• Guysborough County Civil Marriages - 1864-1879
• St. Mary's Presbyterian Circuit Marriages - 1837-1865
• St. Lawrence Roman Catholic Baptisms 1860-1905, Mulgrave
• St Ann's Parish (Roman Catholic) Baptisms

Close

Guysborough County Genweb

Guysborough County Cemetery Listings

Taking its name from the Township of Guysborough, which was named in honour of Sir Guy Carlton, Guysborough County was created when Sydney County (Antigonish County) was divided in 1836. Four years later, in 1840, the Township of St. Mary's, in Guysborough County, was set off as a separate and distinct District. In 1863 the dividing line between Halifax and Guysborough Counties was altered and a polling district was added to Guysborough County. Subsequently, the dividing line between Pictou County and Guysborough County became rather uncertain and in 1866 a Commission of Crown Lands was authorized to appoint a surveyor to establish the boundary. Although the commissioners appointed to look after the interests of Pictou and Guysborough Counties, respectively, both signed the surveyors report, it soon became evident they were in agreement upon only part of the line between those two counties. At a meeting of the Court of General Sessions of the Peace for the District of Guysborough in the County of Guysborough, held on January 19, 1867, it was resolved the Commissioner of Crown Lands be requested to decide the residue of the boundary line. Moreover, in April 1875, the Lieutenant Governor and Council ordered the Commissioner of Crown Lands to make a survey of the line between Halifax and Guysborough Counties. Subsequently at its April session, 1913, the Munici pal Council of the Municipality of Guysborough declared that the boundary line between the Municipalities of Guysborough and St. Mary's had become uncertain and that it was necessary to establish it anew in order to avoid litigation to which the un certainty could lead. Pursuant to the request of that Municipal Council, the Lieutenant Governor and Council on March 23, 1914 authorized the appointment of a surveyor to run out that boundary line and to set up permanent marks upon it.

• Brunswick Street Methodist Marriages
• Christ Church Baptisms
• Christ Church Burials
• Christ Church Marriages
• St. Andrew's Presbyterian Marriages
• St. George's Halifax Baptisms
• St. George's Halifax Burials
• St. George's Halifax Marriages
• St. George's Halifax Tombstones
• St. George's Houseal Register - Baptisms
• St. George's Houseal Register - Marriages
• St. George's Houseal Register - Burials
• St. Matthew's Presbyterian Marriages
• St. Pauls's Halifax Baptisms
• St. Pauls's Halifax Burials
• St. Pauls's Halifax Marriages
• St. Peters's Dartmouth Roman Catholic Marriages
• St. Peters's Dartmouth Roman Catholic Baptisms
• St. Peters's Dartmouth Roman Catholic Burials (Books 1 & 2 Only - Incomplete)

Close

Halifax County Genweb

Deriving its name from George Montagu Dunk, second Earl of Halifax (1716-1771) who as President of the Board of Trade aided in the foundation of Halifax and in the colonization of Nova Scotia, Halifax County was established by Order in-Council on August 17, 1759. The boundaries of four other counties - Annapolis, Kings, Cumberland and Lunenburg -were specifically defined at that time, with Halifax County comprising all the part of peninsular Nova Scotia that was not comprehended within their limits. Following the Seven Years War, Cape Breton Island was formally annexed to Nova Scotia. For a time it formed part of Halifax County. Although the creation of Queens County in 1762 and of Hants County in 1781 caused no change in its size, two developments in 1784 did alter the boundaries of Halifax County. Cape Breton Island was cut off from it and made a separate colony that year. Two new counties - Shelburne and Sydney (Antigonish) - were established in the same year, with Sydney County being formed out of what had previously been part of Halifax County. The boundaries of Halifax County were modified in 1822. By an Order-In-Council of that year that part of St. Mary's Township (established in 1818) which had been in Halifax County was annexed to and included within Sydney County. Subsequently, various lines were surveyed and con firmed and the dividing line between the Districts of Halifax and Colchester was confirmed and established on May 3, 1828. In 1835, Halifax County was divided and the Counties of Colchester and Pictou were created out of parts of what had hitherto been Halifax County. That which had been the District of Colchester now became Colchester County; that which had been the District of Pictou now became Pictou County and that which had been the District of Halifax now became Halifax County. A minor change was made in the boundaries between the Counties of Halifax and Guysborough in 1863 by means of a small area being added to Guysborough County. Subsequently in 1871 part of the line of the Counties of Colchester and Halifax was established by statute. Eventually in 1880 the boundary between the Counties of Halifax and Colchester was fixed.

