Isaiah W. Wilson's book: A Geography and History of the County of Digby

Index of Persons

Examples from the Index

Above in an excerpt taken from the index, there is a reference to the surname Comeau on page 56. This points to an interesting story in Isaiah's book, that mentions Comeau's Furniture Store :

Mr. David Fitzrandolph, who reached Weymouth from New Jersey in spring 1784, and domiciled on the land afterwards known as the Nathaniel Payson Property, had an amiable and lovely daughter named Jane. Her bright smiles and winning manners soon won the admiration of young Solomon Bunnell. His manly bearing, agreeable style, and gallant attentions were reciprocated by Jane Randolph. Intimacy ripened into LOVE; Love begat mutual contract; brightest anticipations of conjugal bliss animated their hearts, and irradiated their happy countenances. One beautiful winter night, as Solomon and Jane sat in the parlour of her father's pleasant and enjoyable home, amid all the elative atmosphere, a change in the programme, for mere edification, was conceived in the varied mind of the young lover. Grasping a gun which unfortunately stood in the corner of the room, he pointed it playfully towards the darling of his heart, dreaming not that the dreadful weapon was loaded, remarked jocosely : "I'll shoot you!" The lovely affianced answered: : "Shoot if you want to!!" Playfully the trigger was pulled, when lo! the confiding household were awakened instantly from their sweet slumbers by the summons from the Death Missle, calling their beloved child to a higher sphere!!! Scarcely was the wounded and bleeding Martyr, begging her darling's pardon for these reasons, placed on her couch, when life became suddenly extinct. Appalled and heart-broken, the disconsolate but unintentional slayer fled from the harrowing scene. Everything was done that love and devotion could devise to revere and perpetuate her memory. In a field nearly opposite Comeau's Furniture Store, her lover placed a fine slab to mark the tomb of his beloved, concisely inscribed as follows:--

"In Memory of
JANE FITZRANDOLPH,
who departed this life
the 15th of January, 1794,
aged 19 years, 1 months,
and 7 days."

Solomon Bunnell with his father and family, immediately sold their property and left for parts unknown. This Narrative, related to the author as a true story, should admolish all to use the utmost caution in handling and discharging deadly fire-arms.

Isaiah W. Wilson.Geography and History of the County of Digby. Cha.6, pp.55-56.

In the example above, there is a man named Frederic Comeau, referenced to page 41. (his name is located under the main Comeau heading from the previous example) This points to a list of names in Isaiah's book(below) that shows us what lots of land some Acadians were granted in Clare, May 18,1775.

Frederic Comeau in "A Geography and History of the County of Digby"

Above the surname Marshall is shown in the index. It points to many references in Isaiah's book. The one on page 167 is shown below:

Petitions from Josiah Jones and other Justices of the Peace and residents of Clare, were likewise submitted, entreating that Town of New Edinburgh be constituted Shire Town of New County, should the establishment be consummated. Subsequently, a Bill to divide the Counties of Halifax and Annapolis, was introduced into the Assembly, and duly considered.

Mr. Samuel G. W. Archibald, member for County of Halifax, moved "that the Bill for dividing the Counties of Halifax and Annapolis do pass;" which being seconded, and the House dividing thereon, these appeared;-

Yeas.- Messrs. Albro, Archibald, J.I. Chipman, R. Dickson, T. Dickson, W. Dickson, Flemming, Grassie, Marshall, Smith, Uniacke.--11.

Nays.- Messrs, Bingay, Bishop, W. A. Chipman, Church, Dennison, DeWolfe, Fraser, Freeman, Heckman, James, Morse, O'Brien, Poole, Ritchie, Robertson, Ruggles, W. H. Roach, Sargeant, Wells, Young. --20.

One last example is that of Alpheus Marshall. The example shown below is from page 219, in Isaiah's Book:

On Wednesday evening, February 27th, 1878, Special Deputy Watson C. Jones inaugurated "Southern Cross," No. 311, at South Range, with ninteen Charter members, Alpheus Marshall, Lodge Deputy. Home Degree Temple, No.2, of Nova Scotia, having the names of its eighteen members of last named Lodge on its Charter, was duly organized in the Hall at South Range, August 13th, 1878, by Isaiah W. Wilson, County Deputy Grand Worthy Chief Templar. The Degrees of Fidelity and Charity were thus conferred in due course upon nearly every member of No. 311. Election of Officers for Annual Term ended January 31st, 1879, being in order, Isaiah W. Wilson was chosen Worthy Degree Templar; Miss Esther L. Marshall, Vice-Templar; George A. Marshall, Secretary, and a complete, efficient corps of sub-alterns. Monthly meetings were established. The next choice of Worthy Degree Templar for year which closed January 31st. 1880, was Alpheus Marshall, with duly qualified and instructed subordinates.

*The names listed here were chosen at random.