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MC803: Martin Cranney’s State oath, Catholic Roll, William IV

Dates of creation: 1837

Physical description: 0.2 cm of textual records

Biographical Sketch / Administrative History

Under British law, any person holding an office under the Crown, such as a coroner, was obliged to swear an oath of allegiance to the monarch.  In 1810, New Brunswick passed an act which allowed Roman Catholics to swear in a form which did not prejudice their religious convictions. 

Martin Cranney (1795-1889) was born in Ireland and was a Roman Catholic.  He studied law and was admitted to the bar of New Brunswick as an attorney and a barrister.  He became coroner in Northumberland County from 1837-1849 and from 1854-1867. He married Anne Waddleton (1798-1859), daughter of Samuel Waddleton.  Martin Cranney was first elected to the House of Assembly of New Brunswick as one of the members for Northumberland County at the general election of October 1846, where he sat as a member until the dissolution of the legislature in 1850.  At the election of 1850 and 1854, he was defeated and retired from active politics.

Source: Graves Papers, Vol. XI., p. 20

Scope and Content

This document is parchment and contains the oath signed by Martin Cranney, when he became coroner in 1837.  It is in badly faded handwriting.

INVENTORY

MS1                 Oath signed by Martin Cranney, 1837.