Caleff, John

  • DICTIONARY OF CANADIAN BIOGRAPHY ARTICLE: Ann Gorman Condon, “CALEFF (Calef), JOHN,” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 5, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–. https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/caleff_john_5E.html
  • DCB profile notes:
    • Surgeon; b. 30 Aug. 1726 in Ipswich, Mass., son of Robert Calef, a clothier, and Margaret Staniford; m. first 10 Dec. 1747 Margaret Rogers of Ipswich, and they had two children; m. secondly 18 Jan. 1753 Dorothy Jewett of Rowley, Mass., and they had 15 children, 4 of whom were stillborn; d. 23 Oct. 1812 in St Andrews, N.B.
    • Elected to the General Court of Massachusetts in 1764, he was one of the “17 rescinders” in the assembly who in 1768 opposed the distribution of a circular letter criticizing British taxation policy. His position made Caleff “obnoxious” to many Ipswich residents and he was the subject of such harassment that in 1774 he was forced to apologize publicly for his action.”
    • Accordingly, he joined his wife and nine surviving children, who had fled to the new loyalist community of Saint John, N.B. On 25 Aug. 1784 he was appointed surgeon to the British garrison at Fort Howe and lived an apparently quiet life in Saint John.
    • In recorded history, Caleff’s significance undoubtedly derives from his advocacy of the interests of the Penobscot loyalists. Also, an equal or even greater contribution in an area that remains largely unrecorded: his constant attendance upon the sick and wounded, during both peace and war, for more than six decades.
  • Loyalist listed in Loyalist Directory –https://uelac.ca/loyalist-directory/detail/?wpda_search_column_id=1130
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