[Footnote 46: Baron de Seitz died at Halifax in the following year. He
was buried under St. Paul's Church with military honors, with his full
uniform, sword and spurs, according to the ancient custom in Germany
when the last Baron of the race dies. His monument, a quaint old German
performance, may be seen in the east gallery of St. Paul's, with his
armorial bearings, etc. Among his effects advertized for sale was his
diamond ring and coach with 3 horses.]
The views of the town and suburbs at this time show the fortifications
at Citadel Hill, Fort Needham and Point Pleasant. They were supposed to
have been taken by one Colonel Hicks, and were engraved and published in
London. These views were mere outlines. Copies of them are to be seen at
the Provincial Museum, where there are also a series of views, very
neatly executed in copper plate, of the Government House, St. Paul's
Church and other parts of the town. These latter were published about
1776, some six or seven years before those of Colonel Hicks.
Governor Parr and family came out in the ship St. Lawrence, and assumed
the government in October.
Benjamin Green, Esq., son of the Hon. B. Green, one of the first members
of Council, was elected member of Assembly for the town in February,
without opposition. Mr. William Shaw was at the time Sheriff of the
County.
In December, 1782, a large quantity of heavy ordnance was brought to
Halifax from Charleston, South Carolina; also 500 refugees, men, women
and children, arrived about the same date.
In August, 1783, a number of Negro refugees arrived from New York. It
was resolved that they should be settled in different parts of the
Province; however, not a few remained in Halifax, and became servants
and labourers.
The Loyalists continued to come from the old Colonies, many of them in a
destitute and helpless condition, until the population of the town was
increased to three times its former number, and much temporary suffering
in consequence prevailed. Yet many intelligent and enterprising settlers
were at this period added to our population, giving new life and spirit
to the town. Many spacious and commodious buildings began to be erected,
taking the place of the low gamble-roofed and picketed buildings of an
early day. It is very remarkable, however, that in the year 1791, only
seven years after this great influx, the population had again so
decreased as scarcely to exceed 5,000. In 1783, Governor Parr estimated
the population at only 1,200. This was before the Loyalist emigration
from New York. In 1784, one hundred and ninety-four Negro men, women and
children arrived in Halifax from St. Augustin's, in a destitute
condition; they did not remain in the town, but were distributed by the
Government throughout the interior parts of the Province.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account