Stair Agnew (judge)
Encyclopedia
Stair Agnew was a land owner, judge and political figure in New Brunswick
, now in Canada
. He represented York County
in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
from 1792 to 1795 and from 1796 to 1821.
Agnew was born in Virginia
, the son of the Reverend John Agnew
, and was educated in Glasgow
, and joined the Queen's Loyal Virginia Regiment at the beginning of the American Revolution
. Agnew and his father, a chaplain for the loyalists, were captured in 1781 and released at the end of the war. He went to England
where he married Sophia Winifred (last name unknown). In 1789, Agnew settled in New Brunswick
near Fredericton
. He served as a justice of the peace
and a judge of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas for the county from 1799 until his death at his estate in York County in 1821.
Agnew, a slave owner, challenged Judge Isaac Allen to a duel after the judge found in favour of an escaped slave in a trial held in 1800. Allen refused the challenge. Agnew later fought with Samuel Denny Street
, one of the lawyers for the slave.http://www.ourroots.ca/e/toc.aspx?id=4339
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
, now in 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...
. He represented York County
York County, New Brunswick
York County is located in west-central New Brunswick, Canada. The county contains the provincial capital, Fredericton. Outside the city, farming and forestry are two major industries in the county, which is bisected by the Saint John River...
in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
The Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick is located in Fredericton. It was established de jure when the colony was created in 1784, but only came in to session in 1786 following the first elections in late 1785. Until 1891, it was the lower house in a bicameral legislature when its upper house...
from 1792 to 1795 and from 1796 to 1821.
Agnew was born in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, the son of the Reverend John Agnew
John Agnew (New Brunswick politician)
John Agnew was a minister and political figure in New Brunswick. He represented Sunbury in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1793 to 1795....
, and was educated in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, and joined the Queen's Loyal Virginia Regiment at the beginning of 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...
. Agnew and his father, a chaplain for the loyalists, were captured in 1781 and released at the end of the war. He went to 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...
where he married Sophia Winifred (last name unknown). In 1789, Agnew settled in New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
near Fredericton
Fredericton, New Brunswick
Fredericton is the capital of the Canadian province of New Brunswick, by virtue of the provincial parliament which sits there. An important cultural, artistic, and educational centre for the province, Fredericton is home to two universities and cultural institutions such as the Beaverbrook Art...
. He served as 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 a judge of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas for the county from 1799 until his death at his estate in York County in 1821.
Agnew, a slave owner, challenged Judge Isaac Allen to a duel after the judge found in favour of an escaped slave in a trial held in 1800. Allen refused the challenge. Agnew later fought with Samuel Denny Street
Samuel Denny Street
Samuel Denny Street was an English-born lawyer and political figure in New Brunswick. He represented Sunbury County in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1795 to 1802 and from 1809 to 1816....
, one of the lawyers for the slave.http://www.ourroots.ca/e/toc.aspx?id=4339