Count down to the year 2000!

Meeting Notice

The regular meeting of the SSGS will be held Monday, January 18, in the Society room, Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic at 7:30 PM.

A reminder that the Annual Meeting of the SSGS will be held Monday, March 15, 1999

Bill Introduced NS Legislature

The Protection of Abandoned Cemeteries Bill introduced in the legislature, November 2, 1998 would protect heritage cemeteries in Nova Scotia neglect, vandalism or property development. The legislation concerns those cemeteries that are not the responsibility of any particular group or where the ownership of the cemetery is unclear.

Education and Culture Minister, Robbie Harrison said the legislation is important to all Nova Scotians. "The Nova Scotia Museum has had over 300 letters, E-Mails and phone calls from individuals and groups concerning abandoned cemeteries," said Mr. Harrison. "The legislation responds to a clear need to protect the final resting place of our ancestors, and to preserve an important part of our heritage."

The legislation establishes three things:

1. Once a piece of property has been used for human burial it cannot be used for any other purpose.
2. Groups interested in maintaining a grave site may do so through a permit system.
3. It is a crime to damage or disturb a grave or gravestone without a permit that sets out appropriate procedures to work on the site.

The legislation will also make it possible for people to cross a piece of private uncultivated land to visit a cemetery. Heritage groups and genealogical associations applaud the proposed legislation.

"The information contained on these grave stones is a vital part of the history of our province," said Dr. Alan Marble of the Genealogical Assoc. of NS. "This information often cannot be found anywhere else. This legislation would protect this important connection to the past."

More and more Nova Scotians are interested in preserving their family's history and grave sites. This legislation recognizes this interest, and allows groups and individuals to take action to protect these historical sites.

...submitted by Sueann Bailey

Don't forget to include your research lines on the form, along with your Membership . The deadline is January 31, 1999 to be included in the Directory of Surname Research Lines. A second reminder to those who have not sent your Membership dues for 1999.

Single - $15.00 Family - $20.00

We must receive a form or list of your surnames research lines in order to have your name included in the 1999 list.

We were very pleased with the Membership response to date and a BIG "thank you" to those of you who included donations for the 'Wish List". It certainly is much appreciated

Changes in Churches and Cemeteries

The November 16, 1998 Newsletter regarding Cemetery name changes and Churches discontinued brought several responses:

... from Vincent Boliver, Brooklyn, CT

"There are several cemetery changes in Conquerall Mills that have occurred over the years".

- The Presbyterians and Lutherans shared a church which is now St. Matthews Presbyterian Church. The land for this church was deeded by my gr gr grandfather, James Naugler, in 1858. The Lutherans built the Lutheran Church of the Ascension next to St. Matthews in 1915. Consequently, persons from both denominations are intermixed in the cemetery.

- the St. James Anglican Church Cemetery in the SSGS records in the new cemetery. There is an old one on Oak Hill above Stanley Bolivar's field. The grave markers are field stones and Oak trees. The first burial there was in 1824 and the last in 1878. There are about 100 people in the old cemetery. I sent the SSGS a copy of an undated draft by Rev. K. B. Wainwright that gave some of the history and many of the Anglican burials.

..... by Roger F. Hirtle and typed by Muriel M. (Farquhar) Davidson

The history of the beautiful Dayspring Cemetery Co. Ltd, located in Dayspring, Lun. Co., has been summarized as follows:

1795 - Adam Hebb granted a half acre of land, situated on the east side of the LaHave River at approximately two miles down river from Bridgewater, and said land was to be used as a community burial ground.

As far as we know, Adam Hebb was the first to be buried in the piece of land in 1803. Also at that time, and for some years after, the cemetery was known as Cove Marsh Cemetery.

From 1795 up to the latest acquisition in 1994 the cemetery has been built up to what is now a 5 acre piece of property which is known as the Dayspring Cemetery.

Property acquisitions took place as follows:

-Nov. 27, 1876 - Approx. 0.25 acres via deed from Edward Weagle to the Trustees of Hartling's Burying Ground.

