CONCLUSION
Examination of the
post 1758 history of "Old Town" Louisbourg reveals a pattern of decline. During
the English occupation (up to 1768) the population seemed fairly steady, at around 500.
Following the departure of the garrison, the population dropped sharply to around 25
families in August 1768, and by 1774 it was estimated at 19 families. By 1784, with four
of the former French buildings left standing, the population was at a very low ebb indeed.
Although the Associated Loyalists wintered there in 1784-85, the state of the site was
such as to discourage any settlement, resulting in an exodus in the spring to Sydney,
which DesBarres made the capital of Cape Breton. Following this move, Louisbourg was
destined to remain a forlorn, petty fishing establishment. Hereafter, the population
rarely exceeded the seven or eight families reported there in 1785. Most were of Irish
descent and of the Roman Catholic or Anglican religious sect. In 1788, 16 men, 9 women, 26
children were reported at Louisbourg; in 1805, four families were said to be in the town
and fourteen in the town and vicinity. By 1809 the town was divided among four or five
people. Eight, nine or ten Irish families [representations varied] were designated as
being there [in the Louisbourg area] in 1815, although Peter (Pierce) Kennedy was the only
owner said to have a house in the city confines itself. The 1818 census and land documents
would suggest that there were about six or seven inhabitants (some with families) at Old
Town. In 1825, two houses, one of which belonged to Dennis Kennedy, were referred to by a
visitor of that year. Occupation in the 1820's, 1830's and 1840's was particularly low. In
1849 the site was occupied by only a "half dozen poor fishermen".
Those occupying land
there were forced to build their own meager dwellings and outbuildings as the old French
buildings had fallen into ruin and to the prey of those wishing stone and brick for
building purposes. By the 1860's only six or seven families of poor fishermen were in
possession of the fortress lands. The names most prominent were the Kennedies, Kehoes,
Prices, Slatteries, Cryers, Powers and Kellies. Although the 1870's, 80's and 90's saw
many land transactions, actual population did not greatly increase. The land continued in
the possession of eight or nine fishermen-farmers (for the most part) until the early
1900's when the Cape Breton Railway acquired approximately 69 of the 93 acres making up
the site. Not many more than a half dozen ever occupied the site hereafter, and those who
did were obliged to eke out a living from the sea and with the aid of their scanty
livestock that grazed among the ruins.
A brief restoration
scheme begun by D.J. Kennelly in 1903 petered out with his death in 1912, and it was not
until 1921 that the Dominion Government began considering the Old Fortress as a likely
site of historical interest. With the acquisition (by 1929) of the railway lands, the
Kennelly and Colonial Society lots, and the lands of the seven or so inhabitants,
restoration began on the site cleared of most of the former inhabitants' buildings. As a
result the feeble remains of Old Town settlement were terminated by 1930.
REASONS
FOR DECLINE
This pattern of
decline can be better understood when one considers all the factors involved.
Following their
capture of Louisbourg, the English completely destroyed the fortifications of that once
great fortress, and with the they walls destroyed the very essence of that city's
existence. Louisbourg was built by the French as a fortress because of its location and
the city that developed there was governed by this fact. Certainly the ninety odd acres
had few other advantages to justify its existence as a population center. The area was not
a fertile one. The soil was swampy, barren, and rocky, and the weather cold, damp and
foggy. The only natural advantages lay in its fishing wealth and the coal deposits nearby.
Of course, Louisbourg had a good harbour, but the area and its barren state would not have
led to the development of a city unless there were some more potent reason for its
existence. With the development of Halifax and the destruction of Louisbourg as a military
stronghold, the city was doomed in its attempt to maintain a considerable population.
Other than the
natural disadvantages, there were some more powerful that forced Louisbourg into
obscurity. These forces lay rooted in the attitude of the Imperial Government. Although
the British government expressed its desire to see the encouragement of the fishery at
Louisbourg, it did little to encourage a population to invest in the Louisbourg fisheries.
