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James and Lydia Mosher

Newport Landing, Nova Scotia May 1760
 
James Mosher was born on 17 July 1725 at Tiverton, Rhode Island, New England, now United States of America. He was the son of Nicholas Mosher (1702–1765) and Rebecca Wilcox. He married Lydia Allen, daughter of Increase Allen and Lydia on 28 Oct 1748 in Dartmouth, MA, New England.
 
The Mosher family had lived in Rhode Island and Massachusetts for four generations. James and Lydia and their family came to take up vacant lands along with other families in Nova Scotia. This area to be known as the Newport Grant had been occupied previously for 75 years by the Acadians (French settlers) who were expelled by the British in 1755. After the French and Indian War the strategic importance of Nova Scotia to British interests became better appreciated and in 1759 Governor Lawrence of Nova Scotia issued a proclamation in New England offering these vacant lands around the Minas Basin free of payment to planters, an Elizabethan term used for settlers. The intent was to replace French-speaking influence in the region with English-speaking. The government paid the cost of passage from New England to Nova Scotia which was fl:5 per person.
 
James, Lydia and their children Amy, Barzillai, Sarah, Jehu, Allen and Lydia, arrived to start a life in new lands along with 8,000 other Planter families over the coming years. Their daughter Olive stayed behind in Rhode Island.
 
Ship: Lydia
Date: May 1760 (departure)
Departing: Newport, Rhode Island, USA
Arriving: Newport (Hants County), Nova Scotia
Ship Master: Samuel Toby
Size: Sloop
Passengers:
Benjamin Borden, total 3 in family
Caleb Lake, total 7 in family
James Mosher, total 8 in family
Henry Tucker, total 3 in family
Source: John V. Duncanson, "Newport, Nova Scotia A Rhode Island Township", 1985, p. 16.
 
James Mosher had been allocated Newport farm lot C 3rd div. No 1. He was a millwright and built the first mill in the Township of Newport for grinding grain. James was involved in public affairs and meetings as a leader in this new community. He had known many of the other Planter families well before their arrival. The 13 children of James and Lydia some going on to become part of the next chapter that would become the shipbuilding empire of the Mosher- Harvie shipyards in Newport in the 19th century, outlined in the book by Stanley T. Spicer “The Age of Sail”. The sheer numbers of descendants, skills and strong family connections made this Newport industry extremely successful with a high output of vessels not only in Nova Scotia but Canada as a whole.
 
Children of James and Lydia Mosher born in New England:
Amy - born 13 Feb 1749, Dartmouth, MA, New England and died in 1817 Newport, Hants, NS. Married Archibald Harvie b1743 (son of James and Margaret) and had 8 children. Archibald came at the same time as Amy on the Sloop “Sally”.
Barzillai – born 9 Sep 1751, Dartmouth, MA, New England. Married Margaret Harvie and had 10 children. Barzillai was a Sea Captain and he died lost at sea in 1836 with his crew, still working aged 85 years. His unmarried son Barzillai born 1772 was also lost at sea. He and Margaret had 10 children.
Olive – born 19 Jul 1753, Dartmouth, MA, New England and died 19 Mar 1837 in NY, USA. Olive remained in New England and married Barnabus Howland in 1770, who was Captain of an East India merchant ship. They had 7 children.
Sarah- born 10 Mar 1754, Dartmouth, MA, New England. Married James Campbell and had 13 children.
Jehu – born 1755, Dartmouth, MA, New England and died 3 Mar 1851 Newport NS. First marriage to Hannah Greeno (1760-1804) and they had 12 children. Second marriage to Eleanor Foley (1784-1867) produced another 10 children. Jehu was a farmer and had great reported physical strength living to the great age of 96. Several descendants of Jehu and Hannah were shipbuilding pioneers, Jehu Jr who fathered Silas and Nicholas who was known as Nicholas Sr.
Lydia – born 1756 ,Dartmouth, MA, New England. Married John Densmore and had 11 children.
Allen – born 1758 Dartmouth, MA, New England. Married Esther Wilcox of Kempt. He was a land owner and farmer and had 12 children. This line is known as the Kempt NS Moshers.
 
Children who were born in Newport, Nova Scotia:
Deliverance was the first female to be born in Newport NS as the family arrived in 1760. She married John Macumber and they had 10 children. She died in 1857 aged 98 years having lived all her life in Newport NS.
Rhoda – born 1762 Newport, NS and died 1830 in Newport NS. Married Simon Ward and they had 10 children.
Nicholas – born 1766 Newport NS and died 13 Nov 1832 Mosherville NS. Married Polly Greeno and they had 15 children. Nicholas was a builder (two bridges, one over Cogmagun River and the other over Kennetcook River) and a shipbuilder. He built the first vessel in Newport Landing, a sloop that was launched in 1807.
Joseph - born 14 Oct 1768 Newport NS and died 19 Aug 1859 at Mosherville, Hants, NS. Married Priscilla Rebecca Greeno (1768-1813) in 1788 and they had 10 children. He was a carpenter.
George – born 1771 Newport NS and died 22 Nov 1844 Avondale NS. Married Margaret Thomson and they had 9 children. He was a farmer, wheelwright and carpenter. His sons Ira and Nicholas (known as Nicholas Jr) were part of the Mosher shipbuilding empire. Especially as there were continued Mosher-Harvie marriages.
Elizabeth – born 1774 and died on 28 Jun 1852 and is buried in the Old St James Cemetery, Newport NS. Married James Constantine who was a teacher and they had 6 children.
 
