FORTIFICATIONS AND DEFENCES OF THE TOWN--PUBLIC BUILDINGS, ETC.
From the year 1749 to '54 or '5, the defences of the town consisted of
palisades or pickets placed upright, with block houses built of logs at
convenient distances. This fence extended from where the Roman Catholic
Cathedral now stands to the beach south of Fairbanks' wharf, and on the
north along the line of Jacob Street to the harbor. These palisades were
in existence in 1753, but were removed at a very early period, not being
within the recollection of the oldest natives of the town living in the
year 1825.
A large portion of the front of the present Citadel Hill was originally
private property; a small redoubt stood near the summit with a flag
staff and guard house, but no traces of any regular or permanent
fortification appear until the commencement of the American Revolution.
There were several block houses south of the town--at Point Pleasant,
Fort Massey and other places. A line of block houses was built at a very
early period of the settlement, extending from the head of the North
West Arm to the Basin, as a defence against the Indians. The foundation
of the centre block house was still to be seen in 1848 in the hollow
below Philip Bayers' pasture. During Governor Lawrence's time, the
Indians made an attack upon the saw mills at the head of the North West
Arm, which stood near the site of the present mills, and murdered three
men; their bodies were buried by the soldiers near one of the block
houses, and were three times dug up by the Indians in defiance of the
guard, for the purpose of securing the scalps. These block houses were
built of square timber, with loop-holes for musketry,--they were of
great thickness, and had parapets around the top and a platform at the
base, with a well for the use of the guard.
In 1755, four batteries were erected along the beach--the centre one,
called the middle or Governor's Battery, stood where the Queen's Wharf
now is, being then directly in front of Government House; another where
the Ordnance Yard was afterwards built, called the Five or Nine-gun
Battery; the third was situated north of the present Fairbanks' wharf;
and the fourth called the South or Grand Battery, still in existence at
the Lumber Yard. They were composed of stone and gravel, supported by
cross logs, covered with earth and planted with grass, having
battlements in front and the two ends, elevated about twenty or
twenty-five feet above the water. These fortifications were removed
about the year 1783, and the grounds appropriated to their present
purposes. The Ordnance Yard, then a swamp around the battery, and the
King's Wharf, were both filled up and levelled by stone and rubbish
removed from the five-acre lots of the peninsula which were beginning to
be cleared about this time.
There were block houses along the beach, near the Dock Yard wall, built
by Col. Spry about 1775. The drawings of the town, published about the
year 1774 or '6, show a strong fortification on George's Island.[90] It
was not until the commencement of the revolutionary war that regular
works appear to have been constructed for the defence of the town and
harbor. About the year 1778, the Citadel Hill appears to have been, for
the first time, regularly fortified; the summit was then about eighty
feet higher than at present; the works consisted of an octangular tower
of wood of the block-house kind, having a parapet and small tower on top
with port holes for cannon--the whole encompassed by a ditch and
ramparts of earth and wood, with pickets placed close together, slanting
outwards. Below this there were several outworks of the same description
extending down the sides of the hill a considerable distance.
[Footnote 90: We have seen that Governor Cornwallis, at the very
commencement of the settlement, selected George's Island as the most
eligible position for the fortification. Prisoners were sent here at a
very early period.]
Fort Massey, George's Island and the East Battery exhibit the same kind
of fortifications in the pictures of the town made about 1780. At the
latter place there was a barrack, afterwards rebuilt by the Duke of Kent
about 1800.
During the American Revolutionary War, Colonel Spry, the chief
engineer, erected a battery and several small block houses near the old
Dutch Church in Brunswick Street. Several fields on the north and east
sides of the Citadel were then taken by government and equivalents given
to the owners. There was another block house at the extremity of
Brunswick Street, in the field adjoining the present Admiralty grounds;
the first were demolished about 1783, and part of the land granted by
the Crown as a parsonage lot for the minister of the Germans, but the
latter remained many years after till it fell into decay.
The Lumber Yard, Ordnance Yard and King's Wharf were all commenced about
the same time, (1784 or '5) but the present buildings were put up at a
much later date. The north barracks were built soon after the
settlement. The buildings known as the south barracks were erected under
the directions of the Duke of Kent, as also the north barracks,
destroyed by fire some years ago.
