Garrison Cemetery (Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia) facts for kids

Garrison Cemetery is a special old burial ground located at Fort Anne in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia. It's right next to the old Court House, where George Street and Nova Scotia Trunk 1 meet. This cemetery has a long history, being used by different groups of people over many years.

A Look Back in Time

This cemetery started as a place for French soldiers to be buried. Over time, it became a burial ground for many different groups. These included the Acadian people, who were early French settlers in the area. Later, British soldiers and people from the St. Lukes church also used it.

The oldest gravestone still standing is from 1720. It belongs to Bethiah Douglass, who passed away on October 1, 1720, when she was 37 years old. This marker is very important because it's the oldest English gravestone found in all of Canada!

Many interesting people are buried here. One famous person is Rose Fortune (1774–1864). She was a Black Loyalist, which means she was a Black person loyal to the British during the American Revolution. Rose Fortune became the first female police officer in what is now Canada! Also buried here is Andrew Henderson (1797–1869). He was a very important teacher who helped many students learn.

Two Cemeteries in One

Did you know there are actually two cemeteries within this burial ground? The first was an Acadian parish cemetery. This is where Acadians, French soldiers, and their families from Port-Royal were buried. There are no original signs of this older cemetery left today.

When the British took control of the fort in 1710, they started their own cemetery here. This burial ground was used by the soldiers stationed at the fort and the people living in Annapolis Royal. It was used from 1710 all the way until 1940. Most of the old wooden markers that were once on the graves have disappeared over time. So, the gravestones you see today are only a small part of all the people buried here.

Famous People Buried Here

Many notable people are buried at Garrison Cemetery. Here are a few of them:

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  Rose Fortune, Canada's first female police officer.

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  Thomas Wood (reverend), the first minister in Annapolis.

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  Rev. Jacob Bailey, a well-known writer.

• Andrew Henderson – A pioneering educator who taught many students.
• John Robertson (Nova Scotia politician) – A politician who served in Nova Scotia's government.
• William Robertson (Nova Scotia) – Another important figure in Nova Scotia.
• John Ritchie (merchant) – A successful merchant in the area.
• John Bernard Gilpin – Son of William Gilpin (priest), buried with his family.
• Peleg Wiswall – An important person in the community's history.