Voices of the People

Nova Scotia House of Assembly Petitions and Correspondence

20 June 1803

Petition of James Ratchford and James Noble Shannon and other owners of the Parrsboro’ packet. "That in the original agreement between the first Settlers at Partridge Island and Government, the persons Keeping the Ferry were allowed Four rations of Provisions, besides other privileges but soon after the conclusion of the last American War the Provisions were stoped finding that the Packet had a Sufficient Encouragement by the Great Number of Cattle sent to Halifax from Cumberland and Westmorland, but within three years last past the Road hath been so much improved between Cumberland and Halifax by way of Cobequid that about one half the Cattle is now drove Around on which Account the owners of said Packet are obliged to put the Vessell in other Employ to support the same Contrary to their real desire and to the Great detriment of the People in the Counties of Hants & Kings, & all others in the Westward parts of this Province wishing to communicate with Cumberland & New Brunswick, and more especially so to the Inhabitants of Parrsboro’ and the Southwest part of the County of Cumberland owing to the Great distance and the unimproved State of the Roads around Cobequid Bay, and as you have been pleased to Grant large sums of Money for Roads of Communication thro’ the province, and as your Petitioners have no other Road of Communication to the Southward by the Water the Packet answering for a Bridge, have Humbly to request you will please to take our case into consideration and Grant your Petitioners such reasonable assistance that with the Accustomed Ferriage said Packet may be still continued,"…Owners further suggest that letters of marque be issued to master of packet, who would then be able to act against American vessels trading illegally in the Basin. Signed. (See resolution 1 July – RG 5 A Vol. 10 No. 68 – and Assembly Journals, 1803, pp. 51, 55.)

Reference: Nova Scotia House of Assembly Nova Scotia Archives RG 5 Series A volume 10 number 47