Judge Fulton
Encyclopedia
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James "Judge" Fulton (1739 – 25 September 1826) was justice of the peace
, judge
, surveyor, politician
, and founder of the village of Bass River, Nova Scotia
.
Born in Belfast
, Judge Fulton, as he was locally known, is believed to have migrated from Ulster
to New England
c. 1760, where he worked as a surveyor. Arriving in Nova Scotia in what is believed to be 1765, he settled by 1767 in the Township of Londonderry, an area settled primarily by Ulster families since 1761. He was appointed JP for the district of Colchester
soon after in what was then still Halifax County
. He was one of the first land grantees of the township. In 1791, he was appointed a judge of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas for Colchester and in 1793 was commissioned as captain of the local militia regiment. He also made the first complete survey of the township and its villages.
By now a prominent local figure, Fulton was elected to the House of Assembly in 1799 (the 8th General Assembly of Nova Scotia
). He joined Edward Mortimer of Pictou
and William Cottnam Tonge
of Halifax
to form a "country party" that opposed powerful Halifax merchants allied with then Lieutenant Governor, Sir John Wentworth
and the Privy Council
, who favoured development of Halifax town at the expense of rural areas and were known at the time as the "court party". The country party took three of four Halifax County seats contested, including Fulton who finished third. (At the time all candidates campaigned county-wide with the top four finishers receiving the four available seats.)
As a Member of the Assembly, Fulton however voted independently on matters and would at times side with court party members. He served on Assembly committees, particularly ones dealing with road or bridge construction. He does not seem to have run for the 1806 elections. Fulton spent the remainder of his days a farmer on his Bass River homestead until his death. He and his wife Margaret (née Campbell) had seven sons and seven or eight daughters. His great-grandson George Fulton founded Dominion Chair Company
in 1875.
James "Judge" Fulton (1739 – 25 September 1826) was 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...
, judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
, surveyor, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, and founder of the village of Bass River, Nova Scotia
Bass River, Nova Scotia
Bass River is an unincorporated rural community in western Colchester County, north-central Nova Scotia, in the Maritimes of Canada.-Location:...
.
Born in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Judge Fulton, as he was locally known, is believed to have migrated from Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
to 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...
c. 1760, where he worked as a surveyor. Arriving in Nova Scotia in what is believed to be 1765, he settled by 1767 in the Township of Londonderry, an area settled primarily by Ulster families since 1761. He was appointed JP for the district of Colchester
Cobequid
The old name Cobequid was derived from the Mi'kmaq word "Wagobagitk" meaning "the bay runs far up", in reference to the area surrounding the easternmost inlet of the Minas Basin, a body of water called Cobequid Bay....
soon after in what was then still 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...
. He was one of the first land grantees of the township. In 1791, he was appointed a judge of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas for Colchester and in 1793 was commissioned as captain of the local militia regiment. He also made the first complete survey of the township and its villages.
By now a prominent local figure, Fulton was elected to the House of Assembly in 1799 (the 8th General Assembly of Nova Scotia
8th General Assembly of Nova Scotia
The 8th General Assembly of Nova Scotia represented Nova Scotia between May 1799 to 1806, its membership being set in the November 1799 Nova Scotia general election.The Assembly sat at the pleasure of the Governor of Nova Scotia, Sir John Wentworth....
). He joined Edward Mortimer of Pictou
Pictou County, Nova Scotia
Pictou County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. It was established in 1835, and was formerly a part of Halifax County from 1759 to 1835. It had a population of 46,513 people in 2006, which represents a decline of 6.3 percent from 1991. It is the sixth most populous county in Nova...
and William Cottnam Tonge
William Cottnam Tonge
William Cottnam Tonge was a judge and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Hants County from 1793 to 1799 and from 1806 to 1811 and Newport township from 1799 to 1806 in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly....
of 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...
to form a "country party" that opposed powerful Halifax merchants allied with then Lieutenant Governor, Sir John Wentworth
John Wentworth
John Wentworth may refer to:*John Wentworth , lieutenant governor of New Hampshire from 1717-1730*John Wentworth , jurist and revolutionary leader in New Hampshire...
and the Privy Council
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
, who favoured development of Halifax town at the expense of rural areas and were known at the time as the "court party". The country party took three of four Halifax County seats contested, including Fulton who finished third. (At the time all candidates campaigned county-wide with the top four finishers receiving the four available seats.)
As a Member of the Assembly, Fulton however voted independently on matters and would at times side with court party members. He served on Assembly committees, particularly ones dealing with road or bridge construction. He does not seem to have run for the 1806 elections. Fulton spent the remainder of his days a farmer on his Bass River homestead until his death. He and his wife Margaret (née Campbell) had seven sons and seven or eight daughters. His great-grandson George Fulton founded Dominion Chair Company
Dominion Chair Company
Dominion Chair Company is the name commonly used to refer to the wooden furniture manufacturing company that operated from 1860 to 1989 in Bass River, Nova Scotia, Canada. The company still operates a general store....
in 1875.