FREE ancestry since 1999 - History belongs to all of us!
Add YOUR Family To This Page
History of Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada
Journey back in time to Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada
(Pisiquit, Acadia)
Visit Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada. Discover its history. Learn about the people who lived there through stories, old newspaper articles, pictures, postcards and ancestry.




Do You Have Windsor Roots? Share Your Ancestral Story!

The Acadian parish of Ste-Famille was founded in 1722 and was located in Pisiguid (Pisiguit). Families living in this areas were Breau, Landry and Forest further down the Pisiguit river [Avon river]; most of the parishioners of Sainte-Famille were deported to the British American Colonies and very few of them would ever see their native land again. Some of the names on the surviving parish register are: LeBlanc, Breau, Mazzerolle, Roy, Vincent, Landry, Comeau, Doiron, Forest, Daigre, Hébert, Boudrot, Maillet, Rivet and Poirier.
The British arrived in Pisiguit in 1750 and built Fort Edward. On September 5, 1755, Captain Alexander Murray, commander of the fort, read the Deportation order to the men and boys assembled and then held them prisoners until the ships came to deport them. In October 1755 1,000 Acadians were deported from this location. Acadians who were captured or who gave themselves up after years of hiding in the woods were also held in Fort Edward between 1755 and 1762.
While prisoners, Acadians were hired to help the new settlers known as the Planters who had come from New England. They helped with construction and upkeep of the dykes. Some of those prisoners bore the name of: Poitier, Suret, Broussard, Dugas, Girroir, Gallant, Léger, Robicheau, Johnson, Deveau, Bourque, Pelerin, Comeau and Brun.
www.acadian-home.org
NOTE: Interesting article about old Acadian Cemeteries
www.ameriquefrancaise.org
There is MUCH more to discover about Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada. Read on!
Windsor Nostalgia: Vintage Photos, Ads, and Postcards
Discover Windsor: History, News, Travel, and Stories

