As tensions rose between the governments of Britain and Revolutionary France in early 1793, the British secretary of state for the colonies, Henry Dundas, wrote to Wentworth that the question of raising a provincial regiment for the defense of Nova Scotia was under consideration.

For example, Samuel Bayard, named as lieutenant colonel en second, had served as a captain in the King's Orange Rangers.

[6] Wentworth also faced difficulties from Major General Ogilvie, the commander of the regular garrison, who refused his requests for barrack space, clothing and provisions, while at the same time using Wentworth's men for three-quarters of the garrison's duties and as a source of recruits for his own 4th Reg't.

[7] This state of affairs was finally ended in May 1794 with the arrival of Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, to take over as commander-in-chief of the King's Forces in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

[8] During its existence the RNSR had its headquarters in Halifax, where it assisted in doing garrison duty, and had small parties in all of the outposts in the neighbourhood and in other parts of the province.

For a short while a guard was posted at Parrsboro, to protect the north end of the ferry link across Minas Basin from Windsor to Partridge Island, the fastest route at the time from Halifax to New Brunswick.

A rotation of men, from 14 to 36 at a time, served as marines aboard His Majesty's armed snow Earl of Moira, a vessel of 14 guns in the pay of the province, commanded by Captain Fawson.

He wrote in protest to the Duke of Portland, who sent a mild reprimand to the Prince ordering him not to use the RNSR as a "nursery or recruiting fund," because the men had enlisted as fencibles.

[16] Wentworth's biographer, Brian C. Cuthbertson, sums up the regiment's service as follows: At a time when Nova Scotians needed patriotic symbols and reassurance in the face of threatened attack, the Royal Nova Scotia Regiment filled a vital need and did so most commendably.

Many of the officers and men would go on to do further service in the Nova Scotia Regiment of Fencible Infantry, which was raised in July 1803, after the renewal of the war with France.

This coatee is one of the earliest surviving military uniforms known to exist in Canada, and is currently held at the Army Museum at the Halifax Citadel.

It confirms that the RNSR wore red coats with royal blue facings, with plain white lace for other ranks, and buttons in pairs.