Berton, George Frederick Street

  • DICTIONARY OF CANADIAN BIOGRAPHY ARTICLE: D. G. Bell, “BERTON, GEORGE FREDERICK STREET,” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 7, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–. https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/berton_george_frederick_street_7E.html
  • DCB profile notes:
    • Lawyer and office holder; b. 10 Dec. 1808 in Burton Parish, N.B., eldest son of George Duncan Berton and Ann Frances Street; m. 28 Sept. 1833 Delia Hooke in Fredericton, and they had three children; d. there 31 Jan. 1840.
    • The son of the high sheriff of York County, Berton was reared in Fredericton and St Andrews. In 1822 he entered the College of New Brunswick and, taking no degree, subsequently articled for five years in the chambers of his uncle and namesake George Frederick Street. Admitted as an attorney in 1830, he went into partnership with G. F. Street and was on 3 June appointed non-resident clerk of the peace for Sunbury County in succession to his grandfather Street, who had held the office since the foundation of the province. After he was called to the bar in 1832, he established himself in Fredericton where, five years later, he commenced the successful law partnership with George Jarvis Dibblee that continued until his death.
    • By 1835 the still youthful Berton had won such respect from his peers that he was given the onerous task of preparing the first thorough consolidation of New Brunswick statutes from 1786. With the careful assistance of Chief Justice Ward Chipman he produced a meticulous edition which remains the source of first resort for pre-1836 legislation. It was in 1836 as well that his characteristic “desire to render service to my professional brethren” led Berton to begin publication of his notes on select Supreme Court appellate decisions; reports appeared first in the Royal Gazette and were subsequently issued in pamphlet form. 
  • Grandson of United Empire Loyalist listed in Loyalist Directory: https://uelac.ca/loyalist-directory/detail/?wpda_search_column_id=8194
  • Find A Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/60844583/george-frederick_street-berton