• Bridgewater Baptist Marriages
• Chester Baptist Marriages
• Chester St. Stephen's Baptisms
• Chester St. Stephen's Burials
• Chester St. Stephen's Marriages
• Chester St. Augustine (RC) Marriages
• Methodist Church Baptisms
• Methodist Church Marriages
• Dutch Reformed Baptisms
• Dutch Reformed Marriages
• Presbyterian Circuit Baptisms
• Chester Township - Births/Family Records
• Chester Township - Publishments / Marriages
• Chester Township - Deaths / Burials

Close

Lunenburg County Genweb

Presumably named in honor of the monarch, who was then also Duke of Brunswick - Luneburg, Lunenburg County was established in 1759, when peninsular Nova Scotia was divided into five counties. Three years later Lunenburg County was reduced in size when Queens County was established. Following the establishment of Queens County in 1762, Hants County in 1781, and Shelburne and Sydney Counties in 1784, the boundaries of all nine of the counties were defined by the Council of Nova Scotia. Subsequently, surveys of the lines and boundaries of the various counties and districts of the province were made during the years 1820-25 and those of Lunenburg County were among those that were run and marked. After considering the report of the Surveyor General, the Lieutenant Governor and Council, on May 3, 1828 declared the boundaries of Lunenburg County. By Chapter 52 of the Statutes of 1863 the Township of Chester in the County of Lunenburg was made a separate District for certain specified purposes. That Statute provided authority for the appointment of a Custos Rotulorum and for the establishment of a general sessions of the peace for the District of Chester, with the same powers as if it were a separate county.

• Liverpool Methodist Circuit Baptisms
• Liverpool Methodist Circuit Marriages
• Trinity Baptisms
• Trinity Burials
• Trinity Marriages
• Vital Records from Liverpool Transcript Newspaper - Marriages 1854-1867

Close

Queens County Genweb

Queens County Surname List - T.B. Smith Collection

On July 21, 1762 the Lieutenant Governor and Council of Nova Scotia declared that "the Townships of Liverpool, Barrington and Yarmouth together with the intermediate lands should be erected into a county by the name of Queens County". It has been inferred that Queens County was cut off from Lunenburg County. However, a description of Lunenburg County in the minutes of the Council of Nova Scotia of August 17, 1759 is such that Lunenburg County was stated to be bounded south westerly by the River Rossignol and Port Senior (the site of the Township of Liverpool which was settled in the next year). In any case, Lunenburg was reduced in size when Queens County was established. In 1784 Queens County was diminished in extent with the establishment of Shelburne County. Shelburne County was cut off from Queens County. The boundaries of the new county and the boundaries of the older county were established by Order-in-Council December 16, 1785. Subsequently, surveys of the lines and boundaries of the various counties were made in the years 1820-25 and those of Queens County were among those that were run and marked. The Lieutenant Governor and Council declared the boundaries of Queens County in 1828.

• Christ Church Shelburne Baptisms

Close

Shelburne County Genweb

Named after Lord Shelburne, who was Prime Minister of Great Britain in 1782-1783, Shelburne County was established in 1784. That name had been applied by Governor Parr to a rising loyalist settlement the previous year, and now it was also given to a new county in which that settlement was the County town. The boundaries of Shelburne County were afterwards established by Governor and Council on December 16, 1785. In 1824, at a time when the lines of a number of counties were being cut out and marked, the boundary between Queens and Shelburne Counties was surveyed. Nine years later, in 1833, the Township of Argyle was established and its limits were defined. Subsequently, in 1836 Shelburne County was divided into two separate and distinct counties with Yarmouth County being formed out of what had been part of Shelburne County and with Shelburne County being thus reduced in size. When in 1837, Annapolis County was divided and Digby County was created out of what had formerly been part of Annapolis County, modification in the wording of the description of Shelburne County became necessary. The county line was established by Governor and Council on February 28, 1846. Eventually, in 1854, Shelburne County was divided into two districts - the District of Shelburne and the District of Barrington. It was declared that the District of Shelburne would comprise the Township of Shelburne and the District of Barrington would comprise the Township of Barrington.

