Amherst Nova Scotia Deeds

1. Rueben Lattimore to Robert Scott
Book B #107
19 MAR 1770

Know all me by these present, that I Rueben Lattimore in the county of Cumberland in province of Nova Scotia, Yeoman for and in consideration of twenty dollars and one acre of woodland in Midle Village division Number Right Twenty in ____ do give bargain and sell alien convey unto Lieutenant Robert Scott in Sackville in the county of Cumberland and province of Nova Scotia one lott of Land containing four acres Number six in Tantramar Division on the great marsh joining the road and River the overall or full payment I do hereby acknowledge and
Blah, blah, blah
Signed by Rueben Lattimore
Witnessed by Volintine Esterbrook, Lena----- Martyne (Martin?)

2. George Sherman & Nathan Mason to Robert Scott
Book B # 147
21 APR 1770

Know all me by these present, that I George Sherman and Nathan Mason in the County of Cumberland and province of Nova Scotia for and in consideration of fifteen dollars and one acre woodland laying in Number Right twenty one Midle Village division Sackville and --- Distant acre in the Right from the marsh ____ do give bargain and sell alien convey unto Lieutenant Robert Scott in Sackville in the county of Cumberland and province of Nova Scotia one lott of land containing four acres --- forty nine being bounded against the landing of the --- --- Easterly joining Cogshell --- and Westerly on and --- Lot. Blah, Blah, Blah
Signed George Sherman and Nathan Mason, Witnesses Seth Harvey, William Lawrence

3. Nathaniel Smith and Benjamin Smith to William Brown
Book C #101
10 JULY 1775

Know all me by these present, that we Nathaniel Smith and Benjamin Smith of Fort Lawrence in the County of Cumberland and province of Nova Scotia Yeomen for and in consideration of the sum of fourteen pounds currency of the said province to us in hand paid by William Brown of Fort Lawrence in the County of Cumberland and province of Nova Scotia Cabinetmaker, the receipt blah, blah, blah, Viz. The thirteen acre lott, the thirty seven acre lott, the fifty one acre lott, the two hundred and sisty two acre lott and the one hundred and thirty six acre lott all drawn with the Number thirty eight Situate lying and being in the Division of the said Township of Cumberland distinguished in the Plan of the said Township by the letter A, blah, blah, blah
Signed Nathaniel Smith, Benjamin Smith Witnessed by Duncan McLaren, John Anderson
4. Nathaniel Smith Senior and Benjamin Smith to Nathaniel Smith, Jr.
Book B # 31
28 SEP 1775

Know all me by these present, that we Nathaniel Smith Senior and Benjamin Smith of Fort Lawrence in the County of Cumberland and province of Nova Scotia Yeomen for and in consideration of the love good will and affection which we have to bear towards our loving Friend Nathaniel Smith Junior of Fort Lawrence in the County of Cumberland and province of Nova Scotia Yeoman the receipt whereof we do hereby acknowledge and myself there wish fully Satisfyed (sic) contented we have given granted bargained Sold Aliened conveyed and confirmed by their presents do give grant bargain Sell Alien Convey and confirm unto the said Nathaniel Smith Junior his heir and aligns all ---- the tracts or parcels of land hereafter--- Vez- The thirty seven acre lot that was drawn with the Number Thirty Eight with the House and Barn thereon the fifty one acre Marsh lot that was drawn with the number Fifty seven the one hundred and thirty five acre lot that was drawn with the number fifty five situate laying and being in the Township of Cumberland distinguished by the letter A. A being more particularly described in the plan of the said township reference thereto being had May appear to have and to hold the said granted and blah, blah, blah
Signed by Nathaniel Smith and Benjamin Smith, Witnessed by John Smith and Daniel Ryan

5. Robert Scott to John Faucit (Fawcett)
Book C # 83
August 1779

Know all me by these present, that I Robert Scott, Esq. in the County of Cumberland and province of Nova Scotia … to John Faucit in the County of Cumberland… two marsh lotts of land … from number six in Tantramar Division on the great marsh joining the road and the other in number forty nine on same marsh…
Signed Robert Scott and Mary Scott Witnessed by Charles Dixson (Dixon) and Peter Barnes

6. Robert Scott to John Faucit (Fawcett)
Book C #84
13 August 1779
signed Robert and Mary Scott, same witnesses

7. Indenture between John Faucit and Robert Scott made in Sackville
1781
Book C 93

8. Nathaniel Smith and Benjamin Smith to William Chapman
Book C # 87
1 MAY 1781

Know all me by these present, that we Nathaniel Smith of Fort Lawrence …. Gentleman and Benjamin Smith of Halifax… merchant, in consideration of the sum of one hundred pounds currency… paid by William Chapman of Cumberland… Viz. Two marsh lots containing fifty one acres .. drawn on the number fifty four and fifty six and fifty acre lott adjoining …. Drawn with number fifty five and fifty two and fifty seven and two hundred and twenty (?) one hundred and thirty five acre lot was drawn with number fifty five and the one hundred thirty five drawn with the no. fifty six and the two hundred and twenty (?) two acre lott drwn with the number three situated laying being in the division of the said township of Cumberland designated by the letter A blah, blah, blah signed Nathaniel Smith, Elizabeth Smith, Benjamin Smith, Rachel Smith Witnessed by William Chapman and John Smith

