The 1796 Surveyor
General’s Report
Reprinted from The Long Point Settlers Journal Vol. 1 No. 4
By mid 1796, the surveys of the second and third concessions of Walsingham, Charlotteville, and Woodhouse Townships in Norfolk County were completed. This was followed by a Report dated June 20, 1796 from Acting Surveyor General David W. Smith to Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe allocating the lots to those who had made applications.[1]
Most of the lots in the front two concessions were granted to actual settlers or those who stated they wished to become settlers. Large tracts in the rear concessions were set aside to make up the 1200 to 3500 acre entitlements of those who served as officers in the Loyalist forces during the American Revolution and who were already resident elsewhere. Few of them came to settle on their lands at Long Point.
In this report, each applicant’s name was entered in an alphabetical list followed by his desired locations. This entry was then followed by a reference number corresponding with the individual’s authorizations presented at the end of the report.
Applicants for Land, in the Townships of Walsingham (or No. 1), Charlotteville (or No. 2) and Woodhouse (or No. 3) in the Long Point Settlement.
Applicants Twp Con Lot Acres Ref
Allison, Lieu’t 3 1,2,3 1000 2
Asked in the tract set apart for Mr. Francis
Austin, Solomon 3 3 4,5 600 16
Backhouse, John 1 2 16,18 600 9
No. 16 asked also by 23 Howey and Smith
The Heirs of 1 1 10,11
Captain Barnum Gores 10,12 about 12
10,12 3500
2 9,11,12
3 10,12
2 1 3,7
Gore 3,7,8
Supposed to be for Mr. Barnum (Sr.) 3000 and for Mr. Barnum (Jr.) 500. Total 3500 acres
The Heirs of 3 1 5 2000 24
Lieut. Bonta 4 6,7,8,9
5 5,6,7,8,10
Colvers, Messieure 3 5 1 400 15
6 1
Dedrick, Lucas 1 1 15 500 25
Gore 15
Unless Corporal Dedrick is entitled to family lands, it appears that he asks for 100 acres more than is usually allowed to persons of his Rank.
Ellis, John 1 3 20 500 10
4 Hf18,19
Francis, William* 3 East Half of 5
T’p.
Grant, Hon’le Alex’r 2 1 2,3,4 1000 6
(sic:12,13,14)
These are the Easternmost of 8 Lots which your Excellency reserved for your future Disposition & a town
Gustin, John 2 3or4 17 200 18
Havens, John 19
Howey, Thomas 1 2 16 200 13
Mr. Mitchel reports that Howey is gone to the States. Asked also by Smith and Backhouse
Johnston, William 1 Gores 6,7,8 2400 4
6,7,8
2 6,7,8
3 6,7,8
Unless Mr. Johnston is entitled to family lands it rather appears he has asked for 400 acres too much
Mabee, Oliver 20
Mabee, Simon 1 2 24 200 22
2 Gore 3 200
No. 24 asked also by George Campbell
Mabee, Widow 2 1 8 200 23
10 500
No. 10 which she says she lives on is the Westernmost part of 8 Lots which your Excellency reserved for your future disposition and a town
McMichael, Edw’d 1 1 13,14 3000 3
Gore 13,14
2 13,14
3 13,14
3 Gore 5,6,7,8
10,12 *
No. 14, first Concession is granted by his Excellency to Mr. McMichael. Lot No. 13, first Concession is also another asked by Messrs Haggerty and McCall. No. 14 Second Concession is also asked by Mr. Parsin.
Parsin, Mr. 1 2 14 200 21
This Lot is also asked by Mr. McMichael
Russell, James 1 2 19 200 8
Ryers, Captain 3 1 2,3 about 5
2 4,6,7,8 3000
9,13,14
3 6,7,8
Thirteen and 14, Second Concession is within the Tract set apart for Mr. Francis
Secord Solomon 3 1 1300 11
This is asked in the tract for Mr. Francis No. 8 in front1st T'p. may be allotted to Mr. Secord in part and perhaps granted to him by your Excellency.