During the revolutionary war the main guard house stood on the spot now
occupied by the Mason Hall. It was used as a military post at a very
early period, as the French prisoners from Annapolis, etc., were lodged
there. The guard house was removed over ninety years ago, and the
present building afterwards erected.
A building called the Military Office stood at the south corner of the
market wharf, near where the main guard house now is. It was used as a
military office until 1790, or perhaps later. At this time a guard was
kept at the Prince's old playhouse, where the Acadian School now stands.
The house lately owned by Capt. Maynard, where the Trinity Chapel now
stands, in Jacob Street, was a barrack as early as 1769. It was the site
of one of the old block-house forts erected at the first settlement. It
continued to bear the name of the Grenadier Fort until removed to make
room for the present brick edifice known as Trinity Church.
The old wooden fortifications were removed from Citadel Hill about the
time Prince Edward was Commander-in-Chief.
The hill had been cut down and ramparts of earth constructed mounting
five or six guns at each angle, with a deep ditch. There were also
covered ways and passages leading into the fort; willow trees were
planted round the ramparts, and the whole was surrounded by a picket
fence. The remains of this work were removed at the commencement of the
present fortifications. Much of the old work was performed by the
militia drafts from the country, embodied at Halifax at the close of the
last century, particularly in 1793, during Sir John Wentworth's
administration, and at subsequent periods. The Maroon negroes from
Jamaica were for a short time engaged on these works.
The towers on George's Island,[91] Point Pleasant, the East Battery,
Meager's Beach and York Redoubt were built at the commencement of the
present century. The Prince established signal stations between Halifax
and Annapolis, the first post being on the hill behind his residence on
Bedford Basin. He levelled the ground called the Grand Parade, and it is
said, built the walls at the north-east and south-west angles. The Chain
Battery at Point Pleasant was first constructed, it is said, by Lord
Colville, in or about 1761. The present ring bolts were put down the war
of 1812-15. The old block house at Fort Needham and that on the hill
above Philip Bayers' farm on the road leading to the Basin, called the
Blue Bell Road, were built during the American Revolution, and
re-constructed during the Prince's time. They were there in 1820, but
soon after fell into decay, being composed of square timber only. All
the other block houses had disappeared many years previous to that date.
The building used as an army hospital, which stood on the north slope of
Citadel Hill, in rear of the north barracks, since destroyed by fire,
was erected as the town residence of Edward, Duke of Kent, when
commander of the forces. The low range of buildings since used as
barrack stores and as a military library, were his stables and offices.
His residence was a very elegant building with a portico supported by
Corinthian pillars in front, all which remained for many years after it
became an hospital. About the same time he built his villa on the Basin,
the ruins of which were to be seen a few years ago. The Rotunda, or band
room, still remains. The lands where the buildings stood were the
property of Sir John Wentworth, the Governor, to whom he left it on his
removal from the garrison. The old Rockingham Inn was his guard house,
since burned down.
[Footnote 91: Lately removed.]
In the year 1765 there were two hospitals in the north suburbs, near
the beach at the foot of Cornwallis Street, called the Red and Green
Hospitals. They were there in 1785. One stood on the site of the present
North Country or Keating's Market, the other on property now owned by
the heirs of late H. H. Cogswell.
Until the year 1780 the streets of the town were in a very rough
condition, and some of them least frequented were impassable for
carriages, from stumps of trees and rocks. As early as 1761, there was a
good road to Point Pleasant;--it was a continuation of Water Street, and
said to have passed through or near the present Lumber Yard grounds,
following the shore of the harbor.
In 1764 the people of the north suburbs applied to the Governor and
Council to call their settlement Gottingen. The name soon fell into
disuse; the main street obtained the name of Brunswick Street, the rear
street only retaining that of Gottingen.
