Wednesday 14 November 2018


North and South Orillia Township’s
War of 1812 Militia Veteran Land Grants

Transcribed and Compiled by Fred Blair
Copyright June 26, 2018

Introduction

This is an exploration of how the War of 1812 Militia Land Grants in the Orillia Townships contributed to their settlement and development.

The grants were issued to veterans who had served in specific Upper Canadian militia companies and corps during the war.  The grants were not available until 1820 and by 1850 most veterans were receiving money to the value of their land grant rather than land.  The size of each grant was based on the rank of the veteran.  Privates received 100 acres.  Some grants were claimed by heirs of deceased veterans and some veterans appeared to have used agents or to have sold their locations or patents.

A digital copy of the Land Book Register of Grants to Militia Veterans of the War of 1812 was obtained from the Ontario Archives from Microfilm 693, Reel 140, Volume 132.

The register columns were usually the grant number, name, occupation, place of residence at the time of the application, service record, number of acres, location, and date the location was given.  There was additional information for a number of grants.  Less information was provided in later years.  The grant register did not always indicate which Orillia township the land was located in.

The residence of the applicant was not always in the same county in which he served in a militia.  It was not unusual for men to move during or after the war or to serve in more than one regiment for which they could receive a militia land grant.  This was particularly true for men who served in flank companies in 1812 and then in the Incorporated Militia in 1813 and 1814.  Both regiments entitled a private to a 100-acre land grant but only one claim was allowed.  A claimant’s choice of regiment may have been dependent upon which officers were available to certify his claim.

As with all transcripts of old documents, the quality of this transcription is dependent upon the accuracy of the original, legibility of the writing, and the skills of the transcriber.  Where possible, the information should be confirmed using other sources.

A search of the township Historical Land Books was used to determine the accuracy of the register and how the title to the land changed after the patent (deed) was granted.  Note that the Orillia grants were recorded in two different township books, North Orillia and South Orillia.  Having received a militia land grant does not mean that the recipient ever personally settled on that land.  In some cases, the patent was received by someone else with the same surname.

Over 500 grants were found in Simcoe County.  Only 14 were in North and South Orillia Townships.

Summary Chart of the Fourteen Orillia Grants

Grantees        County of Residence          Grant Yr.        Patent Yr.      Sale Yr.

Blakeney                   Prince Edward          1827               1832               1833
McIntosh                    Prince Edward          1826               1844               1846
Griffith                        Lennox                      1828               1832               1843+
Chapman                  Lennox                      1828               1836               1868
Kimmerly                   Lennox                      1828               1834               1834
McCumber                Lennox                      1826               1828               1833
Bailly                          York                            1824               1826           1827-44
Gardner                     Prince Edward          1826               1828               1846+
J. Lazier                     Prince Edward          1826               1830               1843-55
N. Lazier                    Prince Edward          1828               1836               1844
Caverly                      Hastings                    1826               1844               1855
Vandervoort              Hastings                    1826               1836               1836
Sherwood                  Leeds & Grenville    1836               1836               1842-48
Potts                           Norfolk                       1838               1844               1848  

Summary of Settlement by Militia Grantees

All of the grantees were living some distance from the Orillia area when they applied for their grants.  Twelve were living in the eastern part of the colony.  As they were probably well settled where they were living, they may have been reluctant to begin homesteading in a remote area.  They all received the patents to their grants and it is likely that most of them hired agents to clear part of the land, build a small cabin, and clear the road allowance so that they could obtain title from the Crown.  This was a common practice at that time.  The same agent may have also sold the land for them.  Note that some sold their land within a few years of obtaining the patent.  Only Bailly and Gardner declared that they were residents of Orillia when they sold their land.  There was no indication in the Historical Land Books that the other twelve men or their families had resided in the area.

Although the grantees provided opportunities for the Orillia area to be developed by selling their improved land, it appears that only two of the families were present to personally aid that development.





Details of the Fourteen Grants

The following are the details from the Militia Land Grant Register, early changes in title to the land from the Historical Land Books, and the current locations of the grants.

#839   William Blakeney, a gentleman of Hallowell Township, Prince Edward County, and a former ensign in a flank company of the 1st Prince Edward Militia, received 500 acres on Lots 7 and 9, Con. 3, South Orillia Township on Jan. 26, 1827. 
            Blakeney actually received the east half of Lot 7 and all of Lots 9 and 10, according to the Historical Land Book.  On Sept. 25, 1832, he received the patent on 100 acres of the east half of Lot 7 and 200 acres of each of Lots 9 and 10. 
            On Oct. 19, 1833, he sold his 500 acres to James Hitchings.
            Concession 3 was between Westmount Drive and the Harvie Settlement Road.  Lot 7 was south of the Coldwater Road with Shopper’s Drug Mart at its northern edge.  On May 27, 1845, Frederick Dallas sold the south-east corner to Patrick Regan of Orillia for $350.00.  Regan built the log house there that was recently moved from this location to Scout Valley.  Lot 9 was between Mississaga Street and Barrie Road and currently includes the land occupied by Harriett Todd Public School.  Lot 10 south of Barrie Road and the other side of the Highway 12 by pass, later included a mill pond, and currently includes the land occupied by Twin Lakes Secondary School.



