Property of Stephen Read
According to research notes based on the Scott family Bible and compiled by Ginny Bergmann, Stephen Read and his family "departed from England to Nova Scotia, February 18, 1772; then arrived at Halifax [sic], and at Cumberland May the 24th, Barronsfields June the 9th, and at Makan (?), and from there to the township of Amherst, April the 23rd, 1778, from then to the green Is...? we bought 178-?"
1773 Stephen Read, James Metcalf, Thomas Coates, Thomas Shipley
At Barronsfield the Read family were likely tenants of Lt. Governor Michael Francklin, who had installed an agent at Rillington, Yorkshire to recruit settlers to his properties. Stephen Read, along with James Metcalf, Thomas Coates, and Thomas Shipley were joint tenants on a lease on DesBarres's land west of the Maccan River in the spring of 1773. Barronsfield lay further west of this property and Stephen Read may have leased a property of his own there. However, in one account, DesBarres suggested that Francklin had settled Read, Metcalf, Coates, and Shipley on DesBarres's property by mistake, thinking it was his land. Thomas Shipley bought out Stephen Read's share in this lease.
At Barronsfield the Read family were likely tenants of Lt. Governor Michael Francklin, who had installed an agent at Rillington, Yorkshire to recruit settlers to his properties. Stephen Read, along with James Metcalf, Thomas Coates, and Thomas Shipley were joint tenants on a lease on DesBarres's land west of the Maccan River in the spring of 1773. Barronsfield lay further west of this property and Stephen Read may have leased a property of his own there. However, in one account, DesBarres suggested that Francklin had settled Read, Metcalf, Coates, and Shipley on DesBarres's property by mistake, thinking it was his land. Thomas Shipley bought out Stephen Read's share in this lease.
1773 Lot 23: Dougherty to Denson to Fletcher 300 Acres
Constantine Dougherty was allocated 500-acre Lot 23 on 23 May 1767. However, this land was escheated back to the crown 5 May 1773 (Old Book 6, p. 667). Four days later, on May 9 1773, Lot 23 was re-allocated to Henry Denny Denson (Old Book 10, p. 244). The property passed from Denson to his son-in-law Robert Fletcher along with Denson's original 1000-acre grant (Deed Book 13, p. 30, 1774, Document #503170307 registered in Halifax County). According to that deed, the 500-acre property was located "near or adjoining" the original 1000-acre grant. On early maps of Amherst, (see Denson page), there is a Lot 23 located just west of Denson's original grant. However, this Lot 23 was much smaller than 500 acres. The Crown Index map has a notation for the Constantine Dougherty Grant 500 acres No. 23 east of Blair Lake. So it's a bit of a mystery where this property was actually located and whether it was all one piece or in different locations. Parts of this lot were later sold to Stephen Read and Thomas Coates as described below.
Constantine Dougherty was allocated 500-acre Lot 23 on 23 May 1767. However, this land was escheated back to the crown 5 May 1773 (Old Book 6, p. 667). Four days later, on May 9 1773, Lot 23 was re-allocated to Henry Denny Denson (Old Book 10, p. 244). The property passed from Denson to his son-in-law Robert Fletcher along with Denson's original 1000-acre grant (Deed Book 13, p. 30, 1774, Document #503170307 registered in Halifax County). According to that deed, the 500-acre property was located "near or adjoining" the original 1000-acre grant. On early maps of Amherst, (see Denson page), there is a Lot 23 located just west of Denson's original grant. However, this Lot 23 was much smaller than 500 acres. The Crown Index map has a notation for the Constantine Dougherty Grant 500 acres No. 23 east of Blair Lake. So it's a bit of a mystery where this property was actually located and whether it was all one piece or in different locations. Parts of this lot were later sold to Stephen Read and Thomas Coates as described below.
