embarked in the Anne, and arrived at Halifax in the year 1750. The rocky coast, the interminable forest, and the sterility of the soil, struck them with dismay and astonishment; and the toil and privations which the people of Halifax underwent, but too strongly depicted the miseries they were destined to endure. On the 13th of July, 1751, arrived ship Speedwell A sufficient number having arrived to form a new township, and it being deemed expedient, to settle these people together, *Merliguesh or Malegash Bay, was selected, on account of the beauty and safety of the harbour, the fertility of the land, and its vicinity to the new capital. A plan for a town having been drawn up and approved by Governor Hopson, 1453 persons were embarked at Halifax on the 28th May, * An Indian word, signifying milky bay, in reference to its appearance in a storm. All Germans and Swiss. 1753, and arrived at Merliguesh on the 7th of June following. Having landed their effects, and cut a road from the shore to the hill that overlooks the harbour, they erected a block house for its defence, and after clearing the ground of the timber with which it was covered, they laid the foundation of a town, to which they gave the name of Lunenburg. It was laid out according to the plan into six divisions, and every settler drew a town lot and a garden lot, and was required to enclose the same, and erect suitable buildings thereon without delay. A regiment of militia was then organized by Patrick Sutherland, Esq. Lieutenant-Colonel, and Leonard C. Rudolph, Major; and as the Indians were very numerous, and exceedingly hostile, murdering every man who ventured alone into the woods, nine blockhouses were built, to form a line of defences for the town, and the settlement enclosed with a fence of pickets, sharpened at the points, and firmly set in the ground. The arduous duties performed by the militia at these posts, in scouting parties, and in defending stockaded houses, and the numbers slain by the Indians, discouraged the settlers, and rendered them discontented with their situation, and dissatisfied with Government. While the temper of the people was soured by these hardships and misfortunes, a report was industriously spread among them, that they had been defrauded of a large portion of the provisions and stores, destined for their use. As they had been all supplied with fire-arms, they de termined to redress their own grievances, the civil authority was overpowered, and nearly the whole of the settlers were in a state of open rebellion. A strong body of troops was immediately dispatched from Halifax, and this state of general insubordination was not subdued without much trouble on the part of the public officers. Two of the ringleaders having been shot, and the most satisfactory assurances given, both of the pardon of past offences, and of the falsehood of the reports upon which they had acted, the insurgents submitted, and were disarmed. Four hundred and fifty-one stand of firelocks were surrendered, and lodged in the King's stores, and the people dispersed at their various employments. The following year, (1754) supplies of cattle were received from the agents of Government, amounting to 74 cows, 967 sheep, 114 swine, 164 goats, and a great quantity of poultry, and were distributed among the settlers, according to their conduct and characters. Every two families of good character received one cow and one sheep, or six sheep, one sow and six goats between them. Every two single men of good character drew 4 sheep and 1 sow between them. Every two of indifferent character drew 4 sheep, 1 sow. Every two of bad character, drew 3 sheep, 1 sow. Two years af terwards this stock was augmented by a portion of the confiscated property of the Acadians. A party of armed men,consisting of fifty rank and file, under the command of Captain Steignford, marched through the woods from Lunenburg to the Basin of Minas, and collected and drove off upwards of 120 head of horned cattle, and a number of horses. After infinite labour, they succeeded in conducting to Lunenburg sixty oxen and cows, but the rest of the cattle and all the horses died during the journey of fatigue and hunger. In 1754 there were 319 houses erected, and forty huts, several of which were not yet inhabited, and during the following summer the Church of St. John was built by Government. Until the 14th of June of this year the inhabitants had been supplied with provisions at the public expense, when this allowance was withheld, except from the aged and infirm, who still continued to draw their rations. But notwithstanding the encouragement they received, little progress was made in Agriculture on account of the continued hostility of the Indians, who carried off many of the settlers captives, and killed and scalped others. In consequence of these depredations, both at Lunenburg and Halifax, Governor Lawrence, by proclamation, offered a reward of £30 for every male indian prisoner, above 16 years of age, and £25 for his scalp, with a proportionable reward for women and children, when brought in alive or scalped. The premiums were, however, wholly unattainable by these foreigners, who were ignorant of the country, and unaccustomed to marching through the woods, and who, if they succeeded in discovering the traces of their enemies, too often found to their cost, that these tracks were made for the purpose of leading them into ambush. This state of warfare continued until the year 1760, when a peace with the savages relieved them from any further apprehensions from this merciless enemy; but some idea may be formed of its effects from the census of the inhabitants, by which it appears that there was an increase of only seven souls in seven years. From this period they began to settle lands at a distance from the town, erect saw mills and grist mills, and build small vessels to carry the produce of their farms to market, and in a short time they were able to supply the fleet, the army, and the inhabitants at Halifax with vegetables. Until the commencement of the rebellion of the old colonies Lunenburg advanced steadily,though not rapidly, in population and wealth, but during the continuance of the war, it met with repeated losses, by the capture of its vessels, and was once plundered by the enemy. On the 1st July, 1782, six sail of American Privateers, under the command a Captain Stoddard, consisting of one Brigantine, one large schooner, mounting sixteen guns, two small schooners, one sloop, and one row galley full of armed men arrived at Lunenburg, where they landed ninety men, and surprised the town, and having taken, with the loss of three men killed, a block house which was defended by Colonel Creighton, and his domestic servants, they plundered the place, burned several dwelling houses, and carried away and destroyed property to the amount of £12,000; upon threatening to burn the town, several respectable inhabitants executed a Bond for the ransom of the place, by which they undertook to pay the captors one thousand pounds. During the remainder of the war, they were in constant dread of a re petition of the visit. In the year 1783, peace was proclaimed to the great joy of the Inhabitants, who being thus relieved from the fear of the enemy, turned their attention to the improvement of their farms, and in the year 1791 the census exhibited a great increase in the population. Families, Township of 388 Number of souls 2213 |