#1168 Donald McIntosh, a yeoman of Marysburgh Township, Prince Edward County, and a former lieutenant in a flank company of the Prince Edward Militia, received 500 acres on Lots 17, Con. 11 and half of Lot 2, Con. 8, Orillia Township as part of his grant on Sept. 6, 1826.  The other 200 acres were in another county.
            On Apr. 3, 1844, he received the patent on 100 acres of the west half of Lot 2, Con. 8, North Orillia Township.  On Jan. 31, 1846, Alexander McIntosh sold the land to William Coulan.  Peter Caverly received the patent to the east half on May 6, 1844.
            On Nov. 10, 1871, Henry R. Beecher and James R. Silliman received the patent on 200 acres of Lot 17, Con. 11, North Orillia Township.  Donald McIntosh had probably not developed this land because there was no road access.
            Lot 2 was the second lot north of Big Chief Road and east of Soules Road.  Stephen Caverly had the east half of this lot.  Lot 17 was just south of Buck Lake, west of the South Sparrow Lake Road.  There is currently no road access to this land.

#1944 Philip Griffes or Griffith, of Fredericksburgh Township, Lennox County, and a former private in a flank company of the 1st Lennox Militia, received 100 acres on the west part of Lot 7, Con. 12 ND, Orillia Township on Aug. 15, 1828.
            On July 7, 1832, Philip Griffin received the patent in North Orillia Township.  On Jan. 8, 1843, 54 acres of the title were given to the Sheriff of the Home District.  The Sheriff of Simcoe County later received the rest.
            Lot 7 was south of Lake St. George, east of Goldstein Road, and in the area of Grand Forest Trail.

#2520 Jeremiah Chapman, of Fredericksburgh Township, Lennox County, and a former private in a flank company of the 1st Lennox Militia, received 100 acres on the north half of Lot 14, Con. 2, Orillia Township on Aug. 15, 1828.
            On December 15, 1836, Daniel Chapman received the patent in South Orillia Township.  On February 16, 1839, Daniel Chapman of Thurlow Township, Hastings County, sold the 100 acres to Margaret Chapman of Fredericksburg for 25 pounds.
            On December 6, 1868, Daniel Chapman of Thurlow sold the west 100 acres to Margaret Chapman, a widow of Thurlow for $300.00.  On December 26, 1868, Margaret sold the land to James Jamieson of Orillia for the same price.
            Lot 14 was west of Shingle Bay and Woodland Drive.

#2545 David Kimmerly, of Richmond Township, Lennox County, and a former private in a flank company of the 1st Lennox Militia, received 100 acres on the west half of Lot 7, Con. 3 SD, Orillia on Aug. 21, 1828.
            On October 31, 1834, David received the patent in South Orillia Township.  On December 16, 1834, he sold the land to Alex Campbell of Richmond Township for 50 pounds.  David was living elsewhere.  Alex sold the land on July 12, 1855, to John H.S. Drinkwater of Orillia for 100 pounds.
            Lot 7 was south of the Coldwater Road and west of Westmount Drive.  William Blakeney had received the east half.  Highway 11 passes through this land.

#2550 Jarvis McCumber, of Richmond Township, Lennox County, and a former private in a flank company of the 1st Lennox Militia, received 100 acres on the west part of Lot 6, Con. 5 SD, Orillia Township on Aug. 19, 1826.
            On October 10, 1828, he received the patent in South Orillia Township.  On February 4, 1833, Jarvis McCumber of Richmond Township sold the land to William Case of Almwiche Township for 20 pounds.
            Lot 6 was east of West Street and between Brant and North Street in the area of the YMCA and OCDVI.

#2595 Honore Bailly, of Whitchurch Township, York County, and a former lieutenant adjutant in a Corps of Voyageurs at the Capture of “Michilimanchinac” in 1812, received 500 acres on Lots 10 & 12, Con. 5 and the west part of Lot 11, Con. 6, Orillia Township on Feb. 12, 1824.
            In 1826, he received the patent on 200 acres of Lot 10 in South Orillia Township.  On May 23, 1833, he sold 100 acres of the south half, as a resident of Orillia, to William Laughton of Newmarket for 100 pounds.  On December 13, 1844, Alexander Bailly of South Orillia sold the other 100 acres of the north half, as a resident of Orillia, to John Crosby and Richard Baker of Toronto for 250 pounds.
            In 1826, he received the patent on 200 acres of Lot 12 in South Orillia Township.  On September 5, 1829, Honore Bailly of Orillia sold the land to Francis Hewson of Innisfil for 200 pounds.
            In 1826, he received the patent on 100 acres of the southwest half of Lot 11, Con. 6, South Orillia Township.  In 1827, he sold this land to Antoine Godard of Whitchurch for 25 pounds.  In 1853, Antoine sold the land as a resident of Orillia.
            Lot 10 was south of Barrie Road and east of West Street.  The Millennium Trail was just north of this land.  Lot 12 was between West Street and Forest Avenue in the area of Lankin Boulevard.  Lot 11 was east of Forest Avenue and would have included Moose Beach and the north edge of Smith’s Bay in Lake Simcoe.

