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

Nova Scotia Nova Scotia is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada, located on its east coast. It is one of the three Maritime Canada, Maritime provinces and Population of Canada by province and territory, most populous province in Atlan ...

. He represented Kings County from 1761 to 1770 and Sunbury County from 1770 to 1784 in the

Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia The Nova Scotia House of Assembly (; ), or Legislative Assembly, is the deliberative assembly of the General Assembly of Nova Scotia, and together with the lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia makes up the Nova Scotia Legislature. The assembly is ...

Early years

He was born in

Hopkinton, Massachusetts Hopkinton is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, west of Boston. The town is best known as the starting point of the Boston Marathon, held annually on Patriots' Day each April, and as the he ...

, the son of Charles Morris (1711-81) an
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. 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 18th-century members of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly People from Hopkinton, Massachusetts Colony of Nova Scotia judges {{NovaScotia-MLA-stub