Person:William Forbes (24)

Origins

Ethnically, the origin of William Forbes' family is quite clear: Ulster-Scots. The Scottish origin is clear in his descendants being nearly uniformly Presbyterian, as well as the surname Forbes' strong connection to the Lowland clan. Ireland is listed as his country of origin in the earliest census, and historians agree that the primary ethnic group of the Londonderry settlement is Ulster-Scot.

The Colchester Museum identifies a William Forbes and Robert Forbes with the Cobequid planters. "Cobequid" is an anglicized Mi'kmaq name for a geographic area near Londonderry, Nova Scotia, while the "planters" refers to the fact that they moved to Nova Scotia around the same time as a larger movement of people from New England to Maritime Canada called the New England Planters. The early date of William's arrival is supported by some a general impression from history of the McLean family, which were closely associated with the Forbes around this time. The McLeans themselves were early settlers of Londonderry, and those researching the McLeans supposed that William was already in the area before the McLeans arrived.

William seems to have arrived in America from northern Ireland. A letter from a descendant maintains seems to maintain this was the case, and the historians claim demographically, the majority of the Londonderry, Nova Scotia settlers were from Londonderry, Norther Ireland. This ship was run by Alexander McNutt.

Truro history

The Town of Truro provides some background on the settlers of this time:

Groups of settlers began to arrive in the spring of 1761 by ship from Haverhill, New Hampshire or from Boston. It is generally thought that the first group to arrive on May 30th, 1761, were those recruited by McNutt and destined for Truro Township, whereas Scott's and Knowlton's people were to occupy the Onslow Township. McNutt's settlers, the Ulster Scots, were mostly farming people, whereas the Massachusetts Bay area settlers tended to have been military men who had served in England's campaigns against the French at Louisbourg.18

... "Meanwhile, McNutt was busily recruiting more settlers from Northern Ireland. Approximately 200 arrived on the ships "Jupiter" and "Hopewell" late that summer, and on the "Nancy" and the "Hopewell" in the fall.23 They remained in Halifax that winter of 1761 and established themselves in the Londonderry Township the following year." ^[6]

According to "Planters and Grantees of Cobequid", the Forbes arrived in Halifax on the Hopewell in October 1761.

One reference which may refer to the William's family is a 1764 letter written by the provincial surveyor, Charles Morris, to Governor Johnathan Belcher, which mentions 15 Protestants from Ireland.(citation 8)

Neighbors from land survey

An early survey of the land in Londonderry lists William Forbes, Robert Forbes, as well as some of their neighbors:

• Robert Faulkner (1733-1833) - born in Medford, Massachusetts, moved to Nova Scotia around 1760, family was from County Tyrone, Ireland.^[7]
• Richard Bartlett (1738-1825) - born in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, moved to Nova Scotia around 1760.^[8]
• Archibald Thompson (1737-1815) - born in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, moved to Nova Scotia around 1760, family was from Ulster, Ireland.^[9]
• William McClintock ?
• John Story ?
• William Long ?
• Anthony Cavily [Anthony Caverly] ?
• Rev. David Smith (1732-1795) - born in Paisley, Scotland, moved to Nova Scotia around 1771.^[10] in response to a call for a minister in 1766.^[11]
• Alexander McCurdy (1734-1808) - born in Antrim, Northern Ireland, moved to Onslow, NS.^[12]

Land-grant

As far as I know, the earliest historical record of William Forbes is in the original land-grants given to settlers of Londonderry, Nova Scotia. I refer here to the British-controlled township, which was a deliberate settlement created to fill the land newly vacated by the Expulsion of the French Acadians (1755–1764). This settlement covers several modern communities, including the French Great Village, which dates back to around 1630. Colonel Alexander McNutt applied to reserved millions of acres of land in Nova Scotia for settlement 1765, backed by individuals including Benjamin Franklin.(citation 7) It was on this land the township was built.

