David, On pages 11 and 12 of the small book entitled "Nova Scotia Furniture" by George MacLaren, Halifax: Petheric Press, 1969, the author has two lists of chair makers. The first list contains "some of those who branded or stencilled their chairs, examples of which may be seen at the Nova Scotia Museum". The second list is of "Other known Nova Scotian chairmakers, examples of whose work have not been found". This second list includes Debol, Lewis; Halifax; 1805. There is no other information provided about Debol but this meagre information seems to match the marriage bond record that you discovered. As for the genealogy of Debol, the marriage bond record only provides evidence of Debol's intention to marry Elizabeth DeGant. However, on page 37 of "Religious Marriages in Halifax, 1768-1841" by Terrence Punch, Halifax: Genealogical Association of Nova Scotia, 1991, the author indicates that the marriage between Debol and DeGant occurred on 6 September 1823 and that record of the marriage can be found within the records of St. Paul's Anglican Church, Halifax. If you are interested in the family of Debol, you could follow up on the marriage and subsequent children using standard genealogical resources. As for Debol's chair making business, historical significance and connection to your chairs, you may have to locate an appropriate furniture specialist. The Nova Scotia Museum is actually a decentralized system of more than two dozen museums throughout the province. I don't know which one, if any, would have a staff member knowledgeable about Debol. You could pose a query through their website but the only contact seems to be for the webmaster. Hopefully though, a query would be passed along to the appropriate person. Another approach would be to contact the Halifax Public Library and ask them to locate a furniture specialist at one of the museums or universities or elsewhere so you could contact the expert for info on Debol. A third source of information might be NSARM for any information in their collection pertaining to Debol's business. As I am neither a Debol researcher or furniture specialist, these are all the suggestions that I have for you. Best of luck in your search. Regards, Deborah Baillie Ottawa > Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2007 11:52:47 -0400 > From: David Reed <dreed@ca.inter.net> > Subject: [NS-L] Lewis Debol Chairmaker > To: "nsroots@ednet.ns.ca" <nsroots@ednet.ns.ca>, > Nova-Scotia-L@rootsweb.com > Message-ID: <6.2.1.2.2.20070424111455.02f1a1c8@pop.ca.inter.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed > > I have recently inherited a set of chairs from Nova Scotia which > belonged to my great-grandfather and I am curious as to where they came from. > > My great-grandfather, William A. Reed, was born in Annapolis Co, > lived for a while in Mill Village, Queens Co where he married Helena > Atkins, moved to Middleton on the death of his father and later moved to > Berwick where he died. > > They are Windsor chairs and are stamped Debol on the bottom. I > have found two entries, using Google, at NSARMS for marriage bonds, > although I don't know what records they are. > > id Gname Gstatus Gresidence Goccupation Date Bname Bstatus Bresidence > Boccupation Note MFM > 4621 Lewis DeBol Bachelor Halifax Chairmaker 06 September 1823 Elizabeth > DeGant Widow 15930 > 4722 John Earle Bachelor HM Dockyard House Carpenter 27 August 1824 Mary > Ann Knodle Spinster Lewis DeBol of Halifax, chairmaker, was a surety. 15930 > > Is it likely that this is the person who made the chairs? During > what years was he making furniture? > > > David Reed (dreed@ca.inter.net) > Toronto, Ontario, Canada >

Deborah, Thank you very much for your suggestions. I'm intrigued by the comment "Other known Nova Scotian chairmakers, examples of whose work have not been found". It would appear that the chairs are older than I had thought. I will do some further genealogical research to see if I can find out more. At 10:58 AM 4/26/2007, Deborah Baillie wrote: >David, >On pages 11 and 12 of the small book entitled "Nova Scotia Furniture" by >George MacLaren, Halifax: Petheric Press, 1969, the author has two lists >of chair makers. The first list contains "some of those who branded or >stencilled their chairs, examples of which may be seen at the Nova >Scotia Museum". The second list is of "Other known Nova Scotian >chairmakers, examples of whose work have not been found". This second >list includes Debol, Lewis; Halifax; 1805. There is no other information >provided about Debol but this meagre information seems to match the >marriage bond record that you discovered. > >As for the genealogy of Debol, the marriage bond record only provides >evidence of Debol's intention to marry Elizabeth DeGant. However, on >page 37 of "Religious Marriages in Halifax, 1768-1841" by Terrence >Punch, Halifax: Genealogical Association of Nova Scotia, 1991, the >author indicates that the marriage between Debol and DeGant occurred on >6 September 1823 and that record of the marriage can be found within the >records of St. Paul's Anglican Church, Halifax. If you are interested in >the family of Debol, you could follow up on the marriage and subsequent >children using standard genealogical resources. > >As for Debol's chair making business, historical significance and >connection to your chairs, you may have to locate an appropriate >furniture specialist. The Nova Scotia Museum is actually a decentralized >system of more than two dozen museums throughout the province. I don't >know which one, if any, would have a staff member knowledgeable about >Debol. You could pose a query through their website but the only contact >seems to be for the webmaster. Hopefully though, a query would be passed >along to the appropriate person. Another approach would be to contact >the Halifax Public Library and ask them to locate a furniture specialist >at one of the museums or universities or elsewhere so you could contact >the expert for info on Debol. A third source of information might be >NSARM for any information in their collection pertaining to Debol's >business. > >As I am neither a Debol researcher or furniture specialist, these are >all the suggestions that I have for you. Best of luck in your search. > >Regards, >Deborah Baillie >Ottawa > > Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2007 11:52:47 -0400 > > From: David Reed <dreed@ca.inter.net> > > Subject: [NS-L] Lewis Debol Chairmaker > > To: "nsroots@ednet.ns.ca" <nsroots@ednet.ns.ca>, > > Nova-Scotia-L@rootsweb.com > > Message-ID: <6.2.1.2.2.20070424111455.02f1a1c8@pop.ca.inter.net> > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed > > > > I have recently inherited a set of chairs from Nova Scotia which > > belonged to my great-grandfather and I am curious as to where they came > from. > > > > My great-grandfather, William A. Reed, was born in Annapolis Co, > > lived for a while in Mill Village, Queens Co where he married Helena > > Atkins, moved to Middleton on the death of his father and later moved to > > Berwick where he died. > > > > They are Windsor chairs and are stamped Debol on the bottom. I > > have found two entries, using Google, at NSARMS for marriage bonds, > > although I don't know what records they are. > > > > id Gname Gstatus Gresidence Goccupation Date Bname Bstatus Bresidence > > Boccupation Note MFM > > 4621 Lewis DeBol Bachelor Halifax Chairmaker 06 September 1823 Elizabeth > > DeGant Widow 15930 > > 4722 John Earle Bachelor HM Dockyard House Carpenter 27 August 1824 Mary > > Ann Knodle Spinster Lewis DeBol of Halifax, chairmaker, was a surety. 15930 > > > > Is it likely that this is the person who made the chairs? During > > what years was he making furniture? > > > > > > David Reed (dreed@ca.inter.net) > > Toronto, Ontario, Canada > > >---------------------------------------- >Basic List Commands: > >1. To post to the list >Send a message to: >NOVA-SCOTIA-L@rootsweb.com > >2. How to unsubscribe >a. List mode: Send a message to NOVA-SCOTIA-L- >request@rootsweb.com that contains only the word >unsubscribe > >b. Digest mode: Send a message to NOVA-SCOTIA-D- >request@rootsweb.com that contains only the word >unsubscribe > >3. How to subscribe >Send an email containing only the word >subscribe >to NOVA-SCOTIA-L-request@rootsweb.com > >4. How to change to Digest mode >a. Unsubscribe from List mode (2.a. above) >b. Subscribe to Digest mode >Send an email containing only the word >subscribe >to NOVA-SCOTIA-D-request@rootsweb.com >------------------------------- >To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >NOVA-SCOTIA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >quotes in the subject and the body of the message David Reed (dreed@ca.inter.net) Toronto, Ontario, Canada