Cobequid
Encyclopedia
The old name Cobequid was derived from the Mi'kmaq
word "Wagobagitk" meaning "the bay runs far up", in reference to the area surrounding the easternmost inlet of the Minas Basin
, a body of water called Cobequid Bay
.
Cobequid was granted in 1689 to Mathieu Martin. He was said to be the first Acadian
born in Acadia
.
In 1705, the Acadians first settled in this area near Cobequid Bay. The Acadian culture consisted primarily of farming. Their advanced farming systems of dykes, permitted them to recuperate valuable farmland from the marshlands that cover the entire coast of the community. The community, which is now called Masstown
, is located 10 minutes west of Truro
on Highway 2 or Exit 12 off Highway 104.
In 1714 many inhabitants of Minas, signed to a resolution, dated 9th September, 1714, to go to Cape Breton
. Many came from Cobequid, Grand-Pré
, Riviere des Gasparots (Gaspareaux), Riviere de Pessequid, Riviere des Habitants, and Riviere de la Vieille Habitation.
In August of 1744, a certain Acadian by the name of Duvivier came to Cobequid with supplies from other Acadian villages.did towards the end of August, 1744.
The Cobequid Acadians were close to an Indian mission located where the Stewiacke meets the Shubenacadie; and which had been run, for many years, by Le Loutre. In January of 1750, Le Loutre made an ever closer alliance with his native friends (the sworn allies of the French crown). This meant that the Acadians of Cobequid did not want to get too friendly with the English.
On the second day of September, 1755, the French inhabitants of Cobequid Village, lying on the north side of the bay, were working in their fields because it was harvest time. Three British vessels came into the Bay. Two of them anchored, one opposite the Village, and the other at Lower Cobequid; while the third went further up the shore. On September 4th, they placed a notice on the church,, that read that all their belonging now belong to His Majesty. However, this order had been given by William Shirley
, Governor of Massachusetts and commander-in-chief of North American forces, and not by the British government in London
. This was William Shirley's revenge for the death of his son during Edward Braddock
campaign against the Canadiens in the Ohio Valley. This was the beginning of the Acadian deportation.
Mi'kmaq language
The Mi'kmaq language is an Eastern Algonquian language spoken by nearly 9,100 Mi'kmaq in Canada and the United States out of a total ethnic Mi'kmaq population of roughly 20,000. The word Mi'kmaq is a plural word meaning 'my friends' ; the adjectival form is Míkmaw...
word "Wagobagitk" meaning "the bay runs far up", in reference to the area surrounding the easternmost inlet of the Minas Basin
Minas Basin
The Minas Basin is an inlet of the Bay of Fundy and a sub-basin of the Fundy Basin located in Nova Scotia, Canada. It is known for its extremely high tides.- Geography :- Boundary :...
, a body of water called Cobequid Bay
Cobequid Bay
Cobequid Bay is an inlet of the Bay of Fundy and the easternmost part of the Minas Basin, located in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. The bay was carved by rivers flowing into the eastern end of the Bay of Fundy....
.
Cobequid was granted in 1689 to Mathieu Martin. He was said to be the first Acadian
Acadian
The Acadians are the descendants of the 17th-century French colonists who settled in Acadia . Acadia was a colony of New France...
born in Acadia
Acadia
Acadia was the name given to lands in a portion of the French colonial empire of New France, in northeastern North America that included parts of eastern Quebec, the Maritime provinces, and modern-day Maine. At the end of the 16th century, France claimed territory stretching as far south as...
.
In 1705, the Acadians first settled in this area near Cobequid Bay. The Acadian culture consisted primarily of farming. Their advanced farming systems of dykes, permitted them to recuperate valuable farmland from the marshlands that cover the entire coast of the community. The community, which is now called Masstown
Masstown, Nova Scotia
Masstown is a farming community located approximately 17 kilometers from Truro, Nova Scotia.-Historic background:Masstown has its beginnings with French settlers, known as Acadians. They first settled in this area near the Cobequid Bay in 1705. The Acadian culture consisted primarily of farming...
, is located 10 minutes west of Truro
Truro
Truro is a city and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The city is the centre for administration, leisure and retail in Cornwall, with a population recorded in the 2001 census of 17,431. Truro urban statistical area, which includes parts of surrounding parishes, has a 2001 census...
on Highway 2 or Exit 12 off Highway 104.
In 1714 many inhabitants of Minas, signed to a resolution, dated 9th September, 1714, to go to Cape Breton
Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island is an island on the Atlantic coast of North America. It likely corresponds to the word Breton, the French demonym for Brittany....
. Many came from Cobequid, Grand-Pré
Grand-pre
Grand-Pré National Historic Site is a park set aside to commemorate the Grand-Pré area of Nova Scotia as a centre of Acadian settlement from 1682 to 1755, and the deportation of the Acadians which began in 1755 and continued to 1762...
, Riviere des Gasparots (Gaspareaux), Riviere de Pessequid, Riviere des Habitants, and Riviere de la Vieille Habitation.
In August of 1744, a certain Acadian by the name of Duvivier came to Cobequid with supplies from other Acadian villages.did towards the end of August, 1744.
The Cobequid Acadians were close to an Indian mission located where the Stewiacke meets the Shubenacadie; and which had been run, for many years, by Le Loutre. In January of 1750, Le Loutre made an ever closer alliance with his native friends (the sworn allies of the French crown). This meant that the Acadians of Cobequid did not want to get too friendly with the English.
On the second day of September, 1755, the French inhabitants of Cobequid Village, lying on the north side of the bay, were working in their fields because it was harvest time. Three British vessels came into the Bay. Two of them anchored, one opposite the Village, and the other at Lower Cobequid; while the third went further up the shore. On September 4th, they placed a notice on the church,, that read that all their belonging now belong to His Majesty. However, this order had been given by William Shirley
William Shirley
William Shirley was a British colonial administrator who served twice as Governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay and as Governor of the Bahamas in the 1760s...
, Governor of Massachusetts and commander-in-chief of North American forces, and not by the British government in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. This was William Shirley's revenge for the death of his son during Edward Braddock
Edward Braddock
General Edward Braddock was a British soldier and commander-in-chief for the 13 colonies during the actions at the start of the French and Indian War...
campaign against the Canadiens in the Ohio Valley. This was the beginning of the Acadian deportation.