Early Nova Scotians:
1600-1867.

Click
the letter and you will be brought to the beginning of the appropriate biography list.

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

To History Jump-Off Page

HOME

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

-M-

Maillard, Antoine Simon, Abbe (1710-1762):

An Acadian missionary. (More)

Maisonfort, Alexandre Boisdescourt, Marquis de La:

The captain of the French man of war, Vigilant, taken by Warren off Louisbourg on May 20th, 1745. (See "The Taking of the Vigilant" and see in particular footnote #10.)

Maitland, Sir Peregrine (1777-1854):

The Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia, 1828-1834: Maitland was born in Hampshire. At the age of 15 he joined the Grenadier Guards. As a career officer, he caught the updraft caused by the Napoleonic Wars (1793-1815). He fought in a number of European battles, and by 1813 he was a Major General. He was at the Battle of Waterloo, for which service he was knighted and made a Commander of the Order of the Bath. In 1818, Maitland was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada. Then, in 1828, he was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia. Dalhousie wrote of Maitland; "Sir P. Maitland is tall, thin & silent; very well bred & gentleman-like, but evidently not a favorite with the Duke [of Richmond, the Governor-general of Canada] who, they say, has never pardoned him for carrying off his daughter Lady Sarah [1817-1900]."

Marin, de La Malgue, Joseph (1719-1774):

A French military officer active in Acadia. (More)

Marsters, Richard Upham (1787-1845):

Marsters was a clock and watchmaker, jeweller, silversmith and inventor. He was born in Onslow, Nova Scotia. Apprenticed at the age of 14, by 1817 he had opened his own business at Halifax. His business was with regular people and also with fellow watchmakers advertising that “any kind of Watch Wheels will be made and gilded agreeably to order, upon short notice.” If government, or any person, needed a medal to award a person or commemorate an event, it was to Marsters to whom they turned. Marsters died at Falmouth, Nova Scotia.

Mascarene, Jean Paul (1684-1760):

A fondly remembered governor of English Nova Scotia who came with the troops to take Port Royal in 1710 and continued his connections with the province until his death. In 1739 he was to become governor of Nova Scotia and continued in that capacity until 1749. (More)

Maugher, Joshua (1725-88):

Maugher, a Jerseyman, came into the newly founded Halifax in 1749 and for eleven years traded throughout the province in any product that could make him a buck including the sale of tomahawks to the Indians. In 1760, he retired to London with a fortune. (More)

McCulloch, Rev. Thomas (1776-1843):

Presbyterian minister and educator, McCulloch was born in Fereneze, a place near Paisley, Scotland. "He studied Oriental Languages and medicine at Glasgow University before entering the Divinity Hall of the Secession Church at Whitburn." He, his wife and three small children set out for Prince Edward Island in 1803. They landed at Pictou and were convinced they should stay there as opposed to going on to PEI. His work was to be as a missionary, but his attention was turned to education. He taught students in his own home; his reputation soon spread; he had students from as far as away as Cape Breton and the West Indies. By 1811, McCulloch's established what was to become known as the Pictou Grammar School with McCulloch as its principal. In 1816, he opened the Pictou Academy. When Dalhousie University was established at Halifax in 1838, McCulloch became its first principal.

McNutt, Colonel Alexander (1725-1811):

McNutt was a colonizer and land agent who was responsible for the founding of New Dublin and Londonderry by bring in Irishmen during the years 1761 and 1762. (More)

Melbourne, Lord, William Lamb, 2nd Viscount ... (1779-1848):

Melbourne went up from Eton to Cambridge (Trinity) from which he studied for the bar and was called in 1804. He became the legal adviser "to the Cokes of Norfolk." In 1806 he took a seat in parliament. He was appointed as the Chief Secretary for Ireland (1827-8); then Home Secretary (1830-4). He became Prime Minister for a few months in 1834; then again in 1835 and stayed in that position until 1841 when Peel took over. Queen Victoria came to the throne in 1837 and Melbourne was her first Prime Minister. "He showed remarkable tact in introducing her to her duties." (Chambers.)

Membertou, Chief Henri: (d.1611):

Chief of the Port Royal Indians, a subset of the Micmac. (More)

Meneval, Louis-Alexandre Desfriches (d.1703):

French governor at Port Royal when it was surrendered to the English in 1690. (More)

Mitchell, Admiral Andrew (d.1806):

Vice-Admiral Mitchell was the Commander-in-chief of the North American and West Indian Stations in 1802-1806. Could not find out too much about Admiral Mitchell. There was a short bit in Murdoch: "Married, at Halifax, May 3, 1805, [at] ... St. Paul's, Vice Admiral Sir Andrew Mitchell, K.B., commander-in-chief of H.M. Fleet on that station, to Miss Mary Uniacke, eldest daughter of R.J. Uniacke, esq'r., of this town; and Thomas N. Jeffery, esq'r., Collector of H.M. Customs, to Miss Martha Maria Uniacke, second daughter of the same gentleman."

