Aitken Survey
Alexander Aitken's Survey
by R. Robert Mutrie
Reprinted from The Long Point Settlers Journal Vol. 1 No. 3
Introduction
On Jul 15, 1795 Acting Surveyor General David W. Smith directed Deputy Surveyor Alexander Aitken to survey and designate lots along the front of Long Point Bay and Lake Erie from Long Point to the Indian Lands on the Grand River. The sidelines of the townships were to be at right angles to the general course of the Lake, specifically North 150 40' from the Lake. Each township was to have twenty-four lots in its front and every other lot was to be designated a Government Reserve in what was referred to as the “chequered plan.”
A few lots were ordered to be laid aside fronting on such creeks as seemed suitable for mills on each side and adjacent to their mouths on Lake Erie, including Big Creek. Aitken was also directed to find a suitable spot within Long Point Bay for the establishment of a town and a reserve was to be set aside for that location.[1]
This survey was followed by a report from Smith to Lieutenant Governor Simcoe dated September 21, 1795 detailing the lots along the front of Walsingham, Charlotteville, Woodhouse, Walpole, and Rainham Townships with the names of those settled on them and assigning locations to those who had petitioned the Governor for settlement in the vicinity of Long Point.[2]
The report was read in the Executive Council of Upper Canada on May 12, 1796 and approved in its entirety. The Council resolved that, “the Lieutenant Governor, with the advice of the Honourable Executive Council, confirm the various arrangements made therein and order the customary measures to be taken to grant title deeds to the actual settlers.”
The Survey
Walsingham
Lot Township No 1 in the Bay of Long Point Walsingham
1 To be kept for Loyalists, the Associates of Hagerty & McCall
2 Reserved
3 For Loyalists the Associates of Messrs Hagerty & McCall
4 Reserved
5 For Loyalists the Associates of Messrs Hagerty & McCall
6 Ditto
7 To be reserved instead of No 11
8 For Lieut Solomon Secord- since this Report (a later addition)
9 Reserved
10) For the Heirs of the late Capt Barnum two lots on Big Creek with
11) the remainder of his land in the Rear, the Reserve being removed from No 11 to 7
12 For Capt Hagerty & McCalls- they ask also for a Mill Seat 2 Miles up a little Creek in this Vicinity, but from young Mr. McCall's description the place is not sufficiently well known
13 Asked by Mr McMichael on account as he says of it being so near the improvement assigned to him by order of Yr Excellency in November last. Asked also by Mr Hagerty & McCall
14 To be granted to Mr McMichael, the House and improvement having been assigned to him by order of Yr Excellency's order- One Timothy Murphy had some improvement on this Lot but I do not know that he has made any application to Your Excellency on the Score of his Improvement
15 For Lucas Dedrick who was a Corporal & 6 years in Butlers Rangers & for John Pearse or Parson his Father in Law with a Lot in the Second Concession to accomodate them
16) For Cornwall Ellis the son of a Loyalist, who has improved 10 acres
17) & for one Cartwright if he appears to be a proper person- the Reserve to be removed from No 16 & the second Concession to accommodate these people if it cannot be conveniently arranged for them on the two front Lots
18 For Didrick Wies or White, who served during the war
19 For either Capt Hagerty or McCall; or one of their Families
20 For John Tryers, who was encouraged by the late Land Board to go there, and for J. Forgea, an old Soldier, with a Lot in the Second Concession
21 For Christian Tryer, who was encouraged by the late Land Board to go there, the Reserve to be removed
22 Improved by Brown. Enquiries to be made relative to him as he did not appear
23 Reserved
24 For William Cope, formerly in the service, if he has not taken his Lands elsewhere
Charlotteville
Lot 2nd Township comprehending Turkey Point Charlotteville
1 .......Information Since Report of being improved by Tunis Cronk, Cope's Son in Law (a later addition)
2 Reserved
3 For Mr Barnum
4 For Silas Secord, who was a Serjeant in Butler's Rangers. The Reserve to be removed to No 5
5 Reserved instead of No 4
6 For John Stacey, who was formerly in the Navy
7 For Mr Barnum
8 For the Widow Mabee
9 For P. Tepel related to the Widow Mabee- The Reserve to be removed
10) Reserved for a Town &c- and the future disposition of His Excellency
11) the Lieut Governor
12)
13) Town
14) Town
15)
16)
17)
18 For John Stone, formerly in the Kings American Dragoons
19 For David Secord, related to the Widow Mabee
20 For Silas Montrose a young man from Nova Scotia
21 Reserved
22 Since Report granted to John Coltman
23 Reserved
24 For one of the Loyalists who came in with Capt. Ryers
Simon Mabee the Widow's second Son to have a Lot in the 2nd Concession & Pelham Mabee, a Younger Son to have the Improvement made by that Family at the End of Turkey Point.