1774 Allan William to Stephen Read 750 acres in Amherst
In 1774, Stephen Read paid 150 pounds for a full 500-acre share of Lot 21 and a 250-acre half-share of Lot 24 in Amherst. (Deed Book C, p. 67) A James Law mentioned in the deed was an Amherst grantee in the 1857 Amherst Grant, so it is likely that he drew the lots originally and Allan William had either purchased the lots from him or was acting as his agent to sell them. Lot 21 on the north bank of the Nappan River and Lot 24 to the east are shown very clearly on a beautiful old Amherst Township Map made in 1864. In 1799, Stephen Read transferred 250 acres of Lot 24 plus 2 marsh common lots numbered the same to his son Cornelius Read in exchange for lot 2 of the Southampton grant.
In 1816, William Cochran purchased portions of Lot 22 and 24 from James Young's estate. (Deed Book G/119). The properties passed from James Cochran to Sam Cunard, James Coates, Lawrence Gilbert, and Parkinson J. Pipes. (Deed Book MM/711). A drawing of Parkinson's properties was included in his probate papers. These lots were located in the triangular area just north of the Nappan River east of Southampton Road (Hwy 302) and west of the railroad tracks on Smith Road.
In 1774, Stephen Read paid 150 pounds for a full 500-acre share of Lot 21 and a 250-acre half-share of Lot 24 in Amherst. (Deed Book C, p. 67) A James Law mentioned in the deed was an Amherst grantee in the 1857 Amherst Grant, so it is likely that he drew the lots originally and Allan William had either purchased the lots from him or was acting as his agent to sell them. Lot 21 on the north bank of the Nappan River and Lot 24 to the east are shown very clearly on a beautiful old Amherst Township Map made in 1864. In 1799, Stephen Read transferred 250 acres of Lot 24 plus 2 marsh common lots numbered the same to his son Cornelius Read in exchange for lot 2 of the Southampton grant.
In 1816, William Cochran purchased portions of Lot 22 and 24 from James Young's estate. (Deed Book G/119). The properties passed from James Cochran to Sam Cunard, James Coates, Lawrence Gilbert, and Parkinson J. Pipes. (Deed Book MM/711). A drawing of Parkinson's properties was included in his probate papers. These lots were located in the triangular area just north of the Nappan River east of Southampton Road (Hwy 302) and west of the railroad tracks on Smith Road.
1778 Stephen Read Lease at Nappan
In 1779, Denson's son-in-law Robert Fletcher leased all of the "farm on the River Nappan" to Samuel Sharpe. The lease agreement mentioned that the property was then occupied by Stephen Read. (Deed Book C, p. 70). It is not possible to determine whether the "farm on the River Nappan" was the 1000-acre Denson grant on the Nappan River but technically in Amherst Township or the 500-acre Lot 23 later granted to Denson that also lay near and possibly on the Nappan River. As described below, Stephen Read later bought properties from Robert Fletcher that were part of Lot 23. The quote from the Scott Bible mentioned above says that Stephen Read resided in Amherst in 1778 and then moved to the property purchased in 178-.
In 1779, Denson's son-in-law Robert Fletcher leased all of the "farm on the River Nappan" to Samuel Sharpe. The lease agreement mentioned that the property was then occupied by Stephen Read. (Deed Book C, p. 70). It is not possible to determine whether the "farm on the River Nappan" was the 1000-acre Denson grant on the Nappan River but technically in Amherst Township or the 500-acre Lot 23 later granted to Denson that also lay near and possibly on the Nappan River. As described below, Stephen Read later bought properties from Robert Fletcher that were part of Lot 23. The quote from the Scott Bible mentioned above says that Stephen Read resided in Amherst in 1778 and then moved to the property purchased in 178-.
1781 Robert Fletcher to Stephen Read and Thomas Coates
In 1781, Robert Fletcher sold 2 parcels of property to Stephen Read who was then "residing on or near the mouth of the Nappan River". (Deed Book C: 131 and 132, Documents 503706076 and 503706077, Registered 1783). By this time, Thomas Coates and William Pipes had moved onto the DesBarres leases that Stephen Read previously rented, so he was probably living on Lot 21 which bordered on the Nappan River.
