Preface

Between April 4, 1979, and 20 August 1980, several articles appeared in the Hants Journal, a weekly newspaper published in Windsor, Nova Scotia. Titled, Notes on the Early History of Central Hants County, these articles were the inspiration and labour of Mr. Ralph. B. Whittier of Rawdon.

Some years ago, a copy of the newspaper articles was donated to the West Hants Historical Society. In the fall of 2000, permission was granted by Mr. Whittier’s heirs to the West Hants Historical Society to have these articles transcribed and published. This small booklet contains all of the original articles unaltered except for the addition of a few explanatory notes that are encased in square brackets[ ].

The West Hants Historical Society wishes to thank Nancy Whittier Evangalato, “Scottie” Whittier Simons, and Joyce Whittier Chaplin for the privilege of publishing this history. We dedicate it to the memory of a fine gentleman who cared passionately about the history and people of his ancestral home.

Part 1- Introduction 7
Part 2 – The Place 10
Part 3 – Settlement that became Rawdon 11
Part 4 – Nine Mile River, Gore and Kennetcook Settlement 13
Part 5 – The Settlement (Continued) 17
Part 6 – Rawdon Settlers 19
Part 7 – Rawdon Settlers, Backgrounds, Homes & Property 22
Part 8 – Loyalist Settlers in Rawdon 25
Part 9 – Further on Early Rawdon Settlers 29
Part 10 – 84th Regiment 31
Part 11 – 84th Regiment (Con’t) 34
Part 12 – Thomas Wier 37
Part 13 – Puzzle is Solved 40
Part 14 – Widow McDougald 43
Part 15 – Whittier’s and Crocker 46
Part 16 – Descendants Among Us 49
Part 17 – Woods, Withrows, Millers & McLearns 52
Part 18 – More McLearn’s 55
Part 19 – Densmores, O’Briens & Rines 58
Part 20 – The Smiths 61
Part 21 – The Smith Family 64
Part 22 – The Millers, Yuills and Pearsons 65
Part 23 – Fraser Families 67
Part 24 – The Fraser’s Douglas 69
Part 25 – More on the Frasers of East Hants 71
Part 26 – The Early Organization of Communities in Central Hants County 74
Part 27 – Town Meetings in the Rawdon Area 78
Part 28 – Town Meetings in the Rawdon Area 80
Part 29 – Weatherheads 83
Part 30 – The Wallace’s from South Carolina 86
Part 31 – Rawdon Township Minutes 89
Part 32 – Tax List for 1851 91
Part 33 – Cunard, The Shipping Magnate 94
Part 34 – Religious Services in the Rawdons 95
Part 35 – The Anglican Church in Centre Rawdon 98
Part 36 – Birth of a Church 100
Part 37 – 1827: The Turning Point for St. Paul’s Parish 102
Part 38 – The Anglican Church in Rawdon 104
Part 39 – Selling the Glebe Farm 106
Part 40 – Building a New Rectory 108
Part 41 – Birth of the Baptist Church 110
Part 42 – The Catholics in East Hants 113
Part 43 – Presbyterianism in Hants County 116
Part 44 – Early Schools in Central Hants County 118
Part 45 – The Journal of Education 120
Part 46 – The Journal of Education (con’t) 123
Part 47 – Catholics in East Hants 126
Part 48 – Catholics in East Hants 128
Part 49 – Presbyterian and United Ministers 128
Part 50 – The Presbyterian Church at Noel 130
Part 51 – Further on the Roman Catholic Church 133
Part 52 – Disciples of Christ Churches 134
Part 53 – The Discovery of Gold in Hants County 136
Part 54 – Gold in Hants County 137
Part 55 – Sections, Border Sections in Hants County 139
Part 56 – Journal of Education 139
Part 57 – Rawdon Church Voters’ List 142
Part 58 – Mineral Rich Hants County 145
Part 59 – Hants County: The Largest Gypsum Producer 147
Part 60 – Mineral Rich Hants County 148

Copyright 1979 by Ralph B. Whittier

ISBN 0-9680641-4-0

West Hants Historical Society Publication

October 2001