John George Pyke Explained

John George Pyke (4 January 1744 – 3 September 1828) was an English-born merchant and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Halifax County from 1779 to 1793 and Halifax Township from 1793 to 1800 and from 1802 to 1818 in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.^[1] He also became head of the Police department.^[2] He survived the Raid on Dartmouth (1751) but his father Abraham did not.^{[3] [4] [5]}

Background

He was the only child of (John) Abraham Pyke and Ann Scrope of Yorkshire. He came to Nova Scotia with his parents on the Alderney in 1750, though he was educated in England.^{[6] [7]} A year after his arrival in Canada his father was killed at Dartmouth by the Mi'kmaqs. His father was buried in an unmarked grave in the Old Burying Ground (Halifax, Nova Scotia). Two months later, John's mother married Richard Wenman.^{[8] [9]}

At St. Paul's, Halifax in August, 1772, Pyke married Elizabeth Allan, the daughter of Major William Allan by his wife Isabella, daughter of Sir Eustace Maxwell. Elizabeth Pyke was the sister of John Allan. John Pyke inherited his stepfather's properties, including a brewery and land on Spring Garden Road, in 1781. Pyke also served as magistrate in charge of the police, fire warden and colonel in the local militia. He was also Grand Master for the Freemasons.^[10] Pyke was also a member of the Charitable Irish Society of Halifax. He died in Halifax.

The Pykes were the parents of seven children: George Pyke was the eldest son, and another son, Lieutenant Wincknatte Pyke (d.1813) of the 7th Royal Fusiliers, was killed at the Siege of San Sebastian. One of their daughters, Anne, married James Irvine. Their youngest daughter Isabella married the Honourable Charles Hill.^{[11] [12]}

Further reading

• John George Pyke; Biographical sketch. Obituary. Novascotian, or Colonial Herald. 4 September 1828.

Notes and References

1. Book: Elliott, Shirley B. . 1984 . The Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia, 1758-1983: a biographical directory . Halifax . Province of Nova Scotia . 249&181 . 0-88871-050-X.
2. Obituary. Novascotian or Colonial Herald, 4 September 1828
3. Web site: Nova Scotia, in its historical, mercantile and industrial relations. Duncan. Campbell. July 25, 1873. Montreal : J. Lovell. July 25, 2019. Internet Archive.
4. Book: Wilson, John. A genuine narrative of the transactions in Nova Scotia since the settlement, June 1749, till August the 5th, 1751 [microform] : in which the nature, soil, and produce of the country are related, with the particular attempts of the Indians to disturb the colony]. July 25, 1751. London : Printed and sold by A. Henderson ... [and 5 others]. 9780665201530. July 25, 2019. Internet Archive.
5. Web site: The History of Kings County, Nova Scotia, Heart of the Acadian Land, Giving .... July 25, 1910. The Salem Press Company. July 25, 2019. Internet Archive.
6. https://archive.org/stream/magazinehistory19unkngoog#page/n199/mode/1up/search/nova+scotia The magazine of history with notes and queries, Vol. 12, July-December 1910. p. 171
7. Web site: Extracts from British archives on the families of Halley, Hawley, Parry, Pyke, etc. : (Third series). Eugene Fairfield. McPike. July 25, 1910. New York. July 25, 2019. Internet Archive.
8. There is another story of a boy who survived by hiding under a bed while his parents were killed. This account is not of Pyke because his mother survived the attack (See Letters from Nova Scotia, p. 29).
9. Note: Assertions that Pyke was a private secretary of Cornwallis are in error given that he was a child during Cornwallis tenure (See here).
10. Web site: The Masonic Magazine, Oct. 1, 1873: Page 30 | Masonic Periodicals .
11. Web site: Cochran-Inglis family of Halifax. Arthur Wentworth Hamilton. Eaton. July 25, 1899. Halifax : C.H. Ruggles. July 25, 2019. Internet Archive.
12. Encyclopedia: Robb . Andrew . John George Pyke . . 1987 . 2008-09-28 .