Thomas Brownspriggs was the leader of the blacks who settled at Tracadie. He had long been the black leader for all of Guysborough County. He was a well-educated Black Loyalist who was well respected by both the black and white residents of Guysborough County.

Because of his reputation as a respectable man, he was appointed as the agent to create a settlement in what would become known as Little Tracadie. He was appointed to this position by Governor Parr with the intention that most of the blacks in the area would settle there. When Brownspriggs made a petition for property in September 1787, he represented seventy-four families. The petition for land was certified the same day it was presented.

Bishop Inglis, leader of the Anglican church in Nova Scotia, was concerned about the lack of Christian knowledge among the blacks. He sent more than a hundred testaments, prayer books and tracts to instruct the blacks in religion. In a letter to the Bishop of London, Inglis told him that Brownspriggs was the only man he could find for the job and that he was tolerably qualified for the job and of excellent character.

Strangely enough, Brownspriggs decided to give up his teaching and church career in 1792. Fortunately for the community, he was quickly replaced by Dempsey Jordan.

Original Survey of the Brownspriggs Grant in Upper Tracadie - South is to the bottom of the picture.

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Tracadie