SOURCES:
1  Chronological history of the Mosher family [microform] : from the Seventeenth
   Century to the present date compiled by Mosher, William C. (1820-1908), pub.
   1891 Windsor N.S, Hants Journal Office.
2  The Age of Sail, Master Shipbuilders of the Maritimes by Spicer, Stanley T.
3  The Rhode Island Emigration to Nova Scotia by Huling, Ray Greene A.M. New
    Bedford Mass. Reprinted from the Narragansett Historical Register April 1889.
4  The Coming of the New England Planters to the Annapolis Valley by Longley
    R.S. (Department of History, Arcadia University 1929-64)
5  Newport, a Rhode Island Township in Nova Scotia, by John Duncanson. Mica
   Publ. (1985)
6  Planter Nova Scotia 1760-1815 Newport Township by Gwyn, Julian
7  Windsor, Nova Scotia, A journey into history by Loomer, L.S. Pub. 1996 West
    Hants Historical Society.
 
Contributed by L. Pigna
[email protected]

More information on the descendants of James and Lydia Mosher


Newport Landing, Nouvelle-Écosse mai 1760
 
James Mosher était né le 17 juillet 1725 à Tiverton, Rhode Island, Nouvelle-Angleterre, maintenant les États-Unis. Il était le fils de Nicholas Mohser (1702-1765) et Rebecca Wilcox. Il a marié Lydia Allen, la fille de Increase Allen et Lydia le 28 octobre 1748 en Dartmouth, MA, Nouvelle-Angleterre.  
 
La famille Mosher avait vécu en Rhode Island et Massachusetts pour quatre générations. James et Lydia et leur famille sont venus pour prendre la terre libre avec les autres familles en Nouvelle-Écosse. Cette endroit qui va être savoir comme le Newport Grant était occupé auparavant pour 75 ans par les Acadiens (les colons françaises) qui étaient expulsés par les Britanniques en 1755. Après la Guerre de Sept Ans l’importance de la stratégie de la Nouvelle-Écosse à les intérêts Britanniques ont devenu plus apprécié et en 1759 Gouverneur Lawrence de la Nouvelle-Écosse a distribué une proclamation en la Nouvelle-Angleterre en offrant les terres libres autour de la Minas Basin gratuit aux « planters » un terme Élisabéthain utilisé pour « colons ». L’intention était de remplacer l’influence francophone dans la région avec l’anglophone. La gouvernement a payé la prix du passage de la Nouvelle-Angleterre à la Nouvelle-Écosse qui était fl :5 par personne.                    
 
James, Lydia et leurs enfants Amy, Barzillai, Sarah, Jehu, Allen et Lydia, sont arrivés de commencer une vie en les nouvelles terres avec 8 000 autres familles « Planter » pendant les prochains ans. Leur fille Olive est restée en Rhode Island.  
 
Navire: Lydia
Date: Mai 1760 (départ)
Départant: Newport, Rhode Island, USA
Arrivant: Newport (Hants County), Nouvelle-Écosse  
Maître du Navire: Samuel Toby
Taille: Sloop
Passagers:
Benjamin Borden, total de 3 en famille
Caleb Lake, total de 7 en famille
James Mosher, total de 8 en famille
Henry Tucker, total de 3 en famille
Source: John V. Duncanson, "Newport, Nova Scotia A Rhode Island Township", 1985, p. 16.
 
James Mosher a été envoyer Newport ferme parcelle C 3eme div. No 1. Il était un constructeur de moulins et a construit le premier moulin dans la commune de Newport pour moudre le grain. James était impliqué avec les affaires publiques et les réunions dans cette nouvelle communauté. Il a connu plusieurs autres familles des « Planters » bien avant leur arrivée. Les 13 enfants de James et Lydia quelques-uns vont devenir parti du prochain chapitre qui va devenir l’empire de la construction navale du chantier navale Mosher-Harvie en Newport pendant le 19eme siècle, défini dans la livre par Stanley T. Spicer, « The Age of Sail ». Les pur nombres de descendants, les compétences et les connections familial fortes ont fait cet industrie de Newport extrêmement brillant avec une haute production des vaisseaux pas seulement en la Nouvelle-Écosse mais le Canada globalement.   
       
