David Costley

David Costley (24 August 18373 November 1923) was a Canadian bear hunter and farmer who was active in Nova Scotia.

Early life David Trueman Costley was born in New Ross, Chester, Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia, Canada on 24 August 1837. Joseph Costley, his father, came from England, 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. The skins from Costley's hunts in Blue Mountain were taken to buyers in Kentville, Kings County.

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 New Ross, Chester, Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia, Canada. 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. Among his kills, 122 were sent to London to be fashioned into caps for the ceremonial guards at Buckingham Palace. Bear River's Mike Parker wrote about Costley in "Guides of the North Woods" in 2004.