#2694 Hezekiah Gardner, of Hallowell Township, Prince Edward County, and a former private in troop of dragoons of the 1st Prince Edward Militia, received 100 acres on the west part of Lot 9, Con. 5, Orillia Township on Aug. 18, 1826.
            On October 10, 1828, Hezekiah received the patent in South Orillia Township.  In 1846, Allan Garner of Sophiasburgh began selling small sections of this land.  By 1851, he was living in Orillia.  This land was near the center of the town where small building lots would have been in demand.
            Lot 9 was between Mississaga and Queens Street and east of West Street and would have included the Home Hardware on its southern edge.

#2700 John Lazier, of Sophiasburgh Township, Prince Edward County, and a former private in troop of dragoons of the 1st Prince Edward Militia, received 100 acres on the west part of Lot 10, Con. 17, Orillia Township on July 15, 1826.
            On November 1, 1830, he received the patent in North Orillia Township.  In 1843, the Sheriff of the Home District sold 22 acres to Samuel Street of Niagara.  On April 2, 1855, John Lazier sold 100 acres to David B. Salmer for 75 pounds.
            Coopers Falls Road would have passed through this land near Riverdale Drive.

#2701 Nicholas Lazier, of Sophiasburgh Township, Prince Edward County, and a former private in troop of dragoons of the 1st Prince Edward Militia, received 100 acres on the east part of Lot 6, Con. 11, Orillia Township on Aug. 15, 1828.
            On March 7, 1836, he received the patent on this land in North Orillia Township.  On May 21, 1844, he sold it to William Lord of Picton for 20 pounds.
            Lot 6 was southeast of Highway, east of Buena Vista Park, and in the area of Turnbull and Grayshott Drives.

#2844 Stephen Caverly, of Thurlow Township, Hastings County and a former private in a flank company of the 1st Hastings Militia, received 100 acres on the east half of Lot 2, Con. 8 ND, Orillia on Sept. 7, 1826.
            On May 6, 1844, Peter Caverly received the patent to this land in North Orillia Township.  On Apr. 19, 1855, he sold it to Charles Thomson for 50 pounds.
            Lot 2 was the second lot north of Big Chief Road and west of Mencke Beach Road.  Donald McIntosh had the west half.

#2845 Peter Vandervoort, of Sidney Township, Hastings County, and a former private in a flank company of the 1st Hastings Militia, received 100 acres on the west part of Lot 4, Con. 9 ND, Orillia on Sept. 5, 1826.
            On February 3, 1836, Peter received the patent on this land in North Orillia Township.  On February 10th, he sold the land as a resident of Sidney to Thomas Parler of Belleville for 25 pounds.
            Lot 4 was in the area of Cumberland Beach.

#3904 Adiel Sherwood, of Brockville Township, Leeds and Grenvillle County, and a former paymaster of militia in the Eastern District, received Lots 6 and 7, Con. 1, the west half of Lot 8, Con. 2, and the east half of Lot 5, Con. 8 ND, in Orillia Township on Oct. 12, 1836.
            On November 11, 1836, he received the patent of 200 acres of Lot 6, Con. 1, of 200 acres of Lot 7, Con. 1, and 100 acres of the west part of Lot 8, Con. 2, North Orillia Township.  On January 22, 1848, he sold these three properties as a resident of Brockville to Edward George O’Brien of Toronto for 100 pounds each.
            On November 11, 1836, Adiel received the patent of the east 100 acres of Lot 5, Con. 8, North Orillia Township.  On July 26, 1842, he sold this land as a resident of Elizabethtown to John Shuter of England for 150 pounds.
            Lots 6 and 7 were between the Town Line and Wainman Line and south of Thorburn Road.  Lot 8 was east of the Wainman Line with the Thorburn Road along its northern edge.  Lot 5 was between the Carlyon and Hempshire Mills Lines with the Cambrian Road on its northern edge.

#4421 John Potts, of Woodhouse Township, Norfolk County and a former sergeant in a flank company of the 2nd Norfolk Militia, received 200 acres on the east half of Lots 10 and 11, Con. 8 ND, Orillia Township on May 30, 1838.
            On February 23, 1844, Rynard Potts received that patent on the east 100 acres of both Lots 10 and 11, Con. 8, North Orillia Township.  On August 12, 1848, he sold this land as a resident of Woodhouse to George Hamilton Park of Toronto for 200 pounds.
            Lots 10 and 11 were between the Hempshire Mills and Telford Lines on each side of the Cambrian Road.

End