Founded in 1836, Frieze and Roy was a shipping, shipbuilding and trading firm located in

Maitland, Hants County, Nova Scotia Maitland, East Hants, Nova Scotia (originally known as Jean Peter's Village) is a village in East Hants, Nova Scotia. It is home to the historic Lawrence House Museum, which is part of the Nova Scotia Museum. The community was part of the Douglas ...

, Canada. The firm was integral to the success of Maitland as a hub of shipbuilding in mid-to-late 19th century Nova Scotia. Its founder, David Frieze is regarded as one of the founding fathers of the community. The firm helped expand and develop local infrastructure, laying the groundwork for Maitland's most famous shipbuilder,

William Dawson Lawrence William Dawson Lawrence (16 July 1817 – 8 December 1886) was a successful shipbuilder, businessman and politician. He built the ''William D. Lawrence'', which is reported to be the largest wooden ship ever built in Canada. In 1874, W.D. La ...

History

Sailing ships were being produced in Maitland from 1810, followed by a rapid growth industry over the subsequent decades. Helping to pioneer this growth was David Frieze, who in 1837 established a general goods store. Frieze envisioned a triple function enterprise for his business which including shipbuilding, trading timber and gypsum, and operating his store to service the growing population of the area. This placed Frieze in a key position in the budding Maitland business community. To initiate the first function of his enterprise, building ships, he enlisted the help of Scottish businessman Alexander Roy who had previously built the sailing ship ''Alice Roy''. In 1868 they began to operate under the name Frieze and Roy. Shipbuilding Frieze and Roy launched their first and arguably most famous vessel, ''Snow Queen'', a

barque A barque, barc, or bark is a type of sailing ship, sailing vessel with three or more mast (sailing), masts having the fore- and mainmasts Square rig, rigged square and only the mizzen (the aftmost mast) Fore-and-aft rig, rigged fore and aft. Som ...

of 994 tons, in 1872. This was followed by ''Trust'', a

brig A brig is a type of sailing vessel defined by its rig: two masts which are both square rig, square-rigged. Brigs originated in the second half of the 18th century and were a common type of smaller merchant vessel or warship from then until the ...

of 552 tons, in 1876. The last and largest project undertaken by the firm was ''Esther Roy'', a

ship A ship is a large watercraft that travels the world's oceans and other sufficiently deep waterways, carrying cargo or passengers, or in support of specialized missions, such as defense, research, and fishing. Ships are generally distinguished ...

of 1,533 tons, which was launched in 1877. She was later sold to an Italian company in 1895. The firm built ships for many Halifax based owners, such as Thomas Kenny who ordered ''Snow Queen''. Decline of Shipbuilding in the Maritimes After the introduction and rise of larger, faster

steamships A steamship, often referred to as a steamer, is a type of steam-powered vessel, typically ocean-faring and seaworthy, that is propelled by one or more steam engines that typically move (turn) propellers or paddlewheels. The first steamships ca ...

in the late 19th century, wooden shipbuilding in Maitland, and all across the maritime provinces, ground to a halt. By the late 1880s the firm had shifted its focus on its store. Frieze and Roy still exists today as a general store located in Maitland. The store has been run by the family of Alexander Roy since the late 19th century, but is now in the hands of new owners. It is one of the oldest businesses in Nova Scotia. The firm is no longer involved in shipbuilding of any sort.Hawkins, p. 52

List of Ships Built

* ''Snow Queen'' * ''Lindall'' * ''Trust'' * ''Esther Roy''

Notes

References

* Armour, Charles. Lackey, Thomas. ''Sailing Ships of the Maritimes''. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson, Ltd. 1975. *Hawkins, John. ''Captains, Mansions and Missionaries: The Remarkable Story of Maitland, Nova Scotia''. Hantsport, NS:

Lancelot Press Lancelot Press was a Canadian publishing company which operated between 1966 and 1997. It specialized in non-fiction titles, many of which were of a regional nature centered on Maritime Canada, in the fields of local history, spirituality and perso ...

, 1996. *Wallace, Frederick William. ''Record of Canadian Shipping''. Toronto: Masson Book Co. 1929. {{Shipbuilding in Atlantic Canada , state=expanded Canadian shipbuilders People from Hants County, Nova Scotia Tourist attractions in Hants County, Nova Scotia Transport in Hants County, Nova Scotia