Dettlieb Christopher Jessen
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Dettlieb Christopher Jessen (February 25, 1730 – August 12, 1814) was one of the founding fathers of
Lunenburg, Nova Scotia Lunenburg () is a port town on the South Shore (Nova Scotia), South Shore of Nova Scotia, Canada. Founded in 1753, the town was one of the first British attempts to settle Protestants in Nova Scotia. Historically, Lunenburg's economy relied o ...
, and helped the village through
Father Le Loutre's War Father Le Loutre's War (1749–1755), also known as the Indian War, the Mi'kmaq War and the Anglo-Mi'kmaq War, took place between King George's War and the French and Indian War in Acadia and Nova Scotia. On one side of the conflict, the Kingdo ...
, the
French and Indian War The French and Indian War, 1754 to 1763, was a colonial conflict in North America between Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain and Kingdom of France, France, along with their respective Native Americans in the United States, Native American ...
and the
American Revolution The American Revolution (1765–1783) was a colonial rebellion and war of independence in which the Thirteen Colonies broke from British America, British rule to form the United States of America. The revolution culminated in the American ...
. He was
German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...
born. After his emigration to Canada, he became a militia leader, judge, and politician in
Nova Scotia Nova Scotia is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada, located on its east coast. It is one of the three Maritime Canada, Maritime provinces and Population of Canada by province and territory, most populous province in Atlan ...
. His first name also appears as "Detleff". He represented Lunenburg County in the
Nova Scotia House of Assembly The Nova Scotia House of Assembly (; ), or Legislative Assembly, is the deliberative assembly of the General Assembly of Nova Scotia, and together with the lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia makes up the Nova Scotia Legislature. The assembly is ...
from 1785 to 1793. Dettlieb Christopher Jessen was born in
Holstein Holstein (; ; ; ; ) is the region between the rivers Elbe and Eider (river), Eider. It is the southern half of Schleswig-Holstein, the northernmost States of Germany, state of Germany. Holstein once existed as the German County of Holstein (; 8 ...
and came to Halifax as one of the Foreign Protestants in 1751, settling in Lunenburg two years later. He was a wine cooper. Jessen served as
lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a Junior officer, junior commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations, as well as fire services, emergency medical services, Security agency, security services ...
in the local militia, reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was also present for the defence of the town through the Lunenburg Campaign (1758) during the
French and Indian War The French and Indian War, 1754 to 1763, was a colonial conflict in North America between Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain and Kingdom of France, France, along with their respective Native Americans in the United States, Native American ...
, in which he wrote one of the rare log books of a militia troop defending against Mi'kmaq attacks. On one of the patrols of the Lunenburg peninsula, Jessen discovered two British soldiers that were scalped and a 10-year-old boy that was captured.Journal of Captain Christopher Jessen
participation in the Lunenburg Campaign (1758)
During the
American Revolution The American Revolution (1765–1783) was a colonial rebellion and war of independence in which the Thirteen Colonies broke from British America, British rule to form the United States of America. The revolution culminated in the American ...
, Jessen was again involved with defending the town in the Raid on Lunenburg (1782). He initially fired at the Privateers from his home (corner of Lincoln and King), which the privateers returned fired, filling his home full of bullets, eventually smashing all the windows and looting the place. Major Jessen escaped and assembled with a militia behind the hill overlooking the town. A militia from La Have under the command of Major Joseph Pernette also advanced toward Lunenburg to join Major Jessen. Captain Stoddard sent a message to Jensen and Pernette that if they advanced on the town, all the homes would be burned. To ensure his threat was not idle, Major Stoddard burned down Col. Creighton's home.MacMechan, p. 68 His house was spoiled and robbed in the raid. He was also a justice of the peace, a judge in the Inferior Court of Common Pleas, registrar of deeds and a customs collector. Jessen married Francisca Barbara Rudolf in 1755. Toward the end of his life, Jessen presented the church with a church bell and silver communion service c.1813. Before he could hear the bell himself, he died in Lunenburg at the age of 84. He is buried in the crypt of St. John's Anglican Church.Dettlieb Christopher Jessen - Canadian Biography On Line


Gallery

File:Communion Silver, St. John's Anglican Church, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada.jpg, Jessen gave St. John's the silver
chalice A chalice (from Latin 'cup', taken from the Ancient Greek () 'cup') is a drinking cup raised on a stem with a foot or base. Although it is a technical archaeological term, in modern parlance the word is now used almost exclusively for the ...
,
flagon A flagon () is a large leather, metal, glass, plastic or ceramic vessel, used for storing and pouring drink, whether this be water, ale, or another liquid. They are generally not intended to be drunk from directly, like a cup. A flagon is typica ...
, and
paten A paten or diskos is a small plate used for the celebration of the Eucharist (as in a mass). It is generally used during the liturgy itself, while the reserved sacrament are stored in the tabernacle in a ciborium. Western usage In many Wes ...
(1814), St. John's Anglican Church, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada Image:D. Christopher Jessen, Deputy Provost Marshall, to Freeholders of Lunenburg Township and County - election writ for the second assembly.png, Election writ for the second assembly, 27 August 1759, issued by Dettlieb Christopher Jessen


See also

* Patrick Sutherland * John Creighton (judge) * Jean-Baptiste Moreau (clergyman) * Sebastian Zouberbuhler


References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Jobs, Steve 1730 births 1814 deaths People from the Duchy of Holstein 18th-century members of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly Colony of Nova Scotia judges