Jonathan Binney
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Binney was a merchant, judge and political figure in Nova Scotia
. He was a member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
from 1758 to 1764.
He was born in Hull, Massachusetts
, the son of Thomas Binney and Margaret Miller, and went into business in Boston
. Binney married Martha Hall in 1746 and they moved to Halifax
seven years later. With others, he lobbied for representative government in the province. His wife died in childbirth in 1757. Two years later, he married Hannah Adams Newton. Binney was named to the province's Council in 1764. In the same year, he was appointed collector of provincial duties and magistrate at Canso
. In 1768, he became customs collector and judge for St. John's Island (later Prince Edward Island
). He was named judge in the Inferior Court of Common Pleas for Halifax County
in 1772. When Francis Legge
became lieutenant governor, he had Binney and his family arrested because Binney often paid himself first with the funds collected on behalf of the government. Binney successfully brought his case against Legge before the Board of Trade in London
and his debts were forgiven by the Nova Scotia assembly. In 1784, Binney was accused of certifying New England
fisherman as Nova Scotians so that he could sell them fishing licenses. He died in Halifax.
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 was a member of 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...
from 1758 to 1764.
He was born in Hull, Massachusetts
Hull, Massachusetts
Hull is a peninsula town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 10,293 at the 2010 census. Hull is the smallest town by land area in Plymouth County and the fourth smallest in the state...
, the son of Thomas Binney and Margaret Miller, and went into business in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. Binney married Martha Hall in 1746 and they moved to Halifax
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...
seven years later. With others, he lobbied for representative government in the province. His wife died in childbirth in 1757. Two years later, he married Hannah Adams Newton. Binney was named to the province's Council in 1764. In the same year, he was appointed collector of provincial duties and magistrate at Canso
Canso, Nova Scotia
For the headland, see Cape Canso.Canso is a small Canadian town in Guysborough County, on the north-eastern tip of mainland Nova Scotia, next to Chedabucto Bay. The area was established in 1604, along with Port Royal, Nova Scotia. The British construction of a fort in the village , was instrumental...
. In 1768, he became customs collector and judge for St. John's Island (later Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
). He was named judge in the Inferior Court of Common Pleas 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...
in 1772. When Francis Legge
Francis Legge
Francis Legge , was a British military officer and colonial official in Nova Scotia during the 18th century. He served as Governor of Nova Scotia from 1772 to 1776....
became lieutenant governor, he had Binney and his family arrested because Binney often paid himself first with the funds collected on behalf of the government. Binney successfully brought his case against Legge before the Board of Trade in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and his debts were forgiven by the Nova Scotia assembly. In 1784, Binney was accused of certifying New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
fisherman as Nova Scotians so that he could sell them fishing licenses. He died in Halifax.