The Diary of Simeon Perkins

THE DIARY OF SIMEON PERKINS
(Extracts)

By Muriel M. Farquhar Davidson   The following “Extracts” are a  combination of  research by Lt.Col. Robert Ford Kirkpatrick, USAF (Ret’d)  with  1992  research  by  above writer. The original entries will be marked by  **  preceding the date and form of writing has been matched to the diary and original copy.    The  genealogical  data  in  THE DIARY OF SIMEON  PERKINS  is  very valuable, contains much of the history of the  Proprietors who founded the  Township of  Liverpool,  Nova  Scotia in 1759.  Readers  will  be familiar with many of the surnames listed in the  entries, descendants of the first  families  of the Township of Liverpool  and nearby areas still reside there, but often the surname spelling has changed.
   The original books,  contained in  Volumes I (1766-1780), II (1780-1789), III (1790-1796), IV (1797-1803) and V (1804-1812), list many of the schooners and other forms of shipping  plus extensive data of weather, tides, encountered hardships and a verbal  picture of life in the early days as found  by the Proprietors of the Township of Liverpool. Readers are grateful these records were kept. 

You can find the full volumes online through the links above, or search for these and other historical documents at The Champlain Society’s Digital Collection.

 

3 Comments:

  1. I am looking for any information about Capt John tardy which is named in his diary

  2. Where can I find this quotation from the Perkins diary. I believe it was in 1779
    November 18th, Thu: The fleet came in about one of the Clock, past the Harbour, Sloop Howe, Brig Snake, Sloop Annapolis, Schooner Racket, all armed vessels. BRIG. CAPTAIN TARDY , Sloop General Mclean, & Schooner Capt. Brown, our vessels, except Peter Collins. All get in. … about 2 or 3 o’clock, a constant firing of cannon is heard at Portmatoon. Suppose the fleet is engaged. The sound of the guns appears to move westward.” (Perkins Diary.)

    • Hi Kathleen! The date listed is correct. You can find the full entry for that date here. The diary entry is as follows:

      Thursday, Nov. 18th,- Wind N.N.E., & snows a Little, in the morning. about noon James Knowles Arrives from Halifax. reports that a Shallop was taken on Sunday night, Near the Light House, Supposed to be Snow Parker. the Fleet came in sight about one of the Clock, pass the Harbour, Sloop Howe, Brig Snake, Sloop Annapolis, Schooner Racket, all Armed Vessels. Brig, Capt. Tardy, Sloop General McLean, & Schooner Capt. Brown, our Vessels, except Peter Collins, all git in. Mr. Cochran’s Brign., Capt. Rowe, Arrives for me to load. I Receive Letters and Invoice of Goods from Mr. Cochran, to Amount of more than £500. about 2 or 3 o’clock, a Constant firing of Cannon is heard at Portmatoon. Suppose the Fleet is Engaged. the Sound of the Guns Appears to move Westward.

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