Robert Denison (Nova Scotia politician)
Encyclopedia
Robert Denison was a soldier and political figure in Connecticut
and Nova Scotia
. He was elected to the Connecticut general assembly in 1737, 1742, 1751 and 1756 and represented King's County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
from 1761 to 1764.
He was born in Mohegan (later Montville, Connecticut
), the son of Robert Denison and Joanna Stanton. He served in the New England
militia in campaigns against the French
and native people
s. In 1721, he married Deborah Griswold. He married Prudence Sherman in 1733 after the death of his first wife. In 1745, Denison was captain of a company that took part in an attack on Île Royale (later Cape Breton Island
) and the capture of Louisbourg. In 1759, he received a grant of land in Horton Township, Nova Scotia; the land had been vacated following the expulsion of the Acadians. He was named lieutenant colonel for the local militia and became a justice of the peace
for the county the following year. In 1761, he was named a justice for the Inferior Court of Common Pleas. Denison resigned his seat in the assembly in 1764 and died in late June or early July the following year at Horton (now Hortonville
).
His son Gurdon
also served in the provincial assembly.
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
and 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 was elected to the Connecticut general assembly in 1737, 1742, 1751 and 1756 and represented King's County 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...
from 1761 to 1764.
He was born in Mohegan (later Montville, Connecticut
Montville, Connecticut
Montville is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 18,546 at the 2000 census and 19,571 at the 2010 census....
), the son of Robert Denison and Joanna Stanton. He served in the New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
militia in campaigns against the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and native people
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
s. In 1721, he married Deborah Griswold. He married Prudence Sherman in 1733 after the death of his first wife. In 1745, Denison was captain of a company that took part in an attack on Île Royale (later Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island is an island on the Atlantic coast of North America. It likely corresponds to the word Breton, the French demonym for Brittany....
) and the capture of Louisbourg. In 1759, he received a grant of land in Horton Township, Nova Scotia; the land had been vacated following the expulsion of the Acadians. He was named lieutenant colonel for the local militia and became a justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for the county the following year. In 1761, he was named a justice for the Inferior Court of Common Pleas. Denison resigned his seat in the assembly in 1764 and died in late June or early July the following year at Horton (now Hortonville
Hortonville, Nova Scotia
Hortonville is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Kings County.The site of Fort Vieux Logis is located at the site of the Acadian Memorial Cross and the New England Planters monument in Hortonville, Canada . The fort was built during Father Le Loutre's War.-References:*...
).
His son Gurdon
Gurdon Denison
Gurdon Denison was a physician and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented the town of Horton in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1785 to 1793....
also served in the provincial assembly.