UNITED-EMPIRE-LOYALIST-L Archives

From: dj <>
Subject: [UEL] BOTSFORD GRANT
Date: Mon, 19 Aug 2002 09:43:34 -0400

This is a brief answer to your question. Open your browser window to full
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THE BOTSFORD AND HATFIELD GRANTS

The BOTSFORD Grant was made in 1765 and named for Amos Botsford, an American
planter. It covered part of the old town of Conway which became the Town of
Digby, Nova Scotia around 1783. Records of the land grant may be found in the
Amos Botsford Papers, page 98, originals held by the Public Archives of
Canada, microfilm MG-23,-D4.

When the British in North America, needed to colonize Nova Scotia in the early
part of 1760, they encouraged New England colonists to come north and
receive free grants of land. The emigrants became known as the American
Planters.

A grant in the name of Amos Botsford was made in 1765 totally some 125,000
acres. An agent of the British government named Alexander McNutt acted for the
planters, who agreed to accept the land and make improvements by building
homes and planting crops. The land grants were never registered and to my
knowledge - no deeds were issued.

The Township of Conway, stretched from the Joggin to the Sissiboo River. The
officials had failed to attract the required number of settlers agreed to in
the original grant, thereby making the grant liable to forfeiture.

When the Loyalists arrived in Nova Scotia in 1783, the Government of John Parr
needed to settle thousands of refugees and looked for land to grant to the
civilian and disbanded provincial corpsmen.

When it was discovered that this tract of land was not registered, Governor
John PARR decided to grant 91,732 acres to Isaac Hatfield, one of the refugee
leaders. In 1784 the Botsford Grant was eschewed and the land was granted on
the 29 January 1801, it became known as the 'HATFIELD GRANT'.

A new grant was made to Amos Botsford in 1801, in lieu of the original grant.

There is more about these grants in the Public Archives of Canada and Nova
Scotia, so you must search the microfilm. I found my Loyalist ancestors in the
Digby list. A census of the discharged militiamen and civilian Loyalists in
the Muster Roll for Digby dated 19 May 1784.

You may find the list at:
Muster Roll of Discharged Officers and Disbanded Soldiers and
Loyalists, TOWN OF DIGBY, May 29, 1784

http://www.rootsweb.com/~nsdigby/perm2/towna-k.htm

Hope this helps to answer your question.

Donald J. Flowers, U.E.

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• [UEL] Botsford Grant by Hunter <>

  • [UEL] BOTSFORD GRANT by dj <>