It took several years for the British to decide
where to send the “Foreign Protestants”, as they were called.
In the end, Lunenburg was chosen, in part
because land had already been cleared there by an earlier settlement of French.
Before the transfer was carried out, lots in the town were decided
by writing the lot descriptions on the back of playing cards
and dealing them out at random.
This was done on 21 May 1753 about 6 weeks in advance.
The card shown was for Creighton’s Division, Block C, Lot 11.
In the years after the settlement of Lunenburg,
these cards were used to settle land holding disputes.
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The distance between Halifax and Lunenburg is about 100 km;
a good day’s sail under ideal conditions.
However, the conditions the end of May 1753 were not ideal.
The transports were loaded 29 May but bad weather
delayed departure until 7 June and the first settlers were not disembarked until June 8.
The French presence at Louisbourg was of concern,
so British war ships of the design of HMS Rose
protected the flotilla while en route to Lunenburg.
Eventually they arrived at the entrance to Lunenburg.
The next series of pictures were taken during
the 2003 re-enactment of the first arrival in Lunenburg.
They were taken by Lana Veinotte and Barb Peart.
The first to come ashore were the military ...
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I wouldn’t want to tangle with this guy.
Pushing back the restless natives
Once the military has established a secure perimeter,
the settlers were brought ashore.
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Townsfolk dressed in period costumes of the day.
While I was in Germany I asked if these would have been typical of Germany.
The consensus was a resounding "NO".
This sample from the Odenwald region of Germany is more likely.
For more examples of women's dress styles from Germany Click here.
Even the children participated.
Two lovely ladies.
A view showing that the landing was in a small cove just to the east of the town.
A birds-eye-view of the town in 1879.
Each block had 14 lots, each of only modest size (12 x 18 m).
Clearly not enough to support a house and garden.
A recent view.
The large white tent to the left is where St John’s Anglican Church stood
while under reconstruction following the fire.
The waterfront in 2004.
1/4 Acre Garden Lots were given to the town’s folk
to the east of town were given for growing food.
This view of the harbour, taken 1960,
is what I saw from my grandparent’s house every summer that we visited.
Germany 1728-1750 | Getting to Halifax | Getting to Lunenburg| Out Onto the Land | Andreas JUNG at work | My Ancestors | Fishing for Cod | Lunenburg Architecture| Headstones |
European Adventure Home Page
(Memoirs of two weeks in Germany, Montbeliard, France and Northern Switzerland
on a Genealogical trek to discover roots.)