Missaguash River
Encyclopedia
The Missaguash River is a small Canadian
river that forms the southern portion of the inter-provincial boundary between Nova Scotia
and New Brunswick
on the Isthmus of Chignecto
. It had historic significance in the 18th century as the de facto
border between French (to the west) and English-controlled territories.
The river's name is from the Mi'kmaq
language, likely meaning "marsh river", in reference to the Tantramar Marshes
through which it flows. The river flows south into Cumberland Basin. Its source is in the Missaguash Bog, several kilometres to the north.
, led by Jacques Bourgeois, formed a settlement on the south bank of the Missaguash near its mouth named Beaubassin
. The settlers reclaimed the salt marsh
bordering the Missaquash for cultivation by constructing dykes to keep out the sea.
This village grew until 1750. The French priest Jean-Louis Le Loutre
led Mi'kmaq warriors to burn down the village to force the Acadians to relocate to French-held territory north of the Missaquash. He wanted to bring French settlers together in a time of increasing national tensions with Great Britain. In the fall of 1750 the English army
under Major Charles Lawrence established Fort Lawrence
on the site of the burned village.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
river that forms the southern portion of the inter-provincial boundary between Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
and New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
on the Isthmus of Chignecto
Isthmus of Chignecto
The Isthmus of Chignecto is an isthmus bordering the Maritime provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia which connects the Nova Scotia peninsula with North America....
. It had historic significance in the 18th century as the de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
border between French (to the west) and English-controlled territories.
The river's name is from the Mi'kmaq
Mi'kmaq language
The Mi'kmaq language is an Eastern Algonquian language spoken by nearly 9,100 Mi'kmaq in Canada and the United States out of a total ethnic Mi'kmaq population of roughly 20,000. The word Mi'kmaq is a plural word meaning 'my friends' ; the adjectival form is Míkmaw...
language, likely meaning "marsh river", in reference to the Tantramar Marshes
Tantramar Marshes
The Tantramar Marshes is a National Wildlife Area on the southern part of the Isthmus of Chignecto, which joins Nova Scotia to New Brunswick and the Canadian mainland. It is the site of the historic Battle of Fort Beauséjour, the final chapter in the long battle for Acadia by the British and French...
through which it flows. The river flows south into Cumberland Basin. Its source is in the Missaguash Bog, several kilometres to the north.
Acadian settlement
About 1672 a small group of Acadians from Port RoyalPort Royal, Nova Scotia
Port Royal was the capital of Acadia from 1605 to 1710 and is now a town called Annapolis Royal in the western part of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Initially Port Royal was located on the north shore of the Annapolis Basin, Nova Scotia, at the site of the present reconstruction of the...
, led by Jacques Bourgeois, formed a settlement on the south bank of the Missaguash near its mouth named Beaubassin
Beaubassin
Beaubassin was the first settlement on the Isthmus of Chignecto, Nova Scotia, which was Acadian. The area is now known as the Tantramar Marshes. Beaubassin was settled in 1672, the second Acadian village to be established after Port Royal. The village was one of the largest and most prosperous in...
. The settlers reclaimed the salt marsh
Salt marsh
A salt marsh is an environment in the upper coastal intertidal zone between land and salt water or brackish water, it is dominated by dense stands of halophytic plants such as herbs, grasses, or low shrubs. These plants are terrestrial in origin and are essential to the stability of the salt marsh...
bordering the Missaquash for cultivation by constructing dykes to keep out the sea.
This village grew until 1750. The French priest Jean-Louis Le Loutre
Jean-Louis Le Loutre
Abbé Jean-Louis Le Loutre was a Catholic priest and missionary for the Paris Foreign Missions Society...
led Mi'kmaq warriors to burn down the village to force the Acadians to relocate to French-held territory north of the Missaquash. He wanted to bring French settlers together in a time of increasing national tensions with Great Britain. In the fall of 1750 the English army
English Army
The English Army existed while England was an independent state and was at war with other states, but it was not until the Interregnum and the New Model Army that England acquired a peace time professional standing army...
under Major Charles Lawrence established Fort Lawrence
Fort Lawrence
Fort Lawrence was a British fort built during Father Le Loutre's War and located on the Isthmus of Chignecto .-Father Le Loutre's War:...
on the site of the burned village.