The first Government House was erected soon after the town was laid out;
the frame and materials were brought from Boston, and the apartments
prepared for the reception of the Governor early in October. He held a
council there on the 14th of that month. It was a small low building of
one story, surrounded by hogsheads of gravel and sand, on which small
pieces of ordnance were mounted for its defence. It stood in the centre
of the square now occupied by the Province Building. About the year 1757
or '8, this little cottage was removed to give place to a more spacious
and convenient residence. It was sold and drawn down to the corner of
George Street and Bedford Row, opposite the south-west angle of the City
Court House, and again, about 1775, removed to the beach and placed at
the corner of the street leading to the steam boat landing, where it
remained until 1832, when the present building, occupied lately by
Thomas Laidlaw, was erected on the site. The new Government House was
built during the time of Governor Lawrence. Lord William Campbell built
a ball room at one end, and several other improvements were made to the
building by subsequent governors. It was surrounded by a terrace neatly
sodded and ornamented. The building was of wood, two stories high. The
office of Capt. Bulkeley, the Secretary, stood at the north-east angle
of the square inside the rails. Prince Edward resided in this house with
Governor Wentworth in 1798. This old house was pulled down about the
commencement of the present century and the materials sold to Mr. John
Trider, Sr., who used them in the construction of the building on the
road leading to the tower at the head of Inglis Street, formerly owned
by Colonel Bazelgette, and afterwards the residence of the late Mr.
George Whidden.
St. Paul's Church is now, perhaps, the oldest building remaining in
Halifax. It was erected at the expense of government in the year 1749,
and was esteemed one of the best constructed wooden buildings in
America. The oak frame and materials were brought from Boston, and the
building was ready for divine service by the autumn of 1750. It received
an addition to the north end with a new steeple somewhat similar to the
old one in the year 1812. The first sermon was preached in this building
by the Rev. Mr. Tutty[92] on 2nd September, 1750. It remained in nearly
all respects as at its first erection until certain late alterations
have changed its appearance, particularly an addition to the south end
from which the fine old altar window, with its Doric pillars and small
panes has been removed to make way for a large Gothic window full of
painted glass, altogether incompatible with the architecture of the
building itself. The old escutcheons in the galleries have been
permitted to remain. The walls below are covered with monuments and
tablets recording the deaths of governors, military commanders, who fell
during the old American and French wars, and not a few of our leading
citizens. The most conspicuous are those of Governors Sir John
Wentworth, Wilmot, Lawrence, and Sir John Harvey, Capt. Evans of the
ship Charleston, who was killed off the coast of Cape Breton in defence
of a convoy against a superior French force, Lord Charles Montague, late
Governor of Georgia, who died of fatigue after a journey in winter from
Quebec to Halifax by land, the Right Rev. Charles Inglis, first Bishop
of Nova Scotia, and his son Dr. John Inglis, third Bishop of the
Diocese, Baron De Seitz, who commanded the Hessian troops in the old
war, General McLean, the Hon. Richard Bulkeley, Attorney General
Uniacke, with a number of others of lesser note. The first organ was
purchased, partly by private subscription, during the incumbency of Dr.
Breynton, about 1765. It was replaced by a new one about 1829, but the
old case of Spanish walnut was preserved.[93]
[Footnote 92: Mr. Tutty usually officiated on the parade in the open air
until the church was sufficiently advanced to enable him to hold service
in it.]
[Footnote 93: This organ has been lately removed to Trinity Chapel, in
Jacob Street.]
The old German church of St. George, in Brunswick Street, bears the date
1760 on its spire. It was originally erected by private subscription
among the German settlers of the north suburbs in or about the year 1752
or '3. After the removal of the Germans to Lunenburg there were but
fifteen families of Germans remaining in the north suburbs. This small
congregation, not knowing any English, erected the building on the
German burial ground as a school house and chapel. The present steeple
was erected in 1760, and the following year the building was dedicated
as a church by Dr. Breynton of St. Paul's, after which the congregation
followed the forms of the Church of England. Dr. Breynton on that
occasion preached in German and in French, after which he addressed the
congregation in English. In 1783 Rev. Bernard Houzeal, a Lutheran
minister, came to Halifax among the Loyalists from New York and, having
been ordained a minister of the Church of England by the Bishop of
London, became the minister of St. George's, receiving a stipend from
the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign parts. He died
about the close of the last century, a few years after the present round
church, known as St. George's, was erected, and Mr. Gray was appointed
to the charge, after which service in the old church was discontinued.
It was then appropriated as a school house. About the year 1833 or '4 it
underwent a thorough repair which was superintended by several persons
in the parish who were descendants of the original German settlers.
Old St. Matthew's was coeval with the first settlement of Halifax.
