This cache is placed beside the final resting place for Abner & Anna Morse, which is a Provincial Historic Site. Abner & Anna were some of the earliest New England Planters who responded to the invitations by the then lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia, Charles Lawrence, to settle lands left vacant by the Acadian Expulsion of 1755. Eight thousand Planters, largely farmers and fishermen, arrived from 1759 to 1768 to take up the offer. The term ‘Planters’ means colonists or settlers. The farmers settled mainly on the rich farmland of the Annapolis Valley and the southern counties of New Brunswick. The Planters were the first major group of English-speaking immigrants in Canada who did not come directly from Great Britain and were mostly Protestant Congregationalists. The Planters laid the foundations of a large number of the present day communities of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick and their political and religious traditions had important influences on the culture of the region.
Across the road from the cache is the original home of Abner and Anna Morse. The current owners are aware of this cache placement and will be watching the caching activity with interest. The cache is not placed inside the graveyard but you are encouraged to check out some of the old tombstones and commemorative plaque always remembering to be respectful of the location. Parking available off the road in the cemetery driveway.
To learn more about the Planters check out http://ns1763.ca/kingsco/plantermon.html.
Another point of interest at this location is the unique Tree providing shade over the Morse graveyard. It is a Honey Locust tree, which is native to the central eastern region of the USA, however thrives outside its native area. These make good shade trees and were probably brought here by the Planters from their home in the USA.
What makes this tree unique, in my opinion, is the clusters of long thorns growing form various locations over the tree. It is known for its hazardous thorns that are usually 4 to 8 inches long. These hard thorns have been used, in the past, as nails. Not a tree for climbing without protective clothing that is for sure.
The life span of the honey locust tree is about 125 years and grows to an average height of 70 to 80 feet. The bark is a gray or brown color with the thorns sticking out of it in clusters. The tree has long compound leaves with small leaflets that give the foliage a lacy effect. It has clusters of hanging, fragrant white flowers with a light shade of yellow in the lower center of each petal. There are thin, smooth seed pods that hang from the flowers. The seed pods grow to a length of 12 to 14 inches with a sweet, edible pulp and can be eaten by livestock and wildlife. In fall the leaves turn from bright green to yellow.
I’d be interested in knowing where anyone has seen this type of tree before in Nova Scotia so add it to your log.