Worthy (Eigg Mountain Settlement History)

 

William H. Worthy, born in England and making his living in Halifax as a merchant was granted land on Maple Ridge in 1816 (G_F_137).  In his petition he claims that his intention is to settle.  Why a merchant, who could read and write, had five children and 3 servants would want to be a subsistence farmer in the wilds of Sydney County is unclear.  His grant (500 acres) is also too large for a farm.  If he did try to settle he did not stay long enough to appear in the 1838 county census.  His name is still on the grant in the 1912(?) Plan B-11-1, long after he would have died.  There is no record of him having sold the land.