Despite the British Conquest of Acadia in 1710, Nova Scotia remained primarily occupied by Catholic Acadians and Mi'kmaq. Father Le Loutre's War began after Edward Cornwallis arrived to establish Halifax with 13 transports on June 21, 1749.[1] The British quickly began to build other settlements. To guard against Mi'kmaq, Acadian and French attacks on the new Protestant settlements, British fortifications were erected in Halifax (1749), Bedford (Fort Sackville) (1749), Dartmouth (1750), Lunenburg (1753), and Lawrencetown (1754).
Within 18 months of establishing Halifax, the British also took firm control of peninsula Nova Scotia by building fortifications in all the major Acadian communities: present-day Windsor (Fort Edward); Grand-Pré (Fort Vieux Logis) and Chignecto (Fort Lawrence). A British fort (Fort Anne) already existed at the other major Acadian centre of Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia. Cobequid remained without a fort.
In the spring of 1750, a British Army expeditionary force under Major Charles Lawrence arrived at Beaubassin. The village was ordered burnt by the French priest Jean-Louis Le Loutre to ensure that the British could not profit from its seizure. The British forces soon found they were outnumbered by Acadians and Mi'kmaq. Lawrence's troops retreated but returned in September 1750 in greater numbers and engaged in the Battle at Chignecto.
After Le Loutre's militia retreated, Lawrence began to build Fort Lawrence, a palisade fort on a ridge immediately east of the Missaguash River, the disputed border between Acadia and Nova Scotia since the Treaty of Utrecht was signed, and within sight of Fort Beausejour. The structure was completed under the command of Captain John Handfield. 16 September 1750, the natives killed two soldiers and 11 rangers went missing. Two days later, natives took the ship Fair Lady with 5 crew on board.[2] On October 4, Howe was killed. Oct. 11 Mangers schooner taken and burned. November 17, natives take five prisoners in front of the fort.[3] Nov. 23, natives fired on cattle. Nov. 30, natives attacked a wood party, wounding three.[4]
In 1753, Captain George Scott took command of the fort and in May, warriors scalped two British soldiers.[7] Scott made contact with the spy Thomas Pichon. Scott relinquished command of Fort Lawrence in the autumn of 1754 and Captain John Hussey took over command.[8] Preparations were then being made for an attack on Beauséjour, and he was appointed to command one of the two battalions of Massachusetts troops. He played a considerable part in the brief siege.
Fort Edward, Fort Lawrence, and Fort Anne were all supplied by and dependent on the arrival of Captains Cobb, Rogers or Taggart, in one of the government sloops. These vessels took the annual or semi-annual relief to their destination. They carried the officers and their families to and fro as required.[9]
The Battle of Fort Beausejour ended Father Le Loutre's War and began the French and Indian War in the region. On June 4, 1755 the British conquest for all of France's North American territory began when a force of British regulars and New England militia attacked Fort Beauséjour from Fort Lawrence under command of Lt. Col. Robert Monckton. The British-led force took control of Fort Beauséjour by June 16, 1755, after which they changed the name to Fort Cumberland.
Expulsion of the Acadiansedit
Fort Lawrence Plaque
In the ensuing months, British forces attempted to get Acadians living in the region to sign an oath of allegiance to the British Crown, however the Acadians refused, preferring to stay neutral. In August 1755, the British Expulsion of the Acadians began with the Bay of Fundy Campaign (1755). The order was given by Governor of Nova Scotia, Charles Lawrence, the same military officer who had presided over construction of Fort Lawrence in 1750. Along with Fort Beausejour, Fort Lawrence was also used to imprison male Acadians. The most famous Acadian held here was Joseph Broussard (Beausoleil). On October 1, 1755, the Acadian prisoners at Fort Lawrence escaped. Joseph Broussard was one of the escapees.[10]
Acadian homes were burnt by British forces to prevent their return. As the British army was now using the more substantial facility at Fort Cumberland, British forces decided to demolish the abandoned works at Fort Lawrence to prevent the facility being used as shelter by Acadians who may have escaped to nearby forests. Fort Lawrence was razed by fire on October 12, 1756 only 6 years after its construction.
Today the site of Fort Lawrence is a barren field behind a visitor information centre. Plans are in place for a full reconstruction of the fort, however funding from various levels of government has yet to be allocated. Various archaeological explorations from Fort Lawrence have netted numerous artifacts, some of which can be viewed at a display at Fort Beauséjour National Historic Site.
