Major Milestones
To learn more about the history of the settlement and development of the cemetery, please see this article the on anniversary of the Onslow Island Cemetery. There is also more historical information of interest in the 250th Anniversary section.
Major Milestones (1763-2013) of the Onslow Cemetery
At a public meeting of the Township of Onslow it was voted to set aside the east side of the Island in the Upper Marsh as a Burying Ground.
The following were compiled from the Annual Meetings by Bonnie Waddell.
1765
Miss Mary McNutt, infant daughter of Wm. And Eliz. McNutt was the first to be buried in the Onslow Burying Ground. (Onslow Book of Records 9 June 1765)
1853
“Act Relating to the Onslow Burial Ground” describes who would have access, allowed for the appointment of Trustees, instructed them as to their duties and authorized the Township to collect an assessment for maintenance and improvements to the cemetery.
1763
1874
A.F. Church completed a survey and map of Colchester County, the first to show the Onslow Cemetery near the Presbyterian and Baptist Churches. *At that time, the immediate area was known under the name of Queen’s Village
1876
Township of Onslow recorded payment to the Trustees for clearing, fencing (rails, lime and white wash), road repair and the first survey, “laying it off in blocks, sections, and making a plan of same.”
1901
“Act to Incorporate the Trustees of the Onslow Cemetery Company”. Charles Hill, James Lorraine and Silas C. Morrison, all farmers, all of Onslow were the first Trustees.
1924
The annual meeting voted “a space to be staked off to bury any person belonging to the District and dying in the County Asylum, same not having any relatives to claim the deceased.”
1938
NS Department of Natural Resources completed an aerial survey (photo) of marsh, incl. the old roads surrounding the island cemetery.
1958
The dykes on the Onslow Marsh were rebuilt by the Department of Agriculture. Survey and work plan marked cemetery, its entrance road and remnants of Acadian or Planter dykes.
1986
Cemetery registered as a Charitable non-profit company by Revenue Canada, Charities Division, to issue income tax receipts.
2013
The 1901 “Act Incorporating the Onslow Cemetery Company” was amended so that lot holders, rather than the Governor in Council of the NS Legislative Assembly, approve changes to the by-laws.