Queens Co.

M.L.C.

M.L.A.

HARRISON, Charles (Hon.) (1792-1879)

Born                , 1792, at Cambridge, Queen’s County, N.B. of colonial Irish-Loyalist ancestry.  Son of Lieut. James Harrison (b. 1748 – d. March 15, 1805), a Lieut. In the Loyalist forces, and his wife, Charity Cowperthwaite, of a Loyalist Quaker family from Philadelphia.

[James Harrison was a native of Antrim, Ireland, who emigrated to South Carolina in 1767.  At the outbreak of the Rev. War he sided with the Crown and, with his brother, Charles Harrison (b. 1747-d. 14 March 1800), enlisted in the New Jersey Volunteers.  In 1777 he became an ensign and, on May 28th, 1778, a Lieut. in the Third Battalion.  He served during the war under Gen. Sir Henry Clinton and, at its close, came with his Regt. To Saint John.  He was retired on half-pay and settled on a grant of land at Cambridge, Queens County.  He married, April 9th, 1789, Charity Cowperthwaite, of a loyalist Quaker family from Philadelphia.  He dies at Cambridge, March 15th, 1805, leaving a family of five sons and four daughters.  His brother, Charles, also accompanied him to New Brunswick and settled in Queens County.]

Educated at the Cambridge Public School.

Located at Cambridge, N.B. and engaged in farming.  In 1847, he moved his family to Maugerville, N.B. and resided there until his death.

Married              , to Miss Mary Burpee, daughter of Jeremiah Burpee, Esq., Sheffield, N.B. and his wife, Betsy Stickney.  By this marriage there was a large family.

First elected to the House of Assembly of N.B., as one of the members for queens County, at the G.E. of June, 1827, with the Hon. Harry Peters (q.v.) as colleague.  Re-elected at the G.E. of 1830, by acclimation, and sat as a member until the dissolution of the Legislature in 1834, when he retired.

On February 21st, 1849, he was called to a seat in the Legislative Council of N.B., and continued a member of that House until April, 1874, when he resigned and retired to private life.

He died, May 8th, 1879, at his residence, Maugerville, N.B., aged eighty-seven years.  Buried in the old Congregational Cemetery, Sheffield, N.B.  Survived by several children.  His wife pre-deceased him, dying April 20th 1877, aged eighty-two years.

In Politics:                                                                   In Religion:  a Congregationalist

FAMILY:

  1. Dau: Elizabeth – (b. 1820 – d. 1885). Mar. Charles M. Bridges
  2. Son: Jeremiah – (b. April 17, 1826)
  3. Son: Charles Burpee – (b. 1824 – d. 1901) M.L.A. Sunbury Co., 1886 – 1899
  4. Son: William F. – (b. 1830 – ) Mar. Sarah J. Tupper; had a son: Walter Archibald, Lt. Col. B. Apr 14, 1880
  5. Son: Archibald (q.v.) – (1834 – 1924) M.L.A. Sunbury Co. 1870 – 1874