Rev. MacPhie guides the reader through a highly detailed, and very readable, account of the birth and development of Pictou County in the Nova Scotia Province of Canada. "The 'Hope, ' bearing officers of the Philadelphia Company, so-called, and the families of half a dozen intending settlers, arrived at Pictou from Philadelphia, on June 10, 1767. The Company had obtained a Royal grant of 180,000 acres of land in the district." The original settlers, accompanied by their wives and children, included: Dr. John Harris, Robert Patterson, James McCabe, John Rogers, Henry Cummings, and possibly the Hand family. September 15, 1773 the "Hector" arrived at the little settlement, increasing the population by 179-189. The "Dumfries Settlers" added thirteen families and one single man in 1775. Brief biographical sketches are provided for many of these pioneers. Individual chapters are devoted to religious history of "the strongest Presbyterian community in Canada," the ministers and churches of the Town of Pictou, ministers and churches of Scotsburn (including Rogers Hill and Plainfield), Pictonians in the medical professions, Pictonians in the legal profession, history of the Pictou Academy, contributions from the "Home Educators," missionary work in foreign fields, the press and printers, politics, and the development of industry and commerce. Lists of names and brief biographical sketches of significant figures augment many of these chapters. This text offers a rich source of names, dates, locations and statistics. In addition, numerous photographs, illustrations, a map of Pictou County, and a fullname plus subject index enhance this work.