Jesse Cumminger, Merchant, Sherbrooke

Nova Scotia # 10 on a September 4, 1865 cover addressed in manuscript to Jesse Cumminger Esq., care of A. McLeod & Co., Halifax, with the initial address crossed out and "Sherbrooke, St. Mary’s" added underneath in a different hand. Stamp tied with barred oval cancellation. Backstamped ST. MARY’S N.S., SP 4 1865; HALIFAX N.S., SP 7 1865; HALIFAX N.S., SP 11 1865; and ST. MARY’S N.S., SP 13 1865 — four strikes across nine days, tracing a letter that went out looking for its r

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56 minutes 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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Jesse Cumminger, Merchant, Sherbrooke

56 minutes ago3 min read

A Letter to Acadia College

Nova Scotia # 10 on December 12, 1866 cover from Halifax to Wolfville, Nova Scotia. Addressed to Mr. William McKinley, Acadia College, N.S. Backstamps from H(alifax) N.S. DE 13, 1866, with further partial backstamps consistent with Kentville and Wolfville — the letter’s route down the Windsor & Annapolis Railway line to the college itself. An embossed floral seal decorates the back flap. William A. MacKinlay, of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, is listed among Acadia Coll

21 hours ago4 min read

A Lady’s Cover to Clarence: Tracing the Marshalls of Annapolis County

Nova Scotia # 10 on July 28, 1863, embossed "lady's" cover from Kentville, Nova Scotia to Clarence, Nova Scotia. Addressed to Miss Jane Marshall, Clarence, Annapolis. Barred oval cancellation. Four backstamps all struck within a day of each other - KENTVILLE JY 28 1863, GRANVILLE JY 28 1863, WILMOT illegible date, LAWRENCE-TOWN, JY 29, 1863. The string of same-day and next-day backstamps across four Annapolis Valley post offices — Kentville, Granville, Wilmot, and Lawrencetow

1 day ago4 min read

Windsor, Nova Scotia: A Port Built on Gypsum and Ships

2 Nova Scotia # 12a, 10c vermilion on double-franked partial cover from Windsor, Nova Scotia to New York. Addressed to - F. Whitney & Co., New York. Partial red “Paid 20 on front. Backstamp, Windsor, JU 5 1961 and manuscript “1861” visible. The rate The pair of 10¢ stamps, together paying 20¢, is double the standard 10¢ Nova Scotia–United States cross-border letter rate — indicating this letter weighed more than the ½-ounce single-rate limit. As a partial cover, the address i

2 days ago4 min read

A Business Letter to Arichat: Fever, Repairs, and the Brazil Trade

Great Britain Scott # 27 – 6d Pale Lilac, on May 18, 1860 folded letter from Liverpool, England to Arichat, Cape Breton. Addressed to Messrs De Carteret & de Visconte, Arichat, Cape Breton. Manuscript "Mail via Halifax" on front. 466 barred oval cancellation (Liverpool). Backstamps LIVERPOOL P.O.19 MY 60, H(alifax) N.S. MY 28 1860, ARICHAT N.S. MY 30, 1860. a transatlantic transit of twelve days. Manuscript "C.R. Taylor Son, Liverpool, May 18/60" on inside flap. Liverpool 18t

3 days ago10 min read

A Letter to Harvard Medical College

Nova Scotia # 12 on January 27, 1866 cover from Clementsport, Nova Scotia to Boston, Massachusetts. Addressed to D. O. Saunders Esq., Harvard Medical College, Boston, Mass. Barred oval cancellation. Backstamps CLEMENTSPORT N.S. JA 27 1866, and H(alifax) NS JA 31 1866. Identifying the recipient The address, initially read as “D.C.” or “D.G. Sanders,” proved to be a case of both a misread surname and a misread initial. No Sanders family appears in Clementsport records of the pe

4 days ago4 min read

Three letters to Miss Susan Foster & Co.

5¢ New Brunswick (Queen Victoria portrait, 1860 decimal issue), tied with a grid cancel on a November 30, 1864 interprovincial cover from Saint John, N.B. to Annapolis, Nova Scotia. Addressed to Miss Susan Foster, Annapolis, N.S. Barred oval cancellation. Backstamps SAINT JOHN N.B. NO 20 1864, ANNAPOLIS N.S. DE 5 1864, An unusually long transit time, perhaps due to inclement weather on the Bay of Fundy preventing maritime travel. Manuscript "Magee & Brothers, Bill $262.07 C,

4 days ago6 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

Jesse Cumminger, Merchant, Sherbrooke

you've got mail

about the BlueNotes

Never Miss a New Post.

Join our mailing list

TRAIN OF THOUGHT

Jesse Cumminger, Merchant, Sherbrooke

A Letter to Acadia College

A Lady’s Cover to Clarence: Tracing the Marshalls of Annapolis County

Windsor, Nova Scotia: A Port Built on Gypsum and Ships

A Business Letter to Arichat: Fever, Repairs, and the Brazil Trade

A Letter to Harvard Medical College

Three letters to Miss Susan Foster & Co.

Finding Persons and Places in 19th Century Nova Scotia

A. F. Church County Maps