Henry Mabb
Encyclopedia
Henry Liddell Mabb was a politician, Mountie, and Rancher who lived in Manitoba
, Canada
.
Born at Hull
in Yorkshire
, England
, Henry was christened at Holy Trinity Church. He was the son of Henry Liddell Mabb, Sr. and Ellen Holder, both of whom were born and raised in Yorkshire, England. The eldest child among 12, Henry Mabb, jr. lived an exceptional life in three countries.
Sometime in the late 19th century, Henry Liddell Mabb Sr. relocated the family to Antwerp, Belgium
. They settled in the British ex-pat community and were congregants at the Chapelle des Tanneurs, which had served as the place of worship for Anglicans (Church of England
) in Antwerp since 1821. Several of his brothers and sisters were christened in the chapel. Henry was also educated at the Athénée Royal. He studied and reputedly mastered 4 languages while living in Belgium.
The Mabb family appears to have moved back to England, where brother Stanley Holder Mabb was born at Sutton in 1886. Passenger list manifests show the family moved to Canada in spring of 1887, with Winnipeg
as their ultimate destination. However, according to a 1911 census document, for some reason Henry indicates he immigrated to Canada in 1890. Other family testimonials suggest the senior Mabb family might have made its way into Canada and specifically Manitoba from the United States, but there is no documentation to support this.
Young Henry served the Dominion of Canada as a Constable in the North West Mounted Police (N.W.M.P.) from 1890 to 1895. Engaging in 300 mile treks over the prairies, Mabb's mastery of languages permitted him to develop fluency in Cree and Sioux. Some newspaper accounts suggest Mabb was involved as a translator in talks between representatives of the Crown and Sitting Bull
.
He was fully engaged in service for 5 years until discharged with honours in 1895.
During his political career, he lived in Fisher Branch
, Manitoba. He was elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1920 provincial election
, defeating two Liberal
candidates in the constituency of Fisher. Mabb was elected as an "independent Farmer" candidate, and served with the opposition Independent-Farmer bloc for the next two years.
He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
from 1920 to 1922. Unlike others in the Independent-Farmer bloc, Mabb did not run for the United Farmers of Manitoba in the 1922 provincial election
. Nicholas Bachynsky
received the UFM nomination, while Mabb ran for re-election as an independent candidate. Bachynsky won by 327 votes.
Mabb later joined the Conservative Party
, and challenged Bachynsky again in the 1927 election
. He lost by 444 votes.
In addition to working the land as a rancher, Mabb was employed by the Crown as a Homestead inspector in northern Manitoba, between the lakes.
Henry Liddell Mabb was married twice, first to Bertha May Mullett 1872—1904, then Clara Bird. Mabb was honoured by the RCMP Veteran's Association in 1955, marking the 60th anniversary of his discharge from the N.W.M.P. He died in 1961.
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Notes
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Born at Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, 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...
, Henry was christened at Holy Trinity Church. He was the son of Henry Liddell Mabb, Sr. and Ellen Holder, both of whom were born and raised in Yorkshire, England. The eldest child among 12, Henry Mabb, jr. lived an exceptional life in three countries.
Sometime in the late 19th century, Henry Liddell Mabb Sr. relocated the family to Antwerp, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. They settled in the British ex-pat community and were congregants at the Chapelle des Tanneurs, which had served as the place of worship for Anglicans (Church of England
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...
) in Antwerp since 1821. Several of his brothers and sisters were christened in the chapel. Henry was also educated at the Athénée Royal. He studied and reputedly mastered 4 languages while living in Belgium.
The Mabb family appears to have moved back to England, where brother Stanley Holder Mabb was born at Sutton in 1886. Passenger list manifests show the family moved to Canada in spring of 1887, with Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
as their ultimate destination. However, according to a 1911 census document, for some reason Henry indicates he immigrated to Canada in 1890. Other family testimonials suggest the senior Mabb family might have made its way into Canada and specifically Manitoba from the United States, but there is no documentation to support this.
Young Henry served the Dominion of Canada as a Constable in the North West Mounted Police (N.W.M.P.) from 1890 to 1895. Engaging in 300 mile treks over the prairies, Mabb's mastery of languages permitted him to develop fluency in Cree and Sioux. Some newspaper accounts suggest Mabb was involved as a translator in talks between representatives of the Crown and Sitting Bull
Sitting Bull
Sitting Bull Sitting Bull Sitting Bull (Lakota: Tȟatȟáŋka Íyotake (in Standard Lakota Orthography), also nicknamed Slon-he or "Slow"; (c. 1831 – December 15, 1890) was a Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux holy man who led his people as a tribal chief during years of resistance to United States government policies...
.
He was fully engaged in service for 5 years until discharged with honours in 1895.
During his political career, he lived in Fisher Branch
Fisher Branch, Manitoba
Fisher Branch is a village in the Rural Municipality of Fisher in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It is located on Highway 17 in the north Interlake region of the province. Fisher Branch was originally named Wasoo, but later was changed to Fisher Branch because it was beside a branch of the...
, Manitoba. He was elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1920 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1920
Manitoba's general election of 29 June 1920 was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.-Background:...
, defeating two Liberal
Manitoba Liberal Party
The Manitoba Liberal Party is a political party in Manitoba, Canada. Its roots can be traced to the late nineteenth-century, following the province's creation in 1870.-Origins and early development :...
candidates in the constituency of Fisher. Mabb was elected as an "independent Farmer" candidate, and served with the opposition Independent-Farmer bloc for the next two years.
He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba and the lieutenant governor form the Legislature of Manitoba, the legislature of the Canadian province of Manitoba. Fifty-seven members are elected to this assembly in provincial general elections, all in single-member constituencies with first-past-the-post...
from 1920 to 1922. Unlike others in the Independent-Farmer bloc, Mabb did not run for the United Farmers of Manitoba in the 1922 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1922
Manitoba's general election of July 18, 1922 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.As in the previous election of 1920, the city of Winnipeg elected ten members by the single transferable ballot...
. Nicholas Bachynsky
Nicholas Bachynsky
Nicholas Volodymir Bachynsky was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1922 to 1958, and was Speaker of the Assembly for most of Douglas Campbell's administration.Bachynsky was educated in Galicia and in Brandon, Manitoba...
received the UFM nomination, while Mabb ran for re-election as an independent candidate. Bachynsky won by 327 votes.
Mabb later joined the Conservative Party
Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba is the only right wing political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is also the official opposition party in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.-Origins and early years:...
, and challenged Bachynsky again in the 1927 election
Manitoba general election, 1927
Manitoba's general election of 28 June 1927 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This was the first election in Manitoba history to elect members through a single transferable ballot in all constituencies...
. He lost by 444 votes.
In addition to working the land as a rancher, Mabb was employed by the Crown as a Homestead inspector in northern Manitoba, between the lakes.
Henry Liddell Mabb was married twice, first to Bertha May Mullett 1872—1904, then Clara Bird. Mabb was honoured by the RCMP Veteran's Association in 1955, marking the 60th anniversary of his discharge from the N.W.M.P. He died in 1961.
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Notes