Bartholomew Crannell Beardsley
Encyclopedia
Bartholomew Crannell Beardsley (October 21, 1775 – March 24, 1855) was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Upper Canada
and New Brunswick
.
He was born in Poughkeepsie, New York
in 1775, the son of John Beardsley
, chaplain in a loyalist regiment, and he came north with his family to New Brunswick
after the American Revolution
. He studied law there and was called to the bar in 1796. In 1797, he travelled to Newark (Niagara-on-the-Lake
), where he set up practice. In 1814, he served as defense counsel for several prisoners at the Bloody Assize
held at Ancaster
. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
in the 2nd and 3rd ridings of Lincoln
in 1824; he was defeated in 1828 but reelected in 1830. He defended the rights of immigrants from the United States
to hold full citizenship and opposed discrimination against religious minorities. He supported Robert Randal
's case against Henry John Boulton
. In 1832, he left Upper Canada to practice law in Woodstock, New Brunswick
. He was appointed judge in the probate court for Carleton County
there in 1834. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
for Carleton in 1837. In 1847, he returned west and set up a practice in Oakville
.
He died in Oakville in 1855.
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
and New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
.
He was born in Poughkeepsie, New York
Poughkeepsie (city), New York
Poughkeepsie is a city in the state of New York, United States, which serves as the county seat of Dutchess County. Poughkeepsie is located in the Hudson River Valley midway between New York City and Albany...
in 1775, the son of John Beardsley
John Beardsley
John Beardsley was a Church of England clergyman from the United States.Beardsley arrived in Canada as a loyalist. He is remembered as a loyalist clergyman and father of freemasonry in New Brunswick.- External links :*...
, chaplain in a loyalist regiment, and he came north with his family to New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
after the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. He studied law there and was called to the bar in 1796. In 1797, he travelled to Newark (Niagara-on-the-Lake
Niagara-on-the-Lake
Niagara-on-the-Lake is a Canadian town located in Southern Ontario where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario in the Niagara Region of the southern part of the province of Ontario. It is located across the Niagara river from Youngstown, New York, USA...
), where he set up practice. In 1814, he served as defense counsel for several prisoners at the Bloody Assize
Bloody Assize (1814)
The Bloody Assize in Upper Canada was a series of trials held at Ancaster during the War of 1812.During the war, a number of settlers from the Niagara and London Districts had taken up arms against their neighbours. Many later fled to the United States....
held at Ancaster
Ancaster, Ontario
Ancaster is a picturesque and historic community located on the Niagara escarpment, within the greater area of the city of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. This former town was founded officially in 1793 and was one of the oldest European communities established in present day Ontario along with Windsor...
. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
The Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada was created by the Constitutional Act of 1791. It was the elected legislature for the province of Upper Canada and functioned as the province's lower house in the Parliament of Upper Canada...
in the 2nd and 3rd ridings of Lincoln
Lincoln County, Ontario
Lincoln County is a historic county in the Canadian province of Ontario.The county was formed in 1792. In 1845, the southern portion of Lincoln County was separated to form Welland County....
in 1824; he was defeated in 1828 but reelected in 1830. He defended the rights of immigrants from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to hold full citizenship and opposed discrimination against religious minorities. He supported Robert Randal
Robert Randal
Robert Randal was a businessman and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born Robert Randall in Maryland around 1766; after 1809, he spelled his surname Randal. In 1795, he was part of a partnership which wished to buy the lower Michigan peninsula from the United States government...
's case against Henry John Boulton
Henry John Boulton
Henry John Boulton, QC was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born at Little Holland House, Kensington, England, the son of D’Arcy Boulton, in 1790. Some time later, the family settled in New York state and then moved to Upper Canada around 1800. He studied law at York ...
. In 1832, he left Upper Canada to practice law in Woodstock, New Brunswick
Woodstock, New Brunswick
Woodstock is a Canadian town in Carleton County, New Brunswick located on the west bank of the Saint John River at the mouth of the Meduxnekeag River, 92 km west of Fredericton and close to the Canada – United States border and Houlton, Maine.- History :Woodstock was settled by Loyalists...
. He was appointed judge in the probate court for Carleton County
Carleton County, New Brunswick
Carleton County is located in west-central New Brunswick, Canada.The county is located in western New Brunswick, it borders on the west, the State of Maine; on the south, York County; on the north, Victoria County and is bisected by the Saint John River. Potato farming is a major industry...
there in 1834. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
The Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick is located in Fredericton. It was established de jure when the colony was created in 1784, but only came in to session in 1786 following the first elections in late 1785. Until 1891, it was the lower house in a bicameral legislature when its upper house...
for Carleton in 1837. In 1847, he returned west and set up a practice in Oakville
Oakville, Ontario
Oakville is a town in Halton Region, on Lake Ontario in Southern Ontario, Canada, and is part of the Greater Toronto Area. As of the 2006 census the population was 165,613.-History:In 1793, Dundas Street was surveyed for a military road...
.
He died in Oakville in 1855.