Edward Jessup
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Edward Jessup (December 24, 1735 - February 3, 1816) was a soldier, judge and political figure in Upper Canada.
He was born in Stamford, Connecticut in 1735 and moved with his family to Dutchess County, New York in 1744. In 1759, he served with Jeffery Amherst in the Lake Champlain region. In 1764, he moved with his brother to Albany, New York where they established a community known as Jessup's Landing on the Hudson River. In 1776, with other loyalists from this area, they joined Sir John Johnson's regiment, later forming their own corps, known as the King's Loyal Americans. They fought with Lieutenant General John Burgoyne at Saratoga and both brothers were taken prisoner. They were released and went to Quebec. In 1781, Jessup was named head of a new group known as Jessup's Rangers, which mainly maintained garrisons in southern Quebec and occasionally took part in raids into New York state.
After the war, Jessup and his troops settled along the Saint Lawrence River. Jessup himself settled in Augusta Township. He was appointed justice of the peace and a judge of the Court of Common Pleas. With his son, he founded the town of Prescott, Ontario.
Later in life, he suffered from the palsy and he died at Prescott in 1816, aged 80.
His son, Edward Jr., was elected to the 2nd Parliament of Upper Canada representing Grenville and became a lieutenant-colonel in the local militia. His grandson, Edward, was elected to the 11th Parliament of Upper Canada for Grenville.
