The Old Burying Ground (also known as St. Paul's Church Cemetery) is a historic

cemetery A cemetery, burial ground, gravesite or graveyard is a place where the remains of dead people are buried or otherwise interred. The word ''cemetery'' (from Greek , "sleeping place") implies that the land is specifically designated as a bu ...

Halifax, Nova Scotia Halifax is the capital and largest municipality of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, and the largest municipality in Atlantic Canada. As of the 2021 Census, the municipal population was 439,819, with 348,634 people in its urban area. Th ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by to ...

. It is located at the intersection of Barrington Street and Spring Garden Road in

Downtown Halifax Downtown Halifax is the primary central business district of the Municipality of Halifax. Located on the central-eastern portion of the Halifax Peninsula, on Halifax Harbour. Along with Downtown Dartmouth, and other de facto central business d ...

History

The Old Burying Ground was founded in 1749, the same year as the settlement, as the town's first burial ground. It was originally non-denominational and for several decades was the only burial place for all Haligonians. (The burial ground was also used by St. Matthew's United Church). In 1793 it was turned over to the Anglican St. Paul's Church. The cemetery was closed in 1844 and the Camp Hill Cemetery established for subsequent burials. The site steadily declined until the 1980s when it was restored and refurbished by the Old Burying Ground Foundation, which now maintains the site and employ tour guides to interpret the site in the summer. Ongoing restoration of the rare 18th-century grave markers continues. Over the decades some 12,000 people were interred in the Old Burial Ground. Today there are about 1,200 headstones, some having been lost and many others being buried with no headstone. Many notable residents are buried in the cemetery, including British Major General Robert Ross, who led the successful Washington Raid of 1814 and burned the

White House The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., and has been the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in ...

before being killed in battle at

Baltimore Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic, and the 30th most populous city in the United States with a population of 585,708 in 2020. Baltimore was ...

a few days later. Commanders of three of the ships that served Governor

Edward Cornwallis Edward Cornwallis ( – 14 January 1776) was a British career military officer and was a member of the aristocratic Cornwallis family, who reached the rank of Lieutenant General. After Cornwallis fought in Scotland, putting down the Jacob ...

buried crew in unmarked graves: HMS ''Sphynx'' (1 crew), HMS ''Baltimore'' (1 crew) and HMS ''Albany'' (6 crew). HMS ''Sphynx'' was Cornwallis' own ship and the crew member was buried on the day his ship arrived in Halifax on 21 June 1749. HMS ''Albany'' was a 14-gun

sloop A sloop is a sailboat with a single mast typically having only one headsail in front of the mast and one mainsail aft of (behind) the mast. Such an arrangement is called a fore-and-aft rig, and can be rigged as a Bermuda rig with triangular sa ...

commanded by Nova Scotia's senior naval officer,

John Rous John Rous (21 May 1702 – 3 April 1760) was a privateer and then an officer of the Royal Navy. He served during King George's War and the French and Indian War. Rous was also the senior naval officer on the Nova Scotia station during Father ...

(1749–1753). There are four recorded Mi'kmaq buried in the burial ground, including a Mi'kmaw Chief Francis

uis UIS may refer to: * Uis, a village in Erongo Region, Namibia * Underwater Inspection System, a component of the Underwater Port Security System developed for the United States Coast Guard *Universal Interactive Studios (now Vivendi Games) *Universi ...

There was also a "protestant indian" named John Tray, possibly from John Gorham's rangers. There are also 167 recorded Blacks buried in the graveyard, all with unmarked graves. (There is a grave marker, however, of the Huntingdonian Missionary who taught at the first school for Black students in Halifax, Reverend William Furmage.) Blacks arrived with New England Planters. During the arrival of the Planters, there were 54 Blacks in Halifax. 7 Blacks were buried in the cemetery from 1763 to 1775. Black Nova Scotians also arrived in Halifax with

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

Loyalists Loyalism, in the United Kingdom, its overseas territories and its former colonies, refers to the allegiance to the British crown or the United Kingdom. In North America, the most common usage of the term refers to loyalty to the British Cro ...

after the evacuation of Boston in 1776. During this period, 18 Blacks were buried in the cemetery (1776–1782). Seventy-three free Black Nova Scotians (and no slaves) also arrived in Halifax with the

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

Loyalists after evacuation from New York in 1783. Of the 73 Blacks who arrived from New York, there were 4 burials that happened during this time period. Rev.

John Breynton John Breynton (1719 – 15 July 1799) was a minister in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. He was born in Trefeglwys, Montgomeryshire, Wales to John Breynton (born 1670 Llanidloes) and his second wife, and baptised on 13 April 1719. He spent his f ...

reported that in 1783 he baptized 40 Blacks and buried many because of disease. Between the years 1792–1817 there are no recorded burials of Black Nova Scotians. The largest number of burials happen in the 1820s (72 graves), presumably the graves of the 155 Black Refugees who arrived in Halifax during the

War of 1812 The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States of America and its indigenous allies against the United Kingdom and its allies in British North America, with limited participation by Spain in Florida. It be ...

. The last erected and most prominent burial marker is the Welsford-Parker Monument, a

Triumphal arch A triumphal arch is a free-standing monumental structure in the shape of an archway with one or more arched passageways, often designed to span a road. In its simplest form a triumphal arch consists of two massive piers connected by an arch, cr ...

standing at the entrance to the cemetery commemorating British victory in the

Crimean War The Crimean War, , was fought from October 1853 to February 1856 between Russia and an ultimately victorious alliance of the Ottoman Empire, France, the United Kingdom and Piedmont-Sardinia. Geopolitical causes of the war included the ...

. This is the first public monument built in Nova Scotia and is the fourth oldest war monument in Canada. It is also the only monument to the Crimean War in North America. The arch was built in 1860, 16 years after the cemetery had officially closed. The arch was built by George Lang and is named after two Haligonians, Major Augustus Frederick Welsford and Captain William Buck Carthew Augustus Parker. Both Nova Scotians died in the Battle of the Great Redan during the

Siege of Sevastopol (1854–1855) The siege of Sevastopol (at the time called in English the siege of Sebastopol) lasted from October 1854 until September 1855, during the Crimean War. The allies (French, Sardinian, Ottoman, and British) landed at Eupatoria on 14 September ...

. This monument was the last grave marker in the cemetery. In 1938, the

Grand Lodge of Massachusetts The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, commonly referred to as the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts and abbreviated GLMA, is the main governing body of Freemasonry within Massachusetts ...

presented and dedicated a granite monument to Erasmus James Philipps, who is the earliest known settler of Nova Scotia (c. 1721) to be buried in the cemetery. He was also the founder of

Freemasonry Freemasonry or Masonry refers to fraternal organisations that trace their origins to the local guilds of stonemasons that, from the end of the 13th century, regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their interaction with authorities ...

in present-day Canada (1737). The Old Burying Ground was designated a

National Historic Site of Canada National Historic Sites of Canada (french: Lieux historiques nationaux du Canada) are places that have been designated by the federal Minister of the Environment on the advice of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC), as being ...

in 1991. It had earlier been designated a Provincially Registered Property in 1988 under Nova Scotia's Heritage Property Act.

