The DesBarres Fonds
Many Acadian and Yorkshire families leased properties from Colonel J. F. W. DesBarres in Nappan, Maccan, Minudie and Tatamagouche. Maps and documents regarding these properties can be found in the DesBarres Fonds Online at Heritage Canada. There are 5 Series in the fonds preserved on 7 reels of microfilm, each containing over 1000 images.
Reel C-1455 contains Series 1-4 and the beginning of Series 5 which occupies all of the remaining reels. Each series begins with its own general overview of the volumes contained within the series. Each volume within a series also has its own detailed multi-page index. Just refer to the citation at the bottom of each page to determine which volume you are currently in. Here are the image numbers of the general and volume indices for series 1-5. When you have located the correct reel in the DesBarres Fonds online, use the drop-down menu to scroll to the image number and then use the arrow keys to page through the index and the documents.
Overview of Series 1-5: Reel C-1455 Image 2
Series 1: Reel C-1455 Image 4
Series 1, Vol.1. Reel C-1455 Image 8
Series 1, Misc. Reel C-1455 Image 239
Series 2: Reel C-1455 Image 679
This series contains agent John MacDonald's 1796 report to DesBarres. This report will be of particular interest to researchers with ancestors from Minudie, Maccan, Nappan, and Tatamagouche who settled on DesBarres properties.
Series 3: Reel C-1455 Image 748
Series 4: Reel C-1455 Image 1005
Series 5: Reel C-1455 Image 1037. Overview
Series 5, Vol. 1-2 C-1455 Image 1038
Series 5, Vol. 3 C-1456 Image 327 (correspondence regarding Gmelin case, Maccan and Nappan leases)
Series 5, Vol. 4-5 C-1456 Image 624
Series 5, Vol. 6 C-1456 Image 1010
Series 5, Vol. 7-12 C-1457 Image 125
Series 5, Vol. 13 C-1458 Image 43
Series 5, Vol. 14 C-1458 Image 188
Series 5, Vol. 15: C-1458 Image 413 (especially the plans section and DesBarres suit against Gmelin in which he acquired his Maccan and Nappan properties)
Series 5, Vol. 16: C-1458, Image 557 (Acadia company to acquire English settlers to Nova Scotia)
Series 5, Vol. 17: C-1458 Image 637 (Early Acadian settlements on DesBarres properties)
Series 5, Vol.18: C-1458 Image 769 (papers pertaining to boundary dispute between DesBarres and Amherst, list of "illegal" leases in Maccan and Nappan, and original deeds for many of the Nappan and Maccan properties starting on image 955)
Series 5: Vol. 19: C-1459 Image 61
Series 5: Vol. 20: C-1459 Image 377 (includes Maccan and Nappan papers, suits)
Series 5: Vol. 21: C-1459 Image 852. (Tatamagouche suits. In 1810 DesBarres sued Mary Cannon and agent Waugh for their mis-handling of Tatamagouche. Includes copy of power of attorney DesBarres granted Mary Cannon.)
Series 5: Vol. 22: C-1459 Img 939 (Land Correspondence 1813-1824; series of letters on the Gmelin line dispute between DesBarres and Charles Morris)
Series 5: Vol. 23: C-1460 Img 202. (Land 1813-1824 includes large section on the settlements made with Maccan and Nappan tenants)
Series 5: Vol. 24: C-1460 Img 712
Series 5: Vol. 25: C-1460 1138. (The Nappan 1837-1841 section contains a large number of documents pertaining to suits between Augustus DesBarres and the Goulds. See reel 1461 Images 6291-6483. See also the Suit against George Niles section on reel 1461 Images 6484-6515).
Once you have located the index, you will see page numbers for the individual documents listed on the right. Since these documents are in order within the reel, it's relatively easy to find a particular document. Right-click to save the image.
