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Key Events in the History of Nova Scotia: 1795.
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[Backward In Time (1794)]
[Forward In Time (1796)]
§21st February: H. R. H. Prince Edward, major-general "offers free pardon to all deserters from regiments in this province and its dependencies, who shall surrender by 1 June next, who voluntarily enter ... [a] Nova Scotia regiment; not extended to those who desert after 21st February."
§A "packet" arrives from Falmouth on March 15th "after a voyage of 59 days."
§"At this time there were in Halifax harbor the following ships of the Royal Navy: Resolution, Cleopatra, Thetis, Hussar, L'Esperance, Argonaut, L'Oiseau; and five of them sailed on 19 July, on a cruise, the Resolution and Cleopatra remaining in port."
§The Thetis (Captain Cochrane) and the Hussar (Captain Beresford) had brought in two French prizes: the Raison and the Preoyante, the latter having "24 guns."
§"There was not a single mercantile vessel trading under the French flag."
§Prince Edward implemented plans to fortify Halifax, which included refortifying George's Island by the erection of a "Star Fort" which could accommodate 300 men. At the centre was a blockhouse, one story high, 40' square and 10' high., to serve as a guard house for an officer and forty men. So too, is commenced the third citadel on the hill just west overlooking the town.
§In 1795, William Cobbett called by at Halifax, on his way from New York to England; he was well received by the leading citizens of Halifax.
§In the autumn, stories were circulating about "putrid fever" which was prevailing in New York.
§A scarcity of bread during the coming winter was anticipated. We see Governor Wentworth writing to Prince Edward and advising that the "wheat harvest, tho'good, was considerably diminished by the Hessian fly." We should add, however, that Halifax through this period, according to Akins ["History of Halifax City," NSHS, #8 (1895), p. 103-10] was well supplied. The Halifax newspapers disclose that, there were brought to Halifax that winter, from the Annapolis Valley, no doubt, 786 head of fat cattle, 30 cows and calves, besides numerous sheep and swine.
§It was in 1795, that a sixteen year old boy by the name of Daniel McGinnis discovered a strange indentation on Oak Island, an island in Mahone Bay; and then there was spun a tail of lost treasure, one perpetuated as grown men over the next two centuries sunk their lives and fortunes into the "Money Pit."
§September 17th: "[From a Capt. arriving from Halifax:] ... says that a battalion of the Princes regiment, consisting of one thousand men, is arrived from England." (Perkins.)
§"In the autumn of 1795 Sir John Wentworth, Baronet [made one that year], and Lady Wentworth made a triumphal tour of the western townships. The road to Annapolis Royal was now passable for carriages and Wentworth drove in state, visiting and staying with friends along the way." [Cuthbertson's The Loyalist Governor (Petheric Press, 1980) at pp.60-1.]
§November, 1795: Benning Wentworth (1755-1808, a brother to Lady Wentworth) is sworn in as a councilor, "on a royal mandamus."
§The Speenhamland system, a system of poor relief, was begun in England, in 1795.
§The suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act was renewed, and it continued till 1801. Further government suppression came in the form of the Treasonable Practices Act and the Seditious Meetings Act.
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[Backward In Time (1794)]