I know it is really hard to make out the words on the bell, even if you click on the image and try to read it that way. You'll just have to trust me when I tell you that this is one of the grave markers for Charles Ramage Prescott, one of the fathers of the apple industry in Nova Scotia. His home is a museum run by the province.
After I took the image of my parents' home this morning I drove the short distance to this cemetary where Prescott is buried. He was a member of this church; upon his death, they took the bell from the church and used it to help mark his grave. The church continues to have a lovely piece of stained glass about Mr. Prescott.
I have been visiting the Prescott House museum
and the surrounding gardens for over 30 years. I'd wile away many a summer afternoon there back in my pre-teen and early teen days, wandering around the gardens, pretending to be the lord of the manor lolling about his estate. Eventually, I began taking Patricia there, and she fell in love with the place, too.Charles Prescott lived to be 87 years old back in a time when living to that age was unusual. I think he was married more than once. He was a businessman in Halifax before retiring at the age of 40 and moving to the Annapolis Valley. He was an MLA representing that part of the province. He developed many varieties of apples still used today (like the Gravenstein and the Spy, while many others are seldom seen or eaten nowadays). He seemed like an interesting guy who lived a long life and to whom much happened. Yet, nobody has bothered to research this man's life and write a book about him. I have often wondered why. I think his would be an interesting story to read about.
An additional clue: If you read the grave stone for Charles Prescott, you'll notice the honourific "The Honourable". This is usually reserved for folks who were not just elected as MLA's in Nova Scotia, but who became ministers of the crown, or a member of the provincial Executive Council. What was Charles Prescott minister of, more than 150 years ago?
Maybe I should spend a day or two at the provincial archives...Bevboy
6 comments:
Hey Bev! This entry is really interesting! I knew Charles Prescott was one of the founder's of apples in the valley - however, i did not know too much else about him.
And he is one of my ancestors!
~Margaret
Thanks for writing, Margaret. I am glad that people are discovering this blog. I write about a lot of things.
May I ask what part of the world you are in? And how was Charles Prescott an ancestor? Whose side of the family?
A good friend's grandmother worked for the Prescott sisters in the 1950's and 1960's, before the house was deeded over to the province. They are all long dead, but the grandmother is buried in the same cemetary as Charles Prescott!
Mr. Prescott must have been a fascinating man. It is deeply unfortunate that his life story has never been told in any detail.
Check out the website for the Prescott house museum at:
http://museum.gov.ns.ca/prh/
Bevboy
I'm not exactly sure how it goes, but one of his subsequent wives is a direct descendant to me through my Mother's side of the family. My Mom is a Whidden from Wolfville. At the house she grew up in (and the family farm) there was a beautiful stain glass window of an apple tree which was a gift to Charles Prescott.
I'd have to ask my parents again what the story is - or my aunt and uncle may remember more.
~Margaret
May I ask what part of the world you are writing from?
Bev
Halifax :P
Cool. Speak to your relatives and update the comment about Mr. Prescott.
Bev
Post a Comment