No Boundaries: Navigation Maps With Their Own Story

As I rode today, I caught glimpses of Castle Frederick gleaming against the lush green fields and forests of Falmouth. It only increased my anticipation of arriving at the mansion. But nothing prepared me for the surprising, round observatory on the hill opposite the large house. Its glass eye pointed to the horizon, awaiting the full moon’s rise. Drawing nearer, I wondered what splendours we would witness tonight and if we would see him use his charts to help explain the wonderous heavens to us.

[Above is a fictional account, envisioned by the author of this article.]

The small 18th century observatory on the grounds of Castle Frederick is explored by Acadia Professor Emeritus, Roy L. Bishop in an article he wrote for The Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada in August 2012 (https://www.rasc.ca/jrasc-2012-08). His research supports this structure being one of the very few, if not the first, of its kind in North America. Cartophiles know that nautical astronomy and surveying are common, historical companions. So, the idea that 18th Century Royal Surveyor J.F.W. DesBarres kept an eye on the sky is not surprising.

The internet points to several, credible sources of information about Joseph Frederick Wallet DesBarres, his work, and his home in Falmouth, Nova Scotia. Between 1764 to 1773, DesBarres lived on a large parcel of land at the headwaters of the Avon River in Falmouth. In addition to being a military officer and Royal Surveyor, he was a Lieutenant Governor for Cape Breton and Governor for Prince Edward Island. But I digress, because it’s the maps that have a story to tell. Around 1777, DesBarres and another Royal Surveyor, Samuel Holland, decided to publish their maps. The publication is referred to as The Atlantic Neptune. Many, digital copies are available online through a simple search engine.

Don’t get me wrong. It’s fun to go online and look at digital copies of old maps—especially maps of the local area. Acadia University’s Archives and Special Collections have plenty of digital and original maps for the cartophile. Those gifted by alumnus William Inglis Morse (Academy, Acadia B.A. 1897 and D. Litt. 1926) can be seen digitally here https://digital-archives.acadiau.ca/collections/william-inglis-morse But there’s something seductive that occurs when you grab a magnifying glass and examine an original map up close. And you know, of course, that’s what I did.

Deep in the William Inglis Morse Special Collection of the Library is a tattered copy of J.F.W. DesBarres’ The Atlantic Neptune, circa 1784 (sometimes called “The Sea-Coast of Nova Scotia Exhibiting the Diversities of the Coast, and Face of the Country Near It, the Banks, Docks, Shoals, Soundings, & c. Together with Remarks and Directions for the Convenience of Navigation and Pilotage”). Now can you guess why we use the short title of The Atlantic Neptune?

Our ragged copy includes two notes that may make it unusual. The first, typewritten note is attached to the inside cover. It reads:

This map now in fragmentary condition, formerly belonged to Capt. John Harris, Annapolis Royal, N.S. He died in the West Indies and was buried at Antigua. His “Diary” dates from about 1812. When he was in need of a map for some particular place, he removed one from Des Barres collection. This accounts for the absence of many of the harbours of Nova Scotia.

September, 1931.

W.I.M. Collection.

(signed Wm Inglis Morse)

Typewritten note that reads: This map now in fragmentary condition, formerly belonged to Capt., John Harris, Annapolis Royal, N.S. He died in the West Indies, and was buried at Antigua. His "Dairy" dates from about 1812. (Typed text continues...) — William Inglis Mores’ signature is on this note, which is attached to the inside, front cover of *The Atlantic Neptune*. Ref: SPMORS G1078 .D4 1784

The second, handwritten note appears near the end of the book. The pencil message reads:

U.S.A

Marble Head Massachusetts

November 21st 1851

I Daniel McDonald McFaden Born in Granville County of Annapolis Novascotia British North America

August 29 1829

Served my Aprenticeship with Charles B. Harris cabinet maker and Son of Capt John Harris formerly of Annapolis Novascotia

Charles B. Harris at this present day is a citizen of that beautiful village called Iona County Fingal

like myself Canada West he has forsaken his Native shores to seek his fortune among strangers

Hidden deep and never dry or flowing or at rest a living spring of hope doth lie in every human breast

Handwritten, pencil note that appears near the back of The Atlantic Neptune. Image altered for clarity. — Handwritten, pencil note that appears near the back of *The Atlantic Neptune*. Image altered for clarity.

At this point you would expect me to regale you with a tale about Captain Harris, right? Nope. I’m staying with the maps.

These notes may explain why a few of the DesBarres maps are preserved separately in the Archives, like this nautical map of the North Atlantic region of North America (https://digital-archives.acadiau.ca/node/2532).

1777 nautical map titled "The Coast of Nova Scotia & New England New York, New Jersey, the Gulph and River of St. Lawrence". Coasts and rivers are outlined in black, with black text and grid lines on beige paper. — One of the maps preserved separately, titled *The Coast of Nova Scotia & New England New York, New Jersey, the Gulph and River of St. Lawrence*. Ref: 1982.010-DES/002

Capt. John Harris could have removed them from the volume and kept them deliberately separate, or perhaps he needed them less often than some of the other maps in the volume. We can only guess why these maps are in good condition. Certainly, our copy of The Atlantic Neptune reflects heavy use for some areas of Nova Scotia. For example, only a small piece of the map with the Minas Basin remains intact, while the St. Mary’s Bay area fares much better. Both maps remain with the book itself, providing much needed context.

A fragment of the Minas Basin map in The Atlantic Neptune. The paper is unevenly torn around its edges. — A fragment of the Minas Basin map in *The Atlantic Neptune*. Image altered for clarity.

Now if you were wondering, who is Captain John Harris? That’s a story for another day. Suffice it to say at this point, he once owned the copy of The Atlantic Neptune that is currently preserved in Acadia’s Special Collections. And I do not condone his poor treatment of maps!

[Parts of this article were modified or reproduced from a blog piece published in July 2026 for the Kings Hants Heritage Connection’s series on Stories of Our Landscape.]

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