Area History

John Bourg and Francis Arseneau, two Acadian boatmen, operated a ferry service across the Bay of Fundy from Partridge Island.

Du Vivier, undertook to capture all Acadia, marched a small force from Chignecto to Partridge Island, where they were embarked for Minas.

Mavin, a Quebec officer, used the Partridge Island route on his way to Annapolis. That same year, a small force from New England captured Louisburg. A 1959 historical novel, “The Young Titan” by F. Van Wyk Mason recounts this siege and capture.

James Noble Shannon, born in Boston.

Between 1760 and 1766, New England Planters arrived in the area.  Records show marriage of one of the original families descendants, of whom still reside in the area.

An inn, tavern, store, blockhouse, school, and church were built at Partridge Island in February of 1764.  Military records reveal that with permission from Governor Wilmot through Major Hamilton, a local British commander, Acadians Francois Arsenault and Jean Bourg, were allowed to continue operating a shallop as a ferryboat. (yes, the same ones who were operating it in 1730.  So, not all Acadians were expelled).

Oldest dated timber in Ottawa House construction.

Jonathon Crane and James Noble Shannon became the first permanent residents of Partridge Island.

The Partridge Island Grant was awarded to John Avery, John Lockhart, and Jacob Bacon, on condition that they operate a ferry from Partridge Island to Windsor, mainly for the benefit of the military.  The Lockhart Family History states that John Lockhart did so. Later in the year, Asa and Abijiah Scott, along with Jacob Hurd, bought John Avery’s half of the Grant and operated the ferry.  A New England privateer seized the schooner used as a ferry in November of the same year.  Later at Advocate, Colonel Michael Francklin recaptured Scott’s schooner, but the privateer, described as an 8-gun schooner full of men,  escaped!

Philadelphia Grant of 1779, made by Governor Francis Legge, names the following on the site map of the grant:  Silas Crane, Jr., (originally No. 1 to Jacob Bacon),  James N. Shannon (originally No. 2 to John Lockhart),  and James Ratchford, Sr., (originally No. 3 Jacob Bacon), as the principal holders with one parcel (originally No. 4 John Avery) being ceded (sold?) by Jonathon Crane to James Rathford, and three very small parcels from the original grant being retained (apparently) by John Avery and Jacob Bacon.  Three other adjoining parcels of land are listed on the grant map, inland of those bordering the shoreline, all of which were granted to John Lockhart. The precise measurements are difficult to determine, as some of the distances are listed as “174 perches”  or “171 perches”, an Anglo Saxon unit of measurement, which was cited in a law known as the Composition of Yards and Perches (Compositio ulnarum et perticarum), some time between 1266 and 1303, but has not survived to today.  No precise equivalent of distance has, as yet, been determined. Note: The name Philadelphia survives to this date as Philadelphia Street in the current town of Parrsboro.

In June, a privateer from Machias, Maine, attempts raid on Shannon Store at Partridge Island Settlement.  Three of the raiders were killed, and remainder captured, along with their vessel. Later in the same month, another privateer made a raid.  Fortunately this was a small one, and as the landing party of 8 men was busy looting a home, they were surrounded by a small group of soldiers under a Lieutenant Wheaton.  Three of the privateer’s men, including their Captain, were killed and the rest on land were captured.  Their vessel escaped, although British naval ships sought it.

Governor Parr visited area and township later named in his honour.

July 11th –  First official reference to James Ratchford at Partridge Island. July 20th – Parrsborough declared a Parish and construction of new church began.

William Moore and James Ratchford take over original land grant at Partridge Island. James Ratchford gets official control over ferry service.

Bishop Inglis uses ferry to visit church at Partridge Island.

Silas Crane Jr., ferry captain, dies.

Mill Village (former name of Parrsboro town site) began after a gristmill was built there by Josiah Davison. Note:  Descendants of the Davison family still reside in Parrsboro.

J. Ratchford and J. Shannon given license to “Inspect and Search” American vessels in the Minas Basin.

New ferry “Friends” begins Minas Basin service.

Capt. Stickney, known to be master of rival ferry between Parrsboro, Windsor, and Horton.

First Petition of Parrsborough residents to join Cumberland County, or form its own county.

Col. Jonathan Crane died.

James Noble Shannon, founding merchant of Partridge Island, died. Note: James Shannon lies buried in the old Partridge Island burying ground.  A decaying cairn marks the site of the old Partridge Island Burying Ground, a few minutes walk from Ottawa House.   The only grave left visible is James Shannon’s.

James DeWolfe began a store in Mill Village.  At that time, there were only five houses in present town site.

Abijah Scott claimed ferryboat destroyed by American privateers.

July 15th – Town Of Parrsboro incorporated. September 7th – First Town Council met.

July 5th – Handley-Page aircraft Atlantic made forced landing at Parrsboro, crashing as it attempted to land on the race track. October 9th – During ‘the summer of the Handley-Page’, the Atlanticwas repaired and left for New York.   Due to the crash of the Handley-Page, Parrsboro is now a sister community to Greenport, NY.   Many aviation records were set during these flights, e.g., first Airmail between Canada and U.S.A. Note: The navigator’s seat from the Atlantic is on display at the Museum.