It must be remembered that the British government wished to reduce the possibility and
incentive, as far as possible, for another French takeover of Louisbourg. What better way
was there than to subtly allow the city to fall into decay? For these reasons (in the
beginning anyway) it would seem that the government discouraged settlement at the fortress
site, and in the rest of Cape Breton as well, by disallowing grants of land to those
interested tradesmen and settlers desiring to purchase land there. Of course, acceptable
justifications for their policy were always advanced. The need to protect the fishery,
timber, and coal industry from exploitation and the need for a thorough land survey were
the usual reasons given for prohibiting land grants. Actually, there was a great deal of
truth to these reasons, but the restrictive policy pursued did more to protect the British
home interests than it aided in the development of Cape Breton. Substantial rent charges
on the remaining buildings at Louisbourg, considerable excise and import duties, lack of
representation in the Assembly all did little to encourage settlement. Although the rent
charges were later discontinued, this move was long overdue and gave no assurance that the
charges would not be again imposed. The departure of the garrison in 1768 removed any
sense of security for most of the inhabitants. As a result, by September 1786, the
population had been reduced considerably. Even after the Holland survey, land still was
not granted. Although Cape Breton operated under its own council from 1784 to 1821, land
at Old Town does not seem to have been granted - although certain other areas of Cape
Breton were granted intermittently during this period. The governing council and its
lieutenant governors did little to help the Island or Louisbourg attract a
thrifty and
industrious population. Despite instructions to issue grants, the greed of the Sydney
officials led to abuses. Because of the greater financial reward to high officials,
licences of occupation were issued to a greater extent then were land grants. When grants were
issued, they tended to be extremely large and detrimental to the best interests of the
colony. Constant dissention and bickering between DesBarres (the first
lieutenant-governor) and his council also led the inhabitants of the Island to regard the
government administration with disgust and dismay. Of course, this intolerable situation
affected not only those already located on the Island, causing many to leave, but
outsiders who, hearing of the corrupt and unstable character of the governing body,
abandoned any attempt to settle there. Except for the capable Macarmick, the
lieutenant-governors did not improve nor did their councils. Furthermore, the Imperial
Government's policy still continued to be vague and fickle in nature, changing with the
mood of the government. Land grants were forbidden in 1790. The reason given was that
"consideration had to be given to the advantage ... of some farther Regulations to be
observed in the Disposal of the ... lands". (P.A.N.S., Vol. 333, Doc. 76, Additional
Instructions, St. James's court to Dorchester, 6 March 1790). It was likely that the
Imperial Government wanted to safeguard their interests as they feared increased
emigration from the British Isles to the colonies in America. (The first part of the 19th
century did witness an increased flow). Grants were apparently continued again in 1807,
and discontinued again in 1811 for no apparent good reasons except government disinterest
and indecision. Needless to say, the period 1784-1821, when the Island had its separate
government administration, was not one which brought population growth or thriving
economic and commercial conditions to Louisbourg.
It is interesting to
note that, with the exception of the Cuyler grant of 1786, Louisbourg was not issued by
grant until 1880; instead, licences of occupation and leases were submitted. Following
1821, land in Cape Breton was available from the Crown for a price. This method of
disposal of Cape Breton lands was criticized because of the inability of most of the
possessors to make the designated payments. As a result, Louisbourg, in 1830, was ordered
to be issued only by licences of occupation. This insecure form of tenure did not
encourage settlement and by the time this decree was reversed and grants allowed, there
was little left of the Old Town to revive.
The occupants of Old
Town, themselves, also provided a hindrance to greater settlement. Men such as the
Kennedy's, Kehoe's, Cryer's and Slatteries received licences of occupation for large
portions of the Old Town; as a result, the Old Town fell into the hands of five or six
families. The fishing industry might have developed had lots issued by licence been
smaller - allowing for a larger fishing establishment. The recommendations favouring these
smaller lots were not, however, carried out, and Louisbourg (Old Town) continued as a site
of a few thriftless and struggling fishing folk, who supplemented their fishing incomes
through raising a few sheep, cattle and swine, and the sale of the bricks and relics they
unearthed from the rubble of the fortress.
Even after the
population of Cape Breton as a whole began to increase substantially, the Old Town of
Louisbourg languished, rejected by industry and commerce. A village across the harbour,
along the North and Northeastern shore of Louisbourg Harbour, began to emerge slowly by
1827, and by 1864 was the nucleus of a good sized community. The better land encouraged
more settlement, and by 1902 the community was of sufficient size to allow its
incorporation into a town. The end of habitation at Old Town occurred finally in 1929 when
the Dominion Government purchased the last of the site's lots from a long-time resident,
Caroline Kennedy, a descendant of those 1772 occupants.
It would appear then
that not only natural disadvantages, but an indecisive and crippling policy of withholding
grants of land on the part of the Imperial authorities doomed the historic city to its
inglorious death.
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