McNabb, James

• DICTIONARY OF CANADIAN BIOGRAPHY ARTICLE: David Roberts, “McNABB, JAMES,” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 5, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–. https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/mcnabb_james_5E.html#citations
• DCB profile notes:
  • Businessman, office holder, and politician; b. possibly in Virginia, son of James McNabb; m. 24 March 1801 Mary Ann Fraser in Fredericksburg (North and South Fredericksburg) Township, Upper Canada, and they had one son; d. 5 April 1820 en route from York (Toronto) to Belleville.
  • At the commencement of the American Revolutionary War James McNabb Sr reputedly joined a loyalist regiment in Virginia. By 1777 he had joined McAlpin’s Royal Americans as a military surgeon and he served with this unit until his death at the loyalist settlement of Yamachiche, Que., in 1780. His sons Alexander, James, Colin, and Simon had probably come with him to Quebec, and by 1787 Colin and Alexander were residing in the Niagara area. In 1794 the young James McNabb’s petition for land was approved by the Executive Council of Upper Canada. Two years later he settled at Newark (Niagara-on-the-Lake), where Colin was superintendent of inland navigation and Simon had entered business.
  • In the election of June 1816 McNabb was elected for his old riding. That same year he acquired several district offices: war pensions commissioner, branch roads commissioner, and membership on the first Board of Education. Official stipends provided strong motivation.
  • Back in Belleville, however, his apparent detachment dissolved when his conservative opinions merged with personal antagonism. He displayed little tolerance towards the Bay of Quinte supporters of Robert Fleming Gourlay – men such as Thomas Coleman, a war veteran and owner of the mills formerly belonging to McNabb.
• Proven United Empire Loyalist listed in Loyalist Directory: https://uelac.ca/loyalist-directory/detail/?wpda_search_column_id=5668
• Find a GRAVE: Cannot locate.