• Coming Soon

Close

Yarmouth County Genweb

The name Yarmouth appeared as the name of a projected township in Nova Scotia in a document in 1759, perhaps because it was the name of a favourite of George II. The same name was applied to a new county in 1836 when Yarmouth County was cut off from Shelburne County. The description of Yarmouth County was modified in 1846. In 1856 Argyle was established as a separate district, with the District of Argyle comprising the Township of Argyle.

• Holy Trinity Church Marriages

Close

Digby County Genweb

Taking its name from the Township of Digby, which had been named in honour of Rear Admiral Robert Digby who dispatched the Atlanta to convey loyalists from New York in the spring of 1783 to Conway, which became known as Digby, Digby County was established in 1837. Previously, from August 17, 1759, when Nova Scotia was first divided into counties, this area had been part of Annapolis County. Twenty-four years later, in 1861, Digby County was divided into two districts - the District of Digby and the District of Clare.

• St. Mary's Anglican Church - Aylesford - Baptisms 1815-1936
• St. Mary's Anglican Church - Aylesford - Burials 1790-1934

Close

Kings County Genweb

Surnames in Kings County Cemeteries

The Nova Scotia Eatons - Keith Berry's Site

With its name as an expression of loyalty, Kings County was established by the Governor and Council of Nova Scotia on August 17, 1759 at a time when King George II was king. Kings County was subsequently reduced in size with the creation of Hants County of June 17, 1781. Four and a half years later, in 1785, the Governor-In-Council authorized boundaries for Kings County. The lines were run and marked in the years 1821-1824. Subsequently the Lieutenant Governor confirmed and established a number of lines on May 3, 1828, including the line between King and Annapolis Counties. The Township of Parrsboro was cut off from Kings in 1840, with one part of it being annexed to Cumberland County and the other part being joined to Colchester County.

• Carmel Presbyterian Marriages 1873-1912 - Westville

Close

Pictou County Genweb

Pictou County Place Names

Ship "Hector" Passenger List

Pictou was long in use as the name of a place before Pictou County was established in 1835. The word "Pictou" is derived from the Mi'kmaq "Piktook" meaning an explosion of gas. The area which eventually became Pictou County was a part of Halifax County from 1759 to 1835. In 1803 when the Legislature of the Provinces considered the possibility of increasing the number of counties, a committee of the House of Assembly proposed that three additional counties be established. It was suggested that these proposed counties be named Weymouth, Pictou, and Colchester Counties. However, the report was deferred and the District of Pictou was not raised to a county at this time. Twenty-two years elapsed before that occurred. In 1835, the then County of Halifax was divided into three different and distinct counties. The County of Halifax was to comprise and include the then District of Halifax; the County of Colchester was to comprise the then District of Colchester and the County of Pictou was to comprise and include the then District of Pictou. Thus the District of Pictou was elevated to the status of a county in 1835. Subsequently, the dividing line between Pictou County and Guysborough County became rather uncertain and on July 19, 1866 the Lieutenant Governor and Council authorized the Commissioner of Crown Lands to appoint a surveyor to run the line and set permanent marks upon it. A difference of opinion between the commissioners appointed to represent Guysborough and Pictou Counties respectively resulted in the Commissioner of Crown Lands being requested in 1867 to determine a line between the Counties of Pictou and Guysborough.

• St Ninian's Cathedral (Roman Catholic) Baptisms 1833-1905
• Immaculate Conception Parish (Roman Catholic) 1876-1905
• St. Beans & St. Joseph’s Parish (Roman Catholic) 1859-1896
• St. Andrew's Parish (Roman Catholic) 1833-1905
• St. Paul's Parish (Roman Catholic) 1820-1905
• St. Joseph's Parish (Roman Catholic) 1859-1905
• Antigonish Catholic Diocese, 1823-1905 (OFFSITE)

Close

Antigonish County Genweb

Antigonish County Place Names

The County of Sydney was created in 1784. Its boundaries were established by Governor and Council on December 16, 1785. When St. Mary's Township was established in 1818 it was partly in Sydney County and partly in Halifax County. In 1822 that part of St. Mary's Township which had been in Halifax County was annexed to the County of Sydney. In 1836 Sydney County was diminished in size when Guysborough County was established out of what had been part of it. In 1863 the name of the County of Sydney was changed to Antigonish County. The word Antigonish is of Mi'kmaq origin, possibly derived from Nalegitkoonecht meaning "where branches are torn off". It is said that there were bears in the area that broke down branches to get beechnuts.