Prominent tombstones

File:Welsford-Parker Monument at the entrance to the Old Burying Ground in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.jpg, Welsford-Parker Monument File:Ross tomb4.jpg,

Robert Ross (British Army officer) Major-General Robert Ross (176612 September 1814) was an Irish officer in the British Army who served in the Napoleonic Wars and its theatre in North America in the War of 1812. Ross joined the British Army in 1789. He served as an officer ...

File:Lieut. Col James Fullarton, Old Buring Ground, Halifax, Nova Scotia.jpg, Lt. Col

James Fullarton Lieut. Col. James Fullarton, C.B., K. H. (17 December 1782, Isle of Arran - 8 March 1834, Halifax, Nova Scotia) was a soldier who fought in the Kandyan Wars (1803-1807). During the Peninsula War he fought in the Battle of Corunna (1809) and th ...

, died 1834,

Battle of Waterloo The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815, near Waterloo (at that time in the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, now in Belgium). A French army under the command of Napoleon was defeated by two of the armies of the Sevent ...

(belonged to St. Matthew's) File:John James Snodgrass, Old Burying Ground, Halifax, Nova Scotia.jpg, Lt. Col

John James Snodgrass John James Snodgrass (22 October 1796 – 14 January 1841), was a British military officer, aide-de-camp and son-in-law to Sir Archibald Campbell, 1st Baronet and author. He fought in the Battle of Waterloo. The last seven years of his life w ...

, died 1841,

File:Erasmus James Philipps, Old Burying Ground, Halifax, Nova Scotia.jpg, Gov.

Richard Philipps General Richard Philipps (1661 – 14 October 1750) was said to have been in the employ of William III as a young man and for his service gained the rank of captain in the British army. He served at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690 and promoted ...

nephew Capt. Erasmus James Philipps monument, died 1760, unmarked grave,

40th Regiment of Foot The 40th (the 2nd Somersetshire) Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army, raised in 1717 in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia. Under the Childers Reforms it amalgamated with the 82nd Regiment of Foot (Prince of Wales's Volunteers) ...

, participated in the

Battle of Grand Pré The Battle of Grand Pré, also known as the Battle of Minas and the Grand Pré Massacre, was a battle in King George's War that took place between New England forces and Canadian, Mi'kmaq and Acadian forces at present-day Grand-Pré, Nova Scoti ...

and the Cape Sable Campaign,

Nova Scotia Council Formally known as "His Majesty's Council of Nova Scotia", the Nova Scotia Council (1720–1838) was the original British administrative, legislative and judicial body in Nova Scotia. The Nova Scotia Council was also known as the Annapolis Counci ...

(1730–1760) File:Moses Delesdernier, Old Burying Ground, Halifax, Nova Scotia.jpg,

Moses Delesdernier Moses Delesdernier (c.1713-1811) was land trader and author who moved from Switzerland to Halifax, Nova Scotia (1750). In 1754, while at Pisiquid (present-day Windsor, Nova Scotia), he was the first Protestant to farm among the Acadians. He was a ...

File:Eliza Ussher, wife of Commodor Sir Thomas Ussher, d. 1835.jpg, Grave of Sir

Thomas Ussher Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Ussher KCH CB (1779 – 6 January 1848) was an Anglo-Irish officer of the British Royal Navy who served with distinction during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, and who in 1814 conveyed Napoleon Bonaparte ...

's wife, Eliza Ussher, died 1835 File:John Lawson's family, Old Burying Ground, Halifax, Nova Scotia.jpg, Grave of William Lawson's father and family File:Thomas Cochran, Old Burying Ground, Halifax, Nova Scotia.jpg, Honourable Thomas Cochran ( St. Matthew's)

Notable interments

Founding of Halifax (1749–1776)

File:John George Pyke, Halifax, Nova Scotia.png, John George Pyke's father John Abraham, died 1751,

scalped Scalping is the act of cutting or tearing a part of the human scalp, with hair attached, from the head, and generally occurred in warfare with the scalp being a trophy. Scalp-taking is considered part of the broader cultural practice of the taki ...

in Dartmouth massacre, unmarked grave File:TheHumoursOfTheFleet.png, William Paget (Shakespearean actor), died 1752, unmarked grave File:HMSSutherlandByRobertWilkins.jpg,

' daughter Mary, died 1775 (Rous was in the Battle at Chignecto,

Siege of Louisbourg (1758) The siege of Louisbourg was a pivotal operation of the Seven Years' War (known in the United States as the French and Indian War) in 1758 that ended the French colonial era in Atlantic Canada and led to the subsequent British campaign to cap ...

) File:John Connor, Old Burying Ground, Halifax, Nova Scotia.jpg,

John Connor (mariner) John Connor (1728–1757) was a mariner who ran the first ferry in Halifax Harbour, Nova Scotia, and was involved in the Attack at Mocodome during Father Le Loutre’s War, which effectively ended the Treaty of 1752. Connor arrived unaccompanie ...

, died 1757, involved in

Attack at Mocodome The attack at Mocodome was a battle which occurred during Father Le Loutre's War in present-day Country Harbour, Nova Scotia on February 21, 1753 which saw two British mariners and six Mi'kmaq killed. The battle ended any hope for the survival o ...

File:RichardPhilippsByCarolineHall.png, Gov.

's nephew Capt. Erasmus James Philipps, died 1760,

, participated in the

and the Cape Sable Campaign,

(1730–1760) File:JonathanBelcherByCopley.jpg, Jonathan Belcher (jurist), died 1776, participated in the Halifax Treaty with Mi'kmaq (1761) File:Abigail Belcher by John Singleton Copley.png, Abigail Belcher, wife of Jonathan Belcher File:Malachy Salter.jpg,

Malachy Salter Malachy Salter (February 28, 1715 – January 13, 1781), a Nova Scotian merchant and office-holder, who was convicted of sedition for betraying the Loyalists during the American Revolution. Business career He operated a successful Boston d ...

, died 1781 ( St. Matthew's)) File:Pierre Malliard Plaque.jpg, Catholic Priest Pierre Maillard was buried in the church yard. File:RichardBulkeleyHalifaxNovaScotia.JPG, Richard Bulkeley's wife, died 1775 File:Moses Delesdernier, Old Burying Ground, Halifax, Nova Scotia.jpg,

File:Jonathan Binney, Old Burying Ground, Halifax, Nova Scotia.jpg,

Jonathan Binney Jonathan Binney (January 7, 1723/24 – October 8, 1807) was a merchant, judge and political figure in Nova Scotia. He was a member of the 1st to 3rd Nova Scotia House of Assemblies from 1758 to 1765. He arrived in Nova Scotia in 1753. ...

, died 1807, signed Halifax Treaty with

Mi'kmaq people The Mi'kmaq (also ''Mi'gmaq'', ''Lnu'', ''Miꞌkmaw'' or ''Miꞌgmaw''; ; ) are a First Nations people of the Northeastern Woodlands, indigenous to the areas of Canada's Atlantic Provinces and the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec as well as the no ...

