What) Today, Selma is a small community located in The Municipality of the District of East Hants in Hants County but it has a long history. The LeJeune Family lived in Selma prior to the Acadian Exodus from the area in 1750 during Father Le Loutre's War. According to Captain Matthew Floyer, Selma had four dwellings and a mill. After the American Revolution, Selma was settled by loyalists soldiers who fought for the British. Major-General John Small received the land at Selma from Malachy Salter. Oral history stated that Small built a manor house in the area which he named Selma Hall, after which the community is named. 

    During the second half of the nineteenth century, shipbuilding and supporting sub-trades were the mainstay of the economy in this small and bustling hamlet. At the mouth of Selmah Creek lay the site of three shipyards. The largest of these was owned by Alexander A. McDougall. From this shipyard 19 barques were built and launched. Next to the McDougall yard was that of (David) Pratt & Cox. Beyond the Pratt shipyard was that of George Oxley Smith and his son, McCully Smith. George Oxley Smith was also a Justice of the Peace sitting in judgement on various disturbances, timber contracts and other legal matters. (1)

    Where) 40 minutes west of Truro on Highway 215

    Why) Even though the McCully Smith mentioned above is Pam's maternal grandfather, this stop was not on our Buckys list when we left Regina. That is because Pam is not even remotely interested in anything historical. I don't know if it was the smell of the sea or the sight of the countryside but shortly after we arrived in the area Pam found herself with the desire to find and visit the small church graveyard in Selma where many of her ancestors are buried.

We did not have an address to locate but Selma is so small that we were easily able to find this church on the main road.

It was not a very large graveyard but I would estimate that about one quarter of the markers were for one Smith or another.
As, George Oxley Smith (Pam's Great Grandfather) was one of 74 grandchildren, it is likely that Pam is related to all of them.

Here is Pam standing between two Smith grave stones.  That one behind her is ...

... the oldest one that we saw.  If you ask her respectfully, Pam may tell you what happened when she was standing here.
As we found out later, Pam's Great Great Grandfather Caleb Smith, was Nathan's oldest brother and A. Shaw Smith was Nathan's son.