Printed form with script certifying that Jonathan Bliss Esquire is living and acting as Chief Justice in New Brunswick between Dec. 31, (1817?) and July 1st., 1818.

Jonathan Bliss Chief Justice

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Printed on chain-link paper with a watermark "R. Collins & Sons 1816" Written on the last page is "Copy 1 Chief Justice Life Certificate" Full document reads - By His Excellency Major General George Stacy Smyth, Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief of the Province of New Brunswick, &c. &c. &c. These are to Certify that "Jonathan Bliss Esquire" is living, and has been in the execution of his "Office" as "Chief Justice" for this Province, from the "thirty first of December" last to this date. Given under my Hand at Fredericton, the "first" Day of "July" in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and "eighteen." Jonathan Bliss (October 1, 1742 October 1, 1822) was a lawyer, judge and political figure in New Brunswick. He represented St. John County in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1786 to 1792 and from 1796 to 1802. He was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, the son of Luke Bliss and Mercy Ely. Bliss was educated at Harvard College, studied law in Boston and set up practice in Wilbraham. He was named a justice of the peace in 1770 and a major in the militia in the following year. He travelled to England near the start of the American Revolution, and was subsequently named in the Massachusetts Banishment Act of 1778. In 1784, he accepted the post of attorney general for the province of New Brunswick. With Ward Chipman, he was elected to the 1st New Brunswick Legislative Assembly after the sheriff closed the polls early and disallowed votes for opposing candidates. In 1790, Bliss married Mary Worthington. He purchased a large home in Saint John formerly owned by Benedict Arnold. He was named Chief Justice of New Brunswick in 1809 and was appointed to the Executive Council of New Brunswick that same year. He remained a judge until his death in Fredericton in 1822 because the government was not prepared to grant him a pension. His son William Blowers served in the Nova Scotia assembly and was a puisne judge for the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia. Condition poor with small tears along two folds and small tears to the outer edges as well as toning to the folds Single sheet folded with printed text and script on the first page only.

Seller Inventory # 47625

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Printed form with script certifying that Jonathan Bliss Esquire is living and acting as Chief Justice in New Brunswick between Dec. 31, (1817?) and July 1st., 1818.