(1761) * Mary Morris, wife of

Charles Morris (surveyor general) Charles Morris (8 June 1711 – buried 4 November 1781) army officer, served on the Nova Scotia Council, Chief Justice of the Nova Scotia Supreme Court (1776–1778) and, the surveyor general for over 32 years, he created some of the fir ...

James Brenton James Brenton (November 2, 1736 – December 3, 1806) was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Onslow Township from 1765 to 1770 and Halifax County from 1776 to 1785 in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly . He ...

* Honourable William Nesbitt *

John Fillis John Fillis (c. 1724 – July 16, 1792) was a merchant and political figure in Nova Scotia. He was a member of the 1st General Assembly of Nova Scotia and later represented Halifax County from 1768 to 1770, Barrington Township from 1772 to 1 ...

(belonged to St. Matthew's) * Priscilla Ball, died 10 May 1791, Black servant, unmarked graveSt. Paul Cemetery Burial Records * Mi'kmaw Chief Francis uis/ Muice died 16 February 1781, unmarked grave * Captain William Kensey (Kenzie, Kinsey), sloop Vulture (1753–1755), died 30 April 1755, unmarked grave – he engaged in two naval battles to stop supplies going to the French, Mi'kmaw and Acadians; the battles were against La Margarite and another against the 'Nancy and Sally'

Siege of Louisbourg (1745)

Many of those who first established Halifax arrived from Cape Breton, which the British of New England occupied since their Siege of Louisbourg (1745). The following participated in the Siege: File:Benjamin Green 1756 by Joseph Blackburn.jpg, Benjamin Green, died 1772, served on the first

in Halifax (1749); signed

Treaty of 1752 The Treaty of 1752 was a treaty signed between the Mi'kmaq people of Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia and the governor of Nova Scotia on 22 November 1752 during Father Le Loutre's War. The treaty was created by Edward Cornwallis and later signed by Jean- ...

with Mi'kmaq File:Judge Joseph Gerrish by Copley, Halifax, Nova Scotia.png,

Joseph Gerrish Joseph Gerrish (September 29, 1709 – June 3, 1774) was a soldier, merchant, judge and political figure in Nova Scotia. He was a member of the 1st General Assembly of Nova Scotia. He is buried in the Old Burying Ground (Halifax, Nova Scot ...

, died 1774; also wounded at the Battle of Grand Pre; signed Halifax Treaties with the Mi'kmaq File:Winckworth Tonge, Old Burying Ground, Halifax, Nova Scotia.jpg,

Winckworth Tonge Winckworth Tonge (4 February 1727 – 2 February 1792) was an Anglo-Irish soldier who served in North America, where he became a land owner and political figure in Nova Scotia after his military service. He represented Cumberland County ...

, died 1792, also fought in

Battle of Fort Beauséjour The Battle of Fort Beauséjour was fought on the Isthmus of Chignecto and marked the end of Father Le Loutre's War and the opening of a British offensive in the Acadia/Nova Scotia theatre of the Seven Years' War, which would eventually lead to t ...

and

Battle of the Plains of Abraham The Battle of the Plains of Abraham, also known as the Battle of Quebec (french: Bataille des Plaines d'Abraham, Première bataille de Québec), was a pivotal battle in the Seven Years' War (referred to as the French and Indian War to describe ...

File:Jonathan Snelling, Old Burying Ground, Halifax, Nova Scotia.jpg, Colonel Jonathan Snelling's son Jonathan Jr. (Boston, Mass., born 28 July 1734; died 8 December 1782, in Halifax; buried 10 December 1782) *

Joseph Fairbanks Joseph Fairbanks (September 17, 1718 – July 10, 1790) was a merchant and political figure in Nova Scotia. He was a member of the 1st General Assembly of Nova Scotia and later represented Halifax Township in the Nova Scotia House of Assembl ...

, died 1790 ( St. Matthew's)

American Revolution

Military figures

File:Hibbert Newton Binney.png,

Hibbert Newton Binney Hibbert Newton Binney (1766–1842) was a soldier in the Royal Nova Scotia Volunteer Regiment in the American Revolution. He became a member of the Nova Scotia Council. He was also a painter who created some of the earliest images of the Mi'kmaq ...

, died 1842, painter,

Ensign An ensign is the national flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality. The ensign is the largest flag, generally flown at the stern (rear) of the ship while in port. The naval ensign (also known as war ensign), used on warships, may be diffe ...

, Royal Nova Scotia Volunteer Regiment; son-in-law of

John Creighton (judge) John Creighton (1721 – November 8, 1807) was one of the founding fathers of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. He led the settlement through the turbulent times of Father Le Loutre's War, the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. He repres ...

File:Stephen Hall Binney (1760-1836), Halifax, Nova Scotia.png,

Stephen Hall Binney Stephen or Steven is a common English first name. It is particularly significant to Christians, as it belonged to Saint Stephen ( grc-gre, Στέφανος ), an early disciple and deacon who, according to the Book of Acts, was stoned to death; ...

(1760–1836), Halifax, Nova Scotia File:John Stewart, Old Burying Ground, Halifax, Nova Scotia.jpg, Lt. John Stuart, died 1835 71st Regiment of Foot, Fraser's Highlanders, son-in law of Dr James Boggs *

Peter Etter Peter Etter (1715–1794) was a loyalist who was a long-term friend of both Benjamin Franklin and future President John Adams. His friendship with Adams broke over Adams decision to support the American Patriots in the American Rebellion. Ette ...

, died 1794, a loyalist who was friend of future President

John Adams John Adams (October 30, 1735 – July 4, 1826) was an American statesman, attorney, diplomat, writer, and Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father who served as the second president of the United States from 1797 to 1801. Befor ...

; son Peter Jr. fought with Joseph Gorham in the Royal Fencible American Regiment against the

Eddy Rebellion The Battle of Fort Cumberland (also known as the Eddy Rebellion) was an attempt by a small number of Militia (United States)#History, militia commanded by Jonathan Eddy to bring the American Revolutionary War to Nova Scotia in late 1776. With m ...

; another son was

Benjamin Etter Benjamin Etter (1763–1827) was a silversmith and militia officer in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Born in Braintree, Massachusetts and the son of Peter Etter, Etter arrived in Halifax from Boston at the outbreak of the American Revolution T ...

* John F. T. Gschwind (died 1827), surgeon for Hessians; arrived in Halifax 1781 *

Charles Grant (military officer) Charles or Charlie Grant may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Charles Jameson Grant (), American editorial cartoonist * Charles L. Grant (1942–2006), American novelist * Charles Grant (actor) (born 1957), American actor * Charles Grant (dancer ...

(died 1785),

42nd Regiment of Foot The 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment of Foot was a Scottish infantry regiment in the British Army also known as the Black Watch. Originally titled Crawford's Highlanders or the Highland Regiment and numbered 43rd in the line, in 1748, on the disband ...

– fought in the

French and Indian War The French and Indian War (1754–1763) was a theater of the Seven Years' War, which pitted the North American colonies of the British Empire against those of the French, each side being supported by various Native American tribes. At the st ...

Pontiac's War Pontiac's War (also known as Pontiac's Conspiracy or Pontiac's Rebellion) was launched in 1763 by a loose confederation of Native Americans dissatisfied with British rule in the Great Lakes region following the French and Indian War (1754–17 ...

