John Burbidge
Encyclopedia
John Burbidge was a soldier, land owner, judge and political figure in Nova Scotia
. He represented Halifax Township from 1759 to 1765 and Cornwallis Township from 1765 to 1775 in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
.
He was born in Cowes
, England
, and was at Louisbourg in 1747 and at Halifax, Nova Scotia
in 1749, when it was founded. In 1761, he became a justice of the peace for Halifax County
and, in 1762, became captain in the local militia. Around 1764, he settled at Cornwallis where he acquired a large farm. He married Rebecca Dudley, the widow of Benjamin Gerrish
, in 1775; his first wife was named Elizabeth. Burbidge became a major in the local militia, a justice of the peace and a customs collector in King's County
. In 1776, he was named a judge for the Inferior Court of Common Pleas. Burbidge donated land and money to build an Anglican
church in Cornwallis. In 1790, he freed his slaves, also providing them with clothes and having them taught to read. He died in Cornwallis in 1812.
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. He represented Halifax Township from 1759 to 1765 and Cornwallis Township from 1765 to 1775 in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
Nova Scotia House of Assembly
The Nova Scotia Legislature, consisting of Her Majesty The Queen represented by the Lieutenant Governor and the House of Assembly, is the legislative branch of the provincial government of Nova Scotia, Canada...
.
He was born in Cowes
Cowes
Cowes is an English seaport town and civil parish on the Isle of Wight. Cowes is located on the west bank of the estuary of the River Medina facing the smaller town of East Cowes on the east Bank...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and was at Louisbourg in 1747 and at Halifax, Nova Scotia
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
in 1749, when it was founded. In 1761, he became a justice of the peace for Halifax County
Halifax County, Nova Scotia
Halifax County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.The Municipality of the County of Halifax was the municipal government of Halifax County, apart from the separately incorporated towns and cities therein...
and, in 1762, became captain in the local militia. Around 1764, he settled at Cornwallis where he acquired a large farm. He married Rebecca Dudley, the widow of Benjamin Gerrish
Benjamin Gerrish
Benjamin Gerrish was a merchant and political figure in Nova Scotia. He was a member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1759 to 1768....
, in 1775; his first wife was named Elizabeth. Burbidge became a major in the local militia, a justice of the peace and a customs collector in King's County
Kings County, Nova Scotia
Kings County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.Kings County is located in central Nova Scotia on the shore of the Bay of Fundy with its northeastern part also forming the western shore of the Minas Basin....
. In 1776, he was named a judge for the Inferior Court of Common Pleas. Burbidge donated land and money to build an Anglican
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
church in Cornwallis. In 1790, he freed his slaves, also providing them with clothes and having them taught to read. He died in Cornwallis in 1812.