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Douglas, a former tDouglas, a former township in the
Canadian province of Nova Scotia, holds a significant place in history.
Originally the destination of Loyalists fleeing the Siege of Ninety Six
during the American Revolutionary War, it became part of the newly
formed Municipal District of East Hants in 1861, alongside the
neighbouring township of Rawdon. This marked the beginning of a new
administrative era for the region.
Present-day, the area that was
once Douglas Township encompasses the communities of Kennetcook, Gore,
Noel, and Maitland. This settlement, named after
Sir Charles Douglas, 1st Baronet,
saw its foundations laid by the troops of the 84th Regiment of Foot
(Royal Highland Emigrants). These brave men were recognized for their
service in the war and were tasked with protecting Nova Scotia from
ongoing American Patriot attacks by land and sea.
The creation of
the Douglas Township in June 1784, just two months before John Bond
secured the Grant for his first group, involved a large tract of land
east and north of the original settlement, amounting to 105,000 acres.
Colonel John Small, leading the 2nd Battalion of the 84th Regiment, is
credited with naming this expanse as the Township of Douglas. The area
included notable regions such as the Noel Shore, Selma, Maitland, the
Kennetcooks, the Gores, and the Nine Mile Rivers.
An important
narrative intertwined with the development of Douglas is the story of
the 84th Regiment. Though only briefly mentioned here, it provided a
defining eastern boundary beyond which Rawdon(1) could not expand. Even
after the initial grants, about 5,000 acres in the northeastern corner
of Rawdon remained unclaimed. This land was eventually allocated in the
years 1809 and 1810 through three separate grants, including a 500-acre
allotment to Rev. William Colsell King and another 500-acre parcel to
Isaac Smith of the Irish Smith family from Stanley. A final grant of
over 4,000 acres was given to James Dewell and fifteen others,
encompassing all arable land between Newport and the Township of
Douglas.
The evolution of Douglas Township into what is now part
of East Hants encapsulates a rich tapestry of history, military service,
and settlement, making it an important chapter in Nova Scotia's legacy.
Notes:
1. Rawdon Township was created for Loyalists from Old Ninety-Six District, South Carolina and Fort Augustine, Florida. Douglas Township was created for the veterans of the 84th Regiment. These two former townships covered the eastern part of Hants County, Nova Scotia.
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