TO 'TAKE THE KING'S SHILLING'

WAS PERHAPS NOT THE EASIEST CAREER CHOICE FOR A MIDDLE-AGED MAN IN 1796-IF, INDEED, IT WAS A CHOICE!

WHEN SAMUEL AND JOSEPH GATES JOINED THE ROYAL NEWFOUNDLAND REGIMENT (BY BEAT OF DRUM OR OTHERWISE), LITTLE DID THEY KNOW THAT THEIR MILITARY MISADVENTURES WOULD ENTAIL STARVATION, MUTINY, SHIPWRECK, AND A PART IN THAT SEMINAL EVENT FOR CANADA, THE WAR OF 1812.

THE GATES SISTERS (ALIAS "THE SNOOP SISTERS) HAVE PUT TOGETHER THE RESULTS OF MANY YEARS OF RESEARCH ON THE GATES FAMILY OF NEW ROSS, NOVA SCOTIA. BY BEAT OF DRUM OR OTHERWISE TELLS THE STORY OF THEIR ANCESTRY AND OFFERS A GLIMPSE INTO THE MILITARY HISTORY OF ALL THOSE MEMBERS OF THE NOVA SCOTIA FENCIBLES WHO WERE SETTLED IN SHERBROOKE SETTLEMENT IN 1816. THE BOOK ALSO OFFERS POSSIBILITIES FOR FUTURE RESEARCH AND INCLUDES THE GENEALOGY OF ONE BRANCH OF THE FAMILY TREE WHO RESETTLED IN THE ANNAPOLIS VALLEY OF WESTERN NOVA SCOTIA

BOTH THE AUTHORS OF BY BEAT OF DRUM OR OTHERWISE GREW UP IN PORT WILLIAMS, NOVA SCOTIA, ARE GRADUATES OF ACADIA UNIVERSITY, AND SHARE AN INTEREST IN LOCAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.