• Iona - St. Columbia Roman Catholic Baptisms - 1854-1905

Close

Victoria County Genweb

(Cape Breton Genweb) The original Victoria County Genweb is now offline.

Called after the Queen, Victoria County was established by statute in 1851. Cape Breton County was divided into two counties in that year, with Victoria County being cut off from it. This was done by Statute 14 Victoria IV. In 1852, by Chapter 17 of the Statutes of that year, the second section of Act 14, Vic. IV was repealed and a revised description substituted.

• St. John the Baptist Parish (Roman Catholic) Baptisms 1833-1905
  
• Sacred Heart Parish (Formerly Red Islands)(Roman Catholic) 1890-1905 - Johnstown
  

Close

Richmond County Genweb

(Cape Breton Genweb) The original Inverness County Genweb is now offline.

Named in honour of Sir Charles Lennox, fourth Duke of Richmond and Lennox, who was Governor General of British North America 1818-1819, Richmond County was created in 1835. Richmond County comprises that territory known as the Southern District which was established in 1824 at the time of the dividing of Cape Breton Island into three districts. The boundaries of the Southern District were defined at the time of its establishment. Those same boundaries were determined to be the boundaries of Richmond County by statute in 1847.

• St. Peter's Parish Roman Catholic Baptisms 1868-1905 - Port Hood
  
• St. Margaret of Scotland Parish (Roman Catholic) 1853-1905 - Broad Cove
• St. Mary's Immaculate Conception (Roman Catholic) Baptisms 1858-1905 - Mabou

Close

Inverness County Genweb

(Cape Breton Genweb) The original Inverness County Genweb is now offline.

Established as the County of Juste au Corps in 1835, Inverness County was given its present name in 1837. It was called Inverness after Inverness in Scotland, the land from which many of the early settlers came. The boundaries of Inverness County had been previously defined when Cape Breton Island was divided by statute into three Districts in 1823. Inverness County was established within the boundaries of the Northwestern District of Cape Breton Island.

• St. Margaret of Scotland Parish (Roman Catholic) 1845-1907 - Grand Mira
• St. Anne's Roman Catholic Baptisms 1873-1905 - Glace Bay
• Immaculate Conception Parish (Roman Catholic) Baptisms 1885-1905 - Dominion
• St Mary's Parish (Roman Catholic) Baptisms 1845 - 1871 - East Bay
• Sacred Heart Parish (Roman Catholic) Baptisms 1846 - 1905 - Sydney
• St George Parish, First Garrison Church (Church of England) Baptisms 1785 - 1813 - Sydney
• Holy Trinity Church of England Cemetery Burials - Sydney Mines
• St George (Church of England) Burials - 1785-1813 - Sydney
• St Joseph's Parish (Roman Catholic) Baptisms 1853 - 1905 - North Sydney
• St Joseph's Parish (Roman Catholic) Baptisms 1853 - 1905 - Lingan
• St Andrews's Parish (Roman Catholic) Baptisms 1850 - 1905 - Boisdale
• St. George (Church of England) Marriage Bonds 1824-1850 - Sydney
• St. George Parish - First Garrison Church Marriages 1785-1813 - Sydney

Close

Cape Breton County Genweb

Taking its name from Cape Breton, the most easterly point of Cape Breton Island, which was called after either the Bretons of England or the Bretons of Brittany, this county has what is probably the oldest surviving European name to have been used to designate part of North America. By proclamation of October 17, 1763 after termination of the Seven Years War, Cape Breton Island was formally annexed to Nova Scotia. For a time thereafter Cape Breton Island was part of Halifax County. On December 10, 1765 Cape Breton Island was set apart as a separate county. From 1784 to 1820 Cape Breton Island was a separate colony with a Lieutenant Governor and a nominated Council, but without an elected house of assembly. Not until after Cape Breton was reannexed to Nova Scotia in 1820 did it get representation in a house of assemblv. Although subdivided into three districts in 1824, Cape Breton County was co-extensive with Cape Breton Island from 1820 to 1835 when the county was divided into three separate and distinct counties - Cape Breton (Northeastern District), Richmond (Southern District) and Juste au Corps (Northwest District) later called Inverness. In 1851 Victoria County was formed out of part of Cape Breton County and a year later, in 1852, the boundaries of Cape Breton County were redefined.

• Coming Soon...

