The Diary of David Ross - Excerpts -
to the east and west most distant from town cattle starving to death - cutting birch tops and boiling them for cattle.
April 17 — People still crossing ice at Ferry. June 19 - Sailed steamboat for Pictou.
June 2!! — In Pictou all the day - in church there this evening.
June 21 - Started for Truro at 10 AM on stage waggon carrying 6 besides driver, 8 luggage. When within 4 miles of Truro broke down - ran on foot to Truro. Pretty place — five fields — rapid in flux of tide from Bay Fundy - mounted mail waggon travelling all night. Arrived at Dartmouth 7:06 AM.
June 22 - Crossed to Halifax. Pretty appearance of the town from Dartmouth side — ships of war at anchor and under way. Lodged at Mrs. McDonald’s Bedford Row or Street - got dressed and devoted this day to see Lions Fort Geo — strong place - beautiful view from the Hill extending down the harbor, the Island and out to sea. Fine fish market - salmon to every meal. Potatoes. Oats 2/ - fencing ground - 3 Regiments lying there. The wharfs — ordinance Naval
and Military Stores.
June 23 - Did business at N A Bank — payed all debts.
June 24 — Catholic Chapel - procession of Irish Temperance - Masonic procession to lay foundation store of ........ .
June 25 — Strolling about buying sugar. In theatre, Miss Davenport - poor affair.
June 26 - Started in mail waggon at 3 PM on return. Took tea at Grand Lake Inn, 18 mi. from Halifax. Ruins of canal along lakes - near resemblance to highland locks. [The Micmac had to canoe from Norzhumberland to Halifax hence Canals to lessen portages].
June 27 — Arrived at Truro 62 miles from Halifax at 6 AM. Breakfasted. Arrived Pictou 40 mi. from Truro 4 PM. Lodged Royal Oak.
June 28 — Sailed steamboat Geo’town. Arrived there afternoon.
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June 22 — Visited McDonald’s tenants - slept at Killies.
June 311 — Came down Montague River in canoe to Geo’town. Lodged Haddlies.
July 1 — Came up to Ch’town in mail waggon.
July 2 - In town all day arranging business. Came home.
July 3 - In town today again — McDonald’s business.
July 6 - Building stable.
September 23 - Squaring logs and pieces for finishing stable.
November 18 - Hauling sea weed and banking house. Working completing stable.
18A2
January 15 - Scott’s son died this day.
January 3 — Attended funeral.
April 22 - 700 passengers from Belfast arrived yesterday.
M - To hauling up house logs from River. mgr: - Hauling down old barn.
M — The Fair in town.
vaember 2 - Attended Gibson’s funeral.
November 3 - The most tremendous storm from N. have barrack all over — blew down fences and G—d knows what.
November 5 — Sister in town for nails for building. The storm unroofed many houses & barns throughout the Island and covered the coasts around with wreck of ships — carried away many stacks of Marsh hay and did otherwise uncalculable damage. It was accompanied with the highest tide during the night ever heard of. Ther. 24° in house. Snow 3 or 4 feet deep, roads banked and not a soul stirring out.