, and the

American Revolution The American Revolution was an ideological and political revolution that occurred in British America between 1765 and 1791. The Americans in the Thirteen Colonies formed independent states that defeated the British in the American Revoluti ...

(

New York and New Jersey campaign The New York and New Jersey campaign in 1776 and the winter months of 1777 was a series of American Revolutionary War battles for control of the Port of New York and the state of New Jersey, fought between British forces under General Sir Willi ...

, the

Philadelphia campaign The Philadelphia campaign (1777–1778) was a British effort in the American Revolutionary War to gain control of Philadelphia, which was then the seat of the Second Continental Congress. British General William Howe, after failing to dra ...

Battle of Stony Point The Battle of Stony Point took place on July 16, 1779, during the American Revolutionary War. In a well-planned and -executed nighttime attack, a highly trained select group of George Washington's Continental Army troops under the command of Bri ...

, the

Siege of Charleston The siege of Charleston was a major engagement and major British victory in the American Revolutionary War, fought in the environs of Charles Town (today Charleston), the capital of South Carolina, between March 29 and May 12, 1780. The Britis ...

, and the

Siege of Yorktown The Siege of Yorktown, also known as the Battle of Yorktown, the surrender at Yorktown, or the German battle (from the presence of Germans in all three armies), beginning on September 28, 1781, and ending on October 19, 1781, at Yorktown, Virg ...

), unmarked grave

Boston Loyalists

The following were

Loyalist Loyalism, in the United Kingdom, its overseas territories and its former colonies, refers to the allegiance to the British crown or the United Kingdom. In North America, the most common usage of the term refers to loyalty to the British C ...

refugees A refugee, conventionally speaking, is a displaced person who has crossed national borders and who cannot or is unwilling to return home due to well-founded fear of persecution.

who settled in Halifax after they were banished from New York and Massachusetts. While most Loyalist came to the region from New York (over 66%), most of the Loyalists buried with grave markers are from Boston. Reflective of the fate of many of the Loyalists, the grave of

Edward Winslow (scholar) Edward Winslow (7 June 1714 – 8 June 1784) was a loyalist who was a government official in Boston until he moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1776 during the American Revolution. He was the great grandson of Mayflower Pilgrims, Pilgrim Edward Wi ...

is inscribed: "his fortune suffered shipwreck in the storm of civil war." Part of the devastation of the war resulted from American family members having to choose sides. For example, the story of one American patriot listed below, Benjamin Kent. While in Boston he imprisoned his son-in-law

Sampson Salter Blowers Sampson Salter Blowers (March 10, 1742 – October 25, 1842) was a noted North American lawyer, Loyalist and jurist from Nova Scotia who, along with Chief Justice Thomas Andrew Lumisden Strange, waged "judicial war" in his efforts to free B ...

for being a Loyalist. Blowers and the rest of Kent's family (including his wife) escaped to Halifax (1776). After the war, Kent eventually moved to Halifax to be with his family, which included Chief Justice Blowers (1885). Both Blowers and Kent are buried in the Old Burying Ground. File:John Singleton Copley - William Brattle (1706-1776) - 1978.606 - Harvard Art Museums.jpg,

William Brattle Major-General William Brattle (April 18, 1706 – October 25, 1776) was an American politician, lawyer, cleric, physician and military officer who served as the Attorney General of Massachusetts from 1736 to 1738. Brattle is best known for h ...

, died 1776, the

Attorney General In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general or attorney-general (sometimes abbreviated AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. The plural is attorneys general. In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have exec ...

Province of Massachusetts Bay The Province of Massachusetts Bay was a colony in British America which became one of the thirteen original states of the United States. It was chartered on October 7, 1691, by William III and Mary II, the joint monarchs of the kingdoms of ...

; "wealthiest man in Boston", silversmith, owner of

William Brattle House The William Brattle House is an historic house in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is one of the seven Colonial mansions described by historian Samuel Atkins Eliot as making up Tory Row, housing several prominent figures in early colonial history. ...

, lost gravestone File:James Murray (1713-1781) by Copley.png, James Murray (1713–1781) by Copley; File:John Winslow - Project Gutenberg etext 20110.jpg, John Winslow's brother

, died 1784 File:1825cJohnHowe.jpg, John Howe, died 1835, father of

Joseph Howe Joseph Howe (December 13, 1804 – June 1, 1873) was a Nova Scotian journalist, politician, public servant, and poet. Howe is often ranked as one of Nova Scotia's most admired politicians and his considerable skills as a journalist and writer ha ...

File:John Halliburton (1725-1808).png, John Halliburton (surgeon), died 1808 File:James Stewart (1765-1830).png, James Stewart (1765–1830) File:ThomasHutchinsonByEdwardTruman.jpg,

Massachusetts Governor Thomas Hutchinson's brother Foster Hutchinson Sr., died 1799, Chief Justice of

, File:WLA lacma Smibert Scotland portrait of Paul Mascarene.jpg, Nova Scotia Gov. Paul Mascarene's grandchild Foster Hutchinson Jr., Chief Justice, died 1815, File:William Pepperrell.jpg, William Pepperrell's grandson William Pepperrell, died 1837,

34th Regiment of Foot The 34th Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army, raised in 1702. Under the Childers Reforms it amalgamated with the 55th (Westmorland) Regiment of Foot to form the Border Regiment in 1881. History Early history The regi ...

File:Sampson Salter Blowers 2.jpg, Chief Justice

, died 1842 – instrumental in ending slavery in Nova Scotia; son-in-law of Benjamin Kent File:William Furmage, Halifax, Nova Scotia.jpg, Reverend William Furmage (Firmage) (died 1793), Huntingdonian Missionary to the

Black Loyalists Black Loyalists were people of African descent who sided with the Loyalists during the American Revolutionary War. In particular, the term refers to men who escaped enslavement by Patriot masters and served on the Loyalist side because of the ...

; established first school for Black students in Halifax (1786) File:Rebecca Byles Almon by Robert Field.png, Rebecca Byles Almon, died 1852, wife of

William James Almon William James Almon (14 August 1755 – 5 February 1817) was a doctor and loyalist who left New York City for Nova Scotia during the American Revolution (1776). He is reported to have attended to the wounded at the Battle of Bunker Hill. He lat ...

(surgeon,

Battle of Bunker Hill The Battle of Bunker Hill was fought on June 17, 1775, during the Siege of Boston in the first stage of the American Revolutionary War. The battle is named after Bunker Hill in Charlestown, Massachusetts, which was peripherally involved in ...

); oldest child of

Mather Byles Mather Byles (born 26 March 1706, Boston, Massachusetts – 5 July 1788), was an American clergyman active in British North America. Byles was descended, on his mother's side, from John Cotton and Richard Mather and was a grandson of ...

File:Benjamin Etter, Old Burying Ground, Halifax, Nova Scotia.jpg,

, silversmith * Governor Paul Mascarene's grandchild William Handfield Snelling, died 1838 *

Theophilus Lillie Theophilus is a male given name with a range of alternative spellings. Its origin is the Greek word Θεόφιλος from θεός (God) and φιλία (love or affection) can be translated as "Love of God" or "Friend of God", i.e., it is a theoph ...

