HISTORY OF ANNAPOLIS - PANS MG 100, Vol. 1, #7

--- In consequence of the proclamation of Governor Lawrence, Mr. Henry Evans, of Massachusetts was "despatched" to Halifax to ask for further information as to the terms on which grants of townships could be obtained and to report to those who sent him as their agent in this behalf. In the performance of this trust, Mr. Evans kept a diary or journal of his proceedings, which has been preserved by his descendants, and which will now be given to the public for the first time, as I was kindly permitted by its late possessor, Mr. R. J. Harris, to take a verbatim copy. Mr. Evans lived in or near Sudbury, Mass. and seventeen years afterwards was elected a representative of the county. The manuscript has been kept in excellent preservation, and among other things, furnishes us with the names and number of the families which first arrived to resettle this township, and many other particulars concerning them, and is as follows:

Evans' Journal

1760

• April 1:- Preparieing to go to Halifax to waite on his Excellency govenor Lawrence and the Council, as Being appointed Agent for the township of Annapolis Royal, was to take passage in a schooner (Capt. Watts)

• 2:- Getting my Things, Bed &c on Board

• 3:- Being fast Day was to Be at the vessell at one o'clock which was Before High water. Accordingly was at the Place. But the vessel gone almost to Castell-so am Left.

• 4:- The wind came to the N. East, went to Marblehead, Thinking to have seen Watts there But not finding him y^r and the wind now at S. West I take passage in a fishing schooner of about thirty Tons, Bound to Bank Quereau, the Sciper Promising to Putt Capt'n Bartlett and Myself into Merligast or Halifax if we will pay him fifteen dollars and four Galin Rum, which amounts to 19 Dollars Besides all our Stores for ourselves of all Sorts.

• 5:- Sailed from Marblehead at 12 o'clock-wind Fair-next morning wind headed, snowed and Blew Very hard and Cold. I haveing no Bed, But the fishermens see Cloes to Ly on and no fire in the Cabin, was badly off indeed. Beat to windward till April 10th, the wind Came fair and Blew us almost under water-the Vessell all the time full of water on the Deck.

• 11:- at five o'clock in the evening Got to Merligash, the wind too hard, coold not Proceed, and we went on shore and came on Board again in order to Sail next morneing April 12th.

• 12:- But the Master not willing to cary us any Further Saying it might hinder his Voige we went on Board a Small Sloop of Mr. Crooks to take passage for Halifax, and Gott into a small Harbour this night, the Sloop Being not fit to Be at Sea, Being deep loaded and a Poor Thing indeed it was, and about twelve Passengers of Dutch People.

• 13:- Being Sabbith went on Shore-the wind high and very Cold- Gott some fish and made a Diner on Shore with some fishermen who were Driven into Ketch harbour as we ware. About 3 P.M. sail and Rowed out of sd. harbour, and Gott to Meagur's Beach and went on Board a Small Schooner Belonging to the man that Came with me from Marblehead and went to Halifax in her, and Gott to [Halifax] this night, and lodged on Board this night.
• 15:- a Very Bad Storm and I scarcly not able to walk. Did not go out this Day.

• 16:- waited on the Governor and was Received kindly. Showing the Petition and asking Some more favours-most of which I Gott granted.

• 17:- Obtained the order for two vessells and other Things all which the Govenor, Mr. Morris and myself minuted Down the heads and Mr. Morris went with me to the Secetary to Draw in form what they Could grant, requesting it in writing for the Satisfation of my Constituents-Order &c.

• 18:- Was Busily Ingaged In getting my answers & orders Coppey'd By the Secetary and Clark.

• 19:- Rained-I wrote a letter to Annapolis and told them some of the Proprietors would be there in a month. Waited on the Secetary for my Papers and on the Govenor to sign them.

• 20:- Sunday-Prepareing for home. Coold not go to Meeting. Thought to go in Cobb. But he not Going to Boston Directly; Thought to gett a Passage Sooner in Capt'n Hinckley, I went on Board, found he was Ready to Sail, all but a Pass.

• 21:- Gott all things on Board-Gott my Pass and all my Papers Ready for Sailing, But a Storm Came on-Staid till Daylight.

• 22:- at Light Sailed and the men of war Likewise out of the harbour-they for Louisburg and we for Boston.

