History of Tracadie, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada

1787 - Tracadie established by Black Loyalist families
Resettlement was hard for White Loyalists, but it was worse for Black Loyalists. Nova Scotia, under the direction of Governor Parr, was not prepared for the arrival of so many people...

The British had promised free land and rations for three years to the Black Loyalists... Those who served in the Black Pioneer militia companies received very little land and in many cases none at all...

The Black Loyalists who moved to Chedabucto from Port Mouton got fed up with being landless. In 1787, their representative, Thomas Brownspriggs, presented a petition to the government signed by seventy-four people requesting land. By September of that year, 74 Black Loyalist families were granted 3000 acres in Tracadie, around the mouth of Tracadie Harbor, in what was then called Sydney County and is now Guysborough and Antigonish Counties.
novascotia.ca

December 1787 - Land Grant
Crown Land Grant, Old Book 19 doc. 15
BROWNSPRIGGS & 73 OTHERS
1787 December

NOVA SCOTIA. GEORGE THE THIRD, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, KING, Defender of the Faith, and so forth. To all to whom these Presents shall come, GREETING. Know ye that we of our Special Grace, certain knowledge and (illegible), have given and granted, and by these Presents, for Us, our heirs and Successors, do give and grant unto:
Thomas Brownspriggs, Peter French, Samuel Milton, James Lenox, Benjamin Gero, Thomas Richardson, Alexander Elmes, Richard Jordan, Samuel Dismal, Prince Hederick, Robert Bachus, John Skelly, James Emma, Anthony Morris, Quart Shepard, Isaac Bolton, John Devos, John Slaught(er), Charles Ringwood, James Thomas, William Gordon, Samuel Grierson, Charles Lamb, John Green, Jr., John Bratton, Pompey Colt, Samuel Willis, Adam Minton, Gamet Hart, Anthony Barton, Charles Sweeny, Charles Ash, Pompey Clark, Prince Frederick, Bachus Erwin, Joseph Ringwood,... Read MORE...

In 1788, Bishop Charles Inglis appointed Thomas Brownspriggs as a teacher in Tracadie.
He was the preacher and schoolmaster from 1788 to 1790.
Southern Settlers of Nova Scotia's First Free Black Communities, by J Grant, 2017

1794 POLL TAX RECORD FOR POMQUET, TRACADIE & HAVRE BOUCHER, NOVA SCOTIA
Asesment Rolls for Capitation tax at Antigonish for 1793 & Tracadie for 1794

Marchan = merchant; Brebi = sheep; vache = cow;
bete de corne = goat; Chelin probably means shilling.

Pour taxse de la ne‚ 1794
(Tax for the year 1794)

Segonde taxse de pomme quette et de traquadi et du havra Bouche
(Second tax of Pomquet, Tracadie and Havre Boucher)

Pierre BROUSAR(d) 4 piece de Bette a corne et 3 Brebi
Superien BOTRAU (BOUDREAU) 3 piece de Bette a corne - et 3 Brebi
Josephe LANDRI 2 piece de Bette a corne et 9 Brebi
Francois ROSE 1 vache et 3 Brebi
Superien GUON 5 piece de Bette a corne et 17 Brebi
Josephe DOIRON 5 piece de Bette a corne et 16 Brebi
Loui LA MAR(RE) marchan 10 Chelin
Pourcest BESTIAUX (BESHONG) 5 piece de Bette a corne et 10 Brebi
Pierre DOIRON 1 vache et 3 Brebi
Simon VINSANT 7 piece de Bette a corne et 18 Brebi
Batiste BENOI(T) 1 vache et 4 Brebi
Josephe DOIRON 1 Chelin
Basile DOIRON 1 Chelin
Pierre GUON 1 Chelin
Char BROUSAR ... Read MORE...

The Rev. Charles Weeks, Anglican missionary at Guysborough, reported that there were twenty-three negro families at Tracadie in 1808.

rootsweb.com

1822 - Baptist Church (Tracadie United Baptist Church) established
David Nutter arrived from England in 1822 and with a small group of settlers the church was organized under the direction of the Baptist faith and the structure was moved from its original location to a more central site in the community. The church is recorded as being the second oldest in the African United Baptist Association (AUBA).
ansa.novascotia.ca

1825 - A monastery was founded by French Trappists in 1825 as Petit Clairvaux and then re-opened in 1938 by the Augustinian Fathers to become St. Augustine's Monastery.