(died 26 May 1776), unmarked grave *

Byfield Lyde Byfield may refer to: Places * Byfield, Massachusetts, USA * Byfield, Northamptonshire, England * Byfield, Queensland, Australia * Byfield National Park, Queensland, Australia * Byfield Historic District People

* Adoniram Byfield (died 16 ...

, (died 1776) unmarked grave *

John Lovell (loyalist) John Lovell may refer to: * John Lovell (grocer) (c. 1851–1913), businessman in Los Angeles, California * John C. Lovell (born 1967), American sailor * John Harvey Lovell (1860–1939), entomologist in Maine See also * Lovell (surname) {{Hn ...

(died 17 July 1778), unmarked grave *

Christopher Minot Christopher is the English version of a Europe-wide name derived from the Greek name Χριστόφορος (''Christophoros'' or '' Christoforos''). The constituent parts are Χριστός (''Christós''), "Christ" or "Anointed", and φέρε ...

(died 1783), unmarked grave *

George Brinley George may refer to: People * George (given name) * George (surname) * George (singer), American-Canadian singer George Nozuka, known by the mononym George * George Washington, First President of the United States * George W. Bush, 43rd Presiden ...

(died 1809), unmarked grave *

Jeremiah Dummer Rogers Jeremiah, Modern: , Tiberian: ; el, Ἰερεμίας, Ieremíās; meaning " Yah shall raise" (c. 650 – c. 570 BC), also called Jeremias or the "weeping prophet", was one of the major prophets of the Hebrew Bible. According to Jewi ...

(died 1784), unmarked grave *

Archibald Cunningham (loyalist) Archibald Cunningham (30 April 1879 – 18 March 1915) was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper in the Scottish League for Leith Athletic. Personal life Cunningham was born in Rosewell and grew up in Lasswade. He e ...

(died 1820), unmarked grave *

Benning Wentworth (loyalist) Benning Wentworth (July 24, 1696 – October 14, 1770) was an American merchant and colonial administrator who served as the governor of New Hampshire from 1741 to 1766. While serving as governor, Wentworth is best known for issuing several l ...

, died 1808 provincial secretary of Nova Scotia * Capt. William Burton,

98th Regiment of Foot The 98th (Prince of Wales) Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army. It was originally raised in 1824 as the 98th Regiment of Foot, before assuming the title of the 98th (Prince of Wales) Regiment of Foot in 1876. Later, in 1 ...

, died 1817 (Boston) * Martha Howe, wife of John Howe, mother of Joseph Howe * William Taylor, died 1810, a Boston merchant; father of

James Taylor (Nova Scotia politician) James Taylor (1771 – January 15, 1801) was a merchant, seaman, tanner and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Queen's County in the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia from 1799 to 1801. He was the son of William Taylor, a lo ...

* Peter Lennox; *

Jonathan Sterns Jonathan Sterns (April 19, 1751 – May 23, 1798) was a Loyalist from Boston, Solicitor General for Nova Scotia and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Halifax County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1793 to 1798. He w ...

, died 1798, killed by Attorney General

Richard John Uniacke Richard John Uniacke (November 22, 1753 – October 11, 1830) was an abolitionist, lawyer, politician, member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly and Attorney General of Nova Scotia. According to historian Brian Cutherburton, Uniacke was "t ...

* Gilbert Stuart, * Gregory Townsend *

William Burton (merchant) William, Willie, Bill, or Billy Burton may refer to: Academics * William Burton (antiquary, died 1645) (1575–1645), author of ''The Description of Leicestershire'', 1622, English translator of Achilles Tatius * William Burton (antiquary, died 16 ...

(c. 1748–1817) * Sylvia (died 12 March 1824, age 70) black servant who resisted the American Privateers in the

Raid on Lunenburg (1782) The Raid on Lunenburg (also known as the Sack of Lunenburg) occurred during the American Revolution when the US privateer, Captain Noah Stoddard of Fairhaven, Massachusetts, and four other privateer vessels attacked the British settlement at ...

Boston Patriot

File:Benjamin Kent, Old Burying Ground, Halifax, Nova Scotia.jpg, Benjamin Kent – lawyer who freed first slave in United States; First patriot Attorney General of Massachusetts

New York Loyalists

File:Charles Inglis by Robert Field.jpg, Bishop Charles Inglis' daughter Margaret (Inglis) Halliburton (and wife of Brenton Halliburton), advocated for education for Black Nova Scotians File:Lawrence Hartshorne, Old Burying Ground, Halifax, Nova Scotia.jpg,

Lawrence Hartshorne Lawrence Hartshorne (July 1, 1755 – March 10, 1822) was a Canadians, Canadian merchant and political figure based in Nova Scotia. He represented Halifax County, Nova Scotia, Halifax County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1793 t ...

, died 1822, a

Quaker Quakers are people who belong to a historically Protestant Christian set of denominations known formally as the Religious Society of Friends. Members of these movements ("theFriends") are generally united by a belief in each human's abili ...

who was the chief assistant of John Clarkson (abolitionist) in helping the

Black Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white ha ...

Nova Scotian Settlers emigrate to

Sierra Leone Sierra Leone,)]. officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country on the southwest coast of West Africa. It is bordered by Liberia to the southeast and Guinea surrounds the northern half of the nation. Covering a total area of , Sierr ...

(1792) File:Jonathan Odell, New Brunswick Museum, Saint John, NB.png, Jonathan Odell's daughter Lucy Anne File:James Boggs (1740-1830).png, Dr.

James Boggs (surgeon) Dr. James Boggs (22 January 1740, New Castle, Delaware County, Pennsylvania – 8 July 1830, Halifax, Nova Scotia) was surgeon who migrated from New York to Nova Scotia during the American Revolution.http://www.uelac.org/Loyalist-Info/extras/BOGG ...

– Prince Edward's surgeon *

Sarah Deblois Sarah (born Sarai) is a Patriarchs (Bible)#Matriarchs, biblical matriarch and Prophet, prophetess, a major figure in Abrahamic religions. While different Abrahamic faiths portray her differently, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all depict her ...

, died 1827, Dr James Boggs' daughter-in-law * Mary Young died 1784 (New York) *

Charles Geddes (merchant) Charles John Geddes, Baron Geddes of Epsom, CBE Kt. (1 March 1897 – 2 May 1983) was a British trade unionist. Born in Camberwell, London, his parents were active socialists in the Labour movement at a time that the Labour party was bei ...

*Priscilla Ball, died 10 May 1791, Black servant, unmarked grave * Daniel Bessonett

French Revolutionary Wars (1792–1802)

During the

French Revolutionary Wars The French Revolutionary Wars (french: Guerres de la Révolution française) were a series of sweeping military conflicts lasting from 1792 until 1802 and resulting from the French Revolution. They pitted France against Britain, Austria, Pruss ...

, Prince Edward was stationed in Halifax and personally commemorated four military personnel who died while on duty in Halifax.

