DCHP-1 Online

floating surrogate Nfld, Hist.

• a judge who made an annual visit to hold court at the fisheries, often the captain of a man-of-war.

  See also: surrogate  

  • 1819  These Judges were afterwards called Foating Surrogates.
  • 1964  In 1792, "the Supreme Court of Judicature of the Island of Newfoundland" (London 1893-Chief-Justice Reeves) . . . were established in Newfoundland. They were called "Floating Surrogates," because perhaps they spent most of their time aboard of vessels covering legal business around the Island.