9.Peter Campbell to John Scott (Peter Campbell is a 1768 Amherst Township Grantee)
Book C 170
10 SEP 1782

Know all me by these present, I Peter Campbell of Amherst Township in the county of Cumberland… Yeoman for and in consideration of eleven pounds Halifax currency to me in hand paid by John Scott, Sergent in the Royal Fencible American Regiment … three certain lotts or Rights of lands situated in the Town of Cumberland and known by the name of the Hutt lotts Number Nine, Ten, and Eleven containing in the whole six acres more or lessby the plan of the said township which was purchased by me from Mehetable Bearste as by her deed Registered in the Registers office and bearing the date of the Eleventh day of July 1799 (sic, must have meant 1779) ….
Signed Peter Campbell witnessed by Martin Gay and Mark Patten [Mark Patton was an early settler, "trader" (merchant) and large land owner on the Isthmus. Mark Patton (b. 1710) was from Fosghan Vael, Derry, Ireland, and immigrated to Halifax with his family during the summer of 1761. By 1771, Mark Patton had taken up a grant in Cumberland Township and was living on the Aulac ridge.]

10. John Scott to Josiah Smith
Book C 212
Nov 1783

… John Scott of Cumberland in the County of Cumberland … in consideration of the sum of 100 pounds… paid by Josiah Smith of Cumberland… Viz. one lott containing nine acres more or less bounded westerly by a certain Ditch running from the road which … to the marsh… joins the Hutt lott so called Northerly on line of the Hutt lott Easterly upon the Burying ground lands granted to Capt. McKenzie and on the --- --- Southerly by the Road which lead to the Marsh containing the whole one acres more or less as aforesaid formerly purchased by John Scott from Mary Sherman and ---- Sherman and also one Hutt lott purchased by john Scott from Isaac Danker (?) … containing two acres more or less as by Dec 21 of the same bearing date the eleventh day of June 1781 (?) and the seventeenth day of May 1783 blah blah blah
signed John Scott witnessed by Charles Barnes and Moses Des Les Derniers





11. Robert Scott to John Anderson
Book D #18
8 Nov 1787

This indenture made between Robert Scott, Esq. in the County of Westmoreland and Province of New Brunswick on the one part and John Anderson in the Town of Halifax in the county of the same name. …. For the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds lawful money … confirm unto John Anderson … all his lands in the Township of Amherst and County of Cumberland Province of Nova Scotia. One right of marsh laying upon the Musequash with all the lands belonging to the aforesaid Robert Scott being in letter A, division and the aforesaid lands the said Robert Scott …. Likewise, Mary Scott, the wife of the aforesaid Robert Scott doth freely relinquish ….. s
Signed Robert Scott and Mary Scott witnessed by James Watson and William Jones

12. Atwood Fales to James Scott
Book D #255
10 JAN 1795

Know all men by these present, that I Atwood Fales Husbandman, of Amherst in the Town and County of Cumberland and province of Nova Scotia for and in consideration of two pounds currency of said province to me in hand paid by James Scott of the Town and County aforesaid the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge and myself there wish fully Satisfyed (sic) contented and paid have given granted bargained Sold Aliened conveyed and confirmed unto him this Presents do give grant bargain Sell Alien Convey and confirm unto him the said James Scott, his heirs and _____, the part of land ¬¬¬___ as follows Viz- one hundred acres of land in Amherst more or less being No. 53 Situated laying and being on the Westside of the Road So Cobiqued (?) reference being Low to the Plan of said Township will fully appear, to have and to hold the said granted and bargained premises with the appearances unto him the said James Scott his heir’s and ____ forever—

Blah, blah, blah this tenth day of January in the thirty fifth year of his majesty Reign A. D. 1795
Signed Atwood Fales, witnesses Ebenezer Fales, Eunice Throop

12. James Scott to John Gay
Book E #116
16 JULY 1798

Know all men by these present that I James Scott of Amherst …. Yeoman…the sum of five pounds… paid by John Gay … Black man (this might mean an occupation of dyer)
… one hundred acres of land … lying and being on the westerly side of the road leading from Amherst to the River Philip being known by the number sixty nine reference being had to the plan of said Township …
Signed James Scott and Catherine Scott (named as his wife) witnessed by William Hall and Nancy Hall

