Monastery

About

First settlers to this region were Black Loyalists. In 1787, Thomas Brownspriggs and 74 other Black Loyalist families were granted 3,000 acres of land in what is known today as East Tracadie, Antigonish County.

This land grant, one of the earliest and largest parcels of land actually granted to Nova Scotia’s Black settlers, lies on the east side of (Big) Tracadie Harbour near an area also settled by Acadians. Make your way to Barrio Beach and look upon the waters of St. George’s Bay where some of the people fished to maintain a livelihood.

Along the East Tracadie Road you can turn onto a small road that leads to Little Tracadie, present-day Linwood, another area where “People of Colour” were settled. Coming out of East Tracadie, cross into the rolling countryside of Rear Monastery.

This region, and cross-country to Guysborough on the Marine Drive, is well known for producing good fiddlers, like Joe Izzard and George Reddick, who crafted his own fiddle and played for the Queen. Joe Izzard’s fiddle is on display at the Black Cultural Centre.

Source:
African Nova Scotian Tourism Guide
Historical Black Settlements in Nova Scotia (Google Map)

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