Corbett

John Corbett and his wife Margaret (nee Casey) arrived in Malignant Cove, Antigonish County with a Letter of Introduction dated April 4, 1815 written by Rev. John Burke, their parish priest in Ballylooby, Tipperary, Ireland. Their arrival coincided with the arrival of a number of Catholic Irish families from south-east Ireland in the early 1800’s amid growing religious tensions in Ireland. Many settled in the Halifax, Antigonish and Guysborough counties of Nova Scotia.

The only known children of John and Margaret were Edward and Marie, twins born on December 26. 1816 in Malignant Cove. At a young age, John sent his son Edward to study in Halifax under private tutors. He took two years of bookkeeping and two years of “reading the law” between 1833 and 1837 before serving for two years as a Magistrate in Halifax. He returned to Malignant Cove and pursued various careers including teaching school, collecting the Customs and Postmaster. He married Margaret O’Brien of Little River (Bayfield) in February, 1842. They had a large family of twelve children with the first five being born in Malignant Cove. Following the birth of John Edward Corbett in September, 1850, Edward relocated to Harbour au Bouchie where he served as Postmaster and came to known as “Squire Corbett” and a man of learning in the community.

Edward’s twin sister Mary (who never married) and his parents followed their son to Harbour au Bouchie and upon their death were laid to eternal rest in St. Paul’s cemetery.

Seven more children were born to Edward and Margaret in Harbour au Bouchie with many remaining in the community as prominent citizens. John Edward Corbett was appointed to the Legislative Council of Nova Scotia and carried the title “Honourable” when he died at 65 years of age in 1915 while serving as Chair of the Committee of the Whole House.