William and his son Robert were two of the grantees for the original land grant for Londonerry, Nova Scotia, which granted 69 persons shares of 53,000 acres dated March 6, 1775 and signed by Nova Scotia governor Francis Legge.^[13][14] This lines up with later records concerning William's son Robert, which state Robert traded away land in Debert. This also lines up with brief information from "Nova Scotia Immigrants to 1867".(source 4)

The 1775 date on the grant may be slightly misleading- 1775 is the date of the approval of the grants by the British government. The drawing up of the grants was done years prior, in 1765.^[15]

Other info

One source lists additional sons named William and Arthur who moved to the US before William Sr.'s death.(see source 1)

[14]

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 My pioneer ancestors: The Burris Family of Musquodobit Nova Scotia.

   Page 32:
   "In Lawrence Peppard's Account Book this item appears: "August 16th day 1771, Robert Forbes to making his father's coffin 4s 6d.""
   
   Page 33:
   "The Robert Forbes who moved to Black Rock about 1790 was my husband's great grandfather. He came to Nova Scotia from the North of Ireland at the age of sixteen years ... married Lettice McClean, daughter of Samuel McClean of Londonderry. Later his father and mother, and two brothers, William and Arthur, came out. The brothers went to the United States and settled there, the parents remained with Robert and his wife."

2. ↑ Nova Scotia, Canada. Nova Scotia 1770 Census.

   [1]
   William Forbes
   Londonderry, Colchester County — 1770
   Commissioner of Public Records Nova Scotia Archives RG 1 vol. 443 no. 17
   
   -AND-
   
   [2]
   William Forbes
   Londonderry, Colchester County — 1770
   Commissioner of Public Records Nova Scotia Archives RG 1 vol. 443 no. 18

3. ↑ Smith, Leonard H, and Norma H. (Norma Helen) Smith. Nova Scotia Immigrants to 1867. (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., c1992-)
   Vol. 2/pp.91.

   Quote:
   "Forbes, Robert. From Ireland; land grant at Londonderry 6 Mar. 1775 (4:258).
   Forbes, William. From Ireland; land grant at Londonderry 6 Mar. 1775 (4:258)."

4.   History of Nova Scotia
   [3] page 438-442.
5.  
   [4] page 114.

   "About 15 settlers, Protestands from Ireland, are settled on the north side of the Cobequid basin. These are industrious and doing extremely well considering they had neither money nor stock. Some little assistance they will want from the government."

