Nova Scotia Archives

Acadian Heartland

Records of the Deportation and Le Grand Dérangement, 1714-1768

NOVA SCOTIA DOCUMENTS.

best information about 900 or 1000 able men, of which having upon ye. receipt of ye. letter, again summoned those of this place to take ye. oaths*, and declare theire sentiments and dispositions to his majties Governmt, I herewth send you theire answers to me on yt. head, and shall enquire as soon as ye. season of ye. Year will permitt into ye. dispositions of those in ye. remoter parts. And at present presume to inform you that my sentiment of them is very much altered from my former believe yt. they are all of one opinion and that from theire trifling argumtt there is but little dependence on their friendship, tho', at the same time I am persuaded it will be wth. reluctancy they leave the Country, most of those who had formerly gone being again returned, but for ye. better improvement of ye. country English Inhabitants are absolutely necessary.* * * * *

Rt. Honble Sir

Yr. most Obdt. Servt, &c

T. CAULFIELD.

To ye. Rt. Honble. Secretary of War.

Lieut. Governor Doucette to Secretary of State.

(Gov. Lett. Book.)

ANNAPOLIS ROYAL Novr. ye 5, 1717.

SIR, —

      Soon after my arrival here which was on the 28th day of the last month, I was informed that the French Inhabitants had never own'd his Majesty as Possessor of this his continent of Nova Scotia and L' Acadie. †
    General Nicholson appears to have possessed much influence with the Indians of the Five Nations, with whom he had frequent intercourse during the frontier wars. His Indian name was Annadagarriax. General Nicholson continued to hold the post of Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Nova Scotia from 20th Octr., 1712, to August, 1717, when he was succeeded by Governor Philipps. He revisited Nova Scotia in 1714, but did not remain long in the country. In his absence the command devolved on Cols. Hobby, Vetch, and Mr. Caulfield, successively as Lt. Governors of the Fort. — N.S. Documents; N.York Col. Doc., vols. 5 and 9; Murdoch's N.S., vol. 1; Garneau's Hist. Canada, 2d vol.
    * See Govr. Mascarene's letter to Govr. Shirley, 6th April, 1748.
    † By the fifth article of the capitulation of Port Royal to General Nicholson in 1710, it was declared that "the inhahitants within a cannon shot of Port Royal should remain upon their estates, with their corn, cattle, and furniture, during two years, in case they should not be desirous to go before — they taking the oaths of allegiance and fidelity to her sacred Majesty of Great Britain." This was declared by the General to extend three English miles around the Fort. Queen Anne's letter of 1713 extended the right to all the inhabitants of Acadia without limitation of time.