)12 89 f 1 -MmfarByitfh J&mkjMl^LJilLLJii, Jlimili -41H IJItl 4u-iii»- UtiU"! iHilM liiilM jB4jllbilltillllliMHlfjlli-iiittttjlB--lllLi-lllL UlllJll 4JH4Jifr[tti^iBrJltiitfhrM44ftV- 'ilVJUL -Mi 4-M-'tlE4ilti XJ ill JMLUtU ^^ I Memorial = - ()!•' THE iaist jlisto oi^ the: laancl IB MNIVKRSAfiY OF THE ' SEnLERIEUT OF TRUBO BY THE BRITISH BEI^G THE Fl^ST CELiEBRATIOH Op THE TOWN'S NATAL DAY, § SEPTEMBER 13th, 1882. % eiliillintft •] l*«li*««««««»it»««l • • » • » • •••. •• •• » ••• .. ••• ••••• ••••• ••••• ••••• ••• • • •• • • • • • • •• • • • • • COMMITTEE OF PUBLICATION • •••• RICHARD CRAIG-, Esq., Chairman. ISRAEL LONGWORTH, Q. C. F. A. LAURENCE, Q. C. MEMORIAL One Hundred and Twenty-second, and of the One Hundred and Twenty-first, advertised as the One Hundred and Twenty-third OF T^E SEJTLE/I\EflJ Of 51^0, BY THE BRITISH, Being the F^st Celebration of THE TOWN'S MT4L MY, September 13th, 1882. TRURO, N. S. Printed by Doane Bros., 1894. PREFACE The committee in charge of the publication of this pamphlet, in per- forming their duty, exceedingly regret that the delay has rendered it im- possible to furnish the "Guardian's" account of Truro's eventful Natal Day, as well as to give the address delivered by F. A. Ljaurence, Esq., Q. C, on the memorable occasion, published in September or October, 1882, in that newspaper. After much diligent inquiry for the missing num- bers of the "Guardian," by advertisement and otherwise, they are not forthcoming. If not discovered in time for the present publication the committee hope that the matter of a supplementary nature in the form of an appendix, will be found of sufficient historical importance to, in some measure, compensate for that which has been lost. The great aim of the committee has been to omit no part of the proceedings in the first "Natal Day" of our town that could in any manner illustrate any phase of its past history, or be used to the advantage of the place at any future period. It will be noticed that the Natal Day speeches, as well as the "His- torical Sketch of Truro," by Mr. Craig, in the appendix, only relate to the history of the town up to the date of its first Natal Day. It will also be noticed that the "proceedings" are referred ta as a "Memorial rof the 122nd and of the 121st, though "advertised as the 123rd /anniversary of the settlement of Truro by the British." In ex- planation of this it may be said that while there is ample evidence in the archives of the Province to prove that the first effectual settlement made by the British occurred early in June, 1761, yet it also appears pretty evident from the records, and by tradition, that committees of these set- tiers visited the township in 1759, on a tour of inspection, before or after applying for a grant, and in 1760, when some log cabins were erected, and attempts at roads were made, with a view to the settle- ment of the main body of proposed grantees to take place on the suc- ceeding year. The members of the committee, or first instalment of settlers of 1760, it is generally believed, as a mattetr of tradition, re- turned to New England to winter, and came back to Truro with the "first settlers," so ca;leu, about tiie first of June, 1761. Between the two settlements ui cue town, the "Natai L>ay'' has with a good deal of seeming historical accuracy been fixed as dating from September 13th, 1760. Governor Belcher's Letter Book, pages 20, 29 and 32, establishes be- yond much doubt that the main settlement of both Truro and Onslow began abomt 1st of June, 1761. On the 6th April, 1761, he wrote Thomas Hancock, of Boston, relat- ing to Mr. McKeen, and the persons who propose settling with him at Truro, stating he would give all encouragement in his power to those people and others coming into those parts of the Province ; that he had sent Capt. Cobb with two other sloops to Boston in order to receive all persons who shall be ready to embark by the 1st of May for Truro and Onslow, and if these vessels shall not be sufficient for the numbers who shall then be ready at Boston to embark for those places he desired he 68448 would hire a sufficient number for that purpose, at the allowance of two tons for each person with their sick. And as proper embarkment for Mr. McKeen's people would be at Haverhill, he desired that as soon as they should be ready for embarkation, which is to be at the 1st May, he might hire a sufficient quantity of tonnage at the same allowance at Haverhill, giving orders to all the transports to proceed to Horton in the Basin of Minas, where they will receive directions for their further proceeding/' 30th May, 1761, Governor Belcher wrote Mr. Hancock : "I have re- ceived your obliging letter, 14th instant, informing of the despatch you had given to Capt. Cobb and Capt. Dogget, who with the other trans- ports of settlers for Truro and Onslow, are arrived in the Basin of Mi- nas. On landing the settlers and their teffects, I have ordered these transports to be forthwith discharged." 