13. Robert Sharp and John Starr to James Scott
Book F # 11
13 JULY 1801

Know all men by these present that we Robert Sharpe of Cornwallis in Kings County … and John Starr, Jr of Groton in the county of New London in the state of Connecticut, Yeoman, for consideration of the sum of six pounds currency… by James Scott of Amherst … a hundred acre lot of land lying and being in the Township of Amherst aforesaid know and described by being number thirty …
Signed Robert Sharp, Elizabeth Sharp (his wife) John Starr, Jr, witnessed by John Stuart and Robert Berry, Charles Baker Registrar

14. James Scott to Henry Jones
Book F #35
24 NOV 1802

Know all men by these present, that I James Scott of Amherst … Yeoman… sum of sixthy six pounds … a hundred acre lot of land lying and being in the Township of Amherst aforesaid know and described by being number thirty
Signed James Scott, Caty Scott witnessed by William Baker (registrar), Augustus Baxter, Alphonse Morse (J. O.)

Note: Richard Scott is an architect

14. Isaac Smith, Elizabeth Smith and Benjamin Smith to Richard Scott
Book I #86
3 Feb 1814

This indenture made the third day of February Between Isaac Smith of Halifax …trader and Elizabeth his wife, Benjamin Smith of Douglas in county of Hants …farmer … Richard Scott of Halifax … architect … All that certain Tract or lot of Land situated lying and being on the Ramsheg River in the county of Cumberland … containing two hundred and twenty acres, which said lot of land was originally granted to William McKenzie and by him sold to Isaac and Benjamin Smith … with all and singular the Houses Out-houses Barns Stables Buildings Ways Waters Watercourses Easements Commodities Hereditaments Stone Quarries and appartenances … said Isaac Smith and his wife Elizabeth and Benjamin Smith and Mary his wife … sold unto the said Richard Scott … Signed Isaac Smith, Eliza Smith, Benjamin Smith, Mary Smith
Witnesses John Liddell, Elisha Dewolf, N. Smith

15. James Henderson to Richard Scott (gave land to Richard probably for a debt)
Book I #166
28 February 1818

To all persons to whom these shall come I James Henderson of Remsheg in the Province of Nova Scotia, Yeoman send greeting— Whereas I the said James Henderson have this day finally settled and adjusted with Richard Scott of Halifax architect in the annexed agreement mentioned, all the buildings accounts and dealings hereto had between us under the said annexed agreement in and with the farm and Quary of Remsheg and the said Richard Scott hath contented and satisfied … consideration of the Premises and five shillings …
Signed James Henderson, Witnessed by Robert Scott and James Hamster (?)



Province House is valued for its architecture, its builder and its role in the history of Nova Scotia and Canada. Province House is highly valued because it is Canada’s oldest legislative seat and is considered one of the finest examples of pure Palladian design applied to an institutional building in the country. Its symmetry, proportions, uniformity and order, inside and out, represent both the stability and strength of government and the harmony, prosperity and stately grandeur of the Georgian period.

Plans for Province House were discussed as early as the 1780s, however funding and demands for a new Government House put the project on hold until the early 1800s. Prior to this, the Legislative Council met at various locations in Halifax, including the old residence of the lieutenant governor. In 1811 an act was passed for the erecting of a new Province House and in August of that year the cornerstone was laid. This was the beginning of the first purpose-built legislative building in what would become Canada.

Local painter and glazer John Merrick has been widely credited with the design of Province House. He was no doubt strongly influenced by the British promoters of Palladian style, architects Robert and John Adam. However it was mason/master builder Richard Scott who deserved much of the credit for interpreting Merrick’s drawings and realizing the remarkable architectural achievement that is Province House. Scott led the team of carpenters, masons and labourers who worked on Province House for eight years.

The provincial Supreme Court was held in this building until the 1860s, in the room now occupied by the Legislative Library, and the Legislative Council also met here until it was abolished in 1928. Since its completion, Province House has also seen many historical events occur within its stately walls - important Supreme Court trials, including the famed libel trial of politician, activist and newspaper editor Joseph Howe and the establishment of the first Responsible Government in the entire British Commonwealth. Other significant events held here included an Industrial Exhibition, royal visits, the installation of lieutenant governors and governor generals; grand balls were not an uncommon site in the Red Chamber.

Made of sandstone quarried at Wallace, NS, the exterior of Province House has changed very little since 1819. The stone wall that surrounds the entire perimeter of the property is original to the site. However the two statues found in the north and south years are more recent additions: one commemorates the trial of Joseph Howe, created by famed Quebec sculptor Louis-Philippe Hébert, in 1904 and the other commemorating Nova Scotians lost in the Boer War, erected in 1901.