Governor Cornwallis assigned a lot at the south-west corner of Prince
and Hollis Streets for a dissenting meeting house in 1749. It was built
soon after at the expense of government, and was called Mather's Church
in compliment to the memory of Dr. Cotton Mather, the celebrated New
England Congregationalist divine, by the dissenters then in the town,
who were principally from New England and of that denomination. The Rev.
Aaron Cleveland, from New England, was the first minister who officiated
in this building. The Presbyterians from Scotland and the North of
Ireland, having become numerous in the town, soon amalgamated with the
American dissenters, and gradually obtained exclusive possession of the
building, after which it received the appellation of St. Matthew's
Church. The late Rev. Mr. Russell, father of the late George N. Russell,
of Halifax, officiated there for some time after it became Presbyterian.
Dr. Archibald Gray was the officiating minister there for about twenty
years; he was succeeded by Rev. Ebenezer Renny, Rev. Mr. Knox, and
finally by Rev. John Scott, the last minister who preached in the old
building which was burned in the great fire which destroyed a
considerable portion of Hollis Street, on New Year's day, 1859. The lot
of land on which it stood was, some years after, sold to Doull & Miller,
who erected there a large stone warehouse, which is one of the neatest
and most substantial buildings in the city.
The first market house occupied the site of the brick building lately
used for the City Courts and offices. It was built soon after the
settlement. A balcony ran along the lower side which was used by
merchants, etc., as a public promenade. About the commencement of the
present century the remains of this old building were removed to make
way for the brick edifice. The upper portion of the new building was let
as a public coffee house; the large room now used as a City Council
Chamber was appropriated for public meetings, festivals, etc., and the
south end, above the police office, was occupied for many years as the
Exchange or Merchants' Reading Room.
The first court house in Halifax, as before mentioned, stood at the
corner of Buckingham and Argyle Streets, where Northup's store and
country market stood later. Chief Justice Belcher held his court there
in 1755, and the first Representative Assembly held their session there
in 1758. It was destroyed by fire about the year 1783. Chief Justice
Belcher resided in the old house in Argyle Street to the north of the
old Methodist meeting house, formerly owned by the Rev. William Black,
Methodist minister. This building, at the time of its removal, was one
of the very few old buildings then remaining in the town. It was taken
down some years ago and a range of shops and a market house now occupy
its site. The old Zoar chapel, the cradle of Methodism in Halifax, has
been lately turned into shops.
The stone house at the corner of Prince and Argyle Streets, opposite the
south-west angle of St. Paul's Church, was originally built by the Hon.
Richard Bulkeley, the first Provincial Secretary, and was his residence
for many years. It was purchased by the Hon. H. H. Cogswell about 1818,
and since his death has undergone extensive alterations to render it
suitable for a public hotel. It is known as the Carlton House. There is
an old house still standing on the western side of Grafton Street, in
Letter ----, Forman's Division, which was the residence of William
Nesbitt, the Attorney General of Nova Scotia and Speaker of the
Assembly, in 1760. After the death of Mr. Nesbitt, towards the end of
the last century, it fell to his daughter, Mrs. Swann. This old lady
died there nearly 80 years ago and the property was afterwards sold. The
street was cut down about 50 years since and a story or breast work was
erected on the street under this little old cottage which may yet be
seen projecting from the main building, presenting the appearance of a
balcony. The residence of Richard Gibbons, formerly Attorney General,
stood at the corner of Buckingham and Grafton Streets, formerly known as
George Isles' corner; it was lately taken down and replaced by a range
of brick buildings now owned by Mr. Maloney. This was also one of the
remnants of the first settlement of the town. The building at the corner
of Barrington and Sackville Streets, formerly occupied as the Halifax
Grammar School, is also a very old building. The House of Assembly held
its sittings there in 1765, perhaps earlier. After the court house was
burned down the Supreme Court met there for several years. It was also
used at one time for a guard house. It was devoted to the purpose of a
school on the establishment of the Halifax Grammar School in 1785.
Houses of entertainment were numerous and well kept at an early period.
The Great Pontack was a large three-story building, erected by the Hon.
