Addie L. Green

Nova Scotia # 12 on October 10, 1867 international cover from Port Hood, Nova Scotia to Springfield. Massachusetts. Addressed to Miss Addie L. Green, Republican Office, Springfield, Mass, U.S.A. Barred oval cancellation, Backstamps from PORT HOOD NSOC 10 67, H(alifax) OC 12 1867. Adaline Luanne Green was 17 and was likely working in the offices of the Springfield Republican when she received this letter from Port Hood, Nova Scotia in 1867. Addie was born February 2, 1849 in C

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4 hours ago3 min read

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about the BlueNotes

Nova Scotia issued its first postage stamps in September 1851. The stamps, 3d. blue, 6d. yellow-green, and 1s. dull purple, were diamond shaped and depicted the crown of Great Britain surrounded by four heraldic flowers of empire. In 1853 the square 1d. rose stamp was added featuring a portrait of Queen Victoria.

On January 1st, 1860, Nova Scotia switched from pounds to dollars and cents. So, in October of that year, the province issued stamps in five new denominations: 1c. purple, 5c. blue, 8 1/2c. green, 10c. vermilion, and 12 1/2c. black, and in May of 1863 a 2c. grey/black stamp was added. The stamps were based on two portraits of Queen Victoria, one in profile and one face on. After Confederation, in 1867, Nova Scotia stamps were gradually replaced by stamps of the Dominion of Canada.

The blue stamps for both the pence and cents issues were by far the most common, being the inter- and intra-provincial letter rate. Although The BlueNotes will feature examples of stampless covers and covers franked in other denominations and mailed from other jurisdictions, Nova Scotia's blue stamps will predominate here as they did in historic provincial usage.

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Addie L. Green

4 hours ago3 min read

Calvin Albertus Bowlby, Teacher and Merchant

British Guyana # 16, 2 cent orange, on international cover from British Guyana to Nova Scotia. Addressed to C. A. Bowlby Esqr, Ohio, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. Black oval cancellation. No backstamps. The letter is opened on the stamped end. The stamp is only partially adhered to the cover. This is an undated and somewhat enigmatic cover to Calvin Albertus Bowlby from an unknown sender in British Guyana. C. A. Bowlby was in his mid-twenties and a schoolteacher in Lower Ohio, Yarmo

6 hours ago5 min read

Ingram Burpee Oakes, Educator

Nova Scotia # 10 on August 20, 1867 cover from Windsor, Nova Scotia to Karsdale, Nova Scotia. Addressed to Mr. I. B. Oakes, Teacher. Karsdale, Lower Granville, Nova Scotia. Barred oval cancellation. Backstamps from WINDSOR NS, AU 20 ____, BRIDGETOWN NS, Au 23, 1867. Partial red wax seal on back. Ingram Burpee Oakes was an 18-year old teacher in the one-room school at Karsdale, Nova Scotia when he received this letter from Windsor, Nova Scotia. I.B. Oakes was born 16 November

6 hours ago2 min read

John Adam Dawson, merchant and MP

Nova Scotia # 10, misperforated left marginal stamp with part of plate inscription and lower stamp included on stamp, on November 12, 1867 cover from Halifax to Pictou, Nova Scotia. Addressed to John A. Dawson Esq., Pictou. Cancellation HALIFAX A NO 13 67. Backstamp PICTOU(?) NO 13 1867. Manuscript "Stairs Nov 1867" on front. A post Confederation use of Nova Scotia franking. John Adam Dawson was a 39-year old hardware merchant and taxidermist in Pictou when he received these

7 hours ago2 min read

Peter James Lynch, Divinity Student

Nova Scotia # 10 on March 20, 1863 cover from Halifax to Windsor, Nova Scotia. Addressed to P. Lynch. Esq. King's College. Windsor. Barred oval cancellation. Backstamps HALIFAX NOVA SCOTIA MR 20 1863 and a barely legible WINDSOR NS backstamp. Peter James Lynch was a 19-year old student at King's College when he received this letter in 1863 from Halifax, possibly from family. He would die the following year at age 20. It was said of him that "At the time of his death, he was a

Mar 153 min read

Alfred Chipman, Baptist Minister

Nova Scotia # 10 on July 29, 1862 cover from Kentville, Nova Scotia to Great Village, Nova Scotia. Addressed to Mr. Alfred Chipman, Great Village, Londonderry. Black barred oval cancellation, Backstamps KENTVILLE N.S. JY 28 1862, H(ALIFAX) NS JY 30 1862, LONDONDERRY N.S. AU 1 1862. Alfred Chipman was ministering at the Baptist Church in Great Village in 1862. He was 28-years old and not yet married or formally ordained when he received this letter from Kentville in July of 18

Mar 155 min read

Robert Foreman, Merchant and Way Office Keeper

Nova Scotia # 10 with left marginal strip on November 7, 1865 folded blue paper cover from Halifax to Londonderry, Nova Scotia. Addressed to Robert Forman Esq, Iron Mines, Londonderry. Manuscript "letter Thomson Abbott & Co., 7th Nov 1865". Barred oval cancellation. Backstamps HALIFAX NOVA SCOTIA NO 7 65, and second illegible stamp, presumably from Londonderry. Robert Forman was a 37-year old merchant, ship owner, and way office keeper in Acadia Mines when he received this

Jan 138 min read

Contact

Finding Persons and Places in 19th Century Nova Scotia

A. F. Church County Maps

"The Great Map," published in 1834 by William Mackay, is the first printed map to present the entire interior of Nova Scotia, “Compiled from Actual and Recent Surveys”. It was a ‘great’ effort then in size and scope, and a remarkable accomplishment for its time. The map was the result of a five-year project undertaken by a special Map Committee of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. The following link takes you to the Nova Scotia Archives' searchable copy of McKay's map.

The Great Map of William MacKay

Between 1865 and 1888, the Ambrose F. Church Co. published a series of topographical maps for each of Nova Scotia’s eighteen counties. These maps feature detailed plans of the various census districts and townships, including the specific location of buildings, names of occupants, transportation routes and various geographical markings. Inset detail maps for larger communities within each county are an additional bonus. With an address and name, a researcher can often pinpoint the exact location of a sender or recipient. Sadly, no central, searchable database exists for the entire collection of county maps. When possible, we have included vignettes from the applicable Church Map.

The Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources maintains a detailed set of Crown Land Index Sheet Maps. Often the original grantees are still listed on these maps.

Crown Land Grant Map

Addie L. Green

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about the BlueNotes

Never Miss a New Post.

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TRAIN OF THOUGHT

Addie L. Green

Calvin Albertus Bowlby, Teacher and Merchant

Ingram Burpee Oakes, Educator

John Adam Dawson, merchant and MP

Peter James Lynch, Divinity Student

Alfred Chipman, Baptist Minister

Robert Foreman, Merchant and Way Office Keeper

Finding Persons and Places in 19th Century Nova Scotia

A. F. Church County Maps