Nova Scotia Archives

Looking Back, Moving Forward: Documenting the Heritage of African Nova Scotians

Appendix 1: Letter from Hon. Charles Morris, Surveyor General, to the Lieutenant Governor JC. Sherbrooke, regarding the settlement of the Black Refugees and the best location for that purpose
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the late War in 1783 — a few implements of Husbandry to begin with, such as Axes, Spades, Saws, a few Grindstones and Rough Boards to cover their Cabins or for floors —

        Thus Situated, near each other, it is natural to suppose they will be much better satisfied & enabled mutually to assist comfort and support each other — than if compelled to take up with situations remote from Market liable to be exposed to many difficulties and suffering thro' a long inclement Winter — & more especially if detached from the Public Roads — Of the Lands proposed for the accomodation (sic) of these people — there are four tracts which the Proprietors are chearfully (sic) disposed to relinquish upon assurance of the like quantities in other Situations, and independent of them there is one particularly desirable as it lies in the Centre of the proposed Settlement, and if allowed to remain in its present uncultivated State will seperate (sic) these people from each other and prevent their forming a connected chain of Settlements. this Lot is the property of the Honble. Michl Wallace, was by him purchased at a considerable price in or about the year 1800 but has never been Setled (sic) or Improved and now remains in a Wilderness State — consequently is liable to forfeiture, and had I acted in rigid conformity to your Excellency's directions, this Lot would and ought most certainly to be included in my Report of Lands in Preston for Escheat — but the enormous Sum which to my knowledge has been expended by Mr. Wallace on the Dartmouth Shore, and in and thro' Preston in the cultivation and improvement of Lands the Erection of Buildings &c immediately contiguous to this Lot intitle him to every consideration and indulgence that can be shown him consistent with his Majesty's instructions — and I have a confident hope that the same spirit which animated


Date: 6 September 1815

Reference: Nova Scotia Archives RG 1 volume 420 number 76

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