Prince Edward Commemorations

Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn by Sir William Beechey

* Lt. Benjamin James,

Royal Nova Scotia Regiment The Royal Nova Scotia Regiment (Nova Scotia Fencibles) was a battalion of infantry raised in 1793 to defend British interests in the colony of Nova Scotia during the Wars of the French Revolution. The unit was commanded by Colonel John Wentworth ...

, died while trying to rescue those who died aboard (1797); * Major Charles Domville, Royal Rifles, Dec. 1797, 7th Regiment (at Halifax from 1796 till 1799), Major 16 September 1795, died January 1798. * Charles Thomas, H.M. 7th

Royal Fusiliers The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in continuous existence for 283 years. It was known as the 7th Regiment of Foot until the Childers Reforms of 1881. The regiment served in many wars ...

regiment, died from friendly fire; (son of Nathaniel Thomas, Loyalist) * James Brace Sutherland (c.1782 – September 25, 1798), son of Captain Andrew Sutherland; a midshipman who died in storm, age 16, in Halifax harbour on board HMS ''Prevoyante'' *

– Prince Edward's honorary aide-de-camp * Dr.

– Prince Edward's surgeon

Other

File:John Catto, Old Burying Ground, Halifax, Nova Scotia.jpg, Serg. John Catto

Soldier Artificer Company The Soldier Artificer Company was a unit of the British Army raised in Gibraltar in 1772 to work on improving the fortifications there. It was the Army's first unit of military artificers and labourers – the existing Corps of Engineers was entir ...

and Mr. Mason of Halifax Garrison, died 1802 File:Thomas Huxley, Old Burying Ground, Halifax, Nova Scotia.jpg, Lt. Col.

Thomas Huxley (military officer) Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Huxley (died 4 November 1826, Halifax) was a British Army officer. He joined the 87th Foot Regiment in 1799, and was made Captain in the 4th West India Regiment in 1808, and then Captain in the 70th Foot regiment in 1819 ...

File:Thomas Fortye, Old Burying Ground, Halifax, Nova Scotia.jpg, Major

Thomas Fortye Major Thomas Fortye (b. c. 1783, Toronto, Ontario – 22 November, Halifax, Nova Scotia) fought in the French Revolutionary War and was injured in the Battle of Mandora. He led various Veteran Battalions, was the Lieuntant Governor of Shetla ...

Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815)

Battle of Trafalgar The Battle of Trafalgar (21 October 1805) was a naval engagement between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the French and Spanish Navies during the War of the Third Coalition (August–December 1805) of the Napoleonic Wars (1 ...

File:JohnHoultonMarshall.jpg,

John Houlton Marshall John Houlton Marshall (9 October 1768 in Halifax, Nova Scotia – 2 May 1837 in Charlotte Street, Bloomsbury Square, Middlesex) was a Nova Scotian who was a naval officer at the Battle of Trafalgar during the Napoleonic Wars. Career Joh ...

's mother Mary (died 1813) and brother Benjamin (died 1825), John's Portrait in

Province House (Nova Scotia) Province House ( gd, Taigh na Roinne) in Halifax is where the Nova Scotia legislative assembly, known officially as the Nova Scotia House of Assembly, has met every year since 1819, making it the longest serving legislative building in Canada. T ...

Peninsular War The Peninsular War (1807–1814) was the military conflict fought in the Iberian Peninsula by Spain, Portugal, and the United Kingdom against the invading and occupying forces of the First French Empire during the Napoleonic Wars. In Spai ...

Richard Westmacott Mw111920 (retouched).jpg, Sir

Richard Westmacott Sir Richard Westmacott (15 July 17751 September 1856) was a British sculptor. Life and career Westmacott studied with his father, also named Richard Westmacott, at his studio in Mount Street, off Grosvenor Square in London before going t ...

's brother Architect

John Westmacott John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Seco ...

, died 1816; He was wounded in the

Siege of Badajoz (1812) In the siege of Badajoz (16 March – 6 April 1812), also called the third siege of Badajoz, an Anglo-Portuguese Army under the Earl of Wellington (later the Duke of Wellington) besieged Badajoz, Spain, and forced the surrender of the ...

; Richard reported to have created several marble mantles in Government House File:Captain Sir Thomas Ussher (1779–1848).png, Commodor Sir

's wife Eliza Ussher, died 1835, Thomas conveyed

Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader wh ...

Bonaparte into exile to

Elba Elba ( it, isola d'Elba, ; la, Ilva) is a Mediterranean island in Tuscany, Italy, from the coastal town of Piombino on the Italian mainland, and the largest island of the Tuscan Archipelago. It is also part of the Arcipelago Toscano Nationa ...

(1814). File:Peter Waterhouse, Old Burying Ground, Halifax, Nova Scotia.jpg, Peter Waterhouse * Major James Butler, 62nd Regiment He fought under the command of Sir Samuel Hulse in the

Peninsular War The Peninsular War (1807–1814) was the military conflict fought in the Iberian Peninsula by Spain, Portugal, and the United Kingdom against the invading and occupying forces of the First French Empire during the Napoleonic Wars. In Spai ...

War of 1812

File:Major-General Robert Ross.jpg,

Major-General Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...

, died 12 September 1814 leading troops during the Battle of Baltimore. File:William Hughes, Old Burying Ground, Halifax, Nova Scotia.jpg, William Hughes, died 1813, Master Shipwright, HM Dockyard; assisted Prince Edward in the design of St. George's Round Church File:Richard Smith, Old Burying Ground, Halifax, Nova Scotia.jpg, Sgt. Richard Smith, 104th (New Brunswick) Regiment of Foot; made the 600 men march from Fredericton, N.B., to Kingston, Ont. between February and April 1813; wounded five times in the Battle of Fort Erie, 1814 File:Esther Rowlands, Old Burying Grounds, Halifax, Nova Scotia.jpg, Esther Rowlands, wife of Dr.

David Rowlands (surgeon) Dr. David D. Rowlands, M.D., F.R.S., F.A.S. (1778–1846) was a Welsh naval surgeon, who became the Inspector of H.M. Hospital and Fleets for the Royal Navy. He had the distinction of being the Surgeon for the Royal Navy at Halifax when he tre ...

, the naval surgeon for patients of (1813) (plaque in St. Paul's church) * Lieut, Col. John-Fowell (J.F.) Goodridge,

62nd Regiment of Foot The 62nd (Wiltshire) Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army, which was raised in 1756 and saw service through the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Under the Childers Reforms it amalgamated with the 99th (Lanarkshire) R ...

(January 1768 – 12 November 1819) – monument erected by the 62nd in his memory; buried his 2-year-old in Halifax who died in fire * William Ross, died 1822,

Nova Scotia Fencibles The Nova Scotia Fencibles were a military regiment raised in Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1803. The unit had red uniforms with yellow facings. History The Nova Scotia Fencibles were the only regiment stationed in Newfoundland in 1812. Although ...

; founder of Ross Farm,

Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia Lunenburg County is an historical county and census division on the South Shore of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Major settlements include Bridgewater, Lunenburg, and Mahone Bay. History Named in honour of the British king who was al ...

