John Breynton | |
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| Born | 1719 |
| Died | 15 July 1799(1799-07-15) (aged 80) |
| Burial place | St Marylebone Burial ground, Paddington Street, London |
| Spouses | |
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| Parent | John Breynton |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Church |
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John Breynton (1719 – 15 July 1799) was a minister inHalifax,Nova Scotia, Canada.
He was born inTrefeglwys,Montgomeryshire,Wales to John Breynton (born 1670Llanidloes) and his second wife, and baptised on 13 April 1719. He spent his first 14 years between his home atTrefeglwys and school in nearbyNewtown. From 1733 to 1738, he attendedShrewsbury School, and in 1738, matriculated atMagdalene College, Cambridge, subsequently gaining aBA in 1741.[1]
In 1742, he was commissioned as a chaplain in theRoyal Navy. By 1745, he was a chaplain on a ship of war and served in theSiege of Louisbourg (1745). In 1750, he received anMA from Cambridge, and married Elizabeth Wade atSt Mary and St Michael Church, Trumpington,Cambridgeshire.[1] He was sent by theSociety for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, or Venerable Society, to assist atSt Paul's Church,Halifax, Nova Scotia under the auspices of theBishop of London, while the rectorWilliam Tutty returned to London on private business, during which trip Tutty died in 1754. Breynton immediately took over as missionary and minister, or Rector, at St Paul's in 1754.
Earlier, in 1753, he had founded the first free school in Nova Scotia.[2] In 1760, he consecratedSt George's 'Little Dutch' (Deutsch) Church - the second oldest church in Halifax,[3] becoming fluent in German as a result. In 1770, he was awarded anhonorary degree ofDoctor of Divinity by theUniversity of Oxford.[4] He returned to London during 1771–1772 to collect his degree, but returned to resume his post in Halifax. By 30 October 1776, he was Chaplain to theRoyal Fencible American Regiment. He baptised many Blacks in Halifax who arrived after the American Revolution,[5] and purchased a slave's freedom in 1776.[6]
On 13 September 1778, his first wife died, shortly before the 28 November 1778 wedding of their daughter Anne inSt George's, Hanover Square.
By 6 September 1779, as a widower, he remarried and continued as Rector of St Paul's Church, Halifax. With his second wife, he appears to have returned to London shortly after 1785, continuing to draw his Halifax salary of £190 pa until he resigned and was replaced in 1791. In June 1792, he was lodging at Mary Riley's, 63 Edgware Road, London, when he was burgled. The burglar was caught and sentenced to death.[7]
Because of his fluency in German, he was reported to have been a chaplain toQueen Charlotte. He remained in London until his death in 1799.
Breynton married twice:
He married firstlyElizabeth Wade (died 13 September 1778 Halifax, Nova Scotia), on 8 September 1750 atSt Mary and St Michael Church, Trumpington,Cambridgeshire, with issue:
He married secondly the widow,Mrs Mary Gerrish née Cradock, (18 May 1723 Boston, Massachusetts, United States - December 1806Lichfield,Staffordshire, England), on 9 September 1779 at Halifax, Nova Scotia, with no issue. She was the daughter of George Cradock and his wife Mary née Lyde ofBoston, Massachusetts, and the widow of Joseph Gerrish (Boston, Massachusetts 1709-1774 Halifax, Nova Scotia), whom she had married in 1768 Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Breynton died on 15 July 1799 inEdgware Road,Paddington,London. He was buried in theSt Marylebone Burial ground, Paddington Street, London. His widow died in December 1806 atLichfield,Staffordshire.
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