ANNAPOLIS COUNTY, N.S.

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The first monument placed in Nova Scotia to United Empire Loyalists is a cairn with a plaque located in Annapolis County at MacDonald Park in  Middleton . It was erected in 1965 to the memory of United Empire Loyalists who settled in the area including Timothy Ruggles, Samuel Vetch Bayard, and Thomas H. Barclay,

United Empire Loyalist Cairn

Annapolis County also contains four of the oldest wooden churches in Canada which were built by United Empire Loyalists under the supervision of Bishop Charles Inglis, UE. These are:Old Holy Trinity, begun in 1789 at Middleton, Old St. Edward's, completed in 1795 at Clementsport, and Christ Church, started in 1790, at Karsdale.  A fourth nearby is St. Mary's Church, constructed in 1789 at Auburn, King’s County.

In the town of Annapolis Royal can be viewed several homes constructed or occupied by United Empire Loyalists. On Saint George Street is Bailey House , named after Elizabeth "Marm" Bailey, daughter-in-law of Loyalist Reverend Jacob Bailey,  The de Gannes - Cosby House was occupied at times by Loyalist de Lancey and Barclay families.  Col. Stephen de Lancey gave a reception here in 1794 for H.R..H. Duke of Kent.   It is a  national historic site dating back to the Acadian period. There is also the Ritchie House , former home of John Ritchie at 200 St. George Street who was Captain of Militia in 1781 during a raid by American Privateers when he was taken prisoner. The Runciman House was built in 1817 for Rev. John Milledge, Rector of St. Lukes Anglican Church.  He was the son of Loyalist Major Thomas Milledge (1735 - 1816) who served with the NJ Volunteers and died nearby at Granville.

At  Fort Anne the 84th Regiment had members stationed during the American Revolution. During this time a blockhouse was built. 

Blockhouse at Fort Anne built by 84th Regiment

Nearby in the Garrison Graveyard are gravestones for United Empire Loyalists including Reverend Jacob Bailey and his wife Sarah, Captain Jesse Hoyt, and John Lichtenstein, as well as a monument to Black Loyalist Rose Fortune.

In the area surrounding the town of Annapolis Royal are other burial places of United Empire Loyalists including the Gesner Cemetery ,and the De Lancey Burial Ground . 



Further Reading:

Old Holy Trinity Church & the Loyalists by Brian McConnell, UE

Old St. Edward's Church & the Loyalists by Brian McConnell, UE

The 1781 American Raid on Annapolis Royal by Brian McConnell, UE

The First Church: Old Holy Trinity in Middleton, N.S. by Brian McConnell, UE


Historian & Author, Member of United Empire Loyalists ' Association of Canada

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