, unmarked grave

= Privateers

= * Captain Benjamin Ellenwood, died 1815, murdered * Captain Ebenezer Herrington, died 1812, , friendly fire

Battle of Waterloo

File:Lieut. Col James Fullarton, Old Buring Ground, Halifax, Nova Scotia.jpg, Lt. Col

, died 1834,

File:John James Snodgrass, Old Burying Ground, Halifax, Nova Scotia.jpg, Lt. Col

, died 1841,

File:John Charles Beckwith.png, Lt. Col. John Beckwith's (infant) siblings; lost his leg in the Battle of Waterloo * Lieut. William Johnson Thornhill, 03 Jan. 1812

99th (Prince of Wales's Tipperary) Regiment of Foot The 99th Infantry Division was formed in 1942 and deployed overseas in 1944. The "Checkerboard" or "Battle Babies" division landed at the French port of Le Havre and proceeded northeast to Belgium. During the heavy fighting in the Battle of the ...

– His Commander

James Orde James is a common English language surname and given name: *James (name), the typically masculine first name James * James (surname), various people with the last name James James or James City may also refer to: People * King James (disambiguat ...

was court marshalled in Halifax for abusing his soldiers.

Military Officers (1816–1844)

File:Charles Francis Norton, Old Burying Ground, Halifax, Nova Scotia.jpg, Charles Francis Norton died 1835; son-in-law of Sir Colin Campbell; brother-in-law of writer

Caroline Norton Caroline Elizabeth Sarah Norton, Lady Stirling-Maxwell (22 March 1808 – 15 June 1877) was an active English social reformer and author.Perkin, pp. 26–28. She left her husband in 1836, who sued her close friend Lord Melbourne, then the Whig ...

* Hon. William Cropton, died 1838, (2C) 85th Infantry; Brother to

Baron Crofton Baron Crofton is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1797 (as Baroness Crofton) for Dame Anne Crofton. She was the widow of Sir Edward Crofton, 2nd Baronet, of the Mote, who had represented Roscommon in the Irish House of Common ...

, The Crofton Baronetcy, of

Mohill Mohill (, meaning "Soft Ground") is a town in County Leitrim, Ireland. The town of Carrick-on-Shannon is approximately 16 km (10 miles) away. History The Justinian plague of Mohill devastated the local population in the 6th centur ...

in the County of

County Leitrim County Leitrim ( ; gle, Contae Liatroma) is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Connacht and is part of the Northern and Western Region. It is named after the village of Leitrim. Leitrim County Council is the local authority for the ...

(Plaque in St. Paul's) * Commander

John George Dewar John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Seco ...

, . died 1830 (also plaque in St. Paul's church) Plaque also in North Middleton churchyard * John Thompson, Surgeon, HMS ''Saracen'', died 1818 * Serg William George, 74th (Highland) Regiment of Foot, died 1828 * William Pepperell, Quarter Master of the

, died 1837 * Elizabeth Pepperell, grand daughter of

William Pepperell Sir William Pepperrell, 1st Baronet (27 June 1696 – 6 July 1759) was a merchant and soldier in colonial Massachusetts. He is widely remembered for organizing, financing, and leading the 1745 expedition that captured the French fortr ...

through marriage, died 1775; wife of grandson William Pepperrell * Col Sgt. John Reilly,

64th (2nd Staffordshire) Regiment of Foot The 64th (2nd Staffordshire) Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army. The regiment was created as the 2nd Battalion, 11th Regiment of Foot in 1756, redesignated as the 64th Regiment of Foot in 1758, and took a county title ...

, died 1842 * John Ross, R.N., died 1844 * Lieut. Charles A. Ross, R.N., died 1828 * Lieut. James Philips, RN, died 1821 * Westmount, Capt. John 4 May 1816, Royal Staff Corps

Other

File:John Gillespie.png, John Gillespie, died 1772, 1st president of North British Society File:Ann Scott, Old Burying Ground, Halifax, Nova Scotia.jpg, Ann Scott (died 1776), midwife, gravestone: "She will be greatly missed by the people of Halifax" File:Hon Thomas Cochrane, Halifax, Nova Scotia.png, Hon Thomas Cochran, died 1801, and his family. ( St. Matthew's) File:William Bowie by Robert Field NS Archives.jpeg,

William Bowie (merchant) William Bowie (1762-1819) was a prominent merchant of Halifax, Nova Scotia who was killed in the last fatal duel on record in Nova Scotia. At age 20, William Bowie arrived in Nova Scotia in 1782 from Stirling, Scotland, the son of Alexander Bowie ...

, died 1819, (killed by

Richard John Uniacke Jr. Richard John Uniacke (June 6, 1789 – February 21, 1834) was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Cape Breton County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1820 to 1830. He was born in Halifax, Nova Sco ...

in the last

duel A duel is an arranged engagement in combat between two people, with matched weapons, in accordance with agreed-upon rules. During the 17th and 18th centuries (and earlier), duels were mostly single combats fought with swords (the rapier and ...

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 ...

) File:James Fraser.png, Hon James Fraser, died 1822 File:Roger Aitken, Old Burying Ground, Halifax, Nova Scotia.jpg, Rev.

Roger Aitken Roger Aitken (1748, Dumfries, Scotland - 21 November 1825, Halifax, Nova Scotia) was a Scottish Anglican priest known for his service as a missionary at Lunenburg, Nova Scotia (1817-1825) for the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in F ...

(died 1825), missionary at Lunenburg for Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts (SPG),

St. John's Anglican Church (Lunenburg) St. John's Anglican Church was the first church established in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada (1753). It is the second Church of England built in Nova Scotia, and is the second oldest continuous Protestant church in present-day Canada. Early ...

File:John Lawson by Robert Field.png, John Lawson, died 1828, father of William Lawson, first president of the

Bank of Nova Scotia The Bank of Nova Scotia (french: link=no, Banque de Nouvelle-Écosse), operating as Scotiabank (french: link=no, Banque Scotia), is a Canadian multinational banking and financial services company headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. One of Canada ...

File:Elizabeth Lawson by Robert Field.png, 2nd Elizabeth Lawson, died 1819, wife of John Lawson File:Peter McNab, Old Burying Ground, Halifax, Nova Scotia.jpg, Peter McNab, namesake of McNabs Island File:Susan Cunard, Old Burying Ground, Halifax, Nova Scotia.jpg, Susan Cunard, wife of

Samuel Cunard Sir Samuel Cunard, 1st Baronet (21 November 1787 – 28 April 1865), was a British-Canadian shipping magnate, born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, who founded the Cunard Line, establishing the first scheduled steamship connection with North America. H ...

, died 1828 Alexander Keith.png, Brewer Alexander Keith's first wife Sarah Ann, died 1832, and the first two children with his second wife File:Hon Stedman Rawlins, Old Burying Ground, Halifax, Nova Scotia.jpg, Hon

Stedman Rawlins Hon. Stedman Rawlins (c. 1784–1830) was a slaveholder and sugar plantation owner, and the President of His Majesty's Council, on the Caribbean Saint Kitts, island of St. Christopher. Life He was born in the Caribbean and baptized at Trinity An ...

