| Notes |
- Regarding Rebecca getting from Parrsboro to Windsor:
"the native Mi'kmaq gave Parrsboro its first name, "Awokum" meaning a crossing over point. Early settlers followed the Mi'kmaq example and established trails along the route, as well as, establishing a regular ferry service across the Basin... Even as late as 1840, the only real highway in the Province led from Amherst to Parrsboro, bridged the Basin by ferry to Windsor and then on to Halifax."
Also: There was a packet ship that began a regular crossing in 1831 from Parrsboro to Windsor and Horton: An ad in the Acadian Recorder, May 7, 1831 states "Parrsborough Packet - The superior new and fast sailing schooner Amethyst, of 98 tons burthen, has commenced plying for the season between Parrsborough, Windsor and Horton. This vessel having been expressly built for the purpose and fitted up in a superior style, affords accommodation for passengers, horses, carriages, great, cattle, etc., to all of which every requisite attention will be paid. Days of sailing as usual vis: Leaves Parrsborough for Windsor on Monday and returns on Tuesday; Leaves Parrsborough again for Horton on Thursday and returns on Friday. In extreme cases the Amethyst will perform an additional trip. For freight or passage please apply to the master on board or go to Ratchford & Dewolf."
See also my note on her mother Mary Scott regarding Asa Scott operating this ferry.
1838 Windsor Census, listed as:
BERRY, Rebecca with 1 child under 6 (this would be Mary) and 1 child age 6-14 (this would be Matilda). The location of the names on this census, puts Rebecca near the junction of The Windsor Road and the Halifax Road, where there was an inn/tavern, at Newport Corner.
A book called "Western & Eastern Rambles-Travel Sketches of Nova Scotia" by Joseph Howe (ed by M G Parks 1973) tells of travels on the Halifax-Windsor road and there is excellent documentation in Parks introduction on early roads and inns quoting from pg 63 - which are from Parks footnotes not Howe's original writing.
"Terfry's Inn was 35 miles from Halifax, and 10 miles from Windsor. As it marked the end of the second or middle stage to Windsor, Howe had time for a short stroll while the horses were being changed. The inn stood at Newport Corner, the junction of the Windsor road and the road to Newport Landing. It was built soon after 1820 and was run by Terfry (or Trefry) from 1825 to 1837. Other owners kept it as an inn until about 1864, several years after the railway had brought an end to the coach service on this route. The inn was a long, low structure of one and a half storeys, 45 feet by 35 feet, with dormer windows set in a pitched roof. It contained nineteen rooms. Photographs of this inn, which were taken before it was demolished in 1917, are in the Public Archives of Nova Scotia."
I believe the owner of the inn at the time Rebecca lived there was a Fitzmaurice and/or Dunkerton.
It is uncertain how long before the 1838 census she moved from Parrsboro to Windsor because her daughter Matilda gives her place of birth as 'Cumberland' in the 1911 census, but Matilda's death record says she was born in 'Newport'. If the 1911 census is correct, then Rebecca was still in Parrsboro in 1828.
Rebecca was 50 years old at the time of her marriage to James Coombes and had 2 daughters (from previous marriage or out of wedlock?). They had no children together.
Note: James Cochran of Windsor, Hants County, farmer, also signed bond. Licence directed to Rev. John L. Murdoch at Windsor. Eliza A. Underwood witnessed signatures. (James Cochran and Eliza Underwood both lived in the St. Croix area)
1871 Census: There is a transcription error on the last name in this census. It is listed as 'COONILUS'... it should be COOMBES. She is living with her daughter Matilda. F 70 WINDSOR l2 186 208
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1798 - Bef 1881 (< 82 years)