Thomas Laffin

Pedigree: Me > Norma Haynes > Lillian Laffin > Asa Laffin > Thomas Laffin > John Laffin > Thomas Laffin (my 4th great grandfather)

The earliest ancestor of the Hants County, Nova Scotia Laffin line was Thomas Laffin. It is alleged that Thomas Laffin was originally from Ireland. The first known record of him is recorded in the Craig Index of the 2nd Battalion of the 84th Regiment as Private Thomas Laffin in the 2nd Company. The muster roll for Dec. 1782 - Oct 1783 given in Logan shows that he was at the Command of Spanish River (Cape Breton, Nova Scotia).

At the conclusion of the Revolutionary War in 1783, land grants were given to the 84th Regiment British Loyalists in Hants County, Nova Scotia, which became Douglas township.

" The Commissioners Report of 1800 lists 700 acres ( Lot 7C ) on the Kennetcook River as the property of Thomas Laffin. This land was obtained by a grant of the regimental lands of the 84th Regiment and by purchase from other grantees. The land had been occupied since 1786 and included a house, 15 acres of land. There was also some stock. "

However, because of improper recording and loss of records, the land grants were escheated (transferred) back to the British government. This resulted, in time, with a successful petition to have proper title to these lands returned as transcribed below (with original spellings) in 1815:

 "Douglass 1 Jany 1815

"To the Honorable Speaker & the Honourable House of Assembly----
"Gentlemen,
    "The Pettition of your Subscribers Most respectfully Sheweth-------
That Whereas in the year of our Lord 1783, on the Proclamation of Peace between Great Britain and the United States of AMERICA, his Majestys late 84th regiment was discharged with a Promise of a certain proportion of Lands to Officers Non commisd officers & privates, free of any charges from his Majestys Government as a compensation for their Servises during the late contest with america, to such as would actually Settle and become Inhabitants: In consequence of which Colo. Small the commandant of sd. regt. Settled in the wilderness where they encountered many difiquelties Namely up cannetcook, five mile & Nine Mile Rivers, now called the Township of Douglass and because the Major part of sd. regit. did abscond and abandon their Lands, and a number of other persons (trying to avail themselves of the same Priviledge the Soldiers had promised) Settled in among us who were actually Soldiers, and on acct. of Colo. Smalls Grant not being fully Complied with according to Government wish, it became Escheated with that reserve, that those disbanded Soldiers whom had actually Settled Should be established in their former Promise, and the same lands, altho long ago Settled, is still Lying under the same escheet, & neither of your Petitioners, having any title to our farmes. We therefore pray the Lajislative body will represent our Situation to his Majestys Council & to the Gover[n]our, expressing our wish to obtain a Genel. Grant to the undersigned who were actually Soldiers as it was originally intended of their then Promised Locations for themselves & families, Previous to our new applications Sincere whereof a return will be laid before you with the names of the occupiors of the above description at present residing in the above Township, and your Petitioners will every pray--"
[The document is signed by 40 individual Loyalists...] including Thomas Laffin.


Information about the family of Thomas Laffin is lacking,and his date and place of death are unknown with no known headstone. A son, John Laffin, was born about 1797 and married Olive Anthony (the first child of John Anthony and Jane Densmore). John and Olive had 12 children, the first born being Thomas Laffin, father of Asa Laffin.