This Finding Aid for the DesBarres Papers from Nova Scotia Archives overlaps somewhat with the above indices and provides much more information for each entry. It definitely helps decipher the contents of some of the more unreadable originals. The document numbers referenced in this finding aid appear to be the same numbers used in the microfilmed documents.
Reel C-1455 contains Series 1-4 and the beginning of Series 5 which occupies all of the remaining reels. Each series begins with its own general overview of the volumes contained within the series. Each volume within a series also has its own detailed multi-page index. Just refer to the citation at the bottom of each page to determine which volume you are currently in. Here are the image numbers of the general and volume indices for series 1-5. When you have located the correct reel in the DesBarres Fonds online, use the drop-down menu to scroll to the image number and then use the arrow keys to page through the index and the documents.
Overview of Series 1-5: Reel C-1455 Image 2
Series 1: Reel C-1455 Image 4
Series 1, Vol.1. Reel C-1455 Image 8
Series 1, Misc. Reel C-1455 Image 239
Series 2: Reel C-1455 Image 679
This series contains agent John MacDonald's 1796 report to DesBarres. This report will be of particular interest to researchers with ancestors from Minudie, Maccan, Nappan, and Tatamagouche who settled on DesBarres properties.
Series 3: Reel C-1455 Image 748
Series 4: Reel C-1455 Image 1005
Series 5: Reel C-1455 Image 1037. Overview
Series 5, Vol. 1-2 C-1455 Image 1038
Series 5, Vol. 3 C-1456 Image 327 (correspondence regarding Gmelin case, Maccan and Nappan leases)
Series 5, Vol. 4-5 C-1456 Image 624
Series 5, Vol. 6 C-1456 Image 1010
Series 5, Vol. 7-12 C-1457 Image 125
Series 5, Vol. 13 C-1458 Image 43
Series 5, Vol. 14 C-1458 Image 188
Series 5, Vol. 15: C-1458 Image 413 (especially the plans section and DesBarres suit against Gmelin in which he acquired his Maccan and Nappan properties)
Series 5, Vol. 16: C-1458, Image 557 (Acadia company to acquire English settlers to Nova Scotia)
Series 5, Vol. 17: C-1458 Image 637 (Early Acadian settlements on DesBarres properties)
Series 5, Vol.18: C-1458 Image 769 (papers pertaining to boundary dispute between DesBarres and Amherst, list of "illegal" leases in Maccan and Nappan, and original deeds for many of the Nappan and Maccan properties starting on image 955)
Series 5: Vol. 19: C-1459 Image 61
Series 5: Vol. 20: C-1459 Image 377 (includes Maccan and Nappan papers, suits)
Series 5: Vol. 21: C-1459 Image 852. (Tatamagouche suits. In 1810 DesBarres sued Mary Cannon and agent Waugh for their mis-handling of Tatamagouche. Includes copy of power of attorney DesBarres granted Mary Cannon.)
Series 5: Vol. 22: C-1459 Img 939 (Land Correspondence 1813-1824; series of letters on the Gmelin line dispute between DesBarres and Charles Morris)
Series 5: Vol. 23: C-1460 Img 202. (Land 1813-1824 includes large section on the settlements made with Maccan and Nappan tenants)
Series 5: Vol. 24: C-1460 Img 712
Series 5: Vol. 25: C-1460 1138. (The Nappan 1837-1841 section contains a large number of documents pertaining to suits between Augustus DesBarres and the Goulds. See reel 1461 Images 6291-6483. See also the Suit against George Niles section on reel 1461 Images 6484-6515).
Once you have located the index, you will see page numbers for the individual documents listed on the right. Since these documents are in order within the reel, it's relatively easy to find a particular document. Right-click to save the image.
This Finding Aid for the DesBarres Papers from Nova Scotia Archives overlaps somewhat with the above indices and provides much more information for each entry. It definitely helps decipher the contents of some of the more unreadable originals. The document numbers referenced in this finding aid appear to be the same numbers used in the microfilmed documents.