John Butler, uncle to the late John Butler Dight, previous to 1757, at
the corner of Duke and Water Streets, afterwards known as Michael
Bennett's corner, now Cunningham's corner. It was the principal hotel in
1764. In 1769 it was kept by John Willis. The town assemblies and other
public entertainments were held at the Pontack in 1758.[94]
[Footnote 94: Among the annual festivals of the old times, now lost
sight of, was the celebration of St. Aspinquid's Day, known as the
Indian Saint. St. Aspinquid appeared in the Nova Scotia almanacks from
1774 to 1786. The festival was celebrated on or immediately after the
last quarter of the moon in the month of May. The tide being low at that
time, many of the principal inhabitants of the town, on these occasions,
assembled on the shore of the North West Arm and partook of a dish of
clam soup, the clams being collected on the spot at low water. There is
a tradition that during the American troubles when agents of the
revolted colonies were active to gain over the good people of Halifax,
in the year 1786, were celebrating St. Aspinquid, the wine having been
circulated freely, the Union Jack was suddenly hauled down and replaced
by the Stars and Stripes. This was soon reversed, but all those persons
who held public offices immediately left the grounds, and St. Aspinquid
was never after celebrated at Halifax.]
The Crown Coffee House, frequented by country people, was kept by
William Fury in 1769 on the beach near the Dockyard. Jerusalem Coffee
House occupied the northern extremity of the block near the Ordnance
Yard, opposite Collins' wharf, between Hollis Street and Collins' stone
stores. It was built by the Hon. Thomas Saul as a private residence
about 1753 and afterwards occupied by the Hon. Alexander Brymer; some of
the rooms were highly finished and ornamented with carved work, and the
whole establishment was on a scale beyond any other private residence in
the place. It was let out for a coffee house about 1789, or perhaps
earlier. This old building was destroyed by fire in 1837. The present
stone store known as the Jerusalem Warehouse occupies the site of the
old mansion.
Public Gardens were much in fashion between 1753 and '80. Adlam's garden
was an extensive enclosure south of the Citadel, near the present
Artillery Park and south barracks. It was opened to the public,
contained a pavilion and a great variety of fruit trees and shrubs. The
Artillery Park was then kept on the Grand Parade; the Artillery Barracks
stood in a line with the late engine house; the Parade was not levelled
at that time; a foot path from George Street passed through the centre,
and the descent at the north-east corner was very abrupt.[95] Spring
Garden was another place of public resort in 1768. At this time there
was a Provincial Gardener, who received an allowance of L.32 10s. per
annum.[96] About 1764, Mr. Joseph Gerrish, of His Majesty's Dockyard,
laid out an extensive garden in the north suburbs and imported fruit
trees at great expense. This was a private enclosure, extending from
Lockman Street to the beach, south of the Dockyard; his dwelling house
stood in the centre and faced the harbor. Part of the old wall, a year
or two since, was to be seen in Lockman Street. The old Governor's
gardens, west of the English burying ground, were well kept up for about
30 years. There was a large summer house in the centre.
[Footnote 95: Whether there was a passage for carriages across the
Parade does not appear; probably not, as it was used for a public parade
ground in 1749.]
[Footnote 96: Probably employed at the Governor's gardens.]
Mr. Grant, the victualling agent, had a large fruit garden south of
Government House, where St. Matthew's Manse now stands, extending from
Hollis to Pleasant Streets. It was surrounded by a stone wall.
Ornamental trees were, at an early period, very numerous in the suburbs,
particularly in the south, and tended much to the beauty and comfort of
the town. The poplar trees which stood in front of the residence of the
late James Kerby and others, in Brunswick Street, and the willows on the
eastern side of the street, near the round church, are within the
recollection of many of the old inhabitants. The fine old willow trees
which occupied both sides of Argyle Street near the residence of the
late Attorney General Uniacke, those at the south end of Hollis Street,
near the Lumber Yard, and those around St. Paul's Church, are also still
within the recollection of many. These trees were all cut down by the
Commissioners of Streets in 1829 and 1830, because they grew on the side
paths and were therefore deemed an encroachment on the public highway.
Halifax was thus denuded of its shady walks by the gentlemen of taste
who constituted the Commissioners of Streets at that period. Within the
last few years several attempts have been made to re-produce trees on
the sidewalks, but with partial success, there being no protection
afforded to them by the city authorities.
