Charles Morris (December 31, 1731 – January 26, 1802) was a surveyor, judge and political figure in

Nova Scotia Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. Nova Scotia is Latin for "New Scotland". Most of the population are native Eng ...

. He represented

Kings County Kings County or King's County may refer to: Places Canada *Kings County, New Brunswick *Kings County, Nova Scotia *Kings County, Prince Edward Island ** King's County (electoral district), abolished in 1892 Ireland * County Offaly, formerly call ...

from 1761 to 1770 and

Sunbury County Sunbury County (2016 population 27,644) is located in central New Brunswick, Canada. A large military base (CFB Gagetown) is located in the western part of the county south of the town of Oromocto. The county also hosts forestry and mixed farm ...

from 1770 to 1784 in the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia.

Early years

He was born in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, the son of

Charles Morris (1711-81) Charles Morris (8 June 1711 – buried 4 November 1781) army officer, served on the Nova Scotia Council, Chief Justice of the Nova Scotia Supreme Court (1776–1778) and, the surveyor general for over 32 years, he created some of the firs ...

and Mary Read. Morris married Elizabeth Bond Leggett and came to

in 1760. From then until 1781, he assisted his father who held the post of surveyor general for Nova Scotia.

Career

After his father's death in that year, he took over the duties of surveyor general. According to the Book of Negroes, Charles Morris purchased two slaves in 1783.Amoretta, 50, stout wench. Charles Morris of Halifax, claimant. (Charles Morris). Property of Charles Morris as per Bill of Sale from Elijah Ladson, Charlestown, South Carolina. Solomon, 12, fine boy. Charles Morris of Halifax, claimant. (Charles Morris). Property of Charles Morris as per Bill of Sale from Jeremiah Savage, Charlestown, South Carolina. Morris was also registrar for the Vice-Admiralty Court from 1781 to 1802, registrar of wills and probate from 1792 to 1798 and surrogate general for the Probate Court from 1798 to 1802. He also served as a

justice of the peace A justice of the peace (JP) is a judicial officer of a lower or ''puisne'' court, elected or appointed by means of a commission ( letters patent) to keep the peace. In past centuries the term commissioner of the peace was often used with the sa ...

. Morris was named to the

Nova Scotia Council Formally known as "His Majesty's Council of Nova Scotia", the Nova Scotia Council (1720–1838) was the original British administrative, legislative and judicial body in Nova Scotia. The Nova Scotia Council was also known as the Annapolis Counci ...

in 1785.

Death

He died in Halifax at the age of 70. His son Charles Morris (1759-1831) succeeded him as surveyor general.

References

* 1731 births 1802 deaths Nova Scotia pre-Confederation MLAs People from Hopkinton, Massachusetts Colony of Nova Scotia judges {{NovaScotia-MLA-stub