McAllen. + John Miller. + William Bond. + John Peeples. + William O'Brien. + Alexander Smith. + George Morin. + Francis Story. + George Nock. + Samuel Lydiard. + Benjamin Marshall. + Benjamin Kingston. + Peter Hay. + Frederick Kringle. + John Henry. + William Smith. + Martin Gay Black. + Leslie Moffatt. + John Phillips. + Frederick Runvell. + Francis Muncey. + Robert Grinton. + George O'Brien. + Morgan Doyle. + Daniel Fraser. + Alexander May. + Thomas Gentles. + John Pendergrass. + William Stairs. + John N. Ford. + Nicholas Wright. + Samuel Black. + Azor Stevens. + Henry Monson. + Dennis Connor. + Paul Cermanatti. + Henry Wright. + Abner Stowell. + William Schwartz. + Peter McNab. + Thomas Muirhead. + Alexander Fiddis. + Herven Cameron. + Thomas Simmons. + William H. Barry. + John Hussey. + Thomas Richey. + John McPherson. + Fred'k John Knight. + John Cobb. + Thomas Smith, Jr. + Daniel Ferguson. + Charles W. Hill. + William Murray. + Thomas Beamish. + Nicholas Vass. + Alexander Clarke. + Joseph Lordley. + Henry Boyer. + John Bonnell. + Henry Warner. + David Hutton. + Ralph Turnbull. + Donald Fraser. + James Wilson. + John Forrest. + John F. Salter. + John Fillis. + Richard Scott. + William Strachan, Jr. + John Simpson. + Robert Fraser. + James Cogswell. + John Buchan. + Wyndham Madden. + James Leishman. + Hugh Gall. + Alexander Smith. + Joshua Lee. + Robert Field. + + Halifax, July 6th, 1812. + + Sgd. RICHARD TREMAIN, + _Capt. H. V. A._ + + + + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Transcriber's Note: + + +Minor punctuation errors have been corrected without note. + +Inconsistent hyphenation, spelling, and capitalization have been left as +in the original. Except for obvious errors (e.g. missing, extra, or +transposed letters), incorrect and obsolete spellings have also been +retained. Mathematical errors have not been corrected. + +In the plain-text versions, two oe-ligatures were changed to oe. + +The following changes were made to the text: + +p. 4: indispensibly to indispensably (indispensably necessary to the +support) + +p. 8: De Anvilles' to D'Anville's, to correspond with the same passage +quoted later in the book (D'Anville's Fleet have only cut wood for +present use) + +p. 15: Grande to Grand (quartered at Grand Pre) + +p. 15: Footnote marker with no note attached removed (after "hired at +fair wages to assist in the work.") + +Footnote 16 (originally on p. 15): Note. to NOTE. + +p. 26: embarassed to embarrassed (was continually embarrassed) + +p. 44: Surveyers to Surveyors (Surveyors of Pickled Fish) + +p. 45: Exellency to Excellency (his Excellency the Lieutenant Governor) + +p. 51: 6. to 6d. (for the Church L.350 18s. 6d.) + +p. 56: subscripton to subscription (A subscription was set on foot) + +Footnote 48 (originally on p. 86): extra "of" removed (the accommodation +of the people) + +p. 60: parochials to parochialis (notitia parochialis) + +p. 82: $ to L. (The highest prize was L.2000.) + +p. 90: extra "in" removed (prisoners, six in number) + +p. 96: comformity to conformity (in conformity with the Act) + +p. 97: "Royal Gazette:" to "Royal Gazette": + +p. 97: Prince William Henry to "Prince William Henry" (The brig "Prince +William Henry,") + +Footnote 55 (originally on p. 98): Crdnance to Ordnance; Oonnors to +Connors + +Footnote 58 (originally on p. 106): Footnote marker was originally +between dash and "Uncertain" instead of before "NOTE." + +p. 107: genera to general (as a general) + +p. 109: Hemmiongton to Hemmington (J. Hemmington, Grocer) + +p. 117: conmiseration to commiseration (commiseration of their +countrymen) + +p. 118: pproaching to approaching (On his approaching near) + +p. 118: dist nguishes to distinguishes (so often distinguishes) + +p. 119: Halibur on to Haliburton + +p. 124: fvaourite to favourite (a favourite resort) + +p. 128: Beaujoile to Beaujolie (Count Beaujolie) + +p. 132: inh is to in his (in his 83rd year) + +p. 139: extra "the" removed (appeared in the Gazette) + +p. 150: extra "and" removed (and all the other decimal parts) + +p. 153: ballotted to billetted (billetted for service) + +Footnotes 74-80 (originally on p. 165): "NOTE.--" removed; these notes +were originally grouped together into one paragraph + +p. 168: suing to using (using these small boats) + +p. 175: extra "to" removed (to the Bishopric) + +Footnote 84 (originally on p. 188): Parado to Parade (The Grand Parade) + +p. 190: Admirality to Admiralty (Admiralty Records) + +p. 192: eollege to college (erecting the college) + +p. 193: delapidaated to delapidated (old and delapidated) + +p. 197: neucleus to nucleus (nucleus for loungers) + +p. 205: aids-de-camp to aides-de-camp ( with his aides-de-camp) + +p. 206: asssembled to assembled (assembled under the portico) + +p. 211: woooden to wooden (old wooden fortifications) + +p. 214: Dorie to Doric (Doric pillars) + +p. 216: erecteed to erected (erected there a large stone warehouse) + +p. 218: stork to store (present stone store) + +p. 222: pretentions to pretensions (his pretensions to skill) + +p. 225: were to where (where he received his education) + +p. 229: a to as (as Judge of the Supreme Court) + +p. 231: Abbe to Abbey (Abbey of St. Matthew) + +p. 234: Storkkeeper to Storekeeper (Naval Storekeeper) + +p. 234: 1659 to 1759 (bears date August 16th, 1759) + +p. 237: Carles to Charles (Charles Mason) + +p. 239: seamen to seaman (private soldier or seaman) + +p. 242: off to of (Shipping of the settlers) + +p. 245: seige to siege (accurate account of the siege) + +p. 246-261: all repeated headings in tables removed (e.g. NORTH +SUBURBS.--(CONTINUED.)) + +p. 247: Rodoph to Rodolph (John Christopher Rodolph) + +p. 248: La renz to Laurenz (Laurenz Busgler) + +p. 248: E izabeth to Elizabeth (Elizabeth Werner) + +p. 248: U rich to Ulrich (Ulrich Seeger) + +p. 249: Johanues to Johannes (Johannes Hoaif) + +p. 268: soonas to soon as (should deliver as soon as) + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's History of Halifax City, by Thomas B. 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