The first of the properties Read purchased from Robert Fletcher was 22 1/2 acres of marshland bounded on the north and south by land already owned by Stephen Read, on the west by marsh belonging to Hugh Logan and on the east by John Young Esq. The second of these properties was "a piece of marshland containing by estimation seventy two acres and one half more or less. Bounded on the south and the north by lands of the said Stephen Reed and on the West by marsh belonging to Hugh Logan, and on the east by lands belonging to John Young Esq." No lot numbers were mentioned in these sales. However, Stephen Read had purchased Lot 21 from Allan William in 1774, and part of Lot 23 lay between two sections of Lot 21. See the 1764 Amherst Map at the area north of the Maccan and Nappan River confluence.
In 1782, Robert and Lucy Fletcher sold the rest of Lot 23 to my 4th great grandfather Thomas Coates excepting 22 1/2 acres previously sold to Stephen Read This property was designated as "Number 23 in the township of Amherst", bounded on the south and north by lands of Stephen Reed, on the west by marsh land belonging to Hugh Logan and on the east by lands belonging to John Young Esq. (Deed Book C: p. 322). So the former sale of the 22 1/2 acres to Stephen Read was part of Lot 23. The 72 1/2 acre piece sold to Stephen Reed was adjacent but not necessarily part of Lot 23. The size of the property sold to Thomas Coates was not recorded.
Lot 24: Read and Young/Douthwait
Robert Fletcher sold the 1000-acre Denson Grant to Thomas Cochran in 1784. The deed made no mention of the additional 500-acre grant of No. 23. A map of Thomas Cochran's property made sometime before 1792 can be viewed online. (DesBarres Papers, Series 5 M.G. 23, F1-5, Vol. 15 Land acquisitions, 1764-1776; Plans, 1765-1916. Document 2911, Reel C-1458 Image 432.).
The properties marked A on Cochran's map had originally belonged to John Young but were then occupied by James Douthwait who had married Young's widow Margaret. After Douthwait's death, the properties reverted to Margaret. In 1816, John Young's brother, as executor of his estate, sold various divisions of Lots 22 and 24 to William Cochran following the seizure of Young's property. See James Young and James Douthwait on this website for details. Properties "claimed by Stephen Read and now occupied by Robert Read" are indicated by the Letter B on Cochran's map. In 1823, Stephen Read's grandson Stephen Read of River Philip sold 91 acres in this location to James Shipley on which the late John Smith and his widow Dorothy(Shipley) lived. See Smith Road: Middle Section on this website for details.
The AA and BB properties were located directly north of Denson's Marsh Lot 70, marked as Cochran's Marsh and comprised Lot 24 as shown on other earlier maps. On today's map, they lay roughly between the railroad tracks and the small pond on either side of Smith Road. If you look at this area on Google Earth, you can still make out the boundaries of the AA and BB properties. The Lot 23 properties that Fletcher sold Stephen Read and Thomas Coates were west of Young's properties.
It's worth mentioning that Read and Douthwait were also plaintiffs in a case against J. F. W. DesBarres tenants Gould and Ripley that was ongoing from 1792 to at least 1814. That case involved the location of the Gmelin Line and especially the 100-acre lots 20, 21, 22 and 23. It's possible that properties AA and BB were somehow the marsh lots associated with the 100-acre lots in dispute. Stephen Read did own 500 acres of Lot21 and Cochran did urge Young's widow to bring a lawsuit regarding the 100-acre lots.
A notation on Cochran's map says the land "comprises 135 acres of upland and 77 acres of marsh and is claimed by Mr. Cochran which is the lands now in dispute for which the suit is to be brought." It's unclear whether he is referring only to Read's land or to Young/Douthwait's as well. It's also unclear whether he is referring to the DesBarres suit or to a suit that Cochran himself intended to bring. At one point, Cochran offered to purchase the lots that were being disputed in the Gmelin line case.
In 1781, Robert Fletcher sold 2 parcels of property to Stephen Read who was then "residing on or near the mouth of the Nappan River". (Deed Book C: 131 and 132, Documents 503706076 and 503706077, Registered 1783). By this time, Thomas Coates and William Pipes had moved onto the DesBarres leases that Stephen Read previously rented, so he was probably living on Lot 21 which bordered on the Nappan River.