Smith, Abraham 1 2or3 16 200 17
No. 16 Second Con’n asked by Howey and Backhouse
West, John 1 Gore 17 200 14
Young, George 1 3 17,18,19 600 7
Campbell, George 1 2 24 200 26
Asked also by Simon Mabee
Walker, Peter 3 1 11 400 27
2 11
Secord, David 2 2 18,19 400
Says he has petitioned for these Lots. The lot he occupies in front contains about 400 acres.
* Mr. Francis being since arrived, Mr. Secord will be satisfied to take his lands in the rear, and at the North East angle of Charlotteville.
Summary of applications for Land, principally in the Rear Concessions of the Long Point Settlement, with the grounds of their applications and Pretentions.
No. 1. Mr. William Francis, Quarter Master, in the Kings late American Dragoons and associates. Order of Council 22 June 1793. 10000 acres for himself and twelve families, and the same to be reserved at Long Point.
No. 2. Lieut. Allison, 5th Reg’t. Order of Council 10 July 1792. Petitioners name to be insirted (sic) with those who have made application for Lands at Long Point, at which place he prays for 1000 Acres. And Subsequent order of Council 4 July 1796 by warrant for 1000 Acres at Long Point.
No. 3. Edward McMichael, Cap’n of associated Loyalists last war, prayed for 3000 Acres of Land. Order of Council 3rd July 1795. Granted and referred to the Surveyor General for Locations. Endorsed on the Minutes by his Excellency the L’t Governor. Referred to the D. Surveyor General, such part as may be fair and exact to be allotted in the rear of Long Point, and District of 100 miles Square.
No. 4. William Johnston, Lieut in the Indian Department, prayed for the Quantity usually allowed to Subaltern
officers, and to be granted him near Long Point. Order of Council 12 August, 1796. Granted for Location to the Surveyor General.
No. 5. Captain Ryerse, prayed for Land as a Captain etc. Order of Council 15 July, 1795. 3000 Acres granted as Captain. Extract from Long Point Report: Lots 2 and 3 Third Township, for Cap’n Ryerse, being two Lots on Young’s Creek; the Reserve on No. 2 to be removed to the Gore between Township No. 2 and 3.
No. 6. Commodore Grant, Petitioned 6 June 1796, for one vacant front Lot near Long Point, with one thousand acres, in the Back Concessions. Endorsed by his Excellency on the petition. It seems agreeable to the General Rule proper that Mr. Grant’s Location should be confined to the Lake Erie Districts.
No. 7. George Young, Order of Council 17 August 1795. Granted 600 Acres.
No. 8. James Russel, Order of Council, 20 August, 1795. Granted 200 Acres. George Young reports, that he and Russel thus applied to take up their Lands at Long Point and received the following answer. Council Office York, 9th April 1796. Sir: I duly received your Letter by Mr. Dickson, and it is with pleasure I inform you that his Excellency the L’t Gov’r approves of your being located at Long Point. I am Sir, etc., (signed) John Small.
No. 9. John Backhouse, prayed to locate his 600 acres of Land on Long Point. Order of Council 17 August 1795. Ordered, that the same be granted.
No. 10. John Ellis, Late 84th Reg’t. Order of Council 4 June 1794, 500 acres, altogether, to be located at Long Point. (signed) John Small.
No. 11. Solomon Secord, Lieut., in Butler’s Rangers, states that he has located 700 acres of Land, prays the 1300 acres due to him for past Services be granted; Viz: 400 acres near Pattersons Creek, 400 acres near Turkey point, 500 acres west of Turkey Point in Long Point Bay. Ordered that the prayer of the Petition be granted and referred to the Surveyor General for Location. (Signed) J. Small, C.E.C.; Newark 25 Nov’r, 1795. It is recommended to the Sureveyor General to grant assignments to Lt. Col. Seacord for the Lands above granted by His Excellency in Council, as nearly corresponding with Mr. Seacord’s wishes as the circumstances of the case will admit. (Signed) Peter Russell, Executive Councellor.
