3rd General Assembly of Nova Scotia explained

A writ for the election of the 3rd General Assembly of Nova Scotia was issued on February 28, 1761. The assembly convened on July 1, 1761, held six sessions, and was dissolved on January 30, 1765.

Sessions

Dates of specific sessions are under research.

Governor and Council

• Administrator: Jonathan Belcher continued to serve as acting governor until named Lt. Gov.
• Governor

Henry Ellis named November 21, 1761, never served, Lt. Governors served in his name.

• Lieutenant Governor:
  • Jonathan Belcher named November 21, 1761
  • Montague Wilmot named 14 March 1763, arrived September 26, 1763
• Governor: Montague Wilmot named May 31, 1764
• Lieutenant Governor: vacant?

The members of the Council are currently under research.

House of Assembly

Officers

• Speaker of the House

William Nesbitt of Halifax County

• Clerk of the House:
  • Archibald Hinshelwood of Lunenburg County to 1764.
  • Isaac Deschamps of Falmouth Township from 1764.

Division of seats

Cumberland County and Cumberland Township lost their 4 seats, and 6 new seats were created for Cornwallis,Falmouth and Liverpool Townships, for a total of 24 seats. Onslow and Truro Townships were granted 4 new seats for the second session, for a total of 28. Truro failed to elect its members.

Members

• Annapolis County
  • Joseph Woodmass
  • John Steele -seat declared vacant May 4, 1762 due to death.
    • John Harris -by-election May 6, 1762, took seat June 7, 1762.
• Annapolis Township
  • Joseph Winniett -took seat June 7, 1762.
  • Thomas Day
• Cornwallis Township
  • Samuel Willoughby -might not have served. Seat declared vacant April 26, 1762 for non-attendance.
  • Stephen West -attended, but seat declared vacant April 3, 1764 due to illness.
• Cumberland County
  • not represented
• Cumberland Township
  • not represented
• Falmouth Township
  • Henry Denny Denson
  • Isaac Deschamps
• Halifax County:
  • William Nesbitt
  • Michael Francklin -seat declared vacant May 4, 1762, appointed to Council.
    • John Butler -by-election May 6, 1762, took seat June 7, 1762.
• Halifax Township
  • Malachy Salter
  • John Burbidge
  • Jonathan Binney
  • William Best
• Horton Township
  • William Welch
  • Lebbeus Harris
• Kings County
  • Robert Denison -resigned April 3, 1764 due to old age.
  • Charles Morris (1731–1802)
• Liverpool Township
  • Benjamin Gerrish
  • Nathan Tupper -resigned April 3, 1764, unable to attend.
• Lunenburg County
  • Archibald Hinshelwood
  • Joseph Pernette
• Lunenburg Township
  • Sebastian Zouberbuhler -appointed to Council October 19, 1763, seat declared vacant April 3, 1764.
  • Philip Augustus Knaut
• Onslow Township -writ for first election August 12, 1761
  • William Nevil Wolseley -by-election September 7, 1761, took seat by March 24, 1762, seat declared vacant April 3, 1764 for leaving province.
  • David Cutten -by-election September 7, 1761, seat declared vacant April 3, 1764, never sat.
• Truro Township
  • did not elect its two members

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

• Book: Murdoch, Beamish . Beamish Murdoch . A History of Nova-Scotia, Or Acadie . II . 1866 . J. Barnes . Halifax . 404.
• Book: Elliott, Shirley B. . 1984 . Appendix A: Assembly Lists . The Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia, 1758-1983: a biographical directory . Halifax . Province of Nova Scotia . 244-245 . 0-88871-050-X.