Section IV., 1903 [ 123] Trans. R. S. C. 



V. — Mineral and Crown Land Grants in Nova Scotia. 

 By Edwin Gilpin, Jr., M.A., D.C.L. 



(Read May 19th, 1903.) 



The recital of the grants made by the sovereigns of France, Spain 

 and England to the early explorers of the eastern coasts of North 

 America has an interest more sentimental than practical, as far as Nova 

 Scotia is concerned. Here scarce a trace of these grants remains. The 

 buffetings of this land back and forth left in 1713 a few acres cultivated 

 by the Acadians, a few stockades, and a few fishing stations. The cap- 

 ture of Port Eoyal, afterwards called Annapolis Royal in 1710, marked 

 the end of French rule in Nova Scotia. 



After the treaty of Utrecht, the seigneurs who remained and took the 

 oath of allegiance were to be allowed to keep the lands they were legally 

 possessed of; but those who had left the province and returned, were en- 

 titled to hold land only from the sovereign of England on the payment 

 of the customary quit rents. A few submitted, but they gradually dis- 

 posed of their rights, and finally their lands were issued under Crown 

 Laud grants. 



Although Nova Scotia was now finally ceded to Great Britain, and 

 the New Englanders were determined to keep the French as far away as 

 possible, little effort was made to eifect permanent settlements. The 

 best lands, those of the intervales of the Bay of Fundy, were in the 

 hands of the Acadians, who yielded a grudged neutrality passing into 

 active unfriendliness whenever intercourse was sought by the English. 



The Government was administered from Annapolis until a capital 

 was established at Halifax in 1749. The land records of the Annapolis 

 administration are contained in a small book and present few points of 

 interest. Grants were made for house lots within the banlieu of the 

 garrison, and for fishing stands at Canso, Pubnico, etc. In 1733 a grant 

 was made to Major Cope and others of lands at Joggins, Cumberland 

 County, with permission to dig coal at a royalty of Is. 6d. per chaldron. 

 It is reported that a few cargoes were dug and shipped to Boston. 



In 1736, we find that the council practically granted to themselves 

 and the principal settlers two lots of 50,000 acres each, with permission 

 to dig all minerals and coals, one lot lying west of Chignecto Basin, and 

 the other on the east side of the Avon river. These grants were escheated 

 in 1760. 



The Annapolis records show that attempts were made to exact rents 

 from the Acadians. 