, Slave/ Plantation Owner; died 1830, President of His Majesty's Council of the Island of St. Christopher File:Rev Archibald Gray by Robert Field.png, Rev

Archibald Gray Reverend Archibald Gray (died 1831) was an influential Presbyterian minister in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He served in the St. Matthew's United Church (Halifax) for 30 years (1795–1826). Gray was a native of Morayshire and a graduate of King's C ...

, died 1831,

St. Matthew's United Church (Halifax) St. Matthew's United Church is a United Church of Canada church in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia. The church was founded at the same time as the original colony in 1749 as a home for the various groups of dissenting Protestants who were from N ...

for 35 years File:John Albro (1764-1839).png,

John Albro John Albro (May 6, 1764 – October 23, 1839) was a merchant and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Halifax Township in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1818 to 1826. He was also a Lieutenant-Colonel of the 4th Regiment ...

, died 1839 File:Jonathan Prescott, Chester, Nova Scotia.png, Jonathan Prescott's son Samuel Thomas Prescott, died 1816 ( St. Matthew's) * Mary Welsford, mother of Parker Welsford ( Welsford-Parker Monument) * Charles Morris (1759–1831) * William Annand, father of

William Annand William Annand (April 10, 1808 – October 12, 1887) was a Nova Scotia publisher and politician. He was a member of the North British Society. Annand was born in Halifax. He was educated in Scotland and returned to Nova Scotia in the 1820 ...

*Dr.

Samuel Head Samuel ''Šəmūʾēl'', Tiberian: ''Šămūʾēl''; ar, شموئيل or صموئيل '; el, Σαμουήλ ''Samouḗl''; la, Samūēl is a figure who, in the narratives of the Hebrew Bible, plays a key role in the transition from the bi ...

, first doctor born in Nova Scotia * Robert Collins (died 26 March 1812) and his wife Sarah (Wisdom) Collins (died 31 January 1812), namesake of Collins Grove, Dartmouth * James Gautier * Honorable

Charles Hill (jurist) Charles, Charley, or Charlie Hill may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Charles Hill (painter) (1824–1915), engraver, painter and arts educator in South Australia * Charles Christopher Hill (born 1948), American artist and printmaker * Charlie ...

died 1825; brother-in-law of

Thomas Cochran (Nova Scotia politician) Thomas Cochran or Cochrane (1733 – July 28, 1801) was an Irish-born merchant and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Liverpool Township in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1775 to 1785. Early life He was the son of Josep ...

; director of the Shubenacadie Canal Company * John Thomas Twining, died 1832, son of

John Thomas Twining John Thomas Twining (14 May 1793 – 8 November 1860) was a protestant minister in Nova Scotia. Twining served as principal of King’s College School in Windsor, Nova Scotia (1815-1817). He also served as a curate to John Inglis at St. Paul's ...

* Phoebe Perkins, died 1820, wife of Rev. Cyrus Perkins, Rector of Annapolis, 1807–1817,

Sculptor James Hay

There are various gravestones by stone carvers from London and the local region. Museum curator Deborah Trask asserts that one of the first stone sculptors,

James Hay James Hay may refer to: *James Hay (bishop) (died 1538), Scottish abbot and bishop * James Hay, 1st Earl of Carlisle (c.1580–1636), British noble * James Hay, 2nd Earl of Carlisle (1612–1660), British noble * James Hay, 15th Earl of Erroll (172 ...

(1750–1842), likely made the gravestone of Richard Bulkeley's wife Mary. On one side Hay carved the angel

Gabriel In Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam), Gabriel (); Greek: grc, Γαβριήλ, translit=Gabriḗl, label=none; Latin: ''Gabriel''; Coptic: cop, Ⲅⲁⲃⲣⲓⲏⲗ, translit=Gabriêl, label=none; Amharic: am, ገብ� ...

trumpeting, symbolic of the resurrection. The religious text: "In a moment, in a twinkling of an eye at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed" (1 Cor. 15:52). (The trumpeting motive is also on the gravestone of the Lawson children). On the opposite side of the gravestone is an image in the

garden of Eden In Abrahamic religions, the Garden of Eden ( he, גַּן־עֵדֶן, ) or Garden of God (, and גַן־אֱלֹהִים ''gan- Elohim''), also called the Terrestrial Paradise, is the biblical paradise described in Genesis 2-3 and Ezekiel 28 ...

. The religious text: "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." (1 Corinthians 15:22). The image is taken from "The Child's Guide" (London, 1725).

Depictions in media

Lucy Maud Montgomery Lucy Maud Montgomery (November 30, 1874 – April 24, 1942), published as L. M. Montgomery, was a Canadian author best known for a collection of novels, essays, short stories, and poetry beginning in 1908 with ''Anne of Green Gables''. She ...

's ''

Anne of the Island ''Anne of the Island'' is the third book in the ''Anne of Green Gables'' series, written by Lucy Maud Montgomery about Anne Shirley. ''Anne Of the Island'' is the third book of the eight-book sequels written by L. M. Montgomery, about Anne Shirle ...

'', Anne moves to Kingsport (

) on the mainland and enrols at Redmond (

Dalhousie University Dalhousie University (commonly known as Dal) is a large public research university in Nova Scotia, Canada, with three campuses in Halifax, a fourth in Bible Hill, and a second medical school campus in Saint John, New Brunswick. Dalhousie offer ...

). She takes lodgings in an apartment that looks out over "Old St. John's Cemetery" – the Old Burying Ground:

They went in by the entrance gates, past the simple, massive, stone arch surmounted by the great lion of England.... They found themselves in a dim, cool, green place where winds were fond of purring. Up and down the long grassy aisles they wandered, reading the quaint, voluminous epitaphs, carved in an age that had more leisure than our own.

The text goes into some depth about the gravestone carvings and styles:

Every citizen of Kingsport feels a thrill of possessive pride in Old St. John’s, for, if he be of any pretensions at all, he has an ancestor buried there, with a queer, crooked slab at his head, or else sprawling protectively over the grave, on which all the main facts of his history are recorded. For the most part no great art or skill was lavished on those old tombstones. The larger number are of roughly chiselled brown or gray native stone, and only in a few cases is there any attempt at ornamentation. Some are adorned with skull and cross-bones, and this grizzly decoration is frequently coupled with a cherub’s head. Many are prostrate and in ruins. Into almost all Time’s tooth has been gnawing, until some inscriptions have been completely effaced, and others can only be deciphered with difficulty. The graveyard is very full and very bowery, for it is surrounded and intersected by rows of elms and willows, beneath whose shade the sleepers must lie very dreamlessly, forever crooned to by the winds and leaves over them, and quite undisturbed by the clamor of traffic just beyond.

References

External links

The treatment of Halifax's poor house dead during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries By Cynthia Simpson. 2011

Memorials at St. Paul's Church. Acadiensis. Vol. 5, p. 57

Old Burying Ground Foundation

Finda a Grave – list of gravesite with photos

Honours Thesis. St. Mary's University

Loyalists in the Old Burying Ground

Nova Scotia Museum
* {{Nova Scotia parks Cemeteries in Halifax, Nova Scotia Anglican cemeteries in Canada National Historic Sites in Nova Scotia