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Fort Edward (Nova Scotia): Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 44°59′43.43″N 64°7′57.69″W / 44.9953972°N 64.1326917°W / 44.9953972; -64.1326917
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During the [[American Revolution]] the [[84th Regiment of Foot (Royal Highland Emigrants)]], 2nd Battalion were stationed at Forts throughout Atlantic Canada. Fort Edward was the headquarters for the 84th Regiment in Atlantic Canada. The 84th Regiment moved from Halifax to Fort Edward to guard against a land assault on Halifax. Throughout the war, Fort Edward housed prisoners taken from American Privateering ships.
During the [[American Revolution]] the [[84th Regiment of Foot (Royal Highland Emigrants)]], 2nd Battalion were stationed at Forts throughout Atlantic Canada. Fort Edward was the headquarters for the 84th Regiment in Atlantic Canada. The 84th Regiment moved from Halifax to Fort Edward to guard against a land assault on Halifax. Throughout the war, Fort Edward housed prisoners taken from American Privateering ships.


The Jacobite heroine [[Flora MacDonald (Scottish Jacobite)|Flora MacDonald]] spent the winter of 1778 - 1779 at the Fort with her husband, Alan Macdonald, before she returned alone to Scotland. Fort Edward remained part of the British defenses in Nova Scotia until 1858.
The Jacobite heroine [[Flora MacDonald (Scottish Jacobite)|Flora MacDonald]] spent the winter of 1778 - 1779 at the Fort with her husband, Alan Macdonald, before she returned alone to Scotland.
=== War of 1812 ===
Fort Edward was also active during the [[War of 1812]]. During this time, the Fort continued to protect Nova Scotia against assault by American Privateers.

Fort Edward remained part of the British defenses in Nova Scotia until 1858.


=== World War I ===
=== World War I ===

Revision as of 23:45, 2 August 2010

Fort Edward
Map
Established1750
LocationWindsor, Nova Scotia, Canada
TypeNational Historic Site
Websitemuseum.gov.ns.ca/musdir/fortedwardnationalhistoricsite.htm

44°59′43.43″N 64°7′57.69″W / 44.9953972°N 64.1326917°W / 44.9953972; -64.1326917 Fort Edward is a National Historic Site in Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada. The Fort is most famous for the role it played both in the Expulsion of the Acadians (1755) and in protecting Halifax, Nova Scotia from a land assault in the American Revolution. While much of Fort Edward, including the officers quarters and barracks, has been destroyed, the blockhouse that remains is the oldest in Canada.

History

Fort Edward by Capt. Hamilton (1753)

When Fort Edward was built there was a dispute between France and England over the ownership of present day New Brunswick. France insisted it belonged to them while England declared the opposite. A year after the establishment of Halifax (1749), the British built Fort Edward and Fort Lawrence (near Amherst) along the Nova Sco[1]tia border to counter the French building Fort Nerepis (also known as Fort Boishebert), Fort Menagoueche, Fort Gediaque and eventually Fort Beausejour along the New Brunswick border. Fort Edward was the site of the Acadian church for the parish of l'Assomption (established 1722).[2] After initially failing to take the settlements of Beausejour and Beaubassin, Major Charles Lawrence ordered his New England Rangers to firmly control Pisiquid by having the Acadians destroy their church so that Fort Edward could be built in its place (1750).[3] Toward this end, the Rangers engaged the Mi'kmaq in the Battle at St. Croix (1750).

The Fort is named after Edward Cornwallis, who established Halifax, Nova Scotia.

