''Montague'' was an armed brigantine of the

Nova Scotia Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. Nova Scotia is Latin for "New Scotland". Most of the population are native Eng ...

government that patrolled Nova Scotian waters during the

Seven Years' War The Seven Years' War (1756–1763) was a global conflict that involved most of the European Great Powers, and was fought primarily in Europe, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific. Other concurrent conflicts include the French and Indian War (175 ...

as part Nova Scotia's Provincial Marine (not to be confused with the

Provincial Marine Provincial Marine was a coastal protection service in charge of the waters in the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence River and parts of Lake Champlain under British control. While ships of the Provincial Marine were designated HMS, they were ...

under the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against ...

British North America British North America comprised the colonial territories of the British Empire in North America from 1783 onwards. English colonisation of North America began in the 16th century in Newfoundland, then further south at Roanoke and Jamestow ...

). ''Montague'' played a notable role in beginning

New England Planter The New England Planters were settlers from the New England colonies who responded to invitations by the lieutenant governor (and subsequently governor) of Nova Scotia, Charles Lawrence, to settle lands left vacant by the Bay of Fundy Campaign ( ...

settlements until she was wrecked in the

Canard River The Canard River is a river in Kings County, Nova Scotia, Canada which drains into the Minas Basin of the Bay of Fundy between the communities of Canard and Starr's Point. It is known for its fertile river banks and extensive dyke land agricult ...

Kings County, Nova Scotia Kings County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. With a population of 62,914 in the 2021 Census, Kings County is the third most populous county in the province. It is located in central Nova Scotia on the shore of the Bay of Fund ...

in December 1760. A former privateer brigantine, ''Montaque'' received a Letter of Marque on May 28, 1759 and was commanded by Jeremiah Rogers. She was commissioned by the Governor of Nova Scotia Charles Lawrence as a patrol vessel in November 1759. ''Montague'' patrolled against French privateers, moved soldiers to garrisons, attacked Acadian partisans and assisted in the final phases of the

Expulsion of the Acadians The Expulsion of the Acadians, also known as the Great Upheaval, the Great Expulsion, the Great Deportation, and the Deportation of the Acadians (french: Le Grand Dérangement or ), was the forced removal, by the British, of the Acadian peo ...

. One of her final duties was to assist the landing of the

New England Planters The New England Planters were settlers from the New England colonies who responded to invitations by the lieutenant governor (and subsequently governor) of Nova Scotia, Charles Lawrence, to settle lands left vacant by the Bay of Fundy Campaign ( ...

in the

Minas Basin , image = Lookout On Way to Cape Split - 25006718579.jpg , alt = , caption = Looking east across the Southern Bight of Minas Basin from The Lookoff , image_bathymetry = , alt_bathymetry = , ca ...

. ''Montague'' landed supplies and provided security for the settlements until early December 1760. After having landed supplies at a landing on the Habitant River, ''Montague'' was descending the river when she became stuck on a river bank in the tidal estuary of the river. When the tide went out, the brigantine fell on her side in the steep river channel and became a total loss. The crew of 20 and the pilot were uninjured. Wellington2

In recent years considerable effort has been made to locate the wreck of the ''Montague'' which is thought to lie near the

Wellington Dyke The Wellington Dyke is an agricultural dyke in Kings County, Nova Scotia protecting over of farmland along the Canard River between the communities of Starr's Point and Canard in Nova Scotia, Canada. Built by local farmers, it was begun in 181 ...

on the Habitant River. The heavily sedimented and low-energy wreck site along the Habitant River may have preserved and also buried the wreck. A search led by the

Kings County Museum The Kings County Museum is a museum in Kentville, Nova Scotia, Canada, exploring the history of Kings County, Nova Scotia. It is housed in the restored 1903 Kings County Courthouse. The museum hosts a variety of permanent and changing displays a ...

under a heritage research permit in 2013 failed to locate the wreck although it did bring to light new information about the vessel and its role in 18th Century Nova Scotia.Ed Coleman, "Canard River Holds on to Her Secrets", ''Kings County Advertiser/Register'', March 23, 2014
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References

External links

"Montague-1760", ''On the Rocks Shipwreck Database'', Nova Scotia Museum"A Quest for Discovery-The Shipwreck Called the Montague (Nova Scotia)", Innovative Canada
{{coord missing, Nova Scotia Military history of Nova Scotia Pre-Confederation Nova Scotia Maritime history of Canada Transport in Kings County, Nova Scotia Individual sailing vessels Brigantines Shipwrecks of the Nova Scotia coast Maritime incidents in 1760 1760 in Nova Scotia