6. ↑ Truro's past (town of Truro website) [5]
7. ↑ [6]
8. ↑ [7]
9. ↑ [8]
10. ↑ [9]
11. ↑ [10]
12. ↑ [11]
13. ↑ [12] (page 252)
14. ↑ " NOVA SCOTIA SS Francis Legge Dated 6th of March 1775 Registered 13 of April 175 LONDONDERRY TO ALL TO WHOM these Presents shall come GREETING WHEREAS it as appeared that the several Persons hereinafter mentioned were duly admitted into possession of the several Quantitys, Shares of Rights of Land (in the Tract hereinafter described) by Authority of Government in the Year one thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty five. NOW KNOW YE THAT I FRANCIS LEGGE Esquire Captain General and Governor in Chief in and Over HIS MAJESTYS Province of NOVA SCOTIA and its Dependencies Vice Admiral of the same etc. etc. etc. By Virtue of the Power and Authority to me given by his present Majesty King George the Third under the Great Seal of Great Britain have given granted and confirmed and do by these Presents by and with the Advice and Consent of His Majestys Council for the said Province on the Tenth day of February One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy five, give grant and confirm unto James Fulton, John Rogers, Anthony McClane, James Wilson, Alexander McCurdy, John Denny, Robert Spencer, John Mahon, Joseph McClelan, Ezekill Williams, William Nicholson, James Cook, William Martin, George McNutt, John Vance, William Nesbitt, John Palmer, James Lyon, John Reagh, the Heirs of the Reverend John Moorhead, the Heirs of Robert Barnhill, John Barnhill, Jospeh Prow, Thomas Baird, David Grahms, the Heirs of William Wilson, Samuel Wilson, William Flagor, Claud Wilson, Francis Reed, William McCully, Thomas Wilson, Elizabeth McCully, Archibald Thompson, Robert Forbes, William Forbes, William McClentag, Richard Barlet, William Long, Robert Faulkner, John Stoney, the Reverend David Smith, Robert Calderwood, Jasper McKhinley, Samuel McClane, Samuel Archibald, Robert Archibald, John Morrison, Thomas Flager, William Fisher, William McKim, Peter McClelan, Robert Dill, John Williams, the Heirs of William Cook, Samuel Fulton, William Davison, Thomas Fulton, Archibald Karr, John Wilks, John Huitt, William Sutherland, David Hunter, James Flemming, Matthew Taylor, James McNutt, John McClelan, Robert McClelan, and John Clark Their Heirs and Assigns Eighty Nine shares or Rights of Land each share or Right to contain five hundred acres which said eighty nine shares or Rights are Comprehended within the Limits of a Tract of land situate lying and being in the Township of LONDONDERRY abutted and bounded as follows: Viza Chief—of the said Province for the time being with the advice of His Majesty’s Council may think proper AND ALSO SAVING the Previous Right of any other person or persons to the said Tract of Land or any part thereof TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said hereby Granted Premises with all Priveledges, Profits, Commodities and Appurtenances thereunto belonging unto the said James Fulton, John Rogers, Anthony McClane, James Wilson, Alexander McCurdy, John Denny, Robert Spencer, John Mahon, Joseph McClelan, Ezekill Williams, William Nicholson, James Cook, William Martin, George McNutt, John Vance, William Nesbitt, John Palmer, James Lyon, John Reagh, the Heirs of the Reverend John Moorhead, the Heirs of Robert Barnhill, John Barnhill, Jospeh Prow, Thomas Baird, David Grahms, the Heirs of William Wilson, Samuel Wilson, William Flagor, Claud Wilson, Francis Reed, William McCully, Thomas Wilson, Elizabeth McCully, Archibald Thompson, Robert Forbes, William Forbes, William McClentag, Richard Barlet, William Long, Robert Faulkner, John Stoney, the Reverend David Smith, Robert Calderwood, Jasper McKhinley, Samuel McClane, Samuel Archibald, Robert Archibald, John Morrison, Thomas Flager, William Fisher, William McKim, Peter McClelan, Robert Dill, John Williams, the Heirs of William Cook, Samuel Fulton, William Davison, Thomas Fulton, Archibald Karr, John Wilks, John Huitt, William Sutherland, David Hunter, James Flemming, Matthew Taylor, James McNutt, John McClelan, Robert McClelan, and John Clark their Heirs and Assigns forever in the said respective Shares or Rights to each and every of the said Grantees as in manner herein before described YIELDING AND PAYING by the said Grantees and each and every of them their Heirs and Assigns which by the Acceptation hereof they bind and oblige themselves their Heirs Executors and Assigns to Pay to His Majesty King George the third His Heirs and Successors or to any person lawfully authorized to receive the same for His Majesty’s use a free yearly Quit Rent of One farthing per acre for every acre hereby granted for the first payment of the same to become payable for One Year on Michaelmoss Day next after the Date hereof and so to continue payable become Null and Void AND PROVIDED ALSO that this Grant shall have been Registered at the Registers Office and a Docquet thereof Entered at the Auditors office within Six Months from the date hereof otherwise this Grant shall be Null and Void AND the said Grantees each and every of them do hereby bind themselves their Heirs and Assigns within three years from the date hereof to Clear and Work three acres of or for every fifty acres in the aforesaid Shares or Rights of Land hereby Granted in that part of the Shares or Rights which he, she or they shall judge most convenient and advantageous, or Clear and Drain three acres of swampy or sunken