Colonel J. F. W. DesBarres
Colonel Joseph Frederick Wallet DesBarres is best known for his work on The Atlantic Neptune, an extensive collection of navigational charts that blended accuracy with artistry. After receiving an early education in mathematics in Switzerland, DesBarres attended the military academy in Woolwich England under the sponsorship of the Duke of Cumberland. DesBarres was dispatched to North America as a lieutenant in the Royal American Regiment in 1756. During the Seven Years War between the English and the French (1756-1763), DesBarres acquired experience in military engineering, surveying and hydrography.
Following the war, like many military men, DesBarres was rewarded with extensive grants in Nova Scotia. When DesBarres sued Captain George Adam Gmelin in 1769 to settle an outstanding debt, he was awarded one hundred and eighty pounds, sixteen shillings, and sixpence plus costs. Two years later, the northernmost 8,000 acres of Gmelin's original 20,000-acre grant was auctioned in a court-ordered sale, and DesBarres obtained the property for two hundred and twenty pounds. Six months later, Lt. Gov. Michael Francklin obtained the southernmost 12,000 acres of Gmelin's grant. DesBarres became one of the largest landowners in Nova Scotia, eventually acquiring almost 80,000 acres.
( DesBarres Papers, Series 5 (M.G. 23, F1-5, Vol. 15) Land acquisitions, 1764-1776; Plans 1765-1816 Reel C-1458, beginning at image 470, Document #2947).
Following the war, like many military men, DesBarres was rewarded with extensive grants in Nova Scotia. When DesBarres sued Captain George Adam Gmelin in 1769 to settle an outstanding debt, he was awarded one hundred and eighty pounds, sixteen shillings, and sixpence plus costs. Two years later, the northernmost 8,000 acres of Gmelin's original 20,000-acre grant was auctioned in a court-ordered sale, and DesBarres obtained the property for two hundred and twenty pounds. Six months later, Lt. Gov. Michael Francklin obtained the southernmost 12,000 acres of Gmelin's grant. DesBarres became one of the largest landowners in Nova Scotia, eventually acquiring almost 80,000 acres.
( DesBarres Papers, Series 5 (M.G. 23, F1-5, Vol. 15) Land acquisitions, 1764-1776; Plans 1765-1816 Reel C-1458, beginning at image 470, Document #2947).
Landlord DesBarres and Mary Cannon
DesBarres built a comfortable home known as Castle Frederick on his Falmouth grant, where he lived with his mistress Mary Cannon and their children. Between 1763 and 1773, DesBarres travelled the eastern seaboard surveying the coast, returning to Castle Frederick with his survey crew during the winter to draft the charts. According to Lois Kernaghan, DesBarres left much to be desired as a family man and landlord. Having returned to England in 1773 to publish The Atlantic Neptune, DesBarres largely ignored his family and holdings in Nova Scotia for the next two decades. During his absence, he had placed his extensive land holdings under the control of agent Edward Barron and his mistress, Mary Cannon, to whom he had legally granted Power of Attorney. Mary Cannon and their children lived at Castle Frederick in Falmouth, Nova Scotia, during DesBarres's absence.
When DesBarres returned to Nova Scotia in 1784 as Governor of Cape Breton, he was reunited briefly with Mary, fathering another child before moving to Sydney. The following year, Martha Williams, with whom DesBarres had started a second family in England, arrived with their children. While he excelled as a hydrographer, DesBarres failed miserably in administration. By 1787 he had been recalled to England and replaced as Governor of Cape Breton. During his time in England, DesBarres fell further into debt and continued to ignore the management of his vast land holdings.
Although DesBarres' personal relationship with Mary Cannon ended, she continued as his agent. For a time, Mary Cannon continued to write to DesBarres, pleading for his assistance with leases, decisions, and lawsuits. Although her letters were largely ignored, Mary Cannon continued to live at Castle Frederick, where she managed DesBarres's properties until he replaced her with Captain John MacDonald in 1795.
