-
Key Events in the History of Nova Scotia: 1802.
-
[Backward In Time (1801)]
[Forward In Time (1803)]
§In 1802, the Treaty of Amiens is signed and the war between France and England is ended leaving France supreme in Western Europe, and England supreme on the oceans of the world. With this peace (1802-03), the Peace of Amiens, there came a swarm of American fishermen to the shores of Nova Scotia; many of these fishermen had previously lived in Nova Scotia; it was reported that 750 vessels of the United States passed through the Strait of Canso, within a year. It was in May of 1803 that Perkins writes at Liverpool, "Eight American fishermen in the cove."
§A subscription is taken up by the inhabitants of the Clare/Digby area, whereby the subscribers "promised both labour and oxen, and ...[cash] towards building a bridge over Sissibo River.
§March 22nd: The Lt.-Governor directs "Captain Fawson in His Majesty's Armed Brig Earl of Moira to repair to the Gut of Canso, by or before the 5th May next, and from thence along the Coasts of the Gulph of St. Lawrence, diligently and carefully to prevent ... illicit commercial intercourse ..."
§March: A resolution is passed by the House granting fifty pounds to anyone keeping a packet in service between Liverpool and Halifax for a year.
§9 April: A committee of the whole house condemns the commission set up to oversee the building of Government House at Halifax.
§14 Apr (Wed): "... There is late arrivals from England, and the March Packet was arrived last Saturday." (Perkins.)
§July: General election in Great Britain.
§"On the 2nd September the 97th regiment arrived in the harbor ..." (Akins.)
§August: Three hundred and seventy settlers (all Roman Catholic) arrived in the province from the Island of Barra, Scotland, early in August. Governor Wentworth settled them in the area of Pictou, where they may carry on the herring fishery, "hitherto too much availed by the fishermen and coasting traders from the United States of America."
§2 Sep: "The brig Trusty, Capt. Thos. Parker, arrives from Antigua & Turks Island, with salt & W. India Goods, 24 days passage. ... Markets were good at Antigua. [Lumber, fish, rum, and salt.] ... No news of the Rover." (Perkins.)
§9 Sep: "... [News from Halifax]: Part of the 29th regiment was arrived from England." (Perkins.)
§A fleet of His Majesty's ships under the command of Commodore Baynton arrived at Halifax on 13th or 14th of September; they departed on October 11th. Having travelled from Jamaica, they had come in to be victualed. The fleet consisted of seven "74s": Cumberland (74 Guns), Bellerophon (74 Guns), Ganges (74 Guns), Vanguard (74 Guns), Goliath (74 Guns), Theseus (74 Guns), Elephant (74 Guns). These large multi-decked sailing ships had an armed brig among them, the Pelican, smaller and more maneuverable for getting messages and people from ship to ship, or to shore.
§October: Wentworth reports the arrival of the fleet which stayed nearly a month and they were all supplied without disrupting the local markets. "Good supply of produce at reasonable prices, despite increase in consumption by these, eight ships, and 1200 Scottish immigrants." In a later report, January 8th, 1803, Wentworth gives notice by way of a postscript that "the squadron that lately victualed at Halifax has arrived safely in Bermuda."
§October: Governor Wentworth reports that he is in receipt of the "King's charter for incorporating King's College." Appointed governors then set out to prepare a constitution, rules and regulations conformable to the University of Oxford.
§19 Nov: [A ship is seen passing by and news comes in:] "She is a 40 or 50 gun ship from Jamaica, bound to England, to stop at Halifax. They have had great mortality on board. The captain and several officers are dead." (Perkins.)
§30 Dec: "... He [a captain arriving from Dominica] brings a rumour that there is likely to be war with France, and the British Minister has been ill treated by Bonaparte, & left Paris, and that orders were recd in the West Indies to all Commanders to be in readiness for war. I hope it is only a rumour. ..." (Perkins.)
-
[Backward In Time (1801)]