Nathaniel Pettit
Encyclopedia
Nathaniel Pettit was a political figure in Upper Canada
.
Pettit was born in Sussex County, New Jersey
in 1724. In 1766, he was appointed judge in the county's Court of Common Pleas and he was elected to the legislature in 1768. He opposed taxation without representation and joined a committee supporting a boycott of goods imported from Britain
. In 1776, after he was fined by the Continental Congress
for not paying taxes to them, he joined the Loyalist
cause and was imprisoned from April 1777 to May 1778. After being fined and selling his property at a loss, he was released. In 1787, he moved to the Niagara region, now southwestern Ontario
, where he received a grant of land.
He was appointed to the Court of Common Pleas and the land board of the Nassau District in 1788 and the land board of Lincoln County
in 1792. He became justice of the peace in 1789.
In 1792, he was elected to the 1st Parliament of Upper Canada
representing Durham
, York
and the 1st riding of Lincoln
.
He died in 1803 at Ancaster, Ontario
.
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...
.
Pettit was born in Sussex County, New Jersey
Sussex County, New Jersey
The County of Sussex is the northernmost county in the State of New Jersey. It is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 Federal decennial census, 149,265 persons resided in Sussex County...
in 1724. In 1766, he was appointed judge in the county's Court of Common Pleas and he was elected to the legislature in 1768. He opposed taxation without representation and joined a committee supporting a boycott of goods imported from Britain
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
. In 1776, after he was fined by the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
for not paying taxes to them, he joined the Loyalist
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
cause and was imprisoned from April 1777 to May 1778. After being fined and selling his property at a loss, he was released. In 1787, he moved to the Niagara region, now southwestern Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, where he received a grant of land.
He was appointed to the Court of Common Pleas and the land board of the Nassau District in 1788 and the land board of Lincoln County
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 1792. He became justice of the peace in 1789.
In 1792, he was elected to the 1st Parliament of Upper Canada
1st Parliament of Upper Canada
The 1st Parliament of Upper Canada was opened 17 September 1792. Elections in Upper Canada had been held in August 1792. All sessions were held at Navy Hall in Newark, later Niagara-on-the-Lake...
representing Durham
Durham County, Ontario
Durham County is a historic county in the Canadian province of Ontario. It was named from the English County and city.Durham County was created in 1792. It was composed of the townships of Cartwright, Manvers, Cavan, Darlington, Clarke and Hope, and portions of what is now Peterborough County,...
, York
York County, Ontario
York County is a historic county in Upper Canada, Canada West, and the Canadian province of Ontario.York County was created in 1792 and was part of the jurisdiction of Home District of Upper Canada...
and the 1st riding 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....
.
He died in 1803 at Ancaster, Ontario
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...
.