-Mar. 15, 1897 - Approx. 0.25 acres via deed from Dennis Hirtle to the trustees of Hirtle's Cemetery.

-Sep. 8 1921 - Approx. -.5 acres via deed from Dennis Hirtle to the Dayspring Cemetery Co. Ltd.

-Mar. 10, 1989 - Approx. 1.5 acres via deed from Walter Bolivar to the Dayspring Cemetery Co. Ltd.

-Sep. 23, 1994 - Approx. 2.0 acres donated via deed from Marion Bolivar to the Dayspring Cemetery Co. Ltd.

From the foregoing, you can see that the cemetery was referred to under several different names. At all times it was used as a community cemetery for any and all religions, for the residents of Dayspring and nearby districts.

The Dayspring Cemetery Co. Ltd. was formed circa June 1914: "At that time my father, along with a few other residents of Dayspring and Upper LaHave were responsible in forming the Cemetery Co." said Robert F. Hirtle.

Genealogists recording burial data may refer to burials in Cove Marsh Cemetery up to 1900 - "since the early 1900's all burials should be as in Dayspring Cemetery:"

Census Taking in 1911

..The Weekly News, Lunenburg,

June 1, 1911.

Canada's numbering will be an elaborate work. It costs something to take the census in Canada. The appropriation for the purpose is $1,000,000. But Mr. Archibald Blue, the Census Commissioner, says that the cost would exceed this amount.

The commissioners have been appointed and their names will soon be announced. There are 220 in all. Three permanent officers of the Census Bureau will be assigned to meet the commissioners at various convenient points through the Dominican. There will probably be four or five meeting places in Ontario and the same number in Quebec. There will be one meeting place in the Maritime Provinces and one in each of the western provinces. The instructions to the enumerators will be given in May. The latter have not, as yet, been appointed. Actual work on the census will be commended June 1, 1911.

It has been arranged that the factors or district managers of the Hudson Bay Co. will take the census at the different stations of this company and one of the principal officers of the company has been appointed a commissioner. The Indian agents of the Government will take the census at Indian agencies. They will receive instructions direct from the Census Bureau and report to it instead of to the Department of Indian Affairs. At the last census there were 93,400 full-blooded Indians in Canada and 34,481 half-breeds. It is expected that the aborigines, while not showing any great increase will be able to hold their own. While the population of Canada will be found in the cities, rapid strides have been made in the rural districts of Ontario and the West. The Provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta will, it is expected, show the greatest increase. Manitoba will show a substantial gain, but the province is a comparatively small one and a large portion of it has been settled for years.

Memories of Bridgewater NS

This is the third in the series, continued - Memories written by Stewart Leary (born February 1869)

... There was an old building standing in the lot almost opposite the entrance to the bridge, where McFadden had his barbershop for awhile. David MacKay bought a lot and had a store built on it in which he did business for a number of years.

Miss Hebb who married Mr. Cameron a Presbyterian minister, had a fancy workshop in the Hebb building next to the Starratt Hotel in which was the telegraph office of which Miss Hunter was the operator. After her marriage to Mr. Cameron, her sister ran the store. I heard Mr. Cameron preach once in the Union Church at Conquerall Bank. There was good skating on the LaHave River at the time and although I was not allowed to go skating for pleasure on the Lord's Day, I was allowed to skate to church.

Mr. Hunter, the foundry-man whose place of business was on the Sebastapol Road, was a jobby man and inclined to be somewhat of a skeptic. He and Father Kennedy often had friendly discussions. In one which Mr. Hunter, asserted that there was no personal devil, Father Kennedy contended that there was and that he could show him a picture of the evil one. Mr. Hunter in looking at the picture saw that it was his own likeness.

In the Bridgewater paper, some time ago, there was a list of the former organists of the Episcopal Church. Mr. Hunter's eldest daughter's name was omitted. That she was an organist of the church, I am sure for shortly after we had an organ in our home, Mr. Hunter brought his daughter down to play the organ. I remember his asking her to play a hymn, that she played in church the previous Sunday. Mr. Hunter did the castings for father's vessels for many trips with his meat cart. Mother often used to buy meat from him. M. McDonald was also a veterinarian. I remember father calling him in to see our horse that had distemper.