Young, Richard. "Blockhouses in Canada, 1749-1841: a Comparative Report and Catalogue." Occasional Papers in Archaeology and History, Canadian Historic Site, 1980.
Grenier, John (2008). The Far Reaches of Empire: War in Nova Scotia, 1710-1760. University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN978-0-8061-3876-3.
Griffiths, N.E.S. (2005). From Migrant to Acadian: A North American Border People, 1604-1755. McGill-Queen's University Press. ISBN978-0-7735-2699-0.
Murdoch, Beamish (1866). A History of Nova-Scotia, Or Acadie. Vol. II. Halifax: J. Barnes.
Gladys Trenholm. A History of Fort Lawrence : Times, Tides and Towns, FC 2349 F66 T74 1985
Wicken, William C. (2002). Mi'kmaq Treaties on Trial: History, Land and Donald Marshall Junior. University of Toronto Press. ISBN978-0-8020-7665-6.
Old forts of Acadia, 1874
Endnotes
^Grenier (2008); Thomas Beamish Akins. History of Halifax, Brookhouse Press. 1895. (2002 edition). p 7
fort, lawrence, nova, scotia, fort, lawrence, british, fort, built, during, father, loutre, located, isthmus, chignecto, modern, community, fort, lawrence, fort, lawrence, john, hamilton, 1755, contents, father, loutre, french, indian, battle, beausejour, expu. Fort Lawrence was a British fort built during Father Le Loutre s War and located on the Isthmus of Chignecto in the modern day community of Fort Lawrence Fort Lawrence by John Hamilton 1755 Contents 1 Father Le Loutre s War 2 French and Indian War 2 1 Battle of Beausejour 2 2 Expulsion of the Acadians 3 Commanding officers 4 Fort Lawrence National Historic Site 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksFather Le Loutre s War edit nbsp Captain George Scott by John Singleton Copley c 1758 The BrookDespite the British Conquest of Acadia in 1710 Nova Scotia remained primarily occupied by Catholic Acadians and Mi kmaq Father Le Loutre s War began after Edward Cornwallis arrived to establish Halifax with 13 transports on June 21 1749 1 The British quickly began to build other settlements To guard against Mi kmaq Acadian and French attacks on the new Protestant settlements British fortifications were erected in Halifax 1749 Bedford Fort Sackville 1749 Dartmouth 1750 Lunenburg 1753 and Lawrencetown 1754 nbsp Brook Watson served at Fort Lawrence 1750 1759 Within 18 months of establishing Halifax the British also took firm control of peninsula Nova Scotia by building fortifications in all the major Acadian communities present day Windsor Fort Edward Grand Pre Fort Vieux Logis and Chignecto Fort Lawrence A British fort Fort Anne already existed at the other major Acadian centre of Annapolis Royal Nova Scotia Cobequid remained without a fort In the spring of 1750 a British Army expeditionary force under Major Charles Lawrence arrived at Beaubassin The village was ordered burnt by the French priest Jean Louis Le Loutre to ensure that the British could not profit from its seizure The British forces soon found they were outnumbered by Acadians and Mi kmaq Lawrence s troops retreated but returned in September 1750 in greater numbers and engaged in the Battle at Chignecto After Le Loutre s militia retreated Lawrence began to build Fort Lawrence a palisade fort on a ridge immediately east of the Missaguash River the disputed border between Acadia and Nova Scotia since the Treaty of Utrecht was signed and within sight of Fort Beausejour The structure was completed under the command of Captain John Handfield 16 September 1750 the natives killed two soldiers and 11 rangers went missing Two days later natives took the ship Fair Lady with 5 crew on board 2 On October 4 Howe was killed Oct 11 Mangers schooner taken and burned November 17 natives take five prisoners in front of the fort 3 Nov 23 natives fired on cattle Nov 30 natives attacked a wood party wounding three 4 On August 15 1752 Lt Col Robert Monckton took command of Fort Lawrence 5 6 In 1753 Captain George Scott took command of the fort and in May warriors scalped two British soldiers 7 Scott made contact with the spy Thomas Pichon Scott relinquished command of Fort Lawrence in the autumn of 1754 and Captain John Hussey took over command 8 Preparations were then being made for an attack on Beausejour and he was appointed to command one of the two battalions of Massachusetts troops He played a considerable part in the brief siege Fort Edward Fort Lawrence and Fort Anne were all supplied by and dependent on the arrival of Captains Cobb Rogers or Taggart in one of the government sloops These vessels took