Close

Hants County Genweb

Ultimately getting its name from the County of South Hampton in England, popularly called Hampshire, and abbrieviated to Hants, Hants County was established in 1781 out of part of what had been Kings County. The words of the minutes of the Council of Nova Scotia for June 17, 1781 make it clear that the distance from Horton (the County town of Kings County) and the inconvenience of crossing the Avon River to transact county business were factors which led to a separate county being formed. Four and a half years later its boundaries were more precisely defined and set forth by the Governor and Council in 1785. The boundary lines of Hants were duly surveyed and confirmed by the Lieutenant Governor 1828. Subsequently in 1861, Hants County was divided into two Districts called East Hants and West Hants.

• Middle Stewiacke - Presbyterian Circuit Marriages
  
• New Annan - Presbyterian Marriages
  
• Tatamagouche - Sharon Presbyterian Burials
  

Close

Colchester County Genweb

County of Colchester Website

Colchester Historical Society Museum & Archives

The appellation Colchester was applied in 1780 to the district previously called "Cobequid," and was derived from the town of Colchester in Essex. The old name Cobequid was derived from the Mi'kmaq word "Wagobagitk" meaning "the bay runs far up", in reference to the area surrounding the easternmost inlet of the Minas Basin, a body of water called Cobequid Bay. The District of Colchester, which was at first part of Halifax County, was established as a county in its own right in 1835. In 1838 a distinct line of division between Cumberland County and Colchester County was established. Two years later, in 1840, the Township of Parrsboro was divided and part of it annexed to Colchester County. In 1871, the boundaries between the Counties of Hants and Colchester and between the Counties of Halifax and Colchester were established. In 1880 the boundary between the Counties of Halifax and Colchester was revised. Eventually in 1897 a portion of the boundary between the Counties of Colchester and Cumberland was fixed and defined. The question of the boundary between Colchester and Cumberland Counties was the subject of a Commission of Inquiry established in 1946. The report was filed in the office of the Provincial Secretary and in the office of the Department of Lands and Forests in January 1959. Certified copies of it were sent to the Registrars of Deeds for the Counties of Colchester, Cumberland and Kings.

• St. Brigid's Roman Catholic Baptisms 1853-1876 - Parrsboro
  
• St. Denis Roman Catholic Baptisms 1849-1885 - Minudie
  
• St. Denis Roman Catholic Marriages 1849-1920 - Minudie
  
• Township of Southampton - Births
  
• Township of Southampton - Marriages
  
• Township of Southampton - Deaths
  

Close

Cumberland County Genweb

The name Cumberland was applied by Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Monckton to the captured Fort Beauséjour on June 18, 1755 in honour of the third son of King George II, William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, victor at Culloden in 1746 and Commander in Chief of the British forces. The Mi'kmaq name for the area was "Kwesomalegek" meaning "hardwood point". Cumberland County was founded on August 17, 1759. When the Township of Parrsboro was divided in 1840, one part was annexed to Cumberland County and the other part annexed to Colchester. The dividing line between Cumberland and Colchester was established in 1840. In 1897, a portion of the boundary line between the Counties of Colchester and Cumberland was fixed and defined. The county thrived in the 19th century with the development of lumbering, shipbuilding and coal mining. Deforestation and rural outmigration in the 20th century led to the abandonment of some communities such as Eatonville and New Yarmouth.

• St. James Parish (Anglican) - Bridgetown - 1854-1908
  
• St. Luke’s Parish (Anglican) Marriages - 1782-1874
  
• St. George’s Parish (Methodist) Marriages - 1807-1899
  
• Bear River (Methodist Circuit) Marriages - 1865-1902
  
• Annapolis 1st Baptist Church Marriages - 1782-1856
  
• Annapolis & Upper Granville Baptist Church Marriages - 1831-1848
  

Close

Annapolis County Genweb

For more information about the history of Annapolis County, click here.

For an alphabetical listing of people buried in cemeteries in Annapolis County, click here.

For more information about the people of Western Annapolis County, Email Lois Jenkins

Established August 17, 1759 by Order in Council, Annapolis County took its name from the town of Annapolis Royal which had been named in honour of Queen Anne of Great Britain. By 1833 a number of reasons had been advanced for making two counties out of Annapolis County. Two petitions were presented to the House of Assembly in that year requesting that the county be divided. However, it was not until 1837 that Annapolis County was divided into two distinct and separate counties - Annapolis and Digby.