Grounds or Drain three acres of Marsh if any such be within the bounds of this Grant, or put and keep on their said respective shares, three Neat Cattle, to be continued upon the Lands, until three acres for every fifty be fully cleared and improved But if no part of said Lands befit for present cultivation without manuring and improving the same then the said Grantees each and every of them their Heirs and Assigns shall be obliged within three years from the Date hereof to Erect on some part of each and every of their said respective shares One Dwelling House to contain Twenty feet in Length by Sixteen feet in Breadth and to put on said Land three Neat Cattle for every fifty acres, or if the said Grantees each and ever of them their Heirs or Assigns shall within three years after the passing of this Grant begin to imploy threron and so to continue to work for three years then Next ensuing in Digging any stone Quarry or other Mine One Good and able hand for every hundred acres of their said respective shares or rights it shall be accounted a Sufficient Cultivation and Improvement and every three acres which shall be cleared and worked as aforesaid and every three acres which shall be Cleared and Drained as aforesaid shall be accounted a Sufficient Cultivation AND Improvement to save forever from forfeiture fifty acres of Land in any part of the said Shares or Rights hereby Granted where such Improvements shall be made AND the said Grantees each and every of them shall be made AND the said Grantees each and every of them shall be at Liberty to withdraw his, her or their Stock or to forbear Working in any Quarry or Mine in proportion to such Cultivation and Improvements as shall be made upon the plantable Lands or upon the Swamps Sunken Grounds and Marshes which are included in their respective Shares or Rights hereby Granted AND the said Grantees each and every of the their Heirs and Assigns, having seated, planted, cultivated, or Improved the said Lands, or any part thereof according to the Conditions above mentioned may make proof of usch Seating, Planting, Cultivation, and Improvement, in the General Court or in the Court of the County District or precinct where such Lands shall Lye, and have such proof certified to the Registers Office and there Entered with a Record of this Grant A Copy of which shall be admitted on any Trial to prove Beginning at the mouth of River Cheganois and to run up the course of the said River as high as the Marsh goes being about three miles and half more or less in a right line, Thense North by the Magnet Six Miles, thence North Eighty four Degrees West Twelve Miles and Three Quarters of a Mile, thence south Six Miles more or less till it comes to Cobiquid Bay, thence to be bounded Southerly by the SEVERAL Courses of the said Bay to the Mouth of the River Cheganois aforesaid Containing in the whole of said Tract by Estimation FIFTY THREEE THOUSAND acres more or less Allowance being made for barren Lands, Lakes and all such Roads as may hereafter be judged necessary to pass through the same in the following proportions that is to say unto James Fulton, John Rogers, Anthony McClane, James Wilson, Alexander McCurdy, John Denney, Robert Spencer, John Mahon, Joseph McClelan, Ezekill Williams, William Nicholson, James Cook, William Martin, George McNutt, John Vance, William Nesbitt, John Palmer, James Lyon, John Reagh, the Heirs of the Reverend John Moorhead, two rights of Land each containing five hundred acres each Right, unto the Heirs of the Heirs of Robert Barnhill, John Barnhill, Jospeh Prow, Thomas Baird, David Grahms, the Heirs of William Wilson, Samuel Wilson, William Flagor, Claud Wilson, Francis Reed, William McCully, Thomas Wilson, Elizabeth McCully, Archibald Thompson, Robert Forbes, William Forbes, William McClentag, Richard Barlet, William Long, Robert Faulkner, John Stoney, the Reverend David Smith, Robert Calderwood, Jasper McKhinley, Samuel McClane, Samuel Archibald, Robert Archibald, John Morrison, Thomas Flager, William Fisher, William McKim, Peter McClelan, Robert Dill, John Williams, the Heirs of William Cook, Samuel Fulton, William Davison, Thomas Fulton, Archibald Karr, John Wilks, John Huitt, William Sutherland, David Hunter, James Flemming, Matthew Taylor, James McNutt, John McClelan, Robert McClelan, and John Clark, One Right each containing Five Hundred acres with all and all manner of mines unopened excepting Mines of Gold and Silver, Lead, Copper and Coals Saving out of the aforesaid Tract the Rights of Alexander McNutt Esqr, Benjamin McNutt, Joseph McNutt, John McNutt, Patrick McCollom, John Mahon, and Anthony Caverly, to whom Grants have heretofore been made ALSO SAVING AND RESERVING One Right for a Glebe, One Right for a Minister of the Church of England and One Right for a School to be hereafter Granted as the Governor Lieutenant Governor or Commander in the Seating and Planting of such Land IN WITNESS whereof I have Signed these presents and Caused the Seal of the Province to be hereunto Affixed at Halifax this Sixth day of March in the fifteenth Year of the Reigh of Our Soverign Lord George the third by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King defender of the Faith and Soforth, and in the Year of Our Lord One thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy five. BY HIS EXCELLENCY’S COMMAND with the advice and consent of His Majesty’s Council. (Signed) Riche Bulkeley "
15. ↑ see Wikipedia: [13]