DesBarres built a comfortable home known as Castle Frederick on his Falmouth grant, where he lived with his mistress Mary Cannon and their children. Between 1763 and 1773, DesBarres travelled the eastern seaboard surveying the coast, returning to Castle Frederick with his survey crew during the winter to draft the charts. According to Lois Kernaghan, DesBarres left much to be desired as a family man and landlord. Having returned to England in 1773 to publish The Atlantic Neptune, DesBarres largely ignored his family and holdings in Nova Scotia for the next two decades. During his absence, he had placed his extensive land holdings under the control of agent Edward Barron and his mistress, Mary Cannon, to whom he had legally granted Power of Attorney. Mary Cannon and their children lived at Castle Frederick in Falmouth, Nova Scotia, during DesBarres's absence.
When DesBarres returned to Nova Scotia in 1784 as Governor of Cape Breton, he was reunited briefly with Mary, fathering another child before moving to Sydney. The following year, Martha Williams, with whom DesBarres had started a second family in England, arrived with their children. While he excelled as a hydrographer, DesBarres failed miserably in administration. By 1787 he had been recalled to England and replaced as Governor of Cape Breton. During his time in England, DesBarres fell further into debt and continued to ignore the management of his vast land holdings.
Although DesBarres' personal relationship with Mary Cannon ended, she continued as his agent. For a time, Mary Cannon continued to write to DesBarres, pleading for his assistance with leases, decisions, and lawsuits. Although her letters were largely ignored, Mary Cannon continued to live at Castle Frederick, where she managed DesBarres's properties until he replaced her with Captain John MacDonald in 1795.
Sources:
Bailyn, Bernard. Voyagers to the West: A Passage in the Peopling of America on the Eve of the American Revolution, Toronto, Random House, 1986. Winner of the Pulitzer prize in history 1987. Portions of this outstanding book are available for online viewing. Bernard devoted an entire chapter on Yorkshire settlement in Cumberland County.
Chappell, Myrtle. Fenwick 1778-1978.
Evans, G. N. D. Uncommon Obdurate: The Several Public Careers of J. F. W. DesBarres. University of Toronto Press, 1969.
Kernaghan, Lois. A Man and his Mistress: J. F. W. DesBarres and Mary Cannon. Acadiensis. Volume 11, No. 1, 1981, 24-42.
J. F. W. DesBarres is an interesting character who held a great deal of land in early Nova Scotia including 8,000 acres in Cumberland County near the Nappan River. The many talents of DesBarres included surveying and map-making. Since he died in 1824 at the age of 102, he was a very old man when Henry and William Ripley purchased their homesteads.
Board of Trade Journal showing Gmelin's Grant. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/jrnl-trade-plantations/vol12/pp63-78
See also my guide to finding the indices to the DesBarres Fonds Online on this website.
Bailyn, Bernard. Voyagers to the West: A Passage in the Peopling of America on the Eve of the American Revolution, Toronto, Random House, 1986. Winner of the Pulitzer prize in history 1987. Portions of this outstanding book are available for online viewing. Bernard devoted an entire chapter on Yorkshire settlement in Cumberland County.
Chappell, Myrtle. Fenwick 1778-1978.
Evans, G. N. D. Uncommon Obdurate: The Several Public Careers of J. F. W. DesBarres. University of Toronto Press, 1969.
Kernaghan, Lois. A Man and his Mistress: J. F. W. DesBarres and Mary Cannon. Acadiensis. Volume 11, No. 1, 1981, 24-42.
J. F. W. DesBarres is an interesting character who held a great deal of land in early Nova Scotia including 8,000 acres in Cumberland County near the Nappan River. The many talents of DesBarres included surveying and map-making. Since he died in 1824 at the age of 102, he was a very old man when Henry and William Ripley purchased their homesteads.
Board of Trade Journal showing Gmelin's Grant. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/jrnl-trade-plantations/vol12/pp63-78
See also my guide to finding the indices to the DesBarres Fonds Online on this website.
Continue on Early settlers at Maccan and Nappan