Identity area
Type of entity
Authorized form of name
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
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Description area
Dates of existence
History
The Uniacke family of Halifax and Mount Uniacke were prominent in the political, legal, religious, and social life of Nova Scotia. Richard John Uniacke, son of Norman and Alicia (Purdon) Uniacke, was born at Castletown, County Cork, Ireland and emigrated to Halifax, N.S. ca. 1755. He was lieutenant colonel of 8th Battalion, Halifax militia, and founder of the Charitable Irish Society. He held several public offices including MLA, 1783-1793, 1798-1805; speaker of the House of Assembly, 1789-1793, 1799-1805; solicitor general, 1781-1797 and attorney general, 1797-1830. In 1805 he published the third series of the Revised Statutes of Nova Scotia (1758-1804), commonly known as Uniacke's Laws. Between 1780 and 1819, he acquired large tracts of property at Mount Uniacke, where he built his estate and farm. Uniacke married Martha Maria Delesdernier (1762-1803), daughter of Moses Delesdernier of Hillsboro, N.S., on 3 May 1775. After her death, he married Eliza (Newton), daughter of Capt. Phillip Newton, on 14 January 1808. Richard John and Martha had eleven children who survived to adulthood: 1) Norman Fitzgerald (ca. 1777-1846) m. Sophie (Delesdernier); 2) Mary (1782-1825) m. Sir Andrew Mitchell; 3) Crofton (1783-1852?) m. Dorothy (Fawson); 4) Martha Mathilda (b. 1785) m. Thomas Nickelson; 5) Alicia (1787-ca. 1840) m. William Scott; 6) Richard John (1789-1834), m. Mary Ann (Hill); 7) Elizabeth (1791-1844); 8) Anne Margaret (1793-1871) m. Capt. [Kevan] Leslie; 9) Eleanor Rebecca (1795?-1849) m. Dr. William Hacket; 10) Robert Fitzgerald (1797-1870); m. Elizabeth (Francklin); and 11) James Boyle (1800-1858), m. Rosina Jane (Black). Crofton, Richard John II and James Boyle Uniacke followed in their father's footsteps and were active in provincial law and politics. Richard John II was acquitted in 1819 for killing William Bowie in a duel and went on to become MLA for Cape Breton Co. 1820-1830 and later puisne judge of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, 1830-1834. His brother, James Boyle Uniacke, became the first premier of Nova Scotia following the institution of responsible government in 1848. Andrew Mitchell Uniacke (1808-1895), the only child of Richard John and Eliza and husband of Elizabeth (Fraser), was a barrister, MLA, 1843-1847, president of the Bank of the Nova Scotia, and chairman of the Board of School Commissioners of Halifax, 1866-1872.