Career
Despite popular culture references after his death, there is little evidence that Barnstead obtained an advanced degree, particularly none in medicine, or ever had the title coroner. He was not a doctor. He was, instead, a tanner – accustomed to death from an early age – turned barrister in his middle age, advertised as a Justice of the Peace, and over time became appointed as the province's registrar of vital statistics – the position which provided his notability.
Tanner
Working with leather was the Barnstead family's trade. John Henry's grandfather, George Barnstead, was a cordwainer (shoemaker) and Vice President of the Nova Scotia Cordwainers Benevolent Society.[5] Barnstead's namesake, his great grandfather John Henry, was also a shoemaker.
Barnstead's father Charles was a successful leather merchant, whose holdings included a tannery.[6] The tannery occupied much of what is now bordered by Spring Garden Road, Cathedral Lane, and College Street in Halifax. Additionally, Charles Barnstead operated a leather goods store at the South Ferry Wharf.
John Henry Barnstead first appears in Halifax City Directories in 1866, at age 19, listed as a "bookkeeper" at his father's address on Spring Garden Road.[7] He remains listed as a bookkeeper until 1870, when he appears along with his brother and father listed as "Barnstead & Sons, leather manufacturers" at Steamboat Wharf.[8] The "s" in sons did not last, and in McAlpine's Halifax City Directory, 1874, Barnstead was listed separately from his father and older brother Charles. They were noted as "Charles Barnstead and Son, Tanners", while Barnstead was listed as "Barnstead, John H, leather, &c"[9] Despite this, Barnstead remained in the leather business, noted as "tanners & curriers", and also as a "leather dealer" until at least 1884,[10]
By 1889, the Barnstead tannery operations were gone from Spring Garden Road, although parcels were still in the family's possession.[6]
Justice of the Peace
At what point Barnstead entered his career as barrister or registrar is unclear, but his retirement party in 1932 indicates it was in 1890, at age 45.[11]
Halifax Fire, 1912
On January 12, 1912 at 12:45am, a catastrophic fire destroyed 12 buildings along Barrington, George, and Granville Streets, including Barnstead's marriage license office at 98 Granville Street, and his brother William Lithgrow Barnstead's retail store, "Barnstead's & Sutherland's" dry goods on Barrington Street.[12]
RMS Titanic
In April 1912, Halifax was the closest city to the sinking of the Titanic. As registrar, Barnstead was charged with documenting remains. Working with the White Star Line and rescue vessels, CS Mackay-Bennett, CS Minia, CGS Montmagny, and SS Algerine, Barnstead coordinated body identification operations, including local burial for 121 at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, 19 at Mount Olivet Cemetery and 10 at Baron de Hirsch Cemetery. The large number of bodies would normally require a mass grave, but Fairview Lawn's size allowed for burial in one zone, with one plot per body.[13] An additional 119 bodies were documented but buried at sea.[14] 59 bodies were shipped to their relatives.[15]
As bodies arrived in Halifax, they were transported to the Mayflower Curling Club.[16]
As registrar, Barnstead wrote the death certificate for each victim. Despite his noted meticulousness, he wrote "accidental drowning, RMS Titanic" on all certificates,[citation needed] although many deaths were as a result of exposure on the open ocean. When a body was unable to be immediately identified though personal effects, Barnstead arranged photos showing their face to aid future identification.[citation needed]
The Halifax Explosion
On December 7, 1917, in the aftermath of the Halifax Explosion the day before, Barnstead's son, Arthur, was appointed Chief Mortuary Officer by Deputy Mayor Henry Stubbs Colwell and District 2 Alderman Robert B. Colwell.[17][18] in the aftermath of the Halifax Explosion where he organized application of his father's system.[19]
Barnstead retired from office on January 30, 1932, at age 87, celebrating 42 years as registrar during an event held by the Minister of Health.[11] Barnstead died the day after his 94th birthday, on June 13, 1939, and was buried in Camp Hill Cemetery, Halifax, on June 16, 1939.[20][2]