LOYALISTS & THE LAW
Among the thousands of United Empire Loyalists who arrived in Nova Scotia were ones who became politicians, justices of the peace, and lawyers. They had an impact on the future province.
The Royal Arms of King George III can be seen on Province House, the Nova Scotia Legislative Building in Halifax, pictured below. It was built between 1811 and 1818 and is the oldest Legislative Building in Canada. On April 4, 1818, they were carved on the sediment by David Kinnear.
The Nova Scotia House of Assembly that meets in Province House is the oldest elected legislature in Canada. It first met on October 2, 1758. Before Province House was completed, it met at several locations in Halifax.
The United Empire Loyalists who became legislators, judges, and lawyers in Nova Scotia included:
Annapolis County
Joseph Aplin (1740 - 1804). Born in Rhode Island. Colonial lawyer who fled to Nova Scotia as Loyalist in 1783. He moved to Prince Edward Island, where he briefly served as Solicitor General and Attorney General, then returned to Nova Scotia where he resumed a law practice in Annapolis Royal. Aplin was one of Colonel James DeLancey's lawyers who filed suit against William Worden for harboring an escaped slave. He may have been the author of a pamphlet entitled Opinons of Several Gentlemen of the Law on the Subject of Negro Servitude in the Province of Nova Scotia, published in Saint John. Believed to have died in Rhode Island.
Thomas Henry Barclay (1753 - 1830), Graduate of Columbia and briefly practiced law in New York. Officer in the Loyal American Regiment, settled in Wilmot Township, moved law practice to Annapolis Royal. Elected to represent Annapolis County in 1785 in House of Assembly. Appointed British Boundary Commissioner under the terms of the Jays Treaty of 1794. Resided in New York where died and was buried. He was married to Susan DeLancey in 1775 at New York and was the brother - in - law of Colonel James DeLancey.
Rufus Chandler (1747 - 1823). Born in Worchester, Massachusetts. Graduated from Harvard in 1766. Served in Loyalist militia in New York. From April 1783 to September 1783 appointed to Board which processed applications of Loyalists wanting to leave. Practiced as lawyer in Annapolis Royal for 3 years but found unprofitable. Died in London, England. Buried with father John "Tory" Chandler . His wife Eleanor (Putnam) died in Worchester, Massachusetts prior to 1781. A daughter Eliza Putnam (Chandler) Vose, who survived them, was married and is buried in Mount Vernon Cemetery at Augusta, Maine with a gravestone. Rufus was conveyed 1,000 acres of land in Wilmot from his father John Chandler by deed date 11 May 1788 and recorded in Book 8 at Page 183, document number 80183, on NS Property Online. He subsequently deeded it on 11 September 1789 to Benjamin Fales by conveyance recorded in Book 8 at Page 217, document number 80217.
Colonel James DeLancey (1746 - 1804) . Leader of DeLancey's Cowboys, also known as the Westchester Refugees, for Westchester County, New York. He settled at Round Hill. Served as member of House of Assembly for Annapolis from 1786 to 1794 when elevated to the Nova Scotia Council. The Council was a group of 12 men appointed by the Governor to advise him. It began in 1720 in Annapolis as the Annapolis Council and was ended in 1838. It would review and could block bills from the elected House of Assembly. It acted as the colony's upper house of the legislature. His gravestone is in the DeLancey Family Cemetery .
Stephen DeLancey (1738 - 1809). From New York. Brother to Colonel James DeLancey. Settled in Annapolis Royal where practiced law and represented Annapolis Township in House of Assembly from 1784 - 1789.
Abraham Gesner (1756 - 1851). Born in Hackensack County, New Jersery. Served with King's Orange Rangers, settled and farmed at Belleisle, Annapolis County, elected representative to House of Assembly from 1824 to 1827. Buried in Gesner Cemetery at Belleisle. He was also the uncle of the famous geologist of the same name.
James William Johnston (1792 - 1873). Born in Jamaica. Son of Loyalists William Martin Johnston and Elizabeth Liechtenstein. Trained as lawyer in Annapolis Royal with Thomas Ritchie. Opened law practice in Kentville. Became Premier of Nova Scotia from 1857 to 1860 and 1863 to 1864.
Lt. Col. William Robertson (1756 - 1812). Of Scottish descent. Merchant engaged in trade with West Indies. Represented Annapolis Township from 1808 - 1811. His son John Robertson also served in the House of Assembly. Buried with headstone in Garrison Cemetery at Annapolis Royal.
David Seabury (1749 - 1840). Born in Nassau, New York. Captain of Loyalist Regiment. Half - brother Samuel became first Episcopal Bishop of United States. Settled at Granville. Elected from 1786 to 1793 to House of Assembly. Served as Justice of the Peace. Returned in 1806 to New York.