-
1704 - Attacked
June 20: Benjamin Church (1639-1718), with 700 men, three warships and fourteen transports, burned Les Mines (Grand Pre), took Cobequid (Truro) and Piziquid (Pigiguit), and wasted Beaubassin, Acadia. They laid siege to Port Royal but they refused to surrender, and the English (speaking people) departed.
www.telusplanet.net/public/ dgarneau/french26.htm
-
1750 - Fort Edward, Windsor, Nova Scotia is built this year.
www.telusplanet.net/ public/ dgarneau/ french35.htm
-
1820 - Church of St. John the Evangelist established at Windsor
www.gcatholic.org
-
1873
WINDSOR, a seaport town of Nova Scotia, capital of the co. of Hants, on an arm of Minas Basin, which sets up far into the interior of the province, and on the W. k A. R., 45 miles N.W. of Halifax, 84 miles front Annapolis. It is the seat of King's College, the principal educational institution in Nova Scotia, and is a place of commercial importance in consequence of the extensive mines of limestone, gypsum and other valuable minerals abounding in its vicinity. The town contains 6 churches, 2 Episcopal, 1 Malmo Catholic, 1 Wesleyan,1 Presbyterian and 1 Baptist, 1 branch bank, an iron foundry, several mills and factories, a printing office issuing a weekly newspaper, a telegraph office, and a number of stores. The streets of Windsor are lighted with gas. It is a port of entry. The total number of arrivals for 1872 was 313 (tons 47,233), and the clearances 387 (tons 59,301). Total value of imports $201,930; exports $94,193. Pop. 3,000.
Lovell's gazetteer of British North America; J. Lovell; Montreal, 1873
-
1895 - Windsor
Windsor, a seaport town of Nova Scotia, capital of the co. of Hants, on an arm of Minas Bay, which sets up far into the interior of the province, and on the Windsor & Annapolis Railway, 45 miles N.W. of Halifax, and 84 miles from Annapolis. It is the seat of King's College, the oldest educational institution in Nova Scotia, and is a place of commercial importance in consequence of the extensive mines of limestone, gypsum, and other valuable minerals abounding in its vicinity. The town contains 6 churches, 3 banks, an iron-foundry, several mills, factories, and ship yards, and 3 newspaper offices. The streets of Windsor are lighted with electric light. It is a port of entry. As a shipping port it ranks second in the Dominion. Pop. 3000.
Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott
1897 - BIG FIRE IN WINDSOR, N.S. - Territory a Mile Square Swept by Flames and Barely Half a Dozen Buildings Left Standing.
LOSS ESTIMATED AT $3,000,000
Practically All the Inhabitants of the Town Homeless - Conflagration Started at 3 o'Clock in the Morning.
WINDSOR, N. S., Oct. 17. - Historic Windsor, one of the most beautiful towns in the provinces, was devastated by fire this morning. The fire raged for six hours, beginning a little before 3 o'clock, the flames all the while being fanned by a violent northwest gale.
Long before noon the town had been almost completely destroyed, the area covered by the flames being almost a mile square. Of the four hundred or more buildings occupying this section barely half a dozen scorched structures remain. All is a waste of ruins.
The buildings that escaped include the Windsor cotton factory, King's College, the Anglican Church, Edgehill School for Girls, and the Dufferin Hotel. The Dufferin Hotel is the only hotel left standing.
No other Nova Scotia town ever has been visited by a conflagration of such dimensions.
Over 3,000 Homeless.
Of the... Read MORE...
-
1906
Windsor, a banking town and port of entry, capital of Hants co., Nova Scotia, on an arm of Minas Bay and on the Dominion Atlantic and the Midland Rs., 45 miles NW. of Halifax. It is the seat of King's College, the oldest educational institution in Nova Scotia (chartered in 1788), and is a place of commercial importance in consequence of the extensive mines of limestone, gypsum, and other valuable minerals abounding in its vicinity. The town has cotton-mills, an iron-foundry, plaster-works, ship-chandleries, etc. It ranks second among the ship-owning ports of the Dominion. The town was visited by a destructive conflagration in 1897. Pop. in 1901, 3398.
Lippincott's New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns ... in Every Portion of the Globe Publisher J.B. Lippincott Company, 1906
-
Windsor
Windsor, NS, incorporated as a town in 1878, population 3785 (2011c), 3709 (2006c). The Town of Windsor is located in central Nova Scotia, at the mouth of the Avon and St Croix rivers. Its short distance from HALIFAX (66 km) has long made Windsor a town of commuters.
History
It was first settled by ACADIANS in 1684 and was called Pisiquid, a name of Micmac origin. The English township of Windsor (after Windsor, England) was established in 1764, and wealthy Halifax businessmen and politicians were granted land here.
During the AMERICAN REVOLUTION, troops were kept at Windsor's Fort Edward to ensure the loyalty of Annapolis Valley residents. Following the war, many LOYALISTS came to the town. They farmed, traded and opened shops, disrupting the pastoral luxury of the big Windsor estates. In 1789 Bishop Charles INGLIS established the UNIVERSITY OF KING'S COLLEGE, the oldest English-language university in Canada. It is now located in Halifax.
Windsor thrived during the 1800s,... Read MORE...
-
Town of Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada, Fall 2016
-
2023 - Here's a list of places to visit and activities to enjoy in and around Windsor:
1. Fort Edward National Historic Site:
Explore the well-preserved fortifications that played a significant role in Canada's military history during the 18th century.
Learn about the town's history, military tactics, and the people who lived here through interactive exhibits and guided tours.
2. Haliburton House Museum:
Step back in time at this beautifully restored historic home once owned by Thomas Chandler Haliburton, a prominent 19th-century author.
Marvel at the period furnishings, artwork, and artifacts that provide insight into life in the Victorian era.
3. Avon River Heritage Museum:
Discover the cultural heritage of the Avon River region through exhibits that showcase the area's agricultural and industrial history.
Don't miss the fascinating collection of steam engines and agricultural machinery.
4. Windsor Hockey Heritage Centre:
If you're a hockey fan, this museum is a must-visit. Learn about the town's deep connection to the sport, including... Read MORE...
Discover Your Roots: Windsor Ancestry
Ancestors Who Were Born or Died in Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada
We currently have information about ancestors who were born or died in Windsor.View Them Now (sorted by year of birth)









Ancestors Who Were Married in Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada
We currently have information about ancestors who were married in Windsor.View Them Now








Not the place you are looking for? Try again!
Search for Your Family by Place
Who Are You Searching For?
Search for Your Family by Name
NOTE: If you don't know your ancestor's whole name or are unsure of the spelling, specify part of the name.Updated: 9/17/2023 12:37:59 PM
Windsor Ancestry Tales: Share Your Unique Story!
If you'd like to be contacted by others who have ancestors from Windsor, leave a message here!The comments you read here belong only to the person who posted them. We reserve the right to remove off-topic and inappropriate comments.