Ritchie, John

  • DICTIONARY OF CANADIAN BIOGRAPHY ARTICLE: Barry M. Moody, “RITCHIE, JOHN,” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 4, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–. https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/ritchie_john_4E.html
  • DCB profile:
    • Merchant and office-holder; b. 1745 or 1746 in or near Glasgow, Scotland; d. 20 July 1790 in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia.
    • In 1770 John Ritchie, accompanied by his wife Jennet (Janet), moved from Edinburgh, Scotland, to Boston, Massachusetts. There he carried on a mercantile business aided by his uncle Andrew Ritchie, who had immigrated to Boston in 1753. Some time before 1775, perhaps in connection with his uncle’s business, he moved to Annapolis Royal. In that year, an important one for Ritchie, his first son was born and his wife died. At the same time his uncle was captured by American rebels and imprisoned in Massachusetts for a year. John Ritchie’s support for the mother country never wavered, although that of some of his Nova Scotian neighbours was not so certain. Fearing rebel designs on the western part of the province, he and three other Annapolis residents, petitioned Halifax for the means to defend the area. In late July 1775 the government responded with arms, ammunition, and four six-pounders. When a company of militia was raised the following month Ritchie joined, and on 22 May 1779 he was commissioned a captain.
    • The Ritchie family’s long and illustrious connection with the courts began in a small way in 1779 with John Ritchie’s appointment as justice of the peace for Annapolis County. In 1786 he was named one of the justices of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas. A son and four grandsons would hold judgeships; one grandson, William Johnstone Ritchie, became chief justice of Canada in 1879.
    • In a 1783 by-election Ritchie offered himself as a candidate for Annapolis County and was subsequently elected; for two years he represented the area in the House of Assembly. In the general election of 1785 he was rejected by the voters of Annapolis Township in favour of a newly arrived loyalist, Stephen De Lancey. 
  • Son of United Empire Loyalist listed in Loyalist Directory: https://uelac.ca/loyalist-directory/detail/?wpda_search_column_id=7013
  • Find a Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/229733938/john-ritchie