James McNabb
Encyclopedia
James McNabb was a businessman and political figure in Upper Canada
.
He was born in one of the Thirteen Colonies
, possibly Virginia
, around 1776. His father joined a loyalist regiment there in 1777 as a surgeon. He came to Quebec
with his father and settled at Newark (Niagara-on-the-Lake
) in 1796. He later moved to York (Toronto) and then Thurlow (Belleville
) in 1800. In 1804, he built a sawmill
and grist mill on Meyer's Creek (Moira River
).
In 1808, he became a justice of the peace in the Midland District and, later than same year, was elected to the 5th Parliament of Upper Canada
representing Hastings
& Ameliasburgh Township
.
During the War of 1812
, he provided transport and supplies for the garrison at Kingston
. After the war, he persuaded Lieutenant Governor Francis Gore
to establish the new town of Belleville. In 1815, his right leg had to be amputated following an accident. In 1816, he was re-elected in Hastings & Ameliasburg. He died in 1820 while travelling between York and Belleville.
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...
.
He was born in one of the Thirteen Colonies
Thirteen Colonies
The Thirteen Colonies were English and later British colonies established on the Atlantic coast of North America between 1607 and 1733. They declared their independence in the American Revolution and formed the United States of America...
, possibly Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, around 1776. His father joined a loyalist regiment there in 1777 as a surgeon. He came to Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
with his father and settled at 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...
) in 1796. He later moved to York (Toronto) and then Thurlow (Belleville
Belleville, Ontario
Belleville is a city located at the mouth of the Moira River on the Bay of Quinte in Southern Ontario, Canada, in the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor. It is the seat of Hastings County, but is politically independent of it. and the centre of the Bay of Quinte Region...
) in 1800. In 1804, he built a sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
and grist mill on Meyer's Creek (Moira River
Moira River
The Moira River is a river in Hastings County in eastern Ontario, Canada. It travels from its source in the centre of the county to the county seat Belleville and is named after Francis Rawdon-Hastings, Earl of Moira.-Course:...
).
In 1808, he became a justice of the peace in the Midland District and, later than same year, was elected to the 5th Parliament of Upper Canada
5th Parliament of Upper Canada
The 5th Parliament of Upper Canada was opened 2 February 1809. Elections in Upper Canada had been held in May 1808. All sessions were held at York, Upper Canada and sat at the Parliament Buildings of Upper Canada...
representing Hastings
Hastings County, Ontario
Hastings County is located in the province of Ontario, Canada. It is The Cheese Capital of Canada. Geographically, it is located on the border of Eastern Ontario and Central Ontario. The population was 125,915 in 2001 and grew to 130,474 in the 2006 Canada Census...
& Ameliasburgh Township
Ameliasburgh Township, Ontario
Ameliasburgh is an historic township in southern Ontario, Canada, one of the three original townships that formed Prince Edward County. The other two townships were Marysburgh and Sophiasburgh. Originally known as Seventh Town, it was renamed in 1787 after Princess Amelia, the youngest child of...
.
During the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, he provided transport and supplies for the garrison at Kingston
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
. After the war, he persuaded Lieutenant Governor Francis Gore
Francis Gore
Francis Gore, was a British officer and British colonial administrator.Gore was commissioned into the 44th Foot in 1787, but transferred to the 54th Foot in 1794 and the 17th Light Dragoons in 1795. He retired with the rank of major and then became Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada from 1806 to...
to establish the new town of Belleville. In 1815, his right leg had to be amputated following an accident. In 1816, he was re-elected in Hastings & Ameliasburg. He died in 1820 while travelling between York and Belleville.