Monckton, Robert (c1726-1782):

The British officer who led the forces in the taking of Fort Beausejour in June of 1755; and, who then superintended the deportation of the Acadians that lived thereabouts. Winslow's reported to Monckton. (More)

Monts, Du Gua de ..., Pierre (c1558-1628)

De Monts was the spark plug that brought the early french settlers to both Acadia and Quebec. An entrepreneur who had a feeling for the new world as a man of nature; he "assembled a collection of animals and birds, portraits of Indians, artifacts, and other curiosities ..." (More)

Moody, James (1745-1809)

Moody fought on the side of the British during the American Revolution in the New Jersey area. As a Loyalist, Moody came to Nova Scotia and settled at Sissiboo. (More)

Morpain, Pierre (1686-1749):

Another French privateer. (More)

Morris, Charles (1711-81):

Morris, a Bostonian surveyor, came to layout the newly founded English community of Halifax, in 1749, and stayed on to become one of its chief citizens. (More)

Morris, Charles (1731-02):

At first I thought there was only one Charles Morris, then I realized that there were three: grandfather, father & son. Here we deal with the father, viz. the eldest child of Charles Morris and Mary Read. The younger Charles married Elizabeth Bond Leggett. They had eleven children. As the eldest son, it will not be surprising to read that he was to succeed his father as the Surveyor General for Nova Scotia. Between 1770 and 1785 Charles served in the House of Assembly. He was registrar of the Vice-Admiralty Court from 1771 until his death, registrar of wills and probate from 1792 to 1798, surrogate general of the Probate Court from 1798 to 1802, and a justice of the peace. In 1785, Charles took a seat at the Council table (similar to our modern day cabinet). "Despite his complaints of the expenses of his offices, Morris amassed a considerable estate, probably through his property transactions." (DCB.)

Morris, Charles (1759-31):

At first I thought there was only one Charles Morris, then I realized that there were three: grandfather, father (immediately above) & son (our subject). Here we deal with the son, viz. the child of Charles Morris (1731-02) and Elizabeth Leggett. This Charles married Charlotte Pernette. They were to have Fifteen children. (There has to be a lot of descendants from these Morrises, here in Nova Scotia and beyond.) Morris was to succeed to the job held by his father and his grandfather, to being the Surveyor General. During the war years he was a captain (later major) in the Halifax militia. He was also, we read in the DCB, a justice of the peace, registrar of wills and probate from 1798, and from 1802 surrogate general of the court of probate and registrar of the Vice-Admiralty Court. We further read: "Besides his difficulties as surveyor general [everyone was looking for a grant of land from the government], Morris encountered problems from his duties in the Vice-Admiralty Court. In 1805 actions taken against him in the High Court of Appeals in England for the refund of commissions of more than £1,200 put him to great expense before the case was settled in his favour." The fourth in the line of Morrises was also to take the position of Nova Scotia's Surveyor General, when, in April of 1831, John Spry Morris, took over his father's office in charge of crown lands.

Mostyn, Savage (?):

Mostyn made lieutenant in 1734 and captain by 1740. In 1755 he had been just newly minted as a Rear Admiral of the Blue (February, 1755), when, with his brother admiral, Boscawen, he attended to the Council meeting at Halifax when the fateful resolution of July 28th, 1755, was passed.

Motte, de La, Emmanuel-Auguste de Cahideuc, Comte Dubois ... (1683-1764):

During the period under review, which covers The Seven Years War (1756-1763), de La Motte was one of the most illustrious naval men afloat, notwithstanding his advanced years. In 1757, he was to come to Louisbourg and command a large French fleet; it had the intended effect, for it discouraged the English from carrying through with their plans, at least for that year. (More)

Muiron, David-Bernard (1684-1761):

A French contractor responsible for the construction of Louisbourg between the years 1736-1745. (More)

Murray, Captain Alexander (1715-1762):

Alexander Murray, Scotsman, who was the commanding English army officer at Fort Edward (current day Windsor, Nova Scotia) during the year 1755, and therefore the field officer in charge of the deportation of the Acadians at Piziquid. (More)

Murray, Vice-Admiral George (1759-1819):

Vice-Admiral Murray was the Commander-in-chief of the North American and West Indian Stations in 1794-1796. Murray made lieutenant in 1778; Captain, 1782; Rear-admiral, 1804; Vice-admiral, 1809. In 1795 he commanded the Nymphe (36). We see that during June of 1800, Murray was at Spithead as captain of the Achille (74; built in 1798).
As for reference of Murray at Halifax, we have this:
1794: "... news [Rec's July 25th] that Admiral Murray has fell in with the second fleet that sailed from the Chesapeake for France, under convoy of the Concorde & some smaller ships, said to consist of about fifty sail, and that the convoy & the whole fleet are taken. Some of the men-of-war and some of the prizes are arrived at Halifax. This fleet being loaded with flour, bread, etc. will be a great acquisition to us, and a material loss to the French. (Simeon Perkins.)
1796: "6 June ... A vessel arrived from Halifax reports that a Commodore is arrived at Halifax in a sixty gun ship, that Admiral Murray is to go home." (Perkins.)
1796: "14 September ... News that Admiral Murray's Squadron has captured a French Frigate of 44 guns & carried her into Halifax." (Perkins.)

_______________________________

Found this material Helpful?

_______________________________

[Up]
[The Lion & The Lily -- Book 1 (1500-1763)]
[Settlement, Revolution & War -- Book 2 (1760-1815)]
[The Road To Being Canada -- Book 3 (1815-1867)]
[Nova Scotian Biographies]
Dates
Glossary
[History Jump Page]
[Home]

Peter Landry
2012 (2020)