John George Pyke

Who was John George Pyke?

John George Pyke was an English-born merchant and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Halifax County from 1785 to 1799 and Halifax Township from 1799 to 1800 and from 1802 to 1818 in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly .

He was the only child of John Pyke and Ann Scrope of Yorkshire. He came to Nova Scotia with his parents in 1750, though he was educated in England. A year after his arrival in Canada his father was killed at Dartmouth by the Mi'kmaqs. Two months later, his mother married Richard Wenman.

At St. Paul's, Halifax in August, 1772, Pyke married Elizabeth Allan, the daughter of Major William Allan by his wife Isabella, daughter of Sir Eustace Maxwell. Elizabeth Pyke was the sister of John Allan. John Pyke inherited his stepfather's properties, including a brewery, in 1781. Pyke also served as magistrate in charge of the police, fire warden and colonel in the local militia. He was also Grand Master for the Freemasons. He died in Halifax.

The Pykes were the parents of seven children: George Pyke was the eldest son, and another son, Lieutenant Wincknatte Pyke of the 7th Royal Fusiliers, was killed at the Siege of San Sebastian.