Homesteads Overview
Although we tend to think of our ancestors as pioneers, they were by no means the first settlers of the lands they occupied. Indigenous settlements on the Bay of Fundy date back more than 10,000 years. And the homesteads of our Ripley ancestors were located on the traditional territory of the Mi'kmaq people. Properties along the Maccan and Nappan Rivers were later occupied by Acadian families during a period of French settlement. For the most part, the Mi'kmaq and Acadians co-existed peacefully.
The struggle for dominance between the French and English in North America (and globally) came to a head in the Seven Years War (1756-63), known in French Canada as The War of Conquest (1754-1763). After the fall of the French-controlled Fort Beausejour in 1755 and the expulsion of the Acadians, the British began to issue large land grants in what later became Cumberland County. Although the British signed several treaties with the Mi'kmaq, their lands were never formally ceded.
The present-day communities of Amherst, Nappan, Maccan, and Fenwick are located on land originally granted in just two large parcels to the Township of Amherst and to Captain Adam Gmelin. The first occupants of these grants were New England Planters who arrived before the American Revolution, returning Acadians, British loyalists who came north from New England during the American Revolution, and immigrants from Europe, including a large group of settlers who arrived from 1771-1776 in the Yorkshire Emigration.
The struggle for dominance between the French and English in North America (and globally) came to a head in the Seven Years War (1756-63), known in French Canada as The War of Conquest (1754-1763). After the fall of the French-controlled Fort Beausejour in 1755 and the expulsion of the Acadians, the British began to issue large land grants in what later became Cumberland County. Although the British signed several treaties with the Mi'kmaq, their lands were never formally ceded.
The present-day communities of Amherst, Nappan, Maccan, and Fenwick are located on land originally granted in just two large parcels to the Township of Amherst and to Captain Adam Gmelin. The first occupants of these grants were New England Planters who arrived before the American Revolution, returning Acadians, British loyalists who came north from New England during the American Revolution, and immigrants from Europe, including a large group of settlers who arrived from 1771-1776 in the Yorkshire Emigration.
Amherst Township Grant
The first grant of approximately 80,000 acres, was made 29 Jul 1757 for Amherst Township, with subsequent grants within the township made for groups or individuals. The Saunders grant of 26, 750 acres within Amherst Township allocated property to 41 individuals. Most grantees received a single share of 500 acres each, and provisions were also made for a schoolmaster. A few individuals received 2 shares. (Old Record Book 1, p. 231) Although the grantees are listed by name in the Saunders Grant, their lot numbers are not given. The Amherst Grant lay mostly north of the Nappan River. However, the southeastern portion of the grant extended almost 7 miles south of the Nappan River east of today's Hwy 2.
The first grant of approximately 80,000 acres, was made 29 Jul 1757 for Amherst Township, with subsequent grants within the township made for groups or individuals. The Saunders grant of 26, 750 acres within Amherst Township allocated property to 41 individuals. Most grantees received a single share of 500 acres each, and provisions were also made for a schoolmaster. A few individuals received 2 shares. (Old Record Book 1, p. 231) Although the grantees are listed by name in the Saunders Grant, their lot numbers are not given. The Amherst Grant lay mostly north of the Nappan River. However, the southeastern portion of the grant extended almost 7 miles south of the Nappan River east of today's Hwy 2.
Col. Henry Denny Denson
A large 1000-acre parcel within the Amherst Township was granted to Col. Henry Denny Denson on 5 Aug 1767 (Old Record Book 6, p. 685 and Old Record Book 7, p. 230). The portion of the grant that lay east of todays Highway 2 was bounded on the east by Cobequid Road and on the north roughly by today's McDonald Road. The southern boundary extended a bit south of the Nappan River, running roughly parallel to Nappan Road. The portion of the grant that lay west of today's Highway 2 was bounded on the south by the Nappan River and extended to the west almost to the railroad tracks on Smith Road. The 1000 acres passed from Denson to his daughter Lucy and son-in-law Robert Fletcher and then to Thomas Cochran. In 1782, Ripley Progenitors Robert Ripley and his wife Isabella Bean leased the 1000 acres. A map made by Thomas Cochran shows a Mr. Ripley living on an "island" in the marsh lots that lay west of today's Highway 2. That island was later sold to Francis Caleb Smith.