Before the year 1760, the houses were generally built of square and
round timber, some with small pickets placed upright between the stubs
of the frame, and the whole covered over with clap boards; they were
usually of one story with a hipped roof, the shops and half doors with
no glass, swinging signs, and wooden shutters opening downwards, on
which goods were exposed for sale. Several of these old houses were in
existence in 1850, windows and doors being altered.
In 1768 and '77, there were lamp posts at all the principal corners,
the town being then lighted at the public expense.
The Dutch in the north suburbs usually built with the ends of their
houses to the street; those of the better sort had ornamental windows
and heavy cornices with weathercocks, One or two of these old houses
were to be seen in Brunswick Street about thirty-five years ago. Among
the old houses which have now disappeared was one which stood in the
field opposite the lower wharf, near Point Pleasant; it was built about
1770, and occupied by General Fanning about 1783.
A year or two after the settlement Mr. Gerrish built several small stone
houses near the tower; the clearance east of the pine woods is still to
be seen; they were occupied for a short time by the settlers from the
north of Ireland who went to Cobequid.
A large wooden building stood in the centre of the enclosure now
occupied by Government House, built before the American Revolution, and
used as a residence for field officers and other military purposes. The
public hospital stood on part of the land now occupied by Government
House to the north of the present house; it was afterwards sold;
probably the spot on which St. Matthew's church now stands.
The first jail stood where the late Mr. Robert Brown's house in Hollis
Street stood, opposite the Halifax Hotel; the jail was kept there till
1787, or thereabouts. In 1777, the Provost Marshal was suspended from
his office in consequence of the repeated escape of prisoners from this
building.
In 1752, government purchased a small stone house built by Col. Horseman
for a prison, probably a military one; this was near where St. Mary's
Cathedral now stands.
One remnant of the first settlement, now forgotten, was an old hardwood
tree which stood on the beach, just above high water mark, at the corner
of the Market Slip; this tree was used as a public gallows from 1749,
and was there within the recollection of one or two aged persons living
in 1825; it was cut down about 1763, but the stump remained until 1784
or '5.
The progress of crime between 1749 and '54, was perhaps less rapid than
might have been expected among a population of 5,000 or 6,000, composed
of such materials. During the first five years there were fifty
criminal trials on record, many convictions for grand larceny, which was
then the subject of capital punishment. After the appointment of Chief
Justice Belcher, convictions were less frequent; most of the executions,
as in the time of the general court, were for stealing or receiving
stolen goods.
The Dockyard was first established at Halifax in 1758. It was extended
and improved in 1769. The date over the gate is 1770. The walls have
since undergone several renewals.
The Town Clock was erected early in the present century jointly by the
garrison and the town. The merchants of Halifax raised a subscription
towards the object. It was placed at the head of George Street for the
convenience of the inhabitants. It was managed by the garrison. The late
James Dechman, senior, was keeper, and resided in the clock for many
years; he died about 1829 or 1830.
According to the plan of the town made by Col. Desbarres in 1779 or '80,
and published in his nautical charts in 1781, there was a nine-gun
battery about where the Ordnance wharf now is, and the five-gun battery
a little to the north, but on an angle with the other. Gerrish's wharf,
since known as Marchington's wharf, was immediately north of the
five-gun battery, and Joshua Mauger's wharf at the foot of Jacob Street.
Proctor's wharf appears to have been situated near where Cunard's old
wharf now is. The old market wharf, known as Fredericks' wharf, and
afterwards as Beamish's wharf, was as at present. Fillis' wharf appears
to have been that now known as Mitchell's, south of the Queen's Wharf.
Terrance Fitzpatrick's wharf was situated about the spot now occupied by
Esson & Boak's wharf. Crawley's was to the south of the latter, and
Collier's about where Pryor's wharf now is.
There was a battery at the Commissioners' point at the south end of the
Dockyard, and the storekeeper's wharf ran out to the south of the
Commissioners' point somewhere, apparently, in the vacant space between
the Dockyard and West's property. Joshua Mauger's Distillery was
situated between the Dockyard and the present hospital grounds. Guns
were mounted on the careening wharf. Three batteries with ditches and
enclosures were formed by Col. Spry, Chief Engineer, on the lower side
of Brunswick Street; one on the corner of Brunswick and North Streets,
one on the south corner of Dockyard Lane, and the other down Gerrish
Street below the Dutch burial ground. It was generally understood that
these works were on the opposite or western side of Brunswick Street,
but Desbarres' plan places them on the east side. The works on Citadel
Hill appear to consist of a small enclosure, but no regular
fortifications appear.
