| Background: |
Amos Botsford, born in Newton, Connecticut in 1744, and a graduate of Yale College, came to Annapolis, Nova Scotia in 1782 as the leader of an advance group of Loyalist refugees from New York. He moved to the newly formed Province of New Brunswick in 1784 to practise law and received the appointments of clerk of the peace, judge of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas, and registrar of deeds for the County of Westmorland. From 1785 until his death in 1812, he represented Westmorland County in the House of Assembly and was elected by each successive House as speaker. He died in Saint John in 1812. William, the only son of Amos Botsford, was born in 1773 in New Haven, Connecticut, and educated at Yale College, entering the bar in New Brunswick in 1795. He moved from Saint John to Westcock (near Sackville, NB) in 1808 to become a partner with his father and succeeded him as member of the House of Assembly in 1812. He was also appointed speaker and served as solicitor general from 1817 until 1823, when he was named to the Supreme Court Bench. He retired in 1854 and died in 1864 in Saint John where he is buried in Fernhill Cemetery with his father, his wife Sarah (a daughter of William Hazen), and his son, Hon. Amos Edwin Botsford. |
| Contents: |
The reel includes material pertaining to both Amos Botsford (1744-1812) and to his son William Botsford (1773-1864), and contains correspondence, appointments, business records, and deeds. Included is a letter to Governor Franklin concerning grants and compensations to Loyalists, c1784; a letter by Joseph Barton and other settlers at Digby relative to complaints against Botsford, who was acting as settlement agent for the British government, n.d.; and a deed to a town lot in Westmorland County, n.d.; William Botsford's receipt book, 1801-1829; a letter from Stephen Jarvis regarding New Brunswick men in the War of 1812 in Upper Canada, 1813; and other correspondence. |
