Voices of the People

Nova Scotia House of Assembly Petitions and Correspondence

24 October 1809

Petition of Nathaniel Parker detailing his exertions in arranging for the cutting and settling of the Liverpool – Annapolis road. "The Memorial of Nathaniel Parker humble sheweth that your Memorialist in February A.D. 1798 went through the woods to Liverpool for the purpose of soliciting the people of that township to assist in making a Road from thence to Annapolis township – That the said people of Liverpool furnished him with an Indian for a Guide and two men to mark said road and agreed to cut half way if it should be found practicable to make a road – That your Memorialist after his return from Liverpool, by his exertions procured a Subscription from the inhabitants of Annapolis amounting to about one hundred pounds for the purpose of cutting said road – That he spend Seventeen days in exploring and making necessary alterations in said road, lest the labour should be expended in places where it must necessarily be lost by reason of alterations after the expenditure – That your Memorialist with Mr. Foster Woodberry of Willmot, and another man with them, went thro’ on the marked line and bargained with the Committee, appointed by the inhabitants of Liverpool, whereby it was agreed to that inhabitants of Liverpool should cut one half, and the people of Annapolis the other half of said road, a day being agreed upon for the completion of said work – That your Memorialist superintended the opening of the Annapolis part of said road, and that by reason of the insufficiency of the Subscription-money to complete the work he paid more than Fourteen pounds of his own money towards the completion of the same – That in the year 1798 your Memorialist paid the sum of Four pounds, twelve shillings and eight pence towards procuring a plan of said road – That in the year 1802 your Memorialist attended the whole time a survey was made by virtue of a warrant from Government, to lay out lots on said road – for which he got but little recompence – That in May A.D. 1803 your Memorialist went to Halifax and made proposals to Government for procuring Settlers on said road which being complied with, he received a Commission for that purpose by which means 44 persons have been induced to settle thereon, 29 of which are married men, and that the present number of inhabitants on the said road (including men, women and children) amounts to one hundred and Sixty one – That your Memorialist has spent much time in going to said road for the purpose of shewing the Settlers their Lots, and otherwise to assist and encourage the said Settlement – That your Memorialist having never received any compensation for his said Extra Services, Therefore humbly prays that his said services may be taken into consideration, and rewarded by granting him the sum of Fifty pounds, or in such a manner as to the honble house of Representatives in General Assembly convened may appear most proper".

Reference: Nova Scotia House of Assembly Nova Scotia Archives RG 5 Series A volume 16 number 36