The first of the properties Read purchased from Robert Fletcher was 22 1/2 acres of marshland bounded on the north and south by land already owned by Stephen Read, on the west by marsh belonging to Hugh Logan and on the east by John Young Esq. The second of these properties was "a piece of marshland containing by estimation seventy two acres and one half more or less. Bounded on the south and the north by lands of the said Stephen Reed and on the West by marsh belonging to Hugh Logan, and on the east by lands belonging to John Young Esq." No lot numbers were mentioned in these sales. However, Stephen Read had purchased Lot 21 from Allan William in 1774, and part of Lot 23 lay between two sections of Lot 21. See the 1764 Amherst Map at the area north of the Maccan and Nappan River confluence.
In 1782, Robert and Lucy Fletcher sold the rest of Lot 23 to my 4th great grandfather Thomas Coates excepting 22 1/2 acres previously sold to Stephen Read This property was designated as "Number 23 in the township of Amherst", bounded on the south and north by lands of Stephen Reed, on the west by marsh land belonging to Hugh Logan and on the east by lands belonging to John Young Esq. (Deed Book C: p. 322). So the former sale of the 22 1/2 acres to Stephen Read was part of Lot 23. The 72 1/2 acre piece sold to Stephen Reed was adjacent but not necessarily part of Lot 23. The size of the property sold to Thomas Coates was not recorded.
Lot 24: Read and Young/Douthwait
Robert Fletcher sold the 1000-acre Denson Grant to Thomas Cochran in 1784. The deed made no mention of the additional 500-acre grant of No. 23. A map of Thomas Cochran's property made sometime before 1792 can be viewed online. (DesBarres Papers, Series 5 M.G. 23, F1-5, Vol. 15 Land acquisitions, 1764-1776; Plans, 1765-1916. Document 2911, Reel C-1458 Image 432.).
The properties marked A on Cochran's map had originally belonged to John Young but were then occupied by James Douthwait who had married Young's widow Margaret. After Douthwait's death, the properties reverted to Margaret. In 1816, John Young's brother, as executor of his estate, sold various divisions of Lots 22 and 24 to William Cochran following the seizure of Young's property. See James Young and James Douthwait on this website for details. Properties "claimed by Stephen Read and now occupied by Robert Read" are indicated by the Letter B on Cochran's map. In 1823, Stephen Read's grandson Stephen Read of River Philip sold 91 acres in this location to James Shipley on which the late John Smith and his widow Dorothy(Shipley) lived. See Smith Road: Middle Section on this website for details.
The AA and BB properties were located directly north of Denson's Marsh Lot 70, marked as Cochran's Marsh and comprised Lot 24 as shown on other earlier maps. On today's map, they lay roughly between the railroad tracks and the small pond on either side of Smith Road. If you look at this area on Google Earth, you can still make out the boundaries of the AA and BB properties. The Lot 23 properties that Fletcher sold Stephen Read and Thomas Coates were west of Young's properties.
It's worth mentioning that Read and Douthwait were also plaintiffs in a case against J. F. W. DesBarres tenants Gould and Ripley that was ongoing from 1792 to at least 1814. That case involved the location of the Gmelin Line and especially the 100-acre lots 20, 21, 22 and 23. It's possible that properties AA and BB were somehow the marsh lots associated with the 100-acre lots in dispute. Stephen Read did own 500 acres of Lot21 and Cochran did urge Young's widow to bring a lawsuit regarding the 100-acre lots.
A notation on Cochran's map says the land "comprises 135 acres of upland and 77 acres of marsh and is claimed by Mr. Cochran which is the lands now in dispute for which the suit is to be brought." It's unclear whether he is referring only to Read's land or to Young/Douthwait's as well. It's also unclear whether he is referring to the DesBarres suit or to a suit that Cochran himself intended to bring. At one point, Cochran offered to purchase the lots that were being disputed in the Gmelin line case.
1793 Stephen Read Lease on Nappan River
In 1793, Stephen Read leased 321 acres of DesBarres land south of the Nappan River from Mary Cannon. It is not clear whether this land bordered on the Nappan River or just lay south of it. See Nappan River on this website for details. Stephen Read paid rent on this lease and, after his wife's death in 1804, executor Thomas Roach also paid rent on this lease.
