8th General Assembly of Nova Scotia

A writ for the election of the 8th General Assembly of Nova Scotia was issued on October 21, 1799, returnable by December 23, 1799. The assembly convened on February 20, 1800, held six sessions, and was dissolved on May 28, 1806.

Sessions

Dates of specific sessions are under research.

Governor and Council

• Governor-in-Chief of British North America: Sir Robert Milnes
  • Lieutenant Governor: Sir John Wentworth

Technically, Gov. Milnes was appointed not as governor general, but as Governor of the Canadas, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia (four simultaneous appointments). Since a governor only has power when actually in their jurisdiction, the three additional appointments were effectively meaningless, with Lt. Gov. Wentworth serving as acting governor.

The members of the Council are currently under research.

House of Assembly

Officers

• Speaker of the House:
  • Richard John Uniacke of Queens County -resigned November 30, 1805.
  • William Cottnam Tonge of Newport Township -elected November 30, 1805.
• Clerk of the House: James Boutineau Francklin
• Sergeant at Arms: Adolphus Veith -appointed March 10, 1790

Division of seats

The customary assignment of seats was continued: 4 seats assigned to Halifax County, 2 seats to the other counties and to Halifax Township, and 1 seat to the other townships, for a total of 39 seats.

Members

• Amherst Township
  • Thomas Lusby -died February 10, 1801.
    • Thomas Law Dickson -by-election, took seat February 26,1802.
• Annapolis County
  • Thomas Millidge
  • James Moody
• Annapolis Township
  • Phineas Lovett, Jr
• Barrington Township
  • John Sargent -took seat March 22, 1800.
• Cornwallis Township
  • Lemuel Morton
• Cumberland County
  • Thomas Roach
  • George Oxley
• Digby Township
  • Henry Rutherford
• Falmouth Township
  • Jeremiah Northup
• Granville Township
  • Edward Thorne
• Halifax County
  • William Cottnam Tonge -declared not qualified February 28, 1800. (was also elected to Newport Township)
    • Michael Wallace -by-election March 22, 1800, took seat March 26, 1800. Appointed to Council, April 23, 1803.
    • William Lyon -by-election, took seat June 1, 1803.
  • Edward Mortimer
  • James Fulton
  • Charles Morris (1759–1831)
• Halifax Township
  • William Cochran
  • John George Pyke -declared invalid election March 14, 1800.
    • Andrew Belcher -by-election, April 9, 1800, took seat April 16, 1800. Appointed to Council June 11, 1801.
    • John George Pyke -by-election, took seat February 25, 1802.
• Hants County
  • John McMonagle
  • Shubael Dimock
• Horton Township
  • Joseph Allison
• Kings County
  • Jonathan Crane
  • William Allen Chipman
• Liverpool Township
  • Joseph Barss
• Londonderry Township
  • Samuel Chandler
• Lunenburg County
  • Casper Wollenhaupt
  • Lewis Morris Wilkins
• Lunenburg Township
  • John Bolman -took seat February 27, 1800.
• Newport Township
  • William Cottnam Tonge
• Onslow Township
  • Daniel McCurdy
• Queens County
  • Richard John Uniacke -seat vacated November 30, 1805 go to England on personal business.
  • James Taylor -died January 15, 1801.
    • Snow Parker -by-election March 24, 1801, took seat June 22, 1801.
• Shelburne County
  • George Gracie -took seat March 8, 1800, died November 25, 1805.
  • James Cox -took seat March 8, 1800, died in 1805
    • Jacob Van Buskirk -by-election, took seat November 30, 1805.
• Shelburne Township
  • Colin Campbell -took seat March 22, 1800.
• Sydney County
  • Joseph Marshall -took seat June 11, 1801.
  • William Campbell -took seat June 18, 1801, seat declared vacant January 17, 1806, "Atty. Gen'l. of Cape Breton Island and has not attended for two sessions."
• Truro Township
  • Simon Bradstreet Robie
• Windsor Township
  • George Henry Monk -took seat March 10, 1800.
• Yarmouth Township
  • Nathan Utley -took seat March 21, 1800. Died 1804, apparently did not attend 1802-1803.
    • Samuel Sheldon Poole -by-election, took seat June 28, 1804.

Note: Unless otherwise noted, members were elected at the general election, and took their seats at the convening of the assembly. By-elections are special elections held to fill specific vacancies. When a member is noted as having taking their seat on a certain date, but a by-election isn't noted, the member was elected at the general election but arrived late.

References

• David Allison; "History of Nova Scotia", Bowen, Halifax, 1916. Vol. 2
• Elliott, Shirley B. (1984). "Appendix A: Assembly Lists". The Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia, 1758-1983: a biographical directory (PDF). Halifax: Province of Nova Scotia. p. 257-260. ISBN 0-88871-050-X.

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