Nova Scotia Archives

Footprints in the Sand

Pre‐1867 Government Records for Sable Island

Letter from M.D. McKenna to the Honorable Joseph Howe regarding the wrecked vessels that surround the island

1849. — 4 pages : 30 x 37 cm.

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Sable Island 20th Nov.r 1849

Dear Sir

I beg to call your attention to the necessity of a law whereby the interest which persons have in wrecks now laying around this Island shall at some fixed period be made to cease, and for limiting the time that future purchasers shall hold an interest in wrecks and cargoes that may hereafter be stranded here. You will no doubt see the necessity for such a law when I tell you of the Brig "Bessey Dryden" and Ship "Levant" on the NE bar, the Sch.r "Fulton" at the West end of the Island and the Barque "Blonde" on the North side being the property of one party, and although they might puzzle me to prove it, yet from circumstances I know such to be the case.

Now as that party were opposed to the changes made in the Superintendance of of this establishment they would no doubt be glad to have an opportunity of showing that nothing has been gained by that change and will at some time when perhaps we are not aware of it, use the means their Claims around the Island affords them to my disadvantage, and as such is now unavoidable I would say the sooner we have it the better and let it be got through with before they an opportunity of making their holds stronger, and would advise that an Act be passed by the Legislature at its first meeting making it imperative on all persons owning wrecks or wrecked property around this Island to cause the same to be removed by the first day of August next at farthest or forfeit
their


4 pages 30 x 37 cm

Date: 1849

Reference: Nova Scotia Archives RG 1 volume 425 number 79

Nova Scotia Archives — https://archives.novascotia.ca/sable/archives/?ID=2389

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