Humbert, Stephen

  • DICTIONARY OF CANADIAN BIOGRAPHY ARTICLE: Margaret Filshie Leask, “HUMBERT, STEPHEN,” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 7, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–. https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/humbert_stephen_7E.html
  • DCB profile notes:
    • Baker, merchant, politician, militia officer, office holder, Methodist lay leader, singing teacher, author, and musician; b. 1766 or 1767 in New Jersey, son of Stephen Humbert and Elizabeth —; m. first Martha —, and they had at least two sons and three daughters; m. secondly 25 Oct. 1818, in Boston, Mary Adams, née Wyer, and they had at least three daughters, one of whom died in infancy; d. 16 Jan. 1849 in Saint John, N.B.
    • Stephen Humbert spent the revolutionary years working in New York with his father, a baker, before his loyalist family immigrated to Parrtown (Saint John) in 1783. He continued working in his father’s trade, but soon developed diverse commercial and personal interests. Humbert’s business expanded to include shipping and general merchandising. He also built a book and music shop on the lower floor of his home, located on the South Market Wharf in Saint John.
    • Humbert sat as alderman on the Saint John Common Council for some years in the period 1812–22. He also served as a member of the New Brunswick House of Assembly for the city of Saint John from 1809 to 1820, when he was defeated in his bid for re-election.
    • A Methodist, Stephen Humbert took an active part in the organization of the first Methodist society in Saint John, founded in 1791.Humbert is perhaps best known as a singing-school leader, a composer, and the compiler of the first English tune-book published in Canada.
    • To meet the needs of his singing-school classes Humbert compiled his own tune-book, which he had printed in New England in 1801. That November he advertised “the union, harmony, or British America’s sacred vocal music” as ready for sale in Saint John, Fredericton, Annapolis Royal, and Halifax. The volume contained an introduction on the principles of vocal music and a collection of anthems, hymn tunes, and texts selected by Humbert from the New England tune-books available to him. According to his advertisements, the 1801 edition contained a number of original tunes by the compiler.
  • Son of Proven Loyalist listed in Loyalist Directory –https://uelac.ca/loyalist-directory/detail/?wpda_search_column_id=4077
  • Find a GRAVE: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/172204929/stephen-humbert