Susan: "I know that I have Nova Scotia roots because I've done some researching and learned that I am a thirteenth generation descendant of Jehan Teriot who settled at Port Royal in 1630. Our surname has changed spelling over the centuries most likely due to the relocation of the family."
Heather: "My great grandfather Caleb Rand Bill (not the Nova Scotia Senator, but his nephew the music professor who settled in Salem, Massachusetts) came from "Billtown" in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia. I visited there in 2007 and established a lineage back to John Howland of the Mayflower. I need to return to find copies of vital records and primary source documents to submit to the Mayflower Society for proof. The lineage I have includes Bills, Lyons, Skinners and Osborns from the Cornwallis/Wolfville area. I can't wait to someday return to Nova Scotia to visit the places where my family lived and to search out these documents for final approval by the Mayflower Society!"
Dre: I have a copy of an affidavit of an
ancestor, George Farnell, who fought in the Carolina Campaign of the
American Revolution in His Majesty's 33rd Reg. Of foot. After the
surrender at Yorktown he was shipped to Halifax. He later served in the
Royal Nova Scotia Regiment for which he received a tract of land in
Upper Musquodoboit. Family tradition also has it that he was involved in
the rescue of the British Frigate 'La Tribune'. He married Margaret
Fisher,whose family had migrated from Londonderry,N.H.to Truro in 1760's
to occupy former French property. They were elders in the first
Presbyterian church established in Canada. Their descendants later
married into the Flemming family of Upper Musquodoboit. I desire to
document all this especially George Farnell's involvement in the rescue
of 'La Tribune'.
Comments
Hi Lauren,
I work for the Council of Nova Scotia Archives and I enjoy reading the entries too. I found Dre’s entry interesting because he refers to the rescue of HMS Tribune.
A few years ago I moved from the UK to Joe Cracker Road, in Herring Cove. I was intrigued by this unusual name and I soon discovered the story of this heroic rescue.
In November 23, 1797 the HMS Tribune was approaching Halifax harbour and she ran aground. The Tribune’s commander turned away all early rescue attempts as he hoped the high tide would refloat the ship. In an attempt to lighten the ship, guns & heavy items were thrown overboard. A violent gale then carried the ship onto the rocks in Herring Cove where she sank. Of the 250 people on board only a handful survived the stormy night.
Heavy weather discouraged all rescue attempts until a 13 year old-orphan boy, Joe Cracker, went out his small skiff and rescued 2 men. As the weather improved, others went out to rescue more. Accounts vary as to how many were rescued but no more than 14 survived.
The ship gave her name to the area known as Tribune Head and a memorial plague marks the site and heroism of Joe Cracker.
If you are interested in this story, the Author John Dickie will be speaking about his book “Age of Heroes,” the Tribune shipwreck and the legend of Joe Cracker on the 213th anniversary of the sinking of HMS Tribune. At the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, November 23, 2010, at 7:30 pm.
Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
ReplyMemorial Plaque at Tribune Head