Les enfants de James et Lydia Mosher nés en la Nouvelle-Angleterre :
Amy – naissait le février 13 1749, Dartmouth, MA, Nouvelle-Angleterre et morte en 1817 Newport, Hants, NE. Mariait Archibald Harvie b1743 (fils de James et Margaret) et avaient 8 enfants. Archibald venait le même temps qu’Amy sur le sloop « Sally ».   
Barzillai – naissait le septembre 9 1751, Dartmouth, MA, Nouvelle-Angleterre. Mariait Margaret Harvie et avait 10 enfants. Barzillai était un commandant de vaisseau et il est mort à la mer en 1836 avec son équipage,  encore travaillant à l’âge de de 85 ans. Son fils non marié, Barzillai né 1772 et était aussi disparu en mer. Il et Margaret avaient 10 enfants.  
Olive – naissait le juillet 19 1753, Dartmouth, MA, Nouvelle-Angleterre et morte le mars 19 1837 en NY, USA. Olive est restée en la Nouvelle-Angleterre et a marié Barnabus Howland, qui était le Capitaine d’un navire de commerce des Indes orientales. Ils avaient 7 enfants.   
Sarah – naissait le mars 10 1754, Dartmouth, MA, Nouvelle-Angleterre. Mariait James Campbell et avait 13 enfants. 
Jehu – naissait 1755, Dartmouth, MA, Nouvelle-Angleterre et est mort le mars 3 1851 Newport NE. Premier mariage à Hannah Greeno (1760-1804) et ils avaient 12 enfants. Son deuxième mariage était à Eleanor Foley (1784-1867) et il avait 10 autres enfants. Jehu était un fermier et son grande force constatée vivant au grand âge de 96. Plusieurs descendants de Jehu et Hannah étaient les pionniers de la construction navale, Jehu Jr qui a servi de père à Silas et Nicholas qui était connait comme Nicholas Sr.     
Lydia – naissait 1756, Dartmouth, MA, Nouvelle-Angleterre. Mariait John Densmore et avait 11 enfants. 
Allen – naissait 1758 Dartmouth, MA, Nouvelle-Angleterre. Mariait Esther Wilcox de Kempt. Il était un propriétaire de terre et un fermier et avait 12 enfants. Cette ligne est connue comme le Kempt NS Moshers.   
 
Les enfants qui étaient nés en Newport, Nouvelle-Écosse :
Deliverance était la première femelle d’être née en Newport NE quand la famille a arrivé en 1760. Elle a marié John Macumber et ils avaient 10 enfants. Elle est morte en 1857 âgé de 98 ans ayant vivre tous sa vie en Newport NE.    
Rhoda – naissait 1762 Newport, NE et morte 1830 en Newport NE. Mariait Simon Ward et ils avaient 10 enfants.
Nicholas – naissait 1766 Newport NE et mort le novembre 13 1832 Mosherville NE. Mariait Polly Greeno et ils avaient 15 enfants. Nicholas était un constructeur (deux ponts, un au-dessus de Cogmagun River et l’autre au-dessus de Kennetcook River) et un constructeur de navires. Il a construit le premier vaisseau en Newport Landing, un sloop qui était lancé en 1807.   
Joseph – naissait le octobre 14 1768 Newport NE et mort l’août 19 1859 à Mosherville, Hants, NE. Mariait Priscilla Rebecca Greeno (1768-1813) en 1788 et ils avaient 10 enfants. Il était un charpentier.     
George – naissait 1771 Newport NE et mort le novembre 22 1844 Avondale NE. Mariait Margaret Thomson et ils avaient 9 enfants. Il était un fermier, charron et charpentier. Ses fils Ira et Nicholas (connu comme Nicholas Jr) étaient parti de l’empire de la construction naval Mosher. Particulièrement car il y avait les mariages continuel de Mosher-Harvie.
Elizabeth – naissait 1774 et morte le juin 28 1852 et enterré dans l’Old St James Cemetery, Newport NE. Mariait James Constantine qui était un professeur et ils avaient 6 enfants.   
 
LES SOURCES:
1  Chronological history of the Mosher family [microform] : from the Seventeenth
   Century to the present date compiled by Mosher, William C. (1820-1908), pub.
   1891 Windsor N.S, Hants Journal Office.
2  The Age of Sail, Master Shipbuilders of the Maritimes by Spicer, Stanley T.
3  The Rhode Island Emigration to Nova Scotia by Huling, Ray Greene A.M. New
    Bedford Mass. Reprinted from the Narragansett Historical Register April 1889.
4  The Coming of the New England Planters to the Annapolis Valley by Longley
    R.S. (Department of History, Arcadia University 1929-64)
5  Newport, a Rhode Island Township in Nova Scotia, by John Duncanson. Mica
   Publ. (1985)
6  Planter Nova Scotia 1760-1815 Newport Township by Gwyn, Julian
7  Windsor, Nova Scotia, A journey into history by Loomer, L.S. Pub. 1996 West
    Hants Historical Society.
 
Contribuer par L. Pigna
[email protected]

Avon River Heritage Centre, 17 Belmont Road, Avondale/Newport Landing, West Hants, Nova Scotia, B0N 2A0
Email us at [email protected]
Telephone us, May through October, at (902) 757-1718

The Avon River Heritage Society would like to thank the Municipality of West Hants and the Province of Nova Scotia for their generous support.

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