David Costley (24 August 18373 November 1923) was a

Canadian Canadians () are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of their being ''C ...

bear hunter and farmer who was active in

Nova Scotia Nova Scotia is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada, located on its east coast. It is one of the three Maritime Canada, Maritime provinces and Population of Canada by province and territory, most populous province in Atlan ...

Early life

David Trueman Costley was born in

New Ross New Ross (, formerly ) is a town in southwest County Wexford, Republic of Ireland, Ireland, on the River Barrow on the border with County Kilkenny, northeast of Waterford. In 2022, it had a population of 8,610, making it the fourth-largest t ...

Chester Chester is a cathedral city in Cheshire, England, on the River Dee, Wales, River Dee, close to the England–Wales border. With a built-up area population of 92,760 in 2021, it is the most populous settlement in the borough of Cheshire West an ...

, Lunenburg County,

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

on 24 August 1837. Joseph Costley, his father, came from

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

, and his mother, Hannah Melvin, was a native of Nova Scotia. David had a brother, Amos, and a sister, Sarah.

Career

With a large family to support, David Costley farmed and trapped beaver, otter, mink, and fox for income. Bounties on dead animals were common for many years. Costley became active as a bear hunter and guide from 1852 until 1922. The skins from Costley's hunts in Blue Mountain were taken to buyers in Kentville, Kings County. Supplying black bear fur for the Queen's

Coldstream Guards The Coldstream Guards is the oldest continuously serving regular regiment in the British Army. As part of the Household Division, one of its principal roles is the protection of the Monarchy of the United Kingdom, monarchy; due to this, it often ...

bearskin A bearskin is a tall fur cap derived from mitre#Military uniform, mitre caps worn by grenadier units in the 17th and 18th centuries. Initially worn by only grenadiers, bearskins were later used by several other military units in the 19th centur ...

s brought David Costley into contact with

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in January 1901. Her reign of 63 year ...

, who invited him to London in 1897 to show her appreciation. Since Costley couldn't travel to meet her, the Queen sent him a medal, a gold ring studded with jewels, a

Winchester Model 1886 The Winchester Model 1886 was a lever-action repeating rifle designed by John Browning to handle some of the more powerful cartridges of the period. Originally chambered in .45-70 Government, .45-90 Sharps, and .40-82 Winchester, it was late ...

, and a collection of personal letters.

Personal life

At 27 years old, Costley married Elizabeth Lockhart on 6 July 1867 on Horton Road (now New Ross Road) in Lunenburg County. They had four daughters and two sons. Their daughter Sarah Lavenia was born in Blue Mountain on 28 May 1870.

Death

David Costley died at 86 years old on 3 November 1923 in

, Lunenburg County,

. He succumbed to injuries after a fall from a ladder that resulted in punctured lungs on 27 October. Costley was buried in his hometown of New Ross on 6 November 1923.

Legacy

Costley officially recorded 144 bear kills, based solely on his registered count.Nature's Resources. (2004). (n.p.): Department of Natural Resources. Among his kills, 122 were sent to London to be fashioned into caps for the ceremonial guards at

Buckingham Palace Buckingham Palace () is a royal official residence, residence in London, and the administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is often at the centre of state occasions and r ...

. Bear River's Mike Parker wrote about Costley in "Guides of the North Woods" in 2004.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Costley, David 1837 births 1923 deaths Canadian hunters Canadian farmers