African Nova Scotians in the Age of Slavery and Abolition

This bill is for surveying the 179 lots assigned to the black settlers of Birchtown in 1787. It states that each family received 40 acres, while single persons obtained 20 acres. The average land grant to white settlers was 100 acres or more. The muster roll of the inhabitants of Birchtown, giving their names, ages and occupations, is held by the National Archives of Canada (reference: MG 9 B 9-14, vol. 1, file 3, p. 108-109).

Date: 20 November 1787

Reference: Nova Scotia Archives  MG 100 volume 256 number 30 (microfilm 21819)