THE ADMIRAL DIGBY MUSEUM
The Loyalist connection of the Admiral Digby Museum in Digby. Nova Scotia is clear. It was named after Admiral Sir Robert Digby, appointed in 1781 the British Commander - in - Chief of the North American Station of the Royal Navy in New York. He oversaw in 1783 the evacuation of 1,330 Loyalist refugees from New York at the end of the American Revolution to settle the place in Nova Scotia that named itself after him.
Charles Coulbourn is marked on the 1785 Plan of Digby as occupying lots 2 and 3 in Block P. These lots are shown as located on Montague Street, now known as Montague Row. The map indicates 35 blocks and 460 lots. The location of the building in which the Admiral Digby Museum is now located would have been on lot 2.
Admiral Digby Museum
The Admiral Digby Museum has items and artifacts on display as well as an archives for research purposes. When earlier this month I was elected President of the Admiral Digby Library & Historical Society which operates the Admiral Digby Museum, I decided to learn more about the history of the property and if there were other Loyalist connections to the building and the property on which it sits.
On an Plan of Survey of the Town of Digby in 1785, lots of land are marked and the names of the occupiers. It indicates that Charles Coulbourn held lands including a lot now occupied by the Admiral Digby Museum.
1785 Plan of Town of Digby
By Deed dated 1 May 1805, Coulbourn conveyed lots 2 and 3 to Robert Robinson. The price paid was 310 pounds and also on the Deed stated it included all houses. Coulbourn and Robinson arrived in Digby as Loyalists who had served the British Crown during the American Revolution. Both were officers in the Loyal American Regiment and originally from Virginia. Deborah Coulbourn, daughter of Charles, married Robert Robinson.
1805 Deed between two Loyalists
In more recent times, the present building occupied by the Admiral Digby Museum has been associated with the Woodrow and Dakin families who lived there from the 19th century when it was built. It replaced whatever houses were on the lot which had been constructed by the Loyalists.
The 1891 census of Digby has four persons occupying the building as a home. These were: Jane H. Dakin , age 59, head of household; Archibald Dakin, age 29, son; Eugenia Woodrow, age 35, daughter; and James A. Dakin. age 14, grandson. Jane Dakin was the widow of Edward Dakin, a Loyalist descendant. Her maiden name was Bent. Eugenia Woodrow married Albert James Woodrow in Digby at the Baptist Church in 1875. He was born in Saint John, New Brunswick and his father, James Woodrow, had come there from Ireland. Dakin is a surname in Digby County associated with the Loyalists. Thomas Dakin (1747 - 1828), native of Dutchess County, New York, settled in Digby County at Centreville as a United Empire Loyalist.
Eugenia Woodrow lived in the house until her death in 1929. She was buried at Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA in Mount Auburn Cemetery. Her son James A.S. Woodrow was a druggist in Cambridge and she conveyed the property to him by Deed dated in 1922, however, it was not recorded until after her death.
The property was purchased in 1968 by the Digby Library Association from Winnifred B. Woodrow, widow of James A.S. Woodrow. It deeded it to the current owner, the Admiral Digby Library & Historical Society, in 1977.
Further Reference:
How the Loyalists named Digby by Brian McConnell, UE, published by the Town of Digby, accessed June 22, 2026
Thomas Dakin, UEL , proven United Empire Loyalist as listed in Loyalist Directory of UELAC, accessed June 22, 2026
Admiral Digby Museum website of museum, accessed June 22, 2026