stfx.cairnrepo.org

1885 - Drowned While Fighting
GLOUCESTER, Mass., Jne 22, 1887 - A drunken row took place on board the schooner Finance this fore-noon between Henry Otto and Herbert Jellows, two of the crew. The vessel was bound to Georgia, and as the crew came on board the altercation began. During the melee Otto and Jellows fell overboard. Three others of the crew succeeded in saving Otto, but Jellows sunk and never rose. The police took Otto and the others of the crew to the station. Jellows was a native of Tracadie, N.S., and a hard character, having served several terms in prison, while Otto, it is said, is of a quiet dispostion; he hails from Philadelphia. Both men were well under the influence of liquor. The drowned man was about thirty-five years of age and unmarried. An investigation will be held to-morrow.
The New York Herald
New York, New York
June 23, 1886

1887 - ARRESTED ON SUSPICION
HALIFAX, N.S., Nov. 8. Four years ago James Bowie, a French youth of 17 years, shot and killed a farmer named Donald McDonald at Tracadie, Antigonish county. The murder was deliberate and cold blooded and was the result of a family dispute over a piece of land. Bowie's father stood by at the time of the murder and prompted the boy to the deed. The youth escaped to the United States, and all trace of him was for a time lost. Recently information was received from East Cambridge, Mass, that the Chief of Police there had under surveilance a young man supposed to be James Bowie. The case was taken in hand by the authorities here, with the result that the suspected party was arrested in East Cambridge this morning. The accused gives the name of Pitts, and denies all knowledge of the crime with which he is charged. The Dominion and the United States authorities are now in correspondence on the case, and the necessary papers asking for extradition will be forwarded from Nova Scotia. Bowie's... Read MORE...

In 1898, Tracadie was a farming settlement with four stores and one church and a population of 220.

Rootsweb.com

1900 - TRAPPISTS ARE TO MOVE. Monastery in Nova Scotia to Be Removed to Cumberland in Rhode Island.
St. John, N. B., April 28. - The trappist monastery at Tracadie, N. S., is soon to be removed to a far near Cumberland, R. I., and the farm at Tracadie abandoned. It was established in 1814. It was founded by members after the house in France was broken up by the Emperor, Napoleon. There are twenty-five monks at Tracadie. The discipline is rigorous. Bread and water constitutes their diet, eleven hours a day are spent in prayer, and the members are prohibited from speaking to one another.
Chicago Daily Tribune
Chicago, Illinois
April 29, 1900

THE SETTLEMENT OF TRACADIE - Written by Lloyd Boucher, with assistance from Stephen A. White
The precise date of Tracadie's founding is unknown. One of the best sources of estimation are the notes of Edme Rameau de Saint-Pere, a French writer who visited Tracadie in 1860 (as well as the other principal Acadian settlements of Nova Scotia), in order to gather material for a history of the Acadians.

Rameau interviewed Captain Joseph Girrior (c 1788-1866), one of the oldest and probably the most prominent Acadian of the parish at the time. From this interview, Rameau concluded there were a number of different settlers spread out over a period of time.

Girrior's parents came to Tracadie in 1782. There were already four families established at the shoreline. The Benoit family was the first to arrive -- 10 years before the Girriors. About four or five years later, came the Bonnevie dit Beaumont (Bonvies and Bowmans), Jacquet dit Deslauriers (Deloreys) and the Fougeres (who later moved to Havre Boucher).

When the Girouards (Girriors) arrived in 1782, they brought with them... Read MORE...

Here's a list of places to go and things to do in and around Tracadie:
Tracadie Beach: Start your visit with a trip to Tracadie Beach. This sandy shoreline along the Northumberland Strait is perfect for sunbathing, swimming, beachcombing, and picnicking. The warm waters make it a great spot for a refreshing dip.

Cycling and Hiking: Tracadie offers excellent cycling and hiking opportunities. There are scenic trails like the Tracadie Coastal Trails, which provide beautiful views of the coastline and are suitable for all skill levels.

Fishing: Nova Scotia is famous for its fishing, and Tracadie is no exception. Whether you're into freshwater or saltwater fishing, there are plenty of spots to cast your line. You can try your luck at catching mackerel, bass, or trout.

Golfing: Golf enthusiasts can head to the Tracadie-Sheila Golf & Country Club, which offers a challenging 18-hole course with stunning views of the surrounding countryside.

Historic Sites: Explore the area's rich history by visiting the Tracadie United Church, a beautiful heritage... Read MORE...