EARLY PRINTING IN HALIFAX.
In 1751 printing was first introduced into Nova Scotia. The first press
was established at Halifax, and there was not a second in the province
until 1766. Bartholomew Green, Jr., was the grandson of Samuel Green, of
Cambridge, Massachusetts, and was of the firm of Green, Bushell & Allen,
of Boston. He removed to Halifax with a press and type in August, 1751.
He died about six weeks after his arrival, 52 years of age.
John Bushell, who had been the partner of Green in Boston, immediately
succeeded him in Halifax. He printed for the government, and in March,
1752,[97] published the first newspaper printed in Nova Scotia. The work
for government was inconsiderable, but was the chief support of Bushell.
He was a good workman but had not the art of acquiring property, nor did
he make the most economical use of the little which fell into his hands.
Bushell died in February, 1761. The proclamation published by Governor
Lawrence in 1758 for the settlement of the French lands on the Basin of
Minas was printed by John Bushell. Anthony Henry succeeded Bushell as a
printer at Halifax. He was a German, and had lived some time with a
printer, but had left his master and became a fifer in one of the
provincial regiments. With this regiment he came to Nova Scotia, but
some time after obtained his discharge. There was then no printer in the
province, and his pretensions to skill in this art greatly facilitated
his release from the army. There appears, however, to have been a
printing office at Halifax in March, 1756, conducted by one Isaac Ourry.
Henry began business with the press and type which had been used by
Bushell. He published the Gazette. The government, through necessity,
gave him some work which was badly executed. This paper was edited for
some time by the Hon. Richard Bulkeley, Secretary of the Province.
[Footnote 97: See Thomas' History of Printing in America.]
In 1766 a printer with a new and good apparatus came from London and
opened another printing house. He published a newspaper and was employed
by government. Henry, who had been inattentive to his affairs, did not
despond at the prospects of a rival, but, much to his credit, exerted
himself and did better than before. After a few years' trial, his rival,
not finding the business so profitable, nor place agreeable, sold out
his paper, and Henry was again the only printer in the province. He
procured new type and a workman better skilled than himself. His
printing from this time was executed in a more workmanlike manner. He
remained without another rival until the British army evacuated Boston,
in March, 1776, when the printers in that town who adhered to the Royal
cause were obliged to leave that place, and they, with other refugees,
came to Halifax. Henry continued printing until his death. He possessed
a fund of good nature, and was of a very cheerful disposition. He died
December, 1800, aged 66 years.
Robert Fletcher arrived at Halifax from London in 1760, with new
printing materials and a valuable collection of books and stationery. He
opened a book store and printing house near the parade, published a
newspaper and printed for the government. Until this time there had been
no book store in the province. Fletcher executed his printing with
neatness, and raised the reputation of the art in Nova Scotia. He
remained in Halifax until 1770, then sent his printing materials to
Boston for sale and went into other business.
Alexander and James Robertson, who had been printers in New York,
Norwich and Albany, went to Shelburne, in Nova Scotia, in 1783, where
they printed a newspaper. John Howe began printing in Halifax in 1776,
and was publisher of the Gazette in 1801. Howe commenced the Halifax
Journal in 1780. In 1790 his office was at the corner of Sackville and
Barrington Streets. This paper was afterwards purchased and carried on
by John Munro; his office was where Mr. Kenny's new stone building now
is, at the corner of George and Granville Streets. The weekly Chronicle
was set on foot by William Minns, a Loyalist settler, in 1786, and was
continued until 1828. Mr. Minns kept a stationer's shop in Barrington
Street, below the parade. This paper had the Star and Garter at its
heading.
Henry's printing office was in Grafton Street, in rear of the residence
of the late Attorney General Richard John Uniacke, where his descendants
resided for many years. There was another printing office in the same
street, further north, which is represented in the engraving of the town
in 1776 with a steeple surmounted by a hand holding a pen.
After the peace of 1784, printing found its way into the Province of New
Brunswick.