Thomas Henry Barclay
Encyclopedia
Thomas Henry Barclay was an American lawyer who became one of the United Empire Loyalists
in Nova Scotia
and served in the colony's government.
Barclay came from a prominent New York
family, the son of the Reverend Henry Barclay, an Anglican clergyman, and Mary Rutgers, the daughter of a wealthy brewer. After attending King's College (later Columbia University
), he studied law with John Jay
and was called to the bar in 1775. In the same year, he married Susan DeLancey. Shortly afterwards, his career was interrupted by the beginning of the American Revolutionary War
. Barclay served with distinction in the British forces throughout the war and, with the confiscation of his New York property and having been named specifically in a Bill of Attainder
in that state, he chose to join the loyalists heading to Canada.
After considering New Brunswick
, Barclay opted for Nova Scotia
where the forces were given land grants. At one point, he had moved to Annapolis Royal and began a law practice. He was elected to the 6th General Assembly of Nova Scotia
representing Annapolis County
in 1785 while Edmund Fanning
was governor. The next year, John Parr
became governor. In 1793, Barclay was elected for Annapolis Township
and served as speaker
for the assembly. He also served as lieutenant-colonel in the colony's militia and was boundary commissioner for the British when the border between the United States and New Brunswick was settled in Jay's Treaty. Although he was appointed to the Council for Nova Scotia in 1799, he was given the post of British consul general in New York City later that year. Following the War of 1812
, he became a member of another boundary commission dealing with another section of the border with the United States.
In 1822, he settled at a country home on Manhattan
. He died there in 1830 and was buried in the Bowery
.
United Empire Loyalists
The name United Empire Loyalists is an honorific given after the fact to those American Loyalists who resettled in British North America and other British Colonies as an act of fealty to King George III after the British defeat in the American Revolutionary War and prior to the Treaty of Paris...
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...
and served in the colony's government.
Barclay came from a prominent New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
family, the son of the Reverend Henry Barclay, an Anglican clergyman, and Mary Rutgers, the daughter of a wealthy brewer. After attending King's College (later Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
), he studied law with John Jay
John Jay
John Jay was an American politician, statesman, revolutionary, diplomat, a Founding Father of the United States, and the first Chief Justice of the United States ....
and was called to the bar in 1775. In the same year, he married Susan DeLancey. Shortly afterwards, his career was interrupted by the beginning of the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. Barclay served with distinction in the British forces throughout the war and, with the confiscation of his New York property and having been named specifically in a Bill of Attainder
Bill of attainder
A bill of attainder is an act of a legislature declaring a person or group of persons guilty of some crime and punishing them without benefit of a judicial trial.-English law:...
in that state, he chose to join the loyalists heading to Canada.
After considering New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
, Barclay opted for 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...
where the forces were given land grants. At one point, he had moved to Annapolis Royal and began a law practice. He was elected to the 6th General Assembly of Nova Scotia
6th General Assembly of Nova Scotia
The 6th General Assembly of Nova Scotia represented Nova Scotia between November 1785 to 1793.The Assembly sat at the pleasure of the Governor of Nova Scotia, Edmund Fanning until 1786, and then under Governor John Parr....
representing Annapolis County
Annapolis County, Nova Scotia
Annapolis County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia located in the western part of the province on the Bay of Fundy. The county seat is Annapolis Royal.-History:...
in 1785 while Edmund Fanning
Edmund Fanning (colonial administrator)
Edmund Fanning first gained fame for his role in the War of the Regulation, but later had a distinguished career as a colonial governor and British general.right| Sketch of Edmund Fanning...
was governor. The next year, John Parr
John Parr (governor)
Col. John Parr Parr was born in Dublin, Ireland as part of the Anglo-Irish aristocracy that had settled on the island during the 17th century and attended Trinity High School...
became governor. In 1793, Barclay was elected for Annapolis Township
Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia
Annapolis Royal is a town located in the western part of Annapolis County, Nova Scotia. Known as Port Royal until the Conquest of Acadia in 1710 by Britain, the town is the oldest continuous European settlement in North America, north of St...
and served as speaker
Speaker of the House of Assembly of Nova Scotia
The Speaker for the House of Assembly of Nova Scotia is the presiding Officer of the House of Assembly. Gordie Gosse is the current Speaker of the 61st General Assembly of Nova Scotia....
for the assembly. He also served as lieutenant-colonel in the colony's militia and was boundary commissioner for the British when the border between the United States and New Brunswick was settled in Jay's Treaty. Although he was appointed to the Council for Nova Scotia in 1799, he was given the post of British consul general in New York City later that year. Following 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 became a member of another boundary commission dealing with another section of the border with the United States.
In 1822, he settled at a country home on Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. He died there in 1830 and was buried in the Bowery
Bowery
Bowery may refer to:Streets:* The Bowery, a thoroughfare in Manhattan, New York City* Bowery Street is a street on Coney Island in Brooklyn, N.Y.In popular culture:* Bowery Amphitheatre, a building on the Bowery in New York City...
.