Robert Foreman, Merchant and Way Office Keeper

Nova Scotia # 10 with left marginal strip on November 7, 1865 folded blue paper cover from Halifax to Londonderry, Nova Scotia. Addressed to Robert Forman Esq, Iron Mines, Londonderry. Manuscript "letter Thomson Abbott & Co., 7th Nov 1865". Barred oval cancellation. Backstamps HALIFAX NOVA SCOTIA NO 7 65, and second illegible stamp, presumably from Londonderry. Robert Forman was a 37-year old merchant, ship owner, and way office keeper in Acadia Mines when he received this

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2 days ago8 min read

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about the BlueNotes

Nova Scotia issued its first postage stamps in September 1851. The stamps, 3d. blue, 6d. yellow-green, and 1s. dull purple, were diamond shaped and depicted the crown of Great Britain surrounded by four heraldic flowers of empire. In 1853 the square 1d. rose stamp was added featuring a portrait of Queen Victoria.

On January 1st, 1860, Nova Scotia switched from pounds to dollars and cents. So, in October of that year, the province issued stamps in five new denominations: 1c. purple, 5c. blue, 8 1/2c. green, 10c. vermilion, and 12 1/2c. black, and in May of 1863 a 2c. grey/black stamp was added. The stamps were based on two portraits of Queen Victoria, one in profile and one face on. After Confederation, in 1867, Nova Scotia stamps were gradually replaced by stamps of the Dominion of Canada.

The blue stamps for both the pence and cents issues were by far the most common, being the inter- and intra-provincial letter rate. Although The BlueNotes will feature examples of stampless covers and covers franked in other denominations and mailed from other jurisdictions, Nova Scotia's blue stamps will predominate here as they did in historic provincial usage.

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TRAIN OF THOUGHT

Robert Foreman, Merchant and Way Office Keeper

2 days ago8 min read

Mary Morris Tremain, Loyalist Daughter

Nova Scotia # 10 on December 24, 1866 interprovincial cover from Halifax, NS to Cobourg, Canada West. Addressed to Miss Mary M Tremain, care of Geo M Goodeve Esq, Cobourg, Canada West. Barred oval cancellation. Backstamps HALIFAX NOVA SCOTIA, DE 24 66, MONTREAL QE, AM JA 5 67, COBOURG, JA__ 67. Miss. Mary Morris Tremain was 61 and living with her sister and family in Cobourg, Ontario when she received this letter from Halifax, likely from her family. Mary had been born in H

6 days ago6 min read

Elvira Lawrence and Sarah Strong

Nova Scotia # 10 on August 25, 1867 cover with contents from Brooklyn Street, Kings County, Nova Scotia to River Philip, Cumberland County, Nova Scotia. Addressed to Miss Elvira Lawrence, River Philip, Cumberland County. In the care of J.H. Gilroy Esq. Barred oval cancellation with backstamps KENTVILLE, NS, AU 26 67, and H(alifax) NS, AU 27, 1867. Francis Elvira Lawrence was 27 and visiting (or residing) in River Philip when she received this letter from her 23-year old neigh

Jan 53 min read

Miss Grace Dodd, soon to be Mrs. Roy

Nova Scotia # 9 on January 28, 1866 intra-county cover from Maitland, Nova Scotia to Gore, Nova Scotia. Addressed to Miss Grace Dodd, Gore. Barred oval cancel on front, Backstamp MAITLAND HANTS N.S., JA 28, 1866. Grace Anderson Dodds was 17-years old and living on her family farm in Gore, Nova Scotia when she received this letter form Maitland, Nova Scotia. On December 13 of that year, in Gore Presbyterian Church, Grace A. Dodds, 18, of Gore, Hants, daughter of William Dodds,

Jan 43 min read

James Ellis, Go West, Young Man!

U.S. # 68 10 cent Washington on July 22, 1864 international cover from Chenoa, IL to Upper Shubenacadie, NS. Addressed to James Ellis Esqr, Upper Schubenacadia, Nova Scotia. Concentric circle cancellation, CHENOA, ILL, JUL 22, and red 10 PAID oval on front. Backstamps H(alifax) NS, JY 29 1864, and SHUBENACADIE NS, JU 30 year illegible. James Duncan Ellis was a 47-year old farmer in Chenoa, Illinois when he wrote this letter to his cousin, also named James Ellis, a 49-year old

Dec 24, 20252 min read

John E. Mullouney, Dentist

Nova Scotia # 12 on January 29, 1866 international cover from Kentville, Nova Scotia to Boston. Addressed to Mr. John E. Mullowney, No. 9 Chester Park, Boston Mass. Barred oval cancellation on front. Backstamps KENTVILLE NS, JA 29 66, AND H(alifax) NS, JA 30 1866. John Edward Mullouney was a 30-year old dentist boarding at 9 Chester Park in Boston when he received this letter from home. He was born 11 Aug 1836 in Newport Station, Hants County, N.S. the son of Daniel Mullowney

Dec 17, 20252 min read

Abby Jenks and Hulda Read, Seminarians

Nova Scotia # 10 on 23 November 1864 cover from Amherst, Nova Scotia to Wolfville, Nova Scotia. Addressed to Miss Abby Jenks, Grand Pre Seminary, Wolfville, NS. Backstamps from Amherst, NO 23 1864, H(alifax) NO 24 1864, and Wolfville, date illegible. Manuscript "Miss Hulda J. Read" written twice on back. Both the sender and the recipient of this 1864 letter had been students at the Grand Pre Seminary during the 1861-62 school year, as recorded in student lists in James Doyle

Dec 15, 20253 min read

Contact

Finding Persons and Places in 19th Century Nova Scotia

A. F. Church County Maps

"The Great Map," published in 1834 by William Mackay, is the first printed map to present the entire interior of Nova Scotia, “Compiled from Actual and Recent Surveys”. It was a ‘great’ effort then in size and scope, and a remarkable accomplishment for its time. The map was the result of a five-year project undertaken by a special Map Committee of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. The following link takes you to the Nova Scotia Archives' searchable copy of McKay's map.

The Great Map of William MacKay

Between 1865 and 1888, the Ambrose F. Church Co. published a series of topographical maps for each of Nova Scotia’s eighteen counties. These maps feature detailed plans of the various census districts and townships, including the specific location of buildings, names of occupants, transportation routes and various geographical markings. Inset detail maps for larger communities within each county are an additional bonus. With an address and name, a researcher can often pinpoint the exact location of a sender or recipient. Sadly, no central, searchable database exists for the entire collection of county maps. When possible, we have included vignettes from the applicable Church Map.

The Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources maintains a detailed set of Crown Land Index Sheet Maps. Often the original grantees are still listed on these maps.

Crown Land Grant Map