No. 12. Nathan Barnum. Order of Council 23rd July 1793. Ordered that he shall have a Grant of Land that he is entitled to, and order of Council 3rd June 1794, praying for Lands near Turkey Point and Patterson’s Creek. That 200 acres only can be granted the petitioner at present, it being expedient to make Settlements in that District at this Time. Extract from the Long Point report: Lots No. 10 and 11, first Township, for the heirs of the late Cap’n Barnum, two Lots on Big Creek, with the Remainder of his Land in the rear; The reserve being removed from No. 11 to No. 7.
No. 13. Thomas Howey, of New Jersey, Blacksmith; recommended by the Hon’le Peter Russell, E.C.
No. 14. John West. Extract from the Long Point Report: An old soldier by the name of West, who was reported to have made improvements 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.
No. 15. Messrs Colvers. Extract from the Long Point Report: Aaron Colver to have a Mill Seat on Patterson’s Creek, near to one of Peeries (sic: 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 make up the Remainder of their Lands in the Vicinity of this Mill Seat, and 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.
No. 16. Solomon Austin. Order of Council 27 June 1795. Granted 600 acres. Extract from the Long Point Report: The Mill Seat intended for One Austin. N.B. This Man was in action with his Excellency and obtained his verbal permission to go to Pattersons Creek.
No. 17. Mr. Abraham Smith, Extract from Long Point Report: To be secured in a Lot to cover his improvement up Youngs Creek about 6 miles North from Turkey Point, and permission given him to look out for a Mill Seat and to build thereon not interfering with that intended for Cap’n Ryerse, or any others previously promised. Also 4 lots near to Abraham Smith for his grown up sons, Jesse, Isaac, Samuel and William.
Nos. 18, 19, 20. A Lot for John Gustin, one of his Sons in Law and another Lot for John Havens, another Son in Law, also another Lot for Oliver Mabee, another Son in Law of Mr. Smith’s.
No. 21. Mr. Parsin. Extract from the Long Point Report: Lot No. 15, first Township with a Lot in the second Con’n to accomodate him, and Lucas Dedrick, who was a Corporal and 6 years in Butlers Rangers, and whose father in Law he is. N.B. This old Gentleman is well spoken of, for his Loyalty, and when the proclamation issued forbidding people to set down on unimproved land, this man, it is said, left his Lot and discontinued his improvement; by which means another man, who was improving on the same lot, and did not discontinue, was fortunate enough to be secured therein.
No. 22. Simon Mabee. Extract from the Long Point Report: Simon Mabee, the Widow’s 2nd Son, to have a Lot in the 2nd Concession.
No. 23. The Widow Mabee. Prays verbally for the favor of his Excellency the L’t Governor, as being his first Setler (as she says)
No. 24. The heirs of Lieut Bonta. Extract from Long Point Report: Lot No. 5 Third Township, for the heirs of the late L’t Bonta.
No. 25. Lucas Dedrick. Extract from the Long Point Report: Who was a Corporal and 6 years in Butlers Rangers. N.B. He solicits his Excellency to make him up 400 acres in the Township of Walsingham.
No. 26. A. Young (sic: George Young), Carpenter; George Campbell, who served his Time, with George Young, has a petition before His Excellency, for a Lot in Walsingham.
No. 27. Peter Walker. Says he has petitioned your Excellency for the lot in his Rear.
[1] David Smith Papers, Archives of Ontario MU2825-27, Box 3, Envelope B-9, P. 14-25 and E. A. Cruikshank, The Correspondence of Lieut. Governor John Graves Simcoe, Vol IV (The Ontario Historical Society, Toronto: 1926) P. 313-317