Lawyer Wade before he bought the Chase house lived in a house below the Baptist church. His span of lively bay horses driven by a Negro coachman made a showy turnout. His brother, Capt. Wade, who was in the flour and feed business for awhile, had a horse and dray to make deliveries. He built a house next to W. Owen's. Mr. Kempand his son Charles were the builders. Aulenback did the masonry. Capt. Wade married Mora Bigelow's mother. He was her third husband.

Joe Newcomb who was noted for his lack of generosity was another old-timer. While I was in Bridgewater he lived in his warehouse near that of Capt. Cashon.

Bicycles were unknown at that time and vehicles that were propelled by man-power were called velocipedes. I was in Bridgewater when the first bicyclist came to town. There were two of them with the high wheels of the time. They were surrounded by a curious crowd, that wondered how the riders could balance themselves atop of high wheels. When the present styles first came they were call safeties. No one thought, at that time, that they would supplant the high wheels.

QUARANTINED

..Nova Scotia Genealogist, 1985

The inhabitants of this place have been stricken with Genealogy Fever. A deadly and infectious disease.

Symptoms: Notepapers stuffed in pockets and files, heart palpitations at the site of gravestones and old trunks filled with letters, bloodshot eyes from excessive microfilm exposures, erratic speech patterns punctuated with pilgrims and princes, cold sweat upon the arrival of the daily mail.

..Lunenburg Progress, Jan 21, 1891

The United States census taken but a few weeks ago gives the following as the number of natives of the provinces in Boston and within a radius of ten miles of Boston.

	NS	NB	PEI
Boston	14,896	8,415	3,112
Cambridge	1,852	1,211	496
Lynn	2,503	632	143
Somerville	1,405	713	129
Chelsea	1,446	756	346
Newton	10,922	323	143
Malden	784	307	142
Waltham	492	256	63
Quincy	352	103	165
Weburn	343	132	121
Brookline	294	129	67
Medford	326	114	79
Hyde Park	203	181	37
Melrose	276	89	15
Wakefield	307	7	9
Everett	387	96	31
Arlington	186	109	72
Belmont	92	61	15
Milton	96	62	38
Winchester	165	102	43
Winthrop	114	52	37
Other places	517	294	133
TOTALS	28,160	14,145	5,441

By adding the three totals together, it will be learned that, within ten miles of Boston, there are now 47,746 provincialists. What have the tories, who pledged themselves in 1878 to inaugurate a policy that would induce the provincialists to return to the land of their birth, got to say about this matter now?

(Note: The totals do not add up exactly but, but typed as the newspaper)

Editor's Note

A note of 'thanks' to the members who contribute articles and suggestions for the Newsletter. All suggestions are being considered and/or implemented. Some members suggested a 'genealogy smile' might lighten our Newsletter once in awhile.

The following was taken from the Internet (with permission) from Chris Young.

Smile

....Occasionally one finds out more than dates form the tombstones:

On a grave in East Dalhousie Cemetery, NS -

"Here lies Ezekial Aikle, Age 102....The Good Die Young"

The Irish Connection

January 17 - February 14, 1999

"A special first-time art exhibition at the DesBrisay Museum & Exhibition Centre, Bridgewater, NS"

Follow the journey of a family heritage through the installation works of artist Rita Lamontagne MacDonald in "The Irish Connection", the product of years of reflection on this artist's roots. A short video expresses, in the artist's words, the source of some of the images in this collection. Do not miss your change to experience the first time these works are presented together in one space.

Genealogists are encouraged to experience this art collection which is a journey of 'searching for roots'. On Sunday 31 at 2 PM, the artist will present a gallery walk-and-talk, sharing her own experience researching and reflecting on her Irish ancestry and French-Canadian heritage.

Museum open hours - Free admission Tuesday to Sunday: 1:00 to 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Monday: Closed
For information: (902) 543-4033 or
Fax (902) 543-4713
Desbrisay Museum - Gary Selig or Linda Bedford (902) 543-4033.
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