Digby County
Isaac Bonnell (1737 - 1806). From New Jersey. Served as Justice of the Peace and later as a Puisne Judge of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas. During this time Justices of the Peace were local judicial officers who heard minor cases, maintained public order, and issued arrest warrants. The local Inferior Courts of the Common Pleas handled civil suits, debt disputes, and property matters.
Amos Botsford (1744 - 1812. Born in Newtown, Connecticut. Graduated from Yale. In fall of 1782 appointed Commissioner for the Lloyd Neck Associated Loyalists under commission from Sir Guy Carleton. On 20 October 1782 he reached Annapolis Royal with advance group of Loyalists from New York. In spring appointed Agent for the Loyalists settling in Digby. He was granted lands in the Town and County. With formation of New Brunswick in 1784 he moved to Dorchester. Received appointment as Clerk of the Peace, Judge of the Court of Inferior Pleas, and Registrar of Deeds for Westmorland County. Elected to New Brunswick House of Assembly from 1785 until his death and also chosen as Speaker of the House.
Isaac Hatfield (1747 - 1822). From Westchester County, New York where commanded a corps of Loyalists. Justice of the Peace and Judge of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas.
Terence Kerin. Native of Ireland. First lawyer in Digby. Previously, he was attorney - at - law in New York. Died at Digby in 1816. His widow Diana Maria Kerin died at age 89 and is buried with headstone in St. Peter's Cemetery in Weymouth North.
Thomas Milledge (1735 - 1816), of New Jersey, settled first at Digby with a house on Carleton Street, served as Justice of Peace, Land Surveyor, and a member of Legislative Assemby. Moved to Granville in Annapolis County. Buried with headstone in All Saints Anglican Graveyard .
James Moody (1744 - 1809). Officer with New Jersey Volunteers, shipbuilder, farmer, elected to House of Assembly from 1793 to 1806. Buried with wife Jane at St. Peter's Church Cemetery in Weymouth North upon land they donated for the Church.
Henry Rutherford (1751 - 1807), merchant, native of Ireland. First elected representative of Digby Township in the House of Assembly from 1793 to 1806 and later represented Annapolis County from 1806 until his death. He has no marked grave. However, his daughter Mary (Rutherford) Hughes has a headstone in Trinity Church Cemetery at Digby.
Guysborough County
Sir William Campbell (1758 - 1834). Native of Caithness, Scotland. Served with the 76th Regiment. Early Loyalist settlor in Guysborough where started his political and legal career. Moved to Upper Canada, where rose to become the Chief Justice of Upper Canada and member of the Executive and Leglislative Councils.
Thomas Cutler (1752 - 1837). Born in Boston, Massachusetts. Educated at Yale. Joined Loyalist volunteers. Ensign in Orange Rangers. First settled at Port Mouton with wife Elizabeth (Goldsbury) Lawyer, merchant, Justice of the Peace. Town Clerk. In 1793 elected to House of Assembly for Sydney County. Buried beside Christ Church Anglican Church in Guysborough.
Joseph Marshall (1755 - 1847), Native of Londonderry, present day Northern Ireland. Served as Officer in Georgia militia. Settled in Guysborough and served as a member of House of Assembly. His son John George Marshall was a prominent lawyer, judge, and member of the House of Assembly.
Halifax County
Sampson Salter Blowers (1742 - 1842). From Boston, Massachusetts. A Harvard graduate and barrister who defended the British soldier in the Boston Massacre alongside John Adams. Served as Attorney General (1784), Speaker of the House of Assembly (1785), Chief Justice of Nova Scotia, and President of Nova Scotia Council. He is also known for helping to dismantle slavery in Nova Scotia by requiring owners to legally proved ownership claims. Blowers Street in Halifax named for him
Lawrence Hartshorne (1755 - 1822). Quaker from Monmouth County, New Jersey. Businessman. Served as member of House of Assembly (1793) and Nova Scotia Council. Chief assistant to John Clarkson, abolitionist, in project to transport black loyalists to Sierra Leone.
Joseph Howe (1804 - 1873), son of United Empire Loyalist John Howe. Born in Halifax. Premier of Nova Scotia from 1860 to 1863.
Simon Bradstreet Robie (1770 - 1858). Arrived in Halifax as a child with Loyalist parents from Massachusetts. Studied law in Halifax. Became successful lawyer and elected to House of Assembly to represent Halifax County in 1799. Served as Speaker of the House of Assembly and Nova Scotia's first Master of the Rolls. Robie Street in city named for him.
Jonathan Sterns (1751 - 1798). Born in Massachusetts. Educated at Harvard. Practiced law in Nova Scotia, represented Halifax County in the House of Assembly, and served as Solicitor General for Nova Scotia from 1797 - 1798. Married to daughter of Loyalist Thomas Robie. He filed a writ of habeas corpus in 1799 against Digby Justice of the Peace William Frederick Hecht to free an illegally arrested Black Loyalist. Sterns was also a central figure in the "Impeachment of the Judges" controversy of 1787 - 1790, where Loyalist lawyers challenged existing Nova Scotian judicial establishment. Died in Halifax after fight with Attorney General Richard John Uniacke and buried with unmarked grave in Old Burying Ground.
