Selma is a small community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in The Municipality of the District of East Hants in Hants County.
Acadians
The LeJeune Family lived in Selma prior to the Acadian Exodus from the area in 1750 during Father Le Loutre's War. According to Captain Matthew Floyer, Selma had four dwellings and a mill. The field beside the Selma Brook was named "La Pree a Breard".
Selma may have been named Village Robere as referenced by Charles Morris, which would mean that the Robert Henry Family also lived in the village. The Ile St. Jean census date of 1752 suggest that the Henry family married many of those in the Pitre family. The Pitre Family were in the neighbouring community of Maitland, Nova Scotia.
Alternatively, however, there is evidence to suggest that Vil Robere may have been East Noel (present day Densmore Mills, Nova Scotia).
Major Small and the 84th Highland Regiment
After the American Revolution Selma was settled by loyalists soldiers who fought for the British. Major-General John Small received the land at Selma from Malachy Salter. Oral history stated that Small built a manor house in the area which he named Selma Hall, after which the community is named.
Ship Building (1860–1885)
During the second half of the nineteenth century, shipbuilding and supporting sub-trades were the mainstay of the economy on this small and bustling hamlet.
At the mouth of Selmah Creek lay the site of three shipyards. The largest of these was owned by Alexander A. McDougall. From this shipyard 19 barques were built and launched. A. A. McDougall set up the first steam timber mill replacing the man-powered saw pit at his yard.
Next to the McDougall yard was that of (David) Pratt & Cox.
Beyond the Pratt shipyard was that of George Oxley Smith and his son, McCully Smith. George Oxley Smith was also a Justice of the Peace sitting in judgement on various disturbances, timber contracts and other legal matters.
Ships built in Selmah (1862-1885)
Lily 1862
Craigdownie 1863
Jessie 1863
D.B.R. 1864
Wanderer 1864
Mary 1865
June Ure 1866
Scotia Queen 1867
Bina 1868
Maggie Brown 1869
Minnie Graham 1870
Maitland 1871
Eliza Campbell 1871
Jane Campbell 1872
Cupid 1872
Tranmere 1872
Lotus 1872
Lady Vere de Vere 1873
Disco 1873
Isabelle Ure 1874
Francois Herbert 1874
Silas Curtis 1874
Margaret Mitchell 1875
Norman 1876
Margaret Craig 1878
Ada Brown 1879
Delhana 1880
Minnie Brown 1881
Chistina 1882
Craigie Burn 1885
References
External links
Elizabeth Frame. History of Selma, Nova Scotia (1853) Selma on Destination Nova Scotia