By 1859, descendants of Thomas Cochran had sold all of his properties. On the west side of today's Hwy 2, the Marsh Lots 70-75 north of the Nappan River became the homesteads of Thomas Bacon, James Read, Francis Caleb Smith, and other descendants of John Smith and Dorothy Shipley. On the east side of today's Hwy 2, the Upland Lots 70-75 became the property of Matthew and Thomas Logan, David Noiles, John W. Lowe, Bedford Bacon, Albert Lawrence and Roy Pipes, Alexander and James Stewart, Thomas Grey, Samuel, Annie and Amos Gourley, Moses Lowe, Edward Arthur Lowe, J. Seaman Lowe, Edward Totten Noiles, John Pulk, Placide Arsenault, and Clinton Bacon.
A large 1000-acre parcel within the Amherst Township was granted to Col. Henry Denny Denson on 5 Aug 1767 (Old Record Book 6, p. 685 and Old Record Book 7, p. 230). The portion of the grant that lay east of todays Highway 2 was bounded on the east by Cobequid Road and on the north roughly by today's McDonald Road. The southern boundary extended a bit south of the Nappan River, running roughly parallel to Nappan Road. The portion of the grant that lay west of today's Highway 2 was bounded on the south by the Nappan River and extended to the west almost to the railroad tracks on Smith Road. The 1000 acres passed from Denson to his daughter Lucy and son-in-law Robert Fletcher and then to Thomas Cochran. In 1782, Ripley Progenitors Robert Ripley and his wife Isabella Bean leased the 1000 acres. A map made by Thomas Cochran shows a Mr. Ripley living on an "island" in the marsh lots that lay west of today's Highway 2. That island was later sold to Francis Caleb Smith.
By 1859, descendants of Thomas Cochran had sold all of his properties. On the west side of today's Hwy 2, the Marsh Lots 70-75 north of the Nappan River became the homesteads of Thomas Bacon, James Read, Francis Caleb Smith, and other descendants of John Smith and Dorothy Shipley. On the east side of today's Hwy 2, the Upland Lots 70-75 became the property of Matthew and Thomas Logan, David Noiles, John W. Lowe, Bedford Bacon, Albert Lawrence and Roy Pipes, Alexander and James Stewart, Thomas Grey, Samuel, Annie and Amos Gourley, Moses Lowe, Edward Arthur Lowe, J. Seaman Lowe, Edward Totten Noiles, John Pulk, Placide Arsenault, and Clinton Bacon.
Gmelin Grant
A single individual, Captain Adam Gmelin, received a large grant of 20,000 acres on 11 Jul 1764. (Old Record Book 6, p. 537). Gmelin's grant lay south of the Nappan River. The northeastern section of his grant was adjacent to a portion of the Amherst Grant that lay south of the Nappan River. The western section bordered on Michael Francklin's 20,000 acre Francklin Manor Grant. Gmelin's grant straddled the Lower Maccan River on both sides. The communities of Nappan, Maccan, and Fenwick are located on lands once granted to Gmelin.
A single individual, Captain Adam Gmelin, received a large grant of 20,000 acres on 11 Jul 1764. (Old Record Book 6, p. 537). Gmelin's grant lay south of the Nappan River. The northeastern section of his grant was adjacent to a portion of the Amherst Grant that lay south of the Nappan River. The western section bordered on Michael Francklin's 20,000 acre Francklin Manor Grant. Gmelin's grant straddled the Lower Maccan River on both sides. The communities of Nappan, Maccan, and Fenwick are located on lands once granted to Gmelin.
Col. J.F. W. DesBarres and Lt. Governor Michael Francklin
In 1769, Gmelin's 20,000-acre grant was auctioned in a court-ordered sale to settle an unpaid debt to J. F. W. DesBarres. Colonel DesBarres obtained the northernmost 8,000 acres and Lt. Governor Michael Francklin obtained the southernmost 12,000 acres. The Nappan River formed the northern boundary of the 8,000 acres obtained by DesBarres. The western boundary was formed by a grant to Francklin known as Franklin's Manor and lay west of the Maccan River. The DesBarres property was bounded on the south by the 12,000 acres Francklin acquired in the sale of Gmelin's grant. The northeastern boundary was the line shared with the original Amherst grant for 93 chains before the boundary dropped straight south.
