Charles Morris (surveyor general)

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Charles Morris
Charles Morris.png
Surveyor General
In office
1748–1781
Monarch George III
Succeeded by Charles Morris (1731–1802)
Chief Justice of the Nova Scotia Supreme Court
In office
1776–1778
Preceded by Jonathan Belcher (jurist)
Succeeded by Bryan Finucane
Personal details
Born (1711-06-08)June 8, 1711
Boston, Massachusetts
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Windsor, Nova Scotia
Relations Charles Morris (1731–1802), son; Charles Morris (1759–1831), grandson
Religion Church of England
Charles Morris St. Paul's Church (Halifax), Nova Scotia
File:CharlesMorrisHouseLocationHalifaxNovaScotia.jpg
Chaining Pin and Plaque marking original Charles Morris House Location, VIC Suites on Hollis & Morris Streets, Halifax, Nova Scotia[1]

Charles Morris (8 June 1711 – buried 4 November 1781) was an army officer, served on the Nova Scotia Council, was the Chief Justice of the Nova Scotia Supreme Court (1776-1778) and, as the surveyor general for over 32 years, he created the first British maps of the Canada's maritime region and designed the layout of Halifax, Lunenburg, Lawrencetown, and Liverpool. In Halifax he laid out both the present-day down town core and the Halifax Commons.

History

He was born in Boston and when he first came to the colony he fought in the Battle of Grand Pre. The maps he produced and information he gathered about the disposition of Acadians villages during his surveying of the colony was later used by the Military authority in Halifax to initiate the Expulsion of the Acadians during the French and Indian War.

He fought for and won the establishment of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly (1758). Morris was instrumental in establishing New England Planters in the colony.

As chief justice, his most famous trail was of those who participated in the Eddy Rebellion (1776) at the outbreak of the American Revolution.

Publications

  • “Judge Morris’ remarks concerning the removal of the Acadians,” N.S. Hist. Soc., Coll., II (1881), 158–60
  • “Observations and remarks on the survey made by order of His Excellency according to the instructions of the 26th June last, on the eastern coasts of Nova Scotia and the western parts of the island of Cape Breton,” PANS Report (Halifax), 1964, app.B, 20–28;
  • “The St. John River: description of the harbour and river of St. John’s in Nova Scotia, and of the townships of Sunbury, Burton, Gage, and Conway, lying on said river . . . dated 25th Jan. 1768,” Acadiensis (Saint John, N.B.), III (1903), 120–28.
  • His joint report with Richard Bulkeley, “State and condition of the province of Nova Scotia together with some observations &c, 29th October 1763,” is in PANS Report, 1933, app.B, 21–27. p.r.b.]

Legacy

  • namesake of Morris Street, Halifax
  • Morris House (Halifax) which he son purchased and where he lived is the oldest wooden residence in Halifax

See also

Links

References

Endnotes

Texts

  • Ethel Crathorne, “The Morris family – surveyors-general,” Nova Scotia Hist. Quarterly (Halifax), 6 (1976), 207–16.
  • A. W. H. Eaton, “Eminent Nova Scotians of New England birth, number one: Capt. the Hon. Charles Morris, M.C.,” New England Hist. and Geneal. Register, LXVII (1913), 287–90.
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