the annual or semi annual relief to their destination They carried the officers and their families to and fro as required 9 French and Indian War edit nbsp Charles LawrenceBattle of Beausejour edit The Battle of Fort Beausejour ended Father Le Loutre s War and began the French and Indian War in the region On June 4 1755 the British conquest for all of France s North American territory began when a force of British regulars and New England militia attacked Fort Beausejour from Fort Lawrence under command of Lt Col Robert Monckton The British led force took control of Fort Beausejour by June 16 1755 after which they changed the name to Fort Cumberland Expulsion of the Acadians edit nbsp Fort Lawrence PlaqueIn the ensuing months British forces attempted to get Acadians living in the region to sign an oath of allegiance to the British Crown however the Acadians refused preferring to stay neutral In August 1755 the British Expulsion of the Acadians began with the Bay of Fundy Campaign 1755 The order was given by Governor of Nova Scotia Charles Lawrence the same military officer who had presided over construction of Fort Lawrence in 1750 Along with Fort Beausejour Fort Lawrence was also used to imprison male Acadians The most famous Acadian held here was Joseph Broussard Beausoleil On October 1 1755 the Acadian prisoners at Fort Lawrence escaped Joseph Broussard was one of the escapees 10 Acadian homes were burnt by British forces to prevent their return As the British army was now using the more substantial facility at Fort Cumberland British forces decided to demolish the abandoned works at Fort Lawrence to prevent the facility being used as shelter by Acadians who may have escaped to nearby forests Fort Lawrence was razed by fire on October 12 1756 only 6 years after its construction Commanding officers editCharles Lawrence British Army officer Major Southcott Hungerford Luttrell 45th 11 Thomas Collier military officer Lascelles 47th regiment d 1752 12 13 Robert Monckton 47th Regiment George Scott army officer 1753 1754 40th Regiment John Hussey 47th Regiment 14 Fort Lawrence National Historic Site editThe site containing the archaeological remains of Fort Lawrence was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1923 15 Today the site of Fort Lawrence is a barren field behind a visitor information centre Plans are in place for a full reconstruction of the fort however funding from various levels of government has yet to be allocated Various archaeological explorations from Fort Lawrence have netted numerous artifacts some of which can be viewed at a display at Fort Beausejour National Historic Site See also editMilitary history of Nova ScotiaReferences editTexts Young Richard Blockhouses in Canada 1749 1841 a Comparative Report and Catalogue Occasional Papers in Archaeology and History Canadian Historic Site 1980 Grenier John 2008 The Far Reaches of Empire War in Nova Scotia 1710 1760 University of Oklahoma Press ISBN 978 0 8061 3876 3 Griffiths N E S 2005 From Migrant to Acadian A North American Border People 1604 1755 McGill Queen s University Press ISBN 978 0 7735 2699 0 Murdoch Beamish 1866 A History of Nova Scotia Or Acadie Vol II Halifax J Barnes Gladys Trenholm A History of Fort Lawrence Times Tides and Towns FC 2349 F66 T74 1985 Wicken William C 2002 Mi kmaq Treaties on Trial History Land and Donald Marshall Junior University of Toronto Press ISBN 978 0 8020 7665 6 Old forts of Acadia 1874Endnotes Grenier 2008 Thomas Beamish Akins History of Halifax Brookhouse Press 1895 2002 edition p 7 Winslows Journal Winslow journal p 9 Winslow journal p 9 Murdoch 1866 p 211 John Handfield took command at Fort Lawrence during the construction at Fort Lawrence where he married John Hamilton British army officer to his daughter 1752 Murdoch 1866 p 219 Akins p 215 Murdoch 1866 p 232 Faragher p 356 Note Picheon mistakenly writes Henry Luttrell rather than Hungerfor Luttrell Halifax Gazette 23 March 1752 p 204 p 238 Fort Lawrence National Historic Site of Canada Canadian Register of Historic Places Fort Lawrence Heritage Association Fort Lawrence 1750 1756 brochure undated 2000 External links editPhotographs of the Fort Lawrence plaque Historic Sites and Monuments Board Photographs of the Fort Lawrence interpretative panel Parks Canada 45 51 07 N 64 15 36 W 45 852 N 64 260 W 45 852 64 260 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fort Lawrence Nova Scotia amp oldid 1146392657, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
