James Ratchford, Esq  Founder of the Town of Parrsboro

 Although James Ratchford was not the first resident of Partridge Island, it would be difficult to relate the history of the settlement and its' development without referring to his overall influence  He was one of those strong self-made men, typical of many pioneer communities, who quickly grew to eminence.

The Ratchford family were descendants of New England Planters from Bridgewater, Mass. Thomas Ratchford settled in Cornwallis township and his only son James, was born there in 1763.   There were also two daughters, Margaret and Elizabeth.  Margaret married Elijah (later, Judge) DeWolfe. Elizabeth married David Lyons of Pereau, N.S. James' uncle, Walter Ratchford, traded goods via vessel in the area and settled in Ratchford River, now known as Port Greville. James came to Partridge Island in 1786, apparently to work as a clerk in the Crane-Shannon Store.   By 1790, James became a militia Captain and in that same year married Mary, second daughter of Captain Silas Crane.

Silas and Mary Crane were the first permanent settlers at Partridge Island and operated the ferry to Windsor. Shortly following their arrival, came James Noble Shannon in 1787 and set up as a merchant in partnership with Jonathan Crane, brother of Silas.

Jonathan bought Jacob Hurd's unsettled share of the Partridge Island grant for 550 pounds. Jonathan and James then owned and operated a trading company under the name of "Crane and Ratchford", from 1789 to 1795. James Ratchford then went into business with James Noble Shannon, as "Shannon & Ratchford" until about 1801.

James Ratchford next went in to business for himself, forming the Ratchford Company.   Thus, he rose from apprentice in business, to partner, and eventually to sole owner of a major trading business. This business developed into a very large prosperous enterprise, importing goods from every continent and in turn supplying every community up and down the Minas Basin with most of the manufactured goods of the day.

From 1830 to 1834, the Ratchfords at Partridge Island did an immense business. There were very few business houses in Halifax or St John that conducted as much trade as did the Ratchfords in those early years. They employed some six to eight clerks behind the counters and in the warehouses and these clerks "had not time to smoke either cigars or cigarettes during business hours, as they were very busily employed during the ten hours of the day."

Ratchford himself soon became the very heart and brain of the Township, with a controlling hand on every aspect of life in the area.He was at various times a ferry boat operator, store keeper, ship builder, lumber exporter, Justice of the Peace, Post Master, Hotel Keeper, Town Clerk, Magistrate, Clerk of the Market and Colonel of the Militia.  Little wonder then that it is reported that cannon were discharged from the blockhouse on the occasion of every important occurance in the Ratchford family such as a birth, marriage or death.

Late in life he purchased land from Josiah Davison in Parrsboro and built a store there.   In his Will the store and property were left to his son, Andrew Frederick.  It was later purchased by the DeWolfe family who operated a store there as well.   Many years later it became the home of Jim and Lottie Wheaton and is one of the oldest buildings in Parrsboro.

James Ratchford died in 1836 and from that date one can trace the decline of Partridge Island as a prosperous community.   He was laid to rest in the Anglican cemetery set out in the centre of the new town site.    The town continued to thrive without him, forgetting with the passage of time and the power and influence his name once had.   However his monument remains to proclaim it for all who care to take the time to look.