14th June, 1761, Governor Belcher wrote Isaac Descftamp : "I hope sloop Biddeford has safely got to Cobequkl by the assistance of the pilot despatched from hence a few days ago/' And on the 18th, June, 1761 gave him directions for the Acadians to repair the Dykes. On the 27th .June, 1761, it appears that Surveyo/r Morris was at Cobequid laying out lands for the new settlers. And by Murdoch's History of Nova Sco- tia, volume 2, page 390, it appears under date, 1760 : "The committee of the townships of Truro and Onslow, at Cobequid, requested aid in cutting roiads between the several lakes that lie between Fort Sack- ville and their townships, and the council (5th August) advised that pro- visions be allowed them while actually employed in the work." Wherefore as between 1759, and 1761, September 13th, 1760, has been taken as Truro's commemorative "Natal Day," to celebrate annu- ally as a public holiday, for all time. EICHAKD CKAIG, ESQ., Chairman Truro's First Natal Day Committee. RCCOUflT OF THE CELEBRATION OF THE OKE HUNDRED HP TWENTY-FIRST WDVEKIlT OF THE SETTbEMENT Of TRURO, Being the First Celebration of the Town's Natal Day, September 13th, 1892. The fourth quarterly meeting of the Town Council for the year I881-2 having met in due form in the council chamber, at 7 o'clock, Wednesday evening, 5th April, 1882. Present, his worship Mayor Chas. B. Archibald, Councillors Richard Craig, Chas. Bent, M. D., Cyrus Eaton, James W. Johnson, George A. Lay- ton, and Thos. G. McMullen. After the minutes of the former meeting were read and approved, and all business before the council disposed of, Councillor Craig, with appropriate remarks, introduced the question of celebrating Truro's Na- tal day, and moved the following resolution on the subject, which was seconded by Councillor Bent and passed by the council. "That, Whereas it is very desirable that a flay be named for tbe celebration of the first settlement of this town by our ancestors, who la- bored and suffered much for the attainment of the rich blessings which Ave enjoy, and whose memory should ever be fondly cherished in the commu- nity, And Whereas, as nearly as can be ascertained, the first settlement of the English in Truro took place about the thirteenth day of September, 1759, And Whereas, in order to make the observance of our celebration 8 day worthy of the occasion and have it participated in by as many of Truro's sons, at home and abroad, as possible, Therefore, Resolved, that the thirteenth day of September, 1882, be fixed to celebrate the 123rd Anniversary of the settlement of the town by the British, and that that day of the month thereafter be kept as a public holiday, as the Natal Day of Truro. Further Resolved, that the Annual meeting of the town, shortly to be convened, be requested to select from among the citizens a suitable committee to take charge of all the arrangements necessary to carry out the requirements of this resolution." On motion the Council adjourned, and the minutes of its proceedings received the signaourcs m approval Oi C. B. ARCHIBALD, Mayor- and SILAS R. TUPPER, Town Clerk. Minutes of a meeting of the citizens of Truro, held in the Court House, at the close of the Annual Town Meeting, 25th April, 1882, his worship Mayor Archibald presiding and S. R. Tupper acting as secretary. Councillor Craig addressed the meeting on the desirability of naming a day to be observed hereafter as the anniversary day of the settlement of Truro by the English, and stated that as nearly as could be ascertain- ed such first settlement was on o»r about the 13th day of September, A. D. 1759. He therefore moved, seconded by I. Longworth, "That the 13th day of September next be celebrated lais the 123rd anniversary of the "Natal Day" of Truro, and that this meeting proceed to appoint a com- mittee to make arrangements for, and secure the proper observance as a public holiday, of such anniversary day." At this stage of the meeting a motion of adjournment was offered, and on being put from the chair was* lost. The original motion then ]>;ussed. On motion the following gentlemen were appointed a committee, with power to add to their number, to make such arrangements as shall secure the proper observance of the 13th day of September next in celebration of the one hundred and twenty- third anniversary day of the settlement of the town of Truro by the British, viz: RICHARD CRAIG, ALEXANDER MILLER, ROBERT NELSON, L.