George Stephen Benjamin Jarvis
Encyclopedia
George Stephen Benjamin Jarvis (April 21, 1797 – April 15, 1878) was a judge and political figure in Upper Canada
.
He was born in Fredericton, New Brunswick
in 1797 and moved to York (Toronto
) with his family in 1809. He joined the 49th Regiment of the British Army
as a volunteer and served during the War of 1812
. He served in the 104th Regiment until 1817. He then studied law with Jonas Jones
in Brockville
and was called to the bar in 1823. In 1825, he was appointed judge in the Ottawa District court. In 1836, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
for Cornwall
. In 1837, he was appointed judge in the Johnstown District. During the Rebellions of 1837
, he commanded a cavalry
unit in the Stormont County
militia. In 1842, he was appointed judge in the Eastern District
and continued to serve as judge for the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry
when the county system was introduced in 1849.
He died in Cornwall in 1878.
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
.
He was born in Fredericton, New Brunswick
Fredericton, New Brunswick
Fredericton is the capital of the Canadian province of New Brunswick, by virtue of the provincial parliament which sits there. An important cultural, artistic, and educational centre for the province, Fredericton is home to two universities and cultural institutions such as the Beaverbrook Art...
in 1797 and moved to York (Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
) with his family in 1809. He joined the 49th Regiment of the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
as a volunteer and served during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. He served in the 104th Regiment until 1817. He then studied law with Jonas Jones
Jonas Jones
Jonas Jones was a lawyer, judge, farmer and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born in Augusta Township, Upper Canada in 1791, the son of Ephraim Jones. He was educated at John Strachan's school in Cornwall and studied law with Levius Peters Sherwood in Elizabethtown...
in Brockville
Brockville, Ontario
Brockville is a city in Eastern Ontario, Canada, in the Thousand Islands region. Though it serves as the seat of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, Brockville is politically independent and is grouped with Leeds and Grenville for census purposes only.Known as the "City of the 1000...
and was called to the bar in 1823. In 1825, he was appointed judge in the Ottawa District court. In 1836, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
The Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada was created by the Constitutional Act of 1791. It was the elected legislature for the province of Upper Canada and functioned as the province's lower house in the Parliament of Upper Canada...
for Cornwall
Cornwall, Ontario
Cornwall is a city in Eastern Ontario, Canada and the seat of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Ontario. Cornwall is Ontario's easternmost city, located on the St...
. In 1837, he was appointed judge in the Johnstown District. During the Rebellions of 1837
Rebellions of 1837
The Rebellions of 1837 were a pair of Canadian armed uprisings that occurred in 1837 and 1838 in response to frustrations in political reform. A key shared goal was the allowance of responsible government, which was eventually achieved in the incident's aftermath.-Rebellions:The rebellions started...
, he commanded a cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
unit in the Stormont County
Stormont County, Ontario
Stormont County area is a county in the Canadian province of Ontario.Stormont was created in 1792, however, it was settled seven years earlier in 1785. Veterans of Loyalist regiments were among the first settlers...
militia. In 1842, he was appointed judge in the Eastern District
Eastern District, Upper Canada
Eastern District was one of four districts of the Province of Quebec created in 1788 in the western reaches of the Montreal District and partitioned in 1791 to create the new colony of Upper Canada. Known as Lunenburg District until 1792, it was abolished in 1849...
and continued to serve as judge for the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry
Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry United Counties, Ontario
The United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry is an upper tier county and census division in the Canadian province of Ontario. The county seat is Cornwall...
when the county system was introduced in 1849.
He died in Cornwall in 1878.