James Brenton was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...

. He represented Onslow township from 1765 to 1770 and Halifax County from 1776 to 1785 in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly

Nova Scotia House of Assembly

The Nova Scotia Legislature, consisting of Her Majesty The Queen represented by the Lieutenant Governor and the House of Assembly, is the legislative branch of the provincial government of Nova Scotia, Canada...

 .

He was born in Newport, Rhode Island

Newport, Rhode Island

Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...

, the son of Jahleel Brenton and Frances Cranston and the grandson of governor Samuel Cranston

Samuel Cranston

Samuel Cranston was a governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations during the first quarter of the 18th century. He held office from 1698 to 1727, being elected to office 30 times , and served as governor longer than any other individual in the history of both the colony and...

. He became a lawyer in Rhode Island and, in 1760, was admitted to the Nova Scotia bar. Brenton married Rebecca Scott in 1762. He served as captain-lieutenant in the local militia. In 1765, he married Elizabeth Russell. He became solicitor general in 1778 and attorney general the following year. In 1781, he was named an assistant judge in the province's Supreme Court. In 1800, he became a judge in the vice admiralty court

Vice admiralty court

Vice admiralty courts were juryless courts located in British colonies that were granted jurisdiction over local legal matters related to maritime activities, such as disputes between merchants and seamen. Judges were given 5% of confiscated cargo, if they found a smuggling defendant guilty...

. Brenton died in Halifax at the age of 69.

His son, Edward Brabazon

Edward Brabazon Brenton

Edward Brabazon Brenton was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.He was born in Halifax, the son of James Brenton and Rebecca Scott. Brenton studied law at Lincoln's Inn; he was admitted to the Nova Scotia bar in 1785 and set up practice in Halifax. He married...

 became a judge in Newfoundland. His sister Susannah married Brenton Halliburton

Brenton Halliburton

Sir Brenton Halliburton was the eighth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia.- Sources :*A History of Dalhousie Law School by John Wells. University of Toronto Press, 1979...

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