French and Indian War

Fort Edward played an important role in the Expulsion of the Acadians (1755). At the same time the British imprisoned Acadian men in the church at Grand Pre, they also imprisoned the Acadian men in Fort Edward until they could be deported.[4] Fort Edward was one of four forts in which Acadians were imprisoned over the nine years of the expulsion (the others were Fort Frederick, Saint John, New Brunswick; Fort Cumberland; and Fort Charlotte, Georges Island, Halifax. IN the early 1780s it wa sillegal for Acadians to reside n Nova Scotia; famliies an dindividuals who had avoided capture in 1755 were imprisoned.[5] The prison lists for Fort Edward between 1661-1662 still exist (For a list of the prisoners see List of Acadian Prisoners - Fort Edward).[6] Between June 1763 and 1764, in the Minas region, the British authorites took 363 Acadians into cutody at Fort Edward. While prisoners, the Acadians were made to assist the New England Planters with establishing their farmlands. When the war finished, rather than stay and work as subordinates, the Acadians settled with their compatriots in present day New Brunswick and St. Pierre or Miquelon.

American Revolution

During the American Revolution the 84th Regiment of Foot (Royal Highland Emigrants), 2nd Battalion were stationed at Forts throughout Atlantic Canada. Fort Edward was the headquarters for the 84th Regiment in Atlantic Canada. The 84th Regiment moved from Halifax to Fort Edward to guard against a land assault on Halifax. Throughout the war, Fort Edward housed prisoners taken from American Privateering ships.

The Jacobite heroine Flora MacDonald spent the winter of 1778 - 1779 at the Fort with her husband, Alan Macdonald, before she returned alone to Scotland.

War of 1812

Fort Edward was also active during the War of 1812. During this time, the Fort continued to protect Nova Scotia against assault by American Privateers.

Fort Edward remained part of the British defenses in Nova Scotia until 1858.

World War I

Fort Edward ca. 1900

During World War I, it was utilized as a training depot for Canadian and British soldiers. The site became known locally (but not officially) as "Camp Fort Edward" for the duration of the war. Among the recruits passing through the camp was the ill-fated Hollywood film director William Desmond Taylor.

Windsor Agricultural Fair

The Windsor Agricultural Fair is the longest continuous agricultural fair in North America (beginning 1815). The Windsor Agricultural Fair was first held at Fort Edward (1765).

References

  1. ^ Plank, p. 164
  2. ^ There is debate over the establishment of the church in the partish l'Assomption. Upon a clear examination of the primary sources, Stephan Bujold determined that St. Famille was established in 1698, while l'Assomption was established in 1722. See Stephan Bujold (2004). L'Acadie vers 1550: Essai de chronologie des paroisses acadiennes du bassin des Mines (Minas Basin, NS) avant le Grand derangement. SCHEC Etudes d'histoire religieuse, 70 (2004), 59-79.
  3. ^ See Stephan Bujold (2004). L'Acadie vers 1550: Essai de chronologie des paroisses acadiennes du bassin des Mines (Minas Basin, NS) avant le Grand derangement. SCHEC Etudes d'histoire religieuse, 70 (2004), 59-79.
  4. ^ John Faraghar. A Great and Noble Scheme. 2005. pp. 361-362. Gives duration of period Acadians initially held at Fort Edward (Sept 5 - Oct 20). Also see Regis Burn. The Acadians before 1755p.31 Brun mentions that - Murray order the Acadians to Fort Edward (as Winslow did of the Acadians at Grand Pre), 183 men and boys heed the call and are at Fort Edward on Sept 5, 1755.
  5. ^ Plank, p. 164
  6. ^ Regis Brun. La Societe Historique Acadienne, July/ August 1969, Moncton, New Brunswick (This article references the primary source as Archives nationals, Fonds des Colonies, C. 12 (Correspondance generale, Sainte Pierre et Miquelon, vol. 1, f. 22-26.) Also see Manuscripts of Chief Justice Deschamps 1750-1800, NSARM- Family Papers - Deschamps, Isaac - Vol. 32.
  • Young, Richard. “Blockhouses in Canada, 1749-1841: a Comparative Report and Catalogue.” Occasional Papers in Archaeology and History, Canadian Historic Site, 1980.

External links

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