In 1793, Stephen Read leased 321 acres of DesBarres land south of the Nappan River from Mary Cannon. It is not clear whether this land bordered on the Nappan River or just lay south of it. See Nappan River on this website for details. Stephen Read paid rent on this lease and, after his wife's death in 1804, executor Thomas Roach also paid rent on this lease.
1799 Lot 24: Stephen Read to Cornelius Read
In 1799, Stephen Read gave 250 acres of Lot 24 in Amherst plus a 2-acre common lot numbered 24 to his son Cornelius in exchange for the 500-acre Lot Number 2 of the Southampton Grant. So it seems that Cochran did not prevail against Read in his earlier lawsuit.
In 1799, Stephen Read gave 250 acres of Lot 24 in Amherst plus a 2-acre common lot numbered 24 to his son Cornelius in exchange for the 500-acre Lot Number 2 of the Southampton Grant. So it seems that Cochran did not prevail against Read in his earlier lawsuit.
1801 Will of Stephen Read
Stephen Read (1734-1801) died in 1801 and left a will. (Nova Scotia Probate Records 1760-1993, Estate Papers 1792-1845 (R), file #1838, beginning on image 795). Stephen left his son Cornelius Read (1763-1837) a parcel of land "beginning at a small spruce tree blazed on the south side of the [crossed out and unreadable] by the name of Young's Island a little east of a brook or run of water thence in a straight line to the river being south 20 degrees west about 176 poles thence down the river to the line between the Hon. Thomas Cochran and the marsh belonging to me thence on said line until it strikes the corner joining John Stuart Esq. "being on the northwest side of the before mentioned Young's Island, thence across the before mentioned Island until it strikes the before mentioned spruce tree being all the upland and marsh within said before mentioned bounds be it more or less." Young's Island is labelled in the northwest corner of Cochran's Map. Cornelius was also given "a road two poles wide leading from the road across the island to Napan Bridge to come in at the bay next to the foot of the hill thence along the ditch on the south side of the Island to his land." Since these properties were adjacent to Cochran's, they probably lay in the vicinity of the railroad tracks on Smith Road. In 1820, Cornelius Read sold a 5 and 1/2-acre property to Robert Coates. This property was "bounded south on a Spruce Tree adjoining marshland belonging to Cochran, on west by Marsh land owned by said Coates." The transaction also included two 1-acre common lots numbered 26. (Deed Book F, p. 221, Registered Cumberland County 1810, Doc #503708278).
Stephen Read gave to his son Robert Read (1761-1830) "all the remainder of the marsh and upland adjoining and including the island where I now live and all the remainder of my land which is otherwise not mentioned or disposed of to be equally divided between by said sons Robert and Cornelius. This property was presumably Read's Island, where Robert and his son Stephen are buried. It is located between Amherst Point and the Nappan River Bridge.
Stephen Read (1734-1801) died in 1801 and left a will. (Nova Scotia Probate Records 1760-1993, Estate Papers 1792-1845 (R), file #1838, beginning on image 795). Stephen left his son Cornelius Read (1763-1837) a parcel of land "beginning at a small spruce tree blazed on the south side of the [crossed out and unreadable] by the name of Young's Island a little east of a brook or run of water thence in a straight line to the river being south 20 degrees west about 176 poles thence down the river to the line between the Hon. Thomas Cochran and the marsh belonging to me thence on said line until it strikes the corner joining John Stuart Esq. "being on the northwest side of the before mentioned Young's Island, thence across the before mentioned Island until it strikes the before mentioned spruce tree being all the upland and marsh within said before mentioned bounds be it more or less." Young's Island is labelled in the northwest corner of Cochran's Map. Cornelius was also given "a road two poles wide leading from the road across the island to Napan Bridge to come in at the bay next to the foot of the hill thence along the ditch on the south side of the Island to his land." Since these properties were adjacent to Cochran's, they probably lay in the vicinity of the railroad tracks on Smith Road. In 1820, Cornelius Read sold a 5 and 1/2-acre property to Robert Coates. This property was "bounded south on a Spruce Tree adjoining marshland belonging to Cochran, on west by Marsh land owned by said Coates." The transaction also included two 1-acre common lots numbered 26. (Deed Book F, p. 221, Registered Cumberland County 1810, Doc #503708278).
