New Ross, Nova Scotia

New Ross is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in the Chester Municipal District. Home of the Ross Farm Museum. The village is named after Henry Phipps, 1st Earl of Mulgrave, whose second title derives its name from New Ross, Ireland.[1] New Ross was the end-point for construction of the Western segment of the Annapolis Road which was intended to eventually reach Halifax. However construction was never completed.

For the community in Ireland, see New Ross.
New Ross in Nova Scotia

After the War of 1812, the village of Sherbrooke (renamed New Ross) and the Ross Farm was established by William Ross (1783-1822) in 1816. William Ross was originally from Cork, Ireland.[2] During the Napoleonic Wars, he became part of the British Army 16th Regiment of Foot and stationed in Fort Amsterdam, Surinam. His wife Mary accompanied him. They had their second child while they were there. During their return to Britain, they survived their ship being wrecked on the Tuskar Rock off the coast of Wexford, Ireland.[3]

William and Mary moved to Sunderland, England, where their son Edward Ross (1813-1894) was born, the author of the diaries on which the museum is based. During the War of 1812, as a soldier in the 16th Regiment, William Ross and his family moved to British North America and were stationed at Fort Coteau-du-Lac, Quebec. (See National HIstoric Site.) The Battle of the Chateauguay happened while he was there. His role in the battle is unknown. Lieutenant William Ross chose to transfer to the Nova Scotia Fencible Infantry while in Quebec.[4]

After the war, upon their return to Nova Scotia, the Ross family again survived the sinking of their ship off the coast of Green Island (Jeddore Ledges, Nova Scotia). The Fencibles were disbanded on 25 July 1816. Two weeks later, on 7 August 1816, William Ross led 172 former soldiers who were given land grants along the newly burned road between Chester and Kentville, Nova Scotia. Six years later on 2 May 1822, William Ross died suddenly at the age of 39. Four months later, his wife Mary gave birth to their fourth child.[5]

William’s son Edward Ross kept a diary for most of his life. The Ross Farm Museum is based on the diaries Edward wrote when he was a young man age 22-28 (1835-1841). During this time on the farm he sold produce from the local community in his store and also made a trip by boat from Chester to Halifax every spring. He was also a justice of the peace.[6] At age 28, Edward left the community and married Marie three years later at Cornwallis, Nova Scotia (1844).[7] At age 52, Edward spent time in jail for not being able to pay his debts (1865).[8] Five years later he went to Boston in search of work. While there, he heard the famous Lucy Stone speak at the Massachusetts State House(1872). They returned to Kentville, Nova Scotia until Marie died (1882). Edward lived for twelve more years. His final three years were spent on Ross Farm, where he died in 1894 at the age of 81.[9]

References

Texts

  • Deborah Trask. The Edward Ross Diaries. Journal of the Royal Nova Scotia Historical Society, Vol.9, 2006. Pp. 33-53

Endnotes

  1. William Borrett. Down East. 1945. p. 17
  2. Trask, p. 33
  3. Trask, p. 33
  4. Trask, p. 33
  5. Trask, pp. 34-35
  6. Trask, p. 35
  7. Trask, p. 35
  8. Trask, p. 36
  9. Trask, p. 36

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