John Creighton (judge)
Encyclopedia
John Creighton was a founding father of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
. He led the settlement through the tubulent times of Father Le Loutre's War
, the French and Indian War
and the American Revolution
. He represented Lunenburg County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
from 1770 to 1775. After establishing the town, he lived the rest of his life in the village until he died fifty-four years later.
He was born in Glastonbury
and served as a lieutenant in the British dragoons. In 1749, he went with Edward Cornwallis
to Halifax
. In 1753, he relocated to Lunenburg
. Creighton was a justice of the peace
and captain in the militia; he later became lieutenant-colonel. In 1753, he was named a judge in the Inferior Court of Common Pleas and, in 1776, he was named a judge for the probate court. Creighton married Lucy Clapp in 1760 after the death of his first wife, Maria. He was unsuccessful when he ran for a seat in the first election held in Nova Scotia. In 1775, he was named to the province's Council.
He participated in the Raid on Lunenburg (1782). He died in Lunenburg.
His daughter Lucy married Hibbert Newton Binney and his daughter Sarah married Lewis Morris Wilkins
. His grandson, also named John Creighton
, also served in the province's assembly.
Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
Lunenburg , is a Canadian port town in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia.Situated on the province's South Shore, Lunenburg is located on a peninsula at the western side of Mahone Bay. The town is approximately 90 kilometres southwest of the county boundary with the Halifax Regional Municipality.The...
. He led the settlement through the tubulent times of Father Le Loutre's War
Father Le Loutre's War
Father Le Loutre’s War , also known as the Indian War, the Micmac War and the Anglo-Micmac War, took place between King George's War and the French and Indian War in Acadia and Nova Scotia. On one side of the conflict, the British and New England colonists were led by British Officer Charles...
, the French and Indian War
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
and the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. He represented Lunenburg County 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...
from 1770 to 1775. After establishing the town, he lived the rest of his life in the village until he died fifty-four years later.
He was born in Glastonbury
Glastonbury
Glastonbury is a small town in Somerset, England, situated at a dry point on the low lying Somerset Levels, south of Bristol. The town, which is in the Mendip district, had a population of 8,784 in the 2001 census...
and served as a lieutenant in the British dragoons. In 1749, he went with Edward Cornwallis
Edward Cornwallis
Lieutenant General Edward Cornwallis was a British military officer who founded Halifax, Nova Scotia with 2500 settlers and later served as the Governor of Gibraltar.-Early life:...
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...
. In 1753, he relocated to Lunenburg
Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
Lunenburg , is a Canadian port town in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia.Situated on the province's South Shore, Lunenburg is located on a peninsula at the western side of Mahone Bay. The town is approximately 90 kilometres southwest of the county boundary with the Halifax Regional Municipality.The...
. Creighton was a justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
and captain in the militia; he later became lieutenant-colonel. In 1753, he was named a judge in the Inferior Court of Common Pleas and, in 1776, he was named a judge for the probate court. Creighton married Lucy Clapp in 1760 after the death of his first wife, Maria. He was unsuccessful when he ran for a seat in the first election held in Nova Scotia. In 1775, he was named to the province's Council.
He participated in the Raid on Lunenburg (1782). He died in Lunenburg.
His daughter Lucy married Hibbert Newton Binney and his daughter Sarah married Lewis Morris Wilkins
Lewis Morris Wilkins (speaker)
Lewis Morris Wilkins was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Lunenburg in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1799 to 1817...
. His grandson, also named John Creighton
John Creighton (Nova Scotia politician)
John Creighton was an English-born lawyer and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Lunenburg in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1830 to 1836, from 1838 to 1847 and from 1851 to 1856....
, also served in the province's assembly.