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
