48 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
valuable marsh lands then formed a part of the County of Cumberland. 
Surveyor-General Charles Morris wrote in 1761:—“This County of 
Cumberland, when fully peopled and all the Marshes improved, will 
be the granary of Nova Scotia.” The agents being returned from 
viewing the lands at Chignecto appeared before the Governor in Council 
on the 28th September expressing themselves well satisfied with what 
they had seen but proposing some extension of the time allowed them 
for settlement. It was agreed that they should have a grant of a town- 
ship and that fifty families should settle in the township within the 
first year, seventy-five within the second year and seventy-five within 
the third year. The township received the name of Cumberland. The 
adjoming townships of Amherst and Sackville were laid out about 
the same time. 
Agents were now clamoring for lands and all naturally desired to 
have free transportation for their settlers and allowances of provisions 
—privileges enjoyed by-the grantees of the townships of Horton, Corn- 
wallis and Falmouth. But this Lawrence was compelled to refuse in 
consequence of positive instructions from the Lords of Trade. Indeed 
it was. no longer necessary to offer special inducements; a species of 
land hunger having become epidemic in New England. 
In his address to the House of Assembly on August Ist, 1759, the 
Governor observed with great satisfaction; “Very extensive tracts of 
_the vacated lands have been granted to industrious and substantial 
farmers. Applications for more are crowding in upon me faster than 
I can prepare the grants; and I make no doubt but that the well peopling 
the whole will keep pace with our warmest and most rapid wishes.” 
Among the applications for lands was that of Daniel Knowlton on 
behalf of himself and fifty-two associates for a tract at Cobequid. It 
was resolved to make a township there to be called Onslow, with 102 
shares. It was also resolved to grant a large tract of land at Annapolis 
Royal to Messrs Felch, Evans and Bent and their associates. 
In connection with the township grants of 1759, it is to be noted 
that many whose names appear in the grants did not come to Nova 
Scotia. This was true in the case of the first townships in every county 
in the province. The reason for it doubtless was that when some of 
those who had been induced to apply for shares in the townships came 
to face the prospect of removal from their old homes, and learned, more- 
over, of the hostile attitude of the Indians and Acadians, they gave up 
the idea of coming and relinquished their grants. On the other hand, 
many new men caught the enthusiasm for removal and gave in their 
names to fill the vacancies created by the withdrawals of the others. 
