John Brittain, Description of the Settlements in the Provinces of Nova Scotia & New Brunswick, 1784-1785

Summary

Creator:

Brittain, John

Abstract:

John Brittain's Description of the Settlements in the Provinces of Nova Scotia & New Brunswick, 1784-1785, provides a detailed account of various settlements throughout the two Canadian provinces, paying particular attention to geography and natural resources.

Extent:

1 volume

Language:

English

Authors:

Collection processed and finding aid created by Meg Hixon, October 2011

Background

Scope and Content:

John Brittain's Description of the Settlements in the Provinces of Nova Scotia & New Brunswick, 1784-1785, provides a detailed account of various settlements throughout the two Canadian provinces, paying particular attention to geography and natural resources. Pages 1-72 cover Nova Scotia, pages 73-101 cover New Brunswick, and pages 103-106 contain an index to places mentioned within the volume. The account is comprised of Brittain's personal observations, letters from prominent residents within the provinces, and tables showing exports of fish and lumber from various ports. Brittain concentrated primarily on natural resources, with a specific focus on bodies of water and the quality and type of lumber available in each area, but went into further detail about some of the larger settlements and their founders, who were often former British soldiers. The volume provides a clear, thorough description of northeastern Canada just after the American Revolution, and encourages its commercial advantages for future settlers.

Biographical / Historical:

John Brittain compiled geographic and historical descriptions of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick for Surrogate General Edward Winslow (1746-1815) between 1784 and 1785. Brittain later became deputy postmaster for Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. He died around 1810.

Acquisition Information:

1955. M-979 .

Processing information:

Cataloging funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC). This collection has been processed according to minimal processing procedures and may be revised, expanded, or updated in the future.

Rules or Conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Related

Additional Descriptive Data:

Bibliography

Beck, J. Murray. Joseph Howe. Volume I: Conservative Reformer, 1804-1848. McGill-Queen's University Press, 1982.

Subjects

Click on terms below to find any related finding aids on this site.

Subjects:

Fisheries--North Atlantic Ocean.
Lumber trade--Canada.
Natural resources--Canada.

Formats:

Monographs.

Places:

Canada--Commerce--Early works to 1800.
Canada--Geography.
New Brunswick--Description and travel.
New Brunswick--History--1763-1867.
Nova Scotia--Description and travel.
Nova Scotia--History--1763-1867.