The Early settlers at Maccan and Nappan included German settler George Noiles, returning Acadians Peter Gould and his sons Louis, Francis, and Jedore, British loyalists Samuel and Peter Wood, George Mainerd, and Nathaniel Niles, and Yorkshire settlers James Metcalf, Stephen Read, John Harrison, Thomas Coates, William Blenkhorn, William Pipes Jr., and William and Henry Ripley.
Sometime prior to 1792, a dispute arose between the Township of Amherst and the tenants of J.F.W. DesBarres over the location of the boundary between Amherst Township and the original Gmelin grant. The dispute over the Gmelin Line affected Henry Ripley and his neighbours Francis and Jedore Gould, who were ejected from their properties in 1792. In 1796, the tenants of DesBarres were restored to their properties but the dispute continued until at least 1820 and was never definitively settled.
In 1769, Gmelin's 20,000-acre grant was auctioned in a court-ordered sale to settle an unpaid debt to J. F. W. DesBarres. Colonel DesBarres obtained the northernmost 8,000 acres and Lt. Governor Michael Francklin obtained the southernmost 12,000 acres. The Nappan River formed the northern boundary of the 8,000 acres obtained by DesBarres. The western boundary was formed by a grant to Francklin known as Franklin's Manor and lay west of the Maccan River. The DesBarres property was bounded on the south by the 12,000 acres Francklin acquired in the sale of Gmelin's grant. The northeastern boundary was the line shared with the original Amherst grant for 93 chains before the boundary dropped straight south.
The Early settlers at Maccan and Nappan included German settler George Noiles, returning Acadians Peter Gould and his sons Louis, Francis, and Jedore, British loyalists Samuel and Peter Wood, George Mainerd, and Nathaniel Niles, and Yorkshire settlers James Metcalf, Stephen Read, John Harrison, Thomas Coates, William Blenkhorn, William Pipes Jr., and William and Henry Ripley.
Sometime prior to 1792, a dispute arose between the Township of Amherst and the tenants of J.F.W. DesBarres over the location of the boundary between Amherst Township and the original Gmelin grant. The dispute over the Gmelin Line affected Henry Ripley and his neighbours Francis and Jedore Gould, who were ejected from their properties in 1792. In 1796, the tenants of DesBarres were restored to their properties but the dispute continued until at least 1820 and was never definitively settled.
The Yorkshire Grant at River Philip
In 1785, 25 settlers from Yorkshire were granted 500 acre plots in the River Philip Valley. Robert Ripley and his son Henry Ripley drew lots 17 and 16 respectively in the Yorkshire Land Grant. Robert and Henry were already settled on the Nappan River, and it is not known whether they ever lived on the River Philip grants. Robert and Henry both sold their lots. However, Lot 16 eventually came back into the possession of Ripley descendants.
Robert's son John Ripley purchased a homestead on the River Philip near Oxford that was part of a 1000-acre grant to Moses Delesdernier. John's sons Robert, Thomas, and Joseph obtained crown grants nearby.
In 1785, 25 settlers from Yorkshire were granted 500 acre plots in the River Philip Valley. Robert Ripley and his son Henry Ripley drew lots 17 and 16 respectively in the Yorkshire Land Grant. Robert and Henry were already settled on the Nappan River, and it is not known whether they ever lived on the River Philip grants. Robert and Henry both sold their lots. However, Lot 16 eventually came back into the possession of Ripley descendants.
Robert's son John Ripley purchased a homestead on the River Philip near Oxford that was part of a 1000-acre grant to Moses Delesdernier. John's sons Robert, Thomas, and Joseph obtained crown grants nearby.
Southampton Grant on the Maccan River
In 1785, 20 Englishmen, including William Pipes and Thomas Coates, received 500 acre plots on the Maccan River. The elder Robert Ripley purchased Lot 7 which had been drawn by Luke Harrison. Robert left the property to his son Robert in his will and it became the homestead of Robert Ripley and his wife Jane Rushton.
In 1785, 20 Englishmen, including William Pipes and Thomas Coates, received 500 acre plots on the Maccan River. The elder Robert Ripley purchased Lot 7 which had been drawn by Luke Harrison. Robert left the property to his son Robert in his will and it became the homestead of Robert Ripley and his wife Jane Rushton.