Selma, Nova Scotia
Encyclopedia
Selma is a small community in the Canadian
province of Nova Scotia
, located in The Municipality of the District of East Hants
in Hants County
.
from the area in 1750 during Father Le Loutre's War
. According to Captain Matthew Floyer, Selma had four dwellings and a mill. The field beside the Selma Brook was named "La Pree a Breard".
Selma may have been named Village Robere as referenced by Charles Morris (jurist)
, which would mean that the Robert Henry Family also lived in the village. The Ile St. Jean census date of 1752 suggest that the Henry family married many of those in the Pitre family. The Pitre Family were in the neighbouring community of Maitland, Nova Scotia.
Alternatively, however, there is evidence to suggest that Vil Robere may have been East Noel (present day Densmore Mills, Nova Scotia
).
. Oral history stated that Major General John Small built a manor house in the area which he named Selma Hall, after which the community is named.
At the mouth of Selmah Creek lay the site of three shipyards. The largest of these was owned by Alexander A. McDougall. From this shipyard 19 barques were built and launched. A.A. McDougall set up the first steam timber mill replacing the man-powered saw pit at his yard.
Next to the McDougall yard was that of (David) Pratt & Cox.
Beyond the Pratt shipyard was that of George Oxley Smith and his son, McCully Smith. George Oxley Smith was also a Justice of the Peace sitting in judgement on various disturbances, timber contracts and other legal matters.
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...
province of 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...
, located in The Municipality of the District of East Hants
East Hants, Nova Scotia
East Hants is a municipal district in Hants County, Nova Scotia.With its administrative seat in Milford Station, the district occupies the eastern half of Hants County from the Minas Basin to the boundary with Halifax County, sharing this boundary with the West Hants municipal district...
in Hants County
Hants County, Nova Scotia
Hants County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia which was the home of Thomas Chandler Haliburton, Alden Nowlan and Noel Doiron. The county of Hants was created June 17, 1781, and consisted of the townships of Windsor, Falmouth and Newport...
.
Acadians
The LeJeune Family lived in Selma prior to the Acadian ExodusAcadian Exodus
The Acadian Exodus happened during Father Le Loutre’s War and involved almost half of the total Acadian population of Nova Scotia deciding to relocate to French controlled territories...
from the area in 1750 during Father Le Loutre's War
Father Le Loutre's War
Father Le Loutre’s War , also known as the Indian War, the Micmac War and the Anglo-Micmac War, took place between King George's War and the French and Indian War in Acadia and Nova Scotia. On one side of the conflict, the British and New England colonists were led by British Officer Charles...
. According to Captain Matthew Floyer, Selma had four dwellings and a mill. The field beside the Selma Brook was named "La Pree a Breard".
Selma may have been named Village Robere as referenced by Charles Morris (jurist)
Charles Morris (jurist)
Charles Morris was a Canadian army officer, officeholder, and judge.Born in Boston, Massachusetts, he was the Chief Justice of the Nova Scotia Supreme Court from 1776 to 1778.He fought in the Battle of Grand Pre....
, which would mean that the Robert Henry Family also lived in the village. The Ile St. Jean census date of 1752 suggest that the Henry family married many of those in the Pitre family. The Pitre Family were in the neighbouring community of Maitland, Nova Scotia.
Alternatively, however, there is evidence to suggest that Vil Robere may have been East Noel (present day Densmore Mills, Nova Scotia
Densmore Mills, Nova Scotia
Densmore Mills is a small community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in The Municipality of the District of East Hants in Hants County.- Acadians :...
).
Major Small and the 84th Highland Regiment
After the American Revolution Selma was settled by loyalists soldiers who fought for the British. Small received the land at Selma from Malachy SalterMalachy Salter
Malachy Salter , a Nova Scotia merchant and office-holder, was born at Boston, second son of Malachy Salter and Sarah Holmes. He married Susanna Mulberry, on 26 July 1744 in Boston, and they had at least 11 children...
. Oral history stated that Major General John Small built a manor house in the area which he named Selma Hall, after which the community is named.
Ship Building (1860-1885)
During the second half of the nineteenth century, shipbuilding and supporting sub-trades were the mainstay of the economy on this small and bustling hamlet.At the mouth of Selmah Creek lay the site of three shipyards. The largest of these was owned by Alexander A. McDougall. From this shipyard 19 barques were built and launched. A.A. McDougall set up the first steam timber mill replacing the man-powered saw pit at his yard.
Next to the McDougall yard was that of (David) Pratt & Cox.
Beyond the Pratt shipyard was that of George Oxley Smith and his son, McCully Smith. George Oxley Smith was also a Justice of the Peace sitting in judgement on various disturbances, timber contracts and other legal matters.
Ships built in Selmah (1862-1885)
- Lily 1862
- Craigdownie 1863
- Jessie 1863
- D.B.R. 1864
- Wanderer 1864
- Mary 1865
- June Ure 1866
- Scotia Queen 1867
- Bina 1868
- Maggie Brown 1869
- Minnie Graham 1870
- Maitland 1871
- Eliza Campbell 1871
- Jane Campbell 1872
- Cupid 1872
- Tranmere 1872
- Lotus 1872
- Lady Vere de Vere 1873
- Disco 1873
- Isabelle Ure 1874
- Francois Herbert 1874
- Silas Curtis 1874
- Margaret Mitchell 1875
- Norman 1876
- Margaret Craig 1878
- Ada Brown 1879
- Delhana 1880
- Minnie Brown 1881
- Chistina 1882
- Craigie Burn 1885