Winckworth Tonge

Who was Winckworth Tonge?

Winckworth Tonge was a soldier, land owner and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Cumberland County from 1759 to 1760, King's County from 1765 to 1783 and Hants County from 1785 to 1792 in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.

He was born in County Wexford, Ireland and, in 1743, served as a volunteer in the expedition against the Spanish American settlements led by Captain Charles Knowles. He joined the 45th Foot, served at Louisbourg on Cape Breton Island from 1746 to 1749 and then went with the regiment to Halifax, Nova Scotia. In 1758, he took part in the siege of Louisbourg and, in 1759, served with General Wolfe at Quebec City. After he retired from the army, he received grants of land in Nova Scotia. Tonge married Martha Grace Cottnam. He served as colonel in the local militia and as justice of the peace. He was also justice of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas for Hants County and provincial superintendent of roads, bridges, and public works. In 1773, he was named naval officer for Nova Scotia. After suffering losses at the hands of American privateers, he had to sell most of his property later in his life. He died in 1792 at Halifax.