The Widow Mabee at present lives on the broken front of Lot No 13 below the High Bank.
[Loots], Moses Price, & P. Collins to have a lot each in the 2nd Concession of this Township.
Woodhouse
Third Township comprehending Patterson's Creek & Youngs Creek, which Your Excellency proposed to Call Woodhouse
Lot
1 For one of the Loyalists who came in with C. Ryers
2) For Capt Ryers, two Lots on Youngs Creek. The Reserve on No 2 to
3) be removed to the Gore between Township No 2 & 3
4 Reserved
5 For the heirs of the late Lieut Bonta, if they prefer it to any of the Lots kept for the Loyalists who came in with Capt. Ryers & in case it becomes vacant, to be kept for Serjt Berdan.
6 Reserved for the Pine
7 For Serjt Berdan, if he cannot get No 5
8 For one of the Loyalists who came in with Capt Ryers
9 Reserved
10 To be kept for George Millar related to Peter Walker, he [coming in] the spring- this lot was also asked for by Lieut Cowan
11 For Peter Walker, who originally settled with your Excellency permission, the Reserve to be removed to No 12, the Creek being the Division between the Lots
12 Reserved
13 asked by Lt Harrow ) Mr Francis late Quarter Master & the 2nd Concess) wished to settle himself on Pattersons Creek
14 ) & his Associates on the Lots Eastward of it
15 )
16 Reserved )
17 )
18 ) and Christopher Bougener
19 ) has petitioned your Excellency for a mill
20 ) seat on this Creek
21 Reserved )
22 )
23 Reserved )
24 )
Aaron Colver to have a Mill seat on Patterson's Creek near to one of Pierce’s Townships nearly where the Road crosses the Creek, provided it does not prove to interfere with any former promises.
Mr Colver and his Sons to take up the Remainder of their Lands in the vicinity of this Mill Seat, or of that intended for One Austin, with permission to take two Lots on Pattersons Creek near the Mill Seat in lieu of two on Dundas Street....
Mr Abraham Smith to be secured in a Lot to cover his Improvement up Young's Creek about Six Miles north from Turkey Point & permission given him to look out for a mill seat & to build thereon not interfering with that intended for Cap. Ryers, or any other previously promised.
Also four Lots near to Abraham Smith for his grown up Sons, Jesse, Isaac, Samuel & William.
A Lot for John Gustin one of his Sons in Law and another Lot for John Havens, another Son in Law (as previous arrangements prevents him from being accomodated on Murphy's Creek where he petitioned for a Location) also one Lot for Oliver Mabee, another Son in Law of Mr Smith's....
An old Soldier by the name of West who was reported to have an improvement in the District of Long Point, has not applied to your Excellency for his Lot, nor is it exactly known where his improvement is. This man was 15 years in the Rangers.
Wm Spurgin, John Horton, James Austin, Anne Hazen, & Daniel Hazen did Petition your Excellency, the first for permission to erect a Mill and distillery on No 11 near Turkey Point, "on some terms." Horton for a Lot near Point [ ] and Daniel Hazen in addition to a Petition for Land prays to be remunerated for a Sum due to him for surveying under Mr Frey & for which I have understood he had some equitable Claim.
[1] Surveyor General’s Letter Books: Book 2, Pages 894-895; Archives of Ontario MS627, Reel 1
[2] Surveyor General’s Letter Books: Book 3, Pages 1000-1008, Archives of Ontario OA MS 627, Reel 1