Joseph Pernette

Who was Joseph Pernette?

Joseph Pernette was a German-born merchant and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Lunenburg County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1761 to 1770.

He was born in Strasbourg and came to Nova Scotia with Edward Cornwallis in 1751. Pernette served as an aide-de-camp during the taking of Quebec City. He first settled at Halifax but later moved to the New Dublin area. He built a gristmill and a sawmill on the LaHave River and also built the first ship on the river. Pernette served as justice of the peace, deputy surveyor and was colonel in the local militia. He also conducted a census of the area and constructed a road to Lunenburg. Pernette also operated a ferry connecting that road to the road to Liverpool. He later retired to Halifax and was buried in St. Paul's churchyard there.

His daughter Charlotte married Charles Morris and his daughter Catherine married Garrett Miller.