John Creighton

Who was John Creighton?

John Creighton was a founding father of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. He led the settlement through the tubulent times of Father Le Loutre's War, the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. He represented Lunenburg County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1770 to 1775. After establishing the town, he lived the rest of his life in the village until he died fifty-four years later.

He was born in Glastonbury and served as a lieutenant in the British dragoons. In 1749, he went with Edward Cornwallis to Halifax. In 1753, he relocated to Lunenburg. Creighton was a justice of the peace and captain in the militia; he later became lieutenant-colonel. In 1753, he was named a judge in the Inferior Court of Common Pleas and, in 1776, he was named a judge for the probate court. Creighton married Lucy Clapp in 1760 after the death of his first wife, Maria. He was unsuccessful when he ran for a seat in the first election held in Nova Scotia. In 1775, he was named to the province's Council.

He participated in the Raid on Lunenburg. He died in Lunenburg.

His daughter Lucy married Hibbert Newton Binney and his daughter Sarah married Lewis Morris Wilkins. His grandson, also named John Creighton, also served in the province's assembly.