John Nowland was born in the mid 1700s and, during the American Revolutionary War, served as a soldier in the King's Carolina Rangers stationed in the Loyalist stronghold of St. Augustine, Florida. However, with the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783 and the return of peace, all the King's Men, the loyal Colonists, the British Troops and their fellow mercenaries were required to forfeit their properties and leave the land. John who had fought for King and country was forced to leave his home and seek a home elsewhere, accompanied by his wife Margaret and their two young children, John, aged 11 at the time, and Sarah, aged 10. On the bright side, however, Governor Parr of Nova Scotia, on behalf of his majesty King George III, had promised the loyal soldiers and colonists land in his jurisdiction. Thus began the long journey to a new home in Nova Scotia.
P>The group of refugees, of which John's family was a part, left Charleston, North Carolina, by ship in the spring of 1783 bound for New York city which was still being held by British troops. However, upon arrival, the city being overcrowded and food and lodging being scarce, the commanding officers for the group decided to sail on to Halifax as soon as they could round up the necessary provisions, tools and supplies which would be needed once they took possession of their new lands.
Unfortunately, the preparations dragged on for a few months before the group could finally leave. In Halifax, things were not much better. The influx of the many refugees who had arrived earlier had made the prospect of finding suitable accommodation doubtful. No tents were available
and some refugees had already resorted to building shelters in
the streets. People were also fighting over what little food was
available. Faced with this situation, the commanding officers
for the group decided to take their chances in the wilds
of Nova Scotia and so it was that the Nymph sailed on to Country
Harbour, NS.
On Christmas Eve, 1783, in a snowstorm, a lonely British transport ship, the Nymph, sailed into Country Harbour, on the southeast coast of
Nova Scotia. Aboard were approximately 900 weary souls, soldiers,
militiamen, civilians and their families, loyal to the British
Crown, who had left Charleston, North Carolina, some seven months
earlier.
The group spent their first winter on the east side of Country Harbour
at a place known today as the Mount, in the township of Stormont. For southerners, however, the freezing temperatures and
winter conditions (deep snow, spring runoff, etc.) were a bitter experience. According to local lore, as many as a third of the new arrivals died that first winter.
More Information on John, Margaret and children:
Children of JOHN NOWLAND and MARGARET:
John (c1785) m. Susannah Hurst in 1802;
thye had 7 children and are believed to have moved to the Chedabucto Bay area where Susannah's parents lived.
Sarah (c1773-?1784) is believed to have died as a result of the severe living conditions during the first winter in Country Harbour.
Joseph (c1785-bef. 1869) m. Sarah-Anne Mackay sometime before 1849;
they had 4 children and lived in the Goldboro-New Harbour area.
David (c1789) m. unknown wife;
they had at least 1 son and are believed to have lived in the area of Halway Cove.
Thomas (c1794-1864) m. Elizabeth;
they had at least 1 son and lived in the area of Goldboro-New Harbour.
