My mother always said that her ancestors originally came to Nova Scotia with the Empire Loyalists after the American Revolution.  The family Bible, which I now have, belonged to William A. Aikens, who married Esther Jane Ferguson in 1878, and William is my mother's Great Grandfather.  But beyond this the family geneology was uncertain.  Recent research, however, has established the direct link to the Loyalists that my mother believed.
     Samuel A. Aikins (1750-1826), was born in Delaware, but served in the British Army during the Revolutionary war.  He stayed loyal to the Crown, and was promised a land grant in British North America.  He brought his family to Nova Scotia, arriving in Guysborough on June 21, 1784.  He appears on the British Army & Navy muster rolls as a carpenter.  His second son, John, was born in Guysborough in 1786 and marrried Mary Fraser.  His eldest son, Samuel, was born in 1811 and married Sarah McKay.  Their eldest son, William Alexander, my mother's Great Grandfather,  was born in 1852.  Their eldest daughter was Abbie G. Aikins, born in 1878, who had Olive, who had my mother, Muriel.
     Sarah McKay is buried in the same cemetry as William, but my mother was unclear about the relationship.  Now that the lineage has been established, there may be further interesting revelations to be posted in the future, as there are now many relatives to track down.