From seamster to shopkeeper : examining occupational mobility in Shelburne, Nova Scotia, 1783-1795

Abstract

This thesis examines the occupational structure in Shelburne, Nova Scotia, from its settlement in 1783 until 1795. In 1783, following the conclusion of the American Revolution, upwards of 10,000 Loyalist from the United States came to the nascent town of Shelburne. In less than a decade, the majority of those individuals had departed, and the population plummeted. Through the statistical evaluation of the early settlers’ occupational data, patterns of growing and shrinking markets in response to historic events will be shown. Shortly after settlement, the new residents in Shelburne established large manufacturing and market/service sectors but failed to initiate a strong agricultural foundation. It wasn’t until the termination of Crown provided food supply that the settlers implemented a flourishing agricultural sector. This research proves that the occupational structure of the town shifted to accommodate circumstance and demand amidst a recovering wartime economy. Secondly, this thesis undertook longitudinal studies of the individuals who comprised those sectors to demonstrated that those who were able to adapt their occupations to suit the needs of the town succeeded in long-term settlement, whereas those who were steadfast in their trades were left no choice but to seek prospects elsewhere. These findings are significant in understanding the importance of flexibility in the face of economic hardship, particularly in the context of an eighteenth-century maritime environment.