Here the journal is interrupted by the insertion of the following:

"Acc't of Ports, Harbours and Capes from Halifax To The Bay of Fundy"

Jebucto Head Cape LeHave East Passage

Sambro do Port Medway Cape Sable

Ketch Harbour Port Saviour West Passage

Sambro do Port Muttoon Popnico

Pearints do Port Lebair Shag Harbour

Prospect do Port Jolley *Sile Islands

Margarets Bay Greens Harbour Tuskett's do

Ashmetogett Hill Port Roseway Tibouge

Mehoun Bay Cape Neagro Cape Forchu

Merligash or Port Latore or Long Island Hd

Lunenburg Town Baccro Point Bay of Fundy

*Seal Island

• April 22:- 5 o'clock p.m. the winds coming west and Blew so hard, that Captain thought Best with advice of Passengers (there being five of us and most well acquainted with the Shore) to put into LeHave and did so; this night wind west and blew hard and next Day Lay in the Harbour and a very good one-went on Shore, Gott more Ballice and Travilled on Shore most of the Day But killed nothing.

• 24:- Sailed from Lehave By Day Light. at 4 o'clock p.m. the wind headed, and Coold not Beat to advantage Putt into Metoon Harbour which is a good one.

• 25:- at four o'clock morning weighed and Came to Sail. The wind fair till eleven o'clock forenoon. Spoke with Capt'n. Clustin in a Schooner for Halifax off against Cape Neagro, But no news. The wind is ahead; took many tacks, but at night stood off from the Shore.

• 26:- 12 o'clock Saw a Schooner to the Lewrd and although to windward off against Sile Islands, wind south, did not speak with them.

• 27:- Most of this Day Calm. Shifting winds-night Thunder and Lightning and some rain.

• 28:- Small Brease-Had a Good observation-Little past 12 Saw Cape Cod at S. west-wind ahead or Calm the afternoon and night-Gott by morning off Cape Cod.

• 30:- in the morning off against Moniment at 7 o'clock, the entrance of Plymouth harbour. 12 off against Marshfield and Calm. 5 p.m. wind Sprung up and Came to the Lite-house, By Sun Down; and at 10 run on the Rocks of Castell, Butt Gott off.

• May 1:- at one o'clock in the morning Gott to Boston, the Boate Bringing me on Shore finding the family well, &c.

• 2:- Went to Sudbury.

• 5:- Chartered the schooner CHARMING MOLLY, Captain Grow.

• 6:- went to Framingham-meeting of Proprietors.

• 15:- the Vessel ready to Sail, But waits for a wind.

• 23:- in the morning the wind fair and the Vessell sailed for Annapolis Royal.

• 26:- at night a Bad storm on Shore-Boston

• June 5:- Capt. Grow returned to Boston

• 19:- Sailed again for Annapolis.

• 25:- arrived at Annapolis Royall

• 28:- Capt'n Grow sailed Back for Boston

• July 9:- had a meeting of the Proprietors [at Annapolis]-Entered on the Public Service Being Chosen one of the Committee for Laying out Lands, and town Committee & Treasurer of the Town.

• Aug. 27:- Finished Laying out Lotts for the first Settlers.

• Oct. 6:- Began to Lay out Lotts for second Settlers.

• Nov. 1:- at Night made an End at Present.

• 14:- Began my house

• 18:- a Grate Snow came on.

• 28:- a Ship Came in with Relief for the Geri. [Garrison-GRS]

Then follows "A List of Names of Passengers for annapolis Royall on Board the CHARMING MOLLY, May 17th, 1760"

In all, forty-five souls. To this "List" is appended the following interesting statement showing the number and description of the cattle [livestock] which were brought in the CHARMING MOLLY with the names of those to whom they belonged:

In addition to these we add, "one dog, stores, chests, casks, and utentials such as carts, wheals, plows, etc."

* Those marked thus have posterity still living in the county

† His descendants still occupy and own the lot their ancestors settled on.

The following memorandum copied from this MS, seems to give some of the names of those settlers who arrived somewhat later in the summer of 1760:

In addition to these names are mentioned those of Capt. Gates and Mr. Graves, in an account of expenses incurred in the building of a boat at Annapolis -probably a ferry-boat ‡ -this summer (1760)

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‡ Samuel Harris was the name of the first "ferryman" at Annapolis.

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