On the Way to Cape Breton

Not too many years ago, Nova Scotians who went away to work had two destinations: Upper Canada or the Boston States. As testimony, many Nova Scotians have branches of their family tree extending to the Boston area and beyond.

Besides the deep family roots, those who live on Canada's East Coast have a broader kinship with the New England states, born of centuries of following the same sea routes, fighting the same battles, and fishing the same waters. The Bostonians were among the first to come to our aid during the Halifax Explosion in l917, and it is the Bostonians we say thanks to each year with the gift of a huge Nova Scotia Christmas tree.

According to an interview aired recently on CBC's Radio One 'Maritime Noon', the town will place 10 bronze plaques around the "Man at the Wheel", Gloucester's monument to those who make their living on the ocean. The plaques, mounted on granite boulders, will be engraved with the names of some 5,000 men who lost their lives on ships that sailed out of Gloucester beginning in 1623. Some 1700 of the names are of Maritimers, with over 1200 being from Nova Scotia.

5,000 men have lost their lives on ships that sailed out of Gloucester since 1623. Some 1700 of the names are of Maritimers, with over 1200 being from Nova Scotia.

This summer, another Massachusetts town, will honor those who go 'down to the sea'. Gloucester, America's oldest seaport is a Portuguese settled port that prides itself on its culture and coastal heritage. Its famous memorial "Man At The Wheel" has looked homeward for decades, in honour of those who never returned. This summer, Gloucester will dedicate 10 bronze plaques bearing the names of all the fishers lost at sea.

If your Newfoundland or Nova Scotian family lost loved ones who fished out of Gloucester over the last couple of centuries, you may want to check out the website to insure they are included on the Gloucester Cenetaph. A list of names gathered by the researchers of the Fishermen's Memorial Committee, as well as contact information for edits or inclusions can be found online.

Thanks for the tip to Lois Jenkins, an active member of the Nova Scotia Genweb list server.
Your comments on this, or any other Highway7.com article are welcome.

 Related Features

Resources for further reading:

Shipwrecks in Nova Scotia
Genealogy Resources
Maritime Museum of the Atlantic

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