Several months after Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe arrived in Upper Canada to take up the reigns of government in the fledgling province, he convened its first democratically elected Parliament.
In actual practise the early Parliament held little power, serving more as an advisory panel to the Lieutenant Governor and his appointed Executive Council. From the start the body was dominated by close-knit mercantile and legal interests who in time became known as “The Family Compact.”
Each Parliament generally (with two exceptions) served for a four-year term from 1792 to 1840 when the union of Upper Canada and Lower Canada led to the creation of a joint Parliament. The provinces were then renamed Canada East (Quebec) and Canada West (Ontario).
The elections for the 1st Parliament were held in August 1792 and Parliament opened on September 17, 1792 in Navy Hall in the provincial capital at Niagara-on-the-Lake, at that time known as Newark. Five sessions were held down to June 3, 1796. At this time the sparsely populated riding of Norfolk County shared a seat with 4th Lincoln and was represented by Parshall Terry, a non-resident. It is questionable whether the handful of residents in the forests of our remote county found an opportunity to make their vote known.
Another round of elections was held in August 1796 and the 2nd Parliament of Upper Canada opened on June 1, 1797 at Navy Hall. Earlier, on February 1, 1796 Simcoe designated York (present Toronto) to be the provincial capital. The remaining three sessions of the 2nd Parliament convened in the newly constructed Parliament Buildings of Upper Canada at the corner of Front and Parliament Streets in York until dissolved on July 7, 1800. Again Norfolk shared a seat with 4th Lincoln and was represented by non-resident Benjamin Hardison.
Elections for the 3rd Parliament were held in July 1800 and the first session opened at York on May 28, 1801. The riding of Norfolk, Oxford and Middlesex was represented by Surveyor General David William Smith, a resident of Niagara. The parliament was dissolved on May 14, 1804.
Following elections in May 1804, The 4th Parliament of Upper Canada convened in York on February 1, 1805 and met in four sessions until dissolution on May 21, 1808. The riding of Norfolk, Oxford and Middlesex was represented by Burford Township resident Benajah Mallory.
The 5th Parliament of Upper Canada met in York on February 2, 1809 after elections in May 1808. Four sessions were held down to March 6, 1812. Norfolk riding now had its own seat and elected its first resident member—Waterford miller Philip Sovereign. After four sessions Sir Isaac Brock, the Administrator, dissolved the Parliament on May 1, 1812 due to some members blocking his efforts to pass legislation for war with the United States.
Brock moved quickly to convene another Parliament. The 6th Parliament of Upper Canada opened on July 27, 1812 after June elections. An American attack on York on April 27, 1813 burnt the Parliament buildings and the 1814 Session was held in the ballroom of the York Hotel, and subsequent sessions in the home of Chief Justice William Henry Draper until dissolution on April 18, 1816. Norfolk’s representative was Port Dover merchant Robert Nichol.
Another round of elections was held in July 1816 and the 7th Parliament met at the home of Chief Justice Draper on February 4, 1817. After five sessions, this body was dissolved on May 3, 1820 upon the announcement of the death of King George III. Norfolk was again represented by Robert Nichol.
After elections in July 1820, the 8th Parliament of Upper Canada convened in the second Parliament Buildings of Upper Canada on the site of the previous location in York until Parliament was dissolved on June 22, 1824. In this session, Norfolk had two representatives—Robert Nichol and the Land Surveyor and Registrar Francis Legh Walsh. Towards the end Nichol died in a tragic horse and wagon accident while driving from Niagara up to Queenston Heights on May 3, 1824.
The second Parliament Buildings had a short life, being destroyed by fire on December 30 1824. The sessions then met in the York General Hospital in the block of King, Adelaide, John and Peter Streets in York until 1829.
The 9th Parliament of Upper Canada opened on January 11, 1825 after elections in July 1824 and held four sessions down to March 25 1828. In Norfolk riding, Walsh was re-elected, joined by Charlotteville merchant Duncan McCall.
The 10th Parliament opened on January 8, 1829 following elections in July 1828. The two sessions met in the old Court House on King Street in York. The dissolution came early on March 6, 1830 with the announcement of the death of King George IV. Norfolk was represented by McCall and William Warren Baldwin.
The next elections ran in October 1830 and the 11th Parliament convened in the York Court House on January 7, 1831. The third Parliament Buildings on Front Street west of Simcoe Street became their new home in 1832. After four sessions, Parliament was dissolved on September 1 1834. Norfolk riding, re-elected Duncan McCall with Captain William Willson of Woodhouse Township. McCall died on November 25, 1832. In a by-election Colin McNeilledge of Port Dover took his place.
The 12th Parliament of Upper Canada was elected in October 1834 and held its first session on January 15, 1835. From the start this body was dominated by reformers and refused to pass any new money bills introduced by Lieutenant Governor Sir Francis Bond Head, resulting in an early dissolution on May 28, 1836. Norfolk was represented again by Walsh with Doctor David Duncombe of Townsend Township.
The 13th and last Parliament of Upper Canada opened on November 8, 1836 following elections on June 20, 1836. The sessions were held in the third Parliament Buildings in York which by that time had its present name of Toronto. Five sessions were held down to February 10, 1840. Norfolk was represented by Doctor David Duncombe, Doctor John Rolph and Simcoe Justice William Salmon.