Stephen Read gave to his son Robert Read (1761-1830) "all the remainder of the marsh and upland adjoining and including the island where I now live and all the remainder of my land which is otherwise not mentioned or disposed of to be equally divided between by said sons Robert and Cornelius. This property was presumably Read's Island, where Robert and his son Stephen are buried. It is located between Amherst Point and the Nappan River Bridge.
1804 Will of Mary (Colling) Read
Stephen Read's wife Mary (Colling) died in 1804 and also left a will. She made cash bequests to 3 grandchildren, the children of Cornelius Read, and left all real estate to be divided between her sons Cornelius and Robert Read as her husband had stipulated in his will. (Nova Scotia Probate Files 1764-1938, Estate Files no. 1792-1845 (R) Image 801 viewable on Family Search). Robert Read (1752-1830) married Mary Ripley (1765-1835). daughter of Robert Ripley and Isabella Bean. Cornelius Read (1763-1837) married Sarah Shipley and later moved to River Philip.
Stephen Read's wife Mary (Colling) died in 1804 and also left a will. She made cash bequests to 3 grandchildren, the children of Cornelius Read, and left all real estate to be divided between her sons Cornelius and Robert Read as her husband had stipulated in his will. (Nova Scotia Probate Files 1764-1938, Estate Files no. 1792-1845 (R) Image 801 viewable on Family Search). Robert Read (1752-1830) married Mary Ripley (1765-1835). daughter of Robert Ripley and Isabella Bean. Cornelius Read (1763-1837) married Sarah Shipley and later moved to River Philip.
1830 Will of Robert Read
Robert Read and Mary (Ripley) lived at Read's Island, presumably the property he inherited from his father, where there is also a small family cemetery. Robert and his son Stephen are buried there. Members of his grandson John William Read's (1826-1902) family are also buried there. (See Some Cumberland County Nova Scotia Cemeteries by Susan Hill, p. 64.) Read's Island is near the confluence of the Nappan and Maccan Rivers. (See Ernest Coates hand-drawn homestead map you can download from the Cumberland County Maps page of this website.) But the properties near Young's Island mentioned above and the line of Thomas Cochran are definitely located somewhere west of the railroad tracks on Smith Road.
When Robert Read died, two pieces of marsh were sold. 12 1/2 acres of marsh were sold to Thomas Read and 78 1/4 acres of land were devised to John Read. These may have been his sons Thomas Burney Read (1790-1864) and John Read(1805-1846) but I'm not certain. (Nova Scotia Probate Records 1764-1938, Estate Papers 1710-1751 (P-R), file #1728, beginning on image 348.). Thomas Burney Read did have a son James who purchased land in the area from the Cochran estate.
Robert Read and Mary (Ripley) lived at Read's Island, presumably the property he inherited from his father, where there is also a small family cemetery. Robert and his son Stephen are buried there. Members of his grandson John William Read's (1826-1902) family are also buried there. (See Some Cumberland County Nova Scotia Cemeteries by Susan Hill, p. 64.) Read's Island is near the confluence of the Nappan and Maccan Rivers. (See Ernest Coates hand-drawn homestead map you can download from the Cumberland County Maps page of this website.) But the properties near Young's Island mentioned above and the line of Thomas Cochran are definitely located somewhere west of the railroad tracks on Smith Road.
When Robert Read died, two pieces of marsh were sold. 12 1/2 acres of marsh were sold to Thomas Read and 78 1/4 acres of land were devised to John Read. These may have been his sons Thomas Burney Read (1790-1864) and John Read(1805-1846) but I'm not certain. (Nova Scotia Probate Records 1764-1938, Estate Papers 1710-1751 (P-R), file #1728, beginning on image 348.). Thomas Burney Read did have a son James who purchased land in the area from the Cochran estate.