James Stewart (1765 - 1830). Born in Annapolis, Maryland. Educated in Halifax and Edinburgh, Scotland. Elected in 1798 to represent Halifax County in House of Assembly from 1798 to 1799. Served as well as Solictor General (1798), a Supreme Court Justice (1815), and a member of Nova Scotia Council from 1816 until his death.
William Taylor (1746 - 1806). Prior to American Revolution, he had a profitable law practice in Freehold, New Jersey. His father was a County Court Judge. Opposed independence. In 1783 left for England from New York to file Loyalist claim. Settled in Halifax where worked to establish law practice. Appointed Chief Justice of Jamaica. Married Elizabeth, daughter of Colonel Philip Van Cortlandt. Returned to New Jersey where he resided and upon death buried in St. Peter's Churchyard at Perth Amboy.
Michael Wallace (1744 - 1831). Born in Lanarkshire, Scotland. Became merchant in Norfolk, Virginia. Moved to Halifax about 1779. Elected to House of Assembly in 1785. Served as treasurer for over 30 years and ran government patronage as a member of the Nova Scotia Council.
Shelburne County
Colin Campbell (1752 - 1835). Born in Inverary, Scotland. Lawyer who Represented Shelburne Township in House of Assembly from 1793 - 1818. Served as Collector of Customs (1789). In 1818 moved to St. Andrews, New Brunswick as Collector of Customs. Retired and lived in Weymouth, Nova Scotia.
Jacob Van Buskirk (1760 - 1834). New Jersey Loyalist who served as a Lieutenant in the 4th battalion of the New Jersey Volunteers. Became merchant, Justice of the Peace (1802), judge and member of the House of Assembly (1805 - 1818).
Gideon White (1755 - 1833). Massachusetts born. Merchant, magistrate, and member of House of Assembly (1790 - 1793).
Isaac Wilkins (1743 - 1830). Native of New York. Represented Shelburne in House of Assembly from 1785 - 1793. Returned to New York. His son Lewis also practiced law and became an Assistant Judge of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia in 1818.
Others
Joseph Norman Bond (1758 - 1830). Native of Cheshire, England. Doctor, militia officer, Justice of the Peace, Collector of Customs and Excise. Came to Shelburne with Loyalists in 1783 and then settled in Yarmouth in 1787. His son James was appointed to the Legislative Council and daughter Anne married Judge Thomas Ritchie.
Archibald Dodd (1740 - 1831) . Born in England. Between 1783 and 1787 worked in London assisting Loyalists to purchase military positions. Arrived in Sydney, Cape Breton in 1787. One of only two lawyers in Sydney, hired as Clerk to the Executive Council. Appointed Lieutenant - Governor's personal secretary. Married Susannah Gibbons, daughter of other lawyer in Sydney, Richard Gibbons. Appointed Chief Justice. His son Edmund Dodd became a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia.
Elisha Lawrence (1740 - 1811) . From Monmouth County, New Jersey. Served with New Jersey Volunteers. Elected to House of Assembly from 1785 to 1793 representing Kings County.
James Lent (1753 - 1828). Born in Tappan, New York. Served with New Jersey Volunteers. Settled in Tusket in 1785. Jusice of the Peace and Judge of the Common Pleas for Yarmouth County. Elected to House of Assembly from 1806 to 1818. The oldest standing Courthouse in Canada, built in 1805, is in Tusket.
Hector Maclean (1751 - 1812). Served as Lieutenant with 84th Regiment. Represented Hants County in House of Assembly from 1793 to 1799. Also was Justice of the Peace and Judge for the Inferior Court of Common Pleas.
Benjamin Marston (1730 - 1792). Born Salem, Massachusetts. Graduated from Harvard. In 1776 went with British from Boston to Halifax. Appointed Surveyor of new Loyalist settlement of Shelburne. Cousin of prominent United Empire Loyalist Edward Winslow .
Further Reference:
A public defense of pivate power; DeLancey vs. Woodin and the decline of slavery in Nova Scotia, 1800 - 1808 by Katherine S. Ritchie, accessed October 12, 2026
The Impeachment of the Judges of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, 1787 - 1793, Colonial Judges, Loyalist Lawyers, and the Colonial Assembly , by Jim Phillips, accessed October 12, 2026
Archibald Dodd (1740 - 1831) - A Most Interesting Chief Justice , by the Old Sydney Society, on Historic Nova Scotia, accessed October 13, 2026
The Loyalists of Digby by Brian McConnell. U.E.